Zia Marie's Blog, page 9

FOUR Days of Lost quotes (The Taken Trilogy, Book #2)

"You don't think he was coming up here to do the same thing to all of us?" Russell asks, and he's gesturing as he speaks, even though the gun is still in his hand. "Sacrifice one for the good of many, friends." "You just killed an unarmed man, Russell," I say. Unable to ignore the squeezing in my belly any longer, I vomit on the carpet until my stomach contracts, and I'm dry heaving. Left with only the sticky, hot, bitter taste of bile.

Lost, The Sequel to Taken: Synopsis, Playlist and Character tidbits

 
I'm working hard on the sequel to Taken. It's going to be a lot darker, sexier and bloodier. The story is kicked up a notch so there's a bit more violence and language, but nothing I think is too bothersome for YA readers. I will admit that I'm toeing the line just a bit, but nothing graphic.
Synopsis: 
"Jackson Smith never wanted to become leader. He just wanted to get out of Wicker Farm, a town in the parallel universe he's trapped in. And now his new plan is facing tough opposition from the new man in charge, with potentially deadly consequences. The only things that keep Jackson going are his memories of the girl he loves, the girl he sacrificed his one wish for. But with maniacal marauders and a mysterious beauty standing in his way, he will need more than love to see his quest through to the end."
*

The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. – Marion Zimmer Bradley
*I'm listening to a lot great songs as I write:
1) Thirty Seconds to Mars -- Hurricane: I absolutely love this song, especially the Unplugged version. It's such a dark and beautiful song, and I think it really captures where we start off in the story. My favorite lyrics:
Tell me would you kill to save your life?Tell me would you kill to prove you're right?Crash, crash, burn let it all burnThis hurricane's chasing us all underground
2) The Weeknd's --Life of the Party: It has a really steamy, seductive feel to it.
3) Lykke Li -- I Follow Rivers: The intro is so amazing. Using this to write a lot of mobile scenes.
4) Jen Wood -- Pills: Mood setting.
5) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals -- Paris (Ohh La La): Probably the theme song of one of Jackson's main companions, Valentina. She's pretty awesome and I can't wait for you to meet her.
6) Selena Gomez and The Scene -- A Year Without Rain: This is probably obvious. It's probably the sappiest scene in the book. It doesn't last very long. It's not that kind of story.
Character Tidbits:
"Lost" is going to be a huge psych journey for Jackson, and we're really going to see a young man becoming someone he never expected to be and that's good and bad. The way everyone ends up in Miranda is enough to break them. Jackson didn't break in Taken...but there's still time. There's time for him to become a lot of things and for a lot of things to happen to him too.
 I'm most excited about introducing Valentina. I like writing about kick-ass girls and she is one of them. She's very no-nonsense, and "shoot first, ask questions later."
You'll also see Jackson forming a really unexpected bond with one of the characters, but desperate times call for desperate measures. It's going to be a rough ride for everyone. Tragedy, fun, thrills, they're all in there! 

Lost, The Sequel to Taken: Synopsis, Playlist and Character tidbits. KINDA SPOILY

 
I'm working hard on the sequel to Taken. It's going to be a lot darker, sexier and bloodier. The story is kicked up a notch so there's a bit more violence and language, but nothing I think is too bothersome for YA readers. I will admit that I'm toeing the line just a bit, but nothing graphic.
Synopsis: 
"Jackson Smith never wanted to become leader. He just wanted to get out of Wicker Farm, a town in the parallel universe he's trapped in. And now his new plan is facing tough opposition from the new man in charge, with potentially deadly consequences. The only things that keep Jackson going are his memories of the girl he loves, the girl he sacrificed his one wish for. But with maniacal marauders and a mysterious beauty standing in his way, he will need more than love to see his quest through to the end."
*

The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination. – Marion Zimmer Bradley
*I'm listening to a lot great songs as I write:
1) Thirty Seconds to Mars -- Hurricane: I absolutely love this song, especially the Unplugged version. It's such a dark and beautiful song, and I think it really captures where we start off in the story. My favorite lyrics:
Tell me would you kill to save your life?/ Tell me would you kill to prove you're right?/ Crash, crash, burn let it all burn/This hurricane's chasing us all underground
2) The Weeknd's --Life of the Party: It has a really steamy, seductive feel to it.
3) Lykke Li -- I Follow Rivers: The intro is so amazing. Using this to write a lot of mobile scenes.
4) Jen Wood -- Pills: Mood setting.
5) Grace Potter and the Nocturnals -- Paris (Ohh La La): Probably the theme song of one of Jackson's main companions, Valentina. She's pretty awesome and I can't wait for you to meet her.
6) Selena Gomez and The Scene -- A Year Without Rain: This is probably obvious. It's probably the sappiest scene in the book. It doesn't last very long. It's not that kind of story.
Character Tidbits:
"Lost" is going to be a huge psych journey for Jackson, and we're really going to see a young man becoming someone he never expected to be, and that's good and bad. The way everyone ends up in Miranda is enough to break them. Jackson didn't break in Taken...but there's still time. There's time for him to become a lot of things and for a lot of things to happen to him, too.
 I'm most excited about introducing Valentina. I like writing about kick-ass girls and she is one of them. She's very no-nonsense, and "shoot first, ask questions later."
You'll also see Jackson forming a really unexpected bond with one of the characters, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Oh, and people die. It's going to be a rough ride for everyone. Tragedy, fun, thrills, they're all in there! 

I miss Fear Street

When I was in elementary school one of my parents always took me to the library at least twice a week. I loved to read. Still do. And back then R.L. Stine was my favorite author, and I would devour his Fear Street series. I would read about four in as many days.They were fun, easy and addictive reads. The thing I love most about R.L. Stine is that he wanted (still wants) to entertain.

I came across Stine's "College Weekend" (published in 1995)  in a storage container while trying to keep myself busy during the hurricane, and I re-read it (in under 2 hours mind you). I didn't remember the plot in specifics, but at my age, I figured it out pretty quickly. That's not a bad thing. To me that's the fun part. Journey. Not destination. The entire Fear Street series was about normal teens getting caught up in really horrible, but often comical situations that you wouldn't wish on anyone. I really thought for awhile that being a teenager involved psycho neighbors and prank calls all the time.  Anyway, the Fear Street wasn't supposed to change anyone's life. It was just about reading and not being in your own world for a little while.

Whatever happened to books that were just about entertainment? Why does every book nowadays have to awaken some part of your soul or make you weep or keep you awake at night for hours? Those books are great,sure, but why does it have to be one-size-fits-all? Sometimes, it's nice to just escape into another world without having to experience some type of catharsis. I like to be entertained first and foremost, anything else that happens is a bonus.

Vacation and new editions!!!

I'm taking a bit of a vacation over the next 3 weeks in more ways than one.

From writing: I'm so exhausted... burned out and I have been for months. Ick. It really doesn't allow you to be at your best, and I know I'm not, so it's best to step back. Sometimes you have to be real with yourself and say, "Self...pump the brakes."

A real vacation: I'm off to South Florida with my besties in about 2 weeks for 1 whole week!.. It's my post Labor Day, end of summer getaway. I need beach in my life before it gets too cold! I like to avoid going when there are crowds. And I'm not bringing anything techie, except my phone, I think. Maybe my iPad LOL, but I'll restrict myself to only an hour usage a day. ;)

From all (more like "most") things technological: I'm on email, but responding slowly.

Again, if you have the edition (regardless of the format) of Taken or The Persephone Prophecy: The Gift published before 8/23/11 and you want the new editions of either, please don't hesitate to ask!

And I've also kinda toned down/adjusted my schedule a bit:

Lost, The Taken Trilogy, Book#2 -- November

The Persephone Prophecy: The End -- February

Signing off, sorta,

-- Zia

Vacation and new editions!!!

I'm taking a bit of a vacation over the next 3 weeks in more ways than one.

From writing: I'm so exhausted... burned out and I have been for months. Ick. It really doesn't allow you to be at your best, and I know I'm not, so it's best to step back. Sometimes you have to be real with yourself and say, "Self...pump the brakes."

A real vacation: I'm off to South Florida with my besties in about 2 weeks for 1 whole week!.. It's my post Labor Day, end of summer getaway. I need beach in my life before it gets too cold! I like to avoid going when there are crowds. And I'm not bringing anything techie, except my phone, I think. Maybe my iPad LOL, but I'll restrict myself to only an hour usage a day. ;)

From all (more like "most") things technological: I'm on email, but responding slowly.

Again, if you have the edition (regardless of the format) of Taken or The Persephone Prophecy: The Gift published before 8/23/11 and you want the new editions of either, please don't hesitate to ask!

And I've also kinda toned down/adjusted my schedule a bit:

Lost, The Taken Trilogy, Book#2 -- November

The Persephone Prophecy: The End -- February

Signing off, sorta,

-- Zia

Taken, 2nd edition -- available now and more info.

I just released a 2nd edition of Taken today, 8/22/2011.  If you own the 1st edition or already purchased it (any time before 8/22), re-download (if possible w/o extra fee) or drop me an email (ziamariebooks@gmail.com).

-- Zia

Mea Culpa Sale

Mea Culpa Sale... everywhere. Enjoy.

Sneak Peek at Lost from The Taken Trilogy: First 3 pages!

If you haven't read "Taken" you may not want to keep reading.

Seriously, stop now...

Okay..you've been warned...


1 Where We Stand "I wanted to go home, Russell," I say. "I want to go home." A fire starts to grow outside, greedily consuming one of the houses in the compound. James, Russell and I watch as the structure starts to melt and give way to the glowing flames. Maybe I'm starting to go mad because the sight of that house surrendering to yellows and oranges, the crackling of wood and that strange hissing sound that always accompanies fire makes it seem more beautiful than the sunrise. I slide out from under Russell's arm, ignoring my urge to twist it until it breaks, and walk to the center of the room. I wait for him to turn around. "I'm leaving, Russell."His face twitches in response. He is not surprised, just annoyed. "Leaving Wicker Farm.""Yup." Leaving Wicker Farm. Like Sasha and Aubrey hopefully already have. My heart feels like it's in a vice grip all of a sudden, but worse because it's pain that's doing the clenching. I take in a deep breath and wish I could untangle the two of them from my thoughts. I want to hate Sasha the way I did when I first met her, but really mean it this time because I know that if I don't channel this ache into anger, I'm no better off than that house outside. The hurt will eat me alive. And I think I would probably let it.Silence sweeps into the room as Russell's Resistance cohorts halt in their tracks. One of them, who just a few seconds ago was tearing sheets out of a book, stops and tosses it to the floor. In fact, all of the destruction in the mansion seems to cease. It's so quiet that the fire sounds like a tornado. None of the other people in the room can decide which one of us to focus on. Their eyes move from me to Russell. Russell to me. Me to Russell."You want to go to wherever Sasha and the young one are?" Russell asks. He stands with his arms akimbo. James instinctively mimics the movement. Now I'm having trouble figuring out which of them to focus on. I only see two people I want very badly to push out of that window. "I'm leaving," I say.One of the Resistance members, a woman with a question mark-shaped scar running from her right eye to her jaw line, blocks the exit, slapping her hands to the door frame and forming an 'x' with her body. "I'd like to see you try." One of her hands is bloody. A shattered glass object lies at her feet."I'd like to see you try," she hisses again. She's so thin that I could walk right through her with minimal effort. "Jackson!" Russell says my name like we haven't seen each other in years. He waves the woman down from her threat. "Maybe I'm not being clear about how valuable you are. In the next few days, everyone here will presumably come down from their high regarding this coup de tat, and the last thing I want is a new Resistance forming. So I want you to help me. I'll give you the best Wicker Farm has to offer.""Oh, you mean the stuff you're burning?" I point to the window, but no one turns. The other Resistance members seem increasingly uneasy with my movements and probably now, my entire presence. The quickest way to lose friends in a room like this is to defy a leader when his subjects are there. It's really uncomfortable for all parties.

UK FANS!!!

I just wanted to say how much I love you! =)