Abbi Glines's Blog, page 49

The Good....the Bad....the Ugly

        The day Breathe was released I believe I've mentioned that I wanted to crawl under my bed and stay there. That feeling quickly left and I embraced the lovely reviews coming in. I loved hearing that Breathe had kept a reader up all night. This review thing wasn't so bad. I could do this. It was actually quite lovely. The birds were chirping and the sun was shinning. Then came my welcome into the world of Goodreads.....ow, ow, ow ouch! The first taste of a bad review and shortly after came another. I thought I had thick skin but I thought wrong. My skin is painfully thin. Under my bed was looking better and better. I actually went on a Goodreads hiatus for a day just to work the air back into my battered chest again. Sounds ridiculously dramatic, I know but that's how I roll.       I finally managed to get the thin skin under control and soothe my aching chest with this simple fact: for every bad review I got there were at least three good reviews. Not everyone was going to like my story or my writing (which I can tell you the latter hurts worse). I don't love every book I read but that doesn't make the author a bad writer it just isn't my taste. Not everyone would love me. I'd chose this road and I was going to have to hang on tight and enjoy the ride, bumps and all.  I won't lie and tell you the pain goes away because it doesn't. Maybe it gets easier but it doesn't disappear. You just learn to deal. Swallow it maybe even take a little something from it, IF you can bring yourself to read it. I'm forcing myself to read the bad ones so I can learn ways to make my future books better. I don't intend to change my ideas but if they offer some sort of constructive criticism I'm soaking it in. To be a writer that's something I'll have to learn. Maybe one day I will be able to sign on to Goodreads without feeling as if I need to throw up ;)

Meet the Author of today's new YA release "Winnemucca"- Laura Elliot

I have the pleasure of interviewing Laura Elliot on my blog today. She is the author of Winnemucca a paranormal coming of age YA novel just released today! She talks about herself, her writing, and Winnemucca. Check it out!

1. What was your favorite book as a child?
The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury because it was the first story that I could see in my mind.
2. Who is your favorite author and why?
Gabriel García Márquez because when I read his stories I am at once transported to magical worlds and yet feel like he's telling me the story over coffee. I love Fannie Flagg for the same reason.
3. What is your book about?
Courage, the cost of freedom and true love.
4. What book would you love to see go to the big screen?
Lydia Mendoza's Life in Music - La historia de Lydia Mendoza by Yolanda Broyles-González
5. If you could create a dream cast for the character in your book who would play them?
                                          "GINNY" -EMMA STONE                                           "BOBBY" - ZAC EFRON
                                       "CLYDE" - CHASE CRAWFORD
                                          "SUPERSTAR" - EMILE HIRSCH
                                          "LIZZY" - CAREY MULLIGAN                                           "CARLOS" - JAVIER BARDEM                                                   "ESPY" - SHAKIRA
                                                    "DOLLY" - SUSAN SARANDON                                                      "EARL" - TOMMY LEE JONES
                      (Couldn't find a picture I was sure fit this one)
         FAIRY TRUCK DRIVER - A YOUNG SAM ELLIOTT
6. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I had a problem that was so big the only way I could work my way out of it was to write about it.
7.  Can you tell us a little about your favorite scene in the story?
I happens when she's walked to the prison just outside of town and comes face-to-face with her greatest weakness: it isn't in her nature to be free. She reaches down into the dirt and presses some to her heart and becomes a Child of the Road. 
8. Besides writing, what other interests do you have?
Hiking, travel, construction, gardening, reading to kids with Monterey Reads, cooking, yoga
9. Where can readers find you on the web?
www.authorlaura.com
10. Are you currently working on another book? If so can you give us a hint as to what it is about?
Yes. My next book is THIIRTEEN ON HALLOWEEN and you can see the beginnings of the cover on my website: http://www.authorlaura.com/#!booksIt&... about an unlucky girl who travels to Planet Popular where she gets everything she wants except her old life back.
Winnemucca One mistake changes her life forever. One answer will set her free. Once upon a time Ginny's road blood ripened, the day she got wise to love. Engaged to the high school quarterback, his quarter-carat ring and enchanting smile should have been enough for her. But, she stands him up and takes a walk where every step questions her happily ever after gone-bad and the fate of the mother she never knew. The mother her father refuses to talk about. Ginny fights to untangle her big, fat, lie-of-a-life on an enchanted road trip to Winnemucca, where she believes all her answers lie, no matter who or what tries to stop her. 

Upcoming YA release by author Laura Elliot WINNEMUCCA

WINNEMUCCA
Once upon a time Ginny's road blood ripened, the day she got wise to love. Engaged to the high school quarterback, his quarter-carat ring and enchanting smile should have been enough for her. But, she stands him up and takes a walk where every step questions her happily ever after gone-bad and the fate of the mother she never knew. The mother her father refuses to talk about. Ginny fights to untangle her big, fat, lie-of-a-life on an enchanted road trip to Winnemucca, where she believes all her answers lie....

Find out more about Laura Elliot and her YA coming of age paranormal release WINNEMUCCA HERE and look for it on Amazon this Friday July 15! This Friday I will also be interviewing Laura right here so check back to find out more about WINNEMUCCA and its awesome author!

YA Scavenger Hunt.. prizes, surprises and more OH my!

Join me and authors Josephine Angelini, Angela Corbett, Andrea Cremer, Kady Cross, Heather Davis, Bree Despain, Clare Dunkle, Marley Gibson, Colleen Houck, Tara Hudson, Elana Johnson, Alexandra Monir, Lisa Nowak, Gregg Olsen, Amy Plum, Beth Revis, Lisa and Laura Roecker, Inara Scott, Sophie Jordan, Lani Woodland and many more on August 1st for a YA Scavenger hunt.  Fabulous surprises wait around every corner.  Don't miss out on exclusive access to bonus chapters, news on upcoming books, cover reveals, and much much more! There will be swag scattered all along for you to enter to win. Your special all access pass is good for one day only.  All the bonus material heads back into the vault on Aug 2nd so circle the date on your calendars and join us as we celebrate what's new in YA fiction! 
FOR MORE INFO SEE:  http://www.tigerscursebook.com/blog/post-113/

What About Marcus?

       When I wrote Breathe I never put much thought into Marcus actually being a member of a love triangle. Since Sadie never feels anything more than friendship for Marcus I didn't think he would cause such an intense like in readers. I've received comments, emails, Twitter direct messages and more from readers who want to know "What About Marcus?"
I am thrilled one of the other characters in the story has been so well loved. The one negative review I have read on Breathe the reader was passionate about her love for Marcus and her disgust that Sadie didn't choose him. I figured if she was going to hate the story at least she was so passionate about her dislike that not only did she finish it but she wrote an incredibly long review on it. That's better than someone who was bored and couldn't finish!
After much thought I have decided to give Marcus his own story. Currently, I am in edits with Wild Child Publishing on my second YA novel, Existence . This past week I decided to put the current novel I am writing on hold and write Marcus a story. I already had an idea simmering in my head and now I have a reason to run with it.

Something I am working on.....

This afternoon I had the Jax and Sadie from Breathe's book trailer (which releases tomorrow by the way) over to help me with a little something I am working on. Sorry no details. However, we had some interesting conversations and our handy photographer from Keith Glines Photography was on hand to snap shots while we pulled a little something together for the YA Scavenger Hunt in August. Below are some shots of the "Faces of Jax and Sadie"






Sadie the character meeting Sadie the dog :)

Jax

Finding a Jax for Breathe's book trailer was a little tricky. I searched through at least a hundred pictures searching for a guy that had the face and body of Jax. My "Sadie" texted me a name. She had been thinking about a "Jax" too. When I picked up my iPhone and read her suggestion I squealed then grabbed my macbook went straight to Facebook and studied all the pictures on the "suggested Jax" Facebook profile. I knew him. He had the look but I needed to see how photogenic he was and what sort of facial expressions he made. The fact my "Sadie" felt comfortable with him made it an added plus.  Not only did my "Jax" agree to the part he also bought the book (which if he'd asked I would have given him a free copy) and read it so he knew who it was I needed him to be. So.....the face of Jax is........
This is an actual still shot taken from the book trailer. Now you've seen the two main characters....I MAY throw in a shot of Marcus later this week ;)


Barnes & Noble 
Wild Child Publishing 

The Face of Sadie

When I wrote Breathe, I never really stopped to think about who the characters in my story might resemble. I had an idea in my head but I didn't study faces on the street and find people who I thought looked like Sadie or Jax. Their image was safely tucked away in my head. Then came the need for a book trailer. I watched hundreds of book trailers. Several didn't give you actual images of the characters and I considered going that route but I didn't like it. Not for this story. This was Sadie and Jax story. I needed people in this trailer. I needed a Sadie. Honestly it didn't take me but five minutes to come up with the girl I knew would be the perfect Sadie. One girl stood out in my head. There wasn't even a need for a list of possibilities.  photo by Keith Glines KeithGlines.comThis is a shot of her at the book trailer filming. She did an incredible job. Maybe I'll leak a picture of Jax soon.....he was harder to find. But I found a great one!

Will You Ever Finish It?

        Just because I have been writing since I was eight doesn't mean all those "manuscripts" stuck under my bed are complete. I think maybe one is and it sucks. I haven't read it in ages but I don't have to read it to know it sucks. Why? Because I had to force myself to complete it. The word count is ridiculously low for its genre and the idea doesn't flow. Hence, why it is under my bed with the little dust balls and old socks.        It took me until I was thirty- one years old to realize I was writing the wrong genre. YA had never been a genre I even considered. Until after participating in a "book club" one summer which included reading all four of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books by Ann Brashares. I loved them! Then I realized this series was considered YA fiction. Heck, YA had come a long way since Sweet Valley High. There was nothing cheesy about it. So, that following fall I began trying my hand at writing a YA novel. I finished it in two months. Maybe one day I will go back and rewrite, tweak, polish it enough to send to my publisher because my first attempt left much to be desired. However, it wasn't long after that attempt that I got the idea for my current novel, Breathe. I was so excited about the concept of Breathe, I wrote eight to ten hours a day for a month. Not because I felt like I had to or it was my job but because I couldn't think about anything else. The day I typed that last sentence and checked my word count it said 75,000 words. I remember whispering the words "wow". I'd been so busy getting this story out of my head and onto the computer screen I hadn't stopped to worry about word count. For the first time the story had driven me and nothing else. I'd found my genre. 

My Favorite Author List

            Sometimes you will catch a book review on my blog but it isn't often. Even though, I read three to four books a week. Trying new authors is also something I am a big fan of doing. BUT.....        I do have my favorites. Don't we all? I thought I'd share my top five favs over the next few weeks. They are by NO means in order. Just all equally in the top five. I had a hard time narrowing them down so I chose the top five by asking myself, "Who do I get all giddy with delight and lose sleep over when I know they have a new release coming out?" Easily five authors popped in my head.         I am going to kick it off with Jennifer Echols because she is an Alabama girl too. Two years ago, I sat on my couch with my lap top searching for a new book to read. I wanted an author I had never read before. Something new and fresh. I bought Jennifer Echols, The Boys Next Doo r. OMG!! It was one of those all nighters for me. I couldn't stop reading. The next morning after getting a few brief hours of shut eye I grabbed my lap top and surfed on over to Barnes & Noble again. This time I bought, Major Crush.  A frenzy began. I got my hands on all the books she had out at the time and eagerly awaited each new release. Currently awaiting the release of Love Story . If you haven't read her books then crawl out from under that rock and fall in love!A quick "Abbi version" recap of my three favs by Jennifer Boys Next Door : It's summertime and Lori has decided to get the boy next doors attention. She sports off her new look and throws out all the stops but is she after the wrong brother.... Major Crush : She was once a beauty queen but now Virginia has put all her drive and ambition into becoming the drum major in her high school band. Sparks fly between her and the popular sexy  co-drum major who resents her...or does he? Going Too Far: (FELL SLAP in LOVE with this one. I've read it three times) Meg is Hell bent on breaking the rules. Her wildly colored hair and bad attitude get her arrested. As punishment she has to spend her spring break riding in a cop car with her arresting officer every night who happens to be a  very young, sexy cop that she once sat near in class....Okay those three are my favorites from Jennifer Echols. Although all her books are incredible!