Jenni Merritt's Blog, page 14

Great Article about Keary Taylor

Hey there Readers!
Check out this sweet little article about fellow indie author, Keary Taylor!
READ IT HERE

Her newest novel, What I Didn't Say, releases this Friday!
Excited?  I know I am!

Speaking of... Have you entered my giveaway for a SIGNED copy?  No?  You should!  I will be getting it personally signed for the winner at Keary's What I Didn't Say Launch party.

So click HERE and enter away!

Keary and I at her author shoot last summer.  Being awesome.  As always.Happy Monday!

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor GIVEAWAY

The release of Keary Taylor's newest novel is only one week away!

To celebrate, I have decided to have a giveaway!  Yay!

On Friday, May 11th, Keary is hosting a Launch party for What I Didn't Say.  And I will be there.  (Yay!) The winner of this giveaway will win a copy signed by Keary at the party.

That's right.ONE SIGNED COPY OF WHAT I DIDN'T SAY
I have read this novel, and let me tell you: It is amazing.  It made me laugh.  It brought tears to my eyes.  It is far from the genre I usually read, but I am so happy that I did.  You should read it.

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.  (Goodreads)

You can watch the book trailer here

HOW TO ENTER:
This giveaway is only open to US residents.  Follow the Rafflecopter prompts below.  And enter away!
GIVEAWAY ENDS MAY 10TH
Just enough time for me to contact the lucky winner and get that book signed!  Spread the word!


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Book Review - Starters

Starters
by Lissa Price

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man.

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

Why I Picked This Book:  The synopsis was captivating, and eerie, so how could I resist?  (I received this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for a fair and honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.)

My Thoughts:
Starters is a captivating, creepy, high-energy read that thoroughly pulled me in from page one.  Price created a world that was believable, to the point that I would never want to step foot in it.

The world has ended, the whole middle age group dead, and it is just plain dangerous to be below the age of, oh say... 50.  That's the world Callie lives in.  She and her brother are in hiding, along with numerous other children.  The older adults (now able to age well into their upper 100's) are running the world.  And they tend to use the children as one main thing: slaves.

The only way Callie has left to make some money is to sign up for Prime Destinations.  An underground facility that rents your body out to the Enders (the old folk.)  That's right.  Rents.  You go to sleep, and they install their conscience into you to relive their glory days.  Three rentals, and you make enough money to survive.  This is working out for Callie.  Until her third rental happens... and she wakes up mid-rent.

Callie was a captivating protagonist.  Unlike other female leads in stories recently, she isn't night or day.  She doesn't have kung-fu powers, and she isn't a sniveling girlie needing a man to always protect her.  She is a teenager, struggling to survive.  I loved that.  Watching her grow and learn throughout the story, as she realizes the world is much worse off than she thought, was a great experience.

The world building was amazing as well.  Price crafted something that I would never want to live in.  It was easy to picture every aspect of this world.  From the run-down apartment buildings to the sprawling mansions.

I think my only true complaint about this book is the Enders.  Okay, yes.  Older people are wiser.  They do run our country and world.  But in Starters, it seemed ALL of the Enders somehow became rich, stuck up snobs who hate children and throw tempter tantrums.  While some weren't as extreme as others, it did become hard to believe that all good people stopped being good once they hit the ripe age of 50.

I think that right there is what pulled down my rating.
While the world was believeable, the story line captivating, I just couldn't fully understand a world where every old person alive acted like a teenager.

The love story part of Starters was... fast?  One of those "I see you and I love you" type things.  While at the ending it does make a little more sense, I still would have liked to see either more together time between the two, or less of the love all together.

My only other qualm is a spoiler.  So I can't say what it is.  But let's just say:  I called it.  And "ew."

All in all, Starters was a great read.  It should quench some of that thirst for any dystopian seeker out there.  I plan on snatching up book two as soon as it is out, to see where Price takes us next.


My Rating:
(4 out of 5 stars)

Fairy Tale Giveaway HOP WINNER

What a great turn out!
Cinderella sure felt like she was at the Ball with this Giveaway.

Without any further ado, let's announce the winner, shall we?

The winner of my Fairy Tale Giveaway HOP, walking away with a new copy of Cinder by Marissa Meyer is:


Stacy!
Congrats Stacy!
I have emailed you.  If I don't hear back from you within 48 hours, I will have to redraw my winner.  So don't delay!

Thank you to everyone who entered.  These hops are just too much fun.  I cannot wait to do another, and I hope you all stick around to see what I have up my sleeve next!  See you real soon!

Fairy Tale Giveaway HOP

Welcome to my stop on the Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop!Hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32reads
This Hop looked too fun to pass up.  As part of the Hop, we blogs were given a certain challenge.  After reading through the list of options, I decided that a character interview would be something interesting and entertaining to do.

The problem was choosing who my favorite fairy tale character was.  How can I?  Finally, I opted for one who I have always enjoyed.  Not to mention she goes right along with the book I am giving away.

With no further ado... Meet Cinderella

___________________

Hello Cinderella!  How are you today?

Fine, thank you.  *looks around impatiently* Can we hurry up with this though?  I still have like, fifty things to do before my Stepmom gets home.

Of course!  You have fallen into being the housekeeper I have noticed.  Tell me, do you have a favorite chore?

Ha!  Fallen into?  More like forced.  But whatever, technicalities are lame.  No, I do not have a favorite chore.  I pretty much hate them all.  Why do you think I have trained my mice to help?  If I had a choice, I would be... *sighs*

No, don't stop.  What would you be doing if you had a choice?

Well... *leans forward* I haven't told anyone this, but I dream of opening my own shoe shop.  I need money to do that though.  My Stepmom is fully loaded, but she won't even let me go to the Ball.  I highly doubt she would provide a loan for a shoe shop.

She won't let you go to the Ball?  Have you thought of going anyway?

Of course I have.  But what can I do?  Wish that my rags magically become a ball gown and that stupid pumpkin out there sprouts wheels and a coachman?  *sighs*  Sorry, I have to cut this short.  My Stepmom should be back soon and will no doubt have more cinders for me to sweep.

___________________

Well, the interview didn't quite go as planned.  Cinderella seemed to be in quite a foul mood, but I have a feeling if she wishes hard enough, something awesome might happen soon.  What do you think?


The Giveaway: 
One lucky entrant will win a hardback of Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Rules:  

Follow my blog (GFC, NetworkedBlogs, Linky or RSS... all count!)Fill out the handy Rafflecopter below, and you are good to go!
Open to anywhere the Book Depository ships!
This Hop will run end May 1st.

Make sure to enter, and check out all the other blogs in this Hop!


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WIP Day - Beta Time and Bookstore Shoots

This has been one of those weeks of absolute gorgeous weather.  The kind where you cannot even imagine yourself hiding away on the computer.  You just want to be outside, absorbing the sunshine and breathing the fresh air.  I am so happy to see spring finally arriving! (Although the 80 degree day was a BIT too much for my liking!)

Even with the nice weather and all of its temptations, I am starting to feel that writing vibe again.  Yay!

This last week I put all of my focus on finishing the beta read of Keary Taylor's newest novel, What I Didn't Say.  Oh my goodness.  While at first I wasn't so sure (it is far from the genre I typically read), as soon as I let myself dive in I couldn't stop.  Keep your eyes out for this book!

I am hoping to be hosting a giveaway for a signed copy of it soon (I get to attend the launch party!  Yay!)  So again... keep your eyes out!  Well done, Keary.  VERY well done!

(If you missed it, you can watch the trailer for her book here)

Now that I have that done, I am moving forward.  My 30 Day Photography Challenge is almost over.  It has been fun, but exhausting!  ITB has been attacking my mind lately.  It wants attention.  I finally have been able to work some things out for it, and I cannot wait to polish that WIP up.

Oh!  And I just have to share: Fellow writing friend Jamie Manning's BLOOD BORN is now released!  I am super excited to get my hands on my own signed copy.  Check it out! *smiles*

That is about it for my weekly update.  I need to keep reminding myself that Pottermore isn't that important, Facebook will still be there in an hour, and my WIP needs my love.  Distractions... they are too tempting!


Just for fun:
About a month ago two of my closest friends came down for a weekend visit.  While here, we went to Powells with Vince James Photography and had some fun friends photos taken.  I just have to share a few!  (And boy does this make me even more excited to do the shoot of my sister-in-law we have planned!)



PN is an indie novel, but I still have dreams of seeing my works in a stone and mortar bookstore, someday.  I couldn't resist sneaking some shots of it with all of the other paper wonders.




HAPPY WRITING!

Book Review - Entwined

Entwined
By Heather Dixon

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . . Lush, romantic, and compelling, this debut novel by Heather Dixon will thrill fans of Shannon Hale, Robin McKinley, and Edith Pattou.

Why I Picked This Book:  I love fairy tales.  When searching for a new take on an old thing, I came across Entwined and decided to give it a try.

My Thoughts:
Entwined was an enchanting read.  Heather Dixon took a well-known fairy tale, and gave it something more than just its bedtime appeal.  I have been searching for a magical, fairy tale read.  And this one stuck true to that need.

The kingdom is broke.  Magic barely exists anymore, except in strange tea kettles and the clock tower bell.  The only thing that provides any sort of magic for the eleven princesses is dancing.  But when their mother dies giving birth to princess number twelve, the king banishes dancing.  The castle goes into mourning.  No windows can be open.  No colors worn except for black.  And most of all: No Dancing.

Azalea, the oldest of the princesses, now has to step up and take care of her sisters as their father disappears off to war, lost in his own grief.  It isn't long until they find a hidden, magical passageway.  One that leads to a dance hall kept by the mysterious Keeper.  The girls have found their release, their escape to dancing, but at what price?

Dixon has a way with words, and builds this world from the ground up.  It was easy to get lost in the story.  The story did feel like it ran rather long.  Still, it captivated me and pulled me along.

Azalea was a well rounded protagonist.  Learning to become mother to her sisters, fighting for what she needs in life, and still full of weakness and tenderness.  It was kind of sad to see that the other sisters never got a chance to be as well defined.  I know.  There were twelve of them.  Still, I felt at many times that I was mixing up who was who and never could really connect to this sister bond they all shared.  It was more Azalea, and the sisters.

As for Keeper.  He has all the potential of a dark, menacing antagonist.  You never know what to expect from him next, and he lures the girls in with ease.  Sadly, he fell short for me.  There was something I couldn't quite place that left this character feeling hallow at times.  I just couldn't fully be afraid of him like I felt I should be.  Still, I enjoyed his dark, twisted self.

There are love stories in the mix too.  I would have liked to see some of them explored a bit more.  But with how long the book was already, I know that would make it too much.

I think the only other reason that this story didn't fully grab me and make me fall head over heels in love with it... was the time era.  I have never been a fan of Jane Austen era stories.  Entwined rings of that era, which instantly put me off a bit.  Not enough to stop reading.  But just enough that it made it a little harder for me to stay in touch.

All in all, I did enjoy this book.  I will no doubt be buying it in paper copy soon.  If you enjoy anything from the "Price and Prejudice" type era, or are just looking for a nice fairy tale to get lost in, give Entwined a chance.

My Rating: (3 out of 5 stars)

What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor - Book Trailer Release

Keary Taylor (author of the Fall of Angels Triology and Eden) has just released the book trailer for her soon to be released novel, What I Didn't Say.  And I am here to share it with you.  Yay!

Let me tell you, I love this trailer.  The use of voice over that melts into written word... it fits the novel pretty darn well!  I cannot wait for the coming release of What I Didn't Say so that you all can enjoy this read.  Keary is an amazingly talented author and I feel pretty lucky to not only claim her as a writing buddy, but as a good friend too.

Ready for the book trailer?
Here it is!






What I Didn't Say
By Keary Taylor

Release Date: May 11, 2012

Synopsis:

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it. 

Dying to read it?  I hope you are!
Make sure to add What I Didn't Say to your Goodreads list today!

WIP Day - I Missed My Blog

It is no secret.
I have been horrible at blogging lately.

That comes with life.  Or, more accurately, having a busy life.  Life has been just that for me lately.  Busy.  I feel like I rarely have time to just do "my thing" anymore.  What with beta reading, photo editing, photo shoots, kids, birthdays, vacation planning...

Okay, all of that is my thing.

But with life happening, things such as my blog gets pushed to the way back burner.  Along with my writing.  Which isn't a good thing.  I don't know how I have managed to let it slip so much.  ITB is crying, nightly.

Right now I am working on beta reading Keary Taylor's newest novel.  Once that is done, ITB gets my love, adoration, and attacking attention.  I feel like a broken record.  I need to actually listen to myself and finally git er done.  I have so many other writing projects waiting on the horizon (oh, don't you only wish you knew...) but they will never see the light of day until this current WIP is torn apart.

Research question:  What is one aspect for a YA Paranormal you wish you saw more of?  I know love triangles conquer all lately... but is there something else you wish for?  Just curious...

Photography wise... I am doing a 30 Day Challenge this month.  And it is fun!  Makes me think about setting up a 30 Day Writing Prompt Challenge... hmm... *thoughts spin out of control*

Oh!  And my oldest turned 4 last week!  How crazy is that?  He is now learning how to write and read... and is loving it!  Here is a little conversation I had with him the other day:

Him: "Mom, what can I do with my imagination?"
Me: "Well, what do you want to do?  Draw?  Write a book?  Mommy wrote a book with her imagination."
Him: "A book!?  But I don't have a library!"
Me:  "I have lots of books in my room.  It's like a library."
Him: "Okay!  I'm going to your library to write my book!  I will be back in just a minute!"

Then he ran off, looked at my books for some time... then came back and announced writing his book was hard and would take longer than he thought.  I love this little four-year-old of mine!

My little family at my son's birthday party.  Wee!!

How was your week?  Any new progress in your WIP world?  Do share!

Happy Writing!

Giving Characters Your Bad Habit

We are often told to "write what we know."  While that is awesome advice, it can be tricky to follow.  You want to write what you know.  But you also don't want to write an entire life story, all about yourself.  So how do you choose what to include in your creation, and what to leave out?

Recently I shared a post on my photography blog for the 30 Day Challenge I am taking part in.  That day's challenge: A Bad Habit.  I decided to show the world my fingers, and all the cuticle picking that they take.  It is my bad habit.  I hate it.  But as any bad habit goes, I cannot seem to stop.

This got me thinking.

What bad habits of mine could translate well into a story?  What bad personality traits could make the character I am creating that much deeper?

Yeah, I know.  Why on Earth would we want to forever share with the world our bad habits?
That's a simple answer: They make us human.

And these worlds we are writing, these characters we are creating... we are trying to make them as human as possible.  All the way down to the nose picking, gum popping, and trash stashing secrets.  That is what gives our stories depth.  It is what makes the reader keep reading, because they too have just eaten their fifth candy bar in under a minute and hate the fact that they cannot stop.

Here are a few of my tips for adding in your flaws:

Sit back and really think about what your bad habits are.  Yeah, sounds fun right?  Well, it is!  Take some time to go over all the bad habits and traits you have, and jot them down.  You can hide this list.  It is just for your personal notes.Pick one that fits best with your character.  If he is a public speaker but can't shake the need to say "um," that's gold.  If she never invites anyone into her home because of her always messy counters, there you go!Don't dwell on it.  While adding this trait to your character will add a whole new depth, you don't want to always be pointing it out.  Just like a bad habit in real life, you don't flaunt it.  Let the reader feel like they know a secret.That is, unless you find the bad habit becomes the driving force of the story.You don't need to let people know where you came up with the trait.  They don't need to know that you are the one who can't seem to stop picking your wedgie.  Just let your character get the bad rep.
I know with my writing I have incorporated bad habits both of my own and others I have observed.  It makes writing the story much more fun to do.  Finding the moment you can mention the habit once again.  Helping the character overcome it.  Or watching them fail to the trait.

Next time you are stuck and don't know what to do to your story next, give it your bad habit.  You just may be happily (and most likely embarrassingly) surprised at where it will lead you.

Challenge:
Write a short story, driven by one of your bad habits or personality traits.  Then post a link in my comments so I can read it!  

Happy Writing!