Jenni Merritt's Blog, page 20

Book Review: Everneath

Everneath 
by Brodi Ashton

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Why I Picked This Book: Mostly blog buzz roped me in.  When I saw it on NetGalley, I just had to give it a try.  (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:
I was pleasantly surprised with Everneath. The cover had been floating around the blogosphere for some time, and I wasn't fully sure what it was about or if I wanted to read it.  When I received my copy, I figured: Why not? and dove right in.

Everneath plays on so many myths and beliefs it was very easy to fall right into the story.  Nikki has given up on the world.  Her mother has passed away.  Her boyfriend Jack, from what she saw, cheated on her.  She was ready to do anything to make the pain and memories go away.

And lucky for her, Cole had the solution.  He pulled her away to the Everneath, a place where immortals feed on the souls of living in order to hold onto their immortality.  The problem?  After she is fed on for a century and wakes up, Nikki still remembers Jack, her family, and the pain.  She has to go back, to make things right.  Only six months has passed in the real world, and now Nikki only has six more months left before she is gone for good, claimed by the Everneath.

Nikki.  I, as the reader, fed off her pain.  Though what she was dealing with was nothing entirely huge, it still left that pang of loss in my mind.  The fact that she still had to go back, to say the proper goodbyes, tugged at me.  She still loved Jack, regardless of what happened.  She still loved her family, even the with loss of her mother heavy on all their shoulders.  Though she fought against the ties that kept her heart attached to those she loved, she never severed them.

Cole was an awesome bad boy, in a good way.  What was great about this book is that even though there was a love triangle aspect, it never dominated the entire story.  Nikki knew who she wanted, even when the Everneath declared she was wrong.  Cole is bound and determined to keep Nikki by his side and rule the Everneath, but Nikki keeps her focus.

The writing was great.  Scenes blip back and forth between the past and present, Nikki's story unfolding as the pull of the Everneath grows stronger and stronger.  I loved the back and forth take on the story.  Watching the explanations unfold instead of being retold was an awesome treat.

I think the only thing I really did not like about this book was the climax/resolution.  I had many many ideas of where the story might go.  And where it went (barring spoilers) wasn't what I wanted.  I know we as the reader can't pick and choose, but I feel there was much more potential to the end of this book than what we got.  It wasn't horrible.  Just kind of... yeah. *grumble*

Overall, I really did enjoy the story.  I plan on buying it once it is in paper form, and will definitely be looking for the next book in the series.  If you are looking for a book that plays on myth, love, and redemption, make sure to check out Everneath.

Everneath Release Date: January 24, 2012

My Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)

HUGE News for Keary Taylor's "Eden"

You all remember my good friend Keary, right?

Independant author of the Fall of Angels series and Eden.  Amazing cover designer.  Awesome person.
I mention her all to often.

Well, I have some AMAZING news pertaining to her that can finally be shared with the world.  Ready for this??

KK&P lands pic rights to 'Eden'
Dystopian thriller to be based on Keary Taylor novel
By JEFF SNEIDER

Independent financier and production company Kerry, Kimmel and Pollack has acquired rights to Keary Taylor's novel "Eden," a dystopian thriller described as a cross between "The Hunger Games" and "The Terminator."

Story follows Eve, a teenage girl living in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity is on the brink of extinction and robots that were created to serve humans have turned against them. As Eve struggles to fight the Fallen and help her friends find safety, she must choose between a boy she has always trusted and one who holds the secrets to her past.

"Eden" will be produced by Mark Morgan ("The Twilight Saga"), Kami Garcia (the "Beautiful Creatures" series), Brett Hudson ("Fast Flash to Bang Time") and Michael Pollack ("Black Forest").

KK&P, which recently acquired feature film and TV rights to pop culture guru Caprice Crane's novel "How to Be a Hater," is currently in pre-production on the W. Peter Illif-scripted psychological thriller "Fast Flash to Bang Time."

(source)

That's right people!  Eden is on its way to the big screen!  Though no dates have been set yet (and we all know how Hollywood can be) the ball has begun to roll!  In fact, Keary and her hubby are flying out to CA this weekend to meet with MArk Morgan and Kami Garcia.

I am so excited for Keary!  And proud of her too!  Keary has recieved over 100 rejections since she began marketing her books out to agents.  She finally decided to go the self-publishing route... and look at her now. She is on fire!

Keary, you really do give hope for all of us independant authors out here in the wirting world.

*goes off to be giddy some more*

WIP Day - I Dream of Sentences

The other morning I woke up with a sentence in my head.

Just a random sentence, with no real planning or thought behind it.  I sat there, curled up in my blankets as hubby played with the boys out in the living room, and let the sentence simmer in my mind.

It was interesting.  A different thought.
And before I knew it, an entire rough plot for a book had taken form.  I didn't plan it.  Never thought of writing this story before.  All I had was a sentence that woke me up, and the rest was history.

I ran into the living room, snatched my netbook, and quickly typed out this new idea.  Hubby just sat and stared at me, a mixed look of amusement and confusion on his face.  People out there married or with a writer:
You do know you chose a crazy person, right?

Now then, I have no idea when I will get the chance to write this new story.  My idea stack is huge, and seems to always be growing.  I need more hours in the day, more energy in my body, less required sleep.  But this story intrigues me too much to let it disappear.  I want to write it.  Maybe I will dare to write while editing ITB this next year.  Maybe I will save it for the summer. Maybe it will simmer for another year, then burst into life.  Either way, I will write it.

Because, you know, a story is no good if it is not shared.

I just wanted to share this with all of you.  It is so crazy when muses decide to strike.  And I love it every time.  If you get struck by your muse, write it down.  You never know...

PN Update: 
Thank you SO much to those of you out there who have purchased a copy.  I am learning just how much more popular Kindle is than paperback, let me tell you.  I myself have a Kindle now and love it.  But that doesn't change the fact that paperback is a million times better.  I do love paper...

Right now I am trying to decide if I want to start fishing for reviews from blogs and readers.  Such a daunting thought!  I know I should.  I really should.  I will.  Some time... soon.  If you DO happen to read PN, and liked it, I wouldn't mind ratings and reviews at sites such as Amazon and Goodreads.  Just saying... *clears throat, looks around, smiles...*

My first shipment of copies is supposed to arrive here tomorrow.  So excited!  Most of them have already been spoken for (which is way too awesome).  I am very excited to open a box full of my book... then sign the copies and ship them off to readers!  Last night I signed my first copy, for a friend of my hubby.  It was strange, signing my own book.  And completely priceless.

BTW... being a lefty makes for signing books very difficult.  I sat there and twisted the book forever before I finally found a spot I could sign without totally creasing the spine.  Lefties... sigh.

That's about it for me this week. I hope your week has gone amazing.
Do feel free to share!

Happy Writing!

Book Review - Shatter Me

Shatter Me
by Tahereh Mafi

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. 

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. 

Why I Picked This Book: I have been following Tahereh Mafi on her blog for some time now.  So this book has been teasing me for some time as well.  When I won it in the Facebook Give Away... Yes, I literally did cheer.

My Thoughts:
Shatter Me was one of those books I heard of for what felt like forever, sat on pins and needles to get my hands on, then devoured as soon as it arrived.  Tahereh Mafi has a way with words I am not sure I ever experienced before.  I was pulled in, and just couldn't escape until the last page.

First, I do have to mention Mafi's writing style.  It is poetry in book form.  Mafi takes the rules of writing, then tweaks and messes with them until the sentences become their own form of awesomeness.  Her style made it very easy for me to dive into the mind of Juliette.  It was a beautiful, lonely, flowing mind.  One that I did not want to leave.

And the strikeouts.  I had never seen this used much in books before.  Words are struck out throughout the book, showing what Juliette truly wanted to say, then stopped herself.  Example:

His touch is scorching my skin through the layers of fabric and I inhale so fast my lungs collapse. I'm caught in colliding currents of confusion, so desperate so desperate so desperate to be close so desperate to be far away. I don't know how to move away from him. I don't want to move away from him.
I don't want him to be afraid of me. 

While at first this was a style I was wary of, as the story went on I craved it.  This, mixed with the poetry of Mafi's style, made for the perfect Juliette.

Now, onto Juliette.  A girl who's touch can literally kill.  What?  Yes, it's true.  After an incident where she touches someone and kills them, Juliette is locked away in an Institution.  Alone.  No human contact for 264 days, until suddenly one day she is assigned a room mate.  And it is a boy.  A boy she knows.

Long story short, a rogue organization frees Juliette, solely for the intent of using her touch as a weapon.  Have I mentioned that the entire world has gone to heck?  Well, it has.  And Warner, the bad boy of the book, plans to use Juliette to gain control.  Oh, and he is also utterly and creepily obsessed with her.

I loved the plot.  I loved Juliette.  I loved the shattered world.  Warner was just enough of a creep that I shuddered every time he walked into the room, and Adam was very much so a swoon worthy hunk.

My issues?
This book is very sexually driven.  While I am not complaining about that (come on, we all like the sparks), there were many moments where I wondered if I had somehow picked up the wrong book and was reading one of those books instead.  If you get my drift.  While I do understand Juliette's urges - heck, she hasn't touched pretty much anyone her entire life - there were moments I felt could have been tamed a little.  Especially for this being a young adult book.

I won't spoil, but there was one moment in particular, just one sentence she says to Adam, that I literally rolled my eyes and said, out-loud, "You did not just say that right now!"

Regardless, I loved the book.  I highly highly highly look forward to reading the next installment.  Shatter Me is X-Men means young adult romance, beautifully written and full of dystopian ruin.  Mafi has a true talent, and I plan on stalking  following her for many books to come.

My Rating (4 out of 5 stars)

QUICK Note About Prison Nation...

A very kind reader just informed me of two typos she found while reading Prison Nation.  Now, they aren't huge typos.  But just enough that I know I do not want to let them stay.

Ah, the life of the writing world.
We can only catch so many errors.  But hey, even the top notch publishing companies out there put out books with errors.  It is called being human.  Right?

Still...
I have already corrected the Kindle and Nook copies.
As for the paperback, I am working on that right now.  It may be down from its "available" status for a little bit.  But don't worry.  It will not be long.

To those of you who already bought a paperback or Kindle copy:
Aren't you just special?  You now own a limited edition, collector copy of Prison Nation.  No one else will ever own those typos, but you.  Feel special.

Now... off I go!

WIP Day - Ordering Books and TGIO

Brr it is COLD.  Seriously.  I am wrapped up in a blanket (okay... my zebra snuggie.  Yes, that's right.  Snuggie.  And I love it), a couple layers of clothing, heaters on... and I am still cold.  This entire week has been freezing.  But sadly, no snow.

Yes, I am a kid at heart.  And snow makes me happy.

At least the cold gives me a good excuse to cuddle down with a book and read.  Come on snow...

Anyhoo!  It is Wednesday, and WIP day.
*cheers*

Unless you have been internetless, or under a rock, or avoiding me... Prison Nation has almost been out there for one week now.  I still am having a hard time believing it.  Then I go to Amazon or Goodreads, and remind myself it is real.  Oh, so real.

By the way: I now have a Goodreads Author page.  Eep!

I just ordered my first box of books.  I cannot wait for that prettiness to get here!  Friends have already ordered their signed copies, much to my amazement, and once the box gets here I get to send those paperbacks out into the world.

(If you want to order a signed copy, please email me and we can chat)

I am thinking about doing a give away for PN.  What do you think?  Want a free copy?  Hmm...

In Other News:
I have decided to take December off writing.  Catch up on my photo backlog.  (Though being a dork and doing a photoshoot of my book doesn't help) Read.  (Lots and lots of reading) All of that.  It seems to be working pretty well, at this moment in time.

This last Saturday I went to my local NaNoWriMo TGIO Party.
It was an awesome event.  We ate cookies, chit chatted about writerly things, then were given the chance to get up and read a snippet from our NaNovels.

Now, I have vowed to not even look at RS for... some time.  So I brought PN with me (which was my 2010 NaNovel) and read a snippet from that.  It felt so great to stand in front of people, holding my book, and reading from it.  Completely nerve-racking (I grew up performing on stage, but I swear, this reading my voice was shaking the entire time!), but still great.

Then I spent the rest of the time taking tons of photos.  Because, you know, that's what I do.  Hey NaNoPDX... I love you!

Being there made me antsy to write again.  Yes, even after the craziness of NaNo I still feel the urge to write write write.
ITB has been sitting since the end of August, and has begun to nag on my mind.  It is almost editing time for it.  This next year?  It will be yet another editing year, though I do have a writing project in mind I may start underneath it, if I haven't gone completely crazy with editing.  A hint at the topic? Hmm... Let's just say it has to do with a Greek myth.

How long do you like to wait before you begin editing a WIP?
Got another WIP tugging at your mind?
Any news in your world?  Do share!

Happy Writing!

Prison Nation has been RELEASED

It is official.  Last night I hit the approve button.  And today... Prison Nation has been officially released into the world!
IT'S TRUE!I am now a self-published author.  And can hardly believe it. *pinches self*Yup, it's very very true.
Prison Nation is already available on CreateSpace for purchasing pleasures.  So pretty!The paperback is on Amazon now.  The Kindle is also available!  This all went a lot faster than I thought it would!
(Added 12-03) The Nook version is now up as well!I have also set up my Goodreads page!  Make sure to mark it to read!  My Goodreads author page should be up in a few days as well.
As for ordering signed copies... I will post more about that once I get all of the numbers crunched. :)
Okay, time to go sit, try to relax, and revel some more in the fact that...I AM AN AUTHOR!

Amazon | Kindle | Nook Goodreads | CreateSpace 

The Proof is HERE!

Guess what came in the mail.  That's right! My proof copy of Prison Nation. AH!
I thought it would be fun to share the opening of the package with all of you, since you all have been such a big part of this creation and process with me.  Forgive the pajamas... it was nighttime and hey, that is my usual get-up while writing anyway.  True Jenni, right there.

And the best part of all this (other than holding my own book for the first time...wow! Okay, that does take the cake):
-Last November 30th I was sitting back, amazed that I had finally written my first book.  Prison Nation had been born.
-November 30th of this year... I received the proof copy of that very book!  Honestly... How awesome is that?

Okay okay... I need to stop just staring at my BOOK... MY book... and actually start proofing it.

Who knows... if all goes awesome, it just may be out there for sale before we expect it. I will of course let you know. :)

*stares at book some more*
AH!

WIP Day - NaNo WINS and Proof Copies

It be WIP Day.
Again.
As every week.

And what updates we do have!

First, and pretty awesome (in case you missed my random post about it on Monday)...


I am a NaNoWriMo 2011 WINNER!
That's right.  At around 1:15 AM Monday morning, I crossed the 50k line and secured myself a NaNo win. I had planned to write enough to finish Monday evening, but as the word count got closer, I just couldn't stop.  Luckily, hubby had Monday off, so I was able to stay up late and type like mad.  He was even sitting next to me on his computer as I crossed the line.

I literally raised my arms in the air and cheered.  It was awesome.
And he got to see it.

I was starting to worry about if I would win this year.  It was tough.  The story was being mean to me.  My kiddos became anti-let-mommy-write soldiers.  I still had a photo backlog to catch up on, and honestly... sleep started to sound better to me than most anything.

Three wins in a year.  So pretty!Gosh, do I love my #writeshove friends on Twitter.  And my awesome Portland NaNo region.  And my friends who nag me nonstop (Yes Kimmel and Keary... majorly you.)

I feel great.  I accomplished my goal.
Though I might not be in love with RS right now.  While I know it requires MUCH editing and many gaps to be filled in before I potentially fall in love with it someday...  I am proud.  This was my third book I have written in one year.  My third rough draft brought into creation.  Three novels in a year. This is just nuts.  And regardless of my exhaustion and always messy home...
I feel great!

If you are out there and doing NaNoWriMo: HIGH FIVE.  Perhaps you have already won.  If so, I now throw confetti in your direction.  Perhaps you are still racing to the end.  If that is the case, KEEP GOING.  You can do this.  And perhaps you gave it a try but this year just didn't go right.  I still high five you.  Many people out there didn't even try.
You are amazing.

Whats next?:
A break.  That's right.  For at least the month of December, I am setting these WIPs aside and letting them simmer.  Maybe I will catch up on my photo editing.  Maybe I will read much to many books.  Maybe I will give in and not stick to this at all.  Either way, that is what is next.  Come January I plan to pull ITB back out of the drawer... and see what happens.

PN Update:
Have I mentioned?  I ordered my proof copy.
That's right!  It was shipped last Thursday, with an ETA of the 5th... such a long wait.  And I am going nuts.  But it should be worth it.  I am really hoping that it arrives and looks great and I can approve it.  As nervous as I am right now about releasing it to the world... I just need to get it done.

My Kindle version is all ready to go as well.  All it is waiting for is the paperback... and Prison Nation will enter the world.

In Other News:

Did you see the interview Writing in Wonderland posted...  of me ?  So surreal to see the word "author" next to my name...Don't forget to follow me other ways other than GFC, especially if you do not have Blogger.   Big GFC change coming in the future , and I love you all too much to lose you.I officially own a Kindle now.  It's true.  Don't get me wrong: I still opt for good old paper pages LONG before I turn to the ebook.  Still... It is nice to get my NetGalley books to read.  And to now offer book reviews for people who can only send ecopies.  

That's about it for this Wednesday!  How is your day going??

Happy Writing!

GFC is Changing (and I don't want to lose you!)

Many of you no doubt have heard by now:
Come March of 2012, GFC (Google Friend Connect) will no longer be available to NON-Blogger folk.  They claim it is not popular enough to upkeep for the other sites, so are nixing it.  In my oppinion, a stupid choice.  It seems pretty darn popular to me!  Still, it is happening.

Now, this presents the issue:
I may be losing some of you!

*very very sad face*

Though many of you are Blogger folk, and should be fine, I know some of you are not.  I do not want to lose you!  You, my followers, are what make me stick to my schedule and keep on blogging.  You are my friends I may never meet.

So, I am posting this now in hopes that all of you will have time to protect yourselves from disappearing from my blogging world come March 2012.

There are many ways to follow me, other than GFC.  Please, take a moment to follow me in one (or all!) of them.

RSS Feed Email subscription (Just punch your name into the little box in the left side bar!)
Facebook Twitter NetworkedBlogs (These 5 are my top recommended following choices)
Goodreads Tumblr
Google + (Though I still am rarely on there... but it still exists!)
All of these options are also listed in the LEFT sidebar of my blog.  Yes.  That one.  Over there.


I do not fully understand this change, or agree with it.  But, being as this is the internet, we just have to bite down and go with the flow.  Again, I do not want to lose any of you!  So please, make sure you are following me in other ways other than just GFC.  I hope I get to see ALL of you for many many months to come!

And as always...
HAPPY WRITING!