Mindee Arnett's Blog, page 15

Some Recommendations — Clarity, Dr. Who, and HP4 Writers

Okay folks, got some recommendations to throw your way. These are things that have brought me some laughs, chills, thrills, and deep thoughts this last week (Douglas Adam pun definitely intended), and I thought you might want to check them out, too.
Clarity by Kim Harrington was a fun, fast Young Adult novel of my favorite variety, the kind with plot. Don't get me wrong, I really love YA, but a lot of it is pretty story-light. I like YA books with more of a Middle Grade sense of story — you know, where stuff happens — and this is one of them. Clarity is like Veronica Mars meets the Medium, and it's a perfect summer/beach read.

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I'm still digging me some Dr. Who. It's so fun, so wacky, so British (totally in a good way). Unfortunately, however, even the cheesy, I'm-so-obviously-fake alien, zombie, and monster costumes are too scary for my 3 1/2-year-old. I've been forced to watch the episodes on the computer while cooking dinner or running on the treadmill, but that's okay. They're still fun. Speaking of satirical British fun, I think might have to consider reading some more Jasper Fforde in the near future…

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And last but not least, I'm very happy to say how much I enjoy Susan Sipal's blog Harry Potter for Writers. It's fantastic. It's brainy. It's totally Harry Potter geeky and also immensely insightful into J.K. Rowling's writing craftsmanship. If you're a writer and even a tiny bit of a Harry Potter fan (is there really such a thing?) then you should check it out.

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That's all for now. I'm currently reading Divergent by Veronica Roth, and I feel a definite recommendation coming on for this one, too. Oh, and a little wonderful birdie told me today that I've got an advanced reader's copy of Maggie Stiefvater's The Scorpio Races on the way to me. Woohoo! Now my only trouble is going to be finding enough time for all this good stuff.

Pop Culture Adventures — The Crazy World of Dr. Who (and a good luck to the sis)

Anybody besides me looooooooove Netflix? Go on, raise your hand. Or not, since I can't see you anyways. But seriously. Netflix has become my pop cultural gateway to some old and not-so-old stories. Let's see. In the past couple years, it's introduced me to Downton Abbey, Sherlock, Alias, Supernatural (which I now DVR), and of course my beloved Veronica Mars.
But my latest Netflix escapade (and potential love affair?) is Dr. Who, specifically the 2005+ version. I've made it through two episodes and been enjoying myself so far, despite some major cheese going on (or maybe because of the cheese?) and the combination soap-opera/porno "look and feel" of the camera work. Still, the cleverness of the dialogue, the Douglas Adams sense of the absurd, and the genuine British accents are enough that I'm quite certain I'll be sticking around for the duration. I have some issues with how heavy-handed the themes are—like a frying pan would be more subtle—but overall this seems like a lot of fun.
On a side note, I want to wish a big huge "GOOD LUCK" to my sister pictured below) who's competing in her first Event this weekend (for you non-horse people, it's like a triathlon, combing dressage, stadium jumping, and cross country). She's riding a fabulous horse and has a fabulous trainer/coach, and I know she's going to have a blast and kick butt!

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Reading Report

Hope you're liking the redesign going on with the blog, guys. I know I am, and a big thanks to my sister for all the hard work she's put in on it. Thanks, Man. You're the best!
On the reading front, I'm still slogging my way through The Passage by Justin Cronin. It's good. It's very good. But man is it dense and long. I keep getting worn out by it and have to stop and read something else. I actually started reading it last summer, went about 300 pages in, and then put it down until a couple of weeks ago. Did I mention that it's dense? And long? But still beautifully, amazingly good.
Up next I plan on tearing through Clarity by Kim Harrington. I've read the opening pages, and I know already how much I'm going to enjoy it. Anything that channels some Veronica Mars flavor works for me.
On my need-purchase-next radar, I've got Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake due out August 30th. I've read the first chapter of this one, too (available on Tor's website here), and it's stunning! Seriously. I've never felt such sympathy for a murderous ghost before. Powerful stuff. And she's definitely channeling some Supernatural flavor, which like VM, does it for me, too.
Even further down on the radar, I've got Raylan by Elmore Leonard which isn't going to hit shelves until (gasp) February 2012. The book's scheduled to release in conjunction with the 3rd season of Justified, which if you haven't watched this show yet, I command you to go do so now. Seriously. I LOVE Justified, not quite to the point where I would consider naming one of my children after a character (ahem, that honor goes to Firefly ), but enough that I'm considering naming the new kitty Raylan, or maybe Arlo.
Happy Reading!

Furry Friday — Big News Edition

So you know how in my last post I gave myself a pep talk about starting a first draft on a new novel? Well, I haven't written a single new word since. But there's a very good reason for that. I've been revising the last novel for my lovely and super-fabulous agent Suzie Townsend of FinePrint Literary Management!
That's right. Suzie has offered me representation, and I've happily accepted. Yah! Fireworks and celebrations commence!
I wanted to say a HUGE thank you to my critique partners for all their help. And also to Suzie's assistant Sarah Goldberg who's already been immensely encouraging.
But now I need to get back to revising.
Before I go, I want to leave you with a pic of the newest addition to my furry family. I rescued this little kitty from the eaves of my barn last Saturday. That's right. The eaves, as in the top of the roof, as in he was trapped like a baby down a well. But he's doing great now. Happy Friday and happy writing!
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