Shelli R. Johannes's Blog, page 2

Books to Movies

Books to Movies with AshleyThere are many new movies out lately based on books, and I thought it would be interesting to review a few of them here. So, without further ado, here are a few book-to-film translations and how I feel about them: 

1. Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part One


Four out of five stars. This movie was amazing and stuck to the book really well, and I thoroughly enjoyed the action and emotions. The camera angles were awesome and the scenes in the districts were heart-wrenching; Jennifer Lawrence is truly amazing. I did miss the action of the arena though, but all in all this was a fantastic adaptation.
2. Gone Girl 


Five out of five stars. I had not read the book before I saw the movie, which I never do, and I was blown away. The entire film was hilarious and gut-wrenching and just a twisting plot-rollercoaster. I highly recommend this movie to any and everyone (adults, that is).
3. The Maze Runner


Four out of five! I loved the movie so much, and the special effects were fantastic. The fact that the first book and the second book were pushed together a little helped forward the plot so well- the ending included a bit of book two, and it really did add to the ending. The boys were hilarious and the acting was spot on!
And there you have it, a few book to movie adaptations I loved. Of course, Gone Girl is for mature audiences only, but the other two are YA and good for all ages. Enjoy!
-Ashley 
PS: Here is a wonderful article on books to movies:
  http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/YA-Novels-Becoming-Movies-34609728#photo-34609728
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CJ Omololu's The Third Twin Blog Tour has begin!

The Third Twin releases next Tuesday.


Tour Schedule
WEEK ONE February 16th: Fictitious Delicious REVIEW
February 17th A Dream Within A Dream REVIEW
February 18th Bookish REVIEW
February 19th Novel Novice REVIEW
February 20th Good Choice Reading SPOTLIGHT

WEEK TWO
February 23rd: Once Upon A Twilight REVIEW
February 24th Fiktshun REVIEW
February 25th Two Chicks On Books SPOTLIGHT
February 26th A Midsummers Night Read REVIEW
February 27th Me, My Shelf and I REVIEW
Identical twins. Identical DNA. Identical suspects. It's Pretty Little Liarsmeets Revenge in this edge-of-your-seat thriller with a shocking twist.

When they were little, Lexi and her identical twin, Ava, made up a third sister, Alicia. If something broke? Alicia did it. Cookies got eaten? Alicia's guilty. Alicia was always to blame for everything. The game is all grown up now that the girls are seniors. They use Alicia as their cover to go out with boys who are hot but not exactly dating material. Boys they'd never, ever be with in real life.

Now one of the guys Alicia went out with has turned up dead, and Lexi wants to stop the game for good. As coincidences start piling up, Ava insists that if they follow the rules for being Alicia, everything will be fine. But when another boy is killed, the DNA evidence and surveillance photos point to only one suspect: Alicia. The girl who doesn't exist. As she runs from the cops, Lexi has to find the truth before another boy is murdered. Because either Ava is a killer…or Alicia is real.
If you can,  join us in Oakland next Tuesday, Feb 24th for the launch!

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Protags and Price-tags

Protags and Price-TagsHi everyone- Ashley here! So I have this thing where I like to decide where I think the protagonists of famous Young Adult books would shop (ergo: "Protags and Price-tags"). Basically I take various fiction icons and determine what stores they would like if they lived in the real world. For this first edition I'll be focusing on The Hunger Games- so, here goes!
1. Katniss Everdeen


Oh Katniss Everdeen, how we love you. I see Katniss shopping at one of those high-end sports stores with the climbing walls and running rivers inside the store. She'd probably shoot straight for the archery aisle, stopping to scale a few rocks in the meantime. And hey, if she gets hungry there's always beef jerky at the check out counter. Let's just hope there are no arenas involved.

2. Effie Trinket


So this one...this one is going to be good. I picture Effie walking into one of those vintage clothing stores you find in old town squares and literally buying everything without looking at any of it. Like, she just walks in, snaps her fingers, and goes home with a truck full of wigs and bulb-shaped dresses. Props for Effie.
3. Peeta Mellark 

Easy. Williams Sonoma without a doubt. He'd walk in, take one look at the free samples and jarred recipes, and probably pass out. Then after he woke up he'd demonstrate how to burn bread to all the customers watching. Classic Peeta.
4. Gale Hawthorne 


I could see him walking into one of those fancy men's clothing stores, putting on a nice suit, hating it, and eating a cheeseburger in the food court alone. He just wouldn't do malls very well.

5. Finnick Odair 


Okay, there's no doubt that Finnick would be one of those obnoxious Abercrombie and Fitch supermodels, the kind that look out at you from a ceiling-high poster. Let's face it, he'd smell like Axe and love it, and he'd smile from the front of your shopping bag the rest of the day.


So there it is! If you guys want me to do any other characters/book series, let me know in the comments below! ;) 

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The Different Types of Book Lovers

The Different Types of Book Lovers 
Hello all, Ashley here! As a book lover you've probably noticed by now that there are many types of book lovers, of all sorts and kinds, and we love them all. Whether you're that one kid who reads nothing but sci-fi, or the girl in the corner with the newest Nora Roberts each week, we appreciate you. So, here is a list of the various types of book lovers out there (so far), and what they tend to reach for at the library.
1. YA Fanatic
Yes, the best kind of people, the YA fanatics. Those book lovers who love Young Adult novels are owning the spotlight right now, because YA is such a thriving community of love and rainbows and horribly misunderstood protagonists with supernatural powers. Seriously. If it's about a teenager whose touch can kill, has wings growing out of his or her back, or is suddenly blessed with the gift of foresight, we're probably into it. 



2. The Romantic
Not much to be said here, except go you. You love everything love triangle/breathtakingly impossible related and you're not afraid to own it. Most days you enjoy curling up with the newest Nicholas Sparks/Nora Roberts installment, and you don't even care that none of these people exist. Because they totally do, in your head. 
If you're a bird I'm a bird.


3. The Movie Goer
You make it your job to read the book before seeing the movie. Like, basically, if you were to see the movie first you might implode and the world would start rotating in the opposite direction. Because let's face it, the book is always better, and you want to be able to say that over and over again in the theater as accurately as possible. 
Honestly, you are a fantastic human being. 



4. The Classic Reader
So you're pretty much only interested in classic literature. And hey- that's cool! Bloodthirsty teenage arenas and kids with magic wands aren't your thing, and that's okay. You prefer the wise words of Dickens and Whitman and Austen- and you have every right to! You also really like watching Shakespeare and sipping tea from a china cup, but we won't judge (too hard).


5. And, Finally, the Comic Book/Manga Lover
You love everything that looks like it's moving on the page, and you aren't afraid to show it. If the characters have huge eyes, cool powers, and a variety of hilarious sidekicks, well, you're set! You're often seen hidden in the back of the library next to the graphic novel section, sitting in a pile of books and planning your next cosplay. 


And that's it! A few types of book lovers to look for. If you have any other types, leave them in the comments below!

Best,

-Ashley http://feeds.feedburner.com/Faerialit...

Some Exciting 2015 Releases!

Exciting 2015 YA Releases! So it's about a month into 2015, and there are all kinds of exciting new books coming out in the next few months! In order to spread my excitement for these upcoming releases, I thought I'd share a few of my most anticipated with you. Here they are, some books you should totally put on your preorder list!

1. Unleashed (Uninvited #2) by Sophie Jordan
Coming February, 2015! Davy is back and better than ever! I'm super excited to see what the HTS carrier does in this well anticipated sequel.



2. Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge (author of Cruel Beauty)
Coming May, 2015! I don't know about you, but I absolutely adored Cruel Beauty. And even though this isn't set in the same world, it sounds just as intriguing! Little Red gets a makeover in this amazing book, and I can't wait.




3. Miss Mayhem (Rebel Belle #2) by Rachel Hawkins 
Coming April, 2015! The action is back in the sequel to Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins! I'm looking forward to reading more of Harper Price's story.




4. The Wicked Will Rise (Dorothy Must Die #2) by Danielle Paige 
Coming March, 2015! The next installment of the Wizard of Oz inspired series is sure to entertain! If you haven't checked out The Witch Must Burn (a prequel novella in the series), be sure to before March! 


5. The Trials (Project Paper Doll #3) by Stacey Kade 
Coming April, 2015! It's the third installment of The Paper Doll Project (Book One: The Rules, Book Two: The Hunt). I love this series so much, and can't wait to see what happens in the third book. 

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Struggles of Being an Extreme Book Lover

The Struggles of Being an Extreme Book Lover 
As hard core book lovers, we tend to get caught up in the ins and outs of every new book we read. They're pretty much like ink and paper extensions of our own being. Not only that, but we can be pretty picky about who borrows our books and for how long- anything past a week is just painful. So, naturally, there are quite a few things in this world that we book lovers must tolerate. Here are just a few:

1. The "Book in Lap" Trick 


Okay, we've all been there. You're supposed to be paying attention to something "important," but instead you've got the newest New York Times Bestseller in your lap. They'll never notice if you make eye contact occasionally, right? Wrong. They always catch you, and you always have to put it away.

2. Stairs


Walking with a book in your hands is a pretty universal trick for all book lovers, especially those of us extreme readers. But when your foot hits that invisible patch of air and your book goes flying...yeah, not so much. Stairs are the bane of every book-walker's existence.

3. The Questions...
It never fails that while you are sitting quietly reading, somebody will find you and ask you one (if not more) of these questions:

"What are you reading? Who's it by? What's the plot? What page are you on?"

Um, a YA fantasy, an indie author, page 394. Do you need to know what I had for breakfast, too? No? Good. We're done here.




4. Books to Movies


You all know what I mean by this one. No explanation necessary.




5. And, Finally, Sleep 
Okay, so maybe it isn't something we have to put up with, but us book lovers struggle with sleep every night. Sleep is that constant, nagging voice in the back of our heads that says, "You've already read five chapters, how much more could you need?" But do we listen? Nope. It will be 2am soon, the perfect hour to finish a novel I started six hours ago. Shut up, head.




So there are a few things extreme readers have to deal with on a daily basis! If you have any other daily obstacles that we book lovers face every day, feel free to leave them in the comments below.



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Why Writers Make Great Friends

Why Writers Make Great Friends
Now, that isn't to say that anyone of any other profession isn't a great friend, or doesn't do the things on this list- there's just something about writers that's just downright...well, out there. And that can make for some of the best times! As writers we have super creative brains that are on the go 24/7, and it's pretty hard to stop our imaginations once they're on a roll. So, without further ado, here are some reasons why being friends with a writer is never boring! 

1. We Make Any Situation Fun 


What is that you say? It's raining outside, your car won't start, and the power just went out in your house? Evil forces are attacking, I'll be right over! Oh? Not evil forces? Must just be a momentary lapse in the time/space continuum. My time machine can fix that.


2. We'll Put You in Our Books


Now, this one can be good or bad. But when it's good, that means you'll probably get a debut-best- friend-role in chapter four, complete with an awesome car and quirky personality. And probably some strange hair color that clashes with the social norm. Just go with it. 

3. We'll Act Weird in Public

There really isn't much that embarrasses us. We'll win any weird competition and then come back for more. When you spend all day every day thinking up strange characters and writing their life stories down, making faces in Walmart is kind of second nature. 
4. We're Empathetic
It's a writer's job to understand feelings and react to them. So if you're having a super bad day and need someone to listen, chances are we'll be there. Not only that, but we'll have thought of everything you need before hand- chocolate chip cookie-dough ice cream, anyone? Yeah, it's our writing snack of choice and we bought two.
5. And, Finally, We'll Write you Letters


Whether it's by snail mail or email, little post-it notes on the fridge or funny reminders on the bathroom mirror, you'll always have something to read. Writers deal with words every day and love to write them, so our communication method of choice is paper or screen. Besides, who doesn't want to get a letter?

So remember- the next time you're with your writer friend, feel free to crack a funny face and ask for a pint of ice cream. Chances are we'll have both.

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Social Media Tips and Why They Work

Social Media Tips and Why They Work- with Ashley 
Lately I've been taking an online social media course with the Social Media Academy, and I must say, it is super helpful! The modules go into different aspects of social media management, audience outreach, campaigns, and strategies. So, in order to spread some of this knowledge, I've posted some of the notes I found most helpful below. I hope they're useful! 


* Three of the Most Important Values to Remember in Social Media: 

1) Creativity2) Interaction3) Leadership
Without creativity, interaction, and leadership, your social media strategy will not succeed. Creativity will bring your audience in, interaction will keep them, and leadership will gain their trust. 

* Flexibility and Evolution is Key


If you can remain flexible and evolve with the "social media times," if you will, then you can bend to your audience and keep them happy. You must remain on top of your game and change with the changing industry in order to keep your followers and likes. 
* Remember to Measure Your Success
Measurement and social media metrics are super important to your strategy! Implement tools such as TweetDeck and TweetReach in order to see who you are reaching and what they like. Different values you can measure are: 
1) Reach2) Engagement 3) Acquisition 4) Conversion 5) Influence

So there are a few notes that helped me immensely! You can find all of these awesome ideas on the Social Media Academy, and it is a great way to get high quality social media training quickly. 
All the best!
-Ashley 
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CJ Omololu - my friend, Top Cancer Ass Kicker, and author of the new The Third Twin - Spread the Word!

I met Cynthia Jaynes-Omololu about 5 or 6 years ago in LA. We'd known each other for years online and built a great friendship. (I think it was in FriendMatch.com that connected us or Blogger :)

When we met, we s sat down to have a drink and I ordered my usual filthy martini. She laughed and said she was surprised. She went on to tell me this story she made up in her head - that she thought I was an Ann Taylor marketing business gal who only wore pink suits with matching shoes and purse who drank pink cosmos.Those who know me know I am far from pretty in pink. I am jeans and boots who drinks filthy martinis and coffee.

A few things stuck out to me that day that made me adore CJ -
1) I had to like her b/c she obviously spent many nights thinking about me ;) so I didn't want to hurt her feelings.
2) She is OBVIOUSLY creative as hell and makes up great stories - she did with me.
3) She's a little wackadoo too. Which sells me even more b/c I am far from normal on the bell curve.
4) She immediately made me feel comfortable and listened to my publishing woes, laughed at my bad jokes, and insisted on being my friend. (She's pushy that way ;)

Since then, we have:
 - Roomed at conferences where she has generously shared her portable Kuerig, flavored cream and strong coffee with me (and yes...she drags that dang thing with her everywhere. Where most people would have loves to snuggle, CJ sleeps with her mini-kuerig. In fact - Kuerig should call her for a commercial and pay all her med bills for the free PR she has given them!)
- Shared stories - funny ones and the ones we write. She has been a great CP in the past, always offering great suggestions (and twists) in my own work.
- Stayed with me at the Writers Police Academy where we fingerprinted each other and tested blood stains ( - so we also share a sick humored mind! only writers will appreciate this part!)
- Shared her lovely home and family with me. Her husband made me coffee too. I swear they probably grow their own coffee beans.
- Made delicious salmon and sauteed green been dinner for me.
- Introduced me to her lovely dog…ok I can't make this all rosy just b/c she's battling cancer! That "sweet" (he would never hurt anyone even if you came in the house with a key) kind of dog chased my butt upstairs and cornered me in my bedroom until Tae had to rescue me! (Thx Tae :)
- She has made me laugh, seen me cry over this strange industry, given me words of encouragement, and stayed up late with me talking b/c I could not go to sleep!

So the fact that some asshole named Cancer barges in and wants to take her away from me - pisses me off to no end.

Interrupted by bad movie clip from Independence day! -

"The world declared in one day! We will not go quietly into the night!" We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QoLyw...

So - a bunch of us are throwing a launch party for her and spreading the word about her new book across the country. It is important that everyone in this world knows about CJ Omololu, The Third Twin, her total wacky awesomeness, and her deep resonating words.

Because as a writing community, that's what we do for friends, authors and books - we support them always no matter what!

So please share this flyer with your community. Join our Facebook page, preorder her new book, and come to the launch party to help CJ celebrate her new baby - The Third Twin.

And while you are at it - a couple prayers couldn't hurt either.

(Take that Mr. Cancer! jerk hat...)
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News Year Resolutions for Readers

New Year Resolutions for Readers So the beginning of the new year has come and gone quickly, and the first month of 2015 is coming to a close! Most people have one new year resolution that they either accomplish or forget about, as the tradition goes. But what about some year-round resolutions for readers? If your'e an avid reader you know that your fiction doesn't stop for anything! So here are a few "all-year" resolutions for readers, ones that you can accomplish for each month: 

January: Read a New Genre
This is a good one! For the first month of 2015, try reading a new genre that you wouldn't normally pick up. Rather that be Sci-Fi, romance, fantasy, what have you, nothing is off limits! You might find that pushing your genre boundaries will be very rewarding.
(This is The Host by Stephanie Meyer- it's an amazing scifi novel!) 
February: Try a New AuthorNever heard of this author before? Have no fear! Sometimes branching out and reading a name you've never heard of before can be a great, exhilarating thing. Before you know it you're praising your new find to all of your reading circles and ordering their other series.
March: Read Three Novellas
So it's the third month of the new year and I think some novellas are in store. There's nothing better than something short, sweet, and innovative- and novellas are just that! Whether it's a parallel story to your favorite series, or a few chapters from the POV of a side character, this is your month to explore!  (A great novella by Tahereh Mafi! Spoken by the male characters' POVs).

April: Order a Random Book
Now this one would be hard for anyone- order a random book? Are you crazy? Of course, I'm not suggesting you play literary Russian Roulette on Amazon. Oh no. But look up a genre you like and read a synopsis, then order it! Take a chance! You may just like what shows up on your door. 

May: Try a Recommendation 
Corner your BBF (Best Book Friend) and ask that what their latest favorite read is. Then borrow it! They're your BBF for a reason, and I promise you that you'll probably love whatever they just finished. 
June: Buy Ten Cheap Paperbacks


Do it! Find one of those cheap paperback stores and grab a basket. Then, buy the first ten books that interest you, and read them throughout the month. It'll be the cheapest book excursion you'll ever make!

So there are some "all-year" book resolutions through June! Keep reading for the next 6 resolutions, and if you have any of your own please leave them below!
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