Demitria Lunetta's Blog, page 12
September 4, 2013
IN THE AFTER September Giveaway!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
In the After by Demitria Lunetta Giveaway ends September 26, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
August 30, 2013
Happy Long Weekend!
Hi all! I hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend and a great Labor Day Monday!
I'll be back to the blog Wednesday. See you then!
I'll be back to the blog Wednesday. See you then!
August 26, 2013
Line Edits for IN THE END
Good news!
I'm working on line edits for my second book, IN THE END...due tomorrow. So I'd better get back to work, but I'm so happy to be finishing up another book and amazed at how far Amy's story has come.
What are you all working on today?
I'm working on line edits for my second book, IN THE END...due tomorrow. So I'd better get back to work, but I'm so happy to be finishing up another book and amazed at how far Amy's story has come.
What are you all working on today?
August 23, 2013
The Blog Chain – Book to Movie Successes and Disasters
The blog chain question this week is:
What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Why? What's your least favorite and why?
There are so many bad movie adaptations…and it seems to have nothing to do with loyalty to the book. Some movies are amazing adaptations and completely take artistic license, not following the book exactly, but following its spirit. LAST OF THE MOHICANS is a favorite of mine (and yes, I’ve already used it in a blog chain post, but that’s how much I love it.) THE SHINING is another example of a great, creepy, scary movie, that barely follows the book at all. BLADERUNNER barely looks like DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, but is a cult classic. The HARRY POTTER movies are more faithful to their books, and also fun in themselves. The recent JANE EYRE movie was also fantastic. Michael Fassbender as Rochester?…yes please.
But my absolute favorite movie adaptation is JURASSIC PARK, a movie I’ve watched a hundred times as a child and loved more than the book. That happens so rarely, that a movie outshines a book that it’s my all time favorite.
A few not so successful adaptations…please don’t hate me, but the HUNGER GAMES. It wasn’t a bad movie, but the book was so much better, it’s hard to judge the movie fairly. And then there are just the awful adaptations, like the Demi Moore version of THE SCARLET LETTER and the Jack Black version of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.
Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.
What are your favorite book to movie adaptations? Which ones can you just not stand?
What is your favorite book-to-movie adaptation? Why? What's your least favorite and why?
There are so many bad movie adaptations…and it seems to have nothing to do with loyalty to the book. Some movies are amazing adaptations and completely take artistic license, not following the book exactly, but following its spirit. LAST OF THE MOHICANS is a favorite of mine (and yes, I’ve already used it in a blog chain post, but that’s how much I love it.) THE SHINING is another example of a great, creepy, scary movie, that barely follows the book at all. BLADERUNNER barely looks like DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP?, but is a cult classic. The HARRY POTTER movies are more faithful to their books, and also fun in themselves. The recent JANE EYRE movie was also fantastic. Michael Fassbender as Rochester?…yes please.
But my absolute favorite movie adaptation is JURASSIC PARK, a movie I’ve watched a hundred times as a child and loved more than the book. That happens so rarely, that a movie outshines a book that it’s my all time favorite.
A few not so successful adaptations…please don’t hate me, but the HUNGER GAMES. It wasn’t a bad movie, but the book was so much better, it’s hard to judge the movie fairly. And then there are just the awful adaptations, like the Demi Moore version of THE SCARLET LETTER and the Jack Black version of GULLIVER’S TRAVELS.
Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.
What are your favorite book to movie adaptations? Which ones can you just not stand?
August 21, 2013
IN THE AFTER Goodreads Giveaway!
Head over to Goodreads and enter to win a signed copy of IN THE AFTER!
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Goodreads Book Giveaway
In the After by Demitria Lunetta Giveaway ends August 30, 2013. See the giveaway details at Goodreads. Enter to win
August 19, 2013
Class of 2K13 Takeover!
I'm over at The Class of 2K13 blog today talking about a few things I've learned from my debut year. Stop by and check it out! I'll also be manning the 2K13 twitter account @TheClassof2K13 so feel free to visit me on twitter too!
August 12, 2013
IN THE AFTER is an ABA Best Book for Children
IN THE AFTER is on another best of list...the American Booksellers Association 2013 ABC Best Books for Children. They misspell my name, Demitris instead of Demitria, but I promise, it's me. See the full list here.
Also, if you're looking for an IN THE AFTER giveaway, Check out my interview with My Friends Are Fiction and enter to win a copy of IN THE AFTER.
July 31, 2013
IN THE AFTER Epic Bookplate Giveaway!
Want a signed copy of IN THE AFTER, but can't make it out to one of my events in Chicago? Enter to win one of fifty signed bookplates!
Contest runs Wednesday 7/31/13 to Wednesday 8/7/13.
U.S. only. (Sorry rest of the world!)
One entry per person please!
And if you want to check out IN THE AFTER before you enter, here are some links:
IN THE AFTER Book Trailer
Goodreads
Browse inside on Epic Reads
My FB Page
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Contest runs Wednesday 7/31/13 to Wednesday 8/7/13.
U.S. only. (Sorry rest of the world!)
One entry per person please!
And if you want to check out IN THE AFTER before you enter, here are some links:
IN THE AFTER Book Trailer
Goodreads
Browse inside on Epic Reads
My FB Page
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July 29, 2013
In Defense of Love Triangles
I am not a romance writer; the amount of romance in IN THE AFTER is very little, and the small amount that can be found is very subtle. But I have a confession…I love love triangles, especially in YA lit, which I read almost exclusively. I know some people feel very strongly (and very negatively) about them, but before you unfollow, unlike, block, and write me off completely, let me explain my affection for the much maligned YA love triangle.
Choices, Choices – Choice in YA lit is not a bad thing. Teens may not feel like they have a lot of say over their daily life, but most teens can decide who they date (or if their parents are strict, at least who they want to date.) Portraying teens as in charge of their own life, and as having choices when it comes to something so important, is a positive trend.
Having a character choose between two or more love interests can also be a great plot device. It can keep the reader interested in a love subplot or rooting for one character over another…but it goes beyond plot progression. Why is heartthrob A better than heartthrob B? How do their traits differ? What makes one a better choice than the other? A character reveals a lot about themselves through the choices they make, and choosing between love interests can round out an MC. Of course, this can be done poorly. Two supermodel-esq teens fight over an MC who isn’t very interesting or dynamic. I’m not saying simply having a love triangle will make a story, but it can definitely enhance it when done right.
Love (Un)Interest - When you have an MC that is kick-ass, smart, hot, and interesting, who wouldn’t want to date them? If the MC were dull, they probably wouldn’t be the MC…they’d be the best friend or the tertiary character stuck in the background. When there’s an awesome MC, I think it’s completely realistic that there would be multiple guys (or girls) chasing them and perhaps these suitors are less than ideal. It would be equally realistic that they would try to avoid the attention of the shallow/jerk/meathead/overbearing character.
I personally have never had to choose between two equally wonderfully perfect guys who each pursued me with a passionate fury…but I’ve had plenty of unwanted weirdo creep attention. It’s just part of being human. Someone you wouldn’t give the time of day to will like you, while you like someone else who doesn’t know you exist. Yes, it’s harsh, but it’s also high school.
Crushed - The definition of a crush is: a temporary romantic attraction, especially in teenagers and young people. Though they are not always lumped in with the love triangle, crushes are a huge part of YA lit…and with that comes crushes on multiple characters. I think this is great.
Not every attraction ends in meeting your soul mate and results in a lifelong relationship. It's normal for teens to crush on someone one week and lose interest the next, that's why it's called a crush and not love eternal. It's also normal for teens to have multiple crushes at once. My high school guy friends always had at least three or four girls they were interested in at any given time. That many crushes in a novel may be unwieldy, so I can see why some stories stick to the two crush scenario, which gets them put squarely into the love triangle category. (Ha! Squarely into the triangle...never mind.)
And yes, sometimes along the course of a novel a crush develops into love and can result in breaking an MC’s heart (See love (un)interests above) but that’s just another part of growing up. And when the crush character doesn’t break the MC's heart? The progression from crush to relationship can really drive a story. And let’s be honest, an MC’s early crush on the "wrong" character also makes it all the more satisfying if they do wind up with the "right" character at the end.
That’s my take on love triangles. I love any YA lit that realistically portrays teen emotions and all the depth (and sometimes the shallowness) that comes along with finding yourself and growing into adulthood.
What's your take on the love triangle in YA lit? Love them? Hate them? Feel free to rant…I love a good rant!
Choices, Choices – Choice in YA lit is not a bad thing. Teens may not feel like they have a lot of say over their daily life, but most teens can decide who they date (or if their parents are strict, at least who they want to date.) Portraying teens as in charge of their own life, and as having choices when it comes to something so important, is a positive trend.
Having a character choose between two or more love interests can also be a great plot device. It can keep the reader interested in a love subplot or rooting for one character over another…but it goes beyond plot progression. Why is heartthrob A better than heartthrob B? How do their traits differ? What makes one a better choice than the other? A character reveals a lot about themselves through the choices they make, and choosing between love interests can round out an MC. Of course, this can be done poorly. Two supermodel-esq teens fight over an MC who isn’t very interesting or dynamic. I’m not saying simply having a love triangle will make a story, but it can definitely enhance it when done right.
Love (Un)Interest - When you have an MC that is kick-ass, smart, hot, and interesting, who wouldn’t want to date them? If the MC were dull, they probably wouldn’t be the MC…they’d be the best friend or the tertiary character stuck in the background. When there’s an awesome MC, I think it’s completely realistic that there would be multiple guys (or girls) chasing them and perhaps these suitors are less than ideal. It would be equally realistic that they would try to avoid the attention of the shallow/jerk/meathead/overbearing character.
I personally have never had to choose between two equally wonderfully perfect guys who each pursued me with a passionate fury…but I’ve had plenty of unwanted weirdo creep attention. It’s just part of being human. Someone you wouldn’t give the time of day to will like you, while you like someone else who doesn’t know you exist. Yes, it’s harsh, but it’s also high school.
Crushed - The definition of a crush is: a temporary romantic attraction, especially in teenagers and young people. Though they are not always lumped in with the love triangle, crushes are a huge part of YA lit…and with that comes crushes on multiple characters. I think this is great.
Not every attraction ends in meeting your soul mate and results in a lifelong relationship. It's normal for teens to crush on someone one week and lose interest the next, that's why it's called a crush and not love eternal. It's also normal for teens to have multiple crushes at once. My high school guy friends always had at least three or four girls they were interested in at any given time. That many crushes in a novel may be unwieldy, so I can see why some stories stick to the two crush scenario, which gets them put squarely into the love triangle category. (Ha! Squarely into the triangle...never mind.)
And yes, sometimes along the course of a novel a crush develops into love and can result in breaking an MC’s heart (See love (un)interests above) but that’s just another part of growing up. And when the crush character doesn’t break the MC's heart? The progression from crush to relationship can really drive a story. And let’s be honest, an MC’s early crush on the "wrong" character also makes it all the more satisfying if they do wind up with the "right" character at the end.
That’s my take on love triangles. I love any YA lit that realistically portrays teen emotions and all the depth (and sometimes the shallowness) that comes along with finding yourself and growing into adulthood.
What's your take on the love triangle in YA lit? Love them? Hate them? Feel free to rant…I love a good rant!
July 26, 2013
Book Spotlight - MAID OF SECRETS by Jennifer McGowan
Seventeen-year-old Meg Fellowes is a wry, resourceful thief forced to join an elite group of female spies in Queen Elizabeth’s Court. There she must solve a murder, save the Crown, and resist the one thing that will become her greatest freedom–and her deadliest peril.
For Meg and her fellow spies are not alone in their pursuit of the murderer who stalks Windsor Castle.
A young, mysterious Spanish courtier, Count Rafe de Martine, appears at every turn in the dark and scandal-filled corridors of the Queen’s summer palace. And though secrets and danger are Meg’s stock-in-trade, she’s never bargained on falling in love…
Recommended for fans of: YA Historical Fiction, Elizabethan Fiction
Though I’m a Sci-fi girl, I love me a good Historical Fiction (you can read a post on my not so secret love here) and MAID OF SECRETS does not disappoint. It has a wonderful MC, royal intrigue, female spies, and just the right amount of romance. I also love how McGowan weaves history through her book, it’s not overwhelming but gives you just enough for historical context.
The story itself is also a page-turner, you find yourself unable to stop reading as several mysteries unfold. It’s also quite the ride to see Meg’s character develop from a resourceful thief to a skillful spy, and her struggle with all that entails. The characters are all wonderfully fleshed out, and you feel like you’re smack dap in the middle of Elizabethan England. Definitely recommend to anyone with a love of Historical Fiction.
MAID OF SECRETS is available now!
