Jen Naumann's Blog, page 3

10(ish) Questions With Author Kendare Blake!

Okay, so excuse me as I come down from a major case of fangirl overload. Kendare Blake recently became one of my favorite authors of all-time with her witty mannerisms, laced with some pretty dark tales. She's become the master of YA horror, some comparing her to the genius of Stephen King with her phenomenal novel Anna Dressed in Blood, and most recently Antigoddess. I was beyond honored when she recently agreed to answer a few questions for my blog, and can't stop laughing from her response to my last question. If you haven't heard of Kendare until now, do yourself a huge favor and buy her books. Seriously.
Was there something in particular that inspired you to write scary stories for a living, or did you just know you were destined for awesomeness?

Scary stories ARE awesomeness, aren't they? I don't understand folks who hate scary entertainment. As for what inspired me, I think I'm morbid and disgusting by nature. I don't find a lot of what I write terribly scary, but it's all fairly dark, and hopefully, disturbing. Stephen King was the first real novelist I read, along with Anne Rice and Bret Easton Ellis, so...let's just say I never had any desire to read a Babysitter's Club book.
Who was your favorite character to write so far? (And if your answer isn’t Cas, why not? You did an amazing job of getting inside a teenage boy’s head!)

I'm so glad you thought so! Though Cas is sort of a special case: a teen who hasn't hung around many other teens. Most of his interactions have been with adults, his mom, twenty-somethings and Gideon. I'm dodging this question, because I don't know who's my favorite to write. I love Cas and Thomas and Carmel and Morfran, just like I love Athena, Cassandra, Hermes, and weirdly enough, Ares. They've all surprised me at some point, and that's what makes it fun.
You’ve been compared to Stephen King, and as a life long fan of his, I think it’s well justified. What elements do you think make a best selling horror story?

I don't know. People are pretty easily scared, for the most part, so maybe the scares aren't as important as compelling concept. I know that my faves are the particularly clever ones, or the particularly twisted ones. Gore is optional, and it can be so easy to do poorly. Also, thank you! I don't think it's justified, but I'll take it.
Other than Sleepwalk Society, I believe your books have all been YA paranormal. Do you see yourself writing outside of the genre again anytime in the future? What's your favorite part about writing YA?
I'm sure I'll write outside the genre. What I'm working on now is outside the genre, and I don't know if it's adult or YA. You have to write the stories that want writing, you know? It's never a real decision. I'm not one of the writers who has three or four fantastic ideas to choose from. One at a time, it demands attention, and then on to the next.

My favorite thing about writing YA is that I don't think of it as YA. I think of it as writing. Same when I'm reading it. YA is just a label, a way of categorizing something that's way too broad and varied, but I understand why it needs to be categorized. Things need organization, right? 
When you’re not busy writing the next best seller, what are some of your favorite guilty pleasures?

Guilty pleasures, eh? I love going to restaurants. Love it. And I guess I still DVR General Hospital, the soap opera, because I heard it was going off the air and I used to watch it as a kid so I wanted to watch the end, and then the damn thing didn't die. So now I'm stuck watching until it finally does. Although you grew up in the great state of Minnesota, and went to college in London, your bio says you currently live in the beautiful state of Washington. Please tell me you know Isaac Marion, and the two of you meet on a regular basis over beers!

I do not know Isaac Marion, though I would love to meet him on a regular basis over beers. I'd actually like to meet anyone on a regular basis over beers. That sounds nice.
What authors do you admire, and what would you crown your favorite book of all-time?

That's an impossible crown. The answer is always going to change. From day to day. Hour to hour. In the time it takes to reply to this question. The Mists of Avalon? Jane Eyre? The Stand? IT? NOS4A2? The Red Tree? The Unbearable Lightness of Being? His Dark Materials? The Iliad?

I admire Holly Black, Caitlin R Kiernan, Joe Hill, Milan Kundera, Bret Easton Ellis, and loads of others. Anyone who writes, really. There's always something to admire.
Is the sequel to Antigoddess your next release, and will there be a third Anna Dressed in Blood (there must be a way to make Anna permanently corporeal so she can run off into the sunset with Cas!)?
Yes, the formerly titled ARISTEIA is my next release. No word yet on what it's new name is. The Goddess War Book Two. I'm doing edits now, and I'm pretty excited about it actually. No plans for a third Anna, but I'm never taking it off the table. I miss them. You never know when Cas will show up and demand the attention again. He loves the attention.
You must watch horror movies considering how much you love writing horror. What are some of your favorites?
Hmm. I just watched Insidious: Chapter 2, and if you put both together, it's a pretty decent experience. Not scary, but not dull. I also like SINISTER, so James Wan is on my current sweetlist. The Descent about the girl-eaters in the caves was pretty scary, but I didn't ENJOY watching it. And I'll always love Freddy Krueger. Scream is great, too, but they should've left it alone after 2, or even the first one. And I'm pretty pleased that the slew of Japanese horror remakes has ebbed. The Ring was okay. The Ring 2 was stupid. The Grudge was silly, thank god it had Buffy in it.
And finally, who in the hell do you think is feeding rats to the zombies on The Walking Dead?

I think it's that creepy little girl who names them. She's trouble. Even her sister knows it. They should probably toss her over the fence, ASAP. Like, post-haste. Slingshot into the woods, the next time the walkers try their leaning and climbing trick. I mean, they're already out of piglets.

Thanks so much for having me by! 
Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. You know, that old chestnut. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London. She brakes for animals, the largest of which was a deer, which sadly didn't make it, and the smallest of which was a mouse, which did, but it took forever. Amongst her likes are Greek Mythology, rare red meat and veganism. She also enjoys girls who can think with the boys like Ayn Rand, and boys who scare the morality into people, like Bret Easton Ellis.
Where to buy Kendare Blake's amazing books: Amazon Barnes & Noble
Follow Kendare Blake: Website Twitter Facebook

Let Me Preface This Post With "There's No Reason for Alarm"

But. Yesterday I sat down and tried my hand at straight up romance for the first time in decades. And this one is also "new adult" rather than my normal "young adult".

I've mentioned before that it's practically mental suicide for an author to pursue what is commonly known to us as SNIS (shiny new idea syndrome), especially when you're actively working on something else. Yet sometimes there's a story inside you so profound, so nagging and freaking loud that you can try suffocating it for as long as you want, and it just won't go away or die. Usually I take that as a good sign, because it means the story is so well developed that it shows no sign of slowing down any time soon.


I've used the "insane" gif from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo as I'm normally not a wishy-washy kind of girl, and prefer action movies like that one over chick flicks any day. At times I would rather be strapped to a chair and tortured than have to watch another Katherine Heigl film. Part of me blames all those damn  irresistibly adorable pictures that I've come across on Pinterest. But I'm telling you, there isn't even the slightest paranormal element involved in Adam's List—not even a creaky door that scares the crap out of someone. It's just the story of a girl meeting a guy at a college party, only she already has a boyfriend, and he has some pretty big secrets. And somehow he talks her into abandoning her life to go on an adventure with him. The last time I wrote anything like this I was probably in high school. And some of those romantic stories were actually an early form of fan fiction. *dies of embarrassment*

Eight hours after I sat down with the intent to type this story out of my system, I was at almost 10,000 words. I even created a Pinterest board (that includes the lovely image on the right), and a Spotify music set list, both things I've never done before until after the story was completed. But don't worry—true to the masochist I've become, I can already tell you Adam's List won't have a happily ever after, and it will tear your heart out.

Will Adam's List ever see the light of day? I don't know. Will I write it under a pen name so my loyal fans don't accuse me of losing my mind completely? Don't know that either, but it would probably be a good idea. All I know is this story was going to kill me if I didn't get in the computer, or make me completely crazy. Oh wait, I may be there already.

Book Review: The Summer I Found You

While I normally stick to the paranormal genre, there are times it just gets to be too much, and I need a breath of fresh air. I discovered the brilliance of Jolene Perry a while back through her Shadow paranormal series, and soon learned she's the master of YA/NA romance. I was first drawn to Jolene's upcoming release The Summer I Found You by its beautiful cover, then the intriguing premise of two people dealing with difficult issues who find each other. I was thrilled when I received an ARC from her publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The story starts with high school senior Kate Walker getting dumped by her preppy (and rather annoying) boyfriend Shelton right before prom. When Kate breaks the news to her best friend Jen, we immediately learn Kate is diabetic. Rather than being concerned over the break-up, Jen is worried Kate's blood sugar is low. This is how the past year of Kate's life has been—her friends and family have been doting over her, hyper-focused on her health. She's tired of having diabetes, and tired of everyone asking about her health every two minutes. She's immature about her illness, but I think it was pretty dead-on with how many teens would deal with such a situation. Even though they hear the consequences of their actions, they don't always think about the end result as they're often living in the "now". As a reader you immediately feel sorry for her situation. As someone who watched a cousin struggle with diabetes at a young age, Kate was quick to wiggle her way into my heart.

The POV is then passed to Jen's cousin Aiden Connelly, a young soldier who recently lost his arm while stationed overseas. He's living in Jen's family garage apartment while he gets back on his feet, and dealing with some pretty heavy issues that go along with his accident. While Aiden has to struggle with everyday things like buttoning a shirt and opening a drawer, he also has to figure out what he wants to do with his life, and deal with the trauma from his accident. As three of my five family members were in the service, I hold a special place in my heart for anyone who serves our country, and think Jolene did a fantastic job of getting into a wounded soldier's mind. And I love a story that is told from more than one point of view.

When Kate and Aiden are cleverly "set up" for a party where Kate's ex-boyfriend will be in attendance with his new girlfriend, it isn't love at first sight. Aiden is annoyed just by being at a high school party, and Kate is rather blunt about Aiden's missing arm. But they soon find themselves wanting to spend time together as a way to take focus off their depressing thoughts. This beautiful story deals with real issues and emotions that force the characters to face their dark feelings, and grow because of it.

This sweet tale was a very fast read, and hard to put down. The only thing that has me puzzled is the title as Kate is still in high school when the story ends, so I'm not sure where the "summer" part comes in. But Jolene Perry definitely knows just how to reel you in, then mess with your heart strings. I would love to see a sequel to this story, and read more about the relationship between Kate and Aiden. It may feel ludicrous that this heartwarming tale is being rated by zombies, but it's my rating system, so deal with it. (5/5)

Jolene Perry wears juvenile T-shirts, worn-out chucks, and eats too much chocolate. She writes. A lot. She makes up words, drinks Shirley Temples, and suffocates a little without her iPod.

Also she blogs:www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com
And she tumblrs like a gymnast ;-)http:writershoes.tumblr.com


Follow Jolene:TwitterFacebook

On the Reboot of "Carrie"

**Mild spoilers ahead if you haven't watched the original**
Although the original Carrie from 1976 is filled with bad fashion, an outdated musical score, and a big heaping load of cheese, I've always able to see past all of that to appreciate the awesome paranormal story weaved by the master of horror. When I heard a remake was in the works, starring Julianne Moore, I was excited, yet skeptical. Knowing it would be directed by Kimberly Peirce, the same woman who directed Boys Don't Cry, I knew it would be pretty dark, and probably a bit original.

I was able to catch the new Carrie on its premiere night. The very first scene was among the most disturbing. We watch as Carrie's mom gives birth all alone, not understanding that in fact she was pregnant and is delivering a child. While this was not in the first Carrie movie, it certainly added a whole new element of horror into the mix. It also gave us a better idea of what a psychopath Margaret White truly is. The mother continues to be the most troubling element of the remake, between her overzealous religious beliefs, abuse of her daughter, and self-abuse.

After the pig's blood was spilled toward the end is where I found myself losing some interest. The way this Carrie walked around with her arms up like a marionette for the last 20 minutes really irritated me, and I wasn't a fan of her "supernatural" telekinetic abilities that allowed her to lift a car in the air, and split a tar road like some kind of earth quake. I did, however, like the final showdown between Carrie and her mother.

The acting was just as spot on as I had hoped. Oscar award winner Julianna Moore did an outstanding job as the mentally disturbed mother, Chloë Grace Moretz was able to pull off being the socially outcast yet hopeful Carrie, Portia Doubleday nailed the part of the hateful bitch Chris, Gabriella Wilde (I'd love to see more of her) was perfect as the beautiful and sympathetic Sue, and Ansel Elgort (of upcoming The Fault in Our Stars fame) pulled at my heart strings as sweet Tommy. Truthfully, I preferred this cast over the original (sorry, Sissy).

Overall, I was drawn into the story even though I already knew it inside and out. The addition of the locker room scene being uploaded to YouTube was the only glaring difference, other than the focus on the mom harming herself. Although I'm not yet convinced I like the remake any more than the original, I had hoped that the updated version would at least appeal to the newer generation so they would appreciate the disturbed mind of Stephen King. But as we were leaving the theatre, a girl ahead of me in her early twenties told her boyfriend, "I liked the original better." Quite honestly, I don't know that a remake was necessary, but at least it made for an entertaining Friday night. And now my daughter knows (1) what can happen when you bully people, (2) at least her mother isn't a raving lunatic, and (3) don't have sex, because that birthing scene was discomforting at best.

Zombie Cover Overhaul AND SALE!

You may have (or most likely, have not) noticed my second zombie cover has changed since I posted the reveal a few days ago. This is one of those things as an indie author that can be good or bad—I can change anything I want at any given time. I'm going to stick with the good, since I've gotten great feedback on the changes. As The Time Zombies Became the Least of My Worries is the second book in the series, I've also given the first book an overhaul to match. So here they are, side by side!


To celebrate the new covers (or just to appease my manic mode), I've reduced the digital versions of the first book in the series (The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life) to just 99 cents! So if you haven't read this fun adventure yet, do it now before the second book is released...you'll be glad you waited since book #1 contains a pretty big cliffhanger.

You can read the first chapter here:
Chapter One - The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life
And purchase the rest of the book here:
Amazon (Kindle and paperback)Barnes & NobleKobo (includes iBook format)

Book Review: ONE (One Universe #1) by Leigh Ann Kopans

When having two powers makes you a Super and having none makes you a Normal, having only one makes you a sad half-superpowered freak.

It makes you a One.

Sixteen-year-old Merrin Grey would love to be able to fly – too bad all she can do is hover.

If she could just land an internship at the Biotech Hub, she might finally figure out how to fix herself. She busts her butt in AP Chem and salivates over the Hub’s research on the manifestation of superpowers, all in hopes of boosting her chances.

Then she meets Elias VanDyne, another One, and all her carefully crafted plans fly out the window. Literally. When the two of them touch, their Ones combine to make them fly, and when they’re not soaring over the Nebraska cornfields, they’re busy falling for each other.

Merrin's mad chemistry skills land her a spot on the Hub's internship short list, but as she gets closer to the life she always wanted, she discovers that the Hub’s purpose is more sinister than it has always seemed. Now it’s up to her to decide if it's more important to fly solo, or to save everything - and everyone - she loves.

I'm one of those who's totally drawn to a book first by the cover, then by the premise, and jumped at the chance to win a paperback copy of Leigh Ann Kopan's debut novel, One, for those very reasons. After getting the beautiful book in the mail, I dug in right away, and it SOOO did not disappoint. Merrin's story hooked me from the very beginning—a teen with only part of a superpower? How awesome is that? And as I'm only mildly into super heroes (the movies, not the comics) this was venturing into new territory from my usual paranormal genre. I'm a total sucker for a good love story, however, and was hoping Merrin would hook up with Elias from the first time she laid eyes on his light brown eyes (filled with other colors). The story takes us on a wild adventure as Merrin searches for a way to become a "Super" with full power, unexpectedly finding friendship and possibly even love along the way. I loved all the futuristic touches to the story, as well as the fact that our heroine is an extremely intelligent teen, and not the stereotypical helpless victim. I devoured the book in less than 48 hours.

I totally fell in love with Merrin and Elias, and recommend One to anyone who is looking for a rather unique, intriguing read. I was eager to dive into the sequel that came out a few weeks after I finished this book, and wasn't disappointed by that one, either (stay tuned for a review of Two). Everything about this story begs to be made into a major motion picture. Leigh Ann Kopans is a shining bright example of why indie authors are taking over the industry at full force, and why everyone should give them a chance.

I happily give One a five zombie rating for its brilliance, originality, and pure awesomeness!


Raised on comic books and classic novels, Leigh Ann developed an early love of science fiction and literature. As an adult, she rediscovered her love for not only reading, but also writing the types of fiction that enchanted her as a teen. Her debut novel, ONE, is about a girl with only half a superpower, the boy who makes her fly, and her struggle to make herself whole. Leigh Ann, her husband, and four children live in Columbus, Ohio. When she’s not immersed in the world of fiction, you can find her obsessing over the latest superhero movie or using her kids as an excuse to go out for ice cream (again).




Follow LeighAnn Kopans:WebsiteTwitterFacebook

Cover Reveal: Waves of Love by Danielle Sibarium

My friend Danielle Sibarium does an excellent job of writing YA romance, so when she asked if I would help reveal the cover for the third installment in her paranormal trilogy, I jumped at the opportunity. And I was pleasantly surprised to see a guy with muscular arms featured (how can you not appreciate a man with well-built biceps?).
In celebration of her new release, Danielle is giving away three free copies, so be sure to enter below! Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, when he did Tyler stepped in to pick up the pieces.
As she’s ready to take the next step with Tyler, Jenna finds herself face to face with Reece. Lies and secrets are discovered from the two boys she trusted the most. And now it’s more than just her heart on the line, it’s her life as well. 
Torn between two amazing guys Jenna’s certain of only one thing, this is the most important decision of her life. One almost destroyed her. The other brought her back to life. The time has come to choose. Can Jenna move forward with Tyler or will she be stuck in the past with Reece?
Become a fan of the Waves of Love Heart Waves Facebook page for teasers of this heartwarming story, coming October 31, 2013.
Ways to follow Danielle Sibarium:WebsiteTwitter
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Cover Reveal: The Time Zombies Became the Least of My Worries

As promised, I give you the cover for the second book in my zombie series!


Ever since the zombie virus hit Emma’s irritatingly boring Midwestern hometown, she’s been on the run with her old best friend-turned-boyfriend Finn. On their journey, they’ve witnessed some pretty disgusting deaths, narrowly escaped life-threatening escapades that sometimes included one of their own pulling a gun on them numerous times, and redefined the definition of what makes up a family (as it turns out, soldiers and geeks can be pretty decent). They’ve even learned the disturbing truth behind the mysterious virus. But after Emma was bit by one of the infected trying to save her neighbor boy, she was told she would not have long to live.
In the thrilling sequel to The Day Zombies Ruined My Perfectly Boring Life, Finn will help to tell the story as Emma and the gang are faced with the most crucial life-changing decisions yet. They’ll come across an unfortunate group of rednecks, discover the truth of what happened to Finn’s federal agent mother, and finally see a chance at truly being safe without having to run anymore. But in the middle of it all, Emma and Finn’s relationship will soar to completely uncomfortable levels when Finn takes things one step too far. And between being injected with an unknown liquid, taking on a completely unexpected (and really agitating alliance), and being left for dead by those she loves most, Emma will realize that zombies are the least of her worries.
AND in celebration of the release of this book (coming in November), I'm giving away free copies of the first book in the series for those who have yet to jump on the zombie bandwagon. So be sure to sign up below, and spread the word!

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Why "The Conjuring" Scared the Hell Out of Me

**Warning, contains "mild" spoilers**
Ever since my 13-year-old decided she wants to watch horror movies as all her friends do, I've fallen back into the genre just as much as I was before having children. I can't really tell her she can't watch them, because I remember watching movies like Nightmare on Elm Street and Friday the 13th in 8th grade (at a friend's house), and I know she'll watch them somewhere else if not with me. While I've become comfortable with her watching scary movies, I don't want her watching anything overly sadistic or mentally disturbing (accordingly, it will be a few years yet before movies like The Purge or Texas Chainsaw Massacre make her approved watch list). Personally, I'm more of a scary-thriller type of girl, and like something that makes me jump, but also blows my mind.

When my daughter mentioned she really wanted to see The Conjuring, I decided I better screen it ahead of time to make sure it wouldn't give her a lifetime of nightmares as the trailers looked pretty freaky. So during the daytime when I knew I wouldn't scare myself quite as badly, I gave it a run. And I'm pretty sure I'm the one who will be having nightmares for the rest of my life.

For anyone like me who was really excited about this movie, and maybe even considering letting their teen watch as I was, you need to know this isn't just a harmless ghost story. It involves a mentally disturbed witch, and demon possession. Think The Exorcist—ironically, that's one of the few movies I have a really hard time re-watching because it scares the hell out of me (pun intended). Just about every scene involved something that would make your skin crawl, or have you hiding underneath your blanket. Not only are there invisible and visible creatures lurking in this old farm house, but the mother and her five daughters are physically harmed, or otherwise messed with. And there's also a side story told of a creepy doll that makes Chucky look like an American Girl.
I loved the cast of characters. I've adored Lili Taylor since she first appeared in Mystic Pizza many moons ago, Patrick Wilson does well when faced with terror (probably from his experience on Insidious), and Vera Farminga plays a very likable heroine. Even the young girls did very well with their parts (it was a surprise to see Mackenzie Foy—a/k/a Renesmee from Breaking Dawn—in the mix). And the director James Wan certainly seems to know what he's doing on the set.
The worst part about The Conjuring? It's supposedly based on a true story. I watched the extended version in which they interview the clairvoyant woman who says this actually happened to her and her husband. The skeptic in me wondered why they wouldn't show us real footage if that was the case. The part of me who sometimes wonders if exorcisms are real nearly peed.
So, did I like it or not? Yes, the rather disturbed part of me really did. Will I be able to watch it again any time soon? Definitely not. Will I let my daughter watch it? Hell no. Unless she wants to wait until she's 18, she'll just have to sneak it in a friend's house like I did when I was her age. Let some other parent be responsible for corrupting her mind. Maybe she'll follow in her mother's footsteps and grow up to write about the paranormal.

Review of "Cheating Death" and Fun Interview

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by the lovely ladies Jenny & Malisa over at J&M's Book Diaries. Click the link below to check out their review of my book Cheating Death, and also find out fun things like which book so far has been my favorite to write, what things I would like to do differently, and a little info on the very first book I wrote in junior high. It also includes a very special message to my fans!

J&M's Book Diaries Review/Interview