Erin Keyser Horn's Blog, page 6

RIVER’S EDGE

The amazing cover, designed by Rod Karmenzind!

Frequently asked questions:
1. Is RIVER’S EDGE the sequel to EYES OF LIGHTNING?

Nope, definitely not. The two are not at all related. They’re both Young Adult books with paranormal twists, but that is the only common ground they share.

2. But I’m waiting for Book 2 in the Thunderbird Legacy!

I’m working on it, I promise! RIVER’S EDGE is a book I wrote back in 2009, so I decided to go ahead and release it while I was writing WINGS OF THUNDER. I thought it might distract my readers while they wait.  ;-)

3. The cover looks spooky. What’s up with that?

My cover designer, Rod Karmenzind, did a spooktacular job with the cover! I told him I wanted something scary, and he delivered. RIVER’S EDGE is categorized as YA Horror, and I wanted to make sure readers could determine that from the cover.

4. I don’t like horror. Why should I take a chance on RIVER’S EDGE?

I don’t like horror, either. I never watch scary movies, and I can count on one hand the number of horror books I have read in my life. I certainly didn’t set out to write a horror novel . . . so imagine my surprise when some of my test readers told me how scary my book was. How did that happen?? I still have no idea. Then I’ve had other test readers tell me it’s not that scary. So what’s a reader to do?? Here is the solution I came up with. I decided to post the first two chapters of RIVER’S EDGE on my website (which you can read HERE). Normally I would just post one chapter, but chapter two has one of the few spooky scenes. If you can handle Ch. 2, you can handle the rest of the book. If Ch. 2 creeps you out, then you probably won’t like the book. The last thing I want to do is trick people into buying a book they don’t like. That’s seriously not my goal. So I highly recommend reading the first two chapters on the website and then making an informed decision about whether or not it’s a good fit for you.

5. How is RIVER’S EDGE different than EYES OF LIGHTNING?

It’s a lot different, actually. You can read a detailed comparison HERE. The short answer is that RE is faster-paced and geared toward older teens. But RE is so much more than just a scary thriller. It’s a celebration of biology and nature. Each chapter opens with a quote from a female naturalist. The storyline is based on the Turtle Camp Research and Education in Ecology (TREE) program from Iowa State University. The setting is the real-life Thomson Causeway, a beautiful recreation area on the Mississippi River. My main character, Kasia, is an aspiring biologist with a love of nature. You can read a synopsis of the story HERE. There are so many things I love about this book. And I hope you’ll love it too.  :-)

What other questions do you have?? Leave me a comment and I’ll gladly answer!

Flora Library Book Signing!

I want to thank Flora Public Library for hosting my book signing and for doing such a great job of advertising! The library director, Donna, is super nice, as was everyone I talked to today. Had so much fun visiting with people! And special thanks to Mary Ann Maxwell, who interviewed  me for the Clay County Advocate. I appreciate her time and effort!

As usual, I was scatterbrained and forgot to take more pictures. This was the only pic I have from the event, me with the lovely Skylar:

Thanks again to everyone for making it a great day!

 

Synopsis of RIVER’S EDGE and Giveaway!

UPDATE:  The giveaway is now closed to entries, and the winner is . . . Casey! I’ll be mailing him a copy of RIVER’S EDGE in April! Congrats, Casey, and thanks to everyone who commented!! I really appreciate the feedback, and I’ll be rewording the synopsis based on the suggestions I received. Thanks for all the help!!

 

Announcing the first giveaway of RIVER’S EDGE!!

I need your help. In exchange for your help, you will be entered to win a free copy of RIVER’S EDGE as soon as I have it (mid-April)!

I’m working on the back cover synopsis for the book, and I need some feedback. So below I’m posting the synopsis I have right now—it’s a work in progress.

Here’s how you can enter to win:  leave a comment on THIS blog post. Not just any comment, but something related to the synopsis. Do you like it? Hate it? Does it make you want to read the book? Can you think of ways to improve it? I welcome any thoughts, opinions, and constructive criticism.

Contest is limited to one entry per person. Deadline to enter is Thursday, March 7th, 8:00 AM CST. At that time I will draw a winner from the people who have commented. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!

And now, the synopsis of RIVER’S EDGE.

______________________________________________________

“Does salvation have a number? How many lives must I save before I’m redeemed?” 

Eighteen-year-old Kasia Maier planned to spend her summer studying turtles in the sand prairie, not trudging through fearsome backwaters with her new coworker, Blayne. And when a monster drags Blayne into the Mississippi River, Kasia never expected herself to jump in after him. She saves him, but soon she’s discovering the supernatural in other places . . . including herself. Now she’s wavering on the edge between a dwindling humanity and a dreadful immortality. The river is tempting one moment, terrifying the next. She doesn’t understand who she is or where she belongs. Blayne, the one person with the potential to help her, is also the hardest to resist. If she can’t stop her own transformation into a river monster, he will be her first victim. They don’t know the worst of it—even greater threats are lurking in the shadows.

Combining the Illinois setting of Thomson Causeway and the scariest of Slavic mythology, RIVER’S EDGE will make you question everything you know about nature, evil, and redemption.

Synopsis of RIVER’S EDGE & Giveaway!

Announcing the first giveaway of RIVER’S EDGE!!

I need your help. In exchange for your help, you will be entered to win a free copy of RIVER’S EDGE as soon as I have it (mid-April)!

I’m working on the back cover synopsis for the book, and I need some feedback. So below I’m posting the synopsis I have right now—it’s a work in progress.

Here’s how you can enter to win:  leave a comment on THIS blog post. Not just any comment, but something related to the synopsis. Do you like it? Hate it? Does it make you want to read the book? Can you think of ways to improve it? I welcome any thoughts, opinions, and constructive criticism.

Contest is limited to one entry per person. Deadline to enter is Thursday, March 7th, 8:00 AM CST. At that time I will draw a winner from the people who have commented. Let me know if you have any questions, and good luck!

And now, the synopsis of RIVER’S EDGE.

______________________________________________________

“Does salvation have a number? How many lives must I save before I’m redeemed?” 

Eighteen-year-old Kasia Maier planned to spend her summer studying turtles in the sand prairie, not trudging through fearsome backwaters with her new coworker, Blayne. And when a monster drags Blayne into the Mississippi River, Kasia never expected herself to jump in after him. She saves him, but soon she’s discovering the supernatural in other places . . . including herself. Now she’s wavering on the edge between a dwindling humanity and a dreadful immortality. The river is tempting one moment, terrifying the next. She doesn’t understand who she is or where she belongs. Blayne, the one person with the potential to help her, is also the hardest to resist. If she can’t stop her own transformation into a river monster, he will be her first victim. They don’t know the worst of it—even greater threats are lurking in the shadows.

Combining the Illinois setting of Thomson Causeway and the scariest of Slavic mythology, RIVER’S EDGE will make you question everything you know about nature, evil, and redemption.

My Writing and Publishing Timeline

The Journey from Clueless to Indie Author

Fall 2002:  This was when I first got the idea for EYES OF LIGHTNING. I was a junior in college, working in the ecology lab sorting macroinvertebrates from aquatic samples (seriously—that was my job). I’d recently seen the Stephen King movie Dreamcatcher, and that might’ve inspired the direction my brain took. The scene that popped into my head doesn’t happen until Book 3, so I can’t describe it without spoiling everything. Basically, I imagined four kids with supernatural powers. What does that have to do with macroinvertebrates and a movie about aliens? I have no clue. Just goes to show—you never know when or where you’ll get a killer book idea. The idea grew into several scenes. When I couldn’t get the characters out of my head, I knew I had a novel-worthy story.

2003 and 2004:  This was a busy time when I was getting married and finishing college. But occasionally I would jot down notes or ideas for the story. I joked that someday I would write a novel as a “hobby” (cringing a little at how naive I was then).

2005:  My son was born! Life changed forever.

2006:  Right around the time  my son turned one, I took a break from reading parenting magazines to read some YA fiction. It had been a LONG time since I’d read any book except Goodnight Moon & Co. Reading YA again . . . it was a jolt to my system. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it. I found myself thinking, “I wish I could write a book like this.” As time went by, I thought more and more about that old novel idea in the closet. Since I’d decided to be a stay-at-home mom, I wanted work I could do from home. Writing seemed like the perfect answer.

2007:  I had a lot to learn. I needed to improve my writing craft. To get practice and reader feedback, I went through a fan fiction phase (this is not my proudest phase—moving on quickly). Once I got positive reviews, I felt confident enough to focus my efforts on writing my novel. I did research online, read some books on writing craft, and began an EXTENSIVE outline for the whole Thunderbird series. It’s embarrassing how much time I spent on that outline. The sad part is that the story has changed so much since then, most of that outline is now obsolete. I still get it out once in awhile to laugh at it.

Nov. 2007:  My friend Syd decided to do National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), and she talked me into trying it too. I was reluctant. She basically twisted my arm until I cried for mercy. So I agreed to tackle NaNoWriMo . . . and by the end of the month I had the first 50,000 words of EOL. Miracles do happen, folks.

Jan. 2008:  I took December off to recuperate and do this thing called Christmas. By January I was ready to write again. So I wrote another 47,000, making a total of (approximately) 97,000 words. Which seemed rather monstrous for the first draft of a first novel. But I was ecstatic to have made it that far.

Feb. to May 2008:  The second draft of EOL is a blur. I remember wanting to pull my hair out. It was so much harder, so much more tedious. I had to reread the ugly first draft and flinch at how bad it was. Then I had to try to make it better.

July 2008:  I went to Conestoga, a science fiction and fantasy convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I met some really cool authors, and I learned more about the business side of writing. More specifically, I learned how to query literary agents. At one point during the convention, I had the chance to talk to author Jeri Smith-Ready. She was kind enough to ask about the book I was writing. I gave her a long and rambling synopsis (hadn’t yet learned how to give a one-line pitch), which she was kind enough to listen to and even express interest in. She said I should query her agent. I have no idea what I said in reply, because I was too stunned to know what I was saying. That was when I realized I needed to get serious about querying agents.

Fall and Winter 2008:  I didn’t keep very good records of this time period. Actually, I’m sure I have records somewhere, I just don’t want to spend the time digging them out. In short—I queried literary agents. I don’t remember exactly how many queries I sent out, but I know it was at least fifty. If you’ve queried agents before, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, then imagine sending an email to a business professional. You’re trying to convince that person in three paragraphs that he or she should take a look at your story. You may hear back in a day. Or a week. Or a month. Or six months. Or never. During this LONG period of querying, I had four agents ask to read EYES OF LIGHTNING, either part of the manuscript or all of it. Three said no (in a nice way). One never replied. Each time I tried not to get my hopes up. Each time I failed. I knew it was normal . . . I read all the stories about authors getting rejected over and over again. It was like a badge of honor or something. But expecting it does not stop the feeling of disillusionment. If I did manage to secure an agent, I would then have to wait weeks or months or years for the agent to find a publishing house willing to buy the book. There are plenty of times when an agent is unable to sell a book. Traditional publishing is SLOW, and there are no guarantees.

Jan. 2009:  This was the month my son started half-day preschool. Suddenly I had a good two or three hours to write during the day. I was burnt out on EOL and needed a break. So I began research for a new book: RIVER’S EDGE. By February I was well into the first draft.

March 2009:  I attended the Quad Cities Christian Writers’ Conference. They offered some great classes on writing craft and editing. But the best part about that conference was meeting Ellie Ann. I didn’t know it at the time, but she would later become CRUCIAL to my writing career. Ellie was an aspiring author like me, and she was looking for a critique partner who liked fantasy. Soon after the conference we started emailing each other. It wasn’t long before we were critiquing and editing stories for each other. Meanwhile I finished my draft of RIVER’S EDGE.

Summer and Fall 2009:  This was when life got crazier than usual. My son was on summer break, and my husband was looking for a new job. When he got a job, it meant moving to a new town and finding a house to buy. For weeks all I did was house-shop. By autumn we were packing up our belongings and moving, then unpacking and settling in.

2010 and 2011:  It’s amazing how fast time flies by. It’s not that I forgot about writing . . . but I wasn’t making it a priority. I needed money NOW, not in some fairy-tale future with hard-to-get agents. So I started working part-time at the library and part-time for a local vegetable farmer. I fell in love with yoga and was offered the chance to take yoga-teacher training—so I jumped at the offer. The writing dream was always there in the background. I went to an Illinois SCBWI conference in 2010 and an Iowa SCBWI conference in 2011. At both I improved my writing craft, and at both I received agent critiques of the first chapter of RIVER’S EDGE. I revised the story based on the critiques. Meanwhile, I was still editing for Ellie, and she edited RIVER’S EDGE, giving me some great ideas to improve it. I never really considered self-publishing at this point in my life because it still had the stigma, the mistaken belief that all self-published books are low-quality. I didn’t research it because it didn’t seem like a viable option at the time.

2012:  The stigma was changing. Self-published authors were having huge successes. More and more writers were trying it. Ebook sales were on the rise. The traditional publishing industry was struggling. And it wasn’t just the publishing world that was changing. I was changing on a personal level. I wasn’t getting any younger, and time would keep flying by if I didn’t do something about it. Yoga had made me more confident. The farmers’ market provided me with a venue to sell products—such as books, if someday I had them. And I still harbored this writing dream, no matter how desperately I tried to forget it. Why did I try to forget it? Because writing is HARD, and there’s no guarantee of money, and it’s about the worst job prospect you can imagine. But I wanted that writing career more than anything else. I didn’t want to wait years for it to happen with traditional publishing—I had already waited years, to no avail. I was fine with the idea that only family and friends would read my books. If that were the case, it would be better to get the 70% royalties that Kindle Direct Publishing promised rather than 10% royalties from a publishing house. So I took the plunge and decided to try self-publishing.

September 2012:  Since EOL had already been shopped to agents, I figured it would be the better option for self-publishing. Then, if I later decided that I hated self-publishing, I could always try to publish RIVER’S EDGE traditionally. Plus, self-publishing is better for books that don’t fit neatly into one genre box, and I’ve been told that EOL is such a book. First I wanted to make EOL as good as possible. I did a massive rewrite, completely changing the beginning, end, and some parts in between. When I had polished as much as possible, Ellie edited it for me. Remember earlier how I mentioned that Ellie would be CRUCIAL to my writing career? Here’s why:  NO ONE SHOULD SELF-PUBLISH WITHOUT A REALLY GOOD EDITOR. If you try to do all the editing yourself, or if you get an inexperienced editor, I guarantee you’ll have a low-quality book that lives up to the stigma of self-publishing. If you want any chance of being successful in the biz, you must have at least one good editor. Ellie is mine, and she makes all the difference in quality.

October 2012:  This was a crazy busy month where the learning curve felt as huge as Mount Everest. I had to decide which company to use for print-on-demand books. CreateSpace and Lightning Source are the most popular options. If you need more info, Google “CreateSpace vs Lighting Source.” They both have pros and cons, but I went with CreateSpace because it has lower fees, is more user-friendly, and it offers immediate availability through Amazon. Which is, of course, the world’s largest reseller—kind of a big deal. I know Amazon isn’t perfect, but this is the world we live in. CreateSpace will even help you with services like the LCCN and ISBN. I had to research all the details to decide which options were best, but CreateSpace made it pretty easy. So then I had to learn how to format my book and design the interior. You can hire a professional to do this, but I was trying to cut costs whenever possible, and I have the attention to detail necessary to learn formatting. Luckily, there is a ton of information available online or in books—more every day. If I can learn to do it, odds are good that you can too. One thing I couldn’t learn to do was design a cover. After shopping around, I was lucky enough to have my sister-in-law recommend Rod Karmenzind, an amazing digital illustrator. Hiring him to design the cover was one the best decisions I made. Despite the warning not to judge a book by its cover, obviously readers do just that. So the quality of the cover really does influence sales. If it’s a low-quality cover, the reader will assume the story is low-quality too.

November 2012:  I also had to learn how to convert my manuscript to ebook-friendly files and reformat everything so it would look good in an ebook (which is NOT the same as what looks good in print). Since I would be selling copies of the print version, I had to register my own business for the purpose of paying sales tax and income tax. I made what felt like a million last-minute checks and adjustments . . . and then I was ready to publish. My book released the week of Thanksgiving. Notice that a decade passed between the idea for the book and the production of it. I want aspiring authors to remember that. What often seems like an “overnight success” is usually something the author has been building up to for a LONG time.

February 2013:  Skipping forward to the present. I’ve learned so much about self-publishing, but I still have more to learn. I recently attended the online conference IndieRecon, which was an amazing source of information. Wish I’d had this last year! If you’re considering self-publishing, I strongly suggest you check out IndieRecon, because the posts are still up and visible to anyone. The best thing about the conference was the feeling of empowerment. I didn’t have to hang my head in shame for self-publishing. I can keep my chin up because I’m an independent author, an indie. I have my own business and I make my own decisions. I have complete control over everything related to my books. I have skills that many traditional authors do not. Don’t get me wrong—I would NEVER bash traditional authors/publishing. Who knows, someday I might choose that route. It’s still a preferred option in some respects, depending on the author and the situation. But for now I love being an indie author. I love working with Ellie, Rod, and my wonderful test readers. I love getting higher royalties for each book I sell. And I love getting to decide my future. RIVER’S EDGE is set to release in April, and WINGS OF THUNDER will release later in 2013. Plenty more books will release in the years to come. I love my readers, and I love writing for them. I hope I can continue to do so for the rest of my life.

 

 

 

 

 

Somewhat-Secret Project Revealed

On Valentine’s Day I hinted at my Super Secret Project in this post. I don’t want it to be a secret anymore.

In mid-April, I’m releasing a new book.

Um, no, it’s not WINGS OF THUNDER, Book 2 in The Thunderbird Legacy.  *dodges rotten tomatoes thrown my way*

I know that’s the book my readers are waiting for—I’m working on it, I swear! Let me explain what happened.

In 2009, I was burnt out from working on EYES OF LIGHTNING. I needed a break from it. I wanted to write something very different, with a new setting and characters. And so I wrote RIVER’S EDGE. It underwent editing in 2010. It’s been languishing on my hard drive ever since.

Throughout March, I’ll be sharing more information about RIVER’S EDGE:  the synopsis, first chapter, cover, and more. But for now, I’ll compare it to EYES OF LIGHTNING . . .

EYES OF LIGHTNING

Genre:  YA Paranormal

Recommended for ages:  12 & up

Mythology:  Native American

Setting:  Galena, Illinois

Main character:  15-year-old Ivy Nimiki

Strong suits:  Character development and a family-friendly story

Tone:  Hopeful

Romance:  Just a little

RIVER’S EDGE

Genre:  YA Horror

Recommended for ages:  14 & up

Mythology:  Slavic (denoting the people of eastern/central Europe who speak Russian, Polish, & more)

Setting:  Thomson, Illinois

Main character:  18-year-old Kasia Maier

Strong suits:  Tight plot and fast-paced thriller

Tone:  Gritty

Romance:  More than a little

 

Hopefully you’ll see at a glance the big difference here—audience. For EYES OF LIGHTNING, I’ve had readers of ages 8 to 80. It has a wide appeal. RIVER’S EDGE will not have wide appeal. The target audience is older teens and twenty-somethings, maybe even thirty-somethings. I wouldn’t say it’s as scary as Stephen King, but it does have a few creepy scenes. In the near future I’ll be posting one of those scenes, so you can determine if it’s too spooky for you.

Since the characters are older in RIVER’S EDGE, the tone of the book is grittier. I made it as clean as possible, but the content had to be realistic for an 18-year-old. I adore Kasia—she loves nature and biology and women’s rights. She enjoys sarcastic banter with her best friend, Jen. She avoids guys . . . until she gets stuck with a coworker she calls Blayne the Pain.

In some ways, RIVER’S EDGE is a better book than EYES OF LIGHTNING. Some of you will like RIVER better. Most of you will prefer EOL. And that’s perfectly okay. Every book is different, and you don’t have to like all the books I write. But I wanted to go ahead and release RIVER, since it’s not doing me any good hiding in my computer. The goal is to give my readers something to enjoy while they wait for the second Thunderbird book (which I’ll finish as soon as I can, I promise).

So more info to come in the next month, but let me know if you have any questions. I can’t wait to share RIVER’S EDGE with you!

Iowa Book Signings!

Last weekend I had a blast attending two book signing events in Iowa! In the morning I was at the Indianola Public Library, the home of sweet and helpful librarians. The visitors were very sweet as well! I showed everyone a video I made, “A Day in a Writer’s Life,” and then we had a fun Q & A session. There were even a couple aspiring authors in the group, which was great to see. Thanks so much to everyone who came, and thanks to the Indianola Library for hosting me!!

A case of stolen identity!

Me with Mark and Letty!

In the afternoon I was signing books at Cafe Diem in Ankeny. This coffeehouse is so cool—if you live in the area but haven’t been there yet, you have to check it out. The atmosphere, service, and drinks are all stellar. They even let me use a conference room where my entourage could hang out. THANK YOU to everyone who came, and thanks to Cafe Diem for hosting me!

Drinking coffee at Cafe Diem!

From L to R: Emma, Erin, Eden, and Esther. The E Ladies!

And remember that video I mentioned earlier, the one I showed at the library? Well, now you can see it from the comfort of your home. Maybe you’re lounging on the floor in your pajamas—I wouldn’t blame you one bit. This video is half-serious, half-spoof. Good luck guessing which parts are true! I hope you enjoy this tongue-in-cheek view of a writer’s life . . .

 

 

 

What Are Writers Doing All Day?

I’m starting to find out.

January was a month of discovery. After all the book signings and events in December, I needed a chance to catch my breath, so I didn’t schedule any events in January. I was hoping for some relaxing downtime, but it turned out to be busy in different ways. Somehow six weeks have disappeared without so much as a blog post from me. Where did the time go? What did I accomplish in that time? So to prove to myself that I actually did something, here’s a list of what I’ve been up to:

Taxes.  It’s my first time filing as a writer. I had to do some research to find out what deductions I qualified for. Needless to say, in 2013 I’ll be doing a better job of keeping track of all things writerly. I have a notebook for logging inventory and local sales tax; a ledger for recording mileage, phone calls, and other business activities; and Excel files for compiling all income and expenses. I’m also keeping all writing receipts and invoices in a binder where I can easily find them. I’m hoping that once I get the hang of all this paperwork, it won’t be so time-consuming.
Organizing.  My office was a mess—seriously. I found a pile of stuff dating back to 2011. I pulled everything out of my filing cabinets, desk, and office closet . . . the floor of the room was covered in stuff. I threw away some of it, then organized everything before putting it in easy-to-find places. For the time being, my office is sparkly! Now if I can only keep it that way. Since I spend so much time in there now, it makes me happy when it looks good. I even spruced up my ugly filing cabinets with pretty nature photos. Check it out:

Revamped filing cabinet!

 
Editing.  My critique partner, Ellie Ann, has a book coming out soon! It’s a YA cyberpunk called THE SILVER SICKLE. I had the honor of helping to edit the book. Can’t wait to see the final product! I’ll be talking more about it in the near future.
GRACED.  If you haven’t heard of my daily photo project, you can find all the details HERE. Every day I post a new photo and Bible verse to my Facebook page, Pinterest, and Tumblr. I’ve really enjoying this project, and I love the support I’ve received. Thank you!
YA Audiobook Challenge.  Listening to audiobooks is something I always do, no matter what. The only difference is this year I’m participating in a challenge to listen to and review 36 audiobooks. It’s good for me to get in the habit of writing reviews. Click HERE to see what I’ve reviewed so far in 2013!
Scheduling events.  Although I didn’t have any author events in January, I was still busy planning events for the rest of the year. Two of those events are coming up this weekend in Iowa! Saturday I’ll be in Indianola and Ankeny, selling and signing books. I’m even presenting “A Day in a Writer’s Life” at the Indianola library. Curious to see what people think of it! Find all the details for both events HERE.
Scrivener.  This writing software was my Christmas present, and I love it so far. I had to spend some time learning how it works, and I still don’t know everything it’s capable of, but I’m happily using what I need right now. It’s already improved my writing process.
SUPER SECRET PROJECT.  Okay, it’s not that secret . . . but I’m not quite ready to announce it to the world. Give me another week or two. Can’t wait to share the news with everyone! This is the project I’ve been consumed with the past few weeks.

I’m sure I’m forgetting things, but that’s enough for now. In non-writing news, I’m still working at the library and teaching yoga and being a wife/mom/friend/maid/cook/chauffeur . . . well, you know how it goes. That’s life! Hope all is well with all of you, and hope to talk to you again soon!

Best Books of 2012

After much deliberation, I managed to pick out seven of my favorite books from 2012. A couple of these books actually released in late 2011. But I didn’t read them until 2012, so for the sake of this list I’m including them!

If you haven’t figured it out yet, you soon will—I rarely read anything but Young Adult (YA) books. It’s the genre I write, and it’s my favorite genre to read. Of the seven books listed below, six are YA and one is Middle Grade. I did read a few “adult” books this year, but they weren’t good enough to make this list. Don’t dismiss the epic quality of a well-written YA book!

Four of these books were written by seasoned pros, but three were by debut authors (which is pretty amazing when you think about it). As for the settings of the books, three are dystopian (set in a messed-up, futuristic society), three are contemporary, and one is historical. I love audiobooks, and I listened to all but one of these books on CDs or Playaways. I highly recommend the audio versions—very well done.

Without further ado, my best books of 2012!

Best Realistic Fiction:
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This book is topping “Best Book” lists all over the Internet, and rightly so. You will laugh. You will cry. You will marvel at the brilliance of John Green. Of all his masterpieces, this one is my favorite.

Best Paranormal:
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

It’s hard for me to explain everything I love about this book, the first in a new series. It could easily make a run for Best Romance or Spookiest Supernatural. The characters are superb, and the Welsh legends are a refreshing departure from paranormal books of late. It’s an all-around awesome book. But my favorite thing is what I love about all of Stiefvater’s books—her lyrical use of language. Even if the plot wasn’t stellar I would still read it. She makes everything sound beautiful.

Best Fantasy:
The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

If you haven’t read Riordan before, you’ll want to start with The Lightning Thief and work your way through seven books before getting to The Mark of Athena. But it’s not work at all—it’s a fantastic ride of adventure and humor. Each book is better than the last. I am now so invested in these characters, I would happily read a hundred more books about them.

Best Romance:
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

This debut isn’t strictly romance. It’s a dystopian with superpowers, and the use of strikethrough language is amazingly original. But the romance made the biggest impression and kept me turning pages late into the night.

Best Fairy Tale Adaptation:
Cinder by Marissa Meyer

I love how Meyer took something old—the Cinderella fairy tale—and made it new in a dystopian world. It’s funny, exciting, romantic, and intriguing. And I was lucky enough to get an ARC for the sequel, Scarlet, an adaptation of Little Red Riding Hood. Can’t wait to read it!!

Smartest Thriller:
Legend by Marie Lu

If I said this was a political dystopian, it would sound boring. Legend is the opposite of boring. It has a kick-butt heroine, an equally talented hero, a budding romance, and a race to save a life. You won’t be able to put this book down. 

Spookiest Supernatural:
The Diviners by Libba Bray

If you haven’t read Libba Bray, you’re missing out. This book is the start of a new series, and it might be her best yet. Set in New York City’s Roaring Twenties, the dialogue and cultural references are perfection. The characters are well-developed with various superpowers. But the most amazing thing about this book is how spooky it is. Gave me chills. Some of it is supernatural, but the scariest parts are based on real historical people and events. As a bonus, it’s one of the best audiobooks I listened to all year, complete with songs and multiple accents.

So that wraps up 2012 for me! What were YOUR favorite books this year??

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all of you!! I’m a little late with the sentiment, but it’s been a busy day. My son dragged me out of bed this morning to open presents. His favorite present—a harmonica. My favorite present—this beautiful frame my husband made me to commemorate my first book!

My second favorite present was Scrivener writing software—HUZZAH! Been wanting that for a long time! Can’t wait to write my next book on it!

After a HUGE noon feast, we tried to burn some calories via sledding.

And then promptly gained back the calories with lots of hot chocolate.

Life is good! Hope you had a very Merry Christmas as well! And if your Amazon gift card is burning a hole in your pocket, don’t forget that the EYES OF LIGHTNING ebook is on sale.  :D  Time to celebrate the end of an amazing year!!