B.R. Myers's Blog, page 17

Embarrassing Confessions of a Bibliophile

It's time to come clean.

I like to classify stuff, you know, organize and label. And this rings true for my bookshelves as well. Some books are great for rainy days, and others are perfect murder mysteries to read on that long flight or a weekend at the cottage.

But I have other labels too *lowers voice* ones I'm not proud of. These are my book confessions.

Confession #1. The Book I Stole From The Library

Frog and Toad Are Friends

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Okay, I know stealing is wrong and this is no excuse, but I was in grade two and it was raining heavily that day. I dropped the book in the puddle where it sucked up a gallon of water. The thing swelled like Harry Potter's Aunt Marge.

I stashed the thick mess under my bed, hoping it would somehow magically fix itself before it was due back at the library.

It didn't.

However, back then (1978) I guess the librarian at my school was so distracted by the approaching summer vacation and its promises of tanned cabana boys or whatever she did in the off season—that she never came looking for that book. Frog and Toad Are Friends is still mine to this day.


Confession #2. The Book I Pretend To Have Read

The Hobbit

I was thirteen. The first three paragraphs were about a gnarled tree stump. I haven't picked it up since.



Confession #3. The Book I've Read The Most


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This is kind of two confessions in one, because my artsy fartsy answer is Pride and Prejudice (read eight times), but the real answer is Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone (read ten times).


Confession #4. The Book I Never Finished

Mr. Churchill's Secretary

Okay, there are several titles that fit this category, but this mystery novel is the most recent I haven't been able to finish. I kept falling asleep. I stuck it out until page 110, but I couldn't get any farther. I'm going to try again someday, you know when a bout of insomnia hits.


Confession #5. The Book In Which I'm Totally In Love With One of the Characters

Pride and Prejudice

Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy.


Confession #6. Book I Bought Purely Because Of The Cover

Hush, Hush


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This was when angels falling from the sky wearing only tight jeans was something of a novelty. Now you can't go for a walk without getting hit by one of those suckers.


Confession #7. The Book I Will Never Read

Fifty Shades of Grey

Life is too short. I read a few paragraphs composed mainly of the main character asking herself questions and biting her lower lip. That was enough for me.


Confession #8. The Book I Will Never Recommend

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell

It's on my bookshelf as a testament to how stubborn a reader I can be. That sucker weighed in at 782 pages. Although there is one memorable scene, that only accounts for two of those 782 pages. I heard that it's been optioned for a movie. Good, choose that option instead.

Sorry, I hate being a critic, but confession is good for the soul. Let me know your answers!

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I. AM. AWESOME.

...And so are YOU!

So stop keeping it a secret and show off how awesome you are.

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Seriously, in case anyone hasn't told you lately. Now go take on the day!

Are You a Book Pirate?

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I don't mean like Captain Hook or Long John Silver. I mean the book pirate who makes copies of hard copy books and original ebooks, and either sells them or makes them available on the internet for free.

People are still confused as to why this is wrong.

The truth is not many writers are able to support themselves solely by writing, which means most writers have another job.

Why should you care?

Well, let's say you happen upon a terrific book and you're delighted that it's going to be a series. But, oh man—it ends with a cliffhanger and you'll have to WAIT for months or even the next year for the sequel.

Wouldn't it be great if your favorite author wrote faster?

I'm sure they would love that too. But when they don't make enough revenue from book sales to write full time they may only get to work on their novels on the weekend, which means the book you're waiting for will take even LONGER to get on the shelf.

So book pirating affects readers...everywhere.

Still confused? Have you ever said this...

#1. "It doesn't matter if I copy this published book on my blog/tumblr/facebook page for free because the author is super rich."

It's not only the author who is losing revenue. The publisher, the editor, the people who design book covers, and most importantly the local bookstore are all losing out too.

Pirated books don't count in sales figures.

Publishers like to use these numbers to forecast what kinds of books people are buying to help them mainstream which authors/genres they should spotlight. If you're reading pirated books, you're decreasing the chance of another author (probably someone who has written a story you'd love) from getting a book deal.

#2. "It's not illegal. I'm not making any money."

Actually it is illegal. And why should you make money from something you had no hand in creating?

#3. "It's posted for free on the author's website so it's not book pirating."

Sorry, wrong again. Anything that anyone writes is copyrighted by law. Unless you have written permission from the author to post their work on your site, then you're a book pirate.

#4. "Authors should be lucky anyone is reading their book."

If that's how you truly feel, you've missed the whole point of reading the book.

#5.  "I can't afford to buy the book and the waiting list at the library is too long."

Perhaps this would be a good time for you to join a book club. The thing about book clubs is that a lot of members OWN books. Chances are someone in your school has a copy of that very book you're dying to read.

And guess what? Maybe you'll meet someone who loves books as much as you, and then you'll start your own book review blog. And before you know it publishers are contacting you to do reviews and sending you ARCs...for FREE! Then you can have contests so that other people (just like you) can read books for free without pirating.

I know most people who pirate books won't be swayed by this post, but I'm hoping there's at least one person who gets this and will make the decision to stop pirating. I hope that person is you.

And who says you can't read an amazing book for FREE?

Check out Wattpad for oodles of genres and even previews and contests from famous authors. If you're not on there, you should go...like right now. While you're there, check out NIGHT SHIFT.

Congratulations! You made it to the end of this post. Please enjoy this memorable scene from one of my favorite pirates.

Spend Canada Day With a Great Canadian Author

My official list is much too long to include in this blog, but here is a random sampling of my favorite Canadian authors. There's a genre for every mood. Happy reading!

The Republic of Love by Carol Shields

A contemporary story told in two alternating points of view that proves no matter how willing you are to believe the opposite, there is such a thing as love at first sight.

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An Audience of Chairs by Joan Clark

Hilarious and heart breaking at the same time. A mother mourns for the two daughters she lost as a young woman.

Through a series of flashbacks, we learn about the devastating effects of Moranna’s mental illness on her life and that of her family. But An Audience of Chairs also gives us a glimpse into the mind of a true iconoclast and wild spirit, who has managed despite overwhelming odds to keep hope alive.—Goodreads

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Pluto's Ghost by Sherre Fitch

A male point of view love story/tragedy/mystery with a voice so authentic it reads like a diary.

Jake Upshore has loved Skye Derucci since before he can remember. Volatile, complex and frustrated (he's got a label disorder from all the labels he's been given) at the best of times, Jake's on a desperate quest to find Skye before she aborts the baby he believes is his. As he hurtles headlong toward certain tragedy, Jake relives the fatal choices he's made and the powerful forces that have led him to this to end. A gripping thriller and a heart-wrenching love story, Pluto's Ghost is a raw and powerful novel about anger, escape, and redemptive love.—Goodreads

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The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

A badly disfigured burn victim is visited in the hospital by another patient—a woman from the psychiatric wing. She tells him they were lovers in a past life, and so begins the epic love story of how they've met again after centuries.

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The Sisters Brothers by Partick deWitt

This book proves you CAN judge a book by its cover. This is one fabulous Western romp.


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Random Passage by Bernice Morgan

A pregnant stow away, an English family forced to escape to another land to save a thieving brother, a holy man, a murderer, and a young girl who starts a diary detailing all their secrets and miseries as they struggle to build a new life on the inhospitable shores of Newfoundland.

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February by Lisa Moore


In 1982, the oil rig Ocean Ranger sank off the coast of Newfoundland during a Valentine's Day storm. All eighty-four men aboard died. February is the story of Helen O'Mara, one of those left behind.—Goodreads 


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The Love of a Good Woman by Alice Munro

Of course you're going to read this. *cough* Nobel Prize *cough*


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The White Bone by Barbara Gowdy


Plunged into an alien landscape, readers orient themselves in elephant time, elephant space, and elephant consciousness, and begin to feel, as Gowdy puts it, what it would be like to be that big and gentle, to be that imperiled, and to have that prodigious memory.—Goodreads


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The Dark Endeavor by Kenneth Oppel

Victor and Konrad are the twin brothers Frankenstein and inseparable until Konrad falls gravely ill. In the forbidden Dark Library, Victor finds an ancient formula, and seeks an alchemist to recreate the Elixir of Life.—Goodreads



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What books will you be reading this holiday?

The Writing Process Blog Hop!

The Writing Process Blog Hop. AKA “My Mission Statement.”I've been tagged by YA writer, Alex Karola to be part of a blog hop!

You can find her here and on Wattpad. 

"My characters are 'successful losers.' They haven't realized the rest of the world doesn't see failure in them." Alex Karola

FYI, during the day Alex teaches high school English.

Ten Points for Ravenclaw!!

And now, * drumroll* I'm supposed to talk about my writing process...

*Makes face*

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1. What am I working on?
 

I recently finished the last edits for my YA coming of age novel, BUTTERFLIES DON'T LIE.

So now I have more time to devote to BLACK FRIDAY, the second book in the NIGHT SHIFT series. You can read that YA paranormal mystery for FREE on Wattpad. Go ahead...don't be shy.


2. How is my work different from others of its genre?

It's FREE! Plus, the MC is a dude. Not rare of course, but most paranormal romances are in the first person with a female lead. And I dig the creepy yet stylish mystery of the old department store. I hope you'll give it a chance.

3. Why do I write what I do?

I write because I have to. I write the stories I want to read. I write to stop the voices in my head.

4. How does my writing process work?

I sit in the chair and make myself keep writing sentences until I have enough of a mess to edit. I'm a fan of sticky notes. I have a simple outline of the major events. Before I write a scene, I list all the things that have to happen before the end of that chapter.

I'm a fan of cliffhangers too, but not too many in a row. Also, if your 'pickle of a situation' keeps ending with an easy solution, the cliffhangers will lose their effect. Readers want conflict!

Now I encourage you to check out the blogs of these other splendid people who will share their answers next week:

Ally Hayes

Lisa Ann O'Kane

Natalie Sampson


 

Six YA Books to Match Your Every Mood This Summer

Whether you're a 'sway in the hammock' or a 'lounge by the dock' kind of summer reader, I've got the YA books to meet all your different moods this season.

Feeling like you need more smart ass contemporary teen angst in your life? Need a tickle in the funny bone? Then Summer on the Short Bus by Bethany Crandell the novel for you, my friend.




Looking for a paranormal romance that's heavy on the mystery yet full of swoony moments? Aspen by Rebekah Crane will fulfill your needs.




Need some fantasy drama with a kick butt female lead? Check out Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori M. Lee.



Are you looking for the next clue that will lead you to a sophisticated who-done-it?  Jewel of the Thames is just what Sherlock Holmes would suggest. Check out this YA mystery novel by Angela Misri.






Are you a lover of cool dudes who can talk to dead people? Heather Marie has written the book for you, The Gate Through Which They Came.




Does your perfect romance include magic and hidden worlds within our own? Megan Whitmer's Between is what you need.







What books are you looking forward to reading this summer? See you by the pool!

Top Ten Times You Totally Wished You Were Emma Swan

Despite being hunted by villains every episode of Once Upon A Time, determined to wreck any chance she has at happiness, Emma Swan is still having a whole lotta good times.

The Top Ten Times You Totally Wished You Were Emma Swan

#1. Hanging out with the Mad Hatter

I counted one thousand, two hundred and sixteen 'smoldering stare' moments. Plus this, 'nuzzle the tip of your ear while I talk into your hair' moment wasn't half bad either.


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 #2. Kissing Cap'n Sexy Eyes

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#3. Having Snow White and Prince Charming love you unconditionally.


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#4. Eating this donut!



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#5. Slaying this dragon in one shot!!!


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#6. Flying in a magic ship!



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#7. Finding out you have magical powers at the most convenient time.




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#8. Kissing Schmexy.


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#9. Riding a motorcycle with this dude!


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#10. Always having 'shampoo commercial worthy' hair.

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Check out my other Once Upon A Time blogs here on Pinterest!

ESSENCE Blog Tour

Listen up, thrill seekers ... have I got the book for you!

Coming from Strange Chemistry on June 3, ESSENCE by Lisa Ann O'Kane.

The cover alone is enough to make you catch your breath and feel a rush of adrenaline.

I'm absolutely jazzed to be part of the ESSENCE blog tour. I first met Lisa Ann when we were scuttling around the dregs in QueryTracker, both starry eyed and crossing our fingers and toes to get that elusive yes from an agent.

Well, here we are two years later and Lisa Ann has earned her chops and produced this fabulous story for us to all devour, huddled under blankets with our flashlights on.

Did I mention this is the perfect book to take camping?

Anywho, lets get on with the shiny.

“The story’s strength lies in its evocative setting and the vicarious thrill of wild parties and daring stunts in one of the most beautiful natural areas in the United States…quick, action-packed read”
- Owl Cat Mountain




Autumn escaped a cult, but now she realizes she's fallen into another.
Growing up in San Francisco’s Centrist Movement, sixteen year-old Autumn Grace has always believed emotions—adrenaline, endorphins, even happiness—drain your Essence and lead to an early death. But her younger brother’s passing and a run-in with a group of Outsiders casts her faith into question.
Ryder Stone, the sexy, rebellious leader of the Outsiders, claims Essence drain is nothing more than a Centrist scare tactic -- and he can prove it.Autumn follows Ryder to his Community of adrenaline junkies and free spirits in Yosemite National Park, and they introduce her to a life of adventure, romance, sex, drugs and freedom. But as she discovers dark secrets beneath the Community’s perfect exterior, she realizes the more she risks in search of the perfect rush, the further she has to fall. 
Pre-order your copy today! It comes out June 3 (mark your calendar).


Amazon (U.S.)
Amazon (Canada):
Amazon (UK):  
Barnes & Noble:
Kobo:




Lisa Ann O'Kane is a young adult author and former vagabond who once camped out in Yosemite National Park for an entire summer, an experience that inspired her debut novel ESSENCE. Her background is in zookeeping and environmental education, and she has been kicked, cornered, bitten and chased by nearly every animal she has ever loved. She currently resides in Florida, and she is now a huge fan of shooting stars, indoor plumbing and keeping both her feet planted firmly on the trail.
You can find her here:

Website: http://lisaannokane.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/LisaAnnOKaneFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LisaAnnOKaneInstagram: http://instagram.com/lisaannokanePinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lisaannokane/ Lisa Ann was nice enough to drop by for a virtual chat. What inspired you to write ESSENCE?

The inspiration for Essence came to me randomly. I was in Vail with some friends during the winter of 2011, and we were watching a friend get inducted into the Snowboarding Hall of Fame. There were tons of early '90's snowboarding legends there, and I was struck by how poorly many of them had aged. Some had mobility issues (thanks to the beatings they put on their bodies), some had substance abuse withdrawal issues, and many others just seemed ‘different.’

I turned to my friends at one point and said, "It's weird. It's almost like these guys were given a certain allotment of life, and they've already used theirs up."

BAM. The rest of my story came to me like lightning.
　
　

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

Essence is all about literal and metaphorical balance: the balance between right and wrong, between safety and freedom, between too little and too much. Autumn’s dual fears of tight spaces and heights also speak to this, and she struggles to find her inner balance throughout most of the novel.

My hope for Essence is that readers will understand that they alone are responsible for finding their own balance and moderation. They cannot simply trust that the people around them are looking out for their best interests.
　
　

What was the hardest scene to write (no spoilers!)?

The first fifty pages of Essence bamboozled me. I was so excited to JUST GET TO YOSEMITE ALREADY that I blazed through them and didn’t give them the attention they deserved until well after I finished the first draft. This meant I had to go back and rewrite those pages several times, and they have changed so much from their first incarnation that I am sometimes still surprised by their final content.
　
　

Which character do you relate to the most? Why?

Essence is interesting to me, because these characters have less in common with me than any other characters I have ever written. However, I can see traces of myself in almost all of them, and I feel a particular connection to Jett. Although her mistakes, heartbreaks and failures have altered her, she has made the conscious choice to learn from them and rise above them. (Hopefully people say this about me, too!)
　

Outside of family, what was the greatest support while you wrote this novel?

I am fortunate enough to be surrounded by an incredible group of friends and loved ones, and their support for me was unwavering during this process. In particular, I am thankful for my long-time alpha reader Allen Walker, my brainstorming partner-in-crime Keith Wood, and my Colorado writers’ group: Beth Christopher, Christina McCarthy, Eugene Scott, Joe Kovacs, Rene Zimbelman, and Sean McAfee.
　
　

Do you have any advice for other writers?

As best as you can, please don’t take criticism or rejections personally. If you decide this is what you want to do, please don’t let anyone ever talk you out of it.

I have considered myself an aspiring author for the past five years, and I am finally beginning to see the publishing industry for what it is: an industry. When I first started this journey, I pinned all my self-worth on the success of my novel. If an agent or editor liked it, that meant I was a good writer. If they didn’t, I questioned my entire identity.

Nowadays (thanks to time, experience, and many, many rejections), I understand that agents and editors can like my work—sometimes even love my work—and still reject it. Maybe it isn’t a good fit for their list, or maybe they already have a similar novel. Maybe the market is saturated, or maybe it isn’t saturated enough. Maybe they love my novel but realize it doesn’t have mass appeal, or maybe they just don’t love it enough to stake their reputation on it.

Regardless, rejections are often far less personal—and far more subjective—than I would have ever imagined. This is good news, and it’s bad news. When agents and editors say, "It’s not you, it’s me," they usually really mean it.
　
　

FAST FIVE

What did you have for supper last night?

I have the taste buds of a twelve year-old boy. I am also incredibly lazy in the kitchen, so last night’s triumph was some frozen chicken fettuccine and an ice cream sandwich for dessert. (Ah, the romantic life of an author!)
　

Is there an actor who you think looks like your MC?

Absolutely! I didn’t realize it until a reader pointed it out, but I think Jane Levy from Suburgatory is a dead ringer for Autumn. I have also always pictured Ryder Stone as a young version of Alex Pettyfer.
 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jane_Levy.jpg     http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alex_Pettyfer-_John_Smith_in_I_am_number_4_2014-04-07_22-45.jpg )
　


Vanilla or chocolate?

Vanilla! Call me boring, but everyone likes vanilla for a reason: it’s delicious! I am particularly fond of that fancy vanilla bean ice cream with real specks of vanilla in it. So. Darn. Good.
　
　

As a little kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Believe it or not, my very first career goal was to (not joke) be a garbage man. This was back in the days when the garbage men used to ride around on the back of the trucks and jump off to collect the cans, and I thought hanging onto the back of a moving vehicle looked SO FUN. (I think the characters in Essence may have inherited some of their adrenaline junkie compulsions from me. They also probably inherited some of my questionable decision-making skills. )
　
　

Last book you read.

I am right in the middle of Dare Me by Eric Devine. Eric is a good friend of mine, and I am a HUGE fan of the gritty, honest way he writes. His characters aren’t perfect, and he doesn’t shy away from highlighting their flaws. He also doesn’t shy away from tough language or uncomfortable scenes. I have SO much respect for this.


Thanks so much, Lisa Ann! Good luck with the rest of the launch and thank you for writing this book and sharing your story with us.




 

Book Deal!!!

Yup. It's true.

THE ASP is going to be a real book on a real bookshelf in a real bookstore.

Read the press release here!

Fierce Ink Press is dedicated to producing high quality books of fiction and short non-fiction pieces by Canadian authors who write for young adults. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to publish with them and I'm certain Terry's fate couldn't be in better hands.

Coming from Fierce Ink Press in June 2015...

Not the real cover, but fun to look at while we wait for next year!

Still recovering from the accident that killed her mother a year ago and left her with a disfigured leg, sixteen-year-old Terry Hughes limps through a new high school, wishing she was invisible. Recently relocated back to America with her archaeologist father, Terry wants nothing more than to leave the secrets of ancient Egypt buried and forgotten.
When the editor of the school newspaper, swoon-worthy Fraser Lucas, asks for an interview about her father's upcoming exhibit at the museum, Terry is skeptical. Why would a guy with so much swag be interested in a bunch of dusty artifacts? She rebuffs his questions, secretly suspicious her father's latest discovery is more than just another crumbling sarcophagus. Her paranoia increases when Fraser hands over a newspaper article from fifty years ago, detailing the unsolved case of a girl who visited the museum on a class trip and was never seen again.
After Terry's father succumbs to a mysterious illness, she delves back into the world of ancient Egyptology, curses and all. Terry will need Fraser's help to uncover the museum's macabre agenda, and hopefully her father's cure. But her detective work may prove lethal when she discovers the sarcophagus is not only the key to her fate, but to the missing girl’s as well.
THE ASP, a YA mystery with magical realism, is Veronica Mars meets Indiana Jones in the style of Stan Lee.

Add it on Goodreads here! BONUS!!! For character pictures, quotes, a playlist and various other inspirational bits, check out the Pinterest board for THE ASP here.    

Merry Bethmas!


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It's almost my birthday (May 20th) otherwise known around my house as Bethmas.

I love my birthday. I think my love of cake has a lot to do with it — especially a castle cake! Also, I love presents with nice wrapping. Plus, you sometimes get free stuff from the coffee shop.

Last year I celebrated by sneaking all over Halifax, hiding books!

This year, I've got something even BETTER to share with you, but I have to keep it a secret until my actual birthday.

For now, I'll leave you with footage of my celebration dance, which is now taking place ... secretly.