P.J. Hoover's Blog, page 42
September 8, 2011
My (unexpected) path to publication
Hey! I'm on WOW Wednesday today (and yesterday since yesterday was Wednesday) over at Adventures in Children's Publishing* talking about my path to publication.*By the way, if you don't read this amazing blog, you totally should. It is packed with lots of great information, and should definitely be on top of your list!
Happy Thursday :)
September 7, 2011
Introducing HEATHER CASHMAN and PERCEPTION
I'm thrilled to introduce you to another indie author I've recently met and her brand new book.
PERCEPTION (The Tigers' Eye Trilogy) by Heather Cashman
PERCEPTION, though a post-apocalyptic story, read like high fantasy to me. It's strongly based in the connections between people and the world around them, and has its roots in genetic experimentation. As for comparative titles, it had a bit of a Philip Pullman or a Joni Sensel (think FARWALKER'S QUEST) feel to me. I'd recommend it for those looking for something different in today's young adult market, fans of science fiction, adventure, and dystopia.
*****
And now we have a chance to talk with Heather about her life, her story, and all things I'm interested in :)
PJH: I love the story idea of PERCEPTION! It sounds like a must-read! What made you decide to indie-publish?
HC: I didn't really want to publish at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did. But this was supposed to be something I thought only my friends and family would want to read. I took it seriously, because I wanted it to be as perfect as possible, but never thought it would be successful. I am so excited that so many people are loving it!
PJH: What has been the funnest thing about having your book out in the world?
HC: There is a great sense of connection I feel with people who enjoy the world of Perception. I love it when they tell me their favorite quotes or their favorite parts. It makes me happy to give others the enjoyment and escape I found while writing it.
PJH: How about the most challenging? Or has it all been sunshine and lollipops?
HC: The most challenging was formatting and putting everything up on the internet. It was a huge learning process. The other challenge is having readers who expect the next novel. I am always worried that something will happen and I won't make it. But I am trying.
PJH: What's the funnest part of marketing for you? Least fun?
HC: The best part of marketing is meeting other authors and especially readers. I still choke when people want my autograph. The least fun is being stressed out about deadlines. Before publishing, this was all just a way to enjoy myself. It was a completely selfish endeavor that has become one of the best experiences of my life. I'm not promoting selfishness, mind you, but rather having a hobby you can be passionate about and share to make the world a better place.
PJH: If you had to give five reasons why someone should read PERCEPTION, what would they be?
HC:
Escape. Excitement. Living vicariously. Exploring your imagination. A chuckle now and then.
PJH: Okay, for fun:
PJH: Favorite myth?
HC: Currently Persephone, thanks to you, PJ.
PJH: Aw, thank you!
PJH: Favorite wonder of the world (ancient wonders count, too)?
HC: Grand Canyon. I used to go there every Christmas.
PJH: Fantasy Island or Love Boat?
HC: I watched both for different reasons. Love boat was sappy but romantic. Fantasy Island was always a mystery.
PJH: Scooby Doo character you are most like?
HC: Shaggy. I'm always scared and love to eat.
*****
From Amazon:
Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger's eyes.
More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.
Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn't as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which.
PERCEPTION (The Tigers' Eye Trilogy) by Heather Cashman
PERCEPTION, though a post-apocalyptic story, read like high fantasy to me. It's strongly based in the connections between people and the world around them, and has its roots in genetic experimentation. As for comparative titles, it had a bit of a Philip Pullman or a Joni Sensel (think FARWALKER'S QUEST) feel to me. I'd recommend it for those looking for something different in today's young adult market, fans of science fiction, adventure, and dystopia.
*****
And now we have a chance to talk with Heather about her life, her story, and all things I'm interested in :)
PJH: I love the story idea of PERCEPTION! It sounds like a must-read! What made you decide to indie-publish?
HC: I didn't really want to publish at all. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad I did. But this was supposed to be something I thought only my friends and family would want to read. I took it seriously, because I wanted it to be as perfect as possible, but never thought it would be successful. I am so excited that so many people are loving it!
PJH: What has been the funnest thing about having your book out in the world?
HC: There is a great sense of connection I feel with people who enjoy the world of Perception. I love it when they tell me their favorite quotes or their favorite parts. It makes me happy to give others the enjoyment and escape I found while writing it.
PJH: How about the most challenging? Or has it all been sunshine and lollipops?
HC: The most challenging was formatting and putting everything up on the internet. It was a huge learning process. The other challenge is having readers who expect the next novel. I am always worried that something will happen and I won't make it. But I am trying.
PJH: What's the funnest part of marketing for you? Least fun?
HC: The best part of marketing is meeting other authors and especially readers. I still choke when people want my autograph. The least fun is being stressed out about deadlines. Before publishing, this was all just a way to enjoy myself. It was a completely selfish endeavor that has become one of the best experiences of my life. I'm not promoting selfishness, mind you, but rather having a hobby you can be passionate about and share to make the world a better place.
PJH: If you had to give five reasons why someone should read PERCEPTION, what would they be?
HC:
Escape. Excitement. Living vicariously. Exploring your imagination. A chuckle now and then.
PJH: Okay, for fun:
PJH: Favorite myth?
HC: Currently Persephone, thanks to you, PJ.
PJH: Aw, thank you!
PJH: Favorite wonder of the world (ancient wonders count, too)?
HC: Grand Canyon. I used to go there every Christmas.
PJH: Fantasy Island or Love Boat?
HC: I watched both for different reasons. Love boat was sappy but romantic. Fantasy Island was always a mystery.
PJH: Scooby Doo character you are most like?
HC: Shaggy. I'm always scared and love to eat.
*****
From Amazon:
Your perception will sharpen once you see through a tiger's eyes.
More than five hundred years after the apocalypse, the survivors of off-grid genetic experimentation have refined their mixed DNA to the point that humans and their animal counterparts share physical and mental links. Varying species have divided into districts, living in a tenuous peace under the President of Calem.
Ardana and her tiger ingenium Rijan leave their life of exile and abuse in the Outskirts, setting out with their twin brothers to redeem themselves and become citizens of the Center. But shedding their past isn't as easy as they had hoped. When the system that shunned them becomes embroiled in political conflict and treachery, their unique abilities and experiences from the Outskirts make them invaluable to every faction. The runaways become pawns to friends as well as enemies, and with every step it becomes more difficult to tell which is which.
September 6, 2011
ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson
I've been listening to audiobooks for the better part of ten years now (which is a heck of a lot of audiobooks when you figure in two per month on average). And my growing trend since I read so much young adult literature via the page is to listen to adult science fiction (mostly) and fantasy on audio. So sure, when the cover of this book popped up, everything about it got my attention.
ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson (Doubleday, June 7, 2011)
Though I loved this one in audio, I think the paper (or ebook) version would be fabulous, too. From the very beginning when we discover robots have destroyed the earth, I was hanging on every word, wondering just how it happened. And as the story unwound, I loved the brilliance (not the fact that robots destroyed most of humanity, but how it happened).
Why? Because the robots invasion did not happen overnight. It was a well-thought out, methodically planned attack. And because of this, it felt so realistic. After the takeover is complete, the story is far from over because the author then leads us on the equally methodical path of how humanity survived.
I'd highly recommend ROBOPOCALYPSE for fans of smart science fiction and doomsday stories. It's brilliant, even funny at times, and so realistic, it's scary.
*And also great is that ROBOPOCALYPSE is going to be a movie directed by Steven Spielberg! Sweet :)
Source of book: Purchased via audible.com
From Amazon:
They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they're coming for you.
In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter's menacing "smart" toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a 'pacification unit' go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.
When the Robot War ignites -- at a moment known later as Zero Hour -- humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.
ROBOPOCALYPSE by Daniel H. Wilson (Doubleday, June 7, 2011)
Though I loved this one in audio, I think the paper (or ebook) version would be fabulous, too. From the very beginning when we discover robots have destroyed the earth, I was hanging on every word, wondering just how it happened. And as the story unwound, I loved the brilliance (not the fact that robots destroyed most of humanity, but how it happened).
Why? Because the robots invasion did not happen overnight. It was a well-thought out, methodically planned attack. And because of this, it felt so realistic. After the takeover is complete, the story is far from over because the author then leads us on the equally methodical path of how humanity survived.
I'd highly recommend ROBOPOCALYPSE for fans of smart science fiction and doomsday stories. It's brilliant, even funny at times, and so realistic, it's scary.
*And also great is that ROBOPOCALYPSE is going to be a movie directed by Steven Spielberg! Sweet :)
Source of book: Purchased via audible.com
From Amazon:
They are in your house. They are in your car. They are in the skies…Now they're coming for you.
In the near future, at a moment no one will notice, all the dazzling technology that runs our world will unite and turn against us. Taking on the persona of a shy human boy, a childlike but massively powerful artificial intelligence known as Archos comes online and assumes control over the global network of machines that regulate everything from transportation to utilities, defense and communication. In the months leading up to this, sporadic glitches are noticed by a handful of unconnected humans – a single mother disconcerted by her daughter's menacing "smart" toys, a lonely Japanese bachelor who is victimized by his domestic robot companion, an isolated U.S. soldier who witnesses a 'pacification unit' go haywire – but most are unaware of the growing rebellion until it is too late.
When the Robot War ignites -- at a moment known later as Zero Hour -- humankind will be both decimated and, possibly, for the first time in history, united. Robopocalypse is a brilliantly conceived action-filled epic, a terrifying story with heart-stopping implications for the real technology all around us…and an entertaining and engaging thriller unlike anything else written in years.
September 2, 2011
YA INDIE CARNIVAL: 3 TIPS FOR YA AUTHORS
It's time again for the YA Indie Carnival, an awesome group of weekly bloggers blogging about the same topic! Wait, you haven't heard of the YA Indie Carnival? You're totally missing out. But no longer!
Okay, here's the deal! Each Friday, because Friday is awesome, we all blog about the same topic. This week's topic?
3 TIPS FOR YA AUTHORS
Here's the thing. The topic of this blog post was supposed to be 3 TIPS FOR YA INDIE AUTHORS. But whether an author is indie or not, my tips are the same.
1) READ
This is simple, but so valuable. If you write YA books, read YA books. I've heard the excuses like reading takes time away from writing. And there's the "fear" that what is read will rub off on the writing and make your voice not your own.
Truth: If you read enough, the latter will not be true. And if you read in your genre, your writing will be easier and better.
Read to succeed!
2) WRITE
Sounds so simple, right? But words will not write themselves. So unless you sit your butt in a chair and type out words, they will not exist. This is your job. Do it!
Use whatever tools make your writing easier.
3) REVISE
Seriously. Remove the backstory. Remove the adverbs. Have people besides your mom and best friend read. Take the time to improve your stories before you even think about seeking publication (or publishing yourself).
Do not fear the red pen.
*****
You can check out all the amazing Indie Carnival author/bloggers below:
Danny Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels.
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Nichole A. Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden. She is also participating in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Laura Elliott Author of Winnemucca and the upcoming 13 on Halloween
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cidney Swanson Author of Rippler
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful and Fractured
Okay, here's the deal! Each Friday, because Friday is awesome, we all blog about the same topic. This week's topic?
3 TIPS FOR YA AUTHORS
Here's the thing. The topic of this blog post was supposed to be 3 TIPS FOR YA INDIE AUTHORS. But whether an author is indie or not, my tips are the same.
1) READ
This is simple, but so valuable. If you write YA books, read YA books. I've heard the excuses like reading takes time away from writing. And there's the "fear" that what is read will rub off on the writing and make your voice not your own.
Truth: If you read enough, the latter will not be true. And if you read in your genre, your writing will be easier and better.
Read to succeed!2) WRITE
Sounds so simple, right? But words will not write themselves. So unless you sit your butt in a chair and type out words, they will not exist. This is your job. Do it!
Use whatever tools make your writing easier.3) REVISE
Seriously. Remove the backstory. Remove the adverbs. Have people besides your mom and best friend read. Take the time to improve your stories before you even think about seeking publication (or publishing yourself).
Do not fear the red pen.*****
You can check out all the amazing Indie Carnival author/bloggers below:
Danny Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen Author of The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Hunted Series and the Hayle Coven Novels.
Courtney Cole Author of Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian. Also a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Wren Emerson Author of I Wish and a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Nichole A. Williams Author of Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden. She is also participating in the Glassheart Chronicles.
Fisher Amelie Author of The Understorey, as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Laura Elliott Author of Winnemucca and the upcoming 13 on Halloween
Amy Maurer Jones Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy as well as a contributing author in The Glassheart Chronicles.
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer Author of Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms.
T. R. Graves T.R. Graves: Author of Warriors of the Cross.
Cyndi Tefft Author of Between
P.J. Hoover Author of Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis.
Alicia McCalla Author of the upcoming science-fiction novel Breaking Free
Heather Cashman Author of Perception
Abbi Glines Author of Breathe, and the upcoming Existence and Vincent Boys
Cidney Swanson Author of Rippler
Cheri Schmidt Author of Fateful and Fractured
September 1, 2011
THE EMERALD TABLET Gets a New Cover!
It's a brand new, pretty cover for THE EMERALD TABLET! And I love it!
Sure, it's for the paperback version which isn't out yet, but it's also going to be for the ebook which should be out very soon!
Sure, it's for the paperback version which isn't out yet, but it's also going to be for the ebook which should be out very soon!
August 31, 2011
FEATURING PATTI LARSEN!
I'm thrilled to feature today Patti Larsen who is beyond prolific, part of the Indie Carnival, and does sculpture for fun (how cool is that!!!!). Patti is the author of the brand new RUN, Book One of the Hunted Series!
PJH: I love the story idea of RUN! The whole series sounds like a must-read! What made you decide to indie-publish?
PL: Thank you! I love it, too. Nutshell: a sixteen-year-old boy is kidnapped and dumped in the forest in the middle of the night. He has no idea why he is there but soon learns to run from the hunters who are chasing him.
Why Indie? I guess I don't fall strictly in that category. I'm with two publishers—one traditional and one epublisher. I adore them both and love working with them. The only problem for me is production. I'm extremely prolific, at least a book a month. They just can't keep up with me! I'm on goal to write fifteen books this year and at most my epublisher can only handle four or five, while my traditional publisher has one. You can see the discrepancy?
Rather than wait and have all this material gathering virtual dust in my hard drive, I decided to self-publish. I hired an editor who I adore, a cover artist who blew me away and am on schedule to release the first book, Run, at the end of this month, only about a week after my epublished debut, Fresco, from Etopia Press.
Time from outline to publication: two months. But I already have the sequels in the same process, so the four book series will be out and for sale by the end of September. And really, having stock on my shelves for readers to purchase is the name of the game at this point.
For those of you worried I'm trading quality for quantity—I can assure you, I'm extremely picky. Which is why I hired an editor.
PJH: What has been the funnest thing about having your books out in the world?
PL: I was invited to speak to a group of fifth graders after their teacher read my middle grade novel, Cat City, to them. I was a little nervous, I admit. Kids are so honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. But they were fantastic! So sweet and sincere and, yes, honest—but in a good way. Of course, it helped that they loved it. They quizzed me for about an hour on the sequels, so that's a good sign.
PJH: How about the most challenging? Or has it all been sunshine and lollipops?
PL: The most challenging has been making decisions about my career. Self publishing in tandem, for example. It's so hard to know what to do. The variety and scope of advice out there for writers runs the full spectrum with a lot of muddiness in the middle. I finally had to shut that out and make choices that worked for me. It's been smooth sailing ever since.
And yes, actually. Sunshine and lollipops. Because I'm doing what I love.
PJH: What's the funnest part of marketing for you? Least fun?
PL: I actually don't do a great deal of marketing. I really believe the best way to sell your work is to write your next book. The more product you have available, the more people buy. Mind you, I love (LOVE) giving interviews. LOVE. Did I mention how much I love to talk about myself and my work?
PJH: If you had to give five reasons why someone should read RUN, what would they be?
PL:
There is tons of action. Reid is literally running for his life with very little down time.You'll be freaked out, drawn inside the chase. One of my betas had a hard time going to the bathroom in the dark while reading it.The friendships. The kids Reid meets are as terrified as him but still manage to make connections to him and each other.For the paranormal aspects. The hunters seem human, but are they?To get to the end so you can read Hide, Fight and Hunt.
PJH: Okay, for fun:
PJH: Favorite myth?
PL: It's not a myth, but the Battle of Thermopylae. I studied it in university. Something about the 300 Spartans (700 Thespians and 400 Thebans) who stood against the Persian army long enough to save Greece… I still love that story and was thrilled when the movie came out. It was fun to tell people it was actually based on a true event.
PJH: Favorite wonder of the world (ancient wonders count, too)?
PL: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. You can tell what I majored in, can't you? I loved ancient history and absorbed as many classes as I could get. There is something so compelling and seductive about the gardens… like a whole different world where anything could happen.
PJH: Fantasy Island or Love Boat?
PL: Fantasy Island. I loved that show as a kid… the imagination behind it always stirred my own ideas.
PJH: Scooby Doo character you are most like?
PL: Scooby. He's just a big, loveable fur ball.
PJH: Thank you so much for being here!
RUN is available at Smashwords and Amazon.
You can find Patti at:
www.pattilarsenbooks.blogspot.com
www.pattilarsen.com
www.pattilarsen.blogspot.com
PJH: I love the story idea of RUN! The whole series sounds like a must-read! What made you decide to indie-publish?
PL: Thank you! I love it, too. Nutshell: a sixteen-year-old boy is kidnapped and dumped in the forest in the middle of the night. He has no idea why he is there but soon learns to run from the hunters who are chasing him.
Why Indie? I guess I don't fall strictly in that category. I'm with two publishers—one traditional and one epublisher. I adore them both and love working with them. The only problem for me is production. I'm extremely prolific, at least a book a month. They just can't keep up with me! I'm on goal to write fifteen books this year and at most my epublisher can only handle four or five, while my traditional publisher has one. You can see the discrepancy?
Rather than wait and have all this material gathering virtual dust in my hard drive, I decided to self-publish. I hired an editor who I adore, a cover artist who blew me away and am on schedule to release the first book, Run, at the end of this month, only about a week after my epublished debut, Fresco, from Etopia Press.
Time from outline to publication: two months. But I already have the sequels in the same process, so the four book series will be out and for sale by the end of September. And really, having stock on my shelves for readers to purchase is the name of the game at this point.
For those of you worried I'm trading quality for quantity—I can assure you, I'm extremely picky. Which is why I hired an editor.
PJH: What has been the funnest thing about having your books out in the world?
PL: I was invited to speak to a group of fifth graders after their teacher read my middle grade novel, Cat City, to them. I was a little nervous, I admit. Kids are so honest, I wasn't sure what to expect. But they were fantastic! So sweet and sincere and, yes, honest—but in a good way. Of course, it helped that they loved it. They quizzed me for about an hour on the sequels, so that's a good sign.
PJH: How about the most challenging? Or has it all been sunshine and lollipops?
PL: The most challenging has been making decisions about my career. Self publishing in tandem, for example. It's so hard to know what to do. The variety and scope of advice out there for writers runs the full spectrum with a lot of muddiness in the middle. I finally had to shut that out and make choices that worked for me. It's been smooth sailing ever since.
And yes, actually. Sunshine and lollipops. Because I'm doing what I love.
PJH: What's the funnest part of marketing for you? Least fun?
PL: I actually don't do a great deal of marketing. I really believe the best way to sell your work is to write your next book. The more product you have available, the more people buy. Mind you, I love (LOVE) giving interviews. LOVE. Did I mention how much I love to talk about myself and my work?
PJH: If you had to give five reasons why someone should read RUN, what would they be?
PL:
There is tons of action. Reid is literally running for his life with very little down time.You'll be freaked out, drawn inside the chase. One of my betas had a hard time going to the bathroom in the dark while reading it.The friendships. The kids Reid meets are as terrified as him but still manage to make connections to him and each other.For the paranormal aspects. The hunters seem human, but are they?To get to the end so you can read Hide, Fight and Hunt.
PJH: Okay, for fun:
PJH: Favorite myth?
PL: It's not a myth, but the Battle of Thermopylae. I studied it in university. Something about the 300 Spartans (700 Thespians and 400 Thebans) who stood against the Persian army long enough to save Greece… I still love that story and was thrilled when the movie came out. It was fun to tell people it was actually based on a true event.
PJH: Favorite wonder of the world (ancient wonders count, too)?
PL: The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. You can tell what I majored in, can't you? I loved ancient history and absorbed as many classes as I could get. There is something so compelling and seductive about the gardens… like a whole different world where anything could happen.
PJH: Fantasy Island or Love Boat?
PL: Fantasy Island. I loved that show as a kid… the imagination behind it always stirred my own ideas.
PJH: Scooby Doo character you are most like?
PL: Scooby. He's just a big, loveable fur ball.
PJH: Thank you so much for being here!
RUN is available at Smashwords and Amazon.
You can find Patti at:
www.pattilarsenbooks.blogspot.com
www.pattilarsen.com
www.pattilarsen.blogspot.com
August 30, 2011
SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White
Okay, so I was a huge fan of PARANORMALCY by Kiersten White. I loved the voice and the fun and the plot that mattered yet wasn't so dark I wanted to shut myself in a closet and hide. And even though I RARELY read sequels any more, this was one of my exceptions.
SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White (HarperTeen, July 26, 2011)
If you're like me and you loved PARANORMALCY, then SUPERNATURALLY is totally worth picking up and reading. From the romance which is definitely not all sunshine and lollipops to the intense faerie world to the struggles the main character, Evie, must face, you will not be disappointed. And as with PARANORMALCY, the voice was perfect. So fresh and enjoyable, and so what a teen girl would think like.
Highly recommended! But if you haven't read PARANORMALCY, then start with that one (read my review for it here).
From Amazon:
Evie finally has the normal life she's always longed for. But she's shocked to discover that being ordinary can be... kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she's given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie's faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there's a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
Source of book: Purchased
SUPERNATURALLY by Kiersten White (HarperTeen, July 26, 2011)
If you're like me and you loved PARANORMALCY, then SUPERNATURALLY is totally worth picking up and reading. From the romance which is definitely not all sunshine and lollipops to the intense faerie world to the struggles the main character, Evie, must face, you will not be disappointed. And as with PARANORMALCY, the voice was perfect. So fresh and enjoyable, and so what a teen girl would think like.
Highly recommended! But if you haven't read PARANORMALCY, then start with that one (read my review for it here).
From Amazon:
Evie finally has the normal life she's always longed for. But she's shocked to discover that being ordinary can be... kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she's given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie's faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there's a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
Source of book: Purchased
CONTEST Winners!
I want to offer up a huge thank you to everyone who entered my contests! Thank you, all!
The winner of the three book set by Jessica Lee Anderson
An ARC of CALLI by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, September 2011)
A hardcover of BORDER CROSSING by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, October 2009)
A hardcover of TRUDY by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, 2005)
is...
JESSICA SHEEHAN!
*****
The winner of the two book set by Maggie Stiefvater
FOREVER (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3) by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, October 18, 2011)
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is.....
LITZALOU!
The winner of the three book set by Jessica Lee Anderson
An ARC of CALLI by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, September 2011)
A hardcover of BORDER CROSSING by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, October 2009)
A hardcover of TRUDY by Jessica Lee Anderson (Milkweed Editions, 2005)
is...
JESSICA SHEEHAN!
*****
The winner of the two book set by Maggie Stiefvater
FOREVER (Wolves of Mercy Falls, Book 3) by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, July 12, 2011)
THE SCORPIO RACES by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic, October 18, 2011)
[image error]
is.....
LITZALOU!
August 26, 2011
YA INDIE CARNIVAL: FIRST PARAGRAPH
It's time again for the YA Indie Carnival, an awesome group of weekly bloggers blogging about the same topic! Wait, you haven't heard of the YA Indie Carnival? You're totally missing out. But no longer!
Okay, here's the deal! Each Friday, because Friday is awesome, we all blog about the same topic. This week's topic?
FIRST PARAGRAPH OF A WORK-IN-PROGRESS
I admit it. I share work with my critique group, but otherwise, I'm not much of a sharer. But what I am is a reviser. So what I'm going to share today is the FIRST DRAFT couple paragraphs of SOLSTICE and then a look at how it turned out after revisions.
For note, what was chapter one in the first draft became chapter 2 in the final version of SOLSTICE. So the text we're looking at is what is now chapter 2. What I love is how little ended up changing here (aside from adding an entire chapter).
And if you want to see more of this chapter, you can check it out on the extras on my website on this hidden page.
FIRST DRAFT SOLSTICE (CHAPTER 1)
If I knew he was the Lord of Hell, I wouldn't have sat next to him. But when I walk into Social Sciences, his face turns to me, and echoes of secrets smolder behind his dark eyes. His lips move into a flicker of a smile, and a piece of his thick, dark mane falls across his forehead. He's big and buff and flat out gorgeous. He seems to glow of mystery and darkness; is that even possible? In short, he sums up every single thing my mom tells me to avoid. So I sit down next to him.
"You're late, Piper," Mr. Kaiser says.
I shrug and drop my backpack onto the ground next to me. "My mom called the office."
On cue follows the idiotic crack from Randy Conner I know will come. "Making sure you got out of the bathroom OK?"
The class snickers, and I turn around and shoot Randy my best glare, avoiding looking at the new guy next to me. But my peripheral vision catches him, and my heart tightens into something resembling a Gordian knot; he's staring right at me.
FINAL VERSION SOLSTICE (CHAPTER 2)
(insert a whole new chapter, and then…)
(insert some more stuff to transition from the new chapter to this one, and then…)
When I walk into Social Sciences, there's a new guy sitting right where I normally sit near the windows. His face turns to me, and his eyes are the first thing to catch my interest. They're dark like chocolate and filled with shadows. His lips move into a flicker of a smile, and a piece of his dark hair falls across his forehead. He makes me think of mysteries and secrets. In short, he sums up every single thing my mom tells me to avoid. So I sit down in the empty seat next to him.
"You're late, Piper." Mr. Kaiser's already started class.
I pretend not to look at the new guy and drop my backpack onto the ground. "My mom called."
I wait for the idiotic crack from Randy Conner which I know will come. He doesn't disappoint. "Making sure you got between classes okay?"
The class snickers, and I shoot Randy my best glare. But my peripheral vision catches the new guy, and my heart tightens into something resembling a Gordian knot; he's staring right at me.
*****
You can check out all the amazing Indie Carnival author/bloggers below:
Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen (The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Diamond City Trilogy)
Courtney Cole (Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian)
Wren Emerson (I Wish)
Laura Elliott (Winnemucca)
Nichole A. Williams (Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden)
Fisher Amelie (The Understorey)
Amy Maurer Jones (The Soul Quest Trilogy)
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer (Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms)
T. R. Graves (Warriors of the Cross)
Cyndi Tefft (Between)
P.J. Hoover (Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis)
Alicia McCalla (Breaking Free)
Heather Cashman (Perception)
Okay, here's the deal! Each Friday, because Friday is awesome, we all blog about the same topic. This week's topic?
FIRST PARAGRAPH OF A WORK-IN-PROGRESS
I admit it. I share work with my critique group, but otherwise, I'm not much of a sharer. But what I am is a reviser. So what I'm going to share today is the FIRST DRAFT couple paragraphs of SOLSTICE and then a look at how it turned out after revisions.
For note, what was chapter one in the first draft became chapter 2 in the final version of SOLSTICE. So the text we're looking at is what is now chapter 2. What I love is how little ended up changing here (aside from adding an entire chapter).
And if you want to see more of this chapter, you can check it out on the extras on my website on this hidden page.
FIRST DRAFT SOLSTICE (CHAPTER 1)
If I knew he was the Lord of Hell, I wouldn't have sat next to him. But when I walk into Social Sciences, his face turns to me, and echoes of secrets smolder behind his dark eyes. His lips move into a flicker of a smile, and a piece of his thick, dark mane falls across his forehead. He's big and buff and flat out gorgeous. He seems to glow of mystery and darkness; is that even possible? In short, he sums up every single thing my mom tells me to avoid. So I sit down next to him.
"You're late, Piper," Mr. Kaiser says.
I shrug and drop my backpack onto the ground next to me. "My mom called the office."
On cue follows the idiotic crack from Randy Conner I know will come. "Making sure you got out of the bathroom OK?"
The class snickers, and I turn around and shoot Randy my best glare, avoiding looking at the new guy next to me. But my peripheral vision catches him, and my heart tightens into something resembling a Gordian knot; he's staring right at me.
FINAL VERSION SOLSTICE (CHAPTER 2)
(insert a whole new chapter, and then…)
(insert some more stuff to transition from the new chapter to this one, and then…)
When I walk into Social Sciences, there's a new guy sitting right where I normally sit near the windows. His face turns to me, and his eyes are the first thing to catch my interest. They're dark like chocolate and filled with shadows. His lips move into a flicker of a smile, and a piece of his dark hair falls across his forehead. He makes me think of mysteries and secrets. In short, he sums up every single thing my mom tells me to avoid. So I sit down in the empty seat next to him.
"You're late, Piper." Mr. Kaiser's already started class.
I pretend not to look at the new guy and drop my backpack onto the ground. "My mom called."
I wait for the idiotic crack from Randy Conner which I know will come. He doesn't disappoint. "Making sure you got between classes okay?"
The class snickers, and I shoot Randy my best glare. But my peripheral vision catches the new guy, and my heart tightens into something resembling a Gordian knot; he's staring right at me.
*****
You can check out all the amazing Indie Carnival author/bloggers below:
Dani Snell's Refracted Light Reviews
Patti Larsen (The Ghost Boy of MacKenzie House, The Diamond City Trilogy)
Courtney Cole (Every Last Kiss, Fated, Princess, and Guardian)
Wren Emerson (I Wish)
Laura Elliott (Winnemucca)
Nichole A. Williams (Eternal Eden, and the upcoming Fallen Eden)
Fisher Amelie (The Understorey)
Amy Maurer Jones (The Soul Quest Trilogy)
Rachel Coles. Geek Mom. Book Reviewer (Diary of a Duct Tape Zombie, Whistles, Beergarden, Plagues, Bees of St. John, and Mushrooms)
T. R. Graves (Warriors of the Cross)
Cyndi Tefft (Between)
P.J. Hoover (Solstice, The Emerald Tablet, The Navel of the World, The Necropolis)
Alicia McCalla (Breaking Free)
Heather Cashman (Perception)
August 25, 2011
What do Harry Potter and Katy Perry have in Common?
I absolutely adore this video. All you Harry Potter fans, you have to watch! And huge thank you to Stephanie Pellegrin (who is way cool and in my writing group) for passing it on!
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
