LeAnn’s Comments (group member since Apr 26, 2010)

LeAnn’s comments from the Q&A with LeAnn Neal Reilly group.

Many of the characters changed a lot from the first draft, but none quite so much as Sarah. When I realized that she could play a key role, even if a minor one, I couldn't resist making a two year old so important. I'd guess there aren't too many other characters like Sarah in adult novels!

I'm in the middle of two blog tours for The Mermaid's Pendant. If you'd like to read some reviews, look at the Events page on my Web site.

Scott Card's Enchantment is close to YA, but I don't think it's categorized that way. Gaiman's Stardust is considered YA and he has children's books (which I haven't read), even comic books (haven't read these either). I enjoyed some of his adult titles, but I haven't read everything he's written.

So mostly YA and middle grade books? Have you ever read Neil Gaiman or Orson Scott Card or Charles de Lint? They're all adult fantasy writers.(I read both kinds. I have three kids so I've enjoyed reading books that they would read that I might not have picked up before.)

Ah, a "fractured" fairy tale. Is Shrek considered a "fractured" fairy tale?

Welcome, Brenda! Fantasy is a pretty big category. Are you a traditional fantasy or more of a hybrid fantasy reader?

Just wanted to share the good news: The Midwest Book Review just gave The Mermaid's Pendant 5 stars! Here's the review from Amazon:

When the magic ends, you need more to make a relationship remain strong. "The Mermaid's Pendant" draws inspiration from the Little Mermaid to tell a story of the realities of marriage, and what happens when the starting magic ends and the realities of life start to sink in. A beautifully crafted fantasy that shows much symbolism and wisdom, "The Mermaid's Pendant" is a fine pick that shouldn't be missed.

Shenica wrote: "Hello LeAnn!

I'm honored to be a new member of your Q&A group, and to also be able to participate in the book giveaway program. I just released my first Book titled "Ladies Rise Above your Emot..."

Welcome, Shenica!Glad to meet you. This month's giveaway is a site-wide GoodReads giveaway, so you need to enter by going to the "Explore" tab, then "Books" and then "Giveaways." I plan to host more Q&A Giveaways in the future.

Good luck with promoting your new book.

I wanted to let everyone know that there is a second GoodReads giveaway for a signed copy of The Mermaid's Pendant that opened today and runs through 7/31.

Have you seen the movie "Little Buddha" with Keanu Reeves? Perhaps not the best movie, but it tells the Buddha's story. That's probably where I learned the name "Siddhartha."

Congratulations, Hannah! You've won a signed copy of The Mermaid's Pendant. Please send me a message with your address.

Everyone else, I'd really like to thank you for contributing to this thread. I've so enjoyed what everyone had to share and I've discovered some new titles (and been reminded of some great older ones).

I hope you'll all join me again when you've read the book to discuss it. If you'd like a signed bookplate, just let me know your address in a message to me.

Hannah wrote: "Going back to the discussion about one-word titles, I had never noticed that it is YA novels that tend to use them! The first one-word titles that came to my mind were the books from [book:The Lux..."

I started to post that those first two titles with their subtitles sounded like something from an earlier era; when pressed, I might have even said "Victorian," and reminded me of the chapter titles from Winnie-the-Pooh. Then I went and looked at the book pages and saw that my instincts were right. Subtitles a bit old-fashioned, at least on fiction (she says without a shred of evidence except her fuzzy gut). I put "To Say Nothing of the Dog" on my "to-read" shelf because I like the quaint feel of older fiction, and the novel's premise sounds like fun.

Titles have potentially such a big job (for those of us who choose books based on them in some way) that it must happen a lot that the title doesn't deliver.

Dana wrote: "When shopping for new books, it's always a toss up as to whether the title or cover art is going to get me to stop and take a second look. One author who seems to have both down is Jasper Fforde. ..."

Dana, it sounds like Mr. Fforde has a good marketing team at his publisher (although it's possible that he's successful enough that he decide his titles and cover and design).

"Shades of Grey" immediately called to my mind the idea that some people see the world as more than black and white. I wouldn't have expected an author to make that happen literally in a book, so I would have been surprised that it wasn't just a metaphor. But given the very little that I know about Mr. Fforde (and it is very little), I could imagine that some readers familiar with his work would expect him to do that.

lindsae wrote: "I actually pick books more by their cover art than their titles. (which is why I hate it when publishers repub a book with a different cover because I might accidentally buy it again if it has bee..."

Cover art definitely draws the eye before the title and can convey so much in terms of mood, atmosphere, flavor -- lots of ephemeral, hard-to-nail-down qualities. These are some of the qualities that make AMC's series "Mad Men" so popular (at least they contribute a great deal to my liking of that show). "Mad Men" seems to capture the culture of the early 60s on Madison Avenue seems, even if it doesn't.

Still, as a word person, I like titles too (and tag lines, when they're used). I got some training as a "document designer" and interned at a graphic design firm back in the day, so I'm always sensitive to the play of art, graphics, and text.

Connie wrote: "CJ here. (more interesting than Connie) Just stumbled on this site because it said Giveaway, and I love to get books, and this book intrigues me.

About me: 1. Grandmother of 13, almost 15,..."

Welcome, Connie! You sound like a mix between me and my mom. She was the sewing and quilting person (She made my wedding gown and the quilt on my bed) while I'm the gardening, beading, reading and writing one. Welcome to the group.

Hannah wrote: "Sorry that I missed out on last week's discussion topic! I tried to think long and hard about really good opening lines that have stuck with me. I know that I've had the thought "Wow! What a gre..."

I don't often remember opening lines, either, Hannah. But I thought perhaps we all happen to have a few of our favorite titles around so that we could go and check them and then see, without remembering, whether their first lines we're worth remembering or just so-so.

I'm looking forward to your title(s).

Cayenne wrote: "Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse has always had a huge impact on me. First, because it is not a book that I normally would ever think that I would enjoy. Second, it was the first gift my husband ever ga..."

Is "Siddhartha" about Budda? That was his name before he became Budda.

SallyJo wrote: "As a sidebar, its not every day I learn a new vocabulary word! Dystopian - I've actually now seen it twice today - here, and in a New Yorker article on this topic (you may find it interesting: ht..."

Fascinating article. It brings up one of the main differences between many adult and YA novels, that of the ending or takeaway message. Maybe YA novels are so popular partly because they are more hopeful about fixing problems?

Julia wrote: "Regarding The Hunger Games, it's definitely dystopic fantasy. I think I would have liked it as an older teen, but some of the younger ones may be dissuaded by this post apocalyptic world. I enjoyed..."

Without having read more than an excerpt for "The Hunger Games" and the basic premise, I would have said the main character should be in her early twenties. I don't read a lot of YA titles, but I get the feeling that there's a huge range in maturity (though not chronological age) of the main characters and what they experience. I don't think my own YA readers would really enjoy this book and should wait until they're a good deal older.

I agree that three words seem to be a good target (especially if you count "the") for a title. I keep thinking of a Hemingway novel that I never read but the title has stuck with me as a really intriguing one: "A Movable Feast." Not sure what it's about, but it conjures up some good visuals.

SallyJo wrote: "Great, just what I needed to hear. You had me at "edgy" and "dark." Won't pass it up on my next visit to the bookstore... Much appreciated!"

You're welcome. Just let us know how you like it. I might want to read it, too.