Wednesday, April 30, 2014
April Reads 2014
One down from May, I read thirteen books in April. And one of my favorites. The Sky Is Everywhere, My Life Next Door and Open Road Summer were incredible. I'm not sure how I went so long without reading the first two. Also, I'm SO excited for the Veronica Mars book series. The first one picked up right after the movie and completely swept me away.
What's Up Wednesday?!
What's Up Wednesday is a weekly blog hop created by Jamie Morrow and Erin Funk as a way for writers to keep in touch by sharing what they've been up to. Be sure to link up if you want to join in on the fun.
What I'm Reading
I'm never reading just one book. My brain might explode if I tried. I'm listening to Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor on my audible app. I haven't had a ton of time for listening so progress is slow. I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone so I'm super excited to finish out the series. And I'm about 1/4 of the way trough What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I've heard great things about this book but so far I haven't been caught up in it like I was with My Life Next Door. I'm hopeful though! I've only heard great things.
Cute scenes. No really. They just pop in my head and I have to get them down. Also, other authors and their books. I've done A LOT of reading lately and it's pushed me to want to finish writing mine.
What Else I've Been Up To
Work has been crazy. Nothing more to say about that. We're right in the middle of kiddos second season of T-Ball. He is once again on the Red Sox, which I love. He had a game Saturday,
Which is normal, but this was at 1:00. And it was hot! So worth sitting out there in the heat though because he scored his first home run! He had an awesome game. So proud of him. Sunday we went to the Penscola Wahoos (minor leave/farm team) game with my parents and brother, then at my husbands new resturant he'll be managing. Can we say good coma? And currently I'm sitting in the dark in my living room during one of the worst storms we've had in a while, typing this blog post on my phone. Fun times. Just love that Florida weather!
Update: sorry if this post has misspelled or crazy words and grammar. Wifi is out so having to publish from my phone. Schools/day cares are closed in all 3 counties here. My work is trying to open at noon but we'll have to wait and see. Not sure the rain has stopped since it started at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. Crazy flooding happening all over the area. Luckily we don't love close to the rivers and are on higher grounds. Still no wifi/cable but I'm okay with that because we at least have power.
So what have you been up to?
What I'm Reading
I'm never reading just one book. My brain might explode if I tried. I'm listening to Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor on my audible app. I haven't had a ton of time for listening so progress is slow. I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone so I'm super excited to finish out the series. And I'm about 1/4 of the way trough What I Thought Was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. I've heard great things about this book but so far I haven't been caught up in it like I was with My Life Next Door. I'm hopeful though! I've only heard great things.
What I'm Writing
So I'm back at it! Writing that is. Took a break, re-thought the beginning of my WIP (When The Wind Blows) and have added 2 new chapters in the past few days. Today I wrote the cutest scene ever. My CP agreed, though she might be biased. And maybe not cutest ever in the whole world of writing and publishing, but the cutest I've ever written.
What Inspires Me Right NowCute scenes. No really. They just pop in my head and I have to get them down. Also, other authors and their books. I've done A LOT of reading lately and it's pushed me to want to finish writing mine.
What Else I've Been Up To
Work has been crazy. Nothing more to say about that. We're right in the middle of kiddos second season of T-Ball. He is once again on the Red Sox, which I love. He had a game Saturday,
Which is normal, but this was at 1:00. And it was hot! So worth sitting out there in the heat though because he scored his first home run! He had an awesome game. So proud of him. Sunday we went to the Penscola Wahoos (minor leave/farm team) game with my parents and brother, then at my husbands new resturant he'll be managing. Can we say good coma? And currently I'm sitting in the dark in my living room during one of the worst storms we've had in a while, typing this blog post on my phone. Fun times. Just love that Florida weather!
Update: sorry if this post has misspelled or crazy words and grammar. Wifi is out so having to publish from my phone. Schools/day cares are closed in all 3 counties here. My work is trying to open at noon but we'll have to wait and see. Not sure the rain has stopped since it started at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. Crazy flooding happening all over the area. Luckily we don't love close to the rivers and are on higher grounds. Still no wifi/cable but I'm okay with that because we at least have power.
So what have you been up to?
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Arcana Cover Reveal!!
I don’t think I can write a short intro about my post today…so
I’m not even going to try. Super excited to be part of the cover reveal for
(one of my very best friends) Jessica Leake! Here’s the gorgeous cover for Arcana, her
debut novel, out November 4, 2014. Keep reading after the photo for a book summary and more about Jessica.
Book Summary:
A romantic,
suspenseful, genre-bending debut set in Edwardian London.
Amid the sumptuous backdrop of the London season in 1905, headstrong Katherine Sinclair must join the ranks of debutantes vying for suitors. Unfortunately for Katherine, she cannot imagine anything more loathsome—or dangerous. To help ease her entrance into society, Katherine’s family has elicited the assistance of the Earl of Thornewood, a friend and London’s most eligible bachelor, to be her constant companion at the endless fetes and balls. But upon her arrival in London, Katherine realizes there will be more to this season than just white gowns and husband hunting.
Through her late mother’s enchanted diary, Katherine receives warning to keep hidden her otherworldly ability to perform arcana, a magic fueled by the power of the sun. Any misstep could mean ruin—and not just for her family name. The Order of the Eternal Sun is everywhere—hunting for those like her, able to feed on arcana with only a touch of the hand.
But society intrigue can be just as perilous as the Order. The machinations of the fashionable elite are a constant threat, and those who covet Katherine’s arcana, seeking the power of her birthright, could be hiding behind the façade of every suitor—even the darkly handsome Earl of Thornewood.
With so much danger and suspicion, can she give her heart to the one who captivates her, or is he just another after her power?
Amid the sumptuous backdrop of the London season in 1905, headstrong Katherine Sinclair must join the ranks of debutantes vying for suitors. Unfortunately for Katherine, she cannot imagine anything more loathsome—or dangerous. To help ease her entrance into society, Katherine’s family has elicited the assistance of the Earl of Thornewood, a friend and London’s most eligible bachelor, to be her constant companion at the endless fetes and balls. But upon her arrival in London, Katherine realizes there will be more to this season than just white gowns and husband hunting.
Through her late mother’s enchanted diary, Katherine receives warning to keep hidden her otherworldly ability to perform arcana, a magic fueled by the power of the sun. Any misstep could mean ruin—and not just for her family name. The Order of the Eternal Sun is everywhere—hunting for those like her, able to feed on arcana with only a touch of the hand.
But society intrigue can be just as perilous as the Order. The machinations of the fashionable elite are a constant threat, and those who covet Katherine’s arcana, seeking the power of her birthright, could be hiding behind the façade of every suitor—even the darkly handsome Earl of Thornewood.
With so much danger and suspicion, can she give her heart to the one who captivates her, or is he just another after her power?
Author Bio:
Jessica Leake has been in love with historical England
ever since her first literary crush: Mr. Darcy. After embarking on a quest to
bring her own intriguing and headstrong characters to life, she decided to quit
her day job as a clinical therapist and spend her time weaving arcana with
words. She lives in Greenville, SC
with her brilliant husband, three painfully cute children, and two mischievous
dogs. She invites you to visit her at jessicaleake.com.
Links:
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Cover Reveal for ONE, TWO, THREE by Elodie Nowodazkij
I am so excited to share this cover with you. I “met”
Elodie on the forums of Write On Con a few years ago and, through that,
twitter. I loved reading her intro and first few pages. It sounded like her
book was right up my alley. When she started getting a street team together I
knew I had to be apart of it. Now, here we are, a few months from its release, and she's revealing her cover (and doing a giveaway, see bottom of post). Which I love.
But first…a little info about the book.
One, Two, Three, a contemporary young adult novel by Elodie Nowodazkij, will be published June 26th, 2014
Last year, Natalya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.
But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.
At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present, and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.
But when upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.
Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?
And now...the cover!
Isn't it gorgeous? I think it fits the book perfectly. If your a fan of movies like Center Stage and Save the Last Dance, be sure to add it to goodreads. You can also sign up for her newsletter to learn more about her upcoming releases. :-)
Elodie Nowodazkij was raised in a tiny village in
France, where she could always be found a book in hand. At nineteen, she moved
to the US, where she learned she’d never lose her French accent. She graduated
with a bachelor’s degree in Modern Language & Linguistics, and later earned
master’s degrees in German Cultural Studies and European Studies. Unbeknownst
to her professors, she sometimes drafted stories in class. Now she lives in
Germany with her husband and their cat (who doesn’t seem to realize he’s not
human), and uses her commuting time to write the stories swirling in my head.
She's also a serial smiley user.
ONE, TWO, THREE is her first novel.
ONE, TWO, THREE is her first novel.
Author Links: