Tune In Tuesday {34}

Tune In Tuesday is a fun weekly post hosted by Ginger at GReads.  It's a great way to see what kind of music other people are loving.  We're back in a "theme" month. March is all about book soundtracks. Either songs that remind you of the book or songs from the authors playlist.

So I decided to take advantage of Ginger's play list month and talk a little bit about my book. If you want to learn more about it, keep reading. If not, skip down to the song. 

Last week I talked about Maddison/Megan/Regan who is now Avery. This week I'm giving a little info on my male MC, Mason. Though his name wasn't always Mason. In my original story line his name was Lee Driscoll. Lee just didn't fit my younger version and I picked the name Mason. And while my female MC's name has changed several times, he is now Mason and that will never change. He is Mason. A description of him would be "Tall, strong, tough, tanned, deep brown hair cut short on the side and longer on top and he stares at you with ice blue eyes that leave you mesmerized." Mason's also has a great sense of humor and can be a tad sarcastic. While he has a job to do, and does it well, he's still a bit put out by a few things. This Fucking Job by Drive-By Truckers just screams Mason (all the videos were live, so I've attached the lyrics below). 


Mason is given a task, a mission really, one that is normally left to someone with experience, someone who has done this job longer than he's been alive. But special circumstances call for a teenager, and he's sent from beautiful Boston to the beach in Desin, FL. His number one priority is to find the Dreamer, convince them he's there to help, and convince them he's there to help. Mason thinks it'll be easier than the Red Sox winning the World Series, but he's in for a big surprise. He's expecting a teenage boy and what he gets, is Avery.

Workin' this job is a kick in the pants
Workin' this job is like a knife in the back
It ain't gettin' me further than the dump I live in
It ain't gettin' me further than the next paycheck
Workin' this job is like lightin' two fuses
Workin' this job is runnin' out of excuses
It's like a dead-end when a road map is useless
Until I'm dead and there's nothin' to show for my uses

Nobody told me it'd be easy
Or for that matter, it'd be so hard
But it's the livin' and learnin'
It makes the difference
It makes it all worthwhile
It makes it all worthwhile

Workin' this job, there's nothin' left but to hate it
I won't get as far as my daddy made it
It aint gettin' me farther for all my strivin'
In the dead-end I live or the piece of shit I'm drivin'

Nobody told me it'd be easy
Or for that matter, it'd be so hard
But it's the livin' and learnin'
It makes the difference
It makes it all worthwhile
It makes it all worthwhile

Sometimes I dream that I had aimed my life in different ways
But there was nothin' to show me a way to get me outta this place
So I just did what my daddy did before me
Only to find the only door I found was closed to me

Workin' this job, I thought it sucked when I had it
Now it is gone and I'm learnin' what that is
I'm tryin' to hang in to the worst of places
But a family can't live on these fast food wages

Nobody told me it'd be easy
Or for that matter, it'd be so hard
But it's the livin' and learnin'
It makes the difference
It makes it all worthwhile
It makes it all worthwhile

Workin' this job
Workin' this job
Workin' this job

Cover Reveal - My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris!

I'm super excited to reveal the cover of My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris (due out September 11, 2012). Here's the summary from goodreads.

On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 
Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 
Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

How awesome does that sound?! Rachel has also been gracious enough to share and except from her upcoming novel.

Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. “No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together.”
She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, “If you’re not into the guy, then what’s the problem?”
At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo.
Alessandra sighs. “That is the problem.” She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. “You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage.”
I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she’s serious. “Yeah, I assure you, there’s no danger on my end. I’m not exactly looking for marriage myself.” Because that would be crazy-town.
Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn’t believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile.
“Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about.”
Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I’ve ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can’t drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn’t smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.
Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful.
And he’s looking at me. 

I'm loving the voice! And that boy, with those eyes?! *swoon* And now, for the cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How gorgeous is that? Love the dress and I think her nail polish color and over sized sunglasses gives us a good idea of what type of girl is being thrown into the past. I can't wait to read about her epic journey.

Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads!  Also, My Super Sweet 16th Century, by Rachel Harris is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Be sure to connect with Rachel at:
www.RachelHarrisWrites.com
www.twitter.com/@RachelHarrisYA
www.facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA
www.goodreads.com/RachelHarris

TGIF {22}

TGIF is a fun post created by Ginger at GReads.  It’s to recap what you’ve posted about through the week and Ginger asks a fun book related question.  


Friday, March 9th - Promote An Author: Is there a particular author you wish got more recognition? Pick one author & tell us why we should read their work.


Today I'm going to talk a little bit about Chelsea Fine and her AMAZING books! I was introduced to by Katelyn Torrey when she reviewed Sophie & Carter on her blog last fall. In the review she hosted a giveaway for the book, and I won. The cute little book arrived in the mail and I read it the first chance I got. And man, oh, man, I was IN LOVE! Katelyn's review had me excited, but still didn't prepare me for the cuteness that unfolded in this book. It was hands down one of my favorite books last year. 

While other high school seniors are dreaming about their futures, Sophie and Carter are just trying to make it through each day. Carter is overwhelmed by issues at home as he struggles to support his mother. Meanwhile, next door neighbor Sophie is left to care for her three younger siblings in place of their absent and troubled mother. All that holds these two best friends together is each other, and knowing that each night they'll sit together on Sophie's front porch swing and escape from reality, if just for awhile. But as their relationship reaches a turning point and high school graduation nears, will their friendship become something more?

After reading Sophie & Carter, I went looking for other books by Chelsea and found out her second novel, Anew (The Archers of Avalon #1) was due out in December. I downloaded it on my kindle the day it was released and started reading. I was a bit nervous at first, since Sophie & Carter is a contemporary, and Anew is paranormal, but that quickly faded. Anew was incredible and I'm left anxiously awaiting the sequel, Awry. And yes, I'm Team Tristan! 

Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery...until she met a boy with a familiar voice. 
Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer. 
Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past...might just be the death of her. 

If you haven't yet, be sure to check out Chelsea's books. I'm happy to say there are many more to come. 




This week on the blog:


Review of Pandemonium
A post about my writing
Tune In Tuesday - Playlist Edition

Tune In Tuesday {33}

Tune In Tuesday is a fun weekly post hosted by Ginger at GReads.  It's a great way to see what kind of music other people are loving.  We're back in a "theme" month. March is all about book soundtracks. Either songs that remind you of a book or songs from an authors playlist.


So I decided to take advantage of Ginger's play list month (I hope she doesn't mind) and talk a little bit about my book. If you want to learn more about it, keep reading (and check out this post here). If not, skip down to the song. The choice is yours. ;0)


I started writing Dream Maker (still a working title, but it'll do for now) a few years ago. I got a good ways in, about 18000 words and stopped. It sat and it sat...until one night I was cleaning the house and a song by Taylor Swift came on my iPod. For some reason, in that moment, it reminded me of my story and what it was lacking...tragedy, depth, imperfection. The book was then called Dream Waker and about a early twenty-year-old female who was married to the perfect man and had an perfect almost three-year-old little boy. They lived in a perfect house in a perfect neighborhood. And I thought THE WORLD IS NOT PERFECT! While listening to this song over and over and over an idea formed. An idea that took twenty-something Madison and changed her into a teenager named Megan (later changed to Avery). An idea that took things and made them less than perfect. That song by Taylor Swift was White Horse. 


I know, I know. You're thinking "but this is a love story song". True. Sometimes when I hear a song I focus on one or two lines and take them out of context. Like with this song. I thought less about the guy and the relationship and more about the girl and her struggle and bravery. The lyrics "I'm not a princess, this ain't a fairy tale...this ain't Hollywood, this is a small town...I was a dreamer before you". THOSE are the ones that spoke to me. 

What do you think? Are there lyrics that mean something to you that are not exactly what the song is about? Also, be sure to stay tuned in next week for more on Dream Maker. 

My Dream

I honestly don't know when I thought "hey, I want to be a writer". I don't think there was just one thing or one time, I think it just happened. In school, I always did well on the creative writing exams and portions of tests (as for spelling and punctuation...not so well). My senior year in high school I had an idea for, maybe not a book, but a story, and I started writing it. I got a few chapters down, mostly dialogue, and showed it to my English teacher. She complimented me on my dialogue! I don't remember what else she said, it's been just over ten years, but I'll always remember that part. With school, starting college soon, working, I put the book aside. I picked it up years and years later and thought "this needs work" and so I did it.

Then I got another idea for another book. It interested me a little more, and so I started Dream Maker. I got to 18,000 and stalled. I was running out of ideas on how to push the story further. Then I heard this song (check back tomorrow for more on that) and an idea formed (see that post here). I jotted it down and started plotting the story out. I created a little summary and emailed it to my sister in law, Anna Banks, and she loved it! I quickly got to work on a re-write. And found a critique partner, Jamie Handling. Then something incredible happened! I won a 50 page critique from someone well known, someone with multiple positions, in the writing community. I was floored!!! When I saw the email I sat there thinking "Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit..." I emailed Anna and Jamie and they were both telling me how awesome this was. I had my 50 pages, but it needed some serious work. Over the next few months, and a few new critique partners (Jamie Manning, Jessica Leak, and Melanie McCullough) my story grew and was, what I thought, almost polished (a story is never perfect). I turned in my 50 pages, and waited. But I didn't stop, I kept going, finished the book, and edited, edited, edited. Then the critique came in. And it was both good (I HAVE GREAT VOICE) and bad (though I think the plot is pretty original, some of the elements creating the world are not). But I took them both and got to brain storming a mega huge re-write. Yes, ANOTHER ONE! Am I crazy or what?

I took Megan, my seventeen-year-old orphan who lived in an orphanage and turned her into Avery, a seventeen-year-old who, at the age of four, saw her parents beaten. She was jumbled from foster care to foster care because no one seemed to want the girl whose parents were really brutally murdered right in front of her. At least that's what the papers said, but Avery has a different story. Someone, and she doesn't know who, covered up the fact that they weren't killed, but taken. And how she lives in fear that they'll come for her too. She finally lands in a place she can call home. Kathleen, a social worker, takes her into her home because her history is similar to her niece, Danielle, who lives with her. Then strange things start happening to Avery that she can't explain. The people she lives with disappear one day and are back the next. The strange boy, Mason, who came looking for a teenage boy named Avery in her house, shows up at school as a student, but she knows better. Then one day, having spent her time in high school as an outcast, she's now the most popular girl. Something's happening to Avery, something only Mason can explain. Something that the two of them will have to learn to control because their lives--as well as the rest of the world--depends on it. Because there are people out there who want to control Avery, and others like her. They want her gift, her power, so that they can be the ones to change the future.

I've finished rewriting the first six chapters (and I mean deleting everything--except for a few paragraphs in chapter four--and starting over). Seven is being a bit stubborn, but I've got chapters eight through ten done. After that, it's not as much starting over as it is tweaking it all to fit the beginning. I've also started working with Joy Hensley as a new critique partner, and her fresh eyes have helped me find things that I've missed in the past. Now I'm more than anxious to finish and start the query process. And so far, I'm not scared. I've learned that I'm really good at taking critique and making it better. I wasn't sure I would be at first, but when I received a critique from a friend (Heather Rebel) I thought "OMG, I SUCK. THERE'S SO MUCH RED". Then I took a deep breath, read what she said and realized it, removed track changes, and my story was still there, only slightly altered, and for the better. She showed me that, while what I had was good, these small changes made it better. Since then, I have not received a critique that has brought me to tears or made me want to quit or think that I suck. Because they are all true and they will make me a better writer and make my story that much better.

And I'm not sure why I started this post or where I'm going with it. But I hope you've enjoyed a small glimpse into my writing world and my current story and it's progress. And be sure to check out my next three Tune In Tuesday posts as I give you a few more ideas about my story and how I got to where I am. And I'll end this post...finally...with my original idea for this book.

Have you ever dreamt of waking up and being somebody else?  Maybe not even somebody else entirely, but a different you, a better you?  To go to sleep and have your life change drastically, take something you weren’t so happy with and turn it around, even if for a moment?  If you have, I’m here to warn you against it.  If you haven’t, heed my warnings and don’t.  Remember what they say, “Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it.”  I did, except for me it wasn’t a happy ending.  It almost cost me myself, my family, and our freedom.

Also..I want to say THANK YOU TIMES A ZILLION to all the wonderful writers I've mentioned in this post. With out y'all, I wouldn't be where I am!!!!!!!! <3

 

PANDEMONIUM!!!!!

As in the book...no craziness is breaking out on the blog. I'm going to TRY and do a review. Most likely it'll just be a gush fest. I'm not sure. Honestly I wish I had opened up my computer last night...er...this morning (3:30 to be exact) when I finished this book. Of course, wouldn't have been a very coherent post.

I read Delirium last year in May (the book was released Feb 1 2011, I was just a few months behind) on my Kindle. Here's a mini review that I posted on GoodReads:

I can't even begin to explain how great I thought this book was. I won't lie and say I loved it right away. I thought it was good, but not great. I do prefer more dialogue and there wasn't a lot in the beginning. I also can't describe what made me change my mind through the book. There are so many things that just quickly added in my head as I went along. I finished the book and was left heart broken, but in a good way. I was sad for the characters but I was in love with the book. I can not WAIT for the next one to be released. February can't come fast enough. For sure earned 5 stars! I would recommend this book to anyone who likes dystopian or a good love story. But, beware of heart break and know the next book won't be out for a while.

Needless to say I've been waiting for Pandemonium since then. I purchased it (again on my Kindle) the day it came out. I read a bit through the week, but went through the last 60 % last night. I started around 10:30, fell asleep around 12:30 ish. Something woke me up around 2:00 and I couldn't sleep, so I finished the book. AND THEN STILL COULDN'T SLEEP! Yes, it was that good and I had so many thoughts and ideas and questions running around in my head that I just couldn't shut them off. I won't give away spoilers, but then end...THE LAST WORD...it just...WOW! I'm now even MORE anxious for Requium than I was Pandemonium!

I'm not sure what I was expecting from Pandemonium, mostly just another "middle" book. But, just like A Million Suns, this one blew the first book out of the water! I love it when the middle book is much more than just a filler. When it surprises you. Takes you to a place you never expected and then some.

The format is a little different from Delirium, the chapters aren't numbered, but labeled NOW and THEN. We start off in the NOW world with the "new" Lena, though honestly I'm not sure how far into the future from her escape it is (for some reason I want to say six months). The THEN chapters pick up almost exactly where Delirium left us. We flip back and forth from watching her fight and struggle in two different times. We're introduced to new characters-Raven the leader, young and innocent Blue, sweet Sarah, the ever surprising Tack, and Julian--and reminded of old--Hana, Grace and, of course, Alex. Alex consumes Lena's thoughts and dreams and we're reminded why we--along with her--fell in love with him.

I'd hope that if I were even in a world like this, that I wouldn't fear the sickness, Deliria, love. That I would be one of those who went against the DFA (Deliria Free America), that followed her heart, that pushed back and fought along those who wanted to take the love right out of me.

Be sure to pick up Pandemonium, or Delirium if you haven't read it yet. Also, if you haven't heard (I didn't realize it until I finished Pandemonium), Lauren Oliver wrote a short story ebook called Hana, to go along with the series. Be sure to check that out as well. I downloaded it last night and can't wait to start reading.

TGIF {21}

TGIF is a fun post created by Ginger at GReads.  It’s to recap what you’ve posted about through the week and Ginger asks a fun book related question. 


Friday, March 2nd - Book Moments: What has been your favorite moment (scene) in a book that you've read so far in 2012? Please be kind & not include spoilers.



So far I have not read a 2012 book that I just LOVED. So I'm picking a book I just finished reading for the second time. And by book, I mean books. The Hunger Games Trilogy to be exact. There are SO MANY EPIC MOMENTS in these three books. It's so hard to narrow it down, especially without using spoilers. But I'm going to try.

The most memorable scene from The Hunger Games is when Katniss volunteers to be tribute and go in instead of her sister, Prim. It sets the tone for the entire series and never fails to bring tears to my eyes.

“Prim!” I don’t need to shove through the crowd. The other kids make way immediately allowing me a straight path to the stage. I reach her just as she is about to mount the steps. With one sweep of my arm, I push her behind me. “I volunteer!” I gasp. “I volunteer as tribute!”

And moments like this between Peeta and Katniss.

“So, here’s what you do. You win, you go home. She can’t turn you down then, eh?” says Caesar encouragingly. “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning…won’t help in my case,” says Peeta. “Why ever not?” says Caesar, mystified. Peeta blushes beet red and stammers out. “Because…because…she came here with me.”

Catching Fire brought in a round of new characters who I came to care about. Finnick Odair quickly caught my eye. A lot of his scenes became my favorites. His sense of humor through this whole thing is a much needed break with all the heartache. 

“Finnick?” I say. “Maybe some pants?” He looks down at his legs as if noticing his outfit for the first time. Then he whips off his hospital gown, leaving him in just his underwear. “Why? Do you find this”—he strikes a ridiculously provocative pose—“distracting?”

Another one that sticks out is in Mockingjay when Katniss sees her stylist team for the first time since Catching Fire. TEARS! 

Also, the ending to Mockingjay. That last chapter just makes it all...not better, but close. There are so many more, but I'll give away too much. Though if you haven't read these books, I'm not sure what you're waiting for! I'll end this post with one of my favorite quotes from the trilogy said by Plutarch in Catching Fire. I get chills every time I think of it. 

"We had to save you because you're the Mockingjay, Katniss. While you live, the revolution lives." 

I can't count how many times I cried (good and bad tears) through this series, both times, and I know I'll be doing it through the movie and I can't wait!