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 on their site if you want to join in on the fun. 

What I'm Reading
I finally received my copy of WISH YOU WERE ITALIAN by Kristin Rae so I put To All The Boys aside (for now) and started this one. I'm almost a third of the way through and I love it. It's a sweet, cute read. Perfect for summer time (yes..we skip right over spring here in the south). And, yes, Gelato is a must while reading. I'm also reading Sweet Little Thing by Renee Carlino. It's okay, though I'm not as drawn in as I was with Sweet Thing, which I adored.

What I'm Writing

Hit the 20K mark on When The Wind Blows today! It feels good. I thought I'd never get there. I started this WIP late last year and got a good chunk. But then it needed a rewrite. And another one. But I finally think I have it where it should be and keep coming up with ideas to move it forward. I'm worried. It's usually not this easy. We'll see where it goes. I keep insisting I'm breaking it but my CP assures me I'm not. I think she's biased.

What Inspires Me Right Now

Meeting a deadline. The more I think about the deadline my CPs and I made for each other the more I want to push myself to make it.

What Else I've Been Up To

Where to start? It's been a busy week. I was off work last Friday for kiddos Kindergarten field day. It was a lot of fun. He competed in five events and did great in each one. I'd like to say they won them all...but that wasn't the case. But he did have fun!

Saturday was a normal game day for us. Game mid day with shopping and cleaning around it. Sunday was Mother's Day and it was a lot of reading and relaxing and movie watching. Just what I needed. My husband was working (he's a restaurant manager so he's always working that day since it's one of their busiest days) so kiddo and I had lunch at my parents and then dinner together back home.

 Monday was a lot of fun jammed into one day. That morning I went to kiddos school for "Muffins with Mom". The kids read what they loved about us and shared the pictures they drew of us and we had delicious muffins after.

Then, after school and work that night, kiddo and I met my mom for the Of Neptune book signing. It was a lot of fun. Kiddo even spent some time signing bookmarks with his Aunt Anna (Anna Banks is my sister-in-law. I wouldn't normally allow him to go up and annoy the author like that. But, it's okay when it's family because that's what they're for). I wish I could have stayed longer and hung out through the entire event but it was a school night and kiddo had state testing the next morning (which he aced!).

I am so sad to see this series come to an end. Of Poseidon was the first book I've seen from the very first "I have an idea for a book" to the published copy. I'm excited to read Of Neptune to see how it ends. This is the one book in the series that I didn't get to read before it was printed. But at the same time I don't want it to end...so I'm holding out for a little bit.

So what have you been up to?

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 on their site if you want to join in on the fun. 

What I'm Reading

Haven't made much progress on Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor BUT I have read. A ton. I finished What I Thought was True by Huntley Fitzpatrick. It was okay, not my favorite. I much prefer My Life Next Door. I also started and finished Motocross Me by Cheyanne Young and My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi. I really enjoyed My Life After Now. I flew through this book in less than 3 hours Sunday night. I want to read her next book ASAP. But, at the moment I'm reading To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han. I adore her Summer series and have high hopes for this one.

What I'm Writing

It's been a busy week so I haven't added a ton of new words to my WIP When The Wind Blows but I did come up with a plan to finish. I suck at making myself finish something by a certain date so I enlisted the help of my CPs Jessica and Jamie. I told them I needed a deadline for my first draft because I never meet my own. They came up with June 30th. And, on a super awesome note, they also decided to finish their first drafts by the same time. Between the three of us we have two YA contemporaries and a historical romance. I can't wait until were all done!

What Inspires Me Right Now






Pub day. Seeing authors and how excited they are to see their book out in the world. What was once their WIP is now available for all to read. It really is an incredible experience to watch unfold around you.

What Else I've Been Up To

Last week I mentioned the crazy storm that was going on as I wrote my post. Crazy doesn't begin to cover it. Record breaking is more like it. The town I live in received 19 inches of rain in twenty-four hours. That's a lot of water!

These are from our neighborhood. The houses behind ours have a lake across the street. By the end of it all the water completely covered the road. This is actually a few days after.

 

It flooded the front yard and driveway (and I'm pretty sure inside the home). 

And this was just our neighborhood. Numerous roads collapsed or were found completely under water. Dealership and supermarket parking lots flooded with cars still parked in them. Lakes (like this one) swelled far beyond their banks. Schools were closed for two days as many of them flooded. Water had to be boiled. I can't even describe what it's like, seeing this up close. Waters are slowly receding but many are left with damage to their belongings and without flood insurance. It's not something you think about when you're not technically in a flood zone.

And now that I've bummed you out, how about I try to pick you back up. Saturday was a fun family day. Kiddo had a T-Ball game and we followed it by having lunch with my husband and parents at one of our favorite restaurants that finally reopened. It has new owners, a new look and an amazing menu. My husband isn't a huge super hero fan so Sunday kiddo and I went to see The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in 3D. It was incredible. Better than the first, in my opinion.

 

So what have you been up to?

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.

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 Now

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?

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?

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:

http://jessicaleake.com

www.facebook.com/authorjessicaleake

www.twitter.com/jessleake

www.amazon.com/Arcana-A-Novel-Jessica-Leake/dp/1940456142/

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20344642-arcana

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

When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.

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. 

Author Links:

http://elodienowodazkij.com/

https://twitter.com/commutinggirl

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7800147.Elodie_Nowodazkij

A rafflecopter givewaway

March Reads 2014

March was another huge reading month. Fourteen total. And SO many great contemporary books! Audio books this month were Into The Still Blue and Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I've had Smoke & Bone in book form for months but so glad I gave the audio book a try. The person who does the voice really nails down the characters. Makes the book come to life. I borrowed How To Love, The Summer I Found You and NIL from a friend. How To Be quickly became an all time favorite. Bright Before Sunrise and Meant To Be are two of the cutest books I've ever read. And so glad I finally got around to reading The DUFF. It really made me think and wish I had a book like this back in High School.