Monday, February 24, 2014
Monday Muse: The Piano Guys -- The Cello Song
O.O Like, you just don't even understand how much joy this gives me. The cello is my favorite instument EVER!!!! And this is my favorite cello song EVER!!!! And I'm so EXCITED!!!! (Also, had too much tea today).
Friday, February 21, 2014
Feature Friday: Jessica Khoury
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Jessica:
One of the best things you can bring to your writing is your own life experience. Go to new places, meet new people, be intensely curious about everything you see and everyone you meet, and take risks. You must live big to write deep!
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Jessica:
It's really impossible to pick just one favorite, but I'll say that a book which I really admire, and which inspired me greatly, was Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. It's a book for people who love books--can you ask for anything better than that?
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Vitro?
Jessica:
The idea for Vitro began with a collection of fragmented ideas: an island in the Pacific, a pilot named Jim, a case of mistaken identity. I knew I wanted to write all of these things, so it was just a matter of finding the right way to fit them together. After writing Origin, I was very curious about the other Corpus projects that potentially existed, and wanted to explore more of that world.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Vitro? What were they and how did you fix them?
Jessica:
One of the hardest parts of writing Vitro was keeping all of the characters' locations and knowledge separated. There are three POVs in the book, and they are all in such close proximity to each other that I was constantly having to go back and figure out who was where and when and what they knew or didn't know. It got pretty confusing! I had to draw out a lot of complicated maps and charts to keep everyone straight.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Vitro is your favorite and why?
Jessica:
Jim was the most fun to write, but I think my favorite is Nicholas. He was a surprising character for me--always popping up unexpectedly and making himself more important than I'd intended him to be. I ended up rewriting the entire book to give him a bigger role, because he simply insisted on it!
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Jessica:
I am constantly enchanted by what I get to do every day--wake up, write stories, and connect with readers. It's a tremendous privilege and a dream come true, and I could never ask for anything more! It's something I never take for granted.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Jessica:
Unfortunately, I can't tell you that quite yet! We are gearing up for a big announcement in early March--so follow me on Facebook or Twitter to be first to hear the news!
A.L.:
What's harder, directing a play or writing a book? Would you say they draw from a similar creative well within you?
Jessica:
Both come from the same place, I'd say, though each has its specific challenges. Plays are highly collaborative and take a lot more energy, but they have the particular reward of camaraderie and you make great relationships in theater. I love that about directing. Writing is a good deal more solitary and cerebral. It's probably easier for me, because I'm working alone for much of the process and don't have to manage thirty other people's schedules.
A.L.:
So far you've written two novels, Origin and Vitro, which are edgy sci-fi novels for teens. Do you want to write outside of that genre or do you like where you are?
Jessica:
I am happy where I am, though down the road I'd love to show a different side to my writing. I'm a great fan of fantasy and have written a lot in that genre; perhaps one day I'll get to move in that direction.
A.L.:
Would you say that Pia or Sophie is more like you personally? Why?
Jessica:
I can relate more to Sophie than Pia, because she's a lot more "normal," but both of them are a great deal more stubborn than I am. I admire stubbornness, I think it's a kind of strength, and I tend to write characters I admire more than ones I am like. Isn't that why we read--to become someone else? It's the same when you're writing.
The Giveaway:
Jessica is giving away a signed copy of VITRO to one lucky winner (INT.).
On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.
Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. With the help of Jim Julien, a young charter pilot, she arrives--and discovers a terrifying secret she never imagined: she has a Vitro twin, Lux, who is the culmination of Corpus's dangerous research.
Now Sophie is torn between reuniting with the mother who betrayed her and protecting the genetically enhanced twin she never knew existed. But untangling the twisted strands of these relationships will have to wait, for Sophie and Jim are about to find out what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
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How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). INT. I will contact the winner via email.
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Monday, February 17, 2014
Friday, February 14, 2014
Feature Friday: Mindee Arnett
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Mindee:
My biggest piece of advice would be patience and practice. In my experience, the biggest problem aspiring writers face is getting too impatient. I was guilty of it for sure. The desire and pressure to find an agent and to start publishing is so great that you hurry through the first draft, do a hasty revision, and then send it out. This is a guarantee set up for failure. It’s absolutely critical to be patient. Once you’ve written the first draft, set it aside for a period of time—a couple of weeks at least—before starting the revision. You need the time to distance yourself from the writing process so that you can view the story with a critical eye. The “practice” part of my advice is to keep at it and try new things. If what you’ve been doing on prior stories isn’t getting you that agent or that sale, then you need to take a different approach. Remember that writing is as much a mechanical craft akin to building houses and as it is an art. Study the craft and refine your process. You can always get better. Always.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Mindee:
My all-time favorite book is Harry Potter, and yes I’m talking about the series as a whole. I just love the characters and the world. I never get tired of spending time there.
A.L.:Where did you get the idea for Avalon?
Mindee:
Avalon came out of a combination of my love and heartbreak over Firefly, as well as my first experience with the ideas about dimensions as presented in the book Flatland.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Avalon? What were they and how did you fix them?
Mindee:
The only real snag I hit was that the first draft of the book had two points of view. This just didn’t work, mostly because the second POV came into the story so late. The fix, of course, was to put everything in Jeth’s point of view. It posed some challenges at first, but in the end was pretty easy.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Avalon is your favorite and why?
Mindee:
Jeth is definitely my favorite. The main character usually is. It’s a perquisite of being the main character. They need to have the most interesting story for me to want to tell it.
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Mindee:
My journey was fairly straightforward. I started writing short stories in the sixth grade and took creative writing in high school. In college, I studied English with an emphasis in creative writing. During graduate school I started publishing my short stories in various semi-pro magazines. Not long after, I turned to writing novels. The Nightmare Affair, was my fifth novel and first YA. I queried my agent, Suzie Townsend, who signed me a few weeks later. To make a long story short, I spent a lot of time practicing the craft, I refused to give up despite rejections, and I eventually broke-through.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Mindee:
I’m currently revising the sequel to Avalon.
A.L.:
What made you decide to write a space novel? Did you want to tap into your Whedonite roots?
Mindee:
Well, my sci-fi roots run a lot deeper than Joss, actually. I grew up loving Star Wars and Star Trek. I’ve always been a sci-fi fan. I think writing sci-fi was a bit inevitable given my enthusiasm for it. Also, I’ve never been one to draw much distinction between sci-fi and fantasy. My love for speculative fiction is very encompassing.
A.L.:
You've now written from both the male and the female perspectives in your YA novels. Which do you think is easier to write? Or is there no difference?
Mindee:
The answer is yes and yes. There are things that are easy and hard to write about both of them. I can’t genuinely pick which is easier because of the difference in point-of-view. The Nightmare Affair is written in first person and Avalon in third. Although I will speculate and say that writing a male voice in the first person would be a lot more challenging than is was writing it in third. Third person just allows for a little more distance, I think.
A.L.:
Which do you prefer to write, sci-fi or fantasy?
Mindee:
Definitely fantasy. Most of my ideas tend toward magic and the supernatural. But I’m also extremely found of science and technology. So with any luck, I’ll continue to write in both genres.
Giveaway:
Mindee is giving away two swag packs (INT).
Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.
Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.
Avalon is the perfect fit for teens new to sci-fi as well as seasoned sci-fi readers looking for more books in the YA space-and a great match for fans of Joss Whedon's cult hit show Firefly.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). INT. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Featurette: Fairy, Texas
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Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com
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Manic Readers
Laney Harris didn't want to live there. When her mother remarried and moved them to a town where a date meant hanging out at the Sonic, Laney figured that "boring" would have a whole new meaning. A new stepsister who despised her and a high school where she was the only topic of gossip were bad enough. But when she met the school counselor (and his terminal bad breath), she grew suspicious. Especially since he had wings that only she could see. And then there were Josh and Mason, two gorgeous glimmering-eyed classmates whose interest in her might not be for the reasons she hoped. Not to mention that dead guy she nearly tripped over in gym class.
She was right. Boring took on an entirely new dimension in Fairy, Texas.
Buy Fairy, Texas
Be sure to add Fairy, Texas to your Goodreads bookshelves
Excerpt:
Fairy High could have fit into one wing of my old school. The three-story, red brick building looked like it had been around for at least a century—it actually had carvings over two of the doorways that read “Men’s Entrance” and “Women’s Entrance.” I was glad to see that none of the kids paid any attention to those instructions.
“Counselor’s office,” I muttered to myself. At least I wasn’t starting in the middle of a term—though given the fact that there were fewer than 500 students in the entire high school, I didn’t think I was going to be able to go unnoticed, even in the general bustle of the first day back from summer vacation.
I walked through the door marked “Men’s Entrance,” just be contrary, and faced a long hallway lined with heavy wooden doors. The spaces in between the doors were filled with lockers and marble staircases with ornate hand-rails flanked each end of the long hallway. Students poured in behind me, calling out greetings to each other and jostling me off to the side while I tried to get my bearings. None of the doors obviously led to a main office; I was going to have to walk the entire length of the hallway. And people were already starting to stare and whisper.
God. I hated being the new kid.
I took a deep breath and stepped forward. I made it halfway down the hall without seeing anything informative—all the doors had numbers over them and many of them had name plaques, but neither of those things did me any good since I didn’t know the name or office number for the counselor. I was almost getting desperate enough to ask Kayla, but of course she was nowhere to be seen.
I turned back from scanning the halls for her and caught sight of the first adult I’d seen—and almost screamed. As it was, I gasped loudly enough for a guy walking past me to do a double take. The man standing in the open doorway was tall, over six feet, and way skinny—so emaciated that it looked like you ought to be able to see his ribs through his shirt, if his shirt didn’t hang so loosely on him. He had white hair that stuck out in tufts, thin lips, a sharp nose, and pale blue eyes that narrowed as he watched the kids walk past—and all the kids gave him a wide berth without even seeming to notice that they did so. He stood in an empty circle while students streamed around him in the crowded hallway.
But none of that was what made me almost scream.
For a moment, just as I’d turned toward him, I could have sworn that I’d seen the shadow of two huge, black, leathery wings stretched out behind him.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Monday Muse: Cecile Corbel -- Dellum Down
Cecile Corbel is one of my favorite international artists. This is an old song of hers, can't even buy it on iTunes. It's so pretty to listen to, but then you pay attention to the words and it gets kind of dark and gritty. Looks like February is creepy song month. :P
Friday, February 7, 2014
Feature Friday: Sharon Biggs Waller
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Sharon:
Writing is a skill like anything else and it takes practice and knowledge, and it’s not something you can learn quickly. Whenever you get stuck don’t get frustrated, instead, try to figure out what is causing the problem. For instance, is it dialogue, description, plot, character? I had problems with plot several years ago and I started working with Martha Alderson, the Plot Whisperer. So I always advise writers to take a long look at your skills and find someone to help you hone them. I firmly believe in using coaches. Top athletes, dancers, musicians and actors use coaches, so why not writers? You can find some great writing classes online through Writers Digest, or hire freelance editors. And read lots of writing books. Three of my favorites are Blockbuster Plots by Martha Alderson, Writing the Breakout Novel by Donald Maass, and Revision & Self-Editing by James Scott Bell. These books should be on every writer’s shelf.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Sharon:
OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon. It’s a time-travel historical about a nurse from the 1940s who falls through standing stones in Scotland and ends up in 18th century Scotland. It’s such a great book, rich in detail and as sexy as can be! The characters are wonderfully drawn and the male lead, Jamie Fraser, is swoon-worthy and the gold standard of male leads, in my humble opinion. You just get lost in this book and I love that. I’m a real fangirl with this OUTLANDER, I must admit, I have a much-thumbed paperback that Diana signed for me, which I will never part with. And it’s going to be a series on Starz this summer. I can’t wait!
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for A Mad, Wicked Folly?
Sharon:
When I lived in England I’d often walk by Emmeline Pankhurst’s statue in London and I’d think about what life was like for women before they had the right to vote, and what did it take to fight for the vote? And then I started thinking about teens. What if you wanted to be something that was forbidden, what would you do? My character started to speak to me and the story began to emerge. It took me three years to write and revise FOLLY.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing A Mad, Wicked Folly? What were they and how did you fix them?
Sharon:
FOLLY was a lot of work to write because everything was new to me. I didn’t know very much about the Edwardian era, women’s suffrage history, or art. I was most concerned about getting the art details right. I’m a horse trainer and I can always tell when a writer hasn’t done her research (lots of kicking in the flanks, which is impossible) and I didn’t want to get things wrong. My dad is an artist and I have a lot of artist friends, so I talked to them a lot. I bought books on drawing, and bought some art implements, including the Conté crayons that Vicky loves. I wanted to know what the crayons felt like to hold and use and what they smelled like. I needed to know what kinds of things would be available in the Edwardian era so I found a place that sold vintage art supplies. I was relieved when an art professor friend of mine read the ARC and told me I had gotten it right.
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in A Mad, Wicked Folly is your favorite and why?
Sharon:
Outside of Vicky, I’d say Will. He’s such a good guy and he has this sense of fairness that colors his whole world, from the way he treats the suffragettes, to the way he handles Vicky. I also like how he calls her out on things. She really needs to hear it because she’s been so sheltered and knows little about the world outside of her class. He’s very good for her. And she’s good for him too because she encourages him and believes in his talents.
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Sharon:
I’ve loved writing stories every since I was a little girl. I remember my mom coming home from a parent/teacher conference when I was in second grade and asking me about this story I wrote, which was about a little witch and her cat. She was smiling and telling me how proud she was. I loved that I could make her smile like that. But I didn’t get serious about writing until after I had shoulder surgery in the mid 90s. I was training lots of horses and my surgeon told me to think about another career because I might have to have my shoulder done again. It was a long and painful recovery and I didn’t want to go through that again, so I started writing novels and magazine articles. I wrote several novels before FOLLY. Many rejections, many, many rejections! But it was good experience for me. I’m glad those early novels weren’t published, although I didn’t feel that way then. I really wasn’t ready.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Sharon:
I do have an idea for a companion novel or two for A MAD, WICKED FOLLY, but right now I’m revising a story set in Scotland in the 18th century and I’m researching another set in the early part of the Victorian era. That’s all I can say otherwise my agent will kill me!
A.L.:
Was it hard to write a historic YA novel?
Sharon:
Writing is hard work, no matter the genre, but historical fiction does have the added element of history, which involves a lot of research. I love research. As a non-fiction writer research doesn’t scare me and in fact I look forward to it. To me it’s all about excavating the story; uncover details that help create the character and her world. Of course all of this has to serve the story. Packing a book with details just because I think it’s interesting can really weigh a story down.
A.L.:
Is it exciting being a riding instructor at the Royal Mews? What's it like? Any fun stories to share?
Sharon:
I loved being a riding instructor at Buckingham Palace! It was so much fun to go the security gate, show my ID card, and I’d go in, leaving the bustling streets of London behind. The indoor arena at the Mews is older than our country, and that was an endless source of fascination to me. Also I could look at all the carriages whenever I wanted and visit the horses in the stables. As far as fun stories go, I used to visit Prince Phillip’s horse and feed her wine gums when I wasn’t teaching. She’s a really pretty black Cleveland Bay mare that the queen bred. She was born on Prince Phillip’s birthday so the queen named her Phillipa. I also went to a childrens’ Christmas party at the Mews when my niece was visiting one year. The queen suddenly appeared (there are lots of odd passageways in the palace she walks through) but the children were more interested in Father Christmas than in her. She said to my niece: “The children rather enjoy this don’t they.” It was amazing. She’s so tiny, too. You could pick her up and put her in your pocket.
A.L.:
Do you feel as though Victoria Darling is a character after your own heart? Why, why not?
Sharon:
I love Vicky, I really do. I love how she never gives up, and she has so much courage. I’ve heard some readers have wondered where her ambition comes from, which kind of surprises me. Edwardian women had ambition, too, and they had to fight hard to achieve their dreams. Besides, Vicky saw her brother take the reins of his own life, and she knew her father did the same, climbing his way up the business ladder, so she had some wonderful role models, even though neither of those men would like to admit that they inspired her! Well, maybe her brother, Freddy, would.
The Giveaway:
A MAD WICKED FOLLY swag pack -- US entrants only
After Vicky poses nude for her illicit art class, she is expelled from her French finishing school. Shamed and scandalized, her parents try to marry her off to the wealthy Edmund Carrick-Humphrey. But Vicky has other things on her mind: her clandestine application to the Royal College of Art; her participation in the suffragette movement; and her growing attraction to a working-class boy who may be her muse—or may be the love of her life. As the world of debutante balls, corsets, and high society obligations closes in around her, Vicky must figure out: just how much is she willing to sacrifice to pursue her dreams?
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US only. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Monday, February 3, 2014
Monday Muse: Pre-Med -- Wallpaper Warriors
I sensed you were all falling asleep from all the cool, sleepy music I've been posting so I decided to make your skin all crawly with something new today. I can totally see a creep-tastic action scene happening during this song.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Feature Friday: Sophie Jordan
Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?
Sophie:
Read, read and read. Seriously, that’s where it all begins. Read in your genre and out of your genre.
Also, find a writing group – there are several throughout the country. Either online or a group that holds meetings. Being around other writers is not only motivating but an endless source of information and resources.
A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?
Sophie:
Tough one! This changes weekly … there are just so many books. Hm. Maybe … Night by Elie Wiesel. I taught this book, and learned something new from it every time I read it.
A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Uninvited/
Sophie:
One day I was watching some kids play during my toddler’s gymnastics class. This one little boy was always so aggressive. Every week he hurt other kids in the class … and the question popped in my head: “Huh, wonder if that kid is going to be a serial killer? Is this where it begins….”
I was only being half serious with myself, but just like that. Bam! In a blink, the idea for UNINVITED appeared in my head.
I've always been fascinated with the nature/nurture argument. Are people born evil or do they become evil? This book explores that.
A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Uninvited? What were they and how did you fix them?
Sophie:
Oh, every book I’ve written had its challenges. UNINVITED might have been the hardest because it deals with such tough themes. But mostly, just getting up and writing every day is the challenge. Especially when you could be reading or watching TV! ;)
A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Uninvited is your favorite and why?
Sophie:
My protagonist, Davy. Just because I’m in her head so much.
A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?
Sophie:
Well. I signed with my agent in 2006 after writing for 2 years. Two weeks later she sold my book to Harper Collins. Eight years later, I’ve written over twenty books and I’m still with the same agent and publisher. I’ve very fortunate to still be with the same agent and editor. It’s not always that way for an author, and I’m very lucky.
In 2008, I started writing YA in addition to romance. I stayed with the same publisher for my YAs, but write them for the children’s imprint of my publishing house.
A.L.:
What are you working on now? Sequel? Something new?
Sophie:
I’m finishing up a historical romance and about to dive into the final revisions on the sequel to UNINVITED. Following that, I’ll be starting my third new adult novel in my Ivy Chronicles series.
A.L.:
Did you do a lot of research when writing Uninvited?
Sophie:
Actually, yes … with the help of google! ;) I did look up a lot of crime statistics and data.I also watched some documentaries and read some articles on serial killers and serial killers among children.
A.L.:
How do you think you'd react if you discovered you carried the HTS gene?
Sophie:
Uh-oh … well, you should read UNINVITED because that’s pretty much what I do! I tried to imagine how I would react and put myself in Davy’s shoes. There’s a lot of shock and denial going on … and coming to terms with your own fears and prejudices.
A.L.:
When you taught English, what was your favorite topic to teach?
Sophie:
I enjoyed the Arthurian unit in our curriculum … knights, the code of chivalry. LOVE it! It overlapped a lot with my love of that era of history. And hey … I got to show the kids one of my favorite BBS productions, Ivanhoe. Can’t go wrong there!
The Giveaway:
Sophie is giving away a signed copy of FIRELIGHT (US.)
Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki, a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away;if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.
Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.
How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). US only. I will contact the winner via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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