arya_darcy

Check out this awesome video by Maggie Stiefvater! Her (wonderful amazing spectacular) book SHIVER is coming out August 1st!

Wanna know a little secret?
I received SHIVER early and read it in two sittings. The full review must wait till August comes nearer though.

Anyway, enter her contest here! I'm entering by writing this post. I am DYING to win a CD of SHIVER's music! I heard a snippet at Borders. (More info here.)

That is all for now. =)

Graduation was wonderful! And my parents surprised me with a graduation party. They only said that it was a simple dinner so I arrive and it's way cooler than I imagined. They (and my family and friends) made my graduation day even more special.

Two nights ago, I bought PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard. I wrote her a [crazystalkerfan] e-mail.
This is my review: 
I fell in love with Alex as soon as Callie met him. I imagined him in my head as a cross between Mr. Darcy (of course) and a brown-haired Adam Lambert, the way he looked in the Mad World performance on American Idol. Squee!
Emily is so sweet--she reminded me of Emily from the show "Little Bear" that I watched when I was younger. And I liked how Victoria--excuse me, Her Grace--was made more vulnerable and human as the book progressed.
I DEFINITELY recommend this novel. It is so fun and I devoured it in less than 24 hours.

Question for you all:
So I'm in the process of doing minor modifications of my little "office" desk in my room, to make it equipped with everything a writer needs for...well, writing...and other things. What does your writing space look like and how do (or would) you organize it?

I just realized that I forgot to write a review for CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson.

If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl?

As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom.

I really enjoyed reading this book. LHA created a wonderful character in Isabel and even though it was in different times, you could still relate to her. Now I cannot WAIT for the sequel! I'm not sure when it comes out, but I do know that when it does--I'll be first in line to buy it.

~*~*~*~

Another wonderful book released today! PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard. It sounds so interesting and I'll go pick it up ASAP. Congrats, Mandy! 

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?

So this contest is super cool.

WIN a signed copy of Fairy Tale AND a "Wing tips kiss" Glamourkin Necklace AND a brand new, boxed, sealed bottle of Twilight Perfume!

So how do you win?

After consulting with my brainstorming fairy and getting her sloshed on absinthe, we (by which I mean she) came up with the perfect answer for a this debut release give away...

You have to help write a Fairy Tale! This is how it works: I'll start us off and then each commenter continues the story by contributing a *sentence* (you can have more than one, of course, but don't hog the story with multiple plot points). Then the next person adds a *sentence* and so on until we have a story. (Make sense?) Be sure to read any previous comments to get a feel for where our story is going and then throw in your own plot point or details about what happens next. Remember to give our heroine lots of curve balls and challenges to overcome and maybe a hot prince or two :-) And be on the look out of celebrity author contributions! (In other words--fellow authors are encouraged to participate, just add a *NE* to the end of your comment if you're not actually entering the contest, just participating in the fairy tale.)A few more details--deadline to comment is Monday, June 15 @ midnight, 5 bonus entries for spreading the word about this contest on your blog, just leave me the link. Winner will be chosen from a Random Number Generator.

Here's the link! 
http://brooketaylorbooks.blogspot.com/2009/06/fairy-tale-once-upon-time-contest.html

Hello all!

I have returned from No-Bloggy-Post Land. Even though it's Tuesday and I'm supposed to be posting a teaser of what I'm writing, I am going to pretend that it's a...

FRIDAY FIVE DAY

1) The most important thing happening in my life right now is...GRADUATION! I am officially graduating from high school in two weeks. Then I'll finish off classes at my current college, then transfer. The last Spring college class ended yesterday--I'll miss it. Made some good friends!

2) Anyone seen the NEW MOON trailer yet? I didn't like the book that much, but the trailer looks amazing!!

3) Writing? Not doing all that great. I don't want to take another break though. Maybe I'm putting too much pressure on myself....but I'd love to actually get something done! I haven't been posting about my projects lately because, before I post info and word counts and everything, I have to be sure I will finish it and not just switch to a new manuscript...
But I may just post the title as being SUPER SECRET PROJECT 1934733489739824734, then a little info and word counts.

4) I'm hoping to reply to e-mails today! So if I haven't written back, don't think I'm ignoring you. Just busy, even though summer has already started.

5) Contests! I'm entering the Kidlit.com contest! I'd LOVE to win SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater. (Link: http://kidlit.com/kidlit-contest/)

And on The Shady Glade blog, they're giving away another copy of SHIVER! Here's the link:
http://theshadyglade.blogspot.com/2009/06/contest-monday-win-copy-of-shiver.html

So, I have recently finished WINGS by Aprilynne Pike.

Go out.

Buy it.

Right now.

Okay, back from the bookstore? Great.

Her debut novel is so good--my favorite character is David and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Fifteen-year-old Laurel has led a sheltered, homeschooled life in a very small town, so when her parents decide to move and enroll her in high school, she has trouble getting used to her new life. A life, as it turns out, that’s not at all like those of other kids. One clear sign is a winglike blossom that blooms on her back. Oh, and her new best friend, the scientifically minded David, reveals under a microscope that her cells are more plant than animal. But it takes an encounter at her old home with the handsome but decidedly different Tamani to convince her that she is a faerie. She also learns it’s up to her to save her land from the evil influences that are trying to take it away from her and her family. This first novel is clearly designed to attract the Twilight set, though there’s significantly less edge (and blood). There is, however, a familiar triangle. Will Laurel choose solid, steady David, or will she be unable to resist Tamani’s lure?

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Want to win an ARC of Aprilynne Pike's Wings? (Wings just came out! Yeah!)

Go here!

“Red fingernail polish, check. Hairbrush, check. Makeup, check—”

I sighed and turned to face my best friend, Cassidy McKenzie.

“Hold on, Vivianna. I’m not finished yet. Cute black belt, check. Black scrunchie—”

“Cassidy…”

She shot me a half-glaring, half-pout look. “Black scrunchie, bracelets, and headband, check. Done!”

My other best friend, Rena, was already unpacked, empty suitcase in a manicured hand. It was cute that she got her nails done just for our four week vacation, considering I, the chronic nail-biter, wouldn’t give a thought to how my own nails looked. Rena wasn’t always the most organized—usually I covered that—but she was great with little details.

“Look, everything’s there! You don’t need to take inventory—just unpack!” I said, annoyed.

Because Cassidy took so long setting on the bottom bunk every single thing she brought, I hadn’t gotten too much done. Quickly, I shoved all my clothes into a drawer of the armoire the three of us would share. Lucky for us there were four drawers along with an open space, which meant one drawer for Rena, one for me, two for Cassidy, and a place to put a few extra things. I claimed the top bunk and the small oak desk. Twenty minutes later, bed made, laptop set on the desk along with a notebook, pen, and a few Nancy Drew mystery books, and everything else organized, my corner of the bedroom felt homey.

In accordance with Shana Silver's contest, I'm posting some old stuff I wrote years ago.

EXCERPT ONE:

 

( Read more... )

CONTEST TWO!



Cindy Pon is having a contest!
http://cindypon.com/blog/

She is giving away a signed copy of her debut novel SILVER PHOENIX, along with one of her beautiful  original framed brushpainting or a $100 gift card to the bookstore of your choice!

CONTEST THREE:

Want to win a copy of Aprilynne Pike's WINGS? Click here.

Hey Cindy! Thanks for being here! So, tell us about your debut novel, Silver Phoenix.

when i first got the idea for the book, i wanted it to
be a heroine's journey. i wanted to bring in chinese folklore
and myth, but also infuse the story with fantastic elements
from my own imagination. i'll share the blurb from the greenwillow
summer catalog, because i can't do it better than they do it. =)

on the day of her first betrothal meeting--and rejection--ai ling
discovers a power welling deep within her.  she can reach into
other people's spirits, hear their thoughts, see their dreams...
and that's just the beginning.

ai ling has been marked by the immortals; her destiny lies in the
emperor's palace, where a terrible evil has lived, stealing souls,
for centuries. she must conquer this enemy and rescue her captive
father, while mythical demons track her every step. and then she
meets chen yong, a young man with a quest of his own, whose
fate is intertwined with hers. here is a heart-stopping, breathtaking tale
for fans of action, fantasy, and romance--of anything with the
makings of legend.

What is your main character's theme song?

"i will survive" -- just for the title. =)

What music did you listen to while writing your novel?

i wish i was one of those YA authors with a hip music soundtrack
to offer, but i can't write with songs on. i like to sing along so it's
way too distracting.

Who would you cast for your main characters, if Silver Phoenix was made
into a movie?

unknowns! there aren't any asian-american actors i know
of right now that are quite right? if at all possible, i'd love to
help choose the hapa (eurasian) to play my hero! but i know
this doesn't happen in real life. ha!

Pirates or ninjas?

both!

If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover
you already have? Why or why not?

i LOVE my cover. it's gorgeous! and the entire
jacket is even more stunning, if you can believe it.
i wouldn't change a thing about it.

but after reading online about how boys won't
pick up YA books with girl heroine's featured, in a fantasy
world, i'd have a "boy cover" too, with big swords and
big monsters on it.

Which season fits your main character the most? Why?

i would say the fall. it's when she's traveling.

What made you want to write YA?

to be honest, i never set out to write a YA book.
but i think that i naturally tapped into a lot of the feelings
i felt as a teen. they were very profound feelings, i think.
things happened on a grand scale for me during
those years.

i thought i simply wrote an asian fantasy until i began
querying agents. i'm thrilled to have sold my debut as
YA. some of my favorite reading memories are as a teen.

  If you could change something in your novel, what would it be?

honestly, i can't think of a thing. my editor virginia has done
an excellent job revising the manuscript with me. i really
love this novel.

What do you do to keep writing?

i do it because i love words and stories. it doesn't
come easy, but big dreams don't come easily.

How did you get started on writing?

i began writing in elementary school. i think i started
to write because i loved to read, and it's a natural progression
for many of us writers. we are all story lovers. i began
with poetry and moved on to short stories. SILVER PHOENIX
is my first attempt at novel writing.

  Have you ever considered giving up? If so, why?

no. there were moments of self-loathing, doubt and utter
despair during the agent querying and editor submissions
process. you really need a thick skin, belief in yourself
and your book--you really need to want it. i never
let the rejections get me down for long. i always regrouped and
remembered how much i loved my novel. i was its only advocate!

  Is there anything you can tell us about your next book?

i'm working on a children's picture book that will feature
a chick as a heroine and other creatures she meets.
chinese brush art will be my medium.

i've also got the sequel to SILVER PHOENIX in the works.
it will be two stories from two different time periods woven
together to center on my heroine.

thanks so much for taking the time to interview me, arya!
i really enjoyed it!

Check out Cindy Pon's SILVER PHOENIX in bookstores in a few days!
 

Thanks for being with us, Fran! Tell us about your new MG novel, When the Whistle Blows.


It's about a boy who loves steam engines and who can't quite figure out his crotchety father, who is the foreman of the B&O railroad in his hometown.  At its heart, it is a coming of age story that is also a mystery-adventure, complete with a late night visit to the funeral home, a championship football game, and a robbery!

What is your main character's theme song?

Kyrie by Mr. Mister.  At least, that's what it is today.

What musical instrument is your character most like? 

A country fiddle.  Perhaps slightly out of tune at times, but that's one of the things that makes Jimmy interesting!

Who would you cast for your main characters, if When the Whistle Blows was made into a movie?

Jimmy would be the late River Phoenix.  Jimmy's dad might be the late Spencer Tracy.  I'd like to find a spot for Alan Alda in the movie because he was my favorite actor when I was growing up, but I'm thinking the casting might not be quite right.  He seems to be more of a city guy, and most of my characters are more countrified.  But hey, I know about as much about casting movies as I do about designing book covers . . . (see question #6)

Hey, while we're talking movies, can I pick my director, too?  I really like Rob Reiner, and not just because he was Meathead in All in the Family.  He directed the great film Stand By Me (which was based upon a short story by Stephen King AND which When the Whistle Blows has been compared to!).  And he also directed another all time favorite of mine, The Princess Bride.  If Rob Reiner would direct the film of my book I swear I would never call him Meathead again.  Heck, I'd even consider becoming a vegetarian! 

Oh, and while we're dreaming large dreams here, can I just say that I actually want to be IN the movie too?  I mean, if Madonna can write a book, then I figure I can act in a movie.  Heck, why don't we just make it a musical and I can sing, too?

Pirates or ninjas?

Pirates.  Definitely.  (See question #11!)

If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover you already have? Why or why not?

If I designed my own cover it would have stick figures on it and no one would be able to decipher the title!  I have learned that I know very little about cover design and what makes it work for a particular book.  So I am happy to leave it to the experts!

Which season fits your main character the most? Why?

Fall.  Because each chapter in When the Whistle Blows happens on a different Halloween in Jimmy's life. 

How long does it take you to write a first draft?

It took me probably six months to write the first chapter because I was revising it constantly.  But then I bound and gagged my inner editor and produced about 45 or 50 pages in the span of just a couple months.  Surprisingly, those pages turned out quite good!  I did a lot of thinking about the plot, and at the same time managed to keep my inner editor's mouth shut (duct tape works wonders) long enough to actually finish the book!  Then I peeled the duct tape off my inner editor's mouth and let her pour over the manuscript.  Poor thing.  She just wants to help.

The whole process, start to finish, took about 2 and a half years.

What made you want to write MG?

I wanted to write a middle grade novel because middle grade novels were the books that affected me most growing up.  That being said, I wasn't always sure this novel was a middle grade.  At points I thought it was YA, or maybe even a book for adults.  Perhaps it crosses into all three areas.

What do you do to keep writing?

Well, sometimes I think a lot about my writing.  I noodle through plot points and overarching themes in my head.  But really, each book is different and seems to come at me in a different way, so I try to be flexible in how I approach my work. 

The first 100 pages of fiction I ever wrote I wrote over the course of 13 years – throughout law school and jobs as a prosecutor and legal publisher -- whenever I could find the time.  For When the Whistle Blows, I got serious about writing and stuck my bottom in the chair and basically didn't get up for 2 and a half years.  (Okay, that's slightly stretching the truth – I did eat and shower – but you get the idea).  I've had parts of books come to me in the middle of the night, so I get up and stumble around for a pen and paper to write the thoughts down before I lose them to sleep. 

I am outlining the novel I am working on now, which is something I haven't done before.  But it's what this story seems to need, so I'm trying it.  Bottom line, I try to follow my inner ear; my subconscious; the particular way each story presents itself to me.  I try to listen to it, and to give it what it seems to be asking of me.

 Is there anything you can tell us about your next book?

It's about a girl pirate!  Arrrrrr.

Thanks for hosting me here, Arya!  It's been fun!

Thanks again, Fran! 

Check out Fran Cannon Slayton's WHEN THE WHISTLE BLOWS in bookstores on June 11, 2009!

As I've said before, I was blessed to receive an ARC of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH by Carrie Ryan.

Mary lives in a small village in the middle of the forest governed by the religious Sisterhood and bordered with a fence to keep out the Unconsecrated—a horde of the undead unleashed many generations ago by a mysterious and cataclysmic event. Life is simple but preordained; Mary fears her betrothal to a man she doesn’t love almost as much as the hungry jaws slavering at the fence links. Soon Mary and a small band of desperate survivors are thrown together to outwit the undead and work through their own weaknesses, suspicions, and jealousies.

Great world building? Check.
Great MC voice? Check.
Great ending? Well...some may like it, but I didn't really. I won't say anything more on this, as I'd give away too much.

So, zombies aren't my thing, but this book was so well-written.

Not intensely gory? Check.
Some romance? Check.
Suspense? Check.

THE SEASON by Sarah MacLean

Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet.

When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband? Romance abounds as this year's season begins!

I LOVED this book. I was at Barnes and Noble, flipping through the pages and go so into it that I just HAD to have it. Yes. It's that good. I'd recommend this left and right. Regency + Romance + Murder mystery? Amazing.

WHAT I SAW AND HOW I LIED by Judy Blundell

15-year-old Evie grows up quickly when she discovers her adored parents are not the people she thought they were. While on vacation in Palm Beach in 1947, Evie’s parents, Joe and Bev, get involved in a shady business deal with the Graysons, another couple on holiday. Meanwhile, Evie begins a flirtation with Peter, a handsome ex-GI who served with Joe and just happens to be staying at their hotel. Evie soon learns that Peter’s presence is no coincidence and that he threatens to uncover a terrible secret that Joe has kept since the war. Then Bev, Joe, and Peter go boating, but only two of them return. Evie must sort through secrets, lies, and her own grief to find the truth.

In this book, a few parts were well-written, and I did like a few of the characters because they were made very interesting. However, I extremely disliked the ending, and sometimes, this just didn't sound like a historical YA novel (The writing portrayed Evie almost as if she were 12, not 15.)  Overall, I just don't think this book is my "style."

EVERMORE by Alyson Noel

Seventeen-year-old Ever survived the car crash that killed her parents, younger sister, and their dog. Now she lives with an aunt in Southern California, plagued not only by survivor guilt but also by a new ability to hear the thoughts of all around her. She tries to tune out all these distractions by keeping her hoodie up and her iPod cranked loud, until Damen, the cute new boy at school, convinces her to come out of her shell. Damen, however, is frighteningly clever—and has the strange ability to produce tulips from nowhere and disappear himself at critical moments.

This was really good. It drew me in very well. One thing I don't like in this (or in ANY book, for that matter) was the profanities. However, I'm grateful it was just a few. Ever is realistic and there's a nice mix of humor, suspense, romance, etc. I can't wait for BLUE MOON, especially if it's as good as EVERMORE--or better!

1) Tell us about your third YA novel, Fragile Eternity.

Fragile Eternity is a sequel.  Ink Exchange was a companion book (same world, different protags), but Fragile is a true sequel in that it revisits the protags from Wicked Lovely.  I call it “Seth’s book” bc he’s the center of this novel.  FE is set directly after INK, but it’s going back to Ash, Seth, Keenan, & Donia.   Wicked Lovely can, of course, be the end of the story for Ash, Keenan, Donia, & Seth. Ink Exchange can be the end for Leslie, Irial, & Niall.  If you want though, Fragile Eternity goes back to the world these characters live in.   It focuses specifically on Ash, Seth, Keenan, & Donia, but some other characters are obviously there as these characters lives are entwined.

2) What is your main character's theme song?

Most of my characters have playlists (as do the novels), but I don’t think any of them have theme songs.  One song is too limiting. The playlists are a method of trying to reach their personalities.  When I play their songs, it helps evoke their moods or voices or personalities for writing.

3) What musical instrument is your character most like?

I have a variety of MCs in all of the books, so I’ll just pick a couple.  I associate Donia with the sound of a cello—haunting, longing, lovely; I think of both Irial and Niall with drum or bass—steady, deeper, capable of underlying any and everything. If I had to choose one sound for Sorcha, I’d think harpsichord—classic, elegant, a lot of possibilities; however, I think more full symphony for her than solitary instrument.  Leslie is just vocals, not instrument beyond the human voice.

4) Who would you cast for your main characters, if Fragile Eternity was made into a movie?

Ahhhhh, I always feel so very lost when people ask this.  I don’t watch many movies, and with a few very rare exceptions I cannot name actors, films, or directors.  If the books ever go that direction, my plan is to trust that the folks handling it have the expertise to do so : )   I enjoy when readers point out folks they see as capable of evoking a characters’ personality, but I am completely without clues on this one.

5)  Pirates or ninjas?

The grown up façade says, “ninjas” bc they have self-control and style and . . . the rest of me says, “Mmmmm. Pirates!” I like the impulsivity and freedom of the mythologized version of pirates, plus I have a fascination with Grace O’Malley/Granuaile.

6) If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover you already have? Why or why not?

No.  I like having a voice, but at the end, I believe my covers are best handled by artists, not me. Harper has been so sweet about letting me have a voice. All three of the (US covers) of the books have models I’ve picked: Taylor is Aislinn on WL, Laura is Leslie on INK, & Cameron is Sorcha on FE.  Alison (the art director) even added the night blooming jasmine I hoped for on the cover of FE.  I get input, but she (and her team) make the art.  Mark Tucker does amazing photography for the cover, and Alison pulls everything together.  

7) How long does it take you to write a first draft?

I’m not sure.  (Can I admit that?) Wicked Lovely was a short story first. Almost a year later, I wrote the novel version of the short story.  The actual writing of the novel just only a few months, but I’d been thinking about those characters for a year or so.  On the other extreme, I began a text that eventually was divided into parts of both Ink Exchange and Fragile Eternity immediately after I finished WL (before anything was sold).   The actual writing of Ink Exchange took almost three times as long as Wicked Lovely; during part of that, I was writing parts of Fragile Eternity too.  For me though, writing is about the process before words are on pages as well as the words-getting-on-the-paper part.  Right now, I’m writing book 4, but also thinking about the 5^th book.  I won’t be sitting down to write it for months yet, but for me, the process of thinking them through s something that stretches over months before I sit down—as well as writing snippets of future books while I’m working on current projects.

8) What made you want to write YA contemporary fantasy?

“It just happened” sounds illogical, but it sorta just happened.  I started various stories over time, but things like vampires, ghosts, faeries, selchies (et al) kept ending up in the middle of the plots. It’s what seems to happen when I try to write, so right now, that’s where I am. I follow impulse and inspiration, and seeing the world in relation to folklore makes sense to me.  Like a lot (most?) of my writing experience, it’s pretty much just what happened.  The story I ended up telling made use of the folklore I grew up believing in, so I supposed it’s my family’s fault that I write what I write : )

9) What do you do to keep writing?

Live.  Dream. Travel. Read.  Everything in the world is potential inspiration. I try to enjoy experiences as fully as I can, and then when I am at my desk, I have those feelings, memories, visuals, thoughts, et al to pluck my strings.  Things we experience lead to needing to answer “what if” or “why” or “what next.”  That used to be the source of lollygagging or, in some cases, ending up in unpleasant spots.  Now, all of it is fodder for storytelling.

10) Is there anything you can tell us about future books?

I’m contracted to Harper for a total of 6 YA books.  The 4^th faery book is a companion book (with Ani and Devlin as pov characters).  The 5^th faery book returns us to Ash and Donia.  (That one is the 3^rd in the “trilogy” of the original protags.)  The 6^th book isn’t in the world of Wicked Lovely. After that . . . after that it’ll be 2013, which is just too far away to ponder. 
 

Thanks for being here, Melissa!
You can check out Melissa's newest novel, FRAGILE ETERNITY in your local bookstore.

Hello all.

First off, there's a post coming with FOUR book reviews. (Possibly five)
But right now, I'd like to turn your attention to this post by Alex Bracken.

I found it really inspiring.

In my comment to her, I wrote:

Thanks for sharing this. It came at a good time. I'm a part-time college student and graduating high school this semester--so I'll be full-time student this fall. I figured that I should probably not try to get an agent or editor during this time because of being so swamped. Now I'm thinking...could I have enough willpower to actually do this? I want to SO SO SO bad. All I've ever wanted to do was write. So...maybe I just answered my own question. ;) Thanks.

If I really worked at this, if I'm willing to go to the extra mile, I can do this. I can finish novels, revise them, really truly polish them up, submit them, and see where that takes me.

It just took another college girl to help me see it that way.

Congrats to carrie_ryan on her release of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH!

I was blessed to receive an ARC of her book, and let me tell you--it is amazing. (my schedule became busier, so I haven't finished it...but I LOVE it so far).

Here's the blurb:

In Mary's world, there are simple truths.
The Sisterhood always knows best.
The Guardians will protect and serve.
The Unconsecrated will never relent.
And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village....

I will post a full review ASAP! 

Hi Sarah! Tell us about your debut novel, The Season.

THE SEASON is the story of seventeen-year-old Lady Alexandra Worthington, who is sharp tongued and strong willed and positively loathes dress fittings—exactly the opposite of what a lady should be in Regency London.  

Alex, along with her BFFs, Vivi & Ella, can't seem to sit idly by drinking tea and embroidering.  Instead, the girls get themselves tangled up in a dangerous mystery—involving a dead earl and potential treason.  The Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, and the trio teams up to help his son, Gavin (who I think is totally dreamy), to uncover the truth about his father's death.

As the mystery unravels, Alex and Gavin grow closer, and Alex finds herself losing her heart. But her girls are there to the end...to make sure everything goes her way.

 
What is your main character's theme song?

 Like a Luminous Girl, Mike Doughty

What musical instrument is your character most like?

 The stand up base. She's tall and lovely and hard to miss when she's in a room. And if she has something to say...you're going to hear it.

Who would you cast for your main characters, if The Season was made into a movie?

Ok.  I hate this question.  I'm so bad at it.  You'd think by now I'd have an answer for it!  Robert Pattinson would make a great Gavin...and I've thought that since he was the amazing Cedric Diggory.  I think Ed Westwick would make a great Freddie, even though my husband thinks I'm crazy. 

But the girls?  I really don't know...what to you guys think?   

Pirates or ninjas?

Pirates!  I don't understand how this is even a debate!  They're swashbuckling, domineering, commanders of the High Seas.  Ninjas can't even show their faces!  

If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover you already have? Why or why not?

I love my cover...and part of why I'm so bad at the "who would play your characters" is because I love the girls on the cover so much!  But...I wish there were an illustrated cover for it, too...I feel like all the photographic covers out there now are resulting in a dying art of illustration...and that makes me sad.

Which season fits your main character the most? Why?

Autumn.  Alex is bold and strong and evolving.  She's autumn leaves.  She's brisk fall wind.  She's warm patches of grass on those October days that echo summer.   

How long does it take you to write a first draft?

4-5 months if I really bear down.  But I'm on a six month schedule for my next three books (one due every 6 months), and it's a challenge.  I don't like being on deadline.  

What made you want to write YA?

When I was 13, I was already reading historical romances.  And they were always about older men and older women and, while I LOVED them, I always wished there was something that would resonate as written for me.  So...the YA historical romance was born.

What do you do to keep writing?

You can't stop.  It's like working out.  If you fall out of habit...you're never going to want to get off the couch and go for a run.  Writing is like that.  You just keep writing, every day.  It helps to have a husband who walks into a room and turns off The West Wing. And a deadline for your next book. That helps, too.

Is there anything you can tell us about your next book?

It's an adult Regency-set romance...the heroine is a 27-year-old spinster who has spent her whole life dreaming of adventure and romance...and finally decides to take matters into her own hands.  She makes a list of the 9 things she would do if she didn't have to face society...or the consequences.  And then she does them.  Oh, and there's a dreamy rake in there, too. 

 
Thanks again, Sarah!

Thanks for being here with us, Erin!
Tell us about your newest novel,  Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies.

MODELS is about an overweight eighth grade girl named Celeste, whose aunt enters her into the Miss HuskyPeach pageant. Deciding that the humiliation of being a "chubby teen queen" is too much to bear, Celeste decides to try and lose weight--and shrink out of the competition! While that's going on, she also must deal with the school bully, losing her best friend, and wearing the Peach Monstrosity bridesmaid dress in her cousin's wedding.

What is your main character's theme song?

Her theme song would be "Dreaming Without You," by her favorite singer/songwriter, Theo Christmas. My friend Dann Russo (www.dannrusso.com) actually wrote and recorded two songs that Celeste listens to throughout the book--and you can download them from my website! (www.erindionne.com/models_home.html)

What musical instrument is your character most like?

This is a tough one. I guess she's the most like an oboe: quiet and unassuming unless you *really* pay attention--then it sounds strong and beautiful.

Who would you cast for your main characters, if Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies was made into a movie?
It'd be amazing to see these characters brought to life!! I guess if it were released tomorrow, I'd like to see Dakota Fanning as Lively Carson (it'd be fun to see her play a mean girl), Abigail Breslin as Celeste (because I think she'd be so funny!), Joe Jonas as Theo Christmas (shhh! Don't tell my friend Dann!), and for Violet Page I'd like to see someone who is an actual plus-sized model, like Natalie Laughlin, not some skinny actress who puts on 7 pounds for the role.

Pirates or ninjas?
Pirates, definitely. Hook hands and peg legs, all the way!

If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover you already have? Why or why not?
I think my cover is awesome! It's my favorite color, and the cookies just jump off it. And I’m not nearly talented enough to come up with something better!

Which season fits your main character the most? Why?

Spring, because it's such a season of change. You go from frozen, barren ground to a bounty of flowers and beauty.

How long does it take you to write a first draft?

Drafting is the hardest thing for me. MODELS was an easy draft--it took me 6 weeks, total--but every other book I've written has been like pulling teeth. Getting that draft out is terrible. I'd much, much rather edit and revise!

What made you want to write YA?

It's just the voice that speaks to me the most. I feel like those are the stories I want to tell, and CAN tell the most effectively. For some reason, writing about "adults" dong "adult things" just doesn't appeal to me.

What do you do to keep writing?

I have to keep writing! It's hard with my job and schedule, but writing keeps me sane. I try to have something--novel, short story, etc--going at all times.

Is there anything you can tell us about your next book?

THE TOTAL TRAGEDY OF A GIRL NAMED HAMLET is about Hamlet Kennedy, whose parents are Shakespeare scholars and who are REALLY into their jobs. Like, live and breathe the Bard. They make Hamlet's life a little bit difficult. It's also about family, the relationship between sisters, Renaissance Fairs, and geniuses. It comes out in spring 2010.

Thanks for these great questions!!
 
Check out Erin Dionne's Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies in the young adult section of your local bookstore.

NEXT WEEK:

An interview with Sarah MacLean, the author of The Season!

 

Hey, Carrie! Thanks for joining us.
Tell us about your newest YA novel, The Forest of Hands and Teeth.

 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth is about a young girl growing up in an isolated village generations after the apocalypse.  The village is surrounded by a forest full of Unconsecrated (zombie-like creatures) and is run by a strict religious order.  The main character, Mary, believes that there’s life outside the forest and has to decide how far she’s willing to push against the rules of her village to find out. 

 

What is your main character's theme song?

 

For some reason, even though I don’t really think Mary has a theme song (that I know of yet), I can’t get “I Will Survive” out of my head when I think about this question!  There’s no way Mary would know this song at all, but I do think that’s one of her mottos.

 

What musical instrument is your character most like?

 

I asked a friend what she thought my main character was most like and she suggested the cello: low and mournful.  I think that fits though I also think there’s more too her than that!

 

Who would you cast for your main characters, if The Forest of Hands and Teeth was made into a movie?

 

I have no idea!  That sounds lame, especially since I know so many authors who know exactly who they’d cast!  But I don’t really ever see my characters in my head (often that’s one of the refrains in my edit letters, to describe the characters more).  So I’m never sure *exactly* what they look like.  Which is funny because I think they really captured Mary so well on the cover -- I’m not sure I could have chosen someone so perfect!

 

Pirates or ninjas?

 

Totally totally pirates.  I’m a big fan of the ninja, but pirates will always have my heart!

 

If you could design your own cover, would it be different than the cover you already have? Why or why not?

 

I don’t think it would be any different.  The cover I have isn’t at all what I expected -- I had no idea how they’d represent the book.  But I totally love it!

 

Which season fits your main character the most? Why?

 

I think there are facets of every season in my character so it’s hard to pick just one.  The events in the book span the course of a year so when I think about her and think about the book it’s hard to figure out what suits her best!  Especially since the book is about life and death -- I think she’d be fascinated with the entire cycle of plants dying in the fall and then being reborn in the spring.

 

How long does it take you to write a first draft?

 

It usually takes me about three months to write a first draft.  I write straight through without editing and with no idea what happens next so I also tend to have to spend a good amount of time cleaning it up!

 

What made you want to write YA?

 

I’ve just always loved to read YA!  Especially recently there seems to be an explosion of really awesome YA books.  But I also love how all YA books are shelved in the same place so you can have a SFF book that’s also a romance that’s also a mystery; you don’t have to write a book to fit the “rules” of one genre or another.

 

What do you do to keep writing?

 

I don’t allow myself to NOT write.  I don’t make it an option.  Sure, on the day to day level there are some times that I’m just not able to write because of time or because the words aren’t there.  But overall writing is a dream to me and even though it can get hard, I remind myself how much I love it!

 

Is there anything you can tell us about your next book?

 

My next book is called The Dead-Tossed Waves and is coming out spring 2010.  It’s a sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but not directly -- it has a different POV character and is set about a generation after the end of the first book.

 

Thanks for hosting me Arya!!

Check out Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth in the young adult section of your local bookstore on March 10, 2009.

NEXT WEEK:

An interview with Erin Dionne, the author of Models Don't Eat Chocolate Cookies!