Amanda's Writings

Super Awesome Book Giveaway!

2014-10-02T11:59:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone! It has once again been quite some time since I posted. Unfortunately, consistency is not something I can see in my near future. Life has been crazy awesome and busy for me, and luckily I don't get stressed very easy, but keeping up a regular blog along with all the essays and work and social life that is college might be a bit to hard. So I'll just do it when I have time, which will hopefully be more often then it has been in past months.

Anyway.

I was perusing Tumblr and I came across this:

Isn't it AWESOME? Here is the link to the Rafflecopter! If you have time, just share this graphic all over the internet, and then link (in the Rafflecopter) to where you have shared it. It's super easy and the prize is pretty cool.

Good luck and thanks for reading!

A Few April 2014 Releases

2014-04-02T14:00:00.000-06:00

So like a lot of people, I like to look around and see what books are coming out soon, see if any catch my eye. As usual, there are TONS of fabulous-looking books being released in April. Here are a few that stood out to me:

1. House of Ivy & Sorrow by Natalie Whipple

The date for this one is April 15th. I haven't heard much about this one, and I haven't read anything else by the author, but the cover is beautiful! The Goodreads reviews aren't the best though, so I might wait a while to pick this one up.

2. The Looking Glass by Jessica Arnold

This is another April 15th release with a beautiful cover. I haven't heard much about this one either, but the premise on Goodreads is very intriguing.

3. Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

April 15th looks to be the big day for book releases this month! This book definitely sports another gorgeous cover, and the premise is extremely promising for this one. I can see myself getting a copy of this in the near future.

4. The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Aaaaaaand ANOTHER April 15th release! I'm a big fan of Julie Kagawa, but I must shamefully admit that I haven't read any in this particular series... With this one coming out soon, I might have to fix that.

5. Sea of Shadows by Kelley Armstrong

This one is not being released on the 15th, but rather the 8th of April! I've read and enjoyed quite a few Kelley Armstrong books, so I'm excited to see what this one has to offer!

Alrighty, so these five books are what caught my attention for April. What have you seen floating around? Would you read any of these?

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

2014-04-01T13:37:00.000-06:00

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Nine-year-old Oskar Schell is an inventor, amateur entomologist, Francophile, letter writer, pacifist, natural historian, percussionist, romantic, Great Explorer, jeweler, detective, vegan, and collector of butterflies. When his father is killed in the Septermber 11th attacks on the World Trade Center, Oskar sets out to solve the mystery of a key he discovers in his father's closet. It is a search which leads him into the lives of strangers, through the five boroughs of New York, into history, to the bombings of Dresden and Hiroshima, and on an inward journey which bings him ever closer to some kind of peace.

My Review: I read this book for a literature theory class, so I suppose I probably looked at it a bit different than someone just reading to read.

This book deals with family and loss, hurt, memory and memorials, something and nothing. It's the kind of book that leaves me feeling incredibly sad and yet incredibly comforted. It's a very complicated book, in every way from the subjects, the characters, the form, to the pictures. It's the kind of writing I find extremely clever.

This book reminded me quite a lot of two other books: The Book Thief and The Catcher in the Rye. The form and the images in the book reminded me of The Book Thief (one of my absolute favorites). I found it incredibly interesting that the form between the two was similar because of the similar nature of the subjects. The main character in this book, Oskar, reminded me of Holden Caulfield who I hated at first but then I absolutely loved.

I loved this book in a way that is a bit hard to describe. It's beautifully written and marvelously complex and clever. It's one of those books I would probably consider a favorite, but wouldn't count it as a loss if I didn't read it again.

If you are thinking about reading this book, I would suggest that you do it with an open mind. I would suggest that you think about the reason the form, the stories, the images are included. I think you'll find it a much more enjoyable read that way.

Goodreads ~ Author Website

Thanks for reading!

A Girl with a Book Problem

2014-03-31T19:30:00.000-06:00

Hello fellow readers!

I'm terribly sorry for the awfully long break in posts. Five months is kind of a long time. But it was a much needed break for me.

I started this blog because I love reading and I love talking about reading even more. For a little while though, it started to be a chore. When something you love starts dragging you down a little, it's not great. SO I took a break, gotten into a good flow of school and work and social life, and read a whole lot of books just for the heck of it.

And now I'm back! And it's exciting!

I have a review all typed up for an excellent book that I just finished reading, and that will be up tomorrow. In the mean time, I'm going to tell you a true story.

I started college last June! It was very exciting! I had the opportunity to go and grow and branch out and meet new people and learn new things! Woohoo! But I also had to fly all the way from Alaska and had to fit all of my stuff into one suitcase and a duffel bag. Now being a bookish sort of person, I own quite a lot of books. A ridiculous amount, really. So with the prospect of packing all my stuff looming over me, I decided to go through my books, find the ones I didn't like or wouldn't ever read again, and donate them to the local library.

I might have got rid of five.

That didn't really help with all the packing...

Somewhere in the back of my head I had totally accepted the fact that I would in no way shape or form be able to take the number of books with me that I had previously deemed good enough. (Just so we're clear, that would have been all of them). So I set to narrowing it down. Which books could I NOT live without? Which ones would be good enough to read a few more times over? I ended up with the following:

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
Seraphina by Rachel Hartman
The Archived by Victoria Schwab
The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater
and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card (which I bought in the airport to keep me company)

So I arrived at school with exactly six books. Life was grim.

BUT. I am a bookish person! I assume you are too, so you can probably imagine how my situation quickly changed. Hehe. It is now March, nearly the end of my Freshman year, and I now have in my possession 55 hard copies of some book or another, AND because my parents are the best I also procured a Nook and have since loaded it with 58 other books.

My roommates have all told me that I have a book problem.

I've assured them that I do.

So there's my story! I hope you enjoyed, and I hope you can relate! Check back tomorrow for a BRAND NEW REVIEW! The last one since August, I must shamefully admit. So be excited!

Thanks for reading!

Book Giveaway: Paper Valentines by Brenna Yovanoff

2013-10-19T17:04:00.001-06:00

Hey everyone! It's been a while! My family got Netflix and I started college soooo my time-managing skills went way down. Yep.

But I have something awesome!

It's a book!

And it's signed!

And.....

It's for YOU!

Well, one of you.

So if you want this pretty little book, all you have to do is post a comment on this post telling me why you're excited to get this book, and then fill out the Rafflecopter form. There are extra entries, so pay attention to those too!

You have nine days to enter to win this and spread the word, (starting now) so get going!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Far too long

2013-09-10T13:58:00.001-06:00

Hello dear readers! It has been far too long since I last posted, as usual, but I have not been idle! Nope! I've read tons of books and acquired a few signed copies that I will be giving away here on this blog. So tomorrow look for a book review, Friday be prepared for a rant/fangirl kind of post, and check beach Saturday for a chance to win a signed book!

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Risktaker by Kea Alwang

2013-08-05T19:59:00.003-06:00

*I received a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.*

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Digging for truth is a risky business, but living without it is pointless. Armed with an unlikely ally and a new philosophy on coping with bully drama, Chloe (aka Star) navigates life on Earth one day a time, (not so) patiently waiting for her alternate life to kick in on any given night. But when life on Jacondor grows dicey thanks to aggressive mentors, a troubled newbie, and worsening nightmares, Star, CK, and Leada can't leave fast enough for an assignment to planet Criterion, their utopia from years ago. Despite a huge welcome, it isn't long before the trio witnesses everything they thought they knew about trust, truth, and their Ethimarrow's sanity unravel before them. Struggling to gain ground against a mysterious, vicious cult that threatens Criterion's way of life, the team feels like little more than inept security. Are they simply off their game, or is twisted Professor Kroter breaking them from afar through old wounds and sinister new taunts? Do the heart-pounding and questionable decisions Star, CK, and Leada make come from the hearts of warriors or the fears of children? Normally, when Star's heart pounds, she tackles the cause with creative solutions, stun rays, or a good fight-none of which is useful for taming her pulse when an old friend causes unexpected emotions to hit her like a supernova on illegal steroids.

My Review:

What I loved:
-There was TONS of stuff going on! Never a dull moment!
-NO INSTALOVE! Thank you :)
-I got to know the characters a lot more. I fell in love with the characters in this book
-Great description that never bogged down the story
-It went from really funny to really intense and back again
-Really fast read!

I can't wait for book tree!

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Treehugger (book one)

Thanks for reading!

Amanda's Writings on YouTube!

2013-08-03T16:52:00.000-06:00

I'm on YouTube now! Come and check out my channel! It's mostly empty right now, but hopefully that will change soon!

This is not the reason why I have not been posting lately. The actual reason has much more to do with Doctor Who on Netflix, Sherlock on Netflix, and Merlin on Netflix. Also, college. But mostly Netflix. SO. Probably Monday I'll post a new review/video review (as mentioned in my video :)). AND I'm also giving away a book soon. A Brenna Yovanoff book. One that is signed. By Brenna Yovanoff. So come back next week!

Thanks for reading!

Treehugger - Free on Kindle

2013-07-14T21:02:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! A few months ago (around February) I posted a review of Treehugger by Kea Alwang. I loved it, and I gave it five stars, and I think you should all read it too.

SO. Luckily for all you bookworms out there, Treehugger is free for Amazon Kindle for three days only. Those days are July 14th (today), July 15th (tomorrow), and July 16th (the day after tomorrow). So if you have a Kindle, visit this link and download the free e-book. If you don't have a Kindle, but have a smart phone or computer, download the free Kindle app and then proceed to directly visit the previously posted link to download the free e-book.

Then, read it.

Also, you should read my review. :)

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: The Archived by Victoria Schwab

2013-06-24T22:03:00.000-06:00

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books. Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive. Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping the often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive. Being a keeper isn't just dangerous--it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

My Review: The Archived has been my favorite book this year so far. It has a GORGEOUS cover, it's beautifully written and brilliantly thought out, and everything about it pulled me in right away.

So here's what I loved:
-The main character. She was really super relateable, real despite the unreal circumstances, she was awesome without being too perfect.
-The sad parts (mostly backstory) didn't necessarily make the book sad, but they made the story more real. They made it beautiful and sad and real.
-No love-triangle! That's always SO refreshing.
-There were real emotions and problems and struggles along with the more supernatural issues and problems.
-The beautiful descriptions!
-Also, the Doctor Who references!!! (That's the main reason why I haven't blogged in forever. I recently discovered Doctor Who :))

There wasn't anything that I disliked about this book. I cannot wait for book two!

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Facebook

Thanks for reading!

New Way to Follow

2013-04-20T16:46:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! I finally caught up and added my blog to Networked Blogs! So if that is your preferred way of following the blogs you like to read, you can follow my blog that way too!

In other news, I have TONS of books to post for my next IMM post, I have a SUPERCUTE dress for prom tonight, I'm getting my cap and gown on Monday *squee!!!*, and I'm leaving for college in less than two months! Yay for summer school! I will definitely still be blogging, but probably only as consistent as I have been as of late. Which is to say, not very consistent.

Anyway, look for my massive IMM post tomorrow, and enjoy my previous post about November Cakes!

Thanks for reading!

November Cakes

2013-04-20T15:39:00.000-06:00

So a long time ago I read an awesome book called The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. A little while after that, she posted something concerning the made-up food in the book: It was no longer made-up:

(Maggie's Recipe for November Cakes from her blog!)

So one cold night in December (sorry, I missed November), a friend and I decided to finally crack down and make them! And we did!

They were delicious. :)

SO. Go read The Scorpio Races and then make November Cakes!

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

2013-04-10T23:38:00.000-06:00

*I received a copy of this book from Random House as part of the Ambuzzadors program.*

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): The Bluebeard fairy tale retold. . . . When seventeen-year-old Sophia Petheram’s beloved father dies, she receives an unexpected letter. An invitation—on fine ivory paper, in bold black handwriting—from the mysterious Monsieur Bernard de Cressac, her godfather. With no money and fewer options, Sophie accepts, leaving her humble childhood home for the astonishingly lavish Wyndriven Abbey, in the heart of Mississippi. Sophie has always longed for a comfortable life, and she finds herself both attracted to and shocked by the charm and easy manners of her overgenerous guardian. But as she begins to piece together the mystery of his past, it’s as if, thread by thread, a silken net is tightening around her. And as she gathers stories and catches whispers of his former wives—all with hair as red as her own—in the forgotten corners of the abbey, Sophie knows she’s trapped in the passion and danger of de Cressac’s intoxicating world.

My Review: I have a hard time finding fairytale retellings that I enjoy, but I'm excited to say that I did really enjoy this one. Snow White, Cinderella... there are tons of those, but this is the first Bluebeard retelling that I've come across, and so far it's my favorite! This book had a Gothic sort of feel to it, as well as the fairytale aspect and a historical aspect. That sounds very complex the way I'm explaining it, but it was done really well! The gothic feel definitely comes from the Abbey (which I loved!). It was the perfect setting for a novel like this. It was beautiful and curious and just a bit odd for being in the middle of Mississippi.

Sophie was a pretty awesome main character. She wasn't perfect through out the novel, but she was smart and quick on her feet. Monsieur Bernard... *shudder*

I love the way all the aspects of the Bluebeard fairytale were incorporated. They were pretty obviously there, but not so overdone that it wasn't a good story anymore. And it wasn't the only focus of the story, which was really awesome. There are other things going on in the story completely unrelated to the fairytale but very relevant to what's going on in the time period.

This book is an awesome pick for all you fairytale junkies, and it's a good one for fans of Gothic novels and historical fiction. And you don't have to like all of those things! I only like 2/3 generally, but I really enjoyed reading this book, and I'm super excited that I got to be on the Ambuzzadors' team for it.

Goodreads ~ Random Buzzers ~ Author Website

Thanks for reading!

Excerpt: When the Silence Ends

2013-03-26T20:55:00.000-06:00

Author’s note: Dee is an ordinary human surrounded by extraordinary people, including her brother Dum who is an empath, and their friend Jessica, a telepath and telekinetic. In a world where the lines are clearly drawn between what’s normal and what’s not, Dee will find that there is still lots of room for ordinary to grow into extraordinary. I hope you enjoy this excerpt that showcases the relationship between Dee, Dum, and Jessica…

~*~

Dee stalked over to her brother. For a long, silent moment, she stared into his familiar face as he bopped along to whatever music was blasting from his iPod. He did not even look at her. When had he become a stranger? She smacked him on the side of his head and remained unmoved when he raised his aggrieved gaze to her. “Are you saying that this place is okay for you?” she asked, raising her voice so that he could hear her through his ear pods.

He nodded.

“Are you sure about that? We’re moving here so that you can train with Danyael. I’d hate for you to feel inconvenienced about leaving the comfort and protection of the council for this dump.”

He frowned, his eyebrows drawing together, and turned away.

All right, so he understood sarcasm. How was she supposed to argue with a person who would not argue back, but who could hurt her just by walking away? Dee was still scowling and blinking back the tears from her eyes when Jessica returned with an armful of cleaning supplies. Dee ignored Jessica’s compassionate glance. “I thought Danyael said he worked all day. I didn’t think he would be around.”

“He isn’t.”

“You broke into his apartment?”

Jessica put the cleaning supplies on the grimy countertop in the kitchen. She tapped the side of her head. “I flipped the lock on his door. I did tell him, though.”

“Before or after you broke in?”

Jessica cocked her head to the side. “Why are you so uptight about stuff like that?”

“Because when I do it, I run the risk of being caught and labeled a criminal. You do it, and nobody cares.”

“Sure, they care. They just don’t notice.”

“And you don’t care?”

“Look, I got his permission. Who cares if I got it a microsecond before or after I flipped the lock? You need to chill out.” Jessica snatched up a spray bottle and a rag, and stomped off toward the bathroom.

With a sponge in hand and her teeth clenched, Dee scrubbed out the dirty brown spots on the kitchen counter. Jeez, I’m becoming my mother. Except that Mom had never been a nag. When she wasn’t sunk in depression, Mom had been cool, even though she had been a mutant. Dee cast a narrow-eyed glare at her brother, who was washing down the windows. Mom had not been an alpha mutant; she had not possessed the prerequisite weirdness that accompanied most alpha mutants.

I am not weird. Jessica’s irate voice snapped through her head.

Dee hurled the sponge into the sink and stalked into the bathroom. For a long and silent moment, she stared at the rag, apparently under the control of an invisible hand, as it scrubbed down the shower tiles. She looked back at Jessica who sat on the closed lid of the toilet bowl. “And that’s not weird?”

“No, it’s who I am, and I don’t like being called ‘weird.’”

“Fine, but that—” She pointed at the hardworking rag. “—is not normal.”

“What’s not normal is how gross the shower is. I’m not stepping in there to scrub it out.”

Dee’s passing glance at the shower became a hard look, and she chuckled. “Is that green thing in the corner alive?”

“Yes, and it’s really close to sentient thought. In a year, it might be able to talk.”

Unlike Dum.

Jessica’s gaze darted to Dum and then flashed back to Dee. She switched to a telepathic conversation. He can talk, you know. I asked Danyael. He said there wasn’t anything wrong with Dum physically.

I know. The problem is just in Dum’s head. What else did Danyael tell you about my brother?

Jessica shrugged. If you want to know, you can ask Danyael directly. It’s not like it’s a secret.

Who knew what other telepathic and empathic conversations were taking place around her? It sucked to be human in a world dominated by super-powered alpha mutants, and worse, she could do nothing about it.

Author Interview: Jade Kerrion (and an excperpt!)

2013-03-26T20:53:00.001-06:00

Hi everyone! Jade Kerrion is the author of When the Silence Ends. As part of her blog tour for her book, I get to share with you an interview with the author and an exceprt of her book!

Jade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars. And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time. She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)

Connect with Jade Kerrion: Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Enjoy!

1. Tell us a bit about your book.

On the one hand, When the Silence Ends is the story of an ordinary girl, Dee, facing ordinary challenges. She holds down two jobs to pay the rent, makes sure her twin brother gets to his speech therapy class, and wonders how to pay for college. Dee, however, is an ordinary girl in a world transformed by the Genetic Revolution—a world that is struggling to deal with the social and political repercussions of human derivatives: the clones, in vitros, and mutants. What chance does “ordinary” have in a world of “extraordinary” people?

2. How did you come up with the title?

Silence is a key theme in the novel. Dum, Dee’s twin brother, has not spoken ever since a shattering event destroyed their family when they were five. The novel is the story of Dum’s journey out of silence. A secondary theme is that of secrets. Danyael Sabre, the alpha empath who trains Dum, has secrets of his own, and as the story unfolds, the silence around an eighteen-year old secret comes to an end.

3. What inspired you to write this book?

Young Adult novels abound with extraordinary protagonists. I’m sure that in your travels through books, you’ve met the child of destiny who’s fated to end a war and unite two worlds. You’ve probably also met the quiet kid who doesn’t quite fit in, who discovers his amazing super powers and uses them to save the world. Of course, there’s the protagonist who stumbles upon a mysterious world that coexists alongside her reality, populated by sparkly vampires and handsome werewolves.

I’ve found two major themes running through most YA novels: the first, as I noted above, the extraordinary teenage protagonist, and second, the adults are frequently the enemy, ranging from indifferent parents to murderous despots. Neither of those observations particularly aligns with my observations of life.

So, when I set out to write a YA spin off my award-winning Double Helix series, featuring Dee and her twin brother, Dum, I wanted my readers to appreciate adults in more roles than that of the enemy. Some of them are, of course, but like the real world, there’s a vast spectrum of them; some adults even become Dee’s friends and mentors. More importantly though, I wanted my readers to appreciate the power of “ordinary.”

4. Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

I’d like my readers to realize that “extraordinary” is within all our grasps, and it has nothing to do with destiny, superpowers, or being loved by a vampire. Dee is the embodiment of ordinary, but she still manages to change her world for the better. If she can do it, there’s no reason at all the rest of us can’t.

5. Do you have a favorite line or scene from your latest release?

It’s hard to choose just one scene. I enjoy many of the scenes involving Jessica—the fifteen-year old alpha mutant, who, unlike Dee, isn’t ordinary, but is striving to find her own brand of normality, nonetheless. My favorite scene, however, is the very last scene at the concert when the silence ends. Several readers have reported tearing up at that scene.

6. Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?

I started at the age of thirteen when my school essays were returned to me with a bunch of “A”s scrawled over the top. Teenagers are impressionable. Being much more impressionable than most, and believing that my teachers knew what they were doing, I figured I was destined to be a writer. It’s only taken me tens of thousands of hours of work since then to be halfway decent at writing (and I’m still learning each day), but one has to start somewhere.

7. Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Neil Gaiman is pure genius in his storytelling ability.

8. Have you published anything else?

My award-winning Double Helix series includes three books, Perfection Unleashed, Perfect Betrayal, and Perfect Weapon. When the Silence Ends is set in the world of the Double Helix, and readers will find that many of their favorite characters play much larger roles in the main series. My YA science fiction novel, Earth Sim, was just released as well and is currently on tour. It is a compelling and whimsical view of Earth’s history through the eyes of the two students assigned to manage our planet.

9. What’s next for you? / What is your next project?

I’m currently working on a paranormal romance called City of Eternal Night. Once I finish that, I’ll start work on the fourth novel in the Double Helixseries. My plan is to release three novels in 2013.

10. Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

I just want to say thank you. Thank you for your support, your enthusiastic reviews, and your outraged e-mails over what I did to some of my characters. Thank you for loving them. Thank you for rereading my novels. Thank you for trusting me with your time. I do promise to honor that trust and keep delivering fantastic novels that keep you reading past your bedtime.

When the Silence Ends (Blurb)

What Amazon reviewers are saying: 5 stars! “Wow! When the Silence Ends is captivating! I laughed, I cried, but overall I could not put it down… Forget Harry Potter and Twilight. Every young adult should read this book!”

When you choose your friends, you also choose your enemies.

Seventeen-year old Dee wants nothing more than to help her twin brother, Dum, break free from the trauma in their childhood and speak again, but the only person who can help Dum is the alpha empath, Danyael Sabre, whom the U.S. government considers a terrorist and traitor.

The search for Danyael will lead Dee and Dum from the sheltered protection of the Mutant Affairs Council and into the violent, gang-controlled heart of Anacostia. Ensnared by Danyael’s complicated network of friends and enemies, Dee makes her stand in a political and social war that she is ill equipped to fight. What can one human, armed only with her wits and pepper spray, do against the super-powered mutants who dominate the Genetic Revolution?

America, nevertheless, is ripe for transformation. Exhausted by decades of belligerence between humans and their genetic derivatives—the clones, in vitros, and mutants—society is on the verge of falling apart or growing up. Dee, with her sassy attitude and smart mouth, is the unwitting pebble that starts the avalanche of change. In her quest to help her brother become normal, Dee will finally learn what it means to be extraordinary.

When the Silence Ends is the Young Adult spinoff in the award-winning Double Helixseries and can be read as a standalone novel.

Buy Links (e-books)

When the Silence Ends: Amazon / Amazon UK

Buy Links (paperbacks)

When the Silence Ends: Amazon / Amazon UK

For the excpert, go here!

Thanks for reading!

Guest Post: Author Heidi Garrett Plus a Giveaway!

2013-03-21T18:13:00.001-06:00

Why Do I Write Fantasy? or: You Never Know Who Might Show Up at Your Front Door

As long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with the truths that my physical senses cannot explain: the mystical things occurring on this planet. Writing fantastical stories is my testament to these other layers of reality.

There are many ways of looking at our world. Imagine sitting at home, perhaps in your living room. There’s a knock on the door. When you open it, a funny little woman is standing there. She is about half your height, and a plaid crimson kerchief—knotted under her hooked chin—covers her head. Her dress is sack-like over her square body. She’s wearing an apron that could use a good ironing and she’s carrying a battered brown suitcase that’s almost as big as she is.

“As long as you’re staring, a glass of water would be nice,” she says.

Despite her gruff manner, you sense something mysterious about this stranger, and to be honest, you’re dying to know more about her. When she crosses the threshold of your home, a strong wind slams the door behind her. You both jump. There hasn’t been a breeze all day. In fact, it’s sweltering and heat waves have been rising from the melting pavement for weeks.

When you offer it, she almost grabs the glass from your hand, and you can’t stop your staring—even though you know it’s rude—as she drinks in noisy gulps.

“What? You’ve never seen a spring faerie before?” she asks.

Before you can answer, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. “Guess not, there aren’t many of us left. And I haven’t been to the Mortal World, since…”

She stops. Her deeply etched face softens. Something like sorrow pools in her dark brown eyes. She waves her hand. “That’s not what I’m here to talk about.”

Your heart tugs. You want to pull her from that sad place. “What’s in your suitcase?”

She points to the table. “I’ll show you.”

The suitcase is filled with eyeglasses. There are so many. Some have square black frames, others have round wire frames; there are a few speckled frames with octagonal lenses. You spy a pair of purple ones.

She shoves a pair of thick black glasses into your hand. “Put these on. Tell me what you see.”

With the eyeglasses settled on the bridge of your nose, you can’t see anything but yourself. You blink. You can see your hands and feet, your legs and toes. But the spring faerie—if that’s really what she is—is just a blur. You pull them off. She trades them for a pair of wire rims. With these glasses you can see her and your home.

“What’s your name?” you ask.

“Flora.”

“Like flowers blooming.”

She nods and looks away with that whiff of sadness.

Again, there is something about her that pulls at your heart. You think of the miracle of spring after a long hard winter, and that she shouldn’t be sad—if she really is a spring faerie.

“But...you don’t have any wings,” you say.

She smoothes the wrinkles in her apron. “Not all faeries do.”

“But—”

She almost jerks the wire-rim spectacles from your nose. You reach for that purple pair. She doesn’t stop you. Now, you can see down the street; your eyes travel the highway. Your view elevates, as if you are a bird. Soon you see the entire city you live in. With each pair of glasses, you see the bigger world.

When Flora tucks the temple arms of a pair of red frames behind your ears, perspective zooms around you. It’s like the lens pulls you into outer space, and you can see the entire world and all the billions of people who live on Earth.

Your heart flutters in your chest; it’s a lot to take in.

“Now—” Flora hands you a pair of fuchsia glasses with tiny rhinestones embedded in the frames. “Try on these.”

When you put them on, you’re able to see beyond the physical entirety of the world into the things that you’ve always known exist, but since you can’t see, touch, smell, or hear them, sometimes you’ve doubted. But you’ll never doubt again, because now—with these special glasses—you can actually see the bonds of love that death can never sever, the strings of fate that wrap the brown paper package of all our lives with twine, the tide of time that alters us, even as we never change...

But most importantly, you’ve seen that you belong here, on this planet. And you know—without a shadow of a doubt—that everything fits. Including you.

“I don’t ever want to take these glasses off,” you say.

Flora is already cramming the rest of them back into her bag. “Then don’t.”

___________________

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie is a fairy tale fantasy series that bridges the Mortal and Enchanted worlds. The main character, Melia, is an eighteen-year-old half-faerie, half-mortal. She lives in Illialei, a country in the Enchanted World, with her two sisters and their mother. Melia’s father has been exiled to the Mortal World, and her best friend is a pixie. When the story opens in the first book, Melia is troubled by her dark moon visions, gossip she overhears about her parents at the local market, and the trauma of living among full-blooded faeries with wings—she doesn’t have any.

As the series unfolds, the historic and mystical forces that shape Melia’s life are revealed. Each step of her journey—to find the place where she belongs—alters her perceptions about herself, deepens her relationships with others, and enlarges her world view.

In The Dragon Carnivale, book 3 of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie, energies in the Enchanted World are shifting and new alliances are forming; the Battle of Dark and Light has begun. Melia is desperate to make things right with Ryder, the young priest from Idonne, but first she must warn the half-bloods in the Mortal World that Umbra is coming for them, and face the powerful Dragonwitch and her spectacular Dragon Carnivale.

The first two books in the series: Nandana’s Mark and The Flower of Isbelline are currently available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, and Smashwords. Nandana’s Mark is free!

The Dragon Carnivale is scheduled for a June 18, 2013, release.

Sign-up for Heidi Garrett’s new release email List and receive a lavender and gold Half-Faerie bracelet while supplies last…because you’re half faerie, too, right?

Author Bio

Heidi Garrett is the author of The Queen of the Realm of Faerie series. Her personal message to all her readers is:

Once upon a time, you lived in an enchanted world, too… There is magic in all our lives; sometimes we need to look through different eyes to see it.

The Queen of the Realm of Faerie includes many strong female characters within an intricate fantasy land. It is also a fairy tale fantasy. The first book, Nandana’s Mark, is one of those free ebooks; the second book, The Flower of Isbelline, is now available; and the third book, The Dragon Carnivale, will be released in June 2013. The series was inspired by the 15th century French fairy tale, Melusine.

Heidi's hope is that when you read her books, you will rediscover the enchantment in your own life. She currently resides in eastern Washington with her husband and their two cats. So far, she loves the snow. Being from the South, she finds it magical.

Learn more about Heidi and enjoy her stream-of-consciousness reading journal, Eating Magic, at: www.heidigwrites.blogspot.com. If you want to say hello, give her a shout out on Twitter at @heidigwrites or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/heidigwrites.

Book Links:

Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ Kobo ~ Smashwords

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teen Author Boot Camp Winner

2013-03-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

Hello readers! Thanks to all who participated in this giveaway! The winner is:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Go check your email!

I'm in Italy!

2013-03-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you know that I'll be in Italy for the next nine days, so I won't be posting, emailing, Tweeting, approving commetns, etc. I have one post scheduled about my current giveaway (go check it out, it's really cool!) but that's all until I get back.

So happy reading!

A Few March 2013 Releases

2013-03-07T18:36:00.002-07:00

There are TONS of exciting YA books coming out this month! Here's a sneak peak at just a few of them:

1. Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

LOOK at that cover! It's GORGEOUS! I would buy this book just for the cover! Also, I'm pretty excited about the actual book too. I can't wait to get a copy of this one! Check it out on Goodreads here.
Release Date: March 19th

2. Poison by Bridget Zinn

I love the cover for this one too, and the premise sounds amazing! I've seen quite a few good reviews already. I'm also very curious about the cute little pig behind the girl. Find out more about it on Goodreads here.
Release Date: March 12th

3. Strands of Bronze and Gold by Jane Nickerson

I have actually already read this one! I was chosen as an Ambuzzador (through Random Buzzers.com) and it's been a lot of fun spreading the word about this one. It was really good, and a unique retelling! Check my Facebook or Twitter page for more info about this one. You can also read about it on Goodreads here.
Release Date: March 12th

These are just three of the many fabulous YA books coming out this month. What do you think of them? Which books are you most excited for?

Thanks for reading!

The Teen Author Boot Camp

2013-03-04T23:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Today I'm posting about an AMAZING opportunity for all you teen writers (me included)! I'm super excited about this, and I hope you will be too! I've had the opportunity to attend a teen writer's conference, and I learned a whole lot and had tons of fun, so if you like writing this is something you should definitely look into. The best part? It's available online! And it's extremely inexpensive (some parts are even free). (Also, the wonderful people who organized this awesome Teen Author Boot Camp are giving away a free subscription to the live broadcast OR a $5 off coupon to the cost of an all-past). SO. Keep reading to learn more about this awesome experience and possibly win a subscription!

Are you teenager? Do you LOVE writing? I mean, almost as much as hanging with friends or eating tons of junk food? (which you should always do when you are young, because I’m telling you, once you turn thirty, it sticks to the hips).

The Teen Author Boot Camp could possibly be the most amazing writing conference ever. What makes it on beyond extraordinary is that it is a “no adults allowed,” “be as geeky as you wanna be,” “learn a whole stinking lot about writing in one day” conference geared exclusively to teenagers. Seriously, no one younger than thirteen or over the age of nineteen can make it through the doors.

Until now.For the first time ever, the founder of this conference, Writers Cubed, an amazing writing group based in Utah, is opening the conference to anyone who wants to attend. Of course, it won’t be the same as standing in the same room with New York Times Bestselling authors Shannon Hale or Kiersten White and drinking as much free soda as your stomach will allow before it explodes, but it comes in a darn close second. With classes ranging from ‘Plotting like a villain’ to “Writing Dialogue that Pops” to a screenplay class taught by the guy who actually designed the first iron man costume, there is something for everyone. Not truly convinced yet? What if I told you that attending online is less than five bucks? Seriously! I’m not kidding!

Interested in attending? Here are the Deets!

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013From: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST)Where: Worldwide via the InternetWho: Teens, teachers, librarians, book loversCost: $4.99 for the Live Broadcast; $9.99 for the All Pass

The keynote address by Shannon Hale will be free for anyone to watch. A subscription to the entire Live Broadcast costs $4.99 and includes the following: (Remember these are all Mountain Standard Times, so adjust to where you live.)

9 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.—Writers Cubed: Welcome

9:15 a.m. to 9:55 a.m.—Keynote by Newbery Award winner Shannon Hale (Princess Academy)

10 a.m to 10:45 a.m.—Tyler Whitesides (Janitors) Class: Imagine and Create.

10:55 a.m. to 11:40 a.m.—Janette Rallison (My Fair Godmother) Class: Bad dialogue can kill a story.

12:50 a.m. to 1:35 p.m.—NYT bestseller Kiersten White (Paranormalcy) Class: Plot Like a Villain.

1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.—J. Scott Savage (Farworld) Class: Finding Your Voice.

2:50 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.—Journey to Publication Panel: Agent Amy Jameson & authors Chad Morris, Tess Hilmo, J. Scott Savage, Cindy Bennett

3:35 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.—NYT bestseller Aprilynne Pike (Wings) Class: World-building is the invisible foundation to your book.

4:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.—Writers Cubed: Closing remarks.

If you just can’t get enough of TABC, there is also an All Pass Subscription to the rest of the conference (including more than fifteen awesome presentations, including mine--haha). That only costs $9.99 and, as if it wasn’t a sweet enough deal already, you can watch the whole conference whenever you want for an entire year.

To register to watch Shannon Hale’s Keynote for free, visit www.teenauthorbootcamp.com and click on Livestream. It only takes a minute. While you’re there, check out the other presenters who will be teaching at the conference under the tab “Drill Sergeants.”

Stay tuned for details on how to win a subscription to the TABC Live Broadcast for FREE on this blog.

Margie Jordan is a co-founder of Writers Cubed, a group of Utah writing activists who createdthe Teen Author Boot Camp in 2010. In her spare time, like when she isn’t writing, she is a Literacy specialist for her local school district. Please visit her website at www.writerscubed.com.

SO. If you'd like to attend via the Internet, here is a fantastic opportunity for you! All you have to do is click "Enter" on the Rafflecopter form below. One extra entry for spreading the word! Good luck to everyone! The form will run until March 13th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In My Mailbox (26) - Ambuzzador Edition

2013-02-24T22:43:00.002-07:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi over at TheStorySiren.com and inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It's a fun way for bloggers to show off what books they've received in the mail, from the library, from a bookstore or a friend, etc. in the past week. Find out more about In My Mailbox here, and if you'd like to participate, join the linky list here. If you participate in this meme or in a meme like it, feel free to comment with a link to your post!

So I've been lazy about posting because a few of these are from the week before last, including:

An ARC of Strands of Bronze and Gold

from the Random Buzzers'

Ambuzzador Program!

I know my "Currently Reading" thing somewhere over there ----> says that I'm reading this right now, but I actually finished it like the day I got it. Haha :). I'm super excited about being a part of this program! I got an extra ARC in the mail as part of my Ambuzzador's kit, so I will have to think of something creative to do with it.

Also, I got a bunch of code cards that are good for one free book when you use them to make a Random Buzzers account. I gave most of them to my library buddies, BUT I have one left! The first person to email me at amandaswritings@gmail.com can have it! So go email me!

(I made ^that^ purple so it would be more noticeable)

SO. In other IMM news, I visited the library a few times and picked up:

1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (which I sadly haven't read yet).

2. Dead to You by Lisa McMann (which I read and didn't really like, but I think that most people probably would like it).

I ALSO got myself a shiny copy, via BN.com, of:

1. Sever by Lauren DeStefano (which I hope is really good).

So that's all for this week's IMM! I'm happy with my books, and I hope all you lovely people got lots of good reads too! Feel free to comment with a link to your post, and thanks for reading!

Book Review: Forget Me Not by Allison Blanchard

2013-02-24T22:17:00.000-07:00

*I recieved a copy of this book from the author in return for an honest review.*

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Cole Dyami is a mysterious boy with a dangerous secret. Adeline Jasely is a typical teenage girl. Living in the seemingly normal small town of Great Falls Montana, Adeline is confronted with everyday teenage problems by a not so normal beautiful boy.

As Adeline and Cole’s worlds collide, the line between illusion and reality is blurred. According to a tribal legend, Adeline and Cole are no longer two friends, but two pieces in a complicated mystery.

Suddenly, Adeline finds herself in a world she never knew existed. Along side Cole, she attempts to unravel the mysteries of the small Chippewa tribe in order to not only find out who Cole Dyami truly is, but who she is as well.

As Cole and Adeline begin to uncover the secrets behind the legends of the Chippewa tribe, illusion slowly unravels into reality and friendship gradually melts into a mutual need of survival.

My Review: This was a cute story. :) It had it's ups and downs for me, but I enjoyed reading it. I'm gonna do one of my listy things for this review, so stay tuned:

What I loved:
1. The Native American aspect of the story. I loved the tribe and the legends and the reservation in the story. I haven't read a lot of books that have that sort of stuff in it. I don't know much about any of it, so I'm glad there were lots of details.
2. Cole's sister. :D She was definitely my favorite character in this whole book.
3. The fallin-in-love part. Yay for no insta-love!
4. The supernatural aspect of this book! It wasn't exactly unique, but it wasn't something that is overplayed. It was a bit refreshing.
5. I loved that Adeline was a strong character for most of the novel.

What I didn't love:
1. I wish the main characters would have had a bit more depth. It was a little hard to relate to them. I enjoyed reading about them, but I didn't feel particularly connected to them.
2. Adeline's relationship with her sister. It didn't seem very genuine. I think that relates back to my first point though. If the characters would have had a bit more depth then I think it would have been better.
3. There was one point in the novel where Adeline was rather mopey. I don't think it quite matched up with her being a strong character in every other instance.

Definately more pros than cons for this book! This book was very similar to Twilight (and I don't say that like it's a bad thing), so all you Twilight fans might like this one. I'm not sure if I would re-read this book, but I would definitely read book two! I would give this one three-and-a-half leaves, but I don't have an image with three-and-a-half leaves so my four leaves image will have to do. :)

Goodreads ~ Website ~ Twitter

Thanks for reading!

Chapter Sampler: The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge

2013-02-23T14:00:00.002-07:00

Here's the chapter sampler of The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge for Random Buzzer's Scribd. page. Enjoy!

The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge by RandomBuzzers

Thanks for reading!

Book Review: Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

2013-02-22T21:24:00.001-07:00

Synopsis (from Goodreads.com): Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

My Review: Paranormal, mystery, a town called Sorry-in-the-Vale with secrets, best-friend-inside-my-head... OMIGOSH! This book was pretty much perfect! AND it has a gorgeous cover! I could NOT put this one down, and I soooo didn't want to take it back to the library. Haha :)

This is the first book I've read from Sarah Rees Brennan, and it was amazing. The characters were vivid and funny and full of personality. I loved how different each character was, and how strongly each personality came through. I loved the gothic feel of the book, and the mystery, and the setting!

And the ending... OH. It's still killing me, and I finished it a few weeks ago! I can't wait for book two!!!

I highly recomend this book, especially to fans of Beautiful Creatures.

Goodreads ~ Author Website ~ Twitter

Thanks for reading!

Cover Reveal: The Dream Thieves

2013-02-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Book Two in The Raven Cycle

Release Date: September 17th

I am SOOOOOO excited!!! September is way to far away!!!

There isn't a blurb on Goodreads yet, so you and I will have to entertain ourselves with these other links instead:

The Raven Boys (book one)

Maggie's Website

Pre-Order: (Amazon) (Barnes and Noble)

My Review of The Raven Boys

Thanks for reading!