Dorm Room Dreamer

Pitch Live!

2012-10-10T15:36:00.000-04:00

Title: IT'S COOP NOT CUPID
Genre: YA Myth Retelling
Word Count: 60,000

The Next Big Blog Hop

2012-10-10T12:03:00.002-04:00

Hey all!

The very cool Crystal Collier has tagged me next in The Next Big Blog Hop. Apparently I'm adored in the virtual realm! *score!*

Sorry, I'm a little late in posting. I was drowning in critiques! Plus it took me awhile to find people that look like my characters :)

What is the working title of your book?

So whenever I start a book I have a very bad tendency of just calling the book by the name of a character. So far I call this one Jake after our sexy love interest.

But I've been toying with the title BLINDED

Where did the idea come from for the book?

Honestly, this is a book I started in high school. And it just sort of came to me. I think at the lunch table? We had a whole lot of the stereotypical groups and I dunno. I really wanted to write about a rocker girl who could sing.

What genre does your book fall under?

YA Contemporary Romance

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

Honestly, for Adri I just couldn't decide so it's between Naomi Scott who was in Terranova or Danielle Campbell who I've read was discovered in a Chicago hair salon. She does have nice hair lol.

Danielle Campbell as Adri--still I wonder if she may be too young

Naomi Scott as Adrienne AKA Adri

Xavier Samuel can totally rock the leather jacket and, well, that's Jake's forte. He also looks good in shades and considering Jake wears shades ALL the time. It'll work :)

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Mine is SO not there yet so here's one I came up with on the fly like year. Granted the wording about Adri may be a little strong but ehh, it's rough for now :)

Seventeen-year-old Adri is a selfish slut and she knows it. Guys flock to her, they always have. Except when she meets Jake. Even having her cleavage right under his nose doesn’t pique his interest. Thing is, Jake is blind. He also happens to be one of the most infuriating and sarcastic men Adri has ever met. She sets out to prove that she can “get” Jake, except she never thought she’d actually fall in love with the jerk or care about his rock star dreams. But when these dreams may become a reality Adri makes her first unselfish decision ever. She’s pregnant and Jake will never know.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Agency.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Um...yeah still working on it. Hoping to have it done by the end of this year. (Considering I'm balancing school and three internships I don't feel too bad about it) I started this in high school but decided to stop and writer 2 and a half books in between it so not too bad.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

It probably runs in the same vein as the TV show, Life Unexpected.

In terms of books think Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

Honestly, in high school you come to know people that embody some of these characteristics. Haven't you always wondered what the girls without inhibitions felt?

What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

Adri isn't your usual girl. She's not going to be that shy girl who turns into a swan at the end of the book. She's going to be real. Confident and secretly scared out of her wits. She's got her own issues and Jake, well, he's got some secrets and a good heart. This is going to be a romance unlike any other. It'll also have crossover appeal considering it's definitely for older teens. And yeah, it'll probably be a banned book.

Alright, that's all from me. So now I must tag 5 people!

Larissa Hardesty

Alright boys & girls. So what are your projects about?

Cheers,

~Liz

Book Trailer for Obsidian!

2012-07-30T10:45:00.001-04:00

You all have seen my love for Obsidian grow.

My lil fangirl screams. (Well, maybe you hadn't heard those)

But you so saw the pictures from when I met the models and Jen Armentrout herself (so nice!).

And now, the book trailer for the book that has become one of my top favs for 2012:

Blogger Awards!

2012-07-11T11:00:00.002-04:00

The super awesome Kelly Hashaway has given me TWO blog awards! YAYYYY :)

I must tell you seven things about myself:

1. I broke my nose once. On a cruise ship, the same night I had to wear a cocktail dress to a dinner party.

2. I'm one of four children.

3. I love eating fish and I used to love keeping them. Yup, I bred guppies as a kid.

4. I've written 3 novel (2 YA and 1 MG).

5. I've been an artist since 2nd grade.

6. I'm lactose intolerant *tears* milk=goodness

7. I'm a first generation Cuban to be born in the US and third generation to go to college.

And now I must return the favor to seven other blogs:

LM Preston I always enjoy your movie reviews :)

Sarah Negovetich, you've been awesome at posting every day as of late--keep it up! :)

Tara Gallina So I just realized I thought your last name was Gallini...yup. ;) On a side note--you've got ridiculous drafting skills!

Laura Donovan B/c I stumbled upon your blog and was entertained for hours about NYC, your interesting living situation (yes, I read the post about your terrible lock in Brooklyn) and you turned out to be pretty cool! :D

Yeah, I'm gunna do a cop out because my Writerly Rejects pals Nazarea Andrews and Auzy Osborne devote their awesome skills and time to our blog I thought it was only right to give the award to them too!

Ednah Walters because I love your redheaded mermaid looking person on your header and because you're post on writing 100k in a month inspired me to jump start and get my latest novel done quickly!

G. Donald Cribbs--because you hosted such an awesome contest! (And I WON!!) lol

Also winners for our Writerly Rejects Blog Contest will be announced Friday! :) Oh and check out our interview with the agent, Claire Anderson-Wheeler.

Cheers,

~Liz

Announcements! Guess Where I Was!?

2012-06-14T19:58:00.001-04:00

So two announcements. AHHHH!!!!

1) I don't want you guys to think I've gone on a blogging hiatus, but two writer friends and I have started Writerly Rejects a publishing blog with oh-so-many goodies. Like swag, agent contests, interviews and book reviews. So do stop on by!

2) I met the totally funny and charismatic Jennifer L. Armentrout, author of Obsidian. Ya know the book I've been RAVING about? Oh and the uber awesome Hungarian cover models, Pepe & Sztella. They were on a Daemon Invasion Book Tour throughout Georgia and Florida!

And I got SWAG!!! :D

An ARC of Onyx. Book 2 in the Lux series which doesn't come out until August 2012!!

Of course, she and the models Pepe and Sztella signed it!

Oh yes, I've got the goods ladies and 'gents.

Daemon Invasion Is Coming to Florida!

2012-05-07T09:08:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited about several upcoming events with Jennifer L. Armentrout--the author of Obsidian. Those of you who read my review know that I LOVED her book. Below--you can get the deets!

Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve heard us talking about the upcoming #daemoninvasion and we’re so excited to finally share with you what is going on.

Really excited.

The beautiful and uber cool models, Pepe Toth and Sztella Tziotziosz, who grace the Lux covers, will be joining us in the United States! You heard right. They are flying here, from Hungary to spend a few days as Daemon and Katy! While they are here, they will be working with Vania, from VLC Productions (the team behind Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments, Melissa de La Cruz, Kimberly Derting, Moira Young, Kami Garcia and Margret Stohl, Hillary Duff, Lauren Destefano, and many, many more authors’ book trailers), to film book trailers for the Lux Series.

During the filming in Atlanta, they will be accompanying us on tour! What does that mean? You get to meet them. In the flesh. They will be participating in the signings and events. At those signings, we’ll be giving away signed posters, photos, and other swag. There will also be meet and greet events you can join in on.

At each signing, there will be advanced copies of Onyx given away!

And to top things off (as if this isn’t enough, but we don’t do anything small), there’s something very, very exciting in the works! It involves advanced copies of Opal, water, and a little destination known as the Bahamas.

I am not kidding.

This will be epic.

Aare you excited? I am! This tour is going to be so, so much fun, and I’m so thrilled that Pepe and Sztella are a part of it. We owe them a huge thank you and a giant welcome making the 16 hour flight to meet the readers of the Lux Series. You!

Daemon Invasion Signing and Event Schedule

June 8th
FoxTale Book Shoppe
Woodstock, GA
3:00pm

June 10th
Barnes and Noble
St Johns Town Center
Jacksonville, FL
3:00pm

June 13th
Barnes and Noble
Waterford Lakes Town Center
Orlando, FL
3:00pm

June 14th
Barnes and Noble
The Palladium at City Place
West Palm Beach, FL
4:00pm
There are several #daemoninvasion street teamers out there and if you want to join a team to win exclusive prizes, search down the #daemoninvasion hashtag to join one of the teams!

Don’t forget to visit Jennifer L. Armentrout’s blog to win a signed set of Half-Blood and Pure (insert direct link: http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/2012/04/tempting-best-man-and-contest.html in celebration of her adult romance release, Tempting the Best Man, under pen name J. Lynn. It can be purchased here (insert direct link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tempting-the-best-man-j-lynn/1110370701?ean=2940014566698 )

The Oh-So-Wonderul WIP & Some People Research

2012-05-05T12:09:00.003-04:00

I've been gone as of late. Yeah, school and all, BUT I was productive while I was away! :)

I figured I'd add this picture for two reasons. 1) I've just learned about the magic of Instagram 2) My outfit has a Greek theme, which works perfectly with my latest WIP.

My latest work-in-progress has hit the 40k mark. Goal is about 50k and I hope to finish it this May. Oh and there's an Oh-so-secret bloggy contest coming up...I won't say anything more, but start editing those loglines...

My latest WIP is a modern retelling of one of the Greek myths, except ya know I take the ONE happy myth in Greek mythology and butcher it. That's the fun in writing, we can do whatever we'd like as long as we have the gull to back it up and make sure it makes sense. I've also done something entirely new, (yes, I'm going to toot my own horn) I've written from the male POV. All those nights listening to college guys interacting and yelling at the T.V. totally came in handy.

Also, as you may have noticed in my last post--I made it into the Writer's Voice contest--*fingers crossed* that I get chosen!

So I ask--where is everyone at today with their writing?

Happy Writing lovelies,

~Liz

The Writer Voice Contest Entry #143

2012-05-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

The Writer’s Voice” is a multi-blog, multi-agent contest hosted by Cupid of Cupid’s Literary Connection, Brenda Drake of Brenda Drake Writes, Monica B.W. of Love YA, and Krista Van Dolzer of Mother. Write. (Repeat.). They've based it on NBC’s singing reality show The Voice, so the four of them will serve as coaches and select projects for their teams based on the entered queries and first pages.

Summary for WITCH COUNTRY

Genre: MG Fantasy

Word Count: 35k

14-year-old Lucas is going to betray his best friend.

After spending four years trying to find the mother his father sent away, Lucas will do anything to get her back. Living as Exiles has taken its toll on Lucas, his insanely competitive sister, and maniacal father. Sure, no longer having to steal for a bite to eat is tempting. So is finally having indoor plumbing and that awesome invention called a T.V., but it’ll all come at a price. Crystal, Lucas’s best friend and crush, is the Witch Queen’s niece and the perfect way to gain access to the Queen’s scepter, which has the power to free Lucas’s Exiled people. Of course, that doesn’t matter to him, but it does to his father who hungers for the dark magic to finally take down the Witches.

Lucas’s father gives him a choice: betray his best friend in exchange for his mother’s whereabouts or give up all hope of seeing the mother that sacrificed everything for him.

First 250 Words:

I broke into a Witch restaurant, sliding a pocketknife into the lock and wiggling until it clicked. My mouth watered just thinking about the basilisk pepperoni pizza that was always left in the fridge. Before stepping inside I glanced around the alleyway and listened. It seemed clear so I stepped through, closing the door behind me. I didn’t flick on the lights. Darkness had never made seeing difficult for me, plus as an Exile electricity wasn’t exactly high on my priority list. Although I had to hand it to those elemental witches, pizza was a divine invention.

Hopping behind the counter, toward the back of the store there was a little room off to the left and away from the stove and grill area. In there was a fridge and microwave. God, I needed to convince the others to steal some of these. Then I realized we would need electricity, something we lacked. The scent of rotting food clogged my nostrils. I pressed my t-shirt to my nose. If, like witches, I could move water with just a wand I wouldn’t have left dirty dishes around. I clenched my fists. Lazy and self-entitled, that’s what witches were. I grabbed a couple slices of pizza from the fridge and tossed them into the microwave. I laughed. My father would kill me if he ever found out where I was. Never trust the witches, Lucas, he’d say. It was stupid. It was his own fault the witches forced them—us—into Exile.

Cover Reveal for Clockwise

2012-03-20T12:37:00.000-04:00

Hello lovelies!

Elle Strauss, a fellow YaLitChat.org member, has recently had a change in her book cover she was dying to show off. So I happily obliged. The book has been released in print as well as ebook format. You can find it here. The old cover is below, while the new one is below that one. The first has a whimsical feel, but the new one gives off the perfect cute and fun vibe, which mirrors the actual story. Not to mention it follows the YA trend of teens on the cover (or more accurately the upper body of a teen or a close-up shot of a face), which helps when determining a book's genre. It's the same logic when it comes to spotting an erotica novel. You know that similar half-naked theme they all follow. I've only just heard of this novel, a recent release, but based on what's been said and the plot I do believe I'll add it to my to-be-read list. :)

Previous Cover
Synopsis:

New Cover

Casey Donovan has issues: hair, height and uncontrollable trips to the 19th century! And now this --she’s accidentally taken Nate Mackenzie, the cutest boy in the school, back in time. Awkward.

Protocol pressures her to tell their 1860 hosts that he is her brother and when Casey finds she has a handsome, wealthy (and unwanted) suitor, something changes in Nate. Are those romantic sparks or is it just “brotherly” protectiveness?

When they return to the present, things go back to the way they were before: Casey parked on the bottom of the rung of the social ladder and Nate perched high on the very the top. Except this time her heart is broken. Plus, her best friend is mad, her parents are split up, and her younger brother gets escorted home by the police. The only thing that could make life worse is if, by some strange twist of fate, she took Nate back to the past again.

Which of course, she does.

What's Been Said:

"Readers who 'trip' back in time with Casey will wish they could stay longer in her strangely relatable place." - Kirkus Review

"I loved Clockwise! A great read, and I love your Casey/Cassandra. Congratulations."
- Wendy Orr, author of Nim's Island

Happy Reading Lovelies!

~Liz

Review of Wither by Lauren Destefano

2012-02-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

Goodreads Synopsis:

At age 16, Rhine Ellery has four years to live. Thanks to a botched effort to create a perfect race, all females live to age 20 and males live to age 25. On the cusp of her 17th birthday, Rhine attempts to flee, but what she finds is a society spiraling out of control.

(To Expand on the Goodreads synopsis)

Rhine is forced to marry a baron--one of two other girls kidnapped for this polygamous marriage. At first she wants to hate this man, but the closer she gets to him--the more she sees that there may be other forces at work. And she comes to know her sister wives and a certain servant in ways she never imagined.

My Take:

I loved the premise of this book. I also LOVE the cover. Anything to do with genetics and I'm very interested. Unfortunately, this book didn't deliver as promised. Some people love quiet novels like this. I for one--don't. Though this could be a matter of taste. I really really wanted to love this book, sadly, I merely liked it. It's not to say that the book is terrible, on the contrary I find the world that Destefano creates to be quite intriguing and different from the usual dystopian society. The problem was that Destefano only touched upon specific aspects of her world, but never truly explained them. I felt like a major plot point was left out at the end of the book--something I wanted more of. Also, the love interest is absent for a good portion of the book, to the point where I found myself wondering what the main character saw in him. It was as if he was out of her thoughts for most of the book. I actually stopped 3/4 into this book and read Obsidian then came back to finish Wither. Granted, the idea is ambitious and perhaps because much of the book is set on a restricted floor of a mansion we don't get as much of the outside world as we should. Still, I may pick up the second book just to see. I still really loved the concept.

My rating 3.6 stars

Cheers,

Elizabeth

Review of Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2012-02-18T16:56:00.005-05:00

Goodreads Synopsis:

Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring…. until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something…unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.

My Take:

Let me first say--to Jennifer--I've never met you, but you've wowed me and congratulations on this fabulous book! I absolutely loved this book. Here's why. A) As a writer and occasional blogger I can relate to the main character. Hell, I think anyone can. She's a teenage girl--a real one--not some supposed teenager with a 30-year-old's voice coming out of her. B) Daemon. Oh god, Daemon. C) Daemon again, but seriously if you're looking for a book filled with so much sexual tension and fun arguments (trust me, you'll feel the heat wafting off the pages) then this is for you. It carried the usual YA paranormal romance vibe, but I felt the sci-fi edge gave it a unique twist. D) You're gunna LOVE Daemon. Well, you're gunna hate him, but god, you're gunna love him. That's all I can say. Read it yourself and find out. I will add that Katy is a great character and not the usual woe is me, how is this guy gunna save me next kinda girl? She makes some sacrifices and that really made me like her. I won't say anymore.

This book has made me believe that if I just delve deep enough I'll find a book I can't put down. I NEED these books. Am I going to read the next one in the series? Oh sweet Jesus--YES!

My rating 4.9 stars

(Yeah, I'm finicky with my 5 star ratings)

******On a side note. This book was released by Entangled Publishing a brand new--barely a year old--venture. I must say, if this is any indication as to the kinds of books Entangled is releasing, I see a VERY bright future ahead for them. Thanks for the great read!

That's YAMore: Love & Then Some

2012-02-12T14:16:00.000-05:00

Oasis for YA is hosting a blogfest in honor of Valentine's Day. Basically, post your most swoon-worthy and romantic moments. I settled for funny, yet romantic from the guy's POV. This is from my latest WIP It's Coop Not Cupid.

Not to mention Writing With Hope is hosting one too! "Is it Getting Hot in Here?" Going to kill two birds with one stone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shit. Shit. Shit. Here came the tears. I could see them glossing over her eyes. They were silent when they fell. Alex leaned into me.

“I feel so damn pathetic.” Then the crying came. She tried hard to muffle them, poor girl.

Just seeing her there on my lap, sobbing like some kind of raccoon, I couldn’t help it. Something inside me twisted and I tugged on her chin. She looked up at me.

“You’re not pathetic, okay.”

Maybe it was the puppy-dog eyes or my lack of judgment, but I kissed her. I kissed her hard and full, pulling her closer to me.

Thing was...she kissed back.

The ride halted as we parted. There stood Sam, eying me with a look I could only interpret as hatred. I grinned. Gods, I couldn’t help it. That prick had it coming. I wrapped an arm around Alex as we stepped off. It was about time he proved himself. Did he like the girl or not?

“Coop,” Alex whispered. “What did we…?”

I smiled. “Don’t worry. Now, we’ll see how that Sam of yours really feels.”

“Wait, that was just a test?” She looked up, then slowly a smile spread onto her pink lips.

“You know,” she said. “That was my first kiss that was just fun and didn’t mean a darn thing. That was kind of awesome.”

I raised a brow. “What’d you expect? I’m the god of love, sweetheart.”

The Writer's Journey

2012-02-08T17:11:00.002-05:00

Hello Lovlies,

I've never really talked much about my querying process, but I was interviewed the other day on here by fellow writer, Beth Fred, which got me thinking. I've been striving toward my goal of getting an agent and published for quite some time on and off. At least since spring of 2009. Wow. Spring of 2009. Granted in between that time I've graduated high school, visited colleges, gone to college, and have managed to get about 4-5 internships under my belt. Now, I'm a second semester junior--probably a senior credit hour-wise by now.

But it is interesting to see where I've ended up since then. Was I really ready to get published at the age of seventeen? Probably not. Was I really ready for all the rejection I faced? At first no. Now, when one comes shooting into my inbox I think, "Pass me a Milano cookie and let's shoot off two more queries." Let's face it, this is a business of thick skin. Build it up and wear it proud. I've made plenty of mistakes--like thinking my work of YA genre fiction was literary HAH. My professors would laugh me out of the room if I EVER mentioned that. Even querying agents with a ridiculously LONG query. Luckily mine is about 3 paragraphs now. Short, sweet, and to the point. In fact, I think I'm a pretty darn good query writer. (Or so I think lol)

My point is we're all going to make mistakes along the way. We're all going to find our moment to shine. The writer's journey is all about finding your place in the literary world. I just have to say--the publishing industry as a whole has been awesome. Am I happy I discovered it? Yes--I don't have the words. To everyone on Twitter, YALitChat, and just about every writer's blog out there. We're here. We're listening to your words. And I for one hope for only the best for all of you.

For those who are always striving. Always pushing forward even after rejection. Don't worry. You'll make it as long as you never give up.

So I raise a glass of apple cider (not yet 21) to my fellow writers who through everything--the hardships and the struggles--are STILL here and still trying. Now, THAT's something to be proud of.

Let's make 2012 our YEAR!

Lotsa love guys,

Liz <3

Cat's Don't Dance's OUR TIME HAS COME says it better than I ever could.

Review of the Audiobook Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

2012-01-13T12:34:00.000-05:00

I feel like my last two reviews have not been the most, "OMG, I'm in love". So I decided to do an audiobook review! Now, a quick note. I'm going to be reviewing more than just the story, but also the narrator and the audio effect. Also, I know this isn't a YA or MG novel, but it is an exception.

GoodReads Synopsis:

Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

My Take:

I've listened to Sophie Kinsella's Can You Keep a Secret at least 3 times. I'm in college and have a long car ride whenever I go home. I LOVE audiobooks. So I will be reviewing plenty of these. The audiobook is read by Emily Gray, who I must say did a fabulous job. An annoying narrator can easily turn a reader off, one reason why I had to turn off the City of Bones. Sad, I know. Emily Gray's ability to go from deep to a high pitched squeak works wonders when it comes to believability. Meaning, I was able to distinguish between each character by voice, tone, and pitch. This ability really makes a listener feel like we're actually listening to different people speaking, which in my humble opinion is hard to do when you don't have a full cast audiobook. I found myself going, "I know that deep voice! That's Jack!" Or, ""Ah I know that voice. It could only be...Artemis."

Okay, I'm almost done singing the narrator's praises. Really, it worked because Emily Gray knew just when to chuckle, snort, or what kind of high pitched tone was needed for any comedic or oddball parts. This is a great read or listen. Sophie Kinsella keeps the reader on their toes. Just when you think the guy can't find out anything more embarrassing you're hearing about how she has no idea if she has a G-spot and where and with whom she lost her virginity. What I love about this is the fact that Emma is just a regular twenty-something-year-old trying to find her way in the world. She's got all those embarrassing secrets we girls tend to keep, but would never say out loud. Kinsella is bold. I mean who really writes about trying to find one's G-spot? Okay, I'm giggling as I write this.

You'll laugh. This is a total fun, light read, but the main character is totally relatable. A little pathetic at times, but come on, who doesn't have their moments?

My Rating:

4.1 out of 5

Review of Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

2012-01-13T11:50:00.000-05:00

A note. I'm trying really hard not to give any spoilers away, but I wanted to be a bit detailed on why I rated it what I rated it. You've been forewarned.

Synopsis From GoodReads:

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part,Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention

Then Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all: She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. But what Lissa never sees coming is her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling...

My Take:

I was originally drawn to the premise, since, right off the bat I realized it was a retelling of Lysistrata. I was excited, this had to get interesting. For those who don't know, Lysistrata is a Greek play where the women want to end a war so they refuse sex to their husbands etc. It piqued my curiosity more than The Duff, which I have yet to read, although I've been considering it. Lissa is the girlfriend of a football player. He's constantly forgetting about her because of a stupid and sometimes violent rivalry with the soccer team. Thing is, I was expecting more from this book, but I really didn't connect with the main character, nor the others. There was also a character--an old friend of Lissa's--who ended on bad terms with her, but their issues felt like they resolved too quickly. Actually their issues felt non-existent when there should have been some sort of tension.

I feel bad saying this, but occasionally it felt like Lissa was a teenager with adult wants and tendencies. Like I was getting a little of the author and NOT Lissa. It would have been fine if they had been just a bit more believable. Leading into that, toward the end the novel got a tad preachy about respecting how one feels about sex, but it was to an extent that felt forced within the novel. Almost like, "And the lesson is..." I'm all for a lesson or having the character grow or learn something about themselves and others at the end, but here it just didn't ring true. That's all I will say on the matter.

Yes, I had a few qualms while reading it. The characters weren't as developed as I would have hoped but it was straight teen gossip. You had the fun cliche characters and the slut who was happy as she was. I genuinely liked her, though wished for a tad more development. It was a a fun, yet light read. Nothing overly emotional. Call it a beach read.

My Rating:

3.5/5

Review of Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

2012-01-03T12:07:00.007-05:00

Well, I figured I'd kick off the New Year with one of my resolutions: revamp the blog and include book reviews. Here is my very first review and I will follow a 1-5 scale rating. 1 being the worst and 5 being *sqee* utterly amazing OMG I'm in love. Simple, no?

Review of Ripple by Mandy Hubbard

Synopsis from Good Reads:

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. The water calls to her, draws her in, forces her to sing her deadly song to unsuspecting victims. If she succumbs, she kills. If she doesn't, the pain is unbearable. To keep herself and those she cares about safe, she shuts herself off, refusing to make friends or fall in love-again. Because the last time she fell in love with a boy, he ended up dead.

Then Lexi finds herself torn. Against her better judgement, she's opening up agian, falling in love with someone new when she knows she shouldn't. But when she's offered the chance to finally live a normal life, she learns that the price she must pay to be free or her curse is giving him up.

My Take:

Honestly, this is the first book I've read about a Siren. It's also one of the first that intrigued me enough to pick it up. An interesting tale on how a teenage Siren has murdered the boy she loved and two years later is paying for it through her self-inflicted outcast status. Mandy Hubbard's style reminds me so much of chic-lit, similar to Meg Cabot and Sophie Kinsella's styles. It's light, although this work is one of her darker novels. It still holds true to the teenage voice.

One issue with the novel was the fact that her love interest wasn't as fleshed out as I would have hoped, while some of Lexi's decisions just didn't ring true. The story was entertaining. I finished it in two days on a trip to Disney World, but will I remember this novel this time next year? Probably not. The characters just didn't make me fall in love with them, like I would for a great series like Tamora Pierce's The Lioness Quartet. Sometimes it felt as though the pacing was a little too fast and the reader could have done with a little slowing down to flesh out the other characters that had entered Lexi's life. I wanted more to matter and it just didn't. That is not to say that this isn't a fun and entertaining read. The fast pace does keep and hold one's attention, so there is no dying halfway through wondering where the plot has gone. Hubbard throws you in head first and hopes you can swim. All in all, not a bad read.

My rating:

3.75/5

The End of MG Revisions. Now, YA Time.

2011-12-17T20:05:00.006-05:00

Hello Lovelies!

So I originally had created this post right after finals in December, but somehow forgot to post it...I know bad me.

So I also have a wonderful announcement. I finished the extensive revisions on my latest project! What I mean by extensive is I switched a good 3/4 of the novel to 1st person! Yikes, is right. Took me awhile, but man this kid's voice really flowed. I should also add the male became more of the main character than the girl, who was the main character in the original version.

It really is super satisfying to finish a project. Now, onto my next one. My YA novel is already at 19k and I totally left off at a near death experience :) This past December has been my query agents time and I got some great comments from my beta readers so I'm feeling good.

Anyone else have project goals for the new year?

Cheers Lovelies!

P.S. The picture is one of my failed (instead it's just a fun, funky pic) assignment of a oyster martini glass...

Q & A With My Father, Rene Prats

2011-11-26T17:56:00.021-05:00

So I know most of you have followed my blog and enjoyed my posts, but I have a pretty impressive dad too. I figured today would be a nice way to get to know the President and CEO of Sir Pizza S. Florida LLC, Rene Prats.

Oh and if you're ever in south Florida be sure to give Sir Pizza a try.

What got you started in the restaurant business?

A: I needed a job at the age of fourteen to help support my family. I started as a busboy and it worked because you got tipped out nightly with cash.

What are you currently doing?

A: I'm currently the President and CEO of Sir Pizza S. Florida. We are growing a brand that's had its home in south Florida since 1968. It is truly a landmark that we are trying to expose to a wider audience in south Florida.

How many Sir Pizza restaurants do you plan on building?

A: Our hope is to reach 20 by the end of 2012 and 30 by the end of 2014.

I know that you've come to an agreement with the Miami Marlins. Can you tell us more about it?

A: Yes, it's a 10-year deal and we will have four concessions inside the brand new ballpark. Two on the main level, one on the club level and one on the vista level. We are now the official pizza of the Miami Marlins.

You've also struck up another deal with the University of Miami, correct?

A: Yes, we've signed a five-year agreement with the University of Miami to become the official pizza of all UM athletics.

What other ties do you have in the community?

A: We do the Winner's Circle program in Dade and Broward counties, which rewards students 18 and under that have a grade point average of a C or better. We believe that academics are very important to a person's growth along with athletics. We are also the official pizza of high school football in Dade and Broward counties. We also have a program called the Sir Pizza Cares program, which we help raise funds for various organizations in south Florida. We believe in being a good corporate citizen when it comes to our community and giving back as much as we can.

You owned over 30 Papa John's franchises in Dade and Palm Beach counties, did you not?

A: Yes, I did.

Then why Sir Pizza?

A: I sold Papa Johns and was fortunate enough to find a better pizza, in my opinion.

Wow, well, it is true that you've owned over 300 restaurants in your lifetime?

A: Yes, I've been blessed to have owned a lot of different kinds of restaurants in my lifetime and work with a lot of good people. I've owned hamburger, cheesesteak, bbq, Mexican, Cuban and Italian restaurants.

Well, that's quite a variety. I'm guessing that cheesesteak place was before I was born or I must have been an infant. Hah.

A: Yes, you were just a baby.

Who is your favorite child? (You know I had to ask--please remember who's blog this is)

A: I have four wonderful children and I love them all the same. With all their different personalities. I love them all. But you were the closest when you were a little girl. ;)

Hmph. I guess I'll take it.

Well, since they'll kill me for not mentioning them, what are your other kids up to?

A: My oldest Tiffany is 26 and is the women's golf coach at the University of Maryland and is the amateur golfer of the decade in Central Florida. She's also a graduate of the University of Miami. Your brother Kyle, as you well know, is on scholarship as an outfielder at Virginia Tech University and a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School. And your little brother Christopher, age 4, can hit a baseball as if he were 10. Quite the comedian too.

I know, he went around saying he was Justin Beiber, Spider Man then a jockey on Thanksgiving. You sure the kid's not gunna be a writer? Lol.

A: As for you my little girl, you are so talented and beautiful and so persistent as a writer and interviewer. I'm very proud of you and the work ethic that you have established. God bless all four of you always. Love Dad.

Apparently I have mad skills people. Thanks Dad. Love you too.

Now, cake or cookies?

A: Cuban cake. I love the frosting.

Till next time.

Elizabeth signing off.

Twitter, what's with the hype?

2011-11-20T11:09:00.003-05:00

So, this post is actually an assignment. Thing is, I’ve never been one to follow the rules, at least not entirely. I’m supposed to talk about Twitter, more so about how it works, what one can do with it and the technical aspects. Thing is, I’d rather talk about my own experience with Twitter. For those few out there who are still reluctant to give it a shot, let me give you my reason for trying Twitter out. Don’t worry, I was once one of those reluctant few. I mean what exactly could 140 character IMs do for one in the real world? Apparently, quite a lot.

I’ve noticed there seem to be two kinds of Ad/PR majors. Those that have just joined the ranks, have finally made it into the program and thought this might be a cool major. Boy are you in for a surprise. The latter are the veterans, the one who have Intern Pursuit and interviews wired and have already figured out the value of Twitter. Don’t worry this article will catch you up to speed.

Now, you might be wondering what made me give Twitter a chance?

Curiosity. Let’s face it. We keep hearing about Twitter being some marvelous social media tool. Would you be reading this if you didn’t wonder what all the hype was about?

I didn’t think so.

Open those eyes. At the risk of sounding cliché, sometimes you just have to open your eyes. Twitter allows users into a new world that their predecessors could never have accessed. What is this world you ask?

Whatever you want it to be.

Dare to dream. You want to be a big ad exec one day? Well, follow Disney’s Creative Director on Twitter, then stalk his blog, then find his LinkedIn. No this isn’t a tool for stalkers but instead a tool to network and learn and keep up-to-date with industries that are ever changing, whether it be advertising, film, trout migrations, or my personal favorite, the publishing industry.

Network baby. OK, so perhaps not everyone uses Twitter to stalk the person with his or her dream job. In fact, most consider it a valuable networking tool. Think about it, Twitter grants access to the Creative Director at Disney or that editor at HarperCollins. Be active, comment and read what these professionals post. As a follower you could be privileged to information others normally wouldn’t have. Say that Creative Director was in quite a good mood and he knew plenty of students followed him. So instead of posting the new internship position available on the company website he gives a shout-out to his followers. BAM—you may have gotten an internship opportunity all from spending some time online. Fun ain’t it?

Don’t believe me? Here’s someone it worked for. Nicole Zoltack answered a Twitter call by a publisher looking for linked short stories. According to Zoltack, “It’s how I got contracted for my ‘What You See Is What You Get’ series”.

“It’s definitely a community,” said Larissa Hardesty, an avid writer and Twitter user. “I love it.”

Twitter is versatile. You can use it to network, to imagine what that dream you’ve been chasing after your whole life looks like or maybe just to open your eyes to something you never thought existed.

All I’m saying is--believe the hype.

Liz

Pursuit of an Internship

2011-11-16T13:56:00.010-05:00

Intern Pursuit was a blast. It happened this past Halloween, but sadly school work and editing my latest manuscript has kept me a tad occupied.

This year Intern Pursuit was split into two parts. The morning portion catered to the journalism majors while the afternoon focused on Advertising/Public Relations majors. Seeing as how I love to write and magazines have always fascinated me I decided to try out the morning portion even though I'm an Ad/PR major. During this morning portion we actually sat down and interviewed with up to three potential magazines or newspapers, which was unusual since I was used to the Ad/PR portion where we basically run from table to table in a speed-date-gone-wrong fashion. Quite fun, I might add.

It's a great way to get that first internship or even one of the more intensive ones. The best thing about Intern Pursuit is the fact that there are companies that don't need you to have a lot of experience, which really offers some newbies a chance to get their feet wet. Not only that but the event also has more advanced internship positions for those who have a good idea as to what they wish to do with their lives.

I interviewed with Bonnier Corporation, The Orlando Weekly, and Orlando Home & Leisure. I have to say everyone was very courteous and quite nice, but I absolutely LOVED Orlando Home & Leisure. I think there's just something about two older gentleman who look kinda like rockstars. I felt wiser just sitting in their presence. (I really hope they don't read this). Needless to say, I got the internship with them! I swear as a writer if you can find someone who can banter with you like the best of them, you should do everything in your power to learn from said someone.

Till next time Lovlies,

Liz

The Manners & Woes Involved in Social Media

2011-11-07T13:40:00.004-05:00

My teacher has shown me an interesting article titled, “10 things your grandmother can teach you about social media”. The points are quite valid. Twitter is really just an extension of real-life social situations. Manners are important anywhere you go. Some people think that just because you are online your actions don’t count, but in this day and age what you say online is forever and it could impact you much more than some slip of the tongue at dinner that was never recorded.

It really is true what they say, “a simple thank you can go a long way”. Even in social media there have been moments where I’ve followed an assistant editor working at my dream job and he or she has had the decency to thank me for the follow and mention that they liked my blog or twitter handle. You’d be surprised just how touching a simple, human action can be.

Sure, the Internet is a wonderful invention as well as Facebook and Twitter. Just because we’re using a different medium to interact does not mean that the value of face-to-face or human interaction is lost. Social media has its positives, allowing people to connect with, say, a CEO of a corporation or NYT bestselling author who normally would be out of reach to them.

We just need to remember the rules our grandmother taught us; be courteous, be kind, and listen--don’t talk over someone, can easily be transferred and used in the realm of social media. Consider, the people that spam or annoy you. Constantly talking about either their breakfast that morning or like talking advertisements. The loss of that human quality is what we can’t afford to lose if we want to be successful in the social media realm. So if you’ve loved someone’s posts—go thank them.

Cheers ladies and gents,

Liz

Dressing like a Professional Intern

2011-11-02T13:35:00.012-04:00

Ah, the lovely moment when you look into your closet and have no idea what to wear.

This Halloween my university hosted its biannual Intern Pursuit. It’s like speed dating, but instead of finding that perfect date, you’re looking for that perfect internship. Now, for some students this may have been their first event and they have no clue what to wear, or maybe you’ve been but you never want to be caught dead in what you wore last time. (You know, those hideous pants grandma bought you that you pulled from the far end of your closet. You could have kicked yourself for not bringing to college that adorable pencil skirt and blouse your mother bought you. “I’ll never wear it,” was your excuse.)

Don’t worry we’ve all been there. Although, my mother chased me around the room with the outfit.

Oh and WRITER's don't think that this won't relate to you, especially if you plan on attending an agent pitch session!

What NOT to Wear

Cleavage isn’t cute in an office setting. Do you really want to give a 50-year-old guy a sneak peek?

Tank tops are for hanging with friends. Avoid in the office.

Washed-out jeans are never okay. If you’re allowed to be semi-casual always pull for the dark jeans. They are great for dressing up an outfit.

Men, lose the sneakers. Dress shoes only, folks.

Men, for most places you don’t need the tie, but dress shirt is required.

Men, if they say you need a tie here’s a tip: Once someone ties that sucker—keep it tied—that way you can just loop it right on in the morning.

Tip: To an interview always OVER dress, even if they say that the office setting is casual.

Wardrobe Essentials

You’d be surprised by what jewelry can do. Not enough color to go with that dark blouse and grey pants? Toss on a funky necklace. Learn to Accessorize! Cute purse, necklace, belt, earrings, even a colorful scarf can make you happy you got dressed that morning.

Collared shirt. This goes for both men and women. Although, women, try to find one that complements your hourglass shape. (But don’t confuse complement with skin-tight.)

Women a knee-length pencil skirt is a must.

Men and women buy a blazer. Shell out the cash on a quality one and you won’t have to buy again for a very long time.

Women there are blazer-like jackets that give the impression of a blazer but are of thinner material. Check out Charlotte Russe and Dots.

Pretty doesn’t always mean functional. Go for the smaller heels. Your feet will thank you.

Every girl needs that signature black dress.

Dress pants, not the kind that hug your butt, let them be loose but still hold your shape.

Here’s a tip: Avoid always choosing black or gray. Sometimes a splash of color can make an outfit. Also if you’re getting all black and gray it will be hard to match items. (You’d be surprised how a few washes can make a difference between to black articles of clothing.)

There are some key staples to every outfit. I got a few of them here, from the lovely Classy Career Girl. If you’re still not sure. Check out “The Go-Getter Girl’s Guide”. The self-help book has a great section on what to wear if you’re a female. Really, it embodies the dress-for-success motto.

Disclaimer: I own none of these images. I just pulled the off the web for examples.

Knee-deep In Revisions A Revelation

2011-10-11T18:40:00.006-04:00

Ah can you smell that?

The pungent scent of desperation, sweat, and is that a hint of blood?

Yup, it's that time. Revisions. Whoop-di-doo. I'm on page 25 out of 161. On top of several school assignments, a test, oh and now a speech, this may be my only night to get something done. Yay for getting sick! It means no class.

But on the bright side, I've FINALLY figured out how to get the ball rolling on this novel! It's been lounging about in the hard drive while I started a YA manuscript. Now, inspiration struck while talking to some YALitchatters. Vampires are out. This I know, and yet, I couldn't help myself. I know, what you're thinking why jump on the bandwagon? In my defense my vampire character existed before the vampire craze in another manuscript. Now, he will be reliquishing that title and becoming a soul sucker. :) Yeah. It's really quite cool. Oh and I'm pulling off a Great Gatsby sort of narration. My boy, Lucas, who has become the main character somehow (people seem to like him better), will narrate the novel during his parts in 1st person, but his crush shall be narrating most of the story in a 3rd person limited kind of way. It's different and either this'll rocks socks or become a jumbled mess. I'm hoping for the first option.

Wish me luck folks.

<3 Knee-deep in Revision

Liz

How Do I Get a Job Nowadays? Even an Internship for That Matter?

2011-10-02T10:57:00.009-04:00

Hello all!

I've had some great internship opportunities because I've had some wonderful people give me advice from the cover letter to the resume to the interview or even how to go about looking for one. I must say my major is quite intent on making sure we intern as much as we can, (AD/PR) while my other major, English, has no intention of getting one to intern unless it is the school's literary magazine.

There is one thing everyone should remember. The job prospects out there are shit. Sorry! I've heard it again and again. Seen it. The number one thing we can do to make ourselves more desirable to employers is gain experience. It's that simple, but has anyone noticed that most job postings (for entry-level positions, I might add) state one to two years experience or at least one year's experience. It's like how on earth can we have that experience if this is our first job? Well, an internship or a few could help us plenty in the long-run.

Here's a compilation of some great article's I've found helpful recently:

How to Find a Job With No Experience in a Recession

10 Steps to Improve Your Response Rate by Changing Your Resume for a Job

This one doesn't exactly fit into the realm of getting a job, but it tells you what companies will reimburse you for a masters, well at least some of the masters, which is much better than nothing :) On a side note, I've recently discovered the Classy Career Girl Blog. It rocks!

Internships Are a Sprint...Not a Marathon

Help Me Find a Career: 6 Tips For Finding a Job

Please do check out the rest of what these sites have to offer, especially Classy Career Girl and the Levo League. These were just a select few of articles I found helpful, they actually have a ton!

Hope this helps with your job and internship search needs!

Elizabeth <3

Putting Together a Book Trailer

2011-09-04T14:18:00.009-04:00

Hello Lovelies!

It has been quite some time since I've posted. Ironically, I've been blogging the last 10 weeks for a marketing research company. Technically, their new website is about to come up, but they have 9 of my posts ready and in the queue for when the blog finally launches. I'll be posting when the time comes!

Today though, I figured I'd talk about putting together a book trailer. As some of you know I've been helping out Stacey Darlington, author of Athena's Curse, with publicity efforts, and of course, her official book trailer. The beauty of a book trailer is the fact that there is either limited or no animation. Instead, it relies on the mood created by the music and images chosen for the piece.

Step 1. Decide the mood you wish to convey. Eerie? Adventurous? Romantic? Terrifying?

Step 2. Decide aesthetically how to convey this mood. For example, would cartoons work? Black and white illustrations with sparse colors, like what I used for Stacey? Or would photoshopped images and photos create a better impression and aide you with the mood you wish to convey? It's really a matter of preference. Also consider what is easier and readily available to you.

Step 3. Do you have a program that you can build this trailer on? Or know someone who does? Figure out what it is capable of before you jump in. Mac has iMovie, not too sure what Windows has.

Step 4. Create a storyboard. This can be as elaborate as a giant poster or as simple as a few thumbnail (miniature) sketches that contain the general idea you want on each slide/scene.

Step 5. This step goes hand-in-hand with Step 4. Consider the copy (words) to go along with each frame. Remember keep this short and minimal. You know those tag lines and elevator pitches we use whenever we go to a conference? Keep it to that length.

Step 6. Once that has been decided, get started on those pictures/drawings/illustrations or what have you.

Step 7. Choosing the music. This step can really be done at any point in the process. Some prefer to know what kind of music they are using beforehand so that they know what works as they created the images. Others, like myself, wait towards the end once we have the idea on paper. Remember to choose royalty free music or music you or a friend composes themselves. Here are a couple sites my tech-savvy cousin recommended I try:

http://incompetech.com/

http://freepd.com/

Step 8. The last step is putting it all together using a simple program. My advice: If you don't have a lot of knowledge keep things as simple and clean as possible. Simplicity can oftentimes have a greater impact than those trying to clutter a screen with extraneous details. Trust me. Keep it simple.

Below is the trailer for Athena's Curse. Hope you guys like it!