Lora Palmer

Blog Event: Promoting QUARTER LIFE CRISIS by Diana-Ashley Krach

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:17:00 PDT

Diana-Ashley Krach is a fellow AQC'er with a new chick lit book, QUARTER LIFE CRISIS, available in ebook on Smashwords in a variety of formats. To snag it for free, use coupon code GU44D. This offer expires May 12th.

About Quarter Life Crisis (from the Smashwords site):

Sam is incapable of having a girlfriend because of her trust issues, and prefers to be alone with the exception of her close circle of friends. Matti is always putting herself before others, especially when it comes to her boyfriends. Jayden is the independent one who doesn't play by any dating rules, yet she is always in a monogamous relationship. These girls don't fit the typical mold of the female stereotype, as babies and marriage were never on their radar. Though, when one of the girls, Jayden, actually gets married, a rift starts to develop between them. In order to mend the rift, they go on a camping trip. What starts as a simple camping trip, quickly turns into a journey of discovery and self-revelation, as each girl comes face-to-face with the woman they have become. They are quickly forced to realize that friends may be forever, but time will always change the friendships.

Sounds fantastic, right? It's getting great ratings already, and I will be checking it out. Diana has also expressed willingness to follow up with a guest post here, so check back with the events page for an update. I should note, especially since this mainly is a YA-related blog, that there is an adult content rating on the book, so it's basically for the over-17 crowd.

About Diana:

Born in Portland, Maine, Diana-Ashley began her literary career after moving to Baltimore, Maryland. She has since become a star in the realms of Poetry, Advertising, Short Fiction, and Fiction. Diana-Ashley now lives with her husband, and fellow writer, James Krach in South Florida.

Eye Candy Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 18:06:00 PDT

This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday Topic:

What images inspire/ represent your WIP or favorite book?

I love this topic! Ok, here are a few pics that represent my WIP:

A seaside community near cliffs, where my MC Leah grew up...

A beautiful moon orbiting a ringed planet, like Leah's homeworld...

An airship, pretty close to how I envision the one Leah travels in on her homeworld, though I imagine it having some outdoor area like a cruise ship.

And finally, in honor of INSURGENT coming out next month (because I can't wait to read it!), here is a lovely train in Chicago:

What pictures inspire/represent YOUR favorite book and/or WIP?

Blog Award!

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 12:08:00 PDT

Thank you to Dean C. Rich at The Write Time for the lovely Versatile Blogger Award! It's such an honor to receive and be able to pass along this award. Here it is:

So here are the rules for accepting this award:

1. Create a post for the Versatile Blogger Award.
2. In the same post, thank the blogger who gave you the award and put a link back to their blog.
3. Nominate 15 other people for this award and let them know.
4. Post seven random things about yourself.
5. Include these rules in your post.

OK, eere are seven random things about myself:

1. Summer is my favorite season.
2. If I could change three things about my appearance, it would be my height, my nose, and my eye color (to green).
3. My blog photo was taken last year in Punta Gorda, Florida.
4. Walking and swimming are my favorite forms of exercise.
5. I enjoy searching for writing contests to enter and/or share with others to enter.
6. I wish I were a faster, more prolific writer!
7. My Hogwarts house would probably be Hufflepuff. Can't wait to see what the sorting hat says when Pottermore opens!

The 15 awardees are:
1. Michael Abayoni
2. Colin Smith
3. Eve
4. Daisy Carter
5. Miss Cole
6. Liz Parker
7. Crystal Schubert
8. Elodie
9. Joseph Ramirez
10. Lauren
11. Sara Biren
12. Mandy
13. Bailey
14. Angelica R. Jackson
15. Tarah Dunn

The Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 05:42:00 PDT

Before we get to the post, I just wanted to advertise the two interviews I've posted this past week with fellow AQC'ers Mindy McGinnis and Matt Sinclair on a new anthology, Spring Fevers. Don't forget to check them out while you're here.

Yes, it's time for another YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday!

This Week's Topic:

A long-awaited kiss, a surprise ending, a character's sudden decision… these are the moments that make us smile, gasp, and LOVE a book for the rest of our lives.

This is a really difficult question, because there are so many of them. The moment in The Darkangel Trilogy when Aeriel and Irrylath finally get together. The moment when Aeriel confronts the White Witch. The amazingly brilliant first chapter of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE when Amy is frozen, and the jaw-dropping revelation in A MILLION SUNS. The moment in DIVERGENT when Beatrice chooses her faction. The later scene when Four shows Tris his fear landscape, and she realizes his real name.

What are your favorite literary moments, the ones that you still remember vividly long after you close the pages of the book? What moments speak to your heart?

Blog Tour: Interview with Matt Sinclair

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 15:30:00 PDT

As promised, here is the interview with Matt Sinclair, one of the co-creators of the new Spring Fevers anthology. I'm very excited to have him on the blog today to share more about this fabulous book, which is available for free at Smashwords. Definitely check it out!

From the extended description on Smashwords:

"An anthology of short stories, Spring Fevers is an exploration of relationships in their varied states: love -- requited and unrequited -- friendships discovered and lost, family in its many guises, and the myriad places in between. Created by Cat Woods and Matt Sinclair, Spring Fevers arose from their work with the Agent Query Connect online writing community, and while membership in the free site was not necessary for inclusion in the anthology, the ten writers whose stories appear are all members. Authors include MarcyKate Connolly, S.Q. Eries, Robb Grindstaff, J. Lea Lopez, Mindy McGinnis, R.S. Mellette, Yvonne Osborne, Matt Sinclair, A.M. Supinger, and Cat Woods. The debut publication of Elephant’s Bookshelf Press, Spring Fevers was edited by the team of Robb Grindstaff, Matt Sinclair, and Cat Woods, with cover design by Calista Taylor, and book design by R.C. Lewis. A new anthology is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2012. "

Isn't that cover gorgeous? Calista Taylor did such a beautiful job with that. Now, on to the interview:

1. So, what inspired all of you to get together to create this wonderful anthology?

It was an idea a few of us at Agent Query Connect bounced around, and Cat Woods and I ran with it. Getting our names out in front of readers is something both agented and unagented writers need to be doing as often as possible. I look at it as an example of having strength in numbers. In the current marketplace, there is so much noise that it’s hard to get noticed. We looked at an anthology as a way to partner with several writers to get a similar message out to our own followings. In that way, we can amplify each other. A person might be familiar with the work of Mindy McGinnis but discover J. Lea Lopez as a result of their being in the same anthology.

2. How did you select the theme of relationships, and how do each of the stories reflect that theme?

We knew from the outset that we were looking for relationship stories. Right away, we noticed a trend in bittersweet stories rather than romance. There’s certainly some romance in the anthology, but the stories truly take a broad look at relationships. Robb Grindstaff, who copy edited all the stories (aside from his own, which I copy edited) came up with the title Spring Fevers. I really liked it because it encapsulated so much of what we were seeing – the way spring weather, like new love, can change so quickly.

3. Give us a taste of the genres included.

We really think that everyone can find something they’ll like. You’ll find a few examples of young adult. In fact, we open with First Kiss, an engaging and slightly creepy YA story by Mindy McGinnis (better known among AQC folks as Big Black Cat or BBC). We also have some science fiction and fantasy, literary fiction, and humor. Robb Grindstaff’s story, Dreams, still makes me chuckle no matter how many times I’ve read it.

4. How did you select the stories for this anthology? Were there any specific criteria you had in mind for the Spring Fevers anthology?

We were looking for strong writing. I also wanted characters who stayed with you after you moved on to another story. I liked the idea of these stories and people popping up in your mind when you’re doing other things. I’ve already had the husband in Cat Woods’ touching tale Annabelle visit me a couple times.

For this first anthology, we only approached writers we knew who we felt confident could submit strong stories that were on topic and engaging. And even in the next one, the quality of the writing will drive what gets accepted.

5. What was the process of putting it all together like, and how long did the project take?

We had a deadline in mind and worked backwards from that to develop submission deadlines. It was a little tough at times because the winter holidays fell in the middle of it, but we knew that going in. All in all, it was about a six-month process.

6. I understand there will be another anthology coming out next fall. What will this one be about, and how do we submit something for consideration?

There will indeed! We’ve gotten started with some of the initial footwork. We’re planning to launch the second anthology in October. It’s going to be more of a dystopian collection, with apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic stories, death and destruction and all manner of seemingly overwhelming challenges for characters to overcome. I figure that we’ll need to release it in October so we can all get ready for the end of the world that’s predicted to occur on December 21. I’m shooting for the Mayan calendar audience! ;-)

Once again, we’ll be looking for excellent writing and memorable characters and settings in any genre except erotica. We’ll be approaching specific writers again, but I think the cat’s out of the bag. I expect we’ll receive a lot more submissions this time. The email address for submissions is antholsubs@gmail.com which will go directly to me. Please note in the subject line Fall Anthology.

7. Was there anything I didn’t ask yet about the anthology that you’d like to share?

I want to call attention to the team Cat and I put together. All of us were very involved in the process. Robb was great to work with. He’s an excellent editor and writer. In my opinion, any writer looking for an editor should start with him. And we were fortunate to have Calista Taylor and R.C. Lewis, who, like Cat and myself, are AQC moderators, handling the cover and book design. It’s easy to see the result and say, “Oh, that looks good,” and not realize the work that goes into finding the right cover and making the copy that comes from ten different writers all look like one contiguous entity. Plus, R.C. designed for Smashwords and Kindle and the Print-on-Demand version that we’re almost ready to launch. They deserve so much credit and they didn’t even have any stories in the anthology! It really is a team effort. For the fall anthology, we’ve added Mindy McGinnis, who had a story in Spring Fevers. She’s also a writer the YA dystopian novel Not a Drop to Drink, which will be coming out in 2013. She was incredibly helpful during Spring Fevers as was her agent, Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary Services. I can’t thank them all enough!

Fabulous interview, Matt, and best of luck with Spring Fevers and the upcoming anthology. I'm so looking forward to reading it as well, especially being a dystopian fan :). Thanks again for being with us on the blog today!

Blog Tour: Interview with Mindy McGinnis

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 05:57:00 PDT

Today I'm so excited to bring to you an interview with author Mindy McGinnis! She's got a fabulous story in the new Spring Fevers anthology, put together by a great group of writers at Agent Query Connect. Mindy also has an upcoming YA dystopian novel due out in fall 2013, NOT A DROP TO DRINK, and you can find out all the details at her blog: Writer, Writer, Pants on Fire.

Without further ado, here's the interview!

1. Your short story, "First Kiss," in the new Spring Fevers anthology
is amazing! What inspired this story?

Great question. I live in a sprawling old farmhouse situated on five acres. I found no less than four uncovered wells when I first moved in. I was just a kid when the famous Baby Jessica incident happened, but it made a lasting impression. A mix of that, and a random idea I had floating around my head about someone who had a Poison Ivy (Batman character) type ability coalesced into this weirdness.

2. What are some of the challenges of writing short stories vs. novels?

Less space, less time. You've really got to punch your reader in the face in a nice way that they'll love you for. They know there are other stories behind yours that might appeal to them more, and flicking a couple pages to move away from your story is a lot easier than putting down a whole book and going to pick your next one.

3. How do you approach writing a short story vs. a novel?

Impact is of utmost importance, always. I think with a book you need to focus on getting that impact into the first page, or paragraph. In a short story, you've gotta get them with the first line.

4. Is there anything else you wanted to cover on the topic of short
stories vs. novels?

I love writing shorts. I think they're a wonderful outlet for those stories inside of me that don't have enough meat to them to justify a novel. There are plenty of characters in my head who have *something* to say, just not necessarily a lot. I also think shorts are an important way for a writer to pull readers to them as an author, and sell themselves as a writer as opposed to selling their book, if that makes sense. If I can make you like me, and my style, in a few pages, that's great. A short that draws a reader in to my voice will (hopefully) make them look to see if I have a book. As a reader of short stories myself, I can honestly say I do that all the time, and it's the best avenue I've found to discovering new voices.

Thanks so much for the interview, Mindy! It's great to have you on the blog today. Readers can discover some fantastic new voices in The Spring Fevers anthology, an anthology of short stories with the theme of relationships, available for free at Smashwords. Be sure to check back here soon for an interview with Matt Sinclair, one of the co-creators of SPRING FEVERS.

Title Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:05:00 PST

This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday Topic: NAME THIS LIFE: What would your memoir be called?

A memoir is probably near the top of the list of things I will not be writing. Ever. Sure, as a teen, I used to keep a diary, but reading those pages later and reliving those awkward middle and high school moments made me cringe. Even reading my thoughts from back then was not a fun experience. Fiction is much more fun to write, anyway.

My grandmother, though, says she would have liked to have written her memoirs, and I wish that she had. She's had an incredible life and has amazing stories to tell. Maybe in years to come, for my family, I'll change my mind and write my story so that they're not left wishing that I had written it. Maybe I'll think back and consider my own amazing stories--because we all have them to tell (or keep to ourselves)--and finally share them in written form.

If I ever did, it would be called Unwritten, because like the song by Natasha Beddingfield, it would be about experiencing life to the fullest, finding and putting down the words I couldn't find before to describe my life, and no matter my age when it's written, this life journey would be just the beginning of the unwritten story to come!

Best February Read

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:40:00 PST

This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday Topic:What was the best book you read in February?
I read two fantastic books this month: Angelfall by Susan Ee and Incarnate by Jodi Meadows. Aren't their covers gorgeous?

Book description from Amazon:
"It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.
Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again."

My review:

This was definitely my favorite of the two books this month, though I loved both. But Angelfall had a sharp, engaging writing style that just carried me through this gritty apocalyptic tale. The characterizations were vivid, and the relationships between the characters were spot on. In particular, the author handled the mental illness (schizophrenia) of Penryn's mother, and its impact on their family with a tremendous sensitivity and grace. This fast-paced quest will leave you wanting more. Good thing the sequel will be released this summer!

Book description from the author's website:

"NEWSOUL

Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?"

My review:

This was a beautiful, lyrical tale. I loved the relationship between Ana and Sam, the mystery of why Ana was born and what happened to the one she replaced--Ciana, and the worldbuilding of Heart society and the dangers it faces. Good thing this is a sequel, too, but sadly we have to wait until next year to find out how the story continues...

So, what was your favorite February read? I can't wait to see everyone's picks. I'm sure as we check everyone's answers and blog posts, there'll be lots of books to add to our to-read lists!

Tag, I'm it!

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 13:12:00 PST

Ooh, I've been tagged by Dean C. Rich of The Write Time to participate in a very cool blog hopping meme! Here are the questions, and my answers:

1. What is your dream vacation?

As long as the vacation is with my husband, it will be a dream vacation, no matter where it is. We love cruises, so any cruise to a lovely beach, or to see the sights of Europe, would be wonderful.

2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead?

I'd have to say a mixture of both. In the small things, like date night plans with my husband, I tend to be spontaneous. In the larger things, like finances (e.g. saving or making large purchases), WIP planning, and things like that, I tend to be a planner.

3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don’t dare to do.

Get a real tattoo.

4. Your biggest phobia?

Fire, heights, and sharp objects.

5. If you were stranded on a desert island – what 3 things would you want with you (not including laptop, or family).

Writing supplies, music, and sunscreen.

6. Name three blessings in your life.

Wow! There are too many to choose just three. My wonderful family, my writing and all the great books out there, my awesome job, my home...

7. What was your nickname in High School?

-Cringe-

Mighty Mouse. It was my gymnastics nickname, because I'm petite but powerful.

8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?

People should not be asked to violate their consciences the way you're asking them to do with the HHS Mandate.

9. If you could be any literary character for a day, who would you be?

Hmm, as much fun as it is to read about their fictional lives, I'm not sure there is a character whose life I'd actually want to live for a day. Not even a girl!Harry. I'd rather role play it online or write fanfiction.

10. What is your favorite quote?

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all - in which case, you fail by default.”
― J.K. Rowling

Ok, now I have to tag seven other bloggers. Those bloggers are listed here, and I'll leave a comment on their blogs to let them know they've been tagged. If you haven't been tagged for this and want to participate, consider yourself tagged as well!

Bailey at Over Yonder
Shannon at Fantasy Fairy
Julius Cicero
Valentina at Letters from Valentina Hepburn
Liz at The English Bad Ass
Robin at The Nook
Rain at Rain-On Sentence

Here are the questions you can cut and copy to use for your own blog:

Blog Hopping Meme

1. What is your dream vacation?

2. Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead?

3. Tell us one thing you want to do but don’t dare to do.

4. your biggest phobia?

5. If you were stranded on a desert island – what 3 things would you want with you (not including laptop, or family).

6. Name three blessings in your life.

7. What was your nickname in High School?

8. If you could meet the President of the United States, what would you say to him?

9. If you could be any literary character for a day, who would you be?

10. What is your favorite quote?

Tag seven other bloggers

Words we Love, Words we Hate

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 05:02:00 PST

This week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday asks:

What words do you absolutely hate? Which ones do you adore?

adore

love

wonderstruck

dance

shimmering

peaceful

fiery

breeze

passion

playful

ocean

jewel

twilight

glowing

magical

heaven

curse words

butcher

rutting (but I still love ATU!)

short (I prefer petite :) )

gory

greasy

nevertheless

skivvies

pathetic

There are probably other words I'm not a fan of, but for now these are the ones I can think of. What about you?

Hands off that Idea! It's Mine! Oh, Bummer...it's Not.

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:14:00 PST

This week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday prompt asks:

What SNI were you psyched to work on, but discovered it was too close to something already done?

Theme song for this post: It's All Been Done by the Barenaked Ladies

What a bummer that would be, to be super excited about a new project, to give yourself to the thrill of the magic you'll create with your words, the beautiful scenes you imagine and just can't wait to get down on paper (or computer)--only to have your hopes completely dashed as you discover your shiny idea is just too similar to another story out there. My heart goes out to anyone who has had to decide not to go forward with a project for that reason. We have to come up with something fresh, something original, right? And we don't want to do something that a million others have done.

But, when do you know that moving on is the best choice, rather than coming up with a new and exciting twist on something familiar?

I have no idea. I've never wrestled with this before. I probably should, though. Maybe elements of The Mirrormasters are too similar to what's already out there--the quest to stop an apocalypse, using mirrors to travel to another world, a love triangle of sorts that just sort of happened without my planning or say-so. It's not going to deter me from finishing up the edits, but hopefully I'll find enough that's unique and cool that it won't matter how similar some elements are to other fantasy.

What about you? Have you had to shelve a project you were excited about because it was too similar to an idea that's already been done? When do you think a story should be shelved rather than staying with it and making a special effort to create a unique twist on a familiar idea?

Best January Read

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:37:00 PST

What was the best book you read in January? That's the latest YA Highway RTW prompt. I'd love to hear from all of you, because there are some AMAZING books out there!

My unputdownable read for January was Beth Revis' A MILLION SUNS, sequel to her ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. I just can't say enough good things about it--the vivid characters, the way the writing brings across the claustrophobic world of a spaceship trapping a couple thousand no-longer-drugged-into-placidness people, the complicated relationship between Amy and Elder...

If you haven't read it yet, you definitely should =). I reviewed it below, here.

Can't wait to see everyone else's top picks for January! So far, there have been a lot of great reads to add to my to-read list. What about you?

YA Conversations: An End to Occlumency

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:57:00 PST

This week's YA highway Road Trip Wednesday prompt was to create a dialogue between two of your favorite YA characters. Awesome! I'll take that excuse to write fanfiction ;). So, I thought about a conversation that would have been great to see between Harry and Snape and came up with this:

* * * * * * * * * * *

Harry came out of the pensieve, wanting to retch after what he'd just witnessed in Snape's memory. Everything he'd come to believe about his father had been shattered to pieces, and he gripped the long potions table in front of him so hard his knuckles turned white. The offending bowl rested innocently there on that table, still so close that if he wanted, he could swipe it to the floor to banish its contents. That wouldn't help. Gasping and fighting not to double over, he drew a few ragged breaths as he squeezed his eyes shut against the unwanted images now permanently etched in his mind.

"Potter! How dare you. How dare you."

At the sound of Snape's sharp, menacing voice with no hint of his usual silken tones, Harry's eyes snapped open. Emerald met onyx, but Harry couldn't hold his gaze for long or bear the sight of the potion master's pale, livid face. Shame burned Harry's cheeks, and he had to look away. Harry should never, never have let curiosity get the better of him. "I didn't...I didn't mean to," he stammered, swallowing hard.

Snape swept toward him, black cloak billowing behind him. He seized Harry by the collar and shook, hard. He looked like he wanted to choke the life out of Harry. "Arrogant. Meddling. Just like your father. Get out. GET OUT! Your Occlumency lessons are at an end." He practically threw Harry from him.

"I'm not like him," Harry choked out, stumbling, his arms just managing to break his fall. He stood and faced Snape, the icy dread in his gut at being found snooping into Snape's private memory melting away, leaving only anger, disappointment, and revulsion. Snape had told him what his father had been like, and he'd refused to hear a word against James. Harry had idolized him too much. His breaths still came heavy, ragged, shaking his thin frame. "You were right about my dad. You were right. He was...he was like my cousin. Like Malfoy. A bully."

The thought of that Malfoylike sneer on his own father's face as he'd tormented Snape sickened Harry, and bile rose in his throat. He shook his head, backing away toward the door, wanting to run and never see Snape again. Wanting to hop on his broomstick and fly until the wind blew all of this from his mind.

Snape stared at Harry as though he'd grown two heads, as though this were the last thing he'd expected Harry to say. Harry felt a familiar brush against his mind, not as invasive as what he'd become used to in his Occlumency lessons, but enough to know what Snape had done. Some of Snape's fury seemed to dissipate, and he fixed Harry with a cold, thoughtful expression. Suddenly, Snape seemed to age ten years, weighed down by a secret grief. "Perhaps you are more like your mother," he said, his voice so soft Harry barely heard it. "Now go."

Harry didn't need to be told a third time.

A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis: Review

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:51:00 PST

Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Spoiler Alert! Possible spoilers ahead...

This week, the week I'd been waiting for, finally arrived! I'd pre-ordered my copy of A MILLION SUNS by Beth Revis, and it showed up on my Kindle overnight. It was there, bright and shiny and ready for me to read Tuesday morning. Have you all read it yet? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Oh, and I shall slap a spoiler warning on this thread so we can discuss it here freely. So, if you haven't read it yet and don't wish to be spoiled, you may want to wait and come back here after you've had a chance to finish the book so you don't get spoiled by the review or by anyone's comments. I devoured it that day, and below is my review posted to Goodreads:
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AMAZING! This will be difficult to review without spoilers, but I will say this. It is a strong sequel, and it left me breathless in anticipation for the third of the series. So many elements I'd found in other reviews were spot on. It was fast-paced, with poor Elder (who refuses to let himself be called Eldest)running around dealing with one problem after another--people who refuse to work or can't due to depression, food shortages, people who want to cause trouble just because they can, people who want to overthrow Elder as a leader or just establish another system of government. And all the while, Godspeed is falling down around them. Meanwhile, Amy gets clues left to her by Orion, who figured out the entire truth about the ship long ago and has secrets to tell as well as a choice for Amy to make.

A choice that could change the fate of everyone on Godspeed.

I loved that we learned more about Harley and, especially, Kayleigh. I loved that Victria played a larger role this time, and that everything that happened made me truly feel for her. Really, my one nitpick with the book was that the voices of Amy and Elder didn't come through as distinctly as they did in Across the Universe. Otherwise, I loved the relationship between Amy and Elder--the love, the fights, the questions and doubts--though there were times I just wanted to reach into the book and shake them. I also want to shake the people at the time of the plague, too, for their inaction.
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There were so many wonderful scenes in this book, but I'd have to say my favorite one was the spacesuit scene and all that Elder and Amy learned there (like where the ship actually IS, and that Amy truly loves Elder). So, what were your reactions, favorite scenes, etc.?

My Top 5 Books of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 05:02:00 PST

This week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday takes a look back at the awesome reads of 2011 and asks for your top five books of the year. There were so many great books this year it's hard to choose. But here are my favorites:

1. Divergent by Veronica Roth (voted Goodreads favorite book of 2011 and best YA sci fi/fantasy! )
2. Across the Universe by Beth Revis (can't wait to read the sequel next month)
3. Delirium by Lauren Oliver
4. Crossed by Ally Condie (my very first ARC, courtesy of mundie moms!)
5. Hereafter by Tara Hudson

For me, the exploration of dystopian society and rebellion against oppression, the adventure of a journey through space, and the haunting beauty of paranormal romance made these my top choices. Each of these books are part of a series, which I also love. So, what are your picks for the top 5 books of 2011?

How Far Would YOU Go to get published?

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:08:00 PST

YA Highway's latest Road Trip Wednesday asks how far would you go to get published.

Would you follow a trend just because it's hot? Would you take it a step further and switch to a genre that sells better? Would you do minor revisions, or even go so far as to do major revisions?

Excellent question this week!

Not writing to trends is the advice we always come across. After all, the trend could be over by the time you finish the book and it gets to market, right? So write what you love. That's advice I intend to follow. If it's a story I just am not interested, there's no way I could write it just because it's the latest hot trend. I know very little about steampunk, for example, and though I've tried my hand at it once in a collaborative fic, I'm not sure I'd write a novel just to follow that trend.

Same thing with switching genres. Again, while I might someday write a steampunk short story, I'm most likely not going to try to make a whole novel out of it. And I'm not going to write historical romance, or other genres that just aren't me. I think I'll stick to writing sci-fi/fantasy, paranormal, and dystopian stories for the most part. If I get a suggestion that excites me, though, I'm more than game for giving it a try.

Minor revisions? I'd be thrilled if that's all I'd need. That would be absolutely amazing, and I'm more than happy to do any revisions that will make the story stronger. Same with major revisions. If it takes the story from good to AMAZING, I'm thrilled to work hard to get it ready for publication in the knowledge that the work is the best it can possibly be. It does take a collaborative effort, with feedback from critique partners, writer's groups, and eventually (I'm hoping) from an agent and editor, to take a story to that level.

I can't wait to read what others have to say on the topic!

Best November Read

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:24:00 PST

YA Highway RTW time again! This week's topic asks you to dish about the best book you read in November. For me, it was:

From Goodreads:

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

With such an intriguing premise, I had to read this one. If you love paranormal romance, you won't want to miss it. The relationship between Amelia and Joshua is so sweet, and I couldn't help but root for them despite the obstacles they face--a grandmother who wants to banish unclaimed spirits like Amelia who died in the river below a bridge, a possessive and dark spirit named Eli who wants to claim her for his own and will stop at nothing to do so, and of course the fact that she's dead. The story was unputdownable, and I'm so looking forward to reading the sequel(s).

What was the best book you read in November?

Your Required Reading List

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 04:41:00 PST

This week's topic:
In high school, teens are made to read the classics - Shakespeare, Hawthorne, Bronte, Dickens - but there are a lot of books out there never taught in schools. So if you had the power to change school curriculums, which books would you be sure high school students were required to read?

* * * * * * * *

So many books to choose from, so little time! Of course, there's no question that the classics have to be kept. But how do you choose books that will really inspire a love of reading and get students naturally using all those critical thinking skills teachers want to see?

It happened with the Harry Potter series, where avid fans spent hours and hours online discussing the plot, the characters, the relationships, their theories about what the future of the series would hold. Oh, and of course creating everything from role play stories, to fanfiction, to a new genre of music! Even if it hadn't been a truly incredible fantasy series, for that reason alone it would be wonderful to see new students introduced to the series so they can discover the magic for themselves.

I'd also include the Hunger Games trilogy. That could lead to a great discussion about society (What makes their society dystopian? How did it become so? Is our society dystopian in its own way and what might our society be like a hundred years from now, a thousand?), the symbolism of the Mockingjay, the characters, and much more. I discovered an anthology, The Girl Who Was On Fire, with some wonderful author essays discussing politics, the effects of the games on the tributes, and many other aspects of the trilogy. The link to the anthology also has excerpts from the essays.

Those are my top required reading picks for generating great reading discussions. Can't wait to see what others chose!

Reason for Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 05:04:00 PDT

Welcome to our 101st Road Trip Wednesday!

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:

What's your numero-uno reason for writing?

Fantastic question! I would say my number one reason for writing is the sheer fun of creating and breathing life into new characters, new worlds--and getting them into all kinds of trouble. I also enjoy the process of working through the edits to tighten up prose, play with words, and make it all better until the writing is something I'm happy with and that others will enjoy. I have a looooong way to go with my manuscript--short stories are much easier--but it will get there. Hopefully.

What's your #1 reason for writing? I can't wait to see how everyone else answers!

Your Writing Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 05:43:00 PDT

This Week's Topic: What has your writing road trip looked like so far? Excitement? Traffic Jams and detours? Where are you going next?

First, I want to say CONGRATULATIONS to YA Highway on the 100th Road Trip Wednesday! What a great topic to celebrate this epic milestone!

So far, my writing road trip has been a two-year long, leisurely drive along scenic back roads just to take in the gorgeous sights, meet awesome people, and visit fun, exciting new places. It's been an amazing adventure, and I have learned so much. I started on this journey pretty much without a map except for a brief outline of what would happen in the story. Along the way I've started to see the writing world, learn what's out there, found out so much about the craft to apply to my WIP, and started thinking about the next stops on the journey.

I've been posting regularly on this blog, and have met some AMAZING people by being part of Road Trip Wednesday's blog carnival. I became part of a writer's group, Novelty Fiction, and have a short story and a microfiction published in their monthly magazine. Another short story of mine was published online at Flash Paranormal Fiction. I attended an online YA writers' conference, Write On Con. Rejection has also been part of the journey. A contest entry of mine wasn't chosen for the semifinalists. I submitted another short story to an anthology with a fabulous premise, but I sent it off too soon without considering whether the ending was really the right choice for the story. So, I got a lovely personalized rejection.

Now I've reached my first destination on the journey: completing the first draft of my WIP. My next stop: Editsville. It's been a fun place to play around in as I tighten and polish the prose. I have a lovely crit partner now. The biggest challenge--the one I haven't really faced yet--is going to be figuring out what to cut. I've got at least 30K words to trim somehow.

When the story is in solid shape and as ready as possible, I'll send it off to the founder of Novelty Fiction. He has very generously offered a grant that involves critique and an edit of The MirrorMasters. If this leads to a publication offer, fantastic! If not, I'll dust myself off and keep working, then query.

I don't know where this journey will lead, but I do know this. I have found my passion. I'll keep writing and loving it, whatever happens. And one day, I will have a novel published.

A toast to RTW, and a toast to all of us. Enjoy the journey on the way to wherever it takes us! =)

News, Passing Along An Award, and RTW!

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 05:25:00 PDT

First, the news: After two years (at least) of writing, I have finally finished the first draft of The MirrorMasters! Now the editing begins. There are spots that need a lot more work than others, and I'm still working on figuring out how to rid the manuscript of about 35K words, as well as common errors. Still, it's an awesome feeling, and I can't wait to see how it all shapes up in the second draft.

Now it's award time! Thank you so much to Sara at Crow River Writer for awarding my blog the Leibster Blog Award. You made my day :).

The idea of the Liebster Blog Award is to showcase bloggers with fewer than 200 followers. Once the Award has been bestowed upon your blog, pay it forward and recognize five other bloggers. So, here are my five picks:

(Aaand now I realize I misspelled the name of the award when passing it along on these blogs. So sorry about that!)

Kate Bennett - check out her awesome book, Inevitable.

The Word Counter

Morgan Lee at Fantasy Fairy

Kat at Words, etc.

This week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday asks what your best September read was. I didn't get a whole lot of reading done this month, but I have a start on The Hunger Games. So far, I'm loving the story and can't wait to read more.

Can't wait to see what everyone else's September reads were!

Cover Eye Candy

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 05:26:00 PDT

This week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday is all about gorgeous book covers. So, here are my all time favorites:

(Lauren Oliver gets amazing book covers, doesn't she?)

(I love the original cover for this book, too. It's absolutely beautiful. But this one is gripping.)

And there you have it. There are so many gorgeous covers out there, and I'm sure I'm neglecting more than a few. What's your favorite cover eye candy?

Deja'vu: Common themes and Places

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 05:59:00 PDT

This week's fabulous YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday prompt asks:

What themes, setting, motifs, scenes, or other elements do you find reoccurring in your work?

Ooh, great one! I think for me the common themes are rebelling against authority and finding your purpose in life. The troubles the characters get into--or the triumphs they achieve--as a result make for powerful stories that resonate. There's just something so fun about writing them. I also love creating settings from my own imagination rather than setting stories in an actual place I've been, and bringing in paranormal, fantasy, sci fi, or dystopian elements to the plot.

The beach is a place that keeps popping up in some of my stories. I just love tropical locations, palm trees, soft sands, and calm waters you can get out an swim in.

I can't wait to see what everyone else has chosen!

When They Were Young

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 04:10:00 PDT

This Week's Topic:
What non-YA character would you love to see star in a YA book as themselves?

I would love to see a prequel to the Darkangel Trilogy that focuses on the White Witch. A young, innocent girl who gazes up at Oceanus (Earth) from her home on the moon and just wants to go there. A mother who won't tell her the truth, that the moon was nothing but a playground for the Ancients who came from Earth and later abandoned them--only to destroy themselves and their world.

It would be amazing to read the story of how as a teen, these secrets and lies fueled her hunger to get to Oceanus. To watch her descent into madness and her self-destruction as she turns to evil to fulfill her dream. To hurt with her, to cheer her on, to hope that someone could save her before it's too late...

What adult MC would you love to see star in their own YA novel?

Announcement and Awards!

noreply@blogger.com (Lora) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 17:37:00 PDT

The Announcement

It's September, and on the Novelty Fiction group blog, it's time for our second monthly microfiction contest! Check it out and participate. Just create a story in 100 words or less, using the five words in this month's writing prompt. Last month, there was an honorarium and publication offer for the winner, as well as for each entrant, so it's an exciting opportunity. Have fun, and good luck!

The Awards

A huge thank you to Aimee Renee, who nominated me for two wonderful awards: the Versatile Blogger Award and the Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award. I'm just blown away by the honor, and the awards are so cute :).

Here are the rules for accepting the awards:

1) Thank and link to the person who nominates you.
2) Share seven random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to five more blogger friends.
4) Contact and congratulate the blogs nominated.

So, here are seven random facts about me:

1) I can't grow my fingernails long because they peel and break.
2) I'm not political at all. Yet a bit of politics somehow ended up in The MirrorMasters. No idea how that happened!
3) I'm an only child. And always wanted a sibling.
4) Big Brother is my guilty TV pleasure. I'm watching it as I write this.
5) I'm not sure what my Hogwarts house would be, but I can't wait for the official sorting on Pottermore next month to find out! If there were an equivalent of Divergent, that's what I'd be.
6) Desserts are my weakness. I have such a sweet tooth!
7) I have been married for three years. Time has flown by...

And the awards will be passed along to...

1) Stephanie Allen at My Personal Fairytale
2) Lisa Fee at Tall Tales
3) Peggy Eddleman at Will Write for Cookies
4) Peaches Ledwidge at Conceive Writing
5) HowLynn Martin at HowLynn Time