Words On Paper

Book Review: Insurgent

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Thu, 31 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome, welcome to the YA Book Club. This month we, along with the rest of the planet, read Insurgent by Veronica Roth. In case you’ve been living in a well-furnished cave, here’s the summary:

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Let’s begin at the beginning, shall we? And that’s with Divergent, the first book in what will be a dystopian trilogy. I purposefully waited two eons to read Roth’s debut novel, mostly for motivation (as in, “Hey, loser, finish up your revisions and you can read Divergent”), and wasn’t disappointed when I finally—finally—picked it up. I realy enjoyed Divergent and was worried Insurgent would fall into the Second Book Slump (SBS to those in the know).

WARNING! FLASHING LIGHTS! SIRENS BLARING!

If you haven’t read Divergent, why don’t you spend the next five minutes in the world of absurdly cute animals instead of reading this review? There are major spoilers ahead for Divergent. Consider yourself warned.

I hoped Insurgent was just as good as Diverent. What I didn’t expect—what I never expect when it comes to sophomore novels—was to enjoy Insurgent even more than Divergent.

There are so many things I liked about this book. Alas, I have no desire to write a review nearly as lengthy as Roth’s 525-page novel. So I’m going to only talk about those things Insurgent does that Divergent didn’t.

And because I know Internet readers are notoriously distracted (oh look, a foldy cat!) I’ve broken my thoughts down for you (hey, Mean Girls gif!) into nice little subcategories. So:

The mysterious

Much of what I loved about Divergent was present in Insurgent—a keep-you-up-all-night pace, careful prose, strong world-building—but we’re tossed into the second book without lead-up. Whereas in Divergent Tris spent a lot of time getting her bearings and adjusting to her new faction (time I found really interesting and fun to read, mind you), this book opens with her in the midst of dealing with the big issue: Why did the Erudite attack Abegnation? Not only that, but there’s a big mystery introduced at the very beginning that Tris tries to work out the entire novel, up until the very last page, that ratcheted up the interest.

Exploration of guilt and grief

This might have been my favorite part of the book, and it’s an aspect that’s very different from anything you read in Divergent. Tris is dealing with the death of her parents and guilt over killing Will, one of her best friends. This goes beyond her inability to shoot a gun. Every action she takes is colored by the emptiness she feels over losing her parents, and the serious guilt and self-hate she has over killing Will pulls her into a dark place. Everything about Tris’s actions and the ways in which they related to these two emotions was so well thought-out and real. In the midst of an action-paced book, Roth did a wonderful job examining loss and all-consuming guilt.

The details

If the information at the end of Divergent was a piece of ice in the ocean, the details we learn in Insurgent are the iceberg below. It was satisfying learning how each of the factions worked, what happened during the simulations, and why the Divergent are immune. Roth packed in a lot of information without any info dumps, which I appreciated. (See also: 525 pages.)

Relationship with Tobias*

I loved the relationship that blossomed between Four and Tris in Divergent, but I was worried I’d tired of the pair in this second book since they were already together. What I loved so much about this book is that Roth doesn’t shove another boy into the mix to stir things up. There is no love triangle. Should I say that again so people all the way over there can read it? THERE IS NO LOVE TRIANGLE! It was refreshing. Instead, complications in the relationship arise as Tris and Tobias try to make sense of who they are in regards to each other, the movement that’s happening in their world, and the factions they’ve belonged to. It’s not all rainbows and puppy dogs, and the tension between them never felt forced.

A closer look at the faction system

Always in the back of my mind while I was reading Divergentwas, “But would a society really willingly split into these factions like this?” I doubted it. In Insurgent, we see Tris questioning whether humans can really isolate a single virtue. She asks the question in regards to herself, but also about non-Divergent members. Does an Erudite lose his inquisitiveness just because he transfers to Dauntless? (He certainly doesn’t lose his know-it-all-ness…) As she moves from one faction to the next, Tris puzzles this out, and I think it only helps to bolster the premise. These people might be divided into factions, but they’re more complex than that. And Roth does a great job of not only telling us about this through Tris’s musings, but by showing this to us in the really wonderful characters we meet.

The !!! moments

I hate spoilers, so let’s see if I can get across this final point without ruining anything for anyone. When Tris learns something about You Know Who, I was shocked. I hadn’t seen that coming, and I felt the sting right along with Tris. I think I still feel it now.

And the ending. Well, what can I say? It’s a cliffhanger, which I hate, but a really great one. Talk about the ultimate last-minute reveal. I’m curious to hear what you guys have to say about this ending, but as for me, I really liked it and can’t wait to find out where Roth takes this next.

What did you think? If you blogged a review about Insurgent, leave a link to your post by filling out the form below. If you don’t have a blog or haven’t reviewed the book, no worries. Join in the conversation in the comments here, and then hop around to everyone else’s blogs.

* You know, as much as I like Tris calling Four Tobias, I kind of like Four better.

A Gentle Reminder

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Tue, 22 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Readers who I love, there’s a lesson in my absenteeism and it’s this: Blog Me MAYbe really takes that whole maybe thing serious. At least I do.

And that’s why I’ve been maybe not blogging every day of May though it’s the point of the entire blogfest. But, you see, I’m drowning in a sea of work and if I stopped to write a blog post I might never resurface. Or at least that’s how it feels.* So I’m going to leave you with a reminder and then run straight back into my cave to continue working until the day job forces me to cry uncle.

The purpose of this post is to remind you that we’ll be talking about Insurgent, the second book in the Diverent series, as part of the YA Book Club on May 31. That gives you nine days to read the book if you want to join. Which you should.

Also, could this be any more true? I’m currently at the “sob” stage.

*We’ll see what happens after I finish this one.

Writing Prompt

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 16 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Ever since you guys wrote that incredibly awesome and way too short start of a story I’ve wanted to do another writing prompt. I’m not sure why I waited so long, but prepare yourselves for the ultimate fun. (Behind eating an entire box of chocolate, skydiving, and riding upside-down roller coasters, of course.) (But that’s still pretty fun, if you ask me.)

So, your prompt: So, your prompt: What’s this girl’s story?

Use the comments to build on one another’s story. So the first person will leave a sentence or two and the next person will add to the first person’s story—and so on and so forth until we’ve proven just what wonderful storytellers we all are.

I’ll go first: My father forced me to run away, leave the beach, and never look back.

A Secret Trick For You

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Oh look, it’s Tuesday. Which means, according to the blogfest’s bylaws and constitution and instruction manual, I’m supposed to tell you about myself today. Something you don’t already know, which means no talk of my grace and charm. (Ha!) Hmmm…

Call me wicked, but there’s really nothing like watching someone’s face as your practical joke plays out with them. It’s not that I like laughing at helpless people … but, yeah, in this case it’s like I love laughing at helpless people. But all in good fun, I swear.

(Oh look, none of you want to be friends anymore. I wonder why…)

Half the fun is thinking up crazy jokes, but because I love you and would never laugh at you without a very good reason, I’m going to share an easy practical joke that doesn’t take much time or effort to pull.

Here’s what you’ll need:

A loved one’s toothbrush

Anbesol

Really, this is the simplest joke ever. Squeeze a decent amount of Anbesol onto the toothbrush, rubbing it in until traces of the brownish gel disappear into the bristles. Make sure you’re in the room when you’re friend/family member/sworn enemy brushes his or her teeth…

…and then starts to freak out when their mouth goes numb.

No humans are harmed in the making of this prank. The numbness wears off pretty quickly.

So there you have it. Okay, go ahead: Tell me I’m morally corrupt. But only do that if you’ve completed the prank and didn’t laugh so hard you cried.

What’s the best practical joke you’ve played (or had played on you)?

Teachers on Truth Serum

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:47:00 +0000

I have to say, Fridays have become my favorite day on the Internet. With all these Blog Me Maybe posts going up, and with instructions to blog something funny on Fridays, I’m pretty much sitting alone here smiling to myself. Which would look pretty creepy if I weren’t alone.

So here’s my contribution to the silliness that is today:

Have a great weekend everyone!

Story of Your Life

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Thu, 10 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Look at me screwing up the days of the blogfest. I feel the kind of guilty I usually reserve for post-Oreo pig-outs. It’s not pretty.

Because I basically did today’s prompt yesterday, I’m going to do yesterday’s prompt today. And if that just made your head spin you’re:

A. not alone

B. seriously in need of a coffee

C. skimming this post too quickly

D. all of the above

All right, so here are the questions. Choose accordingly.

LADIES: In the story of your life, in which you are a

Strong Female Character, what makes you kickass?

GUYS: In the story of your life, in which you are an

Underdog with Potential, what makes you a hero?

This is fiction, so have fun.

Kindness Is Cool

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I interrupt our regularly scheduled Blog Me MAYbeprogramming for something that’s near and dear to my heart. (No, it’s not the pulmonary artery, you wise-ass.) It’s, well, I’ll let the lovely CarolinaValdez Miller*—mastermind behind this project—tell you:

Too often kindness is relegated to a random act performed only when we’re feeling good. But an even greater kindness (to ourselves and others) occurs when we reach out even when we aren’t feeling entirely whole. It’s not easy, and no one is perfect. But we’ve decided it’s not impossible to brighten the world one smile, one kind word, one blog post at a time. To that end, a few of us writers have established The Kindness Project, starting with a series of inspirational posts.

Warning #1: I want to start off by telling you that I don’t even consider myself in the top 80 percent of kind people in the world. I’m not, you know, terrorist-level mean or anything, but I generally don’t go around pouring syrup on people’s pancakes, if you will.

Warning #2: I’m going to get all serious on you here. If that freaks you out, have fun here or here. (You might want to click those anyway.)

Glad we got that cleared up.

I’ve mentioned this before, but nearly two years ago, I was diagnosed with EM, a rare chronic pain condition that’s changed my life. This past year, as the EM worsened, I’ve been trying to get a handle on how to meld the life I knew with this new, painful one.

Most days I’m good. But then there are those other days, the ones where my feet burn for 12 hours straight and I can’t focus and I think about doing this for another 60 years and I, well, I break down.

Sometimes, though, someone—a friend, an acquaintance, a stranger—will do the smallest thing and it’s like, bam, there’s light in the darkness.

Over the weekend I got a letter from my mom’s college friend, who’d heard about my EM. Her letter told the story of her mother, whose siblings were taken to a state sanitarium when they were diagnosed with tuberculosis. The state trapped them there for eight years—no contact with friends or family, no life outside the hospital. Her uncle spent 23 hours a day on bed rest, only seeing the outside when his nurse wheeled his bed out to the porch.

And then one day, someone found a cure. The sanitarium’s doors were unlocked and the kids were freed.

She wrote me a letter to tell me a story to show me that research is ever advancing, that I shouldn’t give up hope that EM could one day be cured. And that simple act? Writing a short letter? It made all the difference.

The reason I joined The Kindness Project is because I know how random acts of kindness can take away the sting, promote confidence, and give hope. To live a life of purposeful kindness? Imagine what that can do.

Get the code:

Posting today for The Kindness Project:

Jessica Corra
Elizabeth Davis

Carolina Valdez Miller

Be sure to check them out. We post the second Wednesday of every month. Want to join us? Grab our button and spread a little kindness.

*Speaking of kind, Carol is seriously the nicest, most selfless person I know. It’s fitting this is her brainchild.

Tracey, A to Z

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Tue, 08 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

In case you’re just joining us, I’m participating in the Blog Me MAYbe blogfest, the slacker’s guide to blogging every day. Because it’s Tuesday, I’m supposed to tell you something about me. Naturally, I’ve stolen an idea for that. (Thanks, Katy.)

So, a little about me, from A to Z. (And, no, I did not rhyme on purpose, but I left it in there so you’d fully appreciate my dorkiness.)

A is for age: Nice try. But I’ll just direct you here if you’re curious about my age.

B is for breakfast today: Same as always: a green smoothie. Before you scrunch up your nose and squeal “Eeeew,” you should know that it’s really good. And that’s saying a lot considering I’m probably the pickiest eater I know. Here’s the recipe:

½ can coconut milk
16-18 oz. coconut water
1 cucumber (I sometimes peel them because, especially during the winter when they’re not in season, it can lend bitterness to the drink.)
1 avocado
1 lime, peeled
1 handful spinach (Don’t worry, you don’t even taste this.)
1 scoop Amazing Grass Green SuperFood
4 1/3-filled droppers of liquid stevia
10-12 ice cubes

Instructions: Place everything but the ice in a blender, keeping the liquids at the bottom for easy blending. When the mix has been blended into a liquid, add ice. Blend well and enjoy.

C is for currently craving: Considering I just explained how to make a healthy smoothie? Nachos.

D is for dinner tonight: Unfortunately, not nachos. I’ll probably have what I eat most nights: A giant salad with romaine, tomatoes, cucumber, red peppers, radishes, and artichoke hearts in a lemon juice–olive oil dressing.

E is for favorite type of exercise: Definitely crunches. I KNOW…who am I? But I’d rather do abs work than run any day of the week.

F is for an irrational fear: I think all of my fears are pretty darn rational: rats, snakes, bugs—especially cockroaches—and pretty much any other animal that’s smaller than my palm when fully grown.

G is for gross food: Remember when I said I was the pickiest eater I know? Well that means I think ALL THE FOOD is gross. Okay, maybe not all of it, but definitely mayonnaise, eggs dipped in ketchup—actually, ketchup on anything that isn’t a burger or fries—runny eggs, stinky eggs… Oh, okay, I pretty much always think eggs are gross. What else? Calamari with tentacles, pate, processed meats, chicken nuggets, and, well, I could go on and on…

H is for hometown: A small town north of Boston that you probably haven’t heard of.*

I is for something important: The Man. He’s not half bad when you tune out the sports talk.

J is for current favorite jam: This survey has been especially food-based, so this might refer to a spread most often used on toast. But could it mean song I’m jamming to? NO ONE KNOWS! I’m going to take it as the latter since I don’t eat jam (the sugar and all that). At this moment, I’m rocking out to this, which fits a certain scene in my WIP:

K is for kids: Nope. But I do have two nieces and three nephews, who are cute beyond words and who I love even more knowing that I don’t have to change diapers, be the bad guy, or wake up early with them.

L is for current location: Massachusetts. More specifically, my office. Oh wait, did you not get that? MY BRAND SPANKIN’ NEW OFFICE. Ahem. I’m just excited.

M is for the most recent way you spent money: I just spent a boatload of cash on taxes, which means I can’t spend any money for the next five months. On the upside, our national debt has been lowered by a whopping $1,500. So that’s $1,500 down and $15,684,696,046,878.76 to go…

N is for something you need: Aside from $1,500?

O is for occupation: Health writer.

P is for pet peeve: I kind of have a lot of these, like people misusing your and you’re (cough The Man, cough cough), talking during a movie in the theater, and people on Facebook who say things like, “I can’t believe you treated me like that” so that the rest of us are wondering who and what they’re talking about.

Q is for a quote:

R is for random fact about you: I color-coordinate my closet.

S is for favorite healthy snack: Aside from raw fruits and veggies, I love sundried tomatoes, chipotle hummus kale chips, and roasted chickpeas.

T is for favorite treat: Well, I’m trying to limit my treats these days with hope that it’ll help my EM, so a treat for me is some form of carbohydrate. Before my health food kick? Definitely red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting.

U is for something that makes you unique: Only me and about 1 in 100,000 people have EM, which makes me unique in a my-body-gives-me-second-degree-burns kind of way.

V is for favorite vegetable: Tomatoes (hush, about them actually being fruits). There’s nothing better than heirloom tomatoes in summer.

W is for today’s workout: Workout? Today? Um, well—Moving on to X...

X is for X-rays you’ve had: Whenever I do these surveys X seems to be just thrown in there, like Xylophone—do you play it often? Gah.

Y is for yesterday’s highlight: Hmm, considering I worked all day and then spent the night doing more work, I’d have to say the hour I read during dinner was pretty great.

Z is for your time zone: C’mon, time zone? Okay, okay. I’m on the East Coast. But I petition survey creators of the future to come up with something else for these end-of-alphabet letters.

Fill in some tidbits about you (pick whichever letters you want!) in the comments.

*Hipster Tracey apparently answered that question.

The Only Writing Advice You Need Right Now

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 07 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

On the first Monday of the Blog Me Maybe blogfest I had these grand ideas of giving you some really good writing advice. (Because that’s what the schedule calls for and I’m a nerdy rule-follower.)

But then I had the most productive writing weekend ever, and I spent so much time working on my WIP that I didn’t have time to write some brilliant musings on the craft. And I’m 67 percent sure the musings, had I spent time on them, would have been brilliant.

So in light of my super productive weekend, I give you some thoughts on how to write well:

Close Twitter. No, don’t minimize it—Click. It. Shut.
Ban yourself from Facebook. (Trust me, all you’re missing is updates like, Rain again! Boooo. :( and Ur so selfish. U know who u r! Grr.)
Stay away from the Internet. If you need to research something, make a note then go back when going online isn’t punishable by 50 push-ups.
Tell everyone you know that you have to work over the weekend. If they give you a hard time for working on your “hobby,” pretend you’re catching up on the day job.
Hide your cell under a few blankets and pretend you don’t hear it when it rings.
Don’t answer the doorbell.
Let your e-mails pile up. If that stresses you out, seek immediate medical attention.
Write.

And that’s it.

Oh, and if you’re feeling cheated because I didn’t really give you advice on how to write, check out this post on your best writing advice or this post on your outlining tips. See? I’m the kind of evil genius who uses your intelligence to make me look more intelligent. It’s amazing.

On that note, leave a writing tip in the comments for your fellow writers.

Friday Funnies: A Bad Lip Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Fri, 04 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Happy Friday, friends. I’ve been having fun doing Blog MeMaybe with you guys. Today’s my favorite day of the blogfest because it’s all about having fun.

So I wanted to share a new-to-me video that I think you’ll like. There’s a very large chance you all have seen this already, mainly because I’m not nearly as cool as I pretend to be.

I MEAN... uh, I’m like probably the coolest person you’ll ever meet and I knew Bad Lip Reading was cool before anyone else did.

Right, so the Bad Lip Reading people remake popular videos with words you’d assume were being sung if you were lip reading. And if you were bad at it. The most amazing thing is that it really does seem that the lyrics match their moving lips.

This is a bad lip reading remix of Taylor Swift’s “Our Song,” featuring Wiz Khalifa.

My favorite part starts at 3:25, when Taylor and Wiz sing nonsensical phrases to each other like:

Pools of Tang (It’s like ghetto poison.)

Exotic garlic syrup (Helps to wash down licorice.)

And, yes, it took me a good minute to realize this was not some wacky new song of Taylor Swift’s. Shut up.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

About a Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Thu, 03 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes I read YA books and think to myself, This is so not a teen boy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no expert in underage men, but some of them seem so sensitive. Almost like, oh I don’t know, girls.

Or like the way girls want boys to be:

That is, cute, sensitive, and always holding a puppy.

I don’t object to sensitive teen boys. They make up some of the best YA crushes. But do most real teen boys whisper poetic nothings in their crushes’ ears? Eh, probably not.

This doesn’t much bother me when we’re reading the story in the point of view of a teen girl. But when the narrator is an average guy and doesn’t sound adequately boyish—or if he sounds old enough to be a CW teen—then I get sad. Because as a teen I would have loved to be in the mind of a boy for 200 pages.

So when I read a book where the boy voice just screams BOY, I get pretty excited. That’s why I love Notes From the Blender. I read this half a year ago, and today when I was thinking of great teen boy narrators who weren’t written by an author with a color for a last name, it was the first that came to my mind.

Because today is Thursday and the Rules of the blogfest say I need to tell you about someone, I’m going to introduce you to Declan.

This* is Declan:

Scrawny and scraggly haired
Wears all black
Loves violent video games
Listens to death metal
Has secretly had a massive crush on Neilly, the girl who is soon to be his stepsister
Wonders if he can score with Neilly before she’s officially part of the family

Dec’s voice is spot-on. (It’s a multiple POV book with alternating chapters written from Neilly’s perspective.) If I didn’t know better, I’d wonder if his chapters were written by an actual 16-year-old boy. His outlook on the world and his situation—his father is marrying Neilly’s mom, who is pregnant with Dec’s soon-to-be step-sibling—is hilarious, as is the way he tries to forget that the girl he’s been fantasizing about for years—the HOTTEST GIRL ON EARTH—will be living down the hall.

Dec’s sarcasm and boyish thoughts are pretty awesome. Like in this excerpt, where he’s listening to Neilly talk about the two guys she likes:

Like, for example, Neilly’s seemingly eternal question: Should she listen to whatever Sam had to say to her, oh my God, he shut Gary up, that’s so cool, he’s really grown as a person, or would that be stupid for her to totally forgive him for macking on Lulu, that was so uncool, what kind of person would do that?

And I was like, “Well, I don’t know, Neill”—I call her Neill ’cause we’re close like that—“I mean, I guess it comes down to this: Does he have what you want in a guy?”

“I think so,” she said. “I mean, I want somebody I can talk to.” Check. Got that—we’re talking now. “Somebody who makes me laugh.” Yup, several times a day. “And somebody who’s, you know, sensitive without being wussy.” I was pretty sure I had demonstrated that quality on several occasions. “And, of course, someone who’s smokin’ hot.”

Well, three out of four is 75 percent. Not great, but a solid passing grade. Something to build on.

I don’t intend this to be a review of the book, but if you’re curious: It’s funny and sweet and worth a read. Dec’s POV is definitely the stronger of the two, but Neilly’s is still fun.

Who’s your favorite teen boy narrator?

* I was going to put a photo here but finding a decent shot of a teen death metal fan wearing all black is harder than you might imagine.

Warn Yourself

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 02 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

So one of the things I’m doing with this whole BMM blogfestis asking you guys a question every Wednesday. You think it’s so I can get to know you better, but really I’m just compiling notes for this whole identity theft ring I have going on the side.

So today’s question: What is your mother’s maiden name?

Just kidding. The real question:

If you could travel back in time
to give your teen self one warning,
what would it be?

In Which Teen Tracey Thinks She's Dying

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Tue, 01 May 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Today marks the start of the month-long Blog Me MAYbe blogfest, in which you blog more often, have more fun, and never run out of blog post ideas. Four out of five doctors surveyed said the blogfest reduces weight by 87 perecent.* If you want to join in, click here for details.

Let’s kick this baby off with the Tuesday topic: May I tell you something about myself?Because I write for teens, I thought it’d be fun to use Tuesdays to tell you things about Teen Tracey. I can’t promise that will always be the case—I’m pretty set on dedicating a future post to my new writing space—but just go with it. (Thanks and I love you.)

Okay, yep, this is totally what I looked like in high school. Did I forget to mention I was a part-time woman of ill repute?*

I was pretty sure I was dying.

I’d felt fine all morning—no headache or nausea or little signs of my body slowly shutting down. It wasn’t until after lunch, when I was sitting in Chemistry, that I became aware of my imminent demise.

There I was, gagging at the scent of chalk mixed with pencil shavings and some bitter chemical we’d just boiled over a Bunsen burner. My classmates scribbled lab notes while our teacher erased the blackboard. I rubbed my hands harder, on my new black jeans to improve my circulation. My thighs warmed, but the friction wasn’t doing anything for my blue hands.

I was no medical genius, but blue hands seemed … wrong. And let’s be serious, wrong = fatal. It was a fact.*

I walked up to my teacher, hands clenched into fists. Sure, a chemistry teacher isn’t a good substitute for a doctor, but gimme a break; I was working with what I had. He stared at my hands, the blue fingers and palms. I waited for him to laugh at me, to tell me the chemicals we’d just mixed could turn you into Violet Beauregarde’s twin, but he didn’t. Because he had no idea what was wrong with me.

So, right. Back to the whole dying thing.

Me, melodramatic? Psh.

I spent the rest of the day furiously rubbing my hands together and on my legs to warm them up, but no matter what I did, they stayed freakishly blue. By the time the last bell had rang, I’d pretty much resigned myself to creating a last will and testament instead of doing homework that night.**

My mom’s car waited for me when I left the building and I threw myself into the back seat.

“How was your day?” she asked. I told her everything: how I felt fine all day, how my hands suddenly turned blue, how I was pretty much going to die and I really didn’t want my sister to have my favorite sweater.

And then she laughed. SHE LAUGHED AT HER DYING DAUGHTER.

And passed me a wet wipe while laughing. While wiping her laugh-tears away.

I cleaned my hands with the wipe, which left them pink and healthy looking. But the wet wipe? Bluish black.

Because my unwashed black jeans were bleeding on my hands. My hands that rubbed on my jeans THE ENTIRE DAY. The jeans that sopped up extra water after I washed my hands and dried them on those scratchy brown paper towels that smelled like sour leaves.

I’m not ashamed to reveal this to you. To let you know that:

We didn’t have cell phones with Internet access when I was in school.
WebMD had not been created. (But, yes, funny guy, the Internet had.)
I was a complete hypochondriac and apparently lacked all sorts of street smarts.

Make me feel better: When have you completely overreacted in health matters?

*But not really.

**Who am I kidding? Even if I were dying, I’d have done my homework. Just in case.

YA Book Club: May Novel

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

When I was growing up, my mom used to tell me that saying never was the kiss of death. There’s something magical about the word because as soon as you say it, plans are in the works for you to break that statement.

Me, age 12: “I’ll never eat brussels sprouts.”
Me, now: “Balsamic-roasted brussels sprouts with almonds? I could eat a pound.”

Me, age 20: “I’ll never go skydiving.”
Me , age 21: “Now, do I jump out of the plane or do you push us?”

Me, last year: “We’ll never read a sequel for book club. That’s too exclusive.”
Me, today: “Guys, your pick for the May book is Insurgent by Veronica Roth.”

Could you hear that okay through all the crunching and chewing? I’m sorry but I’m in the middle of eating my words as I type. Mmm…

So the book releases May 1 and the book club chat is May 31. That gives you 30 days to read the book. You can do that. I know you can.

The Details

Who: You and any YA-loving friends you have.

What: YA Book Club chat about Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Where: In the comments on this blog and/or on your blog. (For more details, click here.)

When: Thursday, May 31

Why: Because reading is cool. Also, it makes your teeth whiter.

Also, remember that the Blog Me MAYbe blogfest starts tomorrow. For details, go here. We’d love for you to join in. The more = the merrier.

It’s been a pretty short post and I want to give you some valuable life lesson before you go. So guys, here it is. What you’ve always wanted to know:

That’s how it’s done.

Vote for the May Book Club Read

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:45:00 +0000

A little business first: You still have until Tuesday, May 1 to enter this giveaway to win Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris. There are X-Files references and cute boys and guns and all, so go ahead and enter.

Next, we need to vote on the book we’ll be reading for May’s YA Book Club. I’ve taken your suggestions,* added one of my own, and—voila!—a poll. (It happened just like that. Really.)

I know I’ve said no sequels to novels the book club hasn’t read about 7.2 gazillion times, and I generally mean that because this is an INCLUSIVE book club and people who haven’t read the first book in a series should be free to join any month, but I think I’ve found an exception.

I’ve added Insurgent, the sequel to Divergent, to the list because A) so many of you have read Divergent and B) so many of you requested Insurgent. Therefore, by order of the Supreme Poobah of the book club, I say we can read sequels if the first book is huge enough and if it’s what the people want.

Here are your choices (click the image to see the Goodreads description of the book):

What would you like to read for May's book club?

Poll Widget.org

View Results

Also, it’s been about two eternities since I reviewed one of the books I’ve been reading. It’s not that I haven’t read anything good, either. I blame America, really. I mean, we’re such workaholics that—and this might shock and awe you—I’ve felt compelled to put the day job first. I KNOW. But soon you’ll get the lowdown on:

A book I can’t get out of my mind almost three months after I read it.
A post-apocalyptic book that separates itself from many of the dystopians out there.
A contemporary novel that I didn’t expect to love as much as I did.

Go ahead and vote. I’ll reveal the winner on Monday.

*Though I did cut it down a bit since there were a lot of suggestions that didn’t get any other votes. I think if the list gets too long then it’s harder as a group to pick a winner.

Unraveling Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Sometimes when a book is getting really close to releasing I’ll do this thing where I become a book stalker. I don’t do it intentionally really. It’s more of a random type of stalking, which I guess would shave a few years off my sentence (or a few yards off my restraining order) were we talking about humans and not books.

I’ll be browsing Goodreads with an idea of the sort of book I want to read when there it is in all its unpublished glory. This will happen a half dozen times, me stumbling upon the exact book I want to read that instant, the book not being published yet. Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris* is one of those books.

I stalked this one for a while, constantly clicking on it whenever Goodreads told me about books Readers Also Enjoyed. And then I’d read the blurb and yell, I KNOW, GOODREADS, I KNOW. I’VE WANTED TO ALSO ENJOY THIS BOOK SINCE THE FIRST TIME YOU TEASED ME WITH IT. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE!

So I’m super excited that not only is Unraveling FINALLY available, but that I can help spread the word. And, most importantly, help you win a copy of the book.

For those of you whose stalking abilities pale in comparison to mine (I think that’s a good thing), here’s the blurb:

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

Um, you caught that right? Girl detective! Mystery! A clock counting down to the FREAKING END OF THE WORLD! As you can see, it has been crafted out of awesome. (Need proof? Check out the first 90 pages here.)

So, in honor of Unraveling’s debut, a giveaway. (It ends Tuesday, May 1.)

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Oh, and I almost forgot my Unraveling-related question: If you find out that the world’s expiration date is somewhat nearer than anticipated, what’s your next move?

Unlike Janelle, I don’t need a back-from-the-dead experience or a world destruction countdown to know the end of the world is near. Might I remind you:

That right there is reason enough for me to eat pizza as many times as I like during the week.

What would you do if The End was sooner than expected?

*Elizabeth Norris briefly taught high school English and history before trading the southern California beaches and sunshine for Manhattan’s recent snowpocalyptic winter. She harbors dangerous addictions to guacamole, red velvet cupcakes, sushi, and Argo Tea, fortunately not all together. Her first novel, UNRAVELING (Balzer+Bray, April 2012), is the story of one girl’s fight to save her family, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.

Obsessed (Also, Pick Our May Book)

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

So Friday for my birthday The Man took me to FINALLY see The Hunger Games. It was playing at the drive-in nearby, and since I’m literally The Girl On Fire, I was happy we could sit in the car with the A/C blasting my feet.

The obsessed fan that I am, I wore this T-shirt:

Under a sweatshirt with the same saying. I’m pretty sure all those teens in tank tops were jealous of how cool I looked. I’m pretty sure that’s what their stares meant.

Pretty sure.

So without spending six pages explaining my thoughts on the movie I’ll just say three things:

I really, really liked it.
I still couldn’t help but think how the book was so much better. It’s understandable that A LOT has to be cut for film, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t miss some details.*
Still, I thought it was great.

Right, so enough Hunger Games gushing. We have business to attend to. Friends, what are your suggestions for the May YA book club?

I’m looking to you for help. I know there are some pretty awesome sequels coming out at the end of this month, but let’s stick with stand-alone books** so the maximum number of readers can enjoy the book club.

Kapishe?***

Hit me: What do you want to read?

*Though it’s been way too long since I read the books, which I plan on doing before I see the movie again. I might be crazy, but I thought Peeta was tougher in the book for some reason...

**One day we’ll read a sequel to a book club book, but today is not that day. Mainly because there are no sequels to the books we’ve read…yet.

***Am I the only one who thinks of Uncle Jesse every single time she hears this word?

An Excerpt

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:39:00 +0000

You guys have probably guessed by now that I don’t do a lot of WIP sharing around here. Insecurities about and all. But I was tagged with this Lucky Seven … thing (what are these—memes?) and it seemed too fun to pass up.

The rules:

Go to page 77 of your current MS.
Go to line 7.
Copy down the next 7 lines/sentences, and post the as they’re written. No cheating.
Tag 7 other writers.

First off, I cheated. I know, I KNOW, but hear me out. Line seven contained a half sentence so I started with line eight. I’m pretty sure I didn’t spoil the fun or anything. Also, I’m posting more than seven lines since the scene ends a few sentences later, and I figured, why not end there?

Okay, so you’ll be getting these lines from my YA sci-fi. There’s a very good chance I’ll be cutting this scene in the future, so I’m glad that, of all the passages the 77-7 ended up on this one.

Unlike Katy Upperman, who posted an awesome kiss, my character is forced to sit next to a cute boy without kissing him. As you can probably guess, I’m not as nice to my characters (or readers, apparently) as Katy is. (And if you haven’t read her excerpt, please, go, now.)

When I came up for air, I paddled to the rock at the base of the cliff where Eli sat. A group of trees on either side shaded the flat rock from the bright sunlight.

“Your attempt to get me into my underwear was a massive failure,” I said when I had pushed myself onto the rough ledge. Eli smiled, avoided my eyes. He watched his feet make circles in the water.

“You figured me out.” He started to say something else but stopped.

“Say it.”

He took in the kind of deep breath people take before attempting to touch the bottom of the lake and then said, “Do you think I’m a murderer?”

“I think you’re a healer. Just because you can kill doesn’t mean you have to.” The sun slipped behind a fat cloud. Without its warmth and with my wet clothes sticking to my body, I started to shiver.

“I do kill. Every time,” Eli said.

“Fine, but you don’t let them stay that way. You’re only a killer if you want to be.”

Eli put his hand on the wet rock beside mine so it pressed into my pinkie finger. I wondered if that was accidental or if his heart was flip-flopping, too. Only he wasn’t paying attention to our almost-interlacing fingers. Eli’s head was tilted back against the rock wall, eyes shut.

And, oh, I hate deciding who to tag. So, let’s see, how about Alison, Jessica, Liz, Sarah, Jaime, Kelly, Elodie, and Erin Bowman.

Let’s try to go a bit shorter in the comments. What’s the seventh line of chapter seven in your WIP?

Coming Soon

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:42:00 +0000

Oh hi.

So there’s this blogfest I’m doing in May that I wanted to tell you about, mostly because I want to read the posts you create for it. Which means this is a totally selfish post. I’m okay with that.

See, my friend Sara McClung was having a hard time keeping up with her blog and thought, “Hey, May would be a good month to rededicate myself to the Internet People.” Though I can’t guarantee the order of events, I’m pretty sure she then scratched her chin (yes, in my imagination Sara is really an old man) and said, “How can I make this month of blogging fun?”

Anyhow, the point of this reenactment is not to get you to picture cute blonde Sara as an old man. No! The point is to tell you that the result of all of her thinking and chin scratching is the Blog Me MAYbe blogfest, which I’m hosting with Sara, Katy Upperman, Alison Miller, Cambria Dillon, Jessica Love, Alexandra Shostak, and Lola Sharp.

Here are a few reasons this blogfest is high on the FEST:

Though there’s a schedule for daily posting, you don’t have to post daily.
Which means it’s totally okay if you participate in the blogfest every Monday or only three times in May.
We won’t track you down.
Because we’re lazy.
You don’t have to follow every single blog participating in the blogfest.
If fact, you don’t have to follow a single person to participate.
Yippee.
You don’t have to comment on other people’s posts daily.
Though if you do, I’m sure they’d blush and squeal with joy.
But those against joy and/or squealing can still participate.
We won’t judge.
Much.

So here’s how it works, starting with May 1.

MONDAYS: May I tell you something about writing?

This can be anything writing related. A post on craft. A post on your process. A snippet of your WIP, if you like to share. A book on craft that you want to recommend. Things you struggle with. Things you rock at. ANYTHING at all!

TUESDAYS: May I tell you something about myself?

Share something about yourself that your readers may or may not know, like how you’re a professional cake tester. It doesn't matter—this is just so people who read your blog can get to know you a little better.

WEDNESDAYS: May I ask something about you?

Ask your readers something about themselves. Like, any professional cake testers out there? I’d like to lessen your workload a little…

THURSDAYS: May I tell you something about someone else?

Make this post about someone else. A writing friend. A critique partner. A person from history who’s fascinating. A character from a book. Anyone you want. Have a guest poster. Give an interview. Get creative. Just let the spotlight shine on someone else.

FRIDAYS: May I share something funny?

Friday = the start of the weekend. That’s reason to celebrate and laugh on its own. Plus, who doesn’t want to see something amusing after a long week? (Well, probably those people against squealing for joy...)

So, if you’re interested in playing along—all month or just every now and then—grab a button for your blog and start posting come May.

You can sign up here, and check these blogs during the month of May to read what other participants have to say:

And in the mean time, I’m going to pretend it’s a Friday in May and leave you with these oldies but goodies:

In case can’t hear it from where you are, I’m SQUEALING with JOY.

Your (Awesome) Outlining Tips for Pantsters

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Two weeks ago I came to you on my knees, begging for your outlining tips. I’d been (unsuccessfully) attempting to outline a new story, and turned to you before drugs, alcohol, or petty theft.

I’d say that was a step in the right direction.

This is why I count on you guys to save my sanity. Because of course you had really great outlining tips for pantsters like me. Before I give you the floor, I wanted to relay a few resources I found helpful while outlining in case my fellow pantsters want to take now.

Author Corrine Jackson’s post on outlining in three acts was invaluable to me. She mentions it in her post, but this description of story structure is super helpful while outlining.

As was this story structure series on Story Fix. It’s not an outlining how-to, but if you read each post in the series you’ll have the main points you should cover in your outline.

And author Jody Sparks’ post is a quick lesson in another type of outling.

And then there are the sites and books you guys suggested. I’m so excited to share these with you. As promised, your completely awesome outlining tips for reforming pantsters:

“I usually start with the scene that inspired the story in the first place and then go from there.”

—Prernapickett

1. Color code, either with Post-Its or your word processing program’s highlight function.

2. Use a method that’s easily adjusted rather than writing directly onto a poster board or in a notebook (again, Post-Its are easy to move and re-stick, and you can always insert something into Word or whatever).

3. Start with the biggest things first: inciting incident, turning points, dark moment, climax, etc... Then, fill in the details as you move forward.

4. If you’ve got multiple plots layering on top of each other, try outlining each one individually first, then weave them together later.

—Katy Upperman

“I usually start with a synopsis. It’s easier for me to go step by step, deeper into a story than to dive in head first in a super detailed outline. So, after I have a solid synopsis, I then create a … map is how I think of it. It’s chapter-by-chapter bullet points of what needs to happen where. I find it easier to make sure each scene and chapter has its GMC (Goal, Motivation, Conflict) and a solid arc this way. Plus, it’s a much easier way to see the whole story arc at once.”

—Holly Dodson

“I’m an outliner. After I’ve thought about a SNI for a (usually long) while and have the concept/situation down, I write the first 5,000 to 10,000 words. Then I write an outline of all the scenes I expect to write (including those I already wrote). I write maybe 3 sentences to describe each scene. While drafting, I update the outline as things come to me and the story goes in new directions. So I don’t necessarily stick to my outline at all—but if I get stuck, it’s there to show me how to get to the resolution.”

—Rebecca Behrens

“My methods are a bit crazy, but they work pretty well for me. I first do the 7 steps method on my major plots and character arcs on my whiteboard. Then I take that and do the Save the Cat beat sheet, and usually a short blurb/query at the same time. Then I take all that and make a chapter/scene outline, with 1 or 2 sentences per scene. That gives me enough structure to know where I’m going with the book, but keeps it open enough that each scene is still surprising when I write it.”

—Elizabeth Briggs

“I wish I had some lovely words of wisdom for you, but I always seem to begin with one line. That first line is usually something that relates to a monumental turn in the MC’s story or life, and then I begin. That one line has a story in it, a definite direction, so it’s not just completely willy-nilly, but it never seems to stay either as the story develops.”

—Linda McLaren

“I use post it notes! I have a wall in my workspace that I stick them to and then rearrange as necessary. Even in my early writing stages if I have a great idea pop in to my head, I put it on my to-be-arranged section. When it’s time, I start popping them in place. The great part about it is I can always rearrange as necessary!”

—Veronica Bartondean

“What’s helped me in the past is to open a Word doc for each of my plot/subplot lines, using a different font color for each. I write one sentence for each scene in the main plot, then for each of the subplots. I print my docs out, lay them side by side and connect the dots.

I also have one of those scrapbook paper choppers. You can slice your plots into strips and glue each colored plot line onto one piece of paper. My husband does the same thing, but he hooks his laptop up to separate monitors with a Word window open in each monitor. His way is less messy, but I don’t have access to three monitors.”

—Becky Wallace

“I love Susan Dennard’s post on writing a synopsis. I use it to write a rough outline. It allows me to see the big picture and keep on track. At the same time, I allow myself to veer from early ideas if I get inspired along the way. When I sit down to write, I can jump to the scene or chapter I’m most excited about. I think it’s the perfect balance between pantsing and plotting.”

—Kat Owens

“I use a combination of the Save The Cat Beat Sheet (which I have in Excel Spreadhseet form) and the Snowflake outlining method.

—Jessica Love

“I started my WIP with a basic outline of what would happen in the story with the major points in the story and even some smaller little ones that would help build my story.”

—Eve

“I second the Save the Cat Beat Sheet that Jessica mentioned. It’s been like a total wake-up call for me, as far as plot planning goes.

—Crystal Schubert

“I third Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat! I used to be a total pantser, but after reading Save the Cat, I’m able to have the best of both worlds. Here’s a link to a beat sheet spreadsheet that’ll calculate where your beats need to go for whatever word count you’re aiming for. It’s helped me so much!”

—Cambria Dillon

“I start with brief beginning/middle/end notes, trying to get an idea of what I want the story to generally be about and where I want it to go. Just summaries really. And from there I start breaking down the chapters, briefly summarizing what I want from each chapter. I try not to do too much outlining because events easily change so know what you’re going to write but keep the idea simple to allow for random changes.”

—Robin Moran

“I’ve been using a combination of methods from K.M. Weiland’s Outlining Your Novel and Alexandra Sokoloff’s Screenwriting Tricks for Authors—both outstanding (and reasonably priced) books. For my WIP, that means I have a detailed outline for the entire book (clocked in at around 5,000 words) and I’m going back to make sure I’ve hit all the story structure points. I’m finding that the actual writing is flowing much better—not spending as much time flailing around for how to accomplish a scene.”

—Angelica R. Jackson

“It does help when you’re outlining just for you … then the format doesn’t matter. You just have to find what works for you.

If world building is the hang-up to getting you started, then I’d say write background notes. I did this for my sci-fi WIP. Describe settings, culture, history, laws, so you can be inspired by these elements as you write.

If knowing where it ends is keeping you from plunging in then try the beginning/middle/end method suggested above … just brainstorm lists of things that might happen in those three places and try to sort them out and connect the dots afterward.

If multi-layered/interweaving plots are the issue (or if you’re a visual learner) then flow-chart and/or Post-It style outlining might be best.

I like scene lists myself (like Rebecca suggested), though I usually don’t use them until later in a book when the plot timing gets more complicated.

I also like Rebecca’s suggestion to write the first 5-10K before outlining. I think this is the best bet for pantsters because we have better ideas about what might happen after we’ve been immersed in the story for a bit. Yes, that 5-10K might need revising or even rewriting later, but it’s worth it if you want to make an outline that might actually get used as you write.”

—Jennifer Hoffine

You’ll notice I haven’t told you what worked for me. (I’ll do a separate post on it.) That was a strategic omission on my part, mainly to avoid a blog post the length of a novella. You’re welcome.

RTW: In Which I Tell you Merci Beaucoup

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 16:11:00 +0000

Road Trip Wednesday is a blog carnival, where YA Highway’s contributors and readers post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s take on the topic.

This week’s prompt was: Who has helped you on your reading/writing/publishing journey?

So I might have mentioned it before, but my writing journey has been plagued with doubts and fears. I know I can write, but can I write well enough? When I was in college studying journalism, I took a course in narrative nonfiction, which was taught by this guy. Our first assignment: Write a narrative nonfiction story about something, some big issue that we could turn the microscope on as narrative nonfiction tends to do.

I headed to this tattoo parlor where I chatted with the owner and sat in on this really understanding woman’s tattoo. I wrote the article. And instead of having me complete any of the assignments that followed, my professor had me work on the article, doing additional reporting (me and the guys at the tattoo parlor got thisclose) and refining the article for publication.

That right there, that single act of believing my work was good enough to take out of the classroom and pitch newspapers and magazines made me realize I can do this. It was the moment I believed in my abilities as a writer. But it’s not the only thing that’s helped me in my publishing pursuits.

If I spent this entire post naming everyone who’s made this journey easier for me I might sound like an Oscar speech from—oh, I don’t know—a Best Sound Mixing winner. (Read: snoozefest) So I’ll just say this: You all have helped me.

My critique partners and beta readers have strengthened my work. My writing friends have kept me strong and positive that I can do this and helped me laugh along the way. The writing community has been kind and welcoming, making me realize even more that THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO DO. People whose blogs are gold mines of writing advice have strengthened my writing and, most times than I’d care to admit, helped me get over the fear that I’m doing something wrong. And authors, these people who are rock stars of the literary world, encourage me without even knowing.

(FYI to all authors: The little people, like me, kind of love it when you respond to a comment or tweet. It makes us feel like part of the community, and that’s invaluable in the otherwise solitary pursuit that is writing.)

I guess what I’m saying is that a single person hasn’t guided my journey, which is exactly what would happen if my life were a movie. (I can see the gruff but wise Sean Connery character now—or Joseph Gordon Levitt, depending on whether or not they use the whole mentor-turned-love interest angle.)

Cue the inspirational music.

Who’s helped you on your writing journey?

Q&A with Wanderlove Author Kirsten Hubbard

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 10:00:00 +0000

If you missed it, we discussed this month’s book club pick, Wanderlove, on Friday. Well, I thought it would be cool to bring the author, Kirsten Hubbard, into the discussion. She was kind enough to answer some of my questions about the novel and her escapades abroad. AND, because she’s more than cool, passed along some photos she took while traveling. Enjoy!

Tracey: When did you catch wanderlove?

Kirsten: I think it was threefold. First, arriving in London the summer before my senior year of high school, totally jet-lagged (I’m from California) after an overnight flight. It wasn’t that different from the United States—and yes, SO different. Every minute was filled with discovery. Then, a little over a year later, I left for college in San Diego, and walked over the border to Tijuana, Mexico, for the first time. It was an entirely different kind of other; the first true poverty I’d ever seen, but also so lively and colorful and sensory. Lastly, the experiences from friends who’d backpacked before me, including my boyfriend (now husband.) Every story made me more determined to backpack myself—which I finally did at age 20: six weeks in Central America that afflicted me for life!

Starling, Rowan, and Bria all have their own definitions of wanderlove. What does it meant to you?

Although in Wanderlove there’s a huge element of running from one’s past, I don’t think that has to be part of it. For me, Wanderlove is about sheer, vibrant, heart-bursting passion for travel and everything that comes with it: beauty and frenzy and shock and camaraderie and discovery. It never goes away—it only grows. It’s not an itch, like wanderlust—it’s a deep, constant longing.

The book is filled with the different characters’ travel philosophies. What’s yours?

Writing Wanderlove was definitely an experience in working through my own philosophies: things like respecting how other people choose to travel, even if I’d never be comfortable at a Sandals resort myself; being okay with how well-traveled I am (which never seems well-traveled enough!); accepting that first-world guilt is something to acknowledge and consider, but not a reason not to travel, if that makes sense. Especially since money from tourism has the potential help revitalize struggling, undertraveled regions. Argh, I could write an essay on this stuff. (Or a couple more novels…)

One thing I try to remember is that my travel philosophies aren’t for everybody—they’re personal, for myself, and the way I choose to travel. However, I do feel very strongly about responsible tourism, respecting the communities and cultures you’re visiting, and doing your research before you go anywhere. Those are for everyone.

One of my favorites surprises about the book was the illustrations you did. Are you an artist as well as a writer?

Not really! I always thought I’d be, but then there’ve been huge gaps in the last ten years where I did little or no drawing. One thing that always stands in my way is, as an adult, I have trouble creating art for art’s sake; just for fun, for the thrill of it. Without an attainable-seeming end goal, all my insecurities get in the way. Illustrating Wanderlove worked fantastically—Bria finding her art was concurrent with me finding my own art.

I have to ask (because I loved her so much), is Sonia a figment of your imagination or based off of someone you met while traveling?

I made her up! However, I’ve spent a decent amount of time in Belize, and I tried to gift her some of the qualities (Belizean slang included) of a few amazing, mildly ferocious people I met.

Author Kirsten Hubbard in Black Rock City, Nevada

I’m of the opinion that if you’re doing it right, you should leave a place different than when you arrived. We know that traveling helped Bria find herself and gain confidence. How has traveling changed you?

Well, first, it’s burdened me with an incredible, interminable sense of longing. I’m homesick for a dozen places, at all times.

Traveling in the third world has definitely made me less materialistic—I’m not a monk by any means, or even a Starling, but I often find myself mentally rebelling against Stuff Culture. (I just made that up.) When I haven’t traveled for six months or a year, I start to forget, and slip into everyday superficialities. Travel reminds me what’s truly important.

There’s another story here—between Bria and Toby, her ex-boyfriend, who we learn, little by little, emotionally abused her. What made you choose this instead of, say, physical abuse?

As a matter of fact, in the very first version of Wanderlove, Toby was physically abusive. (He was also her swim coach.) It made Bria’s past very, very dark, and was a much larger thing to overcome; it made the contrast with the joy of Bria’s traveltastic present too dissonant. It was like two different books. When I decided to change it, I found emotional abuse just as interesting a concept to explore narratively; it’s more subtle, and often overlooked or shrugged away, but can be so hugely damaging.

One of the things Wanderlove does so well is infect the reader with wanderlust. How did you, as a writer, accomplish that?

That was my evil plan, muahaha. Really though, I just set out to tell the truth. I was as honest as I could possibly be about all aspects of travel; the nasty parts, but more importantly, the parts that made me fall in love with it myself.

Let’s talk about setting. You’ve given us links to spots (here and here) where you describe the process you use to create a living setting, but why is setting so crucial for your writing?

Oh, I love setting. I love thinking up a premise and placing it in a location that enhances every aspect of the story. On a smaller level, I love thinking of the best place to stick each scene, so the backdrop interacts with the characters, their thoughts and words and actions. I can’t imagine I’ll ever write a book where setting isn’t important in some way.

What was the hardest scene or section of this book to write and why?

I think it was the travel philosophy conversation Bria and Rowan have while sharing a hammock in Belize. It was so important to me to get it just right—to represent what my characters would say, what they believed in their heart of hearts, even if I felt a little differently myself. It had to show growth, and not be offensive, and all kinds of things. My editor was a HUGE help here. I remember I received my manuscript back from her, and those couple pages were packed with comments and questions in the margins. She got me thinking even more deeply, and the result is one of my favorite scenes in the whole book.

So I hear you’re interested in writing a couple companion novels to Wanderlove. Which characters do you have in mind (Starling, pretty please)? And would they also take place in South America or are you considering other locations?

RUMOR HAS IT. Unfortunately, I am going to keep all that secret for now, because publishing is so tricky, and there’s very little guarantee I’ll get to write these stories. But I hope I will.

Hubbard in Nicaragua

ON TRAVELING

What’s your most favorite destination on Earth? (And just pick one—no cheating!)

Black Rock City, Nevada. For sure.

What’s one place you’ve never been but are dying to visit?

I’d say the two that I’m wanderlusting after the most right now are India and Colombia.

Name three items you’ll never travel without.

Ooh, good one. Let’s say I’m backpacking, not just visiting my twin in San Francisco:

1. Earplugs are an absolute necessity and nobody should travel without them.

2. A towel. I have a cheap, crappy Panama towel that rolls up super small. I bring it everywhere.

3. An unlined journal or sketchbook. They’re full by the end of each trip.

What’s your favorite travel-inspired novel, and why?

Well, my favorite book of all time is Lolita, and it includes travel. Same with Watership Down. Those bunnies travel very far, on a bunny scale. In YA, I adore Stephanie Perkins’s Anna and the French Kiss, and I really enjoyed Morgan Matson’s Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour. In a tone and discovery sense, they’re the closest thing I’ve found to Wanderlove. Also my friend Kristin Halbrook’s 2013 book Nobody But Us is a fantastic and heartbreaking road trip book.

What are the top five backpacking tips you’d give someone who isn’t familiar with the beauty of backpacks, hostels, and off-the-beaten-path tourism?

I’m working on a long article about this now, so I’m not sure I’ll be able to condense it too well. Basically:

Research every place as deeply as possible.
Write everything down, including the name of that hostel your found on Google and are sure you’ll remember.
Don’t be afraid to ignore or even be rude to aggressive cab drivers/peddlers/tour operators, because they don’t have your best interest at heart.
Keep an eye on your stuff at all times.
And most of all, TRUST your instincts. If a situation (or person) is pinging your spidey sense, get the hell out of it, even if you don't know why at the time.

Lake Atitlan, which Bria visited in Wanderlove.

RAPID-FIRE ROUND

Thinking back on your travels:

What is your favorite food?

These itty bitty (like, half-dollar sized) pancakes made with corn and coconut milk I bought from a street cart in Phuket, Thailand and have never seen again.

Where’s the best place to read a book?

On the Kindle I left on my plane home from Costa Rica. Delta isn’t responding to my lost & found contact form. As for an actual place—well, nothing makes a bus ride go faster than a good book.

Which city is the easiest to get lost in?

In a scary sense, probably Bangkok. In an “on purpose” sense, I could have wandered around Budapest forever.

Which country has the friendliest people?

Thailand, for sure. I think you can always judge a country’s friendliness by the kids. Some places, they glare at you. Others, they burst into waves, giggles and grins. That’s Thailand.

Where’s the best place to let loose?

I tend to avoid the crazy party spots, like Cancun and Cabo and places like that. Personally, I always feel like the best party is when you’re traveling with a friend or two, and you’ve been in one destination long enough to get to know other backpackers. So much fun.

What’s something you’ll never forget?

The time I was traveling in the rainforests of Livingston, Guatemala, and my ankle inexplicably swelled up the size of a football. I still wonder what bit me.

Thank you, Kirsten, for chatting!

Guys, if you want to hear more from Kirsten, keep an eye on YA Highway this month. The awesome ladies over there will be revealing a pretty cool feature, which will focus more on Wanderlove and culminate in a video chat. And that’s all for now.

Kirsten Hubbard is a travel writer and the author of Like Mandarin (Random House/Delacorte, March 8, 2011) and Wanderlove (Random House/Delacorte, March 13, 2012). You can find her online, on her blog, on Facebook, or on Twitter as @kirstenhubbard.

Book Review: Wanderlove

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Welcome readers. Pull up a chair. Grab a cup of coffee (or tequila—we won’t judge). And let’s talk books.

This month, we’re discussing Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard. For those of you who haven’t yet read the book, here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

It all begins with a stupid question: Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria’s a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan’s a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they’ve got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward. But Bria comes to realize she can’t run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

I am, at the current moment, fighting the urge to stop writing this review, pack a few necessities into my backpack, and hop the first flight to Central America. I’d like to say my obligations to this blog are holding me back, but let’s be honest: I’m just broke.

I’m blaming my obsession with Central America (see Article 1, Section A: “Google image search history”) on Kirsten Hubbard and her book Wanderlove. I mentioned this before, but my favorite part of the book was the feeling of wanderlust it gave me. The locations in the book were so vividly described that I can still picture them when I shut my eyes.

Of course, setting is Hubbard’s domain, and not just because she’s a travel writer. Here, she paints a picture of each place for us—and not only the image a reader may have in mind—and even though her descriptions are pretty detailed they don’t slow the story down. Case in point:

“We’re standing on the beach with our backpacks on, facing the ocean. A faint drizzle—what my dad calls a Scottish mist—makes the gray sea and sky bleed together like wet-on-wet watercolor. Even the waves seem sluggish, heaving toward shore. ‘So this is the Caribbean?’ I ask.”

That wasn’t my first experience with the Caribbean (I can’t be positive, but I think there was a lot of sun and turquoise water involved), but it’s unexpected and refreshing. Though Wanderlove can be seen as a love letter to Travel, the book doesn’t pretend all expeditions are rainbows and sunny skies.

I’ll be honest: I love traveling so much that I probably would have liked this book even if the characters were ho-hum and the romance was all yawn and the plot was been there, done that. Seriously.

But good news, the characters are pretty awesome. My favorite: Sonia, a side character who totally stole the show in her scenes.

Bria is probably the first completely average (and when I say average I mean average, not average-hiding-secret-abilities or average-but-really-not) YA character I’ve read and really, really loved. She’s self-conscious and shy, doubts her abilities as an artist even though others see her talent, and is cautious above all. Teen Tracey totally relates.

Bria’s struggle to find her identity is at the heart of the novel. Is she someone who belongs on a safe-yet-predictable group tour with a bunch of middle-aged people? Is she the kind of person who could backpack with strangers around Central America? So much of Wanderlove was Bria figuring out who she was through travel and through her relationships.

Which brings me to … the romance. One of the main complaints a lot of people have with YA romances today is this instalove factor. Characters meet. Bat eyelashes. Fall in love. You won’t find that in Wanderlove. The romance between Bria and Rowan is slow-building and realistic, especially since both are running from something big.

And that’s what I found so appealing about Wanderlove. Bria doesn’t unload her problems onto Rowan the minute he looks at her twice. In the same way, Rowan keeps his problems closed-off from Bria for much of the book. It’s an issue of trust, and a believable one at that. I know I wouldn’t go spilling my problems to some boy I just met, not even if he looked like this:

Well...

It’s a long process, trusting someone you’ve just met, and Hubbard handles that expertly, stitching it into the relationship so it builds and builds before the characters openly show they’re interested in one another.

Also believable: The awkwardness between Bria and Rowan at first. Imagine you’re traveling with someone you met 24 hours ago. You might be able to banter a bit, but you’ll probably have some lulls in conversation, too. The fact that Bria and Rowan’s relationship was peppered with those in the beginning rang so true for me. Here, see:

“For a moment, we seem to run out of things to say. The jungle is so loud I can almost sift the sound waves through my fingers, but it’s better than the gracelessness of total silence.”

(Oh, did I forget to mention the gorgeous prose?)

On a whole, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book. For some reason, I had imagined it as a lighter travel novel, and while it’s definitely a travel book it’s really a story about identity—who we are, who we want to become, and how our actions and relationships shape us. There’s no fluff, but real questions that ask you, the reader, to examine yourself.

“ ‘Anyway, so many American luxuries are just that—luxuries,’ Starling continues. ‘You don’t need them. They drag you down, and not just physically.’ ”

And did I mention there’s a cute boy? And art Hubbard sketched herself? Yup, cool.

Speaking of cool …. Kirsten Hubbard was kind enough to answer a bunch of questions about her book, her travels, and her travel philosophy (hint: it’s not the same as Rowan’s) for me. Check back Monday for the interview.

Also, look for a really cool video chat with Kirsten Hubbard in April on YA Highway.

What did you think of the book? Write your thoughts in the comments below, and link to your blog review below.

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RTW: Best Book of March

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:34:00 +0000

This week’s prompt was: What was the best book you read in March?

This has just been one of those months. You know what I mean? I started it with a big move from Virginia to Massachusetts and have been getting settled ever since. And even though all I’ve wanted to do was curl up with a good book, I’ve resisted. Sometimes there are more important things. Like finding the box that has your underwear.

Which brings me to my Best Book of March. I read two. The one I’d pick as my favorite is our YA Book Club read, Wanderlove.

Before I joined the Real World, I had a severe case of wanderlove. It started when I was young and taking charge of our family vacations. (Not that I got my way all the time. During my Agatha Christie phase, my idea of taking the Orient Express—yes, it still ran back then, until three years ago, in fact—got shot down pretty quickly.) I spent a semester studying at the University of Auckland in New Zealand, and after my first day in the city I was completely, totally, 100 percent infected with wanderlove. The disease lasted through the rest of college and after, when my friends and I backpacked around Europe for a month.

And then I got a Real Job with Real Responsibilities and Real Bills and, well, you can pretty much guess what happened. I still have my bucket list of places to visit, but I no longer use my life savings to travel for a month. No, I save and save and save.

That’s why I loved Wanderlove so much. It brought me back to all of those trips I took when I was younger and didn’t know why every adult hates April* or why taking a vacation from work is so hard—even if you have vacation days.

So in honor of that, here are a few photos of places Wanderlove brought me back to. You should know, while I’ve been to all of these places, none of the photos were taken by me.** I used film when traveling because I didn’t have my super awesome Nikkon D-SLR at the time. (I’ll see if I can dig up the real photos and scan them in for my post on Friday.)

New Zealand countryside

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Climbing Franz Josef glacier, New Zealand

Scuba diving the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Venice

Prague

Gaudi gardens, Barcelona

Florence

I’ll be doing a full review for the YA Book Club. On Friday. (You didn’t forget, right? Good.) Anyone still interested in joining but fuzzy on the details, go here.

Oh, and I’m still taking your outlining tips. Next week, expect a post of your genius ideas. On behalf of all pantsters, I thank you.

Where on Earth gives you wanderlove? If I had to pick, it’d be New Zealand.

* For those of you who don’t know, it’s the dreaded tax season.

** Click the photo to go to the source.

Your Outlining Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Tracey Neithercott) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:20:00 +0000

So this is a totally self-serving post, but here we go. This is me while attempting to outline a story that’s too complicated to just jump into:

It’s not a pretty sight over here. It’s a miracle I can even write this post, what with all of the scribbly lines going on in my head.

All of you plotters out there, help a pantster out. What are your tips for outlining?

I’m going to compile all of your super smart and amazing tips into a post for the future, so you won’t just be helping me, but pretty much the whole of humanity. For serious.