Writerly Revelation #2

Writerly Revelation #2:

You are not ALONE.

We all know writing can be a very isolated activity.

Most of the action and work happens in our own heads, right?

Long hours spent typing away in front of a monitor

or maybe spent scribbling away on a worn out notepad?

It can get lonely if you let it.

You can feel like no one will ever read what you write,

or understand the need for words that you have somewhere deep inside of you.

But then you stumble across something that makes you think.

Something that gives you hope.

Someone who understands.

Maybe it's a Critique group of other writers.

Maybe it's the wonderful word of book blogging.

Maybe it's a friend of family member who is supportive.

Maybe you don't know yet.

Rest assured, us writers, are never truly alone.

Anytime you're down,

or anytime you feel hopeless,

I encourage you to take a look around.

You'll find others here and there, in the most suprising of places,

who would love nothing more than to encourage you and

share their own similar stories.

You never have to feel alone on this literary journey.

Unless you want to, of course. ;)

And then, well, we'll all understand that too.

That's what friends do.

The Wednesday Book Recommendation

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Wow. Apparently I am on a roll in 2011 and everything I pick up is fabulous!!!

I literally read this book in 4 days because I couldn't put it down. Just to give you some insight into my life: I work full time, have a toddler, and write in my free time, so 4 days to finish a book is pretty much UNHEARD of. Yes, it was THAT good.

Derting is amazing and has done a fabulous job of making these characters all seem very real and relatable, but in my opinion, the best thing she does in this book is balance out the totally creepy, heart pounding scenes, with sweet, heart melting ones.

I'll admit it kept me on the edge of my seat and a few times I was actually terrified of turning the page, torn between wanting to know what happens and at the very same time, terrified to find out!

The relationship between Jay and Violet is also so, so sweet, and feels very real.

All in all, just a really great read. I can't wait for the second book!

View all my reviews


SO, what about you? DID you read it?  What are your thoughts? 

Have you seen this?

It's the Goodreads Reading Challenge!

http://www.goodreads.com/challenges/2-2011-reading-challenge

I'm well on my way to meeting mine!  Woo hoo!

I may have to up my number if it's too easily reached,

because, seriously, what's the fun in that?

Give me drama and stress that I MAY not make it!

LOL!

If you're on Goodreads, check it out!

The more reading challenges the better, I say!

:-)

Writerly Revelation #1

Writing Revelation #1:

Your first draft is only the BEGINNING.

Sure, it sounds simple.  We all know that, right?  Writing 101.

BUT, if you're like me, this becomes your mantra, something to repeat to yourself whenever doubt sets in or you want to do something you already know is insane.

A few things I've learned along the way that I constantly remind myself of:

DO: Send your work to trusted Critique Partners and Beta Readers.

DON'T: Do this just once and consider your manuscript "clean".

DO: Take a break after that first draft.

DON'T: Proceed to query the entire literary world just to "see if there's interest".

DO: Start to research literary agents and where your work will fit.

DON'T: Find the perfect agent and query because you KNOW he/she is perfect and will love you and your manuscript regardless of where it is in the process of revision.

DO: Print out pages when you edit.

Things often look different on paper than on a computer screen and it gives you a fresh perspective.

DON'T: Be too hard on yourself.

We've all had "those" moments. You know the ones I'm talking about.  The ones where you swear what you just wrote is total gold and is revised to the extent of perfection, only to find out days later, it sucks more than anything else you've ever written and you have no idea what you were thinking.  It's okay, I'm pretty sure this is normal. It's normal, right?  Right?

DO: Enjoy taking the time making it right.

Revisions and edits take time and it's easy to see them as a burden. Perspective is key. Enjoy making your work the best you can and have fun with it. It will show in your work.

DON'T: Constantly tell the world how much you hate revising/editing.

Okay, really, I just needed a don't to list.  I have to be honest, some of the blog posts people write on how miserable editing is are some of my favorites.  We have a bond and we need to share our trials and tribulations. Or, so I think.  Just don't overdo it, you never know who else may be reading.

AND LASTLY, I think this bears repeating.

DO: Wait until you've beaten your ENTIRE manuscript into sparkly gloriousness BEFORE querying.

This one is hard.  REALLY hard. Trust me.

DON'T: Query anyway and give up when you get rejections.

I'm pretty sure most authors have queried a project too early. (Um, guilty!)

The difference is how you handle it.  Beleive in your work, don't give up, and just take it as a sign that it's time to get down to business.  NEVER give up. Did you hear that?  Never. Ever.

Sidenote: We're each on a different timeline as to the lessons we've learned, what we've written, and what we've come away with. So why not share?  Writing Revelations is my new Monday installment that chronicles my journey up to this point with writing. I've learned SO MUCH since starting to take it more sersoiusly.  Bloggers and this community of writers has been invaluable.  Yet, I still learn something new each and every day. It's one of the magical things about life. There's always something new around the corner. Embrace the lessons that come.

For the love of Steven Tyler!

Please tell me someone else watched American Idol last night!

Jennifer, where are you????  Did you watch?

Hubs and I absolutely

LOVED

the new look and feel of it. 

Our all time favorite scenes?

Those with Steven Tyler.

Love him, love his charisma, love the way the new judges all seem to jive together. 

Always been a big J-Lo fan too, so love her energy as well.

(How absolutely stunning is she?  And sweet!)

And I'm also a big fan of how well balanced everything seemed to be. As a crier, I appreciated the heart breaking stories that were told, but not dwelled upon. Yes, I teared up, but I didn't feel as though they were trying to kill me with the sadness of it all.  Just the right amount of emotion for me.

And I may already have a favorite too.

I know it's still early, but I'm already on board.

What about you?

The Wednesday Book Recommendation

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Ok, so I'm probably the LAST ONE to finish reading this, but I want to join the masses in saying how much I loved it.

This book was full of awesome!

If I had to pick my favorite thing about it, it would definitely be a tie between Evie's often spot-on-humor and Lend. Because, well, Lend's character was just *sigh*. Yeah. So, so sweet.

The interactions between the characters felt real and well paced, and I ended up falling in love right along with them. I only wish I could've had Lend all to myself.

The world Kiersten creates in this book is also very original, and described so well, that it sucks you right in. Her creatures are fun and seem to have a fresh twist, especially the Faeries, which are downright creepy at times.

All in all, a VERY fun read, and I can't wait for the next book!

View all my reviews

What about YOU?  Have you read it? 
 

In which my son tries to kill me!

The crime scene:

Note 1: Contact case on counter (complete with contacts)

Note 2: Burts Bees Handcream (which has nothing to do with this, but it has magical dry skin

healing powers that I thought you should know about.)

Exhibit A:

Sure, he may look harmless enough at first glance, but trust me, at 5AM when you happen to wander into your bathroom, the world a blur because your contacts are still on the counter, splash water on your face, brush your teet, and turn around, this is the LAST thing you are expecting to see hiding in the corner.

The most disturbing part: 

Apparently I'm not a screamer. No sound came out of my mouth. Sure, I gasped (think dramatic intake of breath that is barely audible), and jumped. And had he decided to talk at that very moment, I may have even passed out. Yes, I know, VERY courageous.

So all those times I made fun of people in the horror movies for not screaming or running have finally come back to haunt me.  Apparently those are my kind of people. Who knew?

Apparently Mickey, that's who.

An overactive writer's imagination is definitely NOT to my advantage in this kind of situation. And because Mickey happens to work better on tile than carpet, this may not be the last time it happens, but atleast now I'm on alert. Nightly bathroom checks have been enforced and I've removed Mickey from the premises twice since the "incident".

Who needs horror when you have a toddler around?

TGIF!!!

I don't know about you, but for me, this weeks been LOOOONNNNGGG.

Glad to have the weekend in front of me and the possibility

(never definite with a toddler around)

of sleeping in tomorrow! 

If you haven't already, please drop by my new site, booKrushed.com, and say hello...

the girls and I LOVE visitors.

 AND we have a contest going on.

Looksie:

Hope you each have a GREAT weekend!

The Wednesday Book Recommendation

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


First order of business ~ I.LOVE.THIS.BOOK!

And trust me, that gushing is tamed WAY DOWN. I actually took a few days after reading this before writing my review, just so I wouldn't feel the need to squeal and say incoherent things about how hot I think Prince Ash is and how he stole my heart. See how that worked for me?

Seriously though, this book suprised me in a lot of ways and I needed those few days to ask myself, why this book? Why the mad love? And I think I found the answer.

When I was younger, I read the entire Chronicle of Narnia series. Besides my Nancy Drew books (love them), it was the first taste of fun reading I had and I became an addict. The sense of adventure, the creativity, the MAGIC. This book, for me, brought me back to that feel. It's the first faerie book I've read, so that may have something to do with it as well, but the characters felt real and honest, and the storyline swept me away. It made me forget I was reading and I became submersed (read: obsessed) in this world Kagawa created. I tore through this book at a rapid pace and didn't want to put it down.

Now I find myself in a dilemma. Hubs has banned me from buying new books until I catch up on the drawer full of new ones I have yet to read, but how can I read anything when the second book is in a bookstore waiting for me to pick it up? It's hard. And he KNOWS it's coming, we joke about it frequently. We're both waiting to see when I'll crack!

View all my reviews

Have you read it?  Did you love it as much as I did or was it just a case of the right book at the right time?  We're all so different....I LOVE hearing opinions!

Release Date for Across The Universe!

So, my 2011 book reading challenge officially begins today with the release of the first book on my list! 

What is it you ask? 

Probably something on MANY people's ToBeRead list this year!

It's Beth Revis's Across The Universe!

HAPPY RELEASE DAY BETH!

Haven't heard of it yet? 

Check out the book trailer:

Not enough for you?

You can check out Beth talking about the book here:

Every time I watch this interview with Beth, I get more and more excited about the book. 

She just such a great job describing it and showing us the passion she has for it and her characters...it's like a book behind the scenes! 

Still not enough?

111 page excerpt will be posted (for a limited time) at 11:11 on 1/11/11

on the following site:

http://www.io9.com/

Other fun places to visit

Beth Revis Author sites:
*Website: http://www.bethrevis.com/ 

*Blog: http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/
*Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bethrevis

Penguin Teen sites:

*Website: http://www.penguin.com/teen
*Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/penguinteen
*Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/penguinteenbooks

Across the Universe sites:
*Facebook fan page: http://www.facebook.com/acrosstheuniversebook
*website: http://www.acrosstheuniversebook.com/

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to dive into this book!

To get your hands on a copy, you can click here!

Psst...I have a secret!

Want me to spill?

'Cuz I really WANT to spill.

Over the last few months, the girls and I have been working on a new blog site, created and inspired by the Kritique group we began a little over a year ago!  Not familiar with my girls?  Pshaw!  Check them out...Kim Franklin and Kristin Rae are my co-conspirators!

TODAY, we are all announcing our pre-launch giveaway!

The LOOT: 

a $25 Amazon gift card AND a copy of Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins!

For more details, check out booKrushed!

In addition, because it's the beginning of the year and we ADORE reading challenges, we are holding one of our own!  We are calling it 11 from 11 during 11!  We will be announcing more details in the coming months, but wanted to get the word out there early enough to start the challenge. 

We've each selected 11 books we want to read from 11 different authors that will be released in 2011! 

Here are my current picks in published date order:
Jaunary 2011 - Across the Universe by Beth Revis
February 2011 - Delirium by Lauren Oliver
February 2011 - Desires of the Dead (The Bodyfinder #2) by Kimberly Derting
March 2011 - The Dark and Hollow Places (TFOHAT #3) by Carrie Ryan
April 2011 - Bumped by Meghan McCafferty
June 2011 - Possession by Elana Johnson
July 2011 - Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater
July 2011 - Heartless (The Parasol Protectorate #4) by Gail Carriger
September 2011 - Supernaturally (Parnormalcy #2) by Kiersten White
October 2011 - Tempest (Hush, Hush #3) by Becca Fitzpatrick
2011 (no official date listed yet) - The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

WOW...reading over them again...I really can't WAIT!

What about you?  Anything coming up you can't wait to dive into???

Happy Birthday to my baby boy!

Exactly three years ago today I was in the hospital and terrified out of my mind!

I'll spare you the details, but it was a day and a moment that will forever live on in my memory. 

It was the day I fell in love with the tiniest person imaginable and prayed I wouldn't screw him up.

I remember pulling away from the hospital and looking at my husband with wide eyes. 

The conversation went something like this:

ME:  "Wow, there's a baby in the backseat.  How weird is that?"

HUBS:  "I know, I can't believe they just let you take them home afterwards.  Seems strange."

ME:  "We're not even really certified, do the birthing classes count?"

HUBS:  "I hope not, we failed at swaddling."

AND then we just died laughing.  I'm pretty sure we laughed so hard we cried.  Because in all honesty, at that moment, even though we planned everything and prepared the way you were supposed to, we both felt in over our heads.

I like to think we've been doing pretty well since that day.  Sure, there's been a few bumps here and there, a few frantic unnecessary trips to the doctor and ER, but all in all, I feel like we've done a decent job.

And my little man is growing up before my eyes, making me more proud with each passing day.

There's a good chance I will cry at random intervals today.  Never expected that either, but it happens every year.  Please tell me one of you does this too.  Am I alone?

So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my baby boy.

Mommy loves you more than you know! 

The Wednesday Book Recommendation

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick


My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I liked Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, but I LOVED Crescendo!


Her follow up novel, in my mind, was even better than the original. What can I say? I love bad boy Patch and Becca found a way to create some intense suspense and longing between her characters that kept me flipping through the pages at a frantic pace.

It was my last read of 2010 and definitely one of my favorites of the year!

View all my reviews


So, have you read it?  What did you think?

Happy New Year!!!

2011 has quite a nice ring to it, don't you think???

As I turn the pages of the calendar (and by turn, I mean throw out and start new), I can't help but wonder, where did all the time go? 

2010 was gone in a *FLASH*. 

Which brings me to the question of, how did I spend my time, and did I do it wisely? (Being an optimist, there's really only one answer here and I'll let you guess.)

BUT, the new year isn't as much about looking back as it is looking forward.  In the past, I've made specific resolutions and tried to keep them up, but like most of us, by February they are mostly dead in the water and by March, they are forgotten entirely.  This year, I think I want to be more general. 

YES, I want to take the opportunity to start fresh, with new thinking, a new attitude, new goals, BUT, it should really be things I want to focus on each and every day.

I want 2011 to be about more about the person I am, my actions, my thoughts. I want to be the wife/mother/friend/co-worker/blogger/stranger that is always there to help and lend a smile. I want to care ceaselessly and love wildly, no matter the costs. I want to practice patience and humility to the point that they come naturally, without gritted teeth, foolish pride, or hurt feelings.

This year, for me, it's a more inward look at myself and the person I want to be, the person I know I am, the person that in times I feel is lost in the day to day struggles of everyday life.

Um, not to say, I won't be participating in reading and writing challenges throughout the year,  amongst any other things that float my way, because, if you haven't noticed, I have an addiction to books. An addiction I totally find healthy and fulfilling.  (Even if the hubs has banned me from buying new ones until the piles begin to dwindle.  Bummer!)

So, what about you, friends?  What has the new year brought to your minds?  Resolutions?  Hope? Stress?

It definitely hits me as a magical time of reflection and all things new.  There's something special about this time of year, something in the air, do you feel it?