In Over My Head

Yes, I know. Another long hiatus from me. I promise it is not intentional. I was wearing myself a little thin, and I realized that my only blog posts were weekly memes. I was behind on reviews and my writing was a little crazy. Not good.

Anyways, I decided to put BLACKBIRD in a drawer but not because it wasn't good. I have all kinds of ideas for it and all kinds of revisions I want to make.The reason for drawer-ing it was simple...It's too big for a first novel. Don't get me wrong, I learned a lot while writing it and it has made me a better writer but BLACKBIRD is only the beginning to (as I have it planned) an epic 5 book series. Yeah, a bit ambitious.

I'm going to start on something new. Something smaller. More manageable. I had an idea for a WIP and I just hadn't quite figured out all the aspects of the story. After letting it fester and grow, I have this really great story that I am absolutely in love with. It is so...me. That being said, it is also out of my comfort zone. It's first-person present (I normally write third-past) and it's character driven (I normally have complex plots.) Needless to say, it'll be a learning experience but if that's what it takes to get this novel out, then so be it.

I've started writing it, but this time I'm going about it much differently than I did with BLACKBIRD. That will be a whole other post if it works out how I want it to.

Reviews will NOT be every book I read. At my rate, I'll be overloaded with reviews waiting to be written, so no I won't review everything. I WILL review books that are simply amazing and deserve a review, just so everyone knows how awesome it is.

And to add to my already busy schedule, I'm moving! Not like web-address changing or that kind of thing. I mean cardboard boxes, obnoxiously difficult tape-guns, lots of newspaper, and a UHAUL kind of moving. From my little flat in North Carolina down to the marshes in Georgia. And this is all happening in the next month. 30 days. Which sounds ridiculous if you've know the situation but yup it's happening. Prepare for some complaining about the move. It'll be a headache. I just know it.

In My Mailbox (5)

Another very busy week has seemed to have flown by, leaving me a little winded and very behind on my reviews. The good news I have is that I received quite a few books this week. Well, technically it's from this week and the end of last week, but I'm just lumping them all into this weeks In My Mailbox. In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely Kristi at The Story Siren. And without further ado...

 

Books Purchased

Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey (Goodreads)

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton (Goodreads)

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood (Goodreads)

Tempest by Julie Cross (Goodreads)

Torn by Amanda Hocking (Goodreads)

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand (Goodreads)

Incarnate by Jodie Meadows (Goodreads)

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Goodreads)

Embrace by Jessica Shrivington (Goodreads)

Phew, lots of great debuts to read. I should have reviews of some of these up sometime next week, probably more if I can get to reading some this week *crosses fingers*. 

Have you guys read any of the books I just got my hands on? Please leave a comment with a link to your mailbox and I'll be sure to stop by! And for everyone who received new books this week or is simply working on their piles, happy reading!

Follow Me Friday (6)

It's Friday, meaning it's that time again for the weekly meme, hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, that helps to get blogs noticed and get all of us followers. This is done by having a weekly question that we all answer and we can scour the other blogs to see what everyone else said. Without further ado...

Q: What book would you love to see made into a movie or television show and do you have actors/actresses in mind to play the main characters?

So here's the thing: I'm typically not a fan of books being made into movies, especially if I read, and loved, the book beforehand and here's why. My mind is very visual, partially from my artsy background, and whenever I read a book it's almost as if I'm watching a movie...only in my mind. All my favorite books and characters all have a way they look to me and when production companies attempt to transfer it to the film it never transfer's just right.

For example, I loved the Harry Potter film franchise, however, the movies can't even hold a candle to how amazing the books were. Granted, I love watching the way people interpret a book and the visual effects are always stunning but it's never the same. And 8 out of 10 times, I'm disappointed when the movie is over because I compare it to the book and it is never better.

There's also the added attention from being made into a movie that I dislike. The entire blogosphere is aware of the upcoming Hunger Games movie, and everyone is eagerly anticipating the movie, and I mean everyone. I loved the Hunger Games trilogy, and the books were a great launchpad for many of the dystopian books in YA. But whenever a popular book is made into a movie there is this sort of frenzy from all over, and many people don't even read the books. Then when the movie comes out, all of the bookworms get way outnumbered by the teens, adults, and kids flocking to see the next big flick. I find it a little irritating because they call themselves fans but they never even read the book.

I'm kind of the same way when writers/authors pick out actors/actresses to play the characters. I feel that they shouldn't only because part of good writing is to keep things open to interpretation which includes character descriptions. I think that when people post an actor/actress and say this is what ____ looks like it ruins it for me because then I will always see that person when I think of the character, especially if it's before I read the book.

Wow...I had much to say this week.


Anyways, please feel free to leave comments and be sure to leave a link to your FF so I can comment back and/or follow back!

On Writing: The dreaded 'Writer's Rut'

It's been awhile since I've blogged on writing. To be honest, it's because I haven't been writing. Now, don't get me wrong, I want to write; but for some reason I can't seem to get passed staring at that blinking line in Scrivener. I literally just stare at it and nothing comes out. Nothing.

The frustrating thing is I already know what happens, so I can't call what's happening a 'Writer's Block', because I'm not blocked...well, at least where the story is concerned. I was one of those people who completely outlined my WIP before I began writing, to keep me going in a straight line and to keep me from overwhelming my main plot with a bunch of littler plots. And when I say outline, I mean outlining every chapter down to the individual scenes. Yeah, I'm a little OCD if you didn't already know.

I could be over thinking my writing and that's hindering me; trying to make it perfect so I don't have as much to revise/rewrite later on. Actually, that could be the very reason I'm not able to write. But part of me thinks that I've lost some of my enthusiasm for my WIP. I mean, I love my story and idea and I  am always thinking of ways that I can make it better or more interesting, but I'm not excited anymore. At least not like I was when I first started writing with such fervor I would sit at the computer writing like a mad person for hours on end, fueled by caffine. Yeah, that has stopped happening. I just don't know how to get excited again.

I've mentioned my lack of writing to Chrsitina, one of my crit partners, and she said maybe I need to take a break from Blackbird. That maybe I'm worn out on it and need some space, which tempted me too much. I have this other idea, as sort of a companion to Blackbird, and I've been trying not to think about it too much because I'm trying to focus on my current WIP. I feel like if I do take a break I could get wrapped up in this new idea and it'll be months before I go back to my old WIP. So, I'm kind of on the fence, but I really don't want to take a break. I want to work on Blackbird. *sigh*

So, do any of you fellow writers have ideas on how to stay on track with your current WIP? What do you do when this happens to you, if this even happens to you? How do you find inspiration for writing?

Review: Graceling by Kristin Cashore

Graceling by Kristin Cashore
Series: The Seven Kingdoms #1
(Goodreads) (Amazon)

Release Date: 1st October 2008
Published By: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight—she’s a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king’s thug.     

When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po’s friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace—or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.       
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Review:

Graceling met every single one of my expectations and then proceeded to surpass each one. I almost don't know where to begin with this review. Ok, my OCD is saying go chronologically. So it is there I'll start.

The story started out with much mystery surrounding Katsa, I mean literally in the first chapter I wanted to know who she was and why she was doing this rescue of a Prince from a far off kingdom. I get my answers quickly, but only enough to keep me reading. Cashore has this way of story-telling where she inserts small flashbacks that aren't distracting or deter from the main story but they give the backgrounds to her characters. As the story progresses, I am sucked into the realm of the seven kingdoms. The word isn't too overwhelming and I learn the land as Katsa travels it. By the middle of the book, I don't even need the map in the front. I was amazed by how complete the world seemed. The people. The Kingdoms. The laws. There are lords, and ladies, and princes, and regular townspeople. A medieval atmosphere hangs on the story through the dialogue, and ways people carry themselves, which only made me love the story even more.  

I love Katsa as a heroine. She is so strong, and not only by way of her grace. She's strong-willed, steadfast, fiercely protective of her friends, and is always trying to do what is right, regardless of how she may be perceived. I felt like I could understand her even though in reality I'm not much like her. I almost found myself admiring her because of the strengths she exhibited. What I loved most about her is beneath all her qualities she is so incredibly vulnerable and it drew me towards her. How she sees herself and all of her fears about her own abilities and her difficult relationship with Po are so endearing. It's amazing to see that this rock of a character is actually soft on the inside.  

Plot was a major factor in the story and the way Cashore broke it into three different parts made the pacing of the story, and I particularily love three act stories. to me they always seem to get better and more in detail as you keep reading. While there was the main plot of the kidnapping of Grnadfather Tealiff, the many plots surrounding it grow and meld into one fantastic story. Everything from Katsa's own character struggles, the relationships between the Kingdoms, the search for answers, the crazed King...it all made me read so much faster, just to find out what happened. I found myself thinking about it even when I wasn't reading. Purely amazing. 

Graceling is a fantastical realm divided among the graced and the kings. Katsa's journey is filled with adventure, discovery, truth, and love. Graceling truly is a story that will stay with you.

Review: Juilet Immortal by Stacey Jay

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay
Series: Juliet Immortal #1
(Goodreads) (Amazon)

Release Date: 9th August 2011

Published By: Delacorte Press Books

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

Review:


I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book, and it's been a few days since I finished it. I was rather hoping that I would get a grasp of my thoughts with some time but since I've nothing, I may as well write my review.


I was expecting to read Juliet Immortal and have it be filled with romance and the tensions of true loves; however, it wasn't exactly as I expected. but I'll get to that later. For starters, the paranormal aspect was very confusing. It was overwhelming in the beginning with a lot of info-dumps and I was confused for most of the book. I mean, I understood the basic aspect of the Ambassadors and Mercenaries. Ambassadors = good, Mercenaries = bad. But all of the extra things and rules just confused the subject. Maybe it was too much at once, but regardless, it was difficult to keep track of the story with the added mythology and world-building. 

The love. I have to say I was a little disappointed. I found myself getting pissed with the relationship between Juliet and Romeo. I understand that there would be tension between the two of them but sometimes I just felt like Romeo was being a dick and he didn't really care about her. Then, Juliet frustrated me to no end. She meets Ben and within three days she is completely head-over-heels in love with him. The insta-love wasn't believable at all and turned me off on their romance. She was constantly back and forth with everything. Whether she wanted to really be an Ambassador or if she should be a Mercenary. About how she helps all these soul mates find love but she is always lonely and "lost out" in her true love.


The ending was confusing but, to be honest, I wasn't completely surprised that it was. There were characters who weren't really those people and then I kept getting confused on who was doing what.


There were parts that I did like, the entire book wasn't a shamble but when it came to the specifics of the world-building I grew to skim over the info-dumps and mythology history lessons. I didn't grow to dislike Juliet and Ben until after I read the book. While I read it, I found myself enjoying the romance but that was just it, I enjoyed it...not believed it. It took a while to get through Juliet Immortal, I may have stopped earlier but I hate not finishing a book.

Review: Switched by Amanda Hocking

Switched by Amanda Hocking
Series: Trylle Trilogy #1
(Goodreads) (Amazon)

Release Date: 12th July 2010

Published By: CreateSpace, St. Martin's Press


When Wendy Everly was six years old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. Eleven years later, Wendy discovers her mother might have been right.  She’s not the person she’s always believed herself to be, and her whole life begins to unravel—all because of Finn Holmes.

Finn is a mysterious guy who always seems to be watching her.  Every encounter leaves her deeply shaken…though it has more to do with her fierce attraction to him than she’d ever admit.  But it isn’t long before he reveals the truth:  Wendy is a changeling who was switched at birth—and he’s come to take her home. 
 
Now Wendy’s about to journey to a magical world she never knew existed, one that’s both beautiful and frightening.  And where she must leave her old life behind to discover who she’s meant to become…

Review: 

I started Switched, expecting to read it over a weekend. But once I started reading it, I was immediately submerged and didn't even come up for a breath. Hocking's creation sucked me in and I willingly obliged, eager to learn more about Wendy and Finn--really all the characters. I was continually tantalized with little tidbits of information which just kept me reading more, eager to uncover the world of Trylle. I was continually amazed at the depth in which I fell into the book. I think it's simply the very unique fantasy factor that did me in. I just had never read anything like it and my love for the supernatural ate it all up.

Wendy is the type of narrator I love to read with. Her past affected how she acted--really she was just so lost, in every possible way. She never fit in and her differences is what made her an outcast and difficult but it's also why I loved her. Very rarely in YA do you find an MC that is really unique and is ostracized for it. Even when she does find her nitch she is still on the outside. You're constantly wishing that she would get a break but you love her because despite all of that she still is kicking and fighting back. She doesn't let it all get to her and she really only wants to be normal. So she tries to be just that, simultaneously, she grows closer to Finn.

Finn. He just has that je ne sais quois. Something that Hocking did that I really commend her for was making his "entrance" one where he was creepy and stalker-ish. You don't trust him but he has this way of being very matter-of-fact, you can't help but wonder if he is telling Wendy the truth. Very slowly does he become the person Wendy searches out. Their whole relationship wasn't one that was instant or easy in any sense. They are continually tried throughout the book and I'm very curious as to how it is tested in Torn.

As I mentioned earlier, the world building is amazing. It's so in-depth for being a first book in a series, but not once did I feel confused or that it was too-much.  Wendy is immersed in Trylle culture the moment she accepts her new life. I won't say exactly how or why she is the center of things but let's just say that she's unique for her kind. It's a very structured world with hierarchies, social systems, rules and laws, and ways of doing things that makes Wendy's transition into the world of Trylle that much more difficult. She isn't one for lots of rules.

Switched is a refreshingly original story of truth and love. Where ways of life that have been set in stone are about to crumble. A must read for any fan of the supernatural.