Si, Se Puede--Yes, you can!

Yes, I'm crazy but I do love to make resolutions.  Last year I didn't do too bad.  This year will try to do better. Professional: 1. Work on this revision.  No excuses.  No whining that it sucks big time.  Just do it. 2. Once NO GODDESSES ALLOWED comes out--put together a virtual book blog; get a book trailer done. 3. Work on another project.  Seriously thinking of revisiting my one WIP that deals with a teen and the aftermath of her brother's violent death.  This one will be more contemporary.  After all the recent shootings, I feel like Ellen Hopkins told me, "It's probably time." to finally finish it. 4. Read for Month 9 Books 5. Continue reading for YABC 6. Take at least a couple writing workshops. Personal: 1. Try to squeeze in visit to Sacramento.  Once again, no excuses.  Just do it. 2.  Follow doctor's advice with blood tests/sonograms 3. Stay with Weight Watchers and don't spazz if I don't get down to a size 6.  Siz

2012 had a lot of twists and turns for me. January: Here's the goals I set back on January 2nd: Professional goals: 1. Revised my seekrit project. Tear it apart with vengence. My biggest goal is to dig deeper with my characters and also a plot that has morphed from a dystopia to Sci-fi. 2. Get seekrit project ready by Fall 2011 to start querying.  **DID START THIS BUT NO WAY WAS IT READY IN TIME FOR QUERYING.  DROPPED EVEN THE SCI-FI AND IT'S TURNING MORE INTO A FANTASY SET IN THE NOT TOO FAR FUTURE. 3. Have marketing plan ready for release of NO GODDESSES ALLOWED. This includes a book trailer, virtual book tour, swag, and other things that tie in with my book.  **BOOK RELEASE PUSHED FORWARD.  NEEDED MORE EDITING. 4. Get back with publisher on proposal to sequel to CROSSED OUT .  **DID BUT PUBLISHER WANTED A FULL FIRST.  STILL WORKING ON 5. Attend ALA summer in Anaheim **YAY!  DID! 6. Attend RWA Nationals this summer **YAY!  DID! 7. Start another project, hopefully a

**First off, this week's been very stressful with all the holiday activities/events.  So what helps? It clears my head and helps me be able to face the day! 1. Santa Breakfast The week started off with an early morning breakfast at our church.  It's tradition.  We all eat outside(yes, it's cold for us Southern Californians!).  The breakfast consists of pancakes, sausage, orange juice, hot cocoa, and milk.  The kiddos get to decorate sugar cookies or this year it was Christmas trees made out of ice cream cones with tons of frosting and candy.  Santa makes a visit too.  Plus, the live nativity from our annual Follow the Star live nativity scene is still outside: 2. Christmas Had Honey Ham dinner with Mother-in-law and nephew.  Then finished reading more Cybils nominated books! 3. Cybils Met with other panelists to whittle down a list of 205 nominated books to our top 7.  Yes, this was hard!  But one thing I've loved about b

MONSTROUS BEAUTY: LITTLE MERMAID this isn't!  Dark, edgier tale with a haunting mystery.  Really enjoyed this! THE GIRL WITH BORROWED WINGS: Interesting love story of a young girl and a winged boy. Lots of symbolism woven throughout. I wasn't quite sure what to make of this story. It kept my interest though with it's surrealist feel. AND ALL THE STARS This dystopian/alien tale is very surreal.  Girl survives an alien presence which turns her 'blue'.  There are three camps after the aliens show up: the uninfected, Blues, and Greens.  What happens next makes for one trippy but entertaining tale.

ONCE MORE WITH FEELING! Yes, it's $1.99 on iTunes and also you can steamline it from Netflix!

1.  TOUCH OF POWER by Maria Snyder Love Maria Snyder's fantasies and this tale has the same feel as her Poison books.  Intriguing tale of a healer who goes into hiding after anyone who is found healing is put to death. 2. SERAPHINA by Rachel Harman  So many people have been saying awesome things about this YA fantasy of a girl who is part dragon/human.  I admit, I'm not really a fan of dragon books but this one is the exception.  Beautifully written with a lush world where dragons and human live in an uneasy truce.  Love how the author shows intolerance and hate of those who are different. 3. STORM by Brigid Kemmerer Love this story of brothers with paranormal abilities.  Strong writing and yes of course hawt guys.  What's not to love? 4.  FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS by Diana Peterfreud Totally loved this Jane Austin meets Sci-fi novel that's filled with two characters that are sure to tug at your heartstri

Yesterday I heard rumors of another shooting.  This past week we had the college campus where I did my grad studies taken over by gunman after a fatal shooting. But the news yesterday really hit me hard. My own sister Colette, who my book CROSSED OUT is dedicated to, was a victim of gun violence back in 1993.  Her ex, David, decided after she broke up with him, that if he couldn't have her, no one else could.  In this case the stereotype came true. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmcid=46874424&GRid=51120430& Colette is on the far right side. Police told my mother they were surprised David didn't  murder his son, Josh, too.  Or my mother who walked in on him after he'd killed my sister. So yes, every time I hear of a senseless murder, my heart breaks.  I couldn't watch the news as sure enough they weren't getting the facts straight.  Just like what happened with my sister.  We had to avoid the news and the media that wou

Here's another round of Cybils nominated books I've read this week: 1. THE LOST GIRL by Sangu Mandanna Totally loved this book! Here's a little teaser: Totally loved this dystopian tale of Eva,a 'Echo', who's a copy of Amarra, and is expected to be her replacement when Amarra dies. I loved the emotional pull this story had on me. I felt Eva's pain of knowing she'd never be herself but rather Amarra. The author does such a great job of showing us Eva's world. This has to be one of the best YA novels that deals with cloning in such a way you're glued to each page, cheering for Eva. I know I was! 2. HENRY FRANKS by Peter Adam Salomon Henry Franks doesn't remember how he got his scars. He has dreams that don't make sense. His father is obsessed with Henry's behavior and distances himself at work. All the time a serial killer is stalking the streets. This story has just the right amount of subtle cre

I'm going to share each week my Cybils five nominated books I've read plus of course my weekly guilty pleasure! 1. THE HALLOWED ONES This book surprised me.  What do you think of when I mention vampires/dystopian novel and Amish? Trust me when I say this combination works!  And not in the stereotypical way either. I LOVED this book! A teaser of my YABC review: Subtle horror elements throughout this story up the creepiness factor. Add to that a teen struggling with her faith and what she really believes in, make this a must read book! Kuddos to the author for not being afraid to address some hard questions. I know that's what makes this amazing dystopian/vampire tale work! 2.   MOTHERSHIP This is a hilarious tale that includes some very hawt not too bright aliens and pregnant teens in outerspace.  The protagonist's snark is funny.   3. I'm a huge fan of YAs that include diversity.  Tu books is one of my favorite publishers.

I thought it would be fun to share some of the amazing Cybils nominated books I'm reading.  I'm on the first panel to help narrow down 205 nominated YA fantasy/Sci-Fi books.  **My favorite category! This week I was able to read: ADAPTATION has a subtle creepiness to it which is kind of like a YA Fringe.  There's a conspiracy with creepy psycho birds that just fall dead out of the sky. This one has a daughter of Lucifer who happens to find herself on Earth.  Loved the voice of this intriguing tale. This book is hilariously twisted.  It kept me in stitches!  A book that is sure to appeal to reluctant readers! I really enjoyed this Groundhog's Day twist to a ghost's tale told through a boy's POV. I really loved BUMPED, the first book in this series.  THUMPED is the second book.  I enjoyed the tongue in cheek twist of this dystopian world where HAIDMAIDEN'S TALE meets Reality TV o

I'm excited to be part of the PASSION BLUE virtual book tour. I was lucky enough to read and review PASSION BLUE. My YABC review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/14204-passion-blue Here's a teaser: Beautifully written, this YA historical will have readers follow a heroine on her journey through self-acceptance during the Italian Renaissance. A total must read! I also was able to interview the author Victoria Strauss: **This interview is also posted on YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/blog/interview-with-victoria-strauss-author-of-passion-blue 1. Why did you decide to write a YA historical? The idea for Passion Blue was suggested to me by an editor who'd read one of my other novels--she said she'd always wanted to read a YA historical novel about astrology. I originally came up with a double storyline--one set during the Renaissance, one during the present day, about two girls struggling to follow their talent for paint

The winners of the Soul Seeker's Contest are: Rrylee Toler and Beverly McClure Email me with your snail addy and I'll send you a copy of one of the books by next weekend! Congrats again!

1. This week's been nice as I haven't had to deal with school and could concentrate on reading and writing! Speaking of reading, I got lots of fun books this week: This dystopia looks really good.  Love Malina Lo's writing! Also love Jackson's writing.  This one is a retelling of a classic fairy tale! Ooh, teens and zombies.  What's not to love? Think THE BREAKFAST CLUB meets zombies in a dark, haunting tale. A YA with faeries. Werewolves abound here!  **Met the author at RWA12 Nationals. 3. Also saw last Twilight movie and had mixed feelings.  Loved the more confident Bella but hated the 'twist' in the story that made me feel manipulated.  But that's just me. 4. Want to see this: 5. And will wait another week to see this: **Will announce winners of SOUL SEEKER contest later today! **Guilty pleasure: Read and read some more!

1. Well, got back from specialist.  Good news?  Thyroid is fine.  Nodules haven't grown.  Dr. said chances are really good that they won't be cancerous. Yay! Not so great news: My blood count shows that I'm at a higher risk for diabetics.  My mother is diabetic.  Her great-grandmother died of complications of the disease.  I'm Latina. Even doctor told me my culture puts me at a great risk. Then she noticed my liver count is up.  This means yet another ultrasound just to be sure it's nothing serious. Like son told me, "Mommy, it sucks to be you this month." Need to concentrate on the good news. In the meantime, reading always helps me when I'm kind of down: 2. Right now reading: Total love the voice in this paranormal series that is DEAD LIKE ME meets YA. 3. Also reading: Another fun Cybils nominated read.  Witty banter and a setting that is Veronica Mars meets Twilight only written better. 4. Fi

To celebrate the release of Alyson Noel's latest book ECHO, I'm going to be having a giveaway!  I have a copy of the first book in the series: My YABC review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/12427-fated-soul-seekers Teaser of my review: FATED has the surrealist feel I love in other multicultural books. Think BLESS ME, ULTIMA meets YA. The rich descriptions and premise along with a strong protagonist are sure to appeal to fans of Noel and those who love a good multicultural YA. Her latest is ECHO: I'm really enjoying this second book in the SOUL SEEKERS series. My YABC review: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/13261-echo-the-soul-seekers-2 Teaser: Mix surrealism, a prophecy, and a love that knows no bounds for one amazing read. I couldn't put this book down! Since I have two copies of each book I thought I'd share.  I love to share books with those who love paranormals as much as I do! I'll be doing a gi