Friday Five

There's been tons of great reads that came out this week.

1. Just finished reading THE UNNATURALISTS by Tiffany Trent

Really loved this steampunk tale!

YA Books Central review:

http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/13188-the-unnaturalists

















2. Finished reading CURSED:

I loved Jennifer Armentrout's Lux series and this one does have a voice I really enjoyed.  I gave it a 3 star rating because of the voice and the premise of a girl with a killer touch.  I think what was missing(This is just my opinion here. Remember this is all subjective) was the chemistry between her and the cute guy.  She's kidnapped and taken to a X men type of school where other 'gifted' teens live only most don't consider her gifted but rather cursed.  I really wanted more chemistry to happen but I just didn't feel it.  Still the voice is engaging and if you love paranormals like I do, you might give this story a try.










3. Went to Barnes and Noble to purchase EVERY DAY:

I was able to get the teaser to this YA Quatum Leap type tale and totally loved what I read.  I was bummed I missed out on the galleys at ALA.  I couldn't wait for it to come out.
















4. Then I came home and found DEMON CATCHERS OF MILAN on my porch.  I love Egmont books and this one has two things that really excite me: Italy and the paranormal.  Ooh, so hard to chose which book to read next.

5.  And then I also got the fab Tessa Gratton's latest:

Reading any of Tessa's stories is like having a love affair with words.  You don't want the experience to end.















See what I mean?  Decisions, decisions!


Plus, I still haven't picked up the third CRUSADE book by the fab Nancy Holder:

Love Nancy's writing!  Meet her at ALA and also at RWA Nationals. She's so sweet and approachable.  Plus I'm a huge fan of her UNLEASHED series too!














Ay, what's a girl to do?


**Guilty pleasure:

I have a new one that I'm able to download each Friday on my Nook:

Yeah, husband makes fun of me for loving this tabloid type magazines.  I don't care.  I love these magazines with all the gossip of Hollywood.

Top 10 YA picks on Books That Deal With Mental Illness

Today I have a guest post here on my top 10 YA picks that deal with mental illness.

http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2012/08/top-10-books-dealing-with-mental.html?m=1

Friday Five

1. Just got this in the mail:

As you know I'm going through yet another round of revisions on my sekrit YA project while waiting for copy edits of NO GODDESSES ALLOWED.  It feels like this revising stage is never ending.  I was really excited to know Kate Messner has put together a book on revisions for educators to use with their students but writers can benefit for this book too. What I love about this book is the examples it shows throughout from other children/YA authors.  Kate Messner is not only talented but has been very encouraging, supportive to not only me but other writers out there.  A must add to any author/educator's library!















2. Just finished reading this:

So happy I was able to grab a galley at ALA.  This is one of those books that makes you ponder.

YA Books Central review:

http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/13111-origin













3. Reading this right now:

Time travel novel that has heroine show up in 1500s Florence, Italy!

















4. Critique Buddy's book is now available!

Fourteen-year-old Ali Caldwell’s father keeps her privacy so secure none of the kids at boarding school believe she has a movie star for a mom. Sick of hiding in the wings, Ali decides to orchestrate her own fame by posting videos of her and her friends on YouTube. Suddenly, she’s the new Hollywood buzz, and her mom wants Ali on her reality show. Now Ali’s in the middle of a media firestorm. The paparazzi have tracked her down, interview requests are coming from all over, and the hottest star in Hollywood asks her to the school dance. To top it all off, some stranger is following her around and sending flowers. It’s really starting to creep her out. But is he really a dangerous stalker, or just another cog in her mother’s publicity machine?

5. Got the latest Buffy comic:

Check back next month as I'll be doing a guest blog on me and Buffy!

http://www.teenlibrariantoolbox.com/2012/08/friday-fill-ins-if-you-like-buffy-try.html?m=1















**Guilty Pleasure:

I'll be going to the Irvine Spectrum to pick up this book:

Plus plan to grab one of my favorite ice tea lattes:

 And visit my favorite Benefit makeup counter!

Show More

Show Less

ORIGIN by Jessica Khoury

I'm really excited to start reading this book that sounds nothing less than amazing:

Friday Five

Sorry, no vlog today as I decided to have a make-up free day!

First good news!  My colonoscopy came up clean!  This means I don't have to come back for another ten years.

YAY!

This week has been crazy with family drama on both sides.  I was reading the paper today and saw this ad from AARP on a caregiver silently screaming.  I realized this is us.  If you don't know, my mother-in-law 'decided' to move back to Southern Ca.  My 25 year old nephew is living with her and is a real saint. Let's just say this has been a very trying experience.

I was happy to find this: http://www.aarp.org/home-family/caregiving/?cmp=RDRCT-CRGNG_APR12_012

I'm finding out husband and I are a part of a growing trend: caregivers with aging parents.  I love this site as it has some links that hopefully will help.

Now to books!

1. Loved, LOVED, this book:

My YABC review:
http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/12993-the-curiosities-a-collection-of-stories














2. Loved this book too!

My YABC review:
http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/12108-onyx-lux-2

**Can you tell this one is a big hit?  Lots of positive reviews for this romance that has a ROSWELL the TV series feel plus a hot guy!









3. Right now reading this:

I met Hachette marketing director at ALA and asked for some James Patterson.  So I was really excited to have a package come with this included in it.  It's Patterson at his best!











4. Trying to get into this one:

The beginning is amazing but when it goes back in time?  I'm having a hard time staying with it.  I loved THE MAZE RUNNER so I'll give this one a chance.














5. Also need I say more about this one?

Love the covers of these books and the premise is really fun.  A teen puts on a dress and goes back in time.  This time around she goes back to 1770 in Paris, France.













**Guilty pleasure:

This Friday is our 27th wedding anniversity.  Holy cow.  Time goes by fast, doesn't it?

Later, hope to go out to a nice restaurant.  Plus, maybe go to a fun movie with son:

Hilarious

You all know I'm a huge TEEN WOLF fan.  I found this today and thought I'd share:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD3nsdV0Gh8

First Chapter of CROSSED OUT here!

The first chapter of CROSSED OUT is here!  If you haven't read my YA paranormal yet, here's a teaser for you!


http://adcmagazine.com/Chapter%20Previews/2012/crossedoutchptpreview.html

Friday Five

Excuse the lack of makeup but was getting ready for the prep for my colonoscopy(which is disgusting).

Plus, the t-shirt I'm wearing? It's from Kimberly R Pauley's YA book CAT GIRL'S DAY OFF.

It's says: When the kitty litter hits the fan get out of the way.

***Update:  Doctor said I had a 'clean colon'.  No problems!  Yay!
The only down side?  Besides the disgusting prep--and it's a total myth about losing 5 pounds.  I flippin' gained weight!--is I woke up as the one vein they had the IV in?  It collapsed.  7 tries later, they proceeded. Well, it could be worse.  I was just ecstatic I didn't have any issues.

Entice teaser

• Here's a teaser to the upcoming book ENTICE!

       http://sites.sourcebooks.com/embrace-the-series/entice-videos.html

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Dangerously exciting, darkly romantic – the teaser trailer for the next book in Jessica Shirvington’s Embrace series is here! In Entice, the war between Exiles and Angels is on—and Violet Eden is wanted by both sides. Living a secret life as a warrior protecting innocent human lives isn’t easy. Knowing who to trust is key, but when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even her partner, Lincoln. And with Phoenix more dangerous than ever, Violet is truly on her own.
  
  Plus, join me for a fun meet-up with other Entice fans during the Entice Me Day 8-day celebration in September! Meet the book characters, bring your friends and come back for the big party on Sept. 15th where you’ll see the full book trailer, get sneak peeks and win prizes!         

Friday Five

Yes, that's my pet cockatiel in the background!

**Guilty pleasure:

Going to have pedi.  Always love those!

RWA Part 2

I left early on day two to make it in time for Marlene Perez and Nancy Holder's panel.

I made it!

SERIES-OUS STAMINA went over writing series and some hints on what worked for them.

**Need to stay fresh.  Put your own unique twist on a series.

***Copy editor: Need to remember you are the director here with your story.  Copy editors might not get the whole 'story'.  For example with YA dialogue.  It might not be grammatically correct but that's your voice.

Since I just got my copy editor assigned to me, this info helps me!

Then I went to WORLD BUILDING MADE EASY

This panel was a little sketchy I thought.  So I left and went to a class on PR for your book.  This one had some very interesting info on how to do press releases and how to get word out about your novel.

**www.usnpl.com
helpareporter.com
Check these sites for news places to query.

Also an example of how to start off a query to a local newspaper/site:
A romantic story is about_____________
Author ___________has a local connection to this community

Then it was time for booksignings!

Yes, this is author Yasmine Galenorn.  All her books were gone but I didn't care!  I was so excited to finally met her.  She's been so sweet and encouraging on Twitter.


St Martin's Press:

This is Jana Oliver, author of the YA series THE DEMON TRAPPER'S DAUGHTER.  I've known Jana back in the early 2000s when EARRINGS first came out as an e-serial with Virtual Tales.  Her urban fantasy was also an e-serial at the time.  Loved it!  Jana's success with her YA gives me hope for my own writing!

And I can't forget Sourcebooks:

I've heard fab things about CATCHING JORDAN.  Had to finally meet the author.  Had her sign a copy for me.  Sending to YA Books Central as part of a future giveaway!

I'm so mad this one came out blurry.  This is Janet Gutler!  Love her books!  So fun to meet her too!

I think I was so excited to finally meet authors, I didn't focus or something.

Other panels I went to included STEAMPUNK: How to write.

Very fascinating class!

**Some rules:

. Is a world set during the Victorian era of 1837-1901.

. Has some kind of mechanical technology or social aspect that is integral to the story line

. Story has inventions that transcend the period but use period appropriate

. Have a social commentary or look at the underbelly of society

Another highlight was having lunch with YA authors Marlene Perez of DEAD IS THE NEW BLACK series and I also finally met Tina Ferraro of PROM DRESS and also YA author Teri Clark, Flux author of HOLLYWEIRD.

Met Jennifer Echols and really enjoyed her class on setting

**Show echoes of history in your locale
Use Google alert


Then I got to go to former writing mentor Lou Nelson's class on SETTING THE SCENE GOAL

Plus, I put some signed copies of CROSSED OUT in the goodies room.  I went back to check and they were gone within an hour!

Going was such an amazing experience and I'd highly recommend!

RWA

I had tons of fun at RWA Nationals last week.  The first day I was there, I admit, I was overwhelmed with all the conference had to offer.  I didn't get lost getting to the hotel.  Whew.  I'm so direction challenged.  The cost of parking though was crazy: $24 a day!  Ouch.

But when I went inside the Marriot and registered I received a really nice bag filled with BOOKS!  Two were YAs: EMBRACE and Meg Cabot's ABANDON.  Both I've read and both are amazing!

Then I went to the first panel BEYOND THE HERO'S JOURNEY with the author of GRAVE MERCY: Robin LaFever!

Loved this panel so much and ended up purchasing the one book they recommended: WOMEN THAT RUN WITH WOLVES on the woman's journey.

**Robin went over archetypes:

1. Orphan--example, Dorothy of Wizard of Oz and Bella in Twilight
2. Martyr- **Everyone's needs before their own at a cost.
3. Wanderer-Chocolat, and EAT, PRAY, LOVE
4. Warrior-Buffy, Xena

Another book I purchased was THE HERO WITHIN that goes over the six archetypes.

Then I went to the Hero's Journey with YA.

Fascinating take on using the hero's journey with YA.

Then I went to Tera Lynn Child's workshop on GOOD THINGS COME IN 3s--Series writing

Got some really good pointers

**Your first book will be the best one.  Sucessful trilogies have high stakes.

I had Tera sign a copy of SWEET VENOM which I will send to YA Books Central for a giveaway.

***Yes, I love to share!

I was so busy, I ate the snacks I packed plus went to the goodies room and was amazed at all the free swag/books!  I added my own CROSSED OUT and EARRINGS OF IXTUMEA bookmarkers to one of the many tables.

So many people were mingling in the hallways.  I heard there were 2000 attendees.  Crazy, huh?

At the same time I was at the Anaheim Marriott, son was finishing up his Lego Camp.

Son's the one in the green t-shirt looking at camera.  Husband was too late to take photo of what they did in camp.  It was pretty amazing some of the things these kiddos did.



Tomorrow will post what happened on Saturday!