Megan

May 13

Rating: 5 out of 5

(Summary taken from Goodreads) Whenever Jem meets someone new, no matter who, as soon as she looks into their eyes, a number pops into her head. That number is a date: the date they will die.

Burdened with such an awful awareness, Jem avoids relationships. Until she meets Spider, another outsider, and takes a chance. But while they’re waiting to ride the Eye Ferris wheel, Jem notices that all the other tourists in line flash the same number. Today’s number. Today’s date. Terrorists are going to attack London. Jem’s world is about to explode!

I loved this book. My one complaint is that the back cover copy is slightly deceptive. I thought I was getting something different than what I got. Of course, it’s probably a good thing that it was different from what I expected because had I known what it was really about, I probably wouldn’t have read it and I would have missed out on a great book.

In reading the summary of Numbers, I expected more of a dystopia/paranormal type book. In actuality, with the exception of the main character, Jem’s, ability to know when people will die just by looking at them, this book was extremely realistic. Throughout the pages of Numbers, Rachel Ward weaves together what seemed like a very realistic insight into life in the slums of London, exposing the reader to the harsh realities of the lower class, a class you cannot hope to escape once you’ve landed there.

Jem is painted in a very real, honest way, with real flaws, real strengths, and an authentic voice. Jem grows throughout the book, but in a more subtle, realistic way than you might find in other books. I think it takes real talent to make something so far-fetched as being able to know when people will die come out seeming so real. Hats off to Rachel Ward and I can’t wait to read the sequel, The Chaos.

May 12

I know. Mother’s Day has come and gone. But I wanted to do a shout out regardless because for me, my mother has played an important role in my writing and my life.

All writers need support. The life of a writing can be a lonely and rough. Without support, it is easy to throw in the towel. For me, my support has always come from my mother.

I wrote my first story in first grade. It was about my dog, Bentley and I won an award for it. When I came home with my story, my mom was so proud of me that she took it to Kinko’s and had copies made so I could share it with other people (a.k.a my grandparents).

As I grew older, my mom continued to support everything I was interested in. She encouraged me to go to theater school (thankfully I decided against that) and later supported my decision to go to graduate school for archaeology. Even when I changed careers, then changed careers again, she continued to stand by me. And as I’ve fallen back into writing over the past couple of years, the support from my mom has never once dwindled. She believes that I can be one of the few writers that make it, and having her believe in me helps me to believe in myself. Knowing she will always be there, through my disappointments and successes helps me continue with my writing. While I could write without her support, knowing I have it makes it all the easier and it gives me something else to shoot for – making her proud (though I know she will always be proud regardless).

Is there someone who has been influential to your writing? Do you have a support group? Do you think writers are more successful who have a support group or a cheerleader, or do you think we are only as successful as our talent?

May 10

For the past several months I’ve been trying to force myself to write in first person. It fits the genre and I love my opening paragraph, which only works in first person. The trouble is that I find it difficult to tell a story in first person narration. And this is causing a lot of struggles.

Yes, I succeeded in completing a first draft in first person narration, but when I went back to read my writing, it felt stale. It was lacking the excitement and energy of things I’ve written in third person. Yet for some reason, I keep clinging to this idea that the story must be in first person. But why?

So what if a lot of books in the genre rely on first person narration? So what if I have to rewrite my first paragraph? If I’m not comfortable writing in that style, if I lack the talent to write in that style, none of the reasons to retain it will matter because no one will ever want to read my book, and that, after all, is what makes you a novelist – you need readers. And this leads me to my current dilemma – should I rewrite the entire first draft to fit within a form I’m comfortable writing in, or should I try to stretch myself and step outside of my comfort zone?

What would you do in my shoes? Do you prefer first person to third person? Or do you let the story dictate your plan of attack?

May 06

Virals, by Kathy Reichs

Rating: 2 out of 5

(Summary taken from GoodReads) Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage “sci-philes” who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their new-found physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer’s scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends they’re a pack. They are Virals.

Based off of the book’s description, Virals seemed like it would be an intriguing, good read. I found it refreshing to find a werewolf book with a scientific take on the mythological creature. Sadly, the book did not live up to my expectations.

I praise Reichs for coming up with a scientific explanation for the changes that the teen friends undergo, but the book read as though it were several books spliced into one. The lack of cohesion left me confused as a reader. I felt like I was reading at least 3 different plots – sci-fi paranormal, mystery murder, and awkward teen vs. mean girls. While these could all go together, the way these plot elements played out in Virals seemed awkward and disjointed.

A great setting cannot salvage a not-so-great plot

The book was set on an isolated island with monkeys and cute wolf dogs. The setting could have contributed in a big way to the plot, but I didn’t feel that Reichs explored the possibilities as much as I would have liked, sticking to the expected possibilities while ignoring the unexpected.

I also felt like the middle section of the book was a bit drawn out. It took an extremely long time for the teens transformations to be complete. This dragged down the story. We didn’t get much insight to the characters during this long section and it didn’t contribute very much to the overall story.

The Evil Popular Girl cliche

The book also contained evil rich girls that felt like a cliche. There was no motivation for their mean behavior. Maybe I went to a tame high school, but I just don’t think this stereotype holds true. No one at my school was mean just for the sake of being mean and I was a poor girl at a wealthy private school in the south, same as Tory.

All in all, I was left feeling lukewarm about Virals. Whereas the book description suggested a fast-paced, exciting read, I found the story slow and disjointed. It was an interesting concept, but fell a bit short for me. It’s worth reading if you have nothing else on your list, but I’d recommend saving your money and getting it from the library.

May 03

Today’s my birthday, which means it’s time to evaluate what all I accomplished last year. So here goes.

Published 100 blog posts

If my calculations are correct, this is blog post 101 for the past year. That seems almost as big as a birthday. Now if only I could get my subscribers that high…

My Middle Grade Plant Book

I almost finished the first book in the series, only to realize there were some plot issues. I set it aside and vowed to return when I was ready. I returned to the WIP last night, and I’ve got to say, the time apart was good. I’m falling in love with it all over again. Hopefully this love will continue as I work through the edits.

My YA Dystopian Book

This is probably my greatest achievement of the year. I actually wrote an entire first draft, start to finish. Of course, the plot has some issues and the writing is not where I want it yet. I’ve decided to set it aside while I return to my MG book. This book and I need a little space. But one of my goals for the year was to finish a first draft, and I did.

I won NaNoWriMo

That’s write, I wrote 50,000+ words in 1 month. And one of the shorter months at that.

I read, but not as much as I’d like to have read

Over the past year I read around 50 or so books. This year I’m aiming for 100. Ambitious, I know. We’ll just have to see what happens.

Redesigned my website

Web design is something I really wanted to get more involved in, and after successfully completing a web design class as a continuing ed student, I redesigned my site. If anyone has any questions about custom designing a wordpress blog, feel free to ask. I’m more than willing to share the information I got from countless hours spent yelling at the computer.

I ran a 5k and got engaged

OK, the 5k was one of my secret goals. I used to run and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t ignoring my health to write. Getting engaged was just a happy bonus.

Goals for the next year

It wouldn’t be my birthday if I didn’t come up with my goals for the next year. So here goes:

Submit a manuscript to an agent
Get an agent
Get signed with a publisher
Finish another manuscript and start soliciting it
Read 100 books
Run a 10k (yup, that’s right, 6.2 miles)
Win NaNoWriMo for the second year in a row
Have an amazing year spent doing more of the things I love and less of the things I don’t love

So can I achieve my goals for the coming year? You’ll have to keep checking back in to find out.

May 01

Image courtesy of JFH's Flickr stream, http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhf/

Taking the big leap from guaranteed paycheck to unreliable money (a.k.a. full time writer) is not a leap to take lightly. But now that I’m engaged to an incredibly supportive man, that question has come up, and it’s not me who’s raised it.

The realities of a full time writer

Last weekend while on vacation the issue of quiting my job was raised, yet again. “If you want to be a writer, then write. You’ll never finish a book if you are working full time.” But I disagree.

Look at most writers. How many of them work full time jobs in addition to writing? A fair number. Now look at how many are able to sustain on a full time writer’s salary. You will only find a handful, and my hands are rather small.

In addition to the financial implications, you also have to think about the insurance issue. Sure, if you are married or, depending on the company, living with someone, you can go on their insurance. But for a lot of people, this isn’t an option. And think about signing a lease or trying to get a mortgage? Since I have a steady paycheck, I can’t say this for sure, but I’m betting a full time writer will run into more obstacles when attempting to arrange their living situation than someone working a traditional job.

Then there is the stress. For me, my financial situation creates a lot of anxiety. When I’m anxious, it’s really hard to write. So would not knowing where my next paycheck is coming from really make it easier for me to finish a book if I quit my job?

The lonely factor I could deal with – I prefer working with no distractions, and I’m also good at managing my time. I can make myself work regardless of whether I’m in an office or working from home, but the working environment are additional factors that have to be considered.

Before considering this leap, you have to look at yourself and be realistic. Writing may be the world to you, but if you can’t stomach the insecurity of not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from or how to afford insurance, if you thrive on being around people while at work, quiting your traditional job for writing might make things more difficult.

My course of Action

With all of that being said, I am not going to quit my job and give up the security of full-time pay. And here’s why.

I don’t know if I can get something published. Having never sold a book, or even gotten one to a publishable place, it seems a bit irresponsible for me to quit on a whim. Sure, it’s my dream. And sure, it’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, but being able to focus on writing if I’m stressed about my finances would be a stretch.

Instead of quiting, I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing. I am able to find the time to work on my writing despite working a full-time job. I work long days so I get every other Friday off and I usually fit in a little bit of time even on the days I work. I also manage to find the time to make connections and read a ton. Even though my efforts may not always seem to be getting much results, I’m slowly working towards that final goal.

Who knows. Maybe when I get something signed I’ll rethink things. I may decide to scale back my hours or quit all together. But based off of what I’ve seen of the publishing world, based off of the royalty statements I used to send to authors when I worked in publishing, this is a decision I would not arrive at lightly. Because the reality is, writing is satisfying, but it rarely pays the bills.

The plan of action I’ve chosen won’t work for everyone. But it’s always useful when making these types of big decisions to see what other people decided and why.

Did you take the leap? Do you plan to in the near future? Or did you decide to keep doing what your doing? I’d love to hear how others deal with this.

Apr 29

The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale

Rating: 4 out of 5

Ani, the crown princess, can whisper to horses and birds, but when it comes to speaking to her future subjects and living up to her mother’s expectations, she may as well be mute. Convinced that Ani could never rule her people, her mother ships her off to a neighboring kingdom as a bride, only Ani’s guard’s mount a mutiny led by her lady-in-waiting, Selia, to replace Ani with Selia. Barely escaping, Ani disguises herself as a goose girl, finds a position in the palace, and strives to overcome her insecurities and learn how to lead her people. But will it be enough to earn back her rightful place as princess?

The Goose Girl weaves together a wonderful fairy tale in a style reminiscent of Diana Wynne Jones. Based on the Brothers Grimm fairy tale by the same title, Hale reinvents this classic and adds an almost believable spin on this fantasy story. Ani, the princess who’s identity is stolen by Selia, her lady-in-waiting, is likable. You want her to succeed.The plot is intricate without become overwhelming in it’s complexity and there are enough twists and turns to keep you interested. If you are looking for a fun fantasy tale to get lost in for a couple days, the Goose Girl is a great option.

My one complaint is that the villains are a bit more two-dimensional than some other books I’ve read recently. Of course, this does keep with the style of an old-school fairy tale and the book is meant for a middle-grade audience. Middle-grade villains are often missing the complex motivation you are more like to find in young adult books. That being said, Selia is dealing with issues of wanting more from her lot in life and feelings of entitlement, very real feelings and realistic motivation for her actions beyond the standard villains are evil. When you couple this with Ani’s failings and her attempts to find her strengths and use them to her advantage, you find engaging characters with issues that are sure to speak to most readers.

The Goose Girl ends as any stand-alone book should, with a satisfying conclusion, only this isn’t the end of Ani and her friends’ adventures because the book is actually part of a series called The Books of Bayern. I think this is another one of the book’s strengths. You can feel satisfied if you only have time to read the first book, but if you find yourself thinking about it days or weeks later, you can find more of the wonderful world Hale has created by moving on to the second book, Enna Burning.

Apr 15

Lure, by Stephanie Jenkins

Rating: 5 out of 5

(summary taken in part from GoodReads) Charlotte Brewer is sure she’s crazy when she hears singing drifting from the ocean-normal people don’t have arias playing on repeat in their head. When she gets wasted at a party and investigates the ethereal tune, she almost drowns. Charlotte comes to with an overwhelming thirst for salt water, an inability to get injured, and a heartbeat of only seven beats a minute. She also keeps waking up by the sea with no memory of getting there and dead men wash up hours later.

As Charlotte attempts to adjust to the changes, while also trying to cope with the loss of her mother and her growing infatuation with a boy she knows is all wrong for her, she meets Lorelei, a siren. Lorelei reveals she saved her from drowning with the “Siren’s Kiss” which turned Charlotte into a siren. Her role as a siren is simple: guide the souls of the dead at sea. Of course, nothing is ever as simple as it sounds, and Charlotte soon learns that there are is a Godess that is not too happy with the existence of sirens and is willing to stop at nothing to wipe out their kind. Can Charlotte break the siren’s curse in time to save her soul?

First, I want to thank Annie Elfresh, blogger of Reading, Writing, and Waiting, for introducing me to this book and providing me with a free copy. If you haven’t visited her blog, you should. She provides some great book reviews/reading suggestions. Plus her blog has a really fun design.

It took a few pages for me to get into this book because I’m not usually into main characters like Charlotte – snarky and into wild parties – but as I got to know Charlotte, I realized there was depth to her. Plus, as a New England resident, I saw that her salty demenour (no pun intended) matched that of several New England girls I know.

When I started reading this book, I didn’t know much about it – just that it was an urban fantasy. And I’ve got to say, knowing little made it an exciting, unexpected read. There were some nice twists and there was a refreshing originality to the plot. Despite my initial reservations regarding Charlotte, I could not put the book down. Jenkins weaves an engaging tale and I wanted to see how it would end.

There are two potential love interests in the book – one the dark-haired Matt, the other blond, Golden Boy Wyatt. While we see this juxtaposition in many YA books, the love interests in Lure do not feel stale. Each brings something new to the table (and something swoon worthy). There were times when I wanted each of them to come out on top, which I think is a key ingredient for a successful literary love triangle.

Even though we are all familiar with stories that mixed ancient Gods with modern day life thanks to the Percy Jackson books, this book is so different from that series that there is really no comparison. It comes closer to Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments series thought the love story part reminded me a bit of Stephanie Perkins’ Anna and the French Kiss. If you loved the Mortal Instrument series and are looking for something along those lines, if you enjoyed Anna and the French Kiss but are looking for a gateway book into urban fantasy, or if you are tired of books about vampires and werewolves but love paranormal, this just might be the next book for you. And the best thing about this book – you will be supporting a self-published author.

Apr 11

Don't you feel inspired just looking at this photo?

It’s been over 2 months since I returned from my trip to Italy, but since I’ve been looking at description in writing, I figured it was high time I went back to that trip and shared what I learned.

Do real life experiences breed better description?

If you recall, one of the reasons I was so eager for my trip to Italy was to scope out Pompeii for a possible book idea. While there, I discovered a lot more than what I set out to discover.

Originally I was only interested in Pompeii. I wanted to check out the site, get some impressions of what it is like coming up to it, how well preserved it is, that sort of thing. I wanted to feel what my MC would feel as he arrived at the site. Little did I know I would come back with a lot more ideas, and none of them related to the story I set out to research.

Naples, surprisingly enough, provided more inspiration than Pompeii. Naples is a medieval town, despite it being 2011. There are still narrow cobble-stoned streets, twisting alleyways, and the best part of it, it hasn’t been modernized the way Rome or Munich or other large European towns have. Because of this, I felt like I was being catapulted back in time.

Relying on all of the senses to open your mind to inspiration

The sights, smells, and even sounds all called to me, filling my senses and giving me some great ideas for descriptions -ideas that I could never have honed in on that well without first-hand experience. Things like the way the street lights reflected off of cobblestones after a day of rain, or the sound of rain hitting those cobblestones, or the energy of a small cafe in the late afternoon, or the adrenaline rush as a car comes racing towards you down a narrow alleyway, searching for a place to move to avoid being hit, and being terrified that the car will smack into the walls closing in on it from every angle. Even the feeling of being surrounded by these high walls with little room for escape provided inspiration.

Inspiration is every where, if you know how to look for it

Part of why the environment affected me so much may have been because I set out to be affected. I kept my mind open, I absorbed everything like a sponge. I wanted to remember the sensations and, as a result, I got some really good material for a future book.

Of course, you don’t have to travel all the way to Italy to get inspiration. There is inspiration everywhere. Walk outside and observe what you see, pretending like you are a stranger to the area. Look at things from an outsider’s point-of-view and you just might be surprised by all the things you pick up on, all the new sensations you become aware of.

Do you rely on real-life for inspiration? How do you turn on your senses to really see, hear, smell, and feel things, even things you are very familiar with?

Apr 08

Knightley Academy, by Violet Haberdasher

Rating: 4 out of 5

Henry was just a servant boy, until a twist of fate allowed him to sit an exam that would earn him a spot at Kingsley Academy for knights-in-training and the title of the first commoner to be admitted to the elite academy. When Henry arrives at the school, he quickly learns that making his way to classes and finishing his school work is the least of his worries. Someone wants Henry out of the school, and they are willing to stop at nothing to get rid of him, including attempted murder. While trying to hunt down and stop his saboteurs, Henry stumbles upon a plot for war and realizes that things are bigger than just him, and that more than his possible expulsion is at stake.

I picked up this book because I saw a comparison of it to Harry Potter. Being a huge Harry Potter fan, I decided to give it a shot. And I’m happy I did.

Like Harry Potter, Henry Grim is an orphan. And like Harry, Henry learns that he is going to a special school. Only, Henry does not have magical skills. He merely is a very smart boy. And the school is not a school of witch craft and wizardry. It is a school for future knights.

Although Knightley Academy lacks the magic element from the Harry Potter books, I think it is still magical in it’s own way.

Haberdasher has created a world based off of an alternate history. Alternate histories are always interesting because they make you think about the importance a minor change in the past could have on your current life today. They also open up a world of possibilities, much like the existence of magic opened up possibilities for the world of Harry Potter.

Despite relying on the rags to riches story as the backdrop for Knightley Academy, Haberdasher has looked at this story with fresh eyes. Henry is not instantly given a better life. He still has to fight against the odds, fight against those who don’t want him there, and he has to prove himself every day. He did not wake up to a better world. He has to work every day to make his world better. And I think this provides a good lesson for kids. We make our own luck and our own fortune.

The characters are also well developed and exhibit growth and dimension. Even Valmont, the bully of the story, grows and we learn to understand the reasons behind his behavior. He is humanized and you can’t help but like him just a little.

Although the plot follows twists that seem similar to those in Harry Potter, I still find myself surprised by the outcome of the story. The plot kept me guessing as it opened up an intriguing mystery.

If you are looking for something with a similar feel to the Harry Potter series or just looking for a fun story with a mystery underlying the plot, I recommend giving this book a read.

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Page 8

Book Review Friday – Numbers

Some Post-Mother’s Day Mother love

Choosing your Narrator: First Person Versus Third Person

Book Review Friday – Virals

A great setting cannot salvage a not-so-great plot

The Evil Popular Girl cliche

It’s my birthday! So what’d I do with the past year?

Published 100 blog posts

My Middle Grade Plant Book

My YA Dystopian Book

I won NaNoWriMo

I read, but not as much as I’d like to have read

Redesigned my website

I ran a 5k and got engaged

Goals for the next year

To Quit or Not to Quit – a.k.a. Should I be a full-time writer?

My course of Action

Book Review Friday – The Goose Girl

Book Review Friday – Lure

Finding Description Inspiration from Real Life

Do real life experiences breed better description?

Relying on all of the senses to open your mind to inspiration

Book Review Friday – Knightley Academy