Lovin' my library

I've had a couple of people ask how the reading has been going - and what I think about the books I mentioned earlier. I'm not much at writing book reviews but I love to chat about books...

So - Wintergirls - Laurie Halse Anderson, this was crazy good. It was hard to read at times because you are entwined in the MCs head that you feel as out of control as she does (which is the point - and is done VERY well). The pacing is super fast and toward the end I HAD to finish it because I needed to not only find out what happened, but also to get out of her head! Great read.

Wicked Lovely - Melissa Marr, also very good. I liked that the fairies in this book were not the little happy, twirly fairies of our youth but dark, dirty and at times cruel. Main character Aislinn is tough, brave and saves her own day. I can't wait to read Ink Exchange ... which is waiting at the library for me!

Graceling - Kristen Cashore, I ran through this book. If you want to read a book about a hard-core tough chick - this is that book. Katsa is a fun character, because she has tremendous growth throughout, but still retains the core of her person at the end. The concept behind the book is fun - and the world that Cashore creates is beautiful and fascinating.

Wish You Were Dead - Todd Strasser, This was another dark book, and I flew through it - anxious to find out how it ended. I was expecting something a little more humorous (I don't know - maybe the title should have clued me in??) - dark - but funny. It wasn't that - but a captivating suspense thriller instead.

My favorite of this group which I admit I may be a bit biased about since the author is a fellow AWer - was Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin. I expected this to be some kind of hostage situation type of book (I'm apparently not very good at guessing these things!!) but found an intriguing glimpse into the main characters life. I love the main character Parker - and adore her he-who-shall-not-be-named- love interest. The story lightly touches base on many relevant topics without feeling like she's skimming over them - or preaching. This was another race to the end to find out what happens type of book. I admit I'm a little sad it ended.

Up next: I'm almost done with Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, and have hush, hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, City of Bones by Cassandra Clare and Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins in queue. Oooooooooh and I won Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl from a contest on the terrific new OPWFT website - called GotYA. Check it out if you get a chance!

Write on...

There's nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein. ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

The urge to write just up and went. Away. I have no idea where it went, but wherever, it is far away from me.

You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you. ~Ray Bradbury

I'm pretty sure that Bradbury is on to something. I paused for just a moment, turned my back and reality sure enough did grab me and fill my soul with.. well...reality.

Writing is easy: All you do is sit staring at a blank sheet of paper until drops of blood form on your forehead. ~Gene Fowler

I love to write. Sometimes though there is such muck to wade through to reach anything of interest that nothing flows on the paper.

If I'm trying to sleep, the ideas won't stop. If I'm trying to write, there appears a barren nothingness. ~Carrie Latet

It's been a month since the urge last struck me.

Today I feel a small twinge. It's there. It's thinking about coming out. A couple of nights without sleep always help that along.

I will set myself up with all the necessities... caffeine (Tim Horton's Iced Capp)... food (a veggie wrap sounds tasty... music (cues NORMAL playlist on itunes)... turn off internet...

It's Tuesday! No Teaser!

I'm knee deep in revisions. I have been getting responses from my beta readers and so far so good. I love their honesty and comments, so far I'm in agreement with the suggestions and that is always a good thing - even if they are some tough recommendations. I love editing after getting comments from a beta. It feels good to be polishing - catching things that I missed earlier and making my MS as clean and shiny as it can be. It also brings me one step closer to querying.

I did something crazy.

I let my best friend read my MS. I find this isn't always a good idea because it can be awkward if they don't love it, and criticism stings differently coming from a friend than it does from an impartial beta reader. Good news - she stayed up until 1am to finish reading it! We talked about it all day yesterday and it was so much fun to chat about the characters and issues I'm having. I'm pretty sure I won't be writing her review of it on any agent queries, "My mom and my best friend really think it's cool..." but it's good to have someone to bore on end with questions.

I have another good friend who has been reading along with me from the beginning and her initial help is the only reason Normal is where it is now. She held my hand through those self-conscious, overly dramatic writer moments.

My point here... through this journey I'm growing braver with each step. I'm sharing my dreams with others and accepting their help. I think this makes all the difference.

Teaser Tuesday or is it already Tuesday?

I want to post a Teaser, but I have been working on a major spoiler area this week and I'm having a hard time finding something that doesn't scream "alien invasion Earth goes KABOOM" kind of thing.  Well, not quite that since NORMAL has neither aliens or elements of kaboom.  Maybe I need some?  So, what I am left with is a small snippet.

Thanks as always for checking it out!

Sitting in the restaurant it felt strange that the rest of the world continued on while their lives were so out of control. Aly watched as lovers held hands and smiled at each other over meals, people celebrated birthdays and families joined together for happy occasions.  She found their joy to be powerful and attractive.  She eagerly clapped and sang along as the servers carried a cake to a nearby table, singing Happy Birthday as they went.  She hoped it would spark something inside her, some fleeting moment of enjoyment but only a deep numbness filled her, protecting her from the other darker feelings that shared space.  She looked at Andrew and caught him staring at Tanner’s wheelchair and tapping his fingers on his cast absent-mindedly.  Both served as a visual reminder of the scars healing inside them all.

Major coup at the library...

I scored at the library today!  Right as I walked in Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters stared back at me!

Score!!

Then when I hit the big time YA section I struck library gold.  We have a great library here but if you don't reserve a copy - you are looking at 5-6 year old releases.  I'm all for older books but I've had my eye on some newer releases (2009+ kids!!)...

So - what did I grab?

Wintergirls (Laurie Halse Anderson) (Yeah, I know it's not Speak...)
Fire (Kristin Cashore) (So what, I'll read Graceling next?!)
and Wish you Were Dead (Todd Strasser)

Yeah yeah, I know - soooo last year - but this is a huge deal for me.  I'd go out and spend money on books if I could right now, but I can't, so the library is my bestest friend.  Oh, and my other buddy "librarian" gave me the down low on the new online reservation system.  I'm going to go deep into a reading coma. 

I may never sleep again.

I have to go start my bath.  Pages await...

Teaser Tuesday

This is a super short fun scene from Normal with Andrew and Aly - she's not crying!

“I can’t give you this copy, but I’ll send you an advance copy.”

“Can I get an autographed one? I hear those go for big bucks.”

Andrew flopped back into the chair and laughed hard. “I’ll sign a bunch of stuff for you then, put you through college.”

She shook her head. “Oh no, I want a pretty car too, so I’m going to have to ask you to get everyone’s autograph – it’s worth more.”

“Of course. I’ll try and remember that.”

Taffy Stuck and Tongue Tied

It's starting again.  I'm pretty sure my brain likes to sabotage me.   I WANT to edit and revise Normal, I really do.  I believe in it and would like to subject it to the knowing betas for advice and assistance. 

I will query for agent representation for it.

In the meantime, when I should be editing and getting it ready for betas, I keep having these new book ideas hit me.  I mean wake me from deep sleep several nights in a row because I'm ignoring them. 

I spent two days making notes, writing dialogue, character descriptions, plotting and researching idea #1.  I gave myself that time justifying that I needed to get as much of my inspiration down on paper while the feeling was with me, and that I'd just jump right back into editing.

Then shiny new idea #2 hit.  I ignored it.  SNI #2 came after me with a baseball bat.  I hid in the closet with a flashlight and held my editing pencil tight (and wrote bad poetry apparently) while I forced myself through more pages.  SNI#2 came after me with a scythe.  I ran screaming outside in slow motion, flailing my arms and screaming for help but SNI#2 chased after me. 

I tripped I fell and SNI#2 stood over me with a menacing smile.  I held up my hands and begged, "I'll do it, just stop chasing me." then rolled onto my side in tears.  SNI#2 laughed a maniacal BWAH HA HA HA.

I spent two days planning SNI#2.

They are rather pushy, violent little things.  I can't wait to get to know them better.