YA Edge

Graphic Novels and Comics Not Just for Kids

2011-01-18T23:43:00.000-08:00

In the past few months, I've found myself being led back to graphic novels and comics. It had been years since I read one, so I thought I would give a few new ones a try. Man, was I glad I did! Now, I'm not talking about the ones that they publish based around your favorite movie, book or tv show (though the Doctor Who ones are pretty good!). I mean the graphic novels that are unique IPs, and if there is a movie/tv/book tied to them, the comic or graphic novel came first. I thought it would be fun to share my recent favorite that I've been sucked into.

Fables

Based in New York, it's the kind of story or premise that you wish you had come up with, or at least that's how I feel. In the graphic novels, we follow characters based off storybook characters we know from our childhood. Classics like Little Red Riding Hood, Jack from Jack and the Bean Stock, Little Boy Blue, The Big Bad Wolf, Snow White, Cinderella, etc. There are also characters that I actually had to research as to who they are, but that makes it even more fun!

Here is the write up from Publisher's Weekly:

This elaborate fantasy series begins as a whodunit, but quickly unfurls into a much larger story about Fabletown, a place where fairy tale legends live alongside regular New Yorkers. Years ago, fables and fairy tales like Jack and the Beanstalk and Cinderella "were a thousand separate kingdoms spread over a hundred magic worlds," until they were invaded and driven into hiding and, eventually, into modern-day Gotham. And so, on the city streets we find Beauty and the Beast in trouble with the law and Prince Charming reduced to a broke cad auctioning off his royal title, while his ex-wife, Snow White, rules over the de facto kingdom the fables created. When Snow White's sister, Rose Red, disappears from a blood-soaked apartment, the Wolf, reformed and now the kingdom's house detective, is assigned to the case. Willingham uses the Wolf's investigation to introduce readers to Fabletown's dissolute, hard-luck inhabitants, and he is at his best here, relishing one-liners and spinning funky background information of a world where fairy tale characters spend their time fretting about money and thinking up get-rich schemes. The mystery seems mostly an excuse to delineate Willingham's world, as the caper is easily resolved-in true fairy tale fashion-during a massive ballroom celebration. Willingham's dialogue is humorous, his characterizations are sharp and his plot encompasses a tremendous amount of information with no strain at all. The art, mostly by Medina and Leialoha, is well drawn and serviceable, if somewhat unremarkable, with occasional flares of decorative invention. But it's Willingham's script that carries the tale.

I can't say enough good things about this graphic novel series. They are still producing them in serials, but you have a ton to catch up on in graphic novel format, so you don't have to worry about buying them monthly. If you are interested in checking it out, be sure to read them in order, as the series builds off the previous. I do have to mention, some of the stories are a little graphic and I believe they are mature rated. Just putting that out there. There are also a few different spin offs, so when you're done with Fables, and waiting for the next one, you can still live in the world. Both my husband and I love it!

Get Your SWAG On

2011-01-12T19:07:00.000-08:00

A fun part of being an author is choosing what SWAG to invest in for promotional purposes - blog contest giveaways, touring giveaways, drop off items to bookstores on your travels, or giveaways at signings/author visits, etc. There are infinite ways to utilize SWAG and an equal amount of items out there to be branded.

Here are a few of the SWAG products I've invested and an overview of their impact:

Character Cards:

Val Cox (http://www.valcox.ca/) illustrated Under My Skin and her gothic work looks GOREgeous in full colour. After falling in love with her illos of the UMS crew, I asked her to develop some unique SWAG to promote the book. She came up with three different cards based on the main characters, their personalities and a quote from UMS.

The cards are slick, hip and gothic - a great investment - worth the design and production fees. They also fit perfectly into the plastic, sealing bags used for the UMS chokers. Which brings us to....

UMS Chokers:

These choker necklaces were hand made by a teacher at my school who has a jewellery making business. She helped me locate the perfect crosses to match my vision of Eryn's gift from Alec, as well as the two strand ribbon bands.

I got a steal of a deal and only had to pay for supplies which made these stunning promo pieces worth the moola.

UMS Tees:

Made just for the UMS Launch Party (the live one in my home town and the online version). I had 24 tees produced - they were far too expensive but I LOVED them. Clingy and distressed/vintage, I adore mine and wear it often.

Worth the money? No. But as a cool keepsake you can wear with a cute pair of jeans/capris - priceless. ;)

UMS Postcards:

I had two separate designs created - one with the UMS cover and the other with one of the illos from UMS depicting the three main characters. I find the postcards most handy when mailing out ARC or prize winner copies of UMS - the large whitespace on the back lets me write a personal message. I had these printed at http://www.vistaprint.com/ - very affordable.

At bookstores, these don't seem to move as quickly as bookmarks...

Double-sided UMS/Second Skin Bookmarks:

I just got these babies. Double-sided bookmarks are lovely! Since VistaPrint doesn't have a template for bookmarks, I had to search the net for another printer. http://www.printrunner.com/ did a bang up job on my double-sided bookmarks, one featuring UMS and the other featuring Second Skin. Full colour both sides, one side with a high gloss, the other matte. Super affordable too.

These are hot items when I'm out at events and overall seem to get the most response.

I know there are tons of other SWAG options to explore, posters, banners, standing banners, buttons, magnets, pillow cases, tank tops, etc... and I do want to produce something specific for the release of Second Skin. I will have to ponder on this. In the meantime, good luck in your own SWAG adventures. I leave you with an image of some SWAG from authors who participated in the Crossroads Blog Tour this October:

You can see the UMS bookmarks resting on the brick wall. What a lot of loot, eh? If your interested, follow the tour in Oct 2011. Meet more paranormal YA authors and enter contests for amazing SWAG prizes.

What a New Year Brings

2011-01-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

For the past two years on this blog, I've been doing New Year's resolutions, or at least things that I'd like to accomplish in the new year. If you'd like to read my post from last year, you can find it here. It's funny to look back, to see what I hoped to do and then what actually happens just from things falling into place and life happening around me. I would have never dreamed I would quit my job or that my small crochet hobby would turn into what it is now.

I know that 2011 will be a very busy year for my family, as a lot will be going on with work and well, just life. That being said, there are a few things that will be keeping me busy in the next 12 months and beyond.

Here is what I hope to accomplish in 2011:

I said it last year and I'll say it again. Man, do I need to get into better shape. I have a Wii Fit, and I need to start using it regularly. I know that's not as good as going to a gym, but at least it gets me moving around and doing something other than sitting on the couch.
I want to revise (again) and start querying (again) Lost and Found. I think I can make it so much better and it's a story I love and I think others could love it, too. I don't want to spend too much time going back over it, but I hope in the first 3 months, I can get it to where I want it to be. That way, I can be querying while revising/writing other things.
I want to finish Parlor, edited to a polish and start to query by summer, or at least sometime in summer. I'm to the point where the first draft is written, I just need to do the hard part, make it good.
I want to complete another first draft. Story still to be decided, but I have a lot of ideas. I just need to figure out which one I want to spend my time with. The first draft I want done by the end of the year.
Start a yarn business. That's right, a yarn business. I'm in the process of starting the company right now with logos, working on my business plan, etc. I will be selling hand-dyed yarns and hopefully other handmade items on Etsy/Artfire and my website.
Read more books. This year, for some reason (and I'm sure that reason being my crafting), I read WAY less books than normal. I don't have my final count, as I have been lazy filling out my book spreadsheet, but it's down by at least 20 books from the year before I think. That's sad. I have so many great books on my shelves (and on my nook) that just need to be picked up and read.

Well, now you know what I hope to accomplish this year, how about you?

Christmas and Doctor Who

2010-12-27T03:36:00.000-08:00

Yeah, this Christmas I spent quality time with my family. We hung out, bickered, played games and generally frazzled each other's nerves. And sure, I ate a ton of rich, sweet, nummy food. But my Christmas was truly complete when we arrived back at home yesterday and plunked down on the couch to watch the Doctor Who specials from Season 4.

THEN I caught the Season 5 Christmas special on the telly...which bled into an entire marathon of the Christmas specials from each season. I tell you, the night was magical - snow falling outside my window, fireplace blazing, dogs at my feet - a festive Doctor Whoville- seriously, it was bliss.

So - did you what did you think of The Christmas Carol? I loved the blending of Dickens and Doctor. ;) Indeed, we're half way out of the dark. Now it's back to writing - on to the bright new year...have a happy one!

Last Minute Gifts and Books to Buy with Your Holiday Money

2010-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

We hope everyone has a fun, safe and happy holidays!

We all have times when we're behind on our holiday shopping and I'm sure this year isn't any different. It is Christmas Eve. Santa is finishing up in the workshop and everyone else is running to the malls and stores for last minute shopping. I thought I would help you out in what to buy book wise. There are so many great books to be gifted, or even something for yourself if you receive gift cards or money from family and friends to spend on something you'll love. Here are a few of my most recent reads that I can't say enough about.

Matched by Ally Condie (from bn.com)-

Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate . . . until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff (from BN.com)-

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Edward Scissorhands meets The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong.

Please Ignore Vera Dietz by A.S. King (from BN.com)-

Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.

So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?

Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.

The Scorch Trials by James Dashner (from BN.com)-

Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?

Wicked Short Stories

2010-12-13T05:07:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been reading collections of paranormal or fantasy-ish short stories - either written by a single author or anthologies. I'm working on a few short works myself and there's nothing better than reading samples within your genre to help your writing. You see what's been done, what is possible and what you may attempt to accomplish with your work.

Anyway, here are a few of the titles I've been digging into, in case you're looking for some short sensational tales. If you have any others to recommend - please comment on this post.

The Eternal Kiss: 13 Vampire Tales of Blood and Desire

- edited by Trisha Telep. Authors include: Libba Bray, Melissa de la Cruz, Kelley Armstrong, Cecil Castellucci (love that there are several Canadians!) and more.

Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link

- this author is wonderfully odd, taking tales down roads I never would have expected. "The Wrong Grave" is my favourite.

Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor

- illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo - amazing real world meets the fantastical tales with gothic/graphic novel-ish illos.

Blood Roses by Francesca Lia Block

- short reads that will haunt you. Seriously.

Love is Hell

- authors include: Melissa Marr, Scott Westerfeld, Justine Larbalestier and more. There are several other titles in this stories from "Hell" series which is partially a fundraiser: Vacations From Hell, Prom Nights From Hell, Kisses From Hell. "A portion of the proceeds will be donated to College Summit".

Zombies vs. Unicorns

- compiled by Holy Black and Justine Larbalestier. Authors include: Maureen Johnson, Garth Nix, Cassandra Clare, Carrie Ryan and more. After reading about the Zombies vs. Unicorn blog debate started by Black and Larbalestier, I'd heard about this book - however...lol....I thought it was going to be the actual arguments for and against from these two authors and didn't bother to investigate further. When I saw it at a bookstore and flipped through, realizing it was a collection of short stories with authors writing to support their "team" (zombie or unicorn)...I had to read it.

Looking Through a New Set of Eyes

2010-12-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

For me, December is never a huge month for writing. The holidays get in the way and to be honest, I'm just plain burnt out by NaNoWriMo. This year is no different. The thought of writing right now is exhausting, but I must admit, I miss it. I decided to do the next best thing...the four letter word to some writers...

Edit.

Now, I know that's not very unusual. A lot of people edit their first drafts in the month of December. Their NaNo stories are still fresh in their mind and they can continue the flow and pace they kept up all in the month of November. To finish the draft and begin to make it coherent (because, seriously, how many NaNoWriMo words seriously survive the first edits?). See, this is where I'm doing something different. I have decided to push away the two new stories I've been working on (the one I started about six months ago, and my NaNoWriMo project) and focus on something that I'm not so close to anymore.

I've started editing the story, Lost and Found, that I queried about a year and a half ago. I'd pushed it out of my mind, pushed it far in the depths of my drawers and my computer folders. I realized last month, it may be the time to bring it back into the light. It has been awhile since I've even thought about it, much less read it.

It's funny how different each word looks on the paper now. How foreign the words are to me. I used to know this story by heart, it was a map of my mind. Now, it's just words on a page and that is exactly how I want it to be. I'm able to edit from a distance. See the mistakes that were always there, but I was unable to pluck them out because I always knew which word came next.

I hope I can be objective through the whole process and begin to query again the next few months. I love the story, and I want others to love it as well. Wish me luck!

Second Skin Booktrailer

2010-12-05T11:19:00.000-08:00

So thrilled to announce the trailer for Second Skin, sequel to Under My Skin, is now available for viewing. Madison at M2 Productions is a media marvel. She's been doing trailers for authors since she the age of 17 and is now in film school. Go figure. If you're an author looking for someone to whip up a stellar trailer for your work, look no further.

Here's the blurb:

With FIENDS Like Eryn…
Eryn struggles to resist the beast clawing at her soul as darkness settles over her like a second skin. She’s made a deal, and she can’t let a dead man down. Not unless she wants her friends and family to relocate – six feet under.

When Eryn and her crew each face their own demons, loyalties are tested and temptations abound. Can she share a future with the brooding, noble, human Alec – the hunter after her heart? Or will she succumb to her enemy’s son, Wade, a seductive predator as bloodthirsty as she is?

What happens when you’re both the beauty and the beast?

And the trailer:

What a Month!

2010-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Sorry we've been so quiet the past week or so of the month, but Tracy and I have been hard at work on our NaNoWriMo projects. Now that December is here, we can all breath a sigh of relief. I know I am. I will be focusing on getting my crochet and knitting projects finished for Christmas, which in some ways is just as stressful as NaNo is!

As you can see here, I won! This is the first time it has taken me all 30 days to complete NaNoWriMo

This year I had a different approach to NaNoWriMo. I was working on a project that I dreamed up (literally, the idea came from a dream). I went into it knowing that it probably wouldn't be a project I would see to the end, but instead would just get me back into the groove of writing every day, or at least most days. It did just that. I had a great time writing it, without the pressures of wanting to take it through the editing stages and beyond. Instead, I wrote where the story and characters took me, not worrying how crazy or silly it was getting. It was great just to write freely and it even sparked a few ideas for other stories.

Another thing this NaNoWriMo project showed me, I'm probably better suited to write contemporary YA, opposed to fantasy/paranormal, etc. Contemporary YA speaks to me, and my writing style is best suited for it. My lovely crit partners have been saying that for awhile, but I think I needed to see it for myself to really understand what they were talking about.

NaNo was just about writing this year for me, not writing the best book, or the book that could maybe lead me to an agent after endless edits, it was about having fun with writing again.

What did you learn this year from NaNoWriMo about your projects and yourself?

NANO End Approacheth

2010-11-21T16:07:00.001-08:00

And so the end of NANO draws near. I know I won't reach 50k, I'll be lucky to get 25k, however the experience has been worthwhile. I've moved faster with this WIP than with previous first drafts and I was inspired to work on a short story as well.

I'm hoping to keep this pace up for December/January and see if I can produce 25k each month - that's a decent first draft and in 3 months. Managable for me, I think.

Many of my NANO buddies, Tami included, are already nearing 50k or have won already. YOU GUYS ROCK! I'm amazed at your commitment. Whoopa! On December 1st I expect you all to have a decent shower, do your laundry and RELAX...you've earned some serious downtime.

Me? I'll still be plugging away. ;)

I did want to share one of my fav lines from my superhero NANO project. In this scene, Scarlet has just crashed into Jordan with her car. Jordan doesn't want to report the accident she never should have survived.

“So you’re saying you don’t want to involve the cops?” Scarlet rephrases. This is a seriously unexpected twist. Who gets hit by a car and doesn’t want to report it or get checked over?

“That’s right.” Jordan waits and in that waiting is life or death. Jordan’s life. Scarlet’s death. She waits for Scarlet to process her words. To react. And based on that reaction, Jordan will either reach for Elijah’s deathray gun resting in her coat pocket, or she won’t.

Do you have a fav few NANO project lines you want to share?? Let's have them!

And On We Go...

2010-11-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

Hello happy NaNoWriMoers. At least, I hope you're happy. How's the word count going? If you're in the US, are you already dreading the Thanksgiving break, trying to write around time with the family?

This week was big for me. Not only did I totally catch up, I am now ahead. As of Thursday night, I have 32,031 words. I hope to stay ahead so that I don't have to pull out all the stops when I get back from the holiday the last two days. Is it just me, or is Thanksgiving super late this year?

My story is going good, the pacing could be better, but that's not what's important for NaNo. I'm still enjoying the concept and getting to really know my characters so it's fun each and every day. It's the words down on the page, telling the story in a messy first draft. That's what the following months are for, to make it a GOOD manuscript.

If you're a little behind, don't worry. There is still time to catch up. It's possible. Believe me, I've done it. If you're having trouble concentrating, try to get out of the house to write. Whether you have a laptop, an Alphasmart or just the simple pen and paper, you would be shocked how much you can get done away from distractions.

I hope all of the US YAedgers have a great Thanksgiving! Eat lots of turkey, read lots of books and oh yeah, don't forget to write a few words, too!

Shifting Gears: From Paranormal to Steampunk

2010-11-15T04:45:00.000-08:00

For my NANO project (which is moving slower than I'd hoped), I decided to diversify and skip my usual genre, paranormal fiction. I had intended on this piece to be completely supernatural/magic/fantasy free, alas...the rotten thing had other ideas. A few pages into Rogues Gallery, the story of four looserish teens uniting against a common foe (the town's superhero) I knew my underachieving overachievers wouldn't stay contemporary YA. Nope, all too soon they managed to work in fantastical elements and I could only sit back, type and watch it happen.

However, this is definitely not paranormal fiction, so I feel I've had a measure of success with my effort to branch out. If anything it's more steampunk/supervillain/dark comic - but set in the present day. Sooo, how's that for mashing up genres?And though you may argue that steampunk uses science and gadgets....said gadgets are fantastical, impossible things, not contemporary "real life" YA in any sense.

Steampunk and superheroes/villains conventions complement each other - both have braniac mad scientists to be defeated, there are nifty gadgets that help save the day and strange man-made creatures. A Rogues Gallery of villains with quirky abilities is (are??) always nice, as is a failed romance or unrequited love. Toss in a rival for the true love's affections and possibly the end of the world and whoopa - you've got yourself one hell of a tale.

Really, paranormal fiction isn't too far off. I've just traded gadgets for magicks. Now if I can only get my butt in gear and shift into PLAID....I might be able to get to 50,000 by the end of the month. If not, I can always use my handy cross-over SUV (aka mini-TARDIS - it's much bigger on the inside) to go back in time and fit in more words.

Hmmmm....perhaps I'm watching too much Doctor Who. Ya think? Good luck meeting your word counts, my mad NANO friends!

Week Two Almost to a Close

2010-11-12T04:00:00.000-08:00

The weekend is almost here, and that means that week two of NaNoWrimo is almost over. It was a bumpy week for me, but only because of laziness. Last Friday, I was on track, doing so good. Maybe a little too good, because I only wrote a few hundred words on Friday. See, I had an excuse, I was busy making this for my niece as a Christmas gift. Why were you so panicked when you have over a month left before Christmas, you ask? Because, I'm stupid and decided to make everyone's gifts this year. And yes, I am panicked that I won't finish and will have to run to the mall on Christmas Eve with all the other stupid people who wait until the last minute.

Then came Saturday. I felt so accomplished, finishing the bag and sitting pretty with my NaNo word count that I didn't write. Instead, we went to Long Beach for a fun short road trip, visiting a local yarn store and a tiki bar. There was always Sunday. We had no plans, the day would be a writing day, right? Wrong. Sunday came around, and though we didn't necessarily have plans, we still had to do stupid errands like go to the market that take way too long. By the time I got home, that last thing I wanted to do was write.

Flash forward to today (Thursday as I type this, at 6pm). I am caught up to where I should be, sitting at 18,431 words (actually a few words over the end goal for Thursday). Easy, right? Wrong. I've worked my butt of this week, sitting in the same chair each day for 6+ hours. I have felt accomplished as the days come to a close, but I felt as if I was fighting a losing battle. Every morning I would wake up only further behind.

There was no way I could climb back up, I thought on Monday, then Tuesday, and then on Wednesday, but I did. Each day I had to write 2,500+ words (Thursday I wrote 3,037 words) to get there. It wasn't easy, but I did it and you can too.

If you're behind and feel like there is no way you can do it, think of me. Sure, I had to work hard each day, but I got it done. If you focus and put your mind to it, it's possible. Right now, I will say, I learned my lesson. I will be writing 2,000+ Friday. I may not hit my writing goal on Saturday and Sunday, but I plan to get something down, even if it's a few words added to the final count. Every little bit helps, right?

Tami's word count at the end of day 11: 18,431

I hope everyone had a great Veteran's Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada yesterday. I wanted to thank all the soldiers for risking their lives to make ours better.

Class of 2k10 Multi-Title Giveaway

2010-11-07T04:17:00.000-08:00

Five book clubs across the US can win a prize pack of three to six sets of books written by the authors from the Class of 2K10. Each pack includes TEN copies of each book, and in some packs one of the books will be signed by the author. The contest is open to all book clubs associated with a nonprofit institution, a school, or a library. To enter, just comment on this entry, specifying which of the prize packs you are interested in and which nonprofit you are affiliated with. The giveaway will end on November 11, 2010.

MID_GRADE FANTASY PACK:

The Carnival of Lost Souls by Laura Quimby
Under the Green Hill by Laura L. Sullivan
The Witchy Worries of Abbie Adams by Rhonda Hayter

MID-GRADE CONTEMPORARY PACK:

Fairview Felines: A Newspaper Mystery by Michele Corriel
Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr
Leaving Gee's Bend by Irene Latham
The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman
Shooting Kabul by N.H. Senzai

YA FANTASY/PARANORMAL PACK

13 To Life by Shannon Delany
Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
Mistwood by Leah Cypess
Past Midnight by Mara Purnhagen
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Under My Skin by Judith Graves

YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 1

Change of Heart by Shari Maurer
Faithful by Janet Fox
Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
The Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride

YA CONTEMPORARY PACK 2

Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
Party by Tom Leveen
Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards
The Secret Year by Jennifer R. Hubbard
Split by Swati Avasthi

Rules:
You must be a book club affiliated with a nonprofit, school, or library, and located in the continental United States.

To enter, leave a comment to this entry: (http://community.livejournal.com/classof2k10/27411.html).

Specify which of the prize packs you are interested in – you may choose from only one, to all five, as we will be holding 5 separate drawings. (However, no club will win more than one prize pack.)

Leave an email address where you can be reached should you win.

If the email address is a not an institution address, please specify which nonprofit, school, or library you are affiliated with.

If you are not sure whether you qualify, just leave the relevant information in the comment.
If there are any additional questions, please contact Leah Cypess at LCypess@gmail.com.

Week 1 of NaNoWrimo (or the first 4 days)

2010-11-05T00:01:00.000-07:00

Can you believe that the first 4 (or 5 depending what time you're reading this) days have completed for NaNoWrimo 2010? I can't! The time is flying by, and I'm keeping up...barely.

This is the first year I've sat down in hopes of writing something good. Okay, maybe that's not true, but this year I'm not putting words down just for the word count and thinking I'll edit when I get to it. I'm choosing my words wisely and trying to get something down worthwhile. It will be still be a rough 1st draft, but I hope to have more substance than my last NaNoWrimo years. That's not to say that my last ones were all crap. I did turn my last two NaNoWrimo books into a completed manuscript that I'm proud of and queried with some success (though no agent). The one from last year is still in the works, going through edit after edit and have high hopes for it. I just wish it had been a little cleaner after November 30th.

That is my plan for this year. To have something that is readable without cringing (too much), but to still hit the goal of 50,000. I will say, this is also the year that I'd like to hit the goal, but won't kick myself if I don't. I participated in NaNo this year, not to have 50,000 words of a new book (well, that's partly it), but to get myself out of the editing funk.

The book I spoke of above, the one in edits, has got me down. I stopped working on it consistently and felt like I didn't know where to turn. Instead of fighting through it like I should have, I let other things distract me in my life. I shouldn't have, but I needed something like NaNo to get the juices flowing again. I think I needed to step back and start on something fresh, to get a new perspective on my writing and my creativity. I'm hoping NaNo does that for me, and so far it has. I forgot how fun it is to create a new world and spend time with new friends (err, characters).

Each day, it has taken most of the day (at least 5 hours) to hit my daily word count, and I'm okay with that. I don't need to bang out 1,666 words (or more) in an hour just to say that I can. I want to choose each word, each letter wisely. That being said, I hope I can speed up a little more once I know my word and characters better. I guess we'll find out once I wrap up week one and start on week two.

How are you doing with your word count?

Tami's word count at the end of day 4: 7,287

It's all about NANO, baby!

2010-11-01T05:03:00.000-07:00

Well. NANO Eve is behind us. This is the day - the beginning. Let's get'er done. ;) November is going to be a quite month for me, a few author visits, the day job, and NANO. That's it. I'm not going to Twitter/blog/Facebook - I'm NOT! (Well, maybe a bit to promo said author visits. Oh, and my weekly blog post here...but that's all.)

I'm "going dark" - hitting the writer's cave and won't come up for air until December. I think it will be liberating. I've been tied to the Net for most of October due to blog tours, etc - while they've been a blast - they are a major time suck. It will be wonderful to just WRITE.

Lord knows what my house will look like after a month, but who cares, right? This is NANO, baby! If you're participating this year, find me - I'm there as JudithG.

Good luck!

Happy Halloween and Beginning of NaNoWrimo

2010-10-29T04:00:00.000-07:00

First off, I wanted to say happy Halloween to everyone who celebrates. It's one of my favorite holidays, though the past few years we haven't done much. This year, we hope to find a party or two and have a little fun. Please be safe if you plan to go out on the town! Some weird crap can happen on Halloween (I was actually in a car accident on Halloween several years ago).

Be sure not to get too crazy come October 31st. The next day is a special one...the first day of NaNoWrimo. What's the best way to get through the first week? Eat the left over Halloween candy, and if you don't have any left, be sure to stop by your local store to buy the crazy discounted candy they have to get rid of!

Speaking of NaNoWrimo, are you ready? Our critique group shared our ideas for plots and decided just last night which to work on. I had two ideas that are very different and wasn't sure which to pick. Both had potential, but with the girls' help, I was able to decide.

Right now, I have a basic idea of my story, and a very very very (did I mentioned very?) rough synopsis. I'm at the point where I wonder if I have enough to write 50,000 words in the 30 days ahead, but each year I go through self-doubt. Don't let it swallow you up, or you will never get past the first 5,000 words, let alone 50,000. I hope I can use my own advice.

I've been in a writing funk lately, so I hope that writing the first draft of a new book snaps me out of it so I can get back to editing my current WIP, Parlor. I'm stuck on the editing part, prodding along but just don't know where to take some of the chapters. By cranking out a lot of crappy words in the month of November, maybe I'll have them out of my system and only the good ones will be left to finish editing my book!

Here's to hoping! Next week, I'll give an update on how my first 5 days of NaNo has gone. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I have around 9,000-10,000 words. I'd love to write most of my week's wordcount during the week so that I have the weekend free to not stress over it and plot/research for the next week.

What do you hope to accomplish the first week of NaNo? Do you have a schedule planned out?

Pure Speculation Festival

2010-10-26T04:43:00.001-07:00

My hubbie, my 2 crazy labs and I were on one hell of Joy READ this week. We travelled 7 hours to Grimshaw, Alberta for a few author visits to grade 7 and 8 students (well, just me, the rest of my crew hung out at the hotel room). From Grimshaw we drove another 6 hours to Edmonton to attend the 6th Annual Pure Speculation Festival - a small (but growing!) sci-fi / fantasy con where I sat on a few panels.

As we drove around the Radisson Hotel, desperately trying to find a place to park (I swear every nerd worth his/her weight in gold was at Pure Spec), we spied a green-skinned gentleman getting out of his vehicle. "We're in YOUR world now," my hubbie announced. Yes, we were. I was in nerd heaven the entire day. Walking amongst the costumed, the gamers, the keeners taking notes and the Geek Calendar Girls was quite the adventure. I presented a session on the SKINNED Series, gave an overview of the beasties in the SKINNED world and showed a sneak peek of the trailer for SECOND SKIN. But the best part - the cool people I met during my panels.

Tanya Huff (creator of the Blood series of books, turned into Blood Ties - a 2 season TV show) is so damn smart and well read and passionate. She kicked the snot out of any point she made and yet had time to chat with the newbie (that'd be me) and enjoyed hanging with fans.

Dan Brodribb is a nifty guy - a self-professed shy comic - a wrestling referee - and all around fantasy fan. His self-effacing humour is endearing.

Then there's Mike Perschon, an English prof / Steampunk Scholar who makes the classics come alive - ALIVE! Plus, he's up on his YA fiction and even shared some steampunk titles my high school History teacher hubbie could use in class.

As panelists, we engaged in heated discussions - the sparkling vampire debate, paranormal fiction as the modern fairytale, which sci-fi title should "stay on the island", the morphing of paranormal fiction into genres like steampunk and what was next for the genre in general. I left the fest with my inner nerd fully charged.

I hope I'm invited back next year. I'm going to get me a kickass costume. I wish I had taken pictures of the wicked cool costumes, but alas - epic fail on my part. (Many thanks to my brother, Blaise, who kindly took pics of the SKINNED session for me - and my sister, Brenda - who helped me setup!) Until next year, Pure Spec.....

Fighting Distraction

2010-10-22T08:03:00.000-07:00

There are so many distractions in life--books, tv, and other hobbies. Mix in family and friends and sometimes it's hard to get anything done and by anything, I mean writing. Times are about to get worse, with the holiday season approaching upon us faster than I can type this. Before we know it, it will be Halloween, Thanksgiving (for our US readers) and then the December holidays (whatever you may celebrate). Not only is it hard to get everything done, it's even harder to make sure you sit down and concentrate on your story. I know for me, when I'm in the zone on one of my books, my mind tends to constantly think about it, working out issues that I'm having or just living in the world I created. During the holidays it's different, I'm thinking about turkeys, vacation, presents and hot chocolate (okay, maybe a buttered rum or two as well. I'm not going to lie). Add in NaNoWrimo, and you've got a mess on your hands.

As I've mentioned here before, I got into crochet about a year ago. It helps me relax, concentrate on something theraputic and fun. I love it because I can take it anywhere, I've met amazing people and it gives me something to do when my husband wants to watch really terrible movies. I even started a crochet blog, Tami's Amis and Other Crochet. It started as a hobby, but now it has crept into my thinking of writing time and even my actual writing time. I hope that NaNo helps me set my priorities back to where they should be. I'm not saying that it has taken over my time writing, but it has slowly moved into that space. It will be a huge test for me come November. I will be working on a new book for NaNoWrimo (I have two stories brewing and I'm not sure which I'd like to write yet), the holidays and on top of all that, I've decided to make many of my gifts this year. I'm excited about that, but to be honest, it's a lot easier to go out to the mall and purchase something. I hope to accomplish so much during November, more than just writing a first draft of a new YA novel.

What do you hope to accomplish with NaNoWrimo, other than 50,000 words?

NANO Attack!

2010-10-17T14:39:00.000-07:00

With NANO a few weeks away, participants like Tami and I are busy jotting plot notes, character traits, researching settings or time periods and seeing inspiration shining around every corner of life. I call it the hunter / gatherer stage, we're like bears getting ready to den for the winter - gorging ourselves for the ordeal ahead. Prepping for the inevitable dry spell (which should strike at about Day 19, just beyond the half way mark) when NANO seems like a freakish experiment in self-mutilation and the next word is the equivalent of the next drop on your forehead a la water torture.

Let's revisit that bear analogy. It resonates with me at the moment, since my yard was recently invaded. I took the dogs out early one morning, it was pitch black and they FREAKED out, barking, snarling - and frankly, scaring the crap out of me. I managed to get them inside the house, though they fought against their leashes the whole way. When the sun came up, I found out why. A bear had busted down a section of our fence to access our overripe crab apples and ripped down several branches for easy munching. Here's a pic of the damage:

The bear came back a few nights later, so we eliminated the problem - shook all the apples down and got rid of them. We've since fixed the fence and all's well. But, being a paranormal fiction author, I had to question - since we never really saw the bear - what if this incident didn't have an easy, natural explanation? What if something paranormal was at work? What if, instead of a bear, our house (which backs onto miles of woods) was encroaching on the territory of some other creature? Something old, something evil? A starving thing, desperate and hungry?

Like I said, me and that bear have a lot in common. We're both hoarding up all the nutrients we can - only in my situation - it's writerly goodness. And from the bear came the the geniuses of my NANO project. A busted fence, branches down from a tree - with huge claw marks carving up the trunk - black oozy liquid on the frosted lawn, leaving a trail to the woods, and a frazled single parent who poopoos her imaginative teen-aged daughter's foreboding feeling away.

Then things get worse....much, much worse.

Good luck to all NANO participants - here's to hunting down a wicked plot and characters to DIE for!

Preparing for NaNoWrimo Part1- The Idea

2010-10-15T08:37:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in last week's post, NaNoWrimo is right around the corner. Despite saying that I wasn't going to participate, I changed my mind. Why did I change it so quickly? Sunday I was laying in bed being lazy, reading my Twitter feed, when someone tweeted something totally innocent. It had nothing to do with books, writing, stories or anything you would think it would, but just a random life observation. Those 140 characters (actually, it was less), gave me a whole book idea. It just wasn't any old book idea, it was something that I instantly needed to write...like right now. What perfect timing right?

I quickly sat up, grabbed my Moleskine (that is always by my bedside) and began to write the idea down before it slipped away into the abyss of great ideas (and trust me, I have a LOT of those floating around, lost). After i wrote down the basic idea, my mind still raced, trying to put it all together. My husband was in the next room, so I ran (yes I literally ran) to him and told him all about it. I wanted to make sure I wasn't nuts, that this could really work. The great part? He agreed!

Now comes the hard part, building a world, characters and plot around this basic idea, all before November 1st. That's what I'll be working on in the days to come, trying to get enough of a platform, so to speak, to know where I'm taking the story. The first few years I wrote for NaNo, as I mentioned before, I just ran with it. I didn't know what I was writing until I sat down for the first time in November. The last few I had a plan. It worked out so much better and my first draft was much improved because of it.

Be sure to get as much down about your story, even if it's something as simple as your main character being allergic to strawberries. You won't regret it!

If you want to be my writing buddy for NaNoWrimo this year, my user name is Seeker4.

The Crossroads Blog Tour: Press Release

2010-10-13T04:45:00.000-07:00

If you love paranormal YA, you won't want to miss this tour:

This Halloween meet 16 YA Paranormal Authors at THE CROSSROADS! From October 16-31st, bloggers and authors will meet at a virtual crossroads, sharing their love of the paranormal and things that go bump in the night with readers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRLog (Press Release) – Oct 12, 2010 – Canada, United States, Worldwide:

What’s dark, delicious and READ all over? Young adult paranormal fiction, my FIENDS, and what better way to celebrate debut and established authors in the genre than a blog tour frenzy? Over sixteen days this October (October 16-31) bloggers and authors will meet at a virtual crossroads, sharing their love of the paranormal and things that go bump in the night with readers.

Judith Graves, an Alberta based YA author, (Under My Skin. Leap Books, 2010) has organized the event, the first multi-author blog tours of its kind. She’s wrangled in New York Times bestselling authors (Tonya Hurley. Ghostgirl series. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers) and newbies alike for the sixteen day promotional GOREfest. Participating bloggers will giveaway generous amounts of SWAG donated by the authors, as well as signed copies of Crossroad author titles.

Paranormal authors deal with the fantastical and the yearnings of their readers. “It’s a once a year opportunity to be anything and anyone you want to be. Anyone can be a princess, a superhero or a villain- all in one night.” Says Jordan Deen (The Crescent. Black Rose Writing, 2010). Joy Preble (Haunted. Sourcebooks Fire, 2011) agrees, “Halloween is a time for unloosening – of spirits and self.” Why not indulge in the spirit of reading? “[Halloween] is a time where the veil between the real and the unreal, the living and the dead, thins until you think you see strange shadows following you under the pumpkin-orange moon…” adds Karen Kincy (Other. Flux, 2010)

Besides the usual deal with the devil lore, crossroads symbolize so much more, as Angie Frazier (Everlasting. Scholastic Press, 2010) shares, “Literally or figuratively, a crossroads is place where a single decision will change everything. For me, a crossroads symbolizes choice and loss, and sometimes even bravery—when you choose one path, countless others are left behind, unexplored.” Amy Brecount White (Forget-Her-Nots. Greenwillow/HarperCollins, 2010) expands, “A crossroads symbolizes new possibilities. We can’t see what’s going to happen in either direction, but a choice is unavoidable. We are our choices, which is both exciting and scary.”

This Halloween, choose to explore new stories, new voices. “It’s the only holiday that encompasses imagination to the fullest. A night to be whom ever you want to be, try someone’s shoes on for size…experience magic.” Encourages, Kitty Keswick (Freaksville. Leap Books, 2010).

How the tour works:

From October 16-31st, readers, under the thrall of Wade Gervais, a dark-side vampire from Judith Graves’ Under My Skin, hunt for answers to a new paranormal trivia question each day. The answers are hidden within a different blog post daily, encouraging readers to visit each blog, each day of the tour. Bloggers will be giving away a bevy of tricks and treats donated by Crossroads Tour authors. At the end of the tour, on October 31st compiled answers are sent to Graves and a grand prize winner is randomly selected from those with correct and complete entries. There will also be two live chats on October 31st and November 1st, bringing readers, authors and bloggers together for a final celebration on Halloween and the Day of the Dead.
For the full list of participating authors, bloggers and giveaways, check out The Crossroads event page: http://judithgraves.com/events/the-crossroads-tour/

-30-

To book an interview contact:Rachel Sentes/PublicistRachel@gal-fridaypublicity.com/604-366-7846
# # #

gal-friday is a publicist, and freelance writer She works with authors, agents, publishers, businesses and cool arts causes. She is partnered with Brian Wood- a non-fiction literary agent in Vancouver to maximize publicity exposure

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NaNoWrimo is on its Way!

2010-10-08T04:00:00.000-07:00

I know that we're only a week into October, but don't forget, NaNoWrimo is right around the corner. Despite not taking part in it this year, YAedge is always a huge supporter. I've done five out of the last six, and each year that I don't, it makes me a little sad.

To me, NaNoWrimo is more than 1,667 words a day or 50,000 in a month. It's a lesson that every word doesn't need to be right, the first draft doesn't need to be perfect. It's a community of writers, online and in my hometown that I may not have met otherwise. It's motivation to prove to myself that I can work every day, and still have time for other things in my life that I love to do.

This next month, I won't be focusing on a new story, but continuing my work on Parlor, my NaNoWrimo book from last year. As I did the last 1k-a-day, I will be focusing on editing. This time, I'm not going to give myself a daily word or edit count, but a challenge to myself to work hard each day. It's easy to get distracted, even when I have the whole day to write, by other things.

For those of you participating in NaNoWrimo this year, be sure to start thinking about your story, plotting it out and developing your characters. I usually fly by the seat of my pants to some extent during NaNo, but you will thank yourself for any pre-NaNo work you can get done. On the days where you don't have much time, or are having a tough writing day, having a plan and really knowing your characters will take you far.

I'd love to hear how many of you plan to participate this November, and what you've done so far to prepare.

On an off topic note, for those of you keeping track, I've started reading Frankenstein for my One Classic a Month Challenge. So far, it's not what I was expecting, but I'm enjoying it. I plan to continue to read modern YA while enjoying the classics, so it will be a little slower than my normal pace. As long as I finish in October, I'll be set!

Did anyone decide to join us in reading a classic a month?

JOY READ: Author visits from the author's POV

2010-10-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

As a library technician, I've booked many author visits and am used to the drama. Contacting the author or the booking agency, arranging transport / hotel / meals, following up with the author, getting students and staff pumped for their visit, setting up, the big day and ongoing promos long after the author has left.

But now I'm getting to experience the beasts known as author visits, from the author's POV. Suddenly I'm dealing with taking time off, arranging transport, confirming meals/hotel and because I'm one lucky lady - having my hubbie and my two crazy labs along for the ride.

As we reached our hotel yesterday (after a 6 hour drive), I flipped through the room service menu and found this bookmark tucked inside. How appropriate. Yes, folks, we are on a JOY READ. ;)

Packing for two adults and two crazy labs involves a ton of creative thinking - but not the writer kind. My husband managed to cram all my gear in (books, books, books, laptop, camera, not to mention hair product!), along with his stuff and dog supples: crate, "blankets", food dishes, toys, bones, leashes, etc. (We're worse than new parents, I swear.)

We have a nifty system for traveling with the dogs - we've made several long trips with them before (Salt Spring Island in BC was the best trip EVER). Higgins, our chocolate lab has the back of our SUV, and Willow, our yellow lab, is tucked in her crate. No fighting while we're on the road or playing - you have the window I want to look out of / do you want to look out this window? TOUGH!

Amidst the potty breaks and walks around road-side turnouts, I worked on my presentations, polishing documents on my laptop and getting my husband's (and high school teacher) opinion on what writing process themes would best keep grade 7-12 kids interested.

I had a great time presenting a session this morning: Author Visits to DIE for: Virtual Author Visits - talking about all things writers currently do to promote their books (booktrailers, playlists, SWAG and social media) and how library staff can tap into those readily available resources. Plus I talked up Skype author visits and the Skype An Author Network. Highly recommened for public and school libraries wanting to connect readers and authors on a budget. I hope my session sparked some ideas and would love to hear success stories...hint, hint.

From the Parkland Regional Library conference in Lacombe, Alberta, we travelled through a touristy, but tres cool town, Sylvan Lake. Talk about beautiful pseudo-sea side homes!

I could so move there in a heartbeat. Lots of funky shops along the marina, pubs and restaurants, mini-golf, waterslides, go-carts and more. Nice. Making this a true, JOY READ, we stopped in a larger city, Red Deer, and checked out the Chapters. Low and behold, Under My Skin was on their shelves! I signed the copies and left some UMS swag. A very cool moment and I snagged a Chai latte too. ;)

One stop at a farmer's field later and the dogs were in their element. Yes, they might have crushed some grass as they tromped through a section of field, but man, did they have energy to kill.

Tomorrow, I'll be presenting to students from Rocky Mountain House. A teacher has read all (or most of) UMS aloud to her grade 10 English class. I can't wait to see what kind of questions they ask....yikes! So that's it in a nutshell, lots of travel, fast food, dog walks, planning a la car, promoting reading and writing, and exploring the country. Author visits ROCK. Everyone should get to do at least one JOY READ. Right, Willow? Woof! ;)

Happy Bday YAedge!! And the Winner of Beautiful Darkness

2010-10-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

Before I announce the winner of Beautiful Darkness, I wanted to say a few words about what YAedge means to me.

First off, I can't believe Tracy and I have been blogging for 2 years today. I wanted to thank her for sticking with me. I know some weeks it's hard to find something to blog about and after 2 years coming up with something insightful or original to say. For me, the posts that are the hardest to write sometimes are the best. We've been through ups and downs with our writing since we've started this blog, but we've come a long way. I wanted to publicly say I'm proud of you and the success you've found so far with Under My Skin.

Now onto what you've all be waiting for. Just to remind you, I decided to give away a signed ARC of Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl as a token of our love to our readers for the past 2 years.

For those of you who didn't win, thank you for entering and also for reading our blog! We really appreciate it and I wish I had a book for everyone. We do giveaways from time to time, so be sure to stick with us for a chance to win another great book.

I picked the winner by randomly generating a number--that being my husband choosing a number between 1 and 31 (we had 31 total comments). At the time, he had no clue why I asked him to pick a number, so it was completely random.

Drum roll please.....And the winner is:

The Brain Lair (KB)

CONGRATS!!!! Please email me your name and address at YAedge (at) yahoo (dot) com and I will send the book to you on Tuesday (if you send me your info in time)!

If the winner doesn't email by Friday, October 8th, a new winner will be randomly chosen.

Gearing up for Frankenstein

2010-09-26T05:17:00.000-07:00

Tami and I will both be re-reading Frankenstein this October, and I must confess, I'm doing so because I'm speaking on a very cool panel at the Edmonton Pure Speculation Sci-fi/Fantasy Lit Fest at the end of the month. Each member of the panel has to choose one classic sci-fi text published before 1980 and defend why it should still be read today. I chose Frankenstein for many reasons:

- it's one of the (or perhaps THE) original sci-fi novels
- it's part gothic novel, the foundation of the paranormal genre today
- I first read it when I was a teen and found parts confusing. The whole "telling a story through letters" convention was a struggle (I also found this with Dracula, but Frankenstein's language is super lofty and if you don't focus, you'll get lost in the prose.). This time around, I want to really soak it in.
- I've seen many films based on the book and in my experience, the book is ALWAYS better because no film budget can match the movie in my mind.

The mention of film brings me to the point of my post. Being October, there are numerous classic horror film collections on sale in the stores and I picked one up with a version of Franky I'd never heard of Frankenstein 80 from 1972. I've seen the original 1932 film with Boris Karloff, but my favourite version would have to be Kenneth Branagh's Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, a film that sticks closely to the book. For a romantic version, there's Sting as Frankenstein in the 1985 film, The Bride. From a comedic perspecitve, nothing beats 1974's Young Frankenstein. There are a ton of Franky films out there, some sound super cheesy, like: Frankenhooker, Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster, etc. And then there are films loosely based on the themes in Frankenstein, like Re-Animator (1985) and the 2009 Canadian film, Splice.

It is those enduring themes that perpetuates our fascination with Shelley's monster. Nature vs science. Man's arrogance. Abandonment. Self-awareness. Abuse. Corruption. Ambition. The eternal "why am I here?". And more...all speaking to our day, our time, as if written just for us. Genetically modified food (often called "Frankenfood"), cloning, human genetic engineering, flu shots and super bugs, stem cell research, animal testing, etc, etc...

Why not revisit such a cautionary tale? We might learn something.

Beautiful Darkness Signed ARC Giveaway

2010-09-24T00:01:00.000-07:00

Next Friday is YAedge's 2nd birthday. I knew I wanted to do something special for our readers, but wasn't quite sure what. Then, in July I was able to pick up an extra copy of Beautiful Darkness, the sequel to an amazing book by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia, Beautiful Creatures. Luckily, I had my husband in line at Comic Con when they were signing and giving them away, so he grabbed it for one lucky winner on our blog!

At first, I wasn't sure what would be the special occasion. It's not every day we give away a signed copy of an ARC before the release of the book! Then I remembered, October 1st is YAedge's 2 year birthday! There is no better way to celebrate such a huge date then to say thank you to one of our readers. I wish I could give each of you a book, but unfortunately, that is impossible.

Starting today, leave a comment on this post for a chance to win. The contest will close at noon PT on Thursday, September 30th so that I can choose the winner on our blog birthday, October 1st. The contest is open to all residents in North America (US, Canada, Mexico). Sorry to International readers, but I just don't have the cash to ship overseas at this time. I will be shipping the book to the winner that following Tuesday so that it will arrive before the book is in stores.

If you haven't read Beautiful Creatures yet, now is the perfect time. It was just released in paperback! Here is the description from bn.com:

There were no surprises in GatlinCounty.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

And of course, the desciption for Beautiful Darkness from amazon.com (which officially releases October 12):

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

If you visit the official Beautiful Darkness webpage, you can read the first 200 pages of Beautiful Creatures and the prologue to Beautiful Darkness right now for free!

Good luck everyone!

More Classics to Dig Into

2010-09-20T04:56:00.000-07:00

I loved Tami's post challenging herself to read some of the classics. I've always enjoyed classical lit and have read my share, although I likely missed half of the "heavy" themes...lol... Still, I soak up the language, the stories and the characters.

My favs (I'm not sure if they're technically classics, but I consider them to be so):

Wuthering Heights

Jane Erye

The Odyssey

Tess of the D'Urbervilles

A Christmas Carol

Persuasion

The Scarlett Letter

The Portrait of a Lady

Crime and Punishment

And because I write pararnormal fiction, I'm drawn to classics with a sci-fi / fantasy bent. Some are a bit more modern examples:

Frankenstein

Dracula

The Island of Dr. Moreau

Gulliver's Travels

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde

A Clockwork Orange

The Chrysalids, Chocky, and The Day of the Triffides - John Wyndham ROCKS!

A Wizard of Earthsea

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Tell-Tale Heart and other Poe stories

Around the World in 80 Days

The Birds

Between Tami's list and mine, we have a few bleedovers, however, I'm keen to dig into the titles we've listed and either revisit or discover new favourites. Tami - I recommend we both start with Frankenstein. ;)

Reading the Classics- A Challenge

2010-09-17T04:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's just me, but I tend to read more when it's cold and rainy (or in some case for others, snowy). There is nothing like curling up on the couch with a warm blanket, cup of coffee or hot chocolate and a good book. Now that summer is drawing to a close, I can feel the leaves turning around me (or as much as they do in Southern California) and it makes me crave those days.

I have plenty of books on my TBR pile that will keep me busy all winter, and even through the next year, but that doesn't keep me from buying new ones. How can you resist the great books that are on the horizon in YA/Teen literature? I know I can't.

Too many books are already calling my name on my shelves, and each time I finish one, I can't decide what to read next. That is why I'm going to help myself and add a change to my reading...at least once a month.

Recently Barnes and Noble gave away a group of classics each week in ebook format. I think I've mentioned on this blog, I'm not a huge lover of classics but I hope to change that in the coming months. I downloaded many of the books they offered, excited to get a free ebook, no matter what it was! Of course, now that ebooks are everywhere, the classics are easy to come by for free. You only need to look as far as Google Books or Project Gutenberg to download most of them. You don't even need an Ereader (though if you have one, you can easily get these ebooks on your device), only a computer and in some cases Adobe Digital Editions (ADE) which is a free program. Because the classics are old enough for the copyright to expire, it is not stealing, but considered public domain now. The reason I was so excited about Barnes and Noble's offer, their books are formatted properly, fixing all of the errors that occur in the scanning process. Sites like the ones I listed above, do not--but here's a tip. Project Gutenberg is a little cleaner usually--but that shouldn't stop you from reading books that have shaped the literary world for decades, if not centuries.

So I give you my challenge. I will be reading one classic a month and then posting a review of each one. Hopefully I'm able to get through each in a timely manner (I seem to read classics a little slower than modern books).

Anyone interested in playing along?

Here is a list of the books I downloaded in the past few weeks that I will choose from each month. Looking at this list, it really is amazing how many of these books have been made into moves (some several times) and how many by Disney.

Journey to the Center of the Earth- Jules Verne
Oliver Twist- Charles Dickens
Christmas Carol- Charles Dickens
Tale of Two Cities- Charles Dickens
Man in the Iron Mask- Alexandre Dumas
The Complete Sherlock Holmes Volume I & II- Arthur Conan Doyle
Gulliver's Travels- Jonathan Swift
King Soloman's Mines- H. Rider Haggard
Canterbury Tales- Geoffey Chaucer
Cannecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court- Mark Twain
Fairy Tales- Hans Christian Andersen
The Jungle Books- Rudyard Kipling
Prince and the Pauper- Mark Twain
The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde- Robert Louis Stevenson
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- Jules Verne
Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Writings- Washington Irving
Time Machine and The Invisible Man- H.G. Wells
Picture of Dorian Gray- Oscar Wilde
Frankenstein- Mary Shelley
Woman in White- Wilkie Collins
Main Street- Sinclair Lewis
Portrait of a Lady- Henry James
Wings of the Dove- Henry James
This Side of Paradise- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Beautiful and Damned- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Metamorphosis and Other Stories- Franz Kafka
Uncle Tom's Cabin- Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Scarlet Letter- Nathaniel Hawthorne
Persuasion- Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey- Jane Austen
Room with a View- E.M. Foster
Wuthering Heights- Emily Bonte
Mansfield Park- Jane Austen
War of the Worlds- H. G. Wells
Great Expectations- Charles Dickens
Emma- Jane Austen
Peter Pan- J.M. Barrie (this one isn't very fair to have on the list. I adore this book)
Secret Garden- Frances Hodgson Burnett
Wind in the Willows- Kenneth Grahame
Treasure Island- Robert Louis Stevenson
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz- L. Frank Baum
Tarzan of the Apes- Edgar Rice Burroughs
Adventures of Tom Sawyer- Mark Twain
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass- Lewis Caroll

So, let me know what I should read as the first book of the challenge starting in October. Should I go for something that fits along with Halloween like the Legend of Sleepy Hallow or Frankenstein?

What are some of your favorites from this list?

Character Development Via Birthday

2010-09-13T05:02:00.000-07:00

We have a company that arrives at our school once a month with books and gadgets to put on display in our staffroom, and staff can purchase these items if they wish. It's a very effective "impulse" buy strategy. There you are in the staff room, nothing to do but eat leftovers, so you flip through the cookbooks or spot a cute Labrador retriever calendar you suddenly can't do without.

Anyway, one day last year I walked into the staff room and found one such gem, a ginormous book called: The Element Encyclopedia of Birthdays (EEB) by Theresa Cheung. I was familiar with the Element series as I have many of their folklore/mythology titles and being that I already thought of the series as research material might have put me in the right mindset. After a few page flips I understood just what I was holding.

The EEB is the motherload of character development tools. Looking to add depth to a shallow character? Need a few extra plot conflicts? Get them through personality clashes! Each birthday/day of the year is broken down into easy to read chunks of info: traits, challenges, good luck charms, how this person acts when feeling "dark side" or when they're at their best, their health and career interests. See? The motherload.

I'm not suggesting you pick a day of the year and base a character on the info you find, though I guess you could. I think it's better to take bits and pieces from different days and create your own dynamic personality. This resource works wonders if you're adding to an existing character, incorporating traits that you might otherwise not have thought of, or ones that make a flat character come to life.

So grab a copy, flip through the pages and get inspired!

The Sounds of Revision

2010-09-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

Revisions are hard work. Anyone who doesn't agree may need to get their head checked! I'm in the middle of revising my book, Parlor, and it's slow going. I've gotten to the point in about half of the chapters, where I've revised the stuff that just doesn't work out. That's the easy part! Now comes the hard, trying to make the words that remain better. I have trouble getting it to the sparkly point, but maybe I'm not alone.

This is where good critique partners come in. Each person reads a story a little different, offering small tidbits of amazing advice to push you to see your work in another way. I know both of my crit partners do an awesome job! Once they've read and given their notes, I go back to each chapter and revise again.

A few weeks ago, after my crit partners took their turn, I followed my usual steps. Read their notes, revised, read over the chapter and then fixed anything odd that didn't flow. I still felt like the chapter wasn't quite there, so I was a little down. I didn't know what it needed, but it was definitely not up to my standards for how much work I had put into it.

Normally, my husband doesn't read what I write until it's practically finished. I don't know why, but that's how it worked with my last book. I didn't let him see any of it until it was time for me to query. I had an idea recently and I can't even explain how helpful it was. I sent him the first chapter, asking him to just look over it and give his initial thoughts. I'm always nervous when he's reading something I've written, and this wasn't an exception. In fact, it was worse. I knew it wasn't very good, and like I said, he was used to reading my work in a pretty polished state.

I thought he would just tell me quickly what worked and what didn't, but he went above and beyond. We sat for three hours, breaking down each sentence. After about twenty minutes time, I was having trouble typing as quickly as he was talking, trying to get each little note down. Then we got the idea to record it! That's right, we audio taped the whole thing. It was amazing because I didn't miss a single thing we said and I was able to wait until Monday (we did this on a Saturday) to make changes based on our discussion. I could edit at my own speed and could just rewind when I needed to hear something a few times.

It was great because he reads enough YA to know what works, but also has a different viewpoint than myself or my crit partners. I would totally recommend talking through your work with someone and recording it for playback later. At least, if you can stomach having to listen to yourself talk for hours on end. Now THAT was harder than the revisions.

SWEET Giveaway Contest: The Great YA Bake Sale

2010-09-06T06:55:00.000-07:00

YA author, Christine Johnson, (Claire de Lune) has organized one hell of a sweet tooth appeasing giveaway contest. Here's Christine with the details:

It’s here, it’s here - The Great YA Bake Sale of 2010!

It all started when I realized that YA authors seem to have one big thing in common - an obsession with sweets and baking.

That gave me an idea. I started calling (well - okay, emailing) around and ended up with more than a dozen kind, sugar-loving authors on board to bring you one amazing contest.

Here’s the deal:

To enter, simply leave a thoughtful comment on an author’s Bake Sale blog post, or tweet about the contest with the hashtag #YABakeSale10. Voila! You’re entered.

When you enter, you become eligible to win any one of the Personal Prize Packs (i.e. a comment on Saundra Mitchell’s blog may net you the Cyn Balog prize pack. You’re entering the whole contest, not just that particular author’s part of it.) You also become eligible to win the humongonormous Grand Prize Basket.

What’s in the Grand Prize Basket?

Each author has hand-written two copies of a favorite sweet-treat recipe. One copy has gone into a beautiful recipe book that is part of the Grand Prize Basket. In addition to the (hand-written! Did I mention that?) recipe collection, the Grand Prize winner will receive:

A signed copy of Cyn Balog’s SLEEPLESS
Bookmarks for KAT, INCORRIGIBLE by Stephanie Burgis
Signed bookmarks for THE CRESCENT and HALF MOON, pencils, and a crescent moon and crystal-studded star necklace from Jordan Deen
A (signed?) copy of THE BODY FINDER, a THE BODY FINDER tote bag, sticker and bookmarks from Kimberley Derting
An EVERLASTING-themed notebook, bookmark and pin from Angela Frazier
A signed copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, signed stickers and a silver, moon-themed bookmark from Christine Johnson
A signed copy of SHADOWED SUMMER, matching chocolate candies, Twilight-themed heart candies, bookmarks and THE VESPERTINE dance card from Saundra Mitchell
A signed copy of THE PACE, by Shelena Shorts, along with bookmarks and THE PACE pencils
A signed hard-cover of SHADE and a Keeley Brothers pin from Jeri-Smith Ready
A signed copy of PERSONAL DEMONS, a PERSONAL DEMONS tank top, temporary tattoos, and bookmarks from Lisa Desrochers
. . . AND MORE!!! All for ONE LUCKY WINNER!

But that’s not all!

Each author has one other handwritten recipe that will be part of each author’s own Personal Prize Pack.

The prize packs include:

Cyn Balog - Signed copy of SLEEPLESS and a handwritten recipe for Coconut Bread.
Stephanie Burgis - UK paperback copy of A MOST IMPROPER MAGICK and a hand written recipe for Apple Muffins
Kay Cassidy - Hand-written recipe and giveaways
Megan Crewe - Hand-written recipe and giveaways
Shannon Delaney - Hand-written recipe and giveaways
Jordan Deen - Basket with Pampered Chef baking gear and a recipe for Orange Pineapple Cake
Kimberley Derting - Signed copy of The Body Finder, stickers, a totebag, bookmarks and a recipe for Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
Lisa Desrochers - A copy of PERSONAL DEMONS and a recipe for Sunday Coffee Cupcakes
Angie Frazier - A signed hard-cover copy of EVERLASTING, bookmark, and a recipe for Butter Rum Cupcakes with Coconut Buttercream Frosting
Judith Graves - Copy of UNDER MY SKIN, a character card, and a recipe for Dead Lady Fingers
Christine Johnson - A signed hard-cover copy of CLAIRE DE LUNE, stickers, a silver moon-themed bookmark and a recipe for Chocolate-Chip Butterscotch Blondies
Saundra Mitchell - Recipe and giveaways
Jennifer Murgia - ANGEL STAR swag, Octogram earrings, and a hand-written recipe
Shelena Shorts - Signed copy of THE BROKEN LAKE and bookmarks and a hand-written recipe
Jeri Smith-Ready - SHADE UK paperback edition and a recipe for Scottish Oat Scones

Fine print: The contest entries must be posted by midnight eastern time on September 20th. This contest is open to the U.S., U.K. and Canada. Questions? Leave them in the comments or email me - christine(at)christinejohnsonbooks.com

The Future of Libraries and Why I Care

2010-09-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

I don't know if it's the same way where you live, but California has but cutting back the hours and days that the library system is open. There's even talk of closing a few down, shifting the books to bigger branches and not purchasing many new ones. It's very sad to see and I don't think people understand what the library means to the community. I know I didn't until just recently when I started to use mine.

Not long ago, I didn't even see the library as an option for me. I bought all the books I wanted to read and always had a huge stack to get through at home. It was a luxury, something that I chose to spend my hard earned money on. Since writing full time, I've had to watch my spending a little more, not buying every book I want the day it comes out (of course, Mockingjay the exception). There was something about going out on Tuesday and buying them right away, even if I wasn't going to read it until months later. It was thrilling to look on my bookshelf (and I must add, still is!) and see so many unread books to choose from. It was like having my own library at home, but I was able to read them at my pace and not worry about a return policy or late fee. Another thing, and this may make me a little weird, I always thought about where the book had been. I'm no germaphobe (is that a word?), but the thought of hundreds, if not thousands of people bringing these books into their house kind of gave me the chills and not in a good way.

My mind changed a little when I got my Nook. My library system has ebooks that you can check out. I went to my local library (that's seriously less than a mile away from my house) and got a library card. I couldn't believe how easy it was. I was looking through their ebooks instantly. It's so convenient, it's ridiculous. You browse the ebook catalog at home, get on the wait list (if there is one) and when it's available they send an email. All you have to do is click on the link and download the book, loading it into your nook from the USB cord. You have the book for 21 days and once the time is up, it's returned to the library's system. No need to worry about late fees, the ebook does it for you! No need to worry about the germy hands that touched the book before you! I've read several books this way, and I have to say, it's magical. It feels as if I own the ebook and the time allotted is a lot longer than I would ever need to read a book.

I was shocked this week when I went to the library to write. I decided to give the books a chance, and went to check out the crochet books they have available. There was a book I saw they had in their catalog that I'd been wanting to get, but didn't want to spend the $20 on. I couldn't believe it when I saw it sitting on the shelf, waiting for me to check it out. While I walked the shelves, I was shocked at how busy the library was. Who said no one uses the library system anymore? There were people there of all ages, most of them ready to check items out. In fact, I couldn't find a empty seat near a table, and ended up writing with my laptop on my lap. Everyone seemed happy to be there, among so many books that they could check out for free. There were several people with huge stacks of books, the look on their faces was like they had hit the lotto jackpot.

I understand that with a state that is as poor as California is right now, there needs to be cuts somewhere, but how can you take away something that makes so many people happy? I bet most people there don't have the extra income to buy all of the books they were checking out. Books are expensive, and like I said earlier, are a luxury.

I was completely converted to a library user as I walked about with my two crochet books (one not even in print anymore!) Hey, next time I may even check out a YA book or two.

Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook

2010-08-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

This week I purchased a title I've read a lot of buzz about online and I'm happy to report it's as well organized and targeted to youth as they say. Spilling Ink: A Young Writer's Handbook was written by children's authors, Anne Mazer (the Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series, Sister Magic series, etc.) and Ellen Potter (the Olivia Kidney series, Pish Posh, etc.), illustrated by Matt Phelan. Working in an elementary school, I know just how popular these authors have become. I love their quirky, endearing characters.

If you work with kids and need a resource to help you, help them, to write, or if you know a child with an interest in writing - heck, writers of any age will benefit from the information - get a copy. 23 chapters (or sections) cover everything from Ugly First Drafts, Suspense, Writers Are Strange Creatures. Thank Heavens!, Criticism and ends with a great question and answer session. The writing within the book is entertaining and age appropriate. There's nothing dull about learning to write here. The exercises, aptly titled, I Dare You, offer opportunities for readers to try their hand at the concepts being discussed.

I'll be using Spilling Ink as a resource for my own presentations with students during school visits - hauling my copy around Alberta (along with my other wonderful writing texts!) and encouraging writers of all ages, as well as educators to check it out.

Side Note of Irony: A friend pointed this out to me as she skimmed the book while I raved on and on about it....but on my copy of Spilling Ink, the back cover has a typo in the praise quote from Bruce Coville. "...have craftedsuch a wonderful" - did you catch it? Should be "crafted [space] such". The lack of a space between these two words doesn't diminish the quality of the information in Spilling Ink. I intend to draw attention to this oopsy and use it as an example of how, even big publishers, aka books with lots of "eyes" on them, can still have errors. Again, Spilling Ink teaches right to the last page, and then some. ;)

Research When You Least Expect It

2010-08-27T06:00:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, we went to a fun annual convention/concert here in San Diego called Tiki Oasis. It's the third year we've gone and we have a great time each one. It's basically what it sounds, a tiki themed convention with surf/tiki bands, symposiums, vendors and of course, tiki drinks (because what is a tiki convention without Mai Tais?)

This isn't Tiki Oasis, but it is our kitchen, displaying a few of my husband's tiki mugs from his collection.

Despite writing a book based in Hawaii and Hawaiian mythology, I didn't really think that I would be buying anything at Tiki Oasis for research purposes. Last year, I didn't see anything that would even inspire me, so this year was a surprise. Don't you love when that happens?
Since starting my current WIP, I've been collecting books on Hawaii and Hawaiian mythology. You never know which book will come in handy, so why not buy the ones that are out there just in case? To my shock, and elated surprise, I found a book that I had yet to see or even hear about that is perfect research for my story.

The Hawaiian Mythology book I bought at Tiki Oasis

After reading a little of the book, I can't believe that I missed it for so long. It will really help me as it gives first hand encounters with Hawaiian spirits/gods from the natives. Very awesome.

I also bought these little tikis below. Aren't they awesome??? Hey crit partners, doesn't the one on the left remind you of a certain mortician? I will glance at these statues for inspiration, but hopefully won't look too long, or they will curse me!

Don't look into their eyes!

You just never know when research will fall in your lap. Of course, I was at a Hawaiian tiki convention, so I guess it's not too far fetched!

Writer Tresses to DIE for

2010-08-25T04:57:00.000-07:00

Unruly. Longwinded. Twisted. Gnarled. Short. Blunt. Straight. Kinky. Cropped. Flowing. Untamed.

Are these words that describe my current WIP? Probably. But I’m referring to my love / hate relationship with…my hair. I grow it. Colour it. Perm it (okay – only once and NEVER again). Curl it. Straighten it. Crimp it. Pin it. Updo it and let it all hang down. I’ve even propped it up with pencils and decorated it with little hair bling jewellery things.

But my biggest offence is that I cut my hair myself. Yup, I do. With dull kitchen scissors that saw jagged chunks instead of clean lines, I somehow manage to pull off the shaggy bob style I’ve had for years (in various lengths depending on how much I let it grow out before grabbing those scissors again).

I liken my self-induced hair cutting adventures to writing a first draft of a novel. Sure some pieces may stick out funny, there might be gaps, sections may be longer than they should be, but if you look at the overall beast from a distance – it almost works.

This is where your critique partners and eventually a good editor come in – like a salon stylist brandishing their sharpy sharp, Edward Scissorhands high – saving the day (and the do) with keen eyes and mad reading skills. In no time they’ll hack and slash your unruly writer’s locks into tresses to die for.

Why the hair analogy? Well, yesterday was one of those times where I had to slink off to the salon for a back-to-school fixerupper. I love the finished product. I’m quite put together. But I know I’ll get a creative spark and reach for the kitchen shears in the future, just as I have many more stories to tell. Thank goodness I have my crit partners, a stoic editor and of course, a salon on speed dial.

What I've Been Reading: The Iron Fey Series

2010-08-20T09:10:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a lot of reading lately, especially since I've been sick for the past few days. I just completed the second book in the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, and thought I would share my thoughts on the first two books.

The Iron King: (sysnopsis from bn.com) Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Until recently, I didn't read a lot of fantasy, but for some reason I seem to be on a solid run of them. I've picked up several in a row including this series and the Graceling books (Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore) and it gives me a perspective when reading a lot of them so close together. I have to be honest, the cover of The Iron King intrigued me, one reason I picked it up. I started the book and was instantly pulled in. I have to admit, the concept and even the world the concept is built in isn't the most original, but I loved it anyway. I loved the characters. Meghan is a strong woman (girl?) who makes her own decisions and follows her own path. You can sympathize with her. Despite the book being based around Midsummer Night's Dream with characters and the Summer and Winter Courts, it still felt original in the little details that Kagawa weaved in. As soon as I finished, I knew that I would have to pick up The Iron Daughter.

The Iron Daughter: (synopsis from bn.com) Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Iron Daughter from Netgalley about a week before the book came out. I started it as soon as I finished The Iron King, which was really refreshing because normally you have to wait so long between books that it takes awhile to get back into the story. I didn't have any trouble at all, and The Iron Daughter picks up right where The Iron King ends. I thought this was the perfect sequel, building off the world that Kagawa took the time to really develop in The Iron King, yet she was able to expand on it and open the readers onto new things. I don't want to give too much away about the sequel if you haven't read the first one, but the romantic triangle that starts in the first book, only grows stronger. Meghan has to decide which guy is best for her, even if the answer is neither. We learn more about each court and the fey that live within the world of NeverNever. There is a great pace to The Iron Daughter that will keep you reading late into the night.

I would highly recommend both books in the series. The writing is beautiful and the characters are endearing, even when they are not always up for the challenge. Meghan is a strong main character who you will laugh and cry with, as if she were a good friend you're watching take the tough journey she is on. I can't wait for the third book to the series, The Iron Queen.

Back to School

2010-08-15T08:58:00.000-07:00

And just like that, my summer is over. I start back to work on Monday (I'm a school library technician). I had a productive summer, thanks to our YA Edge 1k-A-Day writing challenge, but it wasn't AS productive as I'd hoped. I'd intending on working on all three of my WIPs, and ended up sticking with revisions of Second Skin. (Granted, that's the one with the deadline...lol...)

I'll miss the trips to the lake to throw sticks for the dogs, the afternoon snoozes and binge movie watching. Willow, my yellow lab, won't always have me around to play "kill the yellow basketball, again". But I'm also (gasp!) ready to get out into the real world again. There's drama. Laughter. Conversations. Gossip. Danger (yes, library work is dangerous - books might fall on me or something, ya never know...lol...). Love. Pain. Old grudges. Envy. Hope. Greed.

The "real" world is where the stories are and without it, I'd have little to spark my creativity. Though the ultimate would be working part time so I'd have lots of opportunity to write and travel for authorly stuff, for now I'll enjoy the chaos of balancing writing and the day job. So bring on the alarm clock and bag lunches! Happy rest of the summer...I'm off to buy some coil notebooks and other fun school supplies.

To Live the First Time Again

2010-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

In our teen years, a lot of firsts come into our lives. Our first kiss, the first time we drive, a lot of times the first time we move away from family, first major peer pressure, the first real job and usually the first broken heart. These things aren't easy to go through, and at times felt as if my world was crashing down. I started to remininse about all of these things I lived through as a teen the other day. It made me realize as an adult we don't have very many firsts in our lives. It's hard to keep things fresh and that much easier to get into a rut.

What does this have to do with writing or reading? After I had fun walking down memory lane, I thought of the amazing feeling I get when I read a really good book for the first time. There's nothing like discovering new characters and counting the minutes until you can pick it up again to complete their journey. It's always heartbreaking getting to the last page, especially in a long series that you've invested so much time with, you feel as if the characters are your friends. You could always go back and read the book(s) again, yet it's not the same as the first time you read them.

If you could go back and read any book(s) again for the first time, what would they be? It can be a book you love, or one that changed you for some reason.

Here's my list:

Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger- I've professed my love of this book a few times here on the blog, and I'm going to do it again. Catcher in the Rye was the first, if not the only book I LOVED that was assigned reading for school. I usually dreaded said assignments, but once I cracked open Catcher for the first time and met Holden Caulfield, I couldn't put it down. I finished it well before I was supposed to at school and thought about it for weeks if not months afterward. It made me trust some of the great classics out there that I wouldn't have read otherwise. I read (and blogged) about this book recently, but it didn't have the same magic as the first time. Not because I didn't like it as much, but I knew what to expect. It was like visiting with an old friend instead of discovering someone knew you have a ton in common with.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling- I can't explain my love for these books. It goes beyond words, but I'm going to try and explain it a little here. I wasn't one of the first HP adopters (sadly), but I was early enough in the series to get into it before the HP market completely exploded. When I first picked up HPatSS, book 3 was about to come out. The hype was big, but it wasn't in your face. I was curious to understand what people were talking about. The cover intrigued me. I wasn't a huge fan of fantasy back then, so I'll admit i had a little trepidation when I started. After reading the first few pages of book 1, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down and knew that I would be a Harry Potter fan for life. I blazed through the first three books and waited anxiously for the 4th to come out. I saw each movie opening night (well, except for the 5th movie. I was in the hospital with pneumonia), went to midnight releases for the final three books and own quite a bit of HP merchandise. Despite being a little older (I was 21, about to turn 22 when book 3 came out), I couldn't get enough and at 30 yrs old, almost 31 my love for HP is as strong as it was almost 10 years ago. I wish I could rewind time and go back to the days I just discovered the Harry Potter cast of characters. Heck, I wish I could go back a few years to feel the excitement of being handed HP7 shortly after midnight and staying up to read the beginning. I don't think I have (or ever will) feel such excitement for a book as I have when holding a new HP book and wondering what is inside.

Looking for Alaska by John Green- I loved Looking for Alaska, but it really isn't so much the book to me as what it means. I remember browsing the mystery section (I used to read any mystery/thriller I could get my hands on...Harlan Coben FTW) and remembering a book I saw everyone talking about on the internet. The cover stuck in my mind, the smoke billowing from a blown out candle against a dark background. At this point in my life, I hadn't read many YA/Teen books (except when I was a teen), but for some reason, Looking for Alaska spoke to me from the shelves. I went in search for it and found it on the end cap of the teen aisle (at that point, the YA/Teen aisle in my local B&N wasn't very big. Now it's the biggest section in the whole store, minus the general Fiction area). I didn't really know what to expect. I had read a little bit about John Green, including his blog and I must say, he intrigued me. He was around my age, so I was curious to see what the book was about. I started writing around that time (you guessed it, I wrote mysteries and thrillers) and let me tell you, I was NOT very good. I got home and instantly started reading LfA and half way through, I knew I needed to write teen fiction. So, I guess you can say, I can thank LfA and John Green for my life today. I may not be a published YA author (yet), but my life is immersed in the teen fiction world every day. It's what I write, who I am and what I spend my time reading. To feel that light bulb go off again, knowing I had to write YA fiction, I would give anything.

Write On Con

2010-08-11T14:05:00.000-07:00

While writing is a solitary task, it doesn’t always have to be. Along the way authors find loyal critique partners, beta readers, and other author who act as mentors or ones to mentee (is that a word?). However, being from a small town, my (almost daily) interactions with these fabulous people (like our own, Tami) are ”virtual”. We live in different countries, but we work together online….if you told me I’d be collaborating with authors like this, say 10 years ago, I’d have asked if you were feeling alright.

Thankfully, we have the Internet. It’s difficult for me to get to conferences, writer retreats and professional development opportunities – but with the Net, it’s getting easier. This week, for example, I’m at a children’s writers conference. Yup, me and my cup of coffee and my jammies and slippers. I can even sneak in a nap in the afternoon if my brain gets overloaded – because the conference is completely online.

The first (of many, I hope) Write On Con (WOC) is now playing at a URL near you: www.writeoncon.com. Founded by seven children’s authors, WOC is brilliantly put together. Bestselling and debut authors, agents and editors alike share writing and industry tips in both print and vlog formats. There’s a whole community of publishing types on the WOC Forums, offering query, 1st pages and 1st 250 word critiques, as well as informal chats and general publishing discussions.

Wowza, that’s all I can say. If you have time, check it out, it’s well worth the few seconds it takes to register. That’s right – the conference is FREE.

1k-a-day Grand Prize Winner!

2010-08-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but Blogger didn't like me yesterday morning and I had a concert in the evening an hour and a half away from where I live. Needless to say, I was a little frazzled.

Before I announce the winner, I wanted to thank everyone for participating in 1k-a-day. Tracy and I had a great time (as always) and I hope you did too. Please leave comments (or you can email us) anything that you can think of to make 1k-a-day even better next time. We try to hold it at least once a year (sometimes twice) and would appreciate any feedback you may have.

Here again is a breakdown of items included in the prize packs:

From Tracy:

- signed copy of UMS
- Class of 2k10 bookmark
- UMS postcard
- UMS character card
- UMS ribbon and cross bookmark - based on Eryn's necklace

From Tami:

-Beautiful Darkness bracelet
-Twilight-themed playing cards
-A Dexter (the TV Show) pin and lanyard
- Losing Faith by Denise Jaden bookmark
-How it ends by Laura Wiess
-The China Garden by Liz Berry
-Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-An amigurumi crochet cupcake (not shown. Winner can pick the color of "icing" if you want since I will have to specially make this item.)

I wrote down each person that participated in 1k-a-day and then numbered them going down the list from 1-7. I then used a random number generator to selected the winner, which came up #4.

And the winner is.....

MISS TAMMY!!!

Congrats! Please mail your address to YAedge AT yahoo DOT com, as well as what color icing you'd like for your cupcake amigurumi (I pretty much have every color yarn)! Remember, your package will be coming in two parts, one from me and one from Tracy.

Thanks again to everyone. I hope you join us for the next 1k-a-day challenge.

YAedge will begin our regularly scheduled blogging starting next week. Please come back and join us as we talk about writing, reading and great YA books!

1k-a-day Grand Prize Giveaway!

2010-08-02T08:19:00.000-07:00

Since the first of July, Tracy and I have mentioned there will be one final large giveaway for 1k-a-day! Today is the day we finally announce what is included! The prize consists of two parts, because we are each including items. The winner will be receiving it in two packages since Tracy and I live in different areas (and heck, even different countries!)

To be entered to win, all you had to do is participate and comment during the month of July! We will be selecting the winner Tuesday (tomorrow), so please check back then to see if you won! Good luck everyone!

If you ask me, there is some awesome stuff here. Some of it is swag from YA authors, a signed copy of Tracy's book (which, IMO is amazing!), YA books and swag from Comic Con! Oh, and a little amigurumi crochet cupcake made by me!

Here is a breakdown of items included in the prize packs:

From Tracy:

- signed copy of UMS
- Class of 2k10 bookmark
- UMS postcard
- UMS character card
- UMS ribbon and cross bookmark - based on Eryn's necklace

From Tami:

-Beautiful Darkness bracelet
-Twilight-themed playing cards
-A Dexter (the TV Show) pin and lanyard
- Losing Faith by Denise Jaden bookmark
-How it ends by Laura Wiess
-The China Garden by Liz Berry
-Tattoo by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
-An amigurumi crochet cupcake (not shown. Winner can pick the color of "icing" if you want since I will have to specially make this item.)

1k-a-day Final Friday Giveaway

2010-08-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

I know that I mentioned I would be giving the Friday book away on Sunday, but my router had other ideas. Our internet connection hated me, so today is the day! Sorry for the delay. The final Friday giveaway book is an ARC of Immortal by Gillian Shields! Below is the synposis from bn.com:

Welcome to Wyldcliffe, the place that haunts my present, my past, and my future.

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn from her home near the sea to become the newest scholarship student, strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave her drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a mysterious and attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian blaze with each secret meeting, she begins to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. As the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

I used a random generated number site, listing each person in no particular order who posted their word count at least once. This week's winner of is:

lostinbelieving (Alison)!!!!!!!!

Congrats! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off.

Later today I will be posting a list of items (with pictures) included in the huge grand prize for 1k-a-day! Check back for that and tomorrow I'll be drawing the winner. Good luck!

1k-a-day Final Word Counts and Thoughts

2010-08-01T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 31 word count: 588
SS final word count: 63 187
LI final word count: n/a
WS final word count: n/a
Untitled 1: 1551
Untitled 2: 2002
Skin of My Teeth: 1343

Tracy's 1k-a-day overall word count: I wrote 27 772 words for SS and the other untitled stories and bit for SOMT brought me up to 32 668. I'm glad that overall I made the word count, but if you factor in my cocky expectations (was going for 3k - 1k per project) I didn't do well. I'm not going to dwell on it though, I did write 30k in a month. Nice! I have a few weeks left before it's back to school, hopefully I'll continue to plug away at 1k.

It's bizarre - all the stuff life throws at you when you're doing a timed goal activity like this - our cat getting ill, power outages, gardening adventures, etc. But it's all part of the writing gig - finding a balance between the real world and the worlds we create.

I hope everyone was inspired by our challenge! Enjoy the giveaways. ;)

Day 31 word count: 2,670

Parlor final word count: 37,033

WD final word count:
Dream final word count: 2,212

Tami's 1k-a-day overall word count: 39,245

I have to say, this was my most successful 1k-a-day! I had a great time this month writing with everyone, and I hope you did, too. Thanks for participating and I hope those who won books (or will) enjoy them! I'll be sending out the batch of books/prizes this coming week.

I took this 1k-a-day from a different standpoint then I did the previous. Before, I was working with new ideas, writing 1st drafts which I love. This past month, I was in 2nd draft mode which isn't a favorite of mine. I struggle with the second draft because it's all about trying to see what you did wrong in the first. By the time you're done with the 2nd or 3rd draft, it's down to polishing and taking crit partners' comments to heart. I don't mind that, but the 2nd draft....ew. 1k-a-day helped me plod through. Trust me, I'm grateful for the guilt I felt when I didn't write or hit the 1,000 mark each day. It was great motivation to see all of your word counts, even on the days that you struggled along with me. It's amazing what a little push publishing your word count on a blog each day can do for you. I'm also amazing what writing each day can do for creativity. I was able to work through a few plot points that I didn't know how to solve and came up with my next book idea. I definitely can't complain.

Just because the month of July has now passed us by, that doesn't mean you can't continue to try and achieve 1,000 words each day. Even if you don't hit 1k, sitting down and writing even a sentence can do wonders for a story. It maybe the best or worst sentence you have ever written, but it's words to the end goal.

My favorite art teacher told me many times, You must keep going, even if your drawings are crappy because for every 100 drawings, you will produce one amazing piece of art. All the pain of the 100 is worth it for the one. I think the same thing can be said for writing. You have to get the crappy words/paragraphs/pages/drafts out before finding the gem.

So, join me in continuing the adventure of 1k-a-day. I will not be publishing my word count every day for the month of August, but trust me, I will be writing every day to hit my end goal.

I also want to thank my partner in crime, Tracy, for slogging through the month. I know we both had our ups and downs, but have a lot to show for it. I look forward to the month of August, more writing and starting to critique again.

For those of you not familiar with our normal blog format, please come back and check it out. We have new posts every Monday and Friday (sometimes Wednesdays as well) where we talk about all things writing and teen fiction.

1k-a-day Day 31

2010-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Day 30 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:

WS current word count: Zippo on the word count for me yesterday. Our 18 year old kitty, Vegas, has been going through a rough patch and we were on "death watch". Sigh. We're taking her back to vet today to see what's up with our little diva.

Here's hoping everyone gets writing on this last day of 1k!

Day 30 word count: 1,382

Parlor current word count: 34,363

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Wow, today is the last day of 1k-a-day. The time flew by! Be sure to try to hit those word counts hard today for one last push. Everyone did so awesome, be sure to take Sunday off and not think about writing! You deserve it. I know I'll be relaxing.

Since today is the last day, I have extended the deadline for the last Friday book giveaway. I will be announcing the winner tomorrow, instead of today. If you haven't posted your word count for the week, please do so to be entered.

As I mentioned a few days ago, we have one final HUGE prize to give away. On Monday we will be announcing what is included in the prize and Tuesday we will announce the winner! If you have participated at all in 1k-a-day and have commented on a post throughout the month, you will be entered to win!

Also look for our final post with the 1k-a-day end word counts and some thoughts on how the month progressed.

Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Day 30

2010-07-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 29 word count: 1551
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:
Untitled: 1551

I needed a break from SS yesterday and so I just sat at my laptop and wrote whatever came to mind. To do so can be a dangerous thing. Writing is a form of therapy after all.

With summer here and us spending time at the beach, I've been having these flashbacks to the days when my father was healthy and strong, and used to take us out to the lake to swim all day, and burn burgers on an open fire. My dad is originally from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. When he was a kid, he swam every day, rain or shine. We've been in Alberta forever. Here we have seas of canola fields. I know he made do with our leach-dodging, muddy-bottom lake swims, but it would have been wonderful for him to get to the sea one last time before Alzheimer’s really started to do some damage. Anyway...the bit I wrote starts like this...

"Lightning flashed where sky and water met in a black line across the horizon. I saw your mouth moving, but your laughter never reached me. It travelled with the wind, skimmed the white caps and was lost. You waved, then dove under one last time. I shivered on the shore. Waiting. Towel around my shoulders, my damp hair hanging in crisp strands. I wanted to go home, but you had just arrived."

Anyway. Re-reading it today is tough. It's raining this morning, maybe I'll head to the lake, Dad. Wish you could join me.

Day 29 word count: 4,288

Parlor current word count: 32, 981

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

I had a great day yesterday, which felt good since we're down to only two days left of 1k-a-day counting today. I edited and rewrote 1 1/2 chapters, one of those chapters pretty hefty. Things are going well, and the new character traits I've added turning 1k-a-day are weaving in nicely. I'm also proud that I have hit above 31k (which would end 1k-a-day) before the last day.

Today we will be giving away more books! Be sure to post your word count if you have yet for the week. Plus, in the first few days of August, Tracy and I will be revealing what is included in the large final prize pack that includes a signed book, ARCs, swag and more! Every person who has posted during 1k-a-day as a participant will be eligible to win.

Also, for the previous winners, I have waited to go to the post office at the end of 1k-a-day. I will inform you all when I send out the books.

Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Day 29

2010-07-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 28 word count: 1343
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

SOMT - 1343

We're down to the wire with 1k! Exciting stuff. ;) I wrote a scene for Second Skin and then realized I HAD to save it for the third book, Skin of My Teeth. It's now in a file with a bunch of notes, bits of scenes, bits of dialogue, etc - I have no idea how many words I actually have for that book. I'm still plotting through the SS ender. I want to end on a cliffhanger, but give enough resolution that the novel can stand alone. Sooooo tough to do. Enjoy the last few days and the giveaways!

Day 28 word count: 878

Parlor current word count: 28,693

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

I didn't hit 1k yesterday, but I got a LOT done. I edited/rewrote 2 chapters and also had a slight character development change. Overall, I'm not super happy with the two chapters, but I think they improved. I'm moving on tomorrow with a few more chapters, and will return to the two I did today when I start on draft 3. It was a good day, I felt confident in my writing and also found a new coffee/tea/gelato place which was friendly and homey. They even have rocking chairs! Too awesome.

Great giveaways by Tracy yesterday! Congrats to the winner. :) Look for more giveaways as 1k-a-day comes to an end in the new few days. Good luck everyone!

BEA ARC Winner....

2010-07-28T19:02:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my husband picking a number between 1 and 3 - we have a winner......BEE!

Please email me at tracebelsher at ymail dot com with your addy and I'll send you the ARCs.

Congrats!

The BEA ARC Giveaway!

2010-07-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Alrighty 1k-a-day participants. Here's a fun giveaway for you. Comment on THIS post with your word count for today to enter for today's prize. Winner will be announced at 9PM EST.

Up for grabs we have an ebook ARC of Ascendant by Dianna Peterfreund. Since I'm not 100% sure the ebook will work (it was from BEA and who knows it might have an expiry date), I'm also giving away a print copy ARC (also from BEA) of Halo by Alexandra Adornetto. Soooo...hopefully you'll end up with two amazing ARCs, but at the very least you'll get one. ;)

Here are the blurbs:

Astrid is now a fully trained unicorn hunter, but she can't solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. When she's given the opportunity to leave the Closters to put her scientific skills to use discovering the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. But soon Astrid begins to question everything she thought she believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and - most of all - her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns, or saving the unicorns from the world?

Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone—especially herself—from the Dark Forces.
Is love a great enough power against evil?

1k-a-day Day 28

2010-07-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 27 word count: 1446
SS current word count: 62 599
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Somehow I worked in my 1k amidst watching several movies and weeding in the garden (although I swore never again after last week - but those weeds haunt me!).

I hope to stay focused on writing today, although after watching The Runaways last night, I just might end up calling a few friends to jam. My bass has been lonely. ;)

Day 27 word count: 0

Parlor current word count: 27,815

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Okay, so I was bad yesterday and didn't write but I did do some research, does that count? I also had a lovely time with my friend I met online. The last few days I plan to hit the word count pretty hard, so we'll see where I get. I love 1k-a-day because it makes me feel guilty when I write. Yesterday was one of those days. I hope to finish re-writing a few more chapters before the month is through.

Can't wait to see what ARC Tracy is giving away today!! Good luck to everyone who enters.

1k-a-day Day 27

2010-07-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 26 word count: 2007
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I spent all of yesterday working on catchy back blurbs for Second Skin. Even though my editor may choose something completely different - I needed to work on the pitch anyway. I compiled all the versions into a single Word doc and whoa, that was some word count. ;) Some of the lines I created are pretty cool and might get worked into SS. But did I actually write for SS? Nope.

Today I will.

Giving away a freebie book tomorrow - an ARC I think you'll be excited about!

Day 26 word count: 1,423

Parlor current word count: 27,815

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Words did not come easy yesterday. I had to force them out through the throbbing in my mouth and foot. That being said, the dentist trip went as good as hoped when you're getting two fillings. I was able to spend some time crocheting and watching a movie (Did you hear about the Morgans? which was an okay movie. Didn't love it, and the writing kinda sucked but it was entertaining enough) which was a nice break from struggling to write.

Today I meet a friend from the internet that I've been talking to for some time. We're planning to go have coffee and crochet (yes, I am that big of a dork), so I hope to get my words in before that so I don't feel stressed that I'm not writing.

Wow, I can't believe we only have 3 more days after today. Did July just fly by for everyone or was it just me? I believe tomorrow Tracy will be giving away a book, so be sure to stick around and find out how to enter to win! Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Day 26

2010-07-26T10:00:00.000-07:00

Day 25 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Ugh - epic fail on writing yesterday. I didn't even plot. Sigh. Was obsessing over drafts of the Second Skin cover - that's right, the cover is in the works and so are two teaser trailers. :) Kinda lights a fire under your butt to finish the book, let me tell ya.

Tami - hope the dentist goes well. Think of a happy place...

Day 25 word count: 899

Parlor current word count: 26,392

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Wow did I have a weird weekend. Saturday I went to the eye doctor as I mentioned and then my husband got sick. We spent the night at the ER (he's okay) and didn't get much sleep. Yesterday we took it easy, just running errands and such. I got a lot of reading time in, which is awesome. I was finishing up laundry, when I didn't realize there was a small crowbar sitting on top of the dryer. I went to empty the lint trap, which caused the crowbar to fall on my almost barefoot (I had on flip flops). Now I'm hobbling around, wondering if a small bone could be broken. Not fun. The crowbar instantly left a dent/bruise. Today I go to the dentist (in about 10 minutes actually) to get a cavity filled. My life is FULL OF FUN! I hope to get some time in writing today but frankly, I just feel like vegging on the couch reading and watching movies. We'll see how it goes once I get back from the dentist.

I hope everyone has a great day! It's the start of the last week of 1k-a-day. We have a ton of prizes/books to give away to make sure to stick around. You owe it to yourself!

1k-a-day Friday Giveaway Winner 4

2010-07-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

As you know, we're giving a book away to a random winner each Friday. All you have to do is post your word count once throughout the week to be entered.

This week's book is Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. Here is the description from scottwesterfeld.com:

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battletorn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She’s a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn’s paths cross in the most unexpected way…taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever.

I used a random generated number site, listing each person in no particular order who posted their word count at least once. This week's winner of is:

Leona!!!!!!!!

Congrats Leona! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off.

For those who didn't win this week, don't worry. We still have tons of books to give away and big prizes for the last week of the challenge! Thanks again to all who participated last week!

1k-a-day Day 25

2010-07-24T12:05:00.000-07:00

Day 24 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I started strong yesterday, plotting and plotting. I'm sure I hit 1k, but I wrote in my coil notebook and, frankly, it's a mess. Crossed out sections and arrows and stuff in the margins. Hopefully I'll be able to turn my scribbles into something meaningful today. Good luck!

Day 24 word count: 1,575

Parlor current word count: 25,493

WD current word count:
Dream current word count: 2,212

Yesterday was a nice recovery day from Comic Con. We got up early and headed over to the eye doctor before have a great breakfast at one of our favorite morning restaurants. Then it was off to the park so Milo, our Corgi, could run around and get some of the energy he's been balling up this past week. The afternoon came, and I was ready to write. I love when I don't have to force myself to sit down to hit 1k, but actually enjoy open my computer and digging into the story. Overall, the rewriting is going well, and I have yet to have to touch my other WIP. I think getting a new idea during the month helped me pull away from Parlor for a day or so. I came back refreshed and actually solved a few problems I was having with character relation! I love when my brain does work behind the scenes.

We have a big week for giveaways! Be sure to stick around for the final days of 1k-a-day!

1k-a-day Day 24

2010-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 22 word count: 1209

SS current word count:

LI current word count: 1209

WS current word count:

Well I seem to have come to an impass with SS. Or maybe it's a fork in the road. Anyway, it could end two completely different ways. I didn't want to decide just yet, so I wrote for one of my other projects yesterday instead. Nothing like avoidance, eh?

Part of me wants to write two different endings and then pick the one that has the most umph...hmmm....perhaps I'll plot them out today to see what develops.

Remember 1k-a-day (and an apple) keeps the loonybin doctors at bay. ;)

Day 22 word count: 0

Parlor current word count:

WD current word count:

Unfortunately I was unable to write yesterday. Comic Con took over (and I had a blast) but a small headache turned into a migraine. Never fun. The last thing I wanted to do was write. I could barely see!

We're starting the last week of 1k-a-day. Amazing how quickly a month can fly by. Don't forget, we'll be giving away the normal Friday book this week, but I believe we'll also be giving away one on Wednesday! At the end of the month, Tracy and I are putting together a large prize pack to one of the participatant as well. When it gets closer, we will be announcing what's included! The prize pack will consist of books (even signed or ARCs), swag and more!

1k-a-day Day 23

2010-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 22 word count: 1042
SS current word count: 62 599
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I worked my 1k in amongst a lot of reading time. I finished Shannon Delany's 13 to Life. Shannon is a fellow Class of 2k10 author and she writes about werewolves. How fun! I had the honour of meeting her during our 2k10 NYC / BEA tour in May. She's not only a great author, she's one heck of an organizer and all round fire cracker. ;) I also picked up my copy of Linger by Maggie Stiefvater and will start on it today. I adored Shiver (the first in the series) and can't wait to sink back into the dreamy Sam and Grace world. If you haven't seen the trailers or experienced the music Maggie makes - go here now!

Now, I know some authors who specifically avoid reading titles within their genre for fear of being influenced - a valid point. But I'm the opposite. Here I am working on my next werewolf story and the were / shifter genre is what I'm keen to read. I admire how other authors tackle the tough parts of writing shifters - you can only use the words "snort" or "growl" so many times. I become aware of what is cliché and how to twist those clichés within my own story. Plus, I'm reading books I'd be fawning over even if I wasn't a writer. I just love these tales.

Day 22 word count: 4,612
Parlor current word count: 23,918
WD current word count:

Despite starting late in the day, I got a lot done yesterday as you can see! Not every single word in that count was new, but it seemed like I touched each whether I moved it, rewrote, deleted or added to it all. It was actually one chapter that was long and a lot of info is crammed into. I'm glad I got it finished and I'm happy with it (or semi-happy) so I can not worry about it tomorrow while at Comic Con.

I hope everyone has a great day! Don't forget to post your word count. I will be posting the book up for grabs later today/tonight! Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Day 22

2010-07-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 21 word count: 1000
SS current word count: 61 557
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was so close to 1k yesterday but ended on some weird number like 997 or something, so I added a few "blabla"s at the end of my last sentence to get 1k even. How's that for a number fixation? By the end of July I'll be using charcoal from our firepit to scribble "1k" all over my office walls in a thousand languages (including Sanskrit) and babbling about it being the new number of the beast. Ha! See, this is why I write fiction, so I can explore my madness without going...you know...full-on mad. In theory.

Did I have a point here? Ummm....not really. Anywho - have a great Thursday and may it be numerically advantageous to us all.

Day 21 word count: not sure!
Parlor current word count:
WD current word count:

So, I'm back in San Diego! Man did I drive a lot yesterday. About 45 minutes to the signing, then a little over an hour back (yay rush hour traffic!) and then it took me about 2 hours and 45 minutes to get home from LA. That being said, it was worth it! I had such a great time at the Ally Carter/Melissa De La Cruz signing. Both girls were fabulous! They each talked for a few minutes to start off and then did a pretty long question and answer session. Everyone was able to get in questions (there was about 60 people there which is pretty good considering they did a signing just down the freeway the night before) and the answers were awesome. After that part was done, they signed. I love stores (especially indie stores like Vromans! If you're ever in the LA/Pasadena area, please do yourself a favor and visit them. They are the largest and oldest Indie book store in Southern California and have a great staff and AWESOME YA section.) that let you bring books from home to get signed. They were great about it and I was able to get the first Gallagher Girls book signed, the new one, the 3rd one, Heist Society and Ally's 1st book (not YA) all personalized. It was great because her first book, Cheating with Solitaire is out of print so she was just a little surprised to see it! Both girls took the time to talk to each person they signed for, amazing! Ally Carter's books are one of the reasons I started reading/writing YA, so it meant a lot to me. Thanks Ally!

Wow, that was long. Can you tell I'm STILL excited about it!? Oh, I also bought Lies by Michael Grant. I have yet to still read Hunger (the second in the Gone trilogy), but I couldn't pass it up as it was signed from when he was there a few weeks ago. I also got up the courage (I'm really shy in person) to say hi and introduce myself to Kami Garcia (co-author of Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness) which was nice. She's awesome. :)

So, back to the real world and writing. Yesterday I was able to do a little editing, but not much adding to the word count, which is why I have no idea how many words I wrote. In the end, I was happy with what I got accomplished because I was able to tweak the first 4 chapters again (seriously, will I ever move on?)

As far as today, I'm going to try to get a bit of writing in because tomorrow is Comic Con here in San Diego! I'll be going to the Beautiful Creatures/Beautiful Darkness signing, as well as trying to pick up free swag from a bunch of booths around. I'll give my full report on Saturday.

I hope everyone is having a great week. Tomorrow we'll announce which book is up for grabs this week. Don't forget to post your word count at least once to be entered.

Happy writing!

1k-a-day Day 21

2010-07-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 20 word count: 1507
SS current word count: 61 557
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was happy with my word count yesterday. I think the hail storm inspired me. Nothing like Nature's fury to help with a battle scene. Huddled in the house with two freaked out dogs, the thunder did sound like mortar rounds going off - as close to trench warfare as I want to get.

Hopefully Tami will be able to log in today. Okay....I'm off to write....good luck peeps!

Day 20 word count: 250
Parlor current word count:
WD current word count:

So I only wrote 250 words, but with traveling and being in LA, at least it's something. I hope to write some today but don't have much hope. We'll be heading to Pasadena early for lunch and then the signing at 4. Can't wait! Will tell you all about it tomorrow.

Hope everyone has a great writing day! Maybe I'll have some swag to give away after tonight!

1k-a-day Day 20

2010-07-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 19 word count: 0
SS current word count:
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Yesterday I deliberately avoided the computer as I was still recovering from my garden weeding misadventures. I managed to jot down some notes to expand upon today, but didn't count them. Have a blast on your trip, Tami! On your recommendation, I bought one of Ally Carter's books and will dive into it soon.

Good luck everyone! 1k or bust!

Day 19 word count: 1,000
Parlor current word count: 19.306
WD current word count:
The Dream book: 2,212

Okay, so I didn't write exactly 1,000 words yesterday, but it's hard to tell how many I have. It was around 1,800 but some of those were from research I read on mythology I was looking into for the new book idea I have, so to be fair I just said 1k. :) My day was odd yesterday because I tried to do all my house choirs in the morning before the heat was too much to handle. I got a ton done in the morning, but not much in the afternoon. I wanted to go to the library to do some more research, but it was closed. Stupid budget cuts! So, instead I went home and found a few sites online that helped me with my research.

Tomorrow's post might be a little late for me, but we'll see. I'm heading to Los Angeles today for the Ally Carter signing at one of my all time favorite book stores, Vromans. The signing is at 4pm on Wednesday, but I've decided to go a day early and visit with my family. Hopefully I'll get some writing done and will be able to tackle my check in post on my mom's computer (she still has dial up, so wish me luck).

1k-a-day Day 19

2010-07-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

Day 18 word count: 497
SS current word count: 60 050
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I was halfway through my 1k when the sunshine got to me. I ended up weeding the garden (our potatoes, lettuce and cucumbers are doing great!), getting the plastic kid pool out for the dogs and watching their antics most of the afternoon. Then - of course - I had a mean case of sunstroke. Cause, why would I wear a hat? Why would I hydrate with water? It's been so long since we had a cloudless, sunny day, I apparently forgot the basics. My evening was spent nursing a headache, watching episodes of Reaper (season 1) and laying on the couch.

Anywho - I plan to stay inside today and write. Good luck to us all on this fine Monday morning!

Day 18 word count: 1,212
Parlor current word count: 19,306
The dream book: 1,212
WD current word count:

I hope everyone had a great weekend! I woke up on Sunday morning with a dream so vivid it felt as if I had lived it. I told my husband about it right away and the first thing he said, "I think you have your next book." As if I needed another one! So, I used my 1k on Sunday for writing my dream down. I still have a bit to go, because while I wrote, I got more ideas but it's a start. We then spent the evening at On the Border for happy hour, drinking margaritas and talking over the story ideas again. I forgot how fun a new story can be! I'm really excited about it, and hope it makes me want to finish Parlor even faster. We'll see where the dream leads me, but right now it leads me to my 1k-a-day. Don't you love when that happens?

1k-a-day Day 18

2010-07-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 17 word count: 2447
SS current word count: 59 553
LI current word count:

WS current word count:

I smoked through my 1k and continued onward. I really thought I was going to make 3k, but alas, Reaper season 1 caused a distraction. And then we went to see Inception (which for some reason - seriously not Freudian, I have 3 fur kids and that is IT! - I keep wanting to call Conception...lol...) Other than painting a few panels on our fence, there is nothing in my way of aiming for 3k today.

Congrats to Mary! Graceling looks like a wonderful read.

Day 17 word count: 0
Parlor current word count: 19,306
WD current word count:

I feel shame. :( I didn't write yesterday because it was too hot and we had to cram in a bunch of stuff before wasting away in the heat (it was over 100 degrees today and we don't have A/C). Not a good excuse, but that's all I've got. It's only the second day of writing nothing for 1k-a-day so not too shabby. That being said, I need to hit it hard tomorrow. I have a busy week coming up where it will be hard to find time to write.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and congrats again to Mary. We will be giving away more books next week, so stick with us. There are a bunch of great ones still on the giveaway list that Tracy and I need to purge from our collection so we can make room for new books!

1k-a-day Friday Giveaway Winner 3

2010-07-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

As I posted yesterday and through the contest, we're giving a book away to a random winner each Friday. All you have to do is post your word count once throughout the week to be entered.

This week's book is Graceling by Kristin Cashore. Here is the description again:

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.

I used a random generated number site, listing each person in no particular order who posted their word count at least once. This week's winner of Graceling is:

Mary Brebner!!!!!!!!

Congrats Mary! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off.

For those who didn't win this week, don't worry. We still have tons of books to give away! Thanks again to all who participated in week 2 of 1k-a-day!

1k-a-day Day 17

2010-07-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

Day 16 word count: 1152
SS current word count: 57 106
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Getting in my 1k was the only good thing about yesterday.

Wednesday night, we'd seen the trucks drive into town - you know the ones with giant-sized tea cups, carousel horses and mini donut signs. The summer fair was rolling into town for a handful of days. We knew we had to work a visit into our pressing summer schedule of second breakfasts and trips to the beach.

Then it rained. And rained.

Friday afternoon the sun was shining and so we made for the fair. But it wasn't at the usual parking lot (that's right, it's one of those mall parking lot fairs - only we have just one teeny mall, so it sets up in a lot beside the high school). It wasn't at any other parking lot in town.

They left us. No mini donuts, no tea cup rides. At least 1k was there for me. *sniffle*

Okay, rant over, I've come to terms their defection. Following Tami's lead, here are a few YA titles I've recently finished and highly recommend: White Cat by Holly Black, Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce, Hold Me Closer Necromancer (read an ARC of this from BEA - buy it when it's released - October 2010) and Shift by Rachel Vincent (next book in the series is also available in Oct 2010. AND so is The Crossroads Blog Tour I'm organizing. October is going to be one kickass month!).

Day 16 word count: 1,493
Parlor current word count: 19,306
WD current word count:

Yesterday was a decent day. I spent time at the pool with my sister and nieces which was nice. I was able to get in some writing beforehand. The great thing about the day was my brain worked out a few problems with my WIP. There were parts of the story and characters that were nagging at me to solve. They just didn't feel right in their current state. Don't you love when everything just clicks? I still have a lot of work to do (and a lot more rewriting because of it) but overall I think the story will be better because of it.

I thought I'd share a few books I've enjoyed lately. I've been trying to get through a bunch of books on my TBR list. The list just keeps on growing and I was unable to read a lot the first half of the year. Now that I'm off work, I hope to fix that! Of course, I mentioned Graceling in yesterday's giveaway post. I loved it so much that I am about to start the sequel, Fire. I also finished The Iron King this week. It seems I'm on a fantasy kick! I was unsure about The Iron King at first, but once I got into it, I loved it. It's a fun summer read and would recommend both book highly.

Any books (YA or other) that you'd like to recommend?

I'll announce the winner of the week 3 giveaway shortly! Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Friday Giveaway 3

2010-07-16T07:57:00.000-07:00

This week's 1k-a-day book up for grabs is Graceling by Kristin Cashore. I've owned this book for awhile and got it because of all the buzz about it. I'm not a huge fan of hard-core fantasy, but finally, the book called to me. Thank god it did! I can't describe how much I loved this book. I sped through it and as soon as I did, I wanted the sequel. I hurried to my library's ebook website and checked it out right away. I'm reading it now! The characters pop out at you, the world feels like one I could travel to. If you haven't read this book, it's a must. Maybe you'll be the lucky winner! Below is the synopsis taken from bn.com:

To enter, comment in this post, or any post from last Friday leaving your word count by 9pm PDT today. Please remember, you must reside in the US/Canada to win the weekly prizes due to the cost of international shipping. The final contest for 1k-a-day, the prize pack will be opened to all participates. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments section of this post.

I will be announcing the winner some time tomorrow via the blog and Twitter. Thanks everyone and good luck!

AND, I promised to announce the winner of the surprise book giveaway. I had my husband pick a number from 1-3 (three people entered to win) and let my husband pick a number. He picked #3!

Sarah Olutola is the winner!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats Sarah! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off ASAP.

1k-a-day Day 16

2010-07-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 15 word count: 1585
SS current word count: 55 954
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Wow, I can't believe we're half way through July and our 1k challenge. I'm going to crank it up a notch and be "meaner" with myself. I need to start on my other projects as well as SS.

I did some work at our local cafe, Beantrees - such a hip little place - then finished up later in the evening during yet another thunder/rain storm (sorry, Tami - might be jinxing you again). The light show helped me add some "atmosphere" to a scene (even though it's set in the fall). You gotta use what's around you, ya know? ;)

Since my cat, Vegas, is a bit sickly, looks like the city trip is being delayed. Therefore - I have no excuse. The writing must come first for the next two weeks. Oh boy, things are about to get a bit crazy around here. No more afternoon snoozies. No more second breakfasts either. BRING IT 1K!

Day 15 word count: 1,322
Parlor current word count: 17,813
WD current word count:

Wow, is today really Friday??? That means it's Book Giveaway 3 (not including the surprise ARC this week, which I will be announcing the winner of today).

For me, it was hump day for the month yesterday. Knowing we're half way done was hard for me. I couldn't concentrate, though I think the hot weather and cold pool outside didn't help. Add in a thunder storm and rain (I think you jinxed San Diego, Tracy) and it wasn't a great day. I got my words done, but I was on the computer all day and it was like pulling teeth. I was hoping the words would come easy and I would have a breakthrough. I guess the days where you hope that happens usually doesn't bring results. Here's to hoping Friday is my lucky day! I'm going to visit my nieces today, so hopefully I can get the words in early.

Good luck everyone. Just like last week, all you have to do is have your word count in once this week between last Friday and today at 9pm PDT. I will be announcing the book later today, when I give away the ARC of Crazy Beautiful.

1k-a-day Day 15

2010-07-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

Day 14 word count: 1995
SS current word count: 54 369
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

This challenge sure has been....challenging.

I'm thrilled I've been able to keep up. I might run into a hitch next week as I'm heading into the city to visit/shop - actually, we call it power shopping. When you live in a small town like ours, and venture into the city only twice a year, believe me, you have a list of places to hit - said list will keep you crazy busy for several days. Our car is packed for the trip home (of course we also travel with our 2 labs).

So here's to cranking out the words before the city takes over!

Day 14 word count: 1,104
Parlor current word count: 16,491
WD current word count:

Yesterday I woke up and decided to get my writing done early. I am back at rewriting the first chapters, instead of working from bottom up (which I've been doing the past few days). It was good to go back to chapter 1-3, but I started to obsess over them. Once I got chapter 1 to where I was happy with it, I decided to go for a swimming. I came back refreshed and was able to work on chapter 2 and 3. Overall it was a good day. :)

I'm keeping my offer of the Crazy Beautiful ARC open! Please comment and tell us what you do to keep motivated during 1k-a-day for a chance to win!

1k-a-day Day 14

2010-07-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

Day 13 word count: 2300
SS current word count: 52 374
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Ah, yesterday I was back in the thick of 1k-a-day and focused on SS. Lovely. I also purchased a computer game to use as motivation. I can't crack that baby open until our writing challenge is complete. I've been eyeing this game forever. I'm pretty cheap and only play games once - so I wait until they're practically being given away.

Now, I'm not a first person shooter type gamer and I don't play turn-based military strategy games like my history loving husband. Nope. I luvs me a hidden clue / puzzle / fantasy (usually paranormal) based game. And Sleepy Hollow: Mystery Legends looks like a good fit.

I usually crack open such a game - one every summer. Then I don't stop until I have completed it. Seriously. I'll binge play for 24 hours if I have to, but I get the thing finished. Okay, yes, I find walkthroughs online, maybe I print out a few pages. Maybe I start by sneaking quick looks at the hints and within about 10 hours I'm following the pages word for word. Not very sportsmanlike, but that's how I roll when it comes to 'puter games....lol....

Anyway, my point is...if you're struggling with 1k, try focusing on a reward at the end of the month. A celebration of all your hard work. Go you!

Day 13 word count: 1,155
Parlor current word count: 15,387
WD current word count:

Sounds super fun, Tracy! I love puzzle games myself, and the DS is my favorite console despite owning all of them. I'm not a huge PC gamer, but I do like the simple little games on my iPhone as well. As Tracy said, motivation is a great way to get in your 1,000 each day. I've used many things, crocheting, reading and swimming are my big ones. Like today, I'm up early and ready to write because I want to be able to go swimming before all the kids hit the pool.

Speaking of motivation, I will give a book away, an ARC of Crazy Beautiful to one random person who comments in today's post. All you have to do is tell us how you're doing with 1k-a-day and your motivation to get your words done each day. How's that for staying positive and motivated! Good luck!

1k-a-day Day 13

2010-07-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Day 12 word count: 2002
SS current word count: 0
Untitled short story: 2002
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Yesterday I sketched out a short story plot and didn't write a thing for SS. Alas - it was still writing and the story is set in Redgrave High (the SS world) so I'm counting it for my 1k. ;)

We had a wicked thunderstorm last night and Willow, my yellow lab, was a basketcase. Shaking, trying to hide under the bed (but she's huge and can only hide her head). I finally got her to cuddle ON the bed with me and I cranked the TV, turned the fan on high. We watched Rise of the Lycans together (I swear she was keeping up with the story) and she finally settled down.

I searched online this morning, looking for tips to deal with thunder-fearing pups and discovered cuddling with said pup is NOT the way to go - only reinforces their fear. Sigh. But she was really cute....lol... This doggie parenting is tough. ;) And it's still raining this morning....lovely.

Anyway - have a great 1k today!

Day 12 word count: 1,113
Parlor current word count: 14,232
WD current word count:

What a day it was! I didn't get as much as I wanted done, but I made ground. My word count isn't huge, but I actually went over 2 1/2 chapters of editing/rewriting. I'm not super happy with them still, but you have to keep working at it to get it to the point of finished, right? I spent most of my day, waiting for the phone to ring or the plumber to call. At 3:50pm, 10 minutes before their latest time given in their window of arrival, I called them. Apparently they were stuck on a service order job and would "try" to get here. Not fun! They did show up at 5:45 and we now have a brand new garbage disposal! WOOT! Also, the mail made my day. I got as ARC of Firelight I won on Denise Jaden's blog! Plus, my husband FINALLY got the license plates to his '50 truck that we've been trying to register for four plus months! Amazing how a day can turn around

I hope today will be a better day, as I plan to venture out of the house for the first time since Thursday (except when I went to the grocery story Sunday). Maybe the mojo will be a little better for writing than home is right now.

How is 1k-a-day going for everyone!? I hope you're still with us and hitting those word counts hard. You never know when we'll give a "surprise" book away to one of our participates. Check back later this week!

1k-a-day Day 12

2010-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Day 11 word count: 956
SS current word count: 50 074
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Gack! What a crazy Sunday. I am still shaking my head at it this morning. This is likely due to the fact that I didn't quite make my 1k, but I managed to get a multi-author (YA paranormals) blog tour organized for this October. Whew - if emails and Twitter counted for 1k-a-day, as some of you have mentioned before, I'd be laughing. But they don't and so I'm just shy of my goal. Ah well....there's always NOW to crank up the numbers....

Day 11 word count: 0
Parlor current word count: 13,119
WD current word count:

I hear ya, Tracy. Sunday was crazy in a different way for me. My husband is still sick so I had to take over all the house errands/chores yesterday which took up most of my time. It's amazing how long it takes to go to the grocery store, clean out the fridge and do all the laundry while taking care of someone who is sick! So, this was my first day of 1k-a-day to come away with zip.

Disappointed, but I hope I make it up today. Unfortunately, this morning I woke up to a flood of water from below our kitchen sink. Instead of going to the library, Barnes and Noble and Panera which was my plan, I think I'll be staying home and waiting for the plumber. So not fun. Sigh, when it rains, it pours, doesn't it?

Hope everyone is going to have a happier Monday than I am! Keep those word counts coming everyone!

1k-a-day Day 11

2010-07-12T06:12:00.000-07:00

Day 10 word count: 1108
SS current word count: 49 118
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Wow - I forgot to post the Day 11 word counts. How silly of me. Anyway here they are, better late than never. What did I do on Saturday? Hmmm....yard work, beach, wrote, snoozed. Yup, that's about it. :)

Day 10 word count: 1,288
Parlor current word count: 13,119
WD current word count:

Yesterday was an odd day. My husband is sick so instead of Saturday being my sleep in/lazy day, I had to get up and walk the dog, which gave me an early start. Instead of choosing to get a jump on my word count, I decided to finish reading one of the books that is part of our giveaway, an ARC of Crazy Beautiful (which I enjoyed). Once I finished that, I didn't want to make any noise and wake him up, so I decided to gave my nook and read the sample of The Iron King I downloaded from B&N. After 12 pages, I was so engrossed, I tapped the "buy" button and continued to read. It was nice and relaxing, but once the afternoon rolled around, I realized I needed to eat, take a shower and wash the dog. Finally sitting down to write around 5, I quickly flew through my words. I was editing/rewriting chapter 33 today and I must say I'm very happy with it. It might need a few tweaks here and there once I do my next read through, but for now I am happy. I love days like today!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend and you're finding the time to squeeze in a few words!

1k-a-day Friday Giveaway Winner 2

2010-07-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

As I posted yesterday and through the contest, we're giving a book away to a random winner each Friday. All you have to do is post your word count once throughout the week to be entered.

This week's book is Dull Boy by Sarah Cross. Here is the description again:

What do you do if you can deadlift a car, and you spend your nights flying to get away from it all? If you're fifteen-year-old Avery Pirzwick, you keep that information to yourself. When you're a former jock turned freak, you can't afford to let the secret slip.

But then Avery makes some friends who are as extraordinary as he is. He realizes they're more than just freaks—together, maybe they have a chance to be heroes. First, though, they have to decide whether to trust the mysterious Cherchette, a powerful wouldbe mentor whose remarkable generosity may come at a terrible price.

I used a random generated number site, listing each person in no particular order who posted their word count at least once. This week's winner of Dull Boy is:

Jennifer C.!!!!!!!!

Congrats Jennifer! Please email me at YAedge at yahoo dot com with your address and I'll mail it off.

For those who didn't win this week, don't worry. We still have tons of books to give away! We're only into week two! Thanks again to all who participated in week 1 of 1k-a-day!

1k-a-day Day 10

2010-07-10T06:12:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 9 word count: 1109
SS current word count: 48 010
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Great plan of attack for 1k-a-day, Tami! I'm plugging along scene after scene and adding whatever I can from my first draft of SS (of which the plot has drastically changed because of tweaks to UMS). Some of it is totally getting nixed, some I'm saving for book three, but a smidge is being worked into SS and blends well. Moral of the story...when writing a series what you change in one book will alter them all. It's just lovely. :)

Good luck for the Friday giveaway!

Tami's Day 9 word count: 1,406
Parlor current word count: 11,731
WD current word count:

Happy weekend everyone!

I'm sure you've probably noticed by now from my previous days, I've mentioned chapters as much as word counts. When writing a first draft, I don't care how sloppy I get, I just care about getting the story out and my word count if I'm doing a contest such as 1k-a-day or NaNoWrimo. Now that I'm working on the second draft of Parlor, word count is important because 1k-a-day, but my true concern is chapters. Each word I put down needs to be crisper than it was in the 1st draft, the story needs to flow with no holes large enough to jump into and get lost in. Each chapter, each scene needs to have a purpose and if it doesn't, throw it out. This is what I'm dealing with right now, and I've set my challenge to not only write 1k-a-day, I've also made sure that I'm knocking out a 2nd draft of at least one chapter per day. Currently, the first draft has 36 chapters. When we started 1k-a-day, a couple of those chapters were just notes, based on where I wanted the story to go, so I spent time filling those in. Now that every chapter has at least some form of the first take, I can focus on the issues. I hope to have all 36 chapters edited in a 2nd draft form by the end of 1k-a-day, so that my crit group can jump into it ASAP. Anyway, just thought I would share the way I'm going about 1k-a-day this year!

I will announce the winner of the second 1k-a-day book giveaway some time today on the blog and our Twitter feed! Good luck everyone!

1k-a-day Friday Giveaway 2

2010-07-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

This week's 1k-a-day book up for grabs is Dull Boy by Sarah Cross. I loved this book because it was a fun read with a comic book feel, yet everyone can relate to the characters for being different. Below is the synopsis taken from bn.com:

1k-a-day Day 9

2010-07-09T06:11:00.000-07:00

Day 8 word count: 2057
SS current word count: 46 901
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I love Tami's idea of going to a café to write. During the school year (I work in an elementary school library) I usually trot over to Beantrees, our local java joint, for my lunch break and attempt to write. However, I live in small town. It's lunch time. People I know like coffee. And so I end up in conversations with friends and not much writing gets done. Now that I'm on summer vacation, I haven't tried heading to Beantrees early in the morning. Might just have to give it a go. Their chai lattés are to DIE for. ;)

Day 8 word count: 1,395
Parlor current word count: 10, 325
WD current word count:

Yesterday I decided to change it up a little. Instead of going to my favorite writing place, Panera for lunch, I woke up early, got ready and headed there for breakfast. Not only was it cheaper, I had a choice of seating and all was quiet for the most part. I finished editing the last chapter of the book (for now), which I started yesterday, as well as work on editing/rewriting another chapter. It's going good overall. My characters' voices are much stronger toward the end of the book (which means sense for a first draft), but I am not trying to get that same personality into the rest of the story. The great thing about working on edits/rewrites for 1k-a-day is not having to stare at a blank page for too long. It's more working with pieces I have and trying to add to them and improve. It's a little less stressful when writer's block starts to creep in.

I'll be posting which book is up for grabs this week a little later today! Please make sure to get a word count in for the week if you haven't done so! I will be including anyone in the drawing that has posted a word count from last Friday to today at 9pm PDT! GOOD LUCK!

1k-a-day Day 8

2010-07-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

Day 7 word count: 1487
SS current word count: 44 844
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Day 8 - wow, that went fast. I'm still mifted that I haven't touched on my two other WIPs, but I have a feeling I'll crunch some words for them in the last week (I'm motivated by deadlines). It's great having others with us for the journey, I do enjoy hearing how our writer buds are doing. No one really gets this crazy writer's life, save other crazy writers. ;)

Good luck today! May your muse be with you. (Man, that was lame...lol....)

Day 7 word count: 2,161
Parlor current word count: 8,930
WD current word count:

Happy new 1k-a-day week! We've now been at it a full 7 days and are on to our 8th. Still feeling confident and happy? I hope so! Keep going everyone.

I still haven't touched WD during 1k-a-day, but I don't mind since that's my fallback if I get stuck on Parlor. Things are going pretty good. Today's word count looks a little bigger than it should because in my edits/rewrites, areas are pasted from the old chapter. I figured I'd include them since I really have no way of separating them out and I'm well over the 1k.

Back to our little discussion the past few days about reading to learn how to write. I think it's important for every writer to dissect as many books as possible. Sometimes it helps if the book is the same genre as the one you're writing, but other times I find that something completely different is even more of a help. I think I learn the most from looking at point of view and how each author handles it. For example, Parlor is written in 3rd person, which I have trouble with. I find that I get stuck in telling, like I mentioned yesterday. It's more difficult for me to add that extra spark to a character, to really get in their head. Reading other 3rd person POV books that I love helps me understand what goes into making 3rd person as strong a voice as 1st.

Does anyone else do the same other than Tracy and I?

1k-a-day Day 7

2010-07-07T07:05:00.000-07:00

Day 6 word count: 2668
SS current word count: 43 357
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Yesterday was a pretty smooth writing day for me. But I wanted to expand on something Tami mentioned in a previous post. She noted that she reads sections from her favourite books and analyses what the author did to discover what worked and hope to build similar skills in terms of her own writing style. I do this as well. In fact, I have a stack of books at the ready, one per work in progress, each with related fiction and non-fiction titles. For example, when I'm working through a fight scene, I'll skim through a few military history books, or if I'm aiming for high emotion between characters, I might re-read a moving scene from a current favourite. Am I stealing scenes? Stealing plot? Nope. I'm learning my craft, simply by reading - though at this point I don't read for mere enjoyment, I'm studying the author's pacing, use of tension, sense of immediacy, or distance.

Anyway - I was happy to know I'm not the only one who does this. I think I learned grammar from skimming books, thinking - how did _insert author name here_ punctuate a similar sentence? ;)

Happy writing this week!

Day 6 word count: 1,498
Parlor current word count: 6,769
WD current word count: 5993

Today is the end of the first week of 1k-a-day. I hope everyone participating has found that the first week wasn't as hard as you thought, yet the challenge has pushed you to write words that you wouldn't have written the past seven days. The first week of 1k-a-day has inspired me to make my book better. To find true voices for my characters and to take them on journeys I never dreamed could work within my plot.

I struggled through the holiday weekend, to find myself up bright and early on Tuesday looking forward to a day of writing, editing and researching. I did just that. Yesterday I completed all that I wanted to, I edited one and a half chapters, deleting words while still hitting beyond the 1,000 needed and read the first few pages of some of my favorite third person YA stories, trying to pull some of the magic out that I spoke of yesterday.

Keep working hard everyone. Remember, there will be a great YA book up for grabs on Friday for those of you who post your word counts so far. Good luck on finishing the first week off with a bang for day 7.

1k-a-day Day 6

2010-07-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 5 word count: 1599
SS current word count: 40 689
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Tami's back in the game and I'm still struggling, but determined to hit my stride. I've stuck with SS and haven't had the umph to write for my other projects - so far. I'm hoping today will change that. I slept in. (NEVER do) I've been hanging out with friends and soaking in sunshine. The remaining tension from the school year is starting to slip away and I'm embracing summer mode. There's creative energy in the air...let's get to work!

Tami's Day 5 word count: 1,416
Parlor current word count: 5,271
WD current word count:

I'm back in the game which makes me happy. It wasn't a great writing day yesterday, but it did the job. I hope to really hit re-writes and edits hard the rest of the week now that I'm back in my normal routine (i.e. my husband is back at work today after a four day weekend). Today will be busy. I hope to re-write at least one chapter, edit one chapter and then read the first chapters of a few of my favorite YA books to see how they have the extra zing. Right now, I feel as if I'm telling the story, not showing as much as I'd like. I need a little magic dust to make it pretty, so if you know where I can get some, please share! ;)

We're almost through our first full week of 1k-a-day! The word counts are climbing and everyone seems positive! Great job so far!

1k-a-day Day 5

2010-07-05T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 4 word count: 2345
SS current word count: 39 099
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Day 4 had me ploughing through my 1k and on to another. I think the anticipation of going to see an afternoon showing of Eclipse kept me going until my friends picked me up (because you can't go to a Twilight film without your pack). Anyway, the film rocked....and so did my writing day. The only pill in the jam revealed itself when I settled in my lazyboy for some True Blood action and discovered July 4th had created a repeat episode. And after that whopper of an ending last week! But one can't be too upset - a rerun of TB is still badass.

Good luck with Day 5 - whoopa, our first week is almost over!

Day 4 word count: 412
Parlor current word count: 3,855
WD current word count: 5,993

Not exactly my idea of a good writing day, but I was able to sit down and do something in the morning before we headed out for 4th of July festivities. I hope to catch up a little bit today, adding a little more than 1k to bring myself up to the 5,000 I should be at for the end of day.

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I know I did. I started the day off with a good breakfast, then headed to the neighborhood party where they were giving out free ice cream. I couldn't pass that up, and then couldn't go home without having a shaved ice, topping it off with the rest of my cotton candy from the fair. Needless to say, I had my threshold of sugar for the weekend. We ended the night with ribs from the Crock Pot and a fire on our back deck. Not too shabby!

Happy Monday!

1k-a-day Day 4

2010-07-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 3 word count: zippo
SS current word count: 36 754
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

Well, yesterday was a bust. I decided to get all obsessy over my new website and didn't get in any writing for my 1k-a-day projects. I did, however, write content for various sections of the site, answer a few blogger interview questions and THINK about my twisted plot in Second Skin. Soooooo.....while I failed on the 1k aspect, my day was still productive. I'll make up for it over the next few hours. Hopefully.

Yes - happy July 4th! I'm going to celebrate via a matinee show of Eclipse and stuff my face with popcorn. I have five hours before showtime. I best get writing....

Tami's Day 3 word count: 1,062
Parlor current word count: 3,443
WD current word count: 5,993

First I must say to all of our US YAedgers, HAPPY 4th of JULY! Try to get a few words in today, but don't stress too much. You can always fit in a few extra words later in the week. Please make sure to stay safe and have a great time. :)

Yesterday I decided to split up my writing so that I didn't wait until the last moment. The first 500 words came pretty easily as I decided to work on a chapter that I had skipped the first time around. I knew where I wanted to go loosely, so it wasn't flying by the seat of my pants. The second half of my word count was a little harder as the day was winding down and I was sipping a margarita. I know when I get to the point of re-writes, I will have to tweak the chapter a little bit, but I'm happy to have the hole filled.

1k-a-day Day 3

2010-07-03T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 2 word count: 1339
SS current word count: 36 754
LI current word count:
WS current word count:

I have no excuse for not writing more yesterday. I struggled all morning to produce my 1k for SS and once I finally cranked out the words...I fiddle farted with all kinds of things, save writing. I contacted a friend to help me revamp my website (Thanks Erika! It's gonna be nifty!). I scanned my bookshelves and skimmed/re-read a few of my favs. I even cleaned the cupboard under the sink. Come on, NOBODY cleans that cupboard, NOBODY. Anyway, I shall try to keep focused today and make my momma proud. ;) Good luck everyone!

Tami's Day 2 word count: 1,111
Parlor current word count: 2,381
WD current word count: 5,993

Since I'm re-writing Parlor, I've chosen to show my word count as if I'm starting a new WIP (so adding yesterday and today's word count together for the current total). It was weird adding to the already 50k+ words that I had since it was almost a complete first draft. I haven't worked on WD yet for 1k-a-day, but when I do, I will be adding to the existing word count as it's so early in the 1st draft process.

Now onto my day. Writing was a little rocky after spending the day at the San Diego County Fair. Fairs are always so surreal as people walk around with fried butter (yes, they honestly had fried butter this year...don't ask), chocolate-covered bacon and other strange things you would never think to eat and then go on rides that turn you upside down until you puke. Fortunately, I was smart and only had a huge turkey leg, fresh potato chips, cotton candy and a few bites of the chocolate-covered bacon (my husband made a pinky swear that he would eat it). Walking in the ocean fresh air with the sun beating down on you, coming home and writing is the last thing on earth on your mind. BUT, I will say that I sat down and wrote 1,111 words, though it was painful. Since I'm working on re-writes, I'm trying to make each word count toward the goal of a second draft and not just a word that will send me closer to my word count. Anyway, super long story short, I hit my 1k for day 2!

I hope you all had it a little easier than I did (and ate a little healthier than I did) for the start of the 4th of July weekend in the US. Today is a new day, and one step closer to 30k this month. Keep your music rocking and your fingers tapping!

1k-a-day: Friday Giveaway

2010-07-02T17:46:00.000-07:00

As promised, we're giving away books this month to sweeten the writing challenge pot. Today I have Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith up for grabs. Here's the blurb from Amazon:

For three teenagers, dark mystery has always lurked at the corner of the eyes and the edge of sleep. Beautiful Morgan D'Amici wakes in her trailerpark home with dirt and blood under her fingernails. Paintings come alive under Ondine Mason's violet-eyed gaze. Haunted runaway Nix Saint-Michael sees halos of light around people about to die. At a secret summer rave in the woods, the three teenagers learn of their true, changeling nature and their uncertain, intertwined destinies. Riveting, unflinching, beautiful, Betwixt shows a magic as complex and challenging as any ordinary reality.

And the winner is...(thanks to my hubbie picking a random number)......dadadddadadadadda....Sherry Ficklin!

Please email me at tracebelsher at yahoo dot ca with your address and I'll mail it off. And keep writing 1k-a-day is just getting started!

1k-a-day Day 2

2010-07-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Tracy's Day 1 word count: 1252
SS current word count: 35 415
LI current word count: 37 135
WS current word count: 6504

My 1k came easily on Day 1. I finished before lunch. However, I went back to my laptop a few hours later, all cocky-like, and thought I'd breeze off at least another k on one of my other projects. Ummm...nope. I was distracted by anything and everything online. Plus - Canada Day. I tried again several times, but ended up downloading new songs from iTunes or some such thing un-writing related. I decided to be happy with my smidge over 1k for SS.

Great to see the starting points of all who are joining us. This month is OURS! How did you do, Tami?
________

Tami's Day 1 word count: 1,270
Parlor current word count: 51, 768
WD starting word count: 5993

For day 1 I worked on re-writing the first chapter of Parlor. Did I mention how much I hate re-writing chapter one? Man, it was hard and I'm still not happy. I'm sure tomorrow will start with deleting a few words I wrote today before moving on to chapter 2, but that's the ebb and flow of re-working a story.

I plan to head to the Del Mar Fair, stuff my face with fatty food in hopes of getting great ideas from the sugar rush today! Hope everyone had a great day 1 of 1k-a-day!

1k-a-day: Day 1 - Put Us In Coach

2010-07-01T07:11:00.000-07:00

Okay, TEAM YAedge. Tracy here. Well, this is it. The month we've been waiting for, the month where we show our WIPs just who the boss really is...time. And we're committing to write for however long it takes us to produce 1k-a-day. All month long. At the end of our writing frenzy, we'll have 30 000 glorious words...maybe more if our muses are generous.

Stretch out those butt muscles every few hours. Keep the java flowing. Get your iPod playlist set and crank the tunes. Put us in coach! We're ready to play...

Oh, and Happy Canada Day to all our Canadian writer buds - me included. I'll be heading to the beach for live music and fireworks this evening - but only if I get in my 1k...a beach party is a great motivator. :)

I’ll be recording my word counts for three WIP over this challenge, but my main focus is completing Second Skin (the next book in the Skinned series) so it can go off to my editor ASAP. It's sad that I'm still working on the same stories from our last challenge in November, but that's the way revision goes. Hack/slash and write some more!

SS starting word count: 34 163
LI starting word count: 37 135
WS starting word count: 6504

Tami, my friend, what say you on our kickoff of 1k-a-day?

Great start to 1k-a-day Tracy!!! I'm so excited, I woke up early this morning. I'm geared up to knock this WIP out of the ballpark! I've spent the last week and a half reading over the first draft of my WIP which I'll call Parlor for now (hate the name, but it's easy to remember). If you remember, this is the book that I worked on this past 1k-a-day and NaNoWrimo. The first half was crap, but I was really happy to find that the second half was actually decent. I will be rewriting it this time around. When times get tough and I'm stuck, I will be switching over to my other WIP, Worst Days, but my focus will be on Parlor for the most part.

I'm brewing the coffee, turning on some music and getting down to business this AM.

Good luck to everyone! Remember to post your word counts at least once within the week to be entered to win a book. Also, if you'd like to follow along with our progress throughout the day, just search the hashtag #1kaday on Twitter and feel free to post your progress. You'll see a few tweets that aren't for 1k-a-day unfortunately, but let's take that hashtag over!

Parlor starting word count: 50 498
WD starting word count: 5993

Dr. Who and 1k-a-day

2010-06-29T04:53:00.000-07:00

Well, don't I feel all late to the party. I just watched the first episode of Dr. Who (series 5, I think, with Doctor Eleven) and my world was rocked. Where has this show been all my life? Tami and the other YAedgers who watch DW...I proudly join the ranks of the newly DWinated.

I'm a believer.

I'm hooked.

Damn, I have to get my hands on the DVD - tell me it's out there somewhere!

Okay, now that my fangirl gushing is over, how about that 1k-a-day challenge? Ain't that gonna be the kick in the pants we all need? ;) Tami posted a few of the YA titles she's putting up for grabs in July, and so....here's my list:

ARC (acquired at BEA) of HALO by Alexandra Adornetto

E-book ARC (acquired at BEA) of Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund

girl, HERO by Carrie Jones (hardcover)

Revealers by Amanda Marrone

Betwixt by Tara Bray Smith

And a signed copy of my book (along with some swag), Under My Skin.

Whoopa! Just 2 days to go, my friends! I hope you join us...don't just read a book this summer, WRITE one. Click on the 1k-a-day challenge rule icon on our sidebar for contest entry details.

A Sneak Peek of 1k-a-day Books Up for Grabs!

2010-06-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

Just to get everyone a little more excited about our upcoming 1k-a-day challenge, I wanted to post a sneak peek of a few books that will be up for grabs each week of July and for part of the final prize. Keep in mind, these are slightly used books, but all are in great condition. Also, they are a mix of hardbacks, paperbacks and even a few ARCS!

Also, welcome to all of our new followers! I hope you enjoy the blog.

All You Need to Know About 1k-a-day '10

2010-06-23T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Hope you're as excited for this year's 1k-a-day as we are! Tracy announced YAedge's July writing challenge on Monday, now here are the rules! Those of you who participated in November '08 and July '09 know what it's all about, but here's the info for the newbies. Just a heads up for all of the returning YAedgers, we've changed it up a little bit this year!

1,000 words a day from July 1-31. You may work on a book you've already started, work on something new or switch it up. If you want to be really ambitious, you can even work on multiple stories like Tracy and I will be doing all month! The goal is to get your butt in the chair and your fingers on the keyboard each day working on something creative. We'll be posting our word counts each day by 11:59pm PDT and we’d like you to do the same. Just post your word count in the comments section of each day’s post. For those of you who are unable to start July 1st, no problem! That is the beauty of 1k-a-day. We don't care about hitting an end of the month word count. It's all about your daily goal of 1,000 words!

Now, down to the super cool part…free books. That’s right…FREE BOOKS! We'll be giving away YA books from our own collections at the end of each week.

"What do I have to do to win FREE books?" you ask. Just post your starting word count in July 1st blog post. It can be 0…it can be 40,000. We don't care, just as long as we know you're up for the month long challenge. From there, you can either post your word count daily, or by each Friday evening. As long as you post your word count throughout the week, or each Friday, you will be entered into that week's drawing! Unfortunately, due to shipping costs the weekly drawing will only be open to US and Canadian residence.

The great news is, for all of our participates at the end of the month we will be giving away a prize pack (books, swag, etc). Everyone who has participated throughout the month will be entered to win, so don't worry all of our International YAedgers, you will have a chance to win great prizes as well. How easy is that? Write a book…win a book!

Make sure to check the blog each day starting July 1st for inspiration and read our ups and downs of the challenge. Plus, you never know when we will decide to give a book out on a whim!

So, get your thinking caps on, your writing notes out and dust off your keyboards. Oh yeah, don't forget the coffee and chocolate! It’s time to get down to business and write 1K-a-day! The excitement is brewing. Make sure you don't miss out!

Make sure to tell all your writer friends and family. The more the merrier. Want to get the word out there about this great challenge? Just include one of the above banners to your blog, website or Facebook linking it to this blog and post the link here. You will be given an extra entry into the final prize pack!

Be sure to check back on Friday for a sneak peek of books that will be up for grabs throughout the month!

July 1st can't come soon enough! See you all then!

Got questions? We've got answers! Just post your question into the comments section of this post and we'll be sure to answer anything you ask.

July 1k-a-day Challenge

2010-06-21T04:55:00.000-07:00

Tami and I - crazy kids that we are - have decided we need a kick in the ass to get some WIPs outta our hair. And so....our second annual 1k-a-day contest will be on for the whole month of July! Tami will post the official rules later this week, but I wanted to get you pumped for the writing adventure.

Got a WIP, new idea, series of short stories or flash fiction you've been meaning to finish? Well, this is your chance to work on one or multiple projects. A month-long push to clear some unfinished business off your laptop and get it into agent/publisher hands.

Unlike NANO, our contest doesn't limit you to one "new" work - you can haul out old stuff, stuff you've been struggling to complete, or that one WIP you're burning to finish. The point is to write 1k a day - and that 1k can be spread out over different projects.

Tami and I will post our word counts each day and encourage participants to do the same. On Fridays in July, everyone who checked in that week will be put in a draw to win free (gently used) YA titles from our personal collections.

So....like the promo image says: Don't just read a book this summer, WRITE one!

Scheduling Time to Write

2010-06-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in my post last week, I will be writing from home (or Panera/library) full time starting this Monday. It's hard to believe I will have the (on average) nine hours a day I spent at work Monday through Friday to write. It seems like a ton of time to work on the craft that I love, but we all know how quickly time can be zapped away.

In preparation for my new found life, I started to go through my files trying to figure out where to even begin. I realized that I have a small problem. I am currently working on two stories (which for me is a problem in itself) and have multiple copies of both. I'm the first to tell you, make sure to back up your work. I had to write three+ chapters over again when a file of my last story, Lost and Found was corrupt and I didn't have a current backup. That being said, I now have three versions of one of the books and two of the other. Before I start to even think about sitting down to write I need to figure out what I'm going to be working on and what files are most current.

Now comes the topic of this post, schedules. I have a very loose time line in my mind of when I want to have one of my current WIPs edited and ready to start querying, but is an end date enough? I'd love to hear how some of you manage your writing time throughout the week when not working full time. I know that everyone is different, but just a general schedule would be helpful.

I think it's important to have an idea of what I want to accomplish in a day/week's time so I can feel as if I've completed something. This is one of the problems that I see arising with working for myself. I'm the kind of person that likes to hear praise from co-workers/peers/my boss. It keeps me going and makes my day. Once those are gone (or at least, a lot of it. I'll still have the great ups and downs with the crit group), I fear I will become complacent. I like the satisfaction of ticking someone off a list when it's finished.

I will be starting my new writing journey by figuring out what story to focus on, which is the most current files (and archiving the old) and tackling a schedule. Any advice is welcome!

Inspiration Strikes

2010-06-14T05:33:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, sometime after the Season 3 opener of True Blood and well beyond my I-have-to-work-tomorrow bedtime, the infamous 9:07pm (someday I'll be able to follow Tami's awesome example and write full time - for now I live vicariously through her), I sat at my desk chair for a few minutes. Not writing. Not editing. Not hanging out on Twitter. I simply observed the stuff I had around my office – propped up on shelves or tacked up on my bulletin board.

Torn pieces of patterned paper, notes scrawled on envelopes or napkins, swag postcards with funky artwork, Halloween candy wrappers, wolf images, gem-coloured glass bottles, fake tombstones, plastic (black) roses, ribbon cuttings, etc…

How does a random piece of fancy paper contribute to my writing?

Well, when I’m stuck for words, or am halfway through a scene and inspiration goes on strike – I look around the room. There’s a tale etched in each piece on display. Each element of my menagerie invokes a mood or seems to wear a story – or multiple stories – that I’m compelled to try and tell.

Don’t get what I mean?

Try this….look at the following images, photos I took of moments/settings/objects that seemed to have a story. (Besides collecting physical objects, photography is a fantastic way to capture ideas/moods). What are the first three words you think of as you glance at each one in turn? Now imagine the person who lives in this world. What’s their story?

From one item, or picture, I can imagine numerous plot lines, character traits, visualize settings, time periods, etc. A whole world can be created around just the right piece. Thankfully, I don’t hoard. I purge my collection every few months – leaving room for new stories.

I love this room, my writer's cave, with yet to be discovered worlds all around me.

My New Journey

2010-06-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life throws curve balls. You have to just get out of the way and go with the flow. I usually don't get very personal on this blog because it's not about my life away from writing and great YA books. Today is the exception because I have big news that has to do with my personal life and writing.

If you've followed this blog for any amount of time, you know that I write YA fiction and have been doing so for about 5 years. Not a long time by some people's standards, but I've taken it seriously in hopes to making a career out of writing. Last year, I queried many agents in hope of finding someone who loved my story as much as I did (after around 12 edits). I came close, but not close enough. In the time of writing the first draft and the following 12 edits of that story, I was off of work (as the company I worked for closed) for about six months time. I loved being a full-time writer, spending my days in the library, on my deck outside or at Panera working 4-6 hours a day. It was the best time of my life, despite feeling as if my head would explode from the story swimming in my head 24/7. In a way, that was the most complete I had felt ever. I was proud of how hard I worked and how I kept myself motivated when I had nothing hanging over my head.

Unfortunately, that time came to a close when my unemployment ran out and I received a job offer. That was two years ago. Since then, I have slowly lost motivation, not because I thought my writing wasn't good enough or I didn't have ideas. In fact, I have two novels in different stages of work. One is a few chapters shy of being a first (rather rough) first draft, while the other is in it's infancy. The problem was I was slowly being sucked of all creativity from my job. I took the position thinking I would be there for only a few months before I found something more suited for me...again, that was two years ago.

To be honest, I didn't realize how bad my situation had become. My husband and I have been talking about my dream, to try to write full time again without the worry of having to find a job constantly in the back of my mind. Our talks changed from "one day" to "maybe you should try it". Even as of a week ago, I thought we were still milling it over as "one day" I would quit and focus on my writing. I was unhappy at my job, but isn't everyone? I thought it would never happen, because how many people get to pursue their dream? Not many.

I started to talk my situation over with family and friends. To my surprise, everyone was supportive and thought that it was time to move on, leaving my job behind me. How many moms, no matter how old you are, would support quitting a stable job to write (and not get paid)? That's when I realized how much this job changed me. Everyone around could see how much I was suffering and how I pulled away from things that made me who I am, except me.

I'm writing this post to share my big news with all of you. As of June 18th, I will be a full time writer, living my dream and hopefully one step closer to getting my work published. It's a big step, I'm nervous as hell but I can't pass up the opportunity. Who could?

I'm sure I will be sharing my scary new journey into writing full time on the blog. I hope some of you will find it interesting, but I know all of you won't. Please let me know, so I can mix it up a bit, throwing in a few book recs, etc. There will be good days and bad, but the bad can't compare to a bad day working a soul-sucking 9-5.

Next step, packing my belongings at work, cleaning off my desk at home and deciding which WIP to dive into. Someone pinch me!

True Blood: June 13th Can't Get Here Fast Enough

2010-06-07T04:54:00.000-07:00

Tami has her Dr. Who fixation - I have mine.

No surprise - it's True Blood - a vamp/shifter/paranorm bevy of goodies. If you're not a fan of the show, back away from this blog post. My hubbie gave me Season 2 as a welcome home gift, along with a nifty "Merlotte's" keychain, and his amazing smile. He's probably regretting the gift about now, especially after my binge viewing this weekend.

Alas, Season 2 seemed like so long ago, it was all a blur. I just had to plow through the disks before Season 3 starts up on June 13th (not a Friday - but still, a cool date to start a paranormal show). I finished the last episode yesterday. All I recalled was the closure of the Maryann arc - how could I have blocked out that killer ending?

To get through the next few days, I'll be re-watching the Season 3 preview minisodes available on the HBO site. Here's the full list. However, being a wolfy chick at heart, I love this peek at Alcide, a werewolf character yet to be introduced (you'll get my enthusiasm if you've read the books by Charlaine Harris).

Ah, June 13....bring it!

BEA and Class of 2k10 NYC Tour

2010-05-30T13:23:00.000-07:00

Wow. Can't believe I'm back at home, walking the dogs, freezing in the sleet and rain. NYC already feels like a schweaty dream (oh the humidity!). Besides my adjustment to the weather, BEA and the Class of 2k10 NYC Tour was fantastically cool.

As a member of the Mystery/Fantasy panel at Teen Author Carnival, I got to meet a bevy of amazing YA authors. Highlights were Tonya Hurley, Linda Gerber, Jeri Smith-Ready (also with the Class of 2k10). The boys on the panel were also a blast, Eliot Schrefer and Michael Northrop. Unfortunately, I didn't get to play fangirl as much as I would have liked and didn't have much time to mingle with authors from the two other panels. Meeting with bloggers, readers, librarians, etc, however, was a fantastic experience. Here's me and Kitty Keswick with Tonya Hurley:

Our signings at both Books of Wonder and the Voracious Reader went smooth like butta and we well attended. Most nights I stayed up wayyyy past my bedtime (9:07pm), living on the energy we'd built during our events. My sister, Brenda, was kind enough to join me for the trip and document everything with her handy-dandy still/video camera. Here are the links to the vlogs Kitty Keswick and I created for our Wolfy Chicks blog: Teen Author Carnival and BEA, Books of Wonder and Central Park

Brenda was thrilled to see a teen crush, Rick Springfield, at BEA. To be honest, I didn't think we'd get her away from the booth...lol... Kitty and I agreed that he has a real paranorm appeal going on and we've designated him an honorary vamp/were hottie.

We missed Babs and the Duchess as we had other events happening during the keynotes, but it was cool to know we were at the same venue. Bloggers were everywhere and it was great to put faces to their coolio names. We met a ton of authors, passing them by in their publisher's booths, or meeting on the morning shuttle to the Javits Center.

Yes, NYC was a dream I'd happily repeat (and hopefully will next year). But OMG it was wonderful to see my husband's smile, my pups and their full-body wags....and to sleep in my own bed.

Thanks to all the Class of 2k10 authors - so amazing to finally meet you! Thanks to the bloggers and bookstores! Thanks NYC!

Books Getting Buzz at BEA

2010-05-28T06:00:00.000-07:00

I'm green with envy over all of the talk about BEA 2010. I thought it would be fun to list the books that I've been hearing a lot of buzz for on Twitter and other blogs. It always seems like this time of year, due to BEA, I always hear about the books that everyone is excited to nab an ARC or can't wait to read.

Here are a few that I'm excited about! Do you have any upcoming books on your wish list? Let us hear about them in the comments section!

The Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff- release date September 21, 2010:
(from http://www.brennayovanoff.com/) Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, Mackie comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is slowly dying in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with an oddly intriguing girl named Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

Matched by Ally Condie- release date November 30, 2010:
(from goodreads.com) In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices. It’s barely any price to pay for a long life, the perfect job, the ideal mate. So when her best friend appears on the Matching screen, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is the one . . . until she sees another face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black. Now Cassia is faced with impossible choices: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path no one else has ever dared follow—between perfection and passion. Matched is a story for right now and storytelling with the resonance of a classic.

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl- release date October 12, 2010:
(from Amazon.com) Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen. Sometimes life-ending. Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Ascendant by Diana Peterfreund- release date September 28, 2010
(from goodreads.com) Now a fully trained unicorn hunter, Astrid Llewelyn is learning that she can’t solve all her problems with a bow and arrow. Her boyfriend has left Rome, the Cloisters is in dire financial straits, her best friend’s powers are mysteriously disintegrating, and her hope of becoming a scientist seems to be nothing but an impossible dream. So when she’s given the opportunity to leave the Cloisters and use her skills as part of a scientific quest to discover the Remedy, Astrid leaps at the chance. Finally, she can have exactly what she wants—or can she? At Gordian headquarters deep in France, Astrid begins to question everything she had believed: her love for Giovanni, her loyalty to the Cloisters, and—most of all—her duty as a hunter. Should Astrid be saving the world from killer unicorns or saving unicorns from the world?

The DUFF (Designated Ugly Fat Friend) by Kody Keplinger- release date September 7, 2010
(From amazon.com) Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face. But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley. Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out that Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone.

The Power of Creative Hobbies

2010-05-21T10:39:00.000-07:00

We've talked about creativity a lot on this blog and ways to break a writing block by using other forms to spark ideas for your story. But what is creativity and why do some of us feel a huge pull to be creative every day where others don't seem to have a creative bone in their body?

I looked up the definition of creativity today to see if it gives any insight. This is the definition from Dictionary.com for creativity:

The ability to transcend traditional ideas, rules, patterns, relationships, or the like, and to create meaningful new ideas, forms, methods, interpretations, etc.; originality, progressiveness, or imagination: the need for creativity in modern industry; creativity in the performing arts.

The definition isn't very helpful, but I think there is one key word in it: imagination. Kids are raised in different environments across the world, some lending more to creative ideas and imagination. Although my family isn't very creative or artistic, I was always encouraged to find games to play or things to invent when I was bored.

As far back as I remember, my free time was spent drawing, coloring and making things out of virtually nothing. I would take pieces of notebook paper and glue, tape and staple them together to make clothes like vests, shoes and hats so that I could dress up like a character I had invented. I would build tents and forts out of household items and despite my mom not being all too thrilled that I would sometimes use her good sheets and towels, instead of making me stop, she would give me old items she had that I could keep using.

Books fueled that creativity later into paintings and drawings leading me to an art degree in college. Many parents would not approve of their child going to college to earn an art degree, but my mom was the one that suggested it when I didn't know what to major in during the application process. I would have never thought it was even an option, because honestly, what do you do with an art degree? Now at 30, I have made, as well as my husband, a decent living out of my art degree.

Even today, I still feel that pull to be creative. Sometimes it's my downfall, leading me to too many hobbies and activities that I don't have time for. My creative hobbies give me an escape that I need to stay sane in this crazy world. Unfortunately I don't draw or paint anymore, but I turned the time I would have spent now writing. I use words to paint my pictures instead of oil and acrylic paint. That's not to say that I will feel the will to pick up a paint brush once again at some point, but right now I don't feel the need.

I recently felt the need to start another creative hobby, even though it doesn't seem like I have the time to. One day back in December, I woke up and realized that I wanted to learn how to crochet. My mom tried to teach me a few years back, but just couldn't understand. I'm left-handed, she right-handed and her tutorial just ended in frustration on both our parts. I searched on Youtube and found amazing videos for left-handed crochet, went to my local craft store and purchased yarn and hooks. I haven't stopped since. I now spend any free time I have when I'm not writing, at work or reading making little amigurumi. I have a blast doing it, and it keeps my hands busy when watching tv or movies at home. It has scratched the itch I had been feeling to be more creative, and even helps my mind relax and solve issues with my writing that don't seem plausible. I know that this won't be the last creative hobby I pick up, but right now it makes me happy. I'm even starting a blog to show off my new hobby, but it's not ready to share yet! When it is, I'll be sure to post the link for anyone that is interested.

I want to know, what are some of your creative hobbies that keep you happy? Do you feel the creative itch when your other hobbies aren't filling a void?

Vlogging the NYC Tour

2010-05-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

Well, kids, only four more sleeps until I jump on the plane bound for NYC! Wowza, this has been almost a year in the making and I can’t believe it’s finally this close, this real. I’ve packed and repacked. Even loaded up stuff I still need to survive – hello – you can’t pack your CHI a week before your trip…duh….

Kitty and I will be rooming together and taking NYC by storm. Along with the most awesome, Tami, we've been critique partners for over two years, but this will the first time we meet in person. While Tami won't be joining us, we're working on a writers retreat in the future and hopefully the YAedge crit crew can meet as well.

Since my hubbie has to work, my sister – and wonderful champion in all that I do – has agreed to join us on this adventure. Thanks, Brynn!! She’s our honorary Wolfy Chick and has agreed to help us document our BEA/NYC experiences by manning the video camera.

At the end of each day, we’ll compile our video / still pictures and create vlogs of the amazing, odd or fantastical moments. You’ll get an insider view of what it’s like for newbie authors as we do our Class of 2k10 events - book signings / panel discussions.

I'll be posting the vlogs to both the Wolfy Chicks blog and YAedge since I think YAedgers will get something out of the BEA footage. Look for our first vlog on Saturday, May 22nd!

Story Zombies- Learning from your Undead Stories

2010-05-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to look in your drawers and see stories you poured your heart into just sitting with no future. Like every writer who has been working on the writing craft for many years, some stories just never see the light of day again. I have quite a few of them. I’m sure we all do.

If you’re like me, you feel a pull to try and do something with them.It's as if they've come to life and are calling your name. I call them Story Zombies. The work that just won't die. As the years pass and the dust builds, you think to yourself "Maybe if I just rewrote a few parts" or "If I wrote it in a different tense or for a different audience." I had that very thought just last week. I'm one of those people who tend to remember their stories way better, or more complete than they actually are. That's when I pick it up and start reading. It's good to read them. Rewrite them? I'm here to advise you, don't do it!

Story are like a puzzle, each scene making up a piece. As hard as it is to write a 1st draft, it's that much harder to take an old story and make it into something that it's not. You can fit a corner piece into the center of the puzzle and expect the picture to make sense. In my opinion, it's always easier to take your initial idea, the part that may work for your new story and write it from page one.

There are always exceptions to the rule. I'm sure quite a few books came about from an author re-vamping an old story that sat under their bed for years. I'd love to hear of a few if anyone knows of any offhand.

So, despite my old stories awakening, hoping to be Frankensteined to life once more, I will take what I learned from writing them and apply it to a new fresh set of characters. The lesson was learned. Those stories exist so that I can go back when I'm having a bad day and remember just how far my writing as come.

Virtual Author Visits

2010-05-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

As both a library technician (working in a school library) and a young adult author, I've been promoting the benefits of Skype, or virtual, author visits. For libraries, the immediate benefit is financial - authors usually provide a 20-30 minute Skype visit for free or a very small fee. For authors, you may not make as much money as with a live, in-school visit, however, less of your personal time is required - no lengthy travels, driving in crazy weather or flight delays. But you still reach new audiences, get your name and book out there - and you can make your virtual visit as memorable/exciting/unique as your imagination allows.

Through the Writers Guild of Alberta, I've been lucky enough to be paired with another media savy Alberta author, Joan Marie Galat. Joan writes travel books, as well as the very cool Dot to Dot in the Sky series, blending ancient myths relating to the stars, planets, and Moon - a fitting mix with my shapeshifters. ;) Together we are working on a few presentations outlining the dos and don'ts of Skype visits. Hopefully I'll wrangle Joan into my session for the Canadian Library Association's annual conference in Edmonton this June. (hint, hint).

Here is a sneak peek from our D&D list so far:

For Authors

Do:

- as with any author visit, prepare your presentation ahead - practice and time yourself

- look directly at your laptop or desktop camera. Joan made an awesome suggestion, put a "look here" stickie note beside the camera as a reminder. I struggle with this one a ton because it feels natural to "look" at your audience (which in a Skype visit, is displayed under the camera and to the viewers, you're always looking down).

- hold your book up to show the crowd - but hold it, Vanna White style, beside your face - not in front of it.

Don't:

- slouch - it's common to start off your visit sitting nice and tall, but as you talk, or answer questions, you might get "comfortable" and let your posture slide - DON'T - this will lower your image in the camera and detract from your presentation.

- move around too much - as you become animated (because, hey, we're talking about stuff we love - books and writing!) you might begin to use your arms, hands, shift in your seat, lean into the camera, etc. Try to keep your movements as small as possible - even with high quality live feed cameras there will be a certain amount of blur.

As I work the bugs out of my own Skype skills, I find myself watching newscasters on TV - marvelling at how they can remain still, yet be expressive as they stare into the soulless teleprompter. I think I should track down some broadcasting sites for tips. ;)

Speaking of tips, I'm keen to collect feedback on these visits - from authors and schools/libraries alike - please email me (well, my pen name) if you'd like to share your experiences thus far: judithgraves @ ymail dot com

Books I'm Excited to Read 3

2010-05-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

Since I haven't written a books I'm excited to read post, I thought I would do one this week. Unfortunately I've been to busy to read a ton lately, so my list is long. I'll include a few of them here that I haven't had a chance to get around to reading yet.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leviathan

One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens—both named Will Grayson—are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history’s most fabulous high school musical. Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan’s collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Love ties them together. Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan's violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura's new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart?and clues to the secret of the Shift.

Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr

Hunger for nourishment.

Hunger for touch.
Hunger to belong.

Half-human and half-faery, Ani is driven by her hungers.

Those same appetites also attract powerful enemies and uncertain allies, including Devlin. He was created as an assassin and is brother to the faeries' coolly logical High Queen and to her chaotic twin, the embodiment of War. Devlin wants to keep Ani safe from his sisters, knowing that if he fails, he will be the instrument of Ani's death.

Ani isn't one to be guarded while others fight battles for her, though. She has the courage to protect herself and the ability to alter Devlin's plans - and his life. The two are drawn together, each with reason to fear the other and to fear for one another. But as they grow closer, a larger threat imperils the whole of Faerie. Will saving the faery realm mean losing each other?

White Cat by Holly Black

Cassel comes from a family of curse workers—people who have the power to change your emotions, your memories, your luck, by the slightest touch of their hands. And since curse work is illegal, they’re all criminals. Many become mobsters and con artists. But not Cassel. He hasn’t got magic, so he’s an outsider, the straight kid in a crooked family. You just have to ignore one small detail—he killed his best friend, Lila, three years ago. Cassel has carefully built up a façade of normalcy, blending into the crowd. But his façade starts to crumble when he finds himself sleepwalking, propelled into the night by terrifying dreams about a white cat that wants to tell him something. He’s noticing other disturbing things too, including the strange behavior of his two brothers. They are keeping secrets from him. As Cassel begins to suspect he’s part of a huge con game, he must unravel his past and his memories. To find out the truth, Cassel will have to outcon the conmen.

Gone by Lisa McMann

Things should be great for Janie—she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she’s totally in love with. But deep down she’s panicking about how she’s going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people’s dreams is really starting to take its toll.

Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time—and he’s in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

2010-05-03T04:57:00.000-07:00

I love complicated, flawed, devious, tempted characters. They’re fun to write and they’re a blast to read. It’s even better when these are main characters in a novel – the heroes of the tale, and not just the villains.

One of the ways you can show a character’s struggle against their inner bad boy/girl, is to have them say one thing and do another. Dialogue is powerful and can jack-knife a story in all sorts of directions – but you can create whopper moments by letting your characters be real. Real people renege on promises, they say they’re going to workout all morning and end up crashing on the couch watching The Quest for the Holy Grail (for the millionth time), they lie, they omit – often times increasing the drama in their lives.

Let’s give you a quick visual reference. Quentin Tarantino is the master of this kind of dialogue/action juxtaposition. Here’s my favourite bit from Pulp Fiction (lines courtesy of www.imdb.com):

Honey Bunny: [about to rob a diner] I love you, Pumpkin.
Pumpkin: I love you, Honey Bunny.
Pumpkin: [Standing up with a gun] All right, everybody be cool, this is a robbery!

The benign exchange of “I love yous” right before this young couple goes postal is insane, shocking, and good for a dark laugh. So why not employ a bit of deception, harmless, or otherwise? I wonder how your character’s contradictory actions will crank up the tension and reveal hidden depths...

Through the Good and the Bad: Crit Partners

2010-04-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

This post is going to be a little short, because I totally lost track of the week and now work from my day job is waiting to be done. Despite its length, I think it's an important post. We've all felt overwhelmed in our lives. Once I hit the "publish post" button, I will have officially put my fears, apprehension and doubts away. We'll, at least for awhile.

Recently our crit group took a hiatus. It was much needed for the three of us. Between our personal lives, jobs and book launches (YAY Kitty and Tracy (ahem, I mean Judith!), we found that the group wasn't doing what we set out to accomplish. Instead of it being a safe haven for us to let down our guard as a group and go through our work with a fine tooth comb, it became stressful. At least, that's how it felt to me. We weren't consistent, weren't active enough to be helpful. I found that I would put off the crits and my chapters (we try to crit a chapter a week) until the last moment, because other things in my life were swallowing me whole. I wasn't enjoying it like I used to. In the past, I looked forward all week to their new chapters, waiting to see where their stories went. I sat at the edge of my chair, waiting for their critique of my new words, biting my nails in anticipation whether good or bad. Sadly, that went away.

I was working on two project at the time of our hiatus, but instead of feeling refreshed and creative when jumping back and forth, I just felt overwhelmed. It was like I didn't know if I was coming or going. I thought that I could take a break for a few weeks and then jump back in. To a certain extent I did, at least for awhile. I wrote a VERY rough draft (minus the last few chapters) of one of my ideas. I had fun, but it didn't have the spark I wanted it to. I didn't know why it had lost its whimsical feel that the synopsis, lore and first chapters had. Shrugging it off, I jumped into my other story hoping that I just needed to step back from the first one to get a new perspective when we went back. Writing the second story wasn't as easy. I struggled, and instead of working through it, I put it down. Stupid I know.

After a few months of reflection, I realized what was missing. It wasn't anything that changed with me specifically, it was that I didn't have the safe haven of my crit group to talk me through the bad times, cheer for me through the good. I didn't have them riding me when I didn't write, reminding me why I love to write and read every day. The last few months have been a nice getaway, where I can focus on other things in my life, but now I'm ready to jump back into it. I'm happy to saw that we will be back together starting this Sunday! I look forward to the roller coaster ride that is a fun crit group.

Thanks girls for making me a better writer and making sure that I stay on top of everything. Without you, my work wouldn't be where it is at today. It's all because of you.

(Okay, so I lied, this post isn't that short).