Writing Prompt: Song Lyrics

I'm posting writing prompts once a week to help those with writer's block or those searching for new ideas. This week, we explore the musical realm.


This is a prompt that I've used before. Death Cab for Cutie's "Song for Kelly Huckaby" was the inspiration for my short story, Song for Megan Leclare, featured in Beyond Home. These lyrics inspired the short story about a young woman reminiscing about a road trip she took with an old boyfriend:

"Photographs of the best time you had, 

windows smugded by the speed.

Leaving home with our bags from Iron Street,

as morning turned into California,

And smoke trailed from the butt of my cigarette."

~Death Cab for Cutie, 'Song for Kelly Huckaby'

I've posted six more song lyrics below (a few of them from lesser known artists from the Pacific Northwest area!) and I think some of them could spur on some really awesome stories. Let me know if you come up with anything!

“I don’t need a bullet
‘cause I don’t have a gun.
I don’t need a gun
‘cause I’ve got too much love.
And I have got enough love
to save the world.
I have got enough hate
to start a war.”
~Tonya Gilmore, ‘Gun’

**

“I’ve started a new beginning
suspiciously like the old one.”
~Typhoon, ‘Starting Over (Bad Habits)’

**

“I’ve got my finger on the trigger,
but somehow you’re still alive.”
~Ezza Rose, ‘Trigger’
“‘Cause you and me have stood the test of time
and proved that we will make it out all right.”
~The Wedding, ‘Revelation’

**

“I want to change the world.
Instead I sleep.
I want to believe in more than you and me,
but all that I know is I'm breathing.
All I can do is keep breathing.”
~Ingrid Michaelson, ‘Keep Breathing’

**

“And I know it's easy to say,
but it's harder to feel this way.
And I miss you more than I should,
but I thought I could,
can't get my mind off of you.”
~Joshua Radin, ‘The Fear You Won’t Fall’

**

“Daddy's ghost behind you.
Sleeping dog beside you.
You're a poem of mystery.
You're the prayer inside me.”
~Iron & Wine, ‘Faded From the Winter’

Oh, and look up these artists if you haven't listened to them before. They're all awesome! Keep writing!

How My Characters Celebrate Their Independence

How do my characters celebrate their independence on this holiday?

Well. . .in The Protectors series, there isn't a 4th of July since it's not set in America. Or on Earth. But there is Victory Day and it's pretty much the same thing.

***

From Promising Light: 

Victory Day was Grace’s favorite time of the year. The celebrations spread through the country of Haltar, and its capital Renaul filled with people. The city square was bustling with activity. Grace had to hold onto Jocelyn’s elbow as they weaved through the crowds.

Entertainers stood on every street corner, competing for attention. One man was juggling dozens of oranges, another was doing magic tricks, and a trio of children, probably siblings, were singing the customary songs of the holiday. The smells of exotic food hung in the air. Merchants yelled out, hawking their mirrors, dresses, weapons, fabrics, and more.

Beggars with dirt on their noses, their clothes only rags, moved from person to person as they searched for change. When Grace stopped to give them money, her friend Jocelyn rolled her eyes. She grabbed Grace’s hand and pulled her along. “You’re going to empty your purse if you’re not careful.”

Grace smiled at Jocelyn, squeezing her hand. She wanted to tell her all about what had happened between her and Dar, but she feared her friend wouldn’t understand. She’d be offended Grace didn’t tell her in the first place, of course, since they’d shared nearly everything with each other since they were four years old. Plus it would be hard to admit he’d left her so easily.

She also didn’t want to bring it all up again. It’d been two weeks, and this was her first real chance to distract herself from Dar’s departure. 

***

From Fire and Light: 

The fireworks lit up the sky, and the sparks showered down, lighting up the faces around him. Evan leaned towards Sierra and whispered, “Hey, do you want to see these from a better view?”

She looked at him with keen eyes. “Sure.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. “We’ll be right back,” he told his dad. He led her out of the crowd, her hand warm in his. He loved the little moments he could have with her like this. He was glad she’d decided to stay with them tonight instead of going back to the castle with Dar and his parents.

He took her to a small hill by the festival grounds, which was where they were setting the fireworks off. They had to sneak around a caravan of gypsies before they hiked up the hill. From the top, the fireworks seemed so much larger. Their vibrant colors filled the black sky. He sat down on the grass and patted the spot next to him for Sierra.

Grinning, she sat down. “This is great!”

He lay down, which made it seem like there was nothing in the world but the fireworks. He couldn’t see the festival grounds or anyone around him. Just the starry sky ignited with sparks and shapes.

She lay next to him, her shoulder pressing against his.

“So, how was your first Victory Day?” he asked.

“It was really fun. I had so much to eat, and Alastor bought me a new scarf. Oh, and the fire dancers were so amazing. Did you have fun?”

“I did.” He’d worked most of the day, but when his parents gave him breaks from the booth, he walked around with the others. He felt the necklace in his pocket. “I got you something.”

***

I love the 4th of July and as you can see, my love for the holiday has leaked through to Victory Day in The Protectors series! Have fun, everyone, and be safe :)

Writing Prompt: Music

This blog features writing prompts twice a week for those stuck, those with writer's block, or those searching for new and creative ideas.

For this Tuesday's writing prompt, we're exploring music. I've chosen some instrumentals and embedded the video below. Push play and free write. Let the music carry the story and set the mood. Don't stop to edit or erase until the song is done.




Ljósið (previously known as Let Yourself Feel) from Esteban Diácono on Vimeo.
(the song is by Olafur Arnalds)


(La Dispute by Yann Tiersen)


(Dream is Collapsing by Hans Zimmer)


(Célébration à une Nouvelle Vie by Chaz Knapp)


(Exodus by Two Steps From Hell)

Dialogue Exercise

This is another exercise from my fiction workshop class. The assignment was to start a story with dialogue, but it ended up being kind of self-contained.

***

Fighting

“What on earth happened to you?”

“Nothing, Mom, I’m fine—”

“Bullshit. Whose blood is that?”

“Not mine.”

“That doesn’t answer my question. Here, let me do that.”

“Ow!”

“You have to stop getting in fights, Alex. We’re going to get evicted.”

“It’s not me, it’s them—ow!”

“Oh, come on, it’s just a cut lip.”

“Shit, Mom.”

“Put this on your cheek. Tell me what happened this time.”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing.”

“Just people being dicks.”

“Really.”

“Really.”

“Your hair’s getting so long.”

“I guess.”

“You’re looking more like your dad every day.”

“Ugh.”

“Where are you going?”

“Homework.”

“You’re actually doing it today?”

“Gotta balance the universe out or something, right?”

“I thought you didn’t believe that.”

“I do, but you know what, I was in the right. They started it. They always do.”

“Then why do you feel like you need to do your homework to balance it out?”

“Shit, I don’t know, because you’re pissed?”

“I’m not pissed, I’m just—”

“Disappointed, I know. I’m not living up to my potential, I know. You sound like those teachers in Grandma’s movies.”

“I’m not disappointed in you. I just don’t want you to end up like your dad.”

“I don’t even know him! God, you make problems out of nothing—”

“How can you say this is nothing? This is the third fight this month, Alex, and I’m worried about you.”

“I’m fine. They were calling you—forget it.”

“What? They were calling me what?”

“They were just being dicks, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I’m going to go do my homework.”

“Okay. I love you.”

“Yeah, you, too.”

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer

Spark by Brigid Kemmerer
ARC from Net Galley. Publication date: August 28th 2012.

Another addicting read from Brigid Kemmerer that adds to the nonstop action and romance of the Elementals. Compelling characters, an exciting plot, and intense romance. Yes, I loved this one just as much as the first! I was super lucky to get an ARC from the publisher -- thank you, Kensington!

So, Spark is a bit different from Storm, mostly because Gabriel and Layne are a lot different than Chris and Becca. But it's just as addicting!

The story was really neat. Fires are popping up all over town and Gabriel, being a Fire Elemental, is blamed for it when in actuality he's trying to help people escape. He's also trying to catch back up in math since his new substitute teacher caught on to him and Nick swapping places when a test came up. Tying it all together is girl in his class named Layne who is driving him crazy as he tries to figure her out. There is a lot of stuff going on, actually, but those are the big things.

I liked the chance we had to see into Gabriel's head. In Storm, he seems like kind of a hothead and in Spark, we see some of his motivation, some of what he's thinking and going through. I felt bad for him, but there were also times when I wanted to smack him upside the head. I think that's a sign of great characterization, when you can love and hate someone at the same time. Just like in real life.

Gabriel and Layne had really good chemistry. They were kind of all over the place, highs and lows, but their personalities made for a relationship like that. They're both kind of headstrong and stubborn and they were super cute together. I liked Layne and how she was different from Becca, being more reserved and having more secrets. I loved even the minor characters that Brigid Kemmerer introduces, especially Simon.

And the plot, like I said, was so addicting! Something new was always happening, whether it was something kind of character-driven like Gabriel and Layne getting to know each other, or something bigger and more intense, like another fire. I like how Kemmerer balances that all out, the characters and the action. She's one of my favorite new authors this year.

I'll be honest, I'm not that thrilled that the next book is about Hunter. I don't know, I can't get a read on that guy. I want to like him but he always seems to be looking out for himself. Maybe I'll like him more after Spirit. Which I still can't wait for, even if it is about Hunter.

Writing Prompt: 36 Minute Short Story

I'm back with another writing prompt idea for anyone stuck, anyone with writer's block, or anyone just looking for a new idea! This is something I heard about from the folks in my writing group. We randomly pulled cards from a few different decks (one deck was "setting", another "character") then from our four cards, wrote a short story in 36 minutes. 

Now, I'm not 100% sure how to do this random thing, so here's what we're going to do for the blog setup.

For your CHARACTER ADJECTIVE, choose a number from 1 to 5. 

For your CHARACTER NOUN, choose a number from 6 to 10. 

For your SETTING, choose a number from 11 to 15.

For your PROP, choose a number from 16 to 20. 

For your ACTION, choose a number from 21 to 25. 

I know it's kind of weird, but bear with me! And choose the numbers before you go on and see the lists. 

A Day at the Beach in Barcelona

I'm taking a fiction workshop at my school this summer. I thought I'd post some of the exercises I'm doing. This is a one-page autobiography based on one event in my life.

***

The beach in Barcelona is beautiful. The deep blue water stretches out for miles on either side of us. To the left of us, a group of friends gathers on towels. They’re fully clothed, not here to swim but just to enjoy the sun. I’m wearing my bathing suit, but the water is colder than I expected and I can’t stay in it for long before I decide I’d rather lay in the sun with my book. Behind us, a couple plays badminton, both of them shirtless. We thought we’d avoided the nude beach, but even here, women sit around, shirtless, nonchalant.

For what has to be the tenth time, an Arab man passes by, saying, “Agua, cerveza, cold water, cold beer.” He has a rhythm to the words, and we try to avoid his eyes every time he walks by, trying to sell his goods. When we first got here, we declined him, but then Chris bought a beer from another man with a backpack selling drinks, so now he feels guilty. His beer sits open next to me, not in a paper bag like it would be back home.

Chris strums his ukulele, the twangy sound mixing with the crashing waves on the beach only a hundred feet away. His ukulele reminds me of Hawaii and its long, warm days and his visit, that week when I fell even more in love with him. It reminds me of the iPod he got for me when we first started dating and the Beirut songs I listened to as I jogged around the neighborhood, passing freshly manicured lawns and plumeria trees. I love that he picked the instrument up and brought it on our trip to Spain. I love traveling with him, seeing these new places and experiencing them with him. I know that in a couple months, we’ll be reflecting on all we did and saw and we’ll get that bug again to go somewhere. We’ll save up, eating top ramen for a couple months until we can travel to a new place and make more memories.

Writing Prompt: Fantasy Art

You are so lucky. I've decided to post prompts every Friday AND Tuesday. These writing prompts should help get your creative juices flowing and battle writer's block. Find new ideas or add to your existing stories!

This week, I've decided to feature some fantasy art. I have attributed the proper artist and I expect you to do the same if you repost this photo anywhere. This is their very hard work and they deserve to be credited for such talent! Click through for the listing on deviantart if you want to comment or support them.

Use these photos to spur on a story. Ask yourself: who is this person? What are they going through? How did they come to the point in the picture? What's happening?

CREDIT: Jessica at Enchanted Whispers

CREDIT: Lienwyn

CREDIT: burari

CREDIT: michalivan

CREDIT: JNetRocks

Writing Prompt: Last Sentences

Hey, everyone! I know there are tons of writing prompts all over the internet, but sometimes we still need some creativity boosts. Writer's block can get in the way, we can be pressed for time or creativity. So here's the start of a regular feature on the blog where I'll post prompts to get your creative juices flowing!

This week, I thought it would be neat to do last sentences instead of first sentences. See if you can incorporate these last sentences into your next short story, novella, or even novel!

1. Things hadn’t changed at all.

2. Rebecca dropped the key into the river and watched as it disappeared in the rushing, frantic water.

3. Sometimes, she still wondered if he thought about her.

4. That was the last time he saw her.

5. I never made that mistake again.

6. We got lost.

7. We visited him in prison as often as we could until he died of a heart attack two years before his release date.

8. She whistled as she walked away from me forever.

9. He was too tall, anyway.

10. I could never fix the thermostat after that.

11. That concert was the best night of my life.

12. I almost picked up her crutch and bashed her across the skull with it, but somehow, I refrained.

13. The shock of electricity reminded me I was still alive, still vulnerable, still susceptible to hurt, even death.

14. He looked at her like she’d said something novel, like he’d never heard such a wonderful thing.

15. The scars never truly went away.

16. “Oh, sure, right after I invent the Internet.”

17. We decided to go to the 1920s in Paris.

18. Nothing could keep them apart, no matter how much they hated each other.

19. The stars were bright that night, almost blinding.

20. And finally, somehow, she fell asleep.

Navigating Ebook Publishers

As ebooks and ereaders become more and more popular, we're seeing a lot of new ebook publishers pop up. Ebook publishers are generally independent publishers (unconnected with "the Big Six") who deal primarily with ebooks, though some publishers will have a POD option for novels. In this day and age, how is an author to know that an ebook publisher is trustworthy? Try these handy tips if you found a new ebook publisher you're not sure about.

Look at the website
When you find an ebook publisher's website, ask yourself:
-- Is this website professional? If the website looks sloppy and has lots of errors, how will they treat your cover design or your editing?
-- Can I find all the information I need easily, or does it seem like they're hiding some things? Some information should be easily seen, and you shouldn't have to hunt it down.
-- Is this a website I would mind sending friends, family, and fans to? Your publisher should not embarrass you, you should be proud of them!
--This is an important one: Is the ebook publisher's website targeting readers or writers? If they're brand new, they may need to target writers in order to get submissions and build their catalog. But if they have been around for a while and have some books out, they should be marketing those books! A publisher is for readers, not writers. They shouldn't be trying to make money off of writers, for sure. If you're asked to pay anything, run the other way. That's vanity publishing, and if you truly want to follow that route, at least go with an established vanity publisher instead of someone brand new.

Look at the staff
There should be bios for the staff members somewhere on the website. You should know who you will be submitting your work to and who you'd be working with should they choose to publish your book. Check out:
-- Positions: how many editors do they have? What kind? Do they have any publicists or marketing associates? Do they hire a cover artists or do they go freelance?
-- Experience: what kind of experience does the staff have? Experience in publishing? In writing? Are they just authors who thought it would be fun to start a publisher?
-- Google those names if you feel like you don't have enough information about them. See if you can find them on social networks and see how they act in the public sphere. What kinds of books do they read? Are they authors themselves?


Look at the terms
It's rare that the publisher will have a contract online, but they should at least have something on their website about what formats they publish in (print or ebook, for example) and how royalties will be divided (how much the author earns and how much the publisher keeps). If this isn't available on the website, don't hesitate to e-mail someone and ask. I'd also ask why it wasn't available.

If you submit a book and you're offered a contract, comb through that thing with a fine-tooth comb! Here is an extremely condensed list of things to look for:
-- Rights. What rights/license are you granting the publisher and for how long? What is the geographic scope?
-- Copyright. Who will register it and when?
-- Manuscript delivery. When are you expected to deliver the manuscript? What editing do they provide?
-- Payment. Is there an advance? Royalties? How are these royalties calculated? For example, net and gross and cover are all different prices and thus will give you different royalties. How often are you paid royalties? Is the publisher required to send you accounting statements?
-- Publication itself. Look for a duty to publish, advertising/promotion, galleys, method of publication.
-- Termination. What are the terms for reversion of rights?

Ebook publishers should be willing to answer questions you have and possibly negotiate the contract. Do your research and know what you're signing because that is a legally binding document and if doesn't matter if "you didn't know", you signed it and you have to stick to it.

For more information, check out Writer Beware's post on contracts or this checklist written by attorney Lloyd J. Jassin (for publishers).


Look at any existing books in the catalog
Obviously, since there are new publishers all the time, some publishers don't have books released yet. But for those who do, find those books and be ruthlessly brutal and honest in regards to those books.
-- Genre: is the publisher accepting all books (and possibly spreading themselves too thin) or are they targeting a niche where they can be more effective?
-- Cover art: do these covers match up with other books in the genre? Does it look like they were made with paint or have they invested in the marketing package of their books?
-- Blurb and sample: are there errors? Do the blurbs and samples snag you? Have they carefully edited and proofread their work or do they throw books up in the hopes of making some money?
-- Distribution: are the books available on a variety of e-retailers, or only a few? Where will they distribute your book?
-- Reviews: search for reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, blogs. What do readers think of these books? Have any readers read these books?
-- Marketing: A simple Google search with the title and author will tell you how much marketing work the publisher has done. If only a couple of the results are for this book, reconsider what this publisher will be willing to do to publicize your book.

The important thing to remember is not to rush into something. This is your hard work and it should be presented in the best way possible. Take your time with publishers and make sure it's what you want.

Personally, I'm a content editor with a new ebook publisher called Entranced Publishing, and of course I fully endorse them. I believe Entranced is dedicated to producing quality books for readers and that they'll use honesty and professionalism in their dealings. Drop by the website if you want and see if we might be a good fit for your novel. Oh, and a small disclaimer: this post does not represent Entranced view's, only my own.

Here are some places to check up on publishers:
Absolute Write's Bewards, Recommendations & Background Checks
Preditors & Editors
Writer Beware

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green 


Published 2012, hardback edition, library copy (but I'm getting my own asap!!)

This is one of those books that pulls you in, makes you fall in love, then tears your heart out. It's one that doesn't care about your feelings or your fragile heart. It also doesn't care what else is going on in your life, it demands to be read and enjoyed, no matter who you live with or what they want. It's a book that is honest, funny, loving, sad, and beautiful. The characters are real and you miss them the moment you're done with the book. Their struggles become your own. The writing describes so many things so well, the mind of a sixteen-year-old girl and the streets of Amsterdam and the beauty of life. 

I feel kind of pretentious just writing this review, but I can't believe that books like this exist. Books like this make me question why I even write. Why even try when it won't be this good? But books like this also give me inspiration to write. They fill me with this passion for words and stories and the things we can create with our language. This book takes spot on the shelf of my favorites right next to The Things They Carried and The Book Thief. 

In short, it's a book that I loved for so many different reasons, and I hope you do, too

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Published 2012, hardcover, library copy.

Whenever I hover between 4 or 5 stars, 4 or 5 stars, I choose 4 stars because I feel like if it was a 5 star book for me, I would know! So, I'll say 4.5 stars :)

The situation in this post-apocalyptic Chicago quickly escalates as factions take sides and Tris and her friends fight to stay safe. Tris is dealing with the aftermath of the Erudite-controlled attack on Abnegation at the end of Divergent and the choices that she made. She and Tobias start off strong, but secrets and reckless decisions threaten to tear them apart. By the end of this book, I was on the edge of my seat as the climax approached and things kept escalating. 

This was a great sequel to Divergent. I know a lot of people complained that Tris was moody and depressed, but come on, this was nothing compared to Katniss in Mockingjay. Tris was still pretty awesome. Reckless, yes, but I love the girl. And let's be honest, it's not often that highly commercial fiction like this has a distinguishable main character that couldn't be identified as any generic female reader. Tris, though? She's smart and perceptive and brave and loyal and funny and she went through so much at the end of the last book, she was bound to be messed up in this one. 

One thing that bugged me was Tobias and Tris' insistence to keep secrets from each other. That got a bit old. 

Aside from all of this, the escalation in the plot was intense. You see so many different characters and ambitions fighting for what they believe is right, and things just go downhill as everyone clamors for control. At times, I have a hard time remembering all the various characters in the series -- took me a while to remember who exactly Uriah, Zeke, Lynn, Marlene, Christina, Will, and Edward were. Lots of names to attach to faces! Some of her minor characters are very distinct, like Marcus or Johanna, but some needed more work (like all the Dauntless kids Tris' age). But by the end of this book, I feel like I have a better grasp on them. 

And that ending?! Wow. I knew it was going to be some cliffhanger because for some reason I read the last sentence (I used to do that all the time then I stopped because I was afraid of spoiling myself). 

So, yeah, when's the next one come out? XD

Cover thoughts: LOVE these covers. The skyline of Chicago with the single image of the tree is awesome. I can't wait to see the next one!

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Published 2011, US hardback edition (not pictured), library copy.

Wow! I've heard so much about this book and I'm so glad I read it.

Laini Taylor's beautiful writing + a unique fantasy world + a Romeo and Juliet love story = an amazing novel!

The story moves along at a great pace -- so much happens and the characters go through so much. Karou is an awesome protagonist -- curious determined, funny, but she also feels like something is missing in her. She grew up with a group of chimaera -- creatures from fantasy stories, made up of various animals. She doesn't know where they came from or where she herself came from, and the arrival of a mysterious seraphim drastically changes her life.

The characters and the world work together to make an entrancing story. There is so much going on -- romance, the war, family, loyalty. The fantasy/magic world is unique, both dark and creative, drawing from folklore and religions but also injecting new life and original ideas.

The romance is phenomenal! I find myself look for more romance in my books than I used to, and this one was not lacking. There is so much chemistry, love, and heartbreak, all wrapped up in Taylor's beautiful writing.

The ending tied so much together yet at the same time was a semi-cliffhanger. September can't get here fast enough!

Cover thoughts: Everyone loved the US cover, but I thought it was kind of. . .sloppy. I actually thought it was a self-published book for a while. I like the UK cover much more (the one pictured).

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn

Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn

Published 2011, Kindle edition.

I liked this book, but something it keeping me from giving it 4 stars. The premise is very cool. In a future America, everyone can read minds and communicate with one another through a kind of mindspeak. Except for our main character Kira. She hasn't gone through the change yet, making her a zero and a social outcast. When she meets a mysterious boy named Simon, though, she finds out she's actually a jacker and she can control people through their minds, and she's not alone. . .

The writing is crisp and clear, and the story interesting. The second half is full of twists and turns and revelations. i think where the book was lacking, though, was in characterization. The story/plot itself was cool, but Kira, Simon, Raf -- they felt more two-dimensional than full-fledged characters. 

Kira does go through a lot and she's the most fully-fleshed character, but still I couldn't get a gull grasp on her. She was very determined and pretty badass towards the end, but when I try to picture Kira in the real world or another context, I can't. I'm not 100% what makes her tick, what she would be like if she weren't in danger all the time. 

That aside, like I said, this was a very neat read. Great world building, very cool science fiction, and some awesome action!

Cover thoughts: I love it. The hand and the eyes work together for a great composition!

Summertime and the living's easy

What am I excited for this summer? Well, I'm so glad you asked. . .


1. Shifting Light comes to more retailers
Shifting Light had a small stint Kindle Select, but it will soon be coming to B&N, the iBookstore, and more retailers! And a little birdie tells me it might be free for a while in celebration. . .

2. Camp Nanowrimo 
I'm going camping this summer! My goal is 50,000 words -- some of that will be to wrap up the sequel of Promising Light, and some of it will be for exclusive short stories from The Protectors series. If you're a writer, come join in on the fun: http://campnanowrimo.org/

3. Title and Cover reveal for the sequel to Promising Light
For those of you who have read Promising Light, aren't you just itching to see the cover? Or even hear the title? Well, stay tuned because the title will be announced here soon and there will be quite a few blogs involved in the cover reveal.

4. Burning Light (The Protectors Prequels Omnibus Edition) Paperback
The omnibus edition of the Protectors prequels is available NOW as an ebook on Amazon for $3.49 but I'm excited for the paperback! It's got such a pretty cover, i love the contrast between black and red.

5. Summer Splash Blog Hop
I don't have any links or details yet, but just know this: July 16th-31st there will be a huge giveaway on the blog! Ebooks, paperbacks, maybe some bookmarks and gift cards. There might even be a few copies of the sequel to Promising Light up for grabs, plus exclusive short stories for those who sign up for my newsletter. There will also be dozens of other blogs participating, too, so you will be able to get lots of goodies!

6. Tent City's semi-tour
Well, it's not really a tour, but my husband's band will be playing nearly a dozen shows this summer all over Salem, Portland, and other places in the area. You should definitely check them out! They're on Facebook and Bandcamp. Here's a song of theirs from their album The Valley in Autumn (psst: the second verse is totally about me).



7. Summer Classes
I'm taking a few summer classes and they're pretty neat -- Web Design, Business E-Commerce, and Social Psychology. Plus they're all online so I can make my own schedule. Plus I might have a job! But I don't want to add that to the list in case I jinx it.

8. JoshuaFest
I'm going to this music festival in Sacramento to see Five Iron Frenzy!! Yeah, that's right, they're back! Didn't think I'd ever see them live again. But even better than that, I get to go camping and hang out with my family. My parents and all my sisters are going to be there! If only we could fly my brothers in from Texas and NYC. . .

9. Books!
Particularly Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo and Borrowed Ember by Samantha Young. A lot of the books I was eagerly waiting for this year already came out (Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, Insurgent by Veronica Roth, The Calling by Kelley Armstrong, Intangible by J. Meyers).

There are other little things, like the sun and going swimming and getting a new bathing suit and barbecues and camping and going to the Newport Aquarium and the 4th of July. . .but these are the big ones. What are you excited for this summer?

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

The Calling by Kelley Armstrong

Published 2012, library copy, hardcover.  

Summary from Goodreads:

Maya and her friends--all of whom have supernatural powers--have been kidnapped after fleeing from a forest fire they suspect was deliberately set, and after a terrifying helicopter crash they find themselves pursued by evildoers in the Vancouver Island wilderness.

This is a sequel to The Gathering, during which Maya finds out about her skin-walking abilities (aka she can change into a cougar) and uncovers a few mysteries about her small town of St. Cloud.

What's neat is this is part of the Darkest Powers series, so there's lot of experimentation with paranormal genetics and kids. And I think we'll see Chloe and Derek and his friends in the next book!

I really like Maya and her friends. Daniel is definitely awesome. This is one of the only times I could see a love triangle and approve of it. He's so nice and supportive and funny. But I love their friendship, too.

What I've noticed about some of her books, especially the second book in a series (The Calling and The Awakening), not that much happens plot-wise. They walk and run and try to escape and find a cabin and talk a lot. But it's still interesting to me, it's stuff I like reading. She's always revealing things and developing the characters. I read it in two sittings and I liked it.

I'm excited for the next one, when the two groups will meet each other and hopefully come out with the upper hand. And they probably will. I mean, we've got a necromancer, a werewolf, a witch, a sorcerer, a couple were-cougars, and whatever Daniel is (bendanati or something, I don't know). I wonder if Cody has anything going for him. Oh, and I love this cover, the girl is gorgeous!

Check it out if you like her stuff!

New Release! The End of Light, a Protectors prequel novella

The End of Light, the third novella in the Protectors prequels, is now available for $2.99!

Amazon
Smashwords
Coming SOON to the iBookstore and B&N!

Two and a half years after the events of Fire and Light, an elder of the shape changers comes to Shyra with life-changing news. She's had a vision, and in it, Sashe and Sierra break the curse the Protectors set on their family — by becoming pregnant. Yet a pregnancy hasn’t been carried to full-term for eight years, and many women have died from the curse.

Sierra, Sashe, and their husbands must decide whether to trust the elders and risk their lives for a chance at breaking the curse. And when a spy reveals the vision to the Protectors, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Third novella (about 34,000 words or 115 pages) in the Protectors prequels. Set two years before Promising Light and two and a half years after Fire and Light.

Read a sample right now!

***

Sashe nodded with appreciation as she scooped up the coins to go back into the Cosa-protected safe. Another good month. She wasn’t sure what she’d be doing without this jewelry shop. The trips around the country, the new designs she made, the orders from nobles and even royals—all small things that kept her motivated. Sometimes it seemed silly, but she’d had this shop for nearly four years now. She’d opened it up when the other women her age had started to have children.

She tucked the money away safely and stood to look out the window. The trees were sprouting new life as the seasons changed, the temperature getting higher as spring came—one of her favorite times of the year.

Magnus squealed as he flung the door open and ran inside. Sashe glanced over to see his sister rushing in and shouting something about little brothers. Magnus cackled with delight, running behind Sashe. His sister Karyn stopped in front of Sashe, put her hands on her hips, and glared at him.
Magnus hugged Sashe from behind, peeking around her hip.

Sashe couldn’t help the smile spreading on her face and put her hands on Magnus’s. “What did you do now?” she asked, glancing back at him.

Magnus grinned. “Nothing.”

“You liar.” Karyn huffed. “He tried to cut my hair while I was sleeping!” She held up a lock of her dark hair, hanging out of her ribbon. “Sashe, how do younger brothers survive us? I can’t stand him.”

Sashe chuckled. “They give us strength to endure anything. And Magnus, you should never touch a woman’s hair.”

Karyn’s anger faded just a bit as that comment. She’d just turned thirteen and loved to be called a woman. She sat down in one of the chairs and pointed at Magnus. “If you ever touch my hair again, I’ll tell mother what you do with all the food she gives you to take to Old Harold.”

Magnus laughed. “You would never!” He sidestepped her grab for him and dashed out of the shop.

“Don’t go too far,” Sashe called after him. She was watching the two of them because their father was traveling with Dar’s parents to and from Belisha. Gangs of Protectors lived in each big city, and many of them carried out crimes against shape changers and were rarely punished for them. So, when Avialies traveled, they went in large groups and brought a Thieran with them, just in case anything happened.

The caravan was due to return today. Sashe was glad since Seth and Evan had gone with them for protection and she and Sierra were driving themselves—and each other—mad with worry. She’d miss watching after Karyn and Magnus, but they spent a lot of time with her even when their father was home. Their mother had been pregnant when the curse was cast eight years ago and she’d died just a few days later. They’d moved here with their father a couple years ago when their father was given work on Damon and Lina’s orchard.

Karyn tugged on Sashe’s arm. “Can you braid my hair? The way you do Sierra’s?”

Sashe smiled. “Of course.” She walked behind the chair and pulled Karyn’s hair out of its ribbon.

The door opened again, and Sierra walked inside. “Afternoon,” she said, chewing on her bottom lip.

“Hello, Sierra,” Karyn said.

“Hi, Karyn,” Sierra replied. She glanced back outside, wringing her hands. “They should be back today.”

She’d tried to talk the men into letting her go, but of course, they hadn’t seen much point in taking a woman who wasn’t a shape changer.

Sashe held back a laugh as she finished combing through Karyn’s hair. Evan was one of the only things Sierra worried about. Usually, she took things in stride, sure things would work themselves out, knowing that worrying would solve nothing. Not so with Evan and his trips out of the country.

Her worry was sometimes intuition that something bad would happen. Jeshro had sent Evan, Seth, and Dar on some stupid mission a couple months ago, and Sierra had talked Sashe into following them. A couple days later, they would have been killed if not for Sierra and Sashe. The two of them said they saved their lives; the men would say they helped, but of course they would have been just fine had they not showed up. Sierra wanted to follow them again this time, but they were traveling with a group of nearly ten people.

“Anytime now,” Sashe said. “Sierra, grab me some hair ornaments.”

Karyn gasped. “For me?”

“Get some to match her dress,” Sashe said.

Sierra brought over some of the hair ornaments Sashe sold to nobles in Renaul. Karyn’s father wasn’t particularly wealthy, but Karyn worked for Matilda’s mother as often as she could so she could buy fabrics for her family. And Karyn occasionally had enough hours to buy a beautiful dress, such as the one she wore right now, a lavender-colored dress with long sleeves and a line of pearls along the top. Sashe wove lavender beads into her hair and finished her braid.

“You look beautiful,” Sierra said with a grin. She handed Karyn a mirror.

“Oh, thank you, Sashe!” Karyn said as she marveled at her hair through the reflection. “It’s beautiful.” She turned and flung her arms around Sashe. Sashe hugged her back and let out a small sigh as she thought about how much she’d love a daughter of her own.

“If Magnus does anything to your hair again, I’ll take care of him,” Sashe promised.

“You understand.” Karyn pulled away and stroked Sashe’s hair. She was tall for a thirteen year old, almost to Sashe’s height.

Magnus came running inside. “They’re back!”

Sashe smiled. They’d been gone for a week—too long to be away from Seth. They left the shop, Sashe locking up after them, and walked down the road towards Dar’s manor. Within a few minutes, they were in the courtyard where the caravan was unloading. Sashe saw Jeshro and Lisbeth, the elders from Belisha. She didn’t know they were coming. She searched for Seth, but only saw Evan and Sierra kissing in front of everyone.

Strong arms wrapped around her, making her jump. Seth’s soft laugh sent a breath of air and a chill down her neck. She grinned and turned in his arms to look up at him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he kissed her softly on the lips. Unlike Evan and Sierra, they didn’t go any farther than that. Though Sashe wouldn’t have minded one bit.

“I’m glad you’re back home,” she said.

“Me, too.” Seth tugged her close. “This is right where I belong.”

Jeshro and Lisbeth greeted her, saying they were in Renaul for a little while to visit with the Avialies here. Jeshro was a large, strong man. The only indicator of his age was his white hair and the wrinkles on his face and hands. Lisbeth was much the same, though there was a slowness to her step.

Sashe smiled tightly, nodding and acting as polite as she could. Whenever the two came around, they usually asked Seth, Evan, and Dar to go on dangerous missions: rescuing kidnapped Avialies, investigating powerful Thierans who may have cast the curse. Truth be told, she hadn’t quite forgiven Jeshro for the incident a couple months ago.

***

If you're interested in a review copy, don't hesitate to e-mail me at emilyannward at yahoo dot com!

Also, if you haven't read the prequel novellas yet, Shifting Light will be free next weekend 5/26 and 5/27 in time for some Memorial Day reading. So keep an eye out for that.

Chaos Walking Series by Patrick Ness

The three books in the Chaos Walking series by Patrick Ness:
The Knife of Never Letting Go
The Ask and The Answer
Monsters of Men

This science fiction young adult trilogy has a dash of dystopian and romance. I was lucky enough to score the first book on Amazon for 99 cents, and oh. my. gosh. In Todd's world, you can hear men's noise. Their thoughts, their dreams, their hopes. Instead of neat phrases like some mind reading stories go, Noise is a mass of pictures and feelings and words, and you can't escape it. Todd lives in Prentisstown and there are no more women. The virus killed them all. But suddenly when he sees some kind of silence near the swamp and tells his family about it, his life is turned upside down. When he meets Viola, the only girl he's ever met, he can't hear her Noise. They're forced to run from the Mayor of Prentisstown and a priest who claims Viola is some kind of sacrifice. Having never been out of Prentisstown, Todd has no idea where he's going, so they have to rely on one another as they flee to Haven.

And that's just the first book. It seriously gets amazing from there on out. I won't give off anything. I'll save that for my individual Goodreads reviews. I just wanted to tout the entire series here on my blog because it is AMAZING.

At first, it took me a little while to get used to Todd's voice. It's first person and almost stream-of-consciousness. Very similar to the Noise, actually. He's been raised in a farming village so he sounds a bit like a hick and he can't read very much, either. But after a bit, I eased right into it. Ness is great with voice and his writing is fast-paced. At high tension moments, you honestly can't read the words quickly enough.  And there are a lot of those. This has so much adventure and action and high stakes.

At first, you're not really sure why the Mayor and the other men of Prentisstown are following Todd and Viola, why they're so set on getting Todd and making him a man. But as Todd and Viola meet more people on their world, Todd (and the reader) realizes that Prentisstown has a lot of secrets in their dark past, and Todd has been kept in the dark about a lot of things. It was almost frustrating because it takes forever to get any answers in the first book -- everyone seems intent on lying to, or at least keeping the truth from, Todd. But things come together in the end and in the second and third book.

This series deals with a lot of things. There are themes of colonialism and conquering indigenous people, anarchy and terrorism and political control, and a lot more. But even though these are prevalent themes, I never felt like Ness was preaching at me or something. I was wrapped up in the story, in the characters and their struggles. I ended up loving Todd and Viola so much. This world was so amazing and different, especially with the Noise and the Spackle and. . .just wow! This series needs more attention, in my opinion. It's a great scifi/dystopian young adult series with a lot of adventure and a lot of heart.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting
Published 2010, paperback, library copy.

This is a mystery with a dash of supernatural. Violet can hear echoes of the murdered: sometimes sounds, sometimes sights. Usually it manifests itself in dead animals killed by her cat, but when she was eight years old, she found a dead girl buried in the woods. And now in her small town, more dead girls are turning up, leading them to think there's a serial killer in their midst.

There's also a lot of romance thrown in. Violet has blooming feelings for her best friend, Jay, and struggles with whether he feels the same way or not.

I had a hard time deciding how to review this book. I am torn between 3 and 4 stars, but I think in the end, I'll say 3. Goodreads rating says "I liked it" and I did. I read it in one day, over some car rides, and late into the night. It had some good romance -- I'm a sucker for best friends falling for each other. The suspense was pretty good, too. Towards the end, I was seriously into the story. It was really neat how the author dealt with echoes, how they weren't just sounds, but taste and smell and sight, too. The alternating viewpoint between Violet and the killer was cool because you got to see into the mind of this disturbing guy just looking for the next thrill.

I think where it failed, though, was characterization. Other than Violet and Jay, everyone felt kind of flat to me. Even Violet and Jay, at times, weren't too strong. I liked how they interacted and Jay was a great love interest, but I'm not sure if I could just place them in a world other than their own and know how they'd act. The prose was kind of simple, too. I read through it so quickly, it wasn't very poetry and didn't have a lot of great lines. Just very clear cut, here's the story and that's it.

I did like how Violet was tough and determined, but she was still vulnerable at times. She could cry or really be head over heels for Jay, but she didn't beat herself up about it. She didn't try to be Wonder Woman and the author didn't try to make her like that. A lot of the YA fiction I read have these impossibly tough female characters that never show an ounce of fragility. Maybe that's because there have been so many doormat female characters in YA. I do appreciate a tough girl, but I also like someone I can relate to, who would break down at the sight of a dead body or cry about a guy she liked.

The story was interesting enough that I'll probably check out the next book. If you're looking for a quick read with some good mystery and tasty romance, you should, too!

Author Interview: Christiana Miller

This week, we have paranormal author Christiana Miller for our author interview. Her books include:


Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead (paranormal)
A Tale of 3 Witches (paranormal novelette)
Every Witch Way But Wicked (paranormal anthology)

You can find her on:

Her website
Facebook
Twitter

Her books are available on Amazon.

Fill in the blanks: Somebody Tell Aunt Tillie She's Dead is like [book/movie/TV show] meets [a different book/movie/TV show].
It's really not like anything else I've read. It would be like... Maybe This Time by Jennifer Crusie meets The Witches Bible by Janet and Stewart Ferrar.

Do you remember the first story you ever finished? If so, tell us about it.
Yes. It was a Christmas story about an old man and his horse. The man was alone in life, he had lost his entire family, and now he was out in the snow with his horse, while a blizzard swirled around them. It was a happy story as far as the man was concerned -- he died in the snow storm, and was reunited with his loved ones. I was 10 at the time and it was for a Christmas story contest in one of the equine newspapers.

What's your favorite part about the writing process?
Having written! I have the hardest time with the rough draft, but once it's down I love rewriting. I can happily rewrite for years. My favorite part of the writing, however, is creating the characters and writing their dialogue.

What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever received?
It takes 10,000 hours to master your craft. So, you can either write a little bit here and there and spread that 10,000 hours over the course of your lifetime, or you can sit your butt in a chair and put the work in now.

You're stranded on a deserted island, and you can only bring one person with you. It can be someone dead or alive, but it has to be a real person (no fictional characters!). Who is it and why?
Dang. I was going to bring MacGyver, so he could get us off the dang island! I'd bring someone who could build a boat out of trees and a radio out of coconuts, navigate by stars and spear predatory sharks. So I'd look through NASA's scientist database for the strongest/smartest scientist I could find. But if you're asking who I could happily spend the rest of my life talking to, it would be my daughter. She's pretty awesome.

You get to go to Disneyworld with one of your characters. Who do you choose and why?
Hmmm. Well, Gus would be the most fun, but he'd probably get me arrested, or at the very least, banned from Disneyland. Tillie could scare our way to the front of all the lines, but that wouldn't be fun for anyone else. So, I'd probably go with Mara. She'd be fun and less likely to cause a major ruckus.

You get to travel to the country of your choice for one week with any fictional character of your choice (not your own). Who do you choose, where do you go, and why?
Indiana Jones. We go to Greece or England and have an archeological adventure in either the Parthenon or Stonehenge. Or maybe I'll go with the Ghostbusters team (the movie, not the TV show) to New Orleans, where we have a comic paranormal adventure.

The world's scientists have just released the first time machine, and you've been chosen to get a free ride (with assurance that you'll be able to come back, of course ;). To when do you go and why?
Late 1800s to meet Emma Goldman. She's a pretty awesome character. I've written a play about her and she features pretty strongly in one of my historical scripts.

Recommend a self-published book to the readers. Not your own ;)
J.R. Rain's Samantha Moon series. Barbra Annino's Opal Fire series. Bonnie Turner's brilliant book "Down the Memory Hole." There's so much good work right now in the in indy-published world!

It's Saturday night. Where are you most likely to be?
At home, curled up on the couch with my baby girl. Unless I'm out and about, doing research!

If you weren't writing, what would you be doing with your time instead?
Looking for a day job while wishing I could be a stay-at-home mom. Actually, even if I wasn't a writer, I'd probably be working on behalf of writers.

What do you want readers to come away with after reading your books?
The desire to read more about Gus and Mara and their wacky world!


Christiana, your books sound very fun! Thanks for stopping by!