Tell Me Something Tuesday

Welcome back for another week of Tell Me Something Tuesday, the weekly meme hosted by Cambria Hebert where she asks the question and bloggers answer. This week's question:

If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and could only bring five things, what would they be?

I have struggled with this question since reading it. Only five things? I'd asked Cambria, which of course she said yes to. ;-) Since I'm going to be stranded, meaning I don't wake up stranded, it might be a little easier... So, okay, five things...

My Kindle Fire. Even if I can't get internet on my desert island, I would still have plenty of things to read. I would just make sure to upload all my favorite, can't-live-without books onto it before leaving. :-) I love to read and it helps pass the time. My Fire also has a Quick Office app so I can continue to write books, which I will then release when I'm rescued from my island. ;-) (in my imaginary world where this desert island lives, electricity is not a problem lol)

A Water purifier. It can be a Brita pitcher or even one of those sports bottle things, but I'd need something that would purify the water surrounding my island so I could drink.

A Boy Scout-type guy. I am so not the hunter in my family; I'm more the gathering type. ;-) So I would need someone, preferably a strong, hot man to hunt and cook for me. He could also build me a shelter to keep us out of the sweltering heat of our desert island. Of course, having an amenity such as that, I may not want to leave the island. ;-)

My life-long BFF, Pam. She and I have known each other most of our lives. And since we currently live three states away from each other, this would remedy the problem of never seeing each other! ;-) Of course, I would make sure she brings her own 5 things so we would have more to do. LOL

And that's all I can think of. LOL Who would've thought I was worried about only bringing 5 things and now I can't even come up with a fifth one! Now it's your turn. What five items would you bring with you to a desert island?

Happy Tuesday!
EM

Six Sentence Sunday

Hello, everyone, and welcome to another edition of Six Sentence Sunday! On this weekly meme, I offer up the cover, blurb, first six sentences and buy links for up to 5 books that I've read or am excited to read. If you have a book you would like me to add to the list, just leave me a comment!

When Olivia Landry screams, people die. No wonder she's been shunned by humans her whole life. When Olivia makes a huge mistake, she's banished for a summer to a human town; forced to live as one of them. She's out for revenge when she discovers the humans are different than she imagined, especially the rugged, sexy guitarist, Jackson Vance. 

Pretending to be human isn't as hard as she thought it would be...until the witch hunters attack. Now Olivia must somehow protect herself, her family, and her new human friends. There's a problem with that. When you go around screaming, people are bound to learn your secret. Can love really conquer anything?


I was angry. I was so angry that I felt as though my body could burst open with that anger. Red, pulsating streaks of fury rushed through my limbs, building the pressure until I thought something inside of me might snap. This is how I felt as I ran…it’s why I was running. I had knocked over a chair in my haste to get outside, to escape the confines of the small room I had been sitting in. The daylight and fresh air didn’t help, and so I kept running over the grounds of Eagleton.

~ Sammie Spencer (2011). Amaretto Flame (Eagleton Coven).  Kindle Edition  Nook Edition  Smashwords (This is a 99cent title and VERY AWESOME!)

Book 1 of the Netherworld series

Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn’t at all what she expected. Instead, she’s trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister’s murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for they are with me.  I repeated my version of the psalm as I watched the ribbon of blood drift from my wrist. I’d hoped it would be a distraction—something to stop me from wondering what my sister’s dying thoughts had been. Exhaling slowly, I let the emptiness consume me.  Jordan had kept my secrets and I had kept hers. In the end, it came down to just one secret between us that took her life. Now, it would take mine.

~ Michelle Muto (2011). Don't Fear the Reaper. Dreamscapes, Ink.  Kindle Edition  Nook Edition  Smashwords 

Rae Wilder has problems.... Supernatural creatures swarm the earth, and humanity is on the brink of extinction. Stalked by a handsome fairy who claims she is like him, demonkind, Rae thinks maybe it was a mistake breaking the rules by going over the Wall into demon territory. Plunged into a world of dark magics, fierce creatures, and ritual sacrifice, she is charged with a guarding a magical amulet. The changes to her mind and body are startling, but rather than accept her purpose she struggles against who she is destined to be. Throw in a big lust for a vampire who can't keep his hands off her, and life starts to get complicated. Rae is forced to make the ultimate choice: to live and die human, or embrace her birth-right and wield magics that could turn her into something wicked, a force of nature nothing can control.

The day I learnt I was a demon was the worst day of my life. I won’t lie. I spent most the day terrified of dying, or losing a limb. The first thing I heard and thought about when I woke that morning, was demons. A were-cat scream echoed for a beat, before an answering scream, higher in pitch called in the distance. It sounded like the packs were fighting; a territorial dispute most likely.


~ Penelope Fletcher. Glamour (The Rae Wilder Novels).  Kindle Edition  Nook Edition  Smashwords (this book is currently FREE for Kindle and Nook)

All her life, Breena had always dreamed about fairies as though she lived among them...beautiful fairies living among mortals and living in Feyland.

In her dreams, he was always there the breathtakingly handsome but dangerous Winter Prince, Kian, who is her intended. When Breena turns sixteen, she begins seeing fairies and other creatures mortals don't see. Her best friend Logan suddenly acts very protective.

Then she sees Kian, who seems intent on finding her and carrying her off to Feyland. That's fine and all, but for the fact that humans rarely survive a trip to Feyland, a kiss from a fairy generally means death to the human unless that human has fairy blood in them or is very strong, and although Kian seemed to be her intended, he seems to hate her and wants her dead.

The dream had come again, like the sun after a storm. It was the same dream that had come many times before, battering down the doors of my mind night after night since I was a child. It was the sort of dreams all girls dream, I suppose – a dream of mysterious worlds and hidden doorways, of leaves that breathe and make music when they are rustled in the wind, and rivers that bubble and froth with secrets. Dreams, my mother always told me, represent part of our unconsciousness – the place where we store the true parts of our soul, away from the rest of the world. My mother was an artist; she always thought this way. If it was true, then my true soul was a denizen of this strange and fantastical world.


~ Kailin Gow (2011-09-11). Bitter Frost and The Wolf Fey (2 Books in 1: Frost Series - for Kindle). theEDGEbooks.com.  Kindle Edition  Nook Edition 

What would you do if you were hunted because of the power and blood you possessed? If the only way to save your kind was to enlist the help of someone you didn't know? What if the only one who could help you didn't truly know what she was?


Sorcha Conroy is one of the very last of her kind. A pure banshee. The others have been hunted down and murdered by the Soul Dubh. Sorcha's only hope of saving herself and her bloodline is to find a girl whose power outshines even her own.


The only problem? Sorcha doesn't even know the girl's name.


A short story prologue to the Blood Flux series.



The removal van pulled quietly into the driveway. Sorcha watched from the large bay window of the empty living room as the driver jumped down from the cab. How many times would she have to do this? Could they not just leave her be, she was only doing her job after all. "Thomas, the van is here." She didn't hear him approach but the hairs still lifted on the back of her neck as they did whenever he was near.


~ Bilinda Ní Siodacaín (2011). Banshee.  Kindle Edition  Nook Edition  Smashwords


There you have it, folks! I hope you've found something you'd like to read.
Happy Reading!
EM

Masquerade Read Along - week 2

Welcome, everyone, to week 2 of the Masquerade Read Along. I apologize for the lateness of my post to questions for chapters 8-16. I have hardly been home to do anything on the computer! But without further ado, this week's questions and my answers....

1. Sam is admittedly drawn to Heven before they even meet. Why do you think this is? Because I’ve read the entire book, I have two answers to this question. The first, I think it is because of what happens near the end of the book and what Sam and Heven end up meaning to each other. At this point in the book, though, I think it is simply because Heven is so pure and Sam… is not. He’s drawn to her goodness.

2. In an earlier chapter The Hope states that Sam must prove himself. During these chapters Sam does some things – bad things – (covering up murder, fighting, hiding a body, etc.) all to protect Heven and his true identity. Do you think he was right to do these things? I understand why Sam thinks he has to do these things; he’s protecting himself and to protect what was happening between him and Heven. Taking it in that context, yes, I think he did the right thing. That’s not to say I agree with what he did.

3. In chapter twelve Kimber says some things to Heven that make the reader wonder about their friendship. Do you think there is any truth to Kimber’s drunken confessions? If so where do you think Heven and Kimber’s friendship goes from here? I always think there is some truth to a drunken confession. Yes, I think Kimber meant what she said. I think those are things she is always thinking about Heven and, with her tongue loosed by alcohol, they all came spewing out. As for their friendship, I think it will take a lot of work, but I think they can work it out (if Kimber isn’t too self absorbed to apologize to Heven for what she said).

4. Heven is changing, becoming more confident. Do you think that after something like this (her accident and disfigurement) happens to someone that she can ever go back to the person she was before? Do you think she will want to? I think after any life changing event (especially one with physical repercussions), it is impossible to go back to the person you used to. With Heven, she let her scar define who she was after her accident, giving up practically everything from her life Before. But, I think after meeting Sam and the confidence and goodness he brings out in her, I don’t think she would ever want to go back to the person she used to.

5. Towards the end of these set of chapters, Heven finds out Sam’s secret, who he really is. She has a strong reaction. Do you think you would react the same way? Why or why not? I think Heven’s reaction is perfectly normal considering the circumstances. She’s in love with him, ready to confess it to him, and her world turns upside down when she finds out he’s not what she thought he was. She feels betrayed by him. Yes, I would feel the same way and react the same way she did to finding out the truth.

Writerly Wednesday

Hi, everyone! Welcome to another week of Writerly Wednesday, where I share something writerly with you. Today's blog post is just an update of all the things I've been doing in my writerly ways. :)

Since I am still waiting to hear from my publisher about edits (and anxious to get to the actual edits), I've been occupying my time with editing book 2 of the Spiral Defenders series. I've come to realize that since moving a major scene from that book into book 1 (Into the Spiral), I have a lot of rewriting to do. I also keep coming up with small things to change in Into the Spiral. I'm very excited to jump back into Ronnie and Gavin's world (which is a good thing since I still need to rewrite the prequel short story, a second short story later in the series and the last two books of the series). And I really can't wait to share this story with you!

(Yesterday's Tell Me Something Tuesday post talked about book boyfriends and I did include Gavin as one of my boyfriends. You can check it out for a tiny preview of what's to come.)

hand drawn by Amanda Pfender

In addition to editing, I've been coming up with various merchandise ideas. And I'm very excited to say I have an artist on board. Her name is Amanda Pfender and she is a good family friend who also happens to be a phenomenal artist. She has been working on a cover for Into the Spiral since before it got picked up by Otherworld Publications and now she is helping me with merchandising ideas. I know this may seem a bit premature since I still have a little more than EIGHT MONTHS until my book is released, but I figure I might as well plan these things when I think of them. :) Amanda and I are already coming up with several "one of a kind" prize ideas. ;) Check out Gavin from her cover of Into the Spiral to the left.

And that's what's going on in my writing life lately. :) It's been an exciting week so far and I hope it keeps coming.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!
EM

Tell Me Something Tuesday

Welcome to another week of Tell Me Something Tuesday, the awesome meme hosted by the lovely Cambria Hebert. I have to say that I've been waiting for this week's post since I saw the question last week. The question:

Who are your book boyfriends?

It took me a while to figure out which boyfriends would make the list. I even asked a few friends who would make their lists. Truth be told, like most women who read, I have tons of book boyfriends. So I've managed (somehow) to cut it down to five.... I think... ;-)

#1 - Jace Wayland from The Mortal Instruments

What can I say? I fell in love with him the first time Clary set eyes on him. He's snarky, a golden god, awesome with a weapon - or without - and hides a tender heart beneath an aloof exterior. I love his one liners throughout the series and can not wait for the first movie to come out (August 23, 2013!). I know Cassandra Clare got to see the audition between Lily Collins and Jamie Bower - I just hope he does Jace justice (though if Cassie is to be believed, he will blow us all away).
“I don't do what I'm told, but I might do what you want if you ask me nicely.” ~ Cassandra Clare, City of Ashes.


#2 - Dimitri Belikov - Vampire Academy series

He wears a long, brown leather duster and reads Western novels in his free time. He's known as a god among the dhampirs known as Guardians. He's lethal, whether when killing Strigoi or to Rose's heart. Even when he's turned Strigoi, he's completely bad ass.

"If you (Nathan) lay a hand on her, I will destroy you. I will rip your head off with my bare hands and watch it burn in the sun." ~ Dimitri Belikov, Blood Promise

#3 - Prince Ash - the Iron Fey series

I'll admit it, I've been Team Ash since first catching a glimpse of him in the forest surrounding Meghan's house. He's the epitome of "hot boy with a sword". He's had centuries of living in the Winter Court to conceal his emotions, though they start to show through upon meeting half-faery, Meghan Chase. I love how conflicted he is and the tender moments that do shine through. *swoon* (admittedly, I have only read the first two books of this series. that will be rectified as soon as possible.)

His breath hitched, and he regarded me hungrily. “You’re playing with fire, you know that?” 
“That’s weird, considering you’re an ice prin—” I didn’t get any further, as Ash leaned in and kissed me.” 
― Julie Kagawa, Winter's Passage

#4 Fang - Maximum Ride series

Fang was one of my first book boyfriends. I met him when he was 14 and I was a few years older than that. :) Fang is quiet, not having much to say even when he should, and has beautiful black wings (a result of being genetically engineered like the rest of his flock). He's the brooding type, though he gets the job done and protects his family above all else. He's also all for saving the world. What's not to love!

“There is one bright side to this," said Fang. 
"Yeah? What's that? The new and improved Erasers would mutilate us before they killed us?" 
He grinned at me so unexpectedly I forgot to flap for a second and dropped several feet. "You looove me," he crooned smugly. Holding his arms out wide he added, "You love me this much." 
My shriek of appalled rage could probably be heard in California, or maybe Hawaii.” 
― James Patterson, Max

#5 Gavin Clearwater - the Spiral Defenders series

picture drawn by Amanda Pfender

This is the best picture I have so far of my handsome hero. Yes, that's right; Gavin is the hero in my Spiral Defenders series. I have spent so much time with him that like some other authors I know, I have fallen in love with my hero. He's a tad annoying when Ronnie first meets him, pretty sure of himself to say the least, but even Ronnie falls for his charm. I look forward to sharing Gavin and the world I've created!

"Now what?" she cried. "What could you possibly want to torture me about now?"

Gavin raised an eyebrow and glanced down at his tray. "I'm getting lunch," he told her. "But if that tortures you, I won't eat." ~ Ronnie and Gavin, Into the Spiral

There you have it, my top 5. Please know that I have not necessarily ranked them in order of importance - truly, I love them all equally and they all rank #1 with me.

Now it's your turn. Who are your book boyfriends?

Happy Tuesday!
EM

Masquerade Read Along, week 1

Hello, everyone! As you may have heard, I'm participating in this month's Masquerade Read Along. Each Thursday, 5 questions are asked and answered about a certain number of chapters in the book. This week's questions deal with chapters 1-8. If you haven't picked up this book, I highly recommend it. I have read the whole thing and absolutely loved it. :) But a review is not what we're here for today. Here are this week's questions and my answers:

1. If you were disfigured like Heven (by some sort of accident) do you think you would have reacted the same way as her? (loss of self confidence, hiding yourself, etc)  I can answer this with a resounding YES. Because I am introverted by nature (hard to believe, I know), being disfigured the way Heven was would only add to my insecurities and cause me to want to be even more invisible. BUT I would hope to have someone like Sam who would come along and save me.

 2. Do you think that Kimber’s plan for revenge against Cole (for kissing another girl) is a good idea? NO. It was the worst idea ever. Everyone knows getting revenge by doing the same thing your significant other did always backfires in your face, which it did for Kimber. An eye for an eye might be a saying, but it shouldn’t be a way of life.

 3. In the beginning chapters, Heven is very drawn to Sam but won’t admit it due to her own insecurities. Kimber begins to “date” Sam… do you think that Heven should have spoken up? Do think Kimber should have seen Heven’s real feelings? Yes, I think Heven should have spoken up and told Kimber right away that she was interested in Sam first, but I also understand that Heven was too insecure about her own beauty to say anything at all. And really, I don’t think Kimber would have the ability to see that Heven liked Sam unless Heven spoke up about it; Kimber came off as a bit too self-absorbed for me and this instance and her getting upset with Heven when her feelings for Sam became apparent just proves that.

 4. Masquerade is broken in four separate POV’s: Heven, Sam, The Hate and The Hope. Do you think having multiple POV’s adds depth to the story? Why or why not? Yes. I loved having the multiple POV’s and the intrigue of The Hate and The Hope, not knowing what either of those was until later in the story. Having both of those POV’s give a side of the story that Sam and Heven aren’t able to give and gives the reader a look at things that are happening essentially behind the scenes.

 5. A great source of strength for Heven is her grandmother. Who do you think yours is/would be? I’ll admit this was the hardest question to answer. I just don’t think about where my strength comes from, but now I’ve realized the answer is in front of me every day. My kids. As much as I don’t like my job, some days I continue to go just to show them how to persevere and that sometimes you have to do things you don’t like to do. Despite all the heartache my family has gone through, I have to remain strong for them, even when I let them see me cry. For as much as I tell them they can be whatever they want to be, I strive to make my own dreams come true to show them anything is possible. They keep me strong and I love them eternally for it.

My inspiration, Riley and Kody.

Happy Thursday, everyone!
EM

Writerly Wednesday - Timing is Everything

Hello, everyone, and welcome back for another week of Writerly Wednesday. I originally started this meme to allow me to talk to you about all things writing, whether it be progress on a wip, update on what's going on with the book I'm getting published, or to share websites and people with you I think you will enjoy. :) Today, I talk about the timing of a novel.

I was recently hit of the head with the Timing-Is-Everything stick. I'd started writing a new project after months of writing nothing. I was excited about this book (I still am). I had my MC going to a new, much smaller school where she runs into and ends up in the middle of two warring werewolf packs. So on her first day of school, in about 12k words, I put my MC through everything. Both Alphas flirted with her, took her from the other, and fought over her. By the end of her first day of school, their fighting had resulted in a fistfight. And let me tell you, I was excited about it. I couldn't believe how well I'd done. I had something exciting happening at every turn. It was going to be the greatest book ever!

Then I had a very good friend of mine read it. Here's what she had to say:

 "It starts out like Twilight because of moving from a big town to a sort of small foresty town. She knows she hates it. Then later at school she is being fought over by boys like crazy on the first day..... I think the whole experience of being in a new town and seeing everything and her emotions about it without boy involvement needs to be drug out. For example right away she is thinking about Caleb, which is not all that unusual, but I would think she would have talked to Brittney or her boyfriend on the phone before a week of living there. Then once school starts, I would think she would be comparing in her mind where she came from to where she is now. I don't think it is odd that she goes looking for Caleb, but there seems to be too much tug of war going on all of the sudden. I haven't really gotten to know Caleb and Sebastian or even Jessica very much before there is this major war between the boys. And I was a little irritated with Jessica for one minute being gaga over Sebastian and then the next being mad at Caleb then vice versa. It feels like she is too emotionally involved with these guys this early on in the book."


To say I was crushed when I read her thoughts is an understatement. I was furious. At myself for not seeing this. So after a day of fuming and trying to figure out how to fix it, I declared the honeymoon over and got to work. Now I'm back to chapter 11, have just more than 20k words and that same friends is gaga for Caleb but also falling for Sebastian and might even like Jessica by now. Having added roughly 8k of story has helped immensely, allows the reader to get to know the characters before all the tug-of-war crap begins in earnest.


So what exactly is the point of this blog post? Exactly as it's said: Timing is everything! I've learned the hard way that you have to allow the reader to get to know the characters through the first few chapters of the book and spread out the real action of the story, letting things progress at a natural pace instead of the insane 10k one-day fiasco. Now that I've learned my lesson, I know it's one I will remember. :)


To my dear, lovely friend, you know who you are. Thank you for being who you are. This book would not be where it is without you.


Happy Writing, everyone!
EM