Let's go Nano!

Alright folks, it's NaNoWriMo time! Get your writing on and shoot for the stars. Err, 50,000 words that is! Good luck to all the participants this year. I'm tossing my hat into the mix but am not holding my self to 1800 words+ per day. We'll just see how it goes!!

Back to work

Well, here it is the end of October - oops!  I guess 6 months can fly by when you're pregnant and then have a baby.  When is there time to write?

The truth is, there isn't much time.  My days are filled, once again, with kids going to school and taking care of a baby then homework with my first grader, then it's time to cook dinner.  Then bath and bed time for the two boys, then time to nurse the baby, and then now that she's 4 months old, time for her to go to bed around 8:45pm.

But you know what?  In between all the busy-ness, I've come up with a great way to make A Horse Named Penelope more believable!  And I've also realized that The Phoenix needs to be rewritten, and I think I have a plan for that as well.

Progress.  Yes!

Another great motivator is that NaNoWriMo is literally days away - 3 in fact.  EEK!  I'm pretty sure 50,000 words is not in my future, but that isn't going to stop me from participating.

So, call this an update, call it what you will.  I just wanted to let you all know that I'm alive - but busy with little ones and a nursing baby.

Maybe it's time for an update?

I really haven't dropped off the face of the earth - I promise.  Remember, I'm pregnant?  Well, that about sums up my absence.  Don't you agree?

No?

Oh.  Well, here's what's been happening lately.  5 yr old son had soccer, practices and games - now he has baseball practice and games.  3 yr old goes to preschool and tries to keep up with his brother.

Baby is growing, I'm 29weeks now (11 weeks to go - yay!).  I've painted the nursery, set up the crib and changing table, been scouting garage sales for baby clothes (because I can).

Hubby and I are 95% done with the guest room, random furniture pieces have been bought or sold.

DIY Club was at my house, sewed curtains for baby room, painted.

I've read several books (crap, now I have to update the blog with those - hopefully I can remember them all).

I've written a little here and there (but not nearly enough in my mind).

So, you can see I've been busy, too busy obviously to update my little blog here and I apologize.  I will be better, except after the baby comes - then I'll just be sleeping...Hopefully.

My Reading List: Water Song

Water Song by Suzanne Weyn

Once Upon a Time Series

Young, beautiful, and wealthy, Emma Pennington is accustomed to a very comfortable life. Although war rages abroad, she hardly feels its effect. She and her mother travel from their home in Britain to the family estate in Belgium, never imagining that the war could reach them there. But it does. 

Soon Emma finds herself stranded in a war-torn country, utterly alone. Enemy troops fight to take over her estate, leaving her with no way to reach her family, and no way out. 

With all of her attention focused on survival and escape, Emma hardly expects to find love. But the war will teach her that life is unpredictable, people aren't always what they seem, and magic is lurking everywhere.

My Reading List: Violet Eyes

Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguie

Once Upon A Time series

Seventeen-year-old Violet is amazed when a storm brings the dashing Prince Richard to her impoverished family’s farm. The two fall in love at first sight, but although Richard has given his heart to Violet, his parents will only let him marry a princess of their choosing, a lady of the highest nobility and sensitivity. Now on a quest to be reunited with her true love, Violet must rely on her wits—and a little help from an unexpected source—to compete with princesses, pass the king and queen’s tests, and prove herself worthy of being Richard’s bride.

Props to Tahereh Mafi

TaherahBooks.com

I think it's time I posted a book review on here, not just a "I read this book" post.  So, since I just finished Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi, I figured I'd start there.  Besides, I can't get her writing out of my mind. 

SPOLIER ALERT: If you have not read either Shatter Me or Unravel Me, you may want to stop reading now as I'm going to be giving away some major plot points.

First I am going to start by talking quickly about Shatter Me, because it comes first in the trilogy.

Juliette has been imprisoned for the murder of a small child, locked up, studied and nearly tortured.  Her mere touch is lethal and the murder was an accident but people suddenly feared her and her ability.

A childhood acquaintance winds up imprisoned with her, Adam and her trust is slow to come by.  Over time, he does win her trust and her love after we find out that for some reason Adam can touch her.

But here comes Warner, the hot bad guy we all love to hate...or do we?  He uses Juliette's powers trying to teach her to become something greater than she is, but she hates his methods and him.

Adam and Juliette escape the prison and Warner only to be hunted as they work their way to Omega Point, a sanctuary for those against Warner and his father's regime.

Here's where Tahereh Mafi lost me:  it gets all X Men in the book.  See Omega Point is not only a sanctuary, but it's for people with powers.  Their leader has extreme telekenesis (Magneto, anyone?), they have healers, people that can blend into their surroundings, stretchy limbs, etc.  Juliette doesn't know where she fits in and moreover, will they let Adam stay?

Now, on to Unravel Me, the book I can't get out of my head.  Well, maybe not the book, the writing style.

Juliette struggles to find a place within Omega Point, her relationship with Adam is tested, so much so that we come to learn that Adam does have special powers too: he has the ability to disable other people's powers.  Which kinda sucks when it comes to him and Juliette, because even though they can touch, her power is so strong that it takes so much out of him to fight off her lethality (is that a word?) that it is literally killing him.

With the help of Kenji, Juliette's only friend, other than Adam at Omega Point, she is able to begin to fit in and learn more about her ability.  He gives her the trust she needs to start going out on assignments with other Omega Point people, which leads them into a trap set by Warner's father.

Anderson is evil, just like his son, Warner - but far worse.  In an attempt to rescue four Omega Point members, Juliette, Adam and Kenji agree to meet with Anderson - only Kenji blends himself and Adam into the surrounding so it looks like Juliette goes in alone.  Warner shows up only to find out that Anderson plans to kill Juliette in front of him because he's fallen in love with her, which is weakness in the eyes of Anderson.

His plan goes south after an argument occurs, Juliette gets a gun and shoots Anderson in the legs.  Adam and Kenji rescue two of the four hostages and take Warner hostage as well - only after we learn that Anderson is not only Warner's father, but Adam's father too.  While he's held captive at Omega Point, Juliette is assigned to question him and find out where the other two hostages are located.

Through her conversations with Warner, she begins to have feelings for him and feels guilty thinking she's betraying Adam - even if they are broken up.  We learn that Warner also has powers, and he's not happy about it.  Warner has the ability to transfer other people's power.

Warner tells Omega Point that there is going to be an all-out war, so all of Omega Point prepares.  He approached Juliette asking her to run away with him - followed by the longest make out scene I've ever read (seriously like 5 pages, maybe 6).

Warner escapes Omega Point, they go to war.  Juliette is captured and brought to Warner's mother's house where Anderson promptly shoots her in the chest in front of Warner.  The healers of Omega Point have been kidnapped, and Warner uses them to heal Juliette.  And now she's pissed.

The end.

Wow, this is turning into a really long post - oh well.  So, my overall review of Shatter Me and Unravel Me is that I like them, 3.75 stars for the plot, 4.25 for readability.  Book 1 flowed really well, and I read it quickly.  I really enjoyed it until it went down the X Men path.  Book 2 redeemed the whole X Men factor, though I found Juliette almost annoying this go around.  She is so depressed and unsure of herself or her purpose.  It's not until the end of the book that you get a sense of who she's becoming.  I also thought some of the plot was predictable, such as where we learn that Warner and Adam are brothers.

What I did REALLY like, is Tahereh's writing - more so in Unravel Me.  I feel like a lot of what she wrote was almost like poetry.  I felt like I could feel what was going on inside of Juliette's head. There were so many parts of the book where I felt the writing was just magical.

Would I recommend these books - yes, without a doubt, you'll just have to wait until Fall 2013 to finish up the series and to find out if Juliette picks Warner or Adam.

My Reading List: Unravel Me

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

tick
tick
tick
tick
tick
it's almost
time for war. 

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance. 

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. 

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. 

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

Nathan Bransford's First Paragraph Challenge

I'm not sure how many times I've mentioned Nathan Bransford, but here I am going to do it again.  For any aspiring writers out there, his website is full of incredible advice/tips/helps and an active forum filled with other fellow writers.  You DO NOT want to skip over his blog.  He is a former literary agent turned author that dishes out writerly advice to any who will listen - and I suggest you listen...or read...or, well, you get it!

Yesterday morning, he posted a contest and of course I entered.  It it his 5th Sort-of-Annual Stupendously Ultimate First Paragraph Challenge!   Here's the lowdown:

You can submit one time (seriously, only once), the first paragraph of any of your current works in progress.

Here's what you can win:

• The Ultimate Grand Prize: A partial manuscript read by Nathan's agent, Catherine Drayton of Inkwell - how awesome is that?!?!

• All the finalists will win a query critique by Nathan - that in of itself is awesome!

• All the USA finalists will win an Autographed copy of Nathan's newest installment in the Jacob Wonderbar series!

All the prizes are wonderful and certainly extremely generous, thanks to Nathan and his agent, Ms. Drayton.

My entry was for A Horse Named Penelope and after reading through my first paragraph, I realized I needed to make it more interesting.  Ha!  Nothing like a contest to get you to rework your novel.  Here is the first paragraph that I entered:

When I look in my mirror, I see a girl of flesh and bone. She may not be a beauty queen, but her features are not plain or disfigured. Why is it no one else can see me? I walk by the same students I’ve gone to school with my whole life and not one of them bats an eye. Even the school bus driver misses me every morning – he doesn’t see me either, which means I have to huff it on foot to make it to homeroom on time.

The entries close on Thursday at 7pm - so wish me luck!  Oh, and feel free to enter if you want a chance at any of the prizes mentioned above!!

My Reading List: Sprited

Spirited (Once Upon a Time) Nancy Holder

War. Rage. Magic. Love.

In May 1756 war is formally declared between the British and the French. During this highly dangerous time, Isabella Sevens is traveling with her father to the British stronghold Fort William Henry. 

In the forest, Wusamequin, the young and handsome medicine man, looks to avenge the death of his wife and child at the hands of British soldiers. When Wusamequin spots Isabella and her father, he alerts his warriors to capture them. But Wusamequin is quite taken with how bravely Isabella battles. He orders the warriors to spare her and her tfather, and they are dragged back to their village. However, many members of the Mohican tribe still want them to be killed. In a desperate plea to Wusamequin, Isabella vows to stay as his hostage if he lets her father go.

Sticking to an outline

When I decided to try and taken on Nano this past November I figured my best chance to finish the 50,000 words in the allotted time, was to create a basic outline.  Being a pantser, I gave it my best shot and actually came up with something fairly respectable - in my opinion.

I knew how I wanted the story to begin and I knew how I wanted it to end - and that I wanted to have horses involved somehow.  What I didn't know was how I wanted to get from beginning to end - typical pantser style.  The outline I created was scarcely what I would call detailed, but it was just enough to give me the jump that I needed.

Here is a brief example of my outline:

Chapter 1 - Natalie devises a way to kill herself
Chapter 2 - Natalie attempts to kill herself
Chapter 3 - Natalie wakes up in a hospital and is given her treatment options.

I created 24 chapters to help guide me on my writing path for this novel.  Obviously, I didn't finish Nano (boo) but I was well on my way.  Using my outline, I've noticed how much easier it is to find my way through the story.  I'm still pantsing it for the most part as in even though I know what is supposed to happen within the chapter, I don't know who the players will be and how they will help move the chapter forward.

I've had to rearrange a couple chapters, add some and change the direction of a couple others, but for the most part, the outline has really helped to keep me focused on where the novel will go.  I think after I finish "Penelope," and I'm on to my next novel, I will once again use an outline similar to this.

My Reading List: Juliet Immortal

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

The most tragic love story in history . . .

Juliet Capulet didn't take her own life. She was murdered by the person she trusted most, her new husband, Romeo Montague, a sacrifice made to ensure his own immortality. But what Romeo didn't anticipate was that Juliet would be granted eternity, as well, and would become an agent for the Ambassadors of Light. For 700 years, she's fought Romeo for the souls of true lovers, struggling to preserve romantic love and the lives of the innocent. Until the day she meets someone she's forbidden to love, and Romeo, oh Romeo, will do everything in his power to destroy that love.

On Adjusting Goals

You may remember the post I wrote recently about my 2013 Writing Goals [see here], well I'm here to talk a little about those goals.

First off, have I told you I'm pregnant?  Oh wait, of course I have - it's just pregnancy brain sneaking up on me.  Someone should write a book about that.  Anyway, we found out it's a GIRL and I'm so excited.  Not that I don't love my boys, because I do - tremendously.  They are out of this world awesome and such a challenge, and sometimes I just stare at their ridiculously long eyelashes and wonder how they ended up with them.  This paragraph has NOTHING to do with my writing goals for this year, but I thought I'd pass along the news and let you know how much pregnancy consumes the brain.

Back to goals -

Remember when I said that I wanted to write 20,000 words a month?  Well, here we are at the end of January and I've realized that with my goofy boys, a husband, soccer games, dinner to cook, laundry to do, etc., that 20k is just too lofty of a goal right now.  I think 10k is more realistic for me and more attainable in the long run.  I do try to write every day, except weekends, but sometimes I do manage to sneak in a few hundred words there too.

How about 4 blog posts - totally do-able and attained for this month.

Okay, now that that is settled, sometimes you make these fantastical goals and when it comes right down to them they are just not feasible or realistic for your life at the moment.  And that's okay.  Don't give up, take a look at them again and adjust them as necessary.

The Next Big Thing Blog Hop

So last week, my blogging buddy tagged me in a blog hop post and what's a person to do?  Play along, of course!  So here is a link to Sarah's blog post in which she was also tagged.

Let's just get right to it:

1 - What is the working title of your book?

A Horse Named Penelope

2 - Where did the idea come from for the book?

I was brainstorming for 2012's NaNoWriMo at a writer's conference just before Nano and there was this idea forming in the back of my mind.  I had intended on going into Nano writing a Middle Grade book about a boy who lost something at school and accidentally came across a little red door that leads him to other historical era's.  But to me the title of the book (The Little Red Door) sounded more like a Young Adult contemporary novel and I felt it needed to have something to do with drug abuse of some kind.  I know - weird, but I gave it some thought and it developed into the story that it is now.  And I have to say -- I LOVE it.

3 - What genre does your book fall under?

Young Adult Contemporary

4 - Which actors would you choose to to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I haven't thought much about this yet, which is odd because when I write, a lot of times I end up writing what something looks like in my head.  Like the way a scene comes across on a movie screen - I see it in my head and then I write it.  Suffice it to say, my characters are pretty faceless in my head.

But - if I had to pick the perfect Natalie, someone who is pretty without trying too hard, short, and complex, she could definitely be played by: Emmy Rossum



As for Gabe, he's a little harder to pinpoint.  I'm in a weird actor/fan place as I don't necessarily think the younglings out there can fit the bill.  In my perfect world, my Gabe would be: Matt Bomer.



5 - What is a one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Is it bad that I haven't written one yet?  Oh well, here is the "book jacket" description of Penelope:

Natalie Miller has felt invisible to everyone around her ever since she can remember, even her own parents don't seem to notice her. In a desperate cry for love and attention, she does the one thing she thinks will end her misery: commit suicide. But she can't even get that right.

With the advice and recommendations of the hospital doctors, Natalie is sent to an Equine Rehab Camp to recover from her "accident" as her parents call it. Camp life is dreadful and group is even worse - but Natalie doesn't mind the horses. With the help of a horse named Penelope and a boy named Gabe, Natalie learns to love herself and to treasure the life that is hers.

6 - Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

I plan on submitting my writings to agents - no matter what novel it is.  I feel that agents are there to help you get the best deal that work for you and, honestly, the self-pub route just confuses me.

7 - How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Well, seeing as how this novel is not yet finished, I'd say so far, 4 months.  I did some very BASIC planning at the end of October, wrote like mad in November (then got sick because of being pregnant), took December off and am now getting back into writing.  I think I'll have the first draft finished by the end of February - which would make the start to finish writing this book about 4 months.

8 - What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Okay, another odd answer.  Truth time.  I'm not much of a contemporary novel reader.  I've read a few Jodi Piccult novels which were okay for me, but not exciting.  I prefer to read Young Adult fantasy or dystopian or light sci-fi - and you don't find many books out there in those genres dealing with suicide.

9 - Who or what inspired you to write this book?

It's hard to say really what inspired me to write Penelope.  It's funny really, because when I'm working on a book there's this nagging feeling I get that tells me the story needs to be told.  I feel like my characters have something to say and something to learn and by writing it down I feel like I've accomplished something.

10 - What else about your book might pique the reader's interest?

I think the main thing about this book is that it's not depressing.  Suicide in itself is so heavy, but this book remains positive and my character Natalie grows so much as a person throughout the story.  She finds confidence, friendship, love and the relationships with her parents and peers becomes something she loves.

And there's a horse - who doesn't love a horse?!?

Tagged

Cheri Miklich

RULES:
Answer these ten questions about your current WIP on your blog.
Tag (up to) five other writers/bloggers with their links so we can hop over and meet them.

My Reading List: Defiance

Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Procrastination is the Game

Procrastination takes on many forms in my household...I made all these (completely attainable) goals for myself for 2013 and sadly, here I am closing in on the end of January and feel like I've set the goals too high.  Sigh.

I have not written much on Penelope because I feel like I'm a little stuck - however, just this afternoon, I've had a breakthrough and know how to get myself out of the shallow hole I've dug.  YAY!

On a side note, on procrastination (on which I am very good at), I gave my husband a promise that I would finish my fifth lesson and turn it in by the end of January (for interior design).  I've got a good handle on the assignment and see the end (of the assignment) edging closer.

Also, since we're talking about procrastination, I've found myself playing an online game that I stopped playing a couple years ago.  In November I decided to see if my account was still active and it was.  Which is weird because the game rules say that after 90 days of inactivity your account will be deleted.  Literally, I had not logged in in over 18 months.  Anyway, since my account was still there and I had a few extra items I didn't have before, I decided to play.  Again.  And now I'm sucked in.  Again.  Ugg.

What do you find sucks away your time?  Am I the only one who gets so easily distracted??

My Reading List: Mystic City

Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

 Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

The First Book I Ever Read

Do you remember the first book you ever read?  The one that sticks out most in my mind was called "Mac and Muff."   This book was for beginner readers and I read it over and over.  Here is a link with some of the first pages.

I remember using this book (as a Kindergartner) to teach one of my fellow Kindergartner's how to read.  I would sit at my piano and help her read the words.  Every time she read the word right I drew a star above the word.

Unfortunately, my parents have lost this 1940's vintage book (or maybe as a careless teen I did), and I no longer have my copy.  Hopefully I will come across it someday in a used book shop or find it online somewhere.

Do you remember the first book you ever read??

2013 Writing Goals

So now that it's 2013, it's time to amp up in the writing department.  Since Nano in November, I haven't written.  At.  All.  YIKES!  What's an aspiring writer to do?

Write.

It's that easy.

So, today I'm writing down my 2013 writing goals and plan to check in with you monthly and let you know how I'm doing.  Here they are - in no particular order:

• Write a minimum of 800 words per day (5 days a week) until I finish Penelope
• Edit Penelope
• Rewrite The Phoenix
• Blog at least once per week (not including My Reading List posts)
• Take a month off when baby is born (late June)
• Write Query letter for Penelope
• Query Agents for Penelope

Umm...I may be biting off more than I can chew, but if I don't set goals, well, things just don't get accomplished!  What are your 2013 writing goals?  How are you going to keep yourself motivated and in check?

My Reading List: Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic by Maria V. Snyder

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomaniacal King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confidant, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon's opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon's most horrible creations yet: an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible…again.