tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12884684405535418652024-03-13T03:35:17.231-07:00Amanda WritesAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-25619907533257718872012-02-19T11:35:00.000-08:002012-02-19T11:44:37.362-08:00In My Mailbox #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I actually purchased BOOKS this week! Not e-books like I usually do. I had just read <i>The Demon King</i> right before school started because I have a lovely signed copy from Cinda Williams Chima. I just wanted to add to my series in paper format. I had two 20% off coupons so for the other one I decided to just bite the bullet and finally buy it: <i>The Woman in Black</i>, I really want to see movie and its been on my TBR pile for about 6 or 7 years! Here they are:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Woman in Black by Susan Hill</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-4720431220999513682012-02-16T15:44:00.000-08:002012-02-16T15:44:47.826-08:00Jane Austen Owns My Soul Pt. I<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://weheartit.com/entry/15030577" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/15030577/tumblr_lrkkn69BXd1r09vdao1_500_large.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<u>In Which Jane Austen Owns My Soul</u></div>
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I cannot write my WIP. I cannot blog. I cannot read contemporary young adult novels. I cannot watch documentaries on Netflix. Why, you ask? Because Jane Austen has taken over my life. I must eat, breath, and think all things 19th century. I must concern myself with manners and calling on society for merriment. I fancy to wear muslin and go for walks about the countryside. </div>
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How did I get myself into such a bind? Well, I am in my final semester at college. Before all English majors are to graduate we must take what is called a "Senior Seminar". Each semester the seminar is rotated among professors. This time around, the professor decided to do all Jane Austen. Every single novel published. In 16 weeks. Mmmhmm. This is not a complaint, of sorts, rather a testament. I honestly did not think the course work would be so rigorous. </div>
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But there it is. My head is filled with dreams of marrying for equal parts love and money. To charm all with my wit and discourse. So, I will be reviewing each book I read of Austen's in the next weeks. Here we go!</div>
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<br /></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-6018000972315431622012-02-15T17:34:00.000-08:002012-02-15T17:34:29.652-08:00Road Trip Wednesday: Words<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's
contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that
begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br />
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We'd
love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and
leave a link - or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the
comments.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>This Week's Topic:</b></span></div>
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<b>What words do you absolutely hate? Which ones do you adore?</b><br />
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My least favorite words are gross ones that have to do with bodily functions, like "snot". I also really don't like "murmur". Usually the author uses it in a sexy way...and it's not. Just no. </div>
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My favorite words anymore are kennings. Kennings are compound words that form a metaphor. Wiki explains so much more eloquently <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenning" target="_blank">here</a>. Like "whale-road" for ocean or "bone-house" for skin. Pure poetry.<b></b></div>
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</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-57679747520883505332012-02-07T18:11:00.000-08:002012-02-07T18:13:20.700-08:00Top Ten Tuesdays #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at<a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/"> The Broke and the Bookish</a>. </span></div>
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<b>Top <strike>10</strike> 9 Books I'd Hand to Someone Who Says They Don't Like To Read</b></div>
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<li>The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (duh! this appears on ALL my lists haha) But seriously it's so full of adventure it's sure to pull in the reluctant reader.</li>
<li> Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert I know I know it isn't 2008 anymore, but it seems everyone who reads the books loves it. Plus, I cannot get enough of travel memoirs. It's like a whole new level of escapist reading because someone went out and actually did these incredible things. </li>
<li>The Help by Kathryn Stockett Another one of those books that seem to span across the board and yes I am aware of the controversy but it still seems to evoke good strong feelings out of people. </li>
<li>The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Intriguing, interesting, and so full of depth. There is something for every level or taste of reader. </li>
<li>The Harry Potter Series by JK Rowling If there are people still left on earth who haven't read them, then yes I will give them these books to read. </li>
<li>Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Now *this* is a book. Wonderfully written and is so unique with a beautiful story underneath. </li>
<li>The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon I have not met a person who has read this and didn't like. Good enough for me. </li>
<li>The Outsiders by SE Hinton When I think of classics and YA, this book is front and center, like a cornerstone of great lit. It is a cryin' shame if kids don't get to experience this book. </li>
<li>Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen This book is pure love. It's whimsical and full of joy. I don't always read uplifting book but when I do, it's this one. </li>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span><span class="st"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 14px;"><span style="color: #444444; font-size: medium;"><b> </b></span></span></span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-28003941576848448822012-02-06T19:00:00.000-08:002012-02-07T18:27:26.822-08:00Online Literary Magazine: A Call for Submissions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.jennymag.org/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lTQkTV1k6IY/TzHa3P4k1JI/AAAAAAAAAPE/gc57stYW7pM/s1600/Jenny.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Attention writers of all ages and locations!</span></div>
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The online literary magazine named Jenny is currently looking for submissions for short stories, nonfiction, and poetry. Jenny mag hails from Youngstown, Ohio and is a part of Youngstown State University. We need diverse and unique voices for our upcoming Spring issue. </div>
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Please send us some of your best work! </div>
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We could use some great YA lit or poetry you've been tinkering with. Go to the website for more information about submitting (it's SO simple!) or to read past issues. Check out my short YA story called "Idora" from last Spring while you are there. </div>
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Any questions? Just leave a comment. </div>
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Good luck to all who participate!</div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-27647004982112723422012-01-25T16:49:00.000-08:002012-01-25T18:55:48.982-08:00Top Ten Tuesday #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week was a freebie!</div>
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I went with Top Ten YA feminist friendly novels.</div>
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Disclaimer: These are only ones I have <b>read</b> and make my inner feminist squeal with delight, where as a lot of books makes my inner feminist squirm or yell obscenities. I have plenty more that are recommended to me by feminist friends and bloggers, but alas I have not read them therefore I cannot attest to their strength to be on this list.</div>
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My criteria was pretty simple. The female characters are the focus of the story. The MC is proactive in her life and decision making. She is full of action and established personality not in relation to male characters. Gender norms are broken or challenged. They are not Mary Sues. </div>
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<li>The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins</li>
<li>The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart</li>
<li>A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray</li>
<li>Graceling by Kristin Cashore</li>
<li>Girl Goddess #9 by Francesca Lia Block</li>
<li>Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi</li>
<li>The Book Theif by Makus Zusak</li>
<li>The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman</li>
<li>The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"> </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="by smallText">by</span>
</span><span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span itemprop="name">Ann Brashares </span></span></li>
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"When your only female character exists to be bartered and abused,
that is lazy writing. When you raise the stakes by threatening a woman
with rape, that is lazy writing. When you demonstrate the “seriousness”
of a situation by describing a brutal rape, that is lazy writing. When
you inject emotion into a flagging scene by making the man throw the
woman against the wall, that is lazy writing. Not only is it lazy
writing, but when rape is used lightly and cheaply as a convenient
narrative device, it hurts people.<br />
Try harder." - <a href="http://monicacatherine.wordpress.com/2011/09/17/the-use-of-rape-in-narrative/" target="_blank">Monica Byrne</a>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-9832342901434810042012-01-22T20:37:00.000-08:002012-01-22T20:37:12.213-08:00Book Review: Entwined by Heather Dixon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>From Goodreads.com:</b> Azalea is trapped.
Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful
gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away.
All of it. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to <i>keep</i> things. <br />
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.<br />
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<b> My Review:</b> I got this on my nook when it went on sale and I am so glad I did. Let's start with the cover shall we? It is a vibrant, eye catching, INCREDIBLE cover! I'm actually kind of over the trend of zomg!poofy dresses on the covers of many books. This is one is flawless though. It really fits with the tone of the book which begins on page. The tone is mysterious and lush. Everything shimmers and sparkles with magic and silver imagery. The book is based off the Grimm's fairy tale of the 12 Dancing Princesses. Actually the original story is very glum and misogynistic. I am glad this book swayed away from that and took many liberties from the original tale. I also really enjoyed the love interest of the MC. He was adorable, I wish there was more of him within the book. The villain is creepy and well flushed out. Dancing, and skirts swishing, knights, and enchanted ballrooms oh my! I love retellings and recommend you check this book out of you do too.<br />
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<b>My Reaction in GIF form:</b> <br />
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<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-58454536594849718642012-01-17T23:04:00.000-08:002012-01-17T23:04:03.933-08:00Top Ten Tuesday #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Top Ten Books I'd Recommend To Someone Who Doesn't Read Young Adult</b></div>
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<li><i>The Hunger Games</i> by Suzanne Collins. Duh. This is a no-brainer. I believe this has made a believer out of many.</li>
<li><i>The Book Thief</i> by Markus Zusak. It truly is a cross-over book.<b><br /></b></li>
<li><i>Graceling</i> by Kristin Cashore. This breaks free of stereotypical associatations with teen books.</li>
<li><i>I Am the Cheese </i>by Robert Cormier. Aaaahhh. This book is so good and timeless.</li>
<li><i>Unwind </i>by Neal Shusterman. Original and suspense and amazing. </li>
<li><i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> by Stephen Chbosky. Emotional and real no matter what age.</li>
<li><i>Speak</i> by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book was a game changer for the genre. </li>
<li><i>A</i><i> Great and Terrible Beauty</i> by Libba Bray. The writing. The characters. The setting. Perfect.</li>
<li>A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb. No words. I can't.</li>
<li>The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. Dark, disturbing, and daring. </li>
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A great young adult book makes the teenage reader feel like an adult, and the adult reader feel like a teenager again.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-92091749134092219612012-01-15T20:06:00.000-08:002012-01-15T20:06:57.605-08:00In My Mailbox #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/">The Story Siren</a>.</b></div>
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I only have one this week:</div>
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<strong style="font-weight: normal;">Pirates!</strong> by Celia Rees</div>
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Call me crazy but if you want to but in order to know where young adult books are going, you have to know where they've been. I don't always feel the compulsion to read exactly what's been released this week. I know there are a whole heck of a lot of amazing books published before 2009. I'm going to save this read for the summer. </div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-44777769526044742652012-01-12T14:36:00.000-08:002012-01-12T14:36:15.595-08:00Book Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>From Goodreads.com:</b> <span id="freeText12407536909449665872">It's been six weeks
since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world.
Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.
When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her
seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.<br /><br />Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.<br /><br />Raffe
is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of
fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a
desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.<br /><br />Traveling
through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each
other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the
angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to
rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest
enemies for the chance to be made whole again.</span><br />
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<span id="freeText12407536909449665872"><b>My Review: </b>I ate this book up! It made me stay up all night and read. The writing is simple but it's suspenseful and has great tension from beginning to end. It's an E-book for only .99! It's literally the best thing I read all year (ha, it's the first book I finished completely). Let me just say I cannot wait for the second one to be released. I also love supporting independent authors and the digital book community. </span><br />
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<span id="freeText12407536909449665872"><b>My Reaction in GIF form: </b></span><br />
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<a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx941jowQs1r2ojd6.gif" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx941jowQs1r2ojd6.gif" width="225" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-57717230186974067432012-01-11T23:53:00.000-08:002012-01-11T23:53:52.360-08:00Road Trip Wednesday: Penname<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="200" src="http://bit.ly/uEulMp" width="196" />Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's
contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that
begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to
destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.<br /><br />We'd
love for you to participate! Just answer the prompt on your own blog and
leave a link - or, if you prefer, you can include your answer in the
comments.<br /><br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>This Week's Topic</b></span></div>
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<span>If you couldn't use your own name, what would your pseudonym or penname be?</span></div>
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This is SO easy for me. In my neighborhood with the other kids, we constantly played those "name" games. You know the ones. <i>What would your porn name be?</i> or whatever. Some take your childhood pet's name and your mom's maiden name or such and such. We loved making up our own silly ones. The one that always stuck with me through the years has been this one: take your middle name and the street you grew up on.<br />
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That makes my pseudonym:<i><b> Nicole Creed</b></i>.<br />
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Ahh! I love it! I always said that would be my pen name if I ever became a famous novelist. Ha. I still might consider this, who would have foresaw this social media business though?<br />
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<a href="http://data.whicdn.com/images/13737950/1319925074_5_0I9G_large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://data.whicdn.com/images/13737950/1319925074_5_0I9G_large.jpeg" width="213" /></a></div>
Hey and you never know when you may need a fake name...for you, anything. Just sayin'.<br /><br />
<br />Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-67039898021425215352012-01-10T19:25:00.000-08:002012-01-10T19:43:10.335-08:00Top Ten Tuesday #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HIRFYDy8d0/TkB4cLRQnGI/AAAAAAAAMq8/d7T_TZ0q1oA/s1600/TTT3W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7HIRFYDy8d0/TkB4cLRQnGI/AAAAAAAAMq8/d7T_TZ0q1oA/s1600/TTT3W.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by <a href="http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/p/features.html">The Broke and the Bookish</a></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Top <strike>Ten</strike> Five Authors I Wish Would Write Another Book</b></div>
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<ol>
<li><b> Stephen Chbosky</b> - He wrote <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>. It shook my 14 year old self to the core. It was life changing. I can't even put into words how this book makes me feel, it makes me feel EVERYTHING. I would read anything, <u>any</u> other book he wrote. </li>
<li><b>Emily Bronte</b> - Only wrote the epic genius that is <i>Wuthering Heights</i>. I have no doubt that if she hadn't died so young any other book would have shown incredible depths of characters and human nature. </li>
<li><b>Suzanne Collins</b>- Come on woman! I KNOW you have it in you! Dazzle and amaze us one more time!</li>
<li><b>Laura Whitcomb</b> - I read both her books. One was so beautiful and amazing, and the other I didn't care for at all. But that's alright. I love <i>A Certain Slant of Light </i>so infinitely that I would read another by her in a heart beat.</li>
<li><b>J. K. Rowling</b> - I would be there release day for whatever she chose to write next with bells on!</li>
</ol>
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I could only think if five!Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-70451099668480615902012-01-07T22:09:00.000-08:002012-01-10T19:34:48.872-08:00In My Mailbox #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mailbox1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="http://www.thestorysiren.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/mailbox1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/">The Story Siren</a>.</b></div>
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This week I received two hardcovers from my friend Melissa: </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj2qb7llwiU/Twkwbbp_a2I/AAAAAAAAAOk/HDow5m6FJO4/s1600/Clockwork+Prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aj2qb7llwiU/Twkwbbp_a2I/AAAAAAAAAOk/HDow5m6FJO4/s320/Clockwork+Prince.jpg" width="210" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aGGsZfWmzuM/TwkwfAcUMdI/AAAAAAAAAOs/pEVAuQesmb0/s1600/magicianking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aGGsZfWmzuM/TwkwfAcUMdI/AAAAAAAAAOs/pEVAuQesmb0/s320/magicianking.jpg" width="215" /> </a></div>
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Ahh. I'm going to need help because I read the first in these series SO long ago! Hopefully I'll be able to adjust easily. </div>
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<b><br /></b></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-5318076921043020142012-01-05T13:57:00.000-08:002012-01-05T13:57:23.118-08:00The Best Books I Read in 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thebookladysblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/reading_its_crazy-273x300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://www.thebookladysblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/reading_its_crazy-273x300.jpg" width="181" /></a></div><br />
I won't focus on the negative books I read this year. Lord knows, they were aplenty. It was actually a pretty rough year for reading. More and more books just left me feeling "meh", than anything. I will provide the top 5 books I read this year (in no particular order). These are the ones that the plot stunned me. After I turned the last page, after my mouth refused to close from the sheer amazingness the exuded from the pages, after I cried, that's how I know a book is truly amazing. These books inspire my 50 book reading challenge every year, and most importantly inspire my to tell a damn good and original story.<br />
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Let's being.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHKANHK2Jfw/TwYRYuN2XQI/AAAAAAAAANg/30KBlxwQ4Ms/s1600/Feed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YHKANHK2Jfw/TwYRYuN2XQI/AAAAAAAAANg/30KBlxwQ4Ms/s1600/Feed.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Feed</i> by M.T. Anderson</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">This book. THIS book. I actually listened to it in audiobook format. I would play it on my iPod while on my campus elliptical. I laughed audibly. People stared. Yeah....but anyway, it was hilarious. I loved the dialogue and the characters jumped right off the pages. Despite it's hilarity, there were very dark undertones. The whole story punched me in the gut. By the end, I cried. It was complete and joyous and sorrowful world that these characters lived in. I think about this book all the time. It's vision of the future still haunts me. It has been added to one of my all time most favorite books. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nadCkEpyU6M/TwYT1RbPumI/AAAAAAAAAN4/I5CTtj-3ZVE/s1600/life+of+pi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nadCkEpyU6M/TwYT1RbPumI/AAAAAAAAAN4/I5CTtj-3ZVE/s320/life+of+pi.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Life of Pi </i>by Yann Martel</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm always leery of best sellers, you know the books that <i>everyone</i> and their mother has read. When I found this little gem on my local Goodwill shelved for 50¢ (and I get a student discount!) I couldn't pass up the deal. Wow, am I glad I read it. I read it over the summer and the India heat and sun baring down while he was on the boat was amazing. I loved the writing, it was literary and beautiful. Pi's story is one of the most incredible things I have read. I savored this book for everything it would give me. I cannot recommend this book enough, I truly fell in love with book. I look and the cover and my heart dances.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQzMjbUuh1w/TwYVjLV-sLI/AAAAAAAAAOE/C3WPL7ezhD8/s1600/lord-of-the-flies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wQzMjbUuh1w/TwYVjLV-sLI/AAAAAAAAAOE/C3WPL7ezhD8/s320/lord-of-the-flies.jpg" width="179" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Lord of the Flies</i> by William Golding </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was one of the fortunate who never had to read this book in high school. "Fortunate?" you ask. "Yes", I say. "But this is on your mind blowing list" you say. I have strong opinions on what kids are forced to read in high school. I will dedicate a post to all the books high school has ruined for me, but that's for another time. I understand, and have an appreciation for the human condition and can reflect on my time as a child and teen now that I am well out of my teens...and that is precisely why I love this book. It is dark and disturbing and psychological. Oh sure, in high school I claimed to have loved that stuff (and to some extent I did). But now I truly know what those attributes mean. This book cut me to the quick. It was perfect in every way but I needed age and experience to appreciate it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36EsQWkKSA4/TwYYZ8cgASI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/COFu-PKmEFc/s1600/gatheringblue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-36EsQWkKSA4/TwYYZ8cgASI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/COFu-PKmEFc/s1600/gatheringblue.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Gathering Blue</i> by Lois Lowry</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">One of those forgotten YA titles. While <i>The Giver</i> gets due recognition, this one lives in its shadow unfortunately. There is no action, but tension and mystery around every corner. I adore this book. It was another find at Goodwill and after reading <i>The Giver</i>, and that being added to one of the best books I have ever read, I decided to give this one a chance. I am so glad I did. I think I read it one sitting. I love these characters, I love Lowry's style. The atmosphere was tangible and I got completely lost within the book. Incredible.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRtq5k0xn94/TwYazoVqZKI/AAAAAAAAAOc/uU4sWRwzEYg/s1600/wastelands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QRtq5k0xn94/TwYazoVqZKI/AAAAAAAAAOc/uU4sWRwzEYg/s320/wastelands.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse</i> (anthology)</div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: left;">I really really love dystopian fiction. But you know what? I think this year I may have realized I like the apocalypse much better. Then just mash the two together, and I think you have the perfect genre! Anyway, this anthology is all apocalypse, all the time. Let me tell you though, some of these stories were bone shaking. The only two stories I really didn't care for was Stephen King's and Orson Scott Card's. Weird, huh? The absolute best were (and if you run out to the library or b&n find a big comfy chair and if else nothing read these three stories): Artie's Angels (I bawled), Speech Sounds (wooooow), and Waiting for the Zephyr. The first the third would make incredible young adult books and I wanted to read soooo many of the stories as books. This collection is excellent and inspiring. The absolutely sucked me with masterful story telling. The best of the best. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-51948869140340515022012-01-04T15:42:00.000-08:002012-01-05T16:25:36.361-08:002012 Book Challenges<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8LkoMXFrX4/TsL20shxMVI/AAAAAAAAAMc/6YOatBUJaJs/s1600/2012+Debut+Author.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign up <a href="http://www.thestorysiren.com/2011/11/sign-ups-for-the-debut-author-challenge.html" target="_blank">here</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>CHALLENGE OBJECTIVE:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">To read & review a minimum of twelve young adult or middle grade debut novels between the dates of January 1, 2012 – January 31, 2013.*</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">*The 2013 extension is so that December Debuts can be read and count toward the challenge.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<ul style="color: black;"><li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">Any advance reader copies you read from 2012 BEFORE the January 1st start date DO NOT count toward the challenge! </span></b></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span">You can read twelve books in one month, or one book a month. It doesn’t matter as long as you have 12 read by the end of the year! </span></b></span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>RULES & GUIDELINES:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You must have a Blog to post your reviews or be a member of Goodreads. Youtube Book Reviewers count too!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Your blog/video must be written in English.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Deadline to join is May 31, 2012.</span></li>
</ul><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>BOOK GUIDELINES:</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<ul><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Must be a young adult or middle grade title.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Must be the author’s YA or MG debut, released in 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">If an author has a previous novel published for adults or children, they can still qualify for the challenge.</span></li>
</ul><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not sure which one's I'll read yet, but I am IN! I'll update with a list as I read them.</span></span><br />
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<center></center><center><a href="http://evie-bookish.blogspot.com/p/2012-tbr-pile-reading-challenge.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULiNSADK35M/TsAmvDkki1I/AAAAAAAACnA/GoduRwvOGZo/s320/2012-TBR-Reading-Challenge-Button.png" width="307" /></a></center><br />
<div style="color: magenta; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Challenge guidelines: </b></span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span><br />
<ol><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">This challenge will run from <b>Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012</b>.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only <b>bloggers can ente</b>r. Sorry about that!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. <b>Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!</b></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">When you sign up in the linky, <b>put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge</b> (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)</span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can move up levels, but no moving down. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sign-ups will be open until <b>Dec 15, 2012</b>, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>At the end of each month</b> one of the hosts will post a<b> <span style="color: #a64d79;">wrap-up</span></b>. Every wrap-up will have it's <b>unique theme</b>, a <b>mini-challenge</b>, a <b style="color: magenta;">giveaway</b> and <b>place for you to link up your reviews from this month</b>. <u>For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the <b>mini-challenge</b> you will get<b> +1 entry</b>.</u></span> </li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. <b>Do not, however, try to link up one review twice</b> - we will be checking ;) </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>December is a wrap-up for the whole year</b>. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a <b style="color: magenta;">HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners</b>, INTERNATIONAL. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: magenta;"><b>Levels:</b></span><br />
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1-10 - A Firm Handshake<br />
11-20 - A Friendly Hug<br />
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss<br />
31-40 - Love At First Sight<br />
41-50 - Married With Children<br />
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<b style="color: magenta;">Hosts:</b> <br />
<b>Evie </b>from <b>Bookish - </b><a href="http://www.evie-bookish.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://www.evie-bookish.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a> @SeoEvie<br />
<b>Nicole</b> from <b>All I Ever Read</b> - <a href="http://www.nicoleabouttown.com/" target="_blank">http://www.nicoleabouttown.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/Nicoleabouttown" target="_blank" title="Nicole">@Nicoleabouttown</a><br />
<b>Bonnie</b> from <b>Hands and Home</b> - <a href="http://www.handsandhome.ca/" target="_blank">http://www.handsandhome.ca/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/HandsHomeBlog" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>HandsHomeBlog</b></a><br />
<b>Donna </b>from <b>Book Passion For Life </b>- <a href="http://bookpassionforlife.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://bookpassionforlife.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> <b>@<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/BookPforLife" target="_blank" title="Book Passion 4 Life ">BookPforLife</a></b><br />
<b>Caitlin </b>from <b>WatchYA Reading </b>- <a href="http://whatchyareading.net/" target="_blank">http://whatchyareading.net</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/caitlingss" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>caitlingss</b></a><br />
<b>Rie </b>from <b>Mission To Read </b>- <a href="http://missiontoread.com/" target="_blank">http://missiontoread.com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/missiontoread" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>missiontoread</b></a><br />
<b>Vicky </b>from <b>Books, Biscuits & Tea </b>-<a href="http://booksbiscuitsandtea.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://booksbiscuitsandtea.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com/</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/alouetteuette" target="_blank" title="vicky ♔">@alouetteuette</a> <br />
<b>Christa </b>from <b>Hooked On Books </b>- <a href="http://christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://christashookedonbooks.<wbr></wbr>blogspot.com</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/ChristasBooks" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><s>@</s><b>ChristasBooks</b></a><br />
<b>Jenna </b>from <b>Fans Of Fiction </b>- <a href="http://fansoffiction.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://fansoffiction.blogspot.<wbr></wbr>com/</a> <b>@<a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/fansoffiction" target="_blank" title="Jenna Klein">fansoffiction</a></b><br />
<b>Angel </b>from <b>Mermaids Vision </b>- <a href="http://mermaidvision.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://mermaidvision.<wbr></wbr>wordpress.com</a> <b><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/mermaidvisions" target="_blank"><b>@mermaidvisions</b></a></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, I am really excited about this one! I have soooooo many books on my shelf and nook that have been sitting there for a year or in some cases many years. Can't wait to update this one.</span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtO_E6SvTJk/TpzfjLkyfbI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/86HDuZXga58/s1600/2012EbookChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UtO_E6SvTJk/TpzfjLkyfbI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/86HDuZXga58/s1600/2012EbookChallenge.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span>Challenge Guidelines:<br />
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<ol><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anyone can join, you don't need to be a blogger. If you don't have a blog, feel free to sign-up in the comments. You can post reviews to any book site (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, Goodreads, etc).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Any genre or length of book counts, as long as it is in ebook format.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the E-Book Reading Challenge.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">You can move up levels, but no moving down. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
Levels:<br />
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<ol><li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Floppy disk - 5 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">CD - 10 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">DVD - 25 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Memory stick - 50 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hard drive - 75 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Server - 100 ebooks</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Human brain - 150 ebooks</span></li>
</ol><span style="font-size: x-small;"> <br />
At the beginning of each month there will be a roundup post for you to add your reviews for that month. If you forget, feel free to add your reviews in the following month. Any reviews submitted will be entered into the draw for that month.<br />
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Yes, there will be draws every month for participants. As long as you are signed up below, every review you add to the monthly roundups will get one entry into the giveaway for that month.<br />
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There will also be a grand giveaway at the end of the year for eveyone who achieves their goal level (or higher). There may be different prizes for different levels, but that is not decided yet. If you are an author and want to contribute to the monthly or grand prizes, please contact me.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><b><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-14671944145735049432011-12-27T11:42:00.000-08:002011-12-27T11:42:38.527-08:00Inspiration...where are you?I blame the holidays.<br />
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I have had absolutely no inspiration to write. It was perhaps the drone of Christmas carols piped through my work speakers or the crazed look on people's faces as they demanded some product I have never heard of, but I just could not write a thing. <br />
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I *have* been reading though. Dystopian December is going great. I just started<i> Across the Universe</i> by Beth Revis.I hesitate to call this a dystopia. It's labeled dystopia, especially all over at <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>, but I would personally say this is sci-fi with elements of dystopia. But isn't lots of sci-fi have elements of secrets of the ship and leader lies and secrets? Isn't there always some element of mystery? So, then I ask this: are we improperly labeling books because of the trend or is it a result of cross genres? (Btw, I hate labels!! Ha)<br />
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This morning when I was laying under my new faux fur blanket I received for Christmas, one of my characters started chattering away to me. I slowed down my thoughts and really listened to him so I can record it all down later. He would not shut up. Usually this characters doesn't do much talking. It was a sign. I must write on! <br />
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What I'm listening to:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/wVWazHTunSI?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Amy Lee is the best. I can surely find inspiration in this song.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-6446579492826159762011-12-12T11:29:00.000-08:002012-01-05T16:36:57.628-08:00Critiques and Workshops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://readwritetalk.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/writing-group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://readwritetalk.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/writing-group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Tonight is my last workshop class. Over the course of this semester I have learned a lot. Though, most importantly it really inspired me to write. It continues to inspire me. The general (I use that term very loosely) is that everyone likes my initial premise of my WIP. I wish I could form some super-group of people who are passionate about YA lit and sci-fi themed books to help me along my journey. I think I really need to get more involved online with the writers communities. But, it's not like I have a full manuscript or anything yet. It will come. <br />
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Anyway, after my last group critique of another new 3,000 words a woman gave me her written critique late. She handed the critique to me and I read it on out class break. And guess what? It ripped me to shreds. Within two pages she told me I shouldn;t continue on, nothing makes sense, and my characters are horrible, stale, an one dimensional. Okay, I'm paraphrasing here and this is mostly subtext. But I was shocked! It didn't help that I had been in class with this woman for 13 weeks.<br />
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Listen, I KNOW not everyone will like my story. I'm actually more surprised that I don't get terrible critiques. I really write a story that I personally would love to read, and the characters are scratching at my insides to be heard. It is a deeply personal experience, the whole writing and crafting a story. I might as well dip a quill into my vein and write in blood. So, how can I not be bothered by her overt expression of disapproval? I am going to a be a dissenter here, when everyone else says don;t take it personally, I say it's OKAY to lick your wounds. Be sulky for a day about it. That's what I did. No regrets.<br />
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Then I found humor in it. I let my close friends read it. I put it all into perspective. I got over it. I put it into my fire of inspiration, and there it burns. <br />
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P.S.- This lady literally said she wouldn't recognize my characters if they walked into a coffee shop. My characters are filthy smart-ass kids in a post-apocalyptic world I think you'd pay attention to them if they walked into your local Starbucks. Just sayin'.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1288468440553541865.post-3351032019841576222011-12-09T19:35:00.000-08:002011-12-09T19:35:42.363-08:00Writing on WritingI've been thinking a while about making a blog dedicated to the craft. Well, here I am! Today Melissa and I went on a road trip to Hudson, Ohio. We stopped in a tiny independent bookshop called "The Learned Owl". It was so cute. We each bought respective Cinda Williams Chima signed novel. I bought <i>The Demon King</i>, having read the <i>Warrior Heir</i> before. And Melissa bought The Warrior Heir having read TDK. Ha.<br />
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Also, I have declared this month "Dystopian December"!! Epic. I know. HAHA. I will only be reading dystopias for this month. With my first semester of being a college senior behind me I didn't get much reading done. I sort of fell behind on the YA scene. So, this month I will catching up. First up is : <i>Matched</i> by Ally Condie. <br />
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Because I was shopping all day I didn't write anything in my WIP. My next thing I have to get, hopefully within the week, is a MAJOR event. I guess I'm kind of putting it off because it will be rather traumatic for my MC. So, I will need to be in the zone emotionally...fully committed to the scene. It will probably take a lot out of me. But it has to be done.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>This is what I am listening to: <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/UfEJwK6InXc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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For all of the bad asses I'm writing about.Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01908974131654249550noreply@blogger.com0