tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88062449778692654982024-03-16T03:08:43.351-04:00Oasis for YAAn oasis of support for YA authorsJessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.comBlogger538125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-2872882988920798822013-06-25T07:30:00.000-04:002013-06-25T07:30:00.955-04:00TBR Tuesday: Some Quiet PlaceI have to admit, the first thing that grabbed me about SOME QUIET PLACE was the cover. That's right, I'm a cover <strike>whore</strike> lover.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDtB5GTg6lI/UcebnOx7HwI/AAAAAAAADvo/pGWsmYLzLHc/s1600/some+quiet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SDtB5GTg6lI/UcebnOx7HwI/AAAAAAAADvo/pGWsmYLzLHc/s320/some+quiet.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
<br />
But then I read the synopsis, and some of the advanced reviews, and I really thought I'd have to get my hands on this book when it releases on July 8th.<br />
<br />
What do you think?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>I can’t feel sadness, anger, or fear. I can’t feel anything. I’ve grown talented at pretending.</b></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them in human form. Longing hovers around the shy, adoring boy at school. Courage materializes beside her dying friend. Fury and Resentment visit her abusive home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, except beautiful Fear, who sometimes torments her and other times plays her compassionate savior. He’s obsessed with finding the answer to one question: What happened to Elizabeth to make her this way?</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana; margin-bottom: 13px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">They both sense that the key to Elizabeth’s condition is somehow connected to the paintings of her dreams, which show visions of death and grief that raise more questions than answers. But as a shadowy menace begins to stalk her, Elizabeth’s very survival depends on discovering the truth about herself. When it matters most, she may not be able to rely on Fear to save her.</span></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0738736430/yalit-20">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780738736433"> IndieBound</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15710557-some-quiet-place">Goodreads</a>Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-25050553618397280482013-06-20T12:59:00.000-04:002013-06-20T12:59:55.721-04:00What's My Next Line?For this edition of Whoseywhatsit Thursday, I thought we could play a little game.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3xi-9OgyHQ/UcM0aBfoRgI/AAAAAAAAFYE/yzfjxScEkVA/s1600/correction+of+sentences+of+english+grammar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U3xi-9OgyHQ/UcM0aBfoRgI/AAAAAAAAFYE/yzfjxScEkVA/s200/correction+of+sentences+of+english+grammar.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=images+of+lines&rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS473US473&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=-zPDUajPNvS34AOKm4D4Ag&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643#rlz=1C1CHFX_enUS473US473&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=images+of+sentences&oq=images+of+sentences&gs_l=img.3..0.17517.20233.0.20390.14.10.0.4.4.0.111.958.7j3.10.0...0.0.0..1c.1.17.img.YrbofCApOfA&bav=on.2,or.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48175248,d.dmg&fp=f653a419c38383e6&biw=1366&bih=643&facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=bP_ESM3xy_ivvM%3A%3BBpPvTvgcHagNaM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252F2.bp.blogspot.com%252F-ItVVdOrWBjo%252FUS9kMNb34-I%252FAAAAAAAAMvw%252FL85yh5Wjol0%252Fs1600%252Fcorrection%252Bof%252Bsentences%252Bof%252Benglish%252Bgrammar.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.gr8ambitionz.com%252F2013%252F02%252Fcorrection-of-sentences-in-english.html%3B315%3B315" target="_blank">Image Credit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You've all heard of that campfire game where someone starts a story and with each consecutive person the story grows, right? Sure you have. It always amazed me what stories came out of that silly game. In actuality, it wasn't silly, but creative. We were all inspired and didn't even realize it.<br />
<br />
So, want to play? <span style="color: #0b5394;">*You are very important to us here at the Oasis.* </span>Okay, I'll go first, then each of you can add the next line in the comments. Can't wait to see what we come up with! And if we write enough, I'll put it all together and post it back here. :)<br />
<br />
<u><b>START:</b></u><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">The splintered deck railing pressed into his chest.</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Your up!</div>
S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-67566885683454851712013-06-18T06:00:00.000-04:002013-06-18T06:00:08.671-04:00TBR Tuesday: Storm & Siege, Charm & Strange, WingerIt's Tuesday - time to talk about a book in our <span style="font-weight: bold;">To Be Read</span> stack.<br />
<br />
I just ordered 3 books from Amazon, so I'm definitely excited for these :)<br />
<br />
<b><i>Storm and Siege</i></b> by Leigh Bardugo<br />
<br />
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362166252l/14061955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" height="320" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362166252l/14061955.jpg" width="213" /></a>Goodreads Synopsis:<br />
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Fold, Alina must try to make a life with Mal in an unfamiliar land. She finds starting new is not easy while keeping her identity as the Sun Summoner a secret. She can’t outrun her past or her destiny for long.</span> </blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The Darkling has emerged from the Shadow Fold with a terrifying new power and a dangerous plan that will test the very boundaries of the natural world. With the help of a notorious privateer, Alina returns to the country she abandoned, determined to fight the forces gathering against Ravka. But as her power grows, Alina slips deeper into the Darkling’s game of forbidden magic, and farther away from Mal. Somehow, she will have to choose between her country, her power, and the love she always thought would guide her–or risk losing everything to the oncoming storm.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<b><i>Charm and Strange</i></b> by Stephanie Keuhn<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367713106l/17613591.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367713106l/17613591.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Goodreads Synopsis:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">No one really knows who Andrew Winston Winters is. Least of all himself. He is part Win, a lonely teenager exiled to a remote boarding school in the wake of a family tragedy. The guy who shuts the whole world out, no matter the cost, because his darkest fear is of himself ...of the wolfish predator within. But he's also part Drew, the angry boy with violent impulses that control him. The boy who, one fateful summer, was part of something so terrible it came close to destroying him. A deftly woven, elegant, unnerving psychological thriller about a boy at war with himself. Charm and Strange is a masterful exploration of one of the greatest taboos.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<b><i>Winger</i></b> by Andrew Smith<br />
<br />
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362166252l/14061955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" border="0" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367927656l/11861815.jpg" width="213" /></a>Goodreads Synopsis:<br />
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in Opportunity Hall, the dorm for troublemakers, and rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. And he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy./span> </span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">With the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his penchant for doodling comics, Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications and even find some happiness along the way. But when the unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span a="" an="" and="" balance="" depiction="" exceptional="" experience="" filled="" hand-drawn="" heartbreaking.="" hilarious="" illustrations="" in="" info-graphics="" of="" pitch-perfect="" realistic="" s="" span="" strikes="" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" teen="" this="" told="" voice="" with=""></span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-89941859805850627812013-06-12T08:00:00.000-04:002013-06-12T08:00:10.722-04:00Girl Power - an open letter to girls from Queen RaniaI was drafting a post on "voice," when I saw this letter from Queen Rania of Jordan. It is truly inspiring and reminds me why I love writing for teen girls -- they are powerful and conquer any obstacles set before them. In case you haven't read it, I paste it below. Enjoy ... and then go help a girl achieve her own potential. Whether it's through your time or your writing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qp-u0FWX0gs/Ubec34ayZVI/AAAAAAAADsk/VTFmpHwbEiE/s1600/queen+rania.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qp-u0FWX0gs/Ubec34ayZVI/AAAAAAAADsk/VTFmpHwbEiE/s200/queen+rania.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; letter-spacing: 0px;">Dear Girls of the World,</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Some of you will be familiar with the childhood rhyme, "What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice and all things nice, that's what little girls are made of."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Marketing and stereotyping combine to have us believe that you're also made of pink dresses, pigtails, dolls, ringlets, ribbons, bows and tiaras. That you like cupcakes. That all you will want to be are wives and mothers. That you're more "inclined" to the arts and "better suited" to caring professions like teaching and nursing.</span></div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And, maybe, that's true for some. But my daughter Salma teaches me every day that there's so much more to you -- and for you.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Salma is 13, and I can count, on one hand (in fact, on one finger!), the occasions she's worn a dress -- and they've never been pink! Dolls always stayed on the shelf. She's happiest dribbling a soccer ball past her brothers and scoring goals or building model airplanes with her father. She dreams of being an engineer. That's my Salma; that's why I love her.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">So, when I think about girls rising, I think of girls like her and her sister, Iman. I think of the millions of courageous girls all over the Arab world and beyond who, every day, summon inner strength, surmount barriers and make a difference in their communities.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Let me tell you about 16-year-old Wafa Al-Rimi.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Some days in Yemen, there's less than one hour of electricity, so studying is tough.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"We were tired of darkness," Wafa said<a href="http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2013/01/yemeni-girls-use-solar-energy.html"><span style="color: #2400a9; letter-spacing: 0px;"> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">in an interview</span></span></a>.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Rather than accept defeat, though, she built foundations under her dreams. With help from business mentors, she formed an all-female company that created solar-powered lights. They won INJAZ Al-Arab's Best Company of the Year in November.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Wafa and her friends are part of a new generation of independent-thinking Middle Eastern girls: torch-bearers and trail-blazers.</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Today, almost as many <span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/statistics/statistical-tables/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">girls as boys attend</span></span></a> primary and secondary school. In the majority of Arab countries where there's data, <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/leading-the-international-agenda/efareport/statistics/statistical-tables/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">women outnumber men</span></span></a> at university, and more women than men <a href="http://www.nature.com/nmiddleeast/2013/130507/full/nmiddleeast.2013.67.html"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">s<span style="color: black;">tudy science</span></span></a>.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I see and I hear that determination to succeed every day in Jordan.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Recently, I visited a girls' school in the south of Jordan where 12-year-old Noor told me about her grandmother, a famous storyteller who narrated other people's stories. Noor was proud of her "teta," but she had her own dream.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">"I want to be mayor," she said. "I want to build a library full of books; I want to build a park so that children can play safely."</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Noor wanted to write her own story. I knew then that she, and girls like her, would write a new chapter for our region.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">It won't be easy. We have a long way to go. Increases in girls' attendance at school and university are not yet reflected in politics, the job market or society's mindsets. And there are still 5 million girls out of primary and secondary school across the Arab world.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But as the political, social and economic plates shift and settle around our region, there's never been a better time for girls to rise up and share their talents with society. And, girls! Society has never needed you more.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">We know that in every country around the world, healthy, educated girls can play a crucial role in stabilizing societies, resolving conflicts, bolstering democracies, strengthening economies and nurturing healthy and educated children.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">But they can't do it alone.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Role models can inspire. Campaigns can motivate. But if we want all girls everywhere to rise up, then we must find them, befriend them and support them.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">That means going outside our comfort zones. Maybe they're recovering from civil war in Sierra Leone, like Mariama -- now educated and a popular radio DJ. Maybe they're trapped in servitude in Nepal, like Suma -- now an activist working to free others. Maybe they're living in slums in India, like Ruksana -- now strong and in school. <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/30/world/gallery/girl-rising/index.html"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">(Find out more about their stories.)</span></span></a></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And it means using our voices to speak up for those who cannot yet be heard. Lobbying for girl-friendly policies. Working with governments, non-governmental organizations, U.N. agencies and the private sector to create momentum for change.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will it be easy? No.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Will it be as hard as studying in the dark or sleeping on a pavement? Enduring slavery or rebuilding a life after war? Going to school hungry and still achieving good grades? Certainly not.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And if we falter in our resolve, let's remember the strength and dignity of Wafa, Noor, Mariama, Suma, Ruksana and girls everywhere who, every day, fight for their right to education and opportunity.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">If one girl with courage is a revolution, imagine what feats we can achieve together.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">-- Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah</span></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; padding: 0px 24px 19px 186px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline;">
<br /></div>
Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-49660108860002400112013-06-05T07:00:00.000-04:002013-06-05T07:00:06.977-04:00YA Lit & Social AttitudesFashion to hairstyles. Sexual orientation to lifestyles. Racism, bigotry, prejudice, bullying, and even rape. <b><i>How does social attitudes affect YA literature? </i></b><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;"> (This is a repost from my personal blog. I felt it was such an important topic in YA literature that it deserved a second look, even a third if you'd like to write a post on this subject yourself.)</span><br />
******<br />
I recently came across a video showing a young man taking a stand against a fashion mogul. Some of you may have seen this video or read the post. I've posted links to both at the end of this article.<br />
<br />
The gist of the story is that Abercrombie & Fitch - huge young adult fashion icon - has publicly stated they want to cut off the <i>not-so-cool-kids</i> from purchasing their products. Uh-hmmm. Excuse me? This is just as bad as the recent admission from Starbucks that <i>traditional marriage lovers</i> should stay home. Dude, I'm cool with however someone wants to live their life, but I'm thinking that being married to the same man for over twenty years kind of makes me a traditional marriage lover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvNyLWiiO4A/UZKx1MPia0I/AAAAAAAAFKE/qzQ4TG3YeMs/s1600/1-Downloads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xvNyLWiiO4A/UZKx1MPia0I/AAAAAAAAFKE/qzQ4TG3YeMs/s320/1-Downloads.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Apparently, Starbucks believes those who've been in a traditional marriage are against anyone else's views. Or maybe they think we might be allergic to their coffee or that it causes teenage acne; teens do drink boatloads of coffee today, do they not? That must be the reason, yes? And it looks like A&F has developed a perfect description of the <i>not-so-cool-kids</i> in America and around the world. So, who exactly is this group of kiddos?<br />
<ul>
<li>the teen boy, who wears hammy-downs from his cousin because he works two jobs to help his family buy oil for the winter?</li>
<li>or what about the sophomore girl, whose eyeglasses are too big for her face but her parents can't afford to buy her more expensive ones?</li>
<li>maybe it's the high school senior unable to afford college or simply feels that school is not his/her thing?</li>
<li>could it be the teenage cashier or bus-boy, or babysitter? </li>
</ul>
<div>
Another issue A&F has decided to go public with is their opinion of overweight people, woman in particular. A&F will not make large or extra-large clothing for woman, wanting only the <i>fit </i>or <i>lean</i> woman showing off their brand. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<b>What I want to discuss today is how social attitudes such as these affect young adult literature and how much responsible </b><b>should rest on those larger entities </b><b>for influencing our YA population. Do young adult authors include such dynamics in their stories. If they do, how much responsibility is theirs--ours?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Now, I'm not a bible toting person and I rarely refer to religion here. But the later half of the above sentence brought to mind a life lesson I've learned over the years, which just happens to be a biblical truth: <i>Do well in the smaller things and you will be entrusted with larger things.</i><br />
<b><br /></b>We've seen YA literature of the past address racism, prejudice, and teen gangs. To Kill A Mocking Bird and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn came out in a time when racism was outwardly prevalent. Did writing about such a social issue during its modern height add to social awareness or simply poke a stick at it, giving haters the nod? The Outsiders released later, but also dealt with racism, gangs, acceptance or the lack of it. Did that story open new views about such issues?<br />
<br />
Now writers have no control over how their audience will react to the social issues they choose to explore through their work. However, they can control the manner in which it's delivered. It is my opinion that To Kill A Mocking Bird, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and The Outsiders did open new views on those social issues. Countless other young adult stories, whose authors had the courage to explore such social thorns and expose them for what they were/are, have done the same.<br />
<br />
<b>How did these authors and these particular stories open new views? Was it timing, delivery, character & story setting, a combo of both, or something more? Does society have to be<i><span style="color: #0b5394;"> ready</span></i> for the challenge to change?</b><br />
<br />
Granted, there are more pressing issues than the one raised here about A&F. But we, as young adult authors, are in a unique position. We can stand up and shed light on such issues. And in doing so, we can lean to the right or the left, weaving our opinions through our characters, settings, and overall arcs. We can remain neutral and thread both sides of a social attitude through our stories, letting the reader form their own opinions. We must always remember--as A&F and Starbucks have obviously forgotten--that we're dealing with impressionable teenagers. We have the ability to make a difference, change wrongs of humanities' past, and pave the road for a brighter mankind.<br />
<br />
But on the other hand, we <i>are</i> merely writers. Each of us living in our own space and time, towns and ideals--social attitudes. Where do the young adult readers fit into this? My three teenagers would be the first to tell you they know it all or that they can handle it. They've even told me that I've raised them to know better. Although that is encouraging, the world is much bigger than me alone. Then you alone.<br />
<br />
With today's social media and technology being merely a fingertip away, teens are inundated with social opinions and attitudes. So many of these are delivered by retailers through products or services attractive to young people. Just look at the Homecoming or Prom gowns of today. Most of the gowns I see make me ask "Where the heck is the rest of it?" Retailers airbrush amazing images of high school girls draped in gorgeous gowns, coxing teen girls to want whatever they are selling. Once again, how does this simple act of buying a prom dress affect YA literature?<br />
<br />
Laurie Halse Anderson spotlighted the topic of teen rape in her amazing book SPEAK. The gripping story of a young girl, who was raped yet feared to tell anyone, created a great stir among teen and adult groups alike. As most of you know, that book was placed on a band book list years ago.<br />
<br />
Let's talk about branding and platforms. As authors, we all want to sell books. For the most part, authors say they write because they want to share stories with the world, love to create and explore, and simply enjoy writing. But let's be honest, we also have to make a living. So that lends to the subject of platform. What content do I use on my blog? What topics do I steer away from? What social attitudes am I willing to include in my work, and will any of those alienate a group of readers, marketers, publishers? I'm not sure about you, but even though I write for kids/tweens/teens, I'd love for my books to be read by everyone regardless of age, race, status, etc.... The question we have to ask ourselves here is<i><b> "Am I willing to sellout my personal ideals, morals, and opinions to sell my books? If not, how far am I willing to push the envelope of bucking-the-social-system?"</b></i><br />
<br />
So why would A&F cut off certain buyers? Is it solely for appearances? Social status? Do authors do the same thing?<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #0b5394;">How do young adult authors incorporate these social attitudes in our stories without preaching? How do we deliver material in such a way that gives the young adult reader the freedom to form his/her own attitudes and feel courageous enough to stand up for them?</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>My answer to those two questions is simple: </b><i>I will remain true to myself in all things, even if it goes against the grain of accepted social attitudes. </i><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What is your answer? </b></span><br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<b><br />Here are the links:</b> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/14/abercrombie-and-fitch-homeless-brand-readjustment_n_3272498.html" target="_blank">ARTICLE</a> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=O95DBxnXiSo" target="_blank">VIDEO</a>. (I would love it if you'd share this article. I'd really like to start a discussion about this, maybe make a difference. THX!)S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-54830409858534099662013-05-30T06:00:00.000-04:002013-05-30T06:00:00.605-04:00WHOSEYWHATSIT THURSDAY: The Importance of Book ReviewsI love reading book reviews.<br />
<br />
Actually, let me restate that. I love reading honest book reviews. Not the "this author was so mean to me at a book signing" jaded ones. Not the "I'm the author's best friend, therefore I have to write a glowing review" gushing ones. Not the "I hate the cover, but I've never read the book" non-applicable ones.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DT-3McVrkos/UaaftSIFAdI/AAAAAAAABx4/7j2yOBQ-IP4/s1600/3-stars-out-of-5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="74" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DT-3McVrkos/UaaftSIFAdI/AAAAAAAABx4/7j2yOBQ-IP4/s320/3-stars-out-of-5.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I like the honest, in depth reviews. Whether it's on a blog, Goodreads, or Amazon, I read reviews before I invest in a novel ... and sometimes I will read a review after I finish the book too. I like to glean new insight and find like-minded readers. It's what I love about Goodreads. I can find a similar reviewer, and easily pick out new books based on the ones they rated highly.<br />
<br />
I'm not going to do that for the people who only give 5 stars, or 3 stars, or 1 star for that matter. The best reviewers are the ones who dispense a variety of ratings, who give reasons behind their review, and who are objective.<br />
<br />
Are you a reviewer? Feel free to post your blog URL or Goodreads username in the comments below!Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-46410370150130984952013-05-29T22:03:00.000-04:002013-05-29T22:03:03.749-04:00Writer's Wednesday: Realistic vs. Believable<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4jcqyDH_6WQ/T_UR96hXYyI/AAAAAAAAAPk/6YLMOT6sMfQ/s1600/154459462189853507_4eU8bFVc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4jcqyDH_6WQ/T_UR96hXYyI/AAAAAAAAAPk/6YLMOT6sMfQ/s1600/154459462189853507_4eU8bFVc_c.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
This week, I'm revising an old manuscript. And I've been thinking about a piece of writing advice I heard some time ago at a conference (SCBWI Florida--the next conference is coming up next week!!!!): Your characters/their actions/dialogue/plot have to be BELIEVABLE but not necessarily REALISTIC.<br />
<br />
I've heard this before, and it's usually emphasized when discussing dialogue. You know, the whole, "Real people talk with lots of ums and uhs and stops and starts. No one wants to read that." (Which is completely true, by the way. Great dialogue is believable without being truly realistic.)<br />
<br />
But I've also run into this as an issue in my manuscripts as it relates to character actions/reactions. It seems there is a fine line between realistic behavior and believable behavior. Particularly when it relates to information the reader knows and the protagonist doesn't.<br />
<br />
For example, in one of my old manuscripts (a paranormal), there is something strange going on. The protagonist doesn't like it/has a bad feeling, but REALISTICALLY, there is no reason for him to be truly alarmed. It's weird, but he has no reason to think that anything really bad is happening--until it gets really bad.<br />
<br />
At least, that's how I want it to come across. But I've had readers question why he doesn't do something sooner. And the only reason I can think of for this is that they, as the reader, have read the description of the book. They KNOW something really bad is happening. So they want the protag to act sooner, and they have trouble BELIEVING that he wouldn't.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm struggling with this line in my writing right now. Have you ever run into this problem? Have you ever read a book and had trouble with believability because the character was perhaps too realistic?Larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-38231129936505182512013-05-28T08:00:00.000-04:002013-05-28T08:00:08.655-04:00TBR TuesdayI hope everyone had a fabulous Memorial Day! <br />
<br />
With the end of the school year this week, I'm in the mood of a fun summer romance read. When I read the description for this one, I knew it was a must-read for me. What do you think?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0316212059/yalit-20">THE RULES OF SUMMER</a> by Joanna Philbin<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPw1OpEhRsM/UaIOkXIt6tI/AAAAAAAADqU/YtPqJ4_6rC8/s1600/rules.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OPw1OpEhRsM/UaIOkXIt6tI/AAAAAAAADqU/YtPqJ4_6rC8/s320/rules.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">There are two sides to every summer.</span></span><br />
<div style="min-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When seventeen-year-old Rory McShane steps off the bus in East Hampton, it's as if she's entered another universe, one populated by impossibly beautiful people wearing pressed khakis and driving expensive cars. She's signed on to be a summer errand girl for the Rules -- a wealthy family with an enormous beachfront mansion. Upon arrival, she's warned by other staff members to avoid socializing with the family, but Rory soon learns that may be easier said than done.</span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Stifled by her friends and her family's country club scene, seventeen-year-old Isabel Rule, the youngest of the family, embarks on a breathless romance with a guy whom her parents would never approve of. It's the summer for taking chances, and Isabel is bringing Rory along for the ride. </span></span><br />
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">But will Rory's own summer romance jeopardize her friendship with Isabel? And, after long-hidden family secrets surface, will the Rules' picture-perfect world ever be the same?</span></span><br />
Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-91951732852798534872013-05-22T14:05:00.001-04:002013-05-22T15:47:39.215-04:00Today's stinkOkay y'all, have you seen today's stink in the writing world?<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?docId=1001197421" target="_blank">Amazon has released it's platform for making bank on fan-fic.</a> </b></span><br />
Suddenly my Twitter and FB feeds exploded with people reacting to the news. You can find all the info on KindleWorlds <a href="http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1823219&highlight=" target="_blank">HERE </a><br />
Fan-fic writers will be able to upload and sell their stories based off other licensed authors/creators characters and worlds. So far, the major liscensor is Alloy Entertainment, the people behind The Vampire Diaries, Pretty Little Liars and more. We all know how Alloy cut LJ Smith out of the series she'd been writing, so this kind of a move doesn't surprise me from them.<br />
I'm not sure how I feel about this. If you want to write fan-fic, more power to you. To each their own. Have a blast. I know lots of writers that do. I never have, unless you consider Broken fan-fic of Frankenstein.<br />
Some camps say any publicity is good publicity. Others are saying mine-mine-mine! Others have so many thoughts and concerns they're hard to voice. I'm in an odd position to look at this now, and once I figured out what KindleWorlds is, my brain went into a tangled mess of what-ifs, and what-about-the-authors, and would-people-really-pay-for-its. Then, Fifty Shades came to mind, and I though Yep, lots of people woul pay for it. Which drags my brain further down the rabbit hole of. it's based off SMeyers world/characters, shouldn't she get a cut? It's going to be a film, shouldn't the CREATOR OF THAT WORLD get something out of it? KindleWorlds is opening up a big wriggling, gritty, can of worms.<br />
You can read a great look at this issue, and some fab feedback on Chuck Wendig's blog <a href="http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/05/22/all-your-fanfiction-belong-to-us-what-the-fuck-is-kindle-worlds/" target="_blank">HERE</a><br />
A business-y look at itcan be found on John Scalzi's blog <a href="http://whatever.scalzi.com/2013/05/22/amazons-kindle-worlds-instant-thoughts/" target="_blank">HERE </a><br />
And a post by the brilliant Gwenda Bond <a href="http://www.gwendabond.com/bondgirl/2013/05/packaging-it-up.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> on how the properties in question so far are "packaged."<br />
<br />
So what do <i>you</i> think? Good idea? Bad idea? Are you into fan-fic?AE Roughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262109683422690285noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-24499356924892629652013-05-16T06:00:00.000-04:002013-05-16T06:00:05.037-04:00WHOSEYWHATSIT THURSDAY: Stealing TimeWhen people find out I'm a writer ... that I've written several manuscripts ... they always ask a slew of questions. And somewhere in the midst is the question "where do you find the time?"<br />
<br />
These people know me. They know I have three insanely busy children, that I'm the incoming PTA president, that I'm on the board for my daughter's cheer squad, that I work as an editor.<br />
<img align="right" border="0" height="224" hspace="10" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b5qbFrzni9s/UZJ5lGYpAVI/AAAAAAAABvY/jRl_CP5HCJI/s320/medium_4020223838.jpg" width="320" /><br />
My first answer is that I'm a bad mom. When they laugh at that response - I adjust the answer a little and tell them that I steal time.<br />
<br />
You see, for me to write - I need complete silence and I have to know I will have a significant chunk of uninterrupted time ahead of me. I can't write when my husband is upstairs taking a shower, because inevitably he will come downstairs with a question. I can't write when I know my kids will be dropped of in 10 minutes, because I don't want to be in the middle of a scene.<br />
<br />
That leaves me approximately five mornings a week ... five mornings to concentrate and focus and power through my drafting or revisions. And so I have to try to keep everything else off my plate.<br />
<br />
I do that by stealing time.<br />
<br />
I steal minutes from my kids ... when they are doing homework I put away the dishes while looking over their shoulder. When they are playing nicely together upstairs, I pay the bills. I steal hours from <i>my</i> free time ... when I have errands to run, I schedule them when I will be in the area for something else. Or I time them so I can complete everything in one mad rush of a weekend morning. I steal minutes from my relaxing evenings ... making lunches while catching glimpses of <i>Grey's Anatomy</i> or folding laundry while catching up with my husband about his day.<br />
<br />
By getting all my tasks done, I am able to really write during the very few minutes of peace and quiet.<br />
<br />
How do you fit in writing?<br />
<br />
<i>photo credit: </i><i><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougbelshaw/4020223838/">dougbelshaw</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc</a></i>Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-261822099503686082013-05-15T07:00:00.000-04:002013-05-15T07:00:04.153-04:00Writer's Wednesday: Writing Check-InHappy Wednesday, Oasis-Seekers!<br />
<br />
I don't know about you guys, but the end of the school year is kicking my butt. I have three kids and teach preschool, so ... YIKES. End of year projects, parties, awards, gifts, and on and on.<iframe aria-label="Edit post. Compose mode." class="composeBox editable" frameborder="0" id="postingComposeBox" name="Rich text editor" style="background-color: white; height: 100%; padding: 0px;"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167939@N07/8599701594/" title="upload by Scotty00, on Flickr"><img alt="upload" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8086/8599701594_c27b7e70ca.jpg" width="500" /></a>
<br />
There's not enough coffee to get me through the next two weeks. *needs coffee I.V.*<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/22167939@N07/8599701594/in/pool-1989082@N25/">Image courtesy of Scotty00 via WanaCommons</a> <br />
<br />
Consequently, my writing has been taking a bit of a backseat lately, but I really want to make some headway on revisions before the upcoming local SCBWI conference.<br />
<br />
So, I thought it might be fun to do a bit of a check-in and goal-setting here. I'm going to give myself a lot of leeway, given my ridiculously long and overwhelming To-Do list, but feel free to be as loose or as strict with your goals as you want. Post them in the comments, and I will check back in with you and see how you did.<br />
<br />
For me, by the end of the month (May), I want to finish revising TS and send it out, and do at least four more chapters of revision on M. (Eep! That sounds like a lot!)<br />
<br />
What are your goals? Or, if you don't feel like setting any, how is your writing coming along? What are you working on? Where are you in the process?<br />
<br />
<br />Larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-9750982783775803592013-05-14T07:30:00.000-04:002013-05-14T07:30:00.672-04:00TBR TuesdayI thought I'd mix it up a little this week and NOT ONLY tell you about an upcoming release I'm looking forward to, but the next book that's getting dusted off and moved to the top of my current to-read list.<br />
<br />
First, I just moved <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11556960-crewel">CREWEL</a> by Gennifer Albin to the next in line on my personal TBR pile. I know this has gotten some mixed reviews, but it's one I've just got to read. <b><i>Should I be excited?</i></b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3zFcOEFeU8/UZGLG7wfqBI/AAAAAAAADmg/6OCqFmHfZ1w/s1600/crewel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z3zFcOEFeU8/UZGLG7wfqBI/AAAAAAAADmg/6OCqFmHfZ1w/s200/crewel.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Enter a tangled world of secrets and intrigue where a girl is in charge of other’s destinies, but not her own.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys has always been special. When her parents discover her gift—the ability to weave the very fabric of reality—they train her to hide it. For good reason, they don’t want her to become a Spinster — one of the elite, beautiful, and deadly women who determine what people eat, where they live, how many children they have, and even when they die.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"> </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Thrust into the opulent Western Coventry, Adelice will be tried, tested and tempted as she navigates the deadly politics at play behind its walls. Now caught in a web of lies and forbidden romance, she must unravel the sinister truth behind her own unspeakable power. Her world is hanging by a thread, and Adelice, alone, can decide to save it — or destroy it.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>
And I'm really excited to read... <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780385741460">BELLE EPOQUE</a> by Elizabeth Ross<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="color: #333233;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VX7GdGTBNrA/UZGLA_sBPBI/AAAAAAAADmY/88eqvLrYeWo/s1600/belle+epique.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VX7GdGTBNrA/UZGLA_sBPBI/AAAAAAAADmY/88eqvLrYeWo/s200/belle+epique.jpg" width="131" /></a><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When Maude Pichon runs away from provincial Brittany to Paris, her romantic dreams vanish as quickly as her savings. Desperate for work, she answers an unusual ad. The Durandeau Agency provides its clients with a unique service—the beauty foil. Hire a plain friend and become instantly more attractive.<br />
<br />
Monsieur Durandeau has made a fortune from wealthy socialites, and when the Countess Dubern needs a companion for her headstrong daughter, Isabelle, Maude is deemed the perfect adornment of plainness.<br />
<br />
But Isabelle has no idea her new "friend" is the hired help, and Maude's very existence among the aristocracy hinges on her keeping the truth a secret. Yet the more she learns about Isabelle, the more her loyalty is tested. And the longer her deception continues, the more she has to lose. <br />
<br />
Inspired by a short story written by Emile Zola, Belle Epoque is set at the height of bohemian Paris, when the city was at the peak of decadence, men and women were at their most beautiful, and morality was at its most depraved.</span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333233;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="color: #333233;">
<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It comes out June 11th, so less than 1 months away. <i><b>What have you been looking forward to lately?</b></i></span></span></div>
Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-75956283425283854952013-05-09T09:00:00.000-04:002013-05-09T09:00:02.739-04:00WHOSEYWHATSIT THURSDAY: Series coversI don't know about you, but I like the series I read to <i>look like series</i>. I used to be batty about them being the same size, but I got over that. I figure if I need to read it, I'm buying it no matter what size it is. The cover art, though... It has to look like a series for me. Amy Plum's Revenant series got it right:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358427893l/9462812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1358427893l/9462812.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1335240840l/12908877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1335240840l/12908877.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1357766133l/12700337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1357766133l/12700337.jpg" width="209" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
These covers go together. Theme, color saturation, font, filigree. All of it. They're gorgeous on their own, and stunning altogether. This is a series done right. Another couple exmples: Leah Clifford's A Touch series, and Kiersten White's Paranormalcy series.<br />
<br />
It really makes me cranky when a publisher changes the theme/style for a series' cover in the middle. You expect them to look similar, like the examples above, so you know what you're looking for when you go to the bookstore, so they present a single theme<i></i>. It really throws me off when covers change, when the cover artists, or marketing department makes a change that really seems to jump the shark. I can't be the only one so nutty about covers, right?<br />
<br />
For example, the Nightshade series, by Andrea Cremer:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333400218l/7402393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1333400218l/7402393.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
The cover for the first has a hint of feral wth her eye color, but it's harder to guess the genre or subject matter from the image. Flowers? Pretty blonde? Wispy hair? Intense expression? What is this cover saying, exactly? For me, it's very hard to guess the story content from the image, until I look at her eyes.<br />
<br />
Then you have the cover for the sequel:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323140262l/7263429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1323140262l/7263429.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
This one screams paranormal, it has the word 'wolf' in the title, and it has it in the feel of the cover, too. We've gone from just animal eye color to a more agreesive crouching pose, like the model could pounce. The dark background shouts this is a paranormal book. The moon on high behind her cinches it. I would know this is a werewolf book without the title or blurb.<br />
<br />
Do the two go together? Not to me. Not at all. It make my image-oriented nit-picky brain kinda twitchy.<br />
<br />
How about another example from a very popular YA series?<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348085121l/8235178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348085121l/8235178.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
The cover for Beth Revis's Across the Universe sold me even before I read
the first chapter online. The colors, the design... *covets* You knew it was sci-fi, you knew it was star-crossed lovers, or a story set in space, maybe both in one. I HAD TO HAVE IT. The close, almost-kiss position of the models on the cover says so much about the story, the gorgeous starry sky says a lot about it too.<br />
<br />
Then, the sequel cover was released. I was amoung the hundreds waiting, wiping foam from the corners of my mouth. And the cover did not disappoint:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330214586l/10345927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1330214586l/10345927.jpg" width="136" /></a></div>
They are BEAUTIFUL together. *contented sigh* The artist did a fantastic job of rendering an amazing sequel into one concise image. Again, you know this is a sci-fi, space, and romance in one novel. The colors are to die for gorgeous. The models say so much, possibly holding hands, his head bowed, her hand reaching for something beyond their bubble of life. Yep. It's perfect with its predecessor, and a perfect summary of the story.<br />
<br />
After these covers I was dying for the third. Imagine my shock and, yes, diappointment when the cover for the final book was revealed...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346494567l/10345937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1346494567l/10345937.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WHAMO!</b></span><br />
So not like the others, it was almost a smack in my panty-drooly-gimme more face. Where's the wistful colors, the sense of yearning in the models? Wait! Where <i>are</i> the models?? Sure, the vast majority of this story takes place on a planet, not a spaceship, but it's just so <i>DIFFERENT</i>. Nothing similar in composition, style, color, not even font, and no models. Yes, it fits elements of the novel, but I do not believe it fits the story as well as the others fit theirs. (I still liked the story...in case you were wondering. I had to have it despite the mismatched cover)<br />
<br />
Now, when you look at all the paperback versions of this series, the three have a definite theme and continuity, all close to the cover above. I feel a tad cheated I didn't get a pretty third cover, and I know if I hadn't seen the original cover, I would've missed out on an amazing series. <br />
<br />
What about you? Are you nutso about cover art continuity? Does the cover image matter to you? Do you have examples of cover series gone wrong? AE Roughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262109683422690285noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-84219411727272763542013-05-08T12:25:00.001-04:002013-05-08T17:22:07.537-04:00Writerly Wednesday: Character of Characters<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/2329109/?claim=p3x3c8hsmtd">Follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>
<br />
I was recently asked what drew me to writing in the first place. When I really thought about it, I realized it all boiled down to character - the character of the characters.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUJKLU7OHqA/UYp8YeQIptI/AAAAAAAAFD0/8QzOgvNvK0k/s1600/1-reflection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sUJKLU7OHqA/UYp8YeQIptI/AAAAAAAAFD0/8QzOgvNvK0k/s200/1-reflection.jpg" width="143" /></a>For me, people move a story forward. Yes, they participate in scenes, actions, thoughts, and such. Some stories contain so much adventure and mystery that it's easy to get completely absorbed in the world of the characters. But, as a reader, without developing a relatable connection with the <i>who</i> of a character or <br />
characters I lose interest. Therefore, I probably won't care what the story is about or where it's headed. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This thought process lends lots of positive avenues, when I'm in the mist of developing the <i>who</i> of my characters. Their likes and dislikes, their hopes, dreams, and frustrations are what not only motivate them to progress in the story, but also move me to push them and explore the world I live in as well as the one I'm creating for them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, to begin developing character within my characters I usually ask all or at least a combination of the following:</div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b>Conflicts</b> - What is my character going to face that he/she would rather not?</li>
<li><b>Motivations</b> - What motivates my character to move/change/change way of thinking?</li>
<li><b>Intentions</b> - What are my characters inner and outer intentions?</li>
<li><b>Weakness</b> - What weaknesses affect my character? How do these change his/her behavior both inwardly and outwardly? </li>
<li><b>Fears</b> - What frightens my character? What fears will not change his/her reaction to the world around them and what fears will? What is his/her greatest fear?</li>
<li><b>Quirks</b> - What strange or unusual feature does my character possess? Is it a physical feature or an ideal? Maybe both. </li>
<li><b>Perceptions</b> - How does my character view his/her world at the beginning of the story? (include both public and private views) </li>
<li><b>Foundation</b> - What is the one thing this character will not ever bend on? What influenced them to be so steadfast in this belief that it has helped mold them into who they are at the story's starting point?</li>
<li><b>Likability</b> - Would I like this character? Would we be friends?</li>
<li><b>Connections</b> - Does this character remind me of someone in my life? Why and what about him/her does?</li>
</ol>
<div>
I ask that last two questions to help myself become better in tune with the character and who he or she really is. As the writer, I want my readers to believe the character is living and breathing off the pages. To do that, I must believe that as I write.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>What questions do you ask yourself, while developing character?</b></span></div>
S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-79530786721563230762013-05-07T17:42:00.003-04:002013-05-07T17:42:38.194-04:00TBR Tuesday: Reboot by Amy TinteraIt's Tuesday - time to talk about a book in our <span style="font-weight: bold;">To Be Read</span> stack.<br />
<img align="right" border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SVttem1I0as/UYl0tlYXDWI/AAAAAAAABt0/Csy_SmCTqpw/s320/reboot.jpg" width="211" />
<br />
<b><br /></b><b>Reboot</b> by Amy Tintera actually hit stores today and I'm so excited to delve in! <br />
<br />
Amy lives nearby and has been to several local author events. She's SUCH a sweetheart and this book looks amazing.<br />
<br />
Goodreads Synopsis:<br />
<blockquote>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">The perfect soldier is done taking orders.</span></blockquote>
Check out the trailer too!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/adUV6qZgZdQ" width="560"></iframe></div>
Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-18551160374602994002013-05-02T09:00:00.000-04:002013-05-02T09:00:01.050-04:00Whoseywhatsit Thursday: Whatcha Bloggin' About?I've had blog content on the brain lately.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd-DpxKEgDA/Ttby4frXaFI/AAAAAAAAALM/LlxXxCkcV3A/s1600/whoseywhatsitOasis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Hd-DpxKEgDA/Ttby4frXaFI/AAAAAAAAALM/LlxXxCkcV3A/s1600/whoseywhatsitOasis.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I used to mostly follow blogs through the reader on my Blogger dashboard, but since I took over the pre-k at my work, I haven't had as much time to scroll through. So now, I mostly read via clicking through on twitter or facebook, or blogs I subscribe to via email.<br />
<br />
And recently, I've gotten a couple of emailed blogs that have me scratching my head. Like, constant posts about appearances. Now, I'm the first one to want to show up at author or writer events. Seriously. But, I live in Florida. So as much as I love you, I don't care if you're going to an event in Washington state. Sorry. And I kind of don't think that should be a blog post, you know? Add it to an events tab and tweet it or something.<br />
<br />
I'm not talking about a recap with pics and tidbits from an event--I love those. I'm talking about "I'm going to TLA, and will be here, here, and here. Come see me!" I mean, that's great, but you've set up for people from all over the world to get your blog content SENT TO THEIR EMAIL INBOXES. I don't know about you, but I already have to spend thirty minutes to an hour deleting junk email everyday. I don't need to get an extra email about your schedule at an event I'm nowhere near.<br />
<br />
Anyway, it got me thinking. What kind of blog content are you looking for, Oasis Seekers? What do you blog about? What blog posts of yours have gotten the most attention? What would you like to see more of here?<br />
Larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-27608141479155921322013-05-01T08:00:00.000-04:002013-05-01T08:00:16.848-04:00Writer's Wednesday: Have you been a good CP lately?<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://browse.deviantart.com/art/The-Writers-GIFT-355907212">Photo credit</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6kfJEoaWqU/UX5nYSWAERI/AAAAAAAADeY/ZWOXb1epGtA/s1600/the_writers__gift__by_facelessjr-d5vwbrg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o6kfJEoaWqU/UX5nYSWAERI/AAAAAAAADeY/ZWOXb1epGtA/s400/the_writers__gift__by_facelessjr-d5vwbrg.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As I think back on how I got started in writing, and what made me better, I've got to think that critiquing others' work was huge. It wasn't because I knew so much and had so much to offer other starting writers. Not at all. It was that by examining the work of others, I was able to find flaws that I <strike>might </strike>would have overlooked in my own work.<br />
<br />
Things like the dreaded passive voice, annoying dialog tags, overusing a character's name in dialog, and a deluge of adjectives. When we are writing, these things can all sound really good in our own heads. For example, when we say:<br />
<br />
"I know, Beth, but this is serious."<br />
<br />
"I hear you, James."<br />
<br />
We often think we're adding extra emphasis or gravity to our words. But when we read it in others' work, we realize that all it does is add words that characters would probably never say in real life. <br />
<br />
So here's my Writer's Wednesday advice for those of you who aren't regularly critiquing another's work: give it a try! Join the <a href="http://yalitchat.ning.com/group/firspagescritgroup">First Pages group on YALitChat</a> (it's free). Ask a writer friend if they need another set of eyes. Or even just pick up the book you're reading and pretend you've been hired to edit it. What would you change? What bothers you?<br />
<br />
Now... how can you change that for the better in your own writing?Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-31717711248914303072013-04-30T04:30:00.000-04:002013-04-30T06:13:53.793-04:00Required Reading<br />
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blog.credoreference.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/blog_logos-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://blog.credoreference.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/blog_logos-01.png" width="200" /></a></div>
I don't even know if there's such a thing as required reading in our education system anymore and I say this because I have a weird hypothesis floating through my brain when it comes to reading and young people. (If there is required reading in some jurisdictions, I'd love to hear from you)</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
You see, we've been hearing a lot lately about the fact that <a data-mce-href="http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/education/reading_all_about_it_1_3009147" href="http://www.northantset.co.uk/news/education/reading_all_about_it_1_3009147">fewer and fewer young people are picking up books and reading them</a>. Don't worry, though, I'm forty-five and they were saying the same thing back in the early 1980's when I was attending high school, so maybe it's possible that young people think that books suck? Who knows? Maybe it's an inter-generational fact that no matter what authors and the book industry do, kid's ain't going to read a whole hell of a lot.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
I'll get to the hypothesis in a moment, bear with me.</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
Once upon a time in the days before smartphones, text messaging, and mind rotting reality television that is a harbinger of the fall of western civilization, I was in the public school system, I can only remember one time, in 1979, when I was required to read a book for class. As I recall, I had a choice between three books: Gone with the Wind, The Hobbit and Fahrenheit 451. (I read Fahrenheit 451, by the way. I was twelve and I do remember this much: I didn't get it. Maybe I should have read The Hobbit.) My son who just turns 23 this year didn't have any required reading in class - I know this because I'm his dad, but also because I asked him this past Saturday and he told me that he didn't recall a required reading project either.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
This might be true for you and your kids - or maybe every region is different. But onto that hypothesis that I'd mentioned. I think kids might read if they are given a choice of stuff to read that has a cool factor. (Or possibly a book that relates to their personal life experience.) Cool factor books could be, for example, books that have magic, time travel, superheroes or maybe even a troll or two thrown in for good measure. Or maybe even a book about sparkly vampires that date teenage girls. (I know, I'm going to get hate mail for typing that, but geez, at least the kids would be reading, right?) They might also want to read about themselves and the issues they are facing in their young lives - no it doesn't have to be "issues" based - there is still a market for contemporary middle grade and young adult books. Who knows, it might capture children's imaginations enough to make them want to, I don't know, read another book once they finish the one they've got.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
Given that books have to compete XBox 360, iPads and Facebook - but really, is it possible to use a social networking tool like Facebook to get kids reading and to do it in concert with the education system? I mean, if Facebook is cool <a href="http://www.geekosystem.com/facebook-users-way-down/">(which it may no longer be ... apparently everyone is leaving Facebook in North America)</a> and say a school throws its lot in with genre fiction and books about them, is it possible to get kids talking within their social networks about the books they've read? (Or would having schools using Facebook to educate kids suddenly make Facebook itself uncool and would this unleash the wrath of Mark Zuckerberg?)</div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
I'm throwing this out the the universe to consider: are there any educators reading my blog today who think this is doable?<br />
<br />
I think we all eventually start to read at some point in our lives, but I just think the school system could probably do a lot to foster a love of reading if they can figure out how to tap into kids interests a bit better. (This means that reading needs to be a pastime as opposed to an assignment or homework. The minute reading smells like homework, I think you're going to lose young people a thousand kinds of fast.) Similarly, is there a culture of reading at home or are parents not reading themselves? We live what we learn, I suppose.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
This is something I've been thinking a lot about lately and I thought to see what others believe. It's important, too - I mean, with government austerity measures being implemented globally in the fallout of the world-wide economic crash of apocalyptic proportions we've been experiencing since 2008, you just know that libraries are on the hit list for cuts. We've seen it in the UK and they're even talking about it in Toronto, Canada's biggest city.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">
So ... what's the solution, dear readers? Can required reading be cool? Can it be done? Do schools want to take this on or is there not enough literary merit in books about sparkly vampires or child wizards at Hogwarts.</div>
Sean Cummingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550744638377851070noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-70402594594616053592013-04-25T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-25T06:00:13.758-04:00Whosewhatsit Thursday: UNITY 4 Boston<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHmqppXLjPk/UXbxIXL6KYI/AAAAAAAAE7g/KIL-TUUoKxI/s1600/Boston+Charity+Book+Giveaway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span id="goog_1896199679"></span><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HHmqppXLjPk/UXbxIXL6KYI/AAAAAAAAE7g/KIL-TUUoKxI/s1600/Boston+Charity+Book+Giveaway.jpg" /><span id="goog_1896199680"></span></a>In the wake of the horrific events that rocked Boston last week, I felt the need to veer from our regular <b><i>Whoseywhatsit Thursday </i></b>to give positive attention to the good that rose from those ashes. <i><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The following I posted yesterday on my site.</span></i><br />
<br />
Boston, and our nation, became fully UNITED. Family is family, and when tragedy strikes home, Americans UNITE as a family. And so does our writing community. As always, the writing community saw a need in the world and is stepping forward to make a difference. I am honored to spread word of this valiant cause and, if you feel moved, would you tweet this?<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-no-proof: yes;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600"
o:spt="75" o:preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f"
stroked="f">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/>
<v:formulas>
<v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/>
<v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/>
<v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/>
<v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/>
</v:formulas>
<v:path o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/>
<o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/>
</v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_11" o:spid="_x0000_i1026" type="#_x0000_t75"
style='width:183pt;height:183pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square'>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\SHERIL~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><span id="goog_1896199619"></span><span id="goog_1896199625"></span><span id="goog_1896199626"></span><span id="goog_1896199620"></span><!--[endif]--></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">We are helping to spread the word about this amazing
book giveaway that was created to aid the victims and families of the 2013
Boston Marathon Attack. Many best-selling authors have donated books in response to this cause. The books are
grouped into bundle packs and a winner will be selected randomly through
Rafflecopter for each bundle. Visit </span><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-6.html"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">the
book giveaway site</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> for more details and how to enter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
If you do not want to enter to win a bundle, please feel free to make a donation
using </span><a href="https://onefundboston.org/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">this link</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. It will take you directly to the organization donation
site.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19pt; margin-bottom: 0.1pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b>The auction will run from April 21-April 30th.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 19.0pt; margin-bottom: .1pt;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-1.html#more">Book
Bundle #1<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the Name of Love<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Hopeless
by Colleen Hoover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Easy by Tammara
Webber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fallen Too
Far & Never Too Far by Abbi Glines<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">FATE by Elizabeth
Reyes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">CRUSH by Nicole
Williams<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Disastrous
by EL Montes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-2_20.html">Book
Bundle #2<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Everybody Needs Somebody to Love<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Slammed
& Point of Retreat by Colleen Hoover<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What a Boy
Wants, What a Boy Needs and Measuring Up by Nyrae Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sleep My
Child by Eyvonna Rains</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
ebooks: Shark Bait & The Other Fish in the Sea by Jenn Cooksey<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-3.html">Book
Bundle #3<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Just the Way You Are</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly
Royal by Nichole Chase<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inhale
Exhale by Sarah Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Destined
to Change by Lisa Harley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Music of
the Heart by Katie Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wide Awake
by Shelly Crane<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-4.html">Book
Bundle #4<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I Walk the Line<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Thoughtless Series by SC Stephens<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Walking
Disaster by Jamie McGuire</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
</span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17667913-until-i-break?ac=1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Until I Break by M. Leighton</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">-ARC<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collide by
Gail McHugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-5.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book Bundle #5</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stand By Me<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love
Unscripted & Love Unrehearsed by Tina Reber<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collide by
Gail McHugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Love Em’
or Leave Em’ by Angie Stanton<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On The
Island byTracey Garvis-Graves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-6.html">Book
Bundle #6<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I Wanna Hold Your Hand<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
Copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Poughkeepsie
by Debra Anastasia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naked, All
In by Raine Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Collide by
Gail McHugh<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Signed
Wreck Me, <b>ebook</b> Restore Me by JL Mac<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-7.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book Bundle #7</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Superstition<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Awaken and
Avenged by Sarah Ross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Darkride
and Crossfire by Laura Bradley Rede<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-8.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book Bundle #8</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Whole
Lotta Love<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Fall Guy
& Perfectly Unmatched by Liz Reinhardt<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Lengths
& Depths by Steph Campbell<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Charade
& Freeing Carter by Nyrae Dawn<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Destined
to Change by Lisa Harley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Prior
Engagement by SL Scott<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-9.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book Bundle #9</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Maybe
I'm Amazed<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A Hidden
Fire by Elizabeth Hunter<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Inescapable,
Intuition, Indebted and Incendiary by Amy Bartol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bostoncharitybookgiveaway.blogspot.com/2013/04/book-bundle-10.html"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Book Bundle #10</span></b></a><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Ain't Too Proud to Beg</span></i></b><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">SIGNED
copies of:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
Proposition and The Proposal by Katie Ashley<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Chocolate
Lovers Series by Tara Sivec<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">His
Perfect Passion and The Undoing of a Libertine by Raine Miller<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sponsors</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><a href="http://www.autumnreview.com/">The Autumn Review</a></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes;">All the amazing authors who donated their
books</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span id="goog_1896199673"></span><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" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ynpRTdU3Kos/UXb2TfrmCrI/AAAAAAAAE7s/Omvry4-51i8/s200/atomrtours.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="200" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://atomrbookblogtours.com/">http://atomrbookblogtours.com/</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://atomrbookblogtours.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-no-proof: yes; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_9" o:spid="_x0000_i1025"
type="#_x0000_t75" href="http://atomrbookblogtours.com/" style='width:113.25pt;
height:84.75pt;visibility:visible;mso-wrap-style:square' o:button="t">
<v:fill o:detectmouseclick="t"/>
<v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\SHERIL~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image002.jpg"
o:title=""/>
</v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--></span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
S.A. Larsenッhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-72950047574023196152013-04-24T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-24T06:00:17.585-04:00YA Novels: Where Are All The Schools?I came to an odd realization this week ... in most of the young adult novels I've read lately (<i>Passenger, Something Strange and Deadly, Rootless, Out of the Easy</i>) - there are no schools. Or if there are, they are superfluous buildings, rarely mentioned and rarely seen by the reader.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ginoi26k7HA/UXbiJaQNJ-I/AAAAAAAABrM/dDJmt7GqHcw/s1600/small_18636595.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ginoi26k7HA/UXbiJaQNJ-I/AAAAAAAABrM/dDJmt7GqHcw/s1600/small_18636595.jpg" /></a></div>
How is that even possible?<br />
<br />
Let's take a look.<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Dystopian</b>. In most dystopian novels the world has pretty much come to an end, and schools along with it. The plot follows survival, not education. </li>
<li><b>Historical</b>. Throw a novel into the past and education was a lot different. Sure, teens still went to school, but it definitely wasn't as a big factor in their social life. </li>
<li><b>Paranormal</b>. The schools in a paranormal world may exist, but they are either magically focused (wizards, fairies, mermaids, etc) or they are on the very fringes of the "normal" world in which the characters interact. </li>
<li><b>Summer Break.</b> One of my own manuscripts falls into this category. An easy way to get a character out of school, even in a contemporary novel, is to set the plot during summer break. </li>
</ul>
<div>
In middle grade novels, school can be an integral setting to showcase friendships, personal growth, and education bestowed upon the characters by adults. Whether the school is in today's world, a future world, or a fantastical world - most MG books use it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So how is it that YA books can avoid it? I think part of the reason is that YA novels are typically focused on a character's growth beyond just fitting in. It's about where a teen fits into his world. The world is a much bigger place than just school! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Granted, many contemporary novels incorporate high school as the perfect backdrop for social issues, romance, friendships, drama, and more. I just think novels in other genres have a bigger setting to work with. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What do you think?<br />
<br /></div>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/therefore/18636595/">Dean Terry</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com/">photopin</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">cc</a></span></i>Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-38930212839037601462013-04-23T09:00:00.000-04:002013-04-23T09:00:14.269-04:00TBR Tuesday: This is W.A.R.Happy Tuesday, everyone! I hope you had a great Earth Day yesterday!<br />
<br />
Today, I'm posting my TBR Tuesday about <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15765082-this-is-w-a-r">This is W.A.R.</a> by <a href="http://lisa-laura.blogspot.com/">Lisa and Laura Roecker</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsErCktUD8I/UXXOfcK0xII/AAAAAAAAAXY/Q1dTbz0j2qQ/s1600/15765082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CsErCktUD8I/UXXOfcK0xII/AAAAAAAAAXY/Q1dTbz0j2qQ/s320/15765082.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Here's the description from Goodreads:<br />
<br />
<i><span id="freeText8179084337895586619">At Hawthorne Lake
Country Club your trust fund can’t buy you happiness, but if it’s big
enough, it almost always buys innocence. When Willa Ames-Rowan drowns in
Hawthorne Lake everyone who’s anyone knows James Gregory is the one who
killed her. But no one will ever say a word. Enter The W.A.R. Four
girls, four motives to avenge Willa’s death, and only one rule: Destroy
the Gregory brothers at any cost. The girls pool their trust funds and
devise a series of elaborate pranks to deliver their own particular
brand of vigilante justice. Innocence is lost, battles are won, but it’s
the truth about what really happened that night that stands to destroy
them all.</span></i><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText8179084337895586619">It releases July 2! </span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText8179084337895586619">I was rather behind on my TBR pile and only recently read Lisa and Laura's first book Liar Society. Boy, was it a mistake to wait! I really enjoyed<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9182417-the-liar-society"> The Liar Society</a>--more than just about any recent release I've read in the past few months. I'm about to start the second Liar Society book, <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11524267-the-lies-that-bind">The Lies That Bind</a>, and I cannot wait to read This is W.A.R.</span><br />
<br />
<span id="freeText8179084337895586619">What about you? What books are you looking forward to? What books have you recently read that blew you away? </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Larissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08874147599272424056noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-30123395049307518352013-04-18T08:00:00.000-04:002013-04-18T08:00:10.532-04:00Whoseewhatsit Thursday: Major Swag Giveaway<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcMyfTdL8-c/UWllYwEL0gI/AAAAAAAADcs/7Yj3mQBQTyg/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VcMyfTdL8-c/UWllYwEL0gI/AAAAAAAADcs/7Yj3mQBQTyg/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
It's been awhile since we've done a giveaway here at the Oasis, so I thought I'd share some pretty cool swag that I've managed to collect during the past year. In this collection, we have:<br />
<br />
* an autographed Destined sticker<br />
* an autographed Touching the Surface bookmark<br />
* Touching the Surface sticker and bracelet<br />
* a Two and Twenty Dark Tales card<br />
* Childe series magnet and cards<br />
* original The Modified cards (before the cover change, these are vintage!)<br />
* Echo of an Earth Angel card<br />
* My Pathway to Books bookmark<br />
<br />
All you have to do to get your hands on these awesome goodies is to enter the rafflecopter below.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/410c8321/" id="rc-410c8321" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Jessie Harrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11581727105030086814noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-84137015788438053852013-04-17T06:24:00.000-04:002013-04-17T06:43:58.345-04:00Get your @#$ on Twitter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.geekinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Twitter-Help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.geekinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Twitter-Help.jpg" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Had Twitter been around when I started looking for an agent, I think the process of finding one would have been a heck of a lot easier. Why? Because there are tons of agents on there and each posts a boatload of valuable information - little tips and insights into how to find an agent, how the industry works, what the trends are on a given day ... I could write a lengthy list of the things I've learned from following agents on Twitter.<br />
<br />
I'd like to say that I was an early adopter of the medium - but I wasn't.<a href="http://twitter.com/saskatoonauthor"> I've been tweeting now since March 2009</a> - I have just over 12K tweets and I've only recently gathered more than a thousand followers. I'm not on there to get jillions of followers either - I use Twitter to interact with other authors and to follow people in the publishing industry as well as book bloggers. I'll get to them in a minute, but back to literary agents.<br />
<br />
The most valuable information I've learned from agents comes from their little observations on queries or partial submissions. Agent<a href="https://twitter.com/saramegibow"> Sara Megibow (@saramegibow)</a> often does what she calls<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%235pagesin5tweets&src=tyah"> <s style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #73706f; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none; white-space: pre-wrap;">#</s><b style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #171110; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: underline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5pagesIn5tweets</b></a> - where she will literally tweet her insights into the first five pages of a partial submission she'd requested. It's short, not always sweet and blunt as hell - it's also a valuable peek into the literary agent's mind. Other agents like <a href="https://twitter.com/mushenska">Juliet Mushens (@mushenska</a>) will host an #askagent - a period where anyone can ask an agent anything they like (within reason, of course) and the agent will answer. Bear in mind, it's not a pitch session. Agents on Twitter DO NOT LIKE, I repeat, DO NOT LIKE to be on the receiving end of a pitch from an author who is also on Twitter. When it happens, (and it does multiple times a day) that agent will let the entire world know that pitching on Twitter is lame, unprofessional and about a thousand other things. Seriously, that people actually pitch agents this way is still a bit of a wonder to me.<br />
<br />
Even my agent <a href="http://twitter.com/jennysavill1">Jenny Savill </a>has finally opened a Twitter account. She hasn't been on there for long and I expect that in time, she'll be posting her thoughts about publishing.<br />
<br />
I also follow bloggers. Why? To build a fan base and to interact with folks who love books, plain and simple. If a blogger loves your book, they're going to tell everyone. You know, when I went to London last year to launch my book <a href="http://strangechemistrybooks.com/books/poltergeeks-by-sean-cummings/">POLTERGEEKS</a>, I met a number of bloggers. It was a bit surreal because they actually treated me like I'm a bit of a celebrity when in fact, I'm just a yutz from Saskatoon who writes books about magic and blowing things up. What struck me was the sheer scale of their love of books - and what was really cool was the fact I was meeting people I'd been interacting with using an online medium. Mind bogglingly cool!<br />
<br />
See where I am going with this? Get your @#$% on Twitter and <u><b>you will learn about publishing in real time.</b></u> You will be exposed to valuable information that you can't get in the latest "how to get published" book. It's a fantastic tool for the fledgling author and even though I've been using it now for more than four years, I'm still learning something new every single day. Do check it out.Sean Cummingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01550744638377851070noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-38172039922588279882013-04-16T13:05:00.000-04:002013-04-16T13:05:25.436-04:00TBR TUESDAY: The Weight of Souls, by Bryony Pearce<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sadly there is no cover for this book to show off yet. I'm waiting<span style="font-size: small;">--rather i<span style="font-size: small;">mpatiently--f<span style="font-size: small;">or it. </span></span></span>I've got the insider track on this one, because it's coming out with<a href="http://strangechemistrybooks.com/" target="_blank"> Strange Chemistry. </a>And I'm not posting it because it's coming out with my publisher, b<span style="font-size: small;">ut because I really want to read it. <span style="font-size: small;">The Weight of Souls is </span></span>right up my Egypt and paranorma loving alley</span>! </span></h1>
<h1>
<a href="http://strangechemistrybooks.com/books/the-weight-of-souls-by-bryony-pearce/" target="_blank">The Weight of Souls</a></h1>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
Sixteen year old Taylor is cursed: if she is touched by the ghost of
a murder victim, then they pass a mark beneath her skin. She has three
weeks to find their murderer and pass the mark to them - letting
justice take place and sending them into the Darkness. And if she
doesn't make it in time? The Darkness will come for her...<br />
<br />
She spends her life trying to avoid ghosts, make it through
school where she's bullied by popular Justin and his cronies, keep her
one remaining friend and persuade her father than this is real and she
is not going crazy.<br />
<br />
But then Justin is murdered and everything gets a whole lot
worse. Justin doesn't know who killed him, so there's no obvious person
for Taylor to mark. The clues she has lead her to the V Club, a
vicious secret society at her school where no-one is allowed to leave
... and where Justin was dared to do the stunt that led to his death.<br />
<br />
Can she find out who was responsible for his murder before the
Darkness comes for her? Can she put aside her hatred for her former
bully to truly help him?
<br />
<br />
And what if she starts to fall for him?<br />
<br />
</span>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/qnSwcOmTDgc" width="560"></iframe>
AE Roughthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02262109683422690285noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8806244977869265498.post-26551794596338866292013-04-11T06:00:00.000-04:002013-04-11T06:00:13.260-04:00Whoseywhatsit Thursday: Flashback Writing Prompt<br />
It's time for another Whoseywhatsit writing prompt, from yours truly. This week's topic ...<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
<div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EyAdy87Zp9M/Tmu5D77AJ7I/AAAAAAAABcE/dNy1MAF2Q60/s200/whoseywhatsitOasis.jpg" /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FLASHBACKS</span></div>
<br />
I recently had to delve into my main character's backstory. Some of it worked its way into the novel as a flashback. Now it's your turn.<br />
<br />
You have up to 250 words to get your character into a scene from his/her past. Post those words below and then comment on at least one other person's writing. (You don't need to necessarily critique it, this isn't polished writing people!)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Ready. Set. Go!</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>(And here's mine ...)<br />
<br />
Penny stomped across the porch, letting the door slam behind her.<br />
<br />
"Penelope, get back here." Her aunt’s voice held a strength that belied her weakness. A wet cough and then more talking. "I know it’s difficult for you, but I can’t let you go."<br />
<br />
"I don’t want to live with you." Penny knew she sounded like a spoiled brat. But she felt trapped. Her aunt needed help with the farm. And as much as Penny understood the importance of the responsibility bestowed upon her, she still despised it.<br />
<br />
All she wanted to do was go to town.<br />
<br />
For one day.<br />
<br />
See the festivities. Buy a bag of sweets and suck on them until her fingers were sticky. Dare to try on a costume and pretend she was interested in purchasing it.<br />
<br />
"You can’t go." It was an order.<br />
<br />
Penny didn’t respond. She gathered up her skirts, sidestepped a puddle, and trekked across the grass until she reached the stable. Without thinking she pulled a saddle down from the rack and rested it against the side of the stall. She stroked the old pony, Cavallo, from his forelock down to the tip of his nose. "I know you’re tired, but I need to escape. Even for a bit."Nikkihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951894771043230927noreply@blogger.com1