Ramblings of a Drifting Mind

Review: Fracture

2012-01-20T08:00:00.000-06:00

Fracture by Megan Miranda Age Group: Young Adult Published: January 17, 2012 by Walker Children's Format: eARC, 272 pgs. Source: NetGalley Description: Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied

Review: Touch of Power

2012-01-05T18:21:00.000-06:00

Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder Age Group: Adult Published: December 20, 2011 by Mira Format: eARC, 394 pgs Source: NetGalley Description: Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan absorbs their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated

It's Not You. It's Me

2011-12-12T15:36:00.000-06:00

I don't know why, but lately I feel as if I can't speak freely any more. Not here. Not on my Facebook. Twitter seems safe for the time being. But any time I try to say how I feel I swear it's like I have to edit and censor everything I say because people just keep picking fights and making a huge deal out of things all over the internet. I'm afraid I'm going to say something and become the center

Review: How to Train Your Dragon

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-06:00

How to Train Your Dragon (Hiccup Horrendous Haddoc III #1) by Cressida Cowell Age Group: Middle Grade Published: February 1, 2010 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (first published 2003) Format: Paperback, 214 pgs. Source: Purchased Marvelous Middle Grade Monday Description: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a truly extraordinary Viking hero known throughout Vikingdom as "the Dragon

Review: Shiver

2011-12-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1) by Maggie Stiefvater Age Group: Young Adult Published: June 1, 2010 by Scholastic (first published 2009) Format: Paperback, 390 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: the cold. Grace has spent years watching the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—watches back. He feels deeply familiar to her, but she doesn't know why. the

Blargh.

2011-11-30T12:26:00.001-06:00

I didn't get a review up on Monday. I was going to get up and write it early Monday morning, but, uh, that didn't happen. There WILL be a review on Friday, and it shall be for Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. Because, in case you hadn't noticed, I don't always read books as soon as they come out (which explains why I won't be completing the 2011 DAC, oh well). I like to mix things up: genre, age

Tangled Tides: War of the Underwater Worlds

2011-11-25T08:00:00.000-06:00

Today is a very special day, and, no, I'm not referring to all the sales taking place for the time honored tradition that is Black Friday. No, I'm talking about the release of a very good book by a very awesome person: Karen Amanda Hooper's Tangled Tides. (In case you weren't here on Monday, you can read my review here.) The cool thing about Tangled Tides is that it's not just about merfolk;

Happy Holidays!!

2011-11-23T15:35:00.001-06:00

Hi, you've reached Amanda's blog; she's not here right now, but she hopes you'll all have a fabulous Thanksgiving full of fun, food, family, and friends. Your regular blog hostess will return on Friday for the Tangled Tides launch party. In the mean time, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Review: Tangled Tides

2011-11-21T08:00:00.000-06:00

Tangled Tides by Karen Amanda Hooper Age Group:Young Adult Published: November 25, 2011 by Rhemalda Format: eARC, 328 pgs Source: For Review 2011 Debut Author Challenge Description: Yara Jones doesn’t believe in sea monsters—until she becomes one. When a hurricane hits her island home and she wakes up with fins, Yara finds herself tangled up in an underwater world of mysterious merfolk

Review: If I Stay

2011-11-18T12:00:00.000-06:00

If I Stay by Gayle Forman Age Group: Young Adult Published: May 6, 2010 by Definitions (originally pub'd 2009) Format: Paperback, 224 pgs Source: Purchased Description: What if you had everything: A gorgeous boyfriend who was madly in love with you? Quirky hip parents who totally got you? A musical talent that could take you anywhere? What if your biggest problem in life was choosing which

First Drafting

2011-11-17T15:01:00.001-06:00

It's 3PM and I've only been up for a few hours. My sleep schedule is worse now than it was when I was still in college, and that's saying something. I usually try to get these posts up earlier in the day, but I don't seem to be up at all in the mornings anymore. My bad. Anywho, I'm working on a new book, and I'm really excited about it. TSA is waiting to be critiqued so all I can do is work on

Review: The Body Finder

2011-11-14T09:55:00.000-06:00

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Age Group: Young Adult Published: February 15, 2011 by HarperCollins/TN (first published 2010) Format: Paperback, 328 pgs Source: Purchased Description: Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more

Review: The Hunger Games

2011-11-11T12:36:00.001-06:00

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Age Group: Young Adult Published: July 6, 2010 by Scholastic (first published 2008) Format: Paperback, 374 pgs Source: Purchased Description: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing

Writing to Music

2011-11-10T13:48:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I talked about music on here, and since I spent all morning tweeting back and forth with someone across the pond about good scores to write to, I thought I might as well blog about music today. (Note, I tried to post this earlier and, despite saving, Blogger deleted half my post and then froze me out for a good 45 minutes. So this was supposed to go up over an hour ago.)

Review: The Near Witch

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000-06:00

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab Age Group: Young Adult Published: August 2, 2011 by Hyperion Books CH Format: Hardcover, 282 pgs Source: Purchased 2011 Debut Author Challenge Description: The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children. If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company. And there are no strangers in the

Review: Darker Still

2011-11-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

Darker Still (Magic Most Foul #1) by Leanna Renee Hieber Age Group: Young Adult Published: November 1, 2011by Sourcebooks Format: eARC, 336 pgs Source: NetGalley Description: The Picture of Dorian Gray meets Pride and Prejudice, with a dash of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.New York City, 1882. Seventeen-year-old Natalie Stewart's latest obsession is a painting of the handsome British Lord

Review: Every Other Day

2011-10-31T12:21:00.000-05:00

Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes Age Group: Young Adult Published: December 27, 2011 by EgmontUSA (expected) Format: eARC, 336 pgs Source: NetGalley Description: Every other day, Kali D'Angelo is a normal sixteen-year-old girl. She goes to public high school. She attends pep rallies. She's human. And then every day in between . . .She's something else entirely. Though she still

Review: Dark Life

2011-10-28T11:44:00.000-05:00

Dark Life by Kat Falls Age Group: Middle Grade Published: August 5, 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children's (originally published May 1st by Scholastic) Format: Paperback, 304 pgs Source: Purchased Description: Dive deep into the vivid underwater world of Dark Life! The oceans rose, swallowing the lowlands. Earthquakes shattered the continents, toppling entire regions into the rising water.

A Long Vlog

2011-10-27T15:07:00.000-05:00

I made you a vlog. It is 10 minutes and talks about everything and nothing at the same time. There are Lord of the Rings posters and an introduction to my cat and lots of eye rolling and things. I also talk about the new book I have started, which I have not talked about any where else. I will not be insulted if you do not watch this. Though you might feel as if you wasted 10 minutes of your

Review: Just Listen

2011-10-24T09:00:00.001-05:00

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen Age Group: Young Adult Published: February 28, 2008 by Puffin (originally published 2006) Format: Paperback, 371 pgs Source: Purchased Description: Last year, Annabel was "the girl who has everything"—at least that's the part she played in the television commercial for Kopf's Department Store.This year, she's the girl who has nothing: no best friend because

Review: The Night Circus

2011-10-21T11:34:00.000-05:00

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Age Group: Adult Published: September 13, 2011 by Doubleday Format: Hardcover, 387 pgs Source: Library Description: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called

In which I ramble

2011-10-19T12:25:00.000-05:00

This morning I woke up at 4:30. (I wasn't supposed to be up until 5, but the dog got a little antsy, so obviously I stayed in bed until 5 anyway.) Then, I threw on a jacket and some shoes and took my mom to the airport. I then returned home and slept until 10:30. It is now after noon. I have no idea how I have managed to spend the last hour and half, but I believe the internet is responsible. Oh

Review: Texas Gothic

2011-10-17T11:45:00.000-05:00

Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore Age Group: Young Adult Published: July 12, 2011 by Random House Children's Format: Hardcover, 416 pgs Source: Gift Description: Amy Goodnight's family is far from normal. She comes from a line of witches, but tries her best to stay far outside the family business. Her summer gig? Ranch-sitting for her aunt with her wacky but beautiful sister. Only the

Blargh. Edits. Blargh.

2011-10-14T11:12:00.000-05:00

I have been in an editing frenzy for the past two days. I literally revised half of TSA (mind you that's only 20k words - it's a 40k MG after all), but STILL. 20,000 words. 2 days. I look psychotic, I'm sure. Also, the muscles in my legs are incredibly sore. Who knew barely moving for two days could hurt so much? Don't answer that. So because I forgot to write today's review, you get to

The Standalone VS The Series

2011-10-12T11:46:00.000-05:00

If you read YA or MG (and I'm going to assume that you do if you're reading my blog), then you've probably noticed the same things I have. First (not really, that's just where I'm going to start) there were vampires, so many in fact that lots of people, and the market in general, became overwhelmed by them. I am going to call this the Twilight Effect. The Twilight Effect kicked off a big trend

Review: Divergent

2011-10-10T10:00:00.002-05:00

Divergent by Veronica Roth Age Group: Young Adult Published: May 3, 2011 by Harper Collins Children's Books Format: Hardcover, 489 pgs Source: Purchased 2011 Debut Author Challenge Description: Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction

Review: Shift

2011-10-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Shift (Shade #2) by Jeri Smith-Ready Age Group: Young Adult Published: May 3, 2011 by Simon Pulse Format: Hardcover, 367 pgs Source: Gift Description: Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally

Time: Friend or Foe?

2011-10-05T12:05:00.001-05:00

I'm a fast mover. I figure out what I want and how to get it and then I go for it. I was unaware of this fact a few months ago, and it actually took a friend telling me as much for me to see it. So I have grad school to thank for learning something new about myself, well, grad school and The Move That Wasn't. I came back and sat around for weeks trying to figure out what I was going to do next.

Review: Hold Still

2011-10-03T11:51:00.002-05:00

Hold Still by Nina LeCour Age Group: Young Adult Published: October 15, 2009 by Dutton Juvenile Format: ARC Source: Gift Description: An arresting story about starting over after a friend's suicide, from a breakthrough new voice in YA fiction. dear caitlin, there are so many things that i want so badly to tell you but i just can't. Devastating, hopeful, hopeless, playful . . . in words

Brain Dead

2011-09-30T11:47:00.000-05:00

I was going to post a review yesterday of Nina LeCour's Hold Still, but I had the GRE at 8 AM and then got called into work from 1-9 PM. Obviously the review didn't happen. Today I woke up late and have to be at work soon. So you have my apologies on the delays, but I promise you will get reviews of Hold Still, Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready, and Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore next week. With

Writerly Wednesday

2011-09-28T12:10:00.000-05:00

If you've followed the blog for a while, you know I used to do Work in Progress Wednesdays. Obviously I don't do that anymore. I would, however, like to get back to talking about books and writing and all things publishing so I think I'll dedicate Wednesdays to that. Not to say that I'll have reviews every other day of the week or anything, but who knows? So that's that. I'm excited to tell you

Review: Nerd Do Well

2011-09-27T11:45:00.001-05:00

Nerd Do Well: A Small Boy's Journey to Becoming A Big Kid by Simon Pegg Age Group: Adult Format: Hardback, 384 pgs Published: June 9, 2011 by Penguin (US release) Source: Library Description: The unique life story of one of the most talented and inventive comedians, star of Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, and Star Trek. Zombies in North London, death cults in the West Country, the engineering

Review: Bad Taste in Boys

2011-09-26T08:00:00.007-05:00

Bad Taste in Boys (Kate Grable #1) by Carrie Harris Age Group: Young Adult Published: July 12, 2011 by Delacorte Press Format: ARC Source: Contest Debut Author Challenge Description: Someone's been a very bad zombie. Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks

Book Ratings

2011-09-24T13:03:00.000-05:00

Putting a star classification on a book has always been incredibly difficult for me. I want to be honest and give you all an easy way to see what I thought, but I can't do it any more. It's too hard on me and makes me feel like a judgmental asshat; so, from now on I am removing the star ratings from my reviews. But I'll try to come up with something else, some other kind of description for you

Moving Forward

2011-09-22T15:31:00.000-05:00

As much as I've wanted to write lately, I haven't had anywhere to work. No where to spread out my papers, no where to set my computer. It's been obnoxious. So I've been putting it all off: the brainstorming, the drafting, the editing... Only now it's driving me nuts. I want to make progress, but I don't have the space. And I'm sick of it. I want to be editing TSA. I want to be working on all the

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T11:42:00.000-05:00

Ten years ago I was in the 7th grade. I had beginning band 1st period, and while the choir director came in to speak to Mrs. Manley (Yes, that really is her name. She was, and still is, married to my high school band director.), we did not stop learning how to play our instruments. In 2nd period we all new something was up, but our Orchestra director told us something had happened and at the end

Books sans Reviews

2011-09-01T10:07:00.000-05:00

I've been talking about giving you guys some reviews, but I don't think that's going to happen, not because I don't want to, I just don't feel like I could give all of you good enough reviews now that it's been a while since I've read most of them. Instead, I'll just tell you what I've read lately and give you a little tidbit about whether I liked it or not and a link to Goodreads, more like a

Hiatus End. Hopefully. AKA Life, the Universe, and Everything.

2011-08-11T17:28:00.000-05:00

It was never my intention to just kind of disappear on all of you, but I did. I haven't even checked any blogs since my last post, and I have to say it's been nice being away. Don't get me wrong, I've missed you all, but I needed a break from all things writing and reading and book related. I just didn't know it at the time. I've read one book since the New York fiasco, and I've been struggling

Umm, So, Yea

2011-07-21T14:25:00.000-05:00

I'm alive. I swear. I'm just kind of in a tizzy right now. Let me explain: I came back from NY. I tried to get a job. Finally got offered a position as a part-time Circulation Assistant at the main branch of the public library. I signed on. During the interview process and waiting period, I began to look at grad school. On Tuesday I did my training at the library in preparation for starting next

Review: I Am Number Four

2011-07-07T08:00:00.001-05:00

I Am Number Four (Lorien Legacies #1) by Pittacus Lore Age Group: Young Adult Published: August 3, 2010 by HarperCollins Format: Hardcover, 440 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster

The Move That Wasn't

2011-07-05T11:46:00.000-05:00

Warning: This is going to be a long post. As you all know, I left for New York on Thursday to move into a nice apartment and begin my journey to become a literary agent. After roughly 1400 miles, 23 hours, 8 states, and 1 hotel room, my mom and I arrived in New York. We got a whirlwind tour of the house and met the landlords. Everything was great. It was a nice apartment in a good neighborhood.

New York, New York!

2011-06-29T13:01:00.000-05:00

Today is my last day in Arkansas. Bright and early tomorrow morning my mom and I are getting up, hopping in the car, and driving to New York. We won't get there until Friday (we'll stop somewhere tomorrow night to sleep). And on July 1st, I will move into my new apartment. I have job/internship prospects. I have some money. I have all of my unread books and my TV (but none of my DVDs--you can

Friday Fun

2011-06-24T12:56:00.000-05:00

In a week I'll be moving into my new place in Brooklyn. In a week I will be leaving behind my friends and most of my family. In a week I will be parting with my beautiful cat. Again. One day I hope to have her join me in NY, but until then this is what I'm leaving behind: She likes to stretch, my Kidda.She also has a tendency to fall asleep while stretching. Sometimes, she likes to maintain the

Life, the Universe, and Everything

2011-06-20T13:27:00.000-05:00

42 . . . Just kidding. And if you have no idea what that was about, you clearly haven't read The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and should go check it out from your local library. Now then, if you follow me on Twitter, you may have noticed that I signed a lease for a place in Brooklyn. I leave for New York next Thursday and move in to my new room July 1st. I am excited. I am also slightly

WSJ vs YA

2011-06-06T12:57:00.001-05:00

By now I'm sure you've all heard of this little article here. And by 'little' I mean long, ugly, and not something I agree with, but that's the author's opinion, and she has every right to it. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, please go read it now and come back. I'm not going anywhere. ...Finished? Good. So now that we're all on the same page, I'd like to take a minute

Review: A Match Made In High School

2011-06-01T07:00:00.003-05:00

A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker Age Group: Young Adult Published: February 4, 2010 by Razorbill Format: Paperback, 278 pgs* Source: Gift Description: When the principal announces that every senior must participate in a mandatory year-long Marriage Education program, Fiona Sheehan believes that her life can't get any worse. Then she

Ramblings, Updates, and Other News

2011-05-20T11:05:00.000-05:00

It's been a month. Literally. My apologies for the long delay. First, there were end of the year projects and papers and tests. Then, there were those hideous things we call finals. In the midst of all of that I was working a the library while simultaneously trying to find both work and an apartment in NYC. And after that... Well, after that I graduated. I now have a B.A. in English, and the

Oh, hi there!

2011-04-20T14:35:00.000-05:00

I am exhausted. The school year is almost finished, which means that I'm swamped with projects and finals and gross education related things that take up ridiculous amounts of time. It also means that graduation is right around the corner. *cue freakout* I am ready to be done; don't get me wrong. Totally ready. However, I've never not been in school. I'm 21 years old and I've been in school

Safe Zone

2011-04-01T13:51:00.002-05:00

I hereby declare this as a safe zone from all April Fool's Day shenanigans. You may call this sanctuary, as you will find no lies, pranks, or jokes here. No, seriously.

Shiny New Project and TSA

2011-03-30T10:49:00.000-05:00

I did it. I finished the third draft of The Sandman's Apprentice. It is now in the trusted hands of other insanely awesome writers. Hopefully, it will not require extensive revisions, but it may. It may. In the mean time, I have begun work on what I have dubbed Shiny New Project. About a month or so ago, this boy popped into my head. I don't know where he came from. I didn't know his name or

RIP Diana Wynne Jones

2011-03-29T14:27:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to find the right words since I heard about it, and I still don't know what to say. I read The Darklord of Derkholm when I was little, and it stuck with me. I loved it. And years later I discovered the film adaptation of Howl's Moving Castle. Let me tell you, it was the best thing since sliced bread. When I finally read the book, I was blown away. Imagine my reaction when I made

Good Morning, Starshine!

2011-03-23T19:22:00.000-05:00

It's been a couple of weeks since my last update. Sorry about that. School and fraternity stuff have kept me pretty busy. I don't even get on Twitter as much as I'd like to. But honestly, I feel like I have nothing to say. Everyone blogs about tips and tricks and struggles they've overcome. Inspirational stories, what they're working on, how it is to be agented. I just don't have anything to say.

Review: Prada and Prejudice

2011-03-06T12:56:00.001-06:00

Prada & Prejudice by Mandy Hubbard Age Group: Young Adult Published: June 11, 2009 by Razorbill Format: Paperback, 238 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815! There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in,

SCBWI New York - Part II

2011-03-04T13:31:00.000-06:00

Sorry this is so late you guys. I have been having some roommate issues and dealing with a bunch of random crap that's been taking up a lot of time and wearing me down lately. But I promised you an Alessandra Balzer post and you're going to get one. In fact, you're going to get as much as I can cram into one post without going on and on and on today. So enjoy. : ) Alessandra Balzer - Balzer &

Review: The Bad Beginning

2011-02-22T19:41:00.001-06:00

The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket (A Series of Unfortunate Events #1) Age Group: Middle Grade Published: September 30, 1999 by HarperCollins (first published 1999) Format: Hardcover Source: Purchased Description: Dear Reader, I'm sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

2011-02-21T13:36:00.000-06:00

It's that time! Up for grabs we had a brand new copy of the absolutely fantastic Across the Universe by the marvelous Beth Revis. You entered. You told me interesting things. And now one of you will receive an awesome new book. Selected randomly by my best friend the winner is . . . Pk Hrezo! CONGRATULATIONS, Pk!!! : ) I hope you love this book as much as I do. Thank you to everyone who

SCBWI Vlog

2011-02-16T19:17:00.000-06:00

Okay, for those of you who absolutely don't want to listen to me talk for 12 minutes (that was SO not my intention), I will summarize at the bottom. If you're going to watch it, I apologize for the length and the few times I accidentally hit the mic. And the fact that I get distracted... and ramble... and yea. Enjoy. :) Summary: 1. Lois Lowry - A lot of readers ask how she gets her ideas (

Review: and Falling, Fly

2011-02-11T17:09:00.002-06:00

and Falling, Fly by Skyler White Age Group: Adult Published: March 2, 2010 by Berkley Trade (first published January 2010) Format: Paperback, 352 pgs Source: Gift Description: An edgy, erotic blend of fantasy and romance-from a debut author whose star is on the rise. In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels- turned-vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a

Contest Alert!

2011-02-10T10:50:00.001-06:00

I have been meaning to post. Really, I have. Between playing catch up since SCBWI New York and school and the massive amounts of snow that keep dropping on us, I just haven't managed to make it (or anything else for that matter) work. So I'm coming to you now with something good to get back in your good graces: a contest. You read that right, a contest. Maybe it's a Valentine's contest or a New

SCBWI

2011-01-27T12:11:00.000-06:00

Today I head to Tulsa. Bright and early tomorrow morning I get on a plane for New York. I will not be back home until Monday evening-ish. The blog will be silent until next week. The good news: I'm going to New York again; I get to see the amazing Ginger Clark again; and I get to attend my first conference. Woot. The bad news: I'm going to New York in the winter, where it is cold and wet (more

Review: Across the Universe

2011-01-25T10:42:00.001-06:00

Across the Universe by Beth Revis Age Group: Young Adult Published: January 11, 2011 by Razorbill Format: Hardcover Source: Purchased 2011 Debut Author Challenge Description: Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen

Review: Incarceron

2011-01-21T13:40:00.001-06:00

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher Age Group: Young Adult Published: January 26, 2010 by Dial (first published May 3rd, 2007) Format: ARC Source: Gift Description: Incarceron is a prison unlike any other: Its inmates live not only in cells, but also in metal forests, dilapidated cities, and unbounded wilderness. The prison has been sealed for centuries,

An Award and One Awesomesauce Contest

2011-01-19T19:58:00.001-06:00

I was recently given the Stylish Blogger award by Brooke Johnson. For those of you who know Brooke and follow her blog, you know she's pretty awesome. I know her in person... well, before she graduated early and ran off with the man she loves. Who does that?! I dunno, whatever. :P Anyway, if you don't know her, you should definitely swing by her blog and get to know her a little. (I feel like I'm

A Vlog

2011-01-14T19:43:00.000-06:00

I know. I know. It's me. On screen. Talking. I thought I'd drop in and actually SAY hi to you all this time, as well as talk about reviews a little and bring up SCBWI NY Winter Conference. But recording myself isn't something I do a whole lot. So I apologize for the blurring, the lighting, and the text message I get about halfway through the video. Enjoy, and please don't make fun of me too much

Review: Matched

2011-01-11T10:44:00.001-06:00

Matched by Ally Condie Age Group: Young Adult Published: November 30, 2010 by Dutton Juvenile Format: Hardcover, 366 pgs. Source: Gift Description: Cassia has always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her

Review: Z

2011-01-07T15:46:00.001-06:00

Z by Michael Thomas Ford Age Group: Young Adult Published: September 7, 2010 by HarperTeen Format: Hardcover, 288 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: The First Rule of Torching: Cleanse with fire. Josh is by far the best zombie Torcher around—at least, he is in his virtual-reality zombie-hunting game. Josh has quickly risen through the player ranks, relying on the skill, cunning, and

Review: The Replacement

2011-01-04T22:19:00.003-06:00

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff Age Group: Young Adult Published: September 21, 2010 by Razorbill Format: Hardcover, 343 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the

Blog Fest Mashup

2011-01-01T13:08:00.000-06:00

There are a couple blog fests going around today that I wanted to get in on, so I think I'll participate in both. The first in Katrina Lantz's New Year's Revision Blog Party. Katrina had the idea for everyone to share their revision plans, since revision can be a bit of a drag sometimes. So for 2011, here's what I've got planned: I want to have the 2nd draft of The Sandman's Apprentice finished

Review: The Giver

2010-12-31T13:53:00.002-06:00

The Giver by Lois Lowry Age Group: Young Adult Published: January 24th 2006 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers (originally published in 1993) Format: Paperback, 179 pgs. Source: Purchased Description: When Jonas turns 12, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. Now, it’s time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. My Thoughts: I

Be True to Your Writerly Self

2010-12-28T13:33:00.000-06:00

On Twitter the other day, someone told me that I couldn't edit until I was finished writing, and while it's sound advice it actually kind of pissed me off. I know I've told a couple of writers to just try to finish the book before the start editing, and my reasoning was that they haven't finished one because they get caught up in the editing. Going back over passages over and over and changing

Review: Nightshade

2010-12-24T10:52:00.003-06:00

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer Age Group: Young Adult Published: October 19, 2010 by Philomel Format: ARC 453 pgs. Source: Contest Description: Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when

Review: Jessica Z.

2010-12-20T08:00:00.003-06:00

Jessica Z. by Shawn Klomparens Age Group: Adult Published: June 24, 2008 by Delta Format: Paperback, 340 pages Source: To Review Description: Welcome to Jessica's world... When Jessica Zorich met a tall, charismatic artist at a San Francisco party, her life had been all about coping: with a baffling and dangerous world, with a mostly inane job, and with a sweet but meandering

2011 Debut Author Challenge

2010-12-17T20:53:00.001-06:00

Kristi over at The Story Siren is hosting the 2011 Debut Author Challenge in which lots of book lovers come together in an attempt to read as many debuts as possible throughout the year (12 minimum). This year, I will (try) to be one of them. Here's the starter list of 2011 debuts I want to get my hands on: XVI by Julie Karr Across the Universe by Beth Revis Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard

Why hello there!

2010-12-16T11:14:00.000-06:00

What's this? Another new post? It's a miracle! I know. I know. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. It's harder than you'd think. Sigh. Anyway, I finally got to start writing again. I'm on draft 2 of TSA, and boy did I miss it. I broke 12k the other day; I was seriously beginning to wonder if it would ever happen (pushing 13k now - WOO!). I've got some big goals for this one over

Knock, Knock

2010-12-09T22:12:00.000-06:00

*looks out at followers* Are you guys still here? I know I recently lost two of you, and that saddens me, but ya know 2 months without an update is a good reason to go. But, I'm alive!! Really, I'm right here. I promise. And this semester is so close to being finished it's funny in one of those I'm-going-crazy kind of ways. I haven't read a book in, umm, a long time. It hurts me. I think it's

Winners!

2010-10-15T14:14:00.000-05:00

I don't know where the week went, but it's time to announce the winners of my Contest of Awesome! The first winner is . . . Sammy! You get first pick of the prize packs. Winner number two is . . . Natasha! You'll get whichever one is left after Sammy chooses. CONGRATULATIONS!! Thanks to everyone who participated; I had a lot of fun with this, and I hope you did too. Enjoy your weekends!

Update

2010-10-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

1) The Contest of Awesome is closed. No more entries will be accepted. I will be counting everyone's entries and double checking links and will then announce the winners. If I draw your name first, you get dibs on the prize pack you want and the second name gets the other one. I know more people wanted YA than the Adult, so I might just keep them separate from now on when I have contests. 2)

Contest of Awesome

2010-09-27T22:47:00.000-05:00

In celebration of my 100, 125, and 150 followers and my 21st birthday, I'm having a contest. An awesome contest. The Rules: 1) You must be a follower. 2) You must comment on this post. 3) Honestly, that's about it, because this contest is open to everyone! (So long as you live somewhere the Book Depository ships to.) :) Extra Entries: +1 for being a follower (automatic) +1 for commenting (

CONTEST ANNOUNCEMENT

2010-09-27T12:34:00.000-05:00

Psst. Since I've been all over the place with my updates on here, I'm actually getting on to tell you to check back later for something awesome. Because the contest I've been wanting to hold since, umm, May (?) is about to go down. There will be multiple ways to earn entries. There will be winners from all over the world. (Why hello, Book Depository.) There will be multiple winners. There

Review: Paranormalcy

2010-09-22T09:23:00.004-05:00

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White Age Group: Young Adult Published: August 31, 2010 by HarperTeen Format: Hardcover, 352 pgs Source: Purchased Description: Weird as it is working for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, Evie's always thought of herself as normal. Sure, her best friend is a mermaid, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and

Calling Sarah E. Olson

2010-09-17T09:07:00.000-05:00

Sarah, if I don't hear from you by Sunday night, I'll be forced to draw a new winner. I'll repeat that. Sarah E. Olson, you won a signed copy of Cinders from my contest last week. If you don't send me an email by Sunday night with your mailing address, I'll have to give the book to someone else.

CINDERS Winner!!

2010-09-13T07:57:00.000-05:00

After much deliberation, I have selected a winner. Which roughly translates into, "I numbered you and had my friend pick a random number, 'cause I'm spiffy like that." So, one lucky person gets a signed copy of Cinders by Michelle Davidson Argyle, 2 Cinders bookmarks, and 2 business cards for Michelle Davidson Argyle And the winner is . . . Oh, hey, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who

Guest Post from My Dog Ate My Blog

2010-09-06T13:15:00.002-05:00