Blog on Fire!!!!

That's right people. You're looking at a Blog on Fire! I love it. I feel like Katniss!
This prestigious award was bestowed upon me by my dear friend and blogger buddy Victoria Lindstrom at Writ of Whimsy. I will wear the badge with honor. Thank you Victoria.

Writ of Whimsy is comprised of: book reviews, writer stuff, nature photos - and a hodgepodge of harmonious tidbits. (per Writ of Whimsy)

Victoria features middle grade book reviews and celebrated her blog birthday and recognized Words Escape Me along with four other fantastic blogs.



I also wanted to thank everyone that stopped by and celebrated my first blogiversary. The best part  for me was getting to meet new people, make new friends and link up with all the new blogs that were introduced to me in the last few weeks.

The winner of the $25.00 gift card to Barnes & Noble was Stephanie H. from the beautiful state of Florida. Thank you everyone for taking the time to enter and I hope to see you around. Come back next week for a chance to win Clockwork Prince in honor of Valentines Day.

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Breaking Spine.

Black Heart by Holly Black  (Curse Workers 3)

Release date April 3rd, 2012

I may be posting this prematurely because I have only read book one of the trilogy, White Cat. It was so good I just know I'm going to love book two, Red Glove, and I plan to read it this month. Generally I read books with female protagonist's but I really connected with Cassel and am excited to continue his story. 

Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy. 

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

Book Recommendation....Clockwork Prince

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

published Dec 6th, 2011

In efforts to keep this recommendation from becoming a short novel itself, click on the link above for full summary from Goodreads. The post is spoiler free but I encourage spoilery (is that a real word?) comments because I am dying to talk about it.

ALL HAIL CASSANDRA CLARE

From a readers point of view.
Clockwork Prince is in my opinion a masterpiece. The opening scene sets a semi dark tone that rings true through the entire book. Directly after that we jump right into to the character's troubles and into the base of the plot. Cassandra wastes no time getting to the point of the story yet is not rushed. The pacing is perfect.

The rich descriptions and imagery make me feel as if I have actually been to old time England. I feel as if I have walked along the Themes, breathing in the soot and grit.

This is a very character driven story. The plot elements are weaved seamlessly throughout the character's journey just enough to keep it in our thoughts. But in this story the characters and their personalties really shine. They are so well written that when situations presented themselves I could predict the way they were going to react, but not in a bad way. I just felt like I knew they characters so well, I knew what they would do. Like the way you can tell what a friend would do.

Basically it all boils down to this, I feel like I was there, I feel like I know these character's personally and my heart breaks for them. I laughed out loud, I was scared, happy and sentimental. At one point near the end I set the book down, covered my face and yelled NOOOO.


First from a writers point of view.
At this time I can honestly say Cassandra Clare has inspired me more than any other writer. Lets jump back to 2009 when I read The City of Bones, her debut. It sparked the Shadowhunter revolution. Slews of fans sport rune inspired tattoo's, stand in line at signings with mango's and argue their points defending their book boyfriend's and what makes them so swoon worthy. The writing itself was very good but nothing that really made her stand out above the other author's I was reading at that time. But of course I fell in love with Jace and had to know how his story ended.

Cassandra's writing has grown immensely over the years and the course of her series. Clockwork Prince was beautifully crafted. Seeing how her writing has has improved over the years reminds me that a writers craft, with time and dedication, is ever evolving into works that get better and better with each written word. I will think of that every time I sit down to write.

I could go on and on about the character development but instead I am going to suggest you read this book. This is book two, so if you have not read Clockwork Angel start there. Then come back and tell me what you think.

I am dying to talk about this book with someone so if you have read it please tell me what you thought. What was your favorite part? Are you team Jem or Will? Or do you think Tessa should leave the silly boy's to themselves. Personally I am team Will.

For the Writer's...Eliminating Filter Words

It has been a while since I posted a writing tip and I do not want my fellow writers to think I forgot about them. Let me give you a quick run down of my novel writing technique.

• Write loose outline highlighting major plot points. 
• Draft one. Here is where I fly through the story at mach speed so I have something on screen. I let the story flesh itself out. I like to sit back and let the characters tell me their story. Some times I have no idea where we will end up. I also do research and back stories.
• Draft two. Clean up mess I created in draft one and dig deeper into my characters lives and flesh out setting. Then I print out each chapter and read it on paper to get a different perspective.
• Draft three. Same as draft two but more intense. Then I use the text-to-speech feature and listen to my story. (I do all my writing in Scrivener and that is an extremely valuable tool) This is where I do most of my cutting. Wether it be plot lines, pointless characters or most importantly,  filter words.

Here is what I mean by filter words. They are useless words that drag out the text and keep us from getting to the point. These simple examples are from my own writing and how I changed them.

The beast let out a snarl.  Now reads... The beast snarled.
Jade sprinted in the direction of    Now reads... Jade sprinted toward
Jade ran out from  Now reads... Jade emerged
Jade heard feet pounding up the stairs.  Now reads... Feet pounded up the stairs.


It is always best to get to the point. Filter words slow things down, especially in an action scene.

If you have any other examples I would love for you to share them. I am on the constant search to improve my craft and I love hearing what other writers look for in their own writing.

My Favorite Things On the Internet Today

All sorts of fun things were new on the internet today and these are my favorites. Number one being the new The Hunger Games trailer.

Next we get the cover reveal and summary for Maggie Steifvater latest venture.

Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart.

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But she was wrong.


This will be a four part series to be released in September.




Last but not least, Harlequin teen gave us a little teaser and released the back cover of Julie Kagawa's next masterpiece, "The Immortal Rules". This is the first in what I'm sure is going to be a brilliant series coming to us in May. (Yes I am am biased. This is the woman who brought Prince Ash to us!) 

*claps and squeals in glee* 

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Breaking Spine where we choose an upcoming release we are excited about and want to share.

The book I want to showcase this week is Insurgent by Veronica Roth. It is part two of the Divergent series which is one of my favorite books.  I cannot wait to see what happens next to two of my favorite character's, Tris and Four.

We can look forward to reading this story May 1st, 2012

From Goodreads

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love. 

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so. 

New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth's much-anticipated second book of the dystopian Divergent series is another intoxicating thrill ride of a story, rich with hallmark twists, heartbreaks, romance, and powerful insights about human nature.

Book Recommendation...Anathema

Anathema (Cloud Prophet Trilogy #1) by Megg Jensen

Published February 5th 2011
206 pages

Blurb

Forget prophecy. Make your own destiny. 

Sheltered from the outside world with no hope for escape, slave girl Reychel dreads her fifteenth birthday - when her master’s symbol is burned on the back of her bald scalp. Her best friend disappears the night before, leaving her to face the branding ceremony alone. She soon discovers nothing is as it seems when people desperate for freedom beg for Reychel's help. 

Can Reychel learn to believe in herself?


The book is so much more that what we read from the description and Anathema has got to be one of my most pleasant surprises in the last year.  This book has been on my Kindle for a very long time and I finally got around to reading it. 


I liked the setting. It is a fantasy but I would not consider it high fantasy or epic but fantasy all the same. Reychel is a strong girl who stands up for what is right no matter what the cost. At one point I wanted to scream "No, don't do that! It's never gonna work!" But that is the point right? Raising the stakes to keep us hooked? It worked. I have the feeling this  is setting us up for a deeper story to come.


It is a fairly quick read but very entertaining. The characters are great and I am glad I found this gem of a book. I cannot wait to continue reading the rest of the trilogy. 

Breaking up is hard to do...or is it?

I've been ditching books right and left and I blame one thing...my ever growing TBR (to be read) list.

Back in the glory day's, when we had actual bookstores, I would visit my local Borders every single week. I would browse the shelves while sipping my delectable white chocolate mocha and submerge myself in the beauty of the magnificent books. I would pick one and buy it. Then the almighty Amazon brought forth their wrath and  I lost my most cherished past time.

Now am forced to trek half way across the county to my inconveniently located Barnes & Noble. In efforts to avoid having to make the trip again I buy several books and add them to my shelf.  At the same time  I am getting ARC's from Netgalley for review.

 I now have dozens of books screaming at me to be read and some are ending up not being really great. If I'm not emotionally involved with the story or character's I'm ditching them and moving on. I am now seeing some the books I ditched getting positive reviews and I wonder if I'm not giving them a fair chance.  Should I have stuck it out?

 I have been giving up so easy because I have many books giving me the beady eye every time I walk by and ignore them. I mean look at a few of the books I have waiting for me. I bought Clockwork Prince the day it came out and there it sits.  Why would I want to waste my time on a so-so book when I have such super swoon-worthy boys beckoning to me in the night. Yes Will Herondale I'm talking to you. (Stand back ladies he's mine)

In efforts to bring back the joy and fun in reading I am going to temporarily stop buying new books until I read what I have. It will be hard, going to the book store is my version of a crack den. Just thinking about it sends me into withdrawals.

I'm interested if anyone else has faced this dilemma. What does it take for you to break up with a book and move on?