Happy Blogiversary!

Giveaway is now closed.

Words Escape Me turns 1!!!!

In honor of my 1 year blogiversary I want to celebrate by giving you the opportunity to share in my fun.

First I want to say thank you to those of you who have been with me since the beginning. Listening to me ramble on about books and my journey as a writer means more to me than you know.

This month has been filled with many firsts. For starters, the blog makeover, the anniversary, my first vlog, completing my first manuscript and my first giveaway!

The winner will receive a $25.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble and you get three chances to enter.

1. Leave your name and email. (email will only be used to notify the winner) You do not need to be a follower, just leave your name. It's that easy.

2. If you do follow Words Escape Me click "yes". That will get you the second entry.

3. Tweet the giveaway for the third entry. I'm sure your friend's and follower's would love the opportunity to win as well! I'll make it easy for you. Copy and paste this link:

Words Escape Me is giving away a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Visit blog to enter. WWW.KristonJohnson.blogspot.com

Thank you again to all my friends and family who have supported me and my writing. I would not have been able to do it without you.

All entries must be completed by midnight, Pacific standard time Friday February 3rd.

Book Recomendation...Hereafter

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Published June 7th, 2011 by HarperCollins

Description from goodreads

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

My thoughts:

Tare Hudson did a fantastic job bringing Amelia and Joshua's story to us. I listened to Hereafter as an Audible book and the narrator was very entertaining to listen to.

Amelia is a spunky teen, or I should say ghost, and we get to follow her along as she learns about her life and her death. One thing that cracks me up in this book is that (and this is not a spoiler) the night she died she was wearing a formal dress , and now she gets to wear it for eternity. At certain points in the story when you take the time to think about what she is wearing it is a little comical picturing  a ghost doing the things she is doing in an evening gown. I'm not sure if that was intentional on the author's part but personally I found it rather amusing.

Hereafter was written in Amelia's point of view but we get to follow Joshua and his journey in life. I can't say what it is but it's good. This is a ghost story but it is not a horror story. The ending came a little out of nowhere but I suspect it is setting up for the next  book.

That being said this book is very enjoyable and I recommend the read.

In My Mailbox #1

In my mail box is brought to us by Kristy at The Story Siren

This is my very first vlog and if you watched it you can tell. If you haven't there is lots of umm's, pauses and eye rolling. I'm not to happy with the section of video Youtube decided to stick me with as my still shot because I look like I'm about to pass out. Oh well, it was fun, it makes me want to go buy more books so I can do another!

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyal McQuerry
Halfings by Heather Burch
Crossed by Ally Condie
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Cover Love, The Serpent's Shadow and The World of Hunger Games

'The World of Hunger Games' movie tie-in book. Published on March 23rd 2012.

 Just in time for the movie. I love all this movie promo stuff. I'll take any chance I can get for a sneak peak of the film.

The Serpents Shadow by Rick Riordan
Book 3 of the Kane Chronicles
published May 1, 2012

I'm a huge fan of Rick Riordan. I have only read book one in the Kane Chronicles but plan on being caught up in time for this.

Book Recomendation....Supernaturally

Supernaturally

Author: Kiersten White

Book 2 of the Paranormalcy trilogy

Book description from Amazon

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again.

 Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

This is by far one of my favorite covers. Not to be outdone by book 3, Endlessly. (see cover here it's beautiful) I listened to Supernaturally on by beloved iPhone, if you have yet to check out Audible you should. The downloads are some times a 1/3 of the price of the cd's, plus it fits in your pocket. The audible version is preformed by Emily Eiden and she does a wonderful job.

This book is fun. The author's writing voice is witty and entertaining and Kiersten did a wonderful job showing Evie's snarky/quirky personality. If I could eat dinner with a group of literary characters I would want Evie to be there. If you sat next to her she would be the one you could get all giddy with and point at all the cool people there, like a friend would. This is a great follow up to Paranormalcy as we get to see Evie enter the real world and realize it is not all it's cracked up to be. All our favorite characters make an appearance with a great new addition as well.

The plot moves along at a good pace, not supper fast but fast enough to keep you involved. I am really looking forward to the conclusion of this series. Not because I want it over or anything, I am just excited!

If your looking for a light, fun and entertaining read I recommend this book.

City of Lost Souls Cover Reveal

USA Today released the cover for the highly awaited next installment in The Mortal Instruments series. City of Lost Souls.

I have to admit, this is not a personal favorite. Jace and Clary are Shadowhunters. Where is the cool I'm gonna go kick some demon butt pose? Plus, it doesn't match the Jace from The City of Bones. (Who was super cute by the way.) But I am in the minority. It seems most people across the blogosphere are raving about this cover. Maybe I was expecting to much.

As far as the book goes, which is to be released May 8th, 2012, I cannot wait. I love the world Cassandra Clare has made for us to run away and hide in and I am thankful we have less than six months to wait. Each book keeps getting better and better.

What do you think about it?

Isn't She Lovely!!!

Here she is in all her glory. My shiny new blog. Isn't she lovely? (every time I say that I can't help but sing it like Stevie Wonder) I have Lori at  www.imaginationblogdesigns.com to thank for it. If you think you want your blog updated check her out, but don't dilly dally, she has a waiting list. I have been waiting since October.

So whats new? The pages for one. I just have so much to say I needed more places to say it. Also in a couple weeks will be my 1st Blogiversary and I will be hosting my first give away in it's honor. First I need to learn how to create the form in Google docs. I could also use Rafflecopter but I want people to be able to enter form their mobile devises.

So if any of you have a link to how to create the Google docs form, or if you have a way to make Rafflecopter work from an ipad, please let me know. I can't wait to get started.

It's nice being back, I've missed you guys.

Please Stay Tuned for the Regular Broadcast

As you can see I have taken a little hiatus from the blogging world. I'm not going far but I need some time off. This is why. As you already know I am a writer. A writer on a (self imposed) deadline.

I have been working on Jaded for the last year pretty steady. But there has been times that I would skip several weeks at a time. Back in October I contacted an editor (she's great, check out her services) and she worked me into her January schedule. Well January is coming up fast and my novel is not quite ready.

Between a vigorous round of revisions, Christmas party's, and life in general I need every spare second I have to go toward Jaded. I also am heading up my work's food and clothing drive. I'm calling it the "Keep and Body Warm and Belly Full" campaign.

So please, please, PLEASE come back and see me in January. I have also found a great  blog designer (see link) so I will be coming back with an all new look. There will be contests with prizes, book reviews, cover reveals and much more.

Happy holidays,

Kriston Johnson