Work, Life, & Anticipation

Happy Friday Darling Readers,

I hope everyone is doing well. I've been running around being wife, mommy, and writer. 

I got some material out to an agent who requested some chapters of a WIP (work in progress) of mine. I expect it'll be a while before I hear back. Agents are incredibly busy and they also have their real lives to think of, too. But I'm praying for a contract. I really like this agent and the agency the agent represents.

I posted my review of C.C. Hunter's final installment of Della's story, Unspoken. I really enjoyed it. I think her fans will NOT be disappointed.

Currently I'm looking forward to a bunch of things that aren't my projects:

C.C. Hunter's Shadow Falls going to Internet screen show series.

Jennifer L. Armentrout's Oblivion release and the Lux Series going to screen. (I think TV?)

Kiera Cass's announcement about The Selection going to the big screen.

Reading the last book in Lesley Livingston's Starling series (whenever that happens).

Reading the new Rick Riordan series (and finishing up Heroes of Olympus series).

Seeing the new Peanuts and Star Wars movies. I also want to see Inside Out and the Minions movies.


I'm also loving this season of Once Upon A Time!

What things are you working on and looking forward to in the book, movie, or TV world?

Have a Fantastically Fabulous Friday!

Spotlight On Author: Lauren Oliver

Happy Friday Everyone,

I'm delighted to introduce November author interview to you, Lauren Oliver. I read her YA Dystopian novel, Delirium, and it was very thought provoking, imaginative, interesting, and kept me on the edge of my seat.

Me:  In Delirium love is viewed as a disease. What made you decide to write a dystopian YA dealing with that possibility?


Lauren:  The idea for Delirium came from an essay I read by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, in which he wrote that all great books were about love or death. The next day I was thinking about that quote--particularly about how and in what form a modern love story could be told--while I was on the treadmill at the gym. I was simultaneously watching a news story about a flu outbreak that had everyone freaking out about the possibility of a pandemic, and I was kind of marvelling that people so easily go into panics about reports of these diseases, and at some point the two trains of thought--love, and disease--just sort of combined in my head.


Me:  What sort of "teasers" can you tell us about the sequel(s) for Delirium and how many books will be in the series?


Lauren:  There are two sequels to Delirium—Pandemonium, which comes out March 2012, and Requiem, which comes out March 2013. I don’t want to give too much away, but I can say that Pandemonium takes place in two difference time frames, while Requiem gives voice to two narrators.


Me:  What other genres do you write, or do you stick with YA Dystopian?


Lauren:  I’ve written in a bunch of other genres. Before I Fall, my first book, was YA contemporary; my first book for middle-grade readers, Liesl & Po, just came out in early October. I have a second middle-grade book coming out next fall, and I also write adult stuff. So I’m definitely all over the map.


Me:  What's your favorite Season of the year?


Lauren:  Fall! I love the changing trees…and my birthday is in November.


Me:  What advice do you have for aspiring authors/writers?


Lauren:  Read and write as much as you can! Carve time to do both every day.


Me:  What drew you to write YA Dystopian novel(s)?


Lauren:  Oh, I didn’t intend to write YA, or dystopia. All of my books begin with character and theme; the genre and audience kind of emerge organically from the story. I just go where the ideas lead me!


Me: What's your favorite Holiday?


Lauren:  Christmas or Passover! I’m half-Jewish and half-Catholic, so I get to enjoy both.


Me:  What's your solution to writer's block?


Lauren:  Writer’s block, I think, is what happens when you give in to the feeling of not wanting to write or not having anything to say; so the solution is simply to resist giving in to that feeling—to resist the resistance, in other words. If you can force yourself to write even a sentence—even a sentence that’s bad, ungrammatical, or nonsensical—you’ll find that more sentences emerge from it.


Me:  Are you a "pantser" or a "plotter" type writer? (Do you outline or do you just go with whatever inspiration comes?)


Lauren:  It’s kind of a combination of both, and it somewhat depends on the book. Usually, I write about 5,000-10,000 words to see whether the world and the characters take hold of me, whether it’s a book I feel I’ll be able to commit to for the next year. Then I sit down and try to generate a rough outline, a general sense of the large conflicts and tensions. As I continue writing, I keep working the outline as well, and revising both as necessary.


Me:  What's on the horizon for you and your novels (what do you have coming up)?


Lauren:  Right now I’m working on the last book in my Delirium trilogy, Requiem. After that…who knows!


Me:  Anything else you'd like to add?


Lauren:  Just thank you for having me!


Thank you, so much, Lauren Oliver, for agreeing to appear on my blog! I can't wait to read Pandemonium. Best wishes on your future releases :-)


Have A Fantastic Friday, Everyone!

SURPRISE!

Happy Wednesday Everybody,

Wow, it's Wednesday already? Time flies when you're having fun.

Or dealing with surprises...

That's me. Dealing with surprises. In writing, that is. Some of my writing (and a current project) has taken me in a direction I didn't see myself going. But there are times writing will do that. And for now, it's helping me create and figure out what I'm doing with this project and the others I have going.

Some authors start out writing one thing and branch out to two or three other areas. Like the Adult-novel writer who ends up writing YA or Mid-Grade...or all 3--adult, YA and Mid-grade.

Or the person who starts out in Romance and finds themselves with a Thriller on their hands.

Perhaps you began your writing with Contemporary and got lost in the fields of Fantasy. Maybe while you were shaking hands with a vampire then a cyborg jumped into your living room.

Writing isn't always predictable, which if it was, would probably bore the authors. At least it would more than likely bore me. I enjoy that spark of inspiration--the feeling of the imagination running wild with ideas--ideas that are new for me. It's even possible you could start off with one idea that is something you don't usually write and it morphs back to something you normally would write--but you had to write it differently for everything to click into place.

The point is, wherever your writing journey takes you, enjoy the ride. Explore, discover, and create. There's so many ways a writer can go--so many options--all  you have to do is figure out which options you're taking.

So what surprises have you encountered in your writing?

Have A Wondrous Wednesday!

What The Genre?

Happy Friday All,

Sorry about not posting on Thursday. I was exhausted Wednesday evening, so I decided to just go to bed--then I was busy today, so I took the day off.

I thought I'd cover age genre types and what they mean. Some people have asked me about genres. One question I got was, "What's YA?"

So, I'll start with the youngest age group and work my way up (as a Romance author I'm going to talk a lot about that when I get to the adult section):

Children's Books:  These are anything from infant to 7 years old. (Some bookstores will have a section that says:  "3-5 Year Olds") Typically you'll find board books and easy-to-reads. There's a lot of Disney books available in this section. Titles like Brown Bear What Do You See? Caps For Sale, Splat The Cat, Berenstin Bears, Thomas The Tank Engine, I've found a lot of Dr. Seuss books in this section as well.

Mid-Grade:  Most of these books are geared toward kids between children and young adult (generally 7-12 year olds). You'll find the Percy Jackson, Heroes Of Olympus, Kane Chronicles (by Rick Riordan) in this section. Several Gail Carson Levine books can be found there, as well (of Ella Enchanted fame).  This is where I found the re-prints of Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books as well. Beverly Cleary books (Ramona ). There's several other books, of course those are just a few examples. (I've found Noel Streatfield reprints there, too. She wrote all the "shoe" books:  Ballet Shoes, Dancing Shoes, Theater Shoes, Ice Skating Shoes). Also this would be the section you'd find the Maud Hart Lovelace Betsy-Tacy books I've mentioned on here. 

Young Adult (YA):  These are generally geared towards 13 through high schoolers (although I'd say a lot of these books are more high school aged books than younger than that--but that's my personal opinion). This is where you'll find the Twilight books (Stephenie Meyer), Tera Lynn Childs (I did a review of one of her books called Forgive My Fins--look in the right hand margin of this book, arrow down until you get to the part that says "Book Reviews By Bethany"). (Note:  MaryJanice Davidson, who writes several adult novels has a series out with her husband, Anthony Alongi that's a YA series entitled:  Jennifer Scales--there's several out and I think on the bottom of the cover will say:  A Jennifer Scales Novel).

Adult:  Almost all Romance out there is adult (MaryJanice Davidson's Undead, Mermaid, Royal series are all adult Romance....Kerrelyn Sparks, Christie Craig, and a slew of other authors).  There's Thriller/Horror (I think of Stephen King whenever I think of those genres--although someone who's read more of his work will know more which genre it fits in), there's a lot of genres in adult fiction.

When it comes to the Romance genre there's not many authors who write for anyone younger than adults.


There might be some books in the General Fiction sections in bookstores that maybe okay for younger than adults but it's important that readers realize that there are age groups that an author has in mind when they write their novels. Unless it's found in the mid-grade/YA section chances are it's for adults. There are exceptions of course, but this is a general rule of thumb.

In each age group genre type you can also find a variety of genres everything from fantasy, contemparary, there's paranormal (even mid-grade sometimes has some paranormal), thriller, horror, contemporary, women's fiction, literary, westerns, general fiction (I think that's usually where literary is put), historicals, sports, science, art, reference. Some YA has romance, as well, but there is a difference between YA romance and adult romance. (Generally adult romance is more sensual than YA).

When in doubt, you can always ask a bookstore worker. They know quite a bit about what's out and what genre and what age group. They know what's hot and what's available. Use their knowledge. You can even search by age group and genre online.

I'm sure some of my other readers who are in the business of writing and publishing can add their input. If you have any questions you can certainly put them in the comment section.

Have A Fabulous Friday And Happy Reading!

Mythologically Speaking...

Happy Tuesday All,

Raise your hands if you like Greek and/or Roman Mythology! *raises hand and waves it*

I first was exposed to Greek and Roman Mythology when I was in Middle School. I was homeschooled at the time by my parents (5th through 8th grades).

We listened to a dramatization on tape (yeah, this was back before CD players were the norm) of the Odyessy, Agamemnon and of Socrates death. I read about the Greek and Roman gods and goddesses (essentially the Greeks and Romans had the same sorts, just different names and the Roman ones tend to be fiercer, which is actually saying something considering how tempramental the Greek ones could be). 

My favorite myth is Cupid & Psyche (yes, I have a romantic heart). I've read a couple of re-tellings of this story: 

Cupid by Julius Lester (pretty close to the original myth, mostly from Cupid's point of view)

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors (offers a different pespective and told from a third party's point of view).

Aphrodite's Blessing by Clemence McLaren (it also includes other retellings)

I've also read Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson books and the first book in Heroes Of Olympus, The Lost Hero. (Heroes Of Olympus comes after the Percy Jackson series and it has some of the characters from his previous series).

Do you like mythology? What's your favorite one?

Have A Terffic Tuesday!