Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

I decided to do a short review today. As you know, things have been a little hectic. Since I've been limited on writing time, I've been reading. I checked out this little nugget.

Yeah...look at that cover. The inside doesn't disappoint. The girl on the cover reminds me of Scarlett Johansson.

Title: Paranormalcy

Author: Kiersten White

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 352

The Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Evie learns that she is not quite the person she thought she was in this creature-feature mash-up. Possessing the unique ability to recognize paranormals beneath their glamour, Evie has lived most of her life under the protection of the International Paranormal Containment Agreement (IPCA), an organization dedicated to the cataloging and neutralizing of paranormal creatures. After a mysterious entity begins killing paranormals around the world, Evie discovers some startling truths about her own identity.

My take:

I'm about to gush about this book. I loved it. It's fresh, fast paced, and the characters...what can I say. I'm speechless. They are wonderful and strong. I really admire Ms. White's ability to write characters I care about. The story itself was nice mix of twisting mystery, action, and humor. I loved Evie and her little comments. I found myself laughing outloud at some parts, and sitting on the edge of my seat at others. Lend, Evie's love interest, had me swooning too. This made paranormal seem normal.

The End:

I did enjoy the end. I think it was the perfect balance of letting it be a solo book, but some things could be fleshed out in a sequel. I'm keeping this short because I think you should go get it now. :)

There you go. I LOVED this book. It's so different from the norm. hehe.

I will be posting tomorrow as part of the What's your Writing Process Blogfest hosted by Shallee.

How was your weekend?

Any goals?

My goals are the same as last week. REVISE and WRITE before I'm taken away for being grumpy.

Have a great day!

Like a Runner, Running after a Snowstorm

I didn't have many facts today. The only thing I could come up with is a few pointers.

-Don't do a Kitchen renovation in the winter, especially if you live in a cold climate. There's snow outside my window. Just to give you an idea.

-With small children. Yeah, not many places to go when it's cold. Plus, you know it's super cold when even the kids don't want to go outside.

-Don't do the first point and also decide that your 2 1/2 year old is ready for a big boy bed. I'm not going there.

So, yeah, it's el nutsy at my house. Writing/revising is slow with no quiet time. Yes, I'm frustrated.

What's with the title, you ask?

Well, on Wednesday, it snowed here, about 6 inches. As I was taking my daughter to school, a guy was running in full gear down the middle of the street (the sidewalks were not shoveled). I thought to myself, dang, what dedication. I thought this for many reasons--I know I would not be doing that. I dislike snow, cold, and running. Wait, let me clarify. I like running if it involves a Wii remote, in the comfort of my warm family room. I still highly dislike snow and cold.

It got me thinking. Dedication and passion. I know what that feels like. I get it. I feel this when I write. I always want to do it no matter how I feel or the weather for that matter. I want to keep doing it, pushing myself beyond my expectations. There will be times of doubt (snowstorms), but I must plow through it and not ignore the little burn in my heart that wants me to continue-- to keep going, writing everyday, aiming for that goal and pleasing my soul.

Are you ignoring the burn in your heart?

Any weekend plans?

Don't forget Writing the Next Line Blogfest, January 24th.
Have a great weekend!

Get organized and contest

Thanks for all your comments on Monday. They have helped me realize that I must choose what is comfortable for me. The hoopla has stunned the creativity a bit, so I must open my mind again and just let it flow.

On another note, I must get organized. I'm talking in every aspect of my life. Right now, my house is torn apart. The kitchen renovation is in full swing so my life is in complete upheaveal. It has made me clean things out--something I've been putting off for years. I used to be a super organized person, but with the whole kid thing, I let things go. It feels good though, almost clearing my head, making me see things differently.

I also need to organize my computer files, specifically the files for my WiP's. I do back them up on a seperate drive, but I have a lot of them. I'm looking for ways to consolidate these buggers.

I also need to keep better journals. Boy, are those babies a mess. No order on anything.

So, there something I need to do and I'm looking to you to see how you do it.

Any organizing tips for your files and journals?

Now, I thought since I've been blogging for a year a little contest is in order and since I've made you completely sleepy with the info above, I'll wake you up with this nugget of info. I'm going to giveaway a book. I'm sorry, I'm not super cool so don't get excited, I don't have any arcs. I know. I know, but I'm not the cool gal here. I will, however, give you something that may help.

Just ignore the look inside. I got the photo from amazon.com. I couldn't get the link to work.

So, yeah I will giveaway one of these books to one lucky winner. Hooked by Les Edgerton. It's one of the few self help books that has kept my interest and helped me. I did give a copy away last year, and, well, since it's the beginning of the year--this can help with the beginning of your novel. Get it?

Make sure you're a follower then just leave a comment and tell me your favorite part of the writing process. Easy right?

Of course, I would love for you to spread the word to which you will get extra points. Yes, this is open internationally.

Follow me on twitter +2

Tweet about it +2

Sidebar +4

Blog about it +5

Facebook promo +2

Total points +2
I had a hard time getting my form to work so please just leave your totals in the comments below.

Ends February 3rd. I will announce the winner February 4th.

Also, don't  forget about the Writing the Next Line Blogfest January 24th. This should be fun so don't miss out. :) **smiling**

Have a great day!

Do it in 9 steps.

One of my CPs emailed me this link about the 9 Step Method. It's interesting. It's plotting your novel in 9 steps. It supposed to help with revising as well. I'm actually trying it for WiP #3. So far I did step one, and I'm almost done step 2. It makes you really think things through, along with detailing your characters. I didn't outline WiP#1, I just wrote it. Now I'm re-writing it. So I thought for the next story, I would try it. It's seems to help, although my impatience itches like a mosquito bite.

I guess I'm still trying to figure out my method. I thought I was a total panster, because in my head I have most of the story worked out along with the characters, but I'm re-thinking that thought. I need to figure some things out before I write, mainly for sanity purposes, otherwise I'm trying to figure it all out as I write which is even more frustrating. This panster thing is fine to a point, due to the fact that most of the story is worked out in my head, but I guess, it's the little things that I would like to figure out before I go all keyboard typey crazy.

I'm also noticing that I can't write a story in succession (beginning to end). I'm having a hard time starting at chapter one and going straight through. Things (scenes really) are coming into my head at different sections of the story. The characters are only showing me bits and pieces (they're such a tease), leaving it up to me to figure it all out (god, they're so lazy or just stubborn like everyone else that lives in my house).

Have you tried this 9 step method?

Did it work for you?

If not, what methods do you use?

How was your weekend and what are your goals this week?

I hope to get a few more chapters revised in WiP#1, and finish step 3 in the 9 step method for WiP #3. I finally got my tabs up. I will be adding to them and adding more. So excited.

**News Flash** Check out this new blog. booKrushed. Run by the lovely Kimberly Franklin, Kristi Chestnutt and Kristin Rae. All about books. It's going to be awesome. Plus, they are running a wonderful contest. Yeah, I know you want to go there. Look how pretty their logo is.

Have a great day!

Fun Facts Friday

This week was interesting. I'm glad to try and get back into a routine. I also learned that holding a blogfest in the New Year was not the smartest idea. Oh well, we will have fun with it anyway. :) I also changed my background. I'll leave it up for a while. See if I like it. I hope to add tabs at the top soon, to clean up the junk on the sidebar. Any advice on that would be most appreciated. My New Year is all about cleaning things out (this includes my house). With that said, here are the facts:

1. I saw a commercial for light soup. It basically told me that it would help me lose weight if I ate it. Right after the soup commercial was a commercial for chocolate. So much for that diet. Nothing like rubbing temptation in your face.

2. Another commercial I saw was for Pajama Jeans. I really thought it was a joke. A Saturday Night Live spoof. No joke, it was real. You want to see. Check out the site. I had a hard time uploading the video.

3. I will never do a renovation project to my house right after the holiday. Not fun. You would think, being a designer, that I would be excited. So not fun when you're doing your own house.

4. I'm actually not sure what happened over the past two weeks. Christmas and New Year's, it really happened?

5. Looking forward to summer.

6. Not much writing happened over the holidays. I'm super excited to get started again. MCs, from more stories than I can count, are talking at once. Wow, my brain is dizzy.

7. Missed blogging.

8. Missed my CPs.

9. Looking forward to a New Year, so much to learn and to write. Can you tell I'm really excited? I know I'm a dork.

10. I realized I can get a great workout while playing Just Dance for Kids on the Wii. Stop laughing. It's true.
This is all I had this week.

How was your week?


Back to your routine?

Have a wonderful weekend!

Writing The Next Line Blogfest

I decided to start the year with a bang. A blogfest. I enjoyed hosting one in December so I thought I would chase away the winter blues with one in January. If you have participated in Writing the Next Line, you know how it works. If not, take a peek at one of the sessions here. I wish I could claim this genius idea, but it's not mine. I'm not sure who came up with it, but I've seen it around quite often. I decided to make it a monthly exercise to include you guys, my blogger buddies.

So this month, I decided to change it up, and make it a blogfest. Here's the deal--I will start it as I always do-- come up with an idea (which is posted below), you guys can cut and paste it to your post, and add on to it. So instead of adding one or two lines to what others have written, you get to make it your own.
I'm not good with setting word counts, but I think under 1000 words will do. Then on January 24th you post it. That gives everyone 2 weeks to come up with something. Sound good? Sign up with Mr. Linky below. I hope it works. *fingers crossed*Okay, here is the idea.

3:00 am. Those numbers glowed green, staring at me, letting me know I wasn't sleeping. I couldn't. If I did, who knows what injury I would wake up with. Every night a dream would consume me, and when I woke, something on my body was cut, bruised, or almost broken.

I started at the ceiling. The fan squeaked and wobbled, trying to produce air flow. It wasn't succeeding. I turned over, hugging my pillow. What's happening? Maybe I should see someone, but who? A doctor? Padded room for sure. Is there such a thing as a dream specialist?

A branch scratched the window. I turned over again. 5:00 am. Where did the last two hours go? Adrenaline pumped through my veins, accelerating my heart. My T-shirt was damp and clinging to my back. What happened? Did I dream, again?

Bang. Bang. Bang. I jumped up. Someone was at my door.

There you go. Have fun. Remember cut and paste to your post, and continue the story. Post it, January 24th. If you would like to participate sign up below.



Have fun! I can't wait to read the entries. It will probably take me a couple of days to read them all.

Have a great day!

First Year Blogoversary

Well, the holidays are over. I hope everyone had a great break. Whew! It was fun, but I'm ready to get crackin'. So, here it is, my first year as a blogger. That's right. One year ago, I started this crazy gig. I met my first CP, Kelly, at a SCBWI Conference. She has been the best. I had no idea what I was doing. Both of us were "just starting" all this novel stuff, and she has helped me a ton. Thanks so much Kelly!

She also told me to start blogging. I definitely didn't know what I was getting myself into or what to expect. Many things have happened and, well, I've learned a lot. I didn't think I was ever interesting so I'm quite flattered all you blogger buddies are reading what I write. I even got to meet some of you in person. So fun. I've found wonderful critique partners, and people that are just plain awesome. The support has been amazing.Thank you! Yeah, you keep me going.

When I started, I finished what I thought was a first draft. I guess now it's sort of like a really detailed outline. I've re-written most of my WiP#1, but I'm happy where it's going. Sure I'm about to rip my hair out at times, but that's part of this whole thing. This journey. I've decided to share my current stats:

WiP#1 --working title: Lingering Souls (first draft/loose outline 87,000 words), re-writes/revisions 60,000 words

WiP#2--outlining

WiP#3--working title: Wrapping Paper currently outlining, 2500 words written.

Six other ideas just waiting.

With all this. I've had to learn how to critique, and how to take a critique (still not easy). I've had an agent tear my work apart, and I've had a senior editor tell me my idea and synopsis were cool, interesting and intriguing. This basically made my year, and pushed me to keep going. For every hit that knocked me down, I searched for something to pick me up. Becoming more positive is something I've had to work hard at (I'm natually a pessimist), and I've had to learn patience. That has been the hardest.

I started this blog like a horse racing towards the finish line. I was everywhere, wanting to know more, thinking I would be finished WiP#1 and query it in about 6 months. For a seasoned author, sure, but for me...no. I'm learning, I admit it. Plus, I have two kids, a hubs, and a household to run. I'm not complaining, I'm just statin' the facts here folks. I was in a hurry to do so many things that I realized I really need to take my time at this, if I don't, stupid mistakes happen.

So I'm ending my freshman year, happy. Like most freshman, I thought I knew it all, tried to rush through it, and possibly partied too hard. The wake up call was learning what it takes, and if I can take it. The answer-- I can, and I can't wait to keep going. It took me this long to pursue this, and I'm going to die trying.

Now that the New Year is here, I have some--ahem--goals/resolutions for my sophomore year:
1. To finish WiP#1--it's been almost two years since I started it, and I want it done. Thanks to all my CPs who have suffered through this.
2. Query WiP#1 in the fall. Don't laugh.
3. Work on WiP#3.Would love to finish the first draft. **fingers crossed**
4. Learn more.
5. Learn even more.
6. Read more than I did last year.
7. Figure out a schedule that works best for my writing.
8. Fit into that schedule some sort of exercise because I ate way too many cookies.
9. Comment more and update this blog. It's been too long.
10. Spend time with the family. I do this now, but it doesn't hurt to try and fit more time in.

Well, there it is. Sure, most of it may be a little above and beyond, but, hey, it's worth a shot.

Let's hear from you:

What are your goals this year?

Was Santa good to you?

Any tips on how to create an awesome writing schedule with family duties? (I'm always looking for advice on this.)

I have some exciting things coming up. Contest--of course. To be announced this next week. Also, another blogfest. This time Writing the Next Line blogfest. I will announce on Wednesday.
Thanks again to Frankie for hosting that awesome No Kiss Blogfest yesterday. I hope to read more entries today!

Have a wonderful day and thank you, thank you, thank you! Here's to 2011! *toasting my glass* Prost!