Okay, so work has been completely exhausting and I now understand why my mom complained about her job for so long, even when I didn't exactly believe her. I never imagined that I would be working in a factory assembling laundry dryers, especially not when I have both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree, but in this economy, I guess you take whatever you can get. The pay is pretty decent, but after a typical day (where I usually work between 9 and 14 hours), I am tired.
I have been falling behind on practically everything in my life. My DVR is about 2/3 filled with shows I have yet to watch, my physical TBR pile reaches my navel area (so, roughly 2.5 feet tall) and my digital TBR pile is even larger, and trying to work on writing and/or editing...my brain doesn't even want to function when I get home from work so that seems impossible. But I know I have to do it if I want to achieve my goal of being a published author.
The other huge issue was with my laptop. It was the one I bought before I entered college seven years ago, and it was close to dying on me, again. I saved up for the past two months and just now bought a new laptop...and it is wonderful so far. What is not wonderful...having to transfer all of my files and music, etc over so I can get back to work. For now I just have the music I listen to most and the manuscript files I actually need to be focusing on at this moment. So, with any luck, I'll be back to making progress on that front again.
I had my best friend from college, who is also an aspiring author, up for Memorial Day weekend and we had a blast. We went and saw Fast & Furious 6 and then saw Iron Man 3 (for a second time), and we also went to the local zoo, which was a blast. On Memorial Day the weather took a turn for the yucky, all cold and rainy, so we stayed at home and tried to work on doing more editing for our novels. Her editing is just a clean-up run through since she's already gone through the major editing issues. For my novel, on the other hand, there are a number of scenes that I need to elaborate on or clean up so it all makes more sense. So, I am doing a lot more writing.
She made it through somewhere between 20-30 pages...and I managed to add close to a 1,000 words to mine. It was not even close to what I was hoping to achieve, but it is also more than I've done in the past couple months. Also...this new computer is still in the stage of me trying to learn all of its features, and that makes it a pretty huge distraction.
Aside from adding to my novel, I did also manage to write out the summaries for the four book saga I plan to start writing this year for NaNoWriMo. I am really looking forward to it.
Which brings me to my NaNoWriMo plans for the remainder of 2013...or rather my writing plans that include NaNoWriMo. Anyway, I hope to be able to finish my edits for Project Death: Resurrection by mid-June. I have to finish it before the month is up, since my CreateSpace coupon expires then. Then, for Camp NaNoWriMo in July I will be working on the sequel, Project Death: Revelation. I need to have it basically written so I can work on editing it in the beginning of 2014 so it will be ready for publication next summer. Finally, for NaNoWriMo in November, I plan on writing the first book in my four book saga, The Life and Death of a Seer.
As I usually do leading up to a NaNo event, I will have a post that talks about the novel, perhaps a brief summary, and maybe even some discussion of the characters, and through the month of Camp or NaNo, I will have updates on the writing progress and process.
I hope to be able to post the good news at the end of June about the publication of Project Death: Resurrection. It is a story that came to me almost a decade ago and has been a great labor of love for me. To be able to see it available in both print and e-book will definitely be an amazing moment.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Monday, May 27, 2013
From the Stacks: Spirit by Brigid Kemmerer
The newest book in the Elemental series is just as good as the previous ones. I can't even say enough how amazing this series is.
Summary:
With power comes enemies. Lots of them.
Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He's learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies.
He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.
Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too.
With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he'll have to find someone he can trust. . .
My Thoughts:
Anyone who has followed my reviews and Tweets while I'm reading this series knows that I flip back and forth amongst the Merrick brothers when deciding which is my favorite, because whatever novella or novel I'm reading, I tend to like that brother best. The lone ranger who doesn't fit into that category is Hunter as he isn't a Merrick, but this book did finally solidify my order on the Merrick list of favorites.
Don't get me wrong; Hunter is a great character, and I like the struggle that he faces with attempting to figure out who exactly he trusts and what he wants to fight for in what is basically becoming a war on so many different fronts. And as the summary of the book says, he has people and issues converging on him from all sides. But that's where my favorite Merrick brother really steps in. Seeing how Michael acts towards Hunter in this book and sort of tries to take Hunter in and treat him much in the same way he does his own younger brothers is wonderful and endearing and I think it is just what Hunter needs, even if it takes him a while to see that.
The one issue, and I guess it isn't a big issue, with this book, and with Hunter's romantic story lines is that he seems to go from girl to girl...and you know, I can totally blame that on him being a Spirit user because much like the Merricks seem to be drawn to their individual elements, Hunter is drawn towards people, who basically embody Spirit. In Storm, Hunter is interested in Becca, and in Fearless he's interested in a different girl (which takes place pre-Storm), and here in Spirit, there's now Kate. I hope that after this book Hunter starts to settle down a bit on all of this, because I think underneath all of his issues and tough exterior, he is a good guy.
I devour these books so incredibly quickly that it makes waiting for the next one even longer and feel too far away for my liking, but they are so amazing that I also want Brigid Kemmerer to be able to have the time to write these books properly. I am so excited to read both Nick's book and Michael's book. Obviously, like every other book in this series, I give Spirit a 5/5. If you haven't started reading this series yet, now is definitely the time to do so. They are amazing.
Don't get me wrong; Hunter is a great character, and I like the struggle that he faces with attempting to figure out who exactly he trusts and what he wants to fight for in what is basically becoming a war on so many different fronts. And as the summary of the book says, he has people and issues converging on him from all sides. But that's where my favorite Merrick brother really steps in. Seeing how Michael acts towards Hunter in this book and sort of tries to take Hunter in and treat him much in the same way he does his own younger brothers is wonderful and endearing and I think it is just what Hunter needs, even if it takes him a while to see that.
The one issue, and I guess it isn't a big issue, with this book, and with Hunter's romantic story lines is that he seems to go from girl to girl...and you know, I can totally blame that on him being a Spirit user because much like the Merricks seem to be drawn to their individual elements, Hunter is drawn towards people, who basically embody Spirit. In Storm, Hunter is interested in Becca, and in Fearless he's interested in a different girl (which takes place pre-Storm), and here in Spirit, there's now Kate. I hope that after this book Hunter starts to settle down a bit on all of this, because I think underneath all of his issues and tough exterior, he is a good guy.
I devour these books so incredibly quickly that it makes waiting for the next one even longer and feel too far away for my liking, but they are so amazing that I also want Brigid Kemmerer to be able to have the time to write these books properly. I am so excited to read both Nick's book and Michael's book. Obviously, like every other book in this series, I give Spirit a 5/5. If you haven't started reading this series yet, now is definitely the time to do so. They are amazing.
Spirit at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/spirit-brigid-kemmerer/1113944369?ean=9780758272836
Monday, May 6, 2013
From the Stacks: Kept by Shawntelle Madison
Okay, so this time I am once again reading a sequel to a book I have already read and reviewed on this blog. This is Kept, a Coveted novel by Shawntelle Madison and I very much enjoyed it.
Summary:
"Fresh from defending her pack in battle, Natalya Stravinsky, a whip-smart werewolf with a lovable neurotic streak, wants a little rest and relaxation. Once an outcast, she’s now eager to rejoin the ranks of her New Jersey pack, and has even gotten a handle on her obsessive urge to hoard holiday ornaments. Yet Nat barely has time to revel in her progress before the next crisis comes howling at her door.
Nat’s father has suddenly gone missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia. And as Nat steps up to save her dad from a mob boss’s deadly game, two men step in to play another round for her heart: her gorgeous alpha ex-boyfriend, Thorn, and her new flame, the sweetly sensitive wizard Nick. With her life growing more harried by the minute, Nat must stay cool, calm, and collected . . . or else risk losing everything."
Nat’s father has suddenly gone missing, captured by the Russian werewolf mafia. And as Nat steps up to save her dad from a mob boss’s deadly game, two men step in to play another round for her heart: her gorgeous alpha ex-boyfriend, Thorn, and her new flame, the sweetly sensitive wizard Nick. With her life growing more harried by the minute, Nat must stay cool, calm, and collected . . . or else risk losing everything."
My Thoughts:
Okay, so I read this at a point when I did not have a job and therefore couldn't afford to buy books. However, libraries have really evolved with the times and not only can you actually go into the library and borrow books, but a number of them have even started to purchase special e-book licenses and then a patron can go to the e-book library web site and borrow books from there. For my library that means a loan period of only two weeks, and for some of the more popular books, there could be a wait for a couple of months, but still...the book is delivered via e-mail so I never have to leave the house.
Anyway, I love this series. Having the neurotic and lovable Nat as the main character is just fun. She is incredibly realistic to me and watching her deal with her compulsion to buy holiday ornaments and decorations, as well as trying to fit back into her pack and home makes this a wonderfully complex tale.
Also, can I just say that I adore the covers? The cover for Kept is better than the cover for Coveted, but they are still both really cool.
Just like a number of paranormal books/movies/TV shows nowadays, Nat struggles with her feelings for both her ex Thorn and Nick, but at least to me, I see no contest...I am a fan of Nat and Nick. He understands her in a way I don't think Thorn can just yet, since Nick struggles with a similar compulsive condition. Yes, Thorn is quite protective of Nat and does tend to sometimes go all alpha mode on people, but I don't know...maybe I'm starting to lean more towards the guys who are more Beta than Alpha. They seem to be a little more kind and caring.
Nat has grown since I first met her at the start of Coveted, and I really look forward to seeing how she grows further with the next book. Now, if only I did not have to wait so long to get the next book. A 5/5.
Anyway, I love this series. Having the neurotic and lovable Nat as the main character is just fun. She is incredibly realistic to me and watching her deal with her compulsion to buy holiday ornaments and decorations, as well as trying to fit back into her pack and home makes this a wonderfully complex tale.
Also, can I just say that I adore the covers? The cover for Kept is better than the cover for Coveted, but they are still both really cool.
Just like a number of paranormal books/movies/TV shows nowadays, Nat struggles with her feelings for both her ex Thorn and Nick, but at least to me, I see no contest...I am a fan of Nat and Nick. He understands her in a way I don't think Thorn can just yet, since Nick struggles with a similar compulsive condition. Yes, Thorn is quite protective of Nat and does tend to sometimes go all alpha mode on people, but I don't know...maybe I'm starting to lean more towards the guys who are more Beta than Alpha. They seem to be a little more kind and caring.
Nat has grown since I first met her at the start of Coveted, and I really look forward to seeing how she grows further with the next book. Now, if only I did not have to wait so long to get the next book. A 5/5.
Kept at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kept-shawntelle-madison/1111326036?ean=9780345529176
Kept at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kept-A-Coveted-Novel-ebook/dp/B008AI77F0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1363304701&sr=1-1&keywords=shawntelle+madison+kept
Friday, May 3, 2013
From the Stacks: Bloodspell by Amalie Howard
This is a book I was able to read from NetGalley and was released in 2011, with the sequel expected sometime in 2014. Hopefully that happens because it seems like Amalie Howard will be quite busy the end of this year and next year, with four books being released. I guess she's making up for that two year gap where she published nothing.
Summary:
"The spell was simple...
Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)
But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?
Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...
Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?"
Cruentus Protectum (Defend the Blood)
But what do you do if your blood is your enemy?
Victoria Warrick has always known she was different. An outcast at school, she is no stranger to adversity. But when she receives an old journal for her seventeenth birthday, nothing prepares her for the dark secrets it holds -- much less one that reveals she's a witch with unimaginable power.
What's more, when she meets the dazzling but enigmatic Christian Devereux, she has no idea how much her life is about to change. Enemies will hunt her. Friends will turn on her. The terrible curse that makes her blood run black will stop at nothing to control her. And Christian has a sinister secret of his own...
Without knowing whom to trust, can Victoria survive her blood's deadly desires? Or will she lose everything, including herself?"
My Thoughts:
Overall I decided to give this book a 4.5/5, because it was really good, but I did find some minor spelling and grammatical errors throughout.
I saw some other reviews on Goodreads and such that tried to say that this was yet another book that was basically a Twilight re-write, but I disagree. Yes there is a mortal girl and a vampire boy involved in a romance. Whatever. That happens in so many books, and did for a great number of years before Twilight came out.
But my main issue with people trying to compare this to that other book is that Victoria is--in my mind--a much stronger female character than Bella was in the whole series. When Christian tries to basically become controlling, telling her where she can go and what she can do, Victoria is quick to stand up for herself and tell him that he does not control her and cannot make her decisions for her. Granted, in that particular scenario where she lashed out at him, Christian was actually right, and Victoria's decision got her into trouble, but still...the point is that she is the one who made that decision and so she now can deal with the consequences of that.
Also, Victoria is far more active than Bella is. Looking at the whole saga, Bella spends most of the time sitting around thinking, or listening to people talk, and she is mostly a very passive person with only a few exceptions (punching Jacob, going to Italy to save Edward, and of course fighting against her enemies after she herself becomes a vampire), but Victoria doesn't just sit around and let stuff happen to her. She researches, and let's also not forget the fact that she is not a normal mortal...she is a witch, so how could people honestly try and compare her to Bella? If anything, I would think they would compare this more to the stories and romances in L.J. Smith's Night World series.
Anyway, this book really did intrigue me. I enjoyed the characters, even though it always bothers me when male characters try to control the females in whom they are romantically interested. I don't care if you are a several hundred year old vampire or if you are the alpha of your wolf pack or whatever...this is 2013 buddy and guess what? Females can take care of themselves. If she asks for help fine, or if she is honestly in way over her head then you can step in to help. Otherwise let her make her own decisions. How is that still such a foreign concept?
Okay, so I think this review may be starting to turn into a tangent, so I'm going to wrap it up now, but I will say that I look forward to reading the sequel to Bloodspell whenever it does come out, and I will be checking out Amalie Howard's other books as well.
Bloodspell at Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bloodspell-amalie-howard/1031212244?ean=9781936782116
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