Wednesday 30 March 2011

Writing In The Bath!

I've heard lots of people mention that they have WIP ideas whilst in the bath/shower. Well, I was lying in the bath the other day when an idea hit me, but I couldn't write it down.

Or could I?

I discovered there are tools at hand to preserve my idea other than repeating it like a mantra -- the goddaughter's bath toys. 

Sure the dolphin water squirter doesn't help much. I suppose the foam letters do have potential, but these are even better...

Bath crayons. 

All you need when an idea strikes mid-bath/shower is a bath crayon and a tiled wall. 

Genius.

Also, I'm over on Operation Awesome today. Pop over if you get chance, I'm spilling details about the April 1st Mystery Agent contest over on Operation Awesome

Monday 28 March 2011

Look What I Found...

It's the trailer for String Bridge by Jessica Bell.




Jessica is also having a contest where you can win books. Here are the details:

I am giving away FIVE books (from a choice of fifteen) -- so that's FIVE WINNERS (open internationally) for my books. But there could be more winners -- that depends on if you want to donate any second hand books. If you donate a second hand book as a prize you will be in the running to win a free, signed copy of String Bridge. Either an ARC in August, or, if you want to wait, the proper release in November. Your choice. I am giving away FIVE.


So head on over and take a peek. Her contest is open until this Thursday. 


Also, check out a contest from the fantabulous Renae


What is it?




Yep, an ARC of Possession. 


All you have to do is leave a comment and follow both Renae and Elana's blogs. Simples. 

Monday 21 March 2011

Danger: TBR Pile.

Another week, another gazillion books I've added to my list. I hit bookdepository.co.uk and ordered some awesome books over the weekend. I think it's time for another bookcase ;) 

Wither by Lauren DeStefano



From Goodreads:

What if you knew exactly when you would die? Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out. When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home. But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.


The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan




From Goodreads:

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters. Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again. But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

Entwined by Heather Dixon


Entwined

From Goodreads:

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it. The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation. Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest. But there is a cost. The Keeper likes to keep things. Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.


What about you? Any new books on your radar this week? 

Friday 18 March 2011

Authors For Japan

I don't need to say much more than this, but we've all seen the devastation in Japan. On a personal note, two friends of mine live in Japan teaching English. They both got in touch via Facebook to say they (and their in-laws/families over there) are safe, but many aren't. Like Haiti before it, Japan will need time (and support) to recover from this ongoing crisis.

But, as always, the awesome writing community steps up. Here are some of the ways they are raising money for Japan.


From Galleycat

The Authors for Japan site just launched, as writers and publishing professionals have donated some great prizes to raise funds for earthquake and tsunami relief in Japan.
Donated prizes include: “sex scene mentoring for your novel,” a “first chapter or short story critique,” and a set of “four-week telephone mentoring sessions.” Writers around the world have joined together to support Japan. Over the weekend, author Maureen Johnson raised more than $14,000 in Shelterbox donations for Japan.
Here’s how the auction works: “We’ll be putting posts up throughout the day so you can get an idea of the amazing items available before bidding opens. The auction will open at 8am GMT tomorrow (Tuesday 15th March) and close at 8pm on Sunday (the 20th). To bid, you’ll need to leave a comment (with the amount of your bid) in the relevant comments box. At the conclusion of the auction the bidder who has made the highest bid in UK Pounds will be deemed the winner.
This online event celebrates Red Cross Month (March 1-31). It is intended to raise funds and awareness for the Red Cross and its work in communities across the country. We’re auctioning off publishing-related items and services donated by authors, publicists, agents, and editors. We’ll also have daily guest posts from authors about “What the Red Cross Means to Me.” All donors who give over $25 will also be able to select one free book from a range of books donated and shipped by publishers for the event.
You can also donate to the relief fund via the UK Red Cross. Here is the U.S site.
I'm sure there are some fundraising efforts I must have missed, but I know we are all keeping Japan in our thoughts. 
Oh, before I go... the Operation Awesome March Mystery Agent results will be up today. Keep checking the blog for details. 

Wednesday 16 March 2011

Like Mandarin: Non-Blogfest


To celebrate the release of Like Mandarin by Kirsten Hubbard, an awesome group of writers are posting about their Mandarin (the person they idolised as a teenager). Lisa & Laura Roecker and Elana Johnson decided to take it to the next level: a non-blogfest level. 

Here's the details from Elana: NON-blogfest on Wednesday, March 16. You can blog about who you would have given anything to be like when you were a teenager. 




I was never one of the 'popular' people. The ones with the perfect hair, figures, clothes and boyfriends. The ones who didn't walk the halls with their head down due to chronic blushing attacks, or worry about being teased for being overweight. I wanted to be someone, anyone else but who I was. 

I knew people in the different groups, but I lived on the fringes. My friends were a mix of clever, arty, musical, weird teens. We were the ones who drifted around the social groups, never fitting into one category. 

My Mandarins didn't care about fitting in. They said that life's too short to be someone else. They wore what they wanted. They didn't give a **$% what people thought about them. They were brave, daring, and comfortable in their own skin. And that's what I wanted to be. 

It took me a while to realise that who I am is better than who I thought I wanted to be -- everyone else. My Mandarins knew that before I did. I didn't need to be anyone else because being me was enough. 

And I'm okay with that. 

Wednesday 9 March 2011

Update...

I'm over on Operation Awesome today, but I wanted to let you know about my CP, Amparo's awesome blogiversary contest.

Win books!

Amparo is giving away a choice from some amazing book babies. Check out the blog for more details.

I'm deep in some edits at the moment, but will be popping round the your blog homes soon.

Happy Wednesday!

Monday 7 March 2011

Danger: TBR Pile.

Another week, another set of book beauties. I'm starting to think my TBR pile will never shrink, but (as I like to say) reading lots of books isn't only fun... it helps with my continuing writing education. 

Rosebush by Michele Jaffe


 Rosebush

Goodreads description:

Instead of celebrating Memorial Day weekend on the Jersey Shore, Jane is in the hospital surrounded by teddy bears, trying to piece together what happened last night. One minute she was at a party, wearing fairy wings and cuddling with her boyfriend. The next, she was lying near-dead in a rosebush after a hit-and-run.
Everyone believes it was an accident, despite the phone threats Jane swears were real. But the truth is a thorny thing. As Jane's boyfriend, friends, and admirers come to visit, more memories surface not just from the party, but from deeper in her past . . . including the night her best friend Bonnie died.
With nearly everyone in her life a suspect now, Jane must unravel the mystery before her killer attacks again.

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder


Inside Out

Goodreads description:

Keep your head down. Don't get noticed. Or else. I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck at risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution..

Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely #5) by Melissa Marr

Darkest Mercy (Wicked Lovely, #5)
                                                                                     (Image from Goodreads)

What books are on your TBR pile this week?

Friday 4 March 2011

What A Difference A Year Makes...

Apologies for my not visiting your blogs on Wednesday, but the earache was evil. Anyways, I have vanquished that foe and shall be resuming my blog hopping today.

In other news: today is my blogiversary. That's right, I've been blogging one whole year. Wow. I started blogging to connect with other writers. To learn. To grow as a writer.  It sounds so cheesy to say (you know I'm going to anyway), but blogging has brought me so many wonderful things. I've connected with wonderful, talented writers/bloggers, made friends, met my amazing CPs and the B.B.W (best beta in the world, Renae), seen people land agents, get book deals... the list is huge. We see loads of stuff happen in interweb world on a daily basis. 


Adventures in Children's Publishing (who are also celebrating their blogiversary on March 10th) said something about blogging that is so true -- it's about the community.

 "But the magical thing we discovered is that blogging isn't about what you have to say. It's about plugging into a community, sharing thoughts, learning together, and growing together."


So I just want to say thank you. Thank you for being on the journey with me this year. Here is to sharing our thoughts, learning, and growing together over the next year and beyond. 


Oh, and that we all get agents, book deals, drop a dress size *insert dream here* and find a pot of gold at the end of our rainbow. Just don't touch my cookies. Okay... you can have one :)





Wednesday 2 March 2011

Earache Editing

It's my post day over on Operation Awesome today, but I'm posting this here as well because, well, I'm afraid I'm not feeling my chirpy cookie self today. An attack of earache has me in its throbbing, evil grasp. But never fear, I've found a way to post through the pain -- and link it to writing. 

Earache is one of those things that sneaks up on you. You can be walking around, content in your own world, and then bam, a gust of wind rushes in your ears. You know it's coming, but you try to ignore it. Hours later you're awake at 2am clutching a hot water bottle watching CSI: Las Vegas repeats.

But earache has a productive side. Oh yes. You know the nagging feeling you get when your ear throbs? Well, it's kind of like with editing. You write your MS, walk around all chirpy and la la la, but you know it's coming. You want to ignore it, but you can't.

After my fantabulous CPs give me their feedback, I begin. I tend to use my gut feeling for a lot of my editing. You know, the little nag inside you that tells you something isn't quite right? With earache you treat it. You take some painkillers, grab a hot water bottle and snuggle down for a nap, waiting for the throb to go away. With editing, the throb is something you can't ignore. So you open your word document, get your editing tools, and wait for the throb to start. If I don't feel the throb on a certain area, I pretty much leave it alone.

My earache editing motto: feel the throb, treat the problem.


What about you? Got any editing tips? Earache remedies?