Jack Sparrow, Mystery Agent Contests, And Wednesday LOLS

I'm over on Operation Awesome today. Last week was my potty training/writing analogy. This week I'm sharing writing wisdom from Jack Sparrow.

Also, I have to let you know that July 1st will be Mystery Agent time over on Operation Awesome. More details to follow, but here are the genre details our M.A. is especially looking for:

YA and MG: southern gothic, historical fiction, magical realism, science fiction, supernatural/ paranormal, ghost stories, humor, fantasy, thriller/ suspense, edgy YA, friendship MG. 

And now some Wednesday lolcats:
    

Happy Wednesday!

Danger: TBR Pile.

It has been a while since I posted about my TBR pile (that threatens to topple over and crush me in my sleep). Here are some of the pretties on my list this week: 

Goodreads blurb:

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the thing inside her.
When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch.
Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.
Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.
But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

Goodreads blurb: 

From bestselling, Printz Award-winning author Libba Bray, the story of a plane of beauty pageant contestants that crashes on a desert island.
Teen beauty queens. A "Lost"-like island. Mysteries and dangers. No access to email. And the spirit of fierce, feral competition that lives underground in girls, a savage brutality that can only be revealed by a journey into the heart of non-exfoliated darkness. Oh, the horror, the horror! Only funnier. With evening gowns. And a body count.

I was also lucky enough to read Twisted Velvet Chains in May. And, thanks to the lovely Jessica Bell, I got this in the mail last week: 

Goodreads blurb: 

Twisted Velvet Chains is a collection of poems which follows the experiences of one woman growing up with a bipolar, drug addicted, gothic musician mother. Each poem represents specific moments of their life that embrace vivid rich imagery, and illustrate the turmoil of emotions both experience while together. The collection is divided into four parts that flow one into the other from childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and post-death.

Huge thanks to Jessica. 

How about you? What books are on your TBR pile this week? 

I'm Not Here...

I'm over on Operation Awesome today talking about Pee Pee & Writing.

Pop over and say hi if you get chance.

But I'll leave you with a writing moment:

That WTF moment where you're writing and something happens you weren't expecting.

Writing Is A Wonderland?

1) The best adventures start with curiosity. We always want to know the how, what and why:

2) So take a chance. Let yourself fall into the unknown:

3) And it will open up a whole world of adventure:

      

4) Sometimes you won't know which road to take:

5) But each step leads you to where you need to be. And a new adventure can begin:







How is your WIP/adventures in writing wonderland going? 

Blog Fail

Apologies for having been AWOL. I was kidnapped by a stomach bug for some of last week. This week? Well, I threw myself into some Shiny New Idea planning.

Kind of like this:

I shall be back to full blogging/tweeting/Tumblr-ing force from Monday. Until then....

Elana's Book Comes Out This Week!

It's a great book week this week. Why? Because tomorrow sees the release of Possession by the awesome Elana Johnson.

Goodreads blurb:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.

But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.

This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

I'm so excited to read Possession (and I know it's awesome because 3 of my CP's have already read/raved about it). It kind of makes me want to do this:

Can't wait to get this in the post this week.

What books are you looking forward to reading?

Lenny Lee Fest(ival) of Sunshine

Sometimes you don't need to meet a person to know they are special. Sometimes you just need to read a few heartfelt words. An email from Lenny can make me smile whatever it says. But the best word of all? Hugs.

Because you don't need to see someone to hug them. Sometimes the thought, the word itself, is just as powerful.

So I'm doing my (small) bit to send you a virtual hug today, Lenny.

Why is Lenny so special? Head over to his blog and find out.

Pst... I Know About A Contest

It's Wednesday. It's June 1st.

A new month brings the possible glow of new projects to start. Old projects to finish. A summer eating ice-cream and enjoying lazy days in the park. Oh, yeah, I just remembered that we're also one step closer to the release of Harry Potter Part 2.

Sorry, I had to have dancing Dumbledore again. He makes me laugh.

Anyway, I bring you a contest to start the month (courtesy of Operation Awesome): We're Giving Away Critiques... Want one? . And you can win me. Well, not me personally, but I'm giving a query critique away.

And a huge *fist pump* for my awesome friend and CP, Amparo. Amparo finished the first year of her Masters degree yesterday.

I don't know about you, but today I've got some planning to finish for my WIP. What about you? Any goals for this month? Are you starting a SNI?