Even more awards?!?!

I just discovered I won three more blog awards!(Warning: I have gone picture crazy. Just thought you ought to know.)

First, I have to say a BIIIIG thank you to Melanie Stanford over at Daydreamer to Writer for giving me these awards.

She nominated me for:

I've given out the Liebster Blog award before--which can be found here--so I'm going to tackle the others. The Rules of "The Versatile Blogger" award and "The Irresistibly Sweet Blog Award" are

1) Thank and link to the person who nominates you.
2) Share seven random facts about yourself.
3) Pass the award to five more blogger friends.
4) Contact and congratulate the blogs nominated.

Seven random facts? These have to be good. *Rubs hands together* Okay, let's get started. (Update: I noticed I put ten facts. I guess I got carried away (hehe). But I like the ten I have so I'm just going to leave them.)

1) When I was a child and most of my friends were playing with Barbies or playing house, I was running around pretending I was Buffy the Vampire Slayer :) (though I did like Barbies, too. Lol.)

Hehe! I love that fight

Kick his butt Buffy!

2) If I could chose to be any supernatural being, I would be a witch, hands down. I would want the bubbling cauldron, a black cloak, a flying broom, a black cat, gem-encrusted amulets, magic books, the whole enchilada! (Most people I know would think I want to be a vampire. I would surprise them with that answer.)

3) I hate folding laundry. Such a tedious job. *Rolls eyes*

4) I am OBSESSED with spiral notebooks. I love collecting them. Even the plain purple, or red, or green ones. I love decorating the covers as I'm writing in them. But I also love the pretty ones.

 5) Wednesday is my favorite day of the week. I get to participate in the YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday. (My post this week can be found here.) Also on Wednesday at 8 and 9 o'clock America's Next Top Model comes on The CW and Restaurant: Impossible is on the Food Network at 10. It's a good day :D

6) I love how words that begin with X sound like they start with a Z, the element "Xenon" for example--which reminds me of the movie Zenon, Girl of the 21st Century or Zenon the Zequel. Or "Xenophillius Lovegood" from Harry Potter.

Does anyone remember that movie--Zenon? Or am I alone here?

7) I only write with black pens when I'm working on fiction works. If I can't find a black pen I'll write in blue, but it really irks me.

8) I'm currently in the mood to watch an amazing movie Julie and Julia. It's such an inspiring movie, and I don't believe they could have picked a better cast. (And man, do I want to learn to make some of the food from Julia Child's cookbook! That stuff just looks delicious!)

9) I really want a tattoo, I just don't know the design yet :/ I'm afraid five years from now I won't want it anymore and unless I have the money for surgery removal, it's permanent.

10) I never liked the color green much until I began writing Angel Wings. It's my main character's favorite color--she rubbed off on me. I now have a green mp3 player and want a green car. Goooo figure (lol).

 Now I'm going to award five awesome bloggers with those two awards. And they are in alphabetical order:

• April at Books 4 Juliet
• Francesca Zappia at The Lobster Tank
• Genna Sarnak at Reading, Writing, and the World of Words
• Lora Palmer over at A Writer in Bloom
• Maria Behar over at A Night's Dream of Books

You guys are all awesome! And thanks again to Melanie Stanford for the award!

Now off to tell you bloggers....

Katniss, The Girl Who Was On Fire

If you recognize this post's title, you must have read The Hunger Games. I just finished reading the first of the series and haven't written a book review, so no better chance than now. Warning, I'll try not to contain spoilers. If I do, I apologise now.

This week's Road Trip Wednesday topic:

What's the best book you've read in August.

Author:Suzanne Collins
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pages: 374
Date of Release: Dec. 14th 2009
First Line:  "When I wake up, the other side of the bed is cold."

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Part One: The Tribute

“Happy Hunger Games! And may the odds be ever in your favor!”
-Effie Trinket

The book begins with Katniss waking to crawl underneath the chainlink fence and hunt--an action which is illigal. But with food on the scarce side, what's a girl to do? She has to feed her mother and her young sister Primrose (Prim). Here is also where Katniss' hunting partner Gale Hawthorn is introduced. They hunt and fish together, and talk about the nerve-wracking event that takes place later on in the day, the Reaping; the announcement of tributes for the 74th Hunger Games. When they finish hunting and selling some of their catch in a place called "The Hob" the two seperate to ready themselves for the ceremony. How it works is every person from age 12 to 18 must enter their name once, but for a years supply of tesserae--grain and oil--for one person they enter more. The more a person enters, the more tesserae the family gets. Katniss' name has been entered into the Game twenty times. Gale, who is eighteen and has seven brothers and sisters at home, has his named entered forty-two times. Now that Prim is old enough to enter, her name is entered once.

In the end Katniss and a boy named Peeta Mellark are the tributes from their district--District 12, which is set in the Appalachian and is known for coal mining. Since the Games are for "entertainment" and on television, the tributes have to look good right? They are all assigned a stylist. For District 12 it is Cinna and Portia--who I absoloutly love, by the way. The district is known for the tributes to be dressed in practically nothing--skanky coal miner outfits, for example. What does Cinna and Portia do to be radiant and different? They set them on fire.

Part Two:  The Games

“Winning means fame and fortune.
Losing means certain death.
The Hunger Games have begun.”

 The tributes know that the Games can take place anywhere from a desert, an artic region, to a forest. They have endured interviews, preparations, days of nerves, and finally it's time to start the games. Katniss knows she needs only one weapon--a bow and arrows--and it's not promised. Here is when cleverness, strength, skill, betrayal, and the strive to survive is tested.

Part Three:  The Victor

 

“Here’s some advice. Stay alive.”
-Haymitch Abernathy

It's all about who has gets the victory. I can't tell you much about this part without giving everything away.

My Thoughts

When I first heard about The Hunger Games it was from Stephenie Meyer's--the author of Twilight--website. It was when it first released and the book sounded so interesting, but I never got the chance to get my hands on it. I'm certainly glad I did. I would give it 4.5 stars. I can't wait to read the next one, Catching Fire.

Though I haven't read many, dystopians never cease to amaze me. It's interesting to wonder what the world be like in the future, and The Hunger Game's world would be a horrible world to live in. If Panem existed right now, based on where I live, I would probably be in District 12, too.

I cannot wait for the movie to come out! Here is a teaser trailer that just released.

The Love Interest

“Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you.”
-Katniss Everdeen

Two of my favorite aspects in novels are action and romance. I love a good fight scene just as much as I love mushy scene that makes you go "Squeee!" It has both action and romance, although the romance is different from other books and I found it interesting.

At first I wondered if there was something between Katniss and Gale. Though their relationship in the beginning of the book seemed platonic, I couldn't even begin to guess what Ms. Collins has up her sleeve for the next book.

Peeta. Sweet, sweet Peeta. To Katniss he is known as "the boy with the bread" and not just because he is the son of the baker. Though Peeta and Katniss never talked before the Games, they have a history so heavy Katniss feels she can never pay Peeta back for a favor he did for her.

Peeta: “Well, there is this one girl. I’ve had a crush on her ever since I can remember. But I’m pretty sure she didn’t know I was alive until the reaping.”

Caesar: “She have another fellow?”

Peeta: “I don’t know, but a lot of boys like her.”

Caesar: “So, here’s what you do. You win, you go home. She can’t turn you down then, eh?”

Peeta: “I don’t think it’s going to work out. Winning…won’t help in my case”

Caesar: “Why ever not?”

Peeta: “Because…because…she came here with me.”

Dun-dun-DUH!!!

Have you read The Hunger Games? What did you think? What was your favorite/least favorite part? Which was your favorite in the series--but no spoliers, please! :D

Glass by Ellen Hopkins Book Review

Hey everyone, I'm finally posting a book review for Glass. I don't know why I have been so reluctant about posting book reviews lately. Oh, well. I'll get back on track. Just as a heads up, Glass is the sequel to Crank by Ellen Hopkins. So if you haven't read Crank there will be spoilers.

Author: Ellen Hopkins
Publisher: Simon & Shuster
Pages: 681
Date of Release: August 21, 2007
Book is written in verse.

Crank. Glass. Ice. Crystal. Whatever you call it, it's all the same: a monster. And once it's got hold of you, this monster will never let you go.

Kristina thinks she can control it. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves -- her baby.

The sequel to Crank, this is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

photo found here

In Crank, Kristina Georgia Snow became addicted to many things. She became addicted to the feel of a boy's body pressed against hers, she became addicted to love, but, ultimately, she became addicted to meth. (And I became addicted to the series.)

The good girl Kristina's parents knew is struggling to hold back her stronger identity named Bree.

"Not quite silent,
                        shouts obscenities just because
                        they roll so well off the tongue.

Not quite straight-A
                        but talented in oh-so-many
                        inevitable ways.

Not quite sanitary,
                        farts with gusto, picks
                        her nose, spits like a guy.

Not quite sane,
                       sometimes, to tell you the truth,
                       even I wonder about her.

Alone,
                      There is no perfect daughter,
                      no gifted high-school junior,
                      no Kristina Georgia Snow.
                                                            There is only Bree."
                                                                   --Crank page 5

Bree is everything Kristina is not:  confident, sneaky, a party-girl. But now, in Glass, Kristina is dealing with consequences of her actions. Now a mother, Kristina tries to fight her addiction to the monster Crank, claiming it's up to her to call the shots, not the monster. The problem? The monster is alluring. It calls to her when she wakes up at night to feed her son, it calls to her in the morning when she hasn't gotten much sleep, and it calls to her when she argues with her parents. And inside of her, Bree is yearning for it.

Finally, Kristina gives in.

      "Just a little"

But we all know how that works. A little turned into a lot. A lot turned into losing control. And losing control meant losing her life. No, Kristina didn't die, but everything good thing in her life was gone. Her parents kick her out, take her baby, and leave her to live on her own.

But she was never on her own. There is always a boy. Even two boys, and they introduce her to a new type of meth, one that takes her flying higher, Glass.

At the end of Crank, I wondered how Kristina could make her life worse because of a drug. In Glass, it's proven that she can.

-----------------------------------------------------------

My thoughts:

As soon as I finished Crank, I couldn't wait until I had the chance to pick up Glass. I was dying to know what happened next, what choices--most likely bad choices--Kristina would make. I was curious to how the monster was going to control her this time and how hard she was going to fight against it.

There are many mixed reviews out there about Crank and Glass--some claim Hopkins' plots weren't original enough--but I believe she stuck with realistic ideas and I was glad she did. Sometimes not all book plots are completely original, but it's what an author does to the book and the story that make it original. Hopkins certainly succeeds in my opinion. Maybe it was because I'm a sucker for her unique writing style or it may be because I love the aspect of realism she kept within the book. Using drugs and addiction usually lead down one dangerous road, and Hopkins captures it beautifully.

Reading Hopkins' books sent me on a roller coaster, an emotional roller coaster. I would feel sorry for Kristina one moment, and then want to slap Bree the next. Many times I wanted to tell Kristina "Well, that's what you get!" but would also think to myself, "Awwh, that's not right! She has a problem."

I have to admit this, in both Crank and Glass, Kristina's character bothered me on some levels. Mainly on the fact that she believes you need a guy to be happy; that is Kristina's perspective since the beginning of the series--but being the sucker for romance that I am, I wanted her to find it. There are many times Kristina lashes out at her family, misses her life before her baby, hungers for a good high, and forgets about her child all together. Her family eventually becomes unimportant to her entirely. This fact saddened me, but it is an affect of addiction and the meth--the drug damages the pleasure centers in the brain. People addicted to the drug, as Kristina does, only feels happy when they are high.

Overall the book was as amazing as the first one, sometimes even better. The consequences of drug use and meth are even more severe than in Crank. Kristina suffers many mental, physical, emotional, and life consequences for her actions.

I definitely recommend it. Rated on a five star rating, I would give it 4.5 to 5 stars.





"Life
was radical
right after I met
                        the monster.

Later, life
                        became

harder,
complicated.
Ultimately,
                        a living

hell,
like swimming
against a riptide,
                        walking

the wrong
direction in the fast
lane of the freeway,
                         waking

from sweetest
dreams to find yourself
in the middle of a
                         nightmare."
                             --Glass page 1

Up next for review? The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins!

Follow Friday (#4)

First off, WOW I can't believe it's Friday already!

For those of you who don't know what Follow Friday is, it is a weekly blog hop created by Rachel @ Parajunkee and Alison @ Alison Can Read. This week's question:

Q. In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

Hmm...do I have to pick only one? I've always been interested in vampires, ever sense I was about seven or eight and I became obsessed with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So vampires for one, as long as they are all like Angel, Spike, or the Cullens. I don't want to be attacked in a dark alley from a vampire.

Not that I spend most of my time walking down dark alleys...

Found here

 

Another creature I would like to be real are witches. I love witches--and worlocks. From Harry Potter to Willow from Buffy to Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments. I've always dreamed of having magical powers, and love reading and writing stories about witches.

OH how I would love for Adam Lambert to play Magnus Bane in the movie! Magnus is one of my favorite characters of all time. This photo found here

Lol! I thought this was amusing. Photo found here

Also, I think the Phoenix would be a lovely creature to exist. A lovely creature with a beautiful song.



Fawkes the phoenix from Harry Potter

What mythological creatures do you wish were real?

Every Writer's Antagonist: Writer's Block

This week YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday topic is:

How do you beat writer's block? Do you go for a jog? Read a book? Go to a movie? Come on, share your secret--we're dying to know!

As every writer knows inspiration can come from anywhere. For me, I've said many times before that one big inspiration comes from music. Just on this week's Music Monday, I posted a great song to help set the mood for writing. That's not exactly to beat writer's block, but it was some sort of inspiration. As for writer's block, to be honest I usually end up flailing in distress and wracking my brain until I think I've had a break through. Usually I haven't, and I'll erase everything I write until I do actually have a break through. But there are a lot of ways I help fuel those glorious break throughs like...

Reading a book.



Or listening to music.



 Or go picture surfing to find awesome pictures.


Also I watch movies and TV.

LMAO!! Got to love Jasper--and the person who created this. Found here

Hehe!! Gif found here

Buffy cast! Found here

But most importantly, I just write.

Tell me, what do you guys do to beat the evil being, writer's block?

Music Monday (#4) Tears of an Angel by RyanDan

"It can't be true, that I'm losing you. The sun cannot fall from the sky. Can you hear heaven cry?"

I picked out a song and a video to post last night. I have had the intention to post it all day, but for some reason I haven't. I now know why.

I was on YouTube just a moment ago, trying to find the right song to help set to mood for a scene I was writing. Glad to say, I was successful, and I love the song so much I just HAD to post it. Not only does it fit with the scene I'm working on, it fits with a certain part of my book. I think I have decided it will be on the soundtrack when I make it. Tell me what you think!

Now introducing "Tears of an Angel" by RyanDan

Do you have any sorrowful songs that help you set the mood for your heart-wrenching scenes when you write? I'd love to know; I'm always on the look out for inspiration :D

Follow Friday (#3)

First off, I would like to say thank you for all the follows from last week and I'm sorry I haven't gotten the chance to follow back or comment on your comments. I've had a hectic week and will get to it, I promise :) Thank you guys so much for the follows and comments! They are very much appreciated <3

For those of you who don't know what Follow Friday is, it is a weekly blog hop created by Rachel @ Parajunkee and Alison @ Alison Can Read. This week's question:

Q. If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

Oh, wow! Great question.

There are so many choices. Harry Potter--I would want a role like Hermione, smart and great with magic. Divergent--Tris, because she is ruthless and brave. Twilight--Bella, because, let's face it, who doesn't want their Edward? The Mortal Instruments--Clary, because I'm head-over-heels for Jace. The Infernal Devices--Tessa or Camille--I love Will and Jem, but Magnus Bane is the most amazing character EVER!

But all those books aside, there is a character that always ceases to amaze me:  Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries--I've only read The Awakening and The Struggle from the series. I'm a huge fan of the TV show, and as always poor Damon has trouble with love. I would love to create a role for myself in the book--or TV show--in which I would be a love interest of Damon's, of course ;) Also, I always picture saving him to start the romance. *Swoon!*

Maybe I should start a fanfiction. Hmm...

The problem with being a love interest of Damon Salvatore? In the end, I would die.


 

Also, I would like to be a villain in a book. Not a killing villain like Lord Voldemort, but an antagonist, nonetheless. A villain is everything I'm not--at least I hope I'm not, anyway--so  I believe it would be fun, a challenge. Also, it's make-believe so no one would really be harmed in the process. I could be some backstabbing person in Gossip Girl or something along those lines. I've never read Gossip Girl yet or watched the TV shows, but it sounds amusing :)

What about you? What character would you like to be in a book?

Asheville to Nashville Giveaway

Ash2Nash Book Tour was created by three authors living in Tennessee and North Carolina. Realizing they lived very close to one another and because book tours never come down to the southern states--and they don't; it's very depressing--they decided to create a tour for their fellow book-loving southerners It featured authors:

• Beth Revis--Across the Universe
• Myra McEntire--Hourglass
• Victoria Schwab--The Near Witch
• Ruta Sepetys--Between Shades of Gray
• Michelle Hodkin--The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer
• Alan Gratz--Fantasy Baseball
• Stephanie Perkins--Anna and the French Kiss
• Rachel Hawkins--Demonglass

 The tour has recently ended, but I just discovered there is still a giveaway going on at the Ash2Nash blog. You can win signed copies of the books listed above, plus posters and swag! But you better hurry. It ends tonight!

Have you read any of these books listed above? If so, what did you think? Are any of these books on your "To Be Read" list?

Follow Friday (#2)

It's time for Follow Friday again. This weeks question?

Q. How has your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

Love that question!

As always I'm in love with paranormal--always have been, always will be.

• Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling
• Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
• The Host by Stephenie Meyer
• The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
• The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare

But slowly I am becoming obsessed with Dystopian; they are always full of excitement and interesting ideas. I love discovering how authors visualise the worlds in their books, how distinct and twisted they can be.

Currently I am reading The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins for the first time and it's amazing!

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

One of my favorite dystopians of all time is Divergent by Veronica Roth. If you haven't read it, I certainly recommend it.

And there are SO many I'm dying to read.

• Wither by Lauren Destefano
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver
• Bumped by Megan McCafferty
• Matched by Alley Condie
• Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive.

 -------------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------------

Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy. But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

What books and genres are you obsessed with? Any good suggestions, 'cause I'd certainly love to them? :D

Calling Team Jace Wayland! We're Bringin' Out the Big Guns

Hey everyone! For those of you who love The Mortal Instruments series--featuring City of Bones, City of Ashes, City of Glass, and City of Fallen Angels--by Cassandra Clare, it's time to go vote for Jace Wayland over at The YA Sisterhood.

What's the perks of this? Not only could Jace win the Crush Tournament, you can enter to win an ARC of the second installment of The Infernal Devices, Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare. From Cassie's blog, here is what you have to do:

"The ARCs should be out in 3 weeks or so, and they are making only a limited amount — maybe a hundred — and this is the last time I'll have ARCs for a book, so this is a collector's item. :) All you have to do is

 

1) vote for Jace http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/2011/08/grande-finale-jace-vs-zachary-match-24.html

 

2) post somewheres during *my* overnight about the contest in a manner you can link to and that is time-stamped between 8pm and 8am American Central Standard Time) (11am to 10 Aussie time, etc, I'll figure it out)about the contest, link to it, and ask people to vote for Jace

 

3) post the link here — if you post anonymously, give me some handle by which I can identify you in case you win, even if it's Goldidoodle Thisteldean

 

4) Profit! Well, more like "Maybe win an ARC and be one of the few people in the world who get to read this book early!"

Cool, right? Now go spread the news. And the link.

http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/2011/08/grande-finale-jace-vs-zachary-match-24.html

*Contest open to anyone in the world who cares to post between 8pm and 8am central"

 

I'm so excited! Thanks so much Cassie for this amazing opportunity! And good luck Jace!

Tik Tok, On the Clock

If anyone recognizes the title of this post, they know I'm quoting Ke$ha's song "Tik Tok".  Why? Because I love that song and this week's YA Highway's Road Tip Wednesday is all about time.

Topic:

What time do you prefer to do your writing? Early Worm? Night Owl ? Any five seconds you can grab?

First off, me? An early worm? AAAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!

...So that'd be a nooo:)

I'm a night owl, through and through. I tend to do all my writing in the evening to late at night--sometimes straight to early morning--but I also try to write every second I can.

Time is a crucial element to writing. It takes time to plot. Time to edit. Time to pull your hair out or cry a little. But most importantly, a writer needs time to write, and as we know that's not always easy to come by. Some of the best advice published authors give is to take writing like it's a job. Sit down and write at a certain time everyday. Some days it's harder to write than others, some days you want to take those pages and rip them apart, spit on them, or set them on fire, but always remember:  practice makes perfect--or at least better.

Gripped into Books Giveaways

Hey everyone! Head on over to Gripped into Books for their 1000 follower giveaway. Eight lucky people will have the chance to win so many amazing books!

There are five different prize packs, including the ultimate swag pack. So for everyone who enters good luck! And a special thanks to Gripped into Books for the chance to win! It's much appreciated :)

Read Me, Bookmark Me, Love Me Giveaway...

Over at Read Me, Bookmark Me, Love Me there is a 850 follower giveaway going on! You can win one of eight different books released in May-July. And that's only part one!



In part two of the giveaway you can win an August-October release.



So you better go over and check it out! Good luck! :)

"My Touch is Power"--Shatter Me

Want to win an ARC of "Shatter Me" by Tahereh Mafi as much as I do? Then here are two good chances at

• Courtney Allison Moulton and
• Tahereh Mafi

I've entered a few of these contests for this book and dying to read it! I know I have posted this a billion times, but I still can't get over how much I love the book trailer." Rarely ever do book trailers stick with me, but this one has since May or so, whenever it came out.

For those of you who don't know what the book is about, here is the blurb from Goodreads.com

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Good luck to everyone that enters, but I hope I'm a winner, too! *Crosses fingers!!*

Music Monday (#3)

"Let's go back, back to the beginning. Back to when the earth, the sun, the stars all aligned. Cause perfect didn't feel so perfect. Trying to fit a square into a circle was no life. I defy."

For those of you who don't recognize those lyrics, they are from Hilary Duff's "Come Clean." That's who this week's Music Monday feature is all about. She was one of the first stars that I worshiped as a kid--worshiped being an exaggeration, of course. I only watched all the episodes of Lizzie McGuire whenever they were on, loved Casper Meets Wendy, bought Lizzie McGuire books and the movie, listened to her music 24/7, watched her music videos, tour DVDs, and other movies.

See. "Worship" is only an exaggeration ;)

I really believe Hilary is very talented. She is an amazing actress, great singer, all I need to do now is read her book--her debut young adult novel, "Elixir" co-written with Elise Allen.

Elixir book jacket--I think this picture of her is absolutely gorgeous!

Clea Raymond has felt the glare of the spotlight her entire life. The daughter of a renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC politician, she has grown to be a talented photojournalist who takes refuge in a career that allows her to travel to the most exotic parts of the world. But after Clea’s father disappears while on a humanitarian mission, Clea’s photos begin to feature eerie, shadowy images of a strange and beautiful man—a man she has never seen before.

When fate brings Clea and this man together, she is stunned by the immediate and powerful connection she feels with him. As they grow closer, they are drawn deep into the mystery behind her father’s disappearance, and they discover the centuries old truth behind their intense bond. Torn by a dangerous love triangle and haunted by a powerful secret that holds their fates, together they race against time to unravel their pasts in order to save their lives—and their futures.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

 

Are you a Hilary Duff fan? Have you read her book? If so, what did you think?

Follow Friday (#1)

It's not Friday, but I just discovered this follow friday with an amazing question this week.

Q. Talk about the book that most changed or influenced your life (was it a book that turned you from an average to avid reader, did it help you deal with a particularly difficult situation, does it bring you comfort every time you read it?).

I have two subjects:

1.) I want to introduce the books that sparked my reading interest. First was "The Boxcar Children" by Gertrude Chandler Warner. There are 127 books in the series--sadly I haven't nearly read them all. The story is about four orphans, Henry, Violet, Jesse, and Benny Alden, and their many adventures. Their very first adventure is after the death of their parents, they escape from their home before their grandfather can find them. Though they have never met him, they believe he is a horrible man. Eventually they find their way to an old red boxcar in which they end up living in, thus "The Boxcar Children". Here is a spoiler, but they don't live in the boxcar forever, of course. They find their grandfather who is a very caring man and is happy to take in the children. "Surprise Island," "The Pizza Mystery," "The Haunted Cabin Mystery," and "The Midnight Mystery" are only a few of  the titles in the series. I highly recommend it for your children.

Other books that influenced me when I was a child was Goosebumps by R. L. Stein, a series of children's horror fiction novels. There are 62 books in the original Goosebumps with many spin-off series such as "Goosebumps Series 2000," "Goosebumps Gold," "Give Yourself Goosebumps," and "Goosebumps Horrorland". The first book is "Welcome to Dead House."

2) I was in fourth grade, ten years old, when I first discovered I loved to write. The books and author that influenced me and keeps me going is, of course, the classic, majestic Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.

The first Harry Potter book I ever read was "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban". Since I had already saw the first two movies, I thought I would skip ahead in books. Something that year in fourth grade clicked. Our teacher announced a short story contest and my insides lurched. I entered the contest with a story about a mermaid and dolphin who were best friends. I didn't win and I don't know what happened to that story, but I've been writing ever since. I realized I wanted to write stories like Ms. Rowling; I wanted to be able to weave a plot, develop characters, and create beautiful settings. I  respect and admire Jo and her imagination. And I always will.

Some of my favorite books to read in the spring and summer are Harry Potter. It's almost a tradition. (Another random fact,  I re-read Twilight in the fall to early winter.) I love all the Harry Potter books, but my favorite would probably be "The Goblet of Fire."

What books got you reading or writing? I would sure love to know.

Another Award?!

I've got another award!

I think I just fainted.

And then I danced with joy!

Okay, I'm done with the GIF images now, I promise (lol). But I did win another award, all thanks to Deirdra at A Storybook World. She is a writer and illustrator who designs all art for her blog, including the award--which is gorgeous. I have been given the Fantastic Fantasy Award.

See, it's gorgeous! And it's got a fairy on it! I love fairies. (Lol) Thanks again Deirdra :D

Gotta Love Those Covers

A few days ago the cover of the second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy, Fever, by Lauren Destefano was released. Instantly, I fell in love.

I haven't gotten the chance to read Wither yet--and I am very sad about it--but when I first saw its cover, it blew me away as well. They are absolutely gorgeous! I love the high-fashion photos and the bright colors but dreary girls. I just had to share them with you. So while I was on the topic of book covers, I thought I would post some of my other favorites. I wasn't able to think of very many at the moment, but the ones I remembered, I believe, are stunning. Also I haven't read "Halo", "Entwined", and "Nevermore" listed below, but I certainly intend to.

 

 

What are some of your favorite book covers? Have you read any of these books--if so what did you think?