Alice In Wonderland Blog Meme

The Notebook Sisters turned 3!!! :) I decided to grab their tag and answer the Alice In Wonderland themed questions. Feel free to jump in!



1. Just Alice: What book cover(s) has made you super curious?

Ironically, the cover of Splintered by A.G. Howard always draws me in whenever I see it. I should really read it soon. :P



2. Mad Hatter: List the craziest character(s) you've ever read.

Luna Lovegood, probably (unless I'm just forgetting somebody). She's not necessarily crazy, though. Just a little odd. Sometimes I wonder if Luna is really the normal one and everyone else is crazy. ;)

3. Red Queen, Off With Your Head! What book have you felt like beheading?

Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner. :P That and Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger.

4. White Rabbit: What books or series have been insanely popular but you've been "late" to pick them up?

The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater. I need to read them!

5. Caterpillar: What's the most confusing book you've read?

Going Bovine by Libba Bray. (Actually, the craziest character I've ever read might be from that book!)

6. Dormouse: What was the last book that sent you to sleep?

Books never send me to sleep. ;) Not in the way you're implying, anyway. The lull of Jim Dale's voice on the Harry Potter audios is always a great thing to fall asleep to.

7. Cheshire Cat: Book that made you laugh and smile?

The Harry Potter series, though there are plenty more. :)

8. Knave of Hearts: Most recent character who stole your heart?

Carswell Thorne from the Lunar Chronicles, hands down. After Augustus Waters, he might be my biggest book crush.

9. Jabberwocky: Best villain you've read this year?

I haven't read any fantastic villains this year, aside from Voldemort, Bellatrix Lestrange, and Umbridge. Queen Levana from the Lunar Chronicles drives me crazy, though.

10. Down the Rabbit Hole: What's the latest book/series/author that's completely swallowed your interest?

The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer!!! :) After finishing Cress, I've been obsessed! (Thank you, Notebook Sisters).

Top Ten Book Covers I'd Frame As Pieces of Art

(Yeah, I'm a day late. I forgot to post this when I finished it yesterday.)

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by "The Broke and the Bookish." This is my first time participating, so I'm really excited! :)

(These book covers are in no particular order.)



1. 








(I have a feeling Winter's cover is going to be just as good!)

2.








3.



(This might be my all-time favorite book cover. It's gorgeous!)

4.




5.




6.



7.



8.



9.



10.

 

What are your favorite covers?

April Wrap-Up

I thought you'd like to know that if you scroll way down and look on the right-hand side of my blog, you'll find my rating system, so you can see what I mean when I give a book/movie a certain rating.

Books I Read

Markram Battles: Omens of Doom by M.C. Muhlenkamp

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes short stories, dystopian, and The Hunger Games. You can find my review of it HERE.

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes urban fantasy, romance, and a good, long series.


A Separate Peace by John Knowles

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes a simple plot and a character-driven stories. This is a great introduction to classics, because it's not difficult to read.

What is the What by Dave Eggers

2/5

Recommended to anyone who likes to learn about history through something that's more interesting than a textbook.

Catcher In the Rye by J.D. Salinger

1/5

I loathed this book so much, I don't even know who to recommend it to. (But I know people like it, so go ahead and try it for yourself, if you want.)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes interesting layouts (the entire book is told through letters), simple stories, fantastic characters (including Charlie, the first protagonist I've loved in a very long time), and a surprising ending.

The Girl In the Arena by Lise Haines

3/5

Recommended to anyone who likes dystopian (thought not necessarily The Hunger Games, despite what the Goodreads book description may say--it's nothing like THG) and a long lead-up before finally reaching a big finale.

Cut by Patricia McCormick

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who has dealt with self-abuse (though I've never cut myself, reviews of people who have raved about it), likes character-driven stories, and quick reads.

Free Four: Tobias Tells the Story by Veronica Roth

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes Divergent, quick reads, and a chance to get into another character's head.

Flora and Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes middle-grade books (though this book will appeal to people of all ages, trust me), quick reads, and quirky characters. You can read my review of it HERE.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes fairytale retellings, dual perspectives, action-filled stories, and a good long, series.

Movies I Watched

"The Day of the Doctor"

5/5

(This is a continuation of the TV show "Doctor Who.") Recommended to anyone who likes to laugh, likes science-fiction, action-filled stories, fantastic characters, and a good cry (which you will several times throughout the series).

"The Time of the Doctor"

5/5

(This is a continuation of the TV show "Doctor Who.") Recommended to anyone who likes to laugh, likes science-fiction, action-filled stories, fantastic characters, and a good cry (which you will several times throughout the series).

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower"

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes simple stories, fantastic characters (including Charlie, the first protagonist I've loved in a very long time), and a surprising ending. (I highly recommend reading the book first--with any book adaptation, but especially this one!)

"The Avengers"

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes superheroes, action-filled stories, and likes to laugh.

Quotes I Wrote

I turn to him. "Where is he? Where are you keeping him?"

He chuckles. "Why should I tell you?"

I glare at him. "I will rip you--limb from limb--until you're nothing. Until all that's left of you is a head. And that head will tell me where he is."

--Flightless Birds

“Well, well,” he says, voice a little breathy. “What have we got here?”

I try to put as much hatred into this one glare as much as possible. “You’ve crossed the wrong person.”

--Flightless Birds

I don’t wait to hear the rest of Toby’s sentence, if there is even more to hear. It seems like I’m living in a world full of unfinished sentences these days.

--Flightless Birds

“I can take care of myself.”

“My dear, I have no doubt of that. But everyone needs a shoulder to cry on. Everyone needs a hand to hold.”

--Flightless Birds

The boy pointed to the box of Pop Tarts. “Disgusting food, if it even counts as food. The glands of a beaver’s backside are used as flavoring for the strawberry ones, and who knows what else? Who’s to say whoever came up with the ludicrous idea didn’t say, ‘What the hell, how about we inject the S’mores ones with the anal substance, too?’ I’m Harry, by the way. Harry Potter.”
He extended his hand. I took it.
“You’re kidding.”
“Totally. My parents aren’t that mean. No, I’m Lane.”
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

But she had this look about her, like she was a pile of stone waiting to be chiseled into something beautiful. 
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

She flung herself back against the seat. “God, I’m such a mess today. I got a D in English, I broke down in a grocery store, I shoplifted, and now I’m in—” Her eyes widened a little. “A total stranger’s car, and he’s taking me who knows where. Oh, God.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’m just taking you to my house.”
She didn’t look remotely comforted by this fact. I didn’t blame her.
Kya shook her head and stared back out the window. “You could be a murderer, or a rapist, and I just got in your car?” She phrased it like a question, like she was asking herself how she could be so stupid.
“We all do stupid things when we’re upset,” I said, trying to be comforting, but also trying to convince her that I wasn’t a psychopath. How do you convince a person that you’re not a psychopath?
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

Becca stared, open-mouthed, and pointed to Kya.
"Who is this? Where did she come from?"
"I told you I was going to Jake’s [the grocery story]," I said. I poured the cocoa into two mugs.
Becca looked incredulous. "So you bought a person?"
I shrugged. "She was on sale."
--Beneath the Moon and Stars

Obsessions I Acquired

A video game called Terraria, which my brother Max and my friends, Rich and Brennan, introduced to me.

Tea! Okay, it's not an obsession (most of the things on here are just new things I've discovered and liked), but I've been trying tea--different flavors with different sweeteners--for a while now, and I've finally found a kind I like. It's a tea flavored with orange rind and sweet spices, cooled with milk, with some chocolate/coffee ground-up goodness sprinkled on top (thank you, Trader Joe's).

Picture of the Month

This is a picture of Raven from Flightless Birds, if she were a fantasy character.

How was your April?

Query Letter Question

(Wow, I haven't posted for a while. How did that happen? Anyway.)

Hello, again! I'm back, at least for a little while. I'm going to be pretty busy this next week with packing so our family can get ready to move into our new house next week (!!!). I feel like we're getting ready for this fantastic journey, when in reality we're moving two minutes down the road. But hey, a new house, however far away it is, is still an adventure! (I think my brother is most excited about the intercom system.)

But I'm getting distracted. I have a question for anybody out there that has advice for me. It's about query letters. When writing a query letter for a picture book, should you tell the agent everything that happens in the book, ending and all, or not? For example, should I write:

Casper is a ghost. He’s also hungry. He wants a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but there’s a slight problem. He’s out of peanut butter.

Or:

Casper is a ghost. He’s also hungry. He wants a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, but there’s a slight problem. He’s out of peanut butter. Casper is willing to try anything he can think of to fix this, and he does. Once he’s able to get his hands on some peanut butter, though, he discovers a new problem. He used up all the jelly.

I've never queried a picture book before, so I'm not sure what to do. I'm open to suggestions, so please comment away!

Another Liebster!

Thank you, Laure! :)

Laure's Questions

1. Fiction authors: How do you use your blog?

All sorts of ways. I write book review, I blog about writing, I do memes, I share tidbits about what's going on in my life. I blog about everything you can imagine, and then some.


2. Do you have a master plan for accumulating hundreds of thousands of fans?

Not really. Just by networking naturally, I pick up readers and find a few gems myself. There's no grand plan involved, just doing what I love best.


3. What is the easiest part of writing for you?

The first draft, by far! Creating characters and whole new worlds is my favorite part. The very beginnings of the story is the most exciting for me. There are hundreds of pages just waiting to be written, and I get to decide what goes on them. It's amazing.

4. What is the hardest part?

Editing. :P My books are all little parts of myself, and it pains me to cut and change all my hard work, however necessary.

5. How much are you bothered by typos or misplaced words in other people’s stories?

We're all human, and humans make mistakes sometimes. I don't gasp and point fingers and tut at every extra letter or missing apostrophe. I do get annoyed, though, when I try to read a blog post or article about something I'm genuinely interested in, and instead of relaxing and letting my eyes roll over the words, I have to decipher the meaning of everything the writer says. I'm trying to read a blog post, not crack a code! And by now, everyone should know the difference between its/it's, their/they're/there, and your/you're. Those drive me crazy.


6. What is the best technique you’ve found for hunting down such problems in your own manuscripts?

I try not to do everything at once. When I start editing, I do a quick spell check, then work slowly, chapter by chapter. My critique partners are great at catching misplaced commas and semicolons, and my mom never hesitates to point out mistakes she catches! I always appreciate it when someone tells me I've misspelled a word or forgot a period.

7. Do you fully form your characters before beginning a story?

It depends on the story. Sometimes all I have is a name, and other times I know exactly what happened during her seventh birthday party. But I've never once created a character that I've completely stuck with throughout the entire story. I always end up changing at least one thing about my characters, even minor things.

8. If so, does the story ever end up needing those characters to be majorly different?

Again, it all depends on the story. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.

9. How do you generally perk up a bit that has turned out kind of boring?

Through editing. I never try to change boring bits or parts that don't make sense in the first draft. I always focus on pushing past it until I do revisions. Usually I end up cutting boring bits all together, or adding a bit of dialogue. I struggle with description, so sometimes when I try to make an effort, I end up over explaining and boring myself.

10. Describe yourself in three words.

Bookish, empathetic, kind.

My Questions

1. Fantasy or sci-fi?
2. Male or female protagonists?
3. Epic adventures or simple, small-town life? (This can apply to books and real life.)
4. What book would somebody have to pay you to read?
5. What book have you reread the most?
6. Do you buy used books? Why or why not?
7. What genre would be wildly out of your comfort zone to write/read?
8. First drafts or edits?

9. What is your biggest source of inspiration?
10. Do you write stories based on real life experiences? Why or why not?

Nominees 

At this point, I've lost track of who I've already nominated and who I haven't. Anyone who would like to participate, jump in! :)

"Bohemian Rhapsody Stuffed Animal Music Video"

My brother Maxim, my friends Rich and Brennan, and I all worked together for a total of four and a half hours to create this music video. It stars our stuffed animals, who danced and acted to the lyrics of "Bohemian Rhapsody." Enjoy! :)

Winner of the Fauxpocalypse Giveaway

And the winner of the Fauxpocalypse giveaway is . . .

Robyn LaRue! :)

Congrats, Robyn! I've just sent you an e-mail. Thank you for entering, everyone!

Be sure to check out my post below!

Royalties

I got my first round of royalties a few days ago from Fauxpocalypse! :) It was so cool to see the PayPal e-mail and to know that the reason I was getting it was because of an actual book my story was published in. All of the authors from the anthology have been pretty excited. I still can't believe that exactly one year ago today, my mom sent me an e-mail with only one thing in it: this link. The subject? "Interesting website that might interest you."

So glad it did!

Markram Battles: Omens of Doom (a Book Review) Plus an Interview With the Author!

Markram Battles: Omens of Doom by M.C. Muhlenkamp

Pages: 67

Earth is no longer Earth. The Markram Empire has transformed its once colorful cities into conglomerates of white concrete and glass where combatant divisions continue to thrive amid the eager demands of a bloodthirsty society.
 
Thirteen has already chosen to fight for her freedom as a warfare entertainer. But the fight for her survival is just beginning. Her unmistakable connection with her Unit Leader spawns their biggest challenge yet. Seven cannot control her, nor does he want to. Their bond has become a weakness. A flaw. A frailty that could prove their ultimate undoing.

I think I loved this book even more than I liked the first one. While the first Markram Battles book felt like set up--which is good, because it gave me a chance to get a feel for the characters--this one felt like action. I understand Seven and Thirteen better now, I like them more, I feel for them when they hurt. Though sometimes I got the characters mixed up--especially since everyone is named after a number--there weren't too many to keep track of. I like it better when stories have a small cast of characters rather than large ones.

The length of each short story was perfect. They were short enough that I didn't feel overwhelmed and wanted to keep reading, but long enough to deliver a good story. Hall of Monsters was my favorite. There was a nice mix of action and description throughout all three stories, and the writing was lovely. This quote, for example, is one of my favorites:

"Most people picture hell as a fiery inferno of darkness. But they are wrong. Hell is white, white as snow. Spotless. Stark. Incandescent. A sandy cage of crystal glass where strangers come to gloat at the monsters they have created."
Seven's voice comes out flat. "You are not a monster."
"Are you sure about that? We kill for a living. Thrust our blades into the souls of our rivals only to satiate the blood thirst of a crowd that wouldn't enjoy watching more than to see us die."
He lets out a grunt, barely loud enough for me to hear. "We fight to live."
"We fight to survive. This is no way to live." I drop my head and look at the metal floor before me.
"What are you saying?"
For a second I don't think I am strong enough to answer, but when I open my mouth, my words come out in a whisper. "I'm saying that maybe this isn't worth it."
Seven leans closer. "I think we are worth it."
My eyes snap back up, tears pooling at the edges of my vision. "I think we are damned."

And the ending was perfect! The cliffhanger on the last story is one of the best cliffhangers I've seen in a long time. I can't wait for the sequel!

(Actual rating: 4.5)

Amazon
Goodreads

Meet the author:

M.C. (Melissa Carolina) Muhlenkamp was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. She is a lifelong reader, food lover, and slightly obsessive writer who loves nothing better than to lose herself in the worlds of fantasy and science fiction. Whenever she isn't writing, you can find her on Pinterest, unleashing frustration on her vegetable garden, or most likely, chasing her kids around the house. She lives and writes in sunny California, but you can visit her online at www.mcmuhlenkamp.com.

Connect with M.C. Muhlenkamp

Blog: http://mcmuhlenkamp.com/

Twitter: @mcmuhlenkamp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/M.C.Muhlenkamp

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/melimuhlenkamp/

Interview

1. Who or what inspired you to write?

I don't think I can pinpoint one specific event or person. Maybe it's because I can't remember a time when I didn't write something. Writing has always been there. Sharing my writing with others however, took place because I had to make a choice. I arrived at a point in my life where I knew I had to either do something with it, or just conform myself with writing and dreaming all by myself forever. I am not a conformist. Never have been. Never will be. So, I did the opposite. I plugged my nose and took the plunge. 

2. What are your top three favorite novels?

Really? Can you torture me any more with this question? Answering it has left me depressed and practically bleeding over a giant stack of books. I feel like a traitor just so you know. However, after much deliberation and personal struggle here are my top three.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

The Hobbit By J.R.R. Tolkien

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

3. What is your favorite thing about writing? How about your least favorite?

My favorite thing is research. I love reading and I love reading with a purpose. Research is just an excuse to do just that. That's when the drafting part of a story comes alive in my head. Different aspects I have learned through research come to play and mingle with already existing ideas, and the result is pure magic. I get all giddy and excited and my creative wheels begin to spin. My least favorite thing is outlining. Some writers don't do it. I've found it indispensable, however tedious it may be. 

4. What inspired you to write Markram Battles?

A combination of things. I like to think of Markram Battles as a dream that went to play with the X-Men in ancient Rome. It merges three of my favorite interests into one project. Sleeping. X-Men. And history. It all started with Seven, one of the main characters. My dream with him was more like a nightmare, but it stuck with me enough to dig deeper. That led me to study the concept of the X gene, which is the mutant gene in X-Men, as a possible explanation for an evolved race of humans with supernatural powers. Ending with the speculation of gladiatorial games within that frame of work. Like I said, a dream that went to play with the X-Men in ancient Rome.

5. What is the hardest thing you've had to do in your writing?

I have to say editing. It is such a painful process, but, oh, so necessary. Slashing scenes, cutting sentences, digging deeper into subjects, killing characters all together is not fun. Especially when someone else is saying you have to do it. But the end product is always worth it.

6. What is your favorite writing snack/beverage?

Water. I can't write while I snack. Plus, it gives me the opportunity to take a break every once in a while and clear my head before diving in again.

7. What is the best way--in your opinion--to bust writer's block?

There is no secret formula. Just sit back down and continue typing. I know it hurts. I know you feel like your head will explode while your body remains glued in front of the computer dripping with blood. But there’s no way around it. You can take breaks, clear your mind with another project, spend the next few weeks or months reading while you procrastinate, and even spend hours trying all the little tricks and tips you read online, including that one about standing on your head while drinking a glass of water. But sooner or later you’ll have to come back. Sooner or later that same headache inducing feeling will come back, and you will just have to deal with it. Don’t think other things won’t help. I have certainly tried many things that have helped me spur a new wave of inspiration, but in the end the best thing for me has been to sit back down and continue typing.

8. What is the best piece of advice you could give to teen writers who want to get published?

Start now. Don't wait until later to get out there and explore. Share your writing, enter contests, meet other writers. Time's a waistin' when you already know what you love to do.

Lightning round!

Chocolate or peanut butter?

Chocolate

Cats or dogs?

Dogs. Cats don't like me.

First draft or edits?

Edits. They make all the hard work worth it

Melissa will be answering any questions you may have for her, so feel free to leave her a comment at the bottom of the post! :) Thanks for stopping by, Melissa!

Encyclopedia of Me - E

Eleanor & Park: After Harry Potter, this is my favorite book. It's so simple, but beautiful and makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. As Eleanor once said, "I just want to break that song into pieces and love them all to death." That's how I feel about this book!

The Ellie Sweet series: Every teenage writer trying to get published should read this series. It deals with things we all go through--querying agents, critique partners, editing, balancing writing along with your other priorities, etc. It's very addictive, too! I read both books in three days each.

Ed Sheeran: Not only is he an amazing lyricist, but he also raps, plays guitar, and did a duet with Taylor Swift. And he's only 23! Some of my favorite songs by him are, "Give Me Love," "I See Fire," and "Kiss Me."

Eggs: You can boil them, scramble them, fry them, put them in a sandwich, put them in a salad, make omelets with them, use them to bake cookies, and so, so much more. What's not to love?

"Enchanted," "Everything Has Changed," and "Eyes Open": Three of my favorite Taylor Swift songs. Handy that they all started with 'e.' ;) Also, the "Everything Has Changed" music video is one of my favorite music videos.

Europe: I definitely want to visit Europe someday. Places to visit include England, Portugal, France, Italy, and Greece.

Eccleston, Christopher: The first Doctor from "Doctor Who" I was introduced to. :) I was convinced that he was going to be my favorite--because how in the world could I like any Doctor more?--but then David Tennant came along and changed my mind pretty quickly. But "The Parting of the Ways" and "Father's Day" are still some of my favorite episodes.

March Wrap-Up

Books I Read

Attachements by Rainbow Rowell

4.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes dual perspectives, interesting layouts (half of this book is told through e-mail), simple stories, and romance.

Divergent by Veronica Roth  (a reread)

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes dystopian, action-filled books, and The Hunger Games.


City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes urban fantasy, romance, and a good, long series.

Markram Battles: Genesis of an Uprising (Part 1) by M.C. Muhlenkamp (a reread)

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes short stories, dystopian, and The Hunger Games.

The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keen

2.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes simple stories, quick and easy reads, and mysteries.

Movies I Watched

"The Goonies"

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who anyone who likes the eighties, simple and goofy movies, and a light-hearted story.

"The Fellowship of the Ring"

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes high fantasy, lots of action, and a series of movies to get invested in.

"The Two Towers"

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes high fantasy, lots of action, and a series of movies to get invested in.

"Divergent"

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes dystopian, action-filled movies, and The Hunger Games.

Quotes I Wrote

(I wrote a lot this past month--at least 100 pages--so there are more quotes than usual.)

“I don’t ask stupid questions,” I say, my voice full of fire and ice all at the same time, burning and freezing, and dead dangerous.

“No, I don’t suppose you do. You may be a lot of things, Raven, but foolish isn’t one of them. Emotional, easily manipulated, but you aren’t stupid.”

--Flightless Birds

He is insane. Out of his mind. He is a deranged, crazed, unhinged, psychopathic lunatic with too much power and a mouth full of lies.

--Flightless Birds

“I’m not injured,” I say.
“Raven, you were shot.”
I wave my hand in the air dismissively. “Like a week ago. I’m fine now.”

--Flightless Birds

"It’d break my heart to find out he died in Chicago because I was stuck here, safe in a tent full of bullet holes, waiting for a miracle."

--Flightless Birds

I lean forward, trying to make myself look as stern and as fierce as possible. “We need to go.”
“I’m not going through this again.”
“Too bad. I’m going, whether you like it or not. You can either come with me or stay here, but that doesn’t change the fact that I will rip this world apart if it means I can save them.”

--Flightless Birds

Obsessions I Acquired

THIS song. (Thank you, Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner for that!)

The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. I don't know how I didn't hear about this series sooner!

Picture of the Month

There are two this month!

"Doctor Who" companions as fairytale characters

How was your March?

A Peek at My Writing Process

I've been tagged! :) Robyn LaRue invited me to participate in a blog hop and share a little bit about what my writing process is like. Thanks, Robyn!

As I mentioned in this post, each day for me is different. Some days I'll write five-thousand words, three blogs posts, tweet like crazy, comment on every post my blogging friends write, and answer all of my e-mails. And other days, I'm like this.

via We Write Together!

I wish I could say, "On a typical day, I usually do xyz." But there's no such thing as a typical day for me. I would love to be able to do this every day:

-Get up at 8:30-9 (when everybody else in the house is usually still asleep)
-Get dressed
-Write 1,000 words before breakfast
-Have breakfast
-Write another thousand words

But in reality, my morning goes a little something like this:

-Turn off alarm clock
-Yawn and think, Just five more minutes. I won't even close my eyes . . .
-Wake up half an hour later
-Tiptoe downstairs with my pajamas still on, because if I take the time to shower and get dressed now, I won't have any time to write before my mom and brother wake up
-"Quickly" check my e-mail, Feedly, and Twitter
-Glance at the clock: "It's that time already?!"
-Eat something for breakfast before breakfast turns into lunch
-Write two hundred words before my mom and brother wake up and the dog needs to go outside and oh wait I forgot to clean that up and hey can you help me out real quick and did you all have breakfast yet and we should probably get ready for the day and--

Okay, that doesn't happen all the time. Most of the time, it's somewhere in between. For example, this is what happened this morning:

-Wake up at eight
-Shower
-Go back to bed for another half hour
-Sit down at the computer at nine
-Check e-mail, Feedly, and Twitter (which doesn't last more than ten to fifteen minutes, this time)
-Write 1,000 words
-Write this blog post
-Have breakfast

So there you have it. A little peek at my writing process. I'm going to tag all of you, so anyone who wants to write about their writing process, jump right in! :)

Free Books!

Fauxpocalypse is free to download from Story Cartel for the next 21 days!

AND everyone who downloads and reviews it in the next four weeks will be entered into a raffle to win gift cards, books, or even e-readers.

I'm also giving away a paperback copy of Fauxpocalypse to one lucky winner. Check it out HERE. You still have 11 days to enter!

I, uh, well . . .

There is one question that most writers hate to answer.

"What sort of stuff do you write?"

That, and, "What do you like to read?"

The answer to both is, "EVERYTHING."

But we can't say say that, because the person asking us is probably looking for specifics. But then, as most of us do, we start to ramble.

"Well, I write a lot of fantasy, but sometimes I get tired of that, so I try to branch out by writing dystopian, sci-fi, romance, short stories, poems, horror, medieval fantasy, middle-grade, YA, picture books, fan-fiction--especially Harry Potter fan-fiction--non-fiction, historical fiction, contemporary, and any combination thereof. Oh, and I have a blog."

Then sometimes they ask what I blog about.

After I figured out that I was just substituting the answer, "EVERYTHING" for a longer version of the same exact response, I started coming up with shorter answers.

"I write a lot of fantasy. Mostly middle-grade. Kids are fun to write for."

Or

"I've been writing a lot of young adult contemporaries recently. I'm trying to branch out a little."

Or

"I've been experimenting with poetry. Our local library's annual poetry contest is coming up, and I really want to submit something great."

I have to stop myself from saying, "But that's not all I write! I also write [insert extremely long list here]."
Because how can I sum up what I do every day in just a few short sentences?!

Even questions like, "What have you been writing recently?" is hard to answer, because every day I write something different. Every. Day. Some days it's a blog post like this one, other times it's a chapter of my YA dystopian novel, and sometimes I edit my YA medieval fantasy novella. But I can't just say, "Hmm, mostly fantasy, though I write other stuff, too."

But after a long, long time of getting this question and not knowing what to say, I've finally come up with the perfect response.

"Do you want the long answer or the short answer?"

How about you? How do you answer these questions? Leave a comment!

Exciting News . . .

I just got my first job today!!! I am a "Soda Pourer" at the Renaissance Faire. :)

I was pretty nervous when I went in for my interview--especially since it was my first time being interviewed for anything like that--but it went really well! My interviewer was super nice and the whole thing lasted maybe five minutes. I pretty much got hired on the spot, filled out a ton of paperwork, and went home. I can't wait to get started!

Fauxpocalypse Giveaway!

YES, I will be giving away one paperback copy of the Fauxpocalypse collection! :) All you need to do to enter is check out the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Good luck!

Life on Earth is predicted to end on 15 July 2015. But the oncoming megatons of rock and ice break up shortly before impact. Now humanity must live in a world most believed would not exist. Across the planet, people are haunted by the future they did not fear, and even those who did not embrace death must face the consequences of others' decisions.

A collection of twelve stories about rebuilding hope.

Amazon
Goodreads


a Rafflecopter giveaway

This or That?

I've been tagged! :) Thanks for nominating me, MorningTime4!

Rules: Answer the questions given to you, give the people you nominate the same questions, nominate three people and let them know they've been tagged.

1. Summer or Winter?

 

Summer, for sure. I'd much rather be hot than cold. Plus, I love sunshine, and I feel like it's always dark in the winter, no matter what time it is.

     

2. Blue or Pink?

 

Blue. :)

 

3. Frozen or Brave?

 

Ooh, that's a tough one. I'm going to have to go with "Frozen," though I really like "Brave."

 

4. Art or Reading?

 

Reading. Definitely reading. I am a terrible artist, but I'm okay with that. Just don't touch my books.

 

5. Christmas or Birthday?

 

Another tough one! I'm going to say Christmas, though, because of the feeling that's in the air in those few weeks before.

 

6. Flip-flops or Boots?

 

Boots. I absolutely detest flip-flops. I can't stand the look, feel, or sound of them. Especially that weird peg thing in between your toes.

7. Roses or Daisies?

 

Daisies.

     

8. Cat or Dog?

 

Dogs! You may say I'm biased, but even if I didn't have a dog I'd pick them over cats. Dogs have so much more personality. Plus, I'm severely allergic to cats. Just petting one will make my eyes get puffy and close up.

       

9. Vanilla or Chocolate?

 

Chocolate trumps all!

 

10. Europe or Asia?

 

Probably Europe, though I love sushi.

 

11. Raspberries or Blackberries?

 

Blackberries.

 

12. Vintage or Modern?

 

Modern. I love my computers. :)

13. Pasta or Soup?

 

It depends on the kinds, but soup would probably win most of the time.

 

14. Elephant or Lion?

 

Elephants. :) They're so cute.

15. Long hair or Short hair?

 

Long hair.

 

16. Beach or Water park?

 

The beach, for sure!

 

I nominate . . .

 

Kirsten at "Tacos, Dolphins, and Friends" 

nevillegirl at "Musings From Neville's Navel"

Boquinha and Dr. Mark at "Sushi and Pizza"

 

Even if I didn't nominate you, feel free to jump in! :)

I Won!

I just found out that I am one of the winners of my local library's poetry contest! :) My winning poem, "Dear Dr. King," is actually one I wrote last year in April as a letter to Martin Luther King Jr. Here it is.

Written on April 4th, 2013

Dear Dr. King,

45 years ago today,
You were shot and killed by James Earl Ray.

Sometimes I wonder if you hadn't died,
If you could've done more when you were alive.

Then sometimes I think that by being the martyr,
You helped to do more with things that are harder.

Did you know I walked on your bedroom floor?
That I touched your house,
The kitchen door?
Today you could have been 84.

Marching,
Leading,
And teaching what's right.
All of that ended with a bullet in flight.

Racists,
Bigots,
People filled with hate.
By the time we changed,
It was far too late.
For this never should have happened
To the human race.

How is it that we creatures
With brilliant minds
Could be so hateful
And so blind?
How is it that deep down we knew what was true,
But we would keep screaming terrible things
Until our faces turned blue?

Dear Dr. King,
I'm writing to say,
That I hoped while you lived
You lived every day.

Sincerely,
Kate

Fauxpocalypse Review

The Fauxpocalypse collection just got its first editorial review! It got five stars from Lee Ashford at "Readers' Favorites." Check it out HERE!

No One Else Can Have You (a Book Review)

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

Released: January 7, 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 389

The Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard meets the cult-classic film Fargo in this gripping and darkly humorous murder mystery by debut author Kathleen Hale.
A quiet town like Friendship, Wisconsin, keeps most of its secrets buried . . . but when local teen Ruth Fried is found murdered in a cornfield, her best friend, Kippy Bushman, decides to uncover the truth and catch the killer. Since the police aren't much help, Kippy looks to her idol, journalist Diane Sawyer, for tips on how to conduct her investigation. But Kippy soon discovers, if you want to dig up the truth, your hands have to get a little dirty, don'tcha know.
In this riveting young adult novel, Kathleen Hale creates an intricately plotted murder mystery that will keep readers guessing, laughing, and cringing until the surprising final pages.

Overall, I thought this book was pretty good. Once I got into it, it kept my attention. I was hooked. The mystery was interesting, the plot was gripping, and the creepiness was perfect.  I couldn't put it down and blazed through the rest of the book in two days.

However, the writing wasn't the best and there was a ton of (in my opinion) unnecessary swearing. I don't care about swear words if they're used well (such as in Eleanor & Park), but this was every other word. I also couldn't stand the characters. I have a hard time liking a book if I don't like the main character. Otherwise who am I rooting for? The plot mostly made up for that, but I couldn't get past the fact that Kippy was boring and really embarrassing. Socially awkward is one thing, but I found myself cringing at nearly everything she said. She didn't always make the best decisions, which I'm usually okay with (hey, nobody's perfect), but she didn't learn from her mistakes. I didn't really like her dad, either. He treated her like she was seven, and even though he was doing the best he knew how, she treated him badly back. Ruth was a jerk, too. Kippy read her diary after she died, and Ruth was constantly insulting Kippy behind her back. The only character I really liked was Davey, and he wasn't in it a whole lot.

To sum up, terrible characters, but a good story overall. It's definitely worth the read if you're into creepy mysteries.

(Actual rating: 3.5)

Happy Birthday!

Today is my mom's 40th birthday. My dad had the idea to surprise her with Happy Birthday blog posts that would publish all at the same time. So, Mommy, here is my list of 40 things I love about you:

1. Your thoughtfulness.
2. Your willingness to jump into anything.
3. Talking with you.
4. How you sing and dance like nobody's watching.
5. How you always put your family first.
6. Playing games with you.
7. Reading books with you.
8. How you make an effort to make everything nice for us.
9. Watching TV with you.
10. When you give us random hugs.
11. How you make everything fun.
12. How you're an open book.
13. How you make Maxim and me a part of big decisions.
14. That you talk to us openly.
15. That you treat Maxim and me like adults.
16. How you always know what to say.
17. That you ask for our opinions on things and really care about what we say.
18. That you always say, "I love you" before we go to bed.
19. That you worry about us like any mother would, but gives us our space when we need it.
20. You cook great food.
21. You're creative.
22. You're funny.
23. You're smart.
24. You like spending time with us.
25. That you always comment on our blogs.
26. You like the simple things in life.
27. That you always move over in bed when we have bad dreams.
28. That you miss us when we've only been gone for a few hours.
29. You get excited about the little things.
30. You create fun holiday traditions.
31. That you go all out to celebrate our birthdays.
32. That you take pictures of everything.
33. You get my quirky writing habits.
34. You get my quirky habits in general.
35. You're able to laugh at yourself.
36. You enjoy my friends, and my friends enjoy you.
37. How you're forty and still sleep with your teddy bear.
38. You take a genuine interest in our hobbies and try to understand them, no matter how complicated they may be.
39. That you save articles and funny pictures on your computer so you can show us later.
40. How much you love us.

I love you!

February Wrap-Up

Books I Read

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes urban fantasy, romance, and a good, long series.

Girl, Stolen by April Henry

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes action-filled books, simple stories, and short reads.


The Giver by Lois Lowry (a reread)

4/5

You can read my review HERE.

Recommended to anyone who likes dystopian and books that make you think.

Lay That Trumpet In Our Hands by Susan Carol McCarthy

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes a simple story, historical fiction, and To Kill a Mockingbird.

I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb

3.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes non-fiction, autobiographies, and stories set in places besides America.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes urban fantasy, romance, and a good, long series.
Crossroads Poetry by Miriam Joy

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes poetry, quick and easy reads, and books that make you think.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (a reread)

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes books that make you laugh, books that make you cry, character-driven stories, and romance.

No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

3.5/5

You can read my review HERE.

Recommended to anyone who likes creepy stories, murder mysteries, and "fluffy" reads.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

DNF

I've tried for three months to get into this book, but I couldn't. I can see why people like it, though. I'm just not a huge sci-fi person.

Keesha's House by Helen Frost

4.5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes poetry, character-driven/simple stories, and fast reads.

Movies I Watched

"Silver Linings Playbook"

5/5

Recommended to anyone who likes to laugh, likes simple stories, and quirky characters.

"The Lego Movie"

4/5

Recommended to anyone who likes parodies (this movie makes fun of a lot of iconic things, like Lord of the Rings and Batman), likes to laugh, and movies that appeal to all ages.

Quotes I Wrote

I bend down over what was once a campfire and run my fingers over the soot. My fingertips come away black and smelling like home.

--Flightless Birds

For a few seconds, I forget all about Liam and whether or not he's safe. Flynn's here, Mara's here, Toby's here, and I'm back with the Flock. Everything feels right, like broken pieces glued back together again.

--Flightless Birds

Obsessions I Acquired

The music from "Doctor Who." (Thank you, nevillegirl!) This one is a particular favorite of mine.

Making pixel art on Minecraft.

Any music by Lorde.

THIS song. I won't be able to hear it now without thinking about The Fault In Our Stars, since they used it for the trailer.

Picture of the Month

How was your February?

Cast a Harry Potter Spell Tag

Stealing this from Layla, who proclaimed it "the best tag ever." This was super fun to write, and I invite you all to join in with me! :)

Reparo

Fixes damaged objects

A book that needs some serious fixing: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander. The names were impossible to pronounce, the main character had no personality, and everything was confusing and unorganized.

Lumos

Creates a narrow beam of light

A book that deserves more attention: The Ellie Sweet series by Stephanie Morrill. It's the kind of series I'd shove into your hand. Every teenage writer who wants to get published should read it.

Nox

Counters the effects of Lumos

An overhyped book: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. I'm sorry, but after the 150 pages I read, I couldn't get through the rest. I was so, so bored. I'm sorry, but where was the plot? People keep saying how cool it is that it's narrated by Death, but half the time I forgot that Death was even narrating the story!

Accio

Summons an object from a significant distance

A book you’re anticipating: The Seeker by Stephenie Meyer, Compulsion by Martina Boone, and Landline by Rainbow Rowell. :)

Alohomora

Opens unlocked doors, unless bewitched

A book you want to be more open about: Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. I'm planning on reading it at some point so I can form valid opinions on the books, but every time I think about it, I groan a little. But my best friend loves them and I figured I should see what all the fuss is about.

Expecto Patronum

Conjures an incarnation of positive feelings

A book that made you cry, or at least want to: Allegiant by Veronica Roth caused me to fall into an incurable book hangover that lasted for three days. The Fault In Our Stars by John Green (which I reread recently for my book club) make me cry for fifty-three pages straight (no lie--I counted). There's a circular spot on page 260 near the binding that's worn out because a tear landed there. Though there were many others (which you can read about HERE), those two take the cake.

Morsmordre

Conjures the Dark Mark

A book you wish to mark as one of your favorites: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Petrificus Totalus

Petrifies victim

A book you wish to keep forever: See above.

Riddikulus

Used against a boggart

A book with a deceiving synopsis: Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner. This part right here made me snort: "In the course of one year at San Paulo Junior High, these four lives will intersect in unique and hilarious ways." This book wasn't remotely funny, and the four main characters hardly crossed paths at all.

Lacarnum Inflamarae

Shoots fireballs

A book you wish to burn out of your mind completely: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver. I couldn't finish it. I hated it way too much to continue reading it. The characters were mean and catty and gross. I didn't care about any of them. I did read it when I was younger (11 or 12, I think), but looking back, I don't think I'd like it even now. I can't relate to any of them.

Wingardium Leviosa

Levitates objects

A book you wish to reread: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell, The Fault In Our Stars by John Green, the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, The Host by Stephenie Meyer, and These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, to name a few. ;)

Avada Kedavra

Causes instant death

Worst book EVER: The Book of Three by Lloyd Alexander, Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner, and Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver.

Stupefy

Puts victim in an unconscious state

A book with a chapter you couldn’t seem to get over: Besides the obvious ones I previously mentioned (Allegiant and The Fault In Our Stars) The epilogue in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling is enough to make any loyal fan cry, simply because it's so perfect.

Confundo

Causes befuddlement or forgetfulness

A book that generally confused you: Going Bovine by Libba Bray. It was good, but totally bizarre. It's hard to even describe it.

Crucio

Inflicts unbearable pain

A book that was a pain to read: Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner. SHOOT ME NOW.

Episkey

Heals relatively minor injuries

A feel good book that you enjoyed: The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Also, books like the Ellie Sweet series by Stephanie Morrill, Eleanor & Park and Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and the Calvin and Hobbes books by Bill Watterson are great books for those days when you need a cup of hot chocolate and a big hug.

Impedimenta

Impedes target’s progress

A book that kept you up all night reading: Well, all books keep me up late reading if they're good enough, but some that I've read recently that stand out in my mind are the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, and Panic by Lauren Oliver.

Silencio

Immediate silencing

A book that left you speechless after you read it: Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. I finished it, reread the last page again (and again, and again, and again . . .), closed it, stared at the ocean (I finished it during our family's beach vacation last year), and kept thinking about it until we left. I tried and failed to get into several books soon after I finished reading it.

Legilimens

Allows you to delve into someone’s mind

A book with well-developed characters: All the characters in Rainbow Rowell's books are fantastic, especially considering that all of her books are written in the third person (which I know is hard to do). The characters from Harry Potter are wonderful, of course, but Melinda from Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson and Wanda from The Host by Stephenie Meyer also go through significant changes through the books.

Levicorpus

A spell that turns you upside down

A book that changed your mind about a character from its prequel: Hmm . . . I liked Chase in The Revised Life of Ellie Sweet by Stephanie Morrill, but after something happened in The Unlikely Debut of Ellie Sweet, I couldn't stand him. I only liked Isabelle okay in City of Bones and City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare, but I really liked her after reading City of Glass. In Dungeon Crawlin' Fools (the first book in the Order of the Stick series--or OOTS--by Rich Burlew), I thought Haley was kind of a boring character, but you really start getting to know her in No Cure For the Paladin Blues. (I highly recommend the OOTS series if you're a D&D fan.)

Obliviate

Used to hide memories

A book with a story you can’t remember: Defiance by C.J. Redwin, Graceling by Kristin Cashore, and What the Dog Said by Randi Reisfeld. I read these books a long time ago.

Peskipiksi Pesternomi

Useless spell

A boring book that had absolutely no effect on you: Trash Can Days by Teddy Steinkellner. *slams head on desk*

 

Reducto

Breaks through solid objects

A book that convinced you to reconsider a certain genre: I generally don't like hardcore sci-fi (with the exception of "Doctor Who," of course), but These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner and Cinder by Marissa Meyer helped me to give it a second chance. I still can't get into Ender's Game, though.

Rictusempra

Tickling spell

A book that made you laugh: The OOTS books and The Fault In Our Stars are both incredibly hilarious. I've almost woken up my parents before because I was laughing so hard late at night.

Sectusempra

Offensive spell that violently wounds the target

A book that may have scarred you for life: Allegiant by Veronica Roth and The Fault In Our Stars by John Green have both caused me to cry hard until all I want to do is curl up under the covers and stay in bed all day.

Tarantallegra

Makes you dance uncontrollably

A series finale that made you feel giddy: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling. No explanation necessary.

Bombarda Maxima

Causes an explosion that breaks through obstacles

A book that made you explode with the feels: The Harry Potter series, Allegiant, The Fault In Our Stars, Eleanor & Park, the list goes on.

Finite Incantatem

Nullifies other spells

A book you thought you’d dislike, but ended up loving: The Host by Stephenie Meyer. If it weren't for my BFF, I would never have picked it up. I'm so glad I did!

Pages

The pages are FINISHED! :) What do you think? Can you see them all right? All suggestions are welcome!

New Design

I'm going to be making some changes around here over the next few days. So far I've only changed the header (do you like it?), but I'm planning to add tabs that I think will make the blog more organized.

Is there anything you feel is missing from here? Anything you'd like to see reorganized? (While I can't make any promises, I'll definitely take your ideas into consideration.) Don't hesitate to leave a comment with suggestions!