On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City. It's where you can list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

This week in my mailbox...

Awakened (House of Night #8) by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

At the start of Awakened, the pulse-pounding eighth installment of the bestselling House of Night series, Zoey has returned, mostly whole, from the Otherworld to her rightful place as High Priestess at the House of Night. Her friends are just glad to have her back, but after losing her human consort, Heath, will Zoey - or her relationship with her super-hot Warrior, Stark - ever be the same? Stevie Rae is drawn even closer to Rephaim, the Raven Mocker with whom she shares a mysterious and powerful Imprint, but he is a dangerous secret that isolates her from her school, her red fledglings, and even her best friends. When the dark threat of Neferet - who is coming closer and closer to achieving her twisted goal of immortality - and Kalona returns, what will it take to keep the House of Night from being lost forever, and what will one desperate girl do to keep her heart from being irreparably broken?

The cover for the eighth installment in this best selling series was just revealed earlier this week, so I couldn't wait to share it.

Well that's it for me today. I'm off to take my son to school, hit Starbucks, then get caught up on all of your wonderful blogs. I apologize for my absence this week, but working two twelve hour days in a row severely cut down on my online time.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Words of Wisdom

We all have them...our favorite books with our favorite lines. You now the ones...they make you swoon, tug at your heartstrings, bring inspiration, some of them even make you laugh out loud. Maybe I got a little carried away, but I just couldn't resist compiling a list of some of my favorites...

"What good is safety if you're dead inside?"— Sophie Jordan (Firelight)

"His hand glides down my arm, folds over my hand. His fingers lace with mine, palms kissing. I can feel the fast thud of his heart through this single touch." — Sophie Jordan (Firelight)

"She was wearing a purple T-shirt, with a skinny black dress over it that made you remember how much of a girl she was, and trashed black boots that made you forget."
— Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures)

"My world slowed and I closed my eyes. “I am going to give you my heart now,” I whispered. “Please don’t break it again."
— Jessica Verday (The Haunted)

"Look after my heart, I've left it with you..."
— Stephenie Meyer (Eclipse)

"We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are."
— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Harry Potter, #5))

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live."
— J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1))

"It's funny how humans can wrap their mind around things and fit them into their version of reality."
— Rick Riordan (The Lightning Thief)

"Be careful of love. It'll twist your brain around and leave you thinking up is down and right is wrong."
— Rick Riordan (The Battle of the Labyrinth)

"One must always be careful of books," said Tessa, "and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us."
— Cassandra Clare (Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, # 1))

"How strange to have the power to literally transform yourself into other people, and yet be so unable to put yourself in their place."
— Cassandra Clare (Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, # 1))

"Sometimes love means letting go when you want to hold on tighter."
— Melissa Marr (Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2))

"What does it mean when nightmares dream of peace? When shadows wish for light?"
— Melissa Marr (Ink Exchange (Wicked Lovely, #2))

"I can feel Peeta press his forehead into my temple and he asks, 'So now that you've got me, what are you going to do with me?' I turn into him. 'Put you somewhere you can't get hurt."
— Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)

"You don’t forget the face of the person who was your last hope."
— Suzanne Collins (The Hunger Games)

"Trust me. I'm a genius."
— Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, #1))


Of course this isn't the entire list, but you get the idea. So what's one of your favorite quotes? Please feel free to add to the list.

The Method To My Madness

With all of the authors taking part in NanoWriMo, I've been thinking a lot about the actual writing process and how it differs for everyone. It really is amazing to stop and think about the overabundance of ideas that run rampantly through our veins just waiting to make their way onto paper. So once again my curiosity has been piqued and I'm wondering what process everyone uses. Do you have any unusual quirks while writing? Favorite spot? Favorite snack? You get the idea.

For me, I can write pretty much anywhere. But I do have a system that I follow when writing. Now I have claimed to be a notorious pantser. This is becoming less and less of a reality the more I think about it.

Here's a glimpse at my madness:

*Get all of the ideas down-I get the main idea, how I want to start, the ending and everything else in between.

*Research-Don't get excited. I do not spend weeks scouring through the Internet or various books, though I have tremendous respect for those who do. For my current ms I Googled everything I needed. For example I compiled a list of creatures that I wanted to use and vague descriptions. This way I could come up with my own original ideas for them.

*Character charts-This is something I never skip. Again for my current ms, I needed detailed descriptions of each character. Getting vivid images of them in my head helped push the storyline and made the ideas come easier.

*Start writing-Finally! During my first draft I write and write until I hit a wall. When I do, I go back to the beginning and do a read through until more ideas come to me. Sometimes I'll switch over to my notebook and this relieves the pressure of that blasted cursor blinking at me.

*Journal-I keep a notebook with me at all times, just in case I find myself with some writing time or an idea pops into my head.

*Revise, revise, revise-Need I say more? I go through countless rounds of revisions and editing before anyone else is able to lay eyes on what I'm up to.

*Awesome betas-Once I have gone through and revised until my eyes are ready to fall out of my head, I send the ms off to my beta.

*Beta revisions-Once I get those notes back, I scour the MS and fix editing mistakes and address all of her fabulous suggestions.

*Line edit-This is probably my least favorite part, but very necessary. I print out the entire MS and have at it.

*Civilian Betas-After all of this, I have a couple of teacher friends that give my ms a read through and let me know their overall thoughts and feelings about details and point out anything else that might need tweaking.

*One last read through-Yes I get a little obsessive compulsive about the details, but I can't help it. Once I get comments from my last round of betas and apply them, I give it another read through. Okay maybe two.

So now you know the insanity my family puts up with when I write. So what little rituals do the rest of you practice when knee deep in the writing process?

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. You can find more information on how to participate in the In My Mailbox meme by visiting The Story Siren.

This week in my mailbox...

Nightshade (Nightshade #1) by Andrea Cremer

Goodreads Description:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Glimmerglass (Faeriewalker #1) by Jenna Black


Goodreads Description:
Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go . . .

Okay, you know the drill...what little gems are you reading?

Fess Up Time...Just How Big Is That TBR Pile?

Okay so today I'm going to get a little bit up close and personal with all of you lovely people. You see one of my favorite betas and I...you might know her...the lovely Lindsay over at Adventures in Writing. Of course you do because she is awesome! Well we often banter back and forth about our ever growing TBR piles.

But.

We have never divulged how many books are actually in that pile. So today I'm coming clean and I'm just dying to know the same from all of you! Bloggers are so good at book reviews and finding all the best new releases that I have never had a larger pile of books to read. Which just makes me all kinds of happy because I never run out of reading material.

So here is an idea of what I'm dealing with...

This is one of my happy places. It's also my space that is off limits to all. It's not much, but when you have kids you take what you can get. So off of this bookshelf alone I counted just this morning and I have Thirty Four. Yes. Thirty Four books that I need to read. That includes some I've had for a while as well as all of my newbies that I have had to sneak onto the shelf.

Okay, I aired my dirty laundry now it's your turn. Just how many books do you have in that pile that's just waiting for your attention?

Feeling Down? Read This...

I have to admit that lately I've been feeling a little down. There's not one certain thing that I can pinpoint, just several little things that just aren't working out the way I had hoped. But I'm not one to wallow. That's just not me. So what do I do? What can you do when you feel a bout of the blue's creeping up?

See for yourself...

1. Give yourself permission to fail- This is a big one for me. I'm a horrid perfectionist, so when I make mistakes I tend to be really hard on myself. What can I say, this one is a work in progress for me.

2. Chocolate! No, not an entire bag of Hershey Kisses! Just a small piece of dark chocolate should do the trick to elevate your mood.

3. Count your blessings- This one always works wonders for me, especially when I think of my kids. My adorable little kiddos are my reason for doing everything I do.

4. Wake up early- I wake up early every morning and am amazed at what I can accomplish. There's just something about those early morning hours when it's quiet and everyone else is sleeping that brings me a sense of calm.

5. Schedule some quiet time- I may curl up with a good book or go out for a walk. This is one of my favorite ways to spend time.

6. Watch a good movie- It can be a cry your eyes out chick-flick or a hard core action movie. Doesn't matter. Pick your favorite and kick back and relax.

7. Look to your future- Set goals. They can be small or spanning over the next few months. I have to have goals, especially when it comes to my writing. It really gives me a lift when I reach these goals.

8. Laugh- I've had a great life...but it hasn't always been perfect. But through it all, my family has found a way to make each other laugh and it makes everything seem a little less dismal.

9. Accept the things that you yourself cannot change-Another tough one for me. There are things in life that we have no control of. As writers we should know that all too well. Move on, focus on the positive and accept that there is nothing you can do. Like I said, this one is wicked tough for me!

10. Look to the future- Need I say more? So you have a bad day...even a bad week. Just know that everything can change in a moment. You finish that manuscript...those edits. An agent requests your full or even better offers representation. Think positive and believe that good things are just around the corner.

Okay, that's all I have for today I promise! So tell me...what did I miss? What sure-fire methods do you use when feeling down in the dumps?

CassaStar’s Release Date is TODAY!!

CassaStar by Alex J. Cavanaugh is on sale today!!!! But Alex has no time for nerves because he's going to be super busy. To see what he's up to be sure to stop by his blog.

But while you here...read on for more about Alex:
Alex J. Cavanaugh has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and works in web design and graphics. He’s experienced in technical editing and worked with an adult literacy program for several years. A fan of all things science fiction, his interests range from books and movies to music and games. Currently he lives in the Carolinas with his wife.

CassaStar Description:
To pilot the fleet’s finest ship…

Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard.

Much to Byron’s chagrin, the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential.

As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit?

“…calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein’s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars.” - Library Journal



Dying to read it like I am? Here's where to get your very own copy:

AMAZON
BARNES & NOBLE
BAM

Also available in eBook format for Kindle, iPad, Nook, and others

Well that's it for me today! I'm off to hopefully make a slight dent in my to be read pile in order to make way for all of my new purchases including this little jewel! Good Luck to you Alex! Enjoy your release day!

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. You can find more information on how to participate in the In My Mailbox meme by visiting The Story Siren.

This week in my mailbox...

Banished by Sophie Littlefield

Goodreads Description:
There isn’t much worth living for in Gypsum, Missouri—or Trashtown, as the rich kids call the run-down neighborhood where sixteen-year-old Hailey Tarbell lives. Hailey figures she’ll never belong—not with the popular kids at school, not with the rejects, not even with her cruel, sickly grandmother, who deals drugs out of their basement. Hailey never knew her dead mother, and she has no idea who her father was, but at least she has her four-year-old foster brother, Chub. Once she turns eighteen, Hailey plans to take Chub far from Gypsum and start a new life where no one can find them.

But when a classmate is injured in gym class, Hailey discovers a gift for healing that she never knew she possessed—and that she cannot ignore. Not only can she heal, she can bring the dying back to life. Confused by her powers, Hailey searches for answers but finds only more questions, until a mysterious visitor shows up at Gram’s house, claiming to be Hailey’s aunt Prairie.

There are people who will stop at nothing to keep Hailey in Trashtown, living out a legacy of despair and suffering. But when Prairie saves both Hailey and Chub from armed attackers who invade Gram’s house in the middle of the night, Hailey must decide where to place her trust. Will Prairie’s past, and the long-buried secret that caused her to leave Gypsum years earlier, ruin them all? Because as Hailey will soon find out, their power to heal is just the beginning.

This gripping novel from thriller writer Sophie Littlefield blazes a trail from small-town Missouri to the big city as Hailey battles an evil greater than she ever imagined, while discovering strengths she never knew she had.

And of course...

Beautiful Darkness (Caster Chronicles #2) by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Goodreads Description:
Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Now it's your turn, so spill...what little reads did you add to your piles this week?

What Exactly is NaNoWriMo?

Happy Friday to all of you lovely bloggers out there. I must apologize for my absence the last couple of days, but what can I say...life got a little crazy and my laptop was having some issues. But all is well now and I feel horrible for not posting and getting around to all of your blogs. I promise to get there today and over the weekend!

So I've been hearing an earful about this upcoming event in November, perhaps you've heard of it? NaNoWriMo? Of course you have! Well, I just had to check it out for myself. Everyone is talking about it and even some of my favorite people are joining so it must be amazing right?

Here's what's entailed straight from the NaNoWriMo website:

•Write a 50,000-word (or longer!) novel, between November 1 and November 30.
•Start from scratch. None of your own previously written prose can be included in your NaNoWriMo draft (though outlines, character sketches, and research are all fine, as are citations from other people's works).
•Write a novel. We define a novel as a lengthy work of fiction. If you consider the book you're writing a novel, we consider it a novel too!
•Be the sole author of your novel. Apart from those citations mentioned two bullet-points up.
•Write more than one word repeated 50,000 times.
•Upload your novel for word-count validation to our site between November 25 and November 30.

And that's it. If you have more questions or to just do some research for yourself, you can visit the NaNoWriMo Website. Trust me it's worth the visit.

Though writing 50,000 words in thirty days scares the heck out of me, the idea behind it is genius. Just writing without worrying about editing as you go, not stressing over every little detail frees one up get there ideas down and allows the story to take shape.

I'm still tossing the idea around, I have some thoughts for a new novel that I've been sitting on for a while and this could be just the kick start needed to get them on paper. So what about all of you? Has anyone else signed up or debating like I am? I'd love to hear about it.

Have a great weekend everyone! I can't tell you how excited I am that it's Friday!

Darkness Has Arrived

It all started with a book:
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Goodreads Description:
Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

All I could say at the end of this book was WOW!!

Now for months I have waited patiently...oh who am I kidding? I have waited on the edge of my seat for October 12th to roll around so I could get my hands on the next installment of The Castor Chronicles. Finally, my wait is over, too bad I have to get through the work day before I can claim my copy. Until then this will have to tide me over...



Beautiful Darkness

Goodreads Description:
Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin that harbored ancient secrets beneath its moss-covered oaks and cracked sidewalks. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together they can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been opened to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

Okay so that's not quite going to cut it. Let's face it, this day just can't get over fast enough. So tell me, what book releases are you pining away for?

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. You can find more information on how to participate in the In My Mailbox meme by visiting The Story Siren.

This week in my mailbox...

The Demon's Lexicon (The Demon's Lexicon Trilogy #1)
by Sarah Rees Brennan

Nick and his brother, Alan, have spent their lives on the run from magic. Their father was murdered, and their mother was driven mad by magicians and the demons who give them power. The magicians are hunting the Ryves family for a charm that Nick's mother stole -- a charm that keeps her alive -- and they want it badly enough to kill again.

Danger draws even closer when a brother and sister come to the Ryves family for help. The boy wears a demon's mark, a sign of death that almost nothing can erase...and when Alan also gets marked by a demon, Nick is des-perate to save him. The only way to do that is to kill one of the magicians they have been hiding from for so long.

Ensnared in a deadly game of cat and mouse, Nick starts to suspect that his brother is telling him lie after lie about their past. As the magicians' Circle closes in on their family, Nick uncovers the secret that could destroy them all.

This is the Demon's Lexicon. Turn the page.


Remember Me (Remember Me Books #1-3, Remember Me, The Return, The Last Story) by Christopher Pike

She won't let them forget.

Shari Cooper wakes up dead. The last thing she can remember is falling from a balcony during her friend's party. Her death has been ruled a suicide, but Shari knows she was murdered. All of her closest friends are now suspects. As she tries to find her killer from the other side, she discovers her friends may not have been so loyal to her after all. Now Shari is not just out for justice, she's out for revenge. . . .


Infinite Days (Vampire Queen #1) by Rebecca Maizel

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.

Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?

Wow...that's a lot of reading I have to catch up on. Is it bad that I have to sneak my books onto the bookshelf before anyone else sees them? It's getting as bad as when I buy a new purse or shoes! Now it's your turn...what other books are out there that I need to sneak onto my bookshelf?

Agent Pitch Contest Winners And A Can't Miss Article!

It's Friday...my favorite day of the week and the fabulous Joanna Volpe has chosen her winners for the agent pitch contest!!!

But before I make the big announcement, I would like to thank Joanna one last time for her awesome interview and for donating her precious time. Agents are super busy...so it means a lot to me when they give up their time to help us out. So thanks Joanna I appreciate all of your help with this contest!

Okay I won't torment you any further...here are the winners:

THIRD PLACE: Jennifer Williams
Title: Wistful
Genre: YA Historical Romance

WISTFUL, after her extravagant Ton wedding, 15 year old Julie Haynesworth runs away from her ancient husband to live with a poor commoner family only to fall in love with the eldest son; too bad he thinks she’s a boy.

SECOND PLACE: Slushpile Slut
Title: Where The Stones Speak
Genre: YA Historical Fantasy

Banished by those too fearful to harbor one so marked with magick, sixteen-year old Iona, clan ruler on The Isle of Virgins, wields a javelin and sword to protect her refuge and ensure the existence of her kind. But when she discovers she is more than a fledgling prophetess, she is a sibyl of ancient lineage, Iona must embark on a journey to find her sacred circle of stones, where they say no dark magick can breech, and proclaim her oracles to the multitudes— But there are many who seek to silence the ancient world’s last free sibyl.

FIRST PLACE: Stina Lindenblatt
Title: Lost in a Heartbeat
Genre: YA romantic suspense.

After a stalker assaulted seventeen-year-old Calleigh, she’s forced to keep silent about what happened or else the psycho will kill her BFF. The only person she dares to tell is her new friend, Aaron, who kind of figures things out. But as she falls for him, she discovers they’re linked in a way she could never have imagined—a connection that could be deadly for Calleigh.

Congratulations to the winners and a huge thank-you to all who entered! Winners send me an e-mail and I will give you the directions to submit your work to Joanna!

Now for this ultra-fabulous article. Debut novels are something I seek out with a vengeance...I love seeing for myself where it all begins for my favorite authors. So when The 50 Most Famous & Impressive Debut Novels of All Time was brought to my attention, I was all over it. It was inspiring to see where legends such as Stephen King, Jane Austen and even the Bronte sisters started out. But don't take my word for it...check it out for yourself. You won't be sorry!

I hope everyone has an awesome Friday and an even more fabulous weekend!

What Does October Mean To You?

Witches and Wizards and Monsters and Ghouls...you get the idea. The month of October is hands down my favorite month and I absolutely love Halloween! What's not to love? I get to dress up my kids in adorable costumes, well okay maybe just my daughter. My son thinks he's outgrown it.

And then there's trick or treating, spooky movies and passing out all that candy. We definitely go all out for Halloween at my house.

Speaking of spooktacular celebrations, my agent Bree Ogden is having event after event in celebration of this droolworthy month over on her blog This Literary Life. It all starts with her can't miss interview with author of Rot and Ruin, Jonathan Maberry.

Goodreads Description:
In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

To see the interview, visit Bree here.

As for everything else she has in store for everyone this month...you'll just have to stay tuned! But if I know Bree and her love of all things scary, you won't want to miss a minute of what she has planned!

Create A Scene Tuesday

Kelsey Ketch over at Ketch's tavern is having a weekly event titled, "Create a Scene Tuesday." Kelsey has come up with an amazing concept which she calls "The Writer's Hydra." Each head represents a challenge that writers must face when constructing a manuscript...Setting, Plot Line and Characters. You can view the post in its entirety here.

This week:

Character – A Monster

Action – Trying to Scare Someone

Setting – Anywhere


My Scene:
There were four of them looming behind a large set of stairs, obscured to everyone but us. Clad in casual clothing, sunglasses and baseball caps. Weird but not alarming. They sat there watching…waiting, ready to pounce on the unsuspecting prey that was flittering dangerously close to them.

Prey that was just around the corner in the form of three high school-age girls, dressed in provocative tramp wear, oblivious to the terror waiting in the shadows.

Just as the monsters were ready to reach out and claim what was in no way rightfully theirs, Calypso made her move. With catlike precision she slipped past the clueless girls only to step in front of them, blocking their way. Dropping her glamour, she allowed herself to be seen by the innocents. Frozen in shock, the girls couldn’t help but look up at Calypso with bemused expressions. To them she had appeared out of thin air.

They cried out as she stood before them smiling. “Do me a favor.” She leaned forward, lowering her voice so it was barely audible. “Run,” she hissed taking one intimidating step in their direction.

The girls didn’t need to be told twice. With a high pitched squeal, they escaped just as the shadows jumped to life, abandoning their hiding place. It wasn’t until the group removed their hats and glasses that I realized something horribly unnerving. These were no mere humans. I had to look away and then back again, certain I was hallucinating for the second time that evening.

Each of the creatures before us loomed at over seven feet tall, sporting clean shaven heads that glowed with an eerie softness in the streetlights. But most disturbing of all was the fact that instead of a normal pair of eyes, each had a single massively large eyeball placed with precision in the middle of their foreheads.

Calypso turned on her heel to face them. What was she playing at? She was only going to succeed in getting herself killed. I moved to help her, but a slight inclination of her head warned me to stay put.

So I did.

Okay, that's all I have for today...to read Kelsey's scene or get the rules to create your own scene be sure to visit Ketch Tavern.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren. Anyone can participate in IMM and you are not limited to only sharing books that arrive via your mailbox. You can also share books that you've bought or books that you've gotten at the library. You can find more information on how to participate in the In My Mailbox meme by visiting The Story Siren.

This week in my mailbox...

Torment by Lauren Kate

Goodreads Description:
How many lives do you need to live before you find someone worth dying for? In the aftermath of what happened at Sword & Cross, Luce has been hidden away by her cursed angelic boyfriend, Daniel, in a new school filled with Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. Daniel promises she will be safe here, protected from those who would kill her. At the school Luce discovers what the Shadows that have followed her all her life mean - and how to manipulate them to see into her other lives. Yet the more Luce learns about herself, the more she realizes that the past is her only key to unlocking her future...and that Daniel hasn't told her everything. What if his version of the past isn't actually the way things happened...what if Luce was really meant to be with someone else?

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Goodreads Description:
After three young wizard apprentices are kidnapped by the evil queen of a distant land, it is up to their familiars, their magical animal companions -- a street smart alley cat, a precocious blue jay, and a bumbling tree frog -- to save them.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff
Goodreads Description:
Mackie Doyle seems like everyone else in the perfect little town of Gentry, but he is living with a fatal secret - he is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now the creatures under the hill want him back, and Mackie must decide where he really belongs and what he really wants.

A month ago, Mackie might have told them to buzz off. But now, with a budding relationship with tough, wounded, beautiful Tate, Mackie has too much to lose. Will love finally make him worthy of the human world?

As always, my to be read pile just keeps growing and growing. At least I won't have to worry about running out of books to read! So tell me...what are you reading right now? Am I the only one with a growing pile that just keeps getting bigger?

On My Wishlist

On My Wishlist is a fun weekly event hosted by Book Chick City. It's where you can list all the books you desperately want but haven't actually bought yet. They can be old, new or forthcoming. Mr Linky is always at the ready for you to link your own 'On My Wishlist' post. If you want to know more click here.

This week on my wishlist is a line-up of debut novels that just can't get released fast enough!

First up...is Possession by Elana Johnson. I was thrilled to finally see this cover! It's so exciting to follow a writer from the stage of signing an agent to selling the book and now the reveal of an awesome cover! Elana also pointed out on her blog this week that the final line from her very own query letter is on the cover. "Control or be Controlled." How extraordinary is that?

Goodreads Description:
In this world, you're just a possession.

Enough said! Between that chilling line and the gorgeous cover, I'm sold!

Next on my wishlist is Across the Universe by Beth Revis.

Goodreads Description:
A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone—one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship—tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn’t do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now, Amy must race to unlock Godspeed’s hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there’s only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

And last but certainly not least is A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford. Again, before you even read the description, look at the cover! Gorgeous!


Goodreads Description:
Eden didn’t expect Az.

Not his saunter down the beach toward her. Not his unbelievable pick up line. Not the instant, undeniable connection. And not his wings.

Yeah.

So long happily-ever-after.

Now trapped between life and death, cursed to spread chaos with her every touch, Eden could be the key in the eternal struggle between heaven and hell. All because she gave her heart to one of the Fallen, an angel cast out of heaven.

She may lose everything she ever had. She may be betrayed by those she loves most. But Eden will not be a pawn in anyone else’s game. Her heart is her own.

And that’s only the beginning of the end.

That's all for this week, but as you very well know my list is endless! Do you have any favorites that I need to add to my list? Please share them!