I Wish They All Could Be Five Stars.

I have a confession.

I abhor rating books.

After experiencing but a small fraction of the work an author goes through to put a novel on the bookshelves, I can't help but want to give anything less than 5 stars.

I mean the hours, days, even years that went into drafting, revising, editing, submitting, persevering. The blood, sweat, tears...all of that alone deserves 5 stars.

But the reality is not every reader is going to like every book they pick up. Not even me.

So I'm stumbling through this rating process the best that I can..

I don't rate anything less than three stars. According to Goodreads, three stars means "I liked it" and if I finish a book it means I liked it. Life is too short and there are too many books to waste time on one you're not feeling. And I don't think it's fair to rate a book I haven't finished.

Four stars means "I loved it." Usually with four star books I'll be hunting down the author's website or blog to find out if there is a sequel and when. I'll pre-order the author's next novel and pass these books on to my friends.

Five stars means "This book was amazing." In my world, a five star book means I'm stalking the author for sequels or new books, entering every ARC contest I can find, booking my plane tickets to the author's next signing (okay maybe I don't go that far), and forcing everyone I know to read the book now. These are the books I finish in one night. These are the books I wish I had written.

So, do you rate the books you're read? And if so how?

Random Wednesday

Did you know there are 5 Wednesdays this month? So in honor of the extra Wednesday, I'm going to post 5 extremely random facts about myself.

1. I still have my appendix. Do you care? Probably not. But, hey, I said random.

2. My wedding ring is size 4 1/2. That's on the small side. Most women's rings start at size 5. Unfortunately, my fingers are the only small thing on me.

3. I did not like pizza as a kid. What??? I know, craaazzzeee. Still not a huge fan of it now. But I will eat it.

4. Unless you follow baseball, you probably won't care about this one either, but my little brother pitched to Joe Mauer once when they were both in high school. Apparently Joe Mauer only struck out once in his high school baseball years...nope, wasn't that time. As my brother puts it, Joe hit a ball off of him "that hasn't landed yet."

5. Tomorrow I'm hosting Thanksgiving at my house. I don't usually do this. I'm a terrible cook and I've never done a turkey before. This should be fun...

Happy Turkey Day to everyone who celebrates (and Happy Thursday if you don't). And good luck to those of you eating at my place.

Being Thankful

Happy Monday!!!

Instead of a confession this week, I thought with Turkey Day just a mere 72 hours away, I would list a three things I'm sooo thankful for this year.

1. My brother. This tops the list this year for me. See a year ago we weren't even talking. A little over ten years ago our family was ripped apart in a bitter divorce and unfortunately our relationship was damaged in the fallout. But with a little hope, forgiveness, and the faith of a mustard seed, last spring thinks changed radically. Now we barely go three weeks without meeting up for breakfast. I heart my brother. They say that the person you have the most years with in life is not your parents, children, or spouse. It's your siblings. So hang on to yours!

2. My family. There have been some ups and downs (like always) this year, but we've made it to November relatively unscathed and healthy. And I couldn't be more thankful!

3. Babies!!! Lots of joyful news over the past few months means lots of new little lives beginning in 2012. Some of these blessings come after years of heartbreaking infertility, one little is the light so desperately needed after a family's tragic loss, and one bouncing baby boy will be calling me Auntie. I am so excited for all the new moms!!! And have I mentioned how much I love to shop for baby clothes.

So, what are you thankful for this year?

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

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

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

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

Hardcover, 342 pages

November 15th 2011 by Harper/HarperCollins

I've heard great things about this book, and I adore Tahereh Mafi's blog, so there really was no doubt in my mind that I was going to love this book.

I was surprised at first. The writing is different—very different. I admit it threw me off at first but then it became addicting—very addicting. Like caramel/cheese/butter popcorn, once I got going I could not stop.

Why you should read this book:

• Voice. It is unlike anything I've ever read before.
  
• Pacing. It's a fast read, and in today's busy, crazy, hectic world, I like fast reads.
• Plot. It's different. It's a mix of dystopian and paranormal...or maybe sci fi.
• Characters. The villain in this story, Warner is definitely not your cookie-cutter everyday antagonist. James, the 10-year-old little brother of the hero, is completely endearing.
• Romance. It's steamy, and that's all I'm going to say on that.
  

I recommend this book — to anyone up to trying something different, to fans of YA paranormal romance, and readers who love kissing scenes.

I cannot wait for Book 2...Shatter Me is a trilogy!

My Tips on Getting and Staying Disciplined...

I don't post a lot of how-tos for writing on here because first—I'm not a pro by any means (I consider myself a wide-eyed student, second—there are trillions of blogs and articles and other fabulous resources out there that say it so much better than I ever can, and third—I'm embarrassed to say, I'm not really even sure I know what I'm doing most of the time..

But every now and then, I think it's good to pass on some of the things that are working for me...just in case they'll work for you too.

So this month, being NANOWriMo, I thought it'd be great to cover some of the ways I try to stay disciplined.

1. Make the time. Everybody complains about lack of time, but when I made the leap to get serious about writing, I found tons of time (and yes I have 2 kids and a full-time day job). For starters I evaluated the TV programs I was watching every week. I mean would my life really cease to exist if I didn't follow Grey's Anatomy, American Idol, Private Practice, The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, Desperate Housewives, and Dancing with the Stars. Once I narrowed down to my absolute can't-miss favorite shows, I found I could DVR them and enjoy them for a few hours on Friday nights...after the kids were and bed and my writing was done. And for even more time, stay away from the computer games. Don't let the reason your book is never written be because you had to harvest your crops on Farmville...

2. Clue the family in. It wasn't easy coming forward to the family about the whole 'writing thing' and asking for their support. And although I've heard the occasional story about a writer not telling their spouse until the agent contract shows up in the mail, I think for the most part writer's need that support if they are going to succeed. In my experience, it took some time to get that support. At first, I'm sure it seemed to my husband like another craze of mine that would fizzle out (I am an INFP afterall), but the harder I work and the more I produce, the more support he gives.

3. Set Goals. I do this weekly. Every Sunday I plan out what I want to get done for the week, and break it up over the week. Then each day I attack the list starting with the stuff I want to do least working my way up to the more exciting tasks (yes I always ate my veggies first). Some people have set hours they write. Personally I don't—that never seems to work for me. I just don't go to bed until my list is complete. So if I want to sleep...

4. Utilize online resources. The internet is a goldmine for writers. Use it. If you are writing your 1st draft, check out 750 words and/or Write or Die. I'm always jumping between the 2 depending on my mood. Check out Scrivener if you're in the outlining phases—there is even a Windows version now. And if you're editing, the grammar feature on Microsoft Word will tell you the percentage of passive sentences in your document, and your manuscript's reading level. Or try EditMinion. Informative and fun. And if you find random internet searching is keeping you from your goals, check out Freedom. For $10 you can shut off your internet connection for a specified period of time.

5. Reward yourself. When it comes to writing, especially pre-published writing, it's a lonely road. There is no boss there to tell you "good job", no clients or customers praising your services, no raise on your paycheck. You gotta count on yourself for that. So when you make your goals for the week, give yourself a pat on the back. Go watch your favorite TV program, start that new book you're dying to read, or go get a DQ Blizzard (and bring me one too). And when you're lucky enough to receive praise from somebody else, save it and savor it. On a bulletin board over my writing desk, I keep those treasured mementos—the note my husband wrote after I let him read my 1st novel, the letter from an essay contest I won, the e-mail from the first person outside my friends and family that said 'I love your writing', the picture my daughter drew of her and I writing together...Save those. You're going to need the 'little things', if you're gonna be able to hold on long enough to reach the 'big things.'

So what kinds of tips do you have for getting and staying on task?

My Twilight Confession

Another Monday...another confession.

In honor of that movie coming out this week, I thought I'd talk about Twilight.

Most people who have read the book either really really love it or really really hate it.

As for me, I'm somewhere in the middle. I don't want to burn the thing but I'm not burning to have Edward's (or Jacob's) babies either.

Don't get me wrong. I liked Twilight. It was entertaining. It wasn't a book I couldn't put down, but it wasn't a book I struggled to finish either. Same with next two in the series.

But then came Breaking Dawn. I have tried multiple times to read that book, but I never quite get to that point where I actually want to be reading it. Every time. I'm not sure what it is that turns me off, but somewhere usually in those first fifty or so pages, the book loses me and I set it down for days, weeks, months, years. And since I have Twihard friends who've long since filled me in on the finer plot points, thus draining any remaining urges I had to read the thing, I think it's safe to say I've given up.

Now the movie is here. I've seen (and enjoyed) the first three, but not quite sure if I'll be hitting the theaters this weekend. I'm not crazy about the two parter thing, I worry I'll miss a lot because I haven't read the book, and I'm not sure I'll even like it (based on what I do know).

So for now, little ol' me who loves all things YA and paranormal and romantic, is undecided as to whether she wants to see the beginning of the last movie of one of the biggest YA paranormal romance sagas ever. Go figure.

So what about you? Any Twilight fans not going to Breaking Dawn this weekend? Any Twilight fans like me out there who haven't read the last book?

Re-reading My Childhood: Amanda (Sunfire Romance #1)

The majority of my childhood reading took place in the 1980s. I remember reading a lot of series...Sweet Valley Twins, Sweet Valley High, Silhouette First Love. Perhaps my most favorite series of books at the time were the Sunfire Romances put out by Scholastic. It was a group of 32 Young Adult novels centered around one girl, her love life, and a major event in history. The series is now out of print, but you still can find used copies on Amazon or eBay.

In a moment of extreme boredom or insanity (I think), I thought it would be fun to track down some of my favorite childhood books and re-read them once more to see if the magic I found in them 30 years ago is still there.

So here I go...



From back cover: Torn from her, she fought and loved her way across a savage new land. 1846 -- From Boston Nightly Balls to Independence, Missouri and on the the Oregon Trail.
With only a silk dress to protect her from the blazing frontier sun, Amanda fears she will die on the Oregon Trail. As the memories of Boston, the nightly balls, and Joseph fade, the hardships of life on the wagon train fill her days. Changing from a spoiled city girl to a strong young woman, Amanda finds drought and death, beauty and joy, and a love that will last forever.

by Candice F. Ransom
Published April 2, 1984 by Scholastic Paperbacks



What I Remember About this Book?

• Amanda was the first Sunfire I recall ever reading—I think I received it as a birthday gift. Amanda was by far not my favorite of the series because I recall her being bratty and hard to relate to.
  

What I Think of The Book Now?

• Wow, it's sooo yellow. It can't really be that long ago, can it?
• Amanda was not quite the brat I remembered. Sure, she was spoiled and rude, but considering her age and circumstances who wouldn't be.
• Amanda's story was more a 'coming of age' story than the romance I remember. While the journey on the Oregon Trail was full of loss, heartache, and hardship, Amanda's internal journey brought growth, friendship, and love.
• I really enjoyed re-reading Amanda. More than I thought I would, and so much that I picked up the next book in the series, Susannah. The book was a perfect blend of romance and history (and I'm a sucker for both), and I'm hoping it will catch my daughter's interest.
• The book brought back yet another nostalgic moment for me...

 

I'm a NaNoWriMo Wanna-Be and Could've-Been Who Isn't

So it's nearly a week into to this year's NaNoWriMo, and I confess I'm sooo sad to not be a part of it. I feel like I'm missing out on the 'cool kid's club'.

Unfortunately, NaNo wasn't in the cards for me this year. Oh, I'm sure if I had wanted it badly enough I would have found a way, but I'm knee deep in a first draft of my current WIP and revisions of another and I guess you could say I want that more right now.

So I'm here on the sidelines, cheering all you NaNoWriMoers on.

Good luck to all of the participants. You can do it!

Crossed by Ally Condie

Crossed by Ally Condie

Book Blurb (from Goodreads): In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake. Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Hardcover, 384 pages

November 1st 2011 by Dutton Juvenile

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. In Matched, Ally Condie created the perfect opening act by introducing us to Cassia's world, and now in Crossed, the inner and outer journeys of both Cassia and Ky follow in perfect sequence.

I cannot wait for the conclusion.

Quote I Loved:

"I don't fool myself that I hold her together—she does that on her own—but holding her keeps me from flying apart." (chapter 23)

"...when someone knows your story they know you. And they can hurt you. It's why I give mine away in pieces, even to Cassia." (chapter 37)

"Everyone has something of beauty about them. In the beginning for me, it was Ky's eyes I noticed, and I love them still. But loving lets you look, and look, and look again. You notice the back of a hand, the turn of a head, the way of a walk. When you first love, you look blind and you see it all as the glorious, beloved whole, or a beautiful sum of beautiful parts. But when you see the one you love as pieces, as whys—why he walks like this, why he closes his eyes like that—you can love those parts, too and it's a love at once more complicated and more complete."
(chapter 50)

Why you should read this book:

• Because you just should, darn it!
• The Cover. I loved the cover for Matched, and Crossed is just as stunning. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that the covers are the colors of the 3 pills — which means the next book will be red. I can't wait to see it!
  
• The Voice. Although I love beautiful, lyrical, poetic writing that tastes like a sweet bite of my favorite dessert, I am a sucker for simple less-is-more writing. And Crossed is the perfect example of this. It's like popcorn. Plain, subtle, but once you taste it you're gonna want more.
• The Love Triangle. I'm a fan of the love triangles where it's more than just choosing between two boys, but two possible versions of yourself. I saw that in Matched with Xander and Ky. Xander was who Cassia was...Ky was who she could be... Crossed turns this around and upside down and inside out by changing and expanding the characters in ways I never saw coming. And I love to be surprised...
• Ky. In Crossed, we get a glimpse into Ky's demons and through his POV, a chance to follow along on his journey.
• Xander. Although he is barely present, Xander's story is revealed throughout the entire book. And he's not quite who Cassia thought he was...
• Everything! There are new characters who will fascinate you, amuse you, and break your heart, and the setting is breathtaking!

I recommend this book — if you loved Matched. And if you haven't read Matched yet, well what are you waiting for???

I absolutely cannot wait for November 2012.

Them Voices in My Head

It's my first ever post for Alex J Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group. To join in, head over here.

Every time I write a blog post, an e-mail, a facebook update, and even a tweet, I get these annoying voices in my head. You're not good enough. Your writing sucks. Your blog sucks. Nobody cares. You're wasting your time.

Over and over on constant repeat in my brain, the voices speak. A buzz fills my ears, my stomach feels sick, and if I start listening to them, the voices will take over and I will freeze up. Then the blog post won't get written, the e-mail won't get sent, the tweet will never happens...

When I've listened to the voices, they've kept me from so many great things and opportunities. Groups, clubs, jobs, classes, activities, parties, friendships I could have made. They've stopped me from pursuing my writing dream sooner than I did. They've stolen precious time.

So I try to find ways to shut them off. I have yet to find the 'power off' button, but I do notice every time I post on the blog, query an agent, enter a contest, and/or share my work I fell like I just said, "take that," to the voices and for that brief moment...I win. And it gets a little easier each time.

I'm starting to think being confident doesn't mean you're not hearing the voices...it just means you're not listening.

So what about you? Do you hear the voices? And if so, how do you turn them off?