Mid-week, huh?

Yeah, we're here again. And I'm so tired. *yawn*

Got up at 4am this morning. I also had a very tiring day yesterday. I spent most of it out and about, catching several trains to get to my destination. Nothing serious, I just had a doctor's appointment--check-up. I also bought two books and finished reading the book I reviewed below. So I did manage to get a few things done in the process. It just took a lot out of me, that's all.

It would've been really easy to just take the rest of the week off to relax and plan ahead some more, but I've decided to sneak in some more revision. This time, I'm working on the second draft of the novella that helped me get back into the swing of (the writing) thing earlier this month. I planned to work on it next week, but because it's only 98 pages (and 31,570 words) long, I thought it might be cool to try and get it done this week, instead.

I have to admit this plan is a little ambitious, but I've already started on it and have revised the first 11 pages. In order to get the second draft done by Friday, I'd have to revise roughly 33 pages/day. I still have the rest of the day to go, so I might be able to do it. The only thing that'll change this plan are edits. If I get any edits at all, I'll have to put this aside.

For now, it's working.

Have a great day!

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DESIRES OF THE DEAD by Kimberly Derting

Violet and Jay are finally dating, but adjusting to the new relationship is not as easy as Violet anticipated. Especially when she has to split Jay's time and attention with his new best friend, Mike, and Mike's pesky younger sister - who happens to be obsessed with Jay.

Meanwhile, when Violet's special abilities lead her to the body of a young boy, her tip to the police puts her on the radar of the FBI. Violet tries to fend off the FBI's questions while maintaining the semblance of a normal life, but somebody's leaving her threatening notes and an echo around Mike's house reinforces that all is not right. Violet is forced to admit that perhaps the only people who can help her figure it out are the very people she's desperate to avoid - the FBI.

After reading (and absolutely loving) The Body Finder, I was really excited when I received the second book in this series for review.

Violet's life has changed recently. Several months back, she helped find the bodies of several missing girls, which led to the serial killers being caught. Well, one of them died. Her relationship with Jay continues to bloom, though it does come with its own complications. Since they admitted to being in love with each other and Jay almost got killed trying to save Violet, he's a lot more protective of her and sometimes she feels like she can't depend on him the way she did when they were best friends. And the fact he's made a new friend lately--a new boy in town, Mike--doesn't help.

The only constant in her life is her ability to feel/hear the dead calling to her, as well as the matching imprint left on the killer. So the day she goes into Seattle with her friend, Chelsea, and finds herself following the sound of a harp into a shipyard, she returns later and calls 911 to report what she found. Soon after, a little boy is found inside a container, and the FBI finds Violet.

Desires of the Dead was an awesome, intriguing book that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. I loved it, and was hooked from the beginning and found myself totally lost in Violet's life. I felt bad for her, because even though she has people around her who love and care about her, she doesn't want to burden them with her problems and instead ended up not being able to cope.

Also, I think that adding Sara and Rafe to the cast gives Violet's gift another outlet, and the possibility of another direction. One, which I hope helps her turn it into something positive.

I can't wait to find out more about the next book in this excellent series...

Check out the book trailer:

Desires of the Dead, April 2011, ISBN 9780755378968, Headline Paperback

M&SRC books read: 9/12

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The start of another week...

...and it's also the last week of March. Yikes!

Well. today I've taken time away from my writing/revising and instead spent it doing other stuff. You know how it is, sometimes you just gotta tackle real life stuff. I've also snuck in as much reading as I can. It's been pretty good.

I'm only giving myself today and tomorrow. Tomorrow, because I have a doctor's appointment smack-bang in the middle of the day. It's also several suburbs away, which means I'll be taking the train there.

Yesterday I popped into the Samhain blog and posted a little post. :)

Oh, and this is super cool. For me, it's like the past meeting the present. Yay.

Well... I'm going to go and read a little more, before it's time to head out to pick my daughter up from school. I'm really enjoying DESIRES OF THE DEAD.

See ya!

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RED RIDING HOOD by Sarah Blakley-Cartwright

A literary novelisation of the hit Warner Brothers film directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Amanda Seyfried.

Valerie is in love with the dangerous and unlikable Peter (a woodcutter, of course) but is betrothed to the rich hot blacksmith in town, Henry.

Their town has been terrorized by a wolf a wolf that appears only at the full moon and when Valerie's sister is brutally murdered the message is clear: she's next.

I was looking forward to reading this book, because I've always loved the Red Riding Hood story and was looking forward to reading a retelling with a new twist.

Valerie lives in the town of Daggorhorn with her sister and her parents. They live within a fortress to keep the Wolf from entering their town, and instead offer him a 'sacrifice' every month. Valerie's strong and different, doesn't care as much about boys as her sister and friends. Well, not until a boy from her past--Peter--appears again. She's pretty much tempted by him right away, but is soon betrothed to Henry.

When her sister is killed by the Wolf, a dangerous cycle begins and Father Solomon--a determined werewolf hunter--pops in to help them out. Slowly a very dark and hidden secret is revealed...and Valerie gets caught in the middle of it.

I really enjoyed the beginning of this book, and got swept up in the story. I liked Valerie right away and also the mystery. I couldn't wait to find out who the Wolf really was, and kept suspecting one person, and then another. However, as soon as Peter entered the scene, I found my interest waver. All of a sudden, Valerie seems to make strange decisions that I found a little out of character, even considering what falling in love can do to someone, it just didn't seem to fit.

After that, I lost interest and couldn't follow any of the characters. Also, although the story was well written, the unexpected head-hopping kept pulling me out of the story's flow. Oh, and the fact that the book ends but there's mention of a 'bonus chapter available on the website' made the experience even less fulfilling. I didn't like that without reading this 'bonus chapter' you don't even find out who the Wolf is.

Red Riding Hood is a tension-filled thriller with a lot of twists and turns, but ultimately, I wasn't as bewitched by it as I'd hoped I'd be.

Red Riding Hood, March 2011, ISBN 9781907410826, Atom Paperback

M&SRC books read: 8/12

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Guest Blogger: Greg Chapman

Today, I've got a guest post from fellow DB author Greg Chapman. His book, Torment, is now available from Damnation Books:

Exer(or)cising the demons

When you think evil it’s hard not to think devil. I mean evil is 90 percent of the name.

Devils and demons have featured in hundreds of horror novels: The Exorcist (obviously) Rosemary’s Baby to name a few. They are a staple in film and television as well – the entire mythology of Supernatural is centred around them.

So what is the universal appeal?

I think we as a human race are always concerned about the evils of the world and some find it easy to put a name to it (probably because we don’t want to admit that humanity itself is to blame).

Every major religion has a devil or evil deity and the associated beliefs, folklore, legends and tales have been passed down through the ages.

If you’re going to have a horror book with the ultimate evil within its pages, then it goes without saying that a devil or demon is bound to feature. Conquering evil is the foundation of many horror books. Sure there are monsters, like Frankenstein or vampires or zombies but there always remains the question – what is the root of all evil?

I wanted to explore that concept in Torment. I wanted to pit someone against a powerful demonic evil. I remember seeing scenes from The Exorcist film as a child and being absolutely terrified (because of the hint of truth to the story). Watching the priests struggle against the demon inside Regan added even more fear.

When the idea of Torment came to me I thought – what if an average, everyday person had to face such an evil?

With that in mind, I did my research, finding the exorcism ritual and even located a list of people who claim to have been exorcised.

Did you know that surrealist painter Salvador Dali was supposedly exorcised by an Italian Friar in 1947 or that an elderly Mother Teresa allegedly underwent an exorcism after an archbishop noticed she seemed to be extremely agitated in her sleep? And of course there’s the case of Robbie Manheim, which inspired William Peter Blatty to write his novel.

Fundamentally Torment is a good versus evil tale; about a woman trying to exorcise the evil that destroyed her family. Obviously it’s not based on truth, but I think we can all still easily relate to Jessica’s struggle even in a minimalist way and hope that she wins.

So if you like your horror with a devilish feel why not delve into Torment?

TORMENT is now available from Damnation Books. It's also available in Kindle format and print.

You can also visit Greg's website or blog.

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Thanks so much for popping in, Greg! Feel free to come back anytime! :)

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SILVER BORNE by Patricia Briggs

Being a mechanic is hard work. Mercy Thompson, for instance, just spent the last couple of months trying to evade the murderous queen of the local vampire seethe, and now the leader of the werewolf pack - who's maybe-more-than-just-a-friend - has asked for her help. A book of fae secrets has come to light and they're all about to find out how implacable - and dangerous - the fae can be. OK, so maybe her troubles have nothing to do with the job. But she sure could use a holiday ...

This is one of my most fave series, and I had a total blast reading the fifth book. I love Mercy and her world, as well as all of the characters in it. She tackles a lot of new problems here, but what I enjoyed the most was how her relationship with Adam is evolving. Oh, and I love what happened with Sam and his wolf. It was kinda sad, but I loved how Mercy stuck with him and tried to help him find something to live for...

Another excellent addition to this series. Loved it! I just wish I'd had more spare time this week to concentrate on it. :)

H&UFRC books read: 15/24

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Hello, it's Friday, so...

Yep. Not only is it the end of the week, and it's sunny outside, but I also surprised myself by getting the second draft of Sunny and Silver's story completed. Yay.

I got so wrapped up in their story that before I realised it, I was almost finished. And that's exactly what I did this morning. Here are the stats: 209 pages/56,784 words. Awesome.

I can now put it away for a few weeks. Then it's time for one last read-thru to make sure everything makes sense, change/delete any excess, make any last-minute tweaks, and get it ready for subbing. Phew. Not there yet, but getting very close. This is one of the things I'd like to have done during the first half of this year. :)

Now, onto something not so happy. Have you read what's going on with Dorchester now? You can read all about it here, on Brian Keene's blog. I think this is terrible, especially when he clearly and mutually severed ties with them. I mean, they're still selling his books even when they said they wouldn't... so why are they doing this, and where's the money going?

I can't believe what's happened with this publisher, and I'm sure that this author isn't the only one affected. I feel so bad for them, and I'm glad I haven't bought any Dorchester books for a long while. I do have a bunch of older horror titles--some which happen to be Brian's books--though.

Lots of strange things seem to have been going on online this week. Yikes! 

And don't forget that this Saturday is Earth Hour:

This year, Earth Hour will take place on Saturday, 26 March @8.30PM

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The sun's decided to come back!

Yay. That makes me happy. :)

Another thing that makes me happy is getting stuck into a project and getting so caught up in it that the revision flows smoothly. At least, that's how it's going now.

Tuesday was the day I started working on my next project: the second draft of Sunny and Silver's next story. Remember I wrote it during NaNoWriMo last year? Well, I'm giving myself two weeks to do it, which translates into getting 23 pages revised each day for 10 days. And after spending a big chunk of my alone time on it yesterday, I actually reached page 53/206. That's really cool.

I'm hoping to get stuck into it again as soon as I get back from my walk, and keep going until the afternoon.

Well, gotta go for now! See ya later.

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This is awesome!

I love this song...

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Guest Blogger: Su Halfwerk

Today, I've got a guest post from fellow DB author Su Halfwerk. Her book, Intricate Entanglement, is now available from Damnation Books:

Are You a Chess Player or a Chess Piece?

Life imitates art when it comes to a game of chess; there are consequences to every decision and move. The question is; are you a player or a piece in the game of life?

A chess player develops tactics, analysis, and finally the move that will lead to a loss or a win. The game requires a delicate balance between sacrifice and planning. Many lost the game because of their refusal to lose a single piece. Even in chess, greed is not a good trait to have.

One doesn’t need to be a high profile CEO to be a chess player, but he has to be merciless, aware of opportunities, and how to utilize them to his advantage. My personal belief is that we take turns switching between the two roles. If you’re a chess player at home (a parent, a guardian, an older son,) chances are good you’re a chess piece elsewhere. Maybe you work under a manipulative boss, or partnered with a bully in gym class.

In Intricate Entanglement, my horror/thriller from Damnation Books, Doug Pinkham is a bottom feeder type of a reporter who has desensitized his conscience and stepped on others’ rights to reach his golden moment in the limelight. It wasn’t personal of course, he always told himself, it was business, baby. That was true until he found himself trapped in the Equanimity Psychiatric Hospital for the criminally insane. In a good chess game, a player doesn’t walk willingly into a trap. More often than not, he finds himself in it after being led—perhaps with a promise to win—right into it.

From his status as a formidable life player, Doug descends deeper into the bowels of the game, where the discarded and broken pieces reside.

What can lead an opportunist like him to fall so deep? Temptation, of course. Doug’s was in the form of patients’ stories, each more fascinating and demented than the one before it. Initially, Doug wanted the stories to go on, then he wished for a break, then for an escape, until…well, I can’t give the story away here, but needless to say, he finds his match in that hospital.

Like Savielly Tartakower once said, “A chess game is divided into three stages: the first, when you hope you have the advantage, the second when you believe you have an advantage, and the third... when you know you're going to lose!”

Find out who wins in Intricate Entanglements’ battle of wills here: http://www.damnationbooks.com/book.php?isbn=9781615723393

You can check out the trailer here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7j9YWnLhMA

Yolanda, thank you so much for allowing me the time and opportunity to visit with you.

Author Bio:

Su Halfwerk writes in the horror and paranormal romance genres. From a tender age, the written word left a strong impression on her, later on terrifying, blood-chilling books became the object of her interest. Su’s style in horror combines shuddery terror with elements of surprise; some would even call it an enigmatic twist. In the world of paranormal romance, she transforms the desire to scare into a quest to seduce and tantalize.

When not writing, Su is designing book trailers for herself and other authors.

Intricate Entanglement is Su’s latest release from Damnation Books, a mix of a thriller with an overlay of maddening darkness.

You can find Su online in any of these places:

http://www.su-halfwerk.com/

http://www.suhalfwerk.blogspot.com/

www.facebook.com/Su.Halfwerk

http://twitter.com/SuHalfwerk

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Thanks so much for popping in, Su! It's always a pleasure to have you over. :)

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Enough with the rain...

Yeah. It doesn't take long for me to get sick of the rain. And I'm seriously over it now that it's been raining for about three days. :/ Especially since I missed out on seeing the super moon!

I really wanted to see the moon, but because it rained and didn't clear up at all... I missed out. :(

Well, we had a nice weekend. But I must admit that I slowed down with the reading a bit. Mostly it's because I had too many plans and thoughts inside my head that needed to be addressed. So, I picked up a calendar, notebook, pen, and got planning. I had to take into account that I've got a few appointments to keep this month and my daughter has school holidays (for two weeks) in about three weeks. Still, I think I've got a good plan from now until about mid-May.

But today, I'm taking a breather and tackling a few bits and pieces.

The first thing I can cross off my to-do list is finishing up a guest blog post for Fang-tastic Books. I emailed it in this morning. Actually, I might as well mention that I'll be there on April 5. I'll actually be showing--for the first time--the cover for my upcoming Damnation Books novel, SINFUL, at Fang-tastic. :)

Well, hope you all have a great week!

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Finished Friday!

Yes, that's right. I'm very excited because I just finished the first draft of the novella I've been writing during the last few weeks. The word count's ended up at: 31,547. That's awesome, because I was hoping to reach 30k. Yay.

I'm very excited. And not just because I got the actual story written, but because this story helped me out of a rough-writing patch.

After I couldn't get that YA/UF story idea off the ground at the beginning of this month, and couldn't bring myself to focus on anything else, this novella provided the interest I needed. The idea popped into my head after reading some submission guidelines, and I was so happy when the characters and the world totally sucked me in. That's such an awesome feeling. One I never want to lose.

Well, getting this done has made my week. It's a great way to head into the weekend.

Have a great one!

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Good Morning!

My gosh, I'm so tired today. Well, I was tired yesterday as well.

See, I woke up at 4am on both Tuesday and Wednesday, which takes so much out of me that by 6pm last night I was ready to go to sleep. *yawn*

So, I've been busy writing up a storm as well. I've actually reached 24,163 words (as of yesterday afternoon) and hope to add another nice chunk today. I already know how this novella is going to end. Well, I kinda knew when I started, but while I was walking yesterday, I saw all of the details inside my head.

I don't think there's too much left until I get there, either. I've been having a lot of fun with this novella, and it's helped me get over that shaky-blocky feeling every writer dreads. I'm looking forward to getting to the end. :) I also won't be putting this one away for too long. I'd like to get a little distance between drafts, but there's a strict deadline I'd like to meet with it. So, fingers crossed. :)

Well, have a great day!

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CUCKOO by Julia Crouch

A dark, juicy, deliciously unsettling, read-it-in-one-sitting psychological drama.

Rose has it all - the gorgeous children, the husband, the beautiful home. But then her best friend Polly comes to stay. Very soon, Rose's cosy world starts to fall apart at the seams - her baby falls dangerously ill, her husband is distracted - is Polly behind it all? It appears that once you invite Polly into your home, it's very difficult to get her out again...

I found the description of this book intriguing. And when I read that the author actually wrote it during NaNoWriMo, I couldn't wait to get stuck into it...

Rose has recently settled into the new house she's enjoyed renovating in the countryside with her husband and two daughters. She's enjoying getting into some sort of family routine and is finally in a comfortable place with her artist husband, Gareth. However, when her best friend Polly becomes a widow, Rose invites her and her two sons to stay with them until they get themselves settled.

Although Rose's husband isn't thrilled with the idea, because he doesn't particularly like Polly, she still comes to stay. And things start going downhill from there. Rose and Polly have a very odd friendship. They've known each other since they were kids and seem to share a very toxic presence in each other's life. The lives of these two women are intertwined in a series of shocking events. Their connection is filled with wicked manipulation, and sick games. One that actually puts Rose's baby in the hospital.

Suddenly, everything in Rose's life is out of control and she can't get on top of things, but Polly is there to take over and settle the household...

This book is so well written that I was instantly sucked in. The story got under my skin so much that I couldn't wait to read more. But I have to admit, Rose frustrated me. A lot. She was in total denial about her friend's actions and motivations, and let Polly pretty much run riot and ruin her life so much she ends up losing just about everything. Though, Rose isn't as innocent as she first appears. She's very fickle, easily led, and has done plenty of Pollyesque-type things herself.

Cuckoo is a very clever book, with a very spooky story of two friends with so many secrets between them that one of them feels obliged to let the other pop into her life periodically to ruin it. The tension is so thick, I turned every page anticipating what awaited me... all the way to the very shocking conclusion.

I have to admit that the end of the book made me groan, though. Yet, it made perfect sense. This was a great debut!

Cuckoo, March 2011, ISBN 9780755377985, Headline Paperback

M&SRC books read: 7/12

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Busy, busy...

I've been busy with some real-life stuff during the last few days. And also feeling really bad about what's going on in Japan. My heart goes out to everyone whose life has been turned upside down by the earthquake, tsunami, and now this nuclear problem. I can't believe that it keeps getting worse and worse. Some of the images coming through are totally devastating.

I'm a kid of the 80's and spent much of that time fretting about the possibility of a nuclear threat, so I've always had a certain degree of fear about any sort of nuclear power. It's just too unstable and damn scary. :(

Yesterday, I had to make a few calls and make some enquiries about my superannuation. Nothing huge, mostly finding out stuff that I already knew. Oh well, it was worth looking into it again.

Today, I need to pop into the doctor for a prescription and a referral. Going to the doctor can be a real drag. I hate sitting in the waiting room. I always feel like I'm being exposed to germs and will end up catching a cold just by being in the building, lol. Especially when I'm popping in for something other than being sick myself. O_o

I'm also busy writing this novella that's gotten so deep into my head that every night, as soon as I lay my head on the pillow, something new pops into my head. Something that happens to fit into the next day's lot of writing. I love it when that happens. I mean, I pretty much know where the story's going to go from here, but some of the details aren't available until I actually sit down and get writing. So getting hit with some of it the night before gets me a few steps ahead. It's a great feeling.

I'm hoping to cross the 20k mark today. At the moment, I'm just shy of 19k, so if I hit the word count pretty hard after I get back from dropping my daughter off at school, I should be able to do it. Fingers crossed.

Still excited with how the story's going, and still aiming for a 30k-first-draft-word-count target. :)

Well, catch'a later!

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TAKEN BY THE OTHERS by Jess Haines

Once, New York P.I. Shiarra Waynest's most pressing problem was keeping her agency afloat. Now she's dealing with two dangerous, seductive vampires who have been enemies for centuries. The only thing Max Carlyle and Alec Royce agree on is that they both want Shia - for very different reasons. Max is determined to destroy Shia for killing his progeny, while Royce's interest is a lot more personal. That's not sitting well with Shia's werewolf boyfriend, Chaz. As the feud between Max and Royce gets ever more deadly, a powerful vampire-hunting faction is urging Shia to join their side. Shia has always believed vamps were the bad guys, but she's discovering unexpected shades of grey that are about to redefine her friends, her loyalties - and even her desires.

This is the second book in the H&W Investigations urban fantasy series. After really enjoying the first one, I was looking forward to reading this one. So I powered up my Kindle and got stuck into it over the weekend...

Shiarra used to be reluctant to take any part in the world of Others, but after the events of the first book, she's now got a contract with a vampire, has a Were boyfriend, and her best friend/business partner is dating a mage. Oh, and the White Hats--who happen to hunt Others--are still trying to recruit her. But nothing is as frightening as the new vampire in town. Max is in New York to get revenge for the death of one of his vampires, which means hurting Royce. The two vamps have a very intense history and Shiarra's just been cast in the leading role to end their rivalry.

While this book is still filled with snarky comments and still has some fun elements, it's a lot darker than the first. We really get into the nitty-gritty of just how scary vampires can be, and Shiarra finds herself in one bad situation after another. I was hooked, and couldn't wait to see how it was all going to work out.

Phew. Now I can take a deep breath. What an awesome series! I'll definitely be grabbing myself a Kindle copy of the third book. Can't wait to step into Chaz's world. :) 

H&UFRC books read: 14/24

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Luci & Damien Excerpt

He laughed. “You’re so darn funny.” He paused for a second, as if trying to think about how to tackle the next bit of the conversation. “Well, I guess what I mean is a little more like a gray hair, but on a much bigger scale.”

I shook my head. Heck, the gray hair thing wasn’t even happening to me yet. “Nope, nothing drastic like that. Why? Are you trying to find out if I’m getting old?”

“No, there’s just something…”

“Well, do tell.”

Damien looked over my shoulder and then shook his head. “Listen, I can’t really get into this with you right now. I need to speak to you in private.”

“Ooookay.” That sounded weird and mysterious, though of course I would agree to meet him again, if that’s what he wanted to do.

“Will you have dinner with me tomorrow night?”

My heart sang a tune of happiness I hadn’t heard in a long time. I nodded, trying to contain the excitement making my hands clammy. “Sure, that would be great. You know what day it is, right?”

He frowned, looking confused for a moment. “What do you mean? You know the importance of tomorrow, too?”

“Of course I do! I think every girl on this planet knows tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day!” Was he playing games with me?

“Oh, yeah, of course. Valentine’s Day…I didn’t interfere with your plans, did I?” He lifted an eyebrow in question.

What plans? “Nope, you didn’t wreck anything. Want my address?” In fact, he’d just made my romantic dreams come true.

“Sure.”

I grabbed a napkin and a pen lying on the bar to scribble my name and address. I didn’t want him to forget our date. Oh, God. We were going on a Valentine’s Day date. I’d never gone on a date during the day of love. Like I mentioned before, for some reason, my relationships were always over around this time of the year, but this year was going to be different. I just knew it. Damien and I would finally confess the mutual love neither one of us could escape.

Or maybe you’re already getting ahead of yourself.

I handed him the napkin. “Here you go.”

“Six sound fine to you?”

“Perfect, I’ll be ready.” And waiting…

Damien smiled, jumped off his stool, and leaned over to press his lips lightly against mine.

I froze on the spot, even as his hand wrapped around my upper arm. “You look gorgeous tonight. Make sure you take a cab home, okay? It’s not safe out there.”

“I only live a few blocks away.” My voice was a little husky, breathless.

He stepped back with a serious look in his eyes. “Please. There are a lot of bad things brewing that put you right in the path of danger. Tell me you won’t walk home.”

“I won’t walk home,” I said as if hypnotized. Even if I had no idea what he was talking about.

“Good. I’ll see you tomorrow, and we’ll talk some more, okay?”

He waited for me to nod before walking away, leaving me lost in a cloud of his sweet aftershave.

Numb6r of th6 B6ast is now available in eBook, Kindle and Paperback.

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LIFE AS WE KNEW IT by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Miranda’s disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth. How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun? As summer turns to Arctic winter, Miranda, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood-burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart-pounding story of Miranda’s struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all--hope--in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world.

Okay, the first thing that struck me about this book is how normal everything starts out. Miranda's your average teenager with divorced parents, two brothers, friends who seem to get further out of reach everyday, and a tremendous amount of schoolwork. In fact, it reads like the diary of a girl living an ordinary life just about anywhere in the world.

It's not until she mentions that a meteor is supposed to hit the moon that the tone of her story changes. And when the moon does get hit by the meteor, it's knocked off its orbit and so close to the Earth that many horrible things happen--tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanoes...

All of a sudden, her teenage thoughts became a lot darker, the focus of her life shifts to survival, and the search for some sort of hope in this new hopeless world. Still, she keeps the journal going all the way, writing down everything that happens directly to her and her family, as well as what little they find out about what's going on elsewhere in the country, and world.

What an amazing, yet very bleak, journey. A very sad and hard story that made my heart ache for Miranda and her family, as well as cheer them on as they did everything they could to stay together. The amount of sacrifices they all have to make were harsh and raw. I couldn't help but admire them all, even during their very darkest moments. Because so many times, it feels as if Miranda is going to give up... but her fighting spirit surfaces again.

This is definitely a keeper! What an intense and suspenseful book! I loved it, even though it left me emotionally exhausted and close to tears.

PS. I've just ordered the next two books in this trilogy. Can't wait to read 'em. :)

Books Read So Far in 2011: 29/100

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Randon Thoughts on a Friday

No, it's not snowing here. It's only autumn.

Plus, it doesn't snow in Sydney. Although it's pretty dark and dreary at the moment. Looks like it's going to be another overcast day. Ugh. I want the sun to make a comeback. The sun makes everything better and brighter. :)

So. I'm still busy writing the first draft of my yet-to-be-titled novella. It's been going a lot better than I thought it would, which is awesome. Yesterday, before heading out to pick my daughter up from school I'd hit 10,568 words. That's over my target for today. Yay. But I'm not going to take today off, I'm hoping to add another 2k. That'll keep me 2k over my daily goal. Oh, and hubby's working tomorrow morning, so if I can squeeze in another 1-2k, that would be awesome too. We'll see how I go.

I'm really enjoying this story, so I actually look forward to getting back to it. :)

Well, hope you all have a great weekend!

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Still writing...

Yes, I am. And I have to admit that I'm really excited about how this story is going. So far, I've written almost 8,000 words and the world, characters, and situations are still flooding my brain. It feels so good when that happens.

After losing the spark for the YA/UF story I started last week--yeah, that really got me down--I thought I'd stay in the (writing) dumps for a while. So it's awesome to have re-ignited that spark of enthusiasm for a different story. :)

Also, I had two more stories accepted into two different Static Movement anthologies. I had one accepted into the Satin Beauty anthology, and the other into the Wicked Witchery anthology. So I'm very excited about my three previously published stories getting a second chance at life. In print, this time.

Well, better get back to it. Speak to you later.

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RED-HEADED STEPCHILD by Jaye Wells

In a world where being of mixed-blood is a major liability, Sabina Kane has the only profession fit for an outcast: assassin. But, her latest mission threatens the fragile peace between the vampire and mage races and Sabina must scramble to figure out which side she's on. She's never brought her work home with her---until now.

This time, it's personal.

Wow, this book is amazing! From the moment I picked it up, I knew I was going to love it. Sabina got straight into the story by having to do something totally heartless. Yet, she did what she had to do because it's her duty. This sends the world she knows out of control. All of a sudden, she's not sure she can trust the vampire grandmother who raised her. But she still goes along with the insane new plan the Dominae have, though. After all, she is their assassin.

But Sabina's world only spins further out of control after she becomes involved with other people. All of a sudden, the mage side she has no idea about is slowly unravelling before her and she starts to learn some shocking truths.

I loved everything about this book. It was serious, yet a lot of fun! The worldbuilding is thorough, the characters are interesting and real, and Sabina's made of awesome. She really is. She's so kick ass, without being a total bitch. Well, she kinda starts out that way, but the events of this book change her. I loved that!

Actually, Sabina's character growth was one of the things that kept me so glued to this fantastic book. Oh, and Adam. No matter how much Sabina tries to push him away, and no matter how many of his own plans he has, he sticks by her. Not to mention that the demon Giguhl cracked me up. And the nymph, Vinca, was a great addition. I won't even get into the disgusting villain, Clovis. Ugh!

Yeah, this book's a total winner. Can't wait to receive the next one. :)

H&UFRC books read: 13/24

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HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE by Diana Wynne Jones

In the land of Ingary, where seven league boots and cloaks of invisibility do exist, Sophie Hatter catches the unwelcome attention of the Witch of the Waste and is put under a spell.

For once, I'm actually reading a book after watching the movie. Of course, the first time I watched this movie was a while ago, but still. I loved it so much that every now and then I think about it. Besides, Hayao Miyazaki rocks, and we've pretty much seen every movie he's ever made. He has an awesome imagination, and is able to sweep me off my feet with every one of his movies. Love 'em!

Anyway, let's get on with the book...

I expected the book to be different to the movie, and it is. Still, it has the same enchanted feel as the movie. Howl is still alluring, mysterious and kept me guessing, wanting to know more about him. Sophie is still innocent, lovely and kind-hearted. Michael's still loyal. Calcifer the fire demon was an amazing creation who keeps the castle moving. Actually, he also keeps it together.

Sophie Hatter lives in the land of Ingary and makes the most wonderful hats in the town of Market Chipping. She's also the eldest and has two sisters. After her father dies, her step-mother takes over the store and soon sends the two youngest sisters away to apprentice with other people (one in a bakery, the other with a witch) so there's no financial strain, but keeps Sophie in the hat shop. After all, she makes the best hats in town and the business is soon booming. But neither of Sophie's sisters are happy with their chosen fortunes and devise a plan in which they will be able to do what they really want to do, while encouraging Sophie to do the same.

Yet, it's not until the Witch of the Waste pays Sophie a visit and places a curse on her that Sophie's forced to find her own fortune. She might not know why the witch singled her out, but she's no longer a young girl. She's been transformed into an old woman who seeks out a place to belong. She just never expected that Howl's Moving Castle would be that place. Everyone knows Howl chases young girls to steal their hearts and souls. There are many other horrible tales about what the wizard does to young girls, but the more time she spends in the castle, the more she realises that he's something else.

She wants to stay a while and then move on, but with Michael and Calcifer--she made a deal with the fire demon in hopes of ending her curse--around, she soon finds herself a place in the world. Especially since Howl doesn't seem to mind either way if she lives there or not. Though her constant cleaning drives him crazy and makes for some really funny and entertaining scenes.

As the days go by, Sophie gets more involved in Howl's affairs, and much more connected to him than she ever expect to be... I loved the Castle and the interwoven story. I loved how both of Sophie's sisters are included in the story, and how everything comes undone for the wicked Witch.

I absolutely adored this book! This story is wonderful, exciting, and told in a way that totally hooked me from the very beginning. What an awesome story!

Oh, and because I enjoyed it so much, we also watched the movie afterwards. :)

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March = not so happy

Y'know how I've been feeling a little strange this week? Well, out of curiosity, I had a quick look at the past few years--here on my blog--and discovered that around this time of the year, I always seem to get gloomy for no real reason. Looks to me like it's a seasonal thing or something. As in: I'm not ready to let go of summer yet. Man, I could really live in a place where it's forever summer. Seriously.

I'm also not looking forward to the time change later this month. I love the fact that night doesn't fall until 8pm. Soon, that'll start happening at around 5pm... which makes me cringe. :/

Yesterday, via Twitter, I read these guidelines. They sound interesting and actually sparked off a very unique and odd idea that takes a bunch of elements and turns it into what sounds like an adventurous story. I like adventure, so I've been writing down a bunch of notes, named the characters, and even cast them. I'm excited about it. Now, because I've been super moody lately, it might amount to nothing. But I'm going to see where it takes me. Looks like the best thing to do this month is to dabble in a bunch of different things, let the ol' muse jump here, there, and everywhere, so I can at least complete one task. lol.

I'm also reading HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE, which is actually just as interesting and charming as the movie. I usually like to read the book before watching the movie, but I didn't know this was based on a book until I actually watched the movie several years back. I'm a Hayao Miyazaki fan. I love his movies. They're always so magical, beautiful--not just the images, but in the heart--and wonderful. HMC was no exception, I loved it. And now that I'm reading the book, I know I'll want to watch the movie again. :)

Oh, and then I found out that this is actually the first book in a trilogy (thank you, Goodreads) so I popped into The Book Depository to take a look. And was pleasantly surprised to find the second book for under $5. How cool is that? I ordered it, and will probably buy the third one when I start reading that one. I've been doing that a lot lately. I used to buy books in a series whether I'd read the first book or not, but now, I wait until I've read the first one before I get the next one, and so on. I think it works better that way. 

Well. That's it for today. I hope you all have an awesome weekend!

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MOCKINGJAY by Suzanne Collins

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has survived the Hunger Games twice. But now that she's made it out of the bloody arena alive, she's still not safe. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge. Who do they think should pay for the unrest? Katniss. And what's worse, President Snow has made it clear that no one else is safe either. Not Katniss's family, not her friends, not the people of District 12.

Well, here I am. At the end of The Hunger Games Trilogy. I'm both excited to have read it, and super sad to be finished. :) + :( = me at the moment. lol. Wow, what an unpredictable and exciting adventure. 

The Capitol is so angry with Katniss that it'll do anything to hurt her. Especially President Snow, who seems to have a very personal stake in hurting those around her enough to drive her close to insanity. But after spending two (wonderful) books with her, I knew Katniss wouldn't give up without a fight. That she wouldn't give up on those around her--no matter how many had to fall in order to do it. That she would come through in the end--even if she continually breaks the rules and makes up her own. And that the rebellion would reach their target because of her. Oh, and I can't forget about Peeta. She never gives up on him. Not really. I think she gave up on herself, before him.

I'll probably say this a thousand times, but this is an amazing trilogy. This book stood on its own, as strong as the others, and with even more hardships and heartbreak... even though I didn't think things could get any worse. Well, I was wrong, because everything reaches the lowest point in this installment. But still, I enjoyed every minute of it. The ending was bittersweet, yet satisfying. Overall, outstanding.

Yeah, I've only got great things to say about The Hunger Games. :)

Books Read So Far in 2011: 24/100

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Sigh

Yesterday turned out to be an odd and kinda confusing day.

Y'know how I've been talking about that YA/UF novel I've been itching to write and even got started on? Well, it turns out that it's not as ready to be told as I thought it was. I sat down to write and nothing came. Well, only one page. It really put me off, and kinda upset me too. This kind of thing doesn't happen much to me. When I get stuck into a story I go with it until the end. This time... not so much.

I don't know. Maybe I rushed into it quicker than I usually do. Maybe I'm just really tired and can't seem to concentrate on anything for too long. Or maybe I'm just distracted. I've been busy making several real-life appointments for later this month, and don't think my head's where it should be right now. I'm also kinda waiting for several edits to hit my Inbox, and that sometimes makes me feel like my head's on pause until they arrive. I don't know.

*taking a deep breath*

Whatever it is, I've decided not to push myself (or my muse) into writing this story. Instead, I'm going to grab myself a notebook and try to make some sort of plan. See, that's another thing. I've made a very loose writing plan for 2011, but nothing concrete. I think I need to do that ASAP.

Anyway. This morning I feel like a cold's hit me upside the head. My nose is blocked, my head feels heavy, and my eyes are watering. Not to mention that because I'm a klutz, I smacked the side of my head against the windowsill yesterday. Ouch! I've got a small lump over my left eyebrow. :*(

Just not feeling like myself today. I hope the day gets better from here...

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