Sunday Replay #6 + Good News!

Sunday Replay is a weekly recap of the postings on this blog. I will also be sharing other articles and newsworthy items I've found interesting. I may even showcase some pictures I've uploaded.


Stuff from the blog this week:

• A bonus entry from The Journey of Self-Publishing with three questions. Don't forget to enter the FOUR BOOK GIVEAWAY! Today is your last chance there.
• Music Monday features "This Time (Klaas Remix)" by Dj Antoine this week!
• My review of Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg.
• Interview with Hal Eisenberg, talking about his book and more!
• Win a Banned Book from my list of awesome banned books.
• The 78th Update Thursday is posted.
• Talking about a couple of movies from books that I need to read soon before the movie is released.
• Banned Books Week starts TODAY! Get in on the fun.

In other news elsewhere on the internet..

• At Adventures In YA Publishing, we learn about building deep conflict into novel structure.
• A list of 25 things to do before starting your next novel from Chuck Wendig.
• Ever wondered how to build a relationship with publishers to receive ARCs? Molli tells us how she does it!
• A nice little checklist for self-publishing for those planning on going that route from Susan Kaye Quinn.

And.... a new LOL cat that I made...

~Good News!~

Remember last week how I told you guys I resigned from my job and how I was going on an interview later in the day? Well... I got the job! I briefly mentioned it on Update Thursday (as an explanation to how little my reading/writing status changed), but here's more about it...

I started on Tuesday and worked 5 days altogether this week. It's another pharmacy, but I'm discovering that my issues with pharmacy had more to do with policy and procedure at other stores. This new place is much more structured, and there's a lot more going on. They have their own way of doing things, so it's taking some getting used to, but I think I'm finally starting to catch on to the basics. Thank goodness! Everyone that works there is very nice and it's fun to work with them. So, I'm very optimistic about this place. I can't wait until I pick up on everything and don't have to ask about stuff all the time.

This next week I'm working the training shift all week again (I'll most likely be working the late shift most days), so my schedule is so off. I started to lose track of all my projects and it sorta got me a bit frustrated. Since I have tomorrow off, I'll be spending part of the day planning out the blog for October. I can't believe how behind I am on everything! I have posts and reviews to write and schedule. I was going to postpone my giveaway hop thing for awhile, but now that I have a job, I don't need to worry about that anymore. It'll probably go up tomorrow, so be sure to check it out so you can sign up!


Much love to all!

~Jessica

Banned Books Week: 30th Anniversary!

Banned Books Week has arrived!

Time to celebrate the freedom to read. This year it runs from September 30th through October 6th. You can read more about Banned Books Week here. Check out the frequently challenged books--click on the side to see the lists by year, author, etc.

I think Banned Books Week is great. Last year I read Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. This year I read The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. I read it early so I could share my review with you this week.

Virtual Read-Out!

During Banned Books Week there is a Virtual Read-Out. People record videos of themselves reading a banned book. Authors and celebrities have participated. So can anyone else, including you and me! I was hoping to record one of me reading from a banned book, but it wasn't going to work out this year.

I promise that next year I will do one! Maybe you can too. ^_^

30 Years!

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of Banned Books Week with me! Read a Banned Book. Participate in the Virtual Read-Out. Buy a Banned Book. Enter a Banned Book giveaway. Whatever! Have fun and have a wonderful day!

~Jessica

When Books Are Made Into Movies (1)

There has been a boom of YA books being made into movies. And it only seems to be increasing as time goes on. It's very exciting to me, because I don't bother with most movies anymore. They just don't appeal to me. But, when I read a good book, and see it's being made into a movie, it makes me excited. It's like *FINALLY!* something I want to see.

Today I'm going to share with you a couple I need to read before I see the movie.

~*~

The Mortal Instruments: City Of Bones

Author--Cassandra Clare

Release Date: August 23rd 2013

Read about the movie on IMDb

Read about the book on Goodreads

This is one I have been planning on reading for awhile but just haven't gotten around to it. The premise is so intriguing, and I'd really like to know what the whole Team Jace and Team Simon thing is all about... and make my choice. There are a lot of fans of Cassandra Clare around and I'm sure there's a good reason for it. So I must get to this one soon!

~*~

The Host

Author--Stephenie Meyer

Release Date: March 29th 2013

Read about the movie on IMDb

Read about the book on Goodreads

After reading all the books in the Twilight series, you can't help but be curious about what else Stephenie Meyer writes. I started reading this one back when I finished Twilight, but at the time, I just didn't feel like getting into it. Now that a movie is coming out, I feel the need to give it a go again. It's an interesting story idea, you have to admit that! We'll see how it stands.

~*~

What movies are you excited to see? Are there any you haven't read yet but really want to read before the movie comes out? Tell me all about it!

~Jessica

Banned Books Week Hop GIVEAWAY! Enter to win bookish things...

Welcome to the Banned Books Week Hop! Brought to you by the wonderful I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and also hosted by I Read Banned Books. The dates for this hop run from September 28th through October 6th. (It is technically a day early, but the giveaway host prefers this for linking purposes.)

Click here to check out the rest of the participating blogs!!!

Since this hop is called the Banned Books Week Hop, I am pleased to offer you the choice of ONE of the following banned/challenged books *:

1. Story Of A Girl by Sara Zarr **

2. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins **
3. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
4. One Of Those Hideous Books Where The Mother Dies by Sonya Sones **

5. Impulse by Ellen Hopkins **

6. Hold Still by Nina LaCour **

7. The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson

8. The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath **

9. Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume **

* Cover you receive may vary based on what is available from The Book Depository

** Books I have read/am reading

Sound good? Good! Here's the official rules/guidelines for the giveaway:

1. You must be a follower.

2. You must be over 15 years old.

3. This is open to international followers. (Only if The Book Depository will ship to you; please check this link to see if you are eligible.)

4. This contest runs from September 28th through October 6th.

5. You can gain extra entries by "liking" my Facebook page &/or following me on Twitter @Jess_Sankiewicz.

6. Winner will be selected at 12:01 a.m. on October 7th via Rafflecopter random selection.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy Banned Books Week! <3

Update Thursday #78

Welcome to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an update of the goings on at my blog, with reading and writing. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish musings.

~*~
 

Reading...

Books I Finished:

~none~
 

Books I'm reading:

~The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery~
~The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath~
~Untraceable by S.R. Johannes~

755 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (20 this week)

~*~
 

Writing...

~ If Only We ~ 32,278 ~

~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~

~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~

The latest = Not a whole lot new, about 2,000 words. I haven't been able to do much because I'm adjusting to a new job at the moment. I had my first day Tuesday and I'm working on making time for everything. The first week is just a "get my familiar with the job" type week, so my schedule will be different starting next week. We'll see how I can work out my time for writing and reading next week.

~*~

Until next time!

~Jessica

Winner of the Defy the Stars & $5 Amazon Gift Certificate is...

.....(drumroll please).....

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

Erin D.

 

 

You will be receiving an email from me shortly for more info.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the giveaway! *many hugs*

~Jessica

Author Hal Eisenberg is here to talk about Overnight Sensation and music + GIVEAWAY!

The cool Hal Eisenberg is here today to tell us more about his novel Overnight Sensation. You can check out my review of this fun book. Since music is a central element to this novel, he's also talking about music too. Plus, he's got a nice giveaway for you guys today. So, join me in welcoming Hal Eisenberg to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM:  Where did you first come up with the idea for this story?

Hal:  I started writing Overnight Sensation about seven years ago. I’ve always been fascinated by one-­hit-­wonder groups. You know, those bands or solo artists that top the charts with a mega hit and then completely disappear for whatever reason. In addition, I’ve always been a huge fan of the ‘70s rock era and have played in bands for years, so the idea for Jonah’s dad sort of evolved from those experiences. As to Jonah’s dad’s career debacle, this idea actually sprung from a real life experience of someone close to me who played in bands as well. Some of the other ideas came from the world’s seemingly endless fascination with fame and in particular, sudden fame from shows like American Idol and The Voice, as well as instant YouTube created stars. I wondered, what would happen if that sudden fame wasn’t really deserved? What would you do if you suddenly became famous for talents that weren’t really yours? Would you try to hold on to that fame? Or, would you come admit that you didn’t deserve it?

T@1AM:  Overnight Sensation focuses on music from the seventies. What are your favorite songs from that decade?

Hal:  Wow, that’s a tough question because there are so many. However -­‐ since you asked, here’s a few: Sister Golden Hair by America, Cut The Cake by the Average White Band, Sail On Sailor by the Beach Boys, Down On My Knees by Bread, Helen Wheels by Paul McCartney (and everything else by Macca), Nobody Knows by the Raspberries (love this band!), Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) by Sly and the Family Stone (yes, that’s how it’s really spelled), My Old School by Steely Dan, Out In The Country by Three Dog Night, Couldn’t I Just Tell You by Todd Rundgren, Say Goodbye To Hollywood by Billy Joel... I could fill this entire blog, so I’ll stop here! Many of my faves are from well known artists, but the songs might not have been top ten hits. If you’re a fan of ‘70s music and you’ve not heard some of these, I urge you to Google/YouTube them and send me a list of your faves as well to my website (www.hal-­eisenberg.com)!

T@1AM:  Do you have any other stories in the works? What can you tell us about them?

Hal:   Yes I do! And this time, the protagonist is girl :) Here’s the premise: After 16 year-­‐old Casey discovers her grandfather murdered at his landscape business, she begins uncovering clues leading to his killers, as well as the fact that he wasn’t her real grandfather, and how a box of old love letters, a ‘60s rock star, and a cache of stolen Russian diamonds may all be involved. The tentative title: Number One, With a Bullet. You knew there had to be rock and roll involved in some way...

T@1AM:  The song that is the focal point of the story, "Every Little Bit Hurts", is not only a real song, but also part of a contest. Tell us about it!

Hal:  First of all, thanks for the compliment on the song in your review! And let me just add, I had nothing to do with it! When I began writing the book, I had this song in my head and yes, it’s a real song entitled, Every Little Bit Hurts, written and recorded by some friends of mine in a band called the Raves. I’ve always thought it should have been a hit, so, I decided to take matters in my own hands and make it the song Jonah’s dad’s band records in their basement that creates all the buzz. For the contest on my website, I’m inviting teen bands or solo acts to record their own take on the song, and download it to the site. Anyone who does this is going to receive a signed copy of the book along with some great swag like guitar pics and book marks and in addition, I’m working on some other cool prizes to give away like music store gift certificates. It’s a great way for upcoming teen bands to showcase their talent as well as a fun way to promote the book. I’ll also be having local teen bands perform at some of my book signings around the country. You don't need any fancy equipment, just your talent and computer or cell phone will work! In fact recently, I had a submission from a band that I’ll be posting on my site soon – it’s a really cool version!

Thanks for reading this and a HUGE thank you to Jessica for my interview!

Thank you Hal for coming by and for the generous giveaway!

~*~

Hal Eisenberg

I'm a writer of young adult novels with a background in advertising. You know those commercials you sometimes laugh at? Those are (hopefully) mine.

My first YA book, Overnight Sensation, surrounds an average teen named Jonah who accidentally becomes a rock star in the most unusual way. And I managed to write it without including any vampires, wizards, demons, shifters, or dragons. Amazing, I know! There are however, a couple of Elvis jumpsuits in the mix.

I enjoy classic rock as well as a bunch of current groups and singers, playing drums, singing, Coke Zero, Marvel movies, and homemade macaroni and cheese - and not in that order. I can't stand beets, brussel sprouts, and waiting...for anything.

Find him on ~Goodreads~

Overnight Sensation

Fifteen year-old Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. But everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak, becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans.

So why isn’t he jumping for joy?


Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn’t really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What begins as a mindless prank quickly spins out of control, involving his father’s secret past as a 70’s rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a powerful, ruthless, media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history?

Add it on ~Goodreads~
Buy it on ~Amazon~ and ~Barnes & Noble~

Watch the book trailer...

~*~

GIVEAWAY!!!

Hal has generously offered an awesome giveaway prize for you guys... Here's a picture:

This is what you will receive if you win: one signed copy of the book, four signed book marks, and 3 pearlized, colored guitar pics.

Doesn't that sound like an amazing prize? I thought so. ;)

Rules:
1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is for US/CAN residents ONLY.
4. You can earn an extra entry by answering the question provided on Rafflecopter in the comments below.
4. This contest runs from September 26th to October 3rd.
6. Winner will be selected on October 4th and notified via blog post announcement and email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for reading, following, and entering!

Review: Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg

Title: Overnight Sensation
Author: Hal Eisenberg
Published: July 28th 2012
Source: Copy given by author for honest review
Genre: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: May contain spoilers

Fifteen year-old Jonah Levine is practically invisible at Applecrest High. His Facebook page is pathetic, his baseball skills are mediocre at best, and his IQ seems to drop 50 points when talking to girls. But everything changes when his rock band, Hitstreak, becomes the hottest teen sensation in the country. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans.

So why isn’t he jumping for joy?

Well, for starters, that hit on the radio wasn’t really recorded by his band. In fact, six months ago, he and his friends could barely play a note between them. And now they’re about to perform in front of 15,000 screaming fans. What begins as a mindless prank quickly spins out of control, involving his father’s secret past as a 70’s rocker, a high school bully who wants in on the action, and a powerful, ruthless, media mogul who will stop at nothing to claim the band as his own. Will Jonah prevail? Or will he and his band go down in flames and become the biggest farce in pop music history?

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

When Hal Eisenberg approached me about this book, he thought I would be interested since I mentioned in my ‘about me’ section about liking Billy Joel and Steely Dan. I really am a super fan of the classics from the seventies. I grew up on them. Some days, it’s all I want to hear, just a loop of great music from that era. Since this story ties in nicely to music of the seventies, I had to see what it was all about.

The premise of this story is cute--a bunch of teen boys pretending to have a band that plays a song that makes it big on the radio. At first it was just an innocent joke that wasn’t expected to go too far. When it did, Jonah and his friends have to scramble to figure out what to do to fix things.  Jonah didn’t want his parents to find out, but eventually it’s not an option because the problem becomes bigger than he can handle. Jonah is a very likeable character, smart and responsible. I also took a liking to the rest of his family too.

It starts off a little bit slow, with the development of the origin of the song by his dad’s band. Then it slowly opens up after the song gets sent to the radio. It’s when we get closer to the end that the story gets intriguing in a nice little twist. Yet, no matter what comes their way, Jonah manages, with the help of his friends and his family, to make the best of things.

Overnight Sensation is a very interesting story. It reads more like a mix between middle grade and young adult, and it is geared to appeal to teenage boys. I think because of that, I had moments where it wasn’t as appealing, but I still enjoyed it in the end. I would highly recommend this for teen boys, so if you’re a parent of a teenage boy and you want them to read, Hal Eisenberg’s novel is definitely a good one. I also recommend checking out the song from the book "Every Little Bit Hurts" on his site. Very good!

My Rating:

Pretty Good: Stay up until your bedtime

Music Monday #4 - "This Time (Klaas Remix)" by Dj Antoine

Music Monday is a new feature over at Ramblings of a Daydreamer where we can talk about music. It can be any sort of music thing on your mind--a song or an artist or music you're listening to while reading or writing or anything else music related. Have fun with it! Just link back to Marie so others can join in. ^_^

I've always got music on my mind, so I'll probably be sharing whatever song has been stuck in my head recently. There's always a song stuck in my head. Enjoy!

~*~

Song of the Moment:
"This Time (Klaas Remix)" by Dj Antoine

Years ago, I bought the CD David Waxman Presents Ultra Electro 2 for one song. Since I was obsessed with The OC at the time, I wanted the remix of the song "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap. The remix was okay, but that's all I really listened to on there. I pulled up the album on my iPod the other day to check out some of the other songs and discovered this gem. It actually has relevance, lyric-wise, on the story I'm writing (If Only We). And it makes me want to dance around the room.

ENJOY!

~*~

.
Lyrics (chorus):

This time
You should take me away
To a new place
Where we just might
Keep an eye on the sky
This time
This time...
.

So what kind of music is on your mind this week? ^_^

~Jessica

The Journey of Self-Publishing: You asked; they answered!

Thoughts At One In The Morning is proud to present a blog post series for unpublished writers on the self-publishing world. I have asked four indie authors to share with you the different steps they have taken on their journey. They will discuss the writing process itself, the steps in between, and publishing itself. Please join us every week for a new topic on the journey to becoming an indie author!

~*~ You guys asked the questions and they answered them for you in this special bonus edition of The Journey of Self-Publishing. Enjoy the answers to your questions and thank you so much for reading and sharing this series! ^_^ ~* ~

Our Indie Author panel:

Marie Landry, author of Blue Sky Days

You can find her on her blog Ramblings Of A Daydreamer.

A.M. Hargrove, author of The Guardians Of The Vesteron series

You can find her on her blog A.M. Hargrove.

Avery Sawyer, author of Notes To Self

You can find her on her website The Teashop Girls.

Michelle Flick, author of The Owens Legacy: Revelations

You can find her on her blog Oh! For the LOVE of BOOKS!.

~*~
 

This week on The Journey of Self-Publishing:

~You asked; they answered!~

Did you consider possibly using a pen name for any reason? If so, why? If not, why not?

Michelle Flick:  I did consider one, but thought Hey, the world should know me *says* dramatically* But I have toyed with the idea of writing in another age range, like adult contemporary, and then I would pick a different name. And that's because I would want to make it in the different age range because of the writing not because of my name, plus wouldn't it be fun to have a different persona?

A.M. Hargrove:  Never considered a pseudonym. I used initials because when I put my whole name--Anne Marie Hargrove (but as you know I go by Annie) on the book, it was just TOOOOO long! I thought about just using Annie, but then I thought it appeared too informal. I asked for opinions from friends and family and ended up with A.M. Hargrove.

Marie Landry:  I didn’t consider it for Blue Sky Days, but a few years ago when I started writing erotica I thought I’d use a pen name because I didn’t want people to know I wrote those types of stories. Now it’s becoming such a popular genre that when I do finally get together a book of short erotic stories, I’ll be using my own name.

I had a pen name when I wrote with a partner several years ago - it was a combination of our names - partly because she didn’t want to use her real name for personal reasons, and partly because she had a very common first and last name. I know some authors who go by different pen names if they do different genres, but I just think that would get too confusing, so at this point I think I’ll be sticking with my real name for the long haul. 

Avery Sawyer:  I use the pseudonym Avery Sawyer for my edgy YA titles because my real name, Laura Schaefer, is associated with the sweet middle grade series The Teashop Girls and my travel guides for kids, Planet Explorers. It makes promotion a bit more difficult, but I thought it was a good idea to signal to readers that I was moving in a very different direction when I release Notes to Self and The Forever Contract (both Sawyer titles). There are some swear words in my Avery Sawyer books and I didn't want any (very) young readers getting in to them.

Why did you choose to go with self-publishing? Did you consider going with a traditional publisher before that? Would you consider going the traditional route if the right offer comes?

Michelle Flick:  I did both at the same time. I pursued agents and traditional publishing and at the same time was reading everything I could about self-publishing. There's a lot out there and a lot of good information about things I wouldn't think about. When the traditional route didn't pan out, I went down the self-pub route. I would definitely go the traditional route if I could, I think the marketing would be the biggest benefit from that.

A.M. Hargrove:  Never considered traditional publishing for one huge reason. Everything I've read about it all pointed to one thing and that is you sign all rights to your work away. I decided since I was writing a series, I did not want to do that. I also did not want to work for anyone but myself. If I wanted to have a deadline, I wanted it to be a self imposed one. I worked for corporate America for over 20 years so now I wanted to work for Annie!

I would consider going traditional if, and only if, they would meet all of my criteria. And I must say I am quite picky!

Marie Landry:  My former writing partner and I attempted to find an agent and go the traditional route. We looked into self-publishing, but at the time (3-4 years ago), it didn’t seem like an option - all the research we did basically brought us to the conclusion that self-publishing was for hacks, wannabes, and people who either couldn’t cut it or didn’t have the patience for traditional publishing.

When I decided to publish Blue Sky Days, I spent ages researching self-publishing, and realized that a lot had changed, and it was becoming a viable option. I saw writers taking their careers into their own hands, and I wanted to be one of them. I liked the idea of the freedom and control. I had no doubt that if I really wanted to I could be traditionally published eventually, but ‘eventually’ didn’t work for me. It’s not that I was impatient, it’s just that I wanted people to read my work, and I wanted to be doing what I love best. I didn’t want to spend years finding an agent, finding a publisher, going through the editing process, and then waiting for my book to hit the shelves. I didn’t want to have to wait a year or two between books if the book was ready and polished now. I didn’t want someone telling me that my cover had to look a certain way or that I had to cut a favourite scene, or that my book wouldn’t see the light of day for two years. I have absolutely nothing against traditional publishing - how could I when I’m such a bibliophile, and almost all my favourite authors are traditionally published? And although that’s the route I always thought I would take (because there were no other options when I was a kid and decided I wanted to be a writer), I’m extremely happy with my decision to self-publish.

Avery Sawyer:  I worked with a traditional publisher, Simon & Schuster, on my middle grade titles The Teashop Girls and The Secret Ingredient, and I hope to work with them again on future MG books. However, I wanted to write in a different genre and self-publishing allowed me to do that without delay. Self-publishing was also the best way to release my travel guides for kids, because there isn't a huge market for the series. It will survive and grow the best with a small overhead.

I believe that in the future many talented authors will both self- and traditionally publish their work, as both systems have advantages. I feel so lucky to be an author with all these magnificent choices.

What books and authors have you read that have inspired your writing career?

Michelle Flick:  Arthur Miller's The Crucible was the first classic that I read that I saw really emotional characters. I saw motives and betrayal and love. Neal Shusterman is a big impact on me. Amanda Hocking really pushed the self-publishing thought in my head. Colleen Houck also is wonderful to read. I re-read her Tiger's Saga a lot.

A.M. Hargrove:  Almost every romance author I've ever read from Janet Evanovich to J.R Ward has inspired me. But I would be remiss if I didn't add this--I love books…all genres from mystery to paranormal to thrillers to suspense. I can't read a book without finishing it, no matter how bad. I will struggle with it until the bitter end. I love to read. I used to tell my girlfriends that I wanted to write books. They would laugh. I would tell my mom the same thing. I even love to read non-fiction. I love to read history too. Reading the last words of a good book is like taking the last bite of that homemade chocolate chip cookie. You want it to last forever.

Marie Landry:  For years I’ve said I want to be Nora Roberts when I grow up. I love her books - not only is she a prolific writer, she’s an incredibly talented one. Her books have everything - romance, mystery, action, memorable characters, fascinating settings, and tightly woven plot lines. I’m also a great admirer of Lucy Maud Montgomery, JK Rowling, and Sarah Dessen - they all have that ‘it’ factor that I hope to have someday.

Avery Sawyer:  I love reading...in fact I am getting very, very little work done today because I'm currently buried in The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I have also been inspired by Lauren Oliver, Madeleine L'Engle, Betty Smith, Nicholas Christopher, Suzanne Collins, Sarah Vowell, and countless others. I love books!

~*~

Thank you for answering these last minute questions!

Okay, now we have really come to an end with this series. A huge thank you to everyone who has made this a success: all of the wonderful followers who have read and commented and shared on various sites, and all of my lovely indie authors--Michelle Flick, A.M. Hargrove, Marie Landry, and Avery Sawyer. You guys are the best and I appreciate all the hard work you have done to make this series into what it is, a great start for the rest of us aspiring to be authors just like you.

Be sure to check out the AWESOME TIMES A MILLION GIVEAWAY that is going on where you can win FOUR BOOKS by our INDIE AUTHOR PANEL. It ends in a week so ENTER NOW before it is too late!!!

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH & HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!

~If you liked this, check out the earlier editions

of The Journey of Self-Publishing series~

Sunday Replay #5 + Some News

Sunday Replay is a weekly recap of the postings on this blog. I will also be sharing other articles and newsworthy items I've found interesting. I may even showcase some pictures I've uploaded.


Stuff from the blog this week:

• Enter The Journey of Self-Publishing Book Giveaway to win 4 fabulous novels by our indie author panel.
• Music Monday features Trapt this week!
• My review of Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent.
• Interview with Stephanie Parent, talking about her book and poetry!
• The 77th Update Thursday is posted.
• What do you think of books written in verse? Weigh in on the latest Question of the Moment!
• I review Courtney Summer's Cracked Up To Be.

In other news elsewhere on the internet..

• Kirsten Hubbard wrote a nice article on giving yourself permission as a writer to do the things that you need to do.
• It's easy to get discouraged as a writer, but Rachel Brooks tells us to stay motivated!
• A way to get past writer's block from Chelsea Fine. I have done this before, and it works.
• Kody Keplinger is on YA Highway discussing how Improv classes help with humor in writing.
• Susan Kaye Quinn offers up some tips on avoiding using the same cover art as someone else. She also had a nice segment on sideloading ebooks.

And.... a new LOL cat that I made to cheer myself up...

~Some News~

As you may know, I work at a pharmacy. I've offered up some of my frustrations with the field before awhile back and how I've been working on getting out of it if possible. Well, that moment finally came when things got so bad at work, I resigned immediately Tuesday after my shift ended. At first, it was upsetting to me to see things go the way they did. But on Wednesday, everything just felt... better. The world seemed brighter, my load felt lighter, and I felt HAPPIER. I didn't realize how much my job had been weighing me down--not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

Of course, I am working on finding new employment (made a couple calls, picked up an application, AND I actually have an interview today at 2), but as of right now, I am content just sitting back and enjoying life, if only for a moment in time. On Wednesday, I got out the TaeBo VHS tape I bought from a thrift store and exercised. I haven't exercised in YEARS. And doing some awesome punches and kicks really felt good. That night, I reached the word count goal I've been working on for weeks. I've been writing every day since. I painted my fingernails, I wrote some scenes for a new story, I colored in a Lisa Frank coloring book with crayons while watching Gossip Girl and eating sweets (check out the picture--don't worry, I didn't eat it all, I'm saving some for later today when I hang out with my best friend).

Oh yes, there are stickers in that coloring book too.

One thing that made this week be so much better was all the love I received from the community of book bloggers. I came home Tuesday to find myself listed on two Top Ten Tuesdays as bookish people you wanted to meet. After I tweeted a message about having a horrible day, three people replied with kind words. I found out that I won TWO giveaways. All sorts of people have been stopping by to comment and chat on the blog. So... I want to thank all of you for being there for me, even without knowing. ^_^

And TOMORROW is the season premiere of both Castle AND Gossip Girl.

Life really is good.


Much love to all!

~Jessica

Review: Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Title: Cracked Up To Be
Author: Courtney Summers
Published: December 23rd 2008
Source: Purchased
Genre: Young Adult
Buy: Amazon ~*~ Barnes & Noble
Add to your Goodreads shelf
Caution: Does contain some spoilers

When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her conselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

~synopsis from Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I had high hopes for this one. There’s a lot of Courtney Summers love out there. So I went into it expecting it to be this magnificent piece of adolescent dilemmas. One of those coming of age stories that makes you sit back and think. Instead, I came out of it not impressed.

Our protagonist, Parker Fadley, was not a character I could connect with at all. She left very little to be desired in her actions and her attitude. Jake, the guy who starts to fall for her, gets treated like absolute crap. And he’s a nice guy! A very nice guy. I didn’t really understand why she couldn’t see it, or why he couldn’t see her for who she really was. He just kept chasing after her. It’s like that saying: Insanity is doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different outcome.

It’s not just the way she deals with him, it’s also how she treats her former cheerleading squad. How she treats the captain that replaced her, Becky. And her ex-boyfriend (which is now Becky’s boyfriend), Chris. And her family, and everyone else trying to help her. Throughout the story are flashbacks to the night when something horrible happened. That was the only thing keeping me going, wanting to know what happened to make her such a jerk. Was what she did in the past an excuse for her present actions? Absolutely not.

Sigh. Well, Cracked Up To Be wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. I did like Jake a lot, he was a good guy. And in the end Parker sort of has an epiphany about the way she acted, which made it slightly better, but didn’t change my mind. Courtney Summers can write very well. I just couldn’t get into this story. Maybe if Parker wasn’t so cruel, I could have enjoyed it more. It is what it is. At least I gave it a try!

My Rating:

It's Okay: It can wait until tomorrow

Question of the Moment: What do you think of books written in verse? (7)

I started writing poetry in my early teens. I have continued to do so down to today. Not only did I love to write it, I also loved to read it. Of course, until more recently, I hadn’t read much in my life, but I did enjoy everything I did read.

Then I discovered there are books written in verse. I was beyond ecstatic. I never imagined anything like it was available. After reading a few of them, I got so excited about trying to do it myself with one of my old story ideas. It didn’t go so well. Writing a book in verse takes a lot of thought to the choice of words and placement of them. What came out for me was more like second grade rhyming poetry. I’m hoping someday to write at least a short story in verse. Until then, I’ll just sit back and enjoy great books written in verse.

Have you ever read books written in verse? What did you think of them? What are your favorites? Have you ever written a book in verse or wanted to? Tell me all about it!

For those who haven’t had the chance to read a book written in verse, here’s a short list of YA authors that write in verse, and some specific books to check out sometime to try one. Also, check out this list of Novels In Verse on Goodreads.

Authors:

~ Ellen Hopkins

~ Sonya Sones

~ Lisa Schroeder

~ Stephanie Hemphill

Books:

~ Defy the Stars by Stephanie Parent

~ Love and Leftovers by Sarah Tregay

~ Jinx by Margaret Wild

~ Glimpse by Carol Lynch Williams

~Jessica

Update Thursday #77

Welcome to Update Thursday, my own personal meme of sorts where I post an update of the goings on at my blog, with reading and writing. Feel free to borrow the idea from me for your own bookish musings.

~*~
 

Reading...

Books I Finished:

 ~Overnight Sensation by Hal Eisenberg~

 

Books I'm reading:

~The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery~
~The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath~
~Untraceable by S.R. Johannes~

735 of 1026 E.E. Cummings poems finished (26 this week)

~*~
 

Writing...

~ If Only We ~ 30,539 ~

~ Before We Knew ~ 11, 449 ~

~ Whatever This Is ~ outlining ~
~ Under Enchanted Skies ~ 1,550/plotting ~
~ Beyond The Horizon ~ plotting ~
~ So I Thought ~ plotting ~
~ Hold Your Breath ~ plotting ~

The latest = I finally did it! I BROKE THE WORD COUNT! *throws confetti and tosses around balloons* It feels great to reach this goal. With the place I am in the story, it is approximately halfway according to my calculations. I'm shooting for 60,000 total for now, possibly 70,000, depending on which directions my characters decide to take me.

Yesterday, I woke up with a NEW STORY IDEA because of an amazing dream I was having. I kept thinking about it all day, working out details in my head (since sometimes in your dreams things happen without explanation and no rhyme or reason why it jumps from one scenario to the next and then there's this subplot that comes out of nowhere and it has nothing to do with the original plot), and so now we have an 8th story brewing. My poor brain. I actually had another interesting premise in a dream last night, and a couple nights before, but those two are just going down in the "someday I'll work this out but I need to focus on something else first" notebook of ideas.

Speaking of notebooks with writing ideas, I should share those with you guys sometime. You might get a kick out of it.

~*~

Until next time!

~Jessica

Author Stephanie Parent is here to talk about Defy the Stars and Poetry + GIVEAWAY!

When Stephanie approached me about her novel in verse I had a feeling it would be a great story. And it was! Check out my review from yesterday to see what I thought. The awesome Stephanie Parent is here today to talk about Defy the Stars and more. She has also offered a great giveaway for you as well, which is awesome for you guys.

So, please join me in welcoming the lovely and gracious Stephanie Parent to Thoughts At One In The Morning!

~*~

T@1AM:  What inspired you to write Defy the Stars?

Stephanie:  I had written a previous novel in verse and received feedback from editors that it wasn’t “edgy” or dramatic enough for today’s YA market, so I knew I needed to go further in my next novel. Someone in the publishing industry actually suggested the idea of a modern Romeo and Juliet story involving drug addiction. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but then I reread the play and was struck by how well the “poison” in the original play correlated with modern drug use. I was also frustrated with several recent YA books that I think portray Romeo and Juliet in an overly simple, one-sided way, and I wanted to explore Shakespeare’s work in a deeper way.

T@1AM:  Since your novel is written in verse, I'm curious to know if you also enjoy poetry. What are your favorite poets/poems?

Stephanie:  I do love poetry! My first love has always been fiction because of my deep appreciation for story and character, but I’m also very drawn to the emotional, intimate experience poetry often provides. I actually find my experience of poetry and music (both with and without lyrics) very similar—both of them seem to bypass logic and narrative to get to the real emotional core of an experience. I will say that, like many people, I can become frustrated by complex poetry when I feel like I just don’t “get it.”

As for my favorite poets, I absolutely love Emily Dickinson. She was actually one of those poets I felt I didn’t quite “get” when I studied her in high school and college, but the older I get, the more I appreciate her poems. I love her simple, dark, insightful words and her uses of dashes to create such a sense of movement in her poems. A more contemporary poet I really love is Louise Gluck. I love the way she reworks classic myths and fairy tales in her poems, and how quietly heartbreaking so much of her writing is. Her take on Hansel and Gretel, “Gretel in Darkness,” is stunning and unsettling.

T@1AM:  I read in another interview how you love free verse novels. Could you tell us your favorites?

Stephanie:  It’s so hard to pick! One absolutely amazing, completely original verse novel I have to mention is Martine Leavitt’s My Book of Life by Angel, which was just released on September 4th. This is the gritty, uncompromising story of a teenage prostitute on the streets of Vancouver, and the author was inspired by the real-life disappearance of a number of prostitutes in the Vancouver area. The poetry format works perfectly to illustrate Angel’s broken psyche and her broken world, and Leavitt works in excerpts and themes from Paradise Lost to stunning effect.

Another verse novel I really love, which I think definitely deserves more recognition, is Dead on Town Line by Leslie Connor. At less than 10000 words, this book is short even by verse standards, but the author manages to tell a complete, moving, satisfying story that somehow feels more like a novel than a short story or novella. Sort of a YA version of The Lovely Bones, this book is dark and sad, yet ultimately hopeful.
On a lighter note, I absolutely love Sonya Sones’ companion verse novels, What My Mother Doesn’t Know and What My Girlfriend Doesn’t Know. Sones is one of those authors who just makes it look so easy—her verse is deceptively simple but so clever, elegant and charming, it will definitely leave a smile on your face.

T@1AM:  What do you want readers to take away from this story?

Stephanie:  I don’t want to get too specific, because one of the things I love most about literature is that everyone gets something different out of a story based on their own experiences and viewpoint. I do hope that Defy the Stars makes people think about their own assumptions—whether they be about love at first sight, fate, crime, loss, drug use, or any other aspect of the story—and perhaps look at their beliefs from a new perspective.

Thank you so much for coming by to chat Stephanie!

 ~*~

Stephanie Parent

Stephanie Parent is a YA author repped by Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She is a graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC and attended the Baltimore School for the Arts as a piano major.

~Find Stephanie on her Blog, Goodreads, and on Twitter~

Defy the Stars

Julia Cape: A dedicated classical piano student just trying to get through her last semester of high school while waiting to hear from music conservatories.

Reed MacAllister: A slacker more likely to be found by the stoners’ tree than in class.

Julia and Reed might have graduated high school without ever speaking to each other…until, during a class discussion of Romeo and Juliet, Julia scoffs at the play’s theme of love at first sight, and Reed responds by arguing that feelings don’t always have to make sense. Julia tries to shake off Reed’s comment and forget about this boy who hangs with the stoner crowd—and who happens to have breathtaking blue eyes—but fate seems to bring the two together again and again. After they share an impulsive, passionate kiss, neither one can deny the chemistry between them. Yet as Julia gets closer to Reed, she also finds herself drawn into his dark world of drugs and violence. Then a horrific tragedy forces Julia’s and Reed’s families even farther apart…and Julia must decide whether she’s willing to give up everything for love.

Defy the Stars is written in an edgy free-verse style that will appeal to fans of Ellen Hopkins and Lisa Schroeder; however, the writing is accessible enough to speak to non-verse fans as well. The novel’s combination of steamy romance and raw emotion will appeal to fans of Gayle Forman, Simone Elkeles, Jennifer Echols, and Tammara Webber. With a story, language and form that both pay homage to and subvert Shakespeare’s play, Defy the Stars is much more than just another Romeo and Juliet story.

Add it to your Goodreads shelf
Buy it on Amazon

~*~

GIVEAWAY!!!

Stephanie has generously offered a e-copy of Defy the Stars for you, along with a $5.00 Amazon Gift Card!

Rules:
1. You must be a follower.
2. You must be over 15 years old.
3. This is open internationally.
4. You can earn extra entries by answering the question provided on Rafflecopter in the comments below and following Stephanie on Twitter.
4. This contest runs from September 19th to 26th.
6. Winner will be selected on September 27th and notified via blog post announcement and email.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you so much for reading, following, and entering!