Next Big Thing Blog Hop!

Thank you to SM Blooding for tagging me in the Next Big Thing Blog Hop! Those of us who do, in fact, have a Next Big Thing to talk about, will be answering some pretty basic questions about the books we're working on. I'm choosing to talk not about my WIP, but about the novel I'm currently seeking representation for. After I answer the questions, I will tag a few authors who will answer the same questions and then pass the word on! Okay, let's get this show on the road!

Q: What is the working title of your next book?

It is currently How to Drown. I think besides my second novel Anti-Boys, it's the title that gets the most attention. I'm usually pretty atrocious when it comes to the creativity of titles, so thankfully, someday there will be a marketing team or an editor or something who can fix that for me :)

Q: Where did the idea come from for the book?

That's a really good question, mostly because I can't remember. I'll be honest, though, a lot of it is autobiographical. It's about a girl whose whole world comes crashing down over the course of one summer and somehow she manages to pick herself back up. About three years ago, I went through a lot of really tough stuff, with school and relationships and just life in general, and it all sort of came together and turned itself into this book.

Q: What genre does the book fall under?

Ah, another good question. While a few years ago, it would have most likely fallen under the Young Adult category. These days, thanks to the beautiful new genre New Adult, that's where it's home now lies. While New Adult isn't an official genre in the industry yet, it's making its way up there, and that's where a lot of my novels will fall, since I've begun writing some novels that take place in the early college years.

Q: What actors would you choose to play the parts of your characters in a movie rendition?

Oh, man. I spend way too much time thinking about things like this. I even tack pictures of actors and actresses into my word documents while I'm writing. For this one, I never really decided on a leading man, because Michael is just too adorable for anyone I've come into contact recently, with the exception of maybe Andrew Garfield. But for Kate, I have fallen madly in love with Melissa Benoist, who is simply the cutest! For Lily, Kristin Davis and Alex, Emily Blunt. Okay, I'm done, I promise.

Q: What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Kate Masterson's world comes crashing down one summer, but an unlikely group of friends  helps her find happiness in her situation.

Q: Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Hopefully, represented by an agency. If 20 years down the road, it's still not represented, I'll self-publish.

Q: How long did it take to write the first draft of your manuscript?

This is the last novel that I was able to write in a reasonable amount of time, about 4 months. My manuscripts used to only take me 3 to 4 months, but now the average is 6 to 7.

Q: What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I would probably say The Truth About Forever or Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. She inspires a lot of my work, and I love the kinds of books she writes.

Q:  Who or what inspired you to write this book?

This is an answer I will give for the rest of my life, I am sure of it. The person who inspires me to write every single book is Meg Cabot. She is the reason I became a writer, and she continues to inspire me every single day. Also, The BF, who helped me realize that I had a lot of reasons to get over the things that have happened to me, and the best way to get over it, is to turn it into a book.

Q: What else about the book might pique a reader’s interest?

This is a book about dealing with disappointment. It's also about family and heartbreak and love, but mostly it's about not getting what you want from life and realizing that the hand you've been dealt is way better than the one you were hoping for. Yes, life is hard, but it all happens for a reason, and that's what How to Drown is trying to say.

Now, I would like to tag two marvelous writers:
Mrs. Christine Bowles and Mrs. PA Pursley!

xoxo,
Vicky B

The Hands of Tarot by SM Blooding

Hello, ladies and gents! I interrupt your very busy NaNoWriMo schedule to offer you a bit of information about a little book called The Hands of Tarot by the lovely and talented SM Blooding.

Series: The Hands of Tarot

SM Blooding

Available: August 7, 2012

Format: E-book & Paperback

Genre: YA Steampunk (Mature)

Length: 316 pages in paperback

Review formats: Mobi, E-pub, Smashwords

   All available for free download via Dropbox

             Paperbacks available for US residents only

She killed his father.

She imprisoned and beat him.

And now she thinks he’s her trophy.

Synn El’Asim will do almost anything to prove her wrong. But he’s only proving her right.

Queen Nix awakened his Mark of power and inducted him into the House of Wands. She knew what she was doing. The son of the two most powerful Families standing against her is the ultimate prize.

What she didn’t take into consideration was that maybe he was too strong for her.

Maybe.

The  Families aren’t. They’ve been weakened, and it’ll take a lot more than one young man with a powerful Mark to take on the Hands of Tarot.

Here's a little excerpt!

I woke freezing, my teeth chattering.

I tried to sit up, but my head was pounding so hard, it made me nauseous. 

“Lay back,” a soft voice murmured, gentle hands pressing down on my bare shoulders. “Be at ease. You are safe now, Synn Primus.”

I shook my head, falling back onto the soft pillows. My back was on fire where the pillows touched it. “Not—” It was so hard to speak. My tongue felt thick. “Not my name.”

“Yes it is, you goose.” Something was draped over me.

I let out a startled yell and threw it off. Everywhere it touched burned.

It was draped over me again. This time the hands pressed it down on my shoulders, keeping it in place. “You have been Marked by the House of Wands, so you now bear our name. You are a Primus, Synn. Welcome.”

My whole world stopped.

I’d lost my father. He was—

I closed my eyes and fell back.

Dead.

I’d watched so many others die, their children made to watch as those they loved were lost.

And now? I’d lost my life to the Hands?

No. I shook my head and rose. No. “No. This can’t be.”

She pushed me back. “How else do you explain it?” A warm thumb ran over my brow. “You survived the fire, Synn.” She pulled the blanket away, a cool finger running over where I burned. “And how do you explain this? This is your Mark, Synn, the thing you have been waiting for your entire life.”

My father’s strong, rigid face swam before my eyes, so fierce and strong as the fire rose to claim him, writhing with the pain of it. A sob seeped from my chest. “Not like this.”

I was gathered in her arms. She held me close, cupping my head to her chest as she rocked me. She crooned a song I’d never heard. I wasn’t paying attention. I was overwhelmed with what I had lost; my Family, my home, my self.

About the Author:

SM Blooding lives in Colorado with her pet rock, Rockie, their new addition, Mr. Bird, who’s a real bird. She likes to hike the beautiful Rocky Mountains, and is learning to play the piano and guitar. Currently, she’s trying to MURDER them both. Friends call her Frankie.

She’s dated vampires, werewolves, sorcerers, weapons smugglers and US Government assassins. Yes. She has stories.

She’s also an investigator with a 

local paranormal investigation group, Colorado Paranormal Rescue!

Find out more about her at:

Twitter

Facebook                 

Website/blog

Amazon – Kindle   

Amazon – Paperback    

B&N – Paperback   

Autographed copy  

Additional information

Goodreads

 

http://www.smblooding.com/

http://www.smblooding.com/the-hands-of-tarot/

 

___

I would like to say with complete sincerity that Frankie Blooding is wonderful person and wonderful writer, and I really hope you'll take a look at her work!

Also, if you're a writer or you're trying to promote the career of a friend, please contact me. I would love to post about local authors, and I would also love the work of my magnificent friends promoted across the globe!

Happy reading everyone!

xoxo,

Vicky B

Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo-- Customizing Your Workspace

11 days and counting!! This is probably the most excited I've ever been for NaNo. I feel like I'm really prepared this year. You should see my outline, which is actually a dry erase board covered in color-coded index cards. It's gonna be a blast!

Over the past two years, I've found that my biggest problem is finding one constant place to write. While I have my office space in my room at home, I rarely actually get the time to write there, as I have to go to class four days a week, work two days a week, and my boyfriend's house an undetermined number of times a month (although he says he is going to leave me in November and take me back in December so that he won't feel so neglected *eye roll*), not to mention random outings with friends and family. So, my goal is being able to customize any space so that I can get the most writing done and feel like I'm doing it in the comfort of my own home.

So, here are a few things you can do every time to trick your mind into thinking you're in your comfy spot at home:

1. Be comfortable. By this, I mean completely, physically comfortable. Don't let the hard, plastic chairs on campus bully you into not being comfortable. If you can't go home, go on a quest for the most comfortable place on campus or at work. There's bound to be a squishy chair around there somewhere. Find someplace you can sit for a long period of time, because you're going to be in and out of that spot for the next 30 days.

2. Have a totem. Now, I didn't really believe in the idea of having a totem, like Chris Baty talks about in his book No Plot? No Problem! but I think I finally see the merit. See, Chris says that you should use your totem as a way to put your body in the mindset that this is writing time and not Facebook or TV time. This can be something you wear or just something you carry with you. When you have it with you, it gives you, not only a sense that it's time to write, but also a sense that where ever your totem is is a good place to write. Mine personally is my jacket. It doesn't matter if it's hot or cold (yes, it can sometimes be in the 90s in November. After all, I live in Texas), I have to have that jacket on. It makes me feel comfortable and safe, and if I have to write at school, it gets me in the mood to write and makes me forget what's going on everywhere else.

3. Take you computer where ever you go. I'm not saying you can't write if you don't have your computer. But if you want to feel like our space is your own, I suggest you find a way to take your computer with you everywhere. Obviously, don't leave it in extreme temperatures and don't take it anywhere it's not allowed. But during November, I have it in class, I have it at work, I have it when I go to the BF's house, I have it EVERYWHERE. If I'm going out to dinner, I keep in my car, just in case I get a flat on the way home and I have to kill time while I wait for AAA. But seriously, everywhere.

4. Have a way to shut out everything else. Headphones are my best friend during NaNo, even at home. Sometimes, my sisters are listening to their TV shows too loud downstairs, so I put in my headphones. I listen to my music at ridiculous volumes just to stay focused. If music isn't your thing, have another way to block everything out. When I try to write during lectures (yes, I'm a bad student, whatever), if I try to listen and write at the same time, well, it just doesn't work, so if me getting my writing done means not hearing a single word of lecture, then so be it. BUT! This doesn't mean I condone failing your classes, young ones, if you're out there! School comes first, so don't get too behind, especially if you're in college, because November is a rather important month.

5. Always have food. There's nothing more irritating than sitting at school or work, trying to concentrate, when your stomach starts rumbling. Let's face it, hunger is the biggest distraction. So do yourself a favor, bring a snack. A HEALTHY SNACK! No cookies, guys. I recommend a yummy mix of cashews and Cracklin' Oat Bran cereal. YUM!

6. Have a copy of your outline. Whatever notes you have stuck to the walls of your writing area at home, make yourself a copy to take with you or take a picture. The only thing worse than being hungry is getting yourself comfortable, opening your computer, and then having no clue what scene you had planned to write next. Sheesh. What a bummer. Take a copy of your notes with you where ever you go.

That's it, ladies and gents. Hope this helps you, and I wish you the best of luck next month!

xoxo,
Vicky B

Gearing Up for NaNoWriMo-- Finding Your Writing Soundtrack

Two weeks to the day, ladies and gents!

In my opinion, the music you write to is one of the most important factors in whether or not you get your novel finished. Music can put you in the mood to write and it can also hinder the process.

There are basically three ways to go about this, and every step will take some time to carry out, if you're really serious about using music to your benefit.

Step 1: Find out if you can write to music.  Most writers know before they go into NaNo if they're the type of person who can write effectively to music, but some don't, so it's definitely the first thing to determine. Some people can't focus on their writing when they have lyrics being blasted in their ears. It can jumble their words when they're focusing on the words of others. So give it a shot. Turn up the music and do a little bit of writing. If you can't focus, you have two options: learn to write in complete silence (have a fan going for white noise) or write to classical/instrumental music. This will keep your blood flowing while eliminating distraction.

Step 2: Find out what kind of music is stimulating. Some people like to write to metal, some to jazz. My personal favorite is the quiet, indie rock type. There's little-to-no belting out of loud notes that can distract me. Loud may work for you, or you may need something quieter. The only suggestion I have is  to write to something you know so that you're not as distracted by brand new lyrics. Songs that you've heard many times are less likely to get in the way of your process. So go through your collection, trying a little bit of everything, until you find what works for you.

Step 3: Finding a soundtrack for your book. Not everyone likes to create soundtracks or playlists for their books, but if you're a musicholic like me, I sincerely recommend it. Go through your music (or your best friend's music) and find songs that remind your of your characters, your plots, or just sound like something your characters would be into. Then, write to it. Having the tone of your music directly reflect the tone of your book can seriously help you get in the mood to write and keep you focused.

I really hope this helps. In my opinion, music is everything, especially when you're trying to write in a busy coffee house or a crowded campus. Block out the world and let the music feed your work.

xoxo,
Vicky B

Gearing up for NaNo-- Quick, Healthy Meals

If you've ever done NaNoWriMo before, you know how easy it is to eat candy and cookies for snacks and how hard it is to resist the temptation of fast food every night. Well, over the past few months, I've been striving harder to find healthier meals to eat around the house that don't take too much preparation time and also make great leftovers. Here are some of the ones I've come up with:

1. Chicken Salad- Canned chicken, dried cranberries, light mayo, celery, and onions. Throw it all in a bowl, make a few sandwiches, and put whatever's left in the fridge.

2. Spaghetti- Now, for those of you who like to make sauce from scratch, you have to get over that in order for this to be a quick meal. Buy some pre-made sauce (with mushrooms is my favorite), some whole grain noodles, and super-lean beef OR ground turkey. It's quite and easy, and a cup of pasta will fill you up nicely!

3. Chicken Tacos- Once again, canned chicken is your best friend. Raw chicken takes forever to cook, and for something like tacos, the difference it makes isn't worth it. Throw some Chilli Powder and Cumin in that bad boy, and you have some great tacos! And, guys, come on, do yourself a favor, use whole grain tortillas.

4. Barbecue Chicken- There's only one problem with BBQ chicken, and that of course, is that it's really really hard to find BBQ sauce without high fructose corn syrup, so just this once, I condone using regular sauce, unless you can track some down without all the sugar. Just slather your raw chicken (yay! not canned!) in your favorite BBQ sauce (I recommend honey barbecue) and put it on a pan in the oven for about an hour for a great dinner that can cook while you write. Serve with a side of corn to round out the meal, frozen, canned, or fresh (corn on the cob uncooked is sweet and delicious!).

5. Chili Dogs- Don't get too excited. Canned chili and turkey dogs. It can come with a lot of fat if you don't do it right. Do NOT use chili sauce; use real chili. Less fat. Making your own chili is a great idea, because it'll be healthier than canned chili, but that's completely up to you to decide if you have the time.

6. Alfredo Chicken Pasta- Canned chicken, whole grain penne, pre-made alfredo sauce (alfredo garlic is the best!), and 15 minute cook time. It's worth it, trust me.

Hope this guys help you out a little bit! If you want yummy snacks, choose corn chips over potato chips, sugar free sweets or fruit over the sugary stuff, and keep as many bite size veggies around as possible (light ranch, if you can't eat them alone)! I love cookies as much as the next person, but you won't be doing yourself any favors.

xoxo,
Vicky B

Gearing up for NaNo-- Restaurants with WiFi

Yes, yes, I am very aware that I haven't blogged in forever, but I am three credit hours away from being a college senior, and a LIT major, and there's just not a whole lot of time, and unfortunately, when I'm low on time, the blog is the first thing to go. (That's a lie. The exercise is the first thing to go.)

But all of this is beside the point. Guys, NaNoWriMo is in one month, and I am psyched!! I've had this novel bouncing around in my brain since April, and I don't think I can stand it any longer. It needs to get out so I can think about other things. So, for the month of October, I want to write some NaNo-based posts that will help anyone else out there get themselves prepared (my bestie is a first-timer this year!).

So, my first post is about some writing-friendly cafes! Sometimes it's difficult to concentrate at home. Too many distractions: family, cleaning, work, cooking, homework. So, pack up your laptop, and head out someplace where you can write without being disturbed, and you can have a yummy meal!

Here are some places for you to check out!

1. Panera Bread Company. For the last two years, this has been mine and my mother's favorite place to sit and write, and the food is fantastic. I sincerely recommend the chicken noodle soup.

2. Starbucks. This one is pretty obvious, but beware. Finding an outlet during busy hours can be pretty hard. Go when it's quiet.

3. Boston Market. I just found this one out recently, and I'm pretty surprised and pleased. Great food, great atmosphere, and now WiFi to boot!

4. Which Wich. I love me some serious which wich. But once again, beware. They often have TVs. So, if you're easily distracted, bring your headphones!

5. Denny's. Not all, but most.

6. Subway. This one is pretty new, so not all will have them, but if they do, it's a fantastic writing spot if you can find a really good one.

These are just a few, and of course, places vary from city to city. If you have any in your area you'd like to add to the list, please let me know! And to those of you doing NaNo in a month, good luck!

xoxo,
Vicky B

Bookstore Finds- Labor Day Weekend Edition

I know I've been gone for a while, but sheesh!! This has been a crazy month. Seriously, the entire month. It's totally sucked. I really hope it hasn't been as bad for you as it has been for me.

So, I decided that the thing I needed was the smell of the bookstore. Yes, I go to the bookstore like once a week, but it never gets old. I never get tired of the smell and the feel of the books. Want to talk about a serious stress reliever. So, even though I didn't want to spend too much money, I decided that I would go to the Half-Price Books Labor Day Sale (goes through Monday, if you're interested!). Because September is right around the corner and I had leftover paycheck money, and this month has been a disaster. So yeah. That's why I went. And I found three awesome books! Usually I come out with much more than three, spending less than I did, because I usually stick to the clearance section. I mean, come on, guys. I'm a broke college student.

BUT! I found these three amazing books for less than $12!

Desire of the Dead for $2.50

Hades for $4.75

Where She Went for $3.50

Never underestimate the incredibly incredible deals you can find at Half Price Books because who cares if the books are used? They're in perfect condition. So....yeah. Happy reading everyone and have a great Labor Day Weekend!

xoxo,

Vicky B

My Fifty Shades Rant

Alrighty, I was holding off most of my ranting until after I finished the entire trilogy, and man do I have a lot of pent up rantyness. So, I will begin by saying that I enjoyed the books, loved them even. It surprised even me because, well, I'm a writer, and it's pretty obvious why writers and readers around the world are tossing their copies of Fifty Shades into the fire (I don't condone novel burning people, and those of you who have fessed up to it on your Goodreads reviews should really think about throwing your own title of "reader" into the fire with it, because you calling yourself that and then claiming to throw away books personally makes me sick). I'm not going to sit here and say that this trilogy is well written.

It's not. It's terrible, in fact. Oh, the number of typos and the complete lack of literary values is outstanding. I swear, if I had to hear another word about Christian's smoldering, gray gaze, I might have thrown something (even if that very gaze got me goin' a little). These books completely take any idea you have about plot development, character development, and basically any other simple tool of writing and throw them out the window. The only scenes that are well developed are the ones that include leather cuffs and the amount of summary is atrocious. Actual phone calls that say, "he called me, we talked for a little, and then hung up" take place. Yep.

But after all that, here's what I have to say about it, WHO CARES? Not me, that's who. Guys, you're missing the point. Yes, writing is about the beauty and eloquence of the written word (at least it used to be), and every sentence should be like the measures of a symphony, flowing together to create amazing results, but you know what else writing is about?

Storytelling.

That's right ladies and gentlemen, it's about telling a story. It's about getting the reader to open the book, read the first few pages, and not be able to put it down. It's about creating characters that people can relate to (or in Christian's case, fall in love with, because I sincerely hope no one out there can relate to him). It's about writing a story so darn good that the reader forgets about dinner, destroys their eyes by not realizing the sun has set, and going into work so exhausted they can't focus because they were up until 3 AM because they just had to read one...more...page! Get it?

No, seriously, do you get it?

We read to be entertained. That's the bottom line. And Christian Gray darn well entertained me.

Further more, there is no one in this world who has the right to judge what anyone else likes to read or write. Let me throw this out there, I can't stand John Steinbeck. I mean, I see the cover of The Grapes of Wrath and I have to choke down my own bile. I feel that same way about A Clockwork Orange. I also can't stand Cormac McCarthy, Erik Larson, and Alexander Dumas. But I respect these writers and the people who read their work because I am also a writer and a reader and that is the proper way to conduct oneself. If you feel the need to sit down at your computer screen and tell anyone that they're stupid and ridiculous because they enjoy the work that someone spent time and energy and CREATIVITY creating, then you should be ashamed.

And I would like to point out that most of you have never accomplished a thing in your lives, much less written a book that has yet to let go of the number one spot on most bestsellers lists. I believe everyone has a right to their opinion, unless that opinion criticizes the hard work and imagination of other people.

So sit down and shut up, especially if you haven't read the books because that's just plain rude.

Let's see, anything else? Hmm. I think I might be done ranting.

Seriously guys, if you're into romance and erotica, pick these books up, if you're not, then don't. Easy as pie. And if you didn't like the book, well, feel free to say so, but please don't trash talk and criticize the work of another human being. You're only hurting yourself.

Have a nice day, and happy reading!

Bookish Saturday-- What I'm Reading Now

There are two forms of literature that I've recently been introduced to (well, sort of), and have now taken advantage of in order to read more, because I'm look for ways to READ MORE!  Once upon a time, I just wanted to read books with happy endings, but these days, I'll pretty much read anything that's thrust at me, unless I have a very specific reason not to (Still not going to read Steinbeck or Pullman). That being said, I am actively reading three books at the moment, all of which I'm slightly obsessed with.

What I'm Reading (Print): This week, I began reading the Young Adult novel, How to Be Bad. This book was written by three very well-known authors of teen fiction- Lauren Myracle, E. Lockhart, and Sarah Mylnowski. So far, I'm completely adoring this book. It's about three girls- Mel, Jesse, and Vicks- who go on a road trip, and I must say, it's the most real young adult book I've read in a while. I think it quite exactly shows why girls are involved in so much drama. I absolutely love it. People don't think girls have gas or regret flirting with a guy or punch each other, but they do, and this book is proof. Absolute genius, and I am a little ashamed that I hadven't read a book by any of these women before. That will be quickly amended as soon as I'm finished.

What I'm Reading (eBook): Now, don't get too excited. I haven't done anything ridiculous like buy an eReader. UGH. I wouldn't dream of it. But I did recently acquire a certain book and am reading it on a Kindle app on my Mac that I only downloaded to read ABNA entries.  Anyway, my best friend was about to delve into the world of E.L. James, and she asked me to come along. As a writer and a reader, I was horribly curious about the Fifty Shades trilogy. I knew all the background, and I knew about the author, and of course the unpublished write in me wanted to rip up all the copies of it I could find in bitter protest. But the reader in me  the romance reader, I should add, just couldn't help herself. So, I'm reading them all, and I should admit, LOVING them. Sheesh. Christian Grey. Phew!

What I'm Listening To: So I might have exaggerated just a little bit the fact that I was actually obsessed with all the book I'm reading, because I can assure you, I'm not adoring Dracula. Part of me knew I wasn't going to like it. I saw the movie a few years ago and didn't particularly love it. It's not just that I like my vampires hot and sparkly, but I love the romanticism of it all, so even though I love me some straight out Lost Boys/Fight Night type vamps, I'm just not particularly in love with Dracula. Sorry, folks.

What are you reading this week?

xoxo,
Vicky B

Blogging the Classics- Brideshead Revisited

It was just a few months ago that I discovered my love for audiobooks. My mother has been listening to them for years, but I thought for sure I would have trouble concentrating on the story while I was doing other things. The truth of the matter is, if the story is boring, I get distracted and end up missing parts. But if I truly enjoy the book, I have no problem keeping my head in the story, even when I'm mowing lawns or driving down the highway. Since I've discovered this love, I've listened to a few audiobooks that I've greatly enjoyed and which I'll periodically blog about. The latest, which I finished just this morning, is Brideshead Revisited.

I was shocked by how much I liked this book. If you've ever read it, you know how terribly depressing of a book it is. Looking back on the story as a whole now, after a week of listening to it, I realize there was not a single happy moment in the whole thing. It was a beautifully crafted novel, and the characters really called out to me, but MAN! It's sad! From the first paragraph to the last page, it's horribly sad. But as I always say about sad movies and books, if it breaks your heart in the first five minutes, it's probably going to be really good. I've always been right. It's the ones that start out happy and then break your heart in the end that really suck.

If you've read Brideshead Revisited, let me know what you thought! Also, I'll go ahead and make a plug for the podcast where I get most of my audiobooks: Librivox.org. You can get them trough iTunes or you can download straight from their website! All books are free and all classics! Happy reading!

xoxo,
Vicky B