The Writer’s Crisis of Faith: NaNoWriMo Week 2

Last week was a tough. I had a small crisis of faith in regards to my writing. I was so close to throwing in the towel and saying screw it and just stick to reading and reviewing. The funny thing is, it wasn’t because of my NaNoWriMo project I’m working on, but my other works in progress that are driving me insane.

While I am working on NaNoWriMo, I’m also in the middle of revising three pending WIP’s. One is my young adult horror book I need to perfect before the end of December for a contest a publisher is holding for young adult book submission. I also have my Urban Fantasy I’ve been querying around and after looking over the first few chapters, I wanted to cry because I feel they are still lacking. Then there is my lesbian romance that I want to go back and revise again. As you can see my multi-tasking skills will be put to the test.

I was almost in tears. I felt as if there was this demon on my shoulder whispering all those things you ignore when you are writing. “You suck KB, give up. Who wants to read your pathetic attempts at trying to write a story people won’t want to read anyway?”

The demon almost won.

Self doubt is the worst thing a writer can go through. It’s so easy to give in, to say, “Let me take a break and come back in a few days and pick off where I left off.” The next thing you know months and even years will go by. That doubting demon won.

After whining to a few choice friends about my crisis, I reevaluated things. I took a deep breath and decided that even though I feel overwhelmed, I’m not going to give it. I did two things to help me relax that pushed those horrible feelings away.

The first thing I did was go back and revise the first fifty pages of my Urban Fantasy. And you know what? It was so exciting! I felt as if another one of those light bulbs went off and I have a new opening I want to write. Then there was my NaNoWriMo project. The thing I love about NaNo is you just sit there and write. You don’t worrying about those small things such as revising, spelling and punctuation. Your creativity just flows. That is my favorite things I love the most when I write. My fingers move across the keyboard, trying to keep up with the scenes in my head, and after a few hours the accomplishment of having a certain amount of words, or pages finished gives you a great high.

The purpose of NaNoWriMo is to meet a word count and set self imposed deadlines. I have my own personal deadline with the stories I write. NaNoWriMo is enabling me to meet them. By the end of the week, I hope to have met the 50,000 word goal for NaNoWriMo. But even though I will have met this goal, my own personal goals are not over. I promised myself that I would write 60,000 words in November and I'm going to try my hardest to meet that.

My crisis of faith with my writing has really opened my eyes. Meeting a word count is very important, an accomplishment within itself, but the next step is going back and molding my words into a story that others will want to read. This will be one of the hardest things I will have to do.

We are our own worst enemies. We place limitations upon ourselves. Ignore those doubts and take a deep breath. Don’t pay attention to those outside forces that say you can’t. Pick up that pen, or that keyboard, channel that muse or that idea and just write. Because it all comes down to one thing- you can do it. And if I can do it, then I know you can too.

Interviewing Beverly Jenkins

Beverly Jenkins simply amazes me as an author. Beverly is best known for writing books with African/American life in the 19th century. In this day in age when diversity in books and with those authors who are published is more important that ever, Beverly is one author who is very successful. She has published 21 novels to date, that range from romance suspense, women's fiction, young adult and historical.

Can we say "WOW!"?

Beverly's latest release is Captured, a historical romance available now from Avon.

*nom nom pirate man titty*

Synopsis: Dominic LeVeq, the most notorious privateer ever to command the high seas, has just captured a coveted prize: a British frigate. On a dangerous mission against the Crown, Dominic should be thinking only of his ship's safety. But the rebel captain is utterly entranced by Clare Sullivan, the stunning slave on board. Consumed by desire, desperate to have her, Dominic offers Clare her freedom in exchange for a forbidden night in his bed—a night he assures her will be most pleasureable indeed. Clare believes that Dominic is nothing more than a seductive rogue used to getting what he wants. But she too feels a tantalizing passion between them, and so she submits to just one night of bliss. She'll soon realize that Dominic has captured more than her body. He's captured her heart . . . and she doesn't want him to ever let go.

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I asked Beverly for an interview and she was so nice to answer some questions I threw her way...

KB: You’ve written romantic suspense, historical romance and even teen books. What is your favorite genre to write for?

Beverly: My favorite genre is historical, although I do enjoy the other genres very much.

KB: Some of your historical romance covers have men with bulging muscles and what’s called, mantitty. Do any of these covers make you blush? How important is a cover in selling your book?

Beverly: Covers don’t make me blush. It goes with the territory. Although what appears to be a partial nipple on the cover of Captured made me chuckle a bit. According to the marketing people “clinch” covers sell better than covers w/o.

KB: Your latest, Captured, was released from Avon in September. What’s it about?

Beverly: Captured is my pirate tale. It’s set during the American Revolution and centers on a privateer and a slave woman from Savannah.

KB: There has been a great deal of discussion on diversity in romance. This included the authors being published to the types of books being released. In your opinion how important is it for there to be more diverse characters in books, especially in romance novels?

Beverly: Diversity. Romance is read by women and men of all races and it would be nice if more stories reflected that.

KB: What advice can you give aspiring authors trying to get published?

Beverly: My advice: Stop blogging and start writing

KB: What important attributes do you think heroes and heroines should have?

Beverly: Characters should be people you can root for. Nothing worse than reading a story where you don’t like the couple at all.

KB: If you were in one of your own books, what type of heroine would you be?

Beverly: My heroines are all strong so I would be that. None of them need a man. He’s more like the icing on the cakes of their lives.

KB: What changes have you seen in the publishing industry, especially the romance genre from when you first began writing?

Beverly: These days publishing is more open to authors and stories that would never have been when I was first published in 1994. Erotica, paranormal, gay and lesbian, people of color. The gloves are off. The situations and the characters seem more realistic. I can’t remember who it was but an author once said the old type A heroes of the eighties would probably get his ass kicked by the heroines in stories today, and I agree

KB: What are your favorite authors to read?
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Beverly: I’m a big fantasy reader so I put Jim Butcher at the top of my list. I also read female detectives and some of my favorite writers are Sue Grafton, Linda Barnes and of course, JD Robb.
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KB: If you were on a desert island, what hero from literature would you want to be with you and why?

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Beverly: Hmm. If I were on a desert island, I'd want Galen Vachon from my historical Indigo or his descendant Mykal Chandler from my romantic suspense, Edge of Midnight, because they're both so wealthy they'd find a way to turn that deserted island into an empire. LOL.

Moonwalking Puppy Video *AWW*

This is too cute! I wonder if they waxed their kitchen floor?

WTFckery Or Not? You Decide

1. The first in this WTFckery post, is a bit of publishing WTFckery at play:

When you look at this cover what do you see? A man and a woman correct? Would you assume this is a straight romance?

YOU ARE WRONG!.

Synopsis: It’s Natalie’s ten-year high school reunion and she’s reluctantly joined the planning committee. Things start to look up, though, when she finds that Haley Moore is on the committee—and she’s even more gorgeous than Natalie remembered. Ten years before, Natalie and Haley had experimented sexually together, but when high school ended, they went their separate ways. Their unexpected reunion finds them ready to make up for lost time, both in bed and out.

This is a free to read lesbian romance even though Ellora's Cave seems to have a straight cover. Now if this was a M/M romance, would they have a cover with a male and female on it? I think not. Can we claim WTF on Ellora's Cave for their deceiving cover? Shouldn't there be two women on the cover instead?...

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2. Is an one million dollar advance for a book considered a WTFckery?

"From Sydney, Australia: Rebecca James' second novel is in a worldide bidding war, which has pushed advances on her manuscript past $1 million and led The Wall Street Journal to wonder if she is the next J.K. Rowling?"
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Have they learned anything from the $5 million advance for Audrey Niffenegger's second novel, which has barely sold 40,000 copies?
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3. You can thank Anime June from Gossamer Obsessions for bringing this WTfckery to my attention. Perfect place for all your wool fetish needs:



4. First you can buy your own coffin at Walmart. Now you can have your own coffin couch. From Horrorsquad.com. 1-800-Autopsy is perfect.
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5. Some statues always bring out the WTFckery. Why buy the cow... actually the cow looks more like a hippo.
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6. Have you heard that Robert Pattinson, Mister sexy, broody sparkle boy doesn't believe in good hygene? Nothing say WTF about a man who doesn't bathe or wash his clothes. From article:
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Is it true that you rarely change your clothes?
Robert: Yeah, kind of. Like these jeans are a few days old, but the top is probably fresh because it gets to the point where even I can’t stand the air around me. I don’t know, my personal hygiene – it’s so disgusting! Really it’s just that I have very few clothes that I like and I’m travelling all the time, so I can’t really get any more.
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And what about your hair?
Robert: Yeah, there’s a fascination with my hair, too. It’s funny, because that’s all down to how I used to hate my dad wanting to brush my hair when I was a kid. I hated it! So it’s funny this whole thing with my hair is just from not brushing it!

7. With the holidays just around the corner, why not start your shopping early with these two must haves for that special person in your life?

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I seriously cannot believe how many Twilight products out there. Jessica and Racy Romance Reviews found this on Amazon:

Edward's Wig for only $24.99. Now you can have bad hair like Edward! Body glimmer is not included.

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From Horror-movies.ca: Pre-order the 2010 Nightmare on Elm Street Freddy doll for your own cute lil nightmare.

8. And before you go, your Regresty WTFckery Art that everyone should have hanging in their living room:
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Time sure does flies, even with a nasty pest on your back...
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Enjoy this latest week in WTFckery...

Small Taste of Stand Alone WTFckery

This latest WTFckery is too good not to give it its own post!

Aw Regretsy, how I love you, let me count the way...

This fake baby is ugly as sin and would probably come alive and kill me while I sleep.

Love Advice From Love Doctor Mho Fho *Rich Husband Drives Wife Batty*

Welcome to the latest Saturday Edition of Love Letters to Mho! The Love Doctor is in!

Hey Mho Fho,

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My husband is driving me crazy. We’ve been married for almost two years but he always wants to be involved in my work. I‘m a New York City police lieutenant and always handled myself pretty well before my husband, owner of almost everything on the planet and self made gazillionaire came along.

He’s always trying to butt in and wants me to take too many vacations away from the job, gives me gifts, great sex that leaves my bones feeling like Gumby and even had the gall to put one million dollars in my personal bank account without asking me! Hello! I have a job where I make my own money.

How do I tell him without hurting his feelings (our arguments are these no holds bar fight that always ends up in awesome make up sex) that I need to be my own woman and don’t need a knight in shining armor?

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Please advise

Lieutenant E.D.

P.S. He also makes me wear these crazy expensive girly dresses that I despise.

Dear Lieutenant,

Let me get this right. You're married to a man who adores you to pieces, is richer than god, protects you and gives you the best orgasms of your life?

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU????

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Ride that man for all he’s worth and go back for seconds.

Yours in disgust,

Mho Fho

Know who's asking me for advice? Here's a hint.

Cover Alert! Demon Blood by Meljean Book

Meljean just posted the cover for the next book in her Guardian series. Demon Blood will be released July 6, 2010 from Berkley.

Synopsis:

Long before she was transformed into a Guardian and trained to fight demons, Rosalia knew darkness all too well. Raised by a demon, Rosalia learned to guard her heart—and her soul—until she found a man worthy of her love. Once, she thought that man would be the powerful vampire, Deacon…until he betrayed the Guardians.

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After losing everything to the lies of a demon, Deacon lives only for revenge—and is taken aback when Rosalia offers to help. A vampire who has nothing—who is nothing—isn’t worthy of her attention. But Rosalia wants to do more than just look, and the explosive need between them can’t be held in check. And when Deacon’s vengeful quest creates a dangerous alliance of their enemies, she will be his only hope…

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I'm all for dominatrix looking angel with a excellent wing span holding a big arrow.

New Moon Madness Begins! *EW Cover Hotness*

And what do we think of this week's cover from Entertainment Weekly?

And for your viewing enjoyment a new :30 television promo:

And if you're hungry Burger King has something special for you. New Moon Fan Packs!

Confession time! Who's going to see New Moon opening day? And what team are you playing for? Jacob or Edward?

Why are you a Stephenie Meyer fan? What is it about this series that you enjoy?

Blaze of Memory Book Review *Nalini Singh*

Blaze of Memory is seventh book in Nalini Singh’s highly popular Psy-Changelings series. The character highlighted in this story is Devraj Santos who was first introduced in Hostage to Pleasure (book 5). Dev runs the Shine Foundation, a type of shelter for children known as the Forgotten. These children are human but have Psy abilities. Dev is one of these Forgotten. He tries to not let his emotions run away from him and can be very cold and meticulous. If Dev wanted to, he could become a killer, but lucky for those around him, he still has humanity intact.

An unconscious woman, who has been severely abused, is left on the doorsteps of the Shine Foundation’s headquarters. She is a Psy and Dev knows she is dangerous because she could be a plant by the Psy Council to kill him. When the woman awakens, she has amnesia. She has been mind raped by a very powerful Psy and Dev places a call to some associates who may be able to tell him the woman’s identity. Another Psy, Ashaya Aleine (Heroine in Hostage to Pleasure), who left the Psy community and mated with a changeling, knows who she is because she used to work with her in a lab where they did experiments on children. Her name is Ekaterina and they come to the conclusion that Ming LeBon, a very deadly and powerful Psy is responsible. Ekaterina no longer wants to be known by this name and will go by Katya. By being called Katya, she feels new and alive. Katya is living a death sentence because as her memory slowly comes back to her, she remembers the orders Lebon gave to her. Whichever way it ends, Katya is doomed.

Dev can’t trust her because she’s a weapon, a ticking time bomb that will go off at any moment. He should kill her, but Katya touches him deeply. He wants to protect her, because even though she may seem fragile, she is a survivor just as the children he has helped. Dev has to figure out a way to save Katya and eliminate Lebon before he can harm Katya. As Katya continues to get her memories and identity back, she grapples with her feelings for Dev, as well as his growing feelings for her.

Nalini has written another wonderful hero in Dev. He is protective, alpha and very inventive when it comes to loving Katya. There is this great scene in Dev’s bedroom where he shows Katya how skilled he his with his hands. Katya took a bit more warming up to because she was so abused and pretty much a victim throughout the whole story. The big issue I had with these two is that Dev feels he cannot trust Katya, and rightly so. One minute he has to decide if killing her is the best for everyone involved or will throw caution to the wind and love her. This back and forth was a bit unnerving, especially because the tension and attraction these two have for one another just happens so fast. I was a bit unconvinced with Dev and Katya falling for each in such a short time period. Dev is always on his toes around Katya because she could kill him without any warning.

Even though I found Dev and Katya’s relationship not as appealing as the past ones in this series, their love scene were still satisfying even though there is always this doubt on their minds that everything could end for them in a blink of an eye. Theirs is a very needy love each that seemed a bit hollow. In part this is because Dev is such a strong character while Katya wasn’t so much.

Many past characters make appearances as well as a nice change where the reader dwells into the past about how the Psy Silence came to be. There are also more rumblings of a revolt and breakdown in the Psy community where Nalini keeps inserting key pieces of information to be aware of. I have a small inkling who the Ghost is; this mysterious individual who is causing major concerns for the Psy Council. I really think it is one of the Council members. Perhaps it is Kaleb, that deadly Psy working behind the scenes for his own gain? I have become such a big fan of his that I really can’t get off my mind.

Blaze of Memory has some interesting moments and again I can always count on Nalini to write a pleasurable story. I was hoping for a bit more shocks and awe, but I guess not every book in a series such as this can always have you on the edge of your seat. (Berkley)

Final Grade: B

Writing Gay Romance: Do the Same Rules Apply?

It’s been awhile since I talked about my progress on a manuscript I wrote that is very much out of the box for me in terms of writing. A few months ago I finished writing a lesbian romance. I knew this story would be a tough sale, but still went ahead and queried my manuscript to various epublishers that would possibly be interested in it. The feedback has been interesting. Overall the editors who responded back to my query enjoy my voice and the idea but there were some issues they had in regards with too much info-dumping and the point of view of my characters. This gave me a sigh of relief, because even though they rejected it, they didn’t say, “your writing sucks big time, never contact us again.”

Over the summer an epublisher was interested in reading the full manuscript. I graciously sent them it and waited to hear back, hoping they would possibly want to publish my story. Unfortunately, they rejected it, stating that the point-of-view was distant with the two main characters. I asked them if I revised, could I resubmit? They said yes.

I took the next month or so and revised based on their feedback. I even had an author friend look at my manuscript and recommend where such changes could occur because at first I couldn’t figure out where the distant point-of-view problem was. But then after taking the advice of my friend, it was like a light bulb went off in my head and I knew what needed to be done.

After revising and editing to the point where I thought my manuscript was as perfect as it could be, I resubmitted it back to the publisher. Again the publisher rejected my revised manuscript this time stating that even though I tightened up the point-of-view, my story was not erotic or passionate enough for the F/F romance they are interested in.

Again, I appreciated the feedback because I’m still very much learning the ropes of the publishing world and what editors are looking for. But, I can’t help wondering when it comes to gay romance if there s a different standard expected, from say a straight romance? Should the same rules apply in gay romance as it does in a straight one?

Lovestruck, the title of my lesbian romance, is written in a very traditional way or what I feel is like a traditional romance. The only difference is that my two main characters are women. In some of the gay romances I’ve read, the two main characters, whether they are M/M or F/F tend to become intimate right away, somewhere in the first three chapters or the first 40 pages. In my story the first intimate act between my two female leads doesn’t occur until chapter 6, around page 55. Leading up to this point, there is a lot of sexual tension and these two characters do think a great deal about how much they want one another. There are no less than six sex scenes between them and I think I wrote some hot and heavy passionate love making.

So, this is the question I ask: In straight romance, and I don’t mean erotic romance, there are a very small amount of books where the hero and heroine meet and by the first three chapters they are in each other’s bed. In an average straight romance the first sex scene usually happens between pages 150-200. If I were writing a gay romance in this same way, wouldn’t it be understandable to have the same rules apply with my two female characters? Is it expected when writing a gay romance that my couple act on their attraction right away?

I raise this question for those authors who write gay romance. Perhaps you can give me some insight on this. In order for me to sell my lesbian romance, do I need to revise again where my two main female characters should be intimate in the first few chapters or stick with what I have? I really don’t feel right in doing this, because I feel my story works as is. But again, I am a newbie writer, still trying to figure out the ways of how this industry works.

Any suggestions or thoughts?

For those who are interested, a small synopsis of Lovestruck:

Lovestruck is a lesbian romance about thirty-five year old CEO hotel mogul Barbara Jennings and her yearning for her much younger employee, Jennifer Caffey. Barbara has a tough decision to make in regards to a family owned, one-hundred twenty year old hotel that is losing money. She has three months to decide whether to close the hotel or cut costs by firing a few hotel employees. She meets twenty-five year old Jenny Caffey in the bathroom of all places and is instantly smitten. Jenny has worked at the St. Jennings hotel for five years and is barely making ends meet as a poor college student. Now Barbara has another mission and that is to seduce the innocent Jenny. Jenny is also attracted to the powerful and beautiful Barbara but has never really had a steamy love affair with another woman. Will Jenny fall for Barbara’s charms and allow herself to be swept away by her passion for this older woman who may ruin her life? This is the first book in a series about Jenny and her friends who find love in all the wrong places. Set in New York City. Lovestruck crosses the lines at what is acceptable in regards to love between two people who are so very wrong for one another.

KB's Pimping Cookie Book Covers

Here's some more great future books releases for you to drool over...

Looks like Jill Myles is going to have a busy first quarter for 2010! Succubi Like It Hot is going to be released 3 weeks after Jill's debut release, on January 19th from Pocket.

Love an older woman/younger man romance! Lesson From a Younger Lover by Zuri Day. Coming in March from Dafina Kensington.

Synopsis: First grade teacher Gwen Smith was happily married—until her husband got himself a twenty-something mistress and filed for divorce. Now just months away from turning forty-one, Gwen is back in her tiny California hometown, caring for her ailing mother, convinced her life is over. Then she meets Ransom Blake. Ransom is a twenty-six-year-old hunk who pushes every one of Gwen’s buttons. Gwen has no intention of getting involved with a younger man, but he won’t take no for an answer. So when he shows up at her classroom unannounced, Gwen can’t help but tell him off—and then she realizes he’s come for his daughter. But Ransom isn’t shy about letting Gwen know how she can make it up to him. And if he gets his way, Gwen will lose all her inhibitions—and her heart.

I saw this debut author on Darkfaerietales.com. And Falling, Fly by Sklyer White coming in March from Berkley.

Synopsis: In a dark and seedy underground of burned-out rock stars and angels- turned-vampires, a revolutionary neuroscientist and a fallen angel must pit medicine against mythology in an attempt to erase their tortured pasts…but at what cost? Olivia, vampire and fallen angel of desire, is hopeless…and damned. Since the fall from Eden, she has hungered for love, but fed only on desire. Dominic O’Shaughnessy is a neuroscientist plagued by impossible visions. When his research and her despair collide at L’OtelMathillide- a subterranean hell of beauty, demons, and dreams-rationalist and angel unite in a clash of desire and damnation that threatens to destroy them both.

Nice arm tat! His Darkest Hunger by Juliana Stone. Coming in April from Avon.

Another hubba hubba arm tat! Beyond the Shadows from Jess Granger. Coming in May from Berkley.
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Synopsis: Commander Yara knows perfect leadership requires perfect control and discipline. She has spent years living without the distraction of caring for anything—or anyone. It’s a sacrifice she’s willing to make. Yara has honed herself into the perfect heir to the Azralen throne, but a bloody coup could destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. She must return home to prevent war. Unfortunately the only ship available belongs to an Earthlen trader with no regard for authority—especially hers. Cyn is a rebel, driven to protect those suffering at the hands of the Elite leaders of Azra. Using his alias to manipulate the lovely but icy commander onto his ship, he has to keep her from Azra long enough to ignite the revolution. But when he awakens a vibrant and feeling woman beneath that icy exterior, he gets more than he bargained for—love. He must find a way to convince Yara to join him, before they get caught in a web of deception that could tear their world apart.
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OMG this cover is hot! *Lick lick* Phantom Corps: Instatiable by Lauren Dane coming in July from Berkley.

Synopsis: With tensions between the Federation and Imperial ‘Verses rising, one woman may hold the key to victory. The dangerous mission to smuggle her out of Imperial Territory falls to Daniel Haws and his team, the ultra secret Phantom Corps. This elite squad of the Federation Military is the only one trusted and skilled enough to remove her from under the watchful eye of her father, the Supreme Commander of the Imperial ‘Verses.

Carina is used to wearing a mask. Her father and his men think her little more than a pretty prize to be won by a man more ruthless than the rest. When he announces his intention to marry her to one of his henchmen, a man known for his cruelty, Carina knows she has to move as soon as possible to get out. But getting secret information to the Federation has served her well for years and she appeals to them for help.

She expected rescue from a man who’d been her enemy. But she wasn’t prepared for just how intense her attraction to Daniel Haws would be. Born as adversaries into different ranks, and on the run for their lives, they now need each other to survive–by holding on to the only thing they have in common: a growing desire that is dangerous, irresistible, and insatiable.

The sequel for Shiver has been announced! Linger by Maggie Stiefvater coming in July from Scholastic.

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Synopsis: Just a few months ago, it was Sam who was the mythical creature. His was the disease we couldn’t cure. His was the good-bye that meant the most. He had the body that was a mystery, too strange and wonderful and terrifying to comprehend. But now it is spring. With the heat, the remaining wolves will soon be falling out of their wolf pelts and back into their human bodies. Sam stays Sam, and Cole stays Cole, and it’s only me who’s not firmly in my own skin.

For your first taste in Meljean Brook's new Steampunk series. Burning Up Anthology coming in August from Berkley. *gumble almost a year away grumble*

Some nice backtitty going on here...

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Hush, Hush Book Review *Becca Fitzpatrick*

When I first heard about Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick, I was both intrigued and wary. It’s not a big surprise because the cover is very upfront about the male protagonist being a fallen angel. It seems that the fallen angel myth has become a big thing in books for 2009. The reason I was wary was because Hush, Hush is very comparable to Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. Now if an author can ride on Meyer’s coattails and have an original idea and really make it shine, I’m all for that. But in the case of Hush, Hush I’m afraid to say that Becca has not only ridden on Meyer’s coattails, but hopped on her back and took every single thing from Twilight and placed it in Hush, Hush. The comparisons between Twilight and Hush, Hush are too strong not to ignore and honestly, Hush, Hush reads like a Twilight fan fiction where Becca decided to change the characters and a bit of the plot that fails in so many ways. If you’re going to take someone else’s idea and try to build on it, at least be smart about it.

The plot goes as follows, Nora Grey and her best friend Vee Sky, who Nora calls her “un-twin” enjoy working for their school’s eZine in Coldwater, a town in Maine where the fog is very thick. Nora lives on the outskirts of town in an eighteenth century farmhouse with her mother who works for an auction company that requires a great deal of traveling. Nora’s father is no longer around because he was shot to death. But Nora is seeing a therapist to come to terms about her father’s death. She feels as if her father is watching her from above because she has always felt a presence watching over her from a distance.

Nora is in for a surprise when she goes to her Biology class and her teacher decides to change the seating chart. Nora’s new Bio partner is the new transfer who goes by the name of Patch. The new guy is dark very much in the literal sense from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. He has “cool black eyes” and when his eyes slice into Nora, she feels a “gloomy darkness like a shadow” over her. Patch also has an interesting scent to him, of “something richer, fouler”, much like cigars. Nora and Patch’s introduction doesn’t go that well because he is very rude, crude and speaks in sexual innuendos. His disrespect towards Nora makes her very uncomfortable.

You would think a guy like Patch, who is very much a verbal bully would make Nora offended. But there is something about Patch that speaks to her as in, this guy is a jerk and seems dangerous, but he looks good in black, so I’m going to find out whatever I can about him. Because Vee is also very noisy, she and Nora team up to find about Patch’s deep dark secrets.

Around the same time Nora begins her investigation; strange things start to happen. She runs over a guy in a ski mask with her car who then attacks her by bashing in her window. She begins seeing this phantom ski mask person everywhere after. Also, two new boys have entered on the scene. Jules and Elliott meet Nora and Vee at a bistro. Elliott has transferred from Kinghorn Prep to Coldwater High. Vee is over the moon at having fresh blood… two new cute boys to hang out with. Jules, who still attends Kinghorn, is moody and rude while Elliott, who at first seems pretty nice, becomes very aggressive and mean for no reason. Nora realizes something is up with Elliott and Jules, just because they are so moody and mean! And because Nora is such a great sleuth, she goes to the library and Google’s Elliott’s name where she finds out he may or may have not murdered a girl at Kinghorn.

As all this is going on, Patch seems to pop up wherever Nora is. He taunts her, much like a rebel on his motorcycle (which he has) and dares her to come walk on the wild side with him. They go on a scary ride at the boardwalk, he comes to her house and makes her dinner but holds a knife in such a way that Nora thinks he may stab her at one point with it. Whenever she is in dark scary places, Patch is there with his cold black eyes. And Nora thinks she is going crazy because she swears she can hear Patch talking in her head.

And again the sleuth that Nora is, where she has channeled Nancy Drew, goes to the library and begins to research fallen angels because of some strange V like scars on Patch’s back that are “angel wing scars”. Nora now knows that Patch is not human. And things become worse because someone is out to hurt Nora. Vee is caught in the middle, and Jules and Elliott are also be involved. Nora has no choice but to turn to Patch. And what she sees through his eyes, by touching his no touch zone on his back, will shock her to the very core!

Hush, Hush should have a lot to recommend about it. I will begin to say that Becca’s writing is commendable, but the way she has set things are so disjointed and stilted. I did like Nora in the beginning but then she ventured into the too stupid to live zone. The way she and Vee acted in regards to Patch was too immature and eye rolling. Why would you be so interested in Patch who comes across as a verbally abusive individual who makes you frightened for your life? Nora is never really attracted to Patch because the majority of the time she lives in fear of him. At one point she is in the library underground parking garage and plays catch me if you can around a car with Patch because she doesn’t want him to come near her. She thinks he is possibly the crazy ski mask man, the one who beat up a girl who was mean to her and every time she is with him, she has a sense of impending doom. At no point do we see Nora giving any real reason why she would be so interested in Patch. There is nothing redeemable about him in the least. Want to hear a big cliché? Nora is on a bus and gets off a stop where the bus driver says it’s not safe. Nora shrugs it off and actually walks down a dark, dank alley! Good grief.

As for Patch he is a manipulative jerk. I can’t help but bring up the comparison with him and Edward.

***This is a spoiler, so beware!**

I’ve read the countless discussions in regards to Meyer’s Edward, where he is a stalker and a murderer. The thing with Edward and his desire with Bella is that his need to kill her is more instinct and a deep hunger because Bella is his food, if you think about it. Edward grapples with this nature and overcomes his need. With Patch, his need to kill Nora is not because of an elemental need or hunger, but simply a means to an end, a reward he will receive. Patch has a way to reach his ultimate goal if he gets rid of Nora. There is no reason for him to hold back and not kill her that I can think of because there is nothing wonderful to recommend about Nora.

Hush, Hush is a rehash of Twilight plain and simple. Examples such as:

- Nora and Patch being partners in Bio class.
- Patch being dark, mysterious and dangerous, yet Nora can’t stay way.
- Nora lists attributes in regards to Patch much like Bella did with Edward, where she comes to these conclusions what Patch is.
- Nora is placed time and again in danger because of her own stupidity and her interactions and constant obsessing over Patch.

Need I go on?

Becca Fitzpatrick has written the complete opposite of what a healthy teenage romance should be. Patch is the perfect example of what an abusive near psycho boyfriend would be and Nora the weak, lost girl who thinks she is strong but isn’t. If I had to recommend a book to a young girl looking for a bad boy who is redeemed by love, Hush, Hush would never be mentioned.

I wish there was one positive thing I could say about Hush, Hush. I simply can’t. From the unbelievable actions of Nora and Vee to the near villain like tendencies of Patch, to the too many comparisons to count to Meyer’s Twilight, Hush, Hush belongs more as the musing of a fan fiction writer than a published novel that has no place in being read by impressionable young teens or the older audience who should know better to enjoy something like this. (Simon & Schuster)

Final Grade: D

Cover Alert! The Darkly Luminous Fight For Persephone Parker

Today is a great day to promote some great future releases! But first I give you this special cover announcement!

Leanna Renee Hieber has allowed me to be the first to post her cover for The Darkly Luminous Fight for Persephone Parker, the sequel to The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Percy Parker!

The Darkly Lumunous Fight For Persephone Parker (another mouthful of a title) will be released from Dorchester April 27, 2010

Here's the synopsis blurb:

With radiant, snow white skin and hair, Percy Parker was a beacon for Fate. True love had found her, in the tempestuous form of Professor Alexi Rychman. But her mythic destiny was not complete. Accompanying the ghosts with which she alone could converse, new and terrifying omens loomed. A war was coming, a desperate ploy of a spectral host. Victorian London would be overrun. Yet, Percy kept faith. Within the mighty bastion of Athens Academy, alongside The Guard whose magic shielded mortals from the agents of the Underworld, she counted herself among friends. Wreathed in hallowed fire, they would stand together, no matter what dreams or nightmares—might come.