Five Tips On Being Naked In Front of an Audience

You know those dreams where you show up for your first day of school or to give a presentation at work and you look down and realize you're naked? Yeah, those suck. But guess what?

Welcome to being an author.

Writing can be a pretty solitary career. We sit in our little writing caves and type up the stories we can't get out of our minds any other way. We drag out all of our life experiences, our vulnerabilities, our fears, our quirks and pepper our pages with it--whether we realize what we're doing or not. Our voice is us. Even if the story is about someone who is nothing like us or about something we've never experienced. We are naked on those pages.

And unlike most other careers, our goal is to expose that nakedness to others and subject ourselves to public judgment and ridicule.

That's a pretty brutal position to put yourself in. We know we have to have tough skin. And we do have it. We've been through the gauntlet of critique partners, query rejections and editor feedback. We know how to take constructive criticism.

However, once your writing is OUT THERE. Like for the general public to read and comment on, it's a whole different kind of naked. And I don't think any writer can be completely impervious to others commenting negatively about his or her work. Agents, editors, crit partners--we can deal with their opinion because we know they are coming from an informed viewpoint.

But when your story is out in the world--ANYONE can share their opinion. I can't tell you how many times I've seen reviews on Amazon where people have rated an erotic romance one star because "this book had graphic sex in it." Hello. Their are half-naked people on the cover. It's called EROTIC romance. By definition, the sex scenes are fully described using all the fun words.

Or someone will give a bad rating because the bookseller didn't ship their book on time--like that should have any bearing on the book itself. And on Goodreads, people can rate a book before there are even ARCs printed. They can rate the book when the manuscript is still scattered on the author's floor! (You can learn more about that here on Adventures in Children's Publishing.)

And as authors, there isn't much we can do about it. People can do what they want. They can tear down your book in mean-spirited, completely non-constructive way. They can post spoilers that give away the twists of your book. They can give completely inaccurate information. They can basically tell you that you look awful naked and that you should never take your clothes off with the lights on again.

And you have no control over that.

All you have control over is how you react. That's where you need to put your focus. I know that's what I'm going to try to concentrate on once my book it out. I've already suffered a mini-anxiety attack just putting up the first chapter of CRASH INTO YOU on my website. The reactions have all been positive so far, but it still felt like I was stripping in front of everyone, lol. That's the longest piece of my writing I've ever made public.

But anyway, here are a few tips once you've taken off your clothes in front of the world...

Tips on Being Naked In Front of an Audience AKA Being Published:

1. NEVER respond to negative reviews. Ever.

Okay? Don't do it. It makes you look petty and oversensitive. Just don't say anything at all. Or if you have to say something, say thank you for reviewing my book, sorry it wasn't for you.

2. Do not let a bad review ruin your day.

Most of the big reviewers will tell you that a bad review often sells as many books as a good one because people think--ooh, that sounds awful! I must see how awful it is for myself. (Then hopefully you surprise them.) It's the "Eww, this stinks. Smell this!" mentality.

3. If you find yourself being distracted or personally wounded by bad reviews, stop reading them.

This will be the hardest for me because I'm one of those people who wants to know--even if it's bad news. But if I ever feel like I'm getting brought down by the negativity, I will step away. 

4. Repeat after me: You can't please everybody.

This is the one I constantly have to remind myself of. Someone will hate your book, probably many someones. But others are going to love it! Your story is going to be some person's favorite book of the year. Think about those Oscar winning movies--how many times has something won a buttload of awards but you totally thought it sucked? Every story is not meant for everyone.

5. There's no such thing as bad press.

Okay, that's not true 100% of the time. If you make a jackass out of yourself publicly, that's not going to be good. But, in general, you'd rather people be talking about your book than not. Think how many people tear down Twilight. I bet many, many of those Twi-haters are first in line when each new movie comes out, if nothing else but to go in and laugh. Buzz is buzz.

So what do you think? How do you react to negative reviews or how do you think you will react? Will you have to read them or will you avoid reading reviews? What other tips would you add to this list? 

And if you'd like to see me "naked", you can go here and read my Chapter 1. Feel free to tell me what you think. I'm pretty tough. Mostly. ;) (Over 18 only, por favor.)

Fill-Me-In Friday

Howdy, y'all! : ) I feel like I haven't talked to you guys all week with all the awesome guest posts. Hope you enjoyed them.

All right, now it's time for the weekly links round up where I fill you in on what you may have missed and you can feel free to fill me in via the comments on your favorite post of the week. 

A few of you have asked me how I find the posts that I put up here--i.e. when do I find time to go through my google reader when we all are suffering from blog overload. Well, to be honest, it's as simple as this--I pretty much only read blogs these days that I see links to via Twitter. 

I rarely have time to go through my reader lately, so I'm left with "bright, shiny link" method. Meaning, as I see post titles pop up on Twitter, I go--ooh, that sounds cool, and click over. Then when I come across ones that I want to share with you guys I use my Feedly toolbar to click "save for later". Then at the end of the week, I have this nice page I can go to that has a list of all the ones I've saved. If you're not using Feedly, I highly recommend it.

Anyway, on to the links!

On Writing: 


What Does Your Author Bio Say About You? by Jami Gold

10 Twitter Hashtags for Writers at Publishing Talk

Why Query Letters Matter by Tawna Fenske (I so agree with this)

Are You Wasting Your Time Trying to Get Published? by Jane Friedman of Writer's Digest

Why Every Author Needs to Know About Cover Design--Even If You're Not Self-Publishing at BubbleCow

Eve Berlin on Research and Writing Sex via Genreality

How To Get an MFA in Five Steps at Glass Cases (I don't totally agree with everything she says--particularly that you can't learn anything you don't know about writing from reading non-literary books. But there are some good tips in there otherwise.)

Building a Facebook Fan Page by Ebook Endeavors  (cool tip on how to create a welcome screen for your fan page)

On the Author Blog:

Shameless Saturday with Guest Author Dianne Venetta (talking about shameless flirting)

Boyfriend of the Week: Ryan Reynolds

Seven Things That Make a Book 5-Star Worthy

So those are some of my favorites of the week, what were some of yours? And how do you decide which blogs to read? Do you use a reader, email subscriptions, bright-and-shiny Twitter method? I'm curious to know.




Hope y'all have a great weekend!

Tweet All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

The Book Review Debate (and Some Announcements!)

Last Friday I did a post on writers nitpicking other writers. This post resonated with many of you and raised opposition in others. Some debating went on in the comments, which was great because I always love a good debate. And one of the topics that ended up being debated more in the comments than the actual nitpicking I was talking about was the question of whether or not writers should post negative book reviews.

Some of you choose to do this and say that a) you have a right to your opinion (you do) and that b) you do it in a constructive way (awesome) and that c) you think it provides a service to readers (it does)

However, even with all those points, I personally chose to stop reviewing books on this blog a long time ago and only talk about books online that I enjoyed. If I didn't like something, I discuss it with my friends, not publicly. I just don't mention it publicly at all. (I will never ever promote something that I didn't enjoy just to be nice for the record.)

So why did I make that decision to not post negative reviews?

1. The writing world is SMALL. 

The writer you one-star today may be the writer...sitting next to you at your next writers' meeting, may one day share an agent/editor/publisher with you, may be someone you have to do a workshop with, may be someone who's asked to blurb your book, etc. (Oh, and writers set up google alerts, so anything with their name will show up in their inbox. So don't assume some bestselling author won't read your blog.)

2. Agents and editors google you.

Say an agent or editor is on a fence about your manuscript. They decide to google you to see your web presence (because believe me, they do this, promise). Your website pops up and you have a one-star review talking about one of their client's books or one of the books they edited. You go on about plot holes and a TSTL heroine. Well, you've just told that editor that they don't know how to edit. SO, even if you were constructive in your review, do you think they're going to be as jazzed about working with you? They may think--well, our styles/visions may not mesh.

3. Usually, you don't see bestselling authors reviewing other people's books on their sites.

I take this as a here's-your-sign moment. Why aren't they doing this? It's not because they aren't reading. And it's not even because they don't have time. It's probably because they know better. You don't see other actors critiquing their fellow actors performance in a movie. There are movie critics and movie watchers to do that. It's kind of like peeing in your neighbor's backyard. It's just not wise.

4. The possible consequences do not outweigh the benefit (for me). 

If I save thirty people from buying a bad book, is that worth risking all the above stuff to do so? For me, no. There are wonderful book review sites and blogs out there. I'm a regular reader of Smart Bitches, Trashy Books; Dear Author; and RT Book Reviews. People can find out professional opinions on what someone thought of a book. There are already people providing this service and I don't need it to be me.

So if you still really, really want to do both positive and negative reviews of books online, what are some things to consider?

1. Don't say anything you wouldn't say to that author's face, to their agent, and to their editor.

And I mean REALLY think about if you were standing in front of that author and you're Ms. or Mr. Newbie Writer and they are Ms. or Mr. Successful Author or the editor you're pitching at a conference. Would you have the balls to say what you said online directly to them. If the answer is no, then don't put it online.

2. Consider a pen name.

This is an option that might solve the issue. You can write under your writer name and then have a website where you are BookGirl or something and can review as honestly as you want.

3. Make sure the benefit of what you're doing outweighs the possible consequences.

Determine what you are getting and giving by doing the reviews. Do you have a large enough platform that you are really helping readers? Are you getting good publicity for yourself by doing reviews?

Alright, so that's my take. Like I said in the comments, I have no issues with writers doing constructive, honest reviews, I'm just sharing why I personally have decided not to do them.

Now a few announcements....

• Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of Leah Peterson's 5-minute Fiction Challenge. And I am the guest judging the entries! Prizes are involved. Go check it out and enter!

• And, if you live in the DFW area, I will be speaking at a FREE writer's workshop in Denton, TX on Saturday June 4th. Kristen Lamb, social media guru, will also be speaking. To register, please go here. Here's my workshop description:

• Hooks, Queries, and Closing the Deal -- Strategies on crafting a killer query, determining if your story is high concept, and what to do when you get THE CALL (after you totally freak out, of course.)

Alright, so what do you think of the whole book reviewing debate? And are any of you out there planning  attend tomorrow's 5 minute fiction or the workshop in Denton?

Book Are Not Babies: Should You Post Bad Reviews?

Photo by comedy_nose

Last weekend the first ever RomCon, a convention for romance readers, was held in Colorado.  I didn't have the pleasure of going, but I did follow the hashtag on Twitter of people who were attending and got some play by play of some of the sessions.  (This is why if you're not on Twitter, you need to get on it.  You never know what kind of interesting conversations and helpful information you're going to find.  If you want to follow me, you can click the button in my sidebar.)

One of the hot topics that ended up burning up the tweets was the issue of book reviews.  Apparently, there was a panel at the convention on how readers can help authors.  Authors talked about Amazon and how if you like a book, take the time to review it on there.  But the issue of bad reviews also came up.

Some authors argued that no book should get one star because shouldn't they at least get two stars for the effort of completing a book?  The adage books are our babies came up as well.  Well, many of the people tweeting were book bloggers and got a little annoyed with these statements.  Some said, that no, you don't get stars for effort--they've spent their hard-earned money on the book and expect an enjoyable experience.  They also insisted book are NOT babies, but are a product that you are SELLING.  (They even started a hashtag #booksarenotbabies to point out all the ways they are different--hilarious.  For instance, you can't tuck a baby under the bed if you create a bad one.)

Authors also said that negative reviews should be constructive so that the author can learn what not to do next time.  However, book bloggers responded that this is not their job--they are not the editor, critique partner, beta reader.  They are the consumer.

So, what do you think?  I personally don't do bad reviews on here or post bad reviews on Amazon.  I'm a big believer in karma and if I don't like something, I just move on.  Now, if I loved something, I do review it, tweet it, and tell friends.

However, I do feel that book bloggers and readers should have the right to give their opinion--good, bad, or indifferent.  I read reviews on Amazon before I buy a book and I do put stock in them.  I appreciate when someone reviews honestly (although I tend to ignore 1 star ratings because those people usually are ranting.)  I also don't think anyone has the obligation to be constructive.  Don't be ugly and personally insulting, but it's okay to say how you feel.

Whenever I get published (see, still trying to do positive thinking), I hope that I will be able to take the range of opinions in stride.  We can't please everyone all the time.  All we can do is write the best book we can and go from there.

So what's your opinion?  Should the reader consider how a bad review will affect the author?  Should reviews be constructive?  And just for laughs, how are book different from babies?  (My fave was from an author who said something to the affect of "Call my daughter a tramp, I'm sharpening a shank.  Call my heroine a tramp, I'm making promotional buttons!")

**Today's Theme Song**

"Don't Treat Me Bad" - Firehouse

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

Gone: A Review

Title: Gone (Book 3 of Wake trilogy)

Author: Lisa McMann

Genre: Paranormal YA

Heat level: Toasty 

Rating: ★★★★

Back Cover (from Amazon):

Things should be great for Janie--she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she's totally in love with. But deep down she's panicking about how she's going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people's dreams is really starting to take its toll. Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time--and he's in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

REVIEW:

I've mentioned this series before.  This is the third book, so if you haven't read any, you need to start with Wake and Fade, then go to this one.  They are superfast reads not just because of the suck-you-in plot, but because of Lisa McMann's unique writing style.  She's one of those who has figured out how to break the rules and make it work.  Her sentences are short and choppy much of the time.  And there is *gasp* some telling instead of showing.  But it works amazingly.  Her stark writing style makes for a breakneck pace and high tension.  Here's an example from Gone:

     6:29 p.m

     Voicemails.

     From Carrie.  Five of them.

     And they're bad.

     Janie listens, incredulous.  Listens again, stunned.

Things that rocked:

• The story jumped into the action, there wasn't a lot of catching the reader up from the previous book.
• The relationship between Janie and Cabel is both mature yet believable for two teens who have lived tough lives.
• The drama is gut-wrenching, heavy stuff - no lighthearted conflict here (not that I mind that, but it's a nice change from a lot of YA.)
• This is a paranormal, but doesn't feel that way.  You almost start to view Janie's dream catcher abilities as if she has a disease.
• Love Cabel - He's not perfect, he's not described as this gorgeous guy, he's a normal guy who treats Janie with respect, understanding, and patience.  I think he presents a good model for teen girls - look for a guy who treats you with that kind of care and concern.
• The characters are realistic.  They curse (although not gratuitously) and there is sex (but it is the "fade to black" kind and it is not portrayed as this big, all-encompassing part of their relationship.)  I think both of those decisions fit for two older teens who have grown up basically on their own their whole lives.
• I felt satisfied with an ending that wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, which is hard to do.  I'm a HEA girl, but Lisa McMann wrote the ending that was needed for this book - bittersweet.

Favorite Quotes:

     In the cool dark basement, she whispers, "It's not Ralph, is it?"

     Cabel's quiet for a moment, as if he's thinking.  "You mean like Forever Ralph?  Uh, no."

     "You've read Forever?" Janie is incredulous.

     

     "There wasn't much to choose from on the hospital library cart, and Deenie was always checked out," Cabel says sarcastically.

Overall: 

Obviously, I'm a fan.  If you haven't read these, pick up the series.  You'll fly through them.  They are very different from the other stuff out there.  So go forth and read!

Have you read these?  What books have you read that broke rules effectively?  

*Today's Theme Song**

"Already Gone" - Kelly Clarkson

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen)

First Annual You Rock! Book Awards: My Picks for 2009

It's been a busy reading year for me, so I thought today I would share my top picks for a number of different categories.  Not all these books were necessarily published in 2009 because, well, I'm not going look up publishing dates, I do have my research limits.  :)  But I did read them all in 2009, so that should count for something, right?  If I reviewed the book on here, then I have provided the link next to the title.

So now for the first annual Fiction Groupie You Rock! Book Awards...

BEST YOUNG ADULT SERIES

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare (my review here)

The Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead (my review here)

The Wake Series by Lisa McMann (my review here)

HONORABLE MENTIONS

The Uglies Series by Scott Westerfeld (my review here)

The Marked Series by PC & Kristin Cast (review here and here)

BEST SINGLE TITLE YA

13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher (my review here)

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

BEST "SWEET" YA

Dairy Queen by Catherine Murdock

The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart

BEST ROMANCE

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (review)

Freudian Slip by Erica Orloff (review)

Make Me Yours by Betina Krahn (review)

BEST PARANORMAL ROMANCE

The Sookie Stackhouse/True Blood series by Charlaine Harris (review)

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon (review)

BEST EROTIC ROMANCE

Laid Bare by Lauren Dane

Wicked Ties and Decadent by Shayla Black (review)

The Sweet Series by Maya Banks (review)

BEST WRITING BOOKS

On Writing by Stephen King

Make a Scene by Jordan Rosenfeld

Hooked by Les Edgerton

Your First Novel by Ann Rittenberg and Laura Whitcomb

The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maass

Alright, those are my picks.  So what about you?  Are any of these your favorites, too?  And what are some of your top picks that you've read this year?


 
 

**Today's Theme Song**

"The Best of You" - Foo Fighters

(player in sidebar, take a listen)

 

Vampire Academy Series: Review and Lesson Learned

We've talked a lot about beginnings, about how you need to hook your reader in the first line/chapter/fifty pages. We've even talked about what page is your cut off point on giving up on a book if it's not doing it for you. I've admitted I'm a chronic finisher. I have a hard time giving up on a book, always holding out hope that I'll like it in the end.

Well, for this series, I did just that. Book one of Vampire Academy didn't really do it for me. The main character was kind of harsh and brash. I had trouble connecting with her. The story was entertaining, but nothing that really drew me in. So, I finished the book, but really had no interest in continuing on with the series. That was about a year ago.

Then I started hearing all the buzz about these books and seeing all the positive reviews on fellow bloggers sites--bloggers who typically have similar tastes to me. So, finally about two weeks ago, I gave in. I decided to give the series one more book to hook me--feeling like the girl who's giving that guy I broke up with one last chance. And boy, was I surprised.

I'm officially in love! Richelle Mead, I'm sorry I doubted the awesomeness of your books. The next three books drew me in and held me hostage. I couldn't put the damn things down and now am so annoyed that I have to wait until freaking May for the next installment. *heavy sigh*

Okay, so now for the official review...

Title: The Vampire Academy Series (Books 1-4)

Author: Richelle Mead

Genre: YA

Heat level: Hot

Rating:

 Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy, Book 1) ★★★

Frostbite (Vampire Academy, Book 2) ★★★★
Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academy, Book 3) ★★★★★
Blood Promise (Vampire Academy, Book 4) ★★★★★

Back Cover Book 1(from Amazon):

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

REVIEW:

Things that rocked:

• This is a different take and mythology than most vamp stories. The MC is not a vampire but a dhampir who protects the "good" vampires from the bad ones.

• Rose is a really funny narrator. Like I mentioned it took me until the second book to warm up to her, but once I did, I really loved the character and she makes me laugh out loud at times.

• All aspects of the plot are really engaging. Many times I find myself just hooked by the romance element of a story and not as drawn in by the external plot (think Twilight) but that is not the case with these. With all the action and kicking butt in these, I think even dudes could enjoy this series.

• Having said the above point, the romance part of this story is epic and so worth the price of admission.

• Each book has a solid story that never feels like filler or like she's trying to drag the series out.

• All the main players in the stories are so well-developed. It's not often that I read a book and feel genuinely drawn in by so many different characters.

• It's not about vampires being sexy. In fact, the MC has more interest in dating her own kind than a vamp.

• The love interest is oh-so-yummy and not at all the stereotypical hero for a YA. He's not even a bad boy--although he is badass. :)

• The author is not afraid to make some decisions that break the reader's heart.

• I finished these days ago and am still thinking about the story.

Sour notes:

• As I mentioned, the first book did not totally hook me because I didn't fully connect with Rose by the end of it. But keep reading!

• The occasional language and love/sex scene make this more of an older teen read. Not truly a sour note for me, but something to be aware of if you're a parent.

• Hmm, seriously, I'm having trouble thinking of others. Maybe these books are laced with crack. I'm in a post-reading high.

Favorite Quotes:

"I know how devastated you must be to miss me, but leave a message, and I'll try to ease your agony." --Adrian's phone message, Blood Promise

"Even I make mistakes." I put on my brash, overconfident face. "I know it's hard to believe--kind of surprises me myself--but I guess it has to happen. It's probably some karmic way to balance out the universe. Otherwise, it wouldn't be fair to have one person so full of awesomeness." --Rose, Shadow Kiss

"No one ever called me unnatural before, except for the time I put ketchup on a taco. But seriously, we'd been out of salsa, what else was I supposed to do?" --Rose, Blood Promise

"What's up?" I asked

"You tell me," (Christian) he said. "You were the one about ready to start making out with Adrian."

"It was an experiment," I said. "It was part of my therapy."

What the hell kind of therapy are you in?"

--Rose and Christian, Shadow Kiss

"I'd said it before: Alive or undead, the love of my life was a badass." --Rose, Blood Promise

Overall: If I haven't made it clear yet, I loved these books. They have now surpassed a lot of other YA series for me. I'm thinking this series and Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series are right at the top now. I am so thankful for the other blogger's reviews that inspired me to give the second book a try. Sometimes it pays off to be that girl who doesn't break up with a book too early.

So has anyone else read this series, what did you think? Have you ever kept reading a series even though you weren't fully hooked by book one?

**Today's Theme Song**
"Love Bites" - Def Lepard

(player in sidebar if you'd like a listen)

The Vampire Diaries (Books & Show): A Review

Title: The Vampire Diaries: (The Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle and The Vampire Diaries: The Fury and Dark Reunion

Author: LJ Smith

Genre: Paranormal YA
 

Heat level: Sweet (although I'm convinced the blood exchange is a metaphor for sex)

Rating: ★★★3/4
 

Back Cover (from Amazon):

Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.

REVIEW:

First, let me say that I started watching this series on the CW before I read the books--a rarity for me. I usually make a point to read things before I watch them. But this time I was all like...I need a vampire reading break, I don't need to read these, I'll just check out the show. Yeah, okay, that didn't work. I ended up liking the show and that little nagging part of my brain kept whispering, "If you like the show, imagine how good the books must be. Books are always better..." So one day at Target I bought the first book on impulse even though my To Be Read pile was already daunting. A week and four books later, I poked my head up and was like--wait, I should probably sleep, right?

Things that rocked:

• The story moves fast and kept me turning pages.
• It reminded me of old school YA from my day. The story was definitely not as intricate and sophisticated as what you find in YA right now, but that was almost refreshing. A nice, linear fast read.
• I ♥ Damon. Love a good bad boy (and thanks to the show, I had a lovely picture of him in my head already. Ian Sommerhalder is yummy goodness.)

 

• Stefan, the hero, is pretty nice to read about and look at too...

 

• Noticing all the Twilight similarities was kind of fun (and for those of you who don't know, these were written way before and there have been some conspiracy theories that Stephanie Meyer lifted some of her story from these. The stories were different enough for me and as you know nothing hasn't been done before, but you can see the parallels if you're looking for them.)
• Although cliffhangers sometimes annoy me, the ones in these books were definitely effective. And by the fourth book, you have some wrap up (although there are more books that follow.)

Sour notes:

• The 90s were apparently a time of kinder, gentler editors because LJ was able to get away with phrases like "she looked around the room interestedly" and "the fired burned smokily." Seriously.
• Like many YA books, the main characters fell in love super quick, which is fine is the build up was believable. But here, it seemed a bit too quick. I understand a crush is fast, but "in love" should take a little more time.
• The chemistry between Stefan and Elena was a little lackluster. This is where the show does a better job.
• The fourth book seemed a little Scooby Doo in the sense that they were running around as a group trying to save the big bad mystery.
• I wanted to see more of Damon--show does a better job here too.

Overall: Okay, I am going to do something unprecedented. I am going to recommend that you watch a few episodes of the TV show first, then read the books. *GASP* I know, must be a frosty day in hell. But having seen the show first actually enriched the books for me. I already had a good sense of the characters going in and I think that helped, for instance, with Elena and Stefan's quick developing relationship. Also, Elena in the book is blonde, bubbly, and a bit shallow (at first) whereas in the show she's dark-haired and much more serious and likeable. So no matter what the book said, I was picturing show Elena.
 
But wait, you say, I've already missed all those episodes of the show, I'll never catch up! Well, have no fear, the CW has your back (I've found this to be true in almost all crisis situations). This coming Monday they start a Vampire Diaries marathon week where they will replay all the episodes. Go check it out then pick up the books. And warning--get both volume one and two which contain the first four books. You want to be prepared when you reach those cliffhangers.

So are any of you watching the show? Have you read these books? What do you think of either? And have you ever had a show/movie trump the book?

**Today's Theme Song**
"Once Bitten, Twice Shy" - Great White

(player in sidebar if you'd like a listen)

Face Off Friday: Honest Reviews vs. Selective Reviews

Honesty is the best policy, right? That's what we're told when we're growing up. You won't get in trouble if your tell the truth. However, after the first time we tell our friend that the side ponytail she's rocking makes her ears look elfin (I grew up in the 80s--for my younger friends, side ponytails were the way to win friends and influence people), we learn that there are caveats to this honesty thing. Tact and good judgement have to be a part of it.

So where does this fall when doing book reviews? People read a book review because they want an honest opinion to know if they should read the book or not. If the reviewer is just saying he/she liked it because the author gave them a free ARC or they know the author or the author agreed to do an interview with them or they're afraid to insult the author, then the reviews are not honest. Therefore, the reviews on that site are unreliable. So reviewers should be completely honest then, right?

Well, maybe, but then there's karma. It may be because I am a writer, but throwing another writers work under the bus makes me feel icky. I know how much I slave over every word and I'm sure that author did the same. Telling other people not to buy their work shrouds me in guilt. Plus, I worry that if I'm ever lucky enough to get published, karma will wield her crafty hand and have reviewers or other authors lambasting me.

But if I don't like a book, what should I do? I won't lie. It's not in me. I'm the girl who created this elaborate plan to sleep at her boyfriend's house on prom night, only to call my mother at seven the next morning to admit it. (You should have seen the horrified look on my boyfriend's face as I made that call.) My mom has actually told me that I have a truth problem, that sometimes lying is necessary, lol.

So what's a girl to do? My policy thus far has been to follow the credo of "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all." If a book receives less than three stars, I don't review it online. But is that the right thing to do? Here's the argument:

Brutal Honesty v. Selective Reviewing

The truth hurts, but it's the truth...

• Honest reviews will build trust among your followers

• You'll save people from spending hard earned money on a crappy book

• Authors are adults and can handle a tough review. Heck, maybe it will make them better the next time if the reviews are universally bad.

• People often enjoy debating and commenting on a negative review

If you don't have something nice to say, don't...

• If you're a writer and eventually get published, these writers will be your peer group and the internet has a long memory

• Agents have said they don't appreciate if they go on a site and a writer is dogging out one of their author's books

• Karma's a bitch

• The only thing a negative review does is cut into someone else's income

So what's your opinion? I've gone with the selective reviewing policy, but see the merits in both sides. Do you think I'm just lying by omission? What's your policy?

**Today's Theme Song**

"A Beautiful Lie" - 30 Seconds to Mars

(player in sidebar--go ahead, take a listen to the lovely Jared Leto)

Outlander: A Review (finally!)

Title: Outlander

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Genre: Historical Romance/Time Travel

Rating: ★★★★

Back Cover (from Amazon):

The year is 1945 and Claire Beauchamp Randall, a former British combat nurse, is on holiday in Scotland with her husband, looking forward to becoming reacquainted after the war's long separation. Like most practical women, Claire hardly expects her curiosity to get the better of her. But an ancient stone circle near her lodgings holds an eerie fascination, and when she innocently touches one of the giant boulders, she's hurtled backward in time more than two hundred years, to 1743.

Alone where no lady should be alone, and far from the familiar comforts of her other life, Claire's usual resourcefulness is tested to the limit. The merciless garrison captain so feared by others bears an uncanny resemblance to the husband she has just left behind. Her own odd circumstances expose her to accusations of witchcraft. And the strands of a political intrigue she doesn't understand threaten to ensnare her at every turn.

But of all the perils her new life holds, none is more disquieting than her growing feelings for James Fraser, the gallant young Scot she is forced to marry for her own protection. Sworn by his wedding vows to keep her from harm, Jamie's passion for Claire goes beyond duty. As she struggles with the memories of another lifetime, she is forced to make an agonizing and fateful choice, and learns ultimately that a man's instinct to protect the woman he loves is as old as time.

REVIEW:

Okay, so I'm sure you guys have noticed Outlander sitting in my "Reading Right Now" window of my sidebar for what seems like forever. This book is LONG--650 pages. I am not one that has a problem with a long book. (One of my favorite books ever, It by Stephen King, is 1000 pages if I remember right.) However, this is the first book I read on my new Kindle and not being able to see the dent in pages as I read made it seem longer.

If I'm completely honest, there were points in this book that I wanted to stop. I would be right there, ready to quit, then the action would pick up and I would stick with it again. I am one of those people that hates to not finish a book. It pains me. This book has a huge following and I have heard so many people recommend it, so I felt like I needed to push through.

So was it worth it? Totally. The characters are wonderful and the love (and banter) between Claire and Jamie is epic, for lack of a better word. After staying in their story so long, I feel like they are family members. I told my husband to not be surprised if I started answering questions with "Aye" and calling my son a "bairn" or "wee laddie" because I felt like I had been living in the Scottish highlands for weeks, lol.

Things that made me happy:

--The male protagonist, Jamie, is such a great character. He's not a bad boy. He's tough, stoic, and fiercely loyal. But also very sweet (and innocent in many ways). It makes him beyond endearing, not to mention sexy.

--Claire is a tough chick is can go toe to toe with the tough highlanders. The banter between her and Jamie made me laugh out loud at times.

--Even though this is a series, it did not end on a huge cliffhanger. Some things were untied, but the end was very satisfying. If after 700 pages, I landed on some major unfinished business, I would have been more than a little peeved.

--I felt like I visited another place in time. This was my very first historical romance, so I didn't know what to expect. But in the end, it was if I had taken a journey.

Things I didn't love:

--This book did not need to be this long. Many things could have been cut. Descriptions could go on a little long. I skimmed a lot of those pages.

--The beginning was slow, then there were a number of points in the book that dragged.

--Keeping up with all the different plots, historical references, and political intrigue was a bit difficult at times

--Sometimes the fact that the two got caught in so many bad situations was a bit unbelievable. It's like the first season of the show 24 when Keifer Sutherland's daughter kept getting herself in trouble--"what terrorist is Kim going to get captured by this week?"

Favorite Quotes:

"No wonder he was so good with horses, I thought blearily, feeling his fingers rubbing gently behind my ears, listening to the soothing, incomprehensible speech. If I were a horse, I’d let him ride me anywhere." --Claire

"Murtagh was right about women. Sassenach, I risked my life for ye, committing theft, arson, assault, and murder into the bargain. In return for which ye call me names, insult my manhood, kick me in the ballocks and claw my face. Then I beat you half to death and tell ye all the most humiliating things that have ever happened to me, and ye say ye love me." He laid his head on his knees and laughed some more. Finally he rose and held out a hand to me, wiping his eyes with the other. "You're no verra sensible, Sassenach, but I like ye fine." --Jamie

Overall: Do I recommend this? Aye. (Sorry couldn't resist.) I think this is a winner. I fell in love with the characters and am tempted to go on to the next in the series (which I think is 880 pages, whew). Although, I will need a break. This book has convinced me that I need to open up my mind to historical romance, something I never gravitated toward before.

Have any of you read this? If so, what are your thoughts? What's your favorite historical romance?

The Mortal Instruments Series: Review

Titles: City of Bones (Mortal Instruments) , City of Ashes, City of Glass

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA Urban Fantasy

Rating: ★★★★★

Back Cover: Their hidden world is about to be revealed....

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Clary knows she should call the police, but it's hard to explain a murder when the body disappears into thin air and the murderers are invisible to everyone but Clary.

Equally startled by her ability to see them, the murderers explain themselves as Shadowhunters: a secret tribe of warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. Within twenty-four hours, Clary's mother disappears and Clary herself is almost killed by a grotesque demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know....

Things that made me happy:

-Jace (the male protagonist/romantic interest) made the series worth reading for me. He was super sarcastic, overconfident, passionate, and tortured. A great combination of the "I've always been pretty" and the "wounded soul" bad boy that I spoke about in a previous post. I would take Jace over Edward Cullen of Twilight any day.

--Romantic tension was kept taut throughout the book. When a book has me on edge just anticipating a simple kiss, that's awesome.

--Great secondary characters, especially Simon and Magnus Bane

--Funny dialogue with laugh out loud moments

--creative world building

--the middle book didn't sag like some other trilogies I've read.

Things that I didn't love:

--There were many similarities to Harry Potter that were hard to overlook

--There was A LOT of description, some great at giving a sense of place, some completely unnecessary and tedious. There also were a number of backstories that were not needed. (This may be because the author is writing a prequel trilogy and needed to plant seeds for that.) I found myself skimming a lot of paragraphs to get to the action.

Favorite Quotes:

"Jace reminds me of an old boyfriend. Some guys look at you like they want sex. Jace looks at you like you've already had sex, it was great, and now you're just friends--even though you want more. Drives girls crazy." --Maia, City of Ashes

"You had to make a crazy jail friend, didn't you? You couldn't just count ceiling tiles or tame a pet mouse like normal prisoners do?" --Jace, City of Glass

Overall:

Despite some flaws, I based my rating on my all-consuming need to finish the books as soon as possible and my love for the Jace character. I am a mom with a child who isn't a great sleeper. Therefore, sleep is a precious commodity in my household. I stayed up last night until 2am because I couldn't put City of Glass down. That should tell you all you need to know.

My Top YA Picks from the last 6 months

My plan is to review one book per post so that I can give each book proper attention. However, as I work through finishing the first book I plan to officially review, I thought I would touch on my favorites from my past six months. Because there were some great ones. I'll tackle my YA picks first and cover the "grown-up" genres another day. These are the ones that stood out amongst the pile (i.e. garnered a 4 or 5 star rating on the groupie scale):

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Back cover: Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker--his classmate and crush--who committed suicide two weeks earlier.

On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list.

Okay, so for a girl who loves a happy ending, this didn't have one. BUT you know that this novel is about suicide upfront, so you're prepared for it, which makes all the difference. This story drew me in immediately and never let me go. Having worked with teens who were considering suicide, this novel was especially poignant for me. It reminded me how a few little missteps, comments from peers, turns in the wrong direction, and misunderstandings can sent a vulnerable teen spiraling downward. Great read for adults and teens. ★★★★★

Wake

and Fade (Wake, Book 2) by Lisa McMann

Back cover:

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

As a reader (and writer) I'm not a huge fan of long, drawn out descriptions. I don't need to know every detail of the room. Only tell me about the curtains if they're going to be used later to wrap up a body or something. I find myself skimming those passages in many novels. But, I also want to get a sense of place in a story. So, I often find myself struggling in my own writing on how much descriptive detail to provide. This is why I am so impressed with Lisa McMann's novels. The book is chunked into small time dated passages that contain hardly any detailed descriptions, but somehow she provides exactly what you need. I have a crystal clear picture of the action in my head and the action is constantly moving forward. No stopping to smell the roses. Prepare to read these in a single sitting. They are hard to put down. ★★★★★

Marked (House of Night, Book 1)

by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Product Description (Amazon.com):

The House of Night series is set in a world very much like our own, except in 16-year-old Zoey Redbird's world, vampyres have always existed. In this first book in the series, Zoey enters the House of Night, a school where, after having undergone the Change, she will train to become an adult vampire--that is, if she makes it through the Change. Not all of those who are chosen do. It’s tough to begin a new life, away from her parents and friends, and on top of that, Zoey finds she is no average fledgling. She has been Marked as special by the vampyre Goddess, Nyx. But she is not the only fledgling at the House of Night with special powers. When she discovers that the leader of the Dark Daughters, the school's most elite club, is misusing her Goddess-given gifts, Zoey must look deep within herself for the courage to embrace her destiny--with a little help from her new vampyre friends.

I love this series. It's bestselling and on every Target shelf, so I won't go into a long review. Just know that if you like fun, sexy, dark, vampy books, you won't be disappointed with these. ★★★★★

Prom Dates from Hell (Maggie Quinn: Girl vs Evil, Book 1) series by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Back cover: Maggie Quinn, Girl reporter. Honors student, newspaper staffer, yearbook photographer. Six weeks from graduation and all she wants to do is get out of Avalon High in one piece. Fate seems to have different plans for her.

High school may be a natural breeding ground for evil, but the scent of fire and brimstone is still a little out of the ordinary. It's the distinct smell of sulfur that makes Maggie suspect that something's a bit off. And when realTwilight Zone stuff starts happening to the school's ruling clique—the athletic elite and the head cheerleader and her minions, all of whom happen to be named Jessica—Maggie realizes it's up to her to get in touch with her inner Nancy Drew and ferret out who unleashed the ancient evil before all hell breaks loose.

Maggie has always suspected that prom is the work of the devil, but it looks like her attendance will be mandatory. Sometimes a girl's got to do some pretty undesirable things if she wants to save her town from soul-crushing demons from hell and the cheerleading squad.

Maggie Quinn is the girl I'd want to be if I were ever forced to attend high school again--the girl who always has the best sarcastic remark for the moment. The writing is laugh out loud funny and fast-paced. There's even a little dash of romance (which further develops in book two Hell Week) for those of us who like that kind of thing. :) Added bonus: the monsters/demons are actually bad, not the love interest! Imagine that. ★★★★

Uglies (Uglies Trilogy, Book 1) by Scott Westerfeld

Back Cover: Everybody gets to be supermodel gorgeous. What could be wrong with that?

Tally is about to turn sixteen, and she can't wait. Not for her license -- for turning pretty. In Tally's world, your sixteenth birthday brings an operation that turns you from a repellent ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and catapults you into a high-tech paradise where your only job is to have a really great time. In just a few weeks Tally will be there.

But Tally's new friend Shay isn't sure she wants to be pretty. She'd rather risk life on the outside. When Shay runs away, Tally learns about a whole new side of the pretty world -- and it isn't very pretty. The authorities offer Tally the worst choice she can imagine: find her friend and turn her in, or never turn pretty at all. The choice Tally makes changes her world forever.

Westerfeld creates a dystopian world that seems on many levels frighteningly possible--a

world where everyone is surgically changed to be "pretty" when they turn sixteen so that all are

equal. This series has a little bit of everything: sci-fi, adventure, romance, and warnings about

the direction our current society is headed in. Although, for me, the series dragged a little in the

middle with a bit too much hoverboarding descriptions for my tastes, the journey was well

worth it. ★★★★

That's my list. What's yours? I would love to hear some of your recommendations or

opinions on my choices. Drop a comment and let me know.

Why do you read what you read?

As I start this blog, I found myself wondering how I became such a book-obsessed dork and why I prefer certain types of stories to others. Looking back, I've decided that reading development is kind of like that Plinko game from the Price is Right--certain people and book experiences bump you in one direction or the other. Some of us land in the $5000 slot and become lifelong readers of every type of book, others land in zero and miss out completely, and many of us fall somewhere in between finding a particular reading niche. Here's how my Plinko game went:

4th grade: Inspired by my mother's love of mystery novels, I start reading James Howe's Bunnicula: A Rabbit-Tale of Mystery series and Betty Ren Wright's The Dollhouse Murders .

Result: A love of stories that scare me and make me laugh. This also leads to me being convinced that my room is haunted by an evil stuffed monkey that has sat on my shelf since toddlerhood. Monkey gets evicted to the attic, I sleep on the couch for six months (seriously.)

5th grade: My teacher, Mrs. Hymel, starts reading a chapter a day of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time to the class. I'm hooked. I go to the library to get the book because I can't tolerate waiting for her to finish. I proceed to read the rest of the series in rapid succession. When I'm finished with those, I move on to The Neverending Story by Michael Ende

Result: My love for both fantasy and series books is planted.

6th grade: We're assigned to read Where the Red Fern Grows

and Bridge to Terabithia . Amazing literary books. But both tore me to shreds. I had just lost my grandmother who I was extremely close to and books involving deaths just shattered me.

Result: I develop a respect but also a wariness for literary fiction. In addition, I acquire a lifelong aversion to novels that kill off the dog. I go on a binge of R.L. Stine horror books (such as The Baby-Sitter (Point Horror Series)

)and Roald Dahl instead. I also began to indulge my budding interest in the paranormal. My science fair projects for this year: ESP and Poltergeists.

9th grade: I dig through my mom's book collection and pull out V.C. Andrews' Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind . These books were depressing, full of drama, gothic, darkly romantic, and totally addictive. But why do I remember these? Because in the second book there was (wait for it) sex. Gasp. I was a very naive at fourteen and found this to be so scandalous. This is the first time I remember hiding the spine of the book while I was reading in public just in case. Of course, I went on to read like twenty more books by Ms. Andrews.

Result: Discover that romance + sexy + darkness = awesomeness

10th grade: I realize that most of my favorite horror movies started as books. I go through a Stephen King and Anne Rice phase. I also read a "based on true events" book called The Black Hope Horror: The True Story of a Haunting that scares the bejesus out of me. I have to remove the book from my room at night so I can sleep.

Result: Decide psychics, monsters, vampires, and ghosts are by far way cooler than normal humans.

9th grade-12th grade: My teachers beat us over the head with the classics because that's their job. I know now these books are works of art, masterpieces, etc. But as a teenager, I thought all of them (outside of Shakespeare and Poe) were big giant suckfests.

Result: I raise the stock of the Cliff Notes company (allowing me to ace all English tests and papers) and am further turned off by the term "literary."

And what do I do with the time I should be using to read my assigned books? I write my own romance novel because clearly there is no chance of actual romantic interludes in my own angsty life. A hundred and fifty typed pages of sappy teenage indulgence is born and titled Kismet. My male protagonist bears a striking resemblance to Joe McIntyre of New Kids on the Block.

College: I start off with a double major: Psyc and English, but feel overwhelmed. I drop English because it's not as "practical", but still sneak in a few classes. LSU offers a Vampires in Literature class. How frigging cool is that? Not only do I get the chance to read stacks of vamp novels, I get the chance to write short stories about them, too.

Result: Regret dropping the English major. Promise myself that once I get settled in my psychology career, I will try to write in my free time.

So now, years later, where does that leave me?

Reading and writing the same things I grew to love as a child. My Plinko chip landed in the voracious reader of genre fiction slot. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not closed off to the literary side, but honestly its not the first thing I pick up. So, be warned that most of my reviews on here will fall under genre fiction.

So, I'm curious. What books from your past guided your tastes? Can you remember that first moment or first book that really hooked you on reading? Or something that turned you away from a certain genre? Leave a comment and let me know.