Christy's 2013 Reads

Well, we clearly didn't do a lot of blogging in 2013. BUT we did spend some time reading!  Here's a list of the books Christy read in 2013:

Requiem by Lauren Oliver


Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi


My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick


Sweethearts by Sara Zarr


Legend, Prodigy, and Champion by Marie Lu
    

The Faerie War and the Faerie Prince by Rachel Morgan
 

Just One Year and Just One Day by Gayle Forman
 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor
 

The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White


Where She Went by Gayle Forman


The Fault in Our Stars by John Green


Mind Games by Kiersten White


Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare


Lies That Bind by Laura and Lisa Roecker


Boundless (Unearthly series) by Cynthia Hand


Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn


The Fullness of Truth: A Handbook for Understanding and Explaining the Catholic Faith Biblically by James M. Seghers

What Catholics Really Believe by Karl Keating


I also reread a couple of favorites including: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins and Sophie and Carter by Chelsea Fine.


I'm looking forward to the books I'll read in 2014.  Happy reading to you all!

~Christy

Holidays

We would like to interrupt this looong pause from blogging to let you all know that we hope you had a blessed Christmas and that your new year will be merry, bright, and full of delicious books.  Happy Holidays!!!  Shortly, we will post our 2013 reads post!!!  Since we did very little blogging, our list should be long, right?  You'll just have to wait to find out. 

~erica and christy

COVER REVEAL!

I am excited to share in the cover reveal for Rachel Morgan's final book in her Creepy Hollow Trilogy.  Her book will be out this fall and I can't wait--I mean CAN'T WAIT--to read it.  Though, coming to an end of a trilogy is always bittersweet.  It's sad to part with characters who will be busy living their ever after without my viewing pleasure!

Without further adieu, here is the cover for THE FAERIE WAR. 

The fate of the faerie world is in her hands...

Title: The Faerie War

Series: Creepy Hollow, Book Three

Author: Rachel Morgan

Cover Designer: Morgan Media

Publication Date: Oct 2013

Add on Goodreads

Find the Creepy Hollow series on Amazon

If you haven't read the first two books in the trilogy, YOU MUST.   Go here to purchase THE FAERIE GUARDIAN and here to purchase THE FAERIE PRINCE.  Go here to meet and get to know the amazingly talented and sweet RACHEL MORGAN.

What's Up Wednesday

What's Up Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk that's geared toward readers and writers. To join in the fun, add your name to the list.



What I'm Reading

I'm on vacation again this week.  Not still, but again. 

 

Last week we went on vacation with my parents.  This week we are on vacation with my husband's mom, five siblings and their families. 

 

There are 18 of us, two cabins, two bathrooms, six double beds.  There are lots of ants and lots of gnats.  My oldest son is not thrilled with the bugs.  I have not been a good influence on him.  He thinks the place is gross and is looking forward to going home.  Part of my can't blame him.  Two full weeks away from home is hard.  Fun, but hard at times. 

 

Most of those hard times (for me, not him) have been at my youngest son's nap and bed times (We have three sons.)  He's one and he's NOT going down well.  At home, naps are easy and very scheduled (not because I want I want them to be, but because that's what he needs and is ready for on his own every day).  That is NOT the way it's working out these two weeks away....

 

I feel like I'm leaving Middle Child out.  He's been eating really well here.  It was not the case at home. He just had tubes put in his ears and he's been very responsible about wearing his ear plugs and head band.

 

Oh, was this section supposed to be about a book?

 

What I'm Writing

My WIP:  27 DAISIES


 I've written 6k since last week's post! I'm 20k in!  I wanted to write another 10k this week, but I think I was aiming high.  Unless I can write TONS after we get home Saturday....There's a chance! 


What Inspires Me Right Now

I've been thinking up my best scenes when I'm running. As long as I can  hit the laptop shortly after, then the words are  not lost.

What Else I've Been Up To

 Er.  Whoops.  Already talked about this up there.  On vacation.  Swatting at gnats.  Being a crabby parent.  Avoiding ants with my bare feet.  Swimming. Praying there are no bed bugs.  Smiling. 

 

 

Ready. Set. Write.

I'm not officially participating, but I'd really love to write  at least 10k per week to finish my novel's first draft in the next two weeks. (I aim for 40k for the first draft and usually add 10-15k during revisions.)

Okay, I'll fess up.  I want it to be ready for WOC.  In a month.  I know, I know.  That's bad.  I'm rushing.  I'm breaking rules. 

 

I want to have the draft done and to edit revise my first 50 and to have a couple of betas have at it too.  Wishful thinking?

 

 ~Christy

 

First Sentence Critique

Miss Snark is hosting a first sentence critique today.  Unfinished manuscripts were allowed.  So even though nobody has ever read my WIP, and I'm only 15k in, I entered.  I've never been good at beginnings, and I think my first sentence would be better with the second attached to it, or maybe the first page...we'll see what critters think.  (I'm sure it is too vague, and lacks voice, but ah well.  It is what it is!)

The posted sentences will get a YES or a NO along with a brief explanation as to WHY.  Feel free to head over and critique the 50 entrants that got in (lottery-style).

Or you can just crit it in my comments:

FIRST SENTENCE

Happiness is so many things.


FIRST TWO SENTENCES

Happiness is so many things.

It isn’t this.

FIRST PAGE  (I've really never, ever rocked a beginning, so crit away or smile and keep your opinions to yourself, since this is a complete rough draft.)

Happiness is so many things.

 

            It isn’t this.

            It isn’t blue skies with a backdrop of bluffs.

            It isn’t twittering birds flying over this God-forsaken town.

            It isn’t 600 kids of whom five-ish know my name.

            It isn’t a mom who cries in her sleep, or having a boyfriend without kisses, or passing a chemistry exam when I started the same course last semester

            somewhere else.

            Somewhere where blue skies

            and robins

            and friends meant I was happy.

            A place where my mom was with my dad and he was with me and we smiled and hugged.

            A place that was

            home.

 

 

            The door slams when I rush into the kitchen where Mom is at the stove.  I stop, confused.  She doesn’t turn and for three seconds I wonder who this woman is and what she did with my mother.

            “What, what are you doing?” I ask.

            She turns and smiles.  She actually smiles.  “Making spaghetti.”

            When I don’t speak or move or breathe because I am afraid of this moment, afraid maybe that if I move I will smash it into kazillion teardrops, she says, “Doesn’t spaghetti sound marvelous?”

            It does.  I can’t believe it but it does.  I bring my backpack to the room I am using to sleep in and do homework in and hurry back to the kitchen.  I take out milk and find French bread on the counter.  I slice it up with a bread knife that has never been used and spread butter and sprinkle garlic and find parmesan cheese to grate.  Mom hands me a baking sheet, and she is

            humming.

            I am looking at her again and examining her hair—did she cut it?  Her eyelashes are wearing mascara and it is not smudged black underneath her eyes.