Last week was a bit of a wash as far as accomplishments go, since I spent a good percentage of it laid up and feeling crappy. So I really have to get my butt in gear this week. I’ve got a lot of goals to hit. I’ve been mostly “refilling the well” — reading, critiquing other people’s work, and etc. This week, it’s back to the grind. I’m in a bit of an “in between” stage at the moment. All my work has been turned in and I’m waiting for the next step. (Can you say ARCs?)
Sailor Boy and I went with some friends to see Scythian this weekend. They’re a Celtic folk-pop band, and they put on an amazing show. Ton of fun. Extremely high energy. Lots of dancing involved. My calves are still sore! I’m not a big concert goer, but it was interesting to watch a very talented local band. I got the same sort of feeling from them that I get when I read an up-and-coming author. I know our business models have no comparison, but I feel like in both cases, we’re entertainers looking for the magical nexus of talent, timing, and opportunity.
Except, as far as I know, my books have never hurt anyone’s calves.
I’ve been thinking a lot about structure recently, but I’m still in the dark room period with any new theories on it. I think it’s been a while since I’ve done a full on craft post on the blog. This is partly because I think I’ve talked about most of the stuff I’m really into and also, some people get the idea that when I say I do something, I’m saying that they hafta, too. Which is just silly. (Alternately, they can get so mixed up that they think that me suggesting to do something is actually some sort of secret plot to guarantee that no one else will ever get published, which is a conspiracy theory so imaginative and outlandish that even Amy would look upon it with awe. And she took that whole “giant lizards from outer space” thing in stride.)
Maybe I’ll steal a page from Justine’s blog and do requests. What do you want me to talk about? Leave suggestions in the comments section.
Also, though it appears from my “books read in 2007″ list on the sidebar that I’ve been a total slacker, I have in fact just been reading secret books, which is, of course, in keeping with all those other secret things going on right now. Bwahahahaha!
All right. Let’s give away some books. I’m not quite sure what the protocol will be when I don’t hear from last week’s winner. Perhaps they’ll have one week, so if they don’t contact me by this week’s drawing, their prize is forfeit?
Once again, this week, we have Surviving Demon Island, by Jaci Burton. Dear Reader, this book is an Angelina Jolie action thriller come to life. I read it two weeks ago and I can’t wait for the next installment. Don’t miss out!
Oops! Sorry guys. SDI is unavailable. But if you’re looking for a romance fix, we’ve got Delicious, a debut erotic romance by Jami Alden. I’m a total sucker (no pun intended) for chef stories. There’s something so perfect about the combination of food and love, don’t you think? This book is about a celebrity chef and her ultra-hot ex lover and bodyguard.
We’ve also got The Rest Falls Away, a debut paranormal by Colleen Gleason. This book has been winning fans wherever it pops up. It’s gritty, it’s angsty, it’s actiony, and there are reticules and balls. If you don’t believe me, check out the review at All About Romance, who says: “…this novel has enough dark, angsty touches to it that I was utterly wrung out by the end. It is also so good that I couldn’t wait to get online to see when the next in the series will come out (June 2007 for the curious).”
Book number three this week is one of my favorite new books: VALIANT by Holly Black. I have recommended this book to everyone I know in person, so I may as well start doing it on the blog. It’s incredibly dark, incredibly romantic, and incredibly well written, and anyone who starts whining about what they are and are not “allowed” to do in YA can just go read this and then we’ll talk. Anyone who says YAs are just for children can also read this before they think they’re making any kind of valid argument.
I know a lot of writers read this blog, and I think every writer should read, if not own, a copy of ON WRITING, by Stephen King. Part memoir, part writing class, part philosophy of craft, this book galvanized my own dedication to my chosen career like little else. (It also turned me from occasional reader of King to slavering fangirl, but that’s another story.) It’s funny, it’s shocking, and it’s true.
January 29th, 2007 at 1:12 am
Valient!
I loved Tithe. loved loved loved. It did weird twisty things with my brain that were quite fun.
Valient was quite good although I admit I still put Thithe a notch higher
Ironsides later this year shall be quite fun I rather do hope.
whee!
(please don’t enter me in any drawings)
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:29 am
I have “Surviving Demon Island” but all the other books look interesting. Thanks for the chance to win one.
I just heard a group called Celtic Woman and think they’re great.
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January 29th, 2007 at 8:21 am
I’m glad you’re feeling better and hope your week is more productive.
The books for this week look great.
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January 29th, 2007 at 8:23 am
I loved Tithe. Like Leah, I put Tithe a notch higher than Valiant.
I’ve SDI sitting pretty on my TBR pile and can’t wait to get to it!
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January 29th, 2007 at 8:37 am
Glad you are feeling better. The books this week are great.
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January 29th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Glad you are feeling better. All the books sound good.
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January 29th, 2007 at 10:56 am
If you like Valiant (and if you might read Tithe – although its not truly a sequel), you might also like Herbie Brennan’s Faeries Wars trilogy.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Tithe was spectacular. Loved it just like Leah.
Here’s to having an uncrappity crap crappy week.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:09 am
I enjoyed Surviving Demon Island and am looking forward to the next installment. I’ve never read the others and hope I win one.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:11 am
Thanks for the recs, guys. It’s interesting to me, especially with Black’s books, what people seem to like about them weighs so heavily on which they prefer. I’m not so into the whole “politics of the fairy courts” thing, so I like Valiant the best. The whole drug storyline, and the Beauty and the Beast storyline, and etc… that part I loved.
There seem to be quite a few books out now for people who like the fairy court politics things, though. Brennan, and O.R. Melling are two that come to mind immediately.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:58 am
Okay, how do I enter the book drawing? Am I entering just by posting?
I’m dying for a copy of Valient.
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January 29th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Yep, just have to comment…
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January 29th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Oops – I left my comment on Brennan as Anonymous.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:47 pm
Great books. Am interested and love this blog.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:48 pm
Glad you are well. Books look wonderful.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
The books all look cool! Would love to read them all.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Glad that you are better. All the books are interesting.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Would enjoy all the books. Thanks for the chance.
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January 29th, 2007 at 1:54 pm
Topic possibility:
Critique partners
Love Holly Black!
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January 29th, 2007 at 2:04 pm
I have Surviving Demon Island in my TBR pile
So many boks and not enough hours in the day
LOL
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January 29th, 2007 at 2:10 pm
Love every book on your list. So interesting and I would read them all.
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January 29th, 2007 at 2:57 pm
I have Stephen King’s book, but all three of the others look fabulous.
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January 29th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
“The Rest Falls Away” sounds awesome! “Surviving Demon Island” sounds really good too. I would love to win a copy!
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January 29th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
FWIW, I really like your “when good advice goes bad” topics. I think since you’re probably getting new readers all the time, those are worth revisiting. Another interesting topic would be about appropriate favors to ask your published friends. I wonder how much of that you get now, and what you do willingly without even being asked, and if anything has made you uncomfortable. And what would you ask without thinking, and what would you never dream of asking?
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January 29th, 2007 at 4:34 pm
That’s a really interesting topic, Jami. thanks.
(Also, PS: There’s a copy of Delicious on the Pimplist as soon as we clear out these other romances…)
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January 29th, 2007 at 5:29 pm
Ooh, I’d love to have any of those.
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January 29th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
I usually just ask for money once they are published. I like to check the Publisher’s Marketplace report to see how much I should ask for.
What is the policy on previous book pimp winners? If allowed, I’ve decided not to win this week anyway.
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January 29th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
For the record, (as Diana said), On Writing is an absolute must-read for anyone who’s ever even thought about writing. Seriously.
At the risk of sounding – what was it? – self-centered, Oooh, a dark YA? I’m in.
I’d also like to wave some pom-poms for you, Diana. I’m sure you’ll hit this week’s goals nicely.
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January 29th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Would love to get any of these books on your list. So please enter me in your drawing! Hope you have a better week.
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January 29th, 2007 at 7:46 pm
Glad you’re feeling better
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January 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
I LOVE Colleen’s cover. What an attention grabber. Consider this my comment and plea for a book!
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January 29th, 2007 at 9:09 pm
I love colleen’s cover too, eileen. It’s so stylish. I drooled all over my keyboard when I first saw it.
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:02 pm
Mmmmh, I love chefs in romances. But I wish they would consider other titles than ‘Delicious’. This must be the third romance/erotic story featuring chefs I’ve seen with that title…
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January 29th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
Really, Kiki? i only know of two other books called that: The Susan Mallery one, which is romance, though hardly erotic, and the comedy thriller by Mark Haskell Smith. Of course, they all came out last year. Must be something in the water!
Still it is, in general, a better ratio than any para romance with “dark” in the title. Also, a few years ago, I think there were four chick lits called “What a Girl Wants.” That was tough.
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January 30th, 2007 at 12:46 am
Here. Here. To getting your butt in gear, writing wise. I have to do that this week as well.
Glad you are feeling better! I love Book Pimp Giveaway Days. (Well…I like all your other blog entries too. I wouldn’t have known about Book Pimp Giveaway Days if all the other entries weren’t there).
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January 30th, 2007 at 1:48 am
okay, just have to post again — I didn’t like Thithe for the Fairie court stuff. That actually is a bit weird and I dislike any association with the ‘fairie fad’ out there.
but I was attracted SO much more to the notion of Roiben. I’m a romantic, sue me.
Plus Corny was a hoot.
ps. PLEASE tell me you’ve read Twilight? speaking of YA fiction that has all my 20 and 30-something gal friends in tittery girly fits
pps. actually, enter me after all
The Rest Falls Away looks rather interesting….
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January 30th, 2007 at 1:54 am
Yep, Leah. I read Twilight last year (it’s over there on the 2006 list right after MAGIC LESSONS).
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January 30th, 2007 at 3:05 am
pttph. my eyes are obviously NOT working tonight, since I specifically scanned that list.
Go me
still, I’ll stand by Tithe
quite curious about Ironsides, although I’ll be the traditional cheapo who waits for paperback.
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January 30th, 2007 at 5:01 am
Love your blog! Hope you feel better soon!
The Rest Falls Away looks like a good read. But then again so does On Writing…
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January 30th, 2007 at 7:15 am
I love Celtic music. I checked out the schedule for Scythian and I may be able to catch them playing later in the year.
Oh, and please enter me in the drawing. I’m a huge fan of books, too.
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January 30th, 2007 at 7:55 am
For blog topics, I like when you share your process, like those boards with all the colored post-its to track theme and plot. Intimidating, but good to see that writing is more work than magic.
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January 30th, 2007 at 9:12 am
Oooooh look! My book has been taken! Thank you for featuring it, Diana!
And thanks y’all who’ve bought Surviving Demon Island and mentioned it here. I so appreciate it!
And The Rest Falls Away is fantastic!
Diana, hope you get over the winter sickies soon. *hugs*
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January 30th, 2007 at 10:37 am
I LOVE when you ‘pimp’ books, as I’m always looking for new things to read.
Scythian looks good. I’ll have to check them out. I loff celtic rock (my favorite band is Carbon Leaf).
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January 30th, 2007 at 10:49 am
naturally, Leah, it’s your responsibility to have memorized my entire reading booklist since my childhood and be able to recall it at a moments’ notice. Sheesh, do we have to go over the ground rules again?
I bet Ms. Meyers is so tickled that her fan base reaches well beyond the YA market.
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January 30th, 2007 at 11:03 am
The books sound great! I’d love to enter!
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January 30th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
For those that are intrigued by The Rest Falls Away, I will vouch and say it’s an awesome book! Wonderful read.
And Diana, I have a sneaky suspicion that the Pimp Book Giveaway is related to SB forcing you to clear out your bookshelves. So I have to ask, 1) why didn’t you smack him like I suggested? And 2) Why didn’t you box them all up to send them to meeee?
Hehe. Kidding! But I am eager for more books, so here’s my entry for the week.
Hope you’re fully recovered soon! Hate that you’re still sick
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January 30th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Wow, those books look great, I’d love to read Delicious, always on the prowl for new authors!
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January 30th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Can’t wait to read Surviving Demon Island. I love Jaci Burton
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January 30th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
That is a great list of books!
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January 30th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I love love loved The Rest Falls Away!
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January 30th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
I love all the books that you have on your blog. Interesting and fascinating reading. Would enjoy any of them.
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January 30th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Sympathy has arrived. I’ve been a sickie this week, too, and am pretty crabby about it. I hope the health fairy visits you soon and sticks around this time!
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February 2nd, 2007 at 2:18 am
Cool books for this week’s giveaway!
I would love to read any of them!
Since I don’t have an account here I’m going to leave my name Terri.
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February 2nd, 2007 at 9:51 am
What a cool lineup of books! I would love to be in the drawing.
Cherie J
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February 2nd, 2007 at 10:32 am
I am reading Surviving Demon Island (thanks to you) and am totally hooked!
I agree – King’s book on writing is one of the very best. I usually don’t mark up my books, having been reared to view that as a form of bibliophilic sacrilege, but in his case I had to make an exception. Anyone want an annotated First Edition? (Sorry – it’s not for sale.)
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February 2nd, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I just ordered another copy of On Writing on Sat for The Boy to read (and me to reread). I can’t wait to dig back into that book! Great choice!
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