Write Stuff: October 2015

Wednesday, October 28, 2015

After Reading: CONVICTION by S. Usher Evans

Clink.

Razia is in trouble. Captured by a fellow pirate, she now finds herself back on probation with a bounty worth zero credits. In the cold reality, she begins to question herself and everything she has been working towards all of her life--and what she's willing to do to reclaim her glory.

Conviction is the third book in the Razia series.

Piracy is a game. What do you stand for? (Goodreads)

Because this awesome novel releases today, I thought it was a good time to post my little review :) Definitely go grab a copy!

I've become a huge fan of this series over the last couple of books (Double Life and Alliances), but I have to say that this one really got me. I read the whole thing on a flight across country and couldn't put it down. I've always liked Razia/Lyssa and her sass, but it was really refreshing to see more to her character, including her insecurities, in this novel. I seriously felt for her, and liked seeing a whole lot more depth added to her character. And then there's Sage, who I am fairly certain is the most patient person on the planet(s). That, and her other friends, who really do their best to help Razia out, despite everything. Add to that a horrible antagonist, a breakneck pace, and the fate of all the pirates, and this is a seriously fun novel! Highly recommend to anyone who enjoys some space opera, pirates, Firefly, or Cowboy Bebop!

The Listing Hop hosted by Bish Denham

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Today is the blog hop hosted by the delightful Bish Denham, all about lists! Making lists is one of my favorite things to do, so of course I had to sign up. You can check out Bish's blog and the hop here!

I make lists every single day. Thank heavens for Google Tasks, because they help me out a ton. And often I also end up with scraps of paper with lists on them scattered around. Few things make me happier than to cross one of those lists off as complete :) But, that's not the only kind of lists I make (just as my students--I have lists of terms for them to study regularly!). For the hop, I thought I'd list out a few things I have down on my long-term to-do, the biggies I hope to accomplish in the next 5-10 years (my Bucket List, if I may, at least in short form). This seems like the perfect excuse to think about this kind of thing anyhow, and I might as well post it to keep myself accountable :)

In no particular order:

Visit Africa. I've come close to getting to this continent, but have yet to set foot there. I'd love to visit some of the awesome early human sites that I talk about in my courses!
Make tenure. I can't apply for this for a couple of more years, but the work is already beginning with that as the end goal. No rest for the weary!
Get an agent for my books. I've managed it before, but would love to have someone help represent my work.
Write a book that makes it to a best-seller list. I'm not terribly picky which one. I can dream, right? ;)
Travel more, especially out of the country. Ties in nicely with #1, and my wanderlust is insatiable.
Make more friends. I'm naturally very shy, so moving to Montana was really hard on me and it's taken me years to feel like I have a group of friends. I'd really like to find more people, too.
Be a better sister/daughter. Moving far from my family has made this a little more difficult than I'd like, and it's something I want to work on.

I know there are many more, but these are my top ones for the moment, and things I hope to work on overall as the months roll on. What are some of your bigger goals?

After Reading: WAIT FOR YOU by J. Lynn

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Some things are worth waiting for…

Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for… (Goodreads)

It's been a good while since I cracked a straight-up romance novel, but this was a fun and quick read. I really enjoy Armentrout's voice, as I think she's hilarious, and I enjoyed Avery's inner monologue a lot. Granted, there were a few times I really wanted her to grow a backbone, but I recognize that what she went through was definitely not easy and I was gratified to see her growth throughout the novel. Her mother was certainly a piece of work....dang. Anyhow, Cameron was certainly drool-worthy, even if while I was reading I just rolled my eyes a few times--no man is like that in real life and sometimes it bothers me that people are so misrepresented in books (okay, that's a random rant for another time :). Anyhow, I enjoyed the book, and felt terrible for Avery, and cheered her on to find a way to grow and move past what happened to her. I'm definitely a Armentrout fan, but will probably stick more with her paranormal novels.

Has anyone read any of her books?

Picture Post (or why I'm MIA)

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Hi all! I'm a little busy at the moment, but I thought I'd post a few pics from my recent adventures and family time in Charleston SC. It was a blast of a trip! I ate a ton of amazing food, soaked up the incredibly history, wished I were rich to live in one of the fabulous houses, rejuvenated my soul with some beach time, and laughed until my sides hurt with my wonderful family!

(As always, many of these are repeats from my Instagram account!)

The ghost tour was awesome! And creepy :)

Camelia? I have no idea if that's really the name of this flower, but it was pretty!

Rainbow Row. Needs some editing, but oh well. Still a very pretty part of town to explore.

Overlooking Fort Sumpter....waaaaaay off in the distance there!

Shore birds that were super cute! Random question: some were hopping around on one leg, which I have no idea if that's normal or not? But it was kind of amusing :)

Cemeteries!! I think my family is a little sick of the photos I keep making them pause for, but it's me and I love old dead things so these are just fantastic!

Friends and family walking on the beach. I kind of love this shot, even if it makes my calves look HUGE.

The pier at Foley's Beach.

Doesn't this just look heavenly?

Blog Tour: THE FULFILLMENT by Erin Rhew with a #giveaway

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

It's a treat to get to share one of my critique buddy's books with you all today! Plus, it's the last in her series, which is also pretty special :) Highly recommend these novels!

Layla’s world tumbles out of control when she discovers the truth of her parentage and realizes the Prophecy—the one she upended her entire life to defend—is incomplete. When her new friends share the entire Prophecy, the revelations contained within it alter her destiny and challenge everything she and Wil believe in. Now, she must confront the Outlander queen to save the Ethereal kingdom while grappling with this new reality.

Tortured and imprisoned, Nash accepts his fate and offers the First Ones the one thing he has left to give: his life. In a desperate attempt to save the people he loves most, he surrenders himself to the Outlander queen and a destiny darker than he could have ever dreamed possible.

Wil, tormented by the consequences of his choices, realizes he may never be able to uphold his end of the Prophecy. His mistake casts a deep, foreboding shadow over his kingdom and those he loves, while its ripples threaten to shatter both the Prophecy and everything he and his family have sworn to protect.

In this epic conclusion, lives are lost, kingdoms clash, friendships are tested, and love and fate collide.

Grab a Copy:

Amazon: Barnes and Noble

About the Author

Erin Rhew is an editor, a running coach, and the author of The Fulfillment Series. Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word. She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."

A Southern girl by blood and birth, Erin now lives in a rainy pocket of the Pacific Northwest with the amazingly talented (and totally handsome) writer Deek Rhew and their “overly fluffy,” patient-as-a-saint writing assistant, a tabby cat named Trinity. She and Deek enjoy reading aloud to one another, running, lifting, boxing, eating chocolate, and writing side-by-side.

Find her online:

Twitter: @ErinRhewBooks

Facebook: Website: Goodreads The Prophecy: Goodreads The Outlanders: Goodreads The Fulfillment:

Rafflecopter Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

After Reading: SAVING LONDON by Taylor Dawn

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

The List. That Signified Finality.
The Journey. That Would Span The Globe.
The Sacrifice. That Would Decide The Outcome.
The Choice. That Could Unleash Evil On Earth.
The End Is Only The Beginning...

“You have terminal cancer.”

London Patterson, a seemingly healthy young woman, had her entire life ahead of her. That was until four little words brought everything to a screeching halt. As the shock and grief begin to fade, London decides to map out her last year and embark on an epic journey to complete a bucket list. She wants to do the things she’s been afraid to do in her life, step out of her self-contained box, and see the world. What she didn’t expect was for a mysterious stranger named Adam to breeze into her life like a breath of fresh air.
Adam offers to help London complete her list on one condition…that she sees it through to the end. Agreeing on those terms, the two set out on an adventure of a lifetime. But London soon realizes that Adam isn’t quite…human. Along their journey odd occurrences happen that cause London to question who or what Adam is and why he’s helping her. (Goodreads)

Thanks to LibraryThing for this novel in exchange for my honest review.

I requested this novel thinking that it sounded interesting. I mean, a younger person with a bucket list that's somehow tied to saving the world? Yeah, sounds kind of interesting, right? And it was, on some levels. But here's my beef with the story: London was not so easy for me to like. Well, I won't go into what I thought about doing to her, but let's just say that I work with students her age all day, every day, and sometimes they're mature and have their head on straight, and other times you wonder if they somehow skipped from 12 to their twenties. Not trying to be harsh, but London was just rather immature. And it kind of annoyed me that she lets this random stranger, Adam, into her life, and then lets him take over her bucket list. I mean, it's a bucket list: something she wants to do before she dies! Shouldn't she want to do these things, somehow, on her own? I don't know, it just felt off to me. In some ways it felt like this was an MG that had been converted to a NA book. Buuuut, this might be just me. I did find that there was no romance in the book kind of interesting and unique--not what you're expecting from the start, but a realistic and refreshing take on the situation. Anyhow, overall, not exactly my favorite read, but definitely something an advanced younger reader could read as it's very clean.

Ever read a novel where the MC annoyed you? What did you do?

Repost Love: The Good Bad Guy

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Hi! It's another Monday and another week. How are you all managing? Things here are okay--the semester is racing by (a little too fast, really!) and I'm keeping busy (haha!). I thought for today I'd share another post that originally went live in the Travelers blog tour over on the fabulous Misha Gericke's blog. I thought I'd share it again because it's a fun one (well, I think so at least).

***

So, I’ll admit that I love a good bad guy/gal. Maybe that’s a little twisted, but it makes me a whole lot

more invested in a book. Some of my favorites come from Harry Potter. Of course we have Lord Voldemort, who is obviously evil. I mean, we get that. And his back story allows us to understand how he got that way. But while we don’t like the wizard and want him gone, there are some other antagonists that really irk a lot of readers. Let’s be honest, I think anyone was upset with what happened to Dolores Umbridge. Why? I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we’ve all had people like her in our lives. I’ve read some great articles about how people project that mean teacher/boss/whoever that was out to get them on Umbridge. So, what this boils down to is a way to connect personally with the antagonist—that really helps make them leap off the page.

For another Harry Potter character, let’s take Snape. The guy’s got some issues. He’s done some dumb stuff. And to be honest it wasn’t until the last book that I came to terms with the guy. The rest of the time I kind of thought he needed some psychological help (though I had some serious discussions with people who saw the good in Snape from the beginning). Anyhow, what changed my opinion? What made Snape that layered character that would be so incredible? His story. Learning about what got him to the troubled spot he was in, in such heart-rending detail, made me feel sorry for him and understand what drove him. And it wasn’t just hate and bitterness like Voldemort—nope, it was love and having to live through loss. Such a good story. But this boils down to seeing the inner conflict of the antagonist and understanding why they’re that way, to the point that on some level you might want them to succeed. I mean, sure, rooting for the hero might be obvious, but the antagonist has a point, too J.

So, the reason I bring this up is because Joan, the antagonist of Travelers, was kind of tricky to write, because all the way through the story I found myself almost wanting her to get her way. She didn’t like the rules she had to live by because it meant her twin died, so she did something about it. And she did an amazing job. But there were consequences that made what she did pretty horrible for Sienna, the story’s hero, which is what plays out in the book. Still, Joan’s attitude had a completely logical foundation, one based on ideas I could understand and sympathize with, so there were a few times when I thought about letting her “win” while writing. The role that Joan plays in the book is one I really enjoyed exploring…probably because I love a good bad guy.

Who’s your favorite antagonist from a book or movie?

After Reading: MILAYNA'S ANGEL by Michelle K. Pickett

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you're all off to a wonderful weekend! Here's a potential weekend read:

Now that the battle with Hell's angel, Azazel, has ended, you'd think eighteen-year-old Milayna's life would take a turn for the better. After all, what could be worse than having the angel of Hell trying to steal your soul? Plenty. Abaddon, the demon of destruction, is angry that Azazel failed to convert Milayna before her demi-angel powers matured.

Now she’s untouchable… or so she thinks. It seems even in Hell, there are loopholes.

Not only is her life in danger, but her love life is crumbling, too. Just when Milayna and fellow demi-angel Chay get comfortable on their little cloud of bliss, Xavier comes to town. He's one angel that's as hot as the very embers of Hell, and he has his sights set on Milayna.

Now she has the demon of destruction out to kill her, Xavier out to steal her heart, and she still has to take final exams before she can graduate high school.Sometimes life sucks, even if you are half angel. (Goodreads)

You know what Pickett has an incredible talent for? I mean, other than for writing awesome books? Creating amazing book boyfriends :) I mean, seriously, every time I read one of her novels, I find myself all swoony over the male lead. It's quite a talent! This second book in the series was a great read--quick and action packed like the first, with a lot more personal turmoil for Milayna. Seriously, the poor girl can't get a break! I loved seeing more of her family in this novel, and the way he events that transpired touched them all. Plus, her little brother is adorable. Anyhow, if you're looking for a fun read, with a breakneck pace and all kinds of fun, this series is one to check out!

#Flashfiction: Love and Guarantees

By: Meradeth Houston on 3:30 AM

Before I jump into my story, I wanted to let you all know that I'm taking part in this really awesome Read & Review Challenge hosted by Jessica Therrien. Lots of great prizes, and free books--can't beat that! Check out the details here.

Okay, a quick disclaimer on this story: I sat down to write something "scary" for the monthly theme over on Lightening Quick Reads, and I started thinking about things that I find terrifying, one of which is the concept of soul-mates--really, I know that sounds weird, but think about it: one person you're meant to be with, but have no guarantee you'll meet? Or be the same age? Or have anything in common with? There are so many freakish things about the concept! Don't believe me? Read this! (I adore XKCD!) Anyhow, somehow, this is what came from that line of thinking. Blame my muse, she's apparently having a bad day.

Sometimes love is the scariest thing of all...

***

Source

We all know they are out there. That one person. Guy, girl, someone meant just for us. We’ve seen

our parents, watched them in their relationships—the kind that click and work out. Ever since the scientists figured out how to do the iris mapping and comparisons, it’s been possible to meet and find that person. It’s supposed to be beautiful. Magical, even.

I’ve heard tales of what it was like, before, before. When people didn’t know how to find their other half that made them whole. You could spend your whole life looking, staring people in the eye as you walked down the street, every single day, hoping, praying, to feel that click. You’d see it happen, sometimes, I’ve heard: friends would get lucky. The one-in-ten-billion shot that they found that person.

“That gave everyone hope,” my History teacher told us. “When the world needed it.”

“And before that?” I’d asked, ever the ridiculously curious twelve year old. My teacher had smiled, benevolent, as she twisted her wedding band on her finger.

“Before that, just how far before?”

“Before they knew there were matches? What did people do then?” I asked.

Her tight smile and quick glance out the window told me more than her words. “Before that, they didn’t think matches existed. It’s a marvel our species survived.”

A marvel we survived. Those words stuck with me. As I rode the train, rocking with the sway of the soundless magnets. Around me, cheerful couples laughed, small children cooed, and music tinkled from someone’s ear buds.

But people had to find love, back in those ages, right? Love had existed, certainly. Different from what we knew now, but in those old novels I’d found from the war-times, there had been matches. Love. Some security.

Not like now, though. Not now that anyone could be your match. Killing off your child’s match half a world away couldn’t be on any parent’s conscious. Funny how that had changed things.

My History teacher spoke as if it had been inevitable. Of course humanity had found a way to perfect Love. To end war. To direct our attentions to more productive matters. The first five matches moving to Mars had been proof of that, surely.

Surely.

And now, now we were all registered at birth. The scan was quick, painless, easier than a camera flash. The database, officially run by the UN, was guarded closer than any bank vault.

Some people were luckier than others. They learned their match at a young age. Meeting on the playground, anyone could see their connection. Getting their official readings was just a formality at twenty. A piece of paper that told them what they already knew: that they were perfect for one another.

For the rest of us, the trek to pick up this information was enough to leave me vomiting in my bathroom.

What if he lived in the middle of nowhere? Another country? What if he was older? That didn’t happen much, but every once in a while a match came up where the people had a huge disparity in ages. That could be just gross.

My best friend had patted my shoulder and handed me a glass of juice.

“You don’t have to act on it. It’s not against the law to just ignore what you find out.” Her smile didn’t sit right: we both knew that would be dumb. Her match, who had arrived two months ago, was not what either of us had expected. She’d never considered that her other half would also be female. Of course that happened, but most people went in to get their papers knowing that ahead of time.

She’d decided not to do anything. It wasn’t what she wanted. Or so she’d thought.

But her match, a breathtakingly beautiful woman from New Seattle showed up on our doorstep two days after the paperwork had been released to my roommate.

I’d watched first hand as the two of them met. Scientists had it down to the exact chemicals, the chain of pheromones and reactions in the brain that explained what happened. They’d had plenty of people willing to be tested, of course. But it had still whispered of magic to me.

So, now, here I stood, waiting to get my papers. The train whispered to a stop and I stepped off, careful to avoid the crowds of people. Adds for everything from trips to the moon (“relive that honeymoon…on the moon!”), to the latest in nip-tucks (“keep them remembering the face they fell in love with at first sight”) plastered the walls. I ducked my head and rode the escalator up to the street.

A wall kept people away from the traffic—for safety’s sake. The barriers had been a recent addition, a way to ensure no one lost their match. The thought was inconceivable to those who had them.

As I approached the tall building that housed the Matching Office, a flutter of excitement tickled inside. I’d know. In just a little while, I’d know who my other person was. In a couple of hours, I could be even speaking with them.

It both pressed on my shoulders and lightened my step, making the trip inside and up to the twelfth floor an odd, hunched affair. The young woman in the elevator gave me a sympathetic look and a small smile as she exited.

The reception area was all white. Everything. Other than a few shadows, it seemed the whole place had been cleared of any color. While I think the designer had been going for official and scientific, it came off as frightening, and made me hope that I had avoided any puddles on the sidewalk.

The kiosk accepted my identification cards and told me to take a seat.

A bank of white, molded plastic chairs didn’t look inviting. My foot tapped a nervous rhythm as I settled onto the very edge of the seat.

Two minutes later, an honest-to-goodness real person came out to collect me. She was short, plump, and smiled too wide. It had been ages since I’d been greeted by anyone other than an automaton in an office, with the exception of my doctor’s office when theirs had come down with a virus.

Whatever the woman said while escorting me toward a meeting room at the back of the building was lost on me. She could have told me I’d been selected to colonize Neptune and I would have just nodded and smiled.

In just a few hours, I could be sharing parts of myself I never opened up about. About how much I had hated school. About how jealous I was of my roommate. About what I wanted to accomplish with my new art exhibit. And they might actually understand that. The thought made my plastered-on grin turn real.

The small room we entered held a desk, a chair, and a small screen and data center off to one side.

“Take a seat, my dear, and let me get things set up.” The woman’s voice finally penetrated my thoughts.

This seat, at least, was cushioned and comfortable as I settled into it.

The woman approached me with the scanner—a rod and tiny LED at the tip, that she held in front of my face. I obliged and held my eyes wide. Two flashes and the woman grinned at me.

“Well, you’re who you say are, Kati!” She said after tapping on the screen.

“Has anyone ever not been?”

She glanced over her shoulder at me, laughing a little. “Well, yes, sometimes. People get nervous. And then there are those who don’t want to meet their match.” She shrugged.

Don’t want to meet them? The press of nerves from the morning made that not seem unreasonable.

“Well, are you ready for this?” the woman asked, tapping away on the screen again.

Science class had told me what she was doing. Every iris had a specific pattern that had originally thought to be unique, like a fingerprint. But once millions of people started being scanned, it was soon surmised that these patterns were not random. In fact, often, there were exact matches. And when these matches met, well, something funny seemed to happen.

A funny fluke of science, my History teacher had called it. I didn’t agree.

Want to know what happens? You'll have to click through to the Lightening Quick Reads blog to catch the rest!

YA Scavenger Hunt: Team Orange

By: Meradeth Houston on 12:00 AM

Hi all! I'm so excited that I managed to snag a last-minute spot on the YA Scavenger Hunt! I'm on the awesome Team Orange with a ton of other awesome authors. See:

If you've made it here from the last stop, congrats! You'll need to catch the secret number that's below, or go to the main website for all the details, but before that, why not check out the fabulous artwork that Carly Anne West is sharing with us today:

In her words:

This unnamed piece is by a fabulous artist who happens to be my mom, Barbara J. Bleich. She created this years ago, and it befuddled and totally entranced me, something her work tends to do a lot. It may have been one of the initial seeds that planted the idea for THE BARGAINING, maybe even before I realized it. But after I began writing, it was this image that kept coming back to me time and again. Anyone interested in seeing more of her work should drop me a line. Seriously. Until then, I hope you enjoy staring at this piece as much as I do. Good luck with the hunt, everyone! xo, Carly

THE BARGAINING

The fact that neither of her parents wants to deal with her is nothing new to Penny. She’s used to being discussed like a problem, a problem her mother has finally passed on to her father. What she hasn’t gotten used to is her stepmother…especially when she finds out that she’ll have to spend the summer with April in the remote woods of Washington to restore a broken-down old house. Set deep in a dense forest, the old Carver House is filled with abandoned antique furniture, rich architectural details, and its own chilling past. The only respite Penny can find away from April’s renovations is in Miller, the young guy who runs the local general store. He’s her only chance at a normal, and enjoyable, summer.But Miller has his own connection to the Carver House, and it’s one that goes beyond the mysterious tapping Penny hears at her window, the handprints she finds smudging the glass panes, and the visions of children who beckon Penny to follow them into the dark woods. Miller’s past just might threaten to become the terror of Penny’s future….

About Carly:

Carly Anne West is the author of YA novels THE MURMURINGS and THE BARGAINING, as well as various bizarre fictions. She lives and writes in Seattle, WA between the trees and the ocean.

You can catch her at her website, buy her awesome books here, and know that she's giving away a copy of the Bargaining and some additional book goodies!

Okay, so that secret number? It's 5!

Looking for where to go next? Hop on over to Deirdre Riordan Hall's blog!