Write Stuff: 2018

Monday, December 31, 2018

Farewell to 2018, Looking Forward to 2019!

I'm a tad shocked that somehow we've arrived at the last day of 2018. It's been quite the year! So many amazing things have happened: book sales, NSF funding, lots of fun stuff at work, and of course the most amazing part:

The year has been far from perfect. I've experienced more stress about the potential for losing my job than I care to admit, but that seems to have *finally* panned out and things are rolling forward. I am looking forward to the future, filled with (hopefully) tenure, more amazing science, and BOOKS!

2019 is sure to bring lots of interesting adventures: I have two books releasing and I'm gearing up for that. I'm hoping to finish the one I've been working on here as soon as I possibly can. And I am incredibly grateful for my partner and best friend who has brought my life so much joy.

Wishing everyone a wonderful New Year filled with amazing things!

After Reading: MUSE OF NIGHTMARES by Laini Taylor

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Sarai has lived and breathed nightmares since she was six years old.

She believed she knew every horror and was beyond surprise.

She was wrong.

In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.

Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else?—while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the Muse of Nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.

As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?

Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this astonishing and heart-stopping sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer. (Goodreads)

Before I launch into my review, a quick announcement: SOMEONE ELSE'S SOUL is up on NetGalley! If you're up for a review, and want to read the book early and for free, be sure to check it out :) Hopefully you won't be disappointed. (I won't even begin on how nervous this makes me!)

Anyhow, Muse of Nightmares: Ahhhh! Such a good read. I loved the first book, and the conclusion was fascinating. There was a bit of oddness in bringing in another set of characters here, though I did like the overlap in the true evil character (even if we never see him alive). I like the interesting idea of evil actions having long-lasting ripples through time. I also particularly loved the growth of the characters. The way that they dealt with so much pain and heartbreak and were able to grow into something stronger and bigger than what they'd been dealt. There is so much here that left me thinking and just overall loving these characters and their world that overlaps with so many others (love the reference to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series!). Taylor has a fabulous way with words, too, which draws me in and makes me sigh with just a little bit of jealousy :) Overall, a duology to check out for sure!

Starting to Write: lessons I'd tell myself #AuthorLife #amwriting

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

I ended up messaging with a friend last week about starting to write and it got me thinking: what would I tell myself if I were starting out now instead of all those years ago? Would I still do it? It's been a long and messy business to get where I am today (and I'm not exactly what you'd call "successful" so there's still plenty of goals ahead of me). It sounded like an interesting blog post, so here goes:

What I would tell past self about writing:

It's gonna be a long and bumpy road, so strap in! Almost no one has it easy. There's no such thing as a smooth path to a finished novel/agent/book deal and anyone who says they've had one is probably lying :)
Know those first few books you write are undoubtedly crap. And that's great! Enjoy the process of learning how you write, what works best, and how to get to The End.
Read and write a LOT. As much as you can. Every word you put down, and every sentence you edit, teaches you a ton.
When you're ready, and only once you've worked out your own writing game, start to share. You don't need to spend money to do this! Finding writing groups isn't terribly difficult and they're amazing!
Don't listen to everything people tell you about writing/editing. Some things work for you. Some things won't. Knowing the difference will come with knowing how you best write.

I'm sure there are more, but those first few books I finished and worked through taught me a ton about my writing and especially about myself. Am I sad they're in a trunk? Nope. The experience was invaluable. And really, what it taught me was the most important lesson about writing:

HAVE FUN! This is about enjoying the process. And if you can't/don't enjoy the process, then for heaven's sake, it's sure-as-shit not worth it :)

What might you tell yourself about writing?

SOMEONE ELSE'S SOUL

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

It's snowing in Montana. My partner is over the moon at the thought of hitting the slopes. I'm daydreaming about the end of the semester. It's November in our household :) Anyhow, I thought I'd pop up a post today to remind people to go add Someone Else's Soul on Goodreads. And if you're up for a review, lemme know, m'k? I could potentially make that happen!

There are 14 strangers who share her face, and one company is determined to erase them all.

Everyone has secrets, and it's Diana Kane's job to know them. It's a talent--being able to see into someone's life from the scuffs on their shoes to the way they hold their hands--a talent that sets her apart from everyone. When a mysterious stranger drops into her life dangling the possibility of something she’s longed for, a real connection with someone who might actually understand her, she’s too intrigued to refuse.

But when David Addington shows up to their date knowing too much about her, and the top secret agency she works for, Diana realizes their meeting was anything but coincidence. David has more than his share of surprises, including an impossible claim about Diana’s past and photos of an inexplicable woman who shares her face.

When her life begins to unravel around her, Diana has no choice but to put her faith in the mysterious David and the man he claims is his father. As she struggles to piece together the truth about where she came from, she’s forced to face the reality that her entire life has been manufactured, along with fourteen other women who share her exact same DNA. Confronted with the troubling reality that she’s nothing more than a research experiment that’s pushed the boundaries of science and ethics, Diana must rescue the others like her before the company can erase them as mistakes. She will have to put all her skills to the test in the ultimate game of survival...

After Reading: VICIOUS by VE Schwab

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Victor and Eli started out as college roommates—brilliant, arrogant, lonely boys who recognized the same sharpness and ambition in each other. In their senior year, a shared research interest in adrenaline, near-death experiences, and seemingly supernatural events reveals an intriguing possibility: that under the right conditions, someone could develop extraordinary abilities. But when their thesis moves from the academic to the experimental, things go horribly wrong.

Ten years later, Victor breaks out of prison, determined to catch up to his old friend (now foe), aided by a young girl whose reserved nature obscures a stunning ability. Meanwhile, Eli is on a mission to eradicate every other super-powered person that he can find—aside from his sidekick, an enigmatic woman with an unbreakable will. Armed with terrible power on both sides, driven by the memory of betrayal and loss, the archnemeses have set a course for revenge—but who will be left alive at the end? (Goodreads)

I picked this up because I particularly adored the Shades of Magic series by the same author and was looking for something along those lines. This was quite different, but the same strong characters and wonderful writing follows the author here. Overall, the story is a rather normal superhero tale, but what gives it an edge is Schwab's fantastic characters who leap from the pages. And while the author's scientific explanations made me cringe a few times, I found myself reading far into the night. I also particularly liked how there really was not a lot of cut-and-dry good-guy/bad-guy stereotypes. It was far more of shades of who was better or worse, and as I read, I felt that this made the story far more believable. Overall I very much enjoyed this and am looking forward to snagging the next one in the series!

Science for Authors: theory vs hypothesis #amwriting

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

This is a little repost from what I wrote over on the Untethered Realms blog this past week. I rather enjoyed writing this so I thought I'd share it here, too :)

Before I start, have you had a chance to check out the Untethered Realms anthology yet? Elements of Untethered Realms is an awesome introduction into all things wondrous and strange! Just sayin' :)

Okay, so to get this going, I am going to give a little caveat: I'm a professor by day and teach a whole lot, coupled with my laboratory research. I find myself in the science realm pretty much constantly. So, when I come across scientific facts that are wrong in novels, I totally know that most people don't have the background I do and can let some things slide.

But there are a few things that bug me a whole lot. They're too basic and actually kind of important distinctions :)

The key there is basic--if you're going to write about science in any way, mostly that means you've at least got the basics down, and I love that! But a few times I stumble across things that leave me going "ummmmm...." One of these was just this past week in a novel by a NYT bestselling author whose work I *adore*! And yet, there on the page, with two characters conversing who she had set up as being very good at science, there was this major issue that made me roll my eyes a little.

Theory was used instead of hypothesis.

See, theory has two meanings. I know it's easy to get confused. But, when it comes to being used in a novel, it's good to get it right because it's something that needs to be well understood by the general public. I'll get into that later. Anyhow, the two definitions of theory are
perhaps best understood this way:

"In theory, Mr. Peacock killed the butler." In other words, it is not established or proven. This is the sense that is often used in layman's terms in general conversation.

It is not to be confused with:

"The theory of gravity." This is the scientific meaning. In which case, there is a huge body of evidence that supports gravity (including why you are able to stay pegged to the ground and not lift off into space ;). It is something that is very well established, but because the nature of science IS questioning, we don't say that is is Law. That's how science works.

So, having two characters chatting about how a scientific idea is "just a theory" is ostensibly like saying that they've already proven the idea, had years and years of testing by many individuals, and generally it's considered to be the way the universe works. What should have been used is the word "hypothesis." This is an idea that is yet to be demonstrated through data collection and testing. You hypothesize that something may be correct, but you need to test it first. And even then, it'll be many, many tests and trials before it can even dream of becoming a theory.

Why is this such a soapbox for me? Well, because so many people clamor that something is "just a theory" when referring to a scientific idea. That's like saying that gravity isn't real. That the earth isn't round. That we don't orbit the sun. These are "just" theories. They are points upon which a ton of evidence rests. So the two definitions of "theory"--both for general layman's usage and in science--get confused. But in a novel it's a good idea to get the right. (Unless you're making a point with a character using the wrong one or something--obviously there's creative license here ;). And that's why I sighed and rolled my eyes while reading that (otherwise awesome) novel the other day.

What do you think? Have you seen this be misused? :)

New Release: ELEMENTS OF UNTETHERED REALMS by me and some awesome authors!

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

A little late, but better than never :) This awesome anthology released last week and is chock full of amazing tales by some of my favorite authors--I am incredibly lucky to be part of them. I have two stories in this, both of which I totally love. But I mostly enjoy the rest of the tales, both wondrous and strange, from the other fab talent represented!

Enter our mysterious realms where the stories are as varied and rich as the types of soil on this and other planets. Enchanted forests are knotted with roots and vines. Dreaded paths take us through strange, unexplored places.

Investigate new worlds and houses frequented by ghosts. Come across witches and wizards and an assassin tasked to kill Death.

Meet hot robots, hungry winds, and the goddess of chaos. Explore alien lands, purgatorial realms, and a shocking place where people bury the living with their dead.

Encounter paranormal detectives, imprisoned dragons, dark demons, cursed jewels, and handsome prophets. Search shifting worlds trapped in mirrors and a disturbing future where a president aims to rid the world of Otherkind.

Experience a haunted journey on a riverboat, water sprites borne of pennies, preternatural creatures, ancient serpents, and the Lady of the Lake who lurks in dark waters.

From USA Today bestselling and popular science fiction and fantasy authors comes Elements of Untethered Realms , a supernatural compilation of the anthologies Twisted Earths , Mayhem in the Air , Ghosts of Fire , and Spirits in the Water . These forty thrilling tales feature authors Angela Brown, Jeff Chapman, Cathrina Constantine, Julie Flanders, River Fairchild, Gwen Gardner, Misha/M. Gerrick, Meradeth Houston, Graeme Ing, Simon Kewin, M. Pax, Christine Rains, Cherie Reich, and Catherine Stine. (Goodreads)

Snag a copy on Amazon!

After Reading: STRANGE THE DREAMER by Laini Taylor

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around—and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance or lose his dream forever.

What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?

The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries—including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo’s dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? And if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?

Welcome to Weep. (Goodreads)

Welcome to October! (Wait, how did that happen? :)

So the Smoke & Bone series was epic and I think I'd pretty much read toilet paper with scribbles on it by Taylor at this point. She ranks amongst my absolute favorite authors. I've meant to get to this one for a while, and then while reading, kicked myself for not devouring it earlier. Though, bonus, the sequel comes out tomorrow so perhaps my timing wasn't so abismal. At any rate, I adored this. The switching between perspectives was a touch jarring at first, but I came to deeply love Sarai along with Strange. They were so...human (which only makes sense in context of the rest of the novel). Anyhow, as I would expect from Taylor, the worldbuilding was fantastic and fantastical. I love all the little sprinkled details and fabulous concepts (the cusp especially!). Overall, I just wanted to crawl into it and live there, monsters and gods included. The ending...oh the ending. All I can really say is that I am absolutely glad I preordered the next book and it'll be in my hot little hands on Tuesday!

Have you read any of Taylor's books?

Late Summer Travel: Glacier National Park

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

For today, I figured I'd do a little picture post from my most recent trip to Glacier National Park. My family came to visit me for Labor Day and we decided to head up from Missoula. The park itself was partly closed due to wildfires (so sad!), but we went around to the east entrance and up to the spectacular Logan Pass. Enjoy a few photos from my personal favorite National Park!

What is your favorite park?

Cover Reveal: DEMONS LIE by Sherry Ficklin

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Demons Lie
Sherry D. Ficklin
Publication date: October 30th 2018
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Rule #1 Demons Lie
Orphaned by an unspeakable evil, Aria Dupree is the last of her line. A powerful witch tasked with guarding the boundaries between our world and the world of demons who prey on humankind, Aria has gone rogue. Now she’s out to find and destroy every single gateway into our world and kill every demon that she can find–including the one who murdered her mother.

But, as it turns out, hunting is the easy part; it’s graduating high school that might kill her. Red Prairie Texas isn’t just another stop on her demon hunting world tour and an unlikely alliance might be exactly what she needs to keep from becoming a slave to the very darkness she’s been fighting against.
Because the devil is coming down to Texas–and only Aria can keep all hell from breaking loose.

Add to Goodreads / Pre-order

—

***Also, the author will be releasing a short prequel serial for free on her website beginning Sept. 17th and leading up to the release. You can check it out at http://sherryficklin.com***!

—

Author Bio:

Sherry is the author of over a dozen novels for teens and young adults including the best selling Stolen Empire series. She can often be found browsing her local bookstore with a large white hot chocolate in one hand and a towering stack of books in the other. That is, unless she's on deadline at which time she, like the Loch Ness monster, is only seen in blurry photographs.

Sherry also writes contemporary romance under the pen name SJ Noble. You can find her at her official website, www.sherryficklin.com, or stalk her on her Facebook page www.facebook.com/sherry.ficklin.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Back to School! #authorlife

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Well, guess what happens tomorrow? School starts back up. Where did the summer go? I feel like it was just the end of the school year, the promise of relaxation and productivity before me. Now, well, it's been all about preparing for the next year, attempting to manage a whole lot of stress, and generally wondering how I'm going to do this all over again :) I'll handle it...I think. Somehow! But honestly, gotta admit that the cartoon above is a little too real. But, this does mean I need to get back into my blogging mojo. I've really stunk at this over the summer. Hopefully I can work out a better schedule from here on out--that's the plan at least. Though maybe ask me again next weekend when my family descends and all hell breaks loose ;)

After Reading: REVIVAL by S. Usher Evans

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Jack Grenard and the demon Anya are on the run, searching for a cure for her curse while staying one step ahead of those who want them dead. The mystery leads them around the globe, each clue revealing more about the history of the original demons and the secrets behind the humans who fought them.

Hot on their trail is Jack's partner Cam Macarro, who just wants her best friend back. Unable to keep up with Anya, who can shift time, Cam dives head first into ICDM history, hoping to unravel the mystery before they do. But the more she discovers, the more she begins to see the truth behind ICDM and who's really in charge.

Revival is the second book in the Demon Spring Trilogy, which readers say is "perfect blend between urban fantasy and real life struggles" and "electric from start to finish." (Goodreads)

Guess who has been bad at blogging lately? *raises hand* In case that wasn't obvious, haha! But, who knows, maybe I'll start getting my poop in a group here shortly :)

Gotta love some fun urban fantasy! The second book in this unique series builds upon all the drama and mayhem that erupted in the first book. I really enjoyed visiting the characters again and watching them run for their lives. Wait, that sounds a little off...I enjoyed reading about their exploits ;) As Jack and Anya travel around the world, attempting to solve the mystery of her curse, they're followed by death, destruction, and the ICDM, which includes Cam. Honestly, I felt the worst for Jack's parter, Cam, throughout the novel, as she gets the short of end of the stick on multiple occasions. Overall, this was a lot of fun, with lots of interesting little details, and solid world-building. I did wonder a little at what goes on between Jack and Anya (no spoilers, so that's all I'm saying). But, the ending was perfect and totally left me looking forward to the last book in the series!

After Reading: SECRETS IN TRANSLATION by Margo Sorenson

By: Meradeth Houston on 9:21 AM

In this celebration of Italian life and culture, seventeen-year-old Alessandra returns for the summer to Italy, where she grew up. Pressured by her parents into babysitting a rebellious twelve year old—ruining holiday plans with new found American friends—Alessandra resigns herself to a tedious summer in Positano.

Her babysitting gig, however, turns out to be anything but boring! Not only does Alessandra fall for the handsome son of the Bertolucci family, renowned for their limoncello production, but when a body mysteriously turns up on the beach, the influence of organized crime in Positano becomes frighteningly real. As Alessandra is drawn further into an elaborate conspiracy, she must risk everything to protect herself, her family, and those she loves, and in the process finds herself—and her Italian heart. (Goodreads)

Oh, my, I've been remiss on blogging, haven't I?? So sorry about that--the summer has been a busy one, and I've lost track of things. I'll get better once things get back on track with the school year starting :) But, that hasn't meant I haven't been reading! I've enjoyed a lot of books this summer, and this one has been one of my favorites, soothing my wanderlust!

I adore reading books that take me to new places and show me different ways of life around the world. It's always so interesting, and when I can't visit in person, a great way to tame my wanderlust! Secrets was perfect for that. Sorenson has created a great picture of a summer in Italy, complete with a bratty tween under Alessandra's care, and the narrow, twisting streets of Positano. I desperately wanted to step through the pages and relax by the sea or eat some of the incredible food! And maybe enjoy some limoncello while I was at it ;) I also really enjoyed reading about Alessandra/Alex's struggle with finding the balance between her upbringing in Italy and her current life in Sonoma, California. The juxtaposition of the two was spot-on and heart wrenching at first, but she manages to find her place, which left me cheering. It doesn't hurt to have an Italian hottie to help out a little! Overall, this was a great read that will leave you wanting to book a trip to Italy!

After Reading: ALL THE CROOKED SAINTS by Maggie Stiefvater

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

From bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, a gripping tale of darkness, miracles, and family. Saints. Miracles. Family. Romance. Death. Redemption. (Goodreads)

It's been really far too long since I picked up a magical realism novel. I somehow forget how much I deeply enjoy them once I've started. I love their wandering pace, the little details, the magic that is just a normal part of everyday life, and the cultural tones that are often from the Hispanic world that reminds me so much of home. I love them. Steifvater has pulled this sort of magic into her realm in this novel, and made it her own, with all the same notes that I generally love in a good magical realism novel (Like Water for Chocolate, or 100 Years of Solitude, were both in mind as I read). The characters were definitely classic Stiefvater--real and able to jump off the page at a whim. The world was a new one, and I enjoyed the way that she played with it, giving it breath and life, and for me a deep longing for places I miss. The story was a good one, it wandered and told fun little side stories, and honestly anyone who has read a Esquivel novel will totally feel the same themes and tones. It was a delicious read for me, and one I'd recommend to those who have a deep hankering for a throughly classic magical realism novel.

Do you have a favorite magical realism book?

After Reading: CITY OF DARK MAGIC Series by Magnus Flyte

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Once a city of enormous wealth and culture, Prague was home to emperors, alchemists, astronomers, and, as it’s whispered, hell portals. When music student Sarah Weston lands a summer job at Prague Castle cataloging Beethoven’s manuscripts, she has no idea how dangerous her life is about to become. Prague is a threshold, Sarah is warned, and it is steeped in blood.

Soon after Sarah arrives, strange things begin to happen. She learns that her mentor, who was working at the castle, may not have committed suicide after all. Could his cryptic notes be warnings? As Sarah parses his clues about Beethoven’s “Immortal Beloved,” she manages to get arrested, to have tantric sex in a public fountain, and to discover a time-warping drug. She also catches the attention of a four-hundred-year-old dwarf, the handsome Prince Max, and a powerful U.S. senator with secrets she will do anything to hide.

***

In this action-packed sequel to City of Dark Magic, we find musicologist Sarah Weston in Vienna in search of a cure for her friend Pollina, who is now gravely ill and who may not have much time left. Meanwhile, Nicolas Pertusato, in London in search of an ancient alchemical cure for the girl, discovers an old enemy is one step ahead of him. In Prague, Prince Max tries to unravel the strange reappearance of a long dead saint while being pursued by a seductive red-headed historian with dark motives of her own.

In the city of Beethoven, Mozart, and Freud, Sarah becomes the target in a deadly web of intrigue that involves a scientist on the run, stolen art, seductive pastries, a few surprises from long-dead alchemists, a distractingly attractive horseman who’s more than a little bloodthirsty, and a trail of secrets and lies. But nothing will be more dangerous than the brilliant and vindictive villain who seeks to bend time itself. Sarah must travel deep into an ancient mystery to save the people she loves. (Goodreads)

Dang have I been bad about blogging this summer. I wish I had a good excuse, but I really don't. Just been busy, and struggling to find the time, or energy. Well, focus on the latter, really. Anyhow, I have still been reading :)

This series is pretty dang fun! I ran across them randomly at one of my favorite local used book shops and am glad I snagged them. There's all sorts of lovely intrigue and strange happenings, and wonderful cities that I loved visiting, even if just on the page. Sarah was an interesting character--one whom I could identify with on certain things (especially on the academic side of things), but there were a few one-offs that I struggled with. Her background was portrayed as very humble, but it didn't seem to play out well in her character, and I did wonder a few times at some of her...exploits. Maybe I'm a prude, but I kinda went 'uhhh, okay...?' at a few encounters that seemed a little over-the-top ;) Anyhow, I did enjoy learning more about Beethoven and Prague, as well as Vienna. I always love a little fun information. The science in the book itself was...sketchy at best, but done in a way that I was at least able to ignore the parts that were more silly that science. Anyhow, overall, a good book series that I really enjoyed. Honestly, if there were another in the series I'd snatch it up in a heartbeat!

Someone Else's Soul Official Book Trailer

By: Meradeth Houston on 7:25 AM

I've waited really impatiently to share this and am SO excited to have it go live this morning :) What do you think? I know Someone Else's Soul doesn't release for a good while, but this is a super fun teaser!

Cover Reveal: SECOND STAR by J.M. Sullivan

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Second Star
J.M. Sullivan
Published by: Bleeding Ink Publishing
Publication date: March 5th 2019
Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Peter Pan has never been one to follow the rules. Abandoned as a child, he was adopted by the renowned Captain Hooke to join the crew of the starship Jolly Roger. But when Peter finds out that the elegant Captain is not as upstanding as everyone believes, he has no choice but to sabotage the ship, alienating him from the crew, the fleet, and the only family he’s ever known.
Wendy Darling has worked her entire life to rise through the ranks of the prestigious Londonierre Brigade. Now as a Captain, she has everything she’s always wanted, including a ship and crew of her own. But when the Brigade receives a strange transmission from the legendary James Hooke, lost a hundred years earlier in uncharted space and presumed dead, Wendy is willing to risk it all to rescue her hero from the planet known only as Neverland.

But there is more to Neverland than meets the eye, and more to Hooke than what was written in history books. When Wendy crash lands on the ominous planet, she quickly discovers Neverland’s dark secret; a malevolent being known as The Shadow that’s looking for a host body to escape its eternal prison. To fulfill her mission, Wendy must decide whether to trust the dashing Hooke or the mysterious Fleet mechanic who goes by the name of Pan–and she has to decide quickly…

Before the darkness consumes them all.

Add to Goodreads

Author Bio:

An avid reader and hopeless fangirl, J.M. Sullivan shamelessly fantasized that this was, in fact, her AUROR bio, but has since determined AUTHOR bio to be the next best thing. An almost Arizona native, she was raised in Phoenix, but when asked, she will tell you her formative years were really spent in the land of make-believe, where she passed countless hours with her favorite characters in their own worlds, Wonderland included.

Eventually, society informed her that she had to grow up, so she experimented in retail, music, and business careers before realizing her passion for kids. She now works in Abu Dhabi as a middle school science teacher who fosters a love of science, literature, and learning in her students.

Although known to dabble in adulting, J.M. is a big kid at heart who still believes in true love, magic, and most of all, the power of coffee. When she isn’t busy writing or caught in a daydream, she spends her time at home with her husband, their two cats, three kids, and a whole lot of madness. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Website / Facebook / Twitter

After Reading: THE MOON IS DOWN by John Steinbeck

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Originally published at the zenith of Nazi Germany's power, Steinbeck's masterful fable explores the effects of invasion on conquered and conquerors alike.

Occupied by enemy troops, a small, peaceable town comes to face-to-face with evil imposed from the outside--and betrayal born within the close-knit community. As he delves into the motivations and emotions of the enemy commander and the quisling traitor, Steinbeck uncovers profound, often unsettling truths about war--and about human nature. (Goodreads)

My family decided that we need to be reading more books together, and this is our first pick for the adventure. We're all Steinbeck fans, which probably has a lot to do with being from California and having many of his novels set in locales we visited many times while growing up. So, this felt like a wonderful place to start, and honestly, it was far more moving than I anticipated. The writing, of course, was beautiful. Steinbeck has a way with cadence and word choice that sets up a scene very simply, but with wonderful emotional impact. And the story in this, well, it resonated on a powerful level. I only get political on here rarely, but the climate in the USA right now is dreadful. Things that are happening make me despise our leaders and actively resist. Things that are happening cannot be undone--to the world, and to human beings. I see photos and read the news daily and cringe. But this novel, well, it gave me hope. As our nation descends into something far from a democracy, reading this gave me hope that in the end, even at great cost, democracy and truth will win out. In many ways, I really needed to read this, and be refreshed in the sense of what I, and so many others, fight for. Because I have devoted my life to teaching and helping others understand the essence of what makes us ALL human is not a definition that can be extended to one group or population and not another. Because I firmly believe that we cannot be a great nation without the huddled masses we have sheltered in the past and should continue to do so. Because I know what bravery looks like, and true service to the greater good. For these things, it is necessary to fight, even in the small ways day to day, and I am grateful to have had been lifted up by this novel.

Cover Reveal for SOMEONE ELSE'S SOUL by ME! #amreading #amwriting #coverreveal

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

You all, I really have to say that first of all, I LOVE THIS COVER! It's amazing and totally beyond my wildest dreams for this book. Especially the tape for the SOUL part--that fits the story so well I can't even tell you :) You'll have to read the book to find out why, though, hehe. Also, my cup is so full today because I seriously have the best publisher ever. Really, everyone, I am so incredibly grateful. Did I have to do anything for this cover reveal? Nope. I mean, other than spread the word and such. I know that may sound a little strange, but generally I have to do all this myself and I never feel like I'm doing it justice. Not now--I have a team that I know has my back and is working their tails off to get this book off the ground. Which means, well, I have time to write!! So honestly, a major shout out to the incredible people at Bleeding Ink Publishing, and my fab agent Cristi Marchetti for landing me there! And especially a huge THANK YOU to all the amazing people sharing my cover today! Now, take a look at this cover:

Someone Else’s Soul
Meradeth Houston
Published by: Bleeding Ink Publishing
Publication date: May 7th 2019
Genres: Adult, Mystery, Suspense

There are 14 strangers who share her face, and one company is determined to erase them all.

Everyone has secrets, and it’s Diana Kane’s job to know them. It’s a talent–being able to see into someone’s life from the scuffs on their shoes to the way their hold their hands–a talent that sets her apart from everyone. When a mysterious stranger drops into her life dangling the possibility of something she’s longed for, a real connection with someone who might actually understand her, she’s too intrigued to refuse.

But when David Addington shows up to their date knowing too much about her, and the top secret agency she works for, Diana realizes their meeting was anything but coincidence. David has more than his share of surprises, including an impossible claim about Diana’s past and photos of an inexplicable woman who shares her face.
When her life begins to unravel around her, Diana has no choice but to put her faith in the mysterious David and the man he claims is his father. As she struggles to piece together the truth about where she came from, she’s forced to face the reality that her entire life has been manufactured, along with fourteen other women who share her exact same DNA. Confronted with the troubling reality that she’s nothing more than a research experiment that’s pushed the boundaries of science and ethics, Diana must rescue the others like her before the company can erase them as mistakes. She will have to put all her skills to the test in the ultimate game of survival…

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Cover Reveal: THE REVOLUTION OF JACK FROST by KM Robinson

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Ohhhh, I'm EXCITED to share this!! My publishing house, Bleeding Ink Publishing, has some amazing covers and it's a treat to get to share them with everyone. Mine's coming up, too! (If you want to get in on that fun, check it out!) So, here's their first cover--tell me what you think) :)

The Revolution of Jack Frost
K.M. Robinson
Published by: Bleeding Ink Publishing
Publication date: November 6th 2018
Genres: Dystopian, Fairy Tales, Retelling, Young Adult

No one inside the snow globe knows that Morozoko Industries is controlling their weather, testing them to form a stronger race that can survive the fall out from the bombs being dropped in the outside world—all they know is that they must survive the harsh Winter that lasts a month and use the few days of Spring, Summer, and Fall to gather enough supplies to survive.
When the seasons start shifting, Genesis and her boyfriend, Jack, know something is going on. As their team begins to find technology that they don’t have access to inside their snow globe of a world, it begins to look more and more like one of their own is working against them.
Genesis soon discovers Morozoko Industries is to blame, but when a foreign enemy tries to destroy their weather program to make sure their destructive life-altering bombs succeed in destroying the outside world, their only chance is to shut down the machine that is spinning out of control and save the lives of everyone inside the bunker–at any cost.

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The World Portal for The Revolution of Jack Frost has just been opened up on www.kmrobinsonbooks.com with behind-the-scenes info, exclusive looks at characters, there will be interactive choose-your-own-adventure games, facebook filters and frames, videos, artwork, and more coming soon, and the information is changing every few days, so if you want to catch it all, you have to keep checking back for all the exclusives. There may even be bonus scenes and other freebies on the site as well!

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Author Bio:
K.M. Robinson is a best selling storyteller who creates new worlds both in her writing and in her fine arts conceptual photography. She is a marketing, branding and social media strategy educator who is recognized at first sight by her very long hair. She is a creative who focuses on photography, videography, couture dress making, and writing to express the stories she needs to tell. She almost always has a camera within reach.
Get free excerpts of her books at excerpt.kmrobinsonbooks.com and check out her website www.kmrobinsonbooks.com
Connect with her on social media at @kmrobinsonbooks on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat. You can view videos and live replays on Youtube too!

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIving up the fight

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

A short post today, because it's been a long school year, and somehow an even longer semester. So many things have left me angry, seriously just mad, frustrated, and with a fuse about the length of my pinky nail. As I work my tail off, with barely any breaks (and most "breaks" are actually still just more work), I just need some time off. Before I teach summer school, write papers, and tackle my massive amount of lab work that I have this summer...and about a million other things.

This may not be so bad if I weren't living in constant fear of what's going on at my university, where cuts are starting to hit home (ie, me, or at least potentially me, and that's scary AF, and also just makes me mad--how can I have wasted so much effort and my life at a place that doesn't give a single f*ck?). So, yeah, I'm just drained and done. I apologize for the random blog posts that have been spotty and pitiful. Don't even get me started on how bad I feel about not having been visiting other's blogs more regularly. I just don't have it in me. Maybe this'll change. Maybe I'll get a better job somewhere else. Maybe I'll just run screaming into the woods and never return ;)

I hope spring has found you wherever you are and life is treating you well! Hopefully I can work out of this funk soon, before it entirely consumes me.

After Reading: VERACITY by Laura Bynum #amreading

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Harper Adams was six years old in 2012 when an act of viral terrorism wiped out one-half of the country's population. Out of the ashes rose a new government, the Confederation of the Willing, dedicated to maintaining order at any cost. The populace is controlled via government-sanctioned sex and drugs, a brutal police force known as the Blue Coats, and a device called the slate, a mandatory implant that monitors every word a person speaks. To utter a Red-Listed, forbidden word is to risk physical punishment or even death.

But there are those who resist. Guided by the fabled "Book of Noah," they are determined to shake the people from their apathy and ignorance, and are prepared to start a war in the name of freedom. The newest member of this resistance is Harper -- a woman driven by memories of a daughter lost, a daughter whose very name was erased by the Red List. And she possesses a power that could make her the underground warriors' ultimate weapon -- or the instrument of their destruction. (Goodreads)

How about a normal ol' book review for today? It's been a while :)

So, this was a random pick for me to nab, as I don't generally read a whole lot of adult dystopian. Maybe that's because it can often depress me, or just make me angry (at the world in the book, not in general!). But, something about this made me curious--mainly the fact that the world is basically erasing words from the inhabitants. Shrinking their vocabulary down to the sparsest necessities. This drives home the fascinating fact that words are powerful, and that knowing a word with its accompanying concept is vital for freedom. I really enjoyed that concept and the way it was handled by the author. The story itself was okay--not great, but engaging enough to keep me going. Harper's naivete and weakness throughout most of the story, despite the opening where she seems incredibly driven and motivated, was a bit frustrating (although probably more honest in how a woman in that predicament might really act). The romance line was tossed in a little haphazardly and I wish it had been fleshed out more, as I think it would have benefitted Harper's characterization.

Another thing that I kept circling back to while reading this, and a topic that I've thought about before with other novels set in a post-pandemic world, is the loss of population base. We live in a world that needs a whole lot of people doing lots of little things to keep the whole operation moving. To lose them, or in this novel's case, to indiscriminately kill off wide swaths of people, means losing a great deal of infrastructure and ability to maintain many systems. This result was not really addressed at all, other than there being areas that were mostly uninhabited. Anyhow, what it boils down to is that in a world where there are fewer people, I honestly don't think killing off your enemies is the way people would go about keeping the population in line. There are definitely fates worse than death, and that's fearful enough, and then you still have working hands to keep things running. I don't know, just something random I was ruminating on :)

Do you have a favorite dystopian novel?

Mis-Mash of Random :) #authorlife

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

So, I didn't get a chance to blog last week because, well, it was my birthday and I was out skiing and decided that it was just going to have to be okay to skip ;) This week I'm a bit at a loss as to what to write about, as honestly things have been a bit nuts around here, so it's going to be a list of utter random. Yay!

Content edits on Someone Else's Soul are pretty much done. Woot! I really enjoyed digging into this novel again, but am still paranoid that I left some glaring error somewhere.
I have a giant conference coming up this week with a crazy amount of work to do there. I will be SO glad when this is done and over and all my presentations (5! I am seriously masochistic!) are over. At least I get to get out of Missoula for a few days!
My lovely little pups have been majorly needy of late. I seem to be the pillow of choice (I'm trying to write this with one on my lap and the other laying across my feet). I love them both so much! Even when they wake me in the early morning by puking in my bed...

That's me under there somewhere, being "loved" by my pups!

Spring is tantalizingly close--except for the random blizzard we had last Thursday. I can't wait for summer (mostly because classes will be over and I can actually get some work done!). That, and we bought kayaks and going out on the nearby lakes or rivers is one of my favorite things on the planet and I can't wait to take them out and do it!

So that's a taste of my random life at the moment. Mostly just a whole lot of work and staring at a computer screen, or working with my students and wrangling their needs and projects and stuff like that.

After Reading: THE PROMETHEUS MAN by Scott Reardon

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

A man with no identity... hunting a man without limits.

When a pile of bodies is found in Paris, CIA Agent Tom Blake hustles his way onto a major case: tracking a man with enhanced abilities, the test subject of a secret government program.

There's just one problem: the man using Agent Blake's identity is not Agent Blake. He's Tom Reese, a man without a family or a home.

Reese is searching for his brother's killer. He stole Agent Blake's identity two months ago and has bluffed his way onto the team investigating his only lead. But his time as a CIA agent is accelerating toward its expiration date.

Soon the CIA will find out that Agent Blake is in two places at once. Soon the augmented man will come looking for him. And soon both will discover that Tom Reese carries a secret even he doesn't know about.
He is the last test subject of Project Prometheus. (Goodreads)

I've been really enjoying a good thriller/spy novel lately, and the faster the pace, the better. They're a great escape, and I find them super fun and the perfect way to unwind. Reardon's novel was a decent example in this genre, and I did enjoy it. There were some clunky aspects to the pacing, characters, and plot, but in general the book kept me interested enough to keep going and overlook little issues. There did seem to be an inordinate number of correlaries with the Jason Bourne series, but of course it's hard to tell a story in this general vein without having a good deal of potential commonalities crop up. I'm also grateful that the author shied away from a lot of the science, because honestly, it was clear from the get-go that there was basically no actual science to explain what had been done to the test subjects. Okay, well, there were some attempts at explaining things, but I found myself skipping them and rolling my eyes. Sorry, stem-cells don't actually work that way... Anyhow, overall, a decent read, and though I've read better, it kept me interested enough to get to the end!

Science for Authors: The Bugs You Live With--you and your microbiome #amwriting

By: Meradeth Houston on 4:00 AM

Okay, so I've been doing a whole lot of reading lately as some of my research has been going in a new direction that I'm super excited about. I won't go into much detail about that boring mess (other than it deals with a whole crap load of really old...poop--yep, you read that right...), but I have been really enjoying spending time researching the little bugs that live on and in all of us. Okay, not actually bugs, but bacteria and prokaryotes (mostly Archaea) that exist on our skin, in our mouths, and in our gut. These organism are collectively known as our microbiome. While that may make you want to take a bath, they're actually super important to our survival.

So, if you're working with a story that deals with, say, living on a spacecraft, for example, it might be cool to bring in some science about how people maintain a healthy bacterial colony--because we're realizing that that's super important!

A few cool facts:

We have ~10^14 bacterial cells in our body
There are ~10^13 human cells in our body--that's an order of magnitude difference! Our body is technically more bacteria than us
These cells make up ~2% of our body mass--about like our brain or liver
There are ~3,300,000 genes in these bacteria. Humans only have ~22, 000

So, basically, that's a whole lot. And these little guys are SUPER important. We're only scratching the surface of all they do, but we know they're super important in these things:

Digestion and metabolism of what you eat
Vitamin production
Immune system education and maintenace
Restrict growth of pathogens through resource outcompetition
Metabolize xenobiotics (foreign substances)
Provide resistance to tumor/cancer causing agents

So, kind of some amazingly important stuff. And when things are out of whack, we know that some issues that can arise are:

In the gut: Obesity, Type II Diabetes, Irritable Bowel, Colon Cancer
In the mouth: Periodontal disease, Dental decay
And even mood: Anxiety, Autism, Depression

The last one there is crazy to me--how something so small, living in or on you, can alter your mood or state of mind. Nuts! But the evidence is becoming overwhelming that they're really incredibly important. Having a healthy microbiome is super important, and being too clean can actually lead to issues. The Hygiene Hypothesis is a really good example--too few bugs and our immune system doesn't develop correctly, leading to things like asthma and type I diabetes (among many possible others). So, those little bugs on you are actually a good thing!