Character Interview: Autumn of Dream Smashers & Gemma of Sleight

Today I'm sitting down with two lovely ladies. Autumn, the girl determined not to allow life's circumstances to keep her down from Angela Carlie's Dream Smashers and Gemma, the girl who sees ghosts, pardon me, shades, and lives with the circus in Jennifer Sommersby's Sleight. Thank you for being here today, ladies.

Easy questions first, then. Describe yourself in three words.

Gemma: Compassionate, cautious, and devoted.
Autumn: Responsible, caring, free.

Those definitely sound right to me. Ok, so what's more important: keeping your closet or your bookshelf full?

Autumn: Grams and Gramps never had much money to buy a lot of clothes. I'd like to have a few nice things, but I have to say I love reading because books let me escape from it all, you know? So, bookshelf full is my answer.
Gemma: Definitely my bookshelf. I’m cool with Levis and sneakers forever.

That would be my choice too! And if your life were a comic book, would you be the hero or her sidekick?

Gemma: I think my life already is a comic book. Junie’s the hero, the much prettier, much bouncier hero, and I’m the sidekick who tries to keep her tethered to the ground.
Autumn: Totally the hero. Rainy would be MY sidekick. She probably sees it the other way around, though. Whatever.

All right, let's jump into it. Tell us about the men your lives. :D

Autumn: Well, when I first met Evan, I totally thought he was hot, but he was kind of weird. He had this glow about him that lit up an entire room. Not like a Glow Worm or anything, but more like the embers on the bottom of a fireplace on a cold winter's day. He has a way of making me feel carefree and able to take on the dream smashers of the world. He's a bit of a Jesus freak, but that's okay because he's an awesome kisser.

He sounds just about perfect! What about your men, Gemma? I know you have a few and some are quite complicated lately.

Gemma: There are several. My uncle Ted, my uncle Irwin, a baby elephant named Jiminy…oh, you mean those kind of men. Wow. My cheeks just caught fire. I don’t know how to even talk about this. I’m still getting used to the whole idea of having a “better half,” but I know that Henry Dmitri is definitely that to me. (I can’t believe I’m saying this out loud.) It was ridiculous how it all started—one of those storybook things that doesn’t happen in real life. But it did. It happened. He’s a nice guy, super smart and very tuned in to me. It still doesn’t feel real sometimes, and he’s by no means perfect. We’re both kinda weird in our own ways, so I guess it makes sense that we’ve ended up together. I can’t not mention Ash—even though we grew up together in the circus, and he has made some stupid choices lately, I will always love him. That love used to be almost a brother/sister thing, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I’ve had a crush on him since I was six. We’re not exactly on speaking terms these days, considering he’s helping a certain mad man try and kill me, but whatever. It is what it is.

Hm... who has been the most influential/inspirational person in your life?

Gemma: Probably my Auntie Marlene. Even though she’s not my aunt by blood, she has been everything to me, from the time I was little and struggling with my mother’s mania. Marlene has never failed me, never let me down, and has always encouraged me to be the best person I could possibly be. She’s the strongest, bravest, most caring and forgiving person I have ever known. People who know Marlene are better for it.
Autumn: I'd say my mom, Jacinda. I know what you're thinking, how could a meth addict be an inspiration? Well, she's been sort of a role model of what NOT to be and do. She's truly had the most influence on my life. Without her, I wouldn't be as strong as I am today.

Really? I wouldn't have expected that, Autumn. But I think it fits. Which leads me to the next question. I know both of you have very unique relationships with your mothers. If you could say one thing to her right now, what would it be?

Autumn: I love you. I wish you would get clean and be the mom I've always wanted you to be. I wish you would love Grams as much as Grams loves you and take care of her instead of destroying her.
Gemma: That’s a tough one. I loved my mom…I miss her every day, but she was so absent in my life before she died. I know she did her best. I can’t imagine how hard things were for her, especially knowing what I know now. I guess I would just tell her that I love her, and to be strong.

That is tough. And both of you have been through so much. After all of it, what is the most important thing in your life right now?

Gemma: Staying alive.
Autumn: The people in my life are totally the most important: Grams, Evan, Rainy, Angel, and Jacinda, too. Also, getting better grades in school so I can get out of this town and go to college. I hope to travel the world and find as many adventures as possible and you can't do that without a good job. Can you believe me and Rainy go to school everyday now? Crazy cool.

Wow, so it sounds like you're settling in, Autumn. And Gemma, there's probably a lot more to your story! Thank you both so much for your answers!

Autumn: Thanks, Jenny and Gemma! It was cool to meet you. Thanks, Jenny, for having us!
Gemma: Nice to meet you both, too. Thanks for the chance to say hello. Autumn, if you ever want to come to the circus, give me a shout. I'll introduce you to a couple of really great elephants...

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

If you haven't read about these incredible girls yet, what are you waiting for?

Dream Smashers by Angela Carlie

Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

Cover Reveal: Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby

Take a look at the brand new cover for Sleight by Jennifer Sommersby! The original cover for the book was pretty and mysterious but there's just something about a redhead that makes this new cover even more eye-catching. Gorgeous!

Get the eBook version of Sleight with this fabulous new cover at Amazon.com!

Saturday + Doomsday = Contemporary Dystopia?

My concern with the fact the yahoo on the radio says Saturday is going to be Doomsday is this. I'm not a fan of Contemporary fiction but I love Dystopians. Doomsday would make dystopians contemporary. No!! LOL

I don't buy into anyone being able to predict the end of the world. But I do enjoy reading about it in books. What about you?

Review: The Strange Case of Finley Jayne

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne (Steampunk Chronicles 0.5) by Kady Cross

Release Date: May 1, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 78
Reading level: Young Adult
My Rating:

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined…

-- from Goodreads.com

I am a huge fan of steampunk. It's up there on my list of favorite settings just shy of dystopians. Ms. Cross provides us with a total immersion into the steampunk genre in this novella which includes everything from corsets to steam-powered metal horses to hints at gothic horror novels such as Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The cast of characters is lively, if physically under-described, and the dialogue tinged with just the right amount of vocabulary and structure relevant to the time period.

I was impressed that in such a short amount of time we are introduced to Finley Jayne and get to know her pretty well. She is a girl who hides a very dark, secret side of herself. A side that comes out to protect those for whom she cares, which includes her employer, Lady Morton, Lady Morton's daughter Phoebe, who is set to marry a very ominous older man who seems to have hidden plans for his fiancee. I felt Finley was a little butch for my tastes and a little too apt to jump to mistaken knee-jerk reactions, but generally she is very likable as are the rest of the characters. Even the villain has his moment.

The beginning is a little slow but after Finley is established and the circumstances set up, the novella was packed with action. Some parts so well-described as to leave the reader feeling they were standing on the sideline while it all rushed by. Ms. Cross is excellent at descriptive writing, down to recounting Finley's modern (to the era) outfits. I could see and smell the world. Which is why it was disappointing that none of the characters is actually given a full description when we meet them. Including Finley who, on the cover of The Girl in the Steel Corset, appears to have dark hair. Half way through the novella, it is stated that her hair is honey blond. We aren't told her color of her eyes at the beginning either, only that they are like her dead father's. Later on we are told the color. We know more about what people are wearing than we do about what they look like so it was difficult to get a clear picture of the characters in mind.

It was an enjoyable read over all. I hope that we get to see more of the elusive Lord Greythorne in the forthcoming novel. I also hope that Ms. Cross will extend her creative genius to giving us a better idea of what her characters look like so we can see them as she does. Oh yes, and maybe fewer plum-colored satin dresses. I think Finley had 3 of them in this short novella! :)

Authors on Twitter

When I first heard about Twitter and the whole idea of micro-blogging I thought it was fantastic. I was already taking part in groups on Livejournal where you were required to write stories or poems in 100 words or less (or some other variation) so the thought of blogging in 140 characters or less was something I really jumped on.

Then came the disappointment.

After an hour using Twitter I discovered that everyone and their boring brother had decided that Twitter was their quick fix for expressing the impossibly inappropriate and completely too personal happenings in their lives. I read tweets from the bathroom, from the bedroom, and from subways containing everything from inane details of a midnight snack to naked facts about sex lives. Definitely not my cup of tea.

So I quit using Twitter and didn't look back. That was until I started my book blog under a year ago. I was hesitant at first, building my follow list carefully book blogger by book blogger, author by author. And beyond the occasional poor decision which turned out to be a spammer, I think I've found a great equilibrium and a sort of blogospheric family on Twitter.

That said, it's been super fun getting to know authors of some of my favorite books through their tweets! Never before have authors appeared so accessible as when they are tangibly online with you at the very same time you are and you can read what they're thinking about the writing & editing process or funny things their spouses have said or see the adorable photos of their pets with funky head gear (Lauren DeStefano, I'm looking at you).

Wading into the Twitter/blogosphere knee deep, I've met and interacted with authors and/or just plain stalked them daily to get a feel for who they are as people. Believe me, after some time I can totally see where their characters have come from, where their creativities lie, and other things that make reading their books so much more personal. It's a brand new connection to books that I didn't know I was missing but would feel bereft without now.

Awesome Authors I've Interacted With on Twitter: The fabulous Jennifer Sommersby (author of Sleight), the incomparable Angela Carlie (author of Dream Smashers), the hilarious Kiersten White (author of Paranormalcy), the enthusiastic Beth Revis (author of Across the Universe), and the endearing cat lover Lauren DeStefano (author of Wither).

What has been your experience with authors & Twitter?

Best Character Description EVER

Rex Stout was a genius. My mother and grandmother collect and read his books non-stop and periodically one of them will share a line or two with me. Here is the latest one my mother shared. We both burst out laughing.

From: Too Many Clients by Rex Stout
Narrating Character: Archie Goodwin, Nero's assistant

I was interrupted by the doorbell. Going to the hall, I saw on the stoop what I have in mind, more or less, when I apply the word "lump" to a female. Not a hag, not a fright, just a woman, this one middle-aged or more, who would have to be completely retooled and reassembled before she could be used for show purposes. With her you would have some spare parts left when you finished, for instance the extra chin. Her well-made dark suit and her platinum mink stole were no real help. I went and opened the door and told her good morning.

LOL!

Contest Winners: Sleight & Dream Smashers / Custom Header

Okay, my lovelies, I apologize for my delay in announcing the winners for these contests. I've been super busy but here they are!

Winner of the Sleight & Dream Smashers Giveaway

The Bookish Brunette

Winner was chosen via Random.org


Congrats! I will email you shortly!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Winner of the Custom Header By Me

Truly Bookish

Winner was chosen via Random.org


Congrats and thank you so much for promoting New Books for New Bloggers! I will be in contact via email shortly.

If you are/were interested in this contest to win a custom header and would like to see a similar one run please comment and let me know.

Books & Movies: The Forest of Hands & Teeth

So, according to IMDB.com the movie based on Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands & Teeth is possibly being released this year. Due to the lack of info on the page so far I highly doubt that but that's not the point of this post. I'm excited to know that this is going to be made into a movie! I hope they do well with it and transform it from the book to the screen as faithfully as possible (unlike how they totally ignored the book where I Am Number Four was concerned and made a movie that had nothing to do with the original story).

No, what my thought here is this. A lot of rumors have been circulating that Kristen Stewart is going to play Mary in the movie. Those blogs posting that rumor are almost always met with outcries against Kristen being up for that part with some saying they won't even watch the movie if she is cast. I have to be very honest and say that I don't think she would be a good fit at all for the role. The following are my personal points toward why I feel that way.

1. Kristen may be a good actress, but I have yet to see it in more recent years. The last movie I watched with her in it that I could say displayed great acting prowess was Panic Room back in 2002 where Kristen played a little girl with diabetes trapped in a panic room (without her insulin) when several nutjobs break into her house. What I saw in that movie made me an instant (albeit temporary) fan of Kristen Stewart so that I went back and watched The Safety of Objects in which she played a little boy. Cool stuff. I thought she was moderately good in 2003 when Cold Creek Manor came out but by the time she was in Speak in 2004, there didn't seem to be anything left of the stand out skills of her 2002 Panic Room role.

   Now, having watched her in Zathura (2005), In the Land of Women (2007), The Messengers (2007), Into The Wild (2007), Jumper (2008), and Twilight (2008), I realize that there's only one reason to call Kristen Stewart in to do a part in your movie. And that's if you have a part of a controlling, neurotic, brat of a teen/young adult who needs to look exasperated, confused, and completely terrified all at the same time while delivering lines you can tell she thinks are stupid. Definitely not what I ever thought of Mary.

2. Kristen can't do scared. As far as I can tell, since Panic Room, Kristen has only done one film where fear was required -- The Messengers. There will be a lot of fear necessary for The Forest of Teeth & Hands, and judging by her performance in The Messengers, Kristen wouldn't be a good fit for the film. Her fear in The Messengers always read as confusion and mild irritation. And when it wasn't that, she expressed fear during screaming matches with one or the other of her parents. So it was more petulance than anything else. Mary is not petulant.

3. We don't need another Twilight. Kristen Stewart has been doing Twilight movies since 2008 and there is definitely a large, vocal group of young people who do not like Twilight. And it's pretty easy to see that many of them have disdain for the actors who've been in the movies too. Their dedication to boycotting movies with them cast means they probably wouldn't watch this movie if Kristen Stewart is attached. That would mean less ticket sales.

4. People think Kristen is a snob. They dislike her and avoid her movies because of it. I don't know what to say or think about that personally. All I've heard is that her dad (not Kristen) made a stupid comment at the Oscars about Kristen not coming because she was waiting until she was in a good movie, not one that just made a lot of money (referencing Twilight). That and the fact that she appears aloof and disinterested whenever she's photographed, which she says is because she's shy. Neither of which matters to me really but it matters a lot to many people who will decide not to see The Forest of Hands & Teeth because of how they perceive her. Again, less ticket sales.

In conclusion, I don't have a large problem with Kristen. She's good at what she needs to be good at. I just don't feel she's the best choice for Mary. And yes, I know it's only a rumor and that Kristen is rumored to be attached to just about every movie with a girl her age as the lead. I just felt the thought deserved something more than a, "Oh no she better not!" type response I've been seeing on other blogs. What's your thought?

Review: The Dark & Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

The Dark & Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan

Release Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Delacorte
Pages: 377
Reading level: Young Adult
My Rating:

There are many things that Annah would like to forget: the look on her sister's face before Annah left her behind in the Forest of Hands and Teeth, her first glimpse of the Horde as they swarmed the Dark City, the sear of the barbed wire that would scar her for life. But most of all, Annah would like to forget the morning Elias left her for the Recruiters.

Annah's world stopped that day, and she's been waiting for Elias to come home ever since. Somehow, without him, her life doesn't feel much different than the dead that roam the wasted city around her. Until she meets Catcher, and everything feels alive again.

But Catcher has his own secrets. Dark, terrifying truths that link him to a past Annah has longed to forget, and to a future too deadly to consider. And now it's up to Annah: can she continue to live in a world covered in the blood of the living? Or is death the only escape from the Return's destruction?

-- from Goodreads.com

The book begins with an emotional, not action-oriented, bang. Right from the start we see exactly what is at Annah's core and the rest of the story deconstructs what we see in the first chapter, removing layer by layer the hard outer shell she has constructed around her heart. Annah is, by far, Ms. Ryan's most mature and well-developed protagonist to date. She is intelligent, sometimes (appropriately) naive, vulnerable, and street savvy. We are given so many reason to care about her and her survival even when she's being a bit dramatic (what teen isn't?) or indecisive (what human isn't?). What I found I liked best about Annah is that she is very real. She is a girl who could be set into any time or place and resonate perfectly.

I was pleased with how Ms. Ryan has grown up her other characters, especially Gabry who seems to have finally made a choice she is willing to live with for a good long time. One of my frustrations with being in her head (for Dead Tossed Waves) was that she flip-flopped so much between the two guys that I finally didn't care who she picked as long as she did it and stopped thinking about it in the middle of a zombie infested present. This time around, Gabry has matured and is even able to express more of her innate sweet nature and true romantic sensibilities.

I was pleasantly surprised with how the Ms. Ryan progressed the relationship between Annah and everyone she comes in contact with, especially Catcher who has his own wounded character to overcome. Catcher is now my absolute favorite of Ms. Ryan's male characters. He's got the whole dark and brooding with a hidden soft spot down pat and he's been written so well that it doesn't ring false in any way.

Every character, even the peripheral ones, was well thought out and given backstory -- even a couple of the zombies had them! And along with great characterization, Ms. Ryan continued her robust world building seamlessly and seemingly effortlessly with this third book in the series. I was never bored by the exposition of the world's past and present predicament. There were no scenes that I felt had no purpose other than to elongate the book and I enjoyed the entire up and down of the emotional rollercoaster.

The reason this book doesn't receive 5 stars instead of 4 is for the pure frustration the first half of the book presented to me in the form of Annah's regret. She finds about 50 ways to re-phrase the situation that took place in the woods where she left behind Abigail (Gabry) and felt guilty for years afterward and never expecting her sister to forgive her. It seemed to come up once a page in some way or another and I found the repetition grating after a while. The saving grace is that there is more than enough other things happening to propel the book along at a good clip away from these continuous thoughts and into action and suspense!

It has been really fun watching Ms. Ryan's abilities progress and I feel like this book is a triumph. If you're a fan of the series or YA dystopian/zombie novels in general, pick this up and read it! It's fantastic. Kudos, Ms. Ryan.