Feeling some Christmas Cheer!

I'm very happy to report that some super cool Janeite friends and I are coming out with a short story collection just in time for the holiday season! We each took a Jane Austen novel, modernized it, shortened it, and added some Christmas cheer to it. :-)

Back story to the short story collection. A family member was in the hospital and I desperately needed some happymaking in my life. I was thinking about what makes me happy. Christmas and writing came together in my mind. I called Jessica Grey and said, "Hey, what do you think about writing a Jane Austen Christmas story together?" That quickly swirled into all the Austen novels and calling up amazing writing friends to add to our Christmas writing fun. All this to say that you never know where inspiration will come from! (And my family member is much better now!)

My book was NORTHANGER ABBEY. My short is called "Mischief and Mistletoe." If you know Catherine Morland, you'll understand the mischief portion. Mistletoe, because, obviously, Christmastime and...it also starts with "M". I'm a big fan of alliteration. Below is one of my favorite quotes from NORTHANGER ABBEY. It helped inspire me to send Cate away from home. I'll write more about that later.

The other authors are:
Jessica Grey - My co-conspirator, YA fairy tale author, and writer-of-other-amazing-books!
Cecilia Gray - YA author of "The Jane Austen Academy" series!
Jennifer Becton - Austenesque author and thriller writer!
Kimberly Truesdale - Austenesque author and fellow English teacher!
Rebecca M. Fleming - One of my first bookish friends on the interwebs! We both share a love of Anne of Green Gables and hobbits. Rebecca is a blogger and a librarian. This is her first published work.

As we get closer to the release date, we'll have fabulous giveaways and fun blog hop things. We're all about the Christmas Cheer!

Book Review: HIT by Lorie Ann Grover

Hit by Lorie Ann Grover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


FROM GOODREADS:
After receiving a full-ride scholarship to Mills College for Girls, it appears Sarah's future is all laid out before her that is until she walks into a poetry class led by Mr. Haddings, a student teacher from the nearby University of Washington. Suddenly, life on the UW campus seems very appealing, and Sarah finds herself using her poetry journal to subtly declare her feelings for Haddings. Convinced Mr. Haddings is flirting back, she sets off for school in the rain with a poem in her back pocket one that will declare her feelings once and for all. Mr. Haddings has noticed Sarah's attention; the fallout from any perceived relationship with a student is too great a risk, and he has decided to end all speculation that morning. But everything changes when Mr. Haddings feels a thud on his front bumper when he glances away from the road, and finds Sarah in the street with blood pooling beneath her."

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I loved that this book was based on true events that a friend of the author went through (that may sound horrible!). I was drawn into the story immediately. Sarah is a likable character and though she is mature, she still thinks like a teenager. This made the story more real to me. I enjoyed seeing Sarah and her mother go through real mother-daughter conversations. I enjoyed that the story was told from both Sarah and Haddings' points-of-view. I felt the pain of what each character went through emotionally.

I think that when you read a book and are able to place yourself into more than one of the character's shoes, that is very impressive. I saw myself in the young girl of Sarah. I saw myself as the driver who is temporarily distracted. (I've never hit anyone! But all drivers do get distracted...) I saw myself as the overprotective mom. I saw myself as the overprotective friend. This made me get totally into the story. I read the book very quickly because I couldn't put it down.

I recommend this book for readers: who enjoy clean reads, novels based on true events, contemporary young adult novels. I have recommended HIT to my students and they have made a "waiting list" for who can read the book next. :-)

**Book received for free from Blink/Zondervan for an honest review.

Now available for purchase! Amazon   Barnes and Noble   IndieBound (indie bookstore near you)  Powells  Zondervan.com

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lorie Ann Grover is an awarded YA novelist and board book author whose works include Kirkus Starred Review, Firstborn, and Parents Magazine Best Children's Book, Bedtime Kiss for Little Fish. She co-founded readergirlz and readertotz. Living with her husband in the foothills of Mt. Rainier, she writes, practices weapons tai chi, and watches hawks take flight.

*Personal note* I met Lorie Ann through mutual friends. She gave me advice when I first started to write. I appreciate her wisdom very much! She is a sweet lady who has much perseverance. I admire her greatly.

Plotting for New Story Idea

Plotting for a New Story

I love to read fairy tales and different versions of the same tale. There are many retellings of the classics: Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White. I read a tale called "The Princess on the Glass Hill." It was only about 2 pages long in the children's fairy tale book that I read. I was interested in the story because I had never read it before. I found a longer version of the tale online that was about 6 pages long. I was hooked. I really wanted to write a retelling of this unfamiliar fairy tale.

I sat down to write. And...nothing. I've never been a panster, always a plotter. I have to get into my characters and figure out who they are and why they do what they do. The two versions of "Princess...Hill" were from the hero's perspective. Basically, there comes word that a princess is locked up in a tower at the top of a glass hill. Men from all around try to "rescue" her from the tower. The one who can get her out can marry her. Hero Guy is the youngest of 3 brothers and the most unlikely lad in the kingdom to rescue the princess. He proceeds to accomplish 3 tasks (of course 3! It's the magic number in fairy tales!) that a fairy sets before him. He wins the contest/rescues the princess. The End.

I understand the motivation of Hero Guy (right now, his name is either Jack or Mack in my story). Youngest brother, wants to prove himself, marry a beautiful princess, etc. But I was stumped when it came to the Nameless Princess of the story. First of all, how sad that she is not given a name! (Of course, I have names running through my mind for her. Possibly Alice or Margaret or Jane. Still working on this.) Secondly, why would the princess be willing to be locked up in a tower and be the prize of this contest?? I'm not a super liberal feminist but I do believe in equal rights and NOT LOCKING GIRLS UP. I had to dig deeper before I could even start this story.

So, I started with the backstory. In most books, the reader doesn't even know the full backstory of a character. This is a good thing! But the AUTHOR must know why the character is acting a certain way and making decisions that might be stupid and saying things that are weird. For "Princess...Hill" I needed a good, solid reason for Princess Alice/Margaret/Jane to be willingly locked up. I wanted her to have kind parents, not psychos. I wanted her to have a family and a history. I wanted her to be the heroine of her own story. I mean, the story is called "The PRINCESS on the Glass Hill"!

All ranting aside, that's what I'm working on now. Random plot points, names of characters scrawled into my journal, ideas written with many exclamation points and underlining. Imagining the story in my mind, seeing the Hero and Heroine meeting for the first time. Rewinding my mental tape and working the scene again slightly differently. (Instead of the tree branch fully breaking, maybe it could just crack? What would happen after that?) Choose Your Own Adventure! ;-)

I hope you've enjoyed your trip inside this author's brain. Mind your step. There's plot holes all around.

Book Review: FAMOUS LAST WORDS

FAMOUS LAST WORDS by Katie Alender

"Hollywood Can Be Murder"

From Goodreads:
Hollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.

Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.

Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.

All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind . . . or her life.

Acclaimed author Katie Alender puts an unforgettable twist on this spine-chilling tale of murder, mystery, mayhem -- and the movies.

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REVIEW:

I received an ARC of FAMOUS LAST WORDS for review from Scholastic.

I was a bit freaked out at first about the possibility of a ghost story but I really loved the idea of a murder mystery taking place in Hollywood, so I jumped into the book but kept the lights ON. (I'm a 'fraidy cat.) OH. MY. WORD. I totally loved the setting and the characters from the get-go. I was pulled into the mystery surrounding the serial killer terrorizing Hollywood. I read the book in one evening because I couldn't put it down.

Willa, the main character, is not completely broken so as to annoy the reader at the beginning of the story. She is so strong but locked up behind her walls of hurt. I loved seeing her grow as the story developed. **No spoilers** but I LOVED seeing her at the end of the book when she gets to be the heroine of her own story.

The creepy ghost part is only mildly scary (no nightmares, here!) and adds a lot to the story, especially the old Hollywood movie star connection.

Recommended for: murder mystery fans, ghost story fans, YA fiction fans.

(A bonus for younger readers/clean reads - no bad language or bedroom scenes.)


Available from Scholastic Books
Publication Date: September 20, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-545-63997-2
Also available as an ebook

PBS SoCal Summer Learning Day

PBS SoCal is hosting a "Summer Learning Day Literacy Fair" and will be at the La Habra Children's Museum on Saturday, June 28th from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Lots of books, authors, and fun will be there.

I'll be there with several other local authors. I hope to see some old friends and make some new friends, too! :-)

La Habra City Events

For fun summer reading activities for your kids, visit PBS KIDS Lab site.

Book Fair - City of Cudahy, CA

Book & Literacy Fair 

in the City of Cudahy!

(It's a tiny town near Downey, CA.)

Saturday, May 31

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Come enjoy interactive games, a local art competition, group reading

 of children’s books, arts & crafts for children, local author signings, 

food, artist performances and other outdoor family activities.

Author panels and performer schedules will be finalized soon! Check the website for details.

www.cudahybookfair.com

Young Authors' Faire Flier

If you would like a printable flier for the YAF 2014 this Saturday, here you go! :-)

Local Author Day 2014 - Fullerton Public Library

Local Authors Day THIS SUNDAY 1-5 PM

Join us for Local Author Day on May 4th! Meet new and favorite local authors of books on a variety of topics, including both fiction and non-fiction. The authors will discuss getting published, writing tips, and thoughts on the writing lifestyle.

Authors: Melissa Buell, Adam R. Collings, Jeanette Gardner,Judy B. Kancigor, Mike Oates, Victoria Patterson, Dick Quis,Zoot Velasco, and Don Westernhaver.

Books will also be available for purchase and signing at the event. We hope to see you there!

Fullerton Public Library

Young Authors' Faire Schedule

Young Authors’ Faire 2014

Saturday, May 10

La Habra Library

Schedule of events/authors

Children’s authors: 

E.J. Altbacker (Author of “Sharkwars” series) and Gladys Barbieri (Author of “Rubber Shoes”)

11 am - 1 pm: E. J. and Gladys at the authors' signing tables

            11:30 - 12 pm : E. J.'s stage time

            12:30 - 1 pm: Gladys's stage time

Young Adult authors: 

Marlene Perez (author of the “Dead Is…” series) and Melissa Buell (author of “The Tales of Gymandrol” series)

1 pm - 3 pm: Marlene and Melissa at the authors' signing tables

           1:30 - 2 pm: Marlene's stage time

           2:30 - 3 pm: Melissa's stage time

*Barnes and Noble will be there selling books and the authors will be signing them!* 

There will also be a PBS Mobile Lab, Dream Shapers, Lakeshore - Bookmark Activity, ELP Books - Literacy Activities, Read Conmigo  -Literacy Activities, RIF SoCal- Read with an Adult, OC Read, OC Public Libraries: Paws to Read activities, and much more!

Last year, there were drawings for wonderful prizes, including books, gift certificates, and games. I anticipate the same thing happening this year. :-)  I hope to see many book lovers there!

Upcoming Event: Young Authors' Faire 2014

I'm happy to say that I'll be at the OC Dept of Education Young Authors' Faire again this year!

https://sites.google.com/site/yaf2014/

Where: La Habra Library, La Habra, CA

When: Saturday, May 10, 2014 from 11:00-3:00 p.m.

Who: Local authors and students will be there!

Barnes and Noble will be there selling books, authors will be talking about writing, students will be presenting their work. This celebration of the writing efforts of K-12 students in Orange County Schools will feature performers, authors, games, prizes and more. This event is free of charge.