Thanks to the power of Twitter, I learned today is International Children's Book Day. I'm marking the calendar and plan to make this an annual event in our house. I love children's books. I spent most of my weekend reading a stack I borrowed from the elementary/middle school library I volunteer at, including:
INCARCERON by Catherine Fisher (an upper MG steam punk/fantasy)
LILY'S GHOSTS by Laura Ruby (a MG ghost story with a touch of humor)
DEEP, DARK AND DANGEROUS by Mary Downing Hahn (a well-written, delightfully unnerving ghost story)
The cold I'm fighting was added incentive, but I planned to plow through a stack of books for spring break anyway.
Lifelong readers can all tell you about their most memorable childhood books--mine range from solving mysteries with Nancy Drew to smiling with the lyrical Dr. Seuss to learning life lessons with the beautifully written and illustrated Serendipity Books by Stephen Cosgrove & Robin James. Many of us are still reading children's books today. Maybe it's because we never tire of the adventures. Or maybe we want to always stay in touch with our inner child and ability to play. It's mostly sure because we love a well-told story.
The magic of books is that it can be all of those things and more. I hope you all celebrate your love of reading and this special day. Read a children's book, new or old. Read to a child. Visit a library. Pick up a popular book (Hunger Games anyone?) or try one with a beautiful cover. Grab a picture book, middle grade or young adult. Better yet, ask a child for a recommendation. The kids I work with at the library always have great suggestions (and even better imaginations).
I'm starting MAGYK by Angie Sage today. What are you going to be reading?
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reading. Show all posts
Monday, April 2, 2012
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Villain Love
I love bad boys. Not the leather-wearing, chain-smoking kind of bad guys, but rather true villains. I think they deserve a little reader love. They bring much-needed tension to a story, and they're fascinating characters. But it's more than that. They bring stories to life in a way a hunky hero or sassy heroine never could. Their nefarious deeds and unpredictable actions make for great reading, but I want to know why they do what they do.
As a writer, I want to crawl into their heads. It's not always a comfortable place to be, but everyone--and I mean everyone--has a story. It gives us an idea of what motivates them, or what made them nasty in the first place. And every character's story shapes the story you find in the pages of your favorite book, for better or worse. I feel sympathy for some of the villains in my favorite stories. I don't excuse their terrible behavior, but without it, the story wouldn't necessarily have resonated with me.
Take Stryker from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. The guy has done some heinous things. But when you read his story, you can't help but soften toward him (at least I did). Ms. Kenyon always does a masterful job balancing the good and evil in a character. Stryker chooses to go the evil route more often than not, but his intentions are validated through his story.
Or what about V'Lane from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series? I can't totally hate him, and not because he's gorgeous (in case you haven't read the series, I won't give away any spoilers).
Then you have a character like Voldemort. It's hard to drum up any sympathy for someone who orchestrated so many terrible acts of evil. Yet without him, Harry Potter would have gone nowhere. His potential may have been unrealized. Dumbledore would have died an inglorious death, and we would have never known Snape--who was almost easier to hate--was a good guy all along.
I don't believe any character, real or imagined, is 100% good or evil. Granted, we don't all have homicidal tendencies. But I call BS on the people who claim to have the best of intentions all day, every day. We're flawed. Villains are more flawed, sometimes terribly so. Those flaws are what give our heroes and heroines an opportunity to grow. Not unlike the nasty characters we encounter in our everyday lives.
Villains play an important role in fiction. They're an essential half of the all-important good vs. evil equation. They give us a reason to root for the good guy. When they're defeated, they give us hope that maybe, just maybe, we can defeat the negativity in our own lives. For that reason alone, I have to give them credit. I'll always root for the good guy, but a small part of me will do the same for the bad guy. Because hey, that's what makes for a great book. ;-)
Who's your favorite villain?
As a writer, I want to crawl into their heads. It's not always a comfortable place to be, but everyone--and I mean everyone--has a story. It gives us an idea of what motivates them, or what made them nasty in the first place. And every character's story shapes the story you find in the pages of your favorite book, for better or worse. I feel sympathy for some of the villains in my favorite stories. I don't excuse their terrible behavior, but without it, the story wouldn't necessarily have resonated with me.
Take Stryker from Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. The guy has done some heinous things. But when you read his story, you can't help but soften toward him (at least I did). Ms. Kenyon always does a masterful job balancing the good and evil in a character. Stryker chooses to go the evil route more often than not, but his intentions are validated through his story.
Or what about V'Lane from Karen Marie Moning's Fever series? I can't totally hate him, and not because he's gorgeous (in case you haven't read the series, I won't give away any spoilers).
Then you have a character like Voldemort. It's hard to drum up any sympathy for someone who orchestrated so many terrible acts of evil. Yet without him, Harry Potter would have gone nowhere. His potential may have been unrealized. Dumbledore would have died an inglorious death, and we would have never known Snape--who was almost easier to hate--was a good guy all along.
I don't believe any character, real or imagined, is 100% good or evil. Granted, we don't all have homicidal tendencies. But I call BS on the people who claim to have the best of intentions all day, every day. We're flawed. Villains are more flawed, sometimes terribly so. Those flaws are what give our heroes and heroines an opportunity to grow. Not unlike the nasty characters we encounter in our everyday lives.
Villains play an important role in fiction. They're an essential half of the all-important good vs. evil equation. They give us a reason to root for the good guy. When they're defeated, they give us hope that maybe, just maybe, we can defeat the negativity in our own lives. For that reason alone, I have to give them credit. I'll always root for the good guy, but a small part of me will do the same for the bad guy. Because hey, that's what makes for a great book. ;-)
Who's your favorite villain?
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The Lure of YA
It's official. I'm hooked on YA books. This is a big deal because a) my book budget is already stretched to the max, and b) I made the mistake of thinking about my brutal teenage years and believed reading about more teen angst would irritate me. May I say I've been happily proven wrong on that erroroneous assumption. As for the other, well, like any good book addict, I make it work. *grins*
I finally (yes, FINALLY) started The Hunger Games. I can't remember the last time I was sucked into a story so fast. I devoured the first book in a few hours and rushed out to get the second. I love the message Suzanne Collins is conveying, and the authenticity of her characters and world-building. Pure awesomeness.
I also recently read Fateful by Claudia Gray and Supernaturally by Kiersten White--both awesome paranormal reads with very different tones, but equally engaging. I enjoyed them for the same reason I've avoided them for so long--the teen perspective. It's so different from what I'm used to reading. The problems aren't less dramatic or painful, but teen characters approach these issues differently. Apparently I'm old enough to now appreciate the youthful ideals and melodrama in a way I couldn't when I was experiencing it as a teen. (feel free to insert an old joke here)
The best part is knowing I can share these books with my oldest daughter in a couple of years. We already read middle grade books and discuss them. Being able to talk to her about the issues YA writers present in their books is a golden opportunity to introduce difficult topics in a way I might have struggled to otherwise (thank you YA writers!) Ah, the power of books...
So here's my dilemma. I need recommendations so I can delve deeper into the world of YA. I have no idea what to try next, but I know that die hard YA fans can point me in the right direction. I'd love to know--what is the best YA book or series you've read and why?
I finally (yes, FINALLY) started The Hunger Games. I can't remember the last time I was sucked into a story so fast. I devoured the first book in a few hours and rushed out to get the second. I love the message Suzanne Collins is conveying, and the authenticity of her characters and world-building. Pure awesomeness.
I also recently read Fateful by Claudia Gray and Supernaturally by Kiersten White--both awesome paranormal reads with very different tones, but equally engaging. I enjoyed them for the same reason I've avoided them for so long--the teen perspective. It's so different from what I'm used to reading. The problems aren't less dramatic or painful, but teen characters approach these issues differently. Apparently I'm old enough to now appreciate the youthful ideals and melodrama in a way I couldn't when I was experiencing it as a teen. (feel free to insert an old joke here)
The best part is knowing I can share these books with my oldest daughter in a couple of years. We already read middle grade books and discuss them. Being able to talk to her about the issues YA writers present in their books is a golden opportunity to introduce difficult topics in a way I might have struggled to otherwise (thank you YA writers!) Ah, the power of books...
So here's my dilemma. I need recommendations so I can delve deeper into the world of YA. I have no idea what to try next, but I know that die hard YA fans can point me in the right direction. I'd love to know--what is the best YA book or series you've read and why?
Thursday, February 23, 2012
You Might Be A Paranormal Junkie If...
Those of us who read paranormal romances know what the rest of the world doesn't--supernatural hotties just have that charisma, that element of danger, that sexy aura that can pull us into a story faster than anything else. I recently took stock of my book shelves and noticed they were filled with as many supernatural protagonists as there are creative minds in the writing world. Am I addicted? Possibly. Are you? If you answer Yes to any of the following, you might be too...
You might be a paranormal junkie if...
This is by no means a complete list. And if you answered yes to most of them, you need to know one thing--you're in good company. All I can say is thank you to the muses of the many authors who make these heroes so real to us. I'll continue to give them all the shelf space they deserve. ;)
If you have any criteria to add, I'd love to hear it!
You might be a paranormal junkie if...
- You can't handle your husband's Chia Pet-like back hair, but drool over the sexy were in your latest urban fantasy read.
- You keel over at the first sign of a needle, but would think nothing of offering your neck to a vampire hottie.
- The thought of ghosts freaks you out, but if they all looked like Patrick Swayze in GHOST, you'd create your own ghost hunting group.
- You secretly wish the cop who just gave you a speeding ticket would turn into a shifter and take you away to give you his mate mark.
- You know who I'm talking about when I say, "Sam and Dean."
- You go to flea markets and rub every cheap, grubby bottle hoping to nab your very own dijinn.
- You join your local Bigfoot Research group with the hopes of catching a werewolf mid-change.
- You're convinced the gorgeous guy you made eye contact with at the coffee shop this morning was actually reading your mind because he's psychic and fated for you.
- You get into a physical altercation with your best friend because she has the nerve to think your book boyfriend belongs to her.
This is by no means a complete list. And if you answered yes to most of them, you need to know one thing--you're in good company. All I can say is thank you to the muses of the many authors who make these heroes so real to us. I'll continue to give them all the shelf space they deserve. ;)
If you have any criteria to add, I'd love to hear it!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Book Reviewers
I have to send a shout out to book bloggers/reviewers. I recently wrapped up the first leg of my blog tour for my latest series. It was a whirlwind of an experience, but one I learned a lot from and thoroughly enjoyed. I had the opportunity to work with some amazing people and here's what I learned:
1) These reviewers are serious about what they do and it shows. Their sites are well done, professional, and reader friendly. Don't visit their sites unless you want your TBR pile to grow exponentially. Yeah, they're that good.
2) They're honest. Every writer wants a great review. But I appreciate the negative ones just as much as the great ones because they're honest. Reviewers have to write a fair review, and it might not always be what an author wants to hear. However, these sites are geared toward readers, not writers. It's not an easy task, and I have to give them props for it.
3) They're gracious and fun. The few I did interviews with were a blast. They all asked at least one question that made me laugh, or made me think hard. The guest posts were fun because I was forced to be creative in a different way than I'm used to. All of them had amazing followers that were a joy to interact with. It's not easy to build a community like that, but they have.
4) They rock. They offer their time to read and review books. I imagine it can occasionally be thankless. As a writer, I appreciate the reviews--good, bad or ugly. I've seen writers rant and rave online about a bad review. So unprofessional, by the way. But a review is an opinion. How can you argue with that? They've donated their time, which we all know is a precious commodity.
These amazing reviewers read multiple books per week. Whether they love them or hate them, I can appreciate the time they took out of their busy lives to make those reviews available to potential readers. They help build relationships between readers and authors, and that's priceless (from an author's AND reader's perspective). So I offer my heartfelt thanks to book bloggers everywhere, and especially the bloggers who were generous enough to review my book and host me at their blog (in no particular order):
1) These reviewers are serious about what they do and it shows. Their sites are well done, professional, and reader friendly. Don't visit their sites unless you want your TBR pile to grow exponentially. Yeah, they're that good.
2) They're honest. Every writer wants a great review. But I appreciate the negative ones just as much as the great ones because they're honest. Reviewers have to write a fair review, and it might not always be what an author wants to hear. However, these sites are geared toward readers, not writers. It's not an easy task, and I have to give them props for it.
3) They're gracious and fun. The few I did interviews with were a blast. They all asked at least one question that made me laugh, or made me think hard. The guest posts were fun because I was forced to be creative in a different way than I'm used to. All of them had amazing followers that were a joy to interact with. It's not easy to build a community like that, but they have.
4) They rock. They offer their time to read and review books. I imagine it can occasionally be thankless. As a writer, I appreciate the reviews--good, bad or ugly. I've seen writers rant and rave online about a bad review. So unprofessional, by the way. But a review is an opinion. How can you argue with that? They've donated their time, which we all know is a precious commodity.
These amazing reviewers read multiple books per week. Whether they love them or hate them, I can appreciate the time they took out of their busy lives to make those reviews available to potential readers. They help build relationships between readers and authors, and that's priceless (from an author's AND reader's perspective). So I offer my heartfelt thanks to book bloggers everywhere, and especially the bloggers who were generous enough to review my book and host me at their blog (in no particular order):
- Bad Ass Book Reviews
- Paperback Dolls
- Parajunkee
- One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
- Book Boost
- Romance Junkies
- Inside of a Dog
- Fresh Fiction
- Bewitched Bookworms
- The Qwillery
- Fang-tastic Books
- Other Worlds of Romance
- Heather Book Savvy Babe
- Night Owl Romance
- Literary Escapism
- Happily Ever After Reads
- Louisa Bacio
- Love To Read For Fun
- For What It's Worth
- All Things Urban Fantasy
- Sizzling Hot Books
- A Bookworm's Haven
Monday, September 26, 2011
Bring on the Banned Books
Happy Banned Books Week! It's a fun week to celebrate. Hundreds of books are challenged every year. The people who challenge these books crack me up and piss me off. By challenging books, they only bring more exposure to them. And they also show how narrow-minded, controlling, scared, and... Okay, I'll stop there, but you get my point.
The American Library Association has a page devoted to Banned Books Week. Check it out here. You can see frequently challenged books sorted by year or decade. I'm sure you'll be as shocked as I was to see some of your favorites on the list.
I'm going to try to read one banned book a week through the end of the year. Every one of those books was created from blood, sweat, and tears. The writers poured a part of their souls into those words, and for someone to challenge their right to be on the shelf is beyond my comprehension. The only thing you or I can do is read the books. Savor the words. If the book could be considered inflammatory, be thankful. That writer had the nerve to write from the heart and say what needed to be said. When you're done, recommend the book to friends.
For me, this issue has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It has everything to do with the right to read whatever the hell I want to. Every reader has a different experience when reading a book. You might hate it, I might love it. How dare someone try to take that literary adventure away from another?
I'll step off my soap box now, but I implore you to read a banned book. Know that the story contained in those pages was powerful enough to scare someone into challenging it. You deserve the chance to experience that for yourself.
What's your favorite banned book?
The American Library Association has a page devoted to Banned Books Week. Check it out here. You can see frequently challenged books sorted by year or decade. I'm sure you'll be as shocked as I was to see some of your favorites on the list.
I'm going to try to read one banned book a week through the end of the year. Every one of those books was created from blood, sweat, and tears. The writers poured a part of their souls into those words, and for someone to challenge their right to be on the shelf is beyond my comprehension. The only thing you or I can do is read the books. Savor the words. If the book could be considered inflammatory, be thankful. That writer had the nerve to write from the heart and say what needed to be said. When you're done, recommend the book to friends.
For me, this issue has nothing to do with freedom of speech. It has everything to do with the right to read whatever the hell I want to. Every reader has a different experience when reading a book. You might hate it, I might love it. How dare someone try to take that literary adventure away from another?
I'll step off my soap box now, but I implore you to read a banned book. Know that the story contained in those pages was powerful enough to scare someone into challenging it. You deserve the chance to experience that for yourself.
What's your favorite banned book?
Sunday, July 24, 2011
My Reading Style
I am, first and foremost, a reader. I think all writers are. With the first book in my recent trilogy out for reviews, I've been thinking a lot about the kind of reader I am. I'm not picky, I'm loyal to my favorite authors and...
I read for the story.
We all do, right? Wrong. Some people live to find plot holes. Others love the technical stuff--sentence structure, punctuation, and pacing. While others want a character driven story. You might want all of the above. I'm mostly interested in the story. Sure I fall in love with characters, but my favorite kind of story sucks in me into the entire world. I want to fall in love with all of it. I rarely pay attention to typos and punctuation. Nor do I care abut plot holes (unless I can drive my SUV through them). I'm a forgiving reader, which would make me a horrible reviewer. I can count on one hand the number of books I've been unable to finish.
When I read, it's for the experience of the story. Of course, when I critique, it's a different matter (and another topic). I have a hard time rating books when I'm reading for pure enjoyment. If I can't give it 4 or 5 stars, I don't leave a review.
I simply want to read a book and be entertained, horrified, educated, or enchanted.
Books are magical. I don't want to ruin the magic by focusing on typos or dangling modifiers. That takes away all the fun. And by magical I mean the most moving, sweet, funny, scary, educational or powerful book you have on your shelves. We all experience the magic in different ways. It might be the characters, the writer's technical proficiency or something else.
What is the most magical book you've ever read and why?
I read for the story.
We all do, right? Wrong. Some people live to find plot holes. Others love the technical stuff--sentence structure, punctuation, and pacing. While others want a character driven story. You might want all of the above. I'm mostly interested in the story. Sure I fall in love with characters, but my favorite kind of story sucks in me into the entire world. I want to fall in love with all of it. I rarely pay attention to typos and punctuation. Nor do I care abut plot holes (unless I can drive my SUV through them). I'm a forgiving reader, which would make me a horrible reviewer. I can count on one hand the number of books I've been unable to finish.
When I read, it's for the experience of the story. Of course, when I critique, it's a different matter (and another topic). I have a hard time rating books when I'm reading for pure enjoyment. If I can't give it 4 or 5 stars, I don't leave a review.
I simply want to read a book and be entertained, horrified, educated, or enchanted.
Books are magical. I don't want to ruin the magic by focusing on typos or dangling modifiers. That takes away all the fun. And by magical I mean the most moving, sweet, funny, scary, educational or powerful book you have on your shelves. We all experience the magic in different ways. It might be the characters, the writer's technical proficiency or something else.
What is the most magical book you've ever read and why?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Lasting Impression
We've all have that book (or books) that made such an impression on us, we come back to them again and again and again. We have lovingly worn copies on our bookshelves, and recommend it to friends without fail. These are the books we refuse to lend out because we don't want to risk not getting them back. You know the kind of books I'm talking about. Here's a list of my top books:
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1) The Wolf and The Dove by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss. This is the first romance book I ever read (though not one I recommend for a 12 year old). She will forever be one of my writing heroes. She was a pioneer for the genre, and a master story teller of her time.
2) The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Every time I read this book, I'm blown away by Mr. Coelho's ability to write such a powerful tale, in such simple, poignant words.
3) The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. Not everyone enjoys the master of horror, but this series is one of my favorites. I also enjoyed his book On Writing. It's a must for writing hopefuls.
4) Steering by Starlight by Martha Beck. For anyone who has lost sight of their path, this book is amazing, frank and fun. Ms. Beck has a way of making you feel like you're talking to your best friend.
5) The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This is one of my all-time favorite fiction series. I lo-o-ove mythology. This book prompted my very first email to an author. I had to know if the myth was real or a creation of Ms. Robert's imagination. Her publicist was kind enough to answer my questions.
6) The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich. Any time I want to laugh and be thoroughly entertained, I pick up one of these books. And I don't care if I ever learn if Stephanie picks Ranger or Joe. This series has me howling with every new book.
7) The Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Nobody knows how to write an alpha male quite like Ms. Kenyon. She's also a world builder extraordinaire. Love, love, love her writing. And I get to meet her in October. It will be my first official, geek out, fan girl moment.
8) Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. This book is my favorite inspirational book of all time. My kids think it's weird that I read it often. What's not to love? It's upbeat, short and sweet, and it rhymes! I have to give props to Dr. Seuss, lyrical master.
This list is by no means complete. I have utmost respect for so many talented authors out there, I don't have time to list them all. Needless to say, I do my part to keep starving authors off the streets. And as a reader first, I'm thankful they've shared their talent, and fed my reading addiction *cough* I mean hobby.
Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite book?
2) The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho. Every time I read this book, I'm blown away by Mr. Coelho's ability to write such a powerful tale, in such simple, poignant words.
3) The Dark Tower Series by Stephen King. Not everyone enjoys the master of horror, but this series is one of my favorites. I also enjoyed his book On Writing. It's a must for writing hopefuls.
4) Steering by Starlight by Martha Beck. For anyone who has lost sight of their path, this book is amazing, frank and fun. Ms. Beck has a way of making you feel like you're talking to your best friend.
5) The Key Trilogy by Nora Roberts. This is one of my all-time favorite fiction series. I lo-o-ove mythology. This book prompted my very first email to an author. I had to know if the myth was real or a creation of Ms. Robert's imagination. Her publicist was kind enough to answer my questions.
6) The Stephanie Plum Series by Janet Evanovich. Any time I want to laugh and be thoroughly entertained, I pick up one of these books. And I don't care if I ever learn if Stephanie picks Ranger or Joe. This series has me howling with every new book.
7) The Dark Hunter Series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Nobody knows how to write an alpha male quite like Ms. Kenyon. She's also a world builder extraordinaire. Love, love, love her writing. And I get to meet her in October. It will be my first official, geek out, fan girl moment.
8) Oh, The Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss. This book is my favorite inspirational book of all time. My kids think it's weird that I read it often. What's not to love? It's upbeat, short and sweet, and it rhymes! I have to give props to Dr. Seuss, lyrical master.
This list is by no means complete. I have utmost respect for so many talented authors out there, I don't have time to list them all. Needless to say, I do my part to keep starving authors off the streets. And as a reader first, I'm thankful they've shared their talent, and fed my reading addiction *cough* I mean hobby.
Who is your favorite author? What is your favorite book?
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