Writing Routine - a must have.

Writing isn't a 9-5 job. It's a job you have to be doing all the time and some days, you just don't feel like it or your creative juices are just not flowing and you end up staring at the computer screen. But if you are not disciplined enough to write on a regular basis, you're not going to get very far. Plus there are all those distractions, social medias, things to do around your house, other jobs, giant dogs that think they are lap dogs. You have to be discipline enough to tell that giant dog to go lay down.

And just because you have this great idea, you just can't put it down on paper in a few days. It takes a lot of time, a lot of days, even if you are talented and awesome enough to have very detail already thought out, putting it down takes time. Your fingers can only move so fast.

So what does this mean besides a little bit of insanity? It means discipline. Which leads me to the point of this post - a routine. I have found that setting a routine has got me farther than anything that I have done. Mind you goal setting was super helpful to me - I did ROW80 and I got a huge increase in my word count because I felt guilty if I didn't meet my goal, but I would scramble the night before to hit my goal. It was very intense.  So from there, I have goals, which is helpful, but I put more emphasis on the routine of writing.

Currently, I meet my friend Joe every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday morning at 9 at a local library. We show up, have some chit chat, and dive in. We stay between 2 to 3 hours each time. This is where we sit. It's our spot. I would be very disoriented if anyone ever sits there.

It gets me in the mind set. I do my best work in the morning. There are few distractions. I normally can bust out between 2 to 3 thousand words at this time. Now this isn't the only writing I do either. It's just the set time that I had. I typically write every day. But when I walk into the library, I'm there to work. And I do. I feel accomplished and when I leave, my mind is working about the story, and I typically come home and write some

This routine all started in January. Joe and I decided to meet on a Saturday after another Saturday I had spent at this library. I was completing my National Board Certification and got so much work done because there were no distractions. We decided to try it. So during the school year, we meet on Saturdays. It's our time to write. And this summer we upped the days because we could.

Another tip that I have that has made me more productive. Before I start, I check all my social medias, send out any pressing emails, play one round of Words with Friends, set up my playlist, and then start. I find that I don't feel the pressing urge to check everything. I just checked. If someone desperately needs me, they'll call me.

What is your writing routine? Any tips to lessen distractions? Let's hear it!

ROUND 2 with Magnus Bane? Yes, please.

Magnus is so awesome that Cassandra Clare put him in both of her shadowhunter series, The Mortal Instrument series and The Infernal Devices series. In every one of my reviews for these series, there is always a special section for Magnus. I just fell for him.

So who is Magnus Bane? Besides have a fashion sense that someone would kill for, a long list of adventures, and a warlock? Well – I’ll do my best to sum him up for you and not ramble.

Personality: In both series when we meet him, Magnus is inquisitive about situations but is aloof, making characters like Jace, Clary, Tess, and Will work to get him to help. He’s not someone who trusts easily, but when he does, he is fiercely loyal, willing to call on demons, going into a battle to protect Alec, and standing up to Camille to protect Will and Tess.

Magnus is kind of an instigator as well. He likes to put his friends and people who are in authority positions, in conflicting positions, where they typically have to divulge important information (that makes me gasp!).

And a must have in a crush – sarcasm - “I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling a little poorly.”

Looks: Magnus maybe a little older than the rest of the crushes that are in the tournament – like maybe 800 years older, but the guy doesn’t look OR act his age. He has spiky black hair and cat like, green-yellow, eyes that smolder (at least in my head they do) when he looks at another beautiful character. I mentioned Magnus’s awesome fashion sense and here is a snip-it of his attire duringCity of Ashes: “Even the Inquisitor's eyebrows shot up when Magnus strode through the gate. The High Warlock was wearing black leather pants, a belt with a buckle in the shape of a jeweled M, and a cobalt-blue Prussian military jacket open over a white lace shirt. He shimmered with layers of glitter.” All right ladies, don’t be jealous that he dresses better than us! I mean look at that style!

Talents: Besides being one of the most powerful warlocks in the world? He gives Will (also a hottie) the piece of mind he has been desperately seeking by summoning a demon. He had the ability to protect Clary until it was time for her to realize who she was. His magic is old and powerful; I’m betting it comes from all that time with the Silent Brothers.

 

Special Attributes: I’m defaulting to his eyes on this one. – Ones you could get lost in. *passes out from swooning*

Best Qualities: He’s not afraid of telling people what they need to hear. He may hurt your feelings but he is going to get you to the revelation you need to kick some evil booty. Isn’t honesty the best policy? Don’t most of our crushes put their lady loves into bad situations because they don’t tell the truth? No Magnus. Just sayin’.

A few of my favorite quotes:

“Even the trip through the Portal had not disarranged Magnus's hair spikes. He tugged on one proudly. "Check it out," he said to Isabelle.

"Magic?"

"Hair gel. $3.99 at Ricky's.”

“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?”

“If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you."

"Who's Magnus?" Max inquired.

"He's a warlock," said Alec.

"A sexy, sexy warlock," Isabelle told Max, ignoring Alec's look of total fury.

"But warlocks are bad," protested Max, looking baffled.

"Exactly," said Isabelle.”

“Do you want to go back to Vienna?” he said.

Alec didn’t answer, just stared into space.

“Or we could go somewhere else,” said Magnus. “Anywhere you want. Thailand, South Carolina, Brazil, Peru – Oh, wait, no, I’m banned from Peru. I’d forgotten about that. It’s a long story, but amusing if you want to hear it.”

“Magnus's eyes gleamed. "He seems to like you. I saw him going for your hand out there like a squirrel diving for a peanut.”

There have been some developments since the last round with Magnus, Here is a snippet from C. Clare with Clockwork Princess including Magnus. Click here.

And the BEST news is, who the people in charge of casting have casted for my beloved!!! Godfrey Gao will be playing Magnus. THANK YOU CASTING PEOPLE! Just go google some pics of him. You won’t regret it.

OK voters – after reading this post, I just can’t imagine why you wouldn’t vote for Magnus! So go ahead. Vote for Magnus!!!

Wrecked by Anna Davies

Ever since the death of her parents, Miranda has lived on Whym Island, taking comfort in the local folklore, which claims a mysterious sea witch controls the fate of all on the island and in its surrounding waters. Sometimes it’s just easier to believe things are out of your control.     

But then a terrible boating accident takes the lives of several of her friends, and Miranda is rescued by a mysterious boy who haunts her dreams. Consumed by guilt from the accident, she finds refuge in late-night swims—and meets Christian, a boy who seems eerily familiar, but who is full of mystery: He won’t tell her where he is from, or why they can only meet at the beach. But Miranda falls for him anyway…and discovers that Christian’s secrets, though meant to protect her, may bring her nothing but harm.     

Seductive and compelling, Wrecked brings a contemporary, paranormal twist to a classic enchanting tale.
So I'm on a bit of a mermaid kick. So suggestions, please suggest.

I thought, the concept of this book was great. I like the idea that there isn't just mermaids, that there are different races of merfolk. I like that Christian doesn't "transform" his figure. I like Sephie because she's a witch - and I meant to but a "b" in front of that.

Miranda's got a pretty good life. She's not quit comfy in it, but she's got good friends, a hottie of a bf, is a soccer all-star, but she's got a painful past. Her parents died in a car accident, and she's always felt a little apart from everyone. I think it was in her head. However, after the boating accident, the one in which Christian doesn't know why he saves Miranda, Miranda really is set apart. This was my problem with the story. I get why Fletch's parents aren't big fans of her. I get that Grey's a royal pain in the arse. However, for the whole school, to treat her so terribly, including the adults didn't sit well with me. As a teacher, I know how my school, would react. In times like that, are there the jerks, yes, but for the most part, people ban together. I get that Miranda was supposed to have it tough so why she turns to Christian so willingly.

I liked Christian's POV more than I did Miranda's and when we were in the water world, I felt more comfortable as a reader in that setting. I think Christian is one of those selfless characters, pure of heart, and noble. You know, the kind of stuff dreams are made of.

Is there going to be a second one of these or is it a stand alone?

Shadow of Night by Deborah Harknes

The novel introduced Diana Bishop, Oxford scholar and reluctant witch, and the handsome geneticist and vampire Matthew Clairmont; together they found themselves at the center of a supernatural battle over an enchanted manuscript known as Ashmole 782.

Now, picking up from A Discovery of Witches’ cliffhanger ending,Shadow of Night plunges Diana and Matthew into Elizabethan London, a world of spies, subterfuge, and a coterie of Matthew’s old friends, the mysterious School of Night that includes Christopher Marlowe and Walter Raleigh. Here, Diana must locate a witch to tutor her in magic, Matthew is forced to confront a past he thought he had put to rest, and the mystery of Ashmole 782 deepens.

Deborah Harkness has crafted a gripping journey through a world of alchemy, time travel, and magical discoveries, delivering one of the most hotly anticipated novels of the season.

Stating that I like YA, is really an understatement. I heart YA. Does someone make T-shirts for that saying yet? I should do that. OK. Back on track. I typically stay in the genre of YA, but Deborah Harkness's A Discovery of Witches was wonderful. Like adults, (most), I felt Shadow of Night, like A Discovery of Witches was more mature. The characters were. The story line was. The pacing, even though something was always happening, seemed to move at it's own pace.

I was very anxious to get back to Matthew and Diana. There relationship is a giant compromise, in the end, because they are both so stubborn, but in the end, they bend, because they are mates, lovers, married, best buddies!  

So Matt and Diana find themselves in 1599, and you know who we meet - Matthew's father. He's terrifying, handsome, and a manipulator. So why do I love this character so much? Because he loves Matthew. The things he does to both Diana and Matthew are, I don't know? Reverse psychology? Tough Love? Deranged? The bigger picture? I just wish it was possible for him to be part of the next installment. 

After ADOW, when Diana was gong back in time to look for a witch to help her figure out her powers (and boy is it something when she finds out), I thought it would be easy. Yeah, I totally forgot how much women who practiced anything outside of the religion that was in at the time, were persecuted. I mean. I know my history, but in my head, for the story, it all went smoothly. This is not the case for Diana, and I loved how Harkness, made Diana struggle to conform to the times. Diana just didn't show up and be part of that world.

There were a lot of trials and tribulations the couples have to go through. 

THE HISTORY! OMG! THE HISTORY and the people of history involved. I found myself looking up more information about the people that Matthew knew during this time period.  I needed to know more about them. 

It was a wonderful story and again, I'm waiting for the next one! 

I'm dreaming of a ... (this is where you come fill in the blanks)

SOME GREAT NEWS (well, for me.) I finished the first draft of The Owens Legacy: Redemption.  *Insert happy dance* So what happens now for me? I gave it to Nadine to read. She'll tell me if it sucks  and then help me fill in some gaps, start picking out some inconsistencies, and get the editing process moving. So what will I be doing? Taking a break from the twins! They have been just dominating all of my time lately. I am actually going to work on the dream walking WIP.

On Thursday, I sat down to do some writing for this WIP, I re-read my notes and some scenes that I had already started. It was then time to start writing. And this is what happened:

Just a bunch of really hard thinking with a lot of dead ends. I had a really hard time switching to a new idea, much harder than I had anticipated. I only got 500 words on paper.

What do you do to switch between manuscripts? Do you switch between manuscripts? Tips, please.


OK, what I need from all you blogging friends: I need some dreams from you. My character is going to be walking into people's dreams and I want a wide range and I am hoping you guys can spark some settings for me. I am looking for romantic set-ups, scary/creepy set-ups, bizarre set-ups (unicorns, rainbow raindrops, and Justin Beiber.)  I need you to get creative with me. Please post something you think would make a great dream or email them to me. Anything that pops in your head, is going to be great, and hey - your idea may show up in my book!

The Doorknob Society by M.J. Fletcher

Chloe Masters’s world changed in a heartbeat - and all she did was touch a doorknob.
When she was young Chloe’s mother vanished. Wracked by feelings of abandonment and anger she lost herself traveling with her father's magic act, where illusions were part of her everyday life. Yet everything changes when they are pursued by a mysterious man in black out to kill her father. Touching a doorknob activates abilities she never knew she had and she finds herself thrust into a world of ancient societies and secrets.
When her father disappears it is a race against time to find answers before she loses what is left of her family. Now Chloe must choose who to trust, the man who will do anything for her or the one she can’t stop thinking about.
Book one of the Doorknob Society series.

My review:
I absolutely loved Chloe as a character. I felt terrible about how her mother vanished when she was a child and how hard that must have been. I thought Chloe was a very real character and I got to see her come into her own as the story continued. It's a great thing when you can see a character develop throughout a novel!

I'm dying to tell you what the abilities are, what societies are included, what situation Chloe finds herself in, but if I told you, you wouldn't get the surprises that I did.

I was relieved when Chloe started to get the answers that she was looking for!
Overall, I thought this was a great read and something different. I hadn't really read anything like this before and I'm really happy I got to read this.

I had the awesome privilege of interviewing M.J. Fletcher. I love finding out what makes a writer a writer!

What sparked the idea for this book? 
I was fascinated with the idea of using a doorknob to be able to travel anywhere. Something about taking something ordinary and turn it into something extraordinary really appealed to me.

What made you want to be a writer? 
Ever since I was young I wanted to write. When I was five I was stapling together pages to make my own comic book. Luckily my mother was a writer and helped to nurture the craft in me.

What was one of the hardest moments to overcome as a writer? 
Just sitting down and getting it done. A writer’s biggest enemy is putting off writing. When I finally was able to push through and write I knew there was nothing else I wanted to do.

What was one of the most rewarding moments? 
When I was told by a young fan that they wished they could be friends with the characters in The Doorknob Society. I knew I was on to something at that moment.


Which writers have influenced you, and why? 
Chris Claremont, was a big influence growing up as I read his writing on X-Men and learned a great deal about characterization. JRR Tolkien, was another who inspired me.

What are you working on now? 
I am working on the final book in The Doorknob Society Saga, The Skeleton Key Guild. I also did the outline for my next young adult series, a dieselpunk set in an alternate 1950’s. And I’m also working on the Doorknob Society comic book. As well as writing the webcomic Adam Zero.

What are five non-writing facts about you? 
I am a big comic book geek, live by the beach, have a cat and dog that can’t stand one another, have a spectacular daughter and make a mean meatloaf.

Thanks so much for the opportunity to be interviewed and I hope your readers enjoy it. - M.J. Fletcher

Thank you for stopping by and thank you for a great read!

Die For Me by Amy Plum

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.

I have been meaning to read this book for awhile. Its been on my shelf but for one reason or another, I seemed to have passed it by. I read this book in a day. It was an easy read and I enjoyed it.

I'm a big fan of setting. A good setting sets the plot for you. Amy Plum described Paris to me without going on and on and on for pages about it. It was subtle, but I got a clear picture of the cafes, bars, homes, sights that were viewed through the characters. And like a hobby, history,  practice, and event, because of this setting I got to experience being in Paris. I loved Colleen Houck's Tiger's Curse series because I got to "go" some place new and this is similar in that regard.

I don't feel I connected to Kate and Vincent as much as I should have. I thought Vincent's sacrifice was very sweet. Georgia was a bit more my type. There was some insta-love going on but hey, a book can only be so long.

Vincent's "supernatural-ness" is different from anything that I have read about so far. I thought Amy Plum explained things subtly, like her setting. She didn't give me the bare bones run down for three pages where I walked away knowing everything I needed to know (which is crappy when authors do this). She let Kate, Vincent, Ambrose and the rest of gang slowly divulge the information.

The action within the book seemed to spike. Like there would be some every day teenage stuff, then someone almost dies, more every day teenage dating, some gets killed, insert some smooching and heavy sleeping, and there's a sword fight. It left me not knowing what to expect.

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Bloodline by Richelle Mead

I wasn't free of my past, not yet.

Sydney's blood is special. That's because she's an alchemist - one of a group of himans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worls of humans and vampire. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. But the last encounter Sydney had with vampires got her in deep trouble with the other alchemists. And now with her allegiances in question, her future is on the line.

When Sydney torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far orse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the unlikeliest of places: a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. The last thing Sydney wants is to be accused of sympathizing with vampires. And now she has to live with one.

The Moroi court believe Jill and Sydney will be safe at Amberwood Prep, but threats, distractions, and forbidden romance lurk both outside - and within - the school grounds. Now that they're hiding, the drama is only just beginning.

I am a huge Mead/Vampire Academy series fan. When that series ended, it was one of those series that made me legitimately sad that it was over. Then the spin-off happened, and I was really hesitant about reading it. Why? I just worried that characters, like Adrian, would be some how change and then my beloved (not being dramatic) series wouldn't be perfect, so I put it off.

I liked Sydney in VA and I liked her in this. I didn't think she was terribly special, like Adrian, Eddie, or Jill, but I think it's rare to see the perspective of the "over-seer" and that's what Sydney is to me. She's like the mother hen for all the misfit toys. I think she's relatable because she made a big mistake based on the alchemist standards, but at no point do I feel Sydney regrets it. I think this says a lot about her character.

Adrian. Poor, poor Adrian - Hey go over to the YA sisterhood and vote for him today - He's still heartbroken about Rose picking Dimitri. I loved how Mead made Adrian mad in installment six. I really felt for him in that moment, and that heartbreak is carried over in Bloodlines. Adrian is still himself, but he takes some steps to be a better person in this novel.

Jill, I'm not sure how I feel about Jill. For someone who is in mortal danger and under advisement from her government, she sure is unwilling to cut Sydney any slack. Several times I wanted to be like, seriously? Do you want to be discovered?

The two Jack wagons in the book - hated them from the beginning - happy they get what they deserve.

While I was extremely happy to see Rose again, I don't know, I thought if Lissa was in any type of danger, she wouldn't have left her, for any reason. I also think she would have steered clear of Adrian, because she broke his heart. So while, I was happy to see her, I thought it was "off."

The last line of the book - the person I had been waiting for - sigh.

Two non-vampire things
one. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO VOTED FOR MAGNUS! We won by a landslide!
two. Go down two posts for a giveaway - 7 book and/or manuscript editing

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Azalea and her younger sisters dance in the mysterious silver forest every night, escaping from the sadness of the palace and their father’s grief. What they don’t understand—although as time passes they begin to get an inkling of the danger they are in—is that the mysterious and dashing Keeper is tightening his snare with deadly purpose. Luckily, Azalea is brave and steadfast. Luckily, a handsome young army captain also has his eye on Azalea. . . . 


Entwined is based on the 12 dancing princess fable. I had some serious love for the cover's dress. Where do they sell that and do they ship UPS?

This story starts with Azalea, getting ready for a ball, and her mother is sick and pregnant. She has 10 other sisters, baby in the belly makes 12. The King, Azalea's father is a very aloof man. And it only gets worse when the mother passes. The King goes off to war and the girls are grieving. They needed their father but instead the find a magic entrance to a world of silver and magic.

The girls find an escape in dancing, except The Keeper, a seemingly nice guy in the beginning, is not what he seems. He's a great vilian because he subtle. He gets the girls to trust him through their enjoyment. He appears handsome and kind, and Azalea is the only who starts to notice the odd way he interacts with the girls.

There is a prince charming in the book, a debinoaire captain who doesn't mind the unruly nature of the princess.

The Keeper, wants the kingdom, and it will take the 12 dancing princesses, the captain, and the king to work together to get rid of him.

I love re-tellings, but this one had the problem of not enough action in it. Not that I want murder and pillaging. It took half the book before something major happened. I had to force myself to continue until  the big events started happening.

Giveaway and Magnus Bane love

Hello my faithful blogging buddies! (and hopefully soon to be!) 

I have been meaning to do a giveaway and now that is summer and I have the time, I am doing one! It just so happens to coincide with my advocating for the love of my life: Magnus Bane. I love him when he is serious and I love him when he is riling people up! 

*shakes head*

OK - back to the point!

GIVEAWAY! 

Why you ask? 

Because I have hit 400 followers (er, a few weeks ago)

I was selected to be an advocate for the YA-sisterhood 

I got 20,000 views on Monday I get to shameless promote my book :) 

And well, I feel like it. 

So what am I giving away today???? 

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink 

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 

Extraordinary by Nancy Welin 

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

 The Owens Legacy: Revelations by me :) (remember that shameless promotion)

Two 20 page critiques on a manuscript - doesn't matter what shape or level of editing you are at!

AND 

if Magnus wins - I'll throw in two more books - which ones? It's a surprise - OH! THE SUSPENSE!

Fill out the rafflecopter. It's international. But if anything, please head over to the YA Sisterhood and vote today!!!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway

Advocate for Magnus! I need your votes!

Hey everyone! I’m Michelle from Oh! For the Love of Books! advocating for Magnus Bane. Magnus is so awesome that Cassandra Clare put him in both of her shadowhunter series, The Mortal Instrument series and The Infernal Devices series. In every one of my reviews for these series, there is always a special section for Magnus. I just fell for him. Head over to the YA Sisterhood to vote. Quick go!

So who is Magnus Bane? Besides have a fashion sense that someone would kill for, a long list of adventures, and a warlock? Well – I’ll do my best to sum him up for you and not ramble.

Personality: In both series when we meet him, Magnus is inquisitive about situations but is aloof, making characters like Jace, Clary, Tess, and Will work to get him to help. He’s not someone who trusts easily, but when he does, he is fiercely loyal, willing to call on demons, going into a battle to protect Alec, and standing up to Camille to protect Will and Tess.

Magnus is kind of an instigator as well. He likes to put his friends and people who are in authority positions, in conflicting positions, where they typically have to divulge important information (that makes me gasp!).

And a must have in a crush – sarcasm - “I was alive when the Dead Sea was just a lake that was feeling a little poorly.”

Looks: Magnus maybe a little older than the rest of the crushes that are in the tournament – like maybe 800 years older, but the guy doesn’t look OR act his age. He has spiky black hair and cat like, green-yellow, eyes that smolder (at least in my head they do) when he looks at another beautiful character. I mentioned Magnus’s awesome fashion sense and here is a snip-it of his attire during City of Ashes: “Even the Inquisitor's eyebrows shot up when Magnus strode through the gate. The High Warlock was wearing black leather pants, a belt with a buckle in the shape of a jeweled M, and a cobalt-blue Prussian military jacket open over a white lace shirt. He shimmered with layers of glitter.” All right ladies, don’t be jealous that he dresses better than us! I mean look at that style!

Talents: Besides being one of the most powerful warlocks in the world? He gives Will (also a hottie) the piece of mind he has been desperately seeking by summoning a demon. He had the ability to protect Clary until it was time for her to realize who she was. His magic is old and powerful; I’m betting it comes from all that time with the Silent Brothers.

Special Attributes: I’m defaulting to his eyes on this one. – Ones you could get lost in. *passes out from swooning*

Best Qualities: He’s not afraid of telling people what they need to hear. He may hurt your feelings but he is going to get you to the revelation you need to kick some evil booty. Isn’t honesty the best policy? Don’t most of our crushes put their lady loves into bad situations because they don’t tell the truth? No Magnus. Just sayin’.

A few of my favorite quotes:

“Even the trip through the Portal had not disarranged Magnus's hair spikes. He tugged on one proudly. "Check it out," he said to Isabelle.

"Magic?"

"Hair gel. $3.99 at Ricky's.”

“We came to see Jace. Is he alright?"

"I don't know," Magnus said. "Does he normally just lie on the floor like that without moving?”

“If you're texting Magnus to say 'I think u r kewl,' I'm going to kill you."

"Who's Magnus?" Max inquired.

"He's a warlock," said Alec.

"A sexy, sexy warlock," Isabelle told Max, ignoring Alec's look of total fury.

"But warlocks are bad," protested Max, looking baffled.

"Exactly," said Isabelle.”

“Do you want to go back to Vienna?” he said.

Alec didn’t answer, just stared into space.

“Or we could go somewhere else,” said Magnus. “Anywhere you want. Thailand, South Carolina, Brazil, Peru – Oh, wait, no, I’m banned from Peru. I’d forgotten about that. It’s a long story, but amusing if you want to hear it.”

“Magnus's eyes gleamed. "He seems to like you. I saw him going for your hand out there like a squirrel diving for a peanut.”

OK voters – after reading this post, I just can’t imagine why you wouldn’t vote for Magnus! So go ahead. Vote for Magnus!!!

Team Magnus needs your votes tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my big moment of truth! 

For what, you ask? 

The moment when all of you Magnus Bane, Infernal Device series, and Mortal Instrument series lovers band together in support of the most fashionable and alluring warlock to ever grace the YA world. 

MAGNUS BANE! 

July 11th 

2nd YA Crush Tourney

I need you help! 

Please vote and tweet tomorrow!

Grab the button on the side

Good luck Team Tod! 

May the best hottie win!

I think the word is sultry.

T.G. Ayer stops by for a guest post and a giveaway!

Hey everyone! I would like you all to meet T.G. Ayer author of Dead Radiance. I'm her stop today for the Reading Addiction Blog Tours! In today's post you will get an author's bio, a synopsis of her awesome novel, my review, a guest post, AND a giveaway! I know - that's a ton of stuff! I'm super lucky!




Author Bio


I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It’s a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each other's loves

– it works wonderfully…


My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain cross-eyed.




The Synopsis:



Bryn Halbrook had always seen the glow. But it is only when her best friend dies that she discovers the meaning of those beautiful golden auras - Death. Alone, lost in the foster system, she struggles to understand who she is and why she was cursed with the ability to see the soon-to-be-dead.


The new foster kid, Aidan, isn't helping any. Mr. Perfect seems to fit in no matter what, making her feel even more pathetic. But when his affections turn to her, Bryn finds him hard to resist. Impossible actually. A mystery himself, Aidan disappears, leaving behind a broken heart and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn might not be entirely human. Bryn stands at the threshold of a journey of discovery. Will destiny help her find herself, find her purpose and her place in a world in which she'd never belonged?


My Review:


I've never read something about the valkyerie lore, but found myself instantly drawn to it, because Thor's (yes the comicbook series) had already introduced some of the characters to me - thought different personalilties, I easily recognized them. 


I thought Ayer did a great job explaining the "nitty-gritty" of what it mean for Bryn to be a Valykerie. I think I got to know the characters in Asgard really well, their personailites, their purpose to help Freya. It was in Asgard that I saw Bryn really develop. Before her arrival to Asgard, I was unsure of what made her tick, and I got a better understanding of why she was gaurded and why she was so sharped tongued on Earth.


Now, while I got to know the people of Asgard, I do feel that I didn't get to know Joshua and Aiden the way that Ayer wanted me too. I know Bryn really cares for both guys, and I have a strong understanding of who they are, but no connection. I wished there were more little moments earlier on, especially with Aiden, so I could see where Bryn's love for him comes from. 


The main conflict isn't a "In your face" conflict, it's subtle, but by no means boring. I can't really explain too much of it, because then I will be ruining and spoiling the book. 


For the first 100 pages, I will say, I had no idea where Ayer was going with the story, but in a good way. She threw a lot of twists at me, then she would sum it up for me, put me back on course and then derail me again. Worth it!

Writing Quirks and Must Haves

Until I thought about it I hadn't realised that I do have a few 'writing quirks'. Amazing what you figure out when you are forced to examine your process.

To start off with, I always need a good pen- my favourites is a LAMY Ballpoint – a gift from my dear friend Kim.

Because I am so easily distracted by emails, the Facebook and the Twitter, I prefer to go through them before I start writing, otherwise it will just bug me and mess with my concentration.

Part of my routine is to chat with my 2 writing buddies Patti and Cassie- we chat several times a day every day on Skype- have word wars and sometimes do butt-kicking duty

I must have my chap-stick right beside my keyboard; I hate having to get up and go look for it.

A bottle of water- absolutely necessary.

I usually make my lunch when I prepare the family lunches every morning. So it's all wrapped and ready to eat when lunchtime comes around. If I have to do more than unwrap and chew then I get annoyed and might not eat lunch at all- which is definitely a bad thing.

A pair of fingerless gloves in winter.

Writing music- During the day, when the house is empty I write without music, unless the neighbours are yelling or annoying me with their own loud music or screaming kids. Then I use my music to drown them out. Once my girls are home, and because my 'study' is located in my lounge, I drown out extraneous sounds by sticking my earphones in my ears. Of course, when I am writing an intensive action or emotional scene I listen to Linkin Park or Daughtry or Melody Gardot- whatever suits the scene.

Editing music -  When I am editing, my music preference is different. When I first started writing I used to listen to a playlist of all the Coldplay CD's I owned. Now, for some reason, I always use that CD to edit to. It's calming, and not intrusive enough to mess with my concentration while I edit.

I don't snack while I write, amazing ideas come to me in the shower and I have an aversion to my treadmill which happens to occupy space in my study and which I just happen to not use on a daily basis. And that's it as far as I can think of.

 I'm going to have to think on my quirks! Thanks for stopping by everyone!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I am a member of Reading Addiction Blog Tours and a copy of
this book was provided to me by the author. Although payment may have been received by Reading
Addiction Blog Tours, no payment was received by me in exchange for this review. There was
no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and may not
necessarily agree with those of the author, publisher, publicist, or readers of this review. This disclosure
is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of
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Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Mia Price is a lightning addict. She’s survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction. But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger. The beaches become massive tent cities. Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny. Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as the key to their opposing doomsday prophecies. They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn’t who he claims to be. In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall. When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything


First - lets give some cover love!

I think I am coming off the dystopia trend. While I thought the premise of the book, it taking place while the Apocalypse was happening or going to happen, and the influence of religion on the subject, the book, overall, did not move at a fast enough pace for me. I found Mia to be a really loyal and family oriented character. She clearly loves her mother who is suffering and is trying to keep it together for her younger brother.

She's got a lot on her plate, personally, and then you add in that her city is in shambles and ruins? Yeah, the girl has got it tough.

Jeremy was not as captivating as I wanted him to be. While he played the part of the crush, he didn't protect her as much as I needed him to and he wasn't all that bad ass. Yes - people - I love the bad ass, somewhat of a jerk guy. Jeremy's awfully nice. Some of you are going to fall in love with him.

I always find religion, and the way people interpret and can form it into a big problem, fascinating. I use religion in my sequel of the The Owens Legacy, because religion strikes a cord with people. It's one of those topics. What's that advice people give? Never talk money, sports, and religion in a bar. People always get fired up. Struck, by no means is controversial, but it pulls in religion well. There are two groups of people in this novel, the believers who follow the profit a very persuasive televangelist (perfect for people who are afraid during the Apocalypse) and the seekers people who, I think wanted the same as the believers, but did not go about it the most pure fashion.