One Manuscript, Two Beta Readers

So maybe you've noticed I haven't been posting as much? Not too many reviews? Not to many ramblings about my confusion in the writer's world?

1. I'm pregnant and people were not kidding when they said I would be tired.
2. NaNo kind of burned me out.
3. I've been editing volume 2.
4. I started volume 3 - not going so hot.
5. I'm really going to focus on turning this into an author's blog - so a lot less reviews unless I feel I hit a land mine.

BETA readers - I heart Beta readers, especially mine.

Recently, Komal and Joe read volume 2. Komal got done with it in a few weeks and Joe got done at the beginning of this month. I had never given a manuscript to two people at once. Normally, I give it to one, edit, give it to someone else, edit, give it to someone else, edit, etc. It was the first time the same manuscript went to two people. I was insistent on waiting for both to be completed to edit, for simple tracking reasons. If Komal found a major error and I fixed it five or six spots, that would throw all of Joe's edits off. So I waited.

I have mixed feelings about two beta readers and the same manuscript. While it was a great feeling when I would flip through multiple pages with no edits, or they picked up on the same thing, reaffirming a need for a change - I kept wondering, if I had let one do it first, would the second have picked up on something else. You love and cherish your beta readers, you don't abuse them, and have them constantly re-reading your work.

Would I do it again? Probably.

Impossible by Komal Lewis Book Tour

I am so incredibly pleased about being part of this book tour. It's for my very dear friend Komal Lewis. Her debut novel Impossible is fantastic! Check out my review here!

Title: Impossible
Series: With Me, #1
Author: Komal Lewis
Self-Published
Release Date: October 26, 2012
Pages: 254
Buy Links: Amazon (Paperback) | Amazon (Kindle) | Smashwords

Blurb:

Ashton Summers is on her way to becoming the most popular girl in
school and nothing—or no one—is going to stand in her way.
Especially not Luca Byron, her freak neighbor, with his tattoos, loud
music, and distracting green eyes.

Luca Byron has three goals in life: get through high school with a low profile, make sure his garage band becomes something more than a hobby, and try to forget about his insufferable ex-best friend, Ashton, who he can’t get out of his mind.

The last thing Ashton and Luca want to do is rekindle their friendship, but when Ashton takes a tumble down the social ladder, Luca—with his new makeover—is the only one who can help her rise up again by pretending to be her boyfriend. At first, being together is unbearable and annoying, but things start to change as Ashton and Luca discover the real reasons they drifted apart seven years ago.

Now, keeping their hands off each other seems impossible.

For a little Author Bio:

Komal Lewis is an author who writes both Young Adult and Adult novels in the Contemporary and Fantasy genres. Her debut novel IMPOSSIBLE is a Young Adult Contemporary Romance about a girl who will do anything to become popular, and the rocker boy-next-door.

Komal lives in Sydney, Australia with her husband and one too many dogs and cats (although she never seems to think they have enough). She is overly enthusiastic about video games, comic books, Batman films, Byronic heroes, baking, reptiles, and pretty shoes.

I also got Komal to do a playlist for her characters - a different type of top ten. Here's what she had to say.

When I first started putting together this post, I only had two songs on the list. I had NO idea what kind of songs to pick so I recruited my husband to help me (I’m supposed to pay him for his help though!) and we actually came up with a fairly long list. I managed to narrow it down and this is what I was left with. I hope you enjoy!

Luca Byron

With Me by Sum 41 – I listened to this song non-stop for two months while writing Impossible! It actually became a bigger inspiration than the movie, Drive Me Crazy, was. When I hear this song, it reminds me so much of Luca.

Creep by Radiohead – Luca is a social outcast so I thought Creep perfectly described his social position.

Memory by Sugarcult – I think this describes his situation with Ashton really well. Their relationship is based on their memories of growing up together.

Ashton Summers

Best of Me by The Starting Line – I love, love this song and I was lucky enough to see The Startling Line perform live last year. I think it suits Ashton and Luca’s relationship really well and how they got older and grew up to be different people, but aren’t ready to give up on each other just yet.

One Way or Another by Blondie – If you’ve read Impossible then you already know how ruthless Ashton is. There’s nothing this girl won’t do to get what she wants.

The Kill by 30 Seconds to Mars – This song describes the way Ashton was feeling at Kendall’s party.

Eddie Cavallari

Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus – You would think that this song is perfect for Luca, right? Well, the reason why this song is better-suited for Eddie will begin to make a lot more sense in Falling for Hadie.

Stacey Parker

She’s a Rebel by Green Day – You only have to read the title to realize what kind of a girl Stacey is. She doesn’t take crap from anyone.

Riley Adamson

Fat Lip by Sum 41 – This is a fun, upbeat, crazy kind of song which is exactly what Riley’s personality is like.

Kance Logan

Stupid Girls by Pink – Kance (and even Ashton) is one of the “stupid girls” described in this song.

Thanks so much for having me on your blog, Michelle! You are the best! J

And here's a chance for you to win a copy of Komal's book!

Here is the rafflecopter code for the tour-wide giveaway: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Limbo in Writing

The limbo part of writing.

You know, it's that part where you're manuscript is done and you've got to get it to the BETA readers. So what do you do? Do you start something new? I don't feel like I can work on the manuscript because then the changes the BETA readers make don't make sense and they just spent so much time on your manuscript. (Anyone else feel that way?) Or do you just sit and wait? Do you take a writer's break? But that reminds me something Colleen Houck said "Writers are either writing or they are thinking about writing."

So what do I do?

I try to read something completely out of my comfort zone or out of my current baby's realm. I think it's good to see other craft's and it kind of wipes my brain clear of the manuscript so when I do go back to it, I get a fresh look at it.

I don't start another WIP - but I do brainstorm for one. I will set up the setting, the characterization of a character, the climax. OK I may write the epilogue. I know weird - but - it reminds me how I want the novel to end up.

What do you while you are waiting on your BETA readers? I would love to have a few ideas to keep my mind off of it?

K- what do you do?

Setting up a Kaiden Rowe Extravaganza

Recently, I had a chat with my friend Doris on Twitter, which led to a conversation with the fabulous Wendy Higgins. So what did we chat about? A Kaiden Rowe extravaganza. Doesn't that just sound fabulous?

For those of you who haven't read Sweet Evil, Wendy's debut novel, here is my review of it.  Her Kaiden was also the only 2012 entry. The rest of them had been a round for a couple of years. Yep - he's pretty swoon worthy.

What I am looking for from you as bloggers is people with love Kaiden and want to host a day on the hop. I have some inside information and there may be an ARC or two floating around for Sweet Peril due out April 30th. It's going to focus on Kai - hence the name.

If you are interested in being part of the hop - which could have some perks, ARCs, and guest posting from Wendy - please email me at mf060784 at gmail.

 Please send me your name

1. Your name 
2. Your blog address
3. How many followers 
4. Your review for Sweet Evil if you already have one - but not required. 

I am looking for someone to do a button too - if you have talents in that department. 

:)

Opal Trailer!!! Jennifer L. Armentrout

I am so excited about being part of the Opal Trailer extravaganza. It might have a different name but let's face it. JLA - always does thing big! Take a look at the trailer and go order the book! I did. Well, I did a little while ago!

Opal (The third book in the Lux Series)

Available in both print and digital version on December 18, 2012

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Official Opal Book Trailer

Check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:

Facebook
Twitter
Official Website

The Vincent Boys Abbi Glines

I finally read it.

I've been focusing a lot on writing lately. I've got the bug - well actually - I have a 9 month bug - due in June! So, while I've been writing, reading has fallen to the weigh-side because man, am I sleepy.

Ashton is getting tired of being good, of impressing her parents and playing ideal girlfriend to Sawyer Vincent. Sawyer is perfect, a regular Prince Charming, but when he leaves town for the summer, it’s his cousin Beau who catches Ashton’s eye. Beau is the sexiest guy she’s ever seen, and even though he’s dangerous, Ashton is drawn to him.
Beau loves his cousin like a brother, so the last thing he wants to do is make a move on Sawyer’s girl. Ashton is off-limits, absolutely. That’s why he does his best to keep his distance, even though he’s been in love with her forever. When Ashton wants to rekindle their childhood friendship in Sawyer’s absence, Beau knows he should say no.
Ashton and Beau don’t want to hurt Sawyer. But the more they try to stay away from each other, the more intense their urges become. It’s getting way too hard to resist...

I thought this was a great book. It was fast-paced. It was realistic when it came to how a summer moves, days and nights. I cannot stand it when time doesn't move right in a novel. I thought this one was great.

Let's start from the beginning, I was surprised by how the novel started immediately with Beau and Ashton. It was nice not having an introduction chapter - bam! I'm smack in the middle of Ashton's crush that she should not be having. It's funny - while I normally feel bad for the guy who gets the boot in the love-triangle, I was annoyed with Sawyer the whole time. I was aggravated that Ashton felt she wasn't good enough, she had to be a certain way for him. I think it is because I have seen this in reality - and it's unacceptable. Beau won me over because he wanted Ashton to be Ashton.

Nicole - Beau's girlfriend - or whatever - I was friends with that girl in high school. While Nicole looks like a bitch in the book - that girl is fun to party with. What? She is.

Beau's and Ashton's relationship was exciting - a little more than PG 13, which is good for me - but again realistic. I felt for Beau for feeling like Sawyer took Ashton away from him and how she was he wanted. I liked how Ashton could be herself. I think she should have broken it off sooner - but lets be real - then there wouldn't have been a story.

Funniest line ever - I don't my girlfriend to lose her virginity in the back of a truck. I'm not sure if I was supposed to laugh here - but I did.

Sawyer better pull it together for me in the next book.

Cover Reveal for Runaway Mortal by Komal Lewis

I am so proud to be revealing my dear friend Komal Lewis's second book and the first in a new series. Komal has been a MACHINE the last few months, completing two novels! Yeah, two! I get to reveal her cover today for you!!!

Seventeen-year-old Katerina Lyrille is one of several mortals given the privilege to attend Esteré Academy alongside powerful angels and demons. Big stress on the “privileged”, because most of the supernatural beings look down in disgust at mortals like Katerina and want nothing to do with them.

When the Headmistress of the school—a powerful angel—is found dead, Katerina is accused of her murder. Desperate to prove her innocence, Katerina runs away to seek the help of a seer who can tell her the true killer’s name, but the information comes at a price. Katerina must find an all-powerful, mythical Triad object for the seer, and in order to do so she must return to the very place she ran away from: Esteré Academy.

Now, back at school, Katerina not only has to keep her promise to the seer and find the mysterious object, she also has to deal with a sexy supernatural agent hired to guard her until her trial for the Headmistress’s murder.

The closer Katerina gets to finding the answers, the more danger she puts herself in because someone is out to stop her at all costs. 

Even if it means her death.

How awesome is that?