New Twilight Book!!!

I just visited Stephanie Meyer's website and guess what!!! Drum roll please!!! ............. She is releasing a new book!! It is a book about Bree Tanner the newborn killed in Eclipse by Jane and the Voulturi(spell check?). I am so exited for this new novel and can't wait for its release!!
Here is the awesome new cover and ..... check out her website because part of the books profit is going to the American Red Cross!!

OH MY GOSH THIS IS AMAZING!!

I Took the Pledge!

I, Rachel/Swimmer , take The Aspiring Writers Pledge to write a book in 2010 with the intent of publishing. I promise to update my progress weekly, ask when I need support and encourage others to complete the task at hand.

Well that is that. I found this great site(Click here) that has this pledge to write a novel and intant to get it published. So, I am going to write a novel and try to publish it  publish it!!

Thanks for all the support!!

In My Mailbox #5

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren .


This week I only got one book by a self-published author but I am so exited!! I'm on chapter 2 and I'm already hooked!

In My Mailbox:

Sings with Stars by Bethany Greenier






If you click on the link you can check out her awsome website!

Wannabe Writers

Wannabe Writers is my weekly meme. It's a writing group for the un-published and anyone is welcome to join. It's a place where future authors can ask questions, share stories, and get feedback. Click (here) to find out how it works.


Where I am in the writing process: I am exactly 2,067 unedited pure first draft words.


My Current Problem: My problem is that I am afraid that my beginning is way to boring. I am introducing all my characters that you will see through out the book and a little history about them but the action and drama hasn't started yet. 


My question: How do you introduce characters and still keep it exiting.


Question of the week: Writing Romance? How to develop a relationship out of thin air and make it believable? (And not just lust)


My Answer: Build it slowly. Make your characters fall in love slowly not instantly. If you have ever read a book by Kristen Cashore you would realize all of her love stories start off hating each other then they realize the good qualities of the other one and slowly build up a secret passion for each other. Then boom!! After one event they love each other and care for each other in crazy ways. I love all her books so that would be my version of building an intense relationship. 




I hope that was a good answer, and keep going all of you 50,000 words in 50 days people you are way more bold and daring than me!!

Quick Question

Well... I am stalling to return to my novel, and I would like to know something. Should I make a character collage. What I mean by that is a big file that has things, images that are related to my characters.  I thought it would be fun but, I don't know what to do to start one.

Book Review: Captivate

Title: Captivate
Series: Umm... it is the second book to Need, I don't know the series name
Author(s): Carrie Jones
Genre:  Fantasy/ Supernatural
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Pages: 276
Challenges: None

Summary:  Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town. 
A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.


My Thoughts:  Captivate was just as amazing as Need event though I hate the ending!! The characters were well written and very realistic but I didn't like what Astley did in the end. My one big complaint about the book is that it didn't really have an ending it just dropped off into nothing which is very maddening because I don't know what happened. I also had to really think through the plot line which was a little bit hard to follow. Other than that the book was good but I think that it seemed kinda elongated. Need could have just been one book but... the author made it two... so I guess it isn't my decision. 

Overall Rating: 2/5

One word/phrase sum up: Hard to Follow 

Wannabe Writers

Hi!!! As some of you may know I have 2 blogs one for writing and the other for reading. I have decided to compile all of them into one. So this will be my one and only blog. On my writing blog(Which I don't update very often) I have joined a meme called Wannabe Writers for people like me who don't run into writers issues and want help from other writers. This meme is hosted by Sarah who is on her way to being published. In this blog I include where I am in the writing process, my current problem, the problem of the week, and my answer to the problem of the week.

Where I am in the writing process: Still introducing all the main characters family and friends.

My Current Problem: I am having a big issue on whether to write or type my book. I have done both in the past but I always enter it into a computer once I am done. Sadly my typing skills are pathetic so this week when I had time to write I typed the first 800 words into my computer even though my mind was writing the rest of the chapter. 

Question of the week: Dual narratives? Has anyone ever attempted to write a book where you have two Main Characters--switching voice with each alternating chapter? Likes/Dislikes on that? I just read Perfect Chemistry and loved how the author wrote like that. Any other good books out there like that? I think this is becoming more and more popular in YA.

My Answer: Well I have read a couple books like that. The Mother Daughter Book Club is one and I am currently reading shiver which is written like that. In The Mother Daughter Book Club the 4 main characters each have a chapter that is put in order so it flows from event to event, event though the author  doesn’t  have  each character narrating  the same scene.

Also for your problem, don't give up because I read the things you have posted on teen fire and it was amazing!!! Everyone has self doubt but you have to remember even when you are very mad at your novel that you write because you love it and you want to make the characters in your book fly. 

look out world here it comes!!

Hi everybody I just found this great new book that you shold all buy when it comes out. It is named Sings with Stars by Bethany Greenier , and is being self published by my friend's friend. I am going to publish more updates from time to time and, the author has agreed to do a Q&A with me once I have read the book.(For all of my writer friends out there she also said she would answer questions about her writing process.) If you would like to visit the authors site click here.

She also provided me with some other great things.

Number 1: The book is going to be able for publishing in less than a month!!

Number 2: Her synopsis of the book (I think that is how you spell it!). Here it is:
What if you found a peep hole into another world? For seventeen year old Gigi
Storme, that’s exactly how it feels, every time she holds certain mysterious objects at

Mr. Whitley’s Junk Emporium. Gigi is different. How and why, she doesn’t know or

understand, but she feels it. So does everybody else.
Gigi’s life is about to change forever, with a clandestine meeting of a stranger she has

longed to meet and an attack upon Mr. Whitley, her only friend. These events bring

to light the truth that Gigi is from a magickal realm. In this new world she must face

unexpected betrayal, learn to love, and undergo a series of magickal initiations to

unlock her own abilities. Gigi will confront an unknown, but hauntingly familiar enemy

with devastating powers, and she must overcome her own dark heritage in the process.

Gigi will finally discover exactly what it is about her that is different, and how it could
be the very thing that saves her and everyone around her. Where and who she comes
from will have less to do with where she'll end up, than her own choices...


Sadly when she sent me the book cover picture it didn't transfer over to my computer so you all have to go to http://www.singswithstars.com/ to explore this great book!!

If you have any questions you would like to leave Bethany please just leave a comment and I will be sure to ask her.

Book Review: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Title: Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief
Series: Percy Jackson (I think that is the name of the series.)
Author(s): Rick Riordan
Genre: Fantasy/ Mythology
Publisher: Miramax
Pages: 375
Challenges: none


Summary:  Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect.

Now Percy and his friends have just ten days to find and return Zeus's stolen property and bring peace to a warring Mount Olympus. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to do more than catch the true thief: he must come to terms with the father who abandoned him; solve the riddle of the Oracle, which warns him of betrayal by a friend; and unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

My Thoughts:  Percy Jackson was a great book that was funny and suspensful all at the same time. The author takes common myths and puts a great twist on them to create a crazy but realistic story. The one thing the author did that annoyed me just a little was foreshadowing. Throughout the entire book there were large marks in the plot when I could tell what was about to happen because it almost told you. Other than that the book was amazing the characters were real and unique as they traveled across the country meeting other characterz that portrayed some sort of mytholgy type person. I do plan on reading all 5 books but am currently on hold to achiving that because I just picked up the book Shiver and am racing through it at top speed.


Overall Rating: 3/5


One word/phrase sum up: Forshadowed greatness

Book Review: A Walk to Remember

Title: A Walk to Remember

Series: None

Author(s): Nicholas Sparks

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Warner Books

Pages: 224

Challenges: None


Summary: In 1958 Landon Carter is a shallow but well-meaning teenager who spends most of his time hanging out with his friends and trying hard to ignore the impending responsibilities of adulthood. Then Landon gets roped into acting the lead in the Christmas play opposite the most renowned goody two-shoes in town: Jamie Sullivan. Against his best intentions and the taunts of his buddies, Landon finds himself falling for Jamie and learning some central lessons in life.

My Thoughts: This book was sweet but slow. The ending was decent but it was very acpectable and left me asking why he didn't lead it into a different ending. The characters, Landon and Jamie, were well descipded but didn't seem real to me. I know some people love Nicholas Sparks but I am not one of those people. I won't give up on him though because the potential of the book was very high.


Overall Rating: 3/5


One word sum up: Typical

Wannabe Writers

Hi!!! As some of you may know I have 2 blogs one for writing and the other for reading. I have decided to compile all of them into one. So this will be my one and only blog. On my writing blog(Which I don't update very often) I have joined a meme called Wannabe Writers for people like me who don't run into writers issues and want help from other writers. This meme is hosted by Sarah who is on her way to being published. In this blog I include where I am in the writing process, my current problem, the problem of the week, and my answer to the problem of the week.


Where I am in the writing process: In the beginning probably about 1000 words in. I need to buy some post it notes because after I reread my first page i found about 10 billion ways to make it better.


My current Problem: Well(This is a miracle!!) I don't have any problems!!


Problem of the week:How to get going in the beginning? Suggestions on ways to start a story?


My Answer: Well for me starting the story isn't really hard because I always just know. Ending is really the hard part to me. Right now I am starting to but for me I just don't know what way to the end to take. I really don't know what to tell you but just keep going it will come. 

Book Review: What my Girlfriend Doesn't Know

Title: What my Girlfriend Doesn't Know

Series: None

Author(s): Sonya Sones

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

Pages: 291

Challenges: None

Summary(from Goodreads):

My name is Robin.

This book is about me.

It tells the story of what happens when after almost 15 pathetic years of loserdom, the girl of my dreams finally falls for me.

That seems like it would be a good thing, right? Only it turns out to be a lot more complicated than that.

Because I'm not gonna lie to you -- there are naked women involved. Four of them, to be exact. Though not in the way you might think.

Don't get me wrong -- my girlfriend's amazing. But the way things have been going lately, I'm starting to believe that the only thing worse than not getting what you want, is getting it.

My Thoughts: This book ended well in the last 20 or so pages but the beginning 200 were long and tiresome. The plot line didn't capture my interest until the end but the writing was pretty decent until the end when its captivating level sky rocketed. I will probably read a book by her sooner or later but this book had very few characters that were well described, a slow dry inappropriate plot line, and an overall slow book.

Overall Rating: 2/5

One word sum up: Inappropriate

In My Mailbox #4

This is my fourth week of doing this meme called in my mailbox. If you would like to learn more than click here. In my mailbox is lead by the stroy siren.

Borrowed:

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Theif

I have about 5 other books that I found lying around the house but I don't think I'll read them.

We'll see!!

Have Fun Reading!!

What I'm Waiting for(but not on Wendsday)

I have decided to randomly post books that I really want to read or books that havn't come out yet.

One of the many I am waiting for is:

 The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

Summary:

A serial killer on the loose. A girl with a morbid ability. And the boy who would never let anything happen to her.

Violet Ambrose can find the dead. Or at least, those who have been murdered. She can sense the echoes they leave behind... and the imprints they leave on their killers. As if that weren't enough to deal with during junior year, she also has a sudden, inexplicable, and consuming crush on her best friend since childhood, Jay Heaton.

Now a serial killer has begun terrorizing Violet's small town... and she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
 
 
This book sounds captivating and crazy with the mix of murder and love.
 
Overall I just can't wait.

Book Review: The Lonely Hearts Club

Title: The Lonely Hearts Club

Series: no

Author(s): Elizabeth Eulberg

Genre: Fiction

Publisher: New York : Point

Pages: 320 pages

Challenges: 2010 Debut Author Challenge

Summary: Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating. So she vows: no more. It's a personal choice. . .and, of course, soon everyone wants to know about it. And a few other girls are inspired. A movement is born: The Lonely Hearts Club (named after the band from Sgt. Pepper). Penny is suddenly known for her nondating ways . . . which is too bad, because there's this certain boy she can't help but like. . .

My Thoughts: The Lonely Hearts Club was a cute, funny book filled with amazing friendships and funny ideas. When I first picked up this book I was prepared for a quick read with a boring plot line but after I read the first page I knew I was in for much more and much better. I loved this authors writing because it seemed that the characters were real and alive. She also made everything seem dramatical(this is my made up word of the day) which added a crazy edge to this heartwarming story. Overall it was a fun light book that cause many great laughs and several secret tears. 


Overall Rating: 5/5


One word sum up: Heartwarming

Book Review: Need

Title: Need

Series: Series(by Carrie Jones) sequel Captivate

Author(s): Carrie Jones

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: No clue

Summary: Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.


My Thoughts: Although this is not the usual type of book I read it is one of the many that I do not regret picking up. Need, despite the odd plot line, was extremely well written and sent me into the cold woods of Maine. I loved this authors great descriptions, and lovable characters(I also liked how she wrote her not so lovable characters). Although I adored her writing which made it impossible to put down, I did not like the pixies idea. It wasn't the way she wrote it(which I cannot say enough how brilliant that was), it was just the idea of pixies which made it hard to grasp. Overall though I would immediately recommend it.


Overall Rating: 4/5


Writing(This is only for this book): 10/5


One word sum up: Unique

Book Review: Heist Society

Title: Heist Society

Series: None or at least not yet
Author(s): Ally Carter
Genre: Fiction/Mystery
Publisher: New York : Hyperion(I think)
Pages: 280 ish...


Summary: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.
Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.
For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Thoughts: I love Ally Carter her writing always makes me just sit back and giggle. Why, you might ask? Because her lovable characters and twisted plot line creates an alluring story that makes her books hard to put down. Although this story had a different story than the Gallagher Girl series it had the same character set up. In all of Ally Carters books the main character power-girl always has a handsome side kick that tends to be a cute guy(Do you see where I am going with this). Overall this book was a quick fun read with a crazy plot line that left you biting your nails until the last page.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5


One word sum up: Funny