Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Writer's View: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

From Goodreads: In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

The Writer's View

First, I have to confess: I bought this book simply because I loved the cover. The cover doesn't really reflect the book, but it's still awesome.

Have any of you ever seen what you consider a good B movie? You know, the sort of movie that's a fun ride if you ignore the plot holes, odd character arcs, etc.? That's what Enclave was for me. Basically, it's a good ride. It's fast paced with lots of adventure and action. If you're looking for a fun book, this is it.

Friday, May 25, 2012

Writer's View: Fighting to Survive, by Rhiannon Frater


From Goodreads: Picking up where The First Days ends, Fighting to Survive features the further zombie-killing, civilization-saving adventures of a pair of sexy, kick butt heroines and the men who love them. A hundred or so survivors of the zombie plague have found tenuous safety in the walled off center of a small Texas town. Now the hard work of survival begins—finding enough food; creating safe, weather-resistant shelter; establishing laws; and fighting off both the undead who want to eat them and the living bandits who want to rob and kill them.

Fighting to Survive won the Dead Letter Award for Best Novel from Mail Order Zombie. The first book in the As the World Dies trilogy, The First Days also won the Dead Letter Award and was named one of the Best Zombie Books of the Decade by the Harrisburg Book Examiner. Tor Books began bringing this series to a wider audience with the Spring 2011 publication of The First Days.

The Writer's View

I love-love-love this book. This is definitely my favorite series I've read so far this year. I very often never finish series (mostly because I get distracted by something shiny and new--a series has to really WOW me to get me to finish it), but I could not wait to get my hands on the second installment of As The World Dies. The stakes are just as high as in the first novel, with more and more obstacles to overcome in this post-apocalyptic corner of Texas. We meet more loveable characters, some not-so-loveable characters, and get even more insight into characters we already love. The characters as so real, I feel like they are all very good friends.

Monday, May 21, 2012

New website complete!

I have finally finished my new website! I am so excited. I really love Blogger. It made designing my website a snap. Please take some time to persue my various pages. If you have any comments/critiques/feedback, I would love to hear it! This is my first foray into a website like this and I am open to any suggestions.

Some highlights of my site:

The Merchandise page:
  • Clothing and apparel inspired by my books
  • Free teaching curricula for Raggedy Chan is available for download
The Limited Edition page:
  • Check out Raggedy Chan dolls and limited edition books available only on my site
The Media page:
  • Check out a regional parenting magazine that features me, my mom, my daughter, and Raggedy Chan on the cover
  • Listen to a live interview with me and the Mixed Chicks
  • View You Tube videos of me presenting at the Fort Bragg Public Library
The Books page:
  • Check out my books, of course!
The About page:
  • Learn a little about me and my buddy, Pixiu

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Writer's View: Peacemaker, by Lindsay Buroker


From Goodreads: Half-breed tinkerer Kali McAlister doesn’t care that the gold rush has stormed into Dawson and prospectors are flooding the north—all she wants is to finish construction of her airship, so she can escape the Yukon and see the world.

Unfortunately, the world keeps chucking wrenches into her machinery: a mysterious gambler is pumping her for information on her bounty-hunting business partner Cedar; the notorious gangster Cudgel Conrad is after Kali’s knowledge of flash gold; and a series of gruesome murders is plaguing Dawson. Someone—or something—is ruthlessly slaying tribal women, and, if Kali and Cedar can’t find the killer, she might be the next target.

Peacemaker is a 40,000-word steampunk novella.

The Writer's View

I love Lindsay Buroker's Flash Gold Chronicles. They are steampunk novellas set in the Yukon. Peace Maker is the third installment. This story is non-stop action/mystery/adventure, with a little romance to boot. If you haven't read any of these stories, I highly recommend them. You can get the first novella in the series for free at Smashwords.

Worldbuilding with language (without making up cheesy names for dieties or fake cuss words)

Sunday, May 13, 2012

E-readers vs. Amazon & Exclusivity

I have been a die-hard book fan all my life. I even love the way books smell. My first job in college was at Barnes and Noble. I used to come home literally smelling like paperbacks. The scent was all over my skin and my clothes, and I loved it.

11 months ago, I broke down a bought a Nook. The main reason being is that as an Indie Author, I thought I needed to be familiar with the ins and outs of ebooks. What better way to do that than to read ebooks?

I am now a convert. I love my Nook. I have purged my bookshelves. When I see book giveaway on blog sites, I don't enter because I don't want the clutter of another paperback.

About 6 months ago, Amazon started a new program for Kindle authors -- KDP, short for Kindle Select Program. When an author gives Amazon the exclusive right to their book for the first 3 months of its release, the author gets the benefits of KDP. These benefits include being a part of the Kindle lending library, as well as the ability to periodically give your book away for free.

As an indie author, this sounds like a good trade. I'm publishing a new book next June, and I intend to give it to Amazon on an exclusive basis for the first 3 months, just so I can take advantage of KDP perks.

As an owner of the Nook, it annoys the !*&$ out of me. Twice this past week, I tried to buy a book from B&N, only to find out it's only available on Amazon. Seriously, I have to wait 3 whole months to read that?!? Gah!

I've already told my husband that I am buying a Kindle in the near future, just to avoid this problem. Part of me thinks, Damn, Amazon is flipping brilliant. With one move, they've cornered a large segment of the book market AND found a way to give perks to indie authors. On the other hand, as a B&n customer, I am annoyed. B&N needs to figure out something creative to do for authors, or there are going to be more folks like me converting to Kindle.

I'm just wondering what other folks think about all this?

Friday, May 11, 2012

Writer's View: Best First Chapters

I've had some creative writing teachers tell me that writers have to hook a reader with the first sentence. I don't actually agree with that. I've never chucked a book when I'm not shot to the moon with the first sentence; I've never met anyone who does that. I do, however, think the first few chapters of a book are crucial. Most folks I know will always read a few chapters before deciding whether or not to put a book down.

This just got me thinking about some of the best opening hooks I've read. Here are my top 3:

The First Days by Rhiannon Frater

I just can't stop talking about this series. The novel opens with a mother watching her newly-zombified toddler reach under the door jam with his bloody little fingers. I was reduced to blubbering tears almost immediately. Maybe it's because I'm a mom, and I could totally imagine the horror experienced my the main character.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Writer's View: As The World Dies, Untold Tales Volume 1 by Rhiannon Frater

From Goodreads: THE FIRST DAYS: AS THE WORLD DIES introduced Jenni and Katie and their harrowing journey to the makeshift fort in the Texas Hill Country.

But theirs is not the only tale to be told.

In the first volume of the AS THE WORLD DIES UNTOLD TALES experience three terrifying tales of those who are forced to face the unrelenting and hungry walking dead.

Deep in the Texas Hill Country, a man and his little dog takes refuge in a bed and breakfast located in the hills above a doomed town where an infested rescue center might unleash the hungry undead…

On a deserted highway slicing through the desolation of West Texas, a woman struggles to survive as she faces the horrifying aftermath of the rise of the zombies…

And finally, discover what happens on the first day to Katie’s beloved wife, Lydia, as the world dies…


The Writer's View

I am totally flipped out over Rhiannon Frater's As the World Dies trilogy. Seriously, it's been a long time since I've been this in love with a series. I go to bed at night dreaming about zombies, which I think worries my husband a little. I think the last time I was this obsessed, it was with the Hunger Games. But I can't even compare this series with The Hunger Games -- they're nothing alike.

I'm just about finished with the third book in thes series, which I'll post about later. In the meantime, I couldn't just read one As the World Dies book at a time -- I had to get this first collection of short stories from the same series, which features other characters from the main books. It's what I consider a crowd pleaser. If you're into the books, these stories are a blast. I wouldn't recommend reading them without reading the main series first -- they won't pack the emotional punch, IMO.