LOVE that classy large church worldwide: cofessios of a teen

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

cofessios of a teen

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Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Happy Release Day!

Jul 2013

Prep School Confidential, Kara Taylor's debut novel, is out today!

The fabulous Kara Taylor came to me several years ago and with a different book. She queried me with a contemporary YA. I read it during the week of BEA and new I had to work with her. The voice was amazing, and the characters were well developed and funny and I couldn't stop thinking about them during all of BEA.

I'm so lucky to be working with Kara, and I couldn't be happier that Prep School Confidential is out now and available to the world.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

! Back from RWA -- With Winners!

Jul 2013

I was at RWA last week and have been desperately trying to catch up with everything I missed while I was out of the office.

Now that I'm (mostly) caught up, I have winners for you!

We had 24 entries and they were all pretty fabulous. I had a tough time picking the winner, but here were the major contenders!

Best Pixie Haircut
rebekahfaubionbooks @ 7:00 pm

Best Dialogue
ReedWrites @ 9:49 pm

Best Last Line
Ambiguous_A @ 1:13 pm

Best Parenting
rosie.pova @ 11:15 pm

Best Prose
Alexia Chantel @ 10:48

Best Voice
Vanessa Shields @ 12:29 pm

Most Creative
Melissa @ 10:24 pm

And the winner is...

Shannon Renee

I’ve daydreamed about my first time a million times. Each fantasy has breathtaking scenery, dialogue that is dripping with romance and I’m utterly brilliant in the sack.

The reality of sleeping with Ethan isn’t as I imaged, but that’s fine. Better than fine.

New and unexpected emotions leave my voice rough and my thoughts scattered. I say the same word over and over again.

Who knew, “Yes” was my favorite word?

He tastes like a blue pixie stick, and is voice quivers when he tells me he loves me. It’s not luck that sends me over the edge, shaking anew.

Congrats Shannon. Shoot me an email and I'll get you a copy of Anew and critique your query or pages!

Happy Release Day!

Jul 2013

Today's pretty special, I have an anthology out today!

The Carniepunk Anthology

Now what is Carniepunk? Well, this group of authors which came up with the idea for this anthology themselves define it as:

It is a place of magic, of first kisses on Ferris wheels, and a place of deception, where monsters wait silently in the dark.

I represent the fabulous Allison Pang who has an short story in the anthology which is connected to her Abby Sinclair series. She came to me and asked if I would shop the anthology collection that she and the other authors had developed, and I thought it sounded like a great idea! Now months later, here it is.

Thursday, July 11, 2013

A Little Too Far--The New Cover

Jul 2013

Yesterday, this fabulous cover was revealed:

Covers in this industry get redesigned all the time for a variety of different reasons.

One important reason is to make sure that the book stands out.

I adore this new cover. It's similar to the last one, but the silhouette reminds me of a particularly sexy scene that I adore. So I think it fits perfectly.

But you know what's better than even a cover reveal?

An exclusive excerpt. One for A Little Too Far is right here.

For all of your writers out there, what I love most about A Litte Too Far (and there's a lot to love) is Lexie and her voice. I know right form the first line that I would absolutely love this character.

I hope you enjoy it too!

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Interview with Chelsea Fine + Contest

Jul 2013

Today as part of my New Adult Addiction, I'm talking to Chelsea Fine. You might be familiar with her YA series, The Archers of Avalon.

Well, she's working on a New Adult novel right now. And let me tell you, it's awesome.

Anyway, onto the good part. Welcome Chelsea. Why don't you have your main character, Pixie, tell us what your book is about in 140 characters or less.

What was I thinking, living under the same roof as Levi’s blue eyes? There’s no way I’ll survive the summer. I can barely survive breakfast.

What was your favorite chapter scene to write and why?

I loved writing the scene where my two main characters first kissed. It was sweet and intense…and it took place in a fort during an epic game of Capture the Flag, so yeah. Big fun.

You do kissing scenes so well. Who’s your favorite character to write and why?

My protagonist, Pixie! She’s messy and sad, and has a tendency to ramble. But she’s also snarky and tough, so she was really fun to write.

I want her to be my new best friend. Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

There are two or three scenes where Pixie is painting, and I drew on my personal experience as an artist for those descriptions. She paints with her fingers, like I do. Also, she’s messy and unorganized like I am.

You've written a lot of books. Did you always want to be a writer?

No, actually. I wanted to be a freelance artist, painting murals and canvases for a living—but that was mostly because my younger sister always wanted to be a writer. So the profession of writing was already claimed. But then I went a published a book so… *makes face* Awk-ward. Haha.

What was the first work you had published?

A little novella called Sophie & Carter. *happy sigh* I love that book.

And, how did you get your agent?

Luck. Prayers. Fairy dust. The usual.

(Chelsea forgot to mention Good writing. Her second novel Anew had just come out and a producer wanted to option the film rights. He reached out to me and recommended I read her work. I did, and I was desperate to work with her.)

I know you're writing full time now, but what other jobs have you done to support your writing?

I worked at a credit union for seven years. During my employment there, I was held at gunpoint three times. So I was pretty thrilled the day I got to quit and start writing full time. Hooray for surviving a bank job.

I didn't know that! That's crazy--I'll need to hear those stories at some point. Also, I suspect you could use that as inspiration to write a great thriller!

Anyway, back to writing. What are you working on at the minute?

I’m currently finishing up my first New Adult book, as well as working on my first MG series.

The New Adult book is about childhood friends who grow up together, experience a tragedy, and drift apart. But a year later, they end up living next door to one another for the summer and find it difficult to keep the past, well…in the past. It’s a story about hurt and healing, and true love of course.

And the MG series is about a young girl who stumbles upon some magic in Scotland and goes on a wild ride through a world steeped in fantasy, beauty, and danger in order to find her way back home.

Eeek! I’m so excited for both!

So since this is your first New Adult novel, what first drew you to the genre?

The age group! 18-25 is sort of like a Dark Age and I LOVE the concept of giving characters that fall into this lost time some roles in the literary world. Instead of only knowing what their first kiss/love/heartbreak was like in high school and then jumping right into their career lives in their thirties, we can actually let all the significant life changes of their “college years” play out. Forget high school, those are the years that truly shape us.

I know you read a lot of New Adult too. What would you love to see next in the genre?

More paranormal New Adult. And maybe a “New Adult” version of some popular Young Adult book series? That might be fun.

That sounds like a lot of fun. I can already think of a few series that I'd love to see "New Adult" versions of!

Here's where you can find out more about Chelsea, including what we do with her New Adult novel when it's all finished.

Website: www.ChelseaFineBooks.com

And now it's contest time! I'm in the mood for another 100 word writing contest.

Here are the details:

You need to write a short story (100 words or less!) using these five words:

New
Fine
Pixie
Luck
Anew

Post your story in the comments of this post by 11:59 pm on July 13th.

What do you win?

A paperback copy of Anew by Chelsea Fine

AND

Your choice: either a first page critique or a query critique--good for you or a friend if you're feeling generous.

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Contest Winners

Jul 2013

We had 25 Entries this time! Thanks to everyone who entered!

And congrats to the winners!

Best Last Line
Wendy Hedrick @ 10:44 PM

Most Creative
ifeomadennis @11:51 PM

Best Tone
Lee @ 2:50 AM

Best Worldbuilding
Ambiguous_A @ 10:19 PM

Best Paranormal Hero
Jocelynfrentz @ 2:50 PM

Best Opening
Nikola Vukoja @ 7:29 PM

Runners Up
Melissa @ 12:34 AM

and

Abrielle1 @ 2:55 AM

And the winner is...

Saraland

I have a supernatural stomach.

My mother told me that once, after she chastised me under the magnolia trees for gobbling up my entire birthday cake when I was five. She said I looked like a bowling ball on twigs.

I still do. It’s kind of hot. Or not.

Today’s a new day. I'll be the queen of quaff, the guru of gorge, a devouring diva in a pastime as American as assault rifles and apple pie. I’m going to win. My belly will be my meal ticket. Have hot dogs, will swallow.

The first bite is always the hardest.

Congrats Saraland. Shoot me an email and collect your prizes!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Be sure to head over to NAAlley.com for the New Adult Crush Tournament!

Jul 2013

It's a great place to get New Adult recommendations. (After all if you like hot guys and they've made the tournament, you know they must be awesome).

And you can Vote for Garrick.

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Interview with Megan Powell + Writing Contest

Jul 2013

Today as part of my New Adult Addiction, I'm talking to Megan Powell. Megan's first novel, No Peace for the Damned was sold and published before New Adult was actually considered by many people, including me, to be a thing.

However, the more I've been reading of New Adult and the more I've been thinking about where New Adult will go in the future, the more I think Megan's novel could be classified as a "New Adult Paranormal" novel.

Here's why:

In No Peace for the Damned, the main character Magnolia Kelch (who I love) is 22. And in the opening scene, she leaves home for the very first time (not for college, but because her family is evil and twisted). At the core, everything that happens in the novel revolves around Magnolia trying to make the right choices and figure out where she fits in the world now that she's on her own. It's funny and sexy and Magnolia is a great character who makes mistakes but keeps moving forward anyway.

Anyway, onto the good part. Welcome Megan. Tell us what your book is about in 140 characters or less.

A powerful young woman joins forces with a secret security agency to fight against her influential family's supernatural terrorism.

Is this book part of a series?

Yes. NO PEACE FOR THE DAMNED is the first in the Magnolia Kelch series.

The second one is called No Love for the Wicked and it will be out August 13th! But back to No Peace, what was your favorite chapter to write and why?

Chapter 29 was definitely my favorite chapter to write. It was also the very first chapter I wrote. I had that scene with Magnolia and Theo on the couch long before I knew anything else about the characters or the story around them. All I knew was that this incredibly sexy young woman, who felt separate from everyone around her, suddenly felt a genuine, normal connection to someone else. The excitement of that moment overshadowed any other insecurities so that when she revealed her tattoo without thought of the consequences, she revealed an innocence that would otherwise be out of character. That moment shows that more than anything, all she really wanted was to have something – anything – in common with someone else.

What about character? Who's your favorite?

Definitely Magnolia. The book is told from her point of view so I really get to slip into her mind while I write. I love that she is strong and powerful, terrified and angry, whip-smart and completely naïve all at the same time. I remember very clearly being twenty-two and thinking I was the toughest person in the world with all these life experiences while at the same time feeling more vulnerable and uncertain than ever. It is a wonderful experience to be able to relive those feelings through a character with such unlimited potential.

Did you always want to be a writer?

Not at all. In fact, it never even occurred to me to be a writer until the day I started writing NO PEACE FOR THE DAMNED. I was all about the business world and making my mark in corporate America. Life, however, had other plans. After years of my children being in day care twelve hours a day, having a husband I saw only on the weekends (if we were lucky), and parents with health problems, I decided it was time for some serious priority adjustments. I left my career to be a stay-at-home mom in 2006. By the end of 2008, I was pulling my hair out and seriously questioning my sanity. I needed an escape as much as I needed an outlet for all my frustrations. January 2009, I started writing about Magnolia Kelch. Now, in 2013, as a published writer, I’m still wondering about that sanity thing.

That's fantastic! What about the first work you had published, what was it?

The very first work I ever had published was a small (200 word) article on available youth sports in a small local paper. I think I got $5.00.

How did you get your agent? (Megan is represented by the fabulous Joanna Volpe, you may have heard of her...)

I met my agent at the Midwest Writer’s Workshop at Ball State University in 2009. I was introduced to her through a fellow writer who had read part of my manuscript and knew that this agent was looking for urban fantasy novels. For me, it was love at first sight. I think it took my agent a little longer, though. :)

I'm pretty sure that love at first sight thing was mutual. Did you query? How many (if any) rejection letters did you get?

I sent out a total of seven query letters before signing with my agent. Of those, I received three rejections, three requests for further pages and one none response.

You and I have recently talked about New Adult and the genre and how your book could possibly fit into that. What does “New Adult” mean to you?

To me, YA is all about firsts. First love, first time sticking up for yourself, first time trying something new and discovering what is really important to you or who you really are. New Adult, then, takes all those firsts and blows them out of the water. You think you found true love? Well, let’s see what happens when you and your love live in separate states, start separate careers, develop new priorities. You’ve found your moral compass? Great. Now let’s see what happens when those morals have to fight a war in a foreign country or take orders from a boss you’ve never met. New Adult is all about challenges and empowerment. It’s watching characters test what they know to be true and struggle to stay who they believe they really are.

I really like that description! Before you go, leave us with a quote from your book?

In that last moment of consciousness I had to chastise myself. I was not supposed to live in this world without violence and pain. And I was an idiot to have ever let myself think otherwise.

To learn more about Megan, here's where you can find her on the internet:

Website: http://www.meganpowellbooks.com
Facebook: Megan Powell, writer
Twitter: @MeganPwrites
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/meganpwrites
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Powell/e/B0081H2WE6/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1371596265&sr=8-1
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/300523.Megan_Powell

And now it's contest time! The last one went so well, so let's do another 100 word writing contest.

Here are the details:

You need to write a short story (100 words or less!) using these five words:

New
Supernatural
Chastise
First
Magnolia

Post your story in the comments of this post by 11:59 pm on July 5th.

What do you win?

A paperback copy of No Peace for the Damned by Megan Powell

AND

A first page critique this time--also good for you or a friend if you're feeling generous

Good luck!

Monday, July 1, 2013

New Adult: Growth in Different Genres

Jul 2013

A few weeks ago, I asked twitter who had questions about New Adult and what they were. A number of people responded (and I'll have answers to those questions soon), but there was one question that stood out above the rest. There were several variations in the way that question was asked, but the gist was this:

Will New Adult grow into different genres or is it strictly going to be contemporary romance?

I've thought a lot about this, and the different ways that I could attempt to answer it. The simple truth is that I don't know. I believe that we're at a pivotal moment within New Adult where we could go either way and which way it goes is going to depend on the market and sales and most importantly readers.

But let's try to puzzle it out and predict the future anyway.

The definition of New Adult finally seems to be pretty consistent. Even Wikipedia seems to have a good description of the genre:

a developing genre of fiction with protagonists in the 18-25 age bracket...New Adult fiction tends to focus on issues such as leaving home, developing sexuality, and negotiating education and career choices.

Right now, the genre as a whole has been gaining popularity at a pretty break neck speed. The books that appear to be most successful in terms of sales and most talked about as New Adult Books are contemporary romances. A lot of them began as self-published books and have been since bought by traditional houses. They're selling extremely well as ebooks at sometimes a lower price point than the traditional $7.99.

From what I've seen, the audience is predominantly women, but that isn't saying that much since about 80% of fiction readers are women. I would speculate that while New Adult books are about and for twentysomethings that similar to YA readership, a lot of the audience is probably people like me, who are no longer in their twenties but enjoy the nostalgia and angst of the time period (though are probably glad to have gotten past the angsty stage in their life).

If we're going to take a page from the expansion of the YA genre several years ago, we'll see that there are a number of genres or subgenres that readers will move between without too much hesitation. Speculative fiction, fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and thriller can all be suited to the character development that we see defining New Adult.

Which of course begs the question of what's already out there in the world of adult fiction that could be be enjoyed by fans of New Adult. A few titles that instantly come to my mind are:

No Peace for the Damned by Megan Powell: urban fantasy with a twenty-two year old descended from
a demon who leaves home for the first time...and then joins a group of humans who are trying to destroy her family.

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey: the first novel in a very epic fantasy series that follows a young women who has been raised and trained to be what is essentially a high class prostitute as she gets swept up in politics, treason, and even revolution.

Waking the Witch and Spell Bound by Kelley Armstrong: these two titles are part of her Women of the Otherworld series and are narrated by Savannah, a character who first appeared as a child in the series, but is now officially an adult and trying to prove herself and balance her power as a witch.

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost: In the first book of the series, Cat is just a young college student who happens to also be hunting vampires and making the world a safe place.

Julianna Baggot's series which begins with Pure is a dystopian published by Grand Central but it has young characters and "crossover appeal."

(Clearly you can see my tastes often run to the paranormal/fantasy spectrum here...)

As New Adult continues to grow, we're hearing more about New Adult novels that are branching out into new genres.

Recently, The Registry by Shannon Stoker was released. It's a dystopian novel with an eighteen year old protagonist. It's being published by William Morrow and being marketed as New Adult.

Promise by Kristie Cook and Descension by BC Burgess are two paranormal New Adult novels that are on my TBR list after seeing them in NA Alley's New Adult crush tournament.

And then there have been deal announcements for established authors who have new books with traditional publishers.

Andrea Cremer, writing as A.D. Robertson has a new series coming out, starting with Captive. It takes place in the same world as her Nightshade books, but this is an adult novel (with erotic content). The main character is 25 and I've heard it could be described as New Adult.

Sarah J Maas has a new series, A Court of Thorns and Roses, which is being marketed as New Adult fantasy: A retelling of ”Beauty and the Beast,” “Tam-Lin,” and ”East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” A Court of Thorns and Roses tells the story of a young woman growing into herself, learning to love, and understanding the true nature of sacrifice.

And just last week, Jaime McGuire's new series, starting with Red Hill, was announced. It's described as a love story set against the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse.

So what does all of this mean for the future?

Well, to me it means that there's a lot of possibility. I think we could see more new adult in the future--and more new adult spanning into different genres. However, it might be an uphill battle for a debut author writing a new adult fantasy or a new adult thriller or a new adult novel without a romance. At least until we see even more success outside of just contemporary romance.

Of course it just takes one "yes" to get a novel published. And it just takes one success to open more doors within the genre. I'm excited to see this happen.

So for everyone still building their summer reading lists, what are some great new adult novels outside of the contemporary romance genre that I've missed? Or what are some great novels that were published before the rise of New Adult that would fit the genre? I'd love to hear more recommendations!

Congrats to the Winners

Jul 2013

We got 28 Entries and it was awesome but tough to go through and pick a winner.

Some honorable mentions are:

Best Description
Megan @ 10:45 am

Best nod to John Green
Matthew Masucci @ 2:53pm
(bonus points for the turducken reference)

Best Secret Addiction--Origami
Ambiguous-A @ 4:37pm

Best Twist
MFGoddard @ 10:04am

Best Fairytale
R.Lynn @ 1:05 pm

Best Use of "New Leaf"
Aaron Cole @ 6:37 am

Best Poem
HD Elliott @ 9:46 pm

Best Voice
Arwen @ 11:57 pm

Best New Adult Entry
trfloyd @ 11:30 am

The Runner-up is
abrielle1 @ 1:55pm

And the winner is...

Leigh Michael
His emerald-green eyes dim before closing. I curse myself for being too late. With one hand, I brush my hair from my face. With the other, I gently lay his head on the sterile floor of our lab.

He was my addiction. We were like ravens in more ways than one: devoted scavengers, mated to each other and our work. They took his life and fled, acting much like ravens themselves: opportunistic. Our secrets have been stolen; the future of science is in the hands of the unjust. Now I seek revenge for him, for us. It’s my new addiction.

Congrats Leigh Michael. Shoot me an email and collect your prizes!

Friday, June 28, 2013

Interview with Cora Carmack

Jun 2013

Today I have Cora Carmack on the blog. She is of course, the fabulously talented New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Losing It and Faking It.

Her novella, Keeping Her, a sequel to Losing It comes out in August, and her third novel, Finding It, will be released this fall. As someone who's read them both, I can tell you that they're just as fabulous as her first two books. If you're a fan, you won't be disappointed.

Okay, Cora, tell us what your most recent book is about in 140 characters or less.
FAKING IT is the story of two people who don’t fit together on paper, but through a bit of pretending, they discover something real.

And is this book part of a series?
It is, yes, but they don’t have to be read in order. FAKING IT is a stand-alone companion novel to my first book, LOSING IT.

What was your favorite scene to write and why?
I loved writing all of the scenes to do with Max’s music. But probably my favorite of those was the scene in which Cade sees her sing for the first time. That was a really fun moment to see through his eyes.

What turns you on creatively?
I’m a visual person, so usually something I see. I’ll see a particular landscape and want to write a scene there. I’ll see a guy sitting on a park bench or a girl waiting for the subway, and a whole story will start to unfurl in my head.

Music is a close second though.

Now, I've already talked about how you queried me after self-publishing Losing It, but I know there's more to the story. When you were querying how many (if any) rejection letters did you get?
Well… because I’d self-pubbed LOSING IT, it was a bit of a different scenario. But long before I wrote LOSING IT, I’d queried another book. At that point, I think I queried just under 100 agents before being offered representation. Unfortunately, that book and that agent relationship didn’t work out.

So if Losing It wasn't the first novel you wrote, what was it?
It was a YA fantasy novel that’s currently hidden away in the far, far reaches of outerspace… otherwise known as my computer.

What other jobs did you do to support your writing?
Let’s see… I worked at Target all through college, as well as a smoothie place. I worked in a regional theatre. I was a high school theatre teacher. I worked for a literary agency and a small independent publisher.

And now I work for me. :)

Nothing better than working for yourself! If your first book was YA, what drew you to New Adult?

I didn’t really actively decide to write New Adult. But my first new adult character, Bliss, came into my head almost fully formed. And she was in college, that much was certain. So, really I found myself writing New Adult by default.

Well, I know a lot of people who are glad that you did (including me!). Before you go, leave us with a quote from Faking It.
Absolutely! This is a quote that Cade says to Max in FAKING IT.

I’ll remind you every day how amazing it feels when your body touches mine. I’ll remind you of the good times, and help you forget the bad. I’ll remind you who you are when life has beaten you down and made you doubt it. I’ll bust down your door in the middle of the night and kiss you until you remember that your fears are just that, and they can’t control you. I’ll take my chances against your fickle heart if it means it’s mine.

Ah! I love that quote.

Here's where you can find Cora on the internet:

Blog: http://coracarmack.blogspot.com
Facebook: CoraCarmackBooks
Twitter: @CoraCarmack
Amazon Author Page: http://tinyurl.com/CoraCarmackAmazon
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6535659.Cora_Carmack

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Interview with Colina Brennan + Writing Contest

Jun 2013

To continue talking about New Adult, I've asked Colina Brennan to stop by for an interview. Her novel, Addicted to You, just came out on June 25th, and if you haven't read it yet, you should.

Hi Colina, tell us what your book is about in 140 characters or less.
Addicted to You is about Leah, who has no interest in love because she's convinced everyone eventually lets you down. Then she meets Will. Dun dun dun! :P

What was your favorite scene in Addicted to You to write?
Probably the scene where Leah and her brother run into Will at the party. A lot of things happen between the beginning of the night and the end of it, and it was fun writing about how their relationship subtly shifts.

This is your debut New Adult novel. Did you always want to be a writer?
Yes. I’ve wanted to be many things growing up—artist, teacher, astronaut, archaeologist—but a writer has always been at the top of the list.

What was the first work you had published?
A short story for a science fiction e-zine. Yes, I love writing in multiple genres!

And for all the other writers out there, how did you get your agent?
The usual way—by querying her :)

This is true. I found her in the slush! How many (if any) rejection letters did you get?

I only know of two authors who never received a rejection letter. I’m not one of them. And there are too many to count.

Clearly I think anyone who sent you a rejection was delirious. But no matter, tell me, what was the first book that you wrote?
I wrote a lot of short horror stories as a child. Then I graduated to romance novels. From ghosts and murders to flowing raven locks. I’m not sure how that happened either.

I think that's sort of how my reading tastes evolved! Back to this book, why did you decide to self-publish Addicted to You?

I decided to go Indie with this book because I love having creative control of every part of the process. I can create my own cover, pick my own deadlines, organize my own promotion, and not have to worry about putting everything through the approval of a publisher first.

Since Addicted to You is New Adult, something we're both currently addicted to, I should ask some New Adult questions. Here goes:

Are there any authors you’d love to see do a New Adult book?
John Green. I think he’d rock it.

What would you love to see next in New Adult?
The growth of other genres. I’d love to see it explode in the same way Young Adult has.

And finally, leave us with a quote from your book:

Will would show her that he was an addiction worth keeping.

To learn more about Colina and her work, here's where you can find her on the internet.

Blog: http://colinabrennan.blogspot.com
Facebook: BrennanColina
Twitter: @BrennanColina
Tumblr: http://colinabrennan.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7068218.Colina_Brennan

And now it's contest time! I haven't done one of these in forever, but let's do another 100 word writing contest.

Here are the details:

You need to write a short story (100 words or less!) using these five words:

New

Addiction

Science

Green

Raven

Post your story in the comments of this post by 11:59 pm on June 30th.

What do you win?

A paperback copy of Addicted to You by Colina Brennan

AND

A query critique--good for you or I'll even let you give it to a friend if you're feeling generous

Good luck!

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Addicted to New Adult Reading List

Jun 2013

So I've been reading a lot of New Adult recently (and of course as an agent, New Adult is on my wishlist, so if you've got one...).

If you're new to NA or if you you haven't gotten into it yet, here are the ones I'd recommend (and keep in mind, I'm a little biased since I rep some of these, but then again, I wouldn't rep them if I didn't love them).

In no particular order, here are my favorites:

Cora Carmack is responsible for converting me and turning me into a New Adult Addict so you can blame this whole thing on her and Losing It. I read it and couldn't stop laughing out loud and knew that this book was something special. Trust me when I tell you, Faking It, it's even better.

And I'm beyond excited for you guys to read Keeping Her, since well it's pretty awesome too. I'll also admit that I feel special and luck that I don't have to wait until August for it.

Wait for You by J. Lynn. This is the first Jennifer Armentrout novel I'd ever read, and trust me, it won't be the last. My favorite thing about this one is the characters.

Addicted to You by Colina Brennan. Everyone loves a guy with an accent. And trust me, you'll love this guy too. You'll also love the scene in the bar. (swoon!)

A Little Too Far by Lisa Desrochers. This is like the ultimate forbidden romance. I read the final version of this on a plane to Frankfurt. I sat huddled in my seat alternating between feeling swoony and weepy.

And I just finished reading the follow up, A Little Too Much, and it's incredible.

Rule by Jay Crownover. This was a recommendation by Lisa (above). She sent me an email telling me I had to read Rule. It took me a few weeks, but I downloaded it and read it in one sitting. I love Rule. He's a great character and the drunk scene (you'll know which one when you read) was so realistic.

Broken at Love by Lyla Payne. I was a little worried that I wouldn't fall in love with Quinn who is a total bad boy and ~~sort of~~ okay, a major jerk, but I did! His transformation is fabulous, and I'm so excited to read the next book.

On the top of my To Be Read list is Spiral by Mila Ferrara which is Grey's Anatomy meets Silver Linings Playbook (how could I miss that, right?). I'm in the middle of The Edge of Never by JA Redmerski. And I'm going to work my way through this list of Hypable's NA Summer Reading.

Now, what else should be on my TBR list?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Happy Release Day! + Giveaway

Jun 2013

So I'm addicted to New Adult.

That's why I'm excited that Addicted to You by Colina Brennan is out today!

When twenty-one-year-old Leah Carter's latest one night stand burglarizes her apartment, her roommate forces her to attend therapy for sex addicts. Leah insists she isn't a sex addict; she just doesn't do relationships. After all, sooner or later, everyone lets you down.

At first, the group sessions are little more than an education on how to be promiscuous. Until she meets the newest addict—blue eyes, killer body, and a smile that tempts relapse.

Psychology student Will McLean is posing as a fellow addict while researching a case study on unusual addictions. But the more he learns about Leah, the more certain he is that his desire to break through her walls and unearth her secrets has nothing to do with his assignment.

As the uncertainties spike alongside the sexual tension, the only thing Leah knows for sure is that falling in love would be disastrous. Too bad love might be one addiction she can't kick.

If you're an NA fan, this is another new novel you'll have to add to your to be read list. Here's an excerpt:

Leah hated Thursdays. Specifically, she hated what she was forced to do on Thursdays—a program called ‘Heal the Heart, Save the Body,’ which was a convoluted way of saying ‘therapy for sex addicts.’

Despite her roommate’s insistence, Leah did not have a ‘sex problem.’ So she liked the occasional one night stand. So what? She was twenty-one and single. There was nothing wrong with wanting to make the most of it.

Yet here she was, preparing for another session where she’d have to listen to some old guy attempt to teach a room full of so-called sexual deviants the skills to function in a civilized world.

Because left to their own devices, they wouldn’t be able to resist the primal urge to hump everything that moved. Obviously.

Who decided sex was an addiction anyway? Or that someone should need therapy to “fix” it? Sex was good for you. It was a de-stresser. If it wasn’t, then you were doing it wrong.

She made a face at the platter of cookies set on an uneven seat a few feet away. She had tried one of them a few meetings ago, and it had nearly broken her tooth. They were sturdy enough to survive a nuclear apocalypse. They were cockroach cookies.

Maybe that was the key to these therapy sessions—to knock everyone out with stale confections so they were incapable of having sex.

Here's what I love about Addicted to You, other than Will, the really hot guy with an accent. These characters are working through issues while trying to find where they belong in the world. They're confident in certain areas of their lives while in other areas, they're fumbling to get through each day.

And of course, a Happy Release Day announcement isn't complete without a giveaway :) Enter below!

Monday, June 24, 2013

How I Fell for New Adult + a Giveaway

Jun 2013

This is the part of the story you might have already heard:

Cora Carmack queried me with Losing It. She had self published and was sky-rocketing through the ranks. Despite my skeptical position on New Adult as a genre, I loved her premise and smart query, so I requested the manuscript. She sent it immediately, and I sat at my desk and started to read. I signed her, we sold Losing It to HarperCollins and I announced to twitter that I had changed my mind about all things New Adult.

Here's the rest of the story:

Cora Carmack made me laugh. When I opened Losing It at my desk, I read the first three chapters before leaving to go to a networking event. During those chapters I couldn't help laugh out loud. In fact, I laughed so often and so loud at certain moments that two different people in the office asked me what I was reading.

That night at the event, I couldn't stop thinking about Losing It. I couldn't wait to get back to it so that I could finish reading. And I couldn't stop talking about it. I brought up New Adult to everyone who would listen. Then I told them about this great self-published book I was reading. (At least two people told me they downloaded it that night.)

When I got home, I continued reading--I read until very late into the hours of the morning and sent Cora Carmack a gushing email about how much I loved it.

Here's why I loved it:

It had all the things that I want in any manuscript: great characters, great writing, page-turning storytelling. I couldn't stop thinking about it. It made me laugh and swoon and cringe and even get a little teary eyed. The characters felt so real to me.

Even more than that, here's why it changed my mind about New Adult:

Losing It made me feel like I was in my early twenties again. I didn't have a hot British professor and my last year in college didn't end up with happily ever after, but I did have some Bliss-worthy awkward moments. More than that, I knew how she felt while struggling to fit into the adult world. I'd been lost, frustrated, and insecure. Part of me wanted to be an adult and was ready and part of me wasn't sure what I was supposed to do in order to feel like an adult.

That's why I fell for New Adult and what I love about it: that these authors and their books have managed to capture all of those different and complex feelings in such a visceral way. And of course that they've thrown a good romance into the mix doesn't hurt since I love all things romance.

But don't take just my word for it. I asked everyone else at New Leaf what they loved about New Adult, and here's what they said:

Joanna Volpe:
After reading so many dark and heavy stories for so long (which I do love), New Adult offered up something that could be equally meaty in terms of emotion, but lighter in tone. And dang are they sexy! The first real NA I read was Cora Carmack's LOSING IT, but after that, I just wanted...more. And there was so much out there to choose from! So I think what really made me fall for the genre as a whole is the immediacy of it all, both in purchasing and in the stories themselves. I have bought an embarrassing amount of them, and I just fly through them!

Kathleen Ortiz:
I'll admit: I wasn't a fan of New Adult at first because it seemed like many writers were trying to write a YA, insert a lot of sex, and say 'tada! New Adult!'

And then I read some NA that truly captured the essence of NA.

NA is still about having moments like this:

And yes, you may still need mom and dad:

You discover actually NEED a budget.

(I may or may not have an issue with this one but I digress. Cupcakes always have space in the budget)

You make good decisions:

And bad ones:

You continue to have some feelings from high school:

and

You learn to live with non-family members:

You still have many life lessons

But at the end of the day, I love NA when I find that character I can relate to:

And the character I can transform into and live vicariously through:

NA is about the experience from child to adult. And then realizing, you may be legally an adult but mentally still very much a child. The experience of making all the wrong choices to learn how to make the best ones. And the experience of truly discovering who you are -- and realizing the experience of truly discovering who you are is a life-long journey.

And I love it.

Danielle Barthel:
I love that NA is really a bridge between YA lit and adult fiction. I never felt that I needed that bridge until I read a few NA books and realized that, as a 20-something myself, these characters were going through some of the same things that I was. You're not too long after college, trying to figure out who you are and where you belong and who can help you on your way to your destination, and being able to read about situations that I could empathize with, or at least truly understand, gave me a real appreciation for the genre.

Sarah Goldberg:
I'm usually a reluctant reader of contemporary romance, but New Adult has made me reconsider. I recently read a comment on YA romances--and I can't seem to track down the source--by someone who said (and I paraphrase) that teen romance usually isn't forever, but great YA romances tells stories about the relationships that the characters need at that moment. NA appeals to me because it often picks up on that: there doesn't have to be a traditional Happily Ever After . . . but the relationship is just right for the characters, then. Having emerged from my early twenties not too long ago, I appreciate seeing that experience in print. Those NA relationships, college majors, and job experiences may not be forever for most of us, but they're worth it.

Now, whether you're addicted to New Adult or not sure what it's all about, at New Leaf, we've put together an epic Addicted to New Adult Giveaway. Enter here:

Five Random Things About Suzie

1. I drink so much orange soda, it's probably running through my veins. I've been known to go through a twelve pack of diet sunkist in a day.

2. I'm legitimately nocturnal (or a vampire). I will be so exhausted at two pm that I'm falling asleep standing up - it has happened before, at Six Flags no less - but as soon as the sun goes down I'm wide awake.

3. I have a gorgeous unused $6000 Reem Acra wedding dress hanging in my closet, and it showed up on my doorstep the same day my (now ex) fiance broke up with me. And thank God for that. I wouldn't have wanted to waste that dress on him.
4. Social anxiety plagues me daily. I write a script and practice in front of the mirror when I have to make a phone call, but most people who interact with me have no idea how nervous I am (or perhaps they lie) because I've worked so hard to try to overcome it.

5. I'm actually worried that I will never love my children (when I do have them in the far off future) as much as I love my dogs. I just like animals better than people - they're sweet and innocent and soft and furry - is that so wrong?

quotes

金不一定閃
流浪者不都迷路

"I dreamed you bewitched me into bed

And sung me moon-struck, kissed me quite insane
I think I made you up inside my head
I fancied you'd return the way you said
But I grow old and I forget your name
I think I made you up inside my head" ~Silvia Plath, Mad Girl's Love Song

"Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." ~ Robert Frost

"Love is not love,
Which alters when it alteration finds." ~ William Shakespeare, "Sonnet 116"

"Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter- tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…And one fine morning-...So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past." ~ F. Scott Fitzgerald, THE GREAT GATSBY

"For deadly secrets strike when understood
and lucky stars all exit on the run:
never try to knock on rotten wood,
never try to know more than you should." ~ Sylvia Plath, "Admonitions"

"The heaviest of burdens crushes us, we sink beneath it, it pins us to the ground. But in the love poetry of every age, the woman longs to be weighed down by the man's body. The heaviest of burdens is therefore simultaneously an image of life's most intense fulfillment. The heavier the burden, the closer our lives come to the earth, the more real and truthful they become." ~ Milan Kundera, THE UNBEARABLE LIGHTNESS OF BEING

William Wilberforce: "No one of our age has ever taken power."
William Pitt Jr: "Which is why we're too young to realize certain things are impossible. Which is why we will do them anyway."

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man." ~ Mark Twain

"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to reform." ~ Mark Twain

“You know what I am going to say. I love you. What other men may mean when they use that expression, I cannot tell; what I mean is, that I am under the influence of some tremendous attraction which I have resisted in vain, and which overmasters me. You could draw me to fire, you could draw me to water, you could draw me to the gallows, you could draw me to any death, you could draw me to anything I have most avoided, you could draw me to any exposure and disgrace.” ~ Charles Dickens, A MUTUAL FRIEND

"I think the idea of life after death is a bad idea. It distracts you from appreciating the uniqueness of the here and now, the moment you are living." ~ Joseph Campbell

"Cry, the beloved country, for the unborn child that is the inheritor of our fear...Cry for the broken tribe, for the law and the custom that is gone. Aye, and cry aloud for the man who is dead, for the woman and children bereaved. Cry, the beloved country, these things are not yet at an end." ~ Alan Paton, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY

"To laugh often and much.. to endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better... To know even one life has breathed easier because you lived, This is to have succeeded." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

"After telling the hard facts to anyone from lover or friend, I have changed in their eyes...[Some see it as] a mission, as if ...they can pull me back from the wreckage of that day. Of course, their best efforts are largely useless. No one can pull anyone back from anywhere. You save yourself or you remain unsaved." ~ Alice Sebold, LUCKY

"Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete?
Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet.
Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air.
Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared." ~Tupac, The Rose That Grew From Concrete

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The Home Festival of the Fine Arts in Berea, KY 42303

HomeFestival of LearnshopsEvents Festival of LearnshopsEvents CalendarSubmit an EventVisitors LodgingDiningShoppingChurchesHands on WorkshopsArts & Culture Studio ArtistsHistory of BereaHistoric SpotlightsHistoric L&N DepotInformation Berea Welcome Center Newsletter Sign Up First Name Last Name Email Address Contact Us Your Name (required) Your Email (required) Your Message Please enter the above characters (required) Contact InformationBerea KY - Tourism 3 Artist Circle, Berea, KY 40403 800-598-5263 info@berea.comCity ResourcesBerea Chamber of CommerceBerea City GovernmentBerea CollegeGo to...HomeFestival of Learnshops- Festival of Learnshops- Events Calendar- Submit an Event- Lodging- Dining- Shopping- Churches- Hands on Workshops- Studio Artists- History of Berea- Historic Spotlights- Historic L&N DepotInformation- - Berea Chamber of Commerce- Berea City Government- Berea College .123PreviousNext Mural PaintingHelp create public art in Berea as you learn the techniques of mural painting from creating the design to applying the final protective coat. The entire process will take 6.5 days and you can sign up for every day or just one or two days – the choice is yours. The mural will be painted in the Craft Room of the Broadway Center with the theme of celebrating Berea’s history as the “Folk Arts and Craft Capital of Kentucky.” All participants will receive a Project Packet with complete instructions for creating a mural Saturday, July 6: Discussion of process from start to finish; Discussion of design process and consideration; Discussion of prep and begin prep process; Readying supplies – tape, tarp and protect; Begin graphing design Sunday, July 7: Graph and layout design; Discussion of colors, color mixing and application Monday, July 8: Background; Application of base colors Tuesday, July 9: Foreground Wednesday, July 10: Details; Shadows and highlights; Determine the light source and direction; Illusion work Thursday, July 11: Finish up/fine detailing Friday, July 12: Varnishing; Touch ups and protective coating; Clean up and celebration Instructor Andréa Good Date July 6, July 8, July 9, July 10, July 11, July 12 | 9:30am – 5:00pm each date (6 different dates) July 7 | 2:00pm – 5:00pm Location Broadway Center – Craft Room – 204 N. Broadway Price $55 per day / session EXCEPT July 7 (Sunday) which is $30 (Discounts for multi-day registrations) Age Ages 15 and up. 10 – 14 year old participants must be accompanied by a participating adult. Difficulty All levels Class Size Maximum of 12 participants Take Home Project Packet with complete instructions on painting a mural Website http://www.agooddesign.com/ Notes Wear clothing for painting! Lunch is on your own from 12:30-2:00PM Registration Has Closed. ToggleAbout Andréa Good:For the past 20 years, Andréa’s work has focused on the Trompe L’oeil painting technique. Her “illusion art” murals, fine art paintings and sculpture grace numerous private homes and businesses on both coasts, from Malibu to Lake Tahoe and New England. Andréa specializes in creating complex illusions on unusual and challenging surfaces, including curved, coiled, vented, textured, and those with compound angles. She also takes perfectly flat surfaces and makes them appear to expand into three-dimensional space. Her work is sophisticated and highly crafted, creating illusions that deceive the eye, perplex the mind, and delight the soul. Andréa’s education includes studies both in the US and Italy under such well known master artists as the Dimitroff’s (apprentices of Diego Rivera), Pierre Finkelstein, Pascal Amblard, Nicola Vigini and Sean Crosby. Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter LinkedIn LinkedIn Reddit Reddit Tumblr Tumblr Google +1 Google +1 Email Email Search Learnshops FacebookFacebook Copyright 2012 Berea KY Tourism

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

cofessios of a teen

Confessions

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