My name is Sally, and I'm completely addicted to stories- whether it be through books, films or television series.
I'm not a teenager but I love reading YA books and my current favourite genres are dystopian, magic, paranormal or fantasy, with some contemporary and historical. But I also read urban fantasy books, and sci-fi (or pretty much anything if you tell me it's good!). However, I do believe that no story is whole without a good romance plot in it, because (to quote Stephenie Meyer here) "love is the best part of any story".
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The Time Will Come is a weekly meme hosted by Jodie at Books For Company, where we can spotlight those books that we've had sitting on our shelves for too long. Books that we really want to read but never seem to get around to.
My Time Will Come pick this week is Maze Runner by James Dashner. This is sitting on the shelf at the library, and I've been meaning to read it for absolutely ages, (but I have way too many books out already!)
It is a dystopian sci-fi novel that has been recommended for fans of The Hunger Games. It has been reviewed by bloggers whose tastes are similar to mine and whose opinion I trust, and I think it sounds really good. It's also published in the UK by The Chicken House and they always publish only the best books!
Synopsis from Goodreads:
When the doors of the lift crank open, the only thing Thomas remembers is his first name. But he's not alone. He's surrounded by boys who welcome him to the Glade - a walled encampment at the centre of a bizarre and terrible stone maze. Like Thomas, the Gladers don't know why or how they came to be there - or what's happened to the world outside. All they know is that every morning when the walls slide back, they will risk everything - even the Grievers, half-machine, half-animal horror that patrols its corridors, to find out.
The sequel Scorch Trials has also just come out, and I'm not sure how long the series is planned to be.
But anyway, I want to read it- (as always) one day maybe...
In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where book bloggers can talk about the books they've gotten the past week- whether bought, borrowed, swapped or given for review. This feature was started to increase interaction between bloggers and increase our awareness of all the new books coming out.
It also gives me a chance to be nosy and see what everyone else has got to read, and so gives me plenty of new books to pine after!
This week I got...
From the Library:
Woo-hoo! It's been a week of new Richelle Mead books! I just love anything this author writes- Vampire Academy is one of my all-time favourite series and I feel like I have been waiting for these books forever! I had pre-ordered them both, but then remembered that I have to save money and must not buy any more books, so I had to cancel them. It's been so frustrating seeing other bloggers reading these books and knowing that I have to wait weeks for the library to get them! Finally!
Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead is the 6th and final installment of the Succubus series- such a fantastic urban fantasy series, funny and clever, with a feisty lead woman, and a heartbreaking love story, full of ups and downs. There are also vampires and their fondue parties, alcoholic angels, and demons galore. And Seth. *sighs*. I've read it already and love it- 4.5 of 5 stars, review to come.
Bloodlines by Richelle Mead. This is a spin off series from the Vampire Academy series featuring Sydney, Adrian and Jill. I can't wait to read this one.
Kindle Books:
Jenny Pox by JL Bryan. This is book 1 in the Supernaturals series and it looks fantastic. This is getting really good reviews, so I'm really excited to read it. This is free for kindle at the moment on Amazon.
That was all my books for this week- lots of reading to catch up on. What did you get this week?
To read more reviews and to read the synopsis of the book check out the Goodreads page.
1.How long have you been working on The Promise, how did the idea come about?
I worked on the book for about a year. I call it my little Post-It Note idea. I was driving home from work and listening to Theory of A Dead Man’s Not Meant to Be. I passed this little community called New Salem and the image of a girl sitting beside a gravestone popped into my head. I couldn’t shake it so when I got home, I jotted it down on a yellow sticky and stuck it on the wall beside my computer. Over the next few days, I kept jotting down ideas and before I knew it I had a complete outline of a book on a wall of yellow, purple, and pink.
2.The Promise is about a small, close-knit town of witches who cast spells using the five elements. How hard was it to get the world of witches and spells right, and all the rules and mythology of this world, and make it seem real? Did anything ever change during the writing of the book, or has it all stayed as you originally planned?
Oh my goodness, it changed so much over the course of a year. I was lucky enough to be pointed to an online writing group by Susie Townsend of Fine Print Literary - www.thenextbigwriter.com. Those people on there are brutal, but they were the best help I could have ever asked for. They were always brutally honest, never hesitated to tear my work to shreds if something didn't work, and were the first ones to shout when I got it right. I have made some wonderful friends there and they are a holy terror when it comes to fixing my syntax...lol.
I wanted to create a world where magic was commonplace at least amongst the people of the town while keeping the real world as much involved as I could. That part was the hardest, taking something as fantastical as spellcrafing and grounding it into reality. I did a lot of research. I can still remember going into the local library and asking if they had any books on witchcraft and witchcraft initiation ceremonies. The little lady behind the desk was seventy if she was a day. She looked at me like I'd just sprouted horns and asked where the sacrificial dagger was...lol. She told me in a very quiet voice, no. Suffice to say, I relied on books I could purchase after that. She still gives me odd looks when I go in there.
For me, the magic had to be believeable. I worked hard to get it right and hopefully I have. We'll see as more people read it and let me know.
3.I love the idea of being able to control the elements- Earth, Air, Water, Fire and Spirit. CJ can warm herself up if she's too cold, or cool down if she's too hot- very handy! She uses Spirit to help heal her friends. What would you most like to be able to cast spells for? Will CJ be able to control her powers and do more in book 2?
I'm a bit grounded, but I have a huge imagination. I think Earth would be my Element. It's everchanging, but essentially stays the same. I'm always changing, but my basic personality is essentially the same: nice, but a huge flirt.
CJ will learn to control her powers more as she gets deeper and deeper into the books. She is the coven leader for the Circle she must find to face the darkness coming. That much power is very heady. The real question is will she be able to handle all the power she has to unlock and control it or will it control her?
4.CJ and Kay are both very confident girls. Are any of the characters in The Promise based on anyone you know in real life?
I grew up in a very disfunctional family, but I was lucky enough to have the guidance of my aunt who taught me to be strong, no matter how hard life is. She was my life raft in some very murky waters and she taught me how to be the rock that anchors the raft. So, I would say she is very much a part of both Cassie and Kay. Her strength and confidence is where I found my own and she is who I think of when I think of strong characters.
5.Some of the story involves looking back into the past at the Salem Witch Trials. Did you have to do a lot of historical research for these scenes?
I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials and have read every book known to man on them. So, yes, my research was quite extensive as I've been reading about them for the better part of 15 years.
6.Ethan is the tall, dark and handsome stranger in town. Was it fun writing the scenes between CJ and Ethan?
How can it not have been fun to write about Mr. Melt In Your Mouth Gorgeous? He is CJ's own personal M&M. They are so funny and sweet and you find yourself hoping and praying he doesn't betray her. You'll laugh, you'll blush yourself silly, you'll put down the book at certain times when you are embarrassed for her. It makes you remember those first few days of a crush and you get to relive all those emotions through CJ.
One of our teens that read it, emailed me when she'd finished reading it that at one point she actually threw the book across the room and then ran to pick it up because she just had to know what happened. That is probably the best compliment I have ever recieved on the book. CJ and Ethan inspired that level of emotion in a girl that read it in one sitting. I am grateful my little sticky note novel could inspire those kinds of emotions in people. If I can make one person feel something, then I've done my job as a writer and entertained you.
7.If your book was being made into a movie who would you envision in the leading roles?
That's an easy one, the same people rambling around in my head as I wrote. I'm a visual writer and as I watch a ton of movies, my mind just picks people out and that's who I see as I write; a movie playing in my head.
Cassie: Emma Roberts
Ethan: Jake Abel
Kay: Phoebe Tonkin
Jeff: Matt Lanter
8.Have there ever been any books that you've read and thought "I wish I'd written that"?
All the time. The most recent one is Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. I've had an idea similar to it and when I read it, I thought to myself, huh. That was perfect for what I wanted to do, but I must say she did it so much better than I could have...lol. I love that book.
9.Can you write anywhere or do you have a special place/ routine where you have to write?
My dad tells me I have been writing since I was old enough to hold a crayon. I used to show him these nonsense scribbles and tell him my crazy stories of what they meant. I tend to write anywhere, anytime. I am still fond of my sticky notes. If I'm at work and an idea pops into my head, it goes down onto a sticky note. If I'm home, I stop what I'm doing and scribble things down.
I do try to spend at least one hour a day writing in the same place. Outside on my back porch where its quiet. At least until my cat comes out and the birds take to teasing him by swooping down and then soaring up just as he jumps to catch them. He makes this insane warble and his entire mouth quivers. I laugh myself silly every time I see it.
10.What's next in store for CJ, Kay, Jeff and the others in book 2 of the Coven series?
CJ meets Melinda in book 2, titled The Oath. Melinda's element is Earth and she is the next member of the Circle that CJ must form to fight the evil that is coming. Melinda's sister killed herself and Melinda discovers she was driven to do it by a group of so called witches. Her goal: revenge. It is a much darker book than The Promise, but there is just as much romance and blushing involved in The Oath as there was in The Promise. Jeff continues to warm our hearts and even I find myself rooting for him as I write. Ethan is just simply delicious and you melt when you read the scenes between him and Cassie as always.
Thankyou so much for answering all my questions, and for talking to me about your book and about writing!
Synopsis from Goodreads: Cassie Jayne Bishop grew up in the sleepy town of New Salem, NC, the only non-believer in the tradition and power of the town Coven. When a stranger comes to New Salem, everything she thought was normal about her life unravels around her. Ethan makes her question everything, even her sister’s death in a car crash years ago. As Cassie discovers the full truth about her heritage, and the clues start to pile up, she becomes determined to find out if the Coven was actually involved in her sister's death. What she uncovers terrifies her.
Her fate lies at the very heart of the secret the Coven protects. It’s the reason she was born. Now, betrayed on every side, can she find a way to survive or will she be the catalyst that triggers a centuries old act of vengeance.
Book 1 in the Coven series
Cassie-Jayne (CJ) lives in a small town called New Salem, a close-knit community of witches that has always kept the secret of their magic hidden from the rest of the world. But since the sudden death of her sister in a car accident 3 years ago CJ has completely withdrawn from the Coven and refuses to attend the meetings. But with whispers about a curse, pressure from all sides to attend the coven meetings, and then finding a desperate last diary entry from her sister, it is clear that SOMETHING unusual is going on. CJ has to gradually unravel the mystery surrounding the town and what it has to do with her and her upcoming eighteenth birthday. As clues start falling into place CJ also has to face the possibility that her sister was murdered by the coven that she had loved.
The idea of a magical coven masquerading as a normal town was cleverly woven seamlessly into the book, and all the magical elements of the story, the summoning of the 5 elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Spirit) felt very believable. There is a back history in the book which links back to the Salem Witch Trials, and the legends that have persisted in New Salem tie back into the events of that time. CJ originally doesn't believe in all the tales of the magic, and although accepts it in others, refuses to believe it herself. CJ is a great heroine with a modern teen voice, who is obsessed with shoes and boys, a great mix of teen confidence, and a kind of naive vulnerability. I always found myself rooting for her and hoping that she would be okay. I also loved CJ's lifetime best friend Kay- someone you definitely wouldn't want to mess with, a toughnut who wouldn't hesitate to come after anyone who upset her BFF. (Like Jeff, who in kindergarten stole CJ's toy and Kay pushed him down and kicked him as hard as she could). I really liked Jeff, CJ's neighbour, who has a major crush on CJ, but who the girls avoid, and felt a little bit sorry for him! I always fall for the loyal and dependable guy! But then there is Ethan, the new boy in town, who CJ is drawn to, but she is just not sure if she can trust him.
Gripping, but dark in places, full of twists, turns and surprises, unexpected betrayals, and allies in unexpected places, The Promise is a great teen witchy novel. It's a gripping mystery story, with a slow unravelling of secrets, creeping tension, magic, and an endearing love story.
Tomorrow on the blog there will be an interview with author Apryl Baker, where she will be talking about writing The Promise, (what she calls her little post-it note idea of a book), and giving some clues about book 2 in the Coven series.
In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren where book bloggers can talk about the books they've gotten the past week- whether bought, borrowed, swapped or given for review. This feature was started to increase interaction between bloggers and increase our awareness of all the new books coming out.
It also gives me a chance to be nosy and see what everyone else has got to read, and gives me plenty of new books to pine after!
These are all the books that came into my home this past week-
From the Library:
Whoops, I've overdone it with the reservations again, and as always they all seem to have come in at once! I'm not sure I'm going to have time to read all of these before they have to go back, but I really want to read all of them!
Dark Angel by Eden Maguire. I've been pining after this book since before it came out, and I love the sound of it. Angels and magic... and rock and roll. I liked Eden Maguire's other series The Beautiful Dead, so I'm hoping to read this book soon.
Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson. I wasn't going to give this book a second glance but I keep seeing such glowing reviews about it from other bloggers- all 5 stars. I'm intrigued now- I have to read it! Review at Irresistible Reads.
Cloaked by Alex Flinn. I've read Beastly and A Kiss In Time by this author and just love them. Modern re-tellings of old fairytales in a style that is both sweet and romantic and very funny. I'm looking forward to diving into this one about a princess and shoemaker. Review at Magic of Reading
Emerald by Karen Wallace. It was a review on a blog (that I now can't find!) that made me really want to read this book. This is a historical novel set in the time of Queen Elizabeth I, and has political intrigues, mystery and romance. Aimed at younger teens.
The Missing by Lisa Mcmann. This was published under the title Cryer's Cross in the US and other parts of the world. This is about a small close-knit town and how they react when high-schoolers start disappearing without a trace. Review at Books For Company.
Blood Bound by Rachel Vincent. This is an adult urban fantasy book (I think), and will have to be my next Rachel Vincent fix until the next Soul Screamers book comes out! This sounds like a very good, very dark paranormal romance book. Review at My Keeper Shelf.
Audiobooks:
Hexed and Hammered by Kevin Hearn. These are books 2 and 3 in the Iron Druid Chronicles. I thought book 1- Hounded was only okay, but I want to see how the series finishes, and these were in the Audible autumn sale so I got them.
For Review:
I'm so excited about both of these, they were both on my wishlist!
Prized by Caragh O'Brien. This is book 2 in the Birthmarked series. I finished Birthmarked last week and loved it (review to come). Another dystopian series, but very good and very clever. I will be reading this one very soon. Thanks to Macmillan Publishing and Netgalley for the advance review copy of this book. This is being published in November.
Tempest by Julia Cross. I love the sound of this one- I first saw it on The Story Siren blog. It's about a nineteen year old college guy who can time travel, and when his girfriend is killed he goes back in time to try and save her. Thanks to Macmillan Publishing and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. This is published January 2012.
Those were all the books I got last week- I got some fantastic looking books and I can't wait to read them all.
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