This week's been crazy enough that I haven't really had a chance to post. There are points in the phase of writing where you're busy editing and throwing down words (been on a roll a few days this week with Flora 2 -- woo hoo) and corresponding; and between doing all of that and having a family (and school officially being in full swing), you've used so many words, there really aren't any left to share. (Not that I run out of words easily, but when it comes to the blog, I don't want to bore you guys to tears.) I even missed my post at Operation Awesome, which shouldn't have happened considering it was my second official post, but that's what happens when, you know, life happens and you forget what day it is. So yeah.
A couple of things to quickly share:
1) #Indie love: If you're into YA urban fantasy, Breanna Puttroff's The Dusk Gate Chronicles are a fun read. They're clean, consist of lots of fun characters, and like the Flora series (book #1 is about to go to the editor -- woot woot), the main character spends a lot of time in a completely different "world" and gets to know all about it, the people who live there, and what role she has to play in everything. I really enjoyed them, and the ebooks are very well priced (in fact, the first one, Seeds of Discovery, is free).
2) Traditionally pubbed #booklove: In the past week or so I've been reading two series: Dan Krokos' False novels (OH THE ANGST--when is book three coming out... I just can't....), and Myra McEntire's Hourglass series. Though the first is more science fiction than anything (clones) and the latter is more about time travel, both have had me laughing out loud, really connecting to the main characters, and really liking the writers' voices. (They're YA, of course.) I highly suggest both; if you tend to like the same kind of books I like, you won't be disappointed. (Unless you want to read Mr. Krokos' book three. In which case, how 'bout I hold you while you hold me?)
3) Blog #memes: After this week's #K8chat on Twitter, I'm going to try to get on board with a few fun blog memes, just to be able to book squee with everyone about readerly stuff. We'll see how it goes; it might be a once or twice a month sort of thing. Who knows.
4) Audiobook #giveaway: Once Pity Isn't An Option's audiobook is officially approved by ACX, it'll be available to purchase on iTunes, ACX.com and Audible.com. Most likely I'll be doing a giveaway to celebrate (yay). More details coming soon.
5) Are you on #Pinterest? I really enjoy connecting on there and sharing my favorite stuffs, including boards for PITY ISN'T AN OPTION (Cozenage #1), IF I SPEAK TRUE (Flora #1), writing, food, and of course, cute baby animals. :) Let me know how to find you in the comments (or go to my "for my readers" tab and you can find me and I'll follow you). Then we can pin each others' snarky comments and learn how to make crafty stuff out of cardboard--a pinner's dream!
6) The lovely and talented and amazing Hafsah Laziaf (who created not only PIAO's gorgeous cover, but also designed my entire blog and my bookmarks and will no doubt design everything else I do) has announced she's publishing her book, UNBREATHABLE. I'm excited for her, because she's one of those people who gives continuously to others and now it is her time to shine and I think that's amazing, so of course I had to share her news!
(That ended up not being short at all!) Have a blessed, fun Labor Day weekend, guys! See you Tuesday!
A lost post in which I'm reminded just how much I love the writerly world
Funny how life has so many ups and downs. Okay, not funny, but I don't know, amusing, I guess. A lot of highs and lows are brought on because we've compared ourselves to others, or assessed someone else's response/reaction to us and made that to be who we are. Problem with that is, we're letting others set our self-worth, and in turn, allowing their perception/acceptance of us determine our self-esteem. This is not safe, people. It just isn't. We need to be looking somewhere else for our acceptance; and it isn't to any humans on this earth no matter how good, smart, or talented they are.
Just a few days ago, I was ready to hang up my writerly towel (though I wouldn't really have done it, but I am here being honest with you, readers, because there's no point in acting as though any journey is perfect and all sunshine and lollipops... we all go through things, that's how we learn). My last post was all about subjectiveness and the fact that everyone is going to have an opinion and many times those opinions are going to differ. Ultimately, I am happy about this. I can't imagine a world where we all smile and nod our heads like drones and follow each others' opinions without ever forming any of our own.
The reason I brought this up is today I was going through my posts earlier, and I found one I did just a few weeks ago but forgot to post. And you can see my heart, you can see my joy and how appreciative I was (still am--I want to make sure there's no question about how appreciative I still am). When we go through hard times or start to think we're horrible at what we love to do or that joy is just gone, suddenly, it's a good idea to go back and look at things like this. To remind ourselves of how far we've come. To get our eyes on our current situation and remember how many steps it took to actually get where we are now. This was my reminder. It came at just the perfect time.
A post a wrote few weeks ago and forgot to post:
I've found this entire writerly process to be amazing. And hard. And time consuming. And wonderful. And painful. And heartfelt. And something I never could have gone through by myself.
With that said, there are a few different things that keep authors (writers--poets--don't care what you call yourself, if you're a curator of words, then you count) afloat. I'm feeling rather blessed this week, as the Lord has obviously opened a few doors with a single bit of effort on my part, and the result of this lovely experience is me feeling that I should explain how my "career" has survived.
First group: Though many of you probably have not learned about my writing until recently, this October will mark me writing for five years. (It will also mark me turning thirty-five. But uh, back to writing.) Five. Years. To me, that's a long time. Many other writers say this, and yep--I'm going to say it, too. What do you do for five years? Well, you write. (I feel like Dori from Finding Nemo. "Just keep swimming... just keep swimming... What do we do? We swim!" only insert the word write where the word swimming is, of course.) You put every single thought on the page and you work those thoughts and ideas and storylines and tweak them and send them out into the world and they come back sometimes worse off than before and you get lots of rejections and sometimes the opposite and and... yeah. But here's the important part: you keep going. That's what's important to remember. Because at the end of a few years, you'd be amazed at a) your growth, b) the amount of words you've actually tallied and c) I'm going to say it again--your growth.
I'd also like to point out something out on a personal level. Until everything that went on with Lovemuffin and his sickness and subsequent healing and all a couple years ago, time--writerly wise--went a whole lot slower. (I know, I know, some of you are probably not wanting to read this now, but I need to say it: When you allow Him to be your everything, and when you know He always wants the best for you, always--it's true--things change for the better.)
For me, when I stopped worrying about everything and told Him what I wanted and left it in His hands, my writing came easier. Time flew by; stress disappeared. Instead of making those wheels turn over and over in the sand, I began to lean on Him for everything; let Him be the one to make things work in my favor. I began to expect His blessings to come my way, and as I did that, everything that went with the chaos of being a writer and doing all the stuff you're expected to do (by someone's rules... not quite sure whose, yet so many of us embrace them all the same) evaporated. I cannot tell you how many times He has made things work out in ways I never ever could have imagined, OR made happen on my own. There is no question in my mind Who is in control.
Second point: If you spend enough time with this writerly community, it'll actually blow your mind. There are so many people out there (mainly on the internet) who are in the same boat (though technically in different stages of the journey), that you can either a) turn into a competitive crazy, or b) embrace the fact that others are going through the same things. The second one obviously is a better choice, and beneficial to both parties. You get to celebrate each others' good news, and lift each other up when needed, too. I will continue to point out that the camaraderie in this community cannot be properly explained, only felt. That's how strongly I feel about my fellow writers. :)
Being able to be in not one, but two groups of talented people who can 1) vent to me and let me vent to them and 2) we can all share in celebrations of other writers and other books and words in general is a tremendous blessing. If you are a writer and haven't found a group yet, I suggest looking around. (I say this goes for anyone with anything they love--find more people who love the same things as you!)
Third point: The reading community is pretty awesome, too. It takes a wee bit longer to get to this part, as you have to have enough writing done to actually be read, obviously, but let me tell you, they are awesome. To be willing to read and review your work is such a wonderful thing. Reading takes time, as does reviewing, or even simply giving opinions. All are appreciated by us writers (authors... however you want to say it) and without you we'd have a whole lot less exposure.
One other thing: I love the reading community not just in the aspect of reading *our* writing for reviewing purposes, but also for reading in general. I have met some great people online for the sole reason that we absolutely love certain books. To squee about them and get all excited and fan-crazy is such a wonderful and fun experience!
And those are a few ways in which I've made it the past (almost) five years. I appreciate every single person I've crossed paths with along the way--positive or negatively--because they have helped shape me into who I am. And not only that, but because (as I say all the time), camaraderie is a huge factor in making this journey an enjoyable one. So thank you to anyone and everyone who has ever read anything of mine, or shared a tweet, or responded to one, or added me somewhere, or emailed me back, or given me the opportunity to be on your blog, or just generally shared in my love of reading and writing. You all mean more to me than you'll ever know.
Subjectivity in the workplace
Recently, I had yet another self-doubt experience. (For another recent post on this issue, check out Amy Trueblood's post over at Operation Awesome, here.)
Things were going pretty well. I was in contact with PIAO's audiobook narrator and knew it was close to completion; and I had just contacted an editor (yay) about a project I've been working on for quite a while. This editor contact thing is actually a big deal to me, because up to this point, the cost of actually getting to *have* an editor was not an option. So here I was, excited about taking the next step to get what needed to be done, when something came along and knocked me back down into the self-doubt hole.
We writers, well... sometimes it doesn't take much, does it? One comment, correction, finger point, bit of unsolicited opinion or advice (or even solicited, sometimes), and if it comes at just the wrong time (of day or week or month or MS edit or whatever), it can feel like a swift kick to the gut. I've found the times I'm most affected are when I'm doing great, and then something I didn't expect arrives.
But isn't it always unexpected? Right. Okay, moving on.
So here's the deal. I'm going to be blunt about it. I've said it before and I will say it again (and I think it all the time): the entire point of art and writing and books and music and movies and TV shows, even, is subjectivity. No one will EVER like all of the same things and there are a whole heck of a lot of us in this world which means there are a whole heck of a lot more opinions, too.
See, it's easy to allow those thoughts to poke fun at you and make you think you're a failure. Or, tell you you should just quit already. That's what happened to me.
Morning? Me: Up at the top.
Noon? Me: Up at the top.
Eight that evening? Me: Beneath the doormat of the most busy building in the world.
And the whole "put on yer big girl panties" or "just get over it" stuff doesn't make me feel any better, therefore I never use them. It's not about being tough all the time (to those who think so, sorry, but no). It's not about ignoring them, either (impossible, ask anyone). It's not about not caring, though you do kind of have to get to that point somewhat (a very hard thing). But it's mostly about remembering that every single person's opinion is subjective.
Case in point: there are soooooo many situations where people rant and rave about a book and I just cannot understand what the big deal is. I'm like, WHAT AM I MISSING? I can't be the only one, here. I know this happens to other readers AND writers alike. People are gushing about something and I won't get why they like the character, or the writing, or how they can talk badly about such and such author's writing/world/whatever and then like this person's so much when the former is obviously so much worse than the latter. I will never understand why some books are liked (or hated), and that's okay. Which should make it easier to flip everything around and see it that way from the author's point of view but sadly, a lot of times, that's not what happens. But the truth is, not everyone is going to like everything, including me. Do you know what I was hearing that day? When this thing came at me and I went from being at the top to feeling like dirt?
"People are just nice to you because you're nice. They don't like your writing. They feel sorry for you. They're nice because there's nothing else they can do because they hate your writing. You suck and this whole thing is a joke and you might as well stop wasting your time."
Yep. That's what I started to hear. And I'm not naive -- this very well could be true and some people may totally feel that way about me in real life. But it doesn't matter because, ready (flip from the reader to the author again)? Everything is subjective.
sub·jec·tive
[suhb-jek-tiv] Show IPA
adjective
1.
2.
pertaining to or characteristic of an individual; personal;individual: a subjective evaluation.
3.
placing excessive emphasis on one's own moods, attitudes,opinions, etc.; unduly egocentric.
4.
Philosophy . relating to or of the nature of an object as it isknown in the mind as distinct from a thing in itself.
5.
relating to properties or specific conditions of the mind asdistinguished from general or universal experience.
Everything in those definitions points to individual experiences, thoughts, responses, moods, and so on.
Potato potah-to. Tomato tomah-to. Half empty, half full.
The self-doubt is going to rear its ugly head here and there simply because it can. The question is, will we wallow in it and allow it to take away everything we've loved and worked for, or will we point it to the door and tell it to get the heck out?
Bloglovin
I've been using Bloglovin for a while now, but just finally figured out how to connect my blog to it! Here it is: Follow my blog with Bloglovin
(So far I've still had no problems with Blogger though.)
(So far I've still had no problems with Blogger though.)
The truth comes when you're really not thinking about it
“In quickness is truth. The more swiftly you write, the more honest you are. In hesitation is thought. In delay comes the effort for a style, instead of leaping upon truth which is the only style worth deadfalling or tiger-trapping.” ― Ray Bradbury
I came across this today, and it's so true. Sure, as you edit later on, you can go back and change things, but the real core of feelings and thoughts and whatnot comes best when you let go and write with all of your heart. That was definitely true for PIAO; during the times my heart was heavy, I could write for Jonas without even thinking, almost. The less I thought, the more the words came, and the faster I typed.
Just thought I'd share, because us writers get all brain-y about things sometimes, and it totally takes away from the process.
Have a blessed weekend you guys! :)
Writerly news
In case you missed it, I've had quite the exciting couple of weeks. First, the local newspaper contacted me and interviewed me about Pity Isn't An Option and it came out last Wednesday (I kinda squee-d about this all over Twitter & the interwebs, not because of the interview, but because beneath the article there was a selection of other dystopian books & mini reviews about them and I thought that was *so* awesome), and on Monday Operation Awesome made kind of a big announcement (to me, anyway)!
Honestly, the latter piece of good news has been hoped for by me for some time. (I'm talking years.) After everything that went on with Lovemuffin, I decided to just concentrate on the writing for a while. Then, I was invited to join Afterglow Book Reviews. And I published Pity Isn't An Option. And the lovely Nazarea Andrews put together a group for us independent authors called Indie Ignites, and I was honored to get to be a part of it. Now, the newspaper. And Operation Awesome. (Did I mention their--I mean our--mascot is an owl? I mean, how great is that?) It's amazing how the Lord takes care of things when you sit back and rest and let Him do everything. Every single one of those opportunities arose, became available. I did not hunt them down.
Now, I want to make it very clear that I am not bragging about this. What I'm trying to show is that if you stay in the writerly community long enough and get to know people for who they are and cheer them on and do what you've been made to do (uh, WRITE), things DO fall into place. I have a post coming up on the Operation Awesome site soon about stressing yourself out because you're so scared you're going to miss something or get left behind that you run yourself ragged.
It's not worth it, guys.
So many authors say this, and I have to agree with them: Take time to enjoy the process.
It's worth it in the end, I promise! :)
Have a blessed weekend!
Imagery in your writing
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
I just finished reading The House of The Scorpion and man do I love Nancy's writing. (Recently, I received a coupon from Barnes and Noble in the mail... guess what I'm buying with it? The sequel.) This is one of my favorite descriptions in the book (there were more, but the further I got into it, the faster I read, so I'm going to have to go back and reread it to find the parts I liked). Just had to share, as sentences like these are what pull you into the story and help you see exactly what Ms. Farmer wants to you see. (And is that what all of us writers aspire to do?)
Ambrosia -- in writing and of the food variety
Some of the best memories come from unplanned situations. I think the same could be said for books: some of the best reads come from unexpected stories.
The night we arrived in Long Beach for our vacation two weeks ago, it was late and we were tired and hungry. When Lovemuffin busted out with the cell phone to look up eateries near our location, the usual options (like pizza and Mexican food) popped up. Then, Greek food. Let's repeat that last one together, shall we? *ahem* GREEK. FOOD.
After saying that, I'm sure you guessed where we went. Greek food is amazing, and this place, Ambrosia Cafe, had... heavenly food.
It was after nine. The main part of the restaurant was a covered patio with lots of greenery and a few of those beautiful heat pit things (the newer ones--with gorgeous pieces of glass) and lights strung around and whatnot. Being the major tabouleh and hummus fan that I am (I could eat tabouleh salad for DAYS), I chose to order that as my appetizer (while Lovemuffin and my youngest ordered poor little squiddies--they were still the same shape as you'd see them swimming in the ocean *tear*, but with bread crumbs on them! *shivers*). Obviously I made an amazing decision, because all five of us attacked my food and the warm, fresh pita bread with vigor, and were left wanting more when it was all gone.
It made me laugh, as I thought about it later, that the place was called Ambrosia. Not only because the food really WAS so delectable (plus the owner of the restaurant was crazy-generous and sent plate after plate of dessert out to us even though we could barely breathe we were so full already), but because I ended up comparing it to my Flora series (yes, yes--the same one I've been working on for years).
And... here comes my fun, writerly part of the post. Ya ready? There's a place called Ambrosia in that series.
Quick side note: You'll find that us writers tie anything and everything to our writing experience. For instance, when I found out the girl I'd imagined to be my Hattie in Pity Isn't An Option was playing Teresa in The Maze Runner movie, I squee-d for like ten minutes. I won't go there about finding streets with tree names--trees have a lot to do with the Flora series, too--because I care about your sanity. But I had to make a point. Point... what was my point again? Oh yeah. My point is, of course I felt many a tie to the restaurant and its food, suddenly. Of course I had to compare my love of hummus to my love of writing. Here's the thing:
I want my writing to be like the fresh hummus, the tabouleh, the warm pita bread--to bring the feelings and warmth and whatever else makes the perfect recipe that causes a reader to be pulled in and left wanting more. To where they're done, but don't want to be, because they've fallen as in love with my characters and their situations as I have.
And of course I want to write books where the reader just *has* to come back for seconds, and gush about the "food" (word food?) to their friends. I want them to feel what I felt and taste what I tasted and long for that feeling of satisfaction after reading the last page. Just like us, at Ambrosia Cafe. We ordered more to take home with us, because we couldn't leave empty-handed.
And wanting all of that, my readers, is a very good thing. Know why? Because it means that after almost five years of writing, the true, genuine point of it all is still in my heart--and that makes my heart happy.
Here's to having at least one ambrosia moment of your own this week. Be blessed, my friends!
The night we arrived in Long Beach for our vacation two weeks ago, it was late and we were tired and hungry. When Lovemuffin busted out with the cell phone to look up eateries near our location, the usual options (like pizza and Mexican food) popped up. Then, Greek food. Let's repeat that last one together, shall we? *ahem* GREEK. FOOD.
 |
| art in parking lot |
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| hummus, tabouleh & pita bread |
It was after nine. The main part of the restaurant was a covered patio with lots of greenery and a few of those beautiful heat pit things (the newer ones--with gorgeous pieces of glass) and lights strung around and whatnot. Being the major tabouleh and hummus fan that I am (I could eat tabouleh salad for DAYS), I chose to order that as my appetizer (while Lovemuffin and my youngest ordered poor little squiddies--they were still the same shape as you'd see them swimming in the ocean *tear*, but with bread crumbs on them! *shivers*). Obviously I made an amazing decision, because all five of us attacked my food and the warm, fresh pita bread with vigor, and were left wanting more when it was all gone.
 |
| one of the desserts: fried banana |
And... here comes my fun, writerly part of the post. Ya ready? There's a place called Ambrosia in that series.
Quick side note: You'll find that us writers tie anything and everything to our writing experience. For instance, when I found out the girl I'd imagined to be my Hattie in Pity Isn't An Option was playing Teresa in The Maze Runner movie, I squee-d for like ten minutes. I won't go there about finding streets with tree names--trees have a lot to do with the Flora series, too--because I care about your sanity. But I had to make a point. Point... what was my point again? Oh yeah. My point is, of course I felt many a tie to the restaurant and its food, suddenly. Of course I had to compare my love of hummus to my love of writing. Here's the thing:
I want my writing to be like the fresh hummus, the tabouleh, the warm pita bread--to bring the feelings and warmth and whatever else makes the perfect recipe that causes a reader to be pulled in and left wanting more. To where they're done, but don't want to be, because they've fallen as in love with my characters and their situations as I have.
And of course I want to write books where the reader just *has* to come back for seconds, and gush about the "food" (word food?) to their friends. I want them to feel what I felt and taste what I tasted and long for that feeling of satisfaction after reading the last page. Just like us, at Ambrosia Cafe. We ordered more to take home with us, because we couldn't leave empty-handed.
And wanting all of that, my readers, is a very good thing. Know why? Because it means that after almost five years of writing, the true, genuine point of it all is still in my heart--and that makes my heart happy.
Here's to having at least one ambrosia moment of your own this week. Be blessed, my friends!
Upcoming Young Adult Book-to-Movie Adaptations I'm Looking Forward To
At the risk of being redundant (as this topic is posted about *quite* often on the interwebs, and understandably so), I decided after a recent #k8chat twitter discussion (hosted by Kate Tilton @K8Tilton and Dana @danasquare), that it would be fun to share the YA (young adult) book-to-movie adaptions I'm looking forward to watching that are coming up. Hopefully a few more people will find out about movies coming up in time to read the books first (because yes--that is important)! So here goes, in order of theatrical release:
author: Marcus Zusak
The Book Thief is a great, though harder, more mature read (not more mature as in appropriateness, necessarily, just the writing style may not hold interest for younger readers) and I am already planning on taking tissues to the theater. I am very, very curious as to how this is going to be played out in a movie, considering who the narrator is. Can't. Wait.
Blurb:
A New York Times bestseller for seven years running that's coming to movie theaters on November 15, 2013, this Printz Honor book by the author of I Am the Messenger is an unforgettable tale about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.
Movie info:
* The Book Thief movie on IMDb (link)
2. Catching Fire
author: Suzanne Collins
theatrical release: November 22, 2013
This is the second installment of The Hunger Games series. I know a lot of you adults out there (not usual YA readers) have no idea what happens, and from what I've been able to tell, the trailers don't say either, so I don't want to give anything away. Let's just say that President Snow isn't happy with Katniss and Peeta, and a big something happens because of that. (Vague enough?) For those of you still living under a rock (*she says, jokingly*), here's a link to the first installment.
Blurb:
Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
Movie info:
* Catching Fire facebook page (link)
* Catching Fire movie on IMDb (Iink)
* Catching Fire movie on twitter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
3. The Maze Runner
author: James Dashner
theatrical release: February 14, 2014
I just finished this about a week ago, and being as it's *so* dystopian, I am very interested to see this on the big screen. I had a lot of questions I felt weren't answered (plop me into a story and I want to know all the whys), and am hoping the second book in the series, The Scorch Trials, will help with that a little. Still, as there is so much in the storyline, it will be a good experience, I think, to have a visual of everything. I'm also excited about some of the actors. :)
Blurb:
The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Movie info:
* The Maze Runner on IMDb (link)
* Informative article on CinemaBlend.com (link)
* The Maze Runner movie on facebook (link)
* The Maze Runner movie on twitter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
4. If I Stay
author: Gayle Forman
theatrical release date: TBD
Blurb:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.
Movie info:
* If I Stay movie info on IMDb (link)
* Recent article on If I Stay movie news from Variety (link)
5. Unwind (yayyyyyyyyyy)
author: Neal Shusterman
theatrical release date: TBD (2015?)
This is the book-to-movie adaptation I am *most* excited about. YAY! It's still in the beginning stages, but it's happening, and that's all that matters. :D
Blurb:
Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
Movie info:
* Unwind movie website (link)
* Unwind movie on twitter (link)
* Article from The Hollywood Reporter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
6. Chaos Walking Series
author: Patrick Ness
theatrical movie release: TBD
This is the second most exciting up-and-a-long-time-away-but-still-YAY adaptation for me. I mean.. YAYYYYYY. After trial and error (of recommending these books and loaning them out), I've found that there isn't much in-between: either readers like the Chaos Walking series, or they don't. I did--because it was different. And if you decide to read this series (you must), you better make sure you have the second book in the series, The Ask and The Answer, handy, or you will go absolutely bonkers.
Blurb:
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.
But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?
Movie info:
* Informative article on Deadline.com regarding Lionsgate (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
So, what do ya think? Are you excited about any of these (or different upcoming adaptations)? Did this list spark interest in a book you hadn't been interested in reading before?
1. The Book Thief
author: Marcus Zusak
theatrical release: November 15, 2013
The Book Thief is a great, though harder, more mature read (not more mature as in appropriateness, necessarily, just the writing style may not hold interest for younger readers) and I am already planning on taking tissues to the theater. I am very, very curious as to how this is going to be played out in a movie, considering who the narrator is. Can't. Wait.
Blurb:
A New York Times bestseller for seven years running that's coming to movie theaters on November 15, 2013, this Printz Honor book by the author of I Am the Messenger is an unforgettable tale about the ability of books to feed the soul.
Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.
The country is holding its breath. Death has never been busier, and will become busier still.
Movie info:
* The Book Thief movie on IMDb (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
2. Catching Fire
author: Suzanne Collins
theatrical release: November 22, 2013
This is the second installment of The Hunger Games series. I know a lot of you adults out there (not usual YA readers) have no idea what happens, and from what I've been able to tell, the trailers don't say either, so I don't want to give anything away. Let's just say that President Snow isn't happy with Katniss and Peeta, and a big something happens because of that. (Vague enough?) For those of you still living under a rock (*she says, jokingly*), here's a link to the first installment.
Blurb:
Sparks are igniting.
Flames are spreading.
And the Capitol wants revenge.
Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and her longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.
Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.
In Catching Fire, the second novel in the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
Movie info:
* Catching Fire facebook page (link)
* Catching Fire movie on IMDb (Iink)
* Catching Fire movie on twitter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
3. The Maze Runner
author: James Dashner
theatrical release: February 14, 2014
I just finished this about a week ago, and being as it's *so* dystopian, I am very interested to see this on the big screen. I had a lot of questions I felt weren't answered (plop me into a story and I want to know all the whys), and am hoping the second book in the series, The Scorch Trials, will help with that a little. Still, as there is so much in the storyline, it will be a good experience, I think, to have a visual of everything. I'm also excited about some of the actors. :)
Blurb:
The first book in the New York Times bestselling Maze Runner series—The Maze Runner is a modern classic, perfect for fans of The Hunger Games and Divergent.
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Movie info:
* The Maze Runner on IMDb (link)
* Informative article on CinemaBlend.com (link)
* The Maze Runner movie on facebook (link)
* The Maze Runner movie on twitter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
4. If I Stay
author: Gayle Forman
theatrical release date: TBD
Blurb:
In a single moment, everything changes. Seventeen-year-old Mia has no memory of the accident; she can only recall riding along the snow-wet Oregon road with her family. Then, in a blink, she finds herself watching as her own damaged body is taken from the wreck...
A sophisticated, layered, and heart-achingly beautiful story about the power of family and friends, the choices we all make, and the ultimate choice Mia commands.
Movie info:
* If I Stay movie info on IMDb (link)
* Recent article on If I Stay movie news from Variety (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
author: Neal Shusterman
theatrical release date: TBD (2015?)
This is the book-to-movie adaptation I am *most* excited about. YAY! It's still in the beginning stages, but it's happening, and that's all that matters. :D
Blurb:
Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.
The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.
Movie info:
* Unwind movie website (link)
* Unwind movie on twitter (link)
* Article from The Hollywood Reporter (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
6. Chaos Walking Series
author: Patrick Ness
theatrical movie release: TBD
This is the second most exciting up-and-a-long-time-away-but-still-YAY adaptation for me. I mean.. YAYYYYYY. After trial and error (of recommending these books and loaning them out), I've found that there isn't much in-between: either readers like the Chaos Walking series, or they don't. I did--because it was different. And if you decide to read this series (you must), you better make sure you have the second book in the series, The Ask and The Answer, handy, or you will go absolutely bonkers.
Blurb:
Prentisstown isn't like other towns. Everyone can hear everyone else's thoughts in an overwhelming, never-ending stream of Noise. Just a month away from the birthday that will make him a man, Todd and his dog, Manchee -- whose thoughts Todd can hear too, whether he wants to or not -- stumble upon an area of complete silence. They find that in a town where privacy is impossible, something terrible has been hidden -- a secret so awful that Todd and Manchee must run for their lives.
But how do you escape when your pursuers can hear your every thought?
Movie info:
* Informative article on Deadline.com regarding Lionsgate (link)
Book info:
Amazon (link)
Goodreads (link)
So, what do ya think? Are you excited about any of these (or different upcoming adaptations)? Did this list spark interest in a book you hadn't been interested in reading before?
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