tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52308125763445183822024-03-13T10:01:46.373-05:00Wait....What?I tend to ramble when I talk. When I write, the same rules (or lack thereof) apply.Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-21434647398480788162013-02-10T17:06:00.001-06:002013-02-10T17:06:44.288-06:00If I could walk 100,000 miles<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />February 1, 2013, I crossed over 100,000 miles on my car. Some may think this is a tedious thing to track, but not me. See, those miles are all mine. Damn near every single one of them.<br /> <br /><div>
When I drove my little Toyota Matrix off the lot, she had six miles reading on the odometer. That was AFTER my test drive. Pre test drive, I think there may have been two miles, if that. When I test drove my baby, the Toyota folks had to take plastic off the seats and that protective paper stuff off the hood and such. It was THAT new. </div>
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I’ve had new cars before, but not for this long. One even met with an untimely demise after a confrontation with an ’82 New Yorker that ran a stop sign. This is the first time in my life I’ve crossed the 100,000 mile milestone and it all -- be -- mine. </div>
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It got me thinking. On my way home that centennial night, I thought about the things that have happened in my life during those 100,000 miles. There have been huge highs and huge lows. </div>
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Some of the highlights of those 100,000 miles... </div>
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I reconnected with my father, whom I never had a great relationship with. I said goodbye to my Granny. I got married. I said goodbye to my TazzTazz (the most obnoxiously wonderful cat ever). I drove cross-country with my Lab-mutt, Arwen, who was ever patient with the week long adventure. I moved to Tennessee without a job and one friend (besides my hubs). I became a home owner. I worked for the worst company ever in existence (ever) for six months. I landed a job at a great biofuels company (and still work there). I befriended some of the most amazing people ever; I’m looking at you Rachel, Cara, Dana, and Amber! I said goodbye to my G-ma. I said goodbye to Grandpa Wilgus (in-law) who was quite possibly the most big-hearted man I’d ever come to know. I brought home my baby boy after 36 hours of labor. I found my inner writer. I wrote a book. I flew to New York City (had never been there before, by the way) by myself to attend an SCBWI conference where I knew not a soul. I met my first critique partner/writer-friend, Carli (HUGS). I met another awesomesauce critique partner/writer-friend, Alisha. I wrote several short stories and one resulted in an honorable mention in Writers Digest. I learned that my mother has drug and alcohol addictions and almost died of an overdose. I learned that sometimes you cannot depend on the one’s you need to depend on most. I also learned that the one’s you thought you could never depend on were the most dependable. I started two more books and know I will one day be published. I said goodbye to my sweet Arwen after a short, but horrible, fight with Cushing's Syndrome. I invested in my dream computer (hello Macbook Pro). I learned that the infallible love of a child is the most precious gift in this world. </div>
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I also, after these 100,000 miles, have learned that my journey as a writer is just beginning. She may have always been there lurking under the surface waiting for her chance to be born, but she’s still new to me. My journey as a writer will undoubtedly be as treacherous, ugly, rewarding, exciting, crushing, and as anxiety filled as the last 100,000 miles in my car, but that is the beauty of life. Life is a journey. Writing is a journey. And both will leave tread marks on your soul. </div>
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-12690120184738679502013-01-19T14:59:00.000-06:002013-01-19T14:59:11.346-06:0022 Things You Needed To Know About MeIf you don't follow the wonderful <a href="http://frankiediane.blogspot.com/2013/01/22-things-you-needed-to-know-about-me.html" target="_blank">Frankie Diane Mallis</a>, you need to. She is laugh-out-loud funny and cute as can be. I want her to be my friend. Anyway, she was donned the Liebster Award and instead of officially tagging folks in award-forwarding, Miss Frankie tagged anyone who read the blog post. And I read her blog post.<br />
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So as to not disappoint, I will now participate. Besides, the rules of 'eleven' appeals to me for reasons I state below. Without further ado, the rules:<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #741b47;">1. 11 random facts about me.</span></b><br />
I can totally do random. It's like my specialty.<div>
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Okay, questions are good. Improv is not my strongest asset.</div>
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<br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #741b47;">3. I nominate 11 picks for the award, and make up another 11 questions for them to answer.</span></b><br />
Frankie cheated, so I'm following her bad example. :) If you're reading this, wa-bam! Consider yourself tagged.</div>
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<br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #741b47;">4. Nominated peoples will be listed below with their 11 questions of DOOM.</span></b><br />
Heh. Again, not good at improv so, my lovely taggees, feel free to answer the awesome questions below.</div>
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<br /><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #741b47;">5. Nominated people do the same; paste the award badge to your blog, give us 11 random facts about yourself, answer my 11 questions, and choose your nominees…but you cannot nominate the blog who nominated you.</span></b><br />
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<i><b><span style="color: #741b47;">11 completely random facts you may or may not have ever wanted to know:</span></b></i></div>
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1. My birthday is on 11/11 so I totally geek out over 11s. It's my fave number. Once doubled my money betting on 11 playing Roulette.</div>
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2. As a kid, I didn't like reading because we had to for school. I think I associate reading with oral book reports, which were like kryptonite for shy gals like me. I didn't get bitten by the reading bug until my early 20s.</div>
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3. Classic introvert. Many people have thought I was a total beotch when first meeting me because I don't talk much. I'm totally not a beotch, and these people usually ended up being my closest friends. </div>
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4. I'm artistic, but not crafty. There's a BIG difference. I can sketch and stuff, but I can't walk into a Hobby Lobby and come out with a project. I actually envy those people.</div>
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5. I didn't go to traditional college. I'm an online graduate.</div>
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6. Besides my initial introversion, I'm a complete and utter goofball. I'm waiting for the day my son begins to roll his eyes at me rather than laugh along with me. It will come, I know it.</div>
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7. The color pink and I have a hate/hate relationship. I don't like it and it looks horrible on me. Earth tones are more my gig.</div>
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8. I prefer 'boy toys' to 'girl toys' and always have. Boy toys are so much cooler. </div>
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9. Kind of a Tom Boy. I own one dress and I got married in it. I own one pair of heels (that are more than an inch high) and I have yet to wear them outside my closet. </div>
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10. I have a nervous tick of biting my lip, or picking at my fingers (I blame my father, he does the same thing) and I'm that person who makes a sarcastic comment when tensions are too high. In other words, not great at handling awkward situations.</div>
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11. I can do an uncanny impression of the Sand People from Star Wars. My hubs hates it when I do it. I think I embarrass him. </div>
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That wasn't so bad, now was it? *snortle* And now for the <i><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>11 random questions to answer</b>:</span></i></div>
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<i>1. <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">W</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">hat do you LOVE? (Not a person, but a thing)</span></i></div>
Holy mother of all things addictive! Reese's Peanut Butter cups! I would eat them on a boat. I could eat them with a goat. I would eat them on a train. I could eat them in the rain...<div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">2. </span></i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">What do you HATE? (again, not a person--this could be a pet peeve of grammar or glitter or whatever).</i></div>
Holy mother of all illiteracy! People who say 'supposebly' instead of supposedly. For the love all things that are green, there's NO 'B' IN SUPPOSEDLY! Okay, whew. I feel better. OH! And people who don't know how to merge into traffic.<div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">3. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Favorite Author?</i></div>
Oy vey. I seriously don't have a favorite. Some of the authors who I totally fangirl are Myra McEntire, Cassandra Clare, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Jeri Smith-Ready.<div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">4. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Favorite period in history? why?</i></div>
It's a toss up between Victorian London and the 1920s. They are both very romantic times to me. The industrial revolution with proper etiquette in one and mobsters, bootlegging and speakeasies in the other. To be honest, the only time I ever paid attention during History class was during the 1920s studies.<div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">5. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">What's your favorite Myth (or fairy tale)? why?</i></div>
Oh my... Faeries, will-o-the-wisps... On a completely different path, the Native Skinwalkers have always fascinated me too.<div>
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Demeter. :) Long story there...<div>
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I'm not gonna lie. Kennon. He's my fave and I LOVE writing him.<div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">8. </i><i style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For Friendship or Romance? Why?</i></div>
Um, duh. Romance! I feel like such a cougar. Well, technically he's a lot older than he looks so that would be okay then... I need to stop thinking about it.<div>
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I think it's because I just read DEFIANCE, but I would love to have Logan McEntire show up. Grrrrrr...<div>
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Definitely romance. And totally a cougar on this one. Rawr.<div>
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I haven't re-read it...yet, but Clockwork Prince from Cassandra Clare. The pain she inflicts on her characters... I bow to her. After finishing, I was so twisted up with emotions I couldn't speak for like an hour.<br /><br /><br />So there you go! This was actually kind of fun. And as Frankie did, I pass the torch to anyone who decides to participate in this. Share a bit of yourself, or you can comment on the questions below. It's all about sharing, right?<br /><br /></div>
Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-26507487509255116852013-01-15T18:57:00.002-06:002013-01-15T18:57:59.577-06:00Trailer Park Tuesday (12): FALLING KINGDOMS<br />
<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world.<br />
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Okay. I've heard/seen a little bit of buzz about FALLING KINGDOMS by Morgan Rhodes, but not much. This book sounds so amazing I can't wait to read it! It taunts me from my stack-o-books. My reading roots are in high fantasy so I literally squeed when I saw this trailer. Awesome. Awesome. Awesome. And the cover!!!! How sweet is that cover?<br />
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Have you read FALLING KINGDOMS? Please share your thoughts. All I know is this is a must read for me.<br />
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Author: Morgan Rhodes</div>
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Publication Date: 12/11/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12954620-falling-kingdoms" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;">The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?</span></span></i></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span>Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-71355162065511108982013-01-05T16:14:00.000-06:002013-01-05T17:25:52.437-06:00My Thoughts: Defiance by C.J. RedwineFirst let me just apologize for the uber generic background. Blogger is not my friend right now. Moving on.<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></i><br />
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Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her. <br /><br />At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared. <br /><br />As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.</span></i><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbZcdjWcgsg/UOike_J8kDI/AAAAAAAAARc/cXISGR6GxCw/s1600/Defiance_hc_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TbZcdjWcgsg/UOike_J8kDI/AAAAAAAAARc/cXISGR6GxCw/s1600/Defiance_hc_c.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
Have you ever read a book and, after closing the cover once you've read the last glorious word, you sit back as a writer and think..."I will <i>never</i> write like that!"<br />
<br />
Me too. After almost every awesome book I read.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Defiance-C-J-Redwine/dp/0062117181/ref=la_B007QVSOJK_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357423611&sr=1-1" target="_blank">DEFIANCE</a> was that kind of book. I finally sat down and read this ditty after picking it up at <a href="http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">C.J. Redwine's</a> book launch. Yeah, I know, I'm horrible. I am so very glad I did, though. There are so many things that I adored about this book that I'm having difficulty on where to start.<br />
<br />
Baalboden is one of several city states in a sort of post-apocolyptic world. The walls are thick, the borders secured by lethal guardsmen, the people are oppressed, women are meek and mild, men are Protectors and worthy of anything more than a tea set, and the whole place is run by Commander Jason Chase; a man who makes Hitler seem warm and fuzzy. Loyalty and fidelity to the Commander are the only things that will keep you alive and all citizens are 'tagged' like sheep in a flock. <br />
<br />
I was totally blown away by C.J.'s world building. Details were laid out perfectly as to not overwhelm but provide the reader with a vivid vision of what Baalboden was. The politics of Baalboden were well thought out and positively ruthless. And before you start thinking, "This sounds like Hunger Games" let me just say, there is a super cool fantasy element to DEFIANCE that I didn't expect.<br />
<br />
Rachel and Logan... LOVE these characters. Rachel is impulsive, fiery, fierce, determined, and loves her family to the depths of her soul. Logan is logical, intelligent, methodical, unpredictable, lethal, and will do anything to keep those in his life he cares about safe. He's your creeper character, and I don't mean that in a bad way. Where Rachel is very take-her-at-face-value, Logan reveals himself to us slowly, and I sort of love him for that. Don't get me wrong, there are many layers to Rachel-Girl, but like her blunt personality, she doesn't hold punches.<br />
<br />
Another thing I admired about DEFIANCE is the slow-to-build love. I think, at its core, DEFIANCE is less a romance than an adventure type of book. It's riddled with conflict that left me in awe. Many writing panels and advice sources say to "punish your characters" and good LORD did C.J. take them seriously. She drags us (willingly) on this horrible journey with Rachel and Logan. Once that we simply cannot see as going well, and then sucker-punches us in the gut every time you think that things will start to work out. And in the middle of all of this, Rachel and Logan find this slow-to-burn type of love that is unwavering. And I have to admit, Logan's initial incompetence in this area is beyond hysterical. Seriously. Well done.<br />
<br />
If you haven't picked up Defiance, you seriously need to. C.J. is a wonderful storyteller and she sucked me in with the uniquely independent voices of Rachel and Logan, as well as this tale of heroism and suffering. I have this habit of dog-earing pages that I find epic in their voice, their writing, their descriptions; anything that really blows me away. This is sacrilege to many of you, I know. It's my tick. Let me just say, there are a LOT of dog-ears in my copy of DEFIANCE.<br />
<br />
Buy it. Read it. Love it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-4437909237880434302013-01-02T16:56:00.002-06:002013-01-02T16:56:40.372-06:00The 4th Annual No Kiss Blog Fest<div class="tr_bq">
It's a new year and a new round of No Kissing going down! Miss Frankie Diane Mallis hosts the No Kiss Blog Fest (<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23NoKissBlogFest&src=hash" target="_blank">#nokissblogfest</a> over the Twittersphere) and I was crazy enough to sign up. Actually, this should be fun. I do <i>l-o-v-e</i> me some kissy scenes, and the ALMOST kissy scenes....double swoon! Please stop by <a href="http://frankiediane.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Frankie's blog</a> to see all of the other attendees and hop around for the 4th Annual No Kiss Blog Fest!</div>
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Without further ado... *Disclaimer* This is a <i>rough</i> and <i>unedited</i> excerpt from one of my WIPs, Blood Shift.<br />
<blockquote>
<br />
<br />
<br />
My stomach flipped over when I saw Kennon. He leaned against the wall near the various pamphlets on vaccinations, flea treatments, and senior dog dental care. My boring Friday grew infinitely more interesting. “Hey!”<br />
<br />
“Bree?” Rebecca forced my attention to her. “You got the front? I need to run in the back for more printer paper.”<br />
<br />
I frowned in confusion at her. We didn’t keep printer paper in the back. It was all under the desk for easy access. She knew this.<br />
<br />
“I’ll be back in just a sec.” She glanced at Kennon and winked at me.<br />
<br />
It all sank in. Love that Rebecca.<br />
<br />
Still grinning at Rebecca’s departure, I walked up to the reception counter, fidgeting with my smock hem. “How’d you find me?”<br />
<br />
He stepped forward to stand on the other side of the counter, eyes mischievous and smirk rocking. “Cascade Locks is no metropolis. Did you know there’s only one vet office here?”<br />
<br />
“I did.” I fought the girl-giggle over the way his British accent curled around the word ‘metropolis.’ A flirty tone crept into my voice. “But that doesn’t answer my question.” I tapped my foot in mock impatience.<br />
<br />
“Does it not?”<br />
<br />
“So what’re you doing here?”<br />
<br />
“What? No ‘Hi, nice to see you?’”<br />
<br />
His sexy half smile made my toes want to curl. The late afternoon sun reflected light off the counter, making his green eyes shine. I raised an eyebrow at him, but couldn’t keep the goofy grin off my face.<br />
<br />
Kennon chuckled and pulled out a lens from his pant pocket. “In your haste to be rid of me Wednesday, you seemed to have lost this.” He gently placed it on the counter between us. It was the 35 mm I’d taken off my camera before the sunrise shots. “I found it in the floor board yesterday.”<br />
<br />
I leaned forward on the counter and idly fingered the lens. “Let me get this straight.” I looked up at him, still failing to keep a silly grin from sliding over my lips. “You drove all the way from Portland to return a camera lens?”<br />
<br />
“And why wouldn’t I? I thought you might need it.”<br />
<br />
“You could have just returned it in class tomorrow.”<br />
<br />
He leaned over the counter across from me. My breath caught. The camera lens was practically the only thing separating us. His arms crossed in front him and I’d swear his body heat radiated to mine. He leaned in so close his sigh stirred the loose curls that had escaped my sloppy knot. I swallowed hard. Kennon’s eyes searched mine, probing in a teasing way.<br />
<br />
“What if I said I found myself in the area and felt the need to return the lens as quickly as possible? You never know when you’ll find yourself in dire need of a mere 35 mm lens.”<br />
<br />
My heart sputtered around and my stomach tumbled to reside somewhere near my kneecaps. Kennon’s grin still dripped with mischief, matching the playful intensity of his deep mossy eyes.<br />
<br />
“I think you’re full of it.” I told him, meeting his gaze. For a brief microsecond, my brain screamed <i>shut up, you don’t know what you’re doing</i>, but I couldn’t stop if I wanted to.<br />
<br />
“Is that so?” A corner of his grin quirked higher.<br />
<br />
“I think you just couldn’t wait to see me again and had to drive forty-five miles out of your way to do so.”<br />
<br />
“Is that what you think?” His eyes blazed back at me, sucking me in.<br />
<br />
“Are you going to attempt to deny it?” Without permission, my gaze wandered to his mouth. The subtle pout of his bottom lip and perfect archers bow of an upper lip called to me. Teased. Begged.<br />
<br />
“I’m not denying anything at the moment,” he whispered.<br />
<br />
Raising my eyes to his, I think I stopped breathing. Kennon’s fiery green eyes were focused on my mouth. Slowly, his eyes raked over every inch of my face. I watched in fascination as his pupils dilated a hair as his gaze traveled over my lips again. The air around us sizzled with an electric charge. Chill-bumps washed over my skin, raising the fine hairs of my arms and the back of my neck. My legs had gone to Jell-O. The fact I leaned on the counter was the only reason I remained vertical. My heart thumped around. The tingle of anticipation swelled in my belly and spread down my thighs. My lips parted, pulling in a shaky breath. Kennon leaned in slightly. My eyes closed, every cell of my body hyper aware of how close his lips were. The feel of his lips consumed me. I wanted to taste them. Needed to.<br />
<br />
The vet clinic door chimed and I almost jumped out of my skin. Kennon shot backward, standing a couple feet from the counter. I glanced at him as an elderly gentleman brought a Chihuahua up to the counter. Kennon frowned slightly, but otherwise appeared perfectly composed. Suddenly sort of weak and drained, I turned my attention to the man.<br />
<br />
“Hi Mr. Kent.” I cleared my throat. The husky shakiness of my voice brought heat to my cheeks. “What’s going on with Harley?”<br />
<br />
“Bree darlin’, he’s got a tick on his backside that won’t budge and I was hoping you could help.”<br />
<br />
<i>Oh just fantastic!</i> I shot a look at Kennon. His lips twitched and he ran a hand over his chin, hiding a smile.<br />
<br />
“Okay. If you’ll please sign him in, we’ll get him fixed up.”<br />
<br />
“Thank you, dear.”<br />
<br />
While Mr. Kent filled out the paperwork, I glanced at Kennon. He’d slid over toward the exit door, making his great escape from my torment of humiliation.<br />
<br />
“I will see you tomorrow, Bryony.” He winked and walked out the door with the biggest shit-eating grin on his stupid perfect face.<br />
<br />
Please — Kill me — NOW.</blockquote>
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<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-50854881067787157672013-01-01T11:24:00.001-06:002013-01-01T11:24:09.443-06:00Adios 2012; 2013... Bring it!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here we are at the dawn of a new year. Since my son got me up at the ungodly hour of 5am (and then again at 7am), I've had some time to reflect on the last year. Sorry, but Johnny Test marathons can only hold my attention for so long. Heh</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The last 365 days have been such an enormous roller-coaster for me on a personal note, as well as a writerly note. I'm not going to focus on the family stuff in this here post, as that was filled with too many negative and conflicting emotions. If you really want to know, we shall share a bottle of wine and chat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Instead, I'm going to give my ode to the wonderful people I've met this year who have been so beyond pivotal in my growth as a writer, and a person... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">If you have not had the pleasure, I insist you track down the awesomely sparkly <a href="http://isabelbandeira.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">C. Issy</a>. We sort of Twitter-befriended and chatted lots before finally meeting face-to-face at SCBWI in NYC last January. We fangirled, we cried, and we shared mush-brains after an incredible virgin SCBWI conference. Since then, Carli has become an awesome friend and wonderful critique partner. Carli keeps my 'teen voice' in check and inspires me to write super swoony kissy scenes. You can't have her, she's mine. So there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITh_F81mi7o/UOMTv2s_oeI/AAAAAAAAAPE/kHgDScD63dU/s1600/IMG_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ITh_F81mi7o/UOMTv2s_oeI/AAAAAAAAAPE/kHgDScD63dU/s320/IMG_0019.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The fab Cassandra Clare talking love triangles</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHPAkYlBk8k/UOMUCHjDVEI/AAAAAAAAAPM/wbcVv4Qe9lM/s1600/IMG_0033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IHPAkYlBk8k/UOMUCHjDVEI/AAAAAAAAAPM/wbcVv4Qe9lM/s320/IMG_0033.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">TOTALLY geeked out when I passed S&S!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79wB4G6xmPc/UOMUam_CosI/AAAAAAAAAPU/QcVeSNWMKbY/s1600/IMG_0017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-79wB4G6xmPc/UOMUam_CosI/AAAAAAAAAPU/QcVeSNWMKbY/s320/IMG_0017.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Henry Winkler's speech was beyond inspirational to the budding writer.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After a fate-sealing CP request post on <a href="http://agentqueryconnect.com/" target="_blank">AgentQuery Connect</a>, I met the hysterical and insanely talented <a href="http://alishamarieklapheke.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Alisha Marie Klapheke</a>. As fate would have it, Ish lives literally like a half hour from me. Super weird, I know! It was awkward at first, but soon we realized we had so much in common we might have been sisters in another life. Kinda sappy? Yeah, but I heart my friends. Alisha loves a good edit and has taken the figurative red pen to my work more times than should be legal, but always has great advice and brainstorming. Passive voice be gone! And if you ever need a hot date for some tandoori chicken and naan bread, she's your gal!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhShTlmXCKk/UOMVWz7diiI/AAAAAAAAAPg/zasQIsf0CZo/s1600/sweetcece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lhShTlmXCKk/UOMVWz7diiI/AAAAAAAAAPg/zasQIsf0CZo/s320/sweetcece.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Alisha and I often meet here (YUM!) to talk books, fictional boys, and everything else.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Inkpop may no longer be a place for young writers to connect and share, but it's the reason <a href="http://wanderdusttrilogy.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Warren</a> is on my "awesome people of 2012" list. Michelle is a self-published author who I met through the HarperTeen sub-site. Her books, <a href="http://panicwritten.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-wanna-be-wanderer.html" target="_blank">Wander Dust</a> and <a href="http://panicwritten.blogspot.com/2012/10/my-thoughts-protecting-truth.html" target="_blank">Protecting Truth</a>, I reviewed right here on this blog!! We traded a few emails and soon Michelle not only became a fantastic friend, but also an incredible beta reader/critique partner/inspiration/cover artist/ and all around awesome person to have in your arsenal. Michelle pushes me to question everything in my writing (the good/probing kind of questioning) and pointed out my horrible 'was' affliction. Awful. Really.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last July, I met a budding YA/NA author at <a href="http://utopyacon.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">utopYA Con</a> right here in Nashville. <a href="http://www.mrpolishauthor.com/" target="_blank">M.R. Polish</a> came all the way from Nevada to take part in a fledgling Con for paranormal writers. We chatted, laughed, and absorbed all the amazeballs info at utopYA. Ms. Polish has recently debuted her novel <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16268911-wolf-spell?utm_medium=api&utm_source=author_widget" target="_blank">WOLF SPELL</a> and I had the pleasure of being a beta. It's a wonderfully magical story full of awesome visuals and imagination. M.R. has helped me as well. She has read for me and, like Ish, is a big fan of the figurative red pen. But her insight and questions, like Michelle, have pushed me to question things myself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLo2UOvEKcM/UOMXkwjMTRI/AAAAAAAAAP8/h6_aS7morpI/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yLo2UOvEKcM/UOMXkwjMTRI/AAAAAAAAAP8/h6_aS7morpI/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Abbi Glines, Tiffany King, C.A. Kunz (Adam and Carol), and Michelle Leighton at utopYA 2012</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lW23xJC8Es0/UOMYVmGm8dI/AAAAAAAAAQE/iOPjJbTebiE/s1600/IMG_0225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lW23xJC8Es0/UOMYVmGm8dI/AAAAAAAAAQE/iOPjJbTebiE/s320/IMG_0225.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Raine Thomas, L.M. Davis and Willow Cross at utopYA 2012</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoIAxWct_kY/UOMYpYLJi9I/AAAAAAAAAQM/3THFw1REIog/s1600/IMG_0229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qoIAxWct_kY/UOMYpYLJi9I/AAAAAAAAAQM/3THFw1REIog/s320/IMG_0229.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Linda Foster, K.C. Neal and Myra McEntire at utopYA 2012</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaohWPd1-uQ/UOMaU-VGdJI/AAAAAAAAAQg/Rds07JXjDww/s1600/laskey_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gaohWPd1-uQ/UOMaU-VGdJI/AAAAAAAAAQg/Rds07JXjDww/s1600/laskey_w.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Laskey Hall at Scarritt-Bennett where it all went down</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5F9cdJPVg9Q/UOMai9kVfQI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5VN6pVpb3AQ/s1600/scarritt_w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5F9cdJPVg9Q/UOMai9kVfQI/AAAAAAAAAQo/5VN6pVpb3AQ/s1600/scarritt_w.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Scarritt Hall at Scarritt-Bennett Center</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am so very thankful to have these ladies in my life. In the last two years that I've been actually writing, I have heard many times that finding good people to be part of your writing life is crucial to success. These ladies are my people. They are intelligent, witty, creative, crafty, funny, serious, practical, genius, supportive, encouraging, grounding, and by golly I heart them! Because of their insight, advice, and honesty, I would never be the writer I am today. I'm no where near where I want to be, but these fab ladies have helped me find a starting place. And with a little luck, we will all find that place of awesomeness together!</span><br />
<br />
<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-43284286366519027072012-12-31T20:45:00.000-06:002012-12-31T20:45:22.588-06:00A New Year's RemembranceOn the eve of 2013, I'd like to take a moment to remember the best friend a girl could ever have...<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A true friend is so very hard to find.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One who is loving, supportive and kind,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A welcome grin and energetic hello's,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With power to heal all of life’s woes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A shoulder to lean on when in need</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being the rock is in their creed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To love when our hearts are surely broken</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To heal all scars without a word spoken.</span></div>
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To make us laugh with unending joy</div>
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When enthralled with the simplest of toys.</div>
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Sticks and balls and a tug rope or two,</div>
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A Frisbee, a bone; whatever you choose.</div>
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Maybe a squeaky toy or maybe a cat</div>
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To chase ‘round the house, as a matter of fact,</div>
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They’ll encourage a walk, or better yet, a run;</div>
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Just grab the lead and it’s all about fun.</div>
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A trip in the car is the biggest way to please</div>
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These creatures so dear to our hearts, don’t you see?</div>
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Front seat or back seat; it matters not</div>
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As long as their human is the one they’ve got.</div>
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Being our partner in life is always their goal</div>
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And maybe a treat and a heaping food bowl</div>
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‘Cause a head scratch and a thorough belly rub</div>
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Are prices gladly paid to be part of this club</div>
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Of a human and her dog, twin souls forever.</div>
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No matter how hard life is to weather.</div>
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“Where you go, I go!” She wags with a wiggle</div>
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Of her body and I can't contain my giggle.</div>
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“Mountains, or deserts, or rivers, or streams,</div>
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We’ll tackle them all ‘cause we are a team!”</div>
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“New houses, new yards, new pee-mails to check,</div>
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New cats, new humans; well, oh what the heck?</div>
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Even the little human, who I never asked for,</div>
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Can be part of my pack while we roll on the floor."</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So you see, it’s rather quite simple and true,</span></div>
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‘Man’s best friend’…a dog, and then you.</div>
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Bonded together, no matter how little the time,</div>
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'Twas time well spent, with that best friend of mine.</div>
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From puppy years of chewing and barking and more,</div>
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Potty training, digging, vet visits and snores,</div>
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Slobbering on windows, yanking the leash,</div>
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Licking my face every time you could reach.</div>
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Sitting on feet, leaning against my leg,</div>
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And listening to me when I said, “Don’t beg!”</div>
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Howling at fire trucks, bouncing at the back door,</div>
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Hysterical ‘bath time theatrics’ that made my gut sore,</div>
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Hiding from the vacuum, ‘clean up the mess’</div>
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Rawhides were okay, Nylabones were the best.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being allowed on the bed was a super special treat</span></div>
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You’d run ‘round crazy in a furry blonde streak.</div>
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A decade of memories tucked away in my heart.</div>
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How much I miss you? Don’t know where to start.</div>
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Best friends can be human for some, I believe.</div>
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Mine? A goofy lab mutt who refused to retrieve.</div>
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My imperfect diamond, my flawed little pearl,</div>
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My best friend, my Arwen, always my ‘Baby Girl.’</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Rest easy, my sweet Arwen... 12/25/01 - 12/06/12</span></div>
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-3185895491537249012012-12-16T18:38:00.000-06:002012-12-16T18:38:20.947-06:004th Annual No-Kiss Blogfest!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.picgifs.com/graphics/" target="_blank"><img alt="Click here for more graphics and gifs!" src="http://www.picgifs.com/graphics/k/kisses-hugs/graphics-kisses-hugs-444281.gif" /></a><br />
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It's here! It's here! Let the angst, the painful pauses, the bad timing, the frustrating interruptions that push you to near-violence begin!<br />
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The No-Kiss Blogfest hath come.<br />
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<a href="http://frankiediane.blogspot.com/2012/12/4th-annual-no-kiss-blogfest_3.html?showComment=1355693126822#c9037116663855872837" target="_blank">Miss Frankie</a> can give you the low-down on how the shiz works so please check out her blog. As for me, I'm crazy enough to join in. That's right, y'all. I've signed up for some smoldery (totally a word) almost action.<br />
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Get those WIPs whipped into shape and join the fun! Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! Tell your boss! Okay, so maybe not your boss. And don't forget to hash it! #nokissblogfest<br />
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Stay tuned for January 2, 2013 for the official blog-a-round!<br />
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<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-70792814728983645892012-11-27T20:49:00.000-06:002012-11-27T20:49:31.692-06:00Trailer Park Tuesday (11): EVERBOUND<br />
<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world.<br />
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I stumbled upon this here trailer the other day and I'm really digging it! The whole misty smoke thing is working for me. I haven't read the EVERNEATH books by Brodi Ashton...yet...but this is certainly going into my TBR abyss. Apparently, the story is loosely based on Persephone myths. That alone has me intrigued. Toss in a hot guy and consider me SOLD! *cheesy grin*<br />
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What are your thoughts? Anyone read EVERNEATH? I'd love to hear from you. EVERBOUND has a book birthday this coming January so I'm gonna have to step up my reading game...<br />
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Author: Brodi Ashton</div>
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Publication Date: 1/22/13</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13115995-everbound" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i style="background-color: #cfe2f3;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.</span></i></span>Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-40567558403150127572012-11-20T12:37:00.000-06:002012-11-20T12:37:20.281-06:00Trailer Park Tuesday (10): CITY OF LOST SOULS<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world.<br />
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Now I know this is an oldie, but boy oh boy is it a goodie! Who doesn't love Cassandra Clare? With all the buzz about <i>The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones</i> movie coming next summer [squeeeeeee!!!!], I thought I'd take a look at some of the book trailers from this beyond awesome series. I think the series gets better with every book. Darker too. A lot of people didn't jive with the Sebastian (aka Jonathan) in COLS, but I dug him. He's twisted, dark, and so so creepy. This trailer....perfect. It highlights the creepy in Sebastian and that gets me all sorts of fangirlie.<br />
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What are your thoughts? Sebastian awesomely creepy or just plain <i>ICK</i>?<br />
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Author: Cassandra Clare</div>
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Publication Date: 5/8/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8755776-city-of-lost-souls" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a></div>
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<i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.</span></i>Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-36174793148107552392012-11-20T08:54:00.000-06:002012-11-21T04:56:48.997-06:00Trailer Reveal: OPAL (Oh you know it, Kitten!)<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">THIS IS A PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT... THE D.O.D. HAS REPORTED MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS OF A MYSTERIOUS ILLUMINATED BEING ALL ACROSS THE NATION AND BEYOND, INCLUDING MULTIPLE SOCIAL MEDIA TAKEOVERS. PLEASE BE ADVISED AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION. THESE BEINGS, REPORTEDLY IDENTIFIED AS LUXEN, ARE KNOWN TO CONFUSE THE SENSES WITH THEIR IMPOSSIBLE GOOD LOOKS AND FIERCE DEVOTIONS. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">OPAL (The third book in the Lux Series)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"> Available in both <u>print</u> <b>and</b> <u>digital version</u> on <span style="font-size: large;"><b><i></i></b></span></span><br />
<marquee><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>December 18, 2012</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"></span></marquee><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Opal-Lux-Novel-Jennifer-Armentrout/dp/1620610094/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353367076&sr=1-1&keywords=Opal"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Amazon</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/opal-jennifer-l-armentrout/1111306819?ean=9781620610091">Barnes and Noble</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Official Opal Book Trailer... </span><br />
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Please find a quiet place free of all distraction as you DO NOT WANT TO MISS ANY OF THIS! You asked, you pleaded, you downright groveled. Now here it is... <br />
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Hold on to your Obsidian shards ladies, 'cause it's about to get all Luxen up in here.</div>
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Whew!!!! Did I tell you, or did I tell you! Holy mother of all HAWT alien babies! Personally, I watched this trailer like 20 times at least. That one sort of sideways kiss.... Oh dear GAWD makes me want a Luxen of my very own.<br />
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Ahem...<br />
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As you know, The lovely and UBER talenten Jennifer L. Armentrout is the goddess who has brought us Daemon and Katy. Isn't she pretty? Don't you just want to hug her and say, "Will you be my friend?" Just me? Oh crap.<br />
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Please, if you haven't already, check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/JenniferLArmentrout"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Facebook</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span><a href="https://twitter.com/JLArmentrout"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";"><a href="http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/">Official Website</a></span><br />
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Like her -- follow her -- stalk her...it's all good. She's game.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">SHOULD YOU BE IN NEED OF ANY OFFICIAL ASSISTANCE, SUCH AS RESUSCITATION FROM HOTNESS OVERLOAD OR SEXUAL TENSION FAINTING SPELLS, PLEASE SEEK OUT YOUR NEAREST D.O.D. REPRESENTATIVE. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">THIS CONCLUDES OUR PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT...</span><br />
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-69003000306883237442012-11-17T10:07:00.000-06:002012-11-21T11:50:27.805-06:00The Next Big Thing (Week 25)How did I not know about this awesome longstanding writer meme <i>So You Think You Can Write A Novel</i>? Nice little play on my all time fave show So You Think You Can Dance! If you know me, or follow my randomness on Twitter, you know I get all sorts of gushy over the show.<br />
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Anyway, so my pal <a href="http://alishamarieklapheke.wordpress.com/2012/11/14/the-next-big-thing-week-24/" target="_blank">Alisha Klapheke</a> tagged me in this wee meme where we get to [gasp] share some tidbits of our [lip quiver] current WIP and post a [near faints] Q & A session about it. Oi. If you're not a writer, you probably don't understand the palm-sweat-inducing nerves that posting bits of your coveted baby on the world wide web creates. Granted, if you're published, this is 'meh' to you. BUT! For us who still linger in the shadows, it can be darn right frightening. </div>
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So here goes! [cracks knuckled and pops neck] Let's do dis.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#1. What is the working title of your book?</b></span> <i>BLOOD SHIFT</i>, and that's the 3rd working title so far. Heh.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#2. Where did the idea come from for the book?</b></span> After reading far too many YA novels than should be considered normal, a mini-movie starting flipping through my head. I also attribute it to my endless fascination with all things speculative as well as Celtic folklore.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#3. What genre does your book fall under?</b></span> Hmmm. Good question. Young Adult Urban Fantasy is my guess.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#4. Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?</b></span> Oh boy! Love this. Okay. [rubs hands together with devilish glee] This part isn't nearly as fun without the visual aid, and it also eliminates the <i>Wha...? Who?</i> factor.<br />
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Bree has always been a Nina Dobrev (with curly hair) to me<span style="text-align: center;">.</span></div>
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Kennon is rep'd by this one picture of Sam Claflin. </div>
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All of Sam's other pics don't work. Or I would go with an Alex Pettyfer. Cuz...<i>yummm</i></div>
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Tess is Blake Lively.</div>
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Lucy is Lauren Prepon, but with short hair...</div>
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Franco has been a young Dario Franchitti in my head. Now Dario's not an actor, but an Indy Race-car driver. The hot Scottish kind. <i>Grrrr</i>.</div>
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And G-ma I see as a Lois Smith.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?</b></span> Ew. Hate this part. Ahem. <i>When a seventeen year-old girl discovers the truth behind the whacked dreams plaguing her for months, she learns she has two choices: either suck it up and become the fighter her bloodline dictates, or turn away from her legacy, surrendering her soul to her birthright's wild energy.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#6. Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?</b></span> Not sure yet. Have some Indie Pubs that I'm looking at...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?</b></span> The first horrific rough draft? Four months. The last year attempting to make it not so horrific.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#8. What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?</b></span> I'm horrible at this, sorry, and really have NO idea how to answer this. I believe readers who liked the <i>HUSH, HUSH</i> series by Becca Fitzpatrick and maybe the <i>LUX</i> novels by Jennifer L. Armentrout would like <i>BLOOD SHIFT. </i>For those who've CP'd feel free to chime in here...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#9. Who or What inspired you to write this book?</b></span> My friend Rachel. [BIG grin] She was the person who said "GO FOR IT" when I said I had an idea for a book. Heart her.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>#10. What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?</b></span> Pishaw! I wrote it, duh! Totally kidding. Seriously, besides hot boys with accents who are swoonishly deadly, I believe it's a story about strength. Finding strength in those around you and also, and most importantly, within yourself.<br />
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You get all that? Fantastic! Now I'm going to tag a couple of wickedly talented people I know to continue this tradition for Week 26 next Wednesday.<br />
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The wonderfully sparkly <a href="http://isabelbandeira.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Isabel Bandeira</a> and uber awesome <a href="http://mrpolishauthor.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">M.R. Polish</a> (who might need a NaNo stress relief about now) will share some loveliness on their blogs next time so keep a watch out!<br />
<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-22950345147071467772012-11-14T13:11:00.000-06:002012-11-14T13:11:47.202-06:00Political Humor at its BestBest -- Video -- EVER! A-men, brother...uh, sister? A-men.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="338" src="http://www.collegehumor.com/e/6846855" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="600"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/videos/most-viewed/this-year">CollegeHumor's Favorite Funny Videos</a></div>
Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-30136254790988848322012-11-11T13:57:00.001-06:002012-11-11T13:57:19.563-06:00UtopYA Con - Part DeuxHowdy reader/writer peeps!<br />
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I just wanted to pop in for a wee announcement from Nashvegas. Some of you may remember, or even attended, the virgin voyage of <a href="http://utopyacon.wordpress.com/about/" target="_blank">UtopYA</a> Con last July. Well, things are ramping up for 2013! That's right, UtopYA Con is back for another round! WOOT!! And if the most recent feedback, inquiries, and general buzz (and awesomeness) is any indication, next June will ROCK - YOUR - SOCKS. Please feel free to check out the website for more information on the <a href="http://utopyacon.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/ticketsonsaleblackfriday/" target="_blank">Black Friday</a> sale and newly listed <a href="http://utopyacon.wordpress.com/exhibitors/" target="_blank">Exhibitor</a> information.</div>
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UtopYA Con 2012, our local nod to all things YA and it's all around awesome, was stocked full of local and not-so-local authors, writers, and fans. If you're an author looking to network or boost your presence, this is an awesome way to get your name out there. I know, from personal experience, that UtopYA is a great way for readers to find new authors to love and fan-girl over. And you just never know who you'll see in attendance in June...(wink wink). If you are a HUGE fan of the young adult genre, then there is NO reason you shouldn't join in the party.</div>
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UtopYA is not your average Con. Please read <a href="http://panicwritten.blogspot.com/2012/07/there-is-room-at-top-for-all-of-us.html" target="_blank">this post</a> I did earlier this year to catch a glimpse of how wonderful it is. It was nothing short of amazing and I cannot WAIT for June.</div>
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The best part? It doesn't matter if you are self published, independently published, or even pubbed by the big boys! All are welcome and encouraged to come. And the second best thing? Well, maybe a tie for best. UtopYA Con is once again at the <a href="http://www.scarrittbennett.org/about/default.aspx" target="_blank">Scarritt-Bennett Center</a> (aka: Hogwarts Lite) for 2013. If you've been there, you know how wonderful this campus is. If you haven't, just check out the pics on their website and you will see just how beautiful Scarritt-Bennett is.</div>
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Hope to see y'all there for this 'heavenly' event! *cough, cough* Yeah, I'm lame, but you love that about me.</div>
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If you attended the last UtopYA, please feel free to chime in on the comments below. What did you love about it? Who did you discover at UtopYA? What author did you meet that you secretly (or blatantly) adore (or stalk) while at UtopYA? Who would you love to see at UtopYA Con 2013?<br />
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-23963450909818846692012-11-03T08:58:00.000-05:002012-11-03T08:58:27.571-05:00Just in case you forgot<a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/10-steps-to-better-writing/"><img src="http://netdna.copyblogger.com/images/better-writer-graphic.png" alt="10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer" title="10 Steps to Becoming a Better Writer - Infographic" width="600" height="776" /></a><br /><small>Like this infographic? Get more <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/content-marketing/">content marketing</a> tips from <a href="http://www.copyblogger.com/">Copyblogger</a>.</small><br />
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-64619583898908234142012-10-30T11:00:00.000-05:002012-10-30T18:47:41.544-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (9): WHAT'S LEFT OF ME<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world.<br />
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This week I'd like to talk about the uber cute <a href="http://www.katzhangwriter.com/Home.html" target="_blank">Kat Zhang</a>. She's a Nashville lass so that makes her even more awesome. Jus sayin. Anyway, her debut WHAT'S LEFT OF ME had a book birthday back in August and it looks pretty darned cool if you ask me. Dual souls in one body... Sort of Sci-Fi and Fantasy-ish... Oh how I love the idea! Actually, it reminds me a smidgen of THE HOST from Stephenie Myers. Say what you will about that woman, but I really enjoyed THE HOST.<br />
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Sorry, got off track. WHAT'S LEFT OF ME truly looks like an awesome read. All that I've seen, heard, read, proves that Miss Kat is on a fast track to awesomeness. .<br />
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In the meantime, check out the fab trailer below! I LOOOOOVE the very end. Creeeeeepyyyyyyy. *giggle* Feel free to post your own thoughts in the comments.<br />
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Author: Kat Zhang</div>
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Publication Date: 9/18/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11043618-what-s-left-of-me" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a><br />
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<b><i>Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t… </i></b></div>
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<b><i>For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.</i></b></div>
Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-45409722016850211822012-10-28T12:52:00.000-05:002012-10-28T12:52:14.688-05:00My Thoughts: PROTECTING TRUTH<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Seraphina’s keeping a secret from her Wandering team: she’s perfecting her fighting skills. But telling Sam and Bishop the truth would only alert them to her plan: to go back in time, save her mom, and finish what she started. With the help of Turner, Bishop’s handsome twin, she progresses toward her goal but plummets deeper into dangerous territory where the lines of friendship and romance are blurred. One passionate kiss changes everything, leading Sera to unravel a shocking web of family secrets, heartbreaking ulterior motives, and sinister agendas. Love and lies collide in a haunting climax, where the truest souls may not survive.</i></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Miss Michelle has done it again. I had the distinct pleasure of reading PROTECTING TRUTH recently, and I have to say… It’s AWESOME! I just love <a href="http://wanderdusttrilogy.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Warren</a> and her stories. If you missed the first installment to the SERAPHINA PARRISH TRILOGY, WANDER DUST, you seriously need to go catch up. You can get this delish piece of reading at a crazy reasonable price for your eReader. Just DO IT! <div>
<br />WANDER DUST laid the perfect groundwork for PROTECTING TRUTH. In WD, we are introduced to our characters and this underground world of Wandering, a type of time-traveler. Miss Michelle took us on this wild journey of discovery and wicked action scenes that still have me foaming at the mouth. We met Sera, who totally needs to be my friend, and her uber wonderful Protector, Bishop. ‘Scuse me whilst I swoon a bit….</div>
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PROTECTING TRUTH had all that….and then some. We come into the story with the yummilishious Bishop overseas visiting his family and Sera is up to her blue-violet eyes in defense training. Side note: There are few things in this world that I love more than a butt-kicking heroine (literally). Our girl is beating herself silly to be a better fighter. Why? ‘Cause she has a date with Cece, the evil B that’s holding her mom prisoner. The I’m-taking-you-down kind of date. And Sera is getting seriously good at this fighting stuff. Problem is, Bishop doesn't know, and Sera really doesn't want him to find out.</div>
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<br />There’s also this little problem with Bishop’s elusive fraternal twin, Turner, who we didn't really get to meet in WD. ‘Scuse me whilst I swoon again… Boy do I love me some Turner. He’s intelligent, good with his hands (Erm…for inventing/creating trinkets and hologram machinery of course so get your mind out of the gutter), and has this dark side to him that is holy-mother-of-time-travels HAWT. But something doesn't seem right with Turner. Bishop hinted at some ‘sibling rivalry’ but it goes waaaay deeper than that.</div>
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<br />PROTECTING TRUTH still had some action to die for, wonderfully descriptive holographic circuses that left me breathless, and swoon-worthy dates in London, but it was the deeper aspect that really drew me in. Miss Michelle brings us deeper into the Wandering world and we finally see how corrupted it is. Traitors are welcomed back into the halls of Washington Square Academy, Terease, or The Lady in Black, still terrorizes but there is much she’s not sharing, Sera believes the students are being bribed into the Wandering life, Bishop is holding devastating secrets, and Sera can’t fight the infuriating attraction she holds for Turner. The Academy is breached, the Underground holds too many cards, and we meet new people only to lose them. Tears, yes there are tears. PROTECTING TRUTH was truly non-stop and I loved every page.</div>
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<br />The best part of PROTECTING TRUTH is the truth of the characters and their journey. Sera is wonderfully conflicted and I fell in love with her even more. She wants to do right, but somehow doesn’t quite make it. She battles with some major life-changing events and her growth through them are spot on. Sera’s far from perfect, but yet she is.</div>
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<br />I've been a fan of this series from the very beginning and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Sera, Bishop and Sam. More please, Michelle!</div>
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<br />In closing’ I’d like to share a snip-it to leave y’all salivating, much like I was reading it… Enjoy!</div>
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<span style="background-color: #fff2cc;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><b>“To touch him would release his secrets. To kiss him would set him free.” </b></i></span></span></div>
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-55224718894894556582012-09-18T10:01:00.003-05:002012-09-18T10:01:38.068-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (8): TEN<br />
<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world.<br />
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Holy - buttered - biscuit! Have you seen the trailer for TEN yet by <a href="http://www.gretchenmcneil.com/" target="_blank">Gretchen McNeil</a>? No? What the frick are you waiting for? Seriously! Okay, so I haven't read her books...yet...but this trailer is so AWESOME! POSSESS has been on my TBR list for eons I think. Remember that super freakish movie, The Ring. A friend and I held hands and linked elbows leaving the theater after that movie, just waiting for the creepy little girl to jump out at us. Sissy-pants, I know. But yeah, this trailer is JUST - LIKE - THAT! No lie. The music is creepy, the flickering images are standing-arm-hair worthy, and after watching this (more than a few times) I am STILL getting tingles!<br />
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Anyone who knows me will agree that I'm a bit of a horror movie geek. Love a good creeper flick. The trailer for TEN has that same vibe. I guess it sort of helps that the book is YA horror and all... But I am so sold.<br />
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Creepy. Scuuury. Padded cell. Awesome.<br />
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Please feast your eyes on this fantabulousness and let me know your thoughts. Read it? Was it as awesome and creeptastic as the trailer? Please share because I am soooo dying (Heh, get it? Dying.) for this book now!<br />
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Author: Gretchen McNeil</div>
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Publication Date: 9/18/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11958033-ten" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a><br />
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<i><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; color: #660000; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><b><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">And their doom comes swiftly.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: </span><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Vengeance is mine.</span><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><br style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;" /><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?</span></b></span></i>Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-82127334163658323062012-09-11T10:14:00.001-05:002012-09-11T10:14:53.686-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (7): INBETWEEN<br />
<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world. <br />
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INBETWEEN by <a href="http://www.tarafuller.com/#%21home/c2df" target="_blank">Tara Fuller </a>is one of those books that comes off as a sort of sleeper book. The kind that sneaks up on you and then hits the book stores by storm. Like Category 4 hurricane style. I've seen the banter on Twitter and book blogger sites. People have raved about the ARCs and pumped up the hype. I totally fell for it. I followed Miss Tara and have been watching the awesomeness of INBETWEEN unfold over the internet.<br />
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I am soooo excited about this book. I know, I get excited a lot. Shush. So do you, or you wouldn't be reading this post. So there. Anyway, I L-O-V-E this trailer. It's so simple and sort of peacefully haunting...if that makes sense. And there is always that kiss....yum-my.<br />
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Hot boy stories involving reapers is so incredibly sexy to me. It's weird, but I'm far from abnormal. Hello? Tod anyone... Sorry, squirrel happened. Please enjoy the below trailer and just <i>TRY </i>to tell me that kiss doesn't look super yummy.<br />
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Author: Tara Fuller</div>
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Publication Date: 8/28/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3471272.Tara_A_Fuller" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a></div>
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<span class="font_6" style="border: 0px; color: #fc6000; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_3" style="border: 0px; color: #ff11cb; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Since the car crash that took her father's life two years ago, Emma's life has been a freaky-and unending- lesson in caution. Surviving countless "accidents" has taken priority over being a normal seventeen-year-old, so Emma spends her days taking pictures of life instead of living it. Falling in love with a boy was never part of the plan. Falling for a reaper that makes her chest ache and head spin? Not an option.</i></span></span></div>
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<span class="font_6" style="border: 0px; color: #fc6000; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="color_3" style="border: 0px; color: #ff11cb; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>It's not easy being dead-especially for a reaper who is in love with a girl fate has put on his hit list not once, but twice. Finn's fellow reapers give him hell about spending time with Emma, but Finn couldn't let her die before, and he's not about to let her die now. He will protect the girl he loves from the evil soul hell bent on stealing her body, even if it means sacrificing the only thing he has left...his soul.</i></span></span></div>
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<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-23368618877120510222012-09-03T13:30:00.000-05:002012-09-03T13:30:40.606-05:00LUX NOVEL: OBSIDIAN and ONYX<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idtTpzcw1iE/UET2L1-1KmI/AAAAAAAAAKg/wg8SQGsxkUc/s1600/obsidian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-idtTpzcw1iE/UET2L1-1KmI/AAAAAAAAAKg/wg8SQGsxkUc/s1600/obsidian.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSC4j6aBKFU/UET2MK0T6FI/AAAAAAAAAKo/HY7ISTacMI4/s1600/onyx.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YSC4j6aBKFU/UET2MK0T6FI/AAAAAAAAAKo/HY7ISTacMI4/s1600/onyx.jpg" /></a></div>
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Raise your hand if you’ve read OBSIDIAN and ONYX by <a href="http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/" target="_blank">JenniferL. Armentrout</a>. Hmmm… I’m not seeing a whole lot of hands. This is no bueno
people! Allow me to explain why.</div>
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*Leans forward in seat and cocks a no-nonsense finger in
your direction*</div>
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Listen here. You read YA goodies, right? You like high-stake
plots that push the MC to their limit and beyond? You lust after…um…enjoy
swoonable guys who are not only strong, loyal, and fiercely protective, but
also smexy as hell? Yeah, thought so. </div>
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OBSIDIAN had been sitting on my TBR stack for longer than I’d
like to admit. Finally, in a moment of my own WIP frustration, I plucked it off
the Tower of Neglect and began to read. I couldn’t stop. Then, when the
remaining pages to read dwindled, I jumped on Amazon and ordered ONYX. From my
PHONE. That’s right. Sitting at work, ignoring what I was supposed to doing and
thinking about Katy and Daemon, I jumped on my trusty iPhone and gave in to my
crack-head like addictions to have MORE YA.</div>
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Oh. My. GAWD!</div>
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I cannot say enough about this series so far! OBSIDIAN pulls
you in with its building tension between Kat and Daemon. And when I mean tension,
I mean nail biting - stay up all night to get to the next chapter – holy crap
will you freakin’ kiss her already – kind of drama! The chemistry between Kat
and Daemon is so beyond hot I had dreams about it. Oh yeah, people. Awesome.</div>
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The characters themselves are fantastic as well. Kat is
totally your average teen with all around normal going for her. Seriously, she
could have been me in high school. A good kid, does well in school, but sort of
invisible in an average way. She’s not the most popular girl, but far from the
school misfit. In a word – real. </div>
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Then we have Daemon. Sure, he’s super hot and knows it, but
there’s so much more to him than a pretty…um…well everything. Daemon in
dedicated to his family, his sister, Dee. He would do anything to keep her
safe, even go against what he truly wants. The boy has so much responsibility it’s
crazy, but he does all he can (and then some) to live up to those expectations.
All without feeling sorry for himself or wanting to shirk off some of the load.
Daemon is also very much broken in a way. He’s angry, scared, and flat out
suicidal in his attempts to keep those he loves protected.</div>
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OBSIDIAN introduces us to the world of the Luxen, an alien
race that has defected to Earth. They’ve been here for ages and are ‘protected’
(read controlled) by the DOD (Department of Defense). They live among us, but
are not allowed to get too close. </div>
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After a few run-ins with Daemon’s alien mo-jo, Kat ends up
with a trace (alien cooties, or residual energy) that lights her up like a
disco ball to non-human eyes. This would be all fine and good if the Arum, the
baddie equivalent to the Luxen, weren’t able to see the trace as well. Forced
into a babysitting arrangement, the fire builds between Kat and Daemon until it
finally explodes. Literally. Poor laptop… HA! </div>
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Just when things couldn’t get worse, a nasty run-in with
some Arum ends in near death and a freakish connection between Daemon and Kat.
Suddenly, he is all about being with Katy and she is so not having it. Katy
wants more, she wants real.</div>
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ONYX is nothing short of amazing. It picks up where OBSIDIAN
leaves off and takes you away. The plot thickens. There is betrayal somewhere
in the circle of trust. The Arum are still on the hunt. A new boy at school
knows more about Katy’s…um…situation than he should. And to top things off,
Katy is showing Close Encounter symptoms in the form of things moving randomly,
exploding, and all sorts of crazy. </div>
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And there is a possibility that Dawson, Daemon and Dee’s
brother, is still alive.</div>
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ONYX was a rollercoaster of everything. Kat is such an
awesome character. She is the girl next door and so relatable. Far from
perfect, she makes loads of mistakes and trusts the wrong people. When she
should be listening to her gut, she doesn’t, and pays the price. Daemon
struggles so much in ONYX it broke my heart. He is pushed to the point of
ultimate loss so many times you almost see him fracture. </div>
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Miss Jen is such a phenomenal writer. Her characters are so
well done I scream with writer envy. Each book I read of hers gets better and
better. Her snark was off the hook in the CONENANT series, but it’s the
chemistry that stands out in the LUX series. The bonds she creates between
characters and how they play off each other is so amazing I’m at a loss.</div>
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NEED. MORE. NOW. JEN!</div>
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-1195773595040026162012-08-14T13:38:00.000-05:002012-08-14T13:38:40.053-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (6): ACROSS THE UNIVERSE<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world. Since the bigguns don't really need my meager help with anything, I will focus mostly on the little dogs...unless something bright and shiny comes along.<br />
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This week I'd like for y'all to take a peek at ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Not the Beatles song or Beatles inspired movie, but the book by <a href="http://www.bethrevis.com/" target="_blank">Beth Revis</a>. The book, ACROSS THE UNIVERSE, is a super cool space Odyssey of sorts. I don't know about you, but I'm a total Sci-Fi geek. Oh yeah, big time. Star Wars anyone? Anyway, this book looks awesome! I read an except from the <a href="http://acrosstheuniversebook.com/#%21/home" target="_blank">book website</a> and I tell ya, damn. Check it out.</div>
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ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was released in 2011 and the second installment A MILLION SUNS was released this past January. The third, and final, book SHADES OF EARTH will release in 2013. Below is the trailer I stumbled upon and I was instantly hooked after watching. I had to share it with all you lovelies! Aren't I a peach?</div>
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Also do yourself a favor and check out the book site. There's all kinds of cool features to play with. Emphasis on the 'play.' *wink*</div>
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Author: Beth Revis</div>
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Publication Date: 1/11/2011</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4018722.Beth_Revis" target="_blank">Goodreads Connection</a></div>
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<i>Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed. She expects to wake up on a new planet, 300 years in the future. But fifty years before Godspeed's scheduled landing, Amy's cryo chamber is unplugged, and she is nearly killed.</i></div>
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<i>Now, Amy is caught inside an enclosed world where nothing makes sense. Godspeed's passengers have forfeited all control to Eldest, a tyrannical and frightening leader, and Elder, his rebellious and brilliant teenage heir.</i></div>
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<i>Amy desperately wants to trust Elder. But should she? All she knows is that she must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets before whoever woke her tries to kill again.</i></div>
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Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-71302059502835447522012-08-08T14:22:00.000-05:002012-08-08T14:22:09.922-05:00Playing with characters and voice<br />
There’s been a common theme in blogs posts I’ve seen lately. That theme being Voice. The ‘how-to” and “what is it” of writing, crafting, finding the all important Voice. This got me thinkin’. How do I find, use, write, craft Voice?<br />
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Bear with me as I get a wee bit fragmented.<br />
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I’m sure you’ve surmised by now that I haven’t had any real writerly training. Not sure if you can count high school English as that was a looooong time ago. Not gonna tell you HOW long. HA! Anyway, I HAVE read loads of bits on finding Voice and how to make the best of it and all that jazz. The problem is, I learn by doing. Yeah, I’m one of those people who have to DO IT to get it. I can read instructions till I’m blue in the face, but until I do it, I’m lost.<br />
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So how does a learn-by-doing lass learn how to craft Voice? Depends. I firmly believe that an Authorial Voice will just happen. It’s like finding the perfect pair of jeans. You’ll try different styles on, but either the hips are too snug, the hem too long, the thighs too loose, blah blah blah… until you scream in the changing room. But once you find that elusive pair of jeans, it’s like the clouds part and angels begin to sing. Everything just….fits.<br />
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Now, a character’s Voice… That’s a little trickier. Characters have to feel real, speak real, laugh real, sigh real, burp real. I may have thrown that last bit in there, but hey, if your characters DO burp, it has to be real!My compadre Alisha has a great post on doing character studies <a href="http://alishamarieklapheke.wordpress.com/2012/08/08/beginning-a-new-adventure-character-study/" target="_blank">here</a>. Check it out! She’s awesome. And I’ve tried the character studies and/or profile worksheets. They work for me on the technical stuff like hobbies and physical traits, but I cannot (for the life of me) glean any sort of TRUE personality from a worksheet. It feels too stale and flat to me.<br />
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So I reach back into my theater roots and create my character’s Voice by ACTING them out. Yup, you read right. I get all Martin Scorsese or Quentin Tarantino up in here! The basics are exactly the same: Who, What, Where, Why and How. Thank you, Mrs. Jordan, for beating these into us during class. The difference is in the implementation. Sure, you write out the basics (just like a character worksheet) but instead of the character coming alive first on paper, the character comes alive in YOU. They don’t just SPEAK through you, they ARE you.<br />
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How to achieve this sort of multiple personality disorder loveliness? Preferably alone. Writers are known for being a little off-kilter, but no reason to confirm it for anyone. *wink* Seriously, grab a scene from the mini-movie already running in your head from your new bright-shiny WIP and get into character! The scene is there so pick your character, whether it’s the MC, the best friend, the love interest, the postman, and roll with it!<br />
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The best way for me to Voice-out a character is to ‘play act’ them during the scene. Speak the lines, use the gestures, roll the eyes, flip the hair, frown with them, smile with them, cry with them! DO IT! I’ve found this to be the best way, for me, to get a real feel for my characters and HOW they act and react. Does that gesture feel right with that dialogue? Yes or no? While speaking in their Voice, does my character have a tendency to do certain things? Like rub their chin, pick at their fingernails, chew the inside of their lip? Yes? Write it down! That is your character. Does your character place emphasis on certain words while speaking? Do they have an accent? Do they pace when frustrated?<br />
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If you’ve truly gotten into your character, all of these things will happen, because that is who they are. It will come natural. And when you’ve found the first Voice, the others will follow suit. Once you’ve established how character A says something, character B will have a natural reaction. It’s a lot like reading your MS out loud, but with the action in there as well. And many times you’ll find that certain actions during the dialogue will solve random issues you have in your writing. Do your CP’s mention something feeling awkward during the dialogue, like John Smith’s chronic collar-popping? Act it out in your character’s Voice. Does it feel natural? Yes? Maybe tone it down a notch. No? Ax it.<br />
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Scared to try it? Don’t be! You already have voices in your head, right? Well, now give those voices legs, arms, movement and swagger. Let them LIVE through you.<br />
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Still nervous? Try a dark room. Then you won’t feel so “in the spotlight.”<br />
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Besides, if anyone asks what the H-E-double-hockey-sticks you’re doing, you can honestly say you’re REHEARSING. And dramatics (aka theater folk) have a worse wrap than us writers. *snortle*<br />
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Now go get your schizophrenic on!<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-88538852867385331052012-08-07T19:44:00.000-05:002012-08-07T19:44:17.361-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (5): LINGER<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world. Since the bigguns don't really need my meager help with anything, I will focus mostly on the little dogs...unless something bright and shiny comes along.<br />
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Like this week.</div>
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Many of you may already know the wonderful <a href="http://maggiestiefvater.com/the-shiver-trilogy/">Maggie Stiefvater</a>. I, for one, do not. I have yet to read any of her books. Not purposely, of course. Just haven't had the chance. But this week's Trailer Tues may change my mind. </div>
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Have you seen the trailer for LINGER? Holy cheeseballs it's awesome! LINGER is the second installment of the SHIVER series and I seriously have to get these books now. This trailer is so unbelievable and creative and different and compelling and...and...and [insert multiple adjectives here]. I watched it <i>THREE TIMES</i> before I decided to do my meme bit on it this week.</div>
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So without further ado, please feast your eyes on this trailer by Miss Maggie. </div>
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Author: Maggie Stiefvater</div>
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Publication Date: 7/13/10</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6654313-linger">Goodreads Connection</a></div>
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<i>Once Grace and Sam have found each other, they know they must fight to stay together. For Sam, this means a reckoning with his werewolf past. For Grace, it means facing a future that is less and less certain.</i></div>
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<i>Into their world comes a new wolf named Cole, whose past is full of hurt and danger. He is wrestling with his own demons, embracing the life of a wolf while denying the ties of a human. For Grace, Sam, and Cole, life is a constant struggle between two forces--wolf and human--with love baring its two sides as well. It is harrowing and euphoric, freeing and entrapping, enticing and alarming. As their world falls apart, love is what lingers. But will it be enough?</i></div>
</div>Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-6252863973309011292012-08-05T09:19:00.000-05:002012-08-05T09:19:40.244-05:00Whose POV is it anyway?Perspective is an amazing thing. Depending on where you set that perspective, you can completely alter a story. Those of you who are writerly types know what I'm talking about: the question of point of view.<br />
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Generally, when hashing out ideas for a story, you come to a point where you need to decide what point of view (POV) in which to write. Will your story be in 1st person? What about 3rd? Will there be alternating POVs? A single POV? Or will it be some mish-mash of POV? This decision is just as important to the story building process as say plot or voice or even setting.<br />
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When writing in 3rd person (limited or omniscient), you have the ability to show more of the world around the characters. For instance, Cassandra Clare writes in 3rd person for the uber awesome Mortal Instrument and Infernal Devices series. Why is this important? Because Miss Cassie can share details of the Shadowhunter world that we may not see if limited to 1st person. Being that she also writes in alternating POV, if we're looking at the world through Clary's eyes, we will only be able to experience things as Clary does. This isn't always a bad thing, especially when trying to build tension, but when you have such a rich world, like the Shadowhunter world, why limit yourself?<br />
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On the other hand, when writing in 1st, you can get into the character's head more. When dealing with conflict, it's sometimes harder-hitting when seeing it through the MC's eyes. If your MC is totally freaked by something going on, you have the ability to really play up the emotional side of things in 1st person. Sure, you may be limited to what's going on around the character, but if your story is more of an internal conflict for your MC, then you don't need all the outside forces explained.<br />
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So which do you choose?<br />
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It's up to you and how you want your story to be told. At UtopYA Con, there was a panel discussion about this very subject. <a href="http://rainethomas.com/">Raine Thomas</a>, <a href="http://shiftersnovelseries.com/author.html">LM Davis</a>, and <a href="http://willowcrossbooks.weebly.com/">Willow Cross</a> were all panelists discussing how it's all about breaking the rules with POV in YA these days. There's no cut-and-dry way to write YA, no standard template that MUST be followed. This is a great thing!<br />
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Many authors are testing the boundaries of POV in their writing. I think this is awesome! As long as there's a reason for the way it's done. If you just go about it all mamby-pamby style and write a POV wonky just for shits and giggles, then you need to be punched in the face. Well, maybe not that extreme, but your readers may want to. And that's not a great thing.<br />
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So whether you write solely in 3rd person like Cassandra Clare, or if you alternate your 3rd person per book like Raine Thomas, or alternating 1st person like Marie Lu, or even alternating 1st per book like Myra McEntire...it all works. As long as it's the right decision for your story.<br />
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Which do YOU prefer? Which side of the POV bubble are you on? Love 3rd person, but hate 1st? Work best when connecting to your characters through 1st person? What POV rules are YOU breaking?<br />
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<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5230812576344518382.post-73711279507554276832012-07-31T20:36:00.002-05:002012-07-31T20:36:32.802-05:00Trailer Park Tuesday (4): SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY<a href="http://bloodsweatandbooks.blogspot.com/p/trailer-tuesday.html">Blood, Sweat and Books</a> hosts the Trailer Tuesday meme and you can check out their awesomeness as well. Since I live in Middle Tennessee, I decided to country-fy my meme and go the trailer park route. *snortle* In my home away from home, I will spotlight some of the awesome book trailers out there in the world. Since the bigguns don't really need my meager help with anything, I will focus mostly on the little dogs; the indie authors and the self pubbers out there.<br />
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BUT!</div>
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I have to, <i>HAVE </i>to, take a moment to give some major props to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0062083260/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=susadenn-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=0062083260">SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY</a> by <a href="http://somethingstrangeanddeadly.com/">Susan Dennard</a>. Why? Because I cannot stop thinking about this freakin' trailer! Sooz's book birthday was last week and I am STILL going all stupid-giddy over this trailer. So in hopes of finally retrieving some semblance of sanity, I am sharing this awesomesauce debut from Miss Sooz.</div>
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SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY is the first novel of a gothic trilogy. Gothic trilogy? Seriously? Now <i>THAT </i>sounds freakin' fantastic! I am so there. You may know Miss Sooz from the <a href="http://www.publishingcrawl.com/">Pub(lishing) Crawl</a> blog-site. I am so excited about this debut from Susan and you all should be too!</div>
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Please just <i>TRY </i>to tell me this doesn't look awesome...</div>
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Author: Susan Dennard</div>
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Publication Date: 7/24/12</div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4499623.Susan_Dennard">Goodreads Connection</a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">There's something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia. . . .</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she's just read in the newspaper:</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor . . . from her brother.</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she'll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including the maddeningly stubborn yet handsome Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.</i></span></div>
<br />Hells, to the YEAH people! I am all over this puppy. You should be too!<br />
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<br />Deena Graveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04362161494089639395noreply@blogger.com2