A Thousand Wrongs

CELEBRATE DIA'S 16TH ANNIVERSARY!

2012-03-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

What is DIA? I'm glad you asked.

As a mother of five beautiful children of Hispanic descent (my husband was born in Guatemala), I am proud to support this event. If your school or library would like to participate by hosting an event on April 30th, check HERE for ideas on how to get involved. Thank you.

NEWS & UPDATES!!!

2012-03-05T21:26:00.000-08:00

I have so many things to tell today, so I decided to put them all in one big blog post. Here we go...

LAUNCH PARTY FOR THE ROCK OF IVANORE

A tentative date has been scheduled for my launch party. Yipee!! It will be held on Friday, May 18th at 7:00p at Barnes & Noble in Valencia, CA. I am now in the throes of planning and haven't a clue yet what to do. But I promise it will be fun for all. And I plan to have cake! So please save that date on your calendars and spread the word.

THE CELESTINE CHRONICLES COMES OUT TODAY

If you are not a subscriber to my newsletter, you're missing out! This month includes my very first youtube video of me interviewing Kathy Everts, the artist who did the interior map for my book. And she happens to be one of my dearest friends. If I decide to post the links here on the blog, it won't be for at least another week or two, so if you want to see them now, go ahead an subscribe. Just scroll down to the very bottom of my blog and complete the form.

I MET ORSON SCOTT CARD!!!

Yes, it's true! I really did meet him in the flesh. Shook his hand and everything. A few weeks ago I got wind that Mr. Card was doing a last minute book signing at Mysterious Galaxy in Redondo Beach, CA. I grabbed my son and the sons of two of my friends from church who happen to be big fans, too, and off we went. Traffic was good so it only took us an hour to get there, and it was so worth it!!! Mr. Card signed all of our books as soon as we came in the door. He said he likes to sign the children's books before his presentation so they don't have to stand in line. They can go home and go to bed. His presentation was fun and informative. I am thrilled with my signed copy of Ender's Game, one of my all-time favorite books, and of Shadows In Flight, which I am reading right now. Meeting OSC was a highlight of my year.

CURRENT GIVEAWAYS

I've got several giveaways going right now. To see what they are, visit the CURRENT GIVEAWAY tab up at the top of the page. I just added that this week, so don't miss out.

Okay. That's it for now. Come back soon!

MARVELOUS MIDDLE GRADE MONDAY: GIVEAWAY & INTERVIEW w/ AUTHOR KAMI KINARD

2012-03-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is hosted by Shannon Messenger.

For more links to MMGM posts, click HERE:
_______________________________________

THE BOY PROJECT
by Kami Kinard
Scholastic Press
Ages 8 & up
356 pp.

For anyone who's ever felt that boys were a different species....

Wildly creative seventh grader, Kara McAllister, just had her best idea yet. She's going to take notes on all of the boys in her grade (and a few elsewhere) in order to answer a seemingly simple question: How can she get a boyfriend?

But Kara's project turns out to be a lot more complicated than she imagined. Soon there are secrets, lies, and an embarrassing incident in the boy's bathroom. Plus, Kara has to deal with mean girls, her slightly spacey BFF, and some surprising uses for duct tape. Still, if Kara's research leads her to the right boy, everything may just be worth it...

Debur author Kami Kinard talks about her recently released book THE BOY PROJECT in today's interview. Be sure to scroll down for a chance to win a Friendship Promo Pack!

1. Tell us about your book in one sentence.

THE BOY PROJECT is a humorous book about a seventh grade girl who tries to find a boyfriend by using the scientific method.

2. What inspired you to write this story?

I was inspired to write this novel after reading my old middle school diaries. The diaries helped me to remember those tween feelings. I wanted a boyfriend back then, but I never acted on those feelings. Since novels require action, I knew that Kara would have to be a lot braver than I ever was. Science fairs seem to be universal to the middle school experience, so I thought it would be funny for Kara to attempt to use what she learns in science to accomplish her social goals.

3. What books did you enjoy reading as a kid?

I mostly loved mysteries and fantasies. I think what drew me to them was the sense of adventure. I read every Nancy Drew book, every Hardy Boy book, Lloyd Alexander’s books, Tolkien’s books, Joan Aiken’s books and many many others.

4. What do you enjoy reading now?

I love MG and YA so almost everything I read falls into those categories. I rarely read mysteries anymore, but I still love fantasy. I’m a big fan of Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl. I just finished Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber and really enjoyed it. I also love funny contemporary. Count me among the millions of Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans!

5. Tell us a little about your road to publication.

It was a lot of hard work over a long period of time. It involved going to conferences and workshops to figure out how to improve my writing. It involved countless hours of research, and even more of writing, and three times as many when it came to revision. It included glimmers of hope, major disappointments, and enough determination to keep going. All of that took years, and it was the experience that I needed to grow into the writer I’ve become. And when I did, I got a wonderful agent, who sold my book to a fabulous publisher in a relatively short amount of time. But it couldn’t have happened without the long journey first.

6. What can we expect from you in the future

I am working on a literary fantasy. It is something I started writing before The Boy Project, but put aside. I am almost done with it and am really excited about it. I’m also working on another humorous middle grade novel about a girl who has an identity crisis. So far it involves chorus class, a name change, a rock-star-wannabe dad, and a tuba!

Thank you, Kami!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Kami Kinard has graciously provided a FRIENDSHIP PACK - promo items enough to share - including bracelets, bookmarks & more!

To be eligible to win, all you need to do is post a comment below with an email address so I can contact you. Extra entries will be given for tweeting about this giveaway, and following Kami on Twitter and/or Facebook. Just be sure to mention what you've done in your comment:

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kami-Kinard/126862120731247

Website: www.kamikinard.com

Blog: www.nerdychicksrule.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/kamikinard

This giveaway will run through March 20th.

GIVEAWAY & INTERVIEW WITH MEGAN MIRANDA, AUTHOR of FRACTURE

2012-03-02T00:01:00.003-08:00

Debut YA author, Megan Miranda's book FRACTURE is a big hit. Publisher's weekly gave it a starred review, and readers everywhere are raving about it. I caught up with Megan recently and she was kind enough to provide a brief interview. Be sure to scroll down for a chance to win one of two signed bookplates!

1. Please tell us about FRACTURE in one sentence.
A girl survives eleven minutes trapped under the ice only to find she is now either drawn to death… or causing it.

2. What inspired you to write this particular story?

I have a background in science, but the more I studied, the more I was drawn to the stories that science tries to explain but isn’t always able to: stories of people who were supposed to die, but live. I’ve also been fascinated with the brain for a long time—mostly because I think there’s so much that’s still not understood about it. I had a lot of questions (How much of us—and therefore the brain—is determined by our DNA? How much of us is something more? If someone changes after an injury, which person *are* they?) that inspired me to write the story.

3. What was your favorite book when you were young?Number the Stars was my favorite—it was the first book to really stick with me, and I’ve never forgotten it. As I got older, I read a lot of mainstream thrillers (Michael Crichton was a favorite) and the darker classics.

4. What types of books do you enjoy reading now? Do you have a current favorite?

I’d say my tastes have gotten broader as I’ve gotten older. I’m still drawn to the darker stories (thriller or not)—especially stories where something is just a little off (as in Imaginary Girls), but I really enjoy reading most everything, depending on my mood. It’s impossible for me to pick a favorite right now…depending on my mood, it could be contemporary or dystopian or non-fiction. I will say that about 80% of the books I read now are YA.

5. Tell us a little about your publishing journey.

I wrote the first version of Fracture pretty quickly…and frantically. I started it in July of 2009 and started querying in October (note: I believe I queried two drafts too soon). But in November, I was so incredibly fortunate to sign with my agent (with the understanding that I still had a ways to go). I rewrote Fracture twice over the next 6 months. We sold to Walker/Bloomsbury in May, 2010, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.

6. What is one thing about being published that you didn't expect.

To be honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect at all. I researched the publication process as best I could, but the whole thing has been a learning experience. The one thing that has surprised me the most has been the amount of support from other authors/writers/bloggers. I wasn’t online before my publishing deal much, mostly because I had very few hours to write each day, and I was very protective of those hours. I didn’t know anyone. But, wow, as soon as I joined, I was blown away by the support—and the friendships I’ve made—and I’m kicking myself now for not being a part of it sooner.

7. What can we expect from you in the future?

I have another standalone YA set to come out in early 2013. It’s a psychological thriller in the same vein as Fracture, in that it walks the line a bit between science and paranormal… but it’s also quite different. It’s about memories, friendship, and the fine line between the real and the imagined.

Thanks for having me!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Megan Miranda has two signed bookplates and some bookmarks to giveaway. To be elible to win, simply leave a comment below along with your email address so I can contact you. Extra entries can be earned by tweeting this post or posting it on Facebook. Just let me know what you've done.

WIN IVANORE ON GOODREADS

2012-03-01T00:01:00.001-08:00

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Rock of Ivanore

by Laurisa White Reyes

Giveaway ends April 01, 2012.
See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

2011 WHITNEY AWARDS FINALISTS ANNOUNCED

2012-02-29T00:20:00.004-08:00

What are the Whitney Awards? That's a good question. From the official WEBSITE:

"The Whitneys are an awards program for novels by LDS authors. Elder Orson F. Whitney, an early apostle in the LDS church, prophesied “We will yet have Miltons and Shakespeares of our own.” Since we have that as our goal, we feel that we should also honor those authors who excel and continually raise the bar.

The Whitney Awards honor novels in the following categories: General Fiction, Romance, Suspense/Mystery, Speculative Fiction, Youth Fiction, Historical, Best Novel of the Year, and Best Novel by a New Author. Novels can be nominated by any reader (via this website or by mail), and nominees are voted on by an academy of industry professionals, including authors, publishers, bookstore owners, distributors, critics, and others.

The awards were founded in 2007 and operate as an semi-autonomous subsidiary of LDStorymakers."

For a novel to be eligble, it must meet the following criteria:

a. Must be a work of fiction that is at least 50,000 words in length. (Exception for Best Youth Fiction, 20,000 words)
b. Publication date must be between January 1st and December 31st of the award year.
c. Novels must be written by a member or members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
d. Novels are eligible whether or not the author is a member of LDStorymakers, Inc.
e. Novels are eligible whether or not they have been published by traditional LDS publishers.

Also...

Anyone can nominate a book, as long as:

The nominator is at least twelve years old.
The nominator of a book is not the author of the book, the publisher of the book, a publisher’s employee, or anyone else with a monetary interest in the book.

Why is this so exciting?

Because #1) I AM LDS!!! and #2) My first book comes out this year!!! Whoo hoo! In other words, if you like The Rock of Ivanore, you may (if you wish) nominate it for the 2012 Whitney Awards. To nominate my book, or any other eligible title, please click HERE.

Here are the Youth Category finalists for 2011 (For a list of all 2011 Finalists, click HERE.) The winners will be announced in May:

YOUTH-SPECULATIVE CATEGORY:

My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison

Shifting by Bethany Wiggins

Slayers by C.J. Hill

Tuesdays At The Castle by Jessica Day George

Variant by Robison Wells

Also, YOUTH - GENERAL CATEGORY:

Girls Don't Fly by Kristen Chandler

Miles From Ordinary by Carol Lynch Williams

Pride & Popularity by Jenny James

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsay Leavitt

With A Name Like Love by Tess Hilmo

Here are some past winners and finalists:

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White (2010 Winner)
Matched by Ally Condie (2010 Winner)
The Maze Runner by James Dashner (2009 Finalist)
The Host by Stephanie Meyer (2008 Finalist)
Ender in Exile by Orson Scott Card (2008 Finalist)
Fablehaven Books by Brandon Mull (2007, 2008,2009, 2010 Finalist)

BOOK REVIEW: A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL by Suzanne Young

2012-02-27T00:01:00.001-08:00

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL
by Suzanne Young
Baltzer & Bray
Ages 14 & up
272 pp.

Summary (from Ms. Young's website):

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences?

Scroll down for my review.

My Review:

I have mixed feelings about this book. I liked the overall premise. Charlotte is driven to help people despite the fact that she fights against it. Every time she helps someone, she changes a little more, is forgotten a little more. To have a power she doesn't like and wishes she didn't have is intriguing. It is a unique twist on the guardian angel idea. As those closest to her begin to forget her, the story becomes really emotional. The book itself was well-written and ended with a great hook.

There were several things about the book that bothered me, however. Charlotte's best friend and her boyfriend Harlan were a tad cliche: the snarky sidekick who loves to shop and the hot bad boy love interest. While Charlotte's friend actually has some legitimate problems of her own that give her character some depth, Harlan is the kind of guy girls should simply avoid. Every time Charlotte tells him she loves him, he tells her to prove it by having sex with him. In fact, that seems to be the only thing he's interested in through most of the book. He almost redeems himself at the end, but by then it was too late. I already didn't like him.
Having said all that, I did like A Need So Beautiful enough to consider reading the sequel, A Want So Wicked, which comes out in June. If it weren't for Harlan, I think I might have liked, even loved the book. But I don't care for teen sex in books, and I don't like boys who insist the only way a girl can prove her love is by screwing around.

My Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Violence - Mild
Profanity - Mild
Sex - Moderate (sex does occur but is not described in detail)

BOOK REVIEW: ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons

2012-02-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

ARTICLE 5
by Kristen Simmons
Tor Teen
Young Adult
368 pp.

SUMMARY: (from Amazon)

New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow
.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

MY REVIEW:

A gripping read. The protagonist, Ember, faces tremendous challenges. First, her mother is arrested for being a single mom, then Ember is sent to an abusive reform school. From there, things just get tougher. I wish I could tell you everything that happens to this girl, but then I'd be giving it all away. And I just hate it when book reviews include spoilers, don't you? But this is a great example of someone who's tribulations just make them stronger. She is a very "real" character, full of pain and emotion, but faced with the necessity to keep on going no matter what.

And I just love, love, love Chase Jennings. Now this is a hero! And a gentleman! The kind of guy us mothers wish our daughters would bring home for dinner. His love for Ember runs deep. And there is no sex of any kind in this book. Thank you, Kristen Simmons, for giving us a male protagonist with an actual concsience and moral courage, a guy who is willing to lay his life on the line to do what is right. Chase is awesome.

And the final horrible surprise shocker - won't tell you what it is - but absolutely gut wrenching. I was all tied up in knots and up until midnight reading this thing. I would say this is a near perfect story.

I have only one tiny complaint. Ember misreads Chase on many occasions, assuming things about him that simply are not true. As the reader, the truth seemed blatantly obvious to me and it was frustrating that Ember could be so dumb on that account. They kept coming together and then pushing each other away. BUT this all does get resolved in the end in a way that is satisfying and well...perfect.

Okay, Kristen Simmons - I demand a sequel!

MY RATING: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Violence - Moderate

Profanity - None

Sex - Mild (a little kissing, nothing more)

GOING ON A BLOG HUNT

2012-02-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

I've had quite an adventure lately in my blog hunt. What's a blog hunt? It's when you scour the blog rolls of your favorite blogs for more favorite blogs. I've been searching (hours each day for a week now) for blogs that review middle grade and fantasy books. What I've discovered is that there aren't as many as I had thought.

I read a lot of YA books and therefore a lot of YA book blog reviews. There seems to be an abundance of YA blogs for obvious reasons. Teens not only read, they are also online - a lot. The average number of followers for YA book blogs seems to be around 1400, with some going into the thousands.

Followers of middle grade book blogs, however, average in the hundreds. This makes sense when you consider the fact that children and pre-teens spend far less time on the computer than their older siblings, and when they are online, they are probably not reading book reviews. Those who do read reviews of kids books are primarily adults. Also, while teens tend to buy books for themselves, it is adults (parents, librarians, teachers) who buy books for kids.

As a new writer of a middle grade novel, my responsibilities include promotion. In my blog hunt, I've come to the conclusion that middle grade book review blogs is still a new frontier. I have put together a list of about 100 blogs that review middle grade and/or fantasy books and have made it a priority to contact each and every one of them with an invitation to review my book or post an interview. This has taken a lot of effort. The next step is to add those who respond to my own blog roll. The hope is that other authors can access this list with ease to help in their own promotional efforts, and that parents and educators can access them as well. (Don't worry - I will still be reviewing all the books I read - including YA.)

In addition, I have decided to join the ranks of middle grade book blogs. Soon you will see author interviews and excerpts and giveaways right here on A Thousand Wrongs. I invite authors to read my new review policy (at right) and contact me if you'd like to promote your book here.

Parents, librarians & educators, I invite you to follow this blog to get the latest information about books for your kids and to visit some of the blogs I follow. This project will probably morph and improve over time. The first author interview will post on March 12th when Jenny Lundquist will talk about her debut novel SEEING CINDERELLA. There will be a giveaway, too. So spread the word and don't miss it!

BOOK REVIEW: DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

2012-02-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

DIVERGENT
by Veronica Roth
Katherine Tegan Books
Ages 14 & up
576 pp.

Summary (from Ms. Roth's website): In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Scroll down for my review.

My Review: I am probably the last person on earth to have read Divergent. (I actully listened to it on my Ipod.) But I had heard from several sources that this book was a lot like Hunger Games. I wasn't thrilled with Hunger Games (I know, I know...I'm the only one) so I put it off for a while. I started listening to it just after Christmas and I had a hard time getting into it at first. The first half of the book is about Tris's training as a member of the Dauntless faction in her society. There is a lot of seemingly frivolent violence for the sake of violence. Also, this book is a little long. BUT...

By the middle of the story, I was hooked. It was kind of like being on a roller coaster: the climb up to the top is a bit slow, but once you hit that peak, the rest of the ride is an adrenalin pumping thrill ride.

One of my biggest pet peeves with some books is the tendancy to skirt around or gloss over fight and battle scenes. Veronica Roth not only attacks these situations head on, but she describes them in gut wrenching detail. I often found myself clutching my armrest or clenching my teeth while listening. The characters are very believeable. I got completely sucked into Tris's thoughts and questions. An Tobias, her love interest, was dangerous and heroic and a perfect match for Tris. While the final conflict between them ends in a predictable way (I won't give it away here), because it was well-written and everything else happening was so intense, I was okay with it. I couldn't imagine it ending any other way.

Having just finished the book, I can honestly say Divergent deserves all the accolades it's been receiving. Ms. Roth's sequel Insurgent comes out on May 1st. I've already added it to my TBR list. I hope you will, too.

RATING: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Violence: High
Profanity: None
Sex: Mild (a little kissing)

AND THE WINNER IS...

2012-02-18T21:58:00.000-08:00

Well, in this case winners.

Congratulations to Lisa Walker for winning The Rock of Ivanore promo pack & Amazon.com gift certificate for the Follower Love Giveaway Hop. In addition, Lisa Richards, Candi L., Krysta Byanco, Allison Fees & Jane Foster won bookmarks.

YA BOOKS CENTRAL MEGA GIVEAWAY OF EPIC PROPORTIONS!!!

2012-02-17T08:39:00.000-08:00

You don't want to miss this amazing opportunity to win tons of book-loving prizes: books, t-shirts, bookmarks, ARCs - tons of stuff! Six winners will each win an enormous gift pack. It is free to enter. Just come on by! http://bit.ly/wNaFip

THE ROCK OF IVANORE ON NETGALLEY

2012-02-16T10:07:00.000-08:00

I am SOOOO excited!

As of today, THE ROCK OF IVANORE is available for review on NETGALLEY!

If you are a blogger and would like to request it for review, just click HERE.

Whoo hoo! Happy day!

STARCHERONE PRIZE FOR INNOVATIVE FICTION

2012-02-16T00:01:00.000-08:00

The 2012-13 Starcherone Prize for Innovative Fiction, offering $1500 and publication with Starcherone Books, begins accepting entries October 1, 2011

Contest is open to story collections, novels, or indeterminate prose works up to 400 pages. Manuscripts will be blind-judged; the author's name should appear on the first of two title pages and nowhere else in the manuscript. Do not include an Acknowledgment page in your manuscript. There is an administrative fee of $35. Please do not send cash. The postmark deadline is February 17, 2012. The winner will be announced in August 2012. All finalists will be considered for publication with Starcherone Books. See our ad in the January-February 2012 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine.

Entry Directions

Snail Mail
There will be a reading fee of $35. Please do not send cash. The contest is blind-judged, so the author's name and contact information should appear on title page and nowhere else in manuscript. (Please also remove mentions of previous excerpt publications from manuscripts; do not include acknowledgment pages.) A second title page with only the manuscript title should also be included. A separate document should provide a short author bio/publication history. Please mail to:

STARCHERONE FICTION PRIZE, Starcherone Books, P.O. Box 303, Buffalo, NY 14201-0303

Electronic
Send your reading fee of $35 to the above snail mail address. Then send your manuscript as an email attachment to publisher@starcherone.com. Please send the manuscript either as an Adobe pdf file or an MS Word file. In your email, give your name and contact information, as well as the title of your manuscript and a short author bio/publication history. Include only the title on your manuscript, with no mention of the author's name. If you wish, include a self-addressed postcard for notification that we have received both your manuscript and fee, as well as the SASE for contest results. Any questions may also be referred to publisher@starcherone.com.

MONDAY MUSINGS: COUNTING MY BLESSINGS

2012-02-12T23:27:00.000-08:00

Before I get into Monday's Musings, if you're looking for THE LOVE FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY HOP, click HERE.

Life has a way of moving on even when I'm stuck in limbo. Sometimes I really wish everything would just stop for a few hours so I can get my bearings, regroup, and get back on course. But that never happens. The laundry and dirty dishes pile up, my kids still need to be fed and cared for, the floor needs to be swept, meals need to be cooked, even emails need to be read.

No matter how hard I wish for even a few moments of peace, it never happens. So I find myself with an ever growing "to do list" and feeling more and more overwhelmed with all the things I don't have time to do, like finish that guest post I promised to write, design a school visit brochure, read all the books on my TBR list, call all the people on my "to call" list, clean out my kitchen cupboards, and organize my garage shelves. If only I didn't have to sleep. I could really use those extra eight hours a day to get some things done.

And to top it all off, my laptop bit the dust two weeks ago. Paid a small fortune to be told that it cannot be salvaged. Luckily, the repair guy did manage to extract all my data (including several complete manuscripts) and store it on an external hard drive. I have no money to buy a new computer, so I am making due with a little netbook, which is fine except that it runs really, really slow - and I can't see everything I need to on the little screen. Oh, and did I mention that I busted my beloved Nook? Flew right out of my hand and slammed into the floor. Can't afford to replace that, either.

Do I sound like I'm complaining? Not at all. Okay. Here is where I count my blessings to make myself feel better.

1) At least I have a netbook and an external hard drive

2) My dirty laundry is a size smaller than it was six months ago

3) Some of my emails are from blogs who want to review my book or run a guest post

4) I really wanted a new Nook Tablet. So maybe now that my 1st edition Nook is broken, I can save up and get the one I want.

5) When I do get the Nook and a new laptop, I can count them as business expenses when I file my tax return

6) It is nearly midnight and all my children are asleep. Everyone is healthy (well, the 4-year-old has a cough which is why he's in my bed at the moment) and happy. There is no greater blessing than that.

Okay. It's Monday. What are your blessings?

JANUARY/FEBUARY DEBUT RELEASES

2012-02-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

As many of you may already know, my book THE ROCK OF IVANORE is debuting on May 15th and is one of many debut middle grade/young adult novels being released in 2012. These books are called THE APOCALYPSIES. Each month I plan to read at least one new debut novel and post about it here.

FRACTURE was released in January and I had the pleasure of meeting author Megan Miranda at Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena, CA. I just finished reading it and posted my review yesterday.
Here is a list of titles that debuted this year so far:

January 1, 2012
THE BOY PROEJCT (NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS OF KARA McALLISTER) by Kami Kinard (Scholastic)
LIVING VIOLET: THE CAMBION CHRONICLES by Jaime Reed (Dafina)
LOVE AND LEFTOVERS, by Sarah Tregay (Katherine Tegan Books/HarperCollins)

January 3, 2012
CINDER by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends)
THE CABINET OF EARTHS by Anne Nesbet (HarperCollins)
UNDER THE NEVER SKY by V. Rossi (HarperCollins)
CRACKED by K.M. Walton (Simon Pulse)

January 5, 2012
LITTLE DOG LOST by Mônica Carnesi (Nancy Paulsen Books)

January 10, 2012
THE GATHERING STORM by Robin Bridges (Delacorte)
DITCHED by Robin Mellom (Disney-Hyperion)
MAY B by Caroline Rose (Schwartz and Wade)
DESTINY'S FIRE by Trisha Wolfe (Omnific)

January 17, 2012
NEVER EIGHTEEN by Megan Bostic (Graphia)
FRACTURE by Megan Miranda (Walker/Bloomsbury)
THE BOOK OF WONDERS by Jasmine Richards (HarperCollins)

January 24, 2012
EVERNEATH by Brodi Ashton (Balzer + Bray)

January 31, 2012
INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows (Katherine Tegen Books)
ARTICLE 5 by Kristen Simmons (Tor Teen)

February 1, 2012
HALFLINGS by Heather Burch (Zondervan)
THE OTHER LIFE by Susanne Winnacker (Marshall Cavendish/Usborne)

February 2, 2012
HARBINGER by Sara Wilson Etienne (Putnam)

February 7, 2012
THE MISEDUCATION OF CAMERON POST by Emily Danforth (Balzer + Bray)
BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood (Putnam)

BOOK REVIEW: FRACTURE by Megan Miranda

2012-02-09T09:10:00.000-08:00

FRACTURE
by Megan Miranda
Walker & Company
Ages 12 - 18
264 pp.

Summary: Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine
-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

Review: Fracture was everything I expected it to be. I first heard about it when the book was first announced last year and I immediately put it on my TBR list. I had the opportunity to meet the author at her signing in Pasadena, CA a few weeks back.

First off, let me say that I love Fracture's cover. It is distinctive and sets it apart from so many other YA books out there.

Second, the concept of a girl surviving eleven minutes submerged in ice cold water and being left with the ability to sense imminent death is, in and of itself, intriguing. But the author does more than that. She skillfully compels the reader to ask hard questions: Should those who suffer and who are going to die anyway be relieved of their suffering? Who has the right to make those decisions? What determines if a life, even an imperfect life, is worth living? The author does not offer any definite answers, but she makes you think. The character of Troy is neither good nor evil, or maybe he is both. He is very complex and every time I turned the page, I wondered what would happen next.

The protagonist, Delaney, was very believeable, as was Decker, her best friend. Their relationship was unpredictable and complicated, as real life relationships often are. That's what I liked best about Fracture. Beneath the fast-paced plot and nerve wracking tension was a tapestry of imperfect people with real problems. There were no easy fixes here. No tie it all up in a nice package at the end. But the end was satisfying.

I highly recommend Fracture and would run to the store and buy another Megan Miranda title if there was one. This was her debut novel, but I hope it won't be her last.

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Violence - Mild
Language - Moderate (there are a few "F" and "Sh" words)
Sex - Mild (no sex, just a lot of kissing and some hands slipping under shirts)

FOLLOWER LOVE GIVEAWAY HOP

2012-02-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the FOLLOWER LOVE GIVEAWAY HOP sponsored by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Rachael Renee Anderson. This hop will run from February 7th thru 14th.

This hop marks a special event for me: A Thousand Wrongs now has over 1000 followers! To celebrate, my spectacular prize is a promotion package for my debut fantasy novel THE ROCK OF IVANORE (Tanglewood Press), which comes out on May 15th.

About The Rock of Ivanore: The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end. Middle grade readers will find that The Rock of Ivanore fits nicely among the traditional fantasies they so enjoy. They will also appreciate its fresh and inventive take on the genre.

My prize pack includes:

A $10 Amazon Gift Certificate

AND...

1 -T-Shirt

1- Book Mark

1 - ARC (advanced reader copy)
signed by me

& to make it Valentine's Day appropriate

1 - Chocolate Heart from See's Candy

And just to be nice,

5 additional winners will each receive a book mark.

To be eligible to win this prize, you must:

1) Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect, and

2) Complete the Rafflecopter form below

Additional entries can be earned by leaving a comment, following me on Facebook, and subscribing to my newsletter (scroll all the way down for the subscription form.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to stop by the other participating blogs. Thanks!

DISCOVER MYSTERY WRITING CONTEST

2012-02-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

From the Poisoned Pen website:

Dear Mystery Writers,
Poisoned Pen Press would like to announce the first annual Discover Mystery Award, a first book contest for unpublished writers trying to break into the mystery genre. This spring, join us by entering your mystery manuscript of 60,000-90,000 words in an effort to win a $1000 prize, the Discover Mystery title, and a publishing contract from Poisoned Pen Press.

At Poisoned Pen Press, we take our mission to “Discover Mystery” very seriously. We’ve always prided ourselves on the discovery of new writers, and now we’re on the hunt for fresh voices and new stories. We’re not afraid of something different, either, so if you’ve got a mystery, we want to see it! Poisoned Pen Press is waiting to discover you!

Here’s how to play:
Read the guidelines carefully and click on the link below to fill out the form, pay the $20 entry fee, and attach your manuscript. All entries are due by 11:59 pm (Pacific), April 30th, 2012. A winner will be announced by May 31st, 2012. Entries will be judged based on their synopses and manuscript text, with the assistance of celebrity judge, Dana Stabenow!
Click here for the entry form

Entry Requirements and Guidelines:

Unfortunately, we will not be able to help you decide if your book is a good fit for our contest. If you have questions about the kinds of books we publish, please visit www.poisonedpenpress.com.
Due to the number of entries, Poisoned Pen Press will not be able to answer questions regarding your contest entry.
This is a first-book award. It is open to writers who have not published a full-length book in the mystery genre.

Manuscripts previously submitted to Poisoned Pen Press are eligible for entry in Discover Mystery, provided that those manuscripts have undergone major revisions.

Manuscripts previously published in print or digitally, including self-published, are not eligible.
Manuscripts must be between 60,000 words and 90,000 words in length.
The Poisoned Pen Press Discover Mystery Award is open to all authors writing original works in English for adult readers who reside in the United States and Canada.
Non-fiction of any kind, including autobiography is not appropriate for this contest.
To avoid conflict of interest and to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, friends and former students of a judge or a Poisoned Pen Press employee are ineligible to enter the competition for that year.
Poisoned Pen Press makes every effort to vary the judges by region and aesthetics, so that writers, if ineligible one year, will certainly be eligible in future years.
You may not submit your manuscript to other publishers while it is under consideration by Poisoned Pen Press.
Poisoned Pen Press cannot consider manuscript revisions during the course of the contest. Winning authors will have an opportunity to revise their works in collaboration with our editorial staff before publication.
Should no entry meet editorial approval, Poisoned Pen Press reserves the right NOT to declare a winner
Failure to pay the entry fee will exclude you from the contest.

Click here for the entry form

WAITING....

2012-02-04T22:36:00.000-08:00

I am discovering how impatient of a person I really am. As a mother of five children, I have often found myself on my knees asking God to give me patience. Little did I know he would answer that prayer by making me wait...and wait...and wait for my book to be published.

First, I waited two years to hear from an interested publisher. Then I waited another year before getting a contract. Then over the next two years I waited for responses to my revisions, waited for the final draft, waited for the cover art, waited for the ARCs to arrive. Now I'm waiting for reviews, waiting for my guest posts and interviews to be posted, waiting for my blog tour, and most of all waiting for the book to actually be released.

I know while I'm waiting, my publisher and the entire team at Tanglewood Press are working tirelessly to get The Rock of Ivanore published. I am forever grateful and deeply indebted to them. But it is so very hard to wait. The only thing I can compare it to is those last few weeks of pregnancy before a child is born. I should know, I've had plenty of those. I remember literally staring at the calendar and the clock counting down the days and hours to my baby's big arrival. It was nerve wracking. I couldn't focus on anything else. The impending birth occupied every thought that passed through my mind.

Waiting for The Rock of Ivanore to finally hit the shelves is just like that. And just like when I was getting ready for each child to arrive, there is so much to do now, and yet all I can think about is May 15th.

ARGH!!!!!

I need chocolate...

TARCHER/PENGUIN WRITING COMPETITION

2012-02-02T08:13:00.000-08:00

Tarcher/Penguin and Julia Cameron are seeking undiscovered writing talent!

This competition is open to novel and novella-length fiction as well as narrative nonfiction.
Submissions should be no more than 10 pages (roughly 4-5,000 words maximum), and only one submission per person will be accepted.
All submissions must be work that has not been published previously or awarded any prize in a prior contest or competition.
Submissions should be sent electronically within the body of an e-mail (no attachments) to feedback@tarcherbooks.com, along with your full name and contact information. Be sure to put “TTA [Your first and last name]” in the e-mail subject line. Submissions must be received by March 2, 2012.
Semi finalists will be contacted March 23 to submit (electronically) the full manuscript. The winner will be announced online on April 26.
The winning piece will win a cash prize of $5,000 and a manuscript review by a Penguin editor.
View the complete official rules

TIMELINE
Submissions accepted from Jan 1, 2012 through March 2, 2012
Semi-finalists chosen: March 23 (Tarcher-Penguin will contact semi-finalists for additional material, which will need to be submitted to us by April 6). The semi-finalists’ manuscripts will be reviewed by Tarcher-Penguin editors. Winner announced: April 26

COUNTDOWN TO 1000

2012-01-31T21:58:00.000-08:00

Almost there....!

If you glance to the right of this post you will notice that the number of blog followers is oh so close to 1000. Just a few more and we'll make it.

To encourage new followers AND reward current ones, I am hosting a spectacular giveaway!

Once that counter hits 1000, the giveaway begins and will stay open for a week. One lucky random follower will receive the following promotional items for my fantasy novel The Rock of Ivanore (coming in May!):

1 - Bookmark

1 - T-shirt

1- Pre-Order of the Book!

5 additional winners will each receive a bookmark.

To be eligible for this drawing, you must be a follower of this blog AND fill out the entry form. (Note: The form does ask for an address to make sending the prizes quick and easy. But the addresses will be deleted immediately following the giveaway and will not be shared with anyone else.)

So keep your eyes peeled for that counter to turn. I will post the beginning of the giveaway and the entry form then. And please spread the word!

2012 DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE

2012-01-30T00:06:00.000-08:00

The Story Siren is hosting her annual DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE. The goal is to read at least 12 books by debut YA or middle grade authors, books released sometime during 2012. I am planning to participate. If you would like to as well, you can access an extensive list of 2012 new releases HERE. The Rock of Ivanore is on that list for May. I hope you will consider adding it to your TBR list this year.

In addition, I am extending a personal invitation to all of you to visit the APOCALYPSIES site. The Apocalypsies are a fantastic group of 2012 debut YA and middle grade authors. I plan to choose all my debut to read titles from this list. I'm starting with Fracture by Megan Miranda who I just met at a book signing on Wednesday. Below is a tentative list of the 2012 debut titles I plan to read. What debut books are on your TBR list? I'd really like to know.

JANUARY

FEBURARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

YOUNG ADULT GIVEAWAY HOP

2012-01-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Young Adult Giveaway Hop

hosted by

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Down The Rabbit Hole.

To be eligible, you must do the following:
1) Follow this blog via Google Friends Connect
2) Fill out the Rafflecopter form below

Extra entries can be earned by subscribing to my newsletter, following me on Facebook, and leaving a comment below.

My prize is:

1 hardbound copy of the YA book

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL
by Suzanne Young

and it is SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR!!!

And, for good measure, the winner will also receive bookmarks for The Rock of Ivanore by Laurisa White Reyes (me) and Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once you've completed the entry form, don't forget to visit the other participating blogs. And thanks for dropping by!

FIGMENT.COM - MY NEW FAVORITE WEBSITE

2012-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

If you haven't heard of FIGMENT.COM then you're missing out! Figment.com is the newest innovative website for writers, readers and anyone who loves books. It a forum, a blog, a community, the place to be. Join Figment for contests, author profiles, book news, and excerpts from the best books around. My favorite part of Figment.com is the Figment Library where new releases are made available to read online for a limited time FOR FREE! It's a great way to "try out" a new book before plunking down the money. When you do like a book, you can purchase it right from the site.

I am happy to announce that as of this week, I am an official Figment.com author! Here is the link to my page: http://figment.com/users/96737-Laurisa-White-Reyes

Please stop by and leave a comment. If you do, be sure to leave an email address (using at and dot) and I'll send you a The Rock of Ivanore bookmark! See you at Figment!!!

AND THE WINNER IS...

2012-01-24T08:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who stopped by my website and/or blog to participate in the YAmazing Race! I am happy to announce that the winner of the Rock of Ivanore T-Shirt is...Elizabeth Hyatt at Book Attict!!! Congratulations Elizabeth!

THE BEST FANTASY WRITING CONTEST EVER!

2012-01-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to announced the first ever FANTASY FACTION WRITING CONTEST. Fantasy Faction, a terrific fantasy book blog, will soon be compiling an anthology. that will contain short stories by some of the industry's most well-known voices, but also works by new authors. The winners of the writing contest will have their stories appear in the anthology. There will be $800+ in cash prizes, too. The best part is that there is NO ENTRY FEE.

Submissions open to writers who have not yet published a book and will open on FEBRUARY 1, 2012. In the meantime, visit the website and subscribe to the newsletter to receive regular updates. Also, be sure to visit Fantasy Faction. Lastly, spread the word!

BOOK REVIEW: FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick

2012-01-20T00:01:00.000-08:00

FORGOTTEN
by Cat Patrick
Little Brown Books
Young Adult
304 pp.

Summary: Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.

When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

Review: Wow. I stayed up last night until midnight reading this book. Couldn't put it down. Cat Patrick's writing style is so addicting, straightforward and real, it felt as though I was actually listening to a real teenage girl tell me her story. I love all the characters - Jamie, her mom. I completely related to all of them. And the concept of remembering forward instead of backward struck me as unique and intriguing. Cat pulls it off without a hitch. There is plenty of romance, suspense and mystery to hook a reader all the way to the last page. Cat has now joined the short list of my favorite YA authors. So looking forward to her next release REVIVED due out in May (the same month my book will be released! How cool is that?)

Rating: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Violence: Mild

Profanity: None

Sex: Mild

THE GREAT SCAVENGER HUNT - GETTING KIDS EXCITED ABOUT BOOKS

2012-01-18T00:01:00.002-08:00

Librarians & teachers, this is for YOU!

The 2012 Great Scavenger Hunt is on! What is the Great Scavenger Hunt? Well, here's the low down from author Kay Cassidy's website:

The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ is a brand-new, super easy, totally FREE reading program for teen and youth librarians. This year-round program is open to librarians in the U.S. and Canada, in public libraries and school libraries alike. It offers fun, fast, cool programming that’ll keep your kids and teens coming back to the library for more.

Over 200 YA and middle grades authors have created a 10-question trivia challenge for one or more of their books. Trivia challenges include fun questions like “What was the color of Moe’s hideous car?” or “What is Gemma’s favorite comfort food?” (Check out the book lists in the left hand nav bar to see all of the participating titles.) Every trivia challenge also has a special note from the author to give it a personal touch. And administering the program couldn’t be easier!

If you’ve been looking for a way to get kids reading a variety of books, look no further. You’ll find nearly every kind of book you can imagine: fantasies, historicals, mysteries, romantic comedies, sweeping literary novels… you name it. The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ authors include many New York Times bestselling authors and winners or finalists of the Newbery Medal, Printz Award, National Book Award and Edgar Award. There truly is something for every reader.

To participate, readers (called hunters) simply read a participating book, complete the author trivia challenge, and turn it in to you. If they get 8 out of 10 answers correct, you get to enter them in the monthly contest. Easy, right?

Every month, I’ll choose one lucky hunter as the winner. Winning hunters will receive a $50 gift card to the bookstore of their choice to use for whatever their heart desires. Even better, when they win, YOU win too… a library prize tote filled with more terrific Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ books for your library collection. Fun, fast, simple plus free prizes. It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

Since launching in April 2009, more than 800 libraries have already enrolled with more joining every week. The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest™ has been featured in VOYA, School Library Journal Teen, and Publishers Weekly Children’s Bookshelf. The program has also been highlighted on readergirlz, promoted by librarians at library conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada, and endorsed by several state library associations via statewide announcements to all teen and youth librarians.

For more information or to join in the hunt, stop by Kay's website: http://www.kaycassidy.com/hunt/

YAMAZING RACE - READY, SET, GO!

2012-01-15T21:00:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the YAMAZING RACE where you can win MGnificent prizes at the best book blog hop ever - featuring over 50 debut authors and prize packs featuring ARCs, gift certificates, swag, and more! If you haven’t yet been to the Apocalypsies website, please click HERE to start from the beginning and read the complete rules. Now on to the race!

My official stop is my WEBSITE, but stopping here at my blog works, too. And by visiting my blog, you'll have a chance to win an extra prize: a Rock of Ivanore T-shirt! So, here goes:

The annual Great Quest is about to be announced in Quendel, a task that will determine the future of Marcus and the other boys from the village who are coming of age. The wizard Zyll commands them to find the Rock of Ivanore, but he doesn’t tell them what the Rock is exactly or where it can be found. Marcus must reach deep within himself to develop new powers of magic and find the strength to survive the wild lands and fierce enemies he encounters as he searches for the illusive Rock. If he succeeds, he will live a life of honor; if he fails, he will live a life of menial labor in shame. With more twists and turns than a labyrinth, and a story in which nothing is at it seems, this tale of deception and discovery keeps readers in suspense until the end.

Okay, now don't forget all that juicy info! And remember, you must complete ALL FIVE quizzes to be eligible for a prize pack.But before you go –

Bonus Contest!

Simply fill out the entry form HERE to be entered to win an Rock of Ivanore T-shirt!

Ready to move on?

Click here http://genniferalbin.com/?p=195

to go to the next stop on the race!

DREAMING OF BOOKSGIVEAWAY HOP

2012-01-12T10:16:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the DREAMING OF BOOKS GIVEAWAY HOP hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Martha's Bookshelf.

This giveaway will run from January 13th to the 18th.

To qualify for the drawing, you must:

1) Follow this blog via Google Friend Connect
2) Fill out the Rafflecopter Form (below).

Extra entries can be earned by subscribing to my e-newsletter, leaving a comment, and "liking" my Facebook page. Once you're done here, be sure to visit all the other participating blogs! Thanks for stopping by!

My prizes:

Triangles by Ellen Hopkins
(signed)

(Note: This book is for adults.)

-OR-

The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

(signed)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2011 YA BOOK GENRE BATTLE - CAST YOUR VOTE

2012-01-11T00:01:00.001-08:00

Yes, for those of us who LOVE YA fiction, this battle will go down in history. Dozens of YA titles from all genres are being nominated as we speak for the preliminary round of the THE YA BOOK GENRE BATTLE over at Most Important Letter.

The list is lengthy and includes contemporary, fantasy, dystopian, mystery and several other genres. Several of them have been reviewed right her at A Thousand Wrongs. You can vote for as many as you like or nominate a title that has not yet been added to the list. This is your chance to be heard! So pop on over to Most Important Letter today and cast your vote. And, if you really want to get your hands dirty, you can volunteer to help out, too.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: RAFFLECOPTER GOES PUBLIC

2012-01-10T10:16:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to let you all know that Rafflecopter, the free online contest form generator, just made their services available to the public. To celebrate, they are have some giveaways of their own including an IPAD2 and some KINDLE FIRES! Stop by their blog and check it out!!! http://blog.rafflecopter.com/2012/01/rafflecopter-launch-party/

BATTLE OF THE PENS - TO SIGN OR NOT TO SIGN?

2012-01-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

My favorite store in town is Office Max. Why? Because I love paper, pens, notebooks, and sticky notes. I shop there at least once a week and I'm on a first name basis with the staff. I was just there a couple of days ago shopping for pens.

I have a particular favorite pen that I buy by the dozens. I keep one clipped to my shirt at all times, and have secret stashes of them in my purse, my kitchen drawer, my car. Donna (my Office Max guru) recommended TUL fine point retractable gel pen a few years back and I have used nothing but ever since. I prefer black, but I have some in red and blue, too. I tried purple once, but it just didn't write as smoothly. Maybe that one was defective. I don't know.

Anyway, I was googling about what pens authors use to sign books with and came across a couple of suggestions. One was the Pilot Precise V5 retractable gel. I ended up getting the v7 instead because it is fine point rather than extra fine. I brought home a 4-pack and started signing my name on a sheet of paper. I tried just my first name, my entire name (which is way too long!), my initials, and various little witty blurbs like "Best Wishes" and "All the best."

Lo and behold, I love the Pilot! Dare I say I love it even more than my handy dandy TUL? It writes so smoothly - not a bump, not a skip. I appreciate the rubber grip on both pens but the slightly curved bullet shape of the Pilot is just a tad more ergonomic than the cylindrical TUL.

Both pens have metal clips, but the Pilot is sleek and feels a bit more substantial. I have had a couple of clips snap off my TULs in the past, which is really irritating.

I am not 100% sure yet which pen will win the signing war. I need to try them both out on some actual books. In the end, the winner will need to satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. The ink must write smoothly without fail
2. Must not bleed or smear
3. Must endure frequent use
4. Must be comfortable to hold for extended periods of time and use
5. Would be nice if it came in purple - I love purple

Next time I will discuss the positives and negatives of sticky-notes.

4th ANNUAL KID LIT COMMENT CHALLENGE

2012-01-06T09:27:00.000-08:00

I just found out about this fun 21-day comment challenge. Here's the low down - Every day, for 21 days, participants commit to leaving comments on 5 KidLit blogs (like this one!) Since I love reading book blogs, and I'm a writer of kid lit, this sounded right up my alley!

So I am taking the challenge!!! If you'd like to come along, you can start by leaving a comment right here on my blog. Next, stop by MOTHER READER to see the entire list of participating blogs and leave comments on some of them, too! Finally, stop by LEE WIND's blog each Wednesday for updates on the challenge.

In the meantime, just to make this extra fun, I'll be giving away a ROCK OF IVANORE T-Shirt at the end of this challenge to one lucky winner. All you need to do to enter the drawing is leave a comment along with your email address (please use "dot" and "com" to avoid spam.) The winner will be announced on or about January 27th. Also, while you're here, I'd like to invite you to subscribe to my free monthly newsletter THE CELESTINE CHRONICLES.

So, let's get started! I'm heading over to some other great KidLit blogs right now!

BOOK REVIEW: RANGER'S APPRENTICE BOOK ONE

2012-01-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

RANGER'S APPRENTICE BOOK I: THE RUINS OF GORLAN

By John Flanagan

Penguin Group
272 pp.
Ages 9 +

Summary (from Amazon): He had always wanted to be a warrior. The Rangers, with their dark cloaks and shadowy ways, made him nervous. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now fifteen year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger’s apprentice. What he doesn’t realize yet is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied . . . .

Review: I went to my local book store three times over several months trying to get my hands on a copy of this book. Finally, they got a single paperback copy on the shelf and I snatched it up. This series is a blockbuster one, with ten titles and millions of copies sold world wide -- and this all just in the past five years! I had to see what all the fuss is about. While, in all honesty, it didn't grab me on page one, I did find the main characters Halt and Will quite likable. Book one sets up the rest of the series, giving us a clear view of each character's personality, strengths and weaknesses. There are several tense action scenes, with just a hint of the supernatural. I liked it enough to want to buy book 2 and see where this story takes me. The way I see it, millions of fans can't be wrong. Oh, and I absolutely LOVE the website!!!

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 5 stars

Profanity: None

Sex: None

Violence: Moderate

WINNERS & YAMAZING RACE HOP ANNOUNCED

2012-01-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

Actually, I have two winners to announce. Demijel won the copy of FLYAWAY for the December New Release Giveaway Hop and Leslie R. won The Rock of Ivanore T-shirt! Congratulations to both of you!

HEADS UP!

January 16th starts the YAMAZING RACE - the coolest hop ever! Each of 58 debut 2012 young adult and middle grade authors will be posting information about their soon-to-be-released novels. (Many will also be hosting giveaways). At the end of the hop will be a list of questions about the books. Answer the questions correctly and you will be entered into a drawing for a whole slew of book related prizes including ARCs (advanced reader copies), book marks, T-shirts and more!

The YAMAZING RACE will run for one week only. Be sure to check back here on the 16th for the list of participating authors. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to "meet" 2012's newest authors! And please spread the word! In the meantime, be sure to stop by the APOCALYPSIES BLOG to get all the latest news about 2012 best new books!

BOOKS I PLAN TO READ IN 2012

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

My To Read List keeps getting longer and longer. I'm not a fast reader. Between my five kids, homeschooling, writing, and all my other responsibilities at home, I have very little time to read. I tend to snatch a minute here or there in the bathroom, waiting in the car, and sometimes sitting on my staircase after the kids have all gone to bed. Despite my lack of time, I do manage to read or listen to between 25 and 40 books a year. My record is 37 books in a year, which I know is nothing compared to a lot of people.

This year, 2012, I am setting a goal for myself to read at least 30 books. Out of those 30, at least 2 will be Newberry Award winners, and at least 10 will be Apocalypsies titles. What are Apocalypsies? Well, I'm glad you asked.

Apocalyspsies are the YA and Middle Grade titles that will debut in 2012. My book, The Rock of Ivanore, is on that list. The list is rather extensive and there are many, many titles worth of reading. I plan to mention as many as I can here this year. But I plan to choose one new release each month to read, beginning with FRACTURE by Megan Miranda.

So, here is my tentative reading list to kick off 2012. Of course, this list will grow as my interests suit me. The summaries are from The Mysterious Galaxy website, one of my favorite local booksellers:

1. FRACTURE by Megan Miranda (January 2012)

Fracture

SUMMARY : Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine-despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

2. BRUISER by Neal Schusterman

SUMMARY:
Tennyson:
Don't get me started on the Bruiser. He was voted "Most Likely to Get the Death Penalty" by the entire school. He's the kid no one knows, no one talks to, and everyone hears disturbing rumors about. So why is my sister, BrontË, dating him? One of these days she's going to take in the wrong stray dog, and it's not going to end well.
BrontË:
My brother has no right to talk about Brewster that way—no right to threaten him. There's a reason why Brewster can't have friends—why he can't care about too many people. Because when he cares about you, things start to happen. Impossible things that can't be explained. I know, because they're happening to me.
Award-winning author Neal Shusterman has crafted a chilling and unforgettable novel about the power of unconditional friendship, the complex gear workings of a family, and the sacrifices we endure for the people we love.

3. FEED by M. T. Anderson

SUMMARY: Identity crises, consumerism, and star-crossed teenage love in a futuristic society where people connect to the Internet via feeds implanted in their brains.For Titus and his friends, it started out like any ordinary trip to the moon - a chance to party during spring break and play with some stupid low-grav at the Ricochet Lounge. But that was before the crazy hacker caused all their feeds to malfunction, sending them to the hospital to lie around with nothing inside their heads for days. And it was before Titus met Violet, a beautiful, brainy teenage girl who has decided to fight the feed and its omnipresent ability to categorize human thoughts and desires. Following in the footsteps of George Orwell, Anthony Burgess, and Kurt Vonnegut Jr., M. T. Anderson has created a not-so-brave new world — and a smart, savage satire that has captivated readers with its view of an imagined future that veers unnervingly close to the here and now.

4. XISLE by Steve Augard

SUMMARY: Ever since the floods came and washed the world away, survivors have been desperate to win a place on X-Isle, the island where life is rumored to be easier than on what's left of the mainland. Only young boys stand a chance of getting in, the smaller and lighter the better. Baz and Ray are two of the lucky few to be chosen, but they soon discover that X-Isle is a far cry from paradise. Ruled by Preacher John, a dangerous religious fanatic, it's a violent, unpredictable place, where terrible things can happen at any moment. The boys hatch an extraordinary plan in order to protect themselves-the construction of a mighty weapon of defense. But can they complete this weapon in time, and are they really prepared to use it to secure their freedom?

Powerful and compelling, X-Isle is a fast-moving thriller and a great read for boys. Filled with suspense, fights, adventure, and mystery, this is a book that will keep you guessing right to the very end.

5. FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick

Forgotten

SUMMARY: Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can "remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come.When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.

6. THE FUTURE OF US by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

The Future of Us

SUMMARY: It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.
By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

SHADOWS IN FLIGHT by Orson Scott Card

Shadows in Flight

SUMMARY: Ender’s Shadow explores the stars in this all-new novel...
At the end of Shadow of the Giant, Bean flees to the stars with three of his children--the three who share the engineered genes that gave him both hyper-intelligence and a short, cruel physical life. The time dilation granted by the speed of their travel gives Earth’s scientists generations to seek a cure, to no avail. In time, they are forgotten--a fading ansible signal speaking of events lost to Earth’s history. But the Delphikis are about to make a discovery that will let them save themselves, and perhaps all of humanity in days to come.
For there in space before them lies a derelict Formic colony ship. Aboard it, they will find both death and wonders--the life support that is failing on their own ship, room to grow, and labs in which to explore their own genetic anomaly and the mysterious disease that killed the ship’s colony.

LAST CALL TO ENTER THESE GIVEAWAYS...

2011-12-30T00:01:00.000-08:00

FLYAWAY
by Helen Landalf

Click HERE to enter
Ends 12/31

T-SHIRT for THE ROCK OF IVANORE (click HERE to enter)

Ends 1/1/12

IN BETWEEN WRITING PROJECTS

2011-12-27T17:32:00.000-08:00

I am currently in between projects, and it's driving me crazy. I finished a serious revision of CONTACT (my YA paranormal manuscript) a week before Christmas. I printed it out and gave it to my 18-year-old daughter to read through. In the meantime, I refuse to look at it. The text needs a chance to rest, to breathe, before I tackle yet another revision. For me, the down time between projects is the hardest part of writing - because I'm not writing.

It's not that I'm doing nothing. I've been working on plotting another fantasy novel called THE SEER OF THE GUILDE (part of The Celestine Chronicles series). But it's far from being ready to begin the actual writing process. And I need to wait another few weeks before I'm ready to revise CONTACT again. I feel like my four-year-old on Christmas Eve, chomping at the bit to open all those presents, but having to wait. It is during these down times that I pace the floor, eat everything in sight, spend too much time reading Facebook, and procrastinating everything I'm supposed to do (like laundry, dishes, etc.)

To help alleviate the nervous tension I feel, I've made a list of tasks to work on:

1. Write a bunch of blog posts and schedule them ahead of time

2. Write three guests posts for my favorite book blogs

3. Complete the Author Questionnaire for my publisher (Done!)

4. Work on my new website

5. Finish my 2011 Family Photo Album

6. Outline my school visit presentation

7. Make a list of all the schools in my area and their contacts

8. Finish the outline for THE SEER OF THE GUILDE

What do you do when you're in between projects, whether it's writing, reading books, crafts, sewing, etc?

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

2011-12-24T00:01:00.000-08:00

During this holiday week, I have much to be grateful for. 2011 has been a spectacular year. Preparing my novel for publication in 2012 has been exciting and fun. I completed two new manuscripts this year, and I'm proud of them both. Hopefully they will each find a publishing home in the near future.

I've read many good books this years, 33 to be exact. Not as many as I read the year before, but that's alright. I fell in love with some wonderful authors including Kate Mosse, S.A. Bodeen, Neal Shusterman, Neil Gaiman and Mike Mullin. This year also launched this blog, and I've been blessed with nearly 900 followers so far. Thank you all for that.

The best reasons to be thankful, of course, are my family. My oldest child turned 18 this year, and my youngest turned 4. All five of my kids have made huge strides in their own individual pursuits this year. They are wonderful kids and I thank God for them every day. My husband has been amazing. He has been nothing but supportive of my writing. For our anniversary, he even bought me the original oil painting of my book cover direct from the artist. He installed a new kitchen floor for me, installed several outdoor lamps, kept my car running, edited one of my manuscripts, and did countless other kind things for me over this past year. What a wonderful guy!

Lastly, it would not be Christmas if I did not express gratitude for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I take a few moments every morning to read in the scriptures and to pray. But during this time of year, I find myself feeling especially humbled by His life and sacrifice. I am indebted to him and hope I can live my life to His glory. Also, I remember how many people there are in this world who do not have all the luxuries and physical comforts that I do. As the Lord said in the book of Matthew: "For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me...Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it to unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matthew 25-35-40)

If you would like to share a little of your abundance this Christmas season, but might not know how, our family supports Safe Homes For Children, a private charity in Guatemala that provides food, shelter, medical care and education for the severely impoverished in that nation. A few dollars goes a long way there. Their website is: http://www.safehomesforchildren.org/

Thank you all for helping 2011 be so successful. May 2012 be even better!

--Laurisa White Reyes

JANUARY WRITING CONTESTS

2011-12-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award brings together talented writers, reviewers, and publishing experts to find and develop new voices in fiction. The 2012 international contest will award two grand prizes: one for General Fiction and one for Young Adult Fiction. Each winner will receive a publishing contract with Penguin, which includes a $15,000 advance.

Open submissions for manuscripts will begin on January 23, 2012 and run through February 5, 2012. If you're an author with an unpublished or previously self-published novel waiting to be discovered, visit CreateSpace to sign up for regular contest updates.
See the official contest rules, or read details on how to enter.

LAINE CUNNINGHAM 2012 NOVEL AWARD

hosted by Blotterag Magazine

Deadline:     January 31, 2012

Entry Fee:   $25 (check or Money Order)

Prize:          Publication and Cash Prize

Entry Should Include: 1) The first 10-20 pages of your manuscript (typed, double-spaced). Your name should not appear on the manuscript. 2) A separate cover sheet with your name, address, email address, and phone #, and the title of your book. 3) A one page synopsis of your book.

Mail Entry & Entry Fee to:   The Blotter Magazine, 1010 Hale Street, Durham, NC 27705

For more information visit:   /http://www.blotterrag.com/

WHAT IS ON YOUR 2012 TBR LIST?

2011-12-21T00:01:00.000-08:00

What books are you looking forward to reading in 2012? If you're still trying to decide what books to put on your TO BE READ LIST, here are a few suggestions:

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-12-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Marybelle who won a copy of THE FALL by Chana Keefer.

Also, the following subscribers to my newsletter will each receive a bookmark for THE ROCK OF IVANORE!

Laurie Y.
Sarah G.
Roy W.
Darlene G.
Vidisah S.
Lisa R.
Nicole M.
Michelle T.

Don't forget to enter to win FLYAWAY for the December New Release Giveaway Hop! Winner will be chosen on December 31st, so hurry!

And be sure to enter to win a T-Shirt for THE ROCK OF IVANORE. Winner will be selected on January 1st. Enter HERE

Coming Up...

Giveaways on My Favorite Blogs
January 2012 Writing Contests
Book Review: Ranger's Apprentice - The Ruins of Gorlan
Winners of The Rock of Ivanore T-Shirts Announced
My List of Books To Read in 2012
Fantasy & Science Fiction Defined, Part II

DECEMBER NEW RELEASE GIVEAWAY HOP

2011-12-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the DECEMBER 2011 NEW RELEASE GIVEAWAY HOP hosted by Book Twirps & Refracted Light Reviews.

This giveaway runs from December 15th - 31st. To be eligible to win, you must follow this blog via Google Friend Connect AND complete the entry form HERE.

I am giving away:

FLYAWAY

by Helen Landalf

(Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt, Dec. 20th)

Ages 14 & up

176 pp.

Summary (from Amazon):

Stevie Calhoun knows how to take care of herself. It’s not like her mom hasn’t disappeared before. So why is Aunt Mindy making such a big deal of it now? It’s not like Mom’s really doing meth. Stevie makes sure of that. Whatever. She’ll go home with Aunt Mindy if it will keep her from calling Child Protective Services—but it doesn’t mean she’ll stay. Mom will come back. Mom always comes back. And Stevie will be there when she does.

But when Stevie meets Alan—frustrating and fascinating and so-different-from-everyone-she-knows Alan—and she starts helping out at the bird rehab center, things begin to look different. Even the tutoring and the ridiculous outfits Aunt Mindy’s forcing her into might not be so bad. Not that Stevie would say it out loud. She can’t. Because how can anything be good if it doesn’t include Mom?

Be sure to visit the other participating blogs for more chances to win!

PANTSING VS. PLANNING: MY RESULTS ARE IN

2011-12-12T00:09:00.000-08:00

I wrote a guest blog a few months back about the benefits of using a system I call Road Mapping to write a novel. Road Mapping is creating a detailed outline of a novel prior to writing it. This is how I've always written my books. I am a planner. I love to make lists. I love to know exactly where I'm going before I begin my journey.

Some people did not agree with my point of view on this. Writers tend to fall into one of two categories: Planners (like me) and Pantsers. Pantsers are writers who just start writing and see where the story leads them. Of course, they may have some good ideas to get them started, but they don't follow an outline. They follow their hearts. Feelings run strong in both camps, sometimes too strong.

After reading a couple of comments about my post defending the Pantser way of doing things, I decided that to be fair, I really needed to try writing a novel without a safety net -- just once. So I did. This summer I set a goal. I would write every day for 90 days. All I knew ahead of time was the book's basic premise (I had no idea what the plot would be) and that the finished product would be a 50,000 word young adult paranormal novel.

So I set off without a map, without an outline, without any idea where this would end up. I wrote every day for about an hour, and by September I had a finished manuscript. So, I can honestly say that I've written novels using both the Pantsing and the Planning methods. Here are my thoughts on them both.

TIME
Pantsing gave me results faster than Planning has. My other novels all took around a year to write, including the planning stages. My pantsed novel took three months. The amount of time I'm spending in revision is about the same. This is not what I expected, because I thought my pantsed novel would be full of holes and need to have significant patch ups. It hasn't needed any more repair work than my planned novels.

PLOT DEVELOPMENT
I found that while my planned novels were easier to actually sit down an write because I knew exactly what I wanted to write by the time I turned on my computer, the actual process of figuring out the plot was the same. I still mulled it over in my brain, still dreamed about it, still got excited when I figured things out. The only difference was that in one case I jotted down my thoughts first, and in the other I went straight to writing the text.

QUALITY
Well, of my plotted novels, one is being published in May. Another won 1st place in a contest and has garnered some great attention in another. My pantsed novel has already drawn attention from both a publisher and an agent. So, I have to say pantsing did not diminish the quality of the finished product.

IN CONCLUSION
I am left on the fence on this one. I can no longer say one method is better than the other. I've done them both and had success with both. I think in the future I may not rely so heavily on outlining as I once did. But I do like to know where I'm going in a story, even it's just in my head. But I may very well try my hand at winging it again one of these days, just for the fun of it.

WIN A ROCK OF IVANORE T-SHIRT

2011-12-10T07:04:00.000-08:00

My first batch of T-Shirts just arrived! Whoo-hoo! I'll be giving several away over the next few weeks. The first winners will be drawn on New Year's Day!

To be eligible to win, just post a comment below. Be sure to include your email address (using at and dot to prevent spam). Extras entries will be given for following me on Facebook. Just mention it in your post.

Also, don't forget that 10 newsletter subscribers will win Rock of Ivanore bookmarks on December 15th. Please spread the word! Thanks!

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-12-08T06:33:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Soho Molina! She won RIPPLE by Mandy Hubbard during the 12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway Hop.

CURRENT GIVEAWAYS

2011-12-06T00:01:00.000-08:00

RIPPLE by Mandy Hubbard (ends 12/6)

THE FALL by Chana Keefer (ends 12/15)

Bookmarks for THE ROCK OF IVANORE (ends 12/15)

10 subscribers to my newsletter will be chosen at random.

The winner of John Goddard's SURVIVOR is... C.E. Hart! Congratulations!

Up to 40% Off Kids’ Holiday Books at BarnesandNoble.com!

BOOK REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: THE FALL by Chana Keefer

2011-12-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

THE FALL
by Chana Keefer
Intermedia Publishing Group
412 pp.
Ages 12 & up

What is THE FALL?

The Fall is a fictional account of the fall of Lucifer and the events that follow told from the viewpoint of an angel named Rapha. The author, Chana Keefer, is a devout Christian, wife & mother, and a talented author. This debut novel is both passionate and direct, a story of the very root of the age old conflict between good and evil.

Below is the book trailer for The Fall, as well as an excerpt from the book. I will be giving away a copy of The Fall to one lucky reader. Winner will be drawn on December 15th. To enter, simply fill out the rafflecopter form below.

THE FALL

Chapter One - End of an Age

There was a time they were best friends…a distant memory almost forgotten. Almost.
It would be so much easier if he could forget.

Peace, peace, but there is no peace…Rapha clutches his head in his hands oblivious to the rare trace of fresh air and woodland noises around him, too lost in fractured, tortured memories.

A child’s eyes, wide with fear; a woman’s ripe belly, torn; screams and cries of anguish splitting the darkness of night; innocence lost; purity destroyed; life swallowed in death. And weaving through every image, the sound of cruel laughter—feasting on mankind’s pain.

That face. Rapha squeezes his head but the image burns clearer—a face bathed in shadows as fumes of death cast waves of beauty and horror, eyes of leeching evil. Those eyes suck him into darkness, willing him to join the nightmare.

With all the force of his formidable will Rapha wrenches his thoughts from that realm, forcing his eyes open to light and life. A flower—tiny, bright, thriving no more than a few brave hours—faces the sun’s feeble light. With a need for comfort, Rapha stretches face down, breathing in soil and weakly pulsing life. Although fires burn, smokes of destruction rise and death reigns, here is a patch of green. His fingers grip deep into soft earth as fresh pain rips through him.

Flashing, intelligent eyes; a carefree smile; beautiful hands gesturing with enthusiasm; boyish laughter filtering through a forest glade—ancient memories that bring unbearable torture. Sobs rumble from the depths of the earth itself, erupting through Rapha’s muscular frame.

“I cannot,” he gasps, wrestling in his mind with an unseen companion. “It’s impossible. He’s gone too far for too long. There’s nothing, nothing pure—he’s made it so….” Rapha’s body writhes like a tortured serpent, with agony greater than he’s ever experienced, threatening to rip his immortal soul from his impervious body.
But wait. There was a time he tasted deeper anguish.

No. Please. That is locked away—eternal sanity demanded it. But the horrific images descend once again.

The loved one weeps in agony, precious flesh is torn over and over as Rapha’s heart feels every rip of the whip, every trickle of spittle, every curse thrown like a poisoned spear. And there, in the crazed mob, everywhere he looks, the twisted, beautiful, triumphant, mocking face of one who was once a brother.

Rapha’s earth-crusted hands clutch at his ears but the laughter grows, filling every recess of his soul, stealing every hope and joyful memory.

A joyful memory?

In a flash Rapha is there; catapulted through eons of space and time, before the purity of the garden, back through countless ages to a fresh hilltop lit by a younger, more optimistic sun. He and Luc preferred the plunging cliffs dropping to unseen depths below. Somehow, a spiral dive carried more of a thrill when performed in a temporal world.

“There’s something about this place,” Luc’s eyes flitted from tree to mountain and stream as he stretched golden arms wide as if to embrace the early morning’s glow filtering through droplets of mist. “It’s not as grand as our flawless, hallowed domain but the appeal is undeniable.”

Rapha had ignored the note of restlessness in that melodic voice, choosing to enjoy fresh air laced with flowered perfume and the spiced musk of fertile soil. In the countless years of their friendship, he had learned Luc’s passions could flash with the slightest provocation, but usually, if Rapha allowed Luc to give vent to his emotions, the darker frame of mind would pass. And, a visit to this, their favorite retreat, was usually the perfect remedy, a change of pace and a different rhythm that put celestial matters into perspective. With a sigh Rapha settled back into thick green with one arm behind his head to contemplate the crisp blue above. Yes. This was just what Luc needed, a deep breath of contentment.

SIX MONTHS AND COUNTING...

2011-12-01T22:26:00.000-08:00

I just received the interior layout of The Rock of Ivanore from my publisher, Tanglewood Press. It's really beautiful. I'm reading through it now to spot any last minute corrections. So far I've found only a handful. (Thanks to my husband's keen eye for grammar and punctuation.)

My bookmarks arrived as well. I'd be happy to mail some out to other book bloggers to share with your readers. If you'd like some, please post a comment below with a link to your blog and an email address so I can contact you.

Finally, I got the first issue of my official newsletter THE CELESTINE CHRONICLES sent out to my first 150 subscribers. The newsletter is named for my fantasy series, in which The Rock of Ivanore is the first book. (In fact, the prologue of the second book The Last Enchanter is included at the end of The Rock of Ivanore.)

The newsletter will come out at least once a month and will provide updates about my book's release, excerpts, news regarding my other books, dates and locations of book signings and school visits, and links to my favorite book related blogs and websites. Subscribing is free and easy. All you need to do is to fill out the form below.

On December 15th, 10 subscribers will be chosen at random to receive a free book mark! In the coming weeks, I'll be giving away T-shirts, book marks, and maybe even an ARC (advanced reader copy) or two.

In the meantime, Amazon.com and Barnesandnoble.com both have The Rock of Ivanore available for pre-order. Thanks so much for your support, and don't forget to subscribe.

BOOK REVIEW: BLOOD RED ROAD by Moira Young

2011-11-30T07:15:00.000-08:00

BLOOD RED ROAD
Moira Young
Published by Margaret K. McElderry
464 pp.
Young Adult

SYNOPSIS (from Book Cover):

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.

Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story.

MY REVIEW: I first heard about this book over the summer from a bookseller at Vroman's in Pasadena, CA. She said that if I liked Hunger Games, I'd like this book. So I picked up a copy. Well, I actually like Blood Red Road more than I liked Hunger Games. The odd dialect of the characters took a little getting used to (they all talk like Texans) but once I got the rhythm of the language down, I couldn't put it down. Saba is a feisty, determined girl with a fighting spirit. I found myself rooting for her from the very first page. And I appreciated the absence of foul language and sex that is so prevalent in many YA novels. I can recommend this with a clear conscience. I wouldn't even hesitate letting my slightly younger pre-teen kids read it. It's page turning action, light humor, realistic characters, and romantic tension makes this book a worthy read.

RATING: 4 1/2 out of 5 stars

PROFANITY: None

VIOLENCE: Moderate

SEX: None

WRITING CONTEST PICK: BELLWETHER PRIZE

2011-11-27T22:55:00.000-08:00

PEN/Bellwether Prize for Socially Engaged Fiction

The Bellwether Prize, which was established in 2000 by Barbara Kingsolver and is funded entirely by her, was created to promote fiction that addresses issues of social justice and the impact of culture and politics on human relationships.

Beginning in 2012, the $25,000 prize will be awarded biennially to the author of a previously unpublished novel of high literary caliber that exemplifies the prize’s founding principles. The winner will also receive a publishing contract with Algonquin Books, which will be the participating publisher for at least the next two awards cycles. The first PEN/Bellwether Prize will be conferred at PEN’s Literary Awards Ceremony in New York City in the fall of 2012.

Deadline: Submissions must be received between October 1, 2011 and January 1, 2012.

Who is eligible: Candidates must have some publishing experience, but must not have published a work that has sold more than 10,000 copies. The submission must be an original, previously unpublished novel, written by one person, in English, at least 80,000 words in length. Eligible authors must be U.S. citizens. The winning manuscript will be chosen by a panel of three judges: one editor representing the participating publisher and two distinguished literary authors selected by PEN’s Literary Awards Committee in consultation with Barbara Kingsolver.

How to apply:
1) Pay the $25 entry fee online and proceed to checkout. If paying by check, skip to step 2.

2) Fill out the online submission form and click “Submit.”

3) Mail all application items between October 1, 2011 and January 1, 2012 to:

PEN/Bellwether Prize
PEN American Center
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012

Applications must include:
• two copies of your typed, double-spaced (11 or 12 point font), and paginated manuscript with title appearing on every page (your name should not appear anywhere on the pages)
• résumé or curriculum vitae (five pages maximum)
• check or proof of online payment
• printed submission form
• self-addressed, stamped postcard for verification of receipt of entry (optional)

For more information, please contact awards@pen.org or (212) 334-1660, ext. 126.

12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway Hop

2011-11-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 12 Days of Gifts Galore Giveaway Hop hosted by Tales From the Nursery, Formula Mom, and Mama on a Green Misson.

There's over $5,000 in prizes offered to help you get the gifts you need this holiday season. After you are done entering our giveaway you'll want to check out everyone else's AND enter for a chance to win one of three GRAND prizes sponsored by Kudzoom!

Grand prizes are: $150 Kudzoom GC, $100 Kudzoom GC & $50 Kudzoom GC - open US/Can. To register for a Grand Prize, please click on the following link: http://greenmissionmama.blogspot.com/2011/11/12-days-of-gifts-galore-kudzoom-grand.html

The blogger with the most referrals to the Grand Prizes gets a prize, too! So please consider mentioning me (A Thousand Wrongs - Laurisa Reyes) when you register.

This giveaway runs from November 25th to December 6th. Each blog listed on the linky list below will be giving away its own prize valued at $25 or more. Don't forget that each blog you stop and enter at will be another entry!

My Prize: $10 Amazon.com Gift Card &

RIPPLE by Mandy Hubbard

YA Paranormal Novel Signed by the Author (hardcover)

Lexi is cursed with a dark secret. Each day she goes to school like a normal teenager, and each night she must swim, or the pain will be unbearable. She is a siren - a deadly mermaid destined to lure men to their watery deaths. After a terrible tragedy, Lexi shut herself off from the world, vowing to protect the ones she loves. But she soon finds herself caught between a new boy at school who may have the power to melt her icy exterior, and a handsome water spirit who says he can break Lexi's curse if she gives up everything else. Lexi is faced with the hardest decision she's ever had to make: the life she's always longed for - or the love she can't live without?

To enter for my prize you must:

1. Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect

2. Fill out entry form HERE

Don't forget to visit the other blogs for more chances to win! And please spread the word! Thanks!

BOOK REVIEW: SHADOW DIVERS by Robert Kurson

2011-11-23T00:01:00.000-08:00

SHADOW DIVERS

by Robert Kurson
Ballantine Books
Non-Fiction
416 pp.

SUMMARY: In the tradition of Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air and Sebastian Junger’s The Perfect Storm comes a true tale of riveting adventure in which two weekend scuba divers risk everything to solve a great historical mystery–and make history themselves.

For John Chatterton and Richie Kohler, deep wreck diving was more than a sport. Testing themselves against treacherous currents, braving depths that induced hallucinatory effects, navigating through wreckage as perilous as a minefield, they pushed themselves to their limits and beyond, brushing against death more than once in the rusting hulks of sunken ships.

But in the fall of 1991, not even these courageous divers were prepared for what they found 230 feet below the surface, in the frigid Atlantic waters sixty miles off the coast of New Jersey: a World War II German U-boat, its ruined interior a macabre wasteland of twisted metal, tangled wires, and human bones–all buried under decades of accumulated sediment.
No identifying marks were visible on the submarine or the few artifacts brought to the surface. No historian, expert, or government had a clue as to which U-boat the men had found. In fact, the official records all agreed that there simply could not be a sunken U-boat and crew at that location.

Over the next six years, an elite team of divers embarked on a quest to solve the mystery. Some of them would not live to see its end. Chatterton and Kohler, at first bitter rivals, would be drawn into a friendship that deepened to an almost mystical sense of brotherhood with each other and with the drowned U-boat sailors–former enemies of their country. As the men’s marriages frayed under the pressure of a shared obsession, their dives grew more daring, and each realized that he was hunting more than the identities of a lost U-boat and its nameless crew.

Author Robert Kurson’s account of this quest is at once thrilling and emotionally complex, and it is written with a vivid sense of what divers actually experience when they meet the dangers of the ocean’s underworld. The story of Shadow Divers often seems too amazing to be true, but it all happened, two hundred thirty feet down, in the deep blue sea.

REVIEW: One of the few 5 star books I've read this year, Shadow Divers was edge-of-your-seat exciting. I actually listened to it on CD, but I can't imagine the book being any less astounding. The CD did have the added benefit of including an interview with Chatterton and Kohler, the two men who succeeded in identifying U869. This book read like an action adventure novel, fast paced and packed with some of the scariest life threatening moments I've ever read about. Due to the abundance of profanity, I can only recommend it to adults, but I do recommend it -- highly.

Rating: Five Stars!!!!

Profanity: High

Violence: Moderate (due to the description of several diving deaths)

Sex: None

WHAT IS SPECULATIVE FICTION? (part I)

2011-11-18T22:07:00.000-08:00

In honor of the SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America) approving my membership, today's post is all about Speculative Fiction.

If you've heard the term Speculative Fiction, you might already know what it is--or maybe not. The simple definition is that Speculative Fiction is nothing more than Science Fiction and Fantasy. But that is like calling everything sweet candy. It covers it, but not really.

Just like "candy" includes chocolate, gum drops, jelly beans, mints, lollipops (and on and on), Speculative Fiction is nothing more than an umbrella covering many different types of literature. For this post, I will focus mainly on Fantasy. But first, let's get Science Fiction out of the way. SF is fiction that involves some sort of scientific element--usually machines or technical gadgets (think space ships, advanced weaponry, futuristic transportation, etc.) Some examples of SF using the mechanical element would be Star Wars, Ender's Game, Terminator, Iron Man, Time Machine, and War of the Worlds. Science Fiction may also involve alien species, other worlds or planets, or humans that have been medically altered in some way. Examples include the X-Men (who are genetic mutants), Avatar, and E.T.. That's a brief summary of Science Fiction.In a future post, I'll delve into it a little deeper.

Let's talk fantasy. Most people accept that fantasy involves magic. That's mostly true. But a more accurate description might be "fiction involving fantastical elements." This might involve magic, super powers, the supernatural, alternate histories, etc. There are a lot of fantasy sub-genres. I will try to define the most prominent ones. Some sub-genres overlap.

High Fantasy: (also called Sword & Sorcery): Fantasy set in a make-believe world or civilization, usually involving magic and mythical or supernatural beings. Sometimes high fantasy might include a "real" time and location as well as a make-believe one. Examples: Lord of the Rings, Eragon, Earthsea, Harry Potter, Dragon Riders of Pern, Chronicles of Narnia.

Contemporary Fantasy: Similar to High Fantasy, but set in a contemporary, real setting. Examples: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Sookie Stackhouse, The Graveyard Book.

Urban Fantasy: A sub-genre of Contemporary Fantasy set in a city. (May also take place in the past or future.) Examples: Fallen, The Mortal Instruments, Neverwhere.

Dystopian: Usually set in the future, the term "dystopian" is a play on the word "utopian." A utopia is a society where supposedly everything is perfect. Dystopian novels are set in societies that appear wonderful on the surface, but are, in reality, twisted. Something really bad is happening under the surface. Dystopian also includes stories where society has been severely altered for the worse, either from war, disease, natural disaster, or some other cataclysmic event. Examples: Hunger Games, Unwind, Ashfall, 1984, Brave New World.

Paranormal: This genre houses a whole host of definitions. In essence, Paranormal literature includes almost anything that is beyond normal existence. This includes werewolves, vampires, mermaids, and any number of "monster"-type characters. But it also includes characters who are ghosts, offspring of gods, and who have any number of possible supernatural powers. Examples: Wildfire, Twilight, Shiver, Paranormalcy, Farsighted. (note: Paranormal Romance are romance novels involving Paranormal elements.)

Magic Realism: Stories where the fantastical elements are viewed by the characters as normal or not fantastic and that occur in the real world. The author describes these elements in a straight forward manner. Examples: One Hundred Years of Solitude, The Kingdom of this World.

Dark Fantasy: Horror-type novels involving any of the above genres. Often told from the monster's point of view. Examples: The Vampire Chronicles, The Dark Tower, Faerie Tale.

Other sub-genres which are self-explanatory are Historical Fantasy, Pre-Historic Fantasy, Mythic Fantasy and Superhero Fantasy.

What are some of your all time favorite fantasy books?

BLOG TOUR: FARSIGHTED by Emlyn Chand

2011-11-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

FARSIGHTED
by Emlyn Chand
445 pp (ebook)
Blue Crown Press

THE BOOK: Alex Kosmitoras may be blind, but he can still “see” things others can’t. When his unwanted visions of the future begin to suggest that the girl he likes could be in danger, he has no choice but to take on destiny and demand it reconsider. Get your copy today by visiting Amazon.com’s Kindle store or the eBook retailer of your choice. The paperback edition will be available on November 24 (for the author’s birthday).

THE CASH PRIZES: Guess what? You could win a $100 Amazon gift card as part of this special blog tour. That’s right! Just leave a comment below saying something about the post you just read, and you’ll be entered into the raffle. I could win $100 too! Please help by voting for my blog in the traffic-breaker poll. To cast your vote, visit the official Farsighted blog tour page and scroll all the way to the bottom. Thank you for your help with that.

THE GIVEAWAYS: Win 1 of 10 autographed copies of Farsighted before its paperback release by entering the giveaway on GoodReads. Perhaps you’d like an autographed postcard from the author; you can request one on her site.

THE AUTHOR: Emlyn Chand has always loved to hear and tell stories, having emerged from the womb with a fountain pen grasped firmly in her left hand (true story). When she’s not writing, she runs a large book club in Ann Arbor and is the president of author PR firm, Novel Publicity. Emlyn loves to connect with readers and is available throughout the social media interweb. Visit www.emlynchand.com for more info. Don’t forget to say “hi” to her sun conure Ducky!

MORE FUN: There's more fun below. Watch the live action Farsighted book trailer and take the quiz to find out which character is most like you!

I'M ON GOODREADS!!!

2011-11-10T00:01:00.000-08:00

I am officially on Goodreads. If you are a member of Goodreads, please visit my Author Page. If you're not a member of Goodreads, you should be. It's an online community for book lovers of all kinds. As a member you can keep a detailed list of all the books you've read, are reading and want to read. You can rate books, post reviews, take trivia quizzes, follow your favorite authors and more! It's easy to join - and free! Stop by my page and have a look around. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5244611.Laurisa_White_Reyes

Also, The Rock of Ivanore is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The retail price will be $16.95, but the pre-order price is about $11.50. While the book does not hit the shelves until May, ordering early guarantees the discounted price. Please spread the word! Thanks!

BOOK REVIEW: ASHFALL by Mike Mullin

2011-11-09T00:01:00.000-08:00

ASHFALL

by Mike Mullin
Tanglewood Press
476 pp.
Ages 14+

Summary (from Mike Mullin's website): Many visitors to Yellowstone National Park don’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused by an underlying supervolcano. It has erupted three times in the last 2.1 million years, and it will erupt again, changing the earth forever.

Fifteen-year-old Alex is home alone when Yellowstone erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence, forcing him to flee. He begins a harrowing trek in search of his parents and sister, who were visiting relatives 140 miles away.

Along the way, Alex struggles through a landscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out the best and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, he searches for a sheltered place where he can wait—to heal or to die. Instead, he finds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal: surviving the supervolcano.

Review: I had a hard time putting this down. The action starts on page one and doesn't stop until page 476. This is a story of survival, of facing the worst possible catastrophe. Mullin succeeds in painting a frighteningly realistic scenario. Nothing in this book is beyond reach. It could happen. And he holds nothing back. The scene where Alex and Darla butcher and skin a rabbit made me sick to my stomach, but I couldn't stop reading.

Ashfall is a nice change of pace from the abundance of paranormal and dystopian books out there (I love both genres, btw). It's a fast read that keeps you turning pages to see what happens next. There is some teen sexuality told from a male point of view. Although Mullin does spare us most of the details, "fooling around", condoms, and sex are mentioned. Also, there is graphic violence. Very well written, shockingly realistic. Definitely for an older teen audience. Having said all that, I loved Ashfall and am looking forward to the sequel, Ashen Winter, due out next year.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Profanity: Mild

Violence: Heavy

Sex: Moderate

BOOK GIVEAWAYS

2011-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

I'm adding a new feature to my blog - occasional posts containing links to great book-related giveaways on my favorite blogs.

Abandon by Meg Cabot (Point)

Giveaway at The Write Path

Deadline: November 15th

The Flint Heart by Katherine & John Paterson (Candlewick, 2011)

Giveaway at Cynsations

Deadline: November 14th

US Only

Check out the cool book trailer on the blog!

The Dean's List by Jimmy Petrosino (Diversion - Ebook)

Giveaway at Crazy-For-Books

Deadline: November 15th

Abish: Mother of Faith by K.C. Grant

Giveaway at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Deadline: November 28th

Balance by Jean Stringam (Cedar Fort)

Giveaway at The Children's Book Review

Deadline: November 30th

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-11-04T00:01:00.000-07:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN HOP! It was a total success! Welcome to the 130+ new followers of A Thousand Wrongs.

The winner of the Halloween Hop is DOUBLE D!!! Congratulations!

He will receiving a $15 Amazon.com gift certificate and a copy of R.L. Stine's newest Goosebumps release!

Be sure to enter the giveaway for John Goddard's real life adventure story collection THE SURVIVOR which ends this Saturday, November 5th. All you need to do to enter this giveaway is post a comment with your email address and tell me one thing on your life "To Do List."

BOOK REVIEW: IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS by Erik Larson

2011-11-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS

by Erik Larson
Crown Publishing
464 pp.
Adult Historical Non-Fiction

SUMMARY:
In 1933, William Dodd, along with his wife and a adult children, was sent to Germany as the new American Amabssador. The Nazi regime was taking hold and Hitler was Germany's beloved Chancellor. At the time, the world was fascinated with this seemingly romantic new revolution, but those who lived inside the country saw signs of something sinister brewing: laws restricting Jewish citizenship rights, foreigners being attacked in the streets, people disappearing and winding up in work camps. Despite the rising levels of violence and inhumane treatment of Jews, the world and America continued to turn a blind eye. Even Dodd's own daughter, Martha, played the coquette with some of the Nazi Party's highest in command. In the end, Dodd was the lone voice of reason, warning President Roosevelt about Germany's path to war, but his warnings went unheeded. The question remains, if America had listened to Dodd, might history and Hitler's role in it have followed some other course?

REVIEW:
I'm a big fan of Erik Larson's books. I absolutely loved Devil In The White City and Thunderstruck. This book is a superb work of historical literature. The writing is beautiful and tight, and the book provides sometimes horrific insight into the rise of the Hitler Regime in Nazi Germany. However, while the pre-war Germany is fascinating and often frightening, I had a difficult time connecting with the stories of Embassador Dodd and his daughter, Martha. Even so, it was an amazing read.

Rating: 3 1/2 out of 4 stars

Profanity: None

Violence: High

Sex: Moderate

TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN HOP

2011-10-27T19:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the TRICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN HOP sponsored by blogs Tales From The Nursery, Formula Mom and Momma On A Green Mission where you will go trick-or-treating virtually at each blog for a chance to win some totally ghoul prizes. Will they have tricks or will they have treats? You must click through the linky below to find out!

Since you're here, you're in luck! My treat is a

$15 AMAZON.COM GIFT CERTIFICATE

R.L. Stine's Newest Goosebumps "Why I Quit Zombie School"

To be eligible to win this prize, simply fill out the ENTRY FORM. The following rules apply:

1. You must follow this blog via Google Friend Connect

2. You must fill out the ENTRY FORM

3. Extra entries will be given for posting a comment and tweeting this post.

(Note: the entry form asks for email address so that I can easily and quickly contact the winner. This info is kept private. If you do not feel comfortable providing this information, please do not enter. Also, please do not leave your email address in the comment section.)

For more chances to win tons of fabulous prizes, be sure to visit the other blogs on the linky list. This hop will end on November 2nd, and the winners will be announced shortly thereafter. Best of luck to you, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

BOOK REVIEW: THE AVIARY by Kathleen O'Dell

2011-10-26T00:01:00.001-07:00

THE AVIARY

by Kathleen O'Dell
Knopf Books for Young Readers
352 pp.
Ages 9-12

SUMMARY (from Amazon.com):

Twelve-year-old Clara Dooley has spent her whole life in the Glendoveer mansion, where her mother is a servant to the kind and elderly matron of the house. Clara has never known another home. In fact, she's confined to the grand estate due to a mysterious heart condition. But it's a comfortable life, and if it weren't for the creepy squawking birds in the aviary out back, a completely peaceful one too.

But once old Mrs. Glendoveer passes away, Clara comes to learn many dark secrets about the family. The Glendoveers suffered a horrific tragedy: their children were kidnapped, then drowned. And their father George Glendoveer, a famous magician and illusionist, stood accused until his death. As Clara digs deeper and deeper into the terrifying events, the five birds in the aviary seem to be trying to tell her something. And Clara comes to wonder: what is their true identity? Clara sets out to solve a decades-old murder mystery—and in doing so, unlocks a secret in her own life, too. Kathleen O'Dell deftly weaves magic, secret identities, evil villians, unlikely heroes, and the wonder of friendship into a mystery adventure with all the charm of an old fashioned classic.

REVIEW:

I'm not a big fan of historical fiction, but I received an advanced reader copy and so thought I'd give it a try. And I'm so glad I did. The Aviary is a suspenseful tale about five children who were kidnapped decades earlier. Clara Dooley and her friend Daphne set out to solve the mystery on their own. The story is full of magic and ghosts and wonderful characters. Ms. O'Dell does a marvelous job with the historical feel of the story. It is beautifully written. I can recommend The Aviary to anyone with complete confidence. As it turns out, Ms. O'Dell has published several other books before this one - I'm going to have to pick them up, too!

Rating:      4 out of 5 stars

Profanity:   None

Sex:         None

Violence: Mild

NOVEMBER WRITING CONTESTS, Part I

2011-10-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

RONALD SUKEMAN PRIZE FOR INNOVATIVE FICTION

Entry Fee: $25
Prize: $1,000 & Publication
Deadline: November 1, 2011
Submit to: Ronald Sukenick American Book
Review Innovative Fiction Prize
University of Houston-Victoria
School of Arts and Sciences
3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901-5731
Guidelines: Unpublished short story collections, novellas or full length novel manuscripts are eligible. No length requirement.

CATHERINE DOCTOROW PRIZE FOR INNOVATIVE FICTION
Entry Fee: $25
Prize: $15,000 & Publication
Deadline: November 1, 2011
Submit To: Submit via online via website
Guidelines: Unpublished short story collections, novellas or full length novel manuscripts are eligible. No length requirement.

NILSON LITERARY PRIZE FOR A FIRST NOVEL

Entry Fee: $25
Prize: $1,000 & Publication
Deadline: November 1, 2011
Submit To: Southeast Missouri State University Press
One University Plaza, MS 2650
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Guidelines: Unpublished short story collections, novellas or full length novel manuscripts are eligible.

ST. MARTIN'S MINOTAUR/MYSTERY WRITERS OF AMERICA FIRST CRIME NOVEL
Entry Fee: None
Prize: $10,000 & Publication
Deadline: November 30, 2011 (requests for submission form must be received by Nov. 15th)
Submit To: Entrants must request an entry form via email by November 15th. Instructions will come with the entry form. See online guidelines for details.
Guidelines: Unpublished crime novels of approximately 60,000 words by an author who has not previously published a book in any genre.

Please visit each contest's website for complete guidelines. A Thousand Wrongs is not responsible for mistakes that might appear above, or for the results of any contest entered.

WHAT IS ON YOUR LIST?

2011-10-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Help me reach 1000 followers by January 1st!

I recently read an article called "Will You Live To 100?" by Paula Spencer Scott of Caring.com. The article lists 10 signs that you might live to 100. I was thrilled to learn that most applied to me. Two that didn't, I'm in the process of fixing.

So why do I want to live to 100? (That's been one of my life goals for a long time now.) Simple. Because my list of things I want to do and learn is so long that one lifetime will not be enough to get it all done.

Last week I mentioned John Goddard in my post -- John Goddard, the last great explorer and the man who wrote a lengthy list of life goals and accomplished most of them. Many of the things on John's "To Do List" are related to exploring. Not really my cup of tea. But I do have my own list. I won't bore you with the whole thing, but here are a few:

* Publish 10 books in 10 years
* Learn Hebrew, Ancient Greek & Latin
* Earn a Masters Degree (preferably in Theology and/or Christian History)
* Visit Alaska, Rome, Machu Pichu (in Peru), Niagra Falls
* Go on an LDS Church history tour
* Walk a marathon

Those are just a few items on my list, and I'm adding things all the time. To celebrate longevity and living life to the fullest, I am giving away a copy of John Goddard's book THE SURVIVOR, which details 21 of his most exciting, life threatening adventures. All you need to do to be eligible is post a comment below and include your email address (use dot and com to avoid spam) and at least one item from your Life To Do List. This giveaway will end on NOVEMBER 5TH. That day is special and I'll tell you all why later! So stay tuned!

Please forward this to your friends. One of my goals is to hit 1000 followers by January 1st. Thanks!

BOOK REVIEW: DECEPTION POINT by Dan Brown

2011-10-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

DECEPTION POINT

by Dan Brown
Simon & Schuster
464 pp.

SUMMARY:
Rachel Sexton, daughter of Senator Sedgewick Sexton, is sent on assignment to report on NASA's most recent discovery: a meteor embedded deep in the Arctic ice, and inside the meteor -- evidence of terrestrial life. When she and scientist Michael Tolland uncover the possibility of fraud, suddenly they become the target of a political conspiracy aimed at destroying anyone who stands in its way.

REVIEW:
I'm a big fan of Dan Brown and have read Angels & Demons, DaVinci Code and The Lost Symbol, all of which I loved. Hungering for more, I picked up this earlier Brown book on CD. I was not disappointed. While it doesn't have the same lure as his three most recent bestsellers, Deception Point kept me on the edge of my seat. The plot races by at breakneck speed, has plenty of twists and turns, and keeps you guessing until the end. A thoroughly enjoyable ride.

While this is not marketed for teens, I think it would appeal to many of them. There is some profanity, but not an abundance of it. Just here and there. And just a hint at sex near the end. Violence is present, but only moderately so. Several people get killed in various ways, but it's not overly descriptive. DaVinci Code and Angels & Demons were far more violent than this book. Deception Point is written from many points of view, both male and female, so it appeals to either gender. A true thriller. A lot of fun to read.

Rating: 3 1/2 stars out of 5

Profanity: Moderate

Sex: Mild (just a hint)

Violence: Moderate

DON'T MISS THIS BLOG!

2011-10-17T06:20:00.000-07:00

What are the APOCALYPSIES?

We are Los Angeles's debut authors of 2012!!!

If you LOVE to read and would LOVE to be among the first to get your hands on the newest, the best fiction of 2012, then be sure to follow Apocalypsies. It's a great blog that will keep you up to date on all the latest news about L.A.'s up and coming authors. All genres are covered, all age ranges.

And THE ROCK OF IVANORE is one of them!

Remember the show The Muppets, how Kermit the Frog would introduce the celebrity guest for the night, and then throw up his skinny little frog arms and shout "Yaaaaay!"? Well, that's me.

When you drop by the blog home page, scroll down to see the cover of my book on the right hand column. Doubtless, you will discover many new titles to tickle your fancy. Every so often, I'll be highlighting an Apocalypsie author right here on A Thousand Wrongs. So come back often.

And please spread the word to your friends.

Help 2012 be the best year ever for books!

YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM MADAM ROSE

2011-10-12T00:01:00.002-07:00


Patti LuPone (center) as Madam Rose

I had such an overwhelming positive response to my post about finding a publisher. I really appreciate all the wonderful comments. Thank you! As I mentioned to some who emailed me, if I can encourage one writer to hang on and not give up, then I will have accomplished something worthwhile.

Over the past five months, I've devoted a large portion of my time to preparing for the upcoming auditions of GYPSY at my local community theater. If you're not familiar with this incredible American musical, GYPSY was first produced in the 1959 and is based on the autobiography of Gypsy Rose Lee, a world-renown strip tease artist from the 1930s and 40s. But the play isn't about Gypsy. Not really. It's about her mother, Madam Rose, whose fierce determination and loyalty to her daughters pushed Gypsy into stardom.

In one of the early scenes of the play, Rose tells her father that she's willing to do whatever it takes to get her daughters out of the hum drum life she's had to live. She wants more for them, and for herself, and so boldly tackles every challenge that comes her way. Some people don't like Rose and see her as a pushy, controlling stage mom. I see her as a woman of courage and resourcefulness. No matter how bad things get, she never stops believing that things will get better -- and never stops trying to make things better.

Madam Rose is a veritable fountain of good advice that, as a writer, I apply to my craft every day. Here are three of my favorite quotes and what they mean to me:

"Don't let the past discourage you."

Thomas Edison is one of my heroes. Why? Because he was a huge failure. He claimed to have failed over a 1,000 times before finding the right substance to use as a filament to invent the light bulb.He also held 1,093 patents -- many of them for inventions that simply didn't work. Failures. And yet Edison is one of the most successful inventors in history. Why? But he didn't let his past failures discourage him. He said, "Many of life's failures are men who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." As a writer, there are times when I want to give up -- after the 46th rejection letter or after yet another negative critique -- but how do I know that if I give up now, that the 47th letter might just be that big YES!

"You can do it. All you need is a hand."

None of us can succeed alone. Especially writers. Yes, we might write alone, secluded in our own little space, but to see that book all the way to the shelves requires an entire team of players. Friends and family to support and encourage you, your agent, editor, publisher, cover artist, book distributors and buyers, readers and a whole bunch of other people involved along the way. For me, God is number one. I love the verse in Luke 1:37 "For with God nothing shall be impossible." My mother raised me to believe that I could accomplish anything, if only I was willing to put in the effort needed to learn how.

"I at least gotta try!"

Have you ever heard of John Goddard? He's been referred to as the last great explorer. A real life Indiana Jones. When he was 15 years old he wrote out a list of 127 goals he wanted to accomplish in his life time (the list eventually grew to several hundred.) To date, he's accomplished all but 8 of these items which included visiting various countries, circumnavigating the globe, compose music, climb a pyramid, learn several languages, and many more. John has lived his life believing he could do anything. What did he have to lose by trying? John was a friend of my father's when I was in high school, and he was one of my mother's role models when she was growing up. So it was only natural that I was raised on John's stories and that my parents instilled in me a firm belief that I, too, could succeed at anything.

Have you ever written down your life list? Are there things you want to achieve in your life but lack the faith in yourself to accomplish them? If you haven't written them down, do it now. Then take one item on that list and write out a plan to get it done -- and don't stop until you've done it. I'd love to hear about some of your goals and the things that motivate you to succeed. Remember Madam Rose!

BOOK REVIEW: THE UGLIES by Scott Westerfield

2011-10-12T00:01:00.001-07:00

THE UGLIES

by Scott Westerfield
Simon Pulse
425 pp.
Young Adult

SUMMARY:
Tally Youngblood is about to turn 16. She yearns to join her friend Peris in Pretty Town where everyone is Pretty and everything is fun. But for now she's an Ugly, and she'll be an Ugly until her birthday when she gets the operation that will make her Pretty, too. Then she meets Shay, a wild and carefree girl who doesn't want to be Pretty. Shay decides to run away and tries to convince Tally to come with her, but all Tally wants is to be Pretty. But then Special Circumstances tell her she cannot have the operation unless she helps them find Shay and the other Uglies that have run away. What choice does she have but to comply? But after spending some time in The Smoke among kids like her, kids are who are happy being who they are, Tally must make a choice: betray her friends or live as an Ugly for the rest of her life?

REVIEW:
I've had the entire Uglies series on my shelf for several years. My daughter read them all and loved them. I don't know what took me so long to pick it up. The Uglies is an engaging dystopian story about the dark side of being pretty and happy all the time. Mr. Westerfield is a master as creating a very vivid picture of this society without being heavy-handed in details. The end is a real cliff hanger and I can't wait to pick up the sequel, Pretties. There are four books in all including Specials and Extras. Uglies is a must read for anyone who likes dystopian or science fiction books.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Profanity: None

Violence: Mild

Sex: None

MY STORY: HOW I FOUND A PUBLISHER FOR MY BOOK

2011-10-07T08:53:00.000-07:00

May 21st is my big day! It's the day my first novel hits the shelves, the day my life long dream FINALLY comes true! It's been a loooooong road. How did I get here?

Like many writers, I've wanted this almost my whole life. I was born to be a writer. Once, when I was 5 years old, I woke up in the middle of the night, fished a piece of cardstock from the trash, and scrawled my first poem on it.

That was the beginning of a lifelong love affair with words. I wrote plays and coerced my brothers and cousins to perform them for our parents. I wrote poems, short stories, essays. I won third place in my high school writing contest. When I was about 14, I set a goal for myself and wrote it in my journal: I would publish my first book by the time I turned 30.

As an avid reader, I could think of nothing more exciting than seeing my name on a shelf at Barnes & Noble. I spent countless hours practicing my signature, getting that sweeping 'L' just right. Later, I earned my B.A. in Creative Writing. I kept on writing after I got married and started having kids, writing for magazines and newspapers. I had my own editorial column that ran in three papers for awhile. I even had a short stint as a book editor for a homeschool publisher.

Why did I spend so much time NOT writing novels? Because I didn't think I could. I lacked confidence in my own abilities. Eventually, I simply got sick of producing what I called disposable writing. My articles would appear in a magazine or newspaper, a few people might read them, and then they would get discarded and forgotten. (This was before the immortality of the internet took off.) I wanted to write something permanent. It was time to finally live my dream.

My first attempt at a novel stunk. But I learned a lot in the process. My second attempt came from the bedtime stories I told to my son. These stories eventually became The Rock of Ivanore. It took an entire year to write the first draft, and several months more for the revisions. As an anxious new writer, I sent the manuscript off to 50 publishers. I figured that if I got 50 rejections, then I'd know it was no good. I had no idea what a slush pile was or how many thousands of manuscripts every editor has to wade through to find that one gem worthy of getting published. I didn't have a clue how the publishing industry worked. I was so naive!

Every day I'd run to my mail box praying for that magical letter that said "Loved Your Book! Let's Publish It Tomorrow!" Of course, it never came. Over the next year I did receive six requests for the complete manuscript, but eventually The Rock of Ivanore was rejected no less than 46 times. The remaining publishers didn't even bother contacting me at all.

I was ready to give up. I was discouraged. By the time I went to the SCBWI Editor's Day in Long Beach (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), two years had passed since I sent out that first submission. One of the speakers was Jay Asher, author of the New York Times bestselling YA novel 13 Reasons Why. He said it took ten years to find a publisher for his book, and he told all of us in attendance to NOT GIVE UP. I took his advice and started writing another novel.

Then, one day I got the following email out of the blue. The date was June 12, 2008:

Hi Laurisa,
I'm sure you never thought you would hear back from Tanglewood, as it has been a couple of years since you sent me this manuscript. Anyway, I just unearthed this manuscript a few weeks ago, and while I think it needs some rewriting (the beginning is too slow), I think it has real promise. So I want to make sure that it is available before I go any further.

Best,
Peggy

Was it available?????!!!!! YES!!!!

Needless to say, I screamed, I cried, I got down on my knees and thanked God. It's been a long road from that email to actual publication. Nearly four years will have passed by the time The Rock of Ivanore finally hits the shelves in May, six years since I first submitted the manuscript. But the journey has been well worth it. In that time I've completed a total of ten manuscripts, and I hope to one day publish them all. The best part is that I am living my dream -- maybe I didn't do by the time I was 30 (I'm well beyond that) but because of Tanglewood Press and my family's support, I've finally done it.

So, what can I say to writers who are still waiting for that first acceptance of their book? The same thing Jay Asher told me. Keep writing, keep dreaming, keep submitting. And DON'T GIVE UP!

Well, there it is. My story. And hopefully it's just the beginning of a long and happy career.

BOOK REVIEW: GALAXY GAMES by Greg Fishbone

2011-10-05T00:01:00.001-07:00

GALAXY GAMES: THE CHALLENGERS
by Greg R. Fishbone
Tu Books/Lee & Low Books
Ages 9-12
pp.

Synopsis (from Greg's Website)

Things are looking up for Tyler Sato (literally!) as he and his friends scan the night sky for a star named for him by his Tokyo cousins in honor of his eleventh birthday. Ordinary stars tend to stay in one place, but Ty’s seems to be streaking directly toward Earth at an alarming rate. Soon the whole world is talking about TY SATO, the doomsday asteroid, and life is turned upside down for Ty Sato, the boy, who would rather be playing hoops in his best friend’s driveway.

Meanwhile, aboard a silver spaceship heading for Earth, M’Frozza, a girl with three eyes and five nose holes, is on a secret mission. M’Frozza is the captain of planet Mrendaria’s Galaxy Games team, and she is desperate to save her world from a dishonorable performance in the biggest sporting event in the universe.

What will happen when Ty meets M’Frozza? Get ready for the most important event in human history—it’s off the backboard, around the rim, and out of this world!

Review:

Galaxy Games is a fun, fast read - full of action and snappy humor that made me chuckle out loud more than once. It would definitely appeal to fans of the Captain Underpants and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but easily entertain a slightly older audience as well. This is a particularly important addition to the middle grade science fiction genre since the main characters are Japanese - Kudos to diversity in literature!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Profanity: None

Sex: None

Violence: Very Mild

DANA AWARDS for the NOVEL

2011-10-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

What you need to know:

1. The Dana Awards are given annually in four categories: Novel, Essay, Short Fiction and Poetry.

2. One winner in each category receives $1,000.

3. All work must be unawarded and unpublished when submitted, with no promise of award of publication either online or in print. However, they do accept simultaneous submissions, meaning if you get a contract after your work is submitted, you are still eligible for the Dana Award.

4. For the novel, send the first 40 pages. (Guidelines for other categories are available on the website.). All genres accepted except memoirs and works by authors under the age of 16.

5. Include separate cover sheet with contact information. Author's name should NOT appear on the manuscript.

6. Entry fee is $15 for essay, short story and poetry; $25 for novel. Make check out to: Dana Awards

7. Mail submissions to: Mary Elizabeth Parker, Chair
                                     Dana Awards
                                     200 Fosseway Drive
                                     Greensboro, NC 27455

8. Submissions must be postmarked no later than October 31st. Winners will by announced by May 2012.

For more information, please visit the DANA AWARDS website. Please read guidelines in their entirety prior to submitting. A Thousand Wrongs is not responsible for anything other than providing the information listed above.

AND THE WINNER IS...

2011-10-02T00:01:00.000-07:00

The winner of the FALL FESTIVAL GIVEAWAY is SWEETPEA who will be receiving a set of Tu Books' new releases, including Wolf Mark, Galaxy Games and Tankborn.

The winner of the BANNED BOOKS WEEK GIVEAWAY is KIMYUNALESCA who will be receiving a copy of Ellen Hopkins' book Crank.

Congratulations to you both!