Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Nanowrimo 2012

Is anyone out there doing Nanowrimo?

In case you haven't heard of it, Nanowrimo is an online and in-home event, where you try to write an entire novel, or at least 50,000 words of it, in the month of November. The website can be found HERE.

I've participated the last three years, but I've only been successful one time, completing the challenge of 50,000 words in 30 days. Not only is the event awesome for writers, but there's a great writing community out there that band together and write.

I'd like to challenge all of you, including myself, to try this event and take it seriously this year. A lot of good can come from this, whether it be a complete novel, writing buddies, or great writing habits.

Chuck Wendig, novelist and screenwriter, has compiled an awesome to-do list if you're interesting in participating, if you're so inclined. You can find that HERE.

Alas, add me on Nanowrimo if you are participating. My username is Carniehands. Yep. That's right. Carniehands.

Take this time to start thinking about what you want to write, who your protagonist is, and look up local writing ground in your area. You can do this. I can do this. We can do this.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Book Review- Going Underground by Susan Vaught

Going UndergroundGoing Underground by Susan Vaught
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I read this book in one day, in a matter of a few hours. I attribute most of this to the exquisite story telling of this author Susan Vaught.

I must say that originally, I was beyond drawn to this story, because the macabre side of me loves anything involving graves, cemeteries, and boys who live or dwell in them. But I wasn't prepared for how good this novel actually turned out to be!

Vaught does an amazing job portraying the voice of a teenage boy. I fell in love with Del, the protagonist, easily. I also found it enjoyable the way she revealed much of the storyline. Del insists that he doesn’t want to tell the audience right away what he did that got him arrested, for fear of being judged by the audience, just like everyone else in his town judges him. But, as Del gains confidence in himself and his newfound love interest, we find out exactly what happened in a series of flashbacks and conversations.

Del is a teenage boy, obsessed with music, his bird Fred, and haunted by his past. In a digital age, one can’t help but relate to this story of living with the consequences of your actions, no matter how unprepared you may feel or how safe cyberspace may feel. This dark secret that Del keeps from the reader, webs the entire plot together, and threatens to come lose at the story’s climax.

I don’t want to spoil it for you, but trust me. You want to read this novel. It’s intriguing, it’s funny, it’s serious, and it’s well done.

I love you Del.


View all my reviews

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

And the winners are...

Hello Guys and Girls,

Thank you SO much for everyone who entered my blog contest to win a free copy of 
The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton!


Without further ado, here are the winners!!

Cherry Mischievous

@ebelleful

I'll message the winners via email or twitter. Please email me your address.
jolene dot haley at gmail dot com

I will ship them out within the next week-ish. :P

I'll be doing more giveaways soon so stay tuned!