Small Update: Rough Synopsis for My Next Project!

I started this project a while ago but it was put on the back burner because of two other projects I was working on at the time: Putting together my second poetry collection and editing My Heart is Yours (which I'm still doing). When the idea for this project came into my head I sat down and started writing (longhand). I put it aside and when I picked it up again I typed it up and inserted chapter breaks and I had the first two chapters. It got put aside again (due to the projects I mentioned).

A few days ago I saw a video on YouTube (from MelissaBooks) about Camp NaNoWriMo. I've wanted to do NaNoWriMo and I was going to do it this year but I only knew about NaNoWriMo taking place in November. As I found out in another YouTube video (from Katytastic) for the past couple years or so they have had three sessions: one in April, one in July and one in November. I decided that I was going to dive in and do it! The novel I will be working on I'm classifying as a Young Adult, Supernatural, Thriller, Romance novel. It will also be part of a series. 

While I'm not sure I'll hit the 50,000 word mark (due to other projects going on at the same time) I know that by the end of this I will have a good chunk of that novel written. Even if it isn't 50,000 words.

So, when you go on to the NaNoWriMo website you plan your novel and there is a place to put in a synopsis. I hadn't come up with a synopsis yet so this kind of forced me to do so. And here it is:

Rough Synopsis - A centuries old vampire crosses paths with one of the most powerful witches in existence. With the help of another vampire an a couple of her friends they must figure out why the demon that has come to her town wants to destroy it. And stop it from succeeding. 

During their trials the vampire finds himself experiencing human emotions for the first time in centuries - for the witch. And she finds herself feeling things for him she wishes she could forget. After all, witches serve nature and vampires defy it. It is taboo for them to fall in love.

(Note: my Camp NaNoWriMo profile says something slightly different for the synopsis because when I tried to update it it kept saying "error: server unavailable" or something like that).

Let me know what you've been up to! What you've been reading, writing, if you're participating! I'd love to know!

<3 Amanda Leigh

Mini Review ~ First Aid for a Teenager's Soul: quotes compiled by Marc Anello, illustrations by Amy Dietrich

 

Title: First Aid for a Teenager's Soul

Author: quotes compiled by Marc Anello, illustrations by Amy Dietrich

Release Date: January 1st 1999

Published By: Peter Pauper Press

Page Amount: 80 pages, hardcover

Blurb:

This little book is filled with words of wisdom and quotes from various famous authors and celebrities. A little 24k gold plated charm is included with the book.

Review: 

Yes, I know I am not a teenager. :) I got this book when I was a teenager. I flipped through it reading quotes here and there but never sat down to read all of it until a couple of days ago. I love books like this. Books with quotes collected in them. (And having artwork enhances it.) This one is targeted towards teenagers but I think people older than their teenage years can enjoy it too. Perhaps even younger readers. (In their pre-teen years. 10 and up maybe? Maybe even younger than that. Children may need to hear these things too.)

It is split into sections: Introduction. Be What You Feel. You're Not In This By Yourself. Believe It - It Becomes Real.

I think many people could relate to many of the quotes in this book. The quotes in "Be What You Feel" are about being yourself. Something many of us have trouble with as teenagers but we may still have trouble with today.

Some of my favorite quotes from this book:

"I [don't] want to be the next anybody. I [want] to be the first me!" - Natalie Imbruglia

"People who don't want to weather some of the rough periods miss out on something even better." - Lisa Niemi

"I think that you are serving others when you share pieces of yourself with other people." - Angel Grant

"[Nelson Mandela] told me that people should use their power, whatever it is, to help others." - Naomi Campbell 

"Talking helps alleviate the sadness. It helps you understand how you feel and find a way to resolve your problems." - Rita Garon, clinical social worker

"Persistence is the key. Determination, hard work and good intentions are all brought together with persistence. Ignore the pessimists who want to bring you down and stand in the way of your dreams." Joe McCullaugh

"Just think love." - Lauryn Hill 

As I said, I love books of quotes. This is another great one. Although this says it's for teenagers I would recommend this to anyone. 5 stars!

<3 Amanda Leigh

Cover Reveal ~ Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott!

Victoria Scott has another book coming out in March 2014 from Scholastic called Fire & Flood!! I was so excited yesterday when I got the e-mail with the cover saying that we could post the cover to our blogs on Tuesday! Which is today! I really like it and I'm excited to share it with all of you!

 

Over at Scholastic they wanted the cover to be simple and be able to attract all genders and readers of all ages. I think that they succeeded. It is simple and striking. I'm drawn to it. I think other genders would be as well. I love the colors and I LOVE the burning feather! Congratulations Victoria Scott! I can't wait to read the first excerpt of Fire & Flood! 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Manga Review ~ R. O. D. (Read Or Die #1) Story by Hideyuki Kurata, illustrations by Shutaro Yamada

 

Title: R. O. D. (Read Or Die #1)

Author: Story by Hideyuki Kurata, Illustrations by Shutaro Yamada 

Release Date: March 21st 2006 (first published October 2000)

Published By: VIZ Media

Page Amount: 224 pages, paperback

Rating: Rated for Young Adults

Blurb:

Not Your Average Bookworm

Yomiko Readman's love for literature goes far beyond any run-of-the-mill-bookworm's! In fact, she has a supernatural ability to manipulate paper in the most amazing ways. From turning a tiny scrap into a lethal throwing dagger to making a single sheet hard enough to block bullets, she's only limited by her imagination. She uses her phenomenal power to seek out legendary books containing secret information that, in the wrong hands, could be dangerous. Backed by a Special Operations Division in England, Yomiko has her hands full battling evildoers, saving the world, and trying to find time to curl up with a good book.

Review:

This is definitely different than any manga I have read. I used to read manga more often in high school. In high school I mostly read what I suppose you would call high fantasy manga. I have a feeling there is a proper name for such manga. . . Shojo? (Or at least that's what it said it was inside this manga). I'm not sure. 

Anyway, I enjoyed this manga a lot. This may because I'm a bibliophile as well. My favorite line in this would have to be "She can't go a day without books."  This line sums me up. This manga also had a lot of action in it. More than I was expecting. 

There is an element of magic as well - with Yomiko Readman being a Paper Master (she has the ability to manipulate paper. See blurb above). But the conflicts that arise, for the most part, do not have their main roots in magic. I don't want to say what the main conflict is because I don't want to give away any spoilers. Maybe I can give you a hint though. Hmmm. . . Stephen King. That's all. I'll leave you to ponder that. If you figure it out please don't leave it in the comments so as to not to spoil anyone. 

The only negative thing I can say is that at times the action seemed a bit disjointed. I did figure it out, but I had to stop and think about what was happening. Other than that, I really enjoyed this. I would say it is very close to 4 stars, but, only because of that bit with the action, it gets 3.75 stars! (Still, a very good rating! I really enjoyed this!)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Character of the Month! (#1)

Character of the Month is one of the new features I'm starting on my blog! I will feature a character I think is a great character! This does not exclude villains or "bad guys" or characters where there is no clear good or bad (often my favorite kind of character). "Good" characters and "bad" characters are welcome to be featured. So let's get right into it! This month's character of the month is. . .

 

Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte!

Yes, that is right. I chose Heathcliff. Like I said these characters don't have to be "good" people. I also said that characters who are not necessarily "good" and not necessarily "bad" are often my favorite kind. And Heathcliff absolutely fits that description. 

Wuthering Heights is one of my absolute favorite books in the world. And one of the things I love most about it is that almost no character is clearly "good" or clearly "bad". I don't know about you, but I find that fascinating in books. Largely because, it is a lot like real life - people are not just "good" or "bad", things are not always black and white. 

Heathcliff is awful. He really is. He does awful things all throughout this book. But of course the part of me fascinated with psychology has to ask myself "Why does he do these things?" And I don't want to spoil anything for anyone so I will jut say that there is something you find out near the beginning of the book which could help explain why Heathcliff is, well, kind of messed up. 

Also, most of the things he did through the book I really think that he thought he was doing for love (for those of you who watch The Vampire Diaries this is not unlike Damon in the first season, huh? Or even Damon in the early Vampire Diaries books.) Some of them he was doing because he was hurt. I don't think I'm spoiling anything by saying Heathcliff was hopelessly in love with Catherine (just like Damon was hopelessly in love with a character named... Katherine! Another parallel! Ha!) So when Catherine hurt him he would lash out. Yes, he would do it in awful ways. (Again, Psychology - if we looked at Heathcliff today would we find something really wrong with him?) But Catherine had a tendency to treat him horribly (Catherine often acted like a spoiled brat.) So I can't help but feel bad for Heathcliff. Especially towards the end of the book - where a scene took place that made me burst into tears for him. 

I think Heathcliff absolutely deserves to be character of the month. I think the man deserves a little more understanding. He is not "good" but he is not "bad" either. I will admit it, I love Heathcliff. He's a wonderful character!

P. S. I have not yet done a review of Wuthering Heights but if you would like me to I will absolutely do it sooner than I'd planned.

<3 Amanda Leigh

Romancing the R. A. by Ashelyn Drake ~ Book Blitz!

Romancing the R.A. (Campus Romance #1)

by Ashelyn Drake

Release Date: 05/28/13

Summary from Goodreads:

Noelle Buckman is looking forward to making a fresh start in college, one that doesn’t involve immature high school boys. The second she steps on campus for freshman orientation, she can sense the possibilities. Especially when she spots Andy, a resident advisor who’s not just hot but also thoughtful enough to open doors for a girl. 

And Andy has his eye on Noelle. Even when her nerves take control and she thinks she comes off as a hillbilly with no direction, Andy can see what she’s really like and he’s more than a little interested.

But orientation is less than two full days and there’s an entire summer between Noelle and Andy. Will her attempt to romance the R.A. be as short-lived as college orientation?

 
(only $.99!)

***Excerpt***

He’s stunned at first and doesn’t move. I start to pull away, thinking I’ve made a huge mistake, but then I feel Andy’s hand on my lower back, pulling me closer. His lips part, and he deepens the kiss.

Every inch of me is on fire. Andy’s an incredible kisser, but the position we’re in is awkward. I reach my hands up and bury my fingers in his hair, which prompts him to lift me onto his lap. Much better. Our bodies are pressed so close I can feel every inch of him. My lungs are screaming for air, but I’m not willing to give in to them. I’ve been dying to kiss Andy ever since he first smiled at me, and I’ll be damned if I’m backing away that quickly.

His hands move up my back to my hair, and he pulls my head back gently exposing my neck. His lips trail down my jaw and to the nape of my neck. I bite my lip to stifle a moan, but it manages to slip out anyway. Andy slowly eases off, opening his eyes to see my reaction. I debate pulling his lips back to mine, but for the moment I drape my arms around his shoulders and just stare into his baby blue eyes.

“Wow.”

He can say that again. “Yeah.”

“I can honestly say that’s the first time I didn’t have to make the first move.”

“And it’s the first time I ever made the first move.”

           

He smiles. “Then I’m honored.” He leans forward and places a single kiss on my neck. His hips rise under me, and I know exactly where he’s hoping this is going to lead. My body is screaming for his touch, but I don’t want to be that girl. The one who goes off to college and sleeps with the first guy she meets. As much as I want Andy, I can’t do this right now.

About the Author

Ashelyn Drake is a New Adult and Young Adult romance author represented by Lauren Hammond of ADA Management. Look for her debut New Adult romance, Romancing the R.A., from S.B. Addison Books!

*Author Links*

Website│Twitter│Goodreads│Facebook

***GIVEAWAY***
Signed Romancing the R.A. postcard and $10 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble (INT)

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Happy One Year Anniversary to Thousands of Mornings ~ GIVEAWAY!!

Can you believe that today is the one year anniversary of when Thousands of Mornings was published?! It's been one year! And I'm working on another poetry collection (to be out this summer!)! So exciting! My dreams have come and are coming true! So in celebration of these events I've decided to host a giveaway! 

Terms and Conditions:
Must be a follower of my blog OR Facebook page to enter. This giveaway is only within the continental United States. (This giveaway goes until my next book will be out.) If you could leave your e-mail below as well, that would be great too. Not required, but it would be great. Thanks! Once a winner is chosen I will post the winner here and notify them by e-mail. They will have 72 hours to reply. 

Have fun guys! And good luck! :)

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<3 Amanda Leigh