Book Blast: Dead Dreams (Book #1) by Emma Right

Today I'm participating in the book blast for Emma Right's book Dead Dreams (Book #1). A Young Adult Psychological Thriller. 

Genre: Young Adult

Book Title: Dead Dreams, Book 1, a young adult contemporary psychological thriller and mystery

Print Length: 170 pages

Publisher: Right House Books; 2013 First edition

(August 26, 2013)

Format: Kindle

ASIN: B00ESVEVBQ

About The Book:

Eighteen-year-old Brie O’Mara has so much going for her: a loving family in the sidelines, an heiress for a roommate, and dreams that might just come true. Big dreams--of going to acting school, finishing college and making a name for herself. She is about to be the envy of everyone she knew. What more could she hope for? Except her dreams are about to lead her down the road to nightmares. Nightmares that could turn into a deadly reality.

About The Author:

Emma Right is a happy wife and Christian homeschool mother of five living in the Pacific West Coast of the USA. Besides running a busy home, and looking after their five pets, which includes two cats, a  bunny and a Long-haired dachshund, she also writes stories for her children. She loves the Lord and when she doesn't have her nose in a book, she is telling her kids to get theirs in one.
Right worked as a copywriter for two major advertising agencies and won several awards, including the prestigious Clio Award for her ads, before she settled down to have children.

Social Links:

Email Address: emmarightmarketing@gmail.com

Website: http://www.emmaright.com

Twitter link: @emmbeliever

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/DeadDreamsEmmaRight

Goodreads User:

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18396455-dead-dreams

Google Plus: https://plus.google.com/u/0/111644513292318573575/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/emmaright/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emmbeliever

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7036571.Emma_Right

Library Thing: http://www.librarything.com/profile/emma.right.author

Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/emmaright

Freado: http://www.freado.com/users/35467/emma-right

Amazon author page: http://www.amazon.com/Emma-Right/e/B00BD7C4A8/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_pop_1

Buy Link: http://www.amazon.com/Dead-Dreams-Book-1-ebook/dp/B00ESVEVBQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1380565365&sr=1-1&keywords=young+adult+thriller%2C+B00ESVEVBQ

Trailer: http://youtu.be/WkcU1jBMMZc

Music Video:: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM7MI_3vqyo

A Writing and Event Update!!

I wanted to do a quick update on what's going on with me writing-wise! 

My Heart is Yours:
I'll be starting to type in edits this week. And then I will send off to some people for a read-over. While waiting I will work on my query and synopsis. Aftet I get the manuscript back I will edit accordingly. And then I will send out my query letter.

Secret Project:
I don't know if I mentioned it on this blog but I am working on a secret project. ;) All I'm going to tell you that I am co-authoring this one. ;) We worked on it recently. Not sure yet when this one will come out. 

Beauty of the Dark: 
I've decide that I'm going to tell this story in third person dual perspective. This project involves a vampire and a witch that fall in love. (There is also another vampire and a mortal)/ I've decided that I need to read some Anne Rice and Dracula for the vampire side of this. I've only read Young Adult vampire stories and I want to read more. Anne Rice is supposed to be particularly good at this type of writing. I'm planning to read Interview With the Vampire. As for witch reads I have another Anne Rice planned. Before and while reading these I will be doing free-writing in the perspective of the different characters. It's a good way to get into their heads and get to know them. I also want to read the book Writing Great Books for Young Adults. And then I will work on finishing the first draft of this. I'm thinking I'll do the April Camp NaNoWriMo 2014 to get the first draft done and then work on editing it. 

November NaNoWriMo 2013:
I'm still debating whether I'm going to participate in this with a different project. Maybe I'll work on my memoir/autobiography for November NaNoWriMo. I don't think I expect to get 50,000 words because it is a busy month. (My boyfriend is coming to visit). But I could still get a chunk of it done. Plus I've been meaning to write this. This might give me a push. So I'm considering it. 

Events:
Well, my two year blog anniversary is coming up on November 27th and I have something really exciting planned for that! :)

I'm also having a book signing!! January 11th 2014 at The Branding Iron in Peekskill. New York. A family friend (the owner of the restaurant) is organizing it. I will be signing copies of my poetry and photography Thousands of Mornings and my poetry collection Holiday Hospital Stay Poetry Collection 2012. I've included the synopses below. :)

Thousands of Mornings: Thousands of Mornings is a varied collection of poetry and photography. "Thousands of Mornings" is the first poem in the collection, written when Amanda Leigh was 20. The poems range from things she wrote at the age of 12 to the age of 20. Horses, family, friends, love. And then when she started experimenting a bit more with her poetry she wrote a couple of poems in dual point of view; "Broken Boys" and "Long Distance Call". The photography ranges from age 17 to age 20. If you asked Amanda to pick one theme for this collection she doesn't think that she could put her finger on it. It is a collection about love, faith, friends, family, hope, nature and dreams. It is about our Thousands of Mornings and how we should cherish them.

Holiday Hospital Stay Poetry Collection 2012: This poetry collection includes poems Amanda Leigh wrote after her hospital stay in December 2012. They are not pretty, fluffy pieces. They are sometimes graphic, sometimes silly, but they are real. These are some of the things Amanda was feeling then. She felt that it was important to get these real and raw thoughts out there. She wanted to keep the "loopy" quality of the poems; as they came from her head straight after she got home. She felt that they showed the state of her mind at the time better that way. It is so rarely discussed what staying in a hospital can actually be like.

That's what going on with my writing! What's going on with you guys? :)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Self-Published Authors to Check Out!!

I'm particularly excited about this post! As those of you who have been reading my blog for a while know both of my books are self-published. (Thousands of Mornings and Holiday Hospital Stay Poetry Collection 2012). I didn't know much about the world of self-publishing before this but a few self-published books have come onto my shelves. When you publish with a big New York house they take on the publicity for the most part. When you self-publish this is usually on you. Writers self-publish for many reasons and today I wanted to do my part to spread the word about some self-published authors and their books. 

Many of you may already know who this is. Michelle Madow self-published her Young Adult series The Transcend Time Saga. This includes: Remembrance, Vengeance, Timeless and Transcendence (A Transcend Time Bonus Packet). I have read every single one of these and have reviews of every one up on my blog. Michelle did such a wonderful job of marketing that this series has sold over 7,000 copies! She got her first book deal with a traditional publisher for The Secret Diamond Sisters. Coming February 2014! 

Website: http://blog.michellemadow.com/

This is a self-published poetry collection by Nicole Iadevaia. I found out about this because my Aunt knows one of the author's relatives. So I got a copy from that relative. :) I haven't read the whole thing yet but I have read some of the poems and I wanted to feature it here. It is published through Lulu.com. 

A Glimpse of Light 
I couldn't find the cover for this book anywhere. Or information on it. :/ I got this book a while ago because of a connection to the author. It is a poetry collection by Vinette M. Smith (Classy). 

This Place Called Us 
Again, I couldn't find the cover or information on the book. :/ This is another book that I got from a connection to the authors; Lisa Wujnovich and Mark Dunau. This is a poetry and photography collection. 

I know the author of this book via Facebook. Jessica Jondle. We both have Cystinosis. This is a book about her experiences with Cystinosis. Self-published with Lulu.com. 

Website: http://rollerskatingwithrickets.com/ 

I just discovered this author on Sunday via a mutual friend that I met through Rachel Harris' Flirt Squad Facebook Group. I started reading this book on Sunday too. :) So far I'm really liking it. It seems to be Upper Young Adult/New Adult. The author's name is Ryan Ringbloom. This book is part of the Fast series. The next book, Wait, should be dropping soon. 

Website: http://www.ryanringbloom.com/

And of course, there are my books! ;) Thousands of Mornings (a poetry and photography collection) and Holiday Hospital Stay Poetry Collection 2012 (poetry collection). These are some of my suggestions! Covering the scope of Young Adult, Young Adult/New Adult, Memoir/Autobiography, Poetry/Photography and Poetry. Let me know what some of your favorites are! I would love to know! I am always up for supporting self-published authors! :)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Review ~ Diary of the White Witch: A Witches of East End Prequel by Melissa De La Cruz

 

Title: Diary of the White Witch: A Witches of East End Prequel

Author: Melissa De La Cruz

Release Date: June 12th, 2012 

Published By: Hyperion 

Page Amount: 24 pages on my Nook 

GoodReads Blurb: 

The exciting prequel to the Witches of East End series from Blue Bloods author, Melissa de la Cruz. 

Review: 

In the February of 2012 I read another Witches of East End Prequel .(Although I didn't post the review until August. -Was this really only in 2012? Wow-). Well, it was called a Witches of East End Primer. It was pretty good. It's so funny, sometimes when you look at a book that you read a year later sometimes you would change the rating. I think now I would give that book about 3.5 stars probably. You can find that review here: http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot.com/2012/08/book-review-witches-101-witches-of-east.html

This prequel was okay. I enjoyed it. It was a fun, quick read. I enjoyed the format of it a lot. I always enjoy something told through a diary entry format. Being an avid journaler myself, I love this format. 

I tink that Melissa De La Cruz did a nice job of showing the reader that this witch has been around for a while. Via the language Ingrid chooses to use. You can also see the contrast between Ingrid and  her sister Freya pretty well. Melissa De La Cruz also sets up the fact that something sinister is brewing; so that was alright but for some reason I wanted more about that. It didn't seem done to me. 

Ingrid was rather naive about her feelings about Matthew Noble. And I realize this is just the way this character is but for some reason it sort of irritated me. Reading it you can tell that she "likes" this guy or there is some sort of attraction and she is going on about how she doesn't understand why she just wrote about how she met in her diary. Instead she could have just written that she already loathes him. Also, I found several errors in editing in this so I couldn't over look that. I would give this one 3 stars. If you've read this or the Witches of East End series let me know. I would like to hear your opinion and if I should give it a shot. Thanks! :) 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Character of the Month! (#2)

  

This month my character of the month is Damon Salvatore! I love the character from the books so much. I know that most people know him from the television show and I love the Damon there too. I think that he is pretty spot-on to the character in the books.  

The Damon in the books is just as complex as the one in the show. He starts off just seeming like a jerk but when he meets Elena feelings begin to stir up in him. This is of course, just as in the show, because she looks like Katherine. However as he gets to know Elena he sees the ways that she is different from Katherine and is feelings grow for her. He always tries to protect her. Even if he is often a smart-alec and quite snippy. In time he even grows to care about her friend Bonnie. A certain protectiveness over her other friends sets in as well. His main concern is always Elena though. And he even begins to mend his relationship with his brother, Stefan. As twisted as some of the things he does/did are I believe that he believes that he is truly doing it all in the name of love. Whether that love is of his brother, or the love he has for Elena, or the friendship he has with Bonnie. Even some of the things he did in the beginning to get Katherine back. He also has had so much happen to him in his 500 some odd years on this Earth. His past is also very dark. He is all around a very dark, complex character. One who acts on love; no matter what the consequences may be. He would do anything to protect the people that he cares about.

Pretty similar to the Damon in the show. So that was my character of the month this month! He has been one of my favorites since I started reading The Vampire Diaries series. What are some of your favorite characters? 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Review ~ The Prince (The Selection #0.5) by Kiera Cass

 

Title: The Prince (The Selection #0.5)

Author: Kiera Cass 

Release Date: March 5th 2013

Published By: HarperTeen

Page Amount: 55 pages, NookBook (I know the description doesn't say 55 but that is what my NookBook was).

GoodReads Blurb:

Before thirty-five girls were chosen to compete in the Selection...

Before Aspen broke America's heart...

There was another girl in Prince Maxon's life...

Don't miss this thrilling 64-page original novella set in the world of the New York Times bestselling novel The Selection. Also features a teaser to The Elite, Kiera Cass's hotly anticipated sequel to The Selection.

Review: 

The book The Selection ha been intriguing me for a while. The concept caught my attention. This is the prequel to The Selection. It has an excerpt of The Elite (The Selection #2) but since I haven't read The Selection I skipped over that part. 

I think that this serves as a great primer to The Selection. It is a very good set up. I enjoyed coming at this from the perspective of someone first being introduced to the series. Though I think that it would be good coming at this from the perspective of someone who has already read the other books. 

I like that this was told in a different perspective that the other books. I also enjoyed that this was a male perpecivte. There is not a lot of that going on in Young Adult. I thought that it was well done. I found myself thinking as I read this "That sounds like something that a man would say." (Sexist perhaps, but I couldn't help thinking it). 

I enjoyed Prince Maxon as a character as well. I found his awkwardness with women charming. It also made him more believable as a human being, so to speak, not just some perfectly poised prince. (Oooo, alteration. :) I think that it was good that I saw into his thoughts before I dive into the series. 

This didn't blow me out of the water but it was an enjoyable read. I would recommend this to any fans of The Selection series. I would say 3.5 stars! 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Review ~ The Adventures of Balto: The Untold Story of Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog by Patricia Chargot

 

Title: The Adventures of Balto: The Untold Story of Alaska's Famous Iditarod Sled Dog

Author: Patricia Chargot 

Release Date: March 1st 2006 

Published By: Publication Consultants 

Page Amount: 75 pages, E-book

GoodReads Blurb:

Balto, the great Alaska sled dog, has been dead since 1933. But he still stands larger-than-life on Dogdom's Mount Olympus, where the world's great canines are immortalized. Yet few people know Baltos true story. Only one small part has been told, and even it has been distorted. Several Balto books have been written. There's even a Balto animated movie, but it, too, is largely fiction. (Balto was NOT part wolf!) Like the books, the movie leaves off where this book begins -- and tells the best part of the story.

Balto was only three years old when he helped carry serum across Alaska from Nenana to Nome to save the town's children from diphtheria. As leader of the last dog team in the life-saving relay race, he became an overnight sensation - a BONEafide international celebrity.

But much more happened after that. Balto lived for eight more years. His days unfolded like a sled expedition to the North Pole, carrying him in an exhilarating rush over smooth snow one minute, an icy hummock the next. And how does the new story end? With a heart-thumping surprise that you can't imagine - and neither could have Balto.

Hook up your harness, step into Balto's booties, and mush off to Balto's true story. 

Review:

I was obsessed with the animated Balto movie when I was little. I also had a huge crush on the animated Balto. My mom just recently got the movie on DVD for me and I must have watched it at least ten times. I started to become curious about the real Balto so I did some searching on my Nook. The only books that I could find were children's books and this was the one that I chose. 

Overall, this was a very good read. It was very interesting to read the real story of Balto. It was much more sad than I expected it to be. But the ending was a happy one for the sled team. I also found out the real names of some of the other sled dogs. The ones that I remember are Alaska Slim, Tilly and Old Moctoc. There was also another sled dog mentioned who participated in the serum run on another team. (They actually did the serum run in a relay style). This dog's name was Togo. I also heard about when Balto sat for the statue that now sits in Central Park. It was great to know the story, sad parts and all. I'n glad that it was a happy ending but what happened to them throughout was awful. 

However, there were some typos in this book and I couldn't overlook that. I still adore the animated movie but this book was very good. 4 stars!

<3 Amanda