Giveaway Proposition!

I have a new release coming out on September 29th, 2014! This is a co-authored release, by the way. And so, I have a proposition for you all. If together we can make at least three of the things below happen, I will give away a copy of my new release during the release week. Okay, here are the options:

~ Get this blog to at least 50 followers. http://girlwithapenandadream.blogspot.com/

~ Get my personal blog to at least 10 followers. http://lifeofachronicbibliophile.blogspot.com/

~ Get my Author Facebook page to 200 likes. https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAmandaLeigh

~ Get my personal blog's Facebook page up to 50 likes. https://www.facebook.com/LifeofaChronicBibliophile

~ Get my followers up to 225 on Twitter. https://twitter.com/APenAndADream

~ Get my YouTube channel up to at least 20 subscribers. http://www.youtube.com/user/AmandaLeighYA

~ Get my GoodReads Author Page up to at least 25 fans. http://www.goodreads.com/AmandaLeighAuthor

~ Get my e-mail list to at least 10 people. (All they have to do is follow the instructions on the page). http://www.authoramandaleigh.com/contact.html

~ Bonus Option: Get my fiancé’s food blog Facebook page up to 30 likes. https://www.facebook.com/ChronicallyHungry

Now, if together we can make at least three of those things happen then I will be giving away a copy of my new release during the release week. (Now, if numbers increase a little all across the board - 45 followers here, 5 on my personal blog, 160 on my Author Page Facebook, 45 on my personal blog page on Facebook, 215 on Twitter, 19 on YouTube, 20 on GoodReads, 5 on my e-mail list and 20 on my fiancé’s food blog page, for example, I'll still give a book away during release week. If numbers increase more than I expected across the board I might giveaway two copies). In turn, I promise to promote all of you in return. Just please let me know where you promoted something - preferably with a link. For example, if you promoted something on your own Facebook page make sure that I can see it somehow. Or, come on over to my Facebook page and make a post there with the link. Or do the same on Twitter. Or in a comment on YouTube. Or in a comment on one of my two blogs. If we manage to do this together I promise that I will give away at least one copy - maybe two - of my new release! Have a great day everyone! 

P. S. I have a guest post coming up on Wednesday on Dee's Love Books? Blog Books! Keep an eye out for that. In the meantime, check out her blog! http://lovebooksblogbooks.blogspot.com/

<3 Amanda Leigh

Reviewing Books: Speaking Out

This is a subject that has been bothering me for a long time. Reviewing books. More specifically, the way that people review books. Now, before I go on, let me say, this is about reviews where someone didn't like the book. However, I do also believe that if you are going to review a book that you loved that you should try to articulate why you loved it. Now, I realize how difficult this can be. What I often do is post an initial 'review' that basically consists of something like this "Oh my gosh! I LOVED this book!!! Full review to come." and then I post a full review later on when I get to gather my thoughts. Now, on to the 'bad reviews'. 

I have seen some brutal reviews. Brutal. Things like, "This book was a piece of s#$t." or "That's f#$%ing special, isn't it?". No joke. And I don't know why people think that this is okay. Am I the only one who finds something wrong with this? Let me be clear. If you didn't like the book, fine, but don't straight up bash it. Articulate why you didn't like it. Give some constructive criticism. I've come up with a list of questions that we can ask ourselves before we post a review like that. 

~ Would I show this review to my grandmother?

~ What if I had to read this review word for word to the author one day?

~ Would I turn this in to my teacher or professor? What if I had to and had no chance to edit?

~ Is any of this criticism constructive? Not just criticizing.

~ What if I were in a writing workshop class or critique group? Would I say this to the person whose piece was up for critique? 

~ If I had the opportunity to be a book reviewer picked out of several other people, would I be picked with reviews like this? 

~ Could I submit this review to my school newspaper or literary magazine?

~ The New York Times book review section would quite likely not pick my review. 

~ If I wrote and published a book and got a one star review which would I rather see "This book was a piece of s&%t." or "The plot was not developed enough and I could not connect with the characters. I think that they could have been more developed." Which is more helpful? (Not to mention not as hurtful). 

~ If I got a paper back with these kind of comments from a teacher or professor would that be helpful to me at all? 

~ Can I find synonyms for the words that I'm using? Or better words? 

Okay. That is my list of questions. And my rant. Rant over now. But I do believe that this is true. Reviews are also a way that authors get feedback on their books. Meaning what readers did and did not like. When these are constructive, they are more helpful. Not to mention, if we want to review books with any regularity we are basically at least a semi-professional reviewer. And behavior like that, is just nowhere near professional. 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Book Review ~ Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) by Victoria Scott

 

Image Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069167-fire-flood

Title: Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1)

Author: Victoria Scott

Release Date: February 25th, 2014

Published By: Scholastic Press

Page Amount: 304 pages, Hardcover

GoodReads Blurb:

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own. 

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Review:

I received an ARC of this book from Scholastic Press in return for an honest review. 

First of all, I was so excited when I got this in the mail! Right around Christmas! It was like an extra Christmas gift! I wanted to start reading it right then and there, which I did, but I had to put it down to finish other things. I picked it back up again right around the new year and finished about mid-January, I think. I'm so excited to finally be reviewing this book!

I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I thought that this book was great. It's hard to give this review without spoilers. I appreciated the character of Tella for her honesty. Yes, she went into this competition for her brother but she wasn't all-the-time-every-second thinking about him. I also appreciated that she was not an all out kick butt girl by nature. She had people helping her throughout the race and when something terrible happened, sometimes she would be frozen with fear or unable to look at it. To me, that seems realistic. That she is not necessarily the kick butt girl that we have often come to expect in adventure stories with a female protagonist at the center. That wasn't her personality. However, she does "step up", so to speak and does her share of "butt kicking". 

I did like Guy Chambers, as well. And the character Harper. She is not what she seems. If there is one butt kicking girl in this story, I would say that it was Harper. I also thought that the story line was great. I was waiting to know more about this mysterious Brimstone Bleed. Victoria Scott gave it to you in drips and drabs at first, which only made me more anxious to know what the real story was. Towards the very end, you get the story finished off. On the way there, though, there are a lot of twists and turns. There was a time that I had I nearly yelled "Oh my gosh!!" and closed the book shut (in a doctor's office waiting room). I did that at least two more times while reading that scene. There was another time where I was reading the book at night and got pretty significantly freaked out. (And thoroughly surprised. I figured it out about a paragraph or so before Tella). It was not easy getting to sleep that night. The ending most definitely left me wanting more. I wanted the second book in my hands before the first one had even officially come out yet! 

I thought that this was a great read. I have to give this one 5 stars! 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Re-Run ~ Happy Birthday Johnny Cade!!!!

I posted this last year and will likely post this every year on Johnny Cade's birthday!

The Outsiders is one of my two favorite books. And Johnny Cade is one of my two favorite characters from this book. Today is Johnny Cade's birthday, A while ago I found a list on The Outsiders' website with most of the character's birthdays. So today I am doing sort of a tribute to him. 

Reasons To Love Johnny Cade:

#1: He is SOOO sweet!

 

#2: He cares so much about his friends!

 

#3: He saved those children from that burning building!

 

#4: He's open to poetry (Robert Frost - "Nothing Gold Can Stay") and literature (Margaret Mitchell - Gone With the Wind)!

 

#5: He will always stay gold!! 

Having Writer Friends

Today I thought that I'd talk about having writer friends. Over the years I have been lucky enough to make a few. And I have a few authors whose careers I have followed since before they had book deals. I have been able to chat with them as well and that is a wonderful experience. My writer friends, though, are the ones that I can go to with problems concerning my writing. I think that this is an important thing to have in your life and I wanted to discuss it some today. 

Having friends and family that support your writing is great but I believe that you also need "writer friends". Friends who are also writers that you can talk to about things that those who don't write often have a hard time understanding. And that's fine, they don't have to. If they support you that's enough. But having someone that you can talk to about those distinctly "writerly" things is also very important. 

If you want to vent to someone about how you just can't get this character's background right, then that is something that you probably want to discuss with a writer friend. What I mean by this is someone who also writes. And usually, someone who also writes to seek publication in one way or another. Because writing for oneself only is different than writing something and then polishing it for publication. It's a different journey. So if that is what your aim is with your writing then usually you would want to find someone whose aim is similar. 

I met one of my best writer friends (who has also become a good friend) through an author's street team on Facebook (Rachel Harris' Flirt Squad). Jennifer Wesier. (Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/jenniferlynnweiser) I posted a question about beta readers and she said that she would be happy to read for me. I sent her a message, we messaged back and forth on Facebook a few times and then we exchanged e-mails. That was it. I've sent her the manuscript I was referring to in that first question on Facebook and she had suggested edits sent back to me in a little over a week. Now, I continue to bounce ideas off of her. I e-mailed her a character profile of one of the characters in the next book that I'm working on. Yes, she will be reading that one too. ;) I will also read for her. 

So, I suppose my point is that it's important to have people who "get it". Often, writing is a solitary experience and if we can then talk to people who understand the things that we as writers come up against, it makes it a little easier. My fiance also looks over and edits my work - he's an avid reader so I also trust his edits. (He'll be starting a food blog this year. Check out the Facebook Page for it: https://www.facebook.com/ChronicallyHungry)

If you're a writer I encourage you to find people that you can talk to about your writing. I met Jenn through Facebook and through her I met Ryan Ringbloom. (Facebook Page: 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Fast-Series/205973969576654) Writing groups are a great way to find writer friends. You can even look for online writing groups. Or Maggie Stiefvater is holding another Critiques Partner Love Connection. You can check that out here:http://maggiestiefvater.com/blog/2014-critique-partner-love-connection/.

Writing classes are a great way to meet writer friends as well. Or you may just stumble upon someone who also writes. I met someone who also wrote with the goal of publication in mind during my junior year of college, Taylor Vogt. The project that he's working on is Romantic Fiction with Fantasy and Science Elements.  (Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GammaTheExperiment )  If you're still in school, maybe your school has a literary magazine. I was on the literary and arts magazine in college and was therefore surrounded by people who also loved literature and the arts. 

How do your writer friends help you? Are you looking for writer friends? Any tips on how to find some? Let me know in the comments! :) 

<3 Amanda Leigh

Mini Interview with Michelle Madow ~ Author of The Secret Diamond Sisters!

Michelle Madow was generous enough to send an e-mail out to her Street Team offering to do mini interviews! Of course, I knew that I had to do one! Michelle's book, The Secret Diamond Sisters, just came out yesterday and I am so excited for her! Today, I am delighted to share this mini interview with you! And a big thank you to Michelle Madow for taking the time to do this! 

Amanda Leigh: How do you think The Transcend Time Saga helped you in your journey to publish The Secret Diamond Sisters?

Michelle Madow: The Transcend Time Saga was the first series I ever wrote, so it will always have a special place in my heart. By self-publishing it, I was able to grow a fan base, and I gained confidence in myself as a writer from the people who supported me. I was able to learn about the publishing process, and learned how to improve my public speaking skills at fan events. Now, with The Secret Diamond Sisters, I look forward to expanding upon everything I've already learned. There's so much to come and I can't wait for this incredible journey. 

Amanda Leigh: What was your favorite part of writing The Secret Diamond Sisters? (Regarding story, characters, places that you wrote, beverages you drank, anything haha :).

Michelle Madow: I get to do a lot of FUN research for this series, because of the awesome Las Vegas setting! I go to Vegas every year for a family event. Once I realized I was going to write this book, I walked through Vegas seeing it through the eyes of my characters, and being inspired by the different hotels for scenes in the book. My best friend came out to Vegas with me, and we went “exploring” through Vegas to find places that would inspire scenes. We walked through the shops, ate at the restaurants, partied at the clubs, and everything. It was a blast! My favorite part was walking through the Wynn Hotel, which is the hotel that inspired the Diamond.

For fun, here's a picture of me and my best friend getting Eiffel Tower drinks at the Paris Hotel (these drinks will be familiar to those who have read the book!): https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/t1/77191_555040612330_5979156_n.jpg

Amanda Leigh: Which character in The Secret Diamond Sisters do you think you are most like and why?

Michelle Madow: I’m by far the most like Courtney! (The most down to Earth and goal-driven sister.) Although I also have aspects of the other girls in me, like Savannah’s optimism, Peyton’s dislike of following arbitrary rules, and Madison’s confidence.

About the Book:

 

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.  

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip's most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Add on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17160608-the-secret-diamond-sisters

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373211090/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0373211090&link_code=as3&tag=yabore0f-20

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secret-diamond-sisters-michelle-madow/1116411550?ean=9780373211098&itm=1&usri=9780373211098

Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Secret-Diamond-Sisters-Be-Announced/9780373211098

iBookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-secret-diamond-sisters/id771362355?mt=11

Praise:

"Sexy and often electrifying ... Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries in a city that never sleeps." 

--Booklist

"This quick and entertaining read is filled with glitz and glamour ... get ready for one crazy and fabulous ride." 

--RT Book Reviews

“Highly addictive! Hold on tight, because The Secret Diamond Sisters throws you head first into the Vegas fast lane. Three every day teens navigate the slippery slope of wealth, popularity, and too much freedom, along with family drama, cat fights, and more gorgeous guys than should be legal. A fun ride not to be missed!” 

– Rachel Harris, author of My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

About the Author: 

 

Michelle Madow has visited Las Vegas every year since she was fifteen years old, and was inspired to write The Secret Diamond Sisters while walking through the beautiful Wynn Hotel. She grew up in the suburbs of Baltimore, then went to Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. She wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college, and later went on to self-publish it as book one in the Transcend Time Saga. She wrote The Secret Diamond Sisters in the year following graduation, and is so happy to finally share it with the world!

Michelle lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling, shopping, sunshine, Disney fairy tales, and Broadway musicals. She loves connecting with readers online, so be sure to follow her on Facebook (facebook.com/MichelleMadow), Twitter (@MichelleMadow), and Instagram (@MichelleMadow).

Website: www.michellemadow.com 

Thank you so much to Michelle! I can't wait to read The Secret Diamond Sisters! :)

<3 Amanda Leigh

Happy Release Day to Victoria Scott and Michelle Madow!!

Today Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) by Victoria Scott and The Secret Diamond Sisters (The Secret Diamond Sisters #1) by Michelle Madow are officially out! I received an ARC of Fire & Flood and have already read and loved it! I'm very excited to read The Secret Diamond Sisters! Happy Release Day Victoria Scott and Michelle Madow! 

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069167-fire-flood 

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17160608-the-secret-diamond-sisters?ac=1

Congratulations again!! :) 

<3 Amanda Leigh