Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Switcheroo


 




TOP CHARACTERS I'D NEVER TRADE PLACES WITH


Surprisingly, this list was easy to make. There seems to be a lot of characters I would never trade places with, no matter if it meant I'd get to keep the hot male lead.




10. Cassia from Matched

Sure Cassia got Xander as a match -- but who would I get? I don't think I want to take the chance to live in a society where your soul mate is chosen for you.


 9- Violet from The Body Finder

Having a sixth sense can be helpful, unless your sixth sense is communicating with dead bodies. No thank you!
 8- Tana from The Coldest Girl in Coldtown

This book gave a depressing view of vampires. They were mean, ruthless and extremely unsexy. Wouldn't want to walk around among them.
 7- Lena from Delirium

 Two words: Forced Lobotomy.
6- Mary from The Forest of Hands and Teeth

Zombies aren't my thing.
5- Katniss from The Hunger Games

Self-explanatory.
4- Mia from If I Stay

Losing your entire family in a car crash, and seeing it happen is something I don't wish to anyone.
3- Alva Jane from Keep Sweet

Growing up in a cult, and forced to marry an old man when you are in love with someone else. Yucky!
2- Piscine from Life of Pi

No way! I'd rather be in the Hunger Games than be stuck at sea with a lion for so long.
1- Rhine from Wither 

The entire population in Rhine's world dies at 20 to 25 years old. Gah! I'd be dead.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Review: The Dead-Tossed Waves


Bolt down the doors, the Unconcecrated are back!

It's been years since Mary escaped from the Forest of Hands and Teeth, leaving behind love ones without a second thought. She moved inside a lighthouse, where she raised her teenage daughter, Gabry, to fear the zombies that invade the village. But when Gabry and her friends break the boundary everything comes crashing down.
 
It felt awkward at first to see a YA character like Mary grow up in terms of responsabilities, but not within. This time we needed a lead that was going to take the story in a different direction. Thank you Gabry for showing us a conscience at work.

A bitten boyfriend, a secret cult and a weapon against the virus -- Carrie Ryan packs a lot of punch in this sequel. If only it hadn't been stretched out to the max in order to push for a trilogy. 

  


Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Pick my brain

 




TOP THINGS ON MY READING WISHLIST







Ah, Inspiration!! Lately, this school mural keeps my mind active, as I picture all the possible worlds books can take us.

Here is my wishlist of crazy things I would like to read about.








1. Cursed Superheroes

Not everyone wants to be different. How would the MC deal with superhuman powers that can create more harm than good?


2. Paranormal Activity Stories

Centered around YA. 



3. Road Trips

I really need this. Winter, here in Montreal, is too long.


4. Books with tears all over them

The ones where I cry but not the characters. No one wants a whiner.


5. Break-up Stories with Karma

He/She treated the MC like crap -- they should pay.



6. Evil Sororities with a serial killer clown

There is something weird about clowns. Think about it, under all that make-up ...



What is on your wishlist?
                                                 

Monday, January 20, 2014

Author Spotlight: Introducing Hank Kellner




I'm pleased to welcome author Hank Kellner today to promote his YA novel, I Don't Want to be an Orange Anymore!

Growing up in the fictional town of Meadowview, young Willie Watson objects to being required to play the part of an orange in the school play when he is nine and in the fourth grade. But that's just the beginning of his problems. As he continues through elementary school and into junior high school, Willie has to deal with Brucie Schultz, the town bully; Christmas with his relatives; the death of a schoolmate; the loss of his girlfriend; the theft of a fountain pen, and his broken eyeglasses.

But that’s not all. Willie doesn’t want to eat his peas; take the garbage out; deal with his troublesome kid sister; try to climb the ropes in gym class while his gym teacher harasses him, or have to stay after school until he’s “…old enough to grow a beard.”

Readers will discover how Willy becomes a member of Brucie’s gang; what happens in the old movie house on Main Street; how feisty old Grandma inspires Willie, and much, much more.

I Don’t Wanna Be an Orange Anymore contains a wealth of humorous and often touching descriptions of a young boy's fantasies and life experiences as he grows up in a small town many years ago. Written from the point of view of an adult, this coming of age book is suitable not only for young adults, but also for readers of all ages




                   Find it on Smashwords                                               


Hello Hank, thank you for being with us. Please do tell, what inspired you to write this book?


I  felt that many people would be interested in reading about the coming of age experiences of a young boy from the time of World War II until the Korean War.


If you could host a diner party with two writers who would you pick and what would you serve?


If I were to host a dinner party, I would invite Ernest Hemingway and George Orwell to dine with me. I've always admired Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea and Orwell's 1984.


Any advice for aspiring writers?


If you are an aspiring writer, you should read everything you can get your hands on regardless of genre. Wide reading is one of the keys to successful writing. You should also master the rules of grammar, study your market, and zero in on your audience. Be sure to set aside a time to write a few hundred words each and every day. And above all, never give up no matter how often editors reject your writing.


What are you working on now -- or would you rather surprise us?


I am working on a satirical novel that will poke fun at all levels of society.



You can find Hank Kellner:

Website




Thank you for being with us Hank, and good luck on all your future projects.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Feature and Follow Friday: Only the persecuted know how I feel inside



Parajunkee Alison Can Read


FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY



Once you answer be sure to leave me your link so I can follow you back



Q: Who is your blogger BFF? If not tell us why you need or don't need a blogger BFF.

With society today and books such as: 

10 Ways to Kill a Cupid
Satan is the New Cupid
The Day I Shot Cupid







makes it incredibly frightening for this BookCupid to socialize at will. Oh, but what I wouldn't do to meet fellow book bloggers and play character Scrabble :(