Random Thoughts

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5 Questions with M. Molly Backes

Published May 9, 2012 by LS Murphy

M. Molly Backes has taught students of all ages and abilities. As an English teacher in a struggling rural New Mexico school, she designed and taught curricula to a wide spectrum of students, with a close consideration of state and national standards and benchmarks. In honor of National Novel Writing Month, Molly got 150 middle schoolers to write their own novels. As a teacher, she developed classroom writing workshops, pushed for greater emphasis on interdisciplinary writing in core classes, ran trainings for educators in writing workshop implementation, led her school’s Educational Plan for Student Success Goal Team and served as English Department Chair in 2007.

Her YA novel The Princesses of Iowa will be published in Spring 2012 by Candlewick Press. In addition to novels, Molly pens the “Writing Tips” column for The Prairie Wind (the newsletter of the Illinois Chapter of SCBWI), blogs at Bittersweet, has been a guest blogger at Puffery, Brood, and This Wasn’t in the Plan, and is a frequent contributor to StoryStudio’s own blog Cooler by the Lake. Her story “Teacher’s Pet” appears in the anthology Good Dogs Doing Good (LaChance, 2009).

Molly is the Assistant Director at StoryStudio, where she’ll be happy to answer all your questions about life, the universe, and all our classes.

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. Congrats on The Princesses of Iowa. How long did it take you from concept to publication?

Thank you! I started working on the first draft in May 2005 — I was supposed to be packing up the house in preparation of a big move, but instead I spent a whole weekend writing the first chapter. So it was seven years from first draft to publication.

2. What was the spark of inspiration for Paige and her journey?

To be honest, I don’t exactly know. I always tell my writing students that the subconscious mind is like a crock pot — you put a bunch of stuff in it, turn on the heat, walk away, and come back to find something cooking and ready. I think the subconscious mind is way smarter than the conscious mind, and it builds bridges between disparate ideas, making connections between moments and images that you’d never link with your conscious mind. So I suppose a lot of random ingredients went into the Princesses of Iowa crockpot — my experiences as a teenager, my time in the classroom surrounded by teenagers, questions about conformity and gender and tolerance and bullying, homesickness for Iowa, etc — and one day the story appeared to me, pretty well formed.

3. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Don’t even think about the market or marketing until your book is a fully formed, finished, polished draft. Don’t worry about building a platform; worry about making sure your book is the best possible book you can write.

4. What is your solution to writer’s block?

Writing. There’s only one solution, and it’s to write. Start a totally new project, write page after page about how much you hate writing and what a talentless loser you are, whatever. Just write. Writing begets writing.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

“Wild Horses” is one of my favorite songs ever (particularly the cover by The Sundays), but I walked down the aisle to a Beatles song, so I feel like I owe it to my marriage to say The Beatles. :-)

5 Questions with Jennifer Lane

Published May 8, 2012 by LS Murphy

People fascinate the psychologist/author (psycho author) known as Jennifer Lane. Her therapy clients talk to her all day long about their dreams and secrets, and her characters tell her their stories at night. Jen delights in peeling away the layers to scrutinize their psyches and emotions. But please rest assured, dear reader, she isn’t psychoanalyzing you right now. She’s already got too many voices in her head!

Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love and empathy. She is the author of the Conduct Series—romantic suspense for adult readers—and is currently at work on the third and final installment: On Best Behavior. Streamline is her first foray into writing for young adults, but she’s found this sort of writing even more fun. A former college swimmer, Jen was able to put a lot of her own experiences into this book.

Whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry. In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, and hanging out with her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

1.      Where did the spark of inspiration for Streamline come from?

The actor Wentworth Miller inspired this story. I loved him in the TV show Prison Break, and when I found out he was a former competitive swimmer (like me), my imagination ran wild. Learning about Wentworth’s mixed ethnic heritage also intrigued me, leading me to create the character of Leo Scott.

2.      How long did it take from initial concept to publication?

This one was longer that normal. I started writing the story in July of 2007 and finished six months later at a whopping word count of 213,000 words! I’d become obsessed, writing every day. When I showed the finished manuscript to a friend, he thought it lacked a target audience (this was before we knew much about YA). I thought it was too long and unpolished, so I went on to write an adult romantic suspense series. After Omnific Publishing released the first two books in this series (With Good Behavior and Bad Behavior), I reconsidered Streamline. After a MAJOR edit, the 129,000 word novel launched on 3-27-12.

3.      What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

I’m still new to this publishing thing but I hear this is the best time there’s ever been for authors because there are so many opportunities with self-publishing or small-press publishers. Still, I’ve talked to many people who have a great idea for a novel or who have started a novel, but haven’t finished. The most important advice is just write. Write and write, and you get better as you go.

4.      What is your solution to writer’s block?

If I’m not feeling a scene, or if I’m not properly rested or caffeinated, I don’t write. Writing is still secondary to my career as a psychologist, and I don’t try to push it. I want to keep writing fun. I’ve also found that writer’s block can come when the scene isn’t working, so a block might be an opportunity to try a different angle.

5.      Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

I have to admit I’m not a huge fan of either, but I’ll choose the Beatles simply for their great song “Twist and Shout” sung so eloquently by Ferris Bueller, ha!

Check out Streamline at Amazon or Barnes & Noble

Book Review: Tempting the Best Man by J. Lynn

Published May 3, 2012 by LS Murphy

Synopsis: Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother’s best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can’t stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother’s wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they’re forced to shack up in a tacky 70’s honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of “accidents” as the family tries to prove their “spark” can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don’t strangle each other first…

The Cover: Sexy, but not a fan of the font.

The First Line: “The ivory invitation with its elegant calligraphy and lacy embellishments felt more like a humiliation time bomb just waiting to blow up in Madison Daniels’s face than a beautiful wedding announcement.” Great visual and really drew me into the story. I like the balance of the “elegant calligraphy and lacy embellishments” with “humiliation time bomb.” The voice explodes in this sentence.

The Good: The heat level in this book is S-C-O-R-C-H-I-N-G. (That’s about ten knots about hot if you’re keeping track.) Madison and Chase have a great chemistry with very real differences. I love that their story doesn’t start here but has a deep history that adds to the drama and romance.

The Bad: The resolution seems a it rushed. I felt like there was a missing confrontation that would’ve added depth to the story.

Recommendation: Jennifer Armentrout (writing as J. Lynn here) is an author to keep your eye on. Tempting the Best Man is a fun, adult romance worth checking out for a quick summer beach read.

5 Questions with J.R. Wagner

Published May 1, 2012 by LS Murphy

J. R. Wagner was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania during a blizzard. The snow made travel by car impossible, so his father called an ambulance when his mother went into labor. The ambulance became stuck at the bottom of their home’s driveway, prompting the dispatch of a fire truck, which towed the ambulance to the hospital where he was born.

Maybe it was this experience that destined J.R. to love adventure. A competitive cyclist, triathlete, mountain biker and adventure racer, he once received a medal for saving a woman’s life during the kayaking section of an adventure race. And the adventure is hard to miss in his debut novel Exiled (Live Oak Book Group, June 5, 2012), the first book in J.R.’s young adult fantasy series The Never Chronicles. He’s got a day job to keep him “grounded”; J.R. helps run his late father’s Downingtown, Pennsylvania floor-covering business.

J.R. first started writing at 10 years old with his sequel to “Return of The Jedi” – the self-proclaimed “Star Wars geek” had lofty aspirations of working with George Lucas on filming the project. In 1990 he began filming his version of “The Lord of The Rings” in his parent’s basement, but the plug was pulled after he nearly burned down the house. Since then the storyteller has also written a full-length science fiction screenplay, a thriller novel and a second screenplay.

After graduating in Kinesiology from Arizona State University, J.R. returned to Downingtown, where his creative fires were re-stoked by his two beautiful daughters.

J.R. also endearingly considers his wife Lisa his muse. It was during their trip to Maine he began writing Exiled.

   Now on the the FIVE QUESTIONS

1. Where did the spark of inspiration come from for Exiled?

I had a vision of the opening chapter and decided to write about it.  Once I finished the chapter, I put the story aside for several months until it started poking the back of my brain telling me it wanted me to write more.  Finally, I obliged and couldn’t stop until the story was told.

2. How many books are planned for The Never Chronicles?

I honestly have no idea. There are two written so far so I imagine there will be at least three.  The story takes me where it wants to go -I am powerless to stop it.  It could decide it’s finished one day and that would be it.

3. What is your solution to writer’s block?

I’m one of those people that people who get writer’s block love to hate. For some reason, it just doesn’t happen to me.

4. What are you reading right now?

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, The Knife of Never Letting Go(Chaos Walking, #1), and 11/22/63 -I can’t read just one at a time.

5. Finally, Beatles or Rolling Stones?

The Beatles!

Exiled will be released on June 5th. 

Website: TheNeverChronicles.com                

Author blog: whatisthenever.blogspot.com

Cover Reveal: Reaper

Published April 30, 2012 by LS Murphy

Holy snickerdoodles! It’s really happening. I’m so excited to share this! I think I’m hyperventilating. :)

REAPER HAS A COVER! SQUEE!!!!!!

AND HERE IT IS AT LAST!!!

Back of the Book:
There’s no way sixteen year old Quincy Amarante will become the fifth grim reaper. None. Not over her shiny blue Mustang. Her Jimmy Choos. Or her dead body.
She’s supposed to enjoy her sophomore year, not learn about some freaky future Destiny says she has no choice but to fulfill.
It doesn’t take long for Quincy to realize the only way out of the game is to play along especially since Death can find her anyway, anywhere, anytime. And does.
Like when she’s reassuring her friends she wants nothing to do with former best friend Ben Moorland, who’s returned from god-knows-where, and fails. Miserably.
Instead of maintaining her coveted popularity status, Quincy’s goes down like the Titanic.
Maybe … just maybe … that’s okay.
It seems, perhaps, becoming a grim reaper isn’t just about the dead but more about a much needed shift in Quincy’s priorities—from who she thinks she wants to be to who she really is.

Publisher: http://www.jtaylorpublishing.com/books/19

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13504857-reaper

Book Review: Black Heart by Holly Black

Published April 26, 2012 by LS Murphy

Synopsis: Cassel Sharpe knows he’s been used as an assassin, but he’s trying to put all that behind him. He’s trying to be good, even though he grew up in a family of con artists and cheating comes as easily as breathing to him. He’s trying to do the right thing, even though the girl he loves is inextricably connected with crime. And he’s trying to convince himself that working for the Feds is smart, even though he’s been raised to believe the government is the enemy.

But with a mother on the lam, the girl he loves about to take her place in the Mob, and new secrets coming to light, the line between what’s right and what’s wrong becomes increasingly blurred. When the Feds ask Cassel to do the one thing he said he would never do again, he needs to sort out what’s a con and what’s truth. In a dangerous game and with his life on the line, Cassel may have to make his biggest gamble yet—this time on love.

The Cover: Meh. I almost missed this on the shelves since they changed to cover design.

The First Line: “My brother Barron sits next to me, sucking the last dregs of milk tea slush noisily through a wide yellow straw.” I love Cassel’s voice. You get an immediate picture of a brother annoyed by his sibling. Since this is the third book in the series, readers will already have a good idea of their relationship. This sentence just punctuates it more.

The Good: Cassel Sharpe is a quick witted young man with a razor tongue and more skills than he has sense. I adore him. There are no easy choices for Cassel and he struggles with being good against being a curse worker. His internal struggles are well written and anyone can relate to his self-doubt.

The Bad: That the series is over. Seriously, Holly Black is brilliant.

Recommendation: Read them all.

5 Questions with Daniel A. Cohen

Published April 24, 2012 by LS Murphy

Daniel A. Cohen was just your average business student. Microeconomics, finance, marketing… you name it, he had to do a PowerPoint presentation on it. One dark and stormy night, he was bitten by the radioactive realization that memorizing business jargon could possibly be the most boring activity known to man.

After gaining eagle-eye vision, abs that could grate cheese, and a talent for imagining things (including his cheese-grating abs), he wrote his first novel and began his epic battle against the formidable business jargon. He continues to fight the good fight by playing saxophone and writing YA fantasy, forever hoping his Veil trilogy will help inspire others to join his cause.

 

Now on to the FIVE QUESTIONS

 

1. Congrats on your novel Masters of the Veil. Where did the spark of inspiration for Sam Lock come from?

I’m a huge sci-fi/ fantasy fan. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Alvin Maker, Name of the Wind; I love it all. I noticed that there seemed to be a trend in fantasy novels where an outcast is pulled into a fantasy world and finds his place in the new society. I thought it would be really interesting to see what happened if the opposite circumstance occurred. Say… a football playing, popular kid getting pulled into a fantasy world and struggling to find a place there. I couldn’t find it, so I wrote it!

2. Masters of the Veil is the first in a trilogy. How different is the writing process for you now than it was writing the first book?

Oh man, I thought writing the sequel was going to be easier than the creating the first, but that’s not the case at all. With a sequel, us fantasy authors have to keep track of SO much. We have to reveal more of the world, develop the characters further, and keep track of so many interpersonal relationships. I’ve found that writing a sequel requires putting in the effort, but I’m very excited about how “Children of the Veil” is progressing.

3. What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

Keep pushing against the tide of rejection! All it takes is one yes to change your life.

4. What is your solution to writer’s block?

I’ll get back to you when I find it. What’s yours? (PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE) (Actually, my secret is to interview other authors to find out their secrets. L.S.) 

5. Finally, Star Wars or Star Trek?

Neither. Lord of the Rings all the way! But If I have to say something with “STAR” in it, than STARDUST by Neil Gaiman. Pretty much anything by Neil Gaiman is pure genius.

 

Book Review: Hushed by Kelley York

Published April 23, 2012 by LS Murphy

Synopsis: He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

The Cover: Love the eyes downcast. Love the blood on the cheek.

The First Line: “‘I feel that suicide notes lose their zing when they drag on too long.’ Archer emphasized the statement with a tap of his foot.” If you don’t get the idea that this is a dark novel by the opening, you probably never will.

The Good: Who would’ve thought that I would sympathize with a serial killer? Seriously? I loved Archer. I wanted to smack Vivian for treating him like she did.

The complexity of the characters is really what drives this story. Nothing is as cut and dry as Archer believes it is. The romance between Archer and Evan is sweet. I found myself rooting for them the entire way.

The Bad: Not much. I wish there would’ve been more from Evan.

Recommendation: If you can stomach it, buy it. Read it. And read it again.

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Visit Kelley’s website: http://www.kelley-york.com/

Book Review: OyMG by Amy Fellner Dominy

Published April 19, 2012 by LS Murphy

Synopsis: Jewish girl. Christian camp. Holy moly.

Ellie Taylor loves nothing better than a good argument. So when she gets accepted to the Christian Society Speech and Performing Arts summer camp, she’s sure that if she wins the final tournament, it’ll be her ticket to a scholarship to the best speech school in the country. Unfortunately, the competition at CSSPA is hot-literally. His name is Devon and, whether she likes it or not, being near him makes her sizzle. Luckily she’s confident enough to take on the challenge-until she begins to suspect that the private scholarship’s benefactor has negative feelings toward Jews. Will hiding her true identity and heritage be worth a shot at her dream?

Debut author Amy Fellner Dominy mixes sweet romance, surprising secrets, and even some matzo ball soup to cook up a funny yet heartfelt story about an outspoken girl who must learn to speak out for herself.

The Cover: Not a fan. It seems too generic. Honestly, I wouldn’t have picked it up at the bookstore based solely on the cover.

The First Line: “I love to argue. I’ll argue about anything – school uniforms, raising the driving age, or ear hair.” What a great introduction to this character. She’s smart, sassy, and sure of herself. And who doesn’t love to argue?

The Good: Ellie’s struggle with her identity is one most people face. In this instance, it circles around her religion as an identifier. Dominy writes Ellie with heart and conviction, even when she’s convincing herself of one thing when she feels another. Of course, as we know from the opening, Ellie loves to argue. Sometimes that means she’s arguing with herself.

The Bad: As much as I enjoyed this book, it moved slow at times.

Recommendation: Definitely worth checking out.