#amreading Wednesday

Holy smokes!  How come I am just now learning about the awesomeness of Carrie Ryan?  Oh, that's right...because I can almost never find the time to read anymore.  Sigh. 

After reading MASQUE OF THE READ DEATH by (a fellow Kentuckian) Bethany Griffin, I am now on a love triangle binge.  I immediately went to Google and typed in "most bestest ever love triangles YA," and the result was basically a neverending list of pages spewing adulation for The Hunger Games and Twilight series.  However, I did stumble upon a review of THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH, a book I hadn't already read. 

All I have to say is - wow.  That shit kicks ass.  It starts off as M. Night Shyamalan's The Village for YA with zombies and then shit. gets. crazy. yo.  I haven't finished reading it yet, but I'm pretty sure I like this Travis dude.  But Harry showed an interest first, and he's hot too...so...

Ohmygod, this is why I love love triangles!  Who is she going to pick?  The suspense is killing me!!!

Check out this badass cover too:

 

 

 

Say what!?!?!?! 

 

Buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/books/dp/0385736827

 

I'd love to hear other recommendations for stories with bitchin' love triangles.

 

Peace out, bitches

Again, I'm a very lazy blogger.  However, in my defense, I have a Court of Appeals brief due on Friday.  No big deal or anything.  The brief is done (for the most part), so I am back among the living finally.

#AMREADING WEDNESDAY! YAY!

 

 

 

Today, it is my pleasure to discuss with you Katie McGarry's newest creation DARE YOU TO.  If you follow my tweets, you'll know that I loved PUSHING THE LIMITS.  Her stories are very dark and gritty, and she often writes about difficult yet relevant topics (i.e. - mental health disorders, divorce, custody disputes, etc.).  What makes her stories so special in my opinion are the well-crafted romances.  In McGarry's first book, there was something about Noah and Echo's initial interractions with each other that gave me the fun butterflies-in-stomach effect reminiscent of my own high school days (eons and eons ago). 

 

The chemistry between Beth and Ryan is even hotter.  This is one of those opposites attract scenarios at first blush.  Once you look beyond the superficial, though, it is apparent that Beth and Ryan really aren't that different.  They're both grappling with protecting family secrets at the beginning of the book.  I don't want to spoil the story about how they get together (finally).  I'd rather you check it out yourself and then tweet me so we can go all fangirl and be like, "Ohmygod, Ryan is so hot!  Lol I know!  Ur so awesome!  I know!  Hee hee hee hee hee!!!"    

#amwriting Help! I have Schizophrenia!

I'm going crazy again. 

I keep switching from third person POV to first person POV and from past tense to present tense. 

Typically, I like first person POV, because it makes me empathize with the character more.  In addition, since I love YA fantasy and sci-fi lit, it helps me live vicariously through the main protagonist.  Who wouldn't want to have wings or fight dragons or be courted by a hot prince?  That seems to be just my personal preference, because I have read and enjoyed many books written in third person or told from an omniscient narrator's POV.  With my current WIP, I do not feel like the story would be better served by simply sticking to my comfort zone and going with first person.  That's probably the reason I keep switching to third person.  For this story, third person just feels right, and I think it sheds more light on one particular character's motives where they might otherwise be unclear if the story was told in first person.  Just sitting here and typing this out has actually helped me solidify my decision.   

The past vs. present tense debacle is the once that has me really confused.

On the one hand, my inner voice is saying, "It's action packed!  Live in the moment!  Go present tense!"  On the other hand, my inner voice says, "No, you're telling a story.  Reflect and think back so that you can work in the critical details.  And also no one writes in present tense." 

 



 

I read an interesting blog post quite some time ago about present tense.  It was not a pleasant review.  In fact, the more I look into it, the more it seems like present tense, while once universally condemned, is becoming more and more popular.  Here's the problem: it is incredibly difficult to do well.  When I write in present tense, sentences seem more choppy - "I run to the store and buy a carton of milk.  The police chase me.  I run out of the store and..."  It seems like you have to write everything in minute detail, because you don't have the power to reflect like you do when you're in writing past tense.  With past tense, the storyteller has already experienced the events, and he/she has presumably had an opportunity to process them and present them in a cohesive, interesting manner.  Therefore, I am going to stick with past tense.     

 

Wow.  Now that I've worked my way through this problem, I can rest easy.  And not think about setting things on fire. 

 

 

Or becoming a crazy cat lady...

 

 

Have a nice day :-)

Monday Muse - Tom F*cking Hardy

Hells yes. 

It's Monday.  That means...

OMFG HOT GUYS WHO INSPIRE ME TO WRITE ABOUT HOT GUYS!!!!!

This week's muse is Tom Hardy.  Behold:

Seriously.  This is a man who actually exists on this planet.  And...get this...the best part is...he's British.  I could sit around all day and blab about how amazingly talented he is.  (He was Bane in The Dark Knight Rises, by the way, in case you're like, "He's cute, but what the hell movie is he in?"  Also, don't forget Eames in Inception.  And then there's the 46 other movies he's in too.)  He's won some awards and stuff and blah blah blah.

Reason #2 why he's bewitched me:

Dear Tom,
You have an accent, you have tattoos, and therefore I love you.
kthanxbye,
Allison

I know he's flicking a cigarette in this picture, but it could just as easily be his own personal sign language that says, "Allison, will you marry me?"

I am jealous of the straw in this picture.

 

 

I am jealous of the dog. 

 



 

 

I am jealous of those grocery bags.  (Who makes walking down the street with groceries look sexy?  I mean, really, Tom?  Just stop it.  You're embarassing every other man on the planet.)

 



I am jealous of this dog too.

Oh stop it. 

I am jealous of this cigar.  And that kid from Third Rock from the Sun. 

I am...not jealous of this baby, because he looks really uncomfortable.

You're not Tom Hardy.  So, shut up. 

And that concludes this week's Monday Muse.  Now go conquer the world!

Nap location #2 - Nooks!

It's Friday!  That means I get a nice, long nap tomorrow! 

I know what you're thinking.  You're thinking, "But Allison, you have a five-year-old.  How can you possibly find the time to nap!?"  Well, let's just say I'm lucky in that I have THE BEST CHILD EVER.

He sleeps in to 10 a.m. on the weekends.  On top of that, he takes a 2 - 4 hour nap on the weekends.  Aside from looking like me, he also has my ability to fall asleep literally anywhere for extensive periods of time. 

Today's topic on the naptime. blog is:

NOOKS

Behold...

 

This is just a good, solid nook.  Very clean with neutral colors.  I give it a score of 8.5, but only because there is a little too much light for my tastes.  

 



 This is totally a 10 out of 10.  I mean...look at it...  I just want to curl up in there and pass out.  Then, when I awoke five hours later, BAM! There's books to read!  It can't get any better than this, folks. 

 

 

Oh.  My.  God.  I think I've died and gone to heaven.  Whoever put a curved bed in a wall is a genius.  I want one in every room.  9.5 easily. 

 

 

This is ideal, but there's something about it that is a little too red and square-y for me.  It just doesn't appeal to me as much as the others.  7 out of 10.  

 



 

 

Ooooooh, a double nook!  How fancy!  But since I hate napping with other people, I give it a 6.  

 

 

I am intrigued by this one.  It's in a closet.  A fancy, rich lady closet with designer shoes.  On the one hand, it's a nook.  On the other hand, I'd be way too excited about my fancy shoe collection to actually fall to sleep.  4 out of 10.  

 

 

Holy crap.  Look. at. this. one.  There's only one, tiny light!  It could get pitch dark in there in the late afternoon during the right season...and if there was a bad storm brewing outside.  (Even better, napping when it's raining outside is my FAV!)  I love this.  9 out of 10!

I would nap the hell out of this tiny Harry Potter room.  8 out of 10.   

A little fancy.  There's some art there and a little wooden stool.  I'd nap there.  6.5 out of 10.

Ohmygod, I am so super excited for my nap tomorrow!  Looking at all these nooks is like looking at porn for me.  If anyone happens to read this blog, I'd love to hear which one was your favorite.  Thanks!

Hiddleston/Hamilton

I have said this for a looooong time now, but...

THERE NEEDS TO BE A MOVIE ABOUT ALEXANDER HAMILTON STARRING TOM HIDDLESTON

Seriously, guys, the resemblance is uncanny:

We all know that Tom Hiddleston is a good actor, and the story of Hamilton's feud with Aaron Burr is so interesting that even the most culturally deprived individual would be entertained.  I mean, they challenged each other to the death just because they were talking smack about each other behind their back.  That does not get more badass. 

The foregoing awesomeness would be compounded if Benedict Cumberbatch played Aaron Burr.  Ladies all over the world would flock, FLOCK I tell you, to see this movie at least twenty times in the theatre. 

If I had the money to produce this film, I would do it in a heartbeat.  If you happen to the have the money and steal my idea, I would not care.  I would watch the hell out of that movie.  I'd practically move into the theater and quit my job just so I could watch it all day every day. 

In case you're like, "Gross, Allison, you're idea is stupid, because U.S. political history is boring," then I challenge you to read this quick, easy, children's book on the topic.  It will BLOW YOUR MIND how interesting this feud was. 

The book is called THE DUEL by Judith St. George.

And you can buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Duel-Parallel-Lives-Alexander-Hamilton/dp/067001124X

Happy reading!  (crossing fingers and hoping powerful movie exec sees this)

#amreading Wednesday!

Right now, I am reading MONUMENT 14 by Emmy Laybourne. 

I love the pacing of the first few chapters.  Laybourne really lays out the terror of the bus wreck well with vivid descriptions.  I could view the giant hail balls pounding into the kids and through the windows in my mind like I'd just watched the movie version of the story.  If you're looking for an action-packed way to start off your novel with a boom, I highly recommend checking out this book. 

Based on how well-written the first few chapters are, I anticipate that the remaining chapters I haven't read yet will be well-written too. 

Check it out on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Monument-14-Emmy-Laybourne/dp/1250027381/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368638633&sr=1-1&keywords=monument+14

If you have any recommendations similar to MONUMENT 14, I'd love to hear them!

#amwriting NA!

I spent 7 years writing my first book, a YA dystopian/post-apocalyptic re-telling with sci-fi elements (aka "Speculative Fiction Epic Remix, Vol. XXII on meth"). 

So, clearly, it is time to move on.  Yeah, I really love my little inverted re-telling of Adam & Eve, but I'm tired of revising.  Maybe I'll come back to it in a few years.  Thankfully, a new story has inspired me.  This time, I'm trying a new, more adult, voice.  I am excited about the challenges of writing a Romance.  How do you write a good sex scene?  How do you build emotional tension?  How do you give your reader those fun butterflies you feel in your stomach on a good first date?

I started reading more romance novels.  Some of my favorite authors have become Keri Ford, Diana Gabaldon, Katie McGarry, and Tessa Dare.  I even read Fifty Shades of Grey (which I somewhat enjoyed.  Don't judge me!)

My work in progress involves a hot French soccer player (or "football player" for my more cultured friends).  Researching hot French soccer players has been EPIC.  Seriously, this is the most fun I've ever had writing a book.  Here is why:

Yoann Gourcuff

James Haskell (yes, he's a rugby player, but still...)

 

 

Olivier Giroud

 

 

Karim Benezema

 

 

 

Pick your jaw up off the floor.  Do you see what I mean?  Why didn't this inspiration strike sooner!?  Here I've been stuck in my YA world for years...and in the meantime, these guys were just running around shirtless?  I am SO glad to be moving on to a new project now.  At first, I kind of felt like I was abandoning my baby.  But I'm over that now.  Wayyy over it. 

 

So here's to NA!  May it broaden your horizons as it did mine! 

   

Monday Muse

Marlon Brando.

For my current project, I imagined what a young Brando might look like in a post-apocalyptic setting, and voila! Love interest!

Brando was the classic, crush-worthy, bad boy. And oh my God so hot. 

He's got the muscles. And then there's the brooding look. And the motorcycle. 

It's just the whole package.

Check out this piece of sexiness: http://thatmarlonbrandogif.tumblr.com/post/4474474297

So there you go. Happy Monday!

Ok, so I really suck at this blogging thing.  I'm going to try to get better at it.  By having THEMES!  Yay!

So, here is what I have come up with:

Mondays - Muses
Tuesdays - #amwriting pontificating
Wednesdays - #amreading reviews
Thursdays - Tom Hiddleston.  Always Tom Hiddleston.  In fact, I should probably go ahead and schedule a whole month devoted to Tom Hiddleston.
Fridays - Various napping locations I'd like to try

Since today is Friday, I am going to tell you all about my dream napping destination for the week:

THE BLUE LAGOON

This is a hot spring pool in Reykjavik, Iceland.  Iceland is on my Bucket List.  I will sadly be about 90 years old before I can make it there, but I will definitely make someday.  And you will find me napping right there next to one of those guys...or whoever happens to be in that exact place at the time.  Even though I'll be 90, I will still be totally sexy. 

You can make the Blue Lagoon your destination too! 

Check out the geothermal spa: http://www.bluelagoon.com/

Happy napping, everyone!