Writing Multiple Genres

When I began writing again in early 2010, I thought I knew the type of books I'd write. Paranormal/Urban Fantasy YA.  A year later, I still identify with those genres, but my current work is YA contemporary, and I have 20+ pages of world building for a dystopian novel and I also have an idea for an adult urban fantasy novel.  Now I'd classify myself as a writer of many genres.

When I started writing my contemporary novel, I found my process changed. I've always written quick, even when I was a pantser. Ideas come to me. Now that I outline ahead of time, the ideas still come to me (I often change things as I go) but I spend a lot more time crafting each chapter. I'm learning stuff about myself as a writer that I don't think I would have if I'd stayed inside my 'genre box'. That's not to say that writers that only write one particular genre aren't talented at what they do, but I have to say I really admire writers whose works span genres.

Do you write many genres? Why or why not?

Review: Invincible Summer by Hannah Moskowitz

Invincible Summer-Hannah Moskowitz
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: April 19, 2011
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab
Author Website

Across four sun-kissed, drama-drenched summers at his family’s beach house, Chase is falling in love, falling in lust, and trying to keep his life from falling apart.  But some girls are addictive....
(Amazon)

I'll say off the bat that this is might not be a book for everyone. Some could find the endless Camus quoting to be a bit pretentious. I can see that, but I remember what it was like to be a teenager and to be passionate to the point of irritating about my interests, so for me, this shows authenticity of character. I also felt that the 'some girls are addictive' line from the synopsis to be a bit misleading. If you pick up this book looking for a beach side romance, well, that's not what you're going to get. Not to knock romance novels, but this book is so much more than that.

Each summer Chase and his family face a crisis, and the strain begins to show on the family. I think this book is about a family in crisis, with a small part of the story being about an addictive, troubled young woman (Melinda) and how she affects Chase and his brother Noah. Chase is almost obsessed with his older brother, and I can see why. Noah is a bit of enigma. I only have one sister, and when she hit her upper teens, she became a bit of an enigma herself, and she remains so to this day. I understand what it's like to be in Chase's shoes. Why doesn't your sibling want to be part of the family? Why do they want to run away? It's frustrating and heartbreaking at the same time.

I could go on and on about what I loved about this book, but I'll end by saying that Invincible Summer really is the best sort of book. It's not always easy to read, and sometimes you want to smack the sh@! out of the characters, but at the same time you care so much you can't help but want what's best for them. Invincible Summer is one my favorite reads of the year so far.

On My Wish list March 26th

On My Wish list is a weekly event held by Book Chick City.

The Iron King (Harlequin Teen)-Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: February 2010

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny—one she could never have imagined…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
(Amazon)

I've heard great things about this series, but I've always been hesitant to read it because of my faery hatred. I've recently read some books with faery characters that I didn't hate, so I decided to add this title to my wish list.

Dust & Decay-Jonathan Maberry
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Publication date: August 30, 2011

Spoilers if you haven't read Rot & Ruin!


Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them.
Sounds easy. Sounds wonderful. Except that everything that can go wrong does. Before they can even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town. But as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, insane murderers and the horrors of Gameland –where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive?
In the great Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you. Everything…and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will make it out alive.
(Amazon)

Rot & Ruin was one of my favorite books of 2010, so it goes without saying that I cannot wait for the next book in the series!

Lola and the Boy Next Door-Stephanie Perkins
Publisher: Dutton
Publication date: September 29, 2011

In this companion novel to Anna and the French Kiss, two teens discover that true love may be closer than they think.
For budding costume designer Lola Nolan, the more outrageous the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins move back into the house next door.

When the family returns and Cricket—a gifted inventor and engineer—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

(Catalog copy) 
 

I loved, loved, LOVED Anna & The French Kiss, so I can't wait to get my hands on this one! I'm not sure if it's even possible, but this book sounds even better!

That's what's on my wish list this week, what's on yours?

Blogoversary Contest #3

The third and final contest is for the writers amongst my followers! I'm giving a $15 gift certificate to the Writer's Digest online store. The gift certificate will be delivered electronically, so this contest is open internationally, as long as you're cool with paying the international shipping. I will not ship gift cards to winners, so if you don't want an electronic gift card, please do not enter the contest!

The gift certificate can be used in anything in the Writer's Digest shop, which includes books, subscriptions and other media. This contest will remain open until Friday, April 1st at midnight EST. Once I receive the winner's e-mail, I'll order the gift certificate and it will be delivered to your inbox. To enter, please fill out the form below.

Blogoversary Contest #2

Today is my one year Blogoversary! When I started this blog, it was on a lark, and I had no idea if I'd continue with it or not. I'm so glad I'm a book blogger! I've met so many great folks through blogging, and all the support I've garnered through my fellow writers is the best thing that's come about through this blog. I can't imagine how my writing journey would have gone if I didn't have this blog!

To celebrate, I'm having another contest! I'm giving away your choice of a $10 gift certificate! Since the gift certificates will be delivered electronically, this contest is open internationally, provided that you're okay with paying international shipping rates and understand that I will not be shipping actual gift cards. Please keep that in mind before entering!

To enter, please fill out the form below. This contest closes March 30th at midnight EST. Good luck!

Review: The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

The Replacement-Brenna Yovanoff
Publisher: Razorbill
Publication Date: September, 2010
Source: Library E-book
Author Website

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.
(Goodreads)

As I was reading, I thought about how I should best describe The Replacement. The best description I could come up with is beautifully creepy. I know, it shouldn't make sense, but in the case of this book, it does. There are some really creepy elements to this book, but I never felt 'grossed out' (for lack of a better term) because of the beautiful way this book is written.

Mild spoilers!


I was surprised that Mackie's family was aware that he was a replacement. In all honesty, I was a little disappointed about it at first, but then as the story went on, it illustrated the closeness that Mackie had with his family, but especially his sister. She knew he was a replacement, and pretty much devoted her life to keeping him safe and healthy. If that's not love and devotion, I don't know what is.

End spoilers!


I also enjoyed Tate and Mackie's relationship. Tate doesn't take crap from anyone and she has to be one of the most kick-ass girls I've seen in a book for quite awhile. To sum up, I really enjoyed The Replacement and I look forward to reading more of Brenna Yovanoff's work.

Blogoversary Week Contest #1

Since I hope to one day become a debut author, I thought it was appropriate that my first contest of my Blogoversary Week feature some of the most hotly anticipated debuts that have come out in recent months, and a few that will hit shelves later this year.

The details: I'm giving away your choice of ONE of the following books. If you win & choose a book that has already been released, it will ship as soon as I receive your address. If you choose a book that has yet to be released, I will pre-order the book for you and it will ship upon release.

This contest is open internationally provided that The Book Depository ships to your country. If you're not sure, please check before entering! This contest is open until midnight EST on Monday, March 28th. Fill out the form at the bottom of this post to enter. The maximum number of entries one person can have is three.

You can choose your book from the following recent debut novels:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Blood Magic (The Blood Journals) by Tessa Gratton, Possession by Elana Johnson, and lastly Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris. 

It's my Blogoversary Week!

I can hardly believe it's been almost a year since I started this blog! I can hardly recall a time when I haven't blogged (I've been at it since 2000) but this is the first blog where I've really felt part of a community and I'm so glad to still be going strong, and hope to be here for several more years!

I have three contests coming up this week, so make sure to keep an eye out for them. Thanks for being a follower of my blog and good luck to everyone that enters!

In My Mailbox (26)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event held by The Story Siren.

Purchased for my Nook:

Wicked Lovely-Melissa Marr

For an upcoming blog tour:

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

For Review:

Girls Like Us: Fighting for a World Where Girls Are Not for Sale, an Activist Finds Her Calling and Heals Herself-Rachel Lloyd

Warm Bodies: A Novel by Issac Marion

Blood Red Road (Dustlands)-Moira Young

Eona by Allison Goodman & The Dark City #1 (Relic Master) by Catherine Fisher.

Thanks to Harper Books, Penguin, Simon & Schuster & Regal Literary!

Quick Pick: Faefever & Dreamfever by Karen Marie Moning

Faefever: The Fever Series-Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Dell
Publication Date: 2008
Source: Library
Author website

The New York Times bestselling author of Darkfever and Bloodfever returns to Dublin’s Fae-infested shores in a bold, sensual new novel. Hurtling us into a realm of seduction and shadows, Karen Marie Moning tells the enthralling tale of a woman who explores the limits of her mysterious powers as she enters a world of ancient sorcery—and confronts an enemy more insidious than she could ever have imagined.
He calls me his Queen of the Night. I’d die for him. I’d kill for him, too. When MacKayla Lane receives a torn page from her dead sister’s journal, she is stunned by Alina’s desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister’s killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil, it corrupts anyone who touches it.

Mac’s quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shape-shifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V’lane, an insatiable Fae prince of lethally erotic tastes, and Jericho Barrons, a man of primal desires and untold secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

As All Hallows’ Eve approaches and the city descends into chaos, as a shocking truth about the Dark Book is uncovered, not even Mac can prevent a deadly race of immortals from shattering the walls between worlds—with devastating consequences.…
(Goodreads)

Obviously, if you haven't read this series yet, you might want to just scroll past this review in your feedreader, as spoilers follow in the book descriptions!

Yeah, I lied when I said I wasn't going to rush out and get the third book in the Fever series. I doubly lied because I got the third and fourth books!

Faefever is the turning point in the series. The stakes are higher, the action is more kick-ass, and the sexual tension literally sets the page on fire. I'll say this, if you're checking these books out the the library, just do yourself the favor of getting them all at once. I didn't do that at first, and I'm glad I did with the third and fourth books because when Faefever ends, you're going to want to pick up Dreamfever straight away. Seriously.

Dreamfever: The Fever Series-Karen Marie Moning
Publisher: Dell
Publication Date: 2009
Source: Library
Author website

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister's murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac's every thought-and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust.
As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V"lane vie for her body and soul, as cryptic entries from her sister's diary mysteriously appear and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac's greatest enemy delivers a final challenge...
It's an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth-about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons...and about the world she thought she knew.
(Amazon)

If the previous books in this series were like crack, then I don't know what to call Dreamfever. Crack 2.0? It seems like everything I loved about all the other books in this series is amplified. It's sexier, darker, and unfortunately there's a lot more questions asked that we don't get answers for! Mac's been through a lot by the time we reach this book and she isn't having anyone's BS. I love how she's grown as a character throughout the series.

 I've read the series entirely from the library, but I know I'll have to buy my own copies of the books. and I'll be sad to see it end with the last book, Shadowfever. As I write this, there are three people ahead of me for Shadowfever at the library and I hope I can get it soon, as I have to know what happens!