November 29, 2012

Most Anticipated Reads of 2013

These are a few of the books I'm most excited to read come 2013. There are so many it's difficult for me to pick, actually, and I'm so happy with that. It's very rewarding to be a part of a community with so much talent. I love that the YA book community, specifically, is comprised of so many talented authors. It's important to note that YA books are not just about story anymore. They are about lyrical and beautiful writing and characters that feel as alive as you are. I love, more than anything, that writing style is getting attention these days. With so many strong YA writers, it's difficult for me to pick only a few of the reads I am most excited to read (so I decided to pick ones with covers already released), but here are a few:



I'm also really excited for:

Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
Untitled (Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Prodigy by Marie Lu
Shades of Earth by Beth Revis
Splintered by AG Howard
Paper Valentine by Brenna Yovanoff
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke

There are more, but that would go on forever and I have a sequel to write! =)

What books are YOU most excited for?

November 28, 2012

LIGHT OF THE MOON: Teaser Excerpt (Also, a conversation with myself)

People ask me if they can read my book. 

"Sure," I always say. "That'd be awesome."

"But what is it about?" they ask.

So I say, "A boy. A girl. A curse as dark as destiny."

They ponder this, and then ask, "But what's it like?"

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"I mean," they say, "what's it like?"

"Light of the Moon isn't really like any other books I've read," I tell them. "There are elements of the paranormal, but not ones we've really seen before. There's the fact that this boy, Calum, has powers he doesn't know about. The stars above are much more than what they seem, and are the true paranormal elements in the story. There's the fact that this girl, Kate, has secrets she doesn't know about. And then there are the Orieno, who run through dreams sucking people's souls, and the Order, who enchant the earth with their elemental magic. The story is full of hope, but it's also very dark at times. There is love. There is evil. There is good."

"Oh," they say.

"Yup," I say. 

And then, "But would I like it?"

I say, "Do you like magic?"

They ask, "Like Harry Potter?"

I shake my head. "More like X-men. Controlling fire and water and wind."

They nod. "Yeah!"

I ask, "Do you like danger and romance?"

"What kind of romance?"

I say, "The kind that you don't see coming. The kind that's quiet and loud, the same. The kind that builds and builds and explodes into something unstoppable."

"Yes," they say. "Yes."

"Do you like secrets?" I ask.

They pause. "What kind of secrets?"

"Dangerous ones," I say.

"Yes! The more danger the better."

"I agree," I admit.

And then, "But do you think I would like it if I read it?"

~


Amazon has this amazing feature called Look Inside which gives any reader (even if you don't own a Kindle or any kind of e-reader - all you need if your computer) the chance to look inside the book you want to read. All you need to do is click the picture of the cover next to the title near the top (where it says "click to look inside"). Most often, Amazon will allow you to read the first 30 or so pages. The first few chapters of Light of the Moon are on Amazon via the Look Inside feature. If you click the Kindle version for the Look Inside feature, you can actually read up to where Kate comes into the story. Plus you're able to see the front and back covers in a bigger format! Check it out if you haven't read the book yet! Maybe it's something you (or someone you know during the Holiday season) would like.
Amazon Look Inside/Buying Links:







November 27, 2012

Trailer Reveal: MYTHOLOGY by Helen Boswell

Young Adult author Helen Boswell has just released a book trailer for her debut novel, MYTHOLOGY, book one in the Mythology series. (There's a good chance I helped compose the music for it) Check it out below, then check out the book! 



Learn more about MYTHOLOGY:








Purchase the story:


November 26, 2012

Cover Reveal: Danielle Sibarium's BREAKING WAVES

I'm happy to be a part of the cover reveal for YA author Danielle Sibarium's newest novel, BREAKING WAVES. This is the sequel to her novel HEART WAVES.

BREAKING WAVES

"From the moment they met, Jenna knew Reece would break her heart, but she never dreamed it would happen like this...

... Jenna is left shattered and broken. When life becomes too painful to deal with and she feels completely alone, there's only one person to help her pick up the pieces and move on. The one person she doesn't want to turn to. The one person she promised to stay away from. Tyler. Can Jenna put aside everything she knows about him and let Tyler help heal her broken heart?"

BREAKING WAVES
is expected to be available January 10, 2013

If you haven't, make sure to check out the first book in the series, HEART WAVES.

HEART WAVES is available for Barnes & Noble Nook users HERE or for Amazon Kindle users HERE.

Check out the exclusive HEART WAVES book trailer, features, blog posts, cover updates, and more on Danielle's site HERE.



November 22, 2012

Thankful

I am thankful for so much. I am thankful for my family, all of whom have supported every single part of me since I was small. They have not wavered in their faith in who I am even when I have. I am thankful for my friends, because they have been my support throughout it all. I'm thankful I have friends all over the world, who might not be close in distance but always stay close in my heart. Although I wish I could see you all more often, I love that when we do get chances to be close it's as though no time has past. I am thankful for past loves that helped me grow.

Now pay attention to this. 
It's important.

I am thankful for you.

Bloggers. I'm not sure how you do it all. I am so thankful that you have the courage to blog about what you're passionate about. I have so much respect for all of you. I love that most of you are creating positive posts with positive words. Your job is difficult, but so so important. I am thankful for all of you.

Authors. I get it. I get you because I am one of you. Still, I respect you all because you are all different. It's interesting to think how much of us are our books and how much isn't. I love the author friends I've made all over the world. I am so thankful that each of you is brave enough to write from your heart. 

Writers. Even if you have not published a book, you are brave for writing. Know that. Believe that. I am thankful that there are those of you who wish to change the way the world sees itself. There are those of you who want to write positive words that influence us all, and for that I am so thankful.

Readers. It's all about you guys, I hope you know that. I am so thankful for readers because I am a reader. We all are. I am so thankful that we can get lost in books. I am so thankful that we can escape reality and find a good book to read. I am so thankful that there is so much love in the reading community. I am thankful for you all.

Most of all, I am thankful that I know words can be whatever you want them to be. Stories can be real. Love can come true. Reality does not have to be real if you don't want it to be. Life is whatever you make it. Books can change worlds. Positivity is better. Your imagination can free you. Nothing in this world is impossible. Reality is not a thing but a state of mind, and it is forever changing. 

November 19, 2012

Interview With Helen Boswell (Author of MYTHOLOGY)

Today I have the wonderful opportunity to interview Helen Boswell, author of the YA novel MYTHOLOGY. Boswell, it just so happens, was also the editor for my own novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON. For me, her novel MYTHOLOGY read like a cross between Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series and Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series. I loved Boswell's voice and the way she balanced humor and serious moments perfectly. 


Official Synopsis: "Hope Gentry doesn’t believe in Fate. Born with an unusual power to see the dark memories of those around her, Hope just wants to be a normal teenager. But on the first day of her senior year of high school, she finds herself irresistibly drawn to a transfer student named Micah Condie. At first glance, Micah seems like a boy that most girls would dream about. But when Hope's powers allow her to discover Micah's darkest secret, she quickly becomes entangled in the lives of mythical entities she never dreamed existed. Was this her destiny all along? And will her powers help her survive the evil of the Demon Impiorum?"






1) What inspired you to write your first book?
Ever since I was 10, I loved to write short stories. I never completed a novel until MYTHOLOGY, however. I was inspired by one of my own rambling thoughts almost three years ago: What if we don't know truly what we are? What if we search for answers but don't find ones that make us happy -- what would we do with those answers? I became sort of possessed with this idea until I had written MYTHOLOGY.

2) How did you come up with the title of MYTHOLOGY?
The title matches one of the main themes in the book, that of The Fates and whether or not we are tied to our own actions due to things that we are born into, or whether we have ultimate say. Plus, it looks cool and symmetrical on the cover :)

3) Do you have any specific pre-writing rituals?
I'm a mom, so my only real pre-writing ritual is: get the kids to bed, grab myself a snack, grab the laptop, and start typing! 

4) Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There are several, but perhaps the main one is that we all have the potential to be anything that we want to be, and that applies to both ends of the spectrum ("good" versus "evil"). Many things are out of control and set in motion by events that preceded them, but we ultimately all do have a choice in what we make out of our situations. Do the best that you can do given the hand that you're dealt in life.

5) You've talked before about strong characters. How do your characters showcase strengths?
My main character Hope has had some terribly dark experiences that have shadowed her past. Despite this, she is willing to maintain "hope" (no pun intended; she hates that) and take a chance on people. She speaks her mind, acts according to her own directive, and is not afraid to do what she can to help those she cares about. She does struggle with the fact that she is almost constantly privy to everyone's secrets, but she figures out how to filter through these and help when she should.
Micah is morally strong despite being born into a terrible heritage. No more spoilers for that one. :)

6) Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Most of the story's actual events are purely from my imagination. But the story does take place in Buffalo, New York, which was my stomping ground for almost nine years. I wanted an urban fantasy, and the city served as the perfect backdrop for all of its events. 

7) What books/characters have most influenced your writing most?
Cas Lowood from Kendare Blake's ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD. Not only was the story awesome (a teenage ghost hunter - what more do you need), but Cas had one of the most authentic voices that I have ever read. I really felt like I KNEW him from reading the book through his point of view. I hope that readers will be able to do the same with Hope in mine. 

8) If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Christopher Farnsworth, author of Blood Oath, The President's Vampire, and Red, White, and Blood. We met early on in my writing career due to a mutual friend (my ex-boyfriend from college, if you must know) and he read my very first draft. His suggestions helped me become a better writer. Specifically, he suggested I write my story from first person present (because of the elements of suspense) and suggested upping it a notch in terms of what crazy paranormal abilities my characters could have. After all, this is MY world, right? :)  Will forever be grateful to Chris for these things.

9) Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Well, there is a very promising new author by the name of David James. I think I will just put in a plug for him right now. (Thanks, Helen!)

10) What are your current projects?
The sequel! I'm writing the second book of the MYTHOLOGY series from both Hope and Micah's perspectives in alternating chapters. It should be out by Christmas, 2013. 


11) Do you have any advice for other writers?
Don't be an island. No writer can publish a book single-handedly, and I'm not just talking about agents and publishers. I had so many people help me out with all aspects of writing and publishing, and I try to give back to other writers as much as I can. That's the way it should be.

Thank you, David James, and many congratulations on the release of Light of the Moon! I LOVED IT.



Thanks, Helen!

Helen Boswell earned her Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Buffalo. She lives in southwest Utah with her husband, two young sons, and dog. MYTHOLOGY is her first novel.

Check out Helen at:








November 15, 2012

GIVEAWAY!

In honor of 400 LIKES on facebook I'm having a giveaway for ONE signed paperback copy of LIGHT OF THE MOON. With that prize I'll include some additional signed swag (bookmarks, etc) to go the to winner. Enter below (US/CA only please)! You must LIKE the facebook page to enter! If you have not LIKEd the page yet, no problem. Do it now! I'll check to make sure the winner has LIKEd the page!

GIVEAWAY ENDS MONDAY!

http://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor


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A Secret Beneath LIGHT OF THE MOON

Throughout LIGHT OF THE MOON, I've hidden secrets. You'll see these more in the paperback version because it has exclusive fonts and extras. For instance, during a scene between Calum and Kate in the middle of the book, Kate thinks this:

"Still, the spider spun lie after lie between us:

                                                              You and I are more than this.
                                   I know what you are.
                                                                     I believe everything will be okay.
                                                       It is safe here.
                                   Everything will be better in time.
                                 I don't want to be with you or against you.
                                                               I am happy alone.
                                                      I am me.
                                          I am not afraid of endings."


In LIGHT OF THE MOON I explore different forms of writing styles. I strikethrough words a character thinks to give emphasis to their thoughts. Like you see above (if Blogger didn't mess up the screen), I use structure to play with words until they mean three things at once. If you look below the surface of the quote above, you'll find this:

You are safe with me.
I believe in happy endings.

This section of the novel explores the conflicting ideas between what Kate wants and what she needs. Even she may not not right away what is best for her, even though she thinks she does. And, really, isn't that true for all of us? Sometimes we need people to help us understand what we truly want. For Kate, that person is Calum.



LIGHT OF THE MOON IS OUT NOW!
Paperback edition includes exclusive extras.


November 12, 2012

Exclusive Interview with author Danielle Sibarium


Today I have the pleasure of interview the lovely Danielle Sibarium, author of the YA novels HEART WAVES and FOR ALWAYS. Danielle will also be interviewing me over on her blog HERE so be sure to check it out. We'll be holding giveaways on both blogs for one ecopy of my novel, LIGHT OF THE MOON, and one copy of her novel, HEART WAVES. 


Description: "Jenna Kingsley has a gift. She knows things. With a simple touch she can pick up personal information from jewelry or objects. While at a neighbor’s party, a voice mesmerizes her. Jenna is momentarily frozen as a ring is placed in her hand. White electricity surges through her and a dire prediction is made. “It’s like Romeo and Juliet. You’re going to break my heart.”  From the moment they meet, Jenna is enchanted and entranced with Reece Walton. She’s thrilled to learn he’s spending the summer two houses away from hers. Every moment they spend together is magical. But she can’t get the prediction out of her mind. As the summer draws to a close and secrets are revealed, can Jenna get past the fear of being left with a broken heart to live in the moment with Reece or will her fear of being hurt fulfill the prophecy?"



Thanks, Danielle, for taking the time to talk with me today! 

1) What inspired you to write your first book?
For Always was a story that screamed from my soul. I dealt with a lot of death growing up. A lot! I wanted to write about someone like that, a protagonist who must overcome obstacles of chance and her own self-doubt. A girl who internalizes the negative things life has to offer and doesn’t see her true potential. I wanted to show how those experiences help her find a reserve of perseverance and strength. And how the having the right person believe in you can change the life path you are on.  



2) How did you come up with the titles of FOR ALWAYS and HEART WAVES?

I had two requirements for my titles. First, I wanted a catchy title something people would remember easily. Second, they had to be two words long. I tried to make sure the titles reflected the books, so I played with pairs of words until it felt right and hinted at the story.

3) Do you have any specific pre-writing rituals?
In lieu of lighting mood candles, burning incense and summoning an unearthly force to power my finger tips with divine knowledge, I try to find a quiet place and write. It’s a bit chaotic right now because I change places so the kids won’t find me. Sometimes I retreat to my office, other times it’s the spare bedroom. But, I always go back a page or two to try and get back in the moment from where I ended.



4) Is there a message in your novels that you want readers to grasp?
Yes. Believe in yourself, in what your heart knows to be true. In For Always I’d add to that, everything happens for a reason. It may take years or decades to figure out, but whatever event, no matter how devastating or trivial it may be, it happens to enrich your life, to give you some lesson or perspective you wouldn’t have had otherwise.


5) Who is your favorite character in FOR ALWAYS or HEART WAVES?
Ooh this is such a tough question. Of all my characters Stephanie from For Always is most like me, and I love Jordan. I wanted him to be wonderful and perfect while being flawed and broken in his own right. I think those traits came through pretty well. But I had the most fun writing Reece from Heart Waves so far. I guess you can say all three are favorites for different reasons.  



6) Are experiences of your characters based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
There is a shadow of truth in everything I write, especially in For Always. Most of the crazy situations Stephanie found herself in like the smoke filled bus scene, or getting caught by a teacher somewhere she shouldn’t have really happened to me. Just not in the exact way I wrote about or with the same person.




7) What books/characters have most influenced your life most?
Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables consumed my life for a very long time! Yes they are Broadway plays as well, but I did read both books and fell in love with the score, plays, and characters. I think both of these taught me about finding hope in heart wrenching situations, character layering and love. I most identified with the Phantom and Eponine. They influenced me greatly.  



8) If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
Although I hope that I learn from all the authors I come into contact with, especially those in writing groups I have been a part of, I guess mentor in the truest sense of the word would have to go to my college advisor, Harvey Flaxman. He taught me more about writing, how to develop whole characters by really knowing them, how to work through writer’s block, and most importantly to never give up. 




9) Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Hmm. There’s this new guy on the scene maybe you’ve heard of him, David James ring a bell? (Thanks, Danielle!) Just joking, there are many new authors out there that have infused excitement and talent in the industry and have pretty much turned things upside down, in a good way of course.


10) Can you tell us any information about any future books you’re working on?
I’ve been busy with preparations for the release of Breaking Waves, the second book of the Heart Waves trilogy. Jenna is going to have to deal with some tough stuff. We’ve been waiting for the moment when her prediction from the night she met Reece comes true, but she never dreamed it would happen like this. And there’s only one person who understands what she’s dealing with, the one person she doesn’t want to turn to, the ever volatile, incredibly good looking Tyler. Can she put aside everything she knows about him and her promise to Reece to never trust Tyler in order to deal with her heartbreak? You’ll just have to read to find out!

 
11) Do you have any advice for other writers?
Read incessantly, write daily, and revise, revise, revise. Write what you are passionate about, not what you think the market is currently dictating. Markets change. Be open to the ever fluid times. The publishing industry has and will continue to transform. We have not seen the finished product, so don’t get hung up on the traditional ideals. 



Danielle Sibarium grew up as an only child of divorced parents in Brooklyn, New York. Her imagination was developed at an early age. Surrounded by stuffed animals and imaginary friends, she transported herself into a fantasy world full of magic and wonder. Books were the gateway between her play world and reality. On any given summer afternoon she became Snow White sweeping and cooking for the dwarves, or Cinderella waiting for the prince. In 2007 Danielle collaborated with Charlotte Doreen Small to write songs for her CD More. Danielle wrote the lyrics for Take My Hand, and Goodbye, while Charlotte contributed the melody. Danielle graduated from Farleigh Dickinson University with honors, and currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and three children.




Be sure to check out Danielle's blog for a chance to win an ecopy of LIGHT OF THE MOON.
Enter to win an ecopy of HEART WAVES below.
Giveaways ends Wednesday 11/14/12

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November 10, 2012

Inspiration for Writing

Music inspires me.
Reading inspires me.
I write better when it rains.
I'm more thoughtful when it storms.

One thing that truly sat with me throughout the entire time I wrote LIGHT OF THE MOON was T.S. Eliot's poem The Waste Land. I had a class on Eliot in college in which we read TWL and discussed it until we were blue in the face, but I never focused on it the way I did while writing my story. It begins:

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."

I was captivated not only by the meaning of the words Eliot used, but by the way they are woven together. I love their melody. I love the way Eliot created something that can be looked at many different ways and discussed forever. A true poem should not have one meaning, but thousands.

I love this reading done by Fiona Shaw (aka the woman who played Mrs. Dursley in the Harry Potter films). She reads a snippet of Eliot's The Waste Land, and it's actually this snippet that first caught my attention. If you've read LIGHT OF THE MOON, you'll recognize that the city of Ashfall reflects much of what Shaw reads here:



Check out the city of Ashfall in LIGHT OF THE MOON
and read all about Kate and Calum as they journey
through their own dangerous and magical waste land
to find love.




November 9, 2012

World Building in LIGHT OF THE MOON

A few days ago the wonderful Ash over on Smash Attack Reads posted an article I wrote for her World Building Wednesday series. This article focuses on the world of LIGHT OF THE MOON and why I wrote it the way I did. I thought I'd share a little of that here.

"For LIGHT OF THE MOON I actually reflected on two very different worlds. One that already exists, and one that doesn’t. First, we have the real setting of Lakewood Hollow, Colorado. Although the town itself does not exist, it is based on the life of many smalls towns within the mountain communities of Colorado. Everyone knows everyone. Life moves a bit slower. The world is just a tad darker when it rains. Second, we have the world of the Order, the secret magical community hiding deep within the Rocky Mountains. This world is entirely unreal, and so I made sure to ground it in moments that were. To create the world of the Order and make it believable, I invented legends that allowed for a dark and deep history behind the Order. I’m a firm believer that a thing is much easier to believe when you have a history to look back on. To create a great world, you have to think of it as an entire world!"

What I wanted to do in LIGHT OF THE MOON was this: I wanted to create a world that felt as real as the one we already live in, but I wanted that world to be completely magical. I also wanted to stray away from only describing things, and leave the world investigation to my characters. It's through Calum's eyes that you're introduced to Lakewood Hollow, and it's through Kate's that you first see the magical and dangerous world of the Order.

"Kate is a Warrior, or a protector, for enchanters in the Order, and so she would have lived in their company for years. Because she has such a history with them, Kate was truly a key player in making the world of the Order real to not only Calum, but to the reader as well. She describes past events easily and knows more about the Order than anyone. It is through her eyes that we are introduced to the magic in LIGHT OF THE MOON."

 LIGHT OF THE MOON is a story about dark magic and dangerous curses. It's a story grounded in love as well as the hope that makes love possible. The world of the story provides the backdrop for this all, so I wanted to make sure it was a world filled with secrets and life, enchantments and spells. The world, in fact, is just as magical as the characters themselves.

Check out the full article on Smash Attack Reads HERE

LIGHT OF THE MOON IS OUT NOW!

Remember to LIKE the LIGHT OF THE MOON facebook page to enter exclusive giveaways!
http://www.facebook.com/davidjamesauthor