Cover Reveal: "Apollyon" by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Deity (The third book in the Covenant Series)

Available in both print and digital version on Nov. 6, 2012

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Official Deity Book Trailer 

http://youtu.be/RIqKBYMSTU8

Did you read an ARC of Deity and been dying to get your hands on Elixir, the novella told in Aiden’s POV and picks up right after the end of Deity? Well, you don’t have to wait any longer. The free novella is available now. DO NOT read Elixir if you have not read Deity. It will spoil Deity for you and not to mention, you will have no idea what is going on. 

Elixir will be available in print. Kindle, and Nook formats on November 27, 2012. 

Click HERE to read Elixir. 

And we’re super excited to share the cover for the 4th book in the Covenant Series, Apollyon, which is due out April 2013. 

Check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Official Website

Guest Post and GIVEAWAY: Author Sarra Cannon

Today I'm excited to have Sara Cannon, author of The Peachville High Demons series, stop by the blog to tell us a bit about her writing process- Y'all are going to want to take notes, Sarra knows what she's talking about, she's sold more than 100,000 copies of her books! ;) 

Hi Avery and fans of Avery's Book Nook!! I am Indie author Sarra Cannon, and I am so excited to be here on the blog today to talk about my writing process.

 I have always loved to write fiction. When I decided to pursue writing as a career, I knew I wanted to write YA. For research (wink, wink), I bought a TON of new YA books and read for months and months, analyzing what worked, how the stories I loved most were put together, and what types of characters I connected with on a deeper level. Finding my own voice and writing process wasn't easy. It took years of work and self-discovery, but when I finally figured out my best process, my writing got better and a lot more fun.

 So what's my process? First of all, I keep an 'idea box'. Whenever I have a new idea, I file it away so that I don't forget. When it's time for me to work on a new project, I look through my idea box and pick a story that speaks to me. Then, I outline my idea using a three-act structure. I am obsessed with colorful post-its and pens, so my initial story grid looks like (to the left). I spend about a week or two filling in as many scenes as I can, which for me is usually only the beginning and end of the story with a few scenes peppered in here and there randomly. I definitely already have a good idea of the main characters in the story and can see them clearly in my head before I begin writing.

 Then I start the rough draft. My rough drafts always suck, lol. I write in circles, sometimes with scenes out of order. Sometimes I have notes to myself that say things like, “Figure out a scene to add here that is romantic.” During this stage, I usually bite my nails and swear that I'm a terrible writer. For the record, my husband hates this stage because he has to hear me whine about how the story just isn't coming together. He says I do this every single time. Ha!

 Even though I think I know what my novel is about when I begin, I always have this revelation somewhere toward the end of the first draft that completely changes everything I've written so far. When I first started writing, I got so frustrated by this. Making these changes means rewriting most of the book, and I felt that I had just wasted my time by writing words that would never see the light of day.

 It wasn't until I finally gave in to my true writing process that I started writing books that people actually liked to read. I no longer let myself get frustrated by the fact that most of my rough draft is completely tossed out. I actually call my rough draft my 'exploratory draft'. I know going into it now that my readers will never see most of it. I am simply exploring my idea of what the story might be. I start writing and find joy in waiting for that beautiful moment where the light turns on and the true story reveals itself to me. It feels like magic, and for me, it's one of the most exhilarating things I've ever experienced in my life.

Of course, this moment usually comes about a month before my book is due to be published, so I end up rewriting the entire book furiously in the middle of the night. For Rival Demons, book 5 of my Peachville High Demons series, I rewrote the entire book in a week just before it was published in January. It was grueling and exhausted, but it was incredibly fun and exciting. This is my process, and the more I embrace it, the faster I write. I also would like to think the better my books become, but I'll let my readers be the judge of that.

Speaking of readers, I would love to introduce some new readers to the Peachville High Demons series. Enter below to win copies of all 6 ebooks in my series, including the brand new book, DEMONS FOREVER, which will release October 29^th. I'm also throwing in some fun swag for a US winner! And for any current fans of the series, you can still enter to win book 6 even if you already have the rest of them. The winner will be announced here on the rafflecopter and on my twitter (@sarramaria) and Facebook page Tuesday the 16^th.

 Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by the blog today, and thanks again to Avery for having me as a guest!! a Rafflecopter giveaway

"Stealing Parker" by Miranda Kenneally

Release Date: October 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourebooks Fire
Pages: 245

From Goodreads: "Red-hot author Miranda Kenneally hits one out of the park in this return to Catching Jordan's Hundred Oaks High.

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back."

When I was presented the opportunity to read and review this book I jumped at the chance to do so (despite never having read "Catching Jordan"- yet), as it came so highly recommended to me (in fact, some of my friends who had read it had trumpeted author Miranda Kenneally as the next Stephanie Perkins and those of you who know me know that I LOVE Stephanie Perkins). Therefore, you could say that I had extremely high expectations- expectations which were not met in any way, shape, or form.

When I first started this book I felt that there was something off about the writing, something that I can't put on my finger on- I don't know if I found the writing to be too simplistic or juvenile or if I found that Parker's perspective was too jumpy and erratic- and it just spiraled downward from there. Admittedly, Parker rubbed me the wrong way from the get-go, I found her to be so superficial, selfish (for all but that one instance at the very end of the book), and the likes of- she possessed essentially every characteristic that I despise in a female character. I lost track of the number of times that she referred to herself as "hot", talked about how many boys liked her, described her tangly hair, and painted her nails (all but describing the entire process).

As my opinion of Parker was as such I had an extremely difficult time connecting to her, in fact, I had an extremely difficult time connecting to any character and the story line itself (admittedly, I also had quite a difficult time writing this review, because, in all honesty, I cared so little for this book to really be bothered to form a solid opinion of it). While I did quite like Brian in the beginning of the novel my opinion of him quickly soured as his true character was revealed. Additionally, while I did like Corndog a fair bit, I wish that he had been a bit more complex. Drew, Parker's best friend, was the brightest moment of the story for me, however my opinion of him was tarnished a fair bit by the assumptions that he made towards the end of the novel. Additionally, I had a bit of a difficult time with the religious aspect of this novel- while I withhold judgement about other's religions, I, at times, felt that this novel was a bit too "preachy"- barely a page passed without some mention of it.

All in all, while I personally was not a fan of this novel I believe that fans of Kenneally's "Chasing Jordan" will love this novel. Furthermore, despite said complaints I do intend to read Kenneally's other books, hopefully in doing so will allow me to reconsider my opinion of this book!

Rating: 2/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and honestly review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.

Waiting on Wednesday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating...
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Title: "Touch of Death"
Author: Kelly Hashway
Release Date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

From Goodreads: "Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendents of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct."

Guest Post: Rachel Roberts

Today I'm excited to have Rachel Roberts, author of the "Avalon: Web of Magic" series, stop by to offer aspiring authors a few words of wisdom! 

Rachel Roberts - Rachel's Writing Tips 

Since so many of you have asked for tips to create your own stories, Attila, Raider, and I thought we'd share some writing secrets! Whether you're a writer starting with a blank page, a painter staring at a canvass or a sculptor shaping a lump of clay, creating is a process. It takes time, practice, and patience to bring your vision to life. Creativity can be hard work but it's always worth the effort. The important thing is to have fun!

WAIT! Don't write - yet: You have to prepare first. Make some decisions about what kind of story you want to tell - action, adventure, fantasy, mystery - and who your characters are. But where do you get ideas?

You need input to get output: 
To get your imagination flowing, start by doing something you like. Read a book, watch a movie, listen to music, walk in the forest - any experience that makes you feel inspired and ready to create.

Be open to ideas: 
As a writer, part of your job to observe. Ideas- big and small- will come if you pay attention to the world around you. Maybe your cat did something so amazing that it gives you an idea for a magical creature, or your BFF had an interesting comment that made you think, or a ray of sunlight shining through a maple tree looked like a cloud of golden fairy dust. The more you study the real world, the truer and realer your own world and characters will feel.

Be ready to catch ideas: 
If you don't grab that idea when it pops into your mind it, it might get lost. Carry a notebook so you're always prepared to jot things down. Soon you'll have a lot of cool stuff to help create your story. Some ideas you'll love and others you won't, but that's okay. You never know what will help build your story. Plus, when you feel stuck during writing, you can always go back to your notebook and find ideas to get you moving again.

The Big Idea: 
You've immersed yourself in great stories, you have a collection of cool ideas, you're inspired, excited - now what? Here's what I do:

1. Write A Story Summary: 
A story summary helps you answer the question, "Hey, what's your story about?" This will help you keep the big picture in mind as you start designing the beginning, middle, and end to your story. You can also use this summary for sales copy when you are ready to post your book online or print it. Here’s some examples of the Avalon book summaries:

Circles in the Stream:

Three very different teenage girls are all drawn to a secret place deep in the woods. There they discover a portal to another world through which strange and wondrous animals have emerged, searching desperately for the magic that will keep them alive. The animals are peaceful and good, but what follows them through the portal is pure evil. Emily, Adriane, and Kara have been chosen by magical beings called Fairimentals to protect the magical animals, though they don't know why. To save them and their world, the three girls must begin a quest to find the lost home of legendary magic, Avalon...or to perish trying.

Secret of the Unicorn:

The problems in the magical world of Aldenmor are getting worse. Many new creatures are arriving in Ravenswood through the portal and they report that the Fairy Glen, home of the Fairimentals, has vanished. A frightened and terribly wounded unicorn is among the new refugees to Ravenswood. Can Emily communicate with her to offer help? The future of the magic web depends upon the dark secret the unicorn carries.

2. Create Character Bios: 
Write a short bio for each of your lead characters, including stats like age, hair color, eyes, height, likes and dislikes. Don't worry about selecting names. I always use placeholders (any name I can think of) until the perfect name comes to me.

3. Build Your World: 
Write a short description of the places in your story. Is it a fantasy world? Is it a zoo? Is it a mall? An old, spooky house? Know your environments to make your world feel real.

Keep your notes handy because as you start to write your story, you might want to update, expand or change these 3 things.

Okay, now that you have the basics it's time to start writing and start creating your own world.

Your fellow writer mage, 
Rachel

"The Diviners" by Libba Bray

Release Date: September 18th, 2012
Publisher: Little Brown
Pages: 578

From Goodreads: "Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first."

They say that an author should write every chapter of a book with the intent that it will further the storyline, however, I found that to be anything but the case for this book. The first 160 pages or so there was party after party after party, almost none of which furthered the storyline. Furthermore, I found that very few of the differing perspectives of this book (I lost track of how many there were since there were SO many) added anything to the storyline- there are better ways of exposing the background of a storyline without explicitly showing you, "Oh, hey, here's this characters perspective of something that happened sixty years ago." Additionally, while I appreciate the fact that Libba took the idea of "show, don't tell" to heart, it was just so tiresome (I have learned from this book that there *is* such thing as too much detail)- I'm fairly certain that I can paint a picture of the back alleys of New York or the speakeasies better than I can the home that I grew up in. I think that if Libba had reigned in some of her descriptions she could have easily cut the book back by a quarter.

Not only did I have a problem with the pacing of the story, but I also did with main character Evie. Personally I couldn't connect with her on any level, I found her to be quite superficial and selfish. I'm kicking myself for thinking that she might redeem herself at the end of the novel- she didn't, she just further reiterated the fact that she will do anything and everything to further herself, with no regard to anyone else. Additionally, I thought that Evie's feelings for one of the male characters somewhat sprung up out of nowhere- I thought that her feelings would be directed towards one boy, with their playful banter back and forth, but they weren't, rather being directed to the stoic character with more skeletons in his closet than personality.

That being said, I did quite like the secondary characters, Henry, Thea, Memphis and Sam. I thought that each of them really brought something to the story- Henry, a humbleness and generosity like no other, Thea, a role model of sorts, making the most out of the crappy hand that she was dealt in life, Memphis, the love for his brother tear-jerking, and Sam, the best personality of the bunch.

All in all, despite my complaints this book was entertaining in that it helped to pass the time. Additionally, the storyline is quite unlike anything I have ever encountered before- which I greatly appreciated as I find that I am having an increasingly difficult time finding unique YA's. Furthermore, despite said complaints, I will still continue on with this series just to find resolution with everything.

Rating: 3/5

I received this book from the publisher to read and review. I was not compensated in any way for said review.