Road To #CampNaNoWriMo : My Camp Supplies!

If there is a line of fiction I do not want associated with my preparation for next month's Camp session, it would definitely be the infamous "You are not prepared!" from the Burning Crusade expansin pack for World of Warcraft. With that in mind, I've spent the last week or so getting everything settled around so I'll have the best chance possible of completing SEALED WITH A KISS (or at least reaching my 50,000 word goal.)

Does anyone remember my review of BZRK? One of the big things talked about in that book was the idea of two different worlds, the "Macro" and the "Micro". I feel the same in a lot of ways about the logic I've been using to get ready for camp. For me, though, the Macro is of course anything that's gonna make me more comfortable here in the real world. The Micro, on the other hand, is anything that's going to directly effect my story where it's sitting on my PC. Today let's take a look at some of the things that will be helping me ensure that I will be able to tell Lucian and Carita's story.

Planning for #CampNaNoWriMo: The Macro

My Writing Books

It all starts here. If writing a novel were a feat worthy of  super hero, this would be my "Bat Cave". I am quite addicted to collecting books on writing and I have some real gems (and admittedly a couple duds) here. Among the ones I figure I'll need most this July are Book In A Month by Victoria Lynn Schmidt, Writing New Adult Fiction by Deborah Halverson, and The Art of Romance Writing by Valerie Parv.

While we're on the subject, please let me know if you'd like to hear my thoughts on these or any of the other writing books in my collection. I don't normally review non-fiction here, but I'd be happy to make an exception for this.

Sweet Treats and Sweet Stationary

I do about 98% of my writing on the computer, because the only thing I hate more then revision is coming stuff onto the computer that I originally wrote by hand. To try and make up for any pain that may cause me, we have good quality "bold" black pens and the cutest notebook in the history of ever. It says: "Give a Pug A Hug". <3

All of the sweets here are new or relatively new to me. The Laffy Taffy is what remains of two bags Jay brought when he visited the other week, while the Sweet Crisps are a discovery my mother and I made at WalMart. I still haven't decided whether I love the chocolate or the caramel more, but I know I love how well these compliment a cup of tea.

And here we have a completely new member to the Kat's Snacks family: Bear Paw Dipped cookies. These are pretty good, but I'm pretty sure I'll be switching back to my usual Quaker Dips granola bars in week 2, as these don't seem to pack enough of a punch in the "they make hunger disappear" category. They are quite tasty, though!

The crackers are both old favorites. I don't want to hazard a guess how many boxes of Original Wheat Thins I'll go through while writing SEALED WITH A KISS, but I'm pretty sure it'll be "a lot". The Ritz Bitz with Cheese are another personal favorite, although I must admit that I was bummed I didn't see the S'Mores flavor at No Frills this trip as I had my heart set on them since this writing project has the whole camp theme going on. Hmm... Maybe I'll have to get the ingredients and make real S'Mores later in the month as one of my writing rewards? We shall see. :)

And last we have an old favorite and a new addiction. I've had a love affair with Peanut M&Ms for months, so I'm not surprised that I decided to get them at all. But this kick I'm on buying Lindt's Dark Chocolate With Caramel and Sea Salt is something I wouldn't have seen coming in my wildest dreams until, bored one weekend, I decided to try it.

Lastly, here's one for my fellow Canadians! 

We all know that #NaNoWriMo involves massive amounts of caffeine, and if I'm going to get a coffee fix, chances are it's going to be from Tim Hortons. (Though if I want specialty drinks I prefer Mac's Milk--bigger selection, better prices.) I'm also a huge fan of all the non-chocolate Tim Bits. (I know..A Form of chocolate Kat doesn't care about. Blasphemous!) Either way, I'll be counting on family and friends to be feeding my Coffee and Tim Bit needs during the course of the event. Keep me motivated, people! <3

What are your must have items when writing? Did you put together a #NaNoWriMo Survival Kit? Feel free to share! :)

Road To #CampNaNoWriMo : What I'm Writing!

I'm thrilled to announce that I plan to take part in Camp NaNoWriMo this July. I just finished the final chapters of my latest story, TO GRANT A DARK GIFT last weekend and now I am absolutely dying to get started with my next book, SEALED WITH A KISS. This book is very important to the Sealer Saga, as I have come to realize that it (not SEALER'S PROMISE) is actually the first book in the series. Want to know what it's about?

(This synopsis may yet be changed. This is not the final cover.)

Some Kisses Are Worth Dying For...

Chosen as a Champion, Carita of Bel Auryn thought she would spend her days fighting demons. Instead, she is drawn into the latest scheme of the Moon Goddess, Ruby: a ridiculous contest to choose the man who will have the "honor" of fathering her child. When Ruby encourages Carita to choose a competitor, she picks the man she is most drawn to--and immediately regrets it.

That man is Lucian Veradayne, the Lord of Death. He knows he must win Ruby's game at any cost. It doesn't matter that he has avoided her for over two thousand years. It doesn't matter that she hated him enough to maim their first son. And it definitely doesn't matter that he would much rather woo her endearing but brash Champion, Carita. The Soul Well, the source of all creation, has given Lucian a vision that he and Ruby must have another child. A child who will save the world.

But winning Ruby's affection and resisting Carita will prove to be the least of Lucian's problems. He and Carita are not the only ones who have been drawn into Ruby's game. Someone else wants to get close to her, and they are willing to kill to make that happen. Will Carita and Lucian be able to protect Ruby long enough for a victor to be named? And if so, will they be able to walk away from each other to ensure the Soul Well's prophecy comes true?

There are definitely things that I am really excited for as I prepare to write this. Are few of those are:

• I get to explore what Kesyl was like as a little boy.
• I get to experience how Carita and Lucian fell in love.
• I get to see how Zakariah was before he started opening up to people.
• I have a chance to (hopefully) understand Ruby better. 

There are definitely some challenges that I will be facing in writing this, though:

• I need to research how to authentically capture the voice of a little boy.
• I'm writing about a woman who is raising a son; not exactly normal NA stuff there.
• I'm working the contents of two novellas into a collective story arc. That's...interesting.
• I face the challenge of ensuring my world can be understood in this context from first time readers, since I am hoping this will be book one of my series. 

So, yeah. July is going to be insane. My goal is to write 50,000 words but I'd honestly like to finish the whole rough draft for this story. As long as I hit the word goal I'll be happy. If completing the whole thing takes me to the end of August I still wouldn't be overly upset. 

So, is anyone else doing Camp NaNoWriMo? What are you writing about? I'd love to know! 

Review: Take Them By Storm by Marie Landry

*This book is New Adult

As with any review I do for Marie's books, I will start with the necessary disclaimer: Marie Landry is a long-time blogger friend whom I have known for several years. I do not say this to discredit the integrity of my review, but rather to ensure that all cards are laid on the table when you read it.

That said, what were my thoughts going into Take Them By Storm? First and foremost that I know I'm late to the party. This released a while ago and I was not actively blogging or reading much at that time. Second, that I was pretty sure going in that this book would be a safe bet for me. I've enjoyed everything Marie has written, so I was fairly certain Take Them By Storm would be the literary equivalent of catching up with old friends.

Was I right? Read on and find out...

(Summary from GoodReads)

This book is a standalone companion novel to Waiting for the Storm and After the Storm.

Sadie Fitzgerald has always been different, and not just because she makes her own clothes and would rather stay home watching Doctor Who than party with kids her age. When it’s time to leave Angel Island for college, Sadie is eager to put her old life behind her. Small-minded people and rumors have plagued her for years, but with the love of her adoptive family, the O’Dells, Sadie has learned to embrace who she is. Now she’s not afraid to admit the rumors about her are true: she’s gay.

For the first time in her life, Sadie feels free to be herself. She dives into college life and begins volunteering at the local LGBT center, where she discovers her small-town upbringing left holes in her education about life outside Angel Island.

The world is a bigger and more accepting place than Sadie ever imagined. She’s finally found where she belongs, but with the reappearance of someone from her past, an unexpected new friendship, and a chance at love, Sadie soon realizes she still has a lot to learn about life, friendship, and love.

The first thing I can say about Take Them By Storm is that it covered all the things I expect (at this point) from a Marie Landry novel. Relatable characters? Check. Beautiful writing with a natural flow? Absolutely. Gorgeous, descriptive prose complete with a setting so vibrantly realized that it seems like its own character? Without question. I had tried samples of three other books on my June reading list and failed to connect with them. I definitely did not have that problem here. 

It was beautiful going back to this story world. (I view all stories as their own worlds, even if they are set in ours.) It was great being reunited with Charlotte, Ella, River and Ezra. It was also wonderful getting to know Sadie better. I had hoped she would get her own story and now that I have read it I feel that hope was definitely justified. 

The shift from YA to NA was handled well and felt organic for the characters. The characters from previous books were also consistent with who I knew them to be, while still carrying enough growth and depth for me to believe that a year had passed and they were all headed to work / university / college. 

Just as vital as the growth I see in the characters is the growth I see in Marie's writing. She used a plot device that drove me slightly batty in one of her earlier books and then turned it completely on its head. She also managed to have me convinced that was not going to happen until the last minute, which made for some very tense, fidgety, nail-biting reading that I usually don't get from contemporary books. 

She also did something extremely clever with the romance here, which was definitely a bold move considering that she was already expanding her horizons by writing a romance with two ladies. I don't want to say much more about what goes on in the romance, as I feel that the way it turns out and is developed over the course of the book is one of Take Them By Storm's most intriguing and memorable aspects. Especially from a writing point of view. 

Last, I think it's clever how Marie is tying various places she has set up within her re-imagining of Ontario together. Getting to see Melody and Oliva from The Game Changer was a fun surprise. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Do you even need to ask? Take Them By Storm is a great novel in its own right, as well as a continuation of the excellent storytelling and gorgeous writing I have come to expect and enjoy in every Marie Landry novel that I read. If you have not read any of Marie's books and you're a fan of contemporary fiction, do yourself a favor and try one. 

Review: The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

*This is not YA

The moment I read the blurb for The Vampire's Mail Order Bride I knew it was a book I absolutely had to read. One of my favorite paranormal series back in my twenties were the Argeneau Vampire books by Lynsay Sands. Unfortunately, those books have taken a shift in tone (they're still 'good'; just not necessarily at what I originally bought them for) and I have waited a long, long time for a series to come along which could capture and rekindle the humor I felt had largely gone missing from the paranormal romance genre.

So, was the book laugh out load funny, or was the joke on me? Read on to find out.

(Summary from GoodReads)

Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists think it's all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better. Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. What she doesn't know is her groom to be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. His past means love is no longer an option. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real. Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets...

The first thing I will tell you, since it's the first thing that drew me to this book, is that the humor does not disappoint. Where else can you find a kitty named Captain Underpants who does "cat yoga"? Where else have you heard of characters in a PNR novel breaking the fourth wall and poking fun at the cheese factors of vampire romance? Where have you, or when have you, ever heard of anyone doing these things well? 

A large part of why the humor likely worked so well was the lovely contrast between our heroine, Delaney, and our hero Hugh. The concept of a mortal helping an immortal get a second lease on life (as in re-learning to enjoy it) is an old trope, but it was handled very well here. And Hugh isn't the way he is just to be the way he is, he has very good reasons and I really felt for him. I also like the underlying message that simply going by 'type' doesn't always work. Sometimes the right person is someone you would never have expected. (I also like the fact that it did not take the entirety of the novel for this point to be made, as there were other, far more intriguing, things to be explored.) 

The next thing I will tell you is that this book, while hilarious, was no joke. It's filled with interesting and memorable characters who all seem to have their own unique stories and lives going on. The set up of the town, Noctourne Falls, is a perfect balance between our world and a supernatural "world" or society within our world that runs on its own timetable and with its own agenda. I never felt confused or lost, nor did I ever feel that I was being cheated out of learning something I wanted to know. That's the hallmark of good world building, right there. At least to me. 

For a book that's only about 250 pages long, The Vampire's Mail Order Bride took me on one heck of a ride. What do I mean? Well, every time I thought I had something about the plot figured out, something would happen to turn everything upside down. Considering that I've read this genre for years, I'd like to think it's not always easy to keep me on my toes. 

The story also did a beautiful job of blending a rather exciting heroine in jeopardy external conflict with a very guilt driven internal conflict on the part of the hero. Both of these were handled well. The jeopardy plot was exciting without stripping the book of its fun and whimsy, whereas Hugh's backstory never got pressed on me so heavily that it overburdened the book. 

Finally, I will commend the author on making any conflict between the hero and heroine, Hugh and Delaney, -not- the center of what was happening to them. There were a few places where they had problems. This is a story of how can / how will they get together, not why would they want to. I found it very refreshing to see two characters be drawn together and (for the most part) stay that way with relative consistency throughout the course of the novel. It let me enjoy them together longer and thanks to the quality and depth of the conflicts they were facing it never got in the way of the forward momentum of their story.

Last, I want to address the sexual content of this novel since it is technically an adult PNR novel. What I will tell you is that for the vast majority this novel is very clean / tame / mild. Don't misunderstand: the passion and attraction between the characters practically sizzles! But we don't get a play by play of them together in bed; just some really great kisses and an excellent romance set in an interesting take on the supernatural world. 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

If you are looking for a fun (and funny) PNR with memorable characters, solid world building and an interesting story, The Vampire's Mail Order Bride is the book you need. This book sucked me in from page one and absolutely did not let go! 

What I'm Reading: June 2015

I've been thinking about getting back to blogging for a few months now. June seems like a great time to do this. My hands are in pretty good shape for typing since it's summer, and there are a ton of awesome sounding books out that I want to download to my Kindle immediately. So, what am I hoping on reading this June? Here are a few books that have grabbed my interest!

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1. Take Them By Storm by Marie Landry -- Marie is a friend of mine and I've meant to read this for ages. Now that I'm striving to get back into blogging, this is the first book I thought of for my list--even before going to GoodReads to see what had come out. I liked Sadie in After The Storm, so it will be interesting to see what will happen to her here.

2. The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough -- If Death is portrayed as an interesting character, you can bet I'm gonna be there to read about it. In an interesting and often not seen portrayal, apparently she is a lady for this outing. I think that the premise of historical fiction + a slight supernatural element is intriguing. I'm also interested in the time in which this takes place--my grandparents would have been young. I hope this author adds historical details that will let me get a glimpse of what that might have been like.

3. Hello, I Love You by Katie M. Stout -- I competed in music competitions from the time I was about eight up until I was around thirty, so I often enjoy stories where music either has a key role or is effecting characters' lives. Plus, one of my earliest reviews here on my blog was Anna and the French Kiss. I didn't care for that book due to some infidelity issues that rubbed me the wrong way; I did love learning about another culture, though. One of my favorite authors, Robert Beven, lives in South Korea with his family. I'm very intrigued to read a novel set there!

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4. The Vampire's Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter -- I knew this would make my list the moment that I read the blurb. I love a vampire romance that has a sense of humor. I'm actually reading the sample right now (or was before I started this post) and I can already tell this is going to be my kind of book. Who can resist a cat named Captain Underpants?

5. The Gentlemen Mentor by Kendall Ryan -- I've learned to listen to my instincts when it comes to books like this. I usually don't go for sexy adult contemporary reads; especially not ones that involve BDSM. (So not a fan of Fifty Shades of Grey.) But occasionally I spot a title that grabs my interest and refuses to be ignored; that's what we've got here. Hopefully this book will live up to my previous successes in finding things I want to read within this type of fiction. I guess we'll soon find out.

6. Burned By Darkness by Alexandra Ivy -- Once upon a time, Kat wanted to read a romance novel involving falling in love with a dragon. This book looks like it might just be able to deliver. From the summary, I can see the bond between the two main characters going in any variety of ways. But I find that interesting. The idea that he spent 25 years looking for this specific woman when he has a "harem" is making me roll my eyes a tad. But the premise seems interesting enough that I think I'll give this a shot.

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7. Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond -- I'm a huge fan of DC Comics and the thought of a side character / love interest like Lois being given her own book is genius, in my opinion. I think it's great that stuff like this and the upcoming Supergirl TV show are being written / filmed / produced to try and increase female interest in conics, as i think comics have a ton to offer readers of either genre. I look forward to seeing how this was handled.

8. Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neil -- From what I've been reading, I'm gonna want to get some kind of non-shattering case or shell for my Kindle when I download this one, 'cause it's gonna make me mad. But that's okay! A book that ticks me off means it likely did a good job; I don't get riled up over just anything. I've wanted to read this from the moment I first head about it, so count on seeing a review for it soon.

9. Powerless by Tera Lynn Childs and Tracy Deebs -- I've been working on a premise for a standalone superhero novel, so this is another book that the writer in my is interested in reading. Plus, the premise just looks like it could be a lot of fun. I mean, imagine what it would be like knowing that there are people with extraordinary powers and then also knowing you're not one of them? Imagine having everything you know or think you believe turned upside down? This definitely shows potential.

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10. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas -- I'm quite fond of Throne of Glass, so the idea of Sarah J. Maas + a potential take on Beauty and the Beast definitely had my attention from word go. I'm optimistic sense I've liked other work by this author, but she is working with my favorite fairytale, so things could get dicey. I look forward to reading the book and giving my opinion.

11. Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz -- I've enjoyed several of Melissa's other books, so I'm quite hopeful that this will be a fun read. I've been following all leads about the Disney Descendants doll line since I saw it in video footage from Toy Fair 2015 back in February (I collect dolls and My Little Pony), so finding out that there are going to be books was pretty exciting news.

12. The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh -- This is a premise I've been waiting for someone to jump on since I took a class on oral storytelling in university. I never really felt a compulsion that this could or should be *my* story--I don't think I could do this justice. But I'm really happy to see that someone has spotted this opening in the fairytale retelling sub-genre and has decided to roll with it. I want to see how it turned out.

Will I get through all these in June? Absolutely not. Jay (my boyfriend) is visiting for a week and I'm just getting the blog back up and running. But I will read as much as I can and try to get back into the swing of things. I figured starting with a post of what I want to read this month will help give me some focus and keep me from staring at my Kindle and going, "What Next?".

Have you read any of the books on my list? Are there any you're especially curious to hear my thoughts on? Feel free to leave a comment. :)