Me on The Story of Owen

Title: The Story of Owen
Author: E.K. Johnston
Release Date: March 1, 2014
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books

Listen! For I sing of Owen Thorskard: valiant of heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stood between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival. There have always been dragons. As far back as history is told, men and women have fought them, loyally defending their villages. Dragon slaying was a proud tradition. But dragons and humans have one thing in common: an insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. From the moment Henry Ford hired his first dragon slayer, no small town was safe. Dragon slayers flocked to cities, leaving more remote areas unprotected. Such was Trondheim's fate until Owen Thorskard arrived. At sixteen, with dragons advancing and his grades plummeting, Owen faced impossible odds armed only with a sword, his legacy, and the classmate who agreed to be his bard. Listen! I am Siobhan McQuaid. I alone know the story of Owen, the story that changes everything. Listen!

The Story of Owen is entertaining, unique, and Canadian to the core. The dragons may come flying out of fantasy but this book is very present and relevant in a real world setting, a small down with real and intelligent people trying to protect it, a group of characters that can't help but make you laugh and cry and listen intently to the tales of their heroism.

Owen and Siobhan are both interesting in their own ways, Owen and his dragon slaying, his knowing that he will be a dragon slayer like his parents and his aunt before him, his acceptance and strength, and Siobhan with her understanding, her support, her attitude. It's a curious friendship they have, one that began because of proximity and continued through tutoring and her acceptance to become a bard. To tell the tales of Owen and his dragon slaying.

This story is told in such a compelling way, in a style befitting a bard. I couldn't turn away from this book, it was almost as if I could hear Siobhan recounting the tales of Owen and his father and aunt as she saw them, calling out to the good people of the town and sharing tales of bravery and fortitude. Or about how he was failing algebra and she was brought in to tutor him. Siobhan also provides historical backstories on the dragons, the men and woman that slay them, and the countries that try to protect their people and carbon emissions.

Because of the dragons, history as we know it has been altered, tweaked and played with. Dragons are seamlessly woven into our world until it becomes Siobhan and Owen's world. A world where dragons set barns and houses alight so they can feed off of the charred remains. A world where dragon slayers are recruited to do battle for their country, to face off against sharp teeth and burning flames.

While I knew this would take place in a small town, I didn't expect to get so involved in Trondheim and the politics of dragon slaying in a small town. It lead to the comparison of small towns and large cities, how both are important but the towns are often overlooked because of the needs of the cities. But it doesn't mean those small towns aren't important.

This book is so Canadian when it comes to humour and character, a little easy-going but practical and thoughtful. Almost every Canadian or Southern Ontario reference made me laugh, including the mental image of a dragon flying straight into Toronto during a hockey game. It's certainly an intriguing look at what it's like in a small Canadian town when everyone comes together to protect it, protect their homes. It's so Canadian, with the small-town hero and the people around him, and the one to tell his story (while being involved herself). I want more of this town, more of these characters, and more from this author. What an adventure.

(I received an e-galley of this title from the author through NetGalley.)

FIRST KISS: A Gunslinger, a Scandalous Kiss and a Romance Rekindled! @Cherokeegirl57 @KMNbooks #firstkiss #giveaway

KAREN: A scandalous kiss with gunslinger Jake Morgan will ruin Talia's reputation, but when his all so tempting lips touch hers, she can't resist. Enjoy an excerpt from OUTLAW'S KISS by Cheryl Pierson!

***GIVEAWAY: CHERYL PIERSON will be giving away a signed print copy of WISHING FOR A COWBOY to one lucky commenter! 

FIRST KISS: OUTLAW’S KISS
by Cheryl Pierson

 A long-ago schooldays crush is rekindled by an Outlaw’s Kiss that sparks true love, and a new future for Jake Morgan and Talia Delano.

It started with a kiss—a kiss that should have been nothing more than a very tiny, quick peck on Satan’s cheek. Even that would have been bad enough. When Talia had gotten close enough to inhale his intoxicating scent, she knew she was in danger. She’d stood on her toes to kiss his cheek, trying to act as if nothing was amiss—as if she kissed a demon every day.

Then, he’d turned his head at the last moment, his lips coming over hers with a tight-leashed ferocity that posed as indifference to the rest of the world.

But Talia and Jake knew better. His tongue had parted her lips. Or, had she done that herself, the instant he’d put his mouth to hers?  Although he’d bought that kiss with one thousand dollars, he’d taken possession of so much more. What were a heart and soul worth?

His tongue had done at least a thousand dollars’ worth of damage, in a few short seconds.

His lips sculpted hers, as the entire town of Rock Creek watched. His mouth kindled the beginning flame that erupted in a bonfire between them, making her stomach quiver, her heart pound. But it was his velvet demon’s tongue that carelessly sent the cinders of her soul skyward, in front of the cat-calling onlookers who’d gathered for the auction.

There was no defense against his casual, merciless onslaught. Talia’s body warmed as involuntarily, her fingers curled in the front of his cotton shirt, pulling him closer.  Damn you, Jake Morgan. Damn you.

His lips curved upward just before he lifted his mouth, allowing her to breathe once more. She could swear the gunfighter read the thoughts that swirled in her head.

He licked his lips slowly, as if savoring the way she tasted.  The wicked, slow smile spread, lighting his dark eyes with teasing warmth, deadly to what remained of her will.

The breath she took was nearly a gasp, as if she had just been saved from drowning in rushing waters.

“What do you think you’re doing, Mr. Morgan?” Her voice was quiet, with none of the indignation she knew she should be feeling.

“I’m getting my money’s worth.” His large hands framed her face with a gentleness she wouldn’t have thought possible. He leaned toward her. Again.

“No—” Her protest was unconvincing to her own ears.

“Yes.”

“You’re going to ruin me—”

Jake laughed softly. “Later, Talia.  Much, much later.” Then, his mouth closed over hers once more.

The entire town of Rock Creek had been scandalized, and Natalia Delano had been ostracized.

 

***Giveaway: Signed Print copy of WISHING FOR A COWBOY to one lucky commenter! Be sure to leave your contact information in your comment to be entered in the drawing! 

 

ABOUT OUTLAW'S KISS (One of the wonderful tales in WISHING FOR A COWBOY)

Talia Delano has been humiliated before the entire town of Rock Creek by Jake Morgan. A known gunman, Jake has bid an outrageous sum for Talia’s “boxed supper”, a kiss, and the gift of her time for the rest of the Independence Day celebration.  But, as always, Jake changes the rules and takes more than he should—especially with the whole town watching. Talia’s chance of happiness is dashed, along with her reputation, when Jake leaves Rock Creek suddenly.

When he shows up five months later at her farmhouse, wounded, and in the midst of a blinding snowstorm, she can’t turn him away—even though she knows being along with him will cause tongues to wag once more. But with Christmas only two days away, how can she harden her heart against the handsome outlaw who has no place else to go—even if he is being trailed by someone just as dangerous? Magic and danger are woven together in the OUTLAW’S KISS.

WISHING FOR A COWBOY

Cowboys, kisses and love in the holiday air make for a special recipe in each of these wonderful new stories. Christmas miracles can happen when you're WISHING FOR A COWBOY! 

AMAZON REVIEWS: 

1. Great ensemble of short Cowboy Christmas stories. Each story was unique, well thought out, and the characters came alive and sizzled on the pages. I wish I could pinpoint a favorite, but I can't. I liked all of them!

2. All the authors did a superb job of keeping you involved in the stories. It amazed me how the theme continued. I am looking forward to the release of the Valentine version.

3. A pound of Cowboys, a cup of Christmas, a dash of inspiration mixed with equal parts of Love and Miracles....These talented authors have put together the perfect ingredients for a holiday romance complete with recipes for great desserts! If you enjoy Western romance, this anthology is for you.

PURCHASE AN eBook COPY OF WISHING FOR A COWBOY HERE:

Amazon Kindle Link

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cheryl was born in Duncan, Oklahoma, and grew up in Seminole, Oklahoma. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma, and holds a B.A. in English. 

Writing is so much a part of her life that recently, she and long-time friend Livia Reasoner, decided to open a publishing house. PRAIRIE ROSE PUBLICATIONS http://www.prairierosepublications.com/ furthers the western-themed writing offerings of women. As if that weren’t enough, there were so many requests for a

publishing house for young people interested in the west that they decided to open the unique imprint, PAINTED PONY BOOKS http://www.paintedponybooks.com/. This line will be open to all authors who have submissions for Middle Grade readers, Young Adult, and New Adult. 

The contemporary/futuristic imprint for these age groups is TORNADO ALLEY PUBLICATIONS http://www.tornadoalleypublications.com/ , and for adult contemporary/futuristic, check out their imprint FIRE STAR PRESS http://www.firestarpress.com/ . 

All imprints are open and accepting submissions.

Cheryl's latest novel is a western historical romance, GABRIEL'S LAW. Her upcoming release, THE HALF-BREED'S WOMAN, will be available early next year through Prairie Rose Publications. To see all of Cheryl’s work, click here:

https://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson 

You can e-mail her at prairierosepublications@yahoo.com

Cheryl's WEBSITE:

http://www.cherylpiersonbooks.com/

COMPANY WEBSITE:

http://www.prairierosepublications.com/

BLOG:

http://www.prairierosepublications.blogspot.com/

FACEBOOK:

https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.pierson.92

Feature & Follow #75

This is a weekly blog hop hosted by the wonderful Parajunkee and Alison Can Read. This week's featured blogger is:

Question of the Week: What was the last book that made you cry?

Wow! Good question. I can't remember there being another book to make me cry since I read Before I Fall  in the earlier part of 2013. I just haven't read a book that pulled me to the point where I actually wept with the characters. It hasn't happened yet and I am waiting for such a book. Unexpected storms is what I call them! 

How about you, which book made you cry? Maybe I'll give it a try.

Sujet : Tragédie - "Il est parfois difficile – voire impossible – de connaître la portée d’un choix avant que tout soit terminé"

Merci aux éditions Gallimard Jeunesse, qui ont accepté de m’envoyer les épreuves de « Sujet : Tragédie », le premier roman jeunesse de l’américaine Elizabeth LaBan. Mention spéciale pour la couverture, vraiment superbe et très représentative du livre : la blancheur de la neige, la silhouette qui court, ses teintes bleutées et ses moindres détails rappellent tous un élément du récit. Seule la phrase d’accroche me paraît sans rapport avec l’intrigue, mais elle est efficace et remplit bien sa fonction. Sans l’avoir ouvert, c’est la couverture qui m’a fait choisir ce roman parmi tous ceux du catalogue Janvier/Février, et je ressors assez satisfaite de cette lecture. 

« Cher Duncan, 

Quand j’ai appris que tu allais me remplacer, je n’y ai pas cru, à dire vrai. Peut-être devines-tu ce que je m’apprête à te révéler, mais je le ferai quand même. Il est important que tu saches pourquoi et comment les choses se sont passées. Il faut que quelqu’un sache – quelqu’un susceptible de se servir de mon expérience pour ne pas refaire les mêmes erreurs que les miennes. Sans doute. Je ne sais pas. En fait, je t’offre le meilleur des cadeaux, le meilleur des trésors dont tu puisses rêver. Je te donne la matière de ta disserte sur la tragédie. 

Amicalement, 
Tim »

Tim, c’est cet adolescent seul qui se cache des autres  à cause de son albinisme : admis au pensionnat Irving à New York, il doit passer par la case « aéroport », où il fait une rencontre décisive. Nouvelle. Une rencontre qui tient en un mot : Vanessa. De long cheveux blonds. Des tenues colorées. Un curieux mélange d’innocence et de séduction, qui ne m’a pas vraiment plu. Mais c’est très subjectif cette affinité qu’on crée avec les personnages, et je regrette de ne pas m’être mieux entendue avec ceux côtoyés pendant quatre heures ! Tim s’écrase tellement parfois devant des brutes qui, elles, savent exactement ce qu’elles font ! C’est agaçant et ça me fait de la peine pour lui. Mais une chose est sûre, ce livre est plutôt réaliste et dépeint parfaitement l’ambiance d’un lycée privé, avec ses traditions insolites, ses élèves et ses professeurs tellement proches de ceux qu’on croise tous les jours (tiens, à propos, les professeurs m'ont assez plu. Ils sont franchement originaux, et l'auteur a de bonnes idées les concernant) ! 

Ce "plutôt" que j'ai ajouté après-coup est dû à deux-trois situations complètement surréalistes. C'était franchement surprenant, trop rapide, trop irréel. Presque magique pour certaines. Un peu de poussière brillante qui se dépose sur l'encre de l'auteur. Une tempête de neige, des vols annulés, une réservation expresse, et du moka maison. Enfin, du moka "hôtel". Je me comprends ! 

L’intrigue est très bien menée et j’ai apprécié cette confrontation entre les intrigues, ces récits enchâssés qui se recoupent entre eux. C’est brillant de la part de l’auteur et je n'ai pas compris tout de suite ce parallèle avec la dissertation sur la tragédie que doivent rendre les terminales.

Un autre point positif repose sur l’idée originale d’utiliser des CDs pour transmettre l’histoire. Duncan, qui hérite de la chambre de Tim, reçoit également une pile de CDs qui retracent la dernière année du garçon. Ils les écoutent, un par un, sans pouvoir s'arrêter, sans vouloir s'arrêter. Et par allusions fines, Elizabeth LaBan nous emmène vers un évènement connu de tous les élèves et dont personne ne parle. Je vous laisse imaginer le suspens et l'attente qui se répand peu à peu dans notre esprit. Que. s'est-il. passé ? L'extrait reprit un peu plus haut donne le ton : nous lecteurs, un peu en-dehors du coup, sommes plongés au coeur de cet évènement dramatique qui s'est produit. Alors que Duncan et Tim en reparlent avec difficulté, nous le découvrons. Et l'auteur arrive bien à gérer ça, si bien qu'on a parfois l'impression que Tim s'adresse directement à nous.

Je ne me suis pas sentie très bien en lisant ce livre. Ce n'est pas un bouquin que l'on prend après une journée fatigante, c'est assez mastoc et plutôt prenant. Et c'est assez sombre dans l'ensemble, "un ténébreux orage / traversé çà et là par de brillants soleils" comme dirait Baudelaire. C'est très dur parfois, les personnages et les actions ne sont pas toujours reluisants : de la violence, de l'intimidation, de l'alcool qui circule... des tragédies. Il y a aussi des amours naissantes, mais je ne conseille pas ce livre pour se changer les idées. Et le comparer à "Nos étoiles contraires" de John Green me paraît un peu excessif, même si pour un premier roman, Elizabeth LaBan a su faire preuve d'originalité.

                                 

Ce livre est paru sous le titre original "The Tragedy Paper" le 1er Janvier 2013 aux éditions Knopf Books for Young Readers, et fait 312 pages en anglais. 

Il est sorti le 20 Février 2014 (aujourd'hui !) aux éditions Gallimard Jeunesse et fait 315 pages en français. Il a été traduit de l'anglais par Catherine Gibert. 

     

Elizabeth Laban a travaillé à NBC News, enseigné dans un collège communautaire, et écrit pour de nombreux journaux et magazines. "Sujet : Tragédie" est son premier roman pour la jeunesse. Elle vit à Philadelphie avec sa famille.

Le miroir brisé - "Un éclair de lumière jaillit en haut du tas d'immondices..."

Claire, une jeune fille solitaire et souvent livrée à elle-même, se glisse un jour dans une décharge laissées à l'abandon au fond de son jardin. Soudain, au milieu de toutes sortes de vieux objets hétéroclites, un vif éclat de lumière l'éblouit. Il provient d'un miroir brisé en forme d'étoile irrégulière. Le miroir est magique et le monde qu'il reflète tellement plus beau que celui dans lequel elle vit. Et si les rêves avaient le pouvoir de changer le monde ?

Merci aux éditions Gallimard Jeunesse pour cette découverte, malgré une lecture assez décevante.

A huit ans, Claire découvre un fragment de miroir sur une pile de déchets près de chez elle. L’enfant se rend vite compte que le miroir reflète une réalité onirique bien différente de ce qu’elle connaît: la grisaille du ciel se teinte de bleu vif, sa maison banale se transforme en château biscornu orné de coquillages, son tigre en peluche devient un fauve ronronnant, des dragons colorés se cachent derrière les cheminées des immeubles et son quotidien morose est complètement transformé. 

Les années passent et les images émanant du miroir changent, très lentement, presqu’imperceptibles. Pour Claire, c’est le temps de l’adolescence, des désillusions et des injustices. Et le lecteur se rend compte que ce fragment de verre reflète un monde rêvé par la jeune Claire : celle-ci pose désormais un regard nostalgique sur son miroir –son enfance, ou son imaginaire– et commence à grandir avec difficulté. Elle se heurte à beaucoup d’écueils, fait des rencontres et vit des séparations, découvre progressivement un monde parfois froid et injuste, tandis que de l’autre côté du miroir, les choses sont plus heureuses. Mais les regarder ne la satisfait pas vraiment, puisque ces belles visions sont des aperçus inaccessibles, et bien frustrantes. Et plus elle grandit, plus les reflets deviennent fugitifs. 

Je n'ai pas tellement apprécié le livre, qui me paraissait pourtant intéressant. On fait la connaissance de Claire, une jeune fille effacée et mal dans sa peau, qui a du mal à grandir et à trouver une place. C'est un personnage auquel je ne me suis pas attachée : même si Jonathan Coe se glisse avec réalisme dans la tête de la jeune fille - avec toutes les pensées qu'elle a aux différentes périodes de sa vie - j'ai trouvé la narration impersonnelle, presque froide. Pourtant, les descriptions du monde fantastique projeté par le miroir était superbes, pleines de couleurs et de sensations, et respectait une sorte d'harmonie dans les sons et la longueur des phrases. Ces passages sont vraiment agréables à lire, et le vocabulaire riche de l'auteur est un vrai bonheur pour le lecteur.

Ce monde chamarré et merveilleux nous est aussi représenté sous la forme de montages photo qui émaillent les pages : l'art est quelque chose de subjectif mais je dois dire que je n'ai pas aimé ces illustrations, assez particulières et trop chargées à mon goût. L'illustratrice mélange peinture, collage et photo dans ses images et le résultat m'a paru vraiment étonnant. Cette image en-dessous est un exemple de son travail, qui n'appartient pas au livre. 

Enfin, j'ai eu l'impression tout au long du livre de lire des ébauches d'histoire, comme si l'auteur ne terminait pas ces idées qu'il lance. C'est assez déroutant, et j'ai terminé cette lecture presque par principe. La scène finale a conforté mes doutes, et j'ai été très déçue par la façon brusque dont on quitte le livre. 

Il est très possible que je n'ai pas compris le message du "Miroir Brisé", d'autant que Jonathan Coe qualifie son livre de "politique (... sous) la forme d'un conte de fées. Il est intéressant mais ne m'a vraiment pas convaincue.

                                                       

Ce livre est paru sous le titre "Lo specchio dei desideri" ("Le miroir des désirs") en Septembre 2012 aux éditions Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore à Milan en Italie. Il a été écrit par Jonathan Coe et été illustré par Chiara Coccorese. 

Il a été traduit par Josée Kamoun et publié en France aux éditions Gallimard Jeunesse le 13 Février 2014. Il compte 112 pages et coûte 12, 50 euros.

Jonathan Coe est né en 1961 a Birmingham. Après des études à Trinity College (Cambridge) et un doctorat à l'université de Warwick, il devient professeur de littérature. Son roman Testament à l'anglaise le propulse sur la scène internationale. En 1998, Jonathan Coe reçoit le prix Médicis étranger pour La maison du sommeil. Le miroir brisé est son premier ouvrage pour la jeunesse. C'est, confesse-t-il, "l'un de mes livres les plus politiques même si je lui ai donné la forme d'un conte de fées."

My World this Week

I placed the little thyme plant in a favorite stoneware dish

We are having a temporary warm up!  Although so far the gravel lane still has about two inches of slushy ice that has caused some... issues.  Once March arrives we can have ice and snow but we know spring is going to be here soon.

Speaking of being here and all.  It looks like I will have very limited access to the computer until the taxes are done.  The info for the handy man work Hubby does (mostly in warm weather) is all in Excel so the receipts are carefully laid out on the computer desk.  I'd better not sneeze.

Here is what has been happening in my world through the lens of the camera.

Cozy winter reading

I am still in the beginning chapters of Stevenson's Sarah Morris Remembers.  There has been more watching than reading this week.  I pulled two biographies off the shelf as I am in a bio mood.  They always seem to offer encouragement and inspiration.

I have read W. Phillip Keller's Wonder o' the Wind a couple of times but not recently.  He is one of my all time favorite authors and while all of his books offer a little biography, this one is his official autobiography.

It tells both the joys and heartache of being a child of missionary parents in Africa as well as his amazing journey through the stages of his life.  It reads like a novel.  I can't recommend it highly enough, especially if you have been touched by any of his books.  More info can be found... here.*

I purchased A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter (info... here)* a couple years ago, after reading about her in Noel Piper's fabulous book Faithful Women and their Extraordinary God (info... here)*.  I had just begun to read it when "life happened" and I entered a very busy season so it was set on the shelf for a later date.  That day has arrived.  :)

By the way, it was Noel Piper's chapter on Sarah Edwards that started my whole stalking Jonathan Edwards journey.

Cozy winter watching

It was a good day when I found out China Beach was now available on DVD (info here)* and for a very low price.  This was a favorite TV show of my hubby and I and up until this time, it had only been available in DVD in a set that cost over $200.00!

Season 1 contains the two hour pilot.  I will give this warning... this was a gritty TV series and probably not one you would want to watch with young kids.  It is, after all, about a real medical unit on the shores of the South China Sea in the Viet Nam war.

I've also been watching skiing and ice dancing with the Olympics many evenings.

Thrifting

When I stopped by the antique mall last week before doing my $50.00 stock up challenge, I came upon this beauty.  Cheap.  A large Pyrex bowl in perfect condition.  In one of my kitchen colors.

Definitely a God wink kind of thing as I still had a little Christmas cash left.

A Taste of Summer

Remember my husband bartered work for organic veggies and fruits?

We kept the strawberries for February...  They are shown defrosting here.

Tea Time

It has been so cold, we have been going through pots of tea served in mugs!

Definitely hot coffee with cream and Splenda in the morning and tea the remainder of the day.  Hot drinks warm the soul in February.

Her Forlorn Fluffiness

Poor thing, she so longs to be out in the cold and the snow. If only she knew...  ;)

* All links are Amazon Associate links in which the blogger (that being me) earns a small percentage of any purchase when you go through a link or through the Amazon widget on the sidebar.  It costs neither you nor me anything and it all adds up!  I thank you.

Hiring an editor

Lots of smart people have gone over the famous Hugh Howey AuthorEarnings.com Report, revealing its many statistical and analytical shortcomings. I have nothing to add on those fronts (hell, I didn’t even read the whole piece). Read Shatzkin and others for detailed rebuttal and commentary.

There is one item in the Report and in Shatzkin I would like to address. (And if it has been addressed elsewhere, I’d be glad to know of it.)

Here’s the item in Hugh Howey’s Report:

And Mike Shatzkin actually echoes Howey’s position:

Allow me to say this plainly: When an author chooses, hires, and pays an editor, the author is creating incentives that are meaningfully different than the ones present in a “traditional” publishing deal.

To put it another way, if you want financial advice, you may hire a fee-based financial advisor or solicit the services of a commission-based advisor. And maybe if you’re very wealthy or your money is very interesting, advisors will pursue you. People feel strongly about both models, but no sensible person would claim they are interchangeable.

Or, perhaps an analogy closer to home: authors have long been counseled (rightly) that they should never “hire” an agent, that they should never pay reading fees, etc. to agents. Donald Maass gets tremendous criticism from many quarters from being an agent who also sells and promotes his own writing advice books. There is among authors a strong—and I’d argue healthy—awareness of the different incentives in each model where agenting is concerned.

Why, then, are so many people so quick to say “hiring” an editor is an acceptable substitute for the present model? The incentives are so clearly different.

It is not presently possible to hire me as an editor. I choose the manuscripts I want to edit, compete for them in the marketplace, and when I win them, I am accountable not to the author  but to my employer, the publisher, to make from that manuscript a book that the publisher can sell in quantities sufficient to meet certain performance goals. My incentive is to do this more often than not so I can continue to have a job.

I am not a short-sighted idiot or a sociopath or glutton for punishment, so I want very much for my authors to enjoy working with me and to find the experience rewarding and to be happy in the end. Authors are the fountainheads of my personal satisfaction in doing my job—my emotional incentive, if you will. But that doesn’t mean I want them to sign my paychecks. My primary incentive—my financial incentive—does not not come from the author. When it comes time to say what I believe will make a book successful, the pressure comes not from my relationship with the author but from my relationship with my employer—who is, pleasantly, fairly removed from the day to day work of editing. No one editorial decision has me thinking about my livelihood, thank goodness.

In the world of for hire-editors, the incentives and accountability are much . . . cozier. Or, if you prefer (and I do), you could say the incentives appear hopelessly entangled, painfully acute, and way too close for comfort. I do not want someone who is trying to do the hard work of writing a novel with me looking over her shoulder thinking about whether she’s getting good value for my fee. I don’t want “he who pays the piper calls the tune” in any author’s mind as he works on my edits. I don’t want to think about my mortgage when I suggest an author needs to scrap tens of thousands of words. I don’t want the temptation to flatter a writer whose manuscript I don’t believe will sell because he will make a good reference.

I could go on, but I think I’ve made myself clear. For-hire editing is different from the model that’s evolved in traditional publishing. Maybe it’s actually better for reasons that remain opaque to me in my vast inexperience of it. Maybe for-hire editing is the way I’ll have to go one day (may that day be very, very far off). But don’t let anyone get away with telling you it’s the same.

I See London (I See London #1) by Chanel Cleeton

Title: I See London (I See London #1)
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release date: February 3, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin
Pages: 319
Source: Netgalley/Publisher
Reading level: NA

Maggie Carpenter is ready for a change— and to leave her ordinary life in South Carolina behind. But when she accepts a scholarship to the International School in London, a university attended by the privileged offspring of diplomats and world leaders, Maggie might get more than she bargained for.

When Maggie meets Hugh, a twentysomething British guy, she finds herself living the life she always wanted. Suddenly she’s riding around the city in a Ferrari, wearing borrowed designer clothes and going to the hottest clubs. The only problem? Another guy, the one she can’t seem to keep her hands off of.

Half French, half Lebanese, and ridiculously wealthy, Samir Khouri has made it clear he doesn’t do relationships. He’s the opposite of everything Maggie thought she wanted…and he’s everything she can’t resist. Torn between her dream guy and the boy haunting her dreams, Maggie has to fight for her own happy ending. In a city like London, you never know where you stand, and everything can change in the blink of an eye.

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So this is definitely one of those instances where you should not judge a book by it's cover.  I hate this cover but I absolutely adore what's between the pages.  I See London is a fabulous new adult novel that exceeded all my expectations.

To be honest, I didn't really have many expectations when I started I See London.  I was just looking for a quick, fun read and I thought this one might be good.  It was.  I'm quickly becoming a fan of the new adult genre and it's all because of books like I See London.  The characters, the setting, the story, and the writing were all wonderful.  

The characters in I See London greatly surprised me.  Maggie started off very closed off and almost a little too perfect.  She was very much a goodie two shoes.  That quickly changed with the help of her new friends.  Mya, Fleur, Samir, and everyone she met helped her come out of her shell and really grow as a person.  By the end of the book she was definitely someone I could see myself being friends with.  She wasn't the only character that surprised me though.  Every character in the book was a lot deeper than they originally appeared (except maybe Hugh.)   Fleur was not such a cold hearted bitch, Mya wasn't so perfect, Samir had a heart under his playboy exterior, etc.  Chanel Cleeton did a great job developing each and every character.

The romance was obviously a huge part of the story and it did not disappoint.  Samir and Maggie have undeniable chemistry from the start but that's not all they have.  They quickly develop a very real friendship.  They have a lot more in common than they originally think and even though they bicker like an old married couple, they really do make great friends.  The banter between the two of them was adorable.  Hugh was also a good match for Maggie but I honestly didn't see anything that spectacular about him.  Their relationship seemed only skin deep.

There were a few flaws with I See London though.  I think the biggest flaw had to be how unrealistic and overdramatic it was.  I really couldn't believe some of the things that happened to Maggie and her friends.  It seemed like some things were blown way out of proportion.  I won't bring up specific examples because I don't want to spoil anything but there were a few very obvious instances where this happened.

Overall, I See London was a very fun read.  I look forward to continuing Maggie and Samir's story in London Falling.

What others are saying about I See London:

Rampant Readers' review: "The majority of the novel was captivating and interesting, and kept my attention in the book."

Kimberlyfaye Reads' review: "I See London does, in fact, end with a bit of a cliffhanger and a teaser that has left me all but counting the days until London Falling is released." 

A Life Bound By Books' review: " I See London by Chanel Cleeton whisked this reader off to the city of London with its university, club and elite life as college Freshman and small town girl Maggie takes a chance on a new exciting opportunity in another country." 

Series:

I See London (#1)

London Falling (#2) - July 7, 2014

The Sound of Letting Go Blog Tour

When Audition first came out, I had Stasia Ward Kehoe on the blog for her blog tour then and I was able to gush over Audition. I sadly can't gush over The Sound of Letting Go yet, but fortunately, Stasia is back to talk about her connection to her new protagonist and music.

How much of fiction is autobiography? That’s a question often asked of those of us who write contemporary YA. Are we living out our teen angst on the page? Are the stories we tell pretend…or real?

Yes.

And, no.

And, of course.

And, not at all! Stephen King says, "Fiction is a lie, and good fiction is the truth inside the lie.”

I can’t speak for others but, for myself, fiction is an act of creatively pulling together my experiences, my dreams, things I worry about, things I am proud of, things I observe and wonder at, and every other element that is me, into a form called a verse novel.

My first book, AUDITION, was about a dancer. I grew up a ballerina and, sure, snippets like how to pin up a bun and sew ribbons onto pointe shoes all came from first-hand experience. Yes, I did suffer from shin splints. No, I did not take up with a choreographer. Yes, I have danced some of the variations I describe in the novel. No, I was never a Snowflake in the Nutcracker. Writing this novel was an exploration of many of the feelings and concerns I had as a young dancer writ large, on a much more dramatic edge than I ever really lived. Ah, the freedom of the pen!

SO, about DAISY, the main character in THE SOUND OF LETTING GO…

I was about to say that she is not as close to me as Sara, my first protagonist. But that wouldn’t be true. It’s just a different kind of connection. Different threads. Different angles of perception. No, I do not play the trumpet. No, I do not have an autistic brother. However, yes, I did grow up in a small town. And, yes, I have a family member with psychological issues—though, not autism.

Because Daisy is a musician, I listened to a lot of music while writing her character. Here are a few songs that connect me to her: http://thesoundoflettinggo-daisy.blogspot.com/

And, culled from paparazzi photos, a few images of the sort of girl I imagine when I tell her story:

Taissa Farmiga 

Elle Fanning 

Stasia Ward Kehoe’s second novel, THE SOUND OF LETTING GO is available now from AMAZON, B&N, INDIEBOUND and wherever books are sold. She also spends too much time on Pinterest where, if you’re so inclined, you can see her celebrity-dream-cast for all of the characters in THE SOUND OF LETTING GO.

ENTER TO WIN…a signed first edition of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO, one of four different TsoLG Swag Packs, or a pair of author-designed custom Keds sneakers (size 8):

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

  --Julie

Schirach and Lust Nominated for LA Times Book Prizes

I know nothing about the Los Angeles Times Book Prizes except that they're awarded on 11 April and come in lots of different categories. Among them are Graphic Novel/Comics and Mystery/Thriller, and two names looked oddly familiar: Ulli Lust for Today Is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life (trans. Kim Thompson) and Ferdinand von Schirach for The Collini Case (trans. Anthea Bell).

How exciting! An Austrian graphic novelist and a German crime writer, nominated for American book prizes! On the one hand I'm very pleased that the awards don't discriminate between books written in English and books written in other languages, simply singling out good stuff. But then there's the fact that the LA Times website doesn't mention the translators' names, or indeed the fact that the books are translated. And that I had to spend a while searching for Schirach's translator, because neither does the Penguin website. Pretty poor show all round.

Lucas Klein foams at the mouth – justifiably so – about how reviewers need to toughen up and name the translator at Words Without Borders. Awards – and publishers! – need to do the same. The LA Times awards come with a small prize of $500 each, but even that ought to be shared between writer and translator. I've written them a friendly email.

#firstkiss Passion Induced Stupidity Prompts This Kiss! Asking for Trouble by @JannineGallant @KMNbooks #free

KAREN: "Passion induced stupidity" prompts this tantalizing kiss, but oh what a kiss it is! Enjoy a sneak peek at ASKING FOR TROUBLE by Jannine Gallant!

***GIVEAWAY TO ALL—READ ON AND FIND OUT WHAT FABULOUS GIFT JANNINE IS GIVING AWAY!

JANNINE: Thank you for having me on your blog today, Karen! What a fun topic. First kisses—everyone remembers theirs. For Miranda and Cole, in Asking For Trouble, their first kiss comes after a six month separation. Irreconcilable differences drove them apart, will love be enough to heal old wounds and bring them together again?

First Kiss from Asking For Trouble 

by Jannine Gallant

He caught her fingers and pulled her out of the room behind him. Turning, he wrapped his arms around her waist. The warmth of his skin burned through the thin cotton, and her nipples pearled. When his breath fanned her face, her knees wobbled.

Grabbing the doorframe, she held on tight. “No, Cole. I’m not going to—”

His lips closed over hers, the taste of him so familiar she moaned. One hand crept up to touch the base of his neck where wisps of hair tickled the backs of her fingers. The other released the doorframe to glide across the smooth skin of his side. With need overriding common sense, she kissed him back. Damp heat melded them together from chest to thighs.

A hard prod against her stomach pulled her out of passion induced stupidity, and she gave him a shove. Gasping for breath, she closed her eyes. “We can’t.”

He waited until she raised her gaze to meet his, then glanced down at the bulge in his jeans. “Can’t isn’t an issue. More like, you won’t.”

Heat flared through her as waning desire mixed with a healthy dose of irritation. “You’ve got that right. I’m not going to let you talk me into bed.”

 ABOUT THE BOOK: ASKING FOR TROUBLE

Daycare owner, Miranda O’Neill isn’t looking for a miracle. But that’s what it’ll take to convince Cole Matheson the American Dream isn’t a trap designed to suck the life out of a man. She wants a house with a white picket fence. He wants adventure. She yearns for babies of her own. He’s perfectly content claiming his aging hound as his only dependent. The one thing they agree on—they can’t keep their hands off each other.

Six months before, they’d admitted love wasn’t enough and parted ways. But when Cole finds himself in charge of his nephew for the ten longest days of his life, only one person can save him.

Will Miranda put aside her heartache to jump into the fray? Can Cole find any redeeming qualities in a demon in a diaper? Either way, both know they’re just asking for trouble.

***GIVEAWAY—Asking For Trouble is currently FREE on Amazon. The last free day is February 22, so get your copy now. Click HERE.

A little about me:

Write about what you know. I’ve taken this advice to heart, creating characters from small towns and plots that unfold in the great outdoors.

I grew up in a tiny Northern California town and currently live in beautiful Lake Tahoe with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not busy writing or being a full-time mom, I hike and snowshoe in the woods around my home.

Whether I’m writing contemporary, historical, or romantic suspense, I try to bring the beauty of nature to my stories. To find out more about me and my work, visit these places:

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