2011 has been a very interesting year for me, some good and some not so much. But after a lot (and I mean a lot) of contemplation, I am happy to announce the opening of my new blog: The Book Monsters.
While I would love to keep The Neverending Shelf going, it just isn't possible. Working 40+ hours a week, maintaining family and reading time, plus everything else is just exhausting. On top of everything else, I love blogging and want to give my best back to this community. Thankfully, with The Book Monsters, I will not be going at this alone.
Kristen (Bookworming in the 21st Century) and I had both been talking about how much we love working together and decided it was time to plunge into the project we had talked about forever - a combination blog. We've done a ton of projects together during the last two years and figured it was time to mix our genius together and start a whole new adventure in blogging.
We hope that you will follow us on this new adventure!
Wednesday, June 1
Monday, May 16
Editor Interview: Jacqueline Young
After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.
Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?
Describe what an editor does in five words or less.
Reorder, revise and tighten writing.
Did you always know you wanted to be an editor / work in the book industry, or did you just kind of fall into it?
I’ve loved books since childhood and for me, there is no greater pleasure than curling up with a good book. That’s where my passion for fiction started. After university I trained and worked as a teacher and began writing children and young adult fiction myself in my early thirties. YoungRebel Publications grew up as a natural extension of these interests.
What's a typical working day like for you? Are there daily goals you set?
I still work part time as a teacher, so my days vary according to my teaching commitments. I dedicate at least two full days a week to YoungRebel projects, and usually spend a couple of hours every evening answering emails and doing administration related tasks. I try to do the editing portion of my work in the mornings when I’m at my freshest. As we are a small company (it’s just me and my husband Paul) there are lots of essential jobs like accounting and marketing that need to be programmed in around the editing. I set myself daily targets and keep copious lists of ‘things to do’. I work through jobs in order of priority, and the priorities are constantly changing. For instance, at the end of the month the accounts take priority, but the weeks leading up to a release, keeping to the editing schedule is more important.
Is there anything in particular that you find challenging about being an editor?
For me, it’s juggling all the different aspects of the business. We launched in October 2010 and the learning curve has been steep. My own writing has taken more of a backseat, and this is something I’m keen to redress in the coming year. I’d like to get to a situation where YoungRebel Publications compliments but doesn’t eclipse my own work.
What book are you currently reading?
I’ve just downloaded ‘Angelology’ by Danielle Trussoni. I haven’t started it yet but I can’t wait to get stuck in. I love fantasy, so it’s right up my street.
Sunday, May 15
Book Review: Dreamwalk
Dreamwalk
by Sarah MacManus
Released: March 14th 2011
Publisher: Young Rebel Publications
Links:
After the death of her mother, Chloe Hawthorn is haunted by terrifying nighttime hallucinations. Determined to take control of her dreams, she uses them to find Shane Anderson, a charming and troubled musician whose online videos have been holding her in thrall. She finds him in the Dreamtime, sweating out heroin detox in a run-down rehab center.To be honest, when I first read the summary, the first thought that popped into my head was "sounds like Wake by Lisa McMann." Part of me was really excited to start Dreamwalk because of this. The other half was hesitant due to how much I loved Wake, and I hate comparing two books together while trying to read one of them.
Chloe sets out to find Shane in the waking world and discovers her dreams have been taking her into the past. Horrified, Chloe realizes Shane doesn't survive his addictions. In order to save him, Chloe must master her Australian mother's legacy — the secret of walking the Dreaming through time. But what price will Chloe pay for this Dreamwalk and will she save Shane only to lose him forever?
MacManus tells the story through Chloe's POV and Shane's journal entries. I applaud MacManus for blending these two POVs together in an almost effortlessly way. I am a sucker for novels with diary/journal entries, so I really enjoyed this aspect being included. It really allowed me to get into the heart of Shane. Discover his hopes, dreams, fears.
There was much of this novel that I really, really liked. However, I must admit that I am a little tired of seeing girl characters "fall in love" with a guy that she rarely knows. In Dreamwalk, Chloe become borderline obsessed with Shane just due to some videos. Part of me wanted to rationalize that it is similar to girls that have major crushes on celebrities. But Chloe's obsessed seemed like more. Like she really cared about this guy she didn't know.
All in all, Dreamwalk really was not what I was expecting it to be. It starts off as a YA novel that edges towards adult later in the novel. Plenty of elements that kept me reading, while a few made me roll my eyes. But at the heart of it, Dreamwalk has a lot more depth than I ever thought possible.
Friday, May 13
Unnatural: Top 10
In the town of Eden in northwestern England stands the exclusive boarding school known as Archangel Academy. Ancient and imposing, it’s a place filled with secrets. Just like its students…
For Michael Howard, being plucked from his Nebraska hometown and sent thousands of miles away is as close as he’s ever come to a miracle. In Weeping Water, he felt trapped, alone. At Archangel Academy, Michael belongs. And in Ciaran, Penry, and especially Ciaran’s enigmatic half-brother Ronan, Michael finds friendship deeper than he’s ever known.
But Michael’s only beginning to understand what makes the Academy so special. Ronan is a vampire—part of a hybrid clan who are outcasts even among other vampires. Within the Academy’s confines exists a ruthless world of deadly rivalries and shifting alliances, of clandestine love and forbidden temptations. And soon Michael will confront the destiny that brought him here—and a danger more powerful than he can imagine…
Michael’s Top Ten List:
Michael Howard’s Top Ten Favorite things since he’s moved to Archangel Academy:
1. Ronan!
2. His new friendships with Ciaran, Penry, and Phaedra
3. Professor McLaren’s British Literature class
4. Exploring The Forest of No Return
5. Being part of the swim team
6. Day trips into Eden with the gang
7. Learning more about himself each day
8. Doing homework with friends and not just by himself any longer
9. Hanging out in St. Joshua’s library – who knew there were so many books in the
world?
10. One-on-one chats with Headmaster Alistair Hawksbry
Learn more about Michael and Unnatural at:
Monday, May 2
This or That with Amy Plum
My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.
Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.
While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?
This or That
Regular or Peanut M&Ms: peanut
Matthew McConaughey or Colin Farrell: Rob
Boxers or Briefs: boxer briefs
Action or Romance: action
Truth or Dare: dare
Coffee or Tea: latte
Pastry or Biscuit: macaroon
Angels or Demons: demons
Polar Bear or Seal: polar bear, specifically Iorek Byrnison
Firefighter or Police Officer: Firefighter. Shirt off, please.
Vintage or Modern: Vintage, unless you’re talking Mid-century Modern
Wine or Cocktail: dirty gin martini, 2 olives stuffed with Roquefort
Plane or Train: I heart trains in a major way
Vegas or Bora Bora: Bora Bora
Gothic or Victorian: Gothic, especially for architecture
To learn more about Amy and Die for Me, please visit her at:
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