tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843016090080084402024-02-19T00:07:01.463-05:00YA Audiobook AddictHeard any good books lately? This site provides recommendations for YA Romance, Contemporary, Supernatural, Fantasy,Sci-fi, and Historical audiobook fans, along with some writer's ramblings and news about my work.Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.comBlogger295125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-58609811375881852712013-05-15T17:58:00.000-04:002013-05-15T18:02:22.718-04:00Road Trip Wednesday- The One That Got Away<br />
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<strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Wednesday Topic:</strong><br />
What book is your 'one that got away?' (What book have you always been dying to
read but still haven't yet?)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz1BObV4K53CSpw3cEfcnsB-0izFQUnN-zhUDwS9UwSOIGBog3Xd2E0OXyST-u_-0XkYARnvyRfYe1y-YKY0cM_FwBPYChkPFHTHXs7YL3RsHZ1eJ5l1Eenp_m9BbGByGBSr0YoqsJwg/s1600/8306761.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaz1BObV4K53CSpw3cEfcnsB-0izFQUnN-zhUDwS9UwSOIGBog3Xd2E0OXyST-u_-0XkYARnvyRfYe1y-YKY0cM_FwBPYChkPFHTHXs7YL3RsHZ1eJ5l1Eenp_m9BbGByGBSr0YoqsJwg/s320/8306761.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
So, it's Book Expo last year. I get in line early for a book signing I want (can't remember which one). I get done early. The line next to mine is even longer. Check my list. Definitely YA, so I ask what this one is about. A helpful person in line tells me it's Persuasion in a Sci-Fi setting.<br />
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Jane Austen and Sci-Fi? Together? I'm so there...with bells and whistles and cymbals on. <br />
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I head for the end of the line. Wait thirty minutes. With only ten minutes left and no word from officials, I'm hopeful they can keep the signing going after the appointed hour. Usually, if they have to cut a line off they would have done it by then.<br />
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Five more minutes. Finally, someone comes out to inform us that there are only a few more books left and the rest of us will have to leave empty handed.<br />
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Deep Sigh. <br />
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This one never did come out in an audio version, though I've checked often. I have a feeling that if I'd gotten a copy that day it would have been one of those few and far between books I actually take the time to read instead of listen to.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Any potentially favorite book you've put off reading? Any near misses at Book Expo or other conference?</span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-15459495314503448012013-05-01T14:11:00.000-04:002013-05-02T12:51:42.842-04:00Road Trip Wednesday- Best of April<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><b>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic:</b> What was the best book you read
in April?</span><br />
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Okay. I did listen to some good YA and some adult fiction this month, but when I looked over my list, the one that stood out most for me was non-fiction.<br />
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Yes, I'd heard about 3D printers and their use in medical prosthetics, but this book opened my eyes to the future...I mean, the future that is now...a time when anyone with an idea and a few thousand dollars can go into manufacturing...on their own.<br />
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It's exciting, all these new open doors. Sort of like the self-publishing world for writers.<br />
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Personally, I can't wait until the day when I can order Earl Gray tea and it will appear on a shelf in the<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What About you? Read this book or something like it? What was your best of April?</span></strong><br />
<br />Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-34637431793808048602013-04-03T19:51:00.005-04:002013-04-03T19:51:53.633-04:00Road Trip Wednesday-Have Towel Will Travel<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><b>This W</b></span><b style="text-align: left;">eek's Topic: </b><span style="text-align: left;">If you
could visit any country with a fictional character as your guide, who would you
pick and where would you go?</span><br />
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Okay, so this is a bit of a stretch since I'm not sure there are any countries in outer space, but I'd pick<br />
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a visit to the universe with Ford Prefect as my guide.<br />
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I'd just need to grab a towel and remember, above all, not to panic:)<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Where would you visit and with whom?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-27179402630729815922013-03-27T21:20:00.000-04:002013-03-27T21:26:46.354-04:00Road Trip Wednesday- Best Book of March<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kM_C27jlA7YoCdx8dSi8gFL87XKre1utmsnAi_0Rq2nzQT5poNhInWcVz9mzcQ27d7OXAt2oIPRy21LJJ3CMK6oSe6bb2n1dlYSQ-U7TvFQPxm75KsS-csxMkYy7iNzceNNkiKaQS6o/s1600/rtwlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kM_C27jlA7YoCdx8dSi8gFL87XKre1utmsnAi_0Rq2nzQT5poNhInWcVz9mzcQ27d7OXAt2oIPRy21LJJ3CMK6oSe6bb2n1dlYSQ-U7TvFQPxm75KsS-csxMkYy7iNzceNNkiKaQS6o/s200/rtwlogo.png" width="196" /></a><strong>This week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic:</strong> What was the best book you read in March?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu_uwPHFiHv_aUui-uNhHQIwoN6JFuGXW0ilIJqOnmJpHKtuf3UTNISs1EMhK9hnPmmyjas9v2oSKIJ2ScXyyFNNXdyrCZAr1_-iSMcsa8AxeAkhl155aET8Mtv3GSMVEk8dcHkjwj3k/s1600/12812550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu_uwPHFiHv_aUui-uNhHQIwoN6JFuGXW0ilIJqOnmJpHKtuf3UTNISs1EMhK9hnPmmyjas9v2oSKIJ2ScXyyFNNXdyrCZAr1_-iSMcsa8AxeAkhl155aET8Mtv3GSMVEk8dcHkjwj3k/s320/12812550.jpg" width="212" /></a>Next book in the <em>Daughter of Smoke and Bone</em> series. First off, I enjoyed this one as much as the first one. The story is continuing well. But the thing I loved about this one is that...not to reveal any spoilers...but there is a great twist toward the end that totally got me. And I so appreciated how she revealed it.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Have you read/heard this one? What was your March favorite?</span></strong></div>
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Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-76701759435966039882013-03-19T11:48:00.003-04:002013-03-19T11:52:12.130-04:00We Interrupt This Life For Basketball Season<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6ze0f3sW518HLMopMRb8x07jxt9Qd88j1ldKE9QI28QX4P6GXfdsAgfTafglCH4iMWuVKF3StrYn4Dxw1iNjpmYn9lRBK5IbcPXL_Dj4LTbNvPrk_i-977wekm3MrBZBGIRXBPswijo/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6ze0f3sW518HLMopMRb8x07jxt9Qd88j1ldKE9QI28QX4P6GXfdsAgfTafglCH4iMWuVKF3StrYn4Dxw1iNjpmYn9lRBK5IbcPXL_Dj4LTbNvPrk_i-977wekm3MrBZBGIRXBPswijo/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a>I can't believe I've been MIA from the blogosphere for over a month. It wasn't intentional. I have three or four posts saved as drafts that just never made it to the publish button.<br />
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My daughter plays basketball. My husband coaches the team. They played in two leagues (three if you count her in-town rec games) plus four tournaments this season, averaging a game every other day or so for the last three months.<br />
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We're all exhausted, though my crock pot has proven to be the true hero of the season...without it we'd be broke from eating out too much:)<br />
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I'm going to be back with Road Trip Wednesday tomorrow. I look forward to catching up with my fellow bloggers then...just wanted to let you know why I've been gone.<br />
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Also, I am going to have a <strong>How Many Have You Read/Heard Contest Blowout</strong> soon. It's been a few months, so I have lots of books I've listened to and lots of ARCs/books for those who have read/listened to them too.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Is there a season/event that interrupts your blogging?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-34079851933867487172013-02-13T17:19:00.003-05:002013-02-13T17:29:24.564-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- What I love Most About Writing<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjHBztFu3ATqeykLqbexjnVHtmKt5CjDrKvxw2jNO0gxlnzNG7uSxRNKCOKY2CCIBnfkcrMxmo9q103P8BO-QLhJqUPzpiECQPFU15z_B-hD38Xq2bBaYBvs6mZSBIKcgjYf3iZeIInI/s1600/rtwlogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBjHBztFu3ATqeykLqbexjnVHtmKt5CjDrKvxw2jNO0gxlnzNG7uSxRNKCOKY2CCIBnfkcrMxmo9q103P8BO-QLhJqUPzpiECQPFU15z_B-hD38Xq2bBaYBvs6mZSBIKcgjYf3iZeIInI/s200/rtwlogo.png" width="196" /></a><strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic: </strong><span style="text-align: center;">It's (the day before) Valentine's Day! Let's
jumpstart the lovefest by blogging about what you love most about writing
(and/or reading)!</span></div>
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I'm going to totally cheat and <strong>repost</strong> the declaration of love I wrote for last year's Valentine's Day Road Trip. It covers all the things I love most about writing.<br />
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<em>For the love of gerunds and active verbs.</em><br />
<em>For the love of idioms and twisting
them about.</em><br />
<em>For the love of strong female protags who don't always play by
the rules.</em><br />
<em>For the love of creating love interests who
deserve the protag's attention.</em><br />
<em>For the love of cutting and slashing, saying
more with less.</em><br />
<em>For the love of all the worlds and stories that live inside
my head.</em><br />
<em>For the love of YA Bloggers and fans who I share this
love with.</em><br />
<em>For the love of the words that make it all possible.</em><br />
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<em>This
is why I write.</em><br />
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Also, if you're in the mood for a light Valentine's Day short story, check out my <em>Cupid's Carol <a href="http://jennhoffine.blogspot.com/2011/02/happy-valentines-day-short-story-cupids.html">HERE</a>. </em><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What do you love most about writing/reading?</span></strong><br />
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<br />Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-66543040327157777932013-02-06T13:25:00.002-05:002013-02-06T13:30:45.987-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- Best of January<br />
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<strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic is:</strong><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">What's the
best book you read in January?</span><br />
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I did have a great if minimal YA listening month in January. Nevertheless, one book did stand a few body parts and seances above the rest:<br />
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First off, it's historical...yippee! Set in the roaring twenties (when slang was just the bee's knees) and in NYC (woo-woo). <br />
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A fabulous multicultural cast of characters with several POVs and intertwining story lines. <br />
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What more could we ask for? Nothing. Well, except the next book in the series. NOW, please!<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What was your best January read/listen?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-75921605064727959912013-01-23T13:38:00.000-05:002013-01-23T13:39:35.622-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- Humor With Purpose<br />
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<strong>This week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic: </strong>Good for a laugh: who is your favorite comedian or funny book
and/or movie?<br />
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I have an immense amount of respect for humor. I grew up on Alan Alda, George Carlin and Robin Williams. Comedians who, yes, did their share of wacky stuff, but mostly used humor to make a point...or, more precisely, many points.<br />
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This goes back way farther than those comedians though. Like nursery rhymes as political satire.<br />
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I feel like humor can get away with more than straight talk. It can make people listen and think of issues in new ways. It can open eyes and change people's perspectives on things. It can galvanize people who already have that opinion to go out and do something about it.<br />
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That's why my favorite funny book is:<br />
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Beauty Queens, first off, has the best and funniest cover ever. The book made me LOL for real many, many times. And, most important, it reminded me of why I'm a feminist and that we still have a long way to go...But at least there's a clear-headed woman out there willing to write the truth in the guise of an outrageous and funny story.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What's your humorous favorite?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-69730038893674756742013-01-16T17:13:00.000-05:002013-01-16T17:13:18.247-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- My Retirement Bookstore<br />
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<img src="http://goo.gl/k0hW9" width="125" /><br />
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<strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip:</strong><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">Imagine you
get to open your own bookstore. What would it look like? What kinds of books
would you sell?</span><br />
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This answer is easy, as I've been dreaming about this for longer than I've been writing novels.<br />
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My husband has a comic book collection and I have tons of books. So, long ago, I came up with the idea of having a used bookstore/comic book store in a small coast/beach town. We'd sell used paperbacks and comic books along with new magazines and comic books. We'd have a two for one trade in deal for the paperbacks to keep the stock moving. I also have a huge children's collection so we could keep the younger set busy reading on their vacation too.<br />
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I imagine an old victorian house remodeled with the bottom floor as the store...lots of cozy nooks and crannies for those rainy beach days or when you just need to get out of the sun for a bit.<br />
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The top floors would be our living space. We'd shut down in the winter to go visit grandkids in our RV...well, that last part really is a dream since my husband is not the RVing type.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What would your bookstore look like?</span></strong><br />
Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-48832709298565215822013-01-11T11:36:00.006-05:002013-01-11T11:36:55.163-05:00How an Agent Hunt is like selling on eBayI've become a seller on eBay these last few weeks (which is also why I haven't done much blogging lately).<br />
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My mom and grandma were into Hallmark ornaments...way into them...which has left my sister and me with enough ornaments to fill five Christmas trees (no exaggeration).<br />
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I finally got around to going through all of them this holiday season to see which ones might sell on eBay. Then, after the holiday, I put some of them up for sale.<br />
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<strong>How This Turned out Like Agent Hunting:</strong><br />
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First off (like querying), it's scary...at least it was for me...plunging into an unknown process...hoping I don't do something stupid and screw things up. And it also takes time, more than you'd think.<br />
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Once knee deep in the system, it became easier. Then checking my bids became like checking my email during querying time, hoping for good news, sometimes getting bad news, sometimes getting surprises.<br />
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Before I started on eBay or querying, I thought there'd be nothing more embarrassing than getting zero bids on an item or a form rejection letter, but once you've had a few nibbles, the rejections are easier to take. <br />
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Then you sell (or get a request/offer from an agent), and this brings on a whole new set of worries...new things you hope not to screw up on. <br />
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With eBay or querying, you can do your research, check out the market ahead of time, make sure you're putting the right item/book out there and sending it to the right customers/agents. This works in general, but there are exceptions...times when the seemingly perfect item/manuscript gets no nibbles from the seemingly perfect customers/agents. And other times when an item/manuscript will surprise you and get lots of attention from unexpected sources.<br />
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The overall advice is the same, do your research but also cast a wide net... when that doesn't work, write another book and keep casting...because you never know when/where you'll start getting nibbles, and soon you could have a bidding war on your hands.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Ever sold on eBay? Did you find it similar to querying?</span></strong><br />
Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-23918444600384034642013-01-03T10:41:00.000-05:002013-01-03T10:41:20.198-05:00Holiday Hangover/Best of 2012First off, I don't have an alcohol-induced holiday hangover...The holiday rush is quickly being replaced by an equally long if different to-do list, but I'm still feeling the pangs of that lost holiday feeling.<br />
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And, speaking of the holiday rush, I had every intention of being around in the Blogosphere the last few weeks...such fun end-of-year topics and debut author books to write about...I even have two draft posts that never made it to the publish button. So, I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.<br />
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And now, a little late, I'm going to share my YA favorite listens of 2012:<br />
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<strong>Best Second Books in a Series:</strong> Pandemonium- Lauren Oliver<br />
The Red Glove- Holly Black<br />
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<strong>Best Historicals:</strong> Grave Mercy- Robin Lafevers<br />
Gilt- Katherine Longshore<br />
Wrapped- Jennifer Bradbury<br />
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<strong>Best Unique Premises:</strong> Starters- Lissa Price<br />
What's Left of Me- Kat Zhang<br />
Forgotten- Cat Patrick<br />
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<strong>Best New Series:</strong> Under The Never Sky- Veronica Rossi<br />
Cinder- Marissa Meyer<br />
The Selection- Kiera Cass<br />
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<br />
<strong>Best Unexpected Favorite:</strong> Au Revoir Crazy European Chick- Joe Schreiber<br />
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<strong>Best Contemporaries:</strong> Grafitti Moon- Cath Crowley<br />
The Fault in Our Stars- John Green<br />
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<br />
<strong>Best Ongoing or Ends of Series:</strong> The Gray Wolf Throne- Cinda Williams Chima<br />
Mastiff- Tamora Pierce<br />
Goliath- Scott Westerfeld<br />
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<strong>Best Unique POV:</strong> Blink and Caution- Tim Wynne Jones<br />
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<strong>Best Settings:</strong> Scorpio Races- Maggie Steifvater<br />
Dreamland Social Club- Tara Altebrando<br />
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<strong>Best of Show:</strong> Every Day- David Levithan<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read any of these? What were your 2012 favorites?</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">And stay tuned for an End-of-the-ARCs New Year Blow Out contest next week!</span></strong><br />
Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-84349389691417689612012-12-19T13:29:00.000-05:002012-12-19T13:29:53.873-05:00Road Trip Wednesday-The Name Game<br />
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<b>This week's YA Highway Road Trip topic</b>: The list of <a href="http://www.babycenter.com/top-baby-names-2012" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3366cc;">top baby
names in 2012</span></a> had us talking about naming characters. How do you decide on
names? Would you ever name a character after a friend/family member/ex?</div>
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My character names usually come from the gut. I start writing. Then, when I need a name, I pause, dig deep, and write what comes to mind.</div>
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Not that these names always stick. I check my favorite site <a href="http://www.ssa.gov/oact/babynames/">HERE</a>, to make sure it's something a teenager might actually be named these days. And I sometimes have to switch out names if I have two (or more) starting with the same first letter or that sound too much alike. Most of these changes will be with minor characters since I'm usually too married to the original names of the main characters by the time I check these things.<br />
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Generally, I have a harder time coming up with last names. My gut technique doesn't work so well there, and I sometimes have to rely on the phone book for ideas.<br />
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Strange enough, I did end up with two appropriate last names for Cheater Beaters, though I didn't do it on purpose. My protag's name, who is sick of cheating guys and is taking a break from dating is Becca Freeman (as in, free of men), and her cheating, playboy ex is named Marc Fetters (as in, won't be fettered). Not on purpose. Really.<br />
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As for naming after real people, I have named a few very minor characters after my nieces and nephews. My goal is to publish them all that way someday in hopes they'll get a kick out of it. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What goes into naming your characters?</span></strong> <br />
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Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-46890148082338847462012-12-12T12:31:00.000-05:002012-12-12T12:43:38.072-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- The number of books I don't read<br />
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<b>This week's <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/">YA Highway</a> Road Trip topic</b>: About how many books
do you read in a year? Do you want to read more? Or, less?<br />
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I read less than ten books a year. Some years less than five. Usually nonfiction writing research and fiction critiquing/beta reading.</div>
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But I listen to over a hundred books a year. </div>
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YTD for this year: 123</div>
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I can listen to books while driving, shopping, doing the laundry and cooking...all things I have to do anyway, so I might as well get some books in while I'm at it.</div>
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Do I wish I could read, read more? Sure. My dream for retirement is a recliner and a stack of books at my side. Until then, I'll have to fit in my reading the best way my life allows, by listening.</div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Get enough reading in? Ever tried audio?</span></strong></div>
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Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-74244162220190031642012-12-10T10:09:00.000-05:002012-12-10T10:09:35.040-05:00Second Books in a Series- The Good, the Bad and the UglyLike sequels to movies, it seems like a struggle for second books in the series to maintain the luster of the first. Mostly, the second book often seems to stall some. <br />
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<strong>Things that don't work (for me):</strong><br />
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<strong>Slow dancing at arm's length apart syndrome</strong>-When the budding relationship from the first book comes to a stand still or divide for some explicable or sometimes inexplicable reason that almost always feels contrived.<br />
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<strong>Stuck in Depressionville syndrome</strong>-When the character is stuck somewhere for a long period of time with little progress made, no new information and/or seemingly no way out.<br />
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<strong>Back to square one syndrome</strong>-When the character loses whatever ground they gained toward their goal in the first novel. This sometimes happens (ugh) at the end of book one. <br />
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-When the main character ends up in a new kind of worse predicament (like the Hunger Games trilogy).<br />
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-Repeating patterns with new challenges plus growing conflict/info gained in an overall arc (like Harry Potter and Ally Carter's Gallagher Girl series)<br />
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-New POV characters and/or subplots becoming main plots (Like Maggie Stiefvater's Mercy Falls series).<br />
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-A large amount of new world building/backstory in the second book (Like Cassandra Clare's Immortal Instruments series).<br />
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-Same world, totally new story and characters (Like Kristin Cashore's Graceling series).<br />
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-And, the book I'm listening to right now managed to surprise me with a new strategy. It's <strong>Pandemonium</strong>, by Lauren Oliver:<br />
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The main character is in a worse kind of new predicament, like I've enjoyed in other books, but there is also some needed but potentially boring time spent in Depressionville.<br />
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The author, very cleverly, overcomes this predicament by going back and forth between two storylines/times. It caused a little confusion for me in the beginning (mainly because it had been so ling since I'd read/listened to the first book), but once I got into it I looked forward to the switching, and the melding of the two timelines occured seamlessly toward the end. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What works and doesn't work about second books in a series?</span></strong><br />
Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-78836270686634239712012-12-05T13:26:00.000-05:002012-12-05T13:26:20.592-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- Revising<br />
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<b>This week's YA Highway Road Trip topic</b>: For many, December is
a post-NaNoWriMo revision haze! How do you approach editing/revising? Any tips
or tricks or resources you can share?</div>
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Like the writing process, revising and editing are not one size fits all. Given that, here are a few things that work for me.<br />
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<strong>Revising and editing as I go: </strong><br />
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I know this is contrary to the idea of NaNo and the writing advice and style of many others, but I do a little of everything, from big revisions to tiny edits as I go. <br />
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Not that it's perfect when I reach the end of the first draft. It's still rough. And I often end up chucking scenes that I've spent a great deal of time on.<br />
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I don't do it for efficiency. I do it because it feels organic to how the story is coming out of me. Mulling over a certain scene until it feels just right may give me insights on a character or give me some clue of where to go next with the plot. Even the stuff that gets cut or rewritten later is still part of what gets me through the story and makes it come right in the end. <br />
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<strong>Getting some perspective: </strong><br />
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Putting some distance between me and my rough draft is a necessity for me, though it can take different forms: <br />
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-Sometimes, though rarely, a complete break from the work. <br />
-Sometimes reading a book about writing, maybe in what I feel might be a weak area for that book. <br />
-Sometimes reading comp books to make sure my slant is different enough.<br />
-Sometimes more research to beef up the book with during revisions.<br />
-Sometimes, most often, getting critique partners and/or beta readers to read the book (though this often happens while I'm writing the first draft)<br />
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<strong>For big revisions, tug on the string to see what unravels:</strong><br />
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I can't remember where I read this idea, but it's my favorite revising advice. <br />
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Changes have a domino effect in a story. Making revisions means seeing all those changes, both the obvious and the subtle.<br />
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So, I tug on the string and make a list of the changes. Then I go through and do them. I still miss things, but read throughs will take care of that. Meanwhile, I don't feel as disjointed as I make major changes.<br />
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I also have an overall list of changes needed, which gets added to along the way. I generally do the biggest changes first then work my way to the smallest.<br />
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<strong>Out Loud Read Throughs:</strong><br />
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As the story begins to solidify, I start to do read throughs. Reading out loud. Again, I try to tap into the organic part of the process. If I get hung up on a part, it might mean that scene just needs tweaking, or it might be a sign of bigger problems. After four or five read throughs, I'm often to the point where I can do it in one sitting (most of the time not literally one sitting, but in a few hunks of time, whatever my schedule will allow). This is when I get a sense of the whole and start to feel like its done.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about You? What is your revision process? Best nugget of revision wisdom?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-25984318844872985342012-11-28T12:00:00.000-05:002012-11-28T14:52:55.551-05:00Road Trip Wednesday<br />
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<strong>This week's <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/">YA Highway</a> Road Trip Topic:</strong><br />
Best Book of November<br />
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I had yet another incredible listening month (more on that next week). Lots of great books, but my personal favorite was GRAVE MERCY by, Robin LaFevers.<br />
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Saved from a potentially brutal marriage by a convent.</div>
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Taught the skills to serve god. </div>
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The god of death, that is.</div>
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As I've said many times before, I love Historical, so it didn't surprise me that I loved this book.<br />
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What did surprise me was how much I loved it. Ismae (the protag) is kickass strong and empowered. And she doesn't become a simpering fool just because she starts to have feelings for a man.<br />
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It reminded me of <em>The Mist of Avalon</em> series (the King Arthur tale told from the womens' perspective) in that it's about the blending of old religions of Britain with Christianity, but with added themes of justice and atonement.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read this one? What was your favorite this month?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-40723600816165153032012-11-26T09:00:00.000-05:002012-11-26T09:21:58.898-05:00Debut Author Challenge #12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm finished but not done with this challenge.<br />
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I've hit and will exceed the twelve book challenge, and I plan to write about all of them.<br />
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Number Twelve is INCARNATE by, Jodi Meadows. I got this one from Audible.<br />
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In a world where one million souls have been reborn for thousands of years, one girl is new. And she wants to know why.<br />
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This had a strong traditional Fantasy feel to it, which surprised me (in a good way) as I was expecting more of a futuristic Fantasy. As I said, it was a good surprise, and the book also left enough unanswered questions and new possibilities to have me looking forward to the next one.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read this one? Any other debuts to recommend?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-24164119442249025512012-11-21T10:42:00.000-05:002012-11-21T10:44:35.108-05:00Road Trip Wednesday<br />
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<strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic:</strong> <br />
<span style="text-align: center;">With
Thanksgiving on the horizon we want to know how you balance hectic times like
the holidays with your writing schedule.</span><br />
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The honest answer for this one is that I don't...not very well, anyway.<br />
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This year, I'm working hard (today, as a matter of fact) to be at a stopping point before the chaos hits.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB3FPGmTdxDPiZlZzFi7pZEX3k5y0J5wQhiwLDLM4_PwNS0zB9UoRjtIKz8DtlPWVx9K_-Yg_-8nIVhOopF5rG3sd-mh4u6-xtHQCGcFukH97xqqjfCQShP1KxxnWS-7BhHU2LgOPAsE/s1600/thanksgiving%5B1%5D.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXB3FPGmTdxDPiZlZzFi7pZEX3k5y0J5wQhiwLDLM4_PwNS0zB9UoRjtIKz8DtlPWVx9K_-Yg_-8nIVhOopF5rG3sd-mh4u6-xtHQCGcFukH97xqqjfCQShP1KxxnWS-7BhHU2LgOPAsE/s200/thanksgiving%5B1%5D.gif" width="200" /></a>In the past, I've set my laptop up with a semi-permanent home at the kitchen table, always on, with a stack of Christmas CDs beside it so I can plop down in my spare moments and get some writing done.<br />
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The results aren't necessarily sub par in quality, but they definitely lack in quantity.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Holiday madness or just gladness?</span></strong><br />
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<strong>Happy Turkey Day, Everyone!!!!!</strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-69296146480468707052012-11-19T09:00:00.000-05:002012-11-19T09:53:37.766-05:00Debut Author Challenge #11-Dystopian and Women's Rights<br />
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My Debut Author Challenge #11 came from the library.<br />
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It's ARTICLE 5 by, Kristen Simmons<br />
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In a country fallen apart, the Bill of Rights has been revoked. Instead there are Moral Statutes.<br />
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Ember's mother has been arrested for the crime of having a daughter out of wedlock, and those who are arrested are never seen again. Ember has become a ward of the government. Can she escape and find her mom?<br />
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This is one of a handful of Dystopians I've read lately where loss of Human Rights, especially women's rights, is the focus.<br />
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As a mom of a daughter, especially, this possibility is daunting. Women have come a long way in the last one hundred years. We still have a way to go...women still don't receive equal pay (overall or w/in fields), are all too often victims of rape and domestic violence, and still do almost all of the housework and child caretaking even in households where they earn more money than the man...but I hate to think of any turmoil we could face in the future that would take away what hard-earned progress we have made.<br />
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I think appreciating where we've come from as females is part of why I love reading Historical Fiction so much. I see that the oppression of women in a possible future is realistic, and that it would be a beneficial theme for young readers, but it's hard for me...I find it hugely depressing and scary. <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read this one? Noticed this loss of women's rights trend in Dystopian? Any other debuts to recommend?</span></strong><br />
<br />Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-13569748351587728712012-11-14T11:00:00.001-05:002012-11-14T11:49:08.855-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- If you're going through hell, keep going.<br />
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<strong>This week's YA Highway Road Trip topic:</strong> Tons of writers are in the midst of NaNoWriMo, trying to stay inspired as we
reach the dreaded middle. Share your most inspiring and/or motivational video,
book, or quote on writing!<br />
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Congrats to those doing NaNo...you are all braver than I.<br />
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If my post title quote (from Winstin Churchill) fits where you are right now then let it inspire.<br />
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For specific writing inspiration, I'm going to turn to one of my favorite authors, <strong>Ray Bradbury</strong>.<br />
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<strong>First, a perfect quote for NaNo:</strong><br />
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<span class="huge bqQuoteLink"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/raybradbur400604.html" title="view quote"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self-conscious is lousy. You can't try to do things. You simply must do things.</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/raybradbur400604.html" title="view quote">Ray Bradbury</a></span><br />
Read more at <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ray_bradbury.html#12Csp84XHfsk2ZCO.99" style="color: #003399;">http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ray_bradbury.html#12Csp84XHfsk2ZCO.99</a> <br />
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<strong>Then, what I believe promotes writing productivity most for me:</strong><br />
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<span class="huge bqQuoteLink"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/raybradbur130705.html" title="view quote"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Love. Fall in love and stay in love. Write only what you love, and love what you write. The key word is love. You have to get up in the morning and write something you love, something to live for.</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/raybradbur130705.html" title="view quote"><strong>Ray Bradbury</strong></a></span><br />
Read more at <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ray_bradbury.html#12Csp84XHfsk2ZCO.99" style="color: #003399;">http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ray_bradbury.html#12Csp84XHfsk2ZCO.99</a> <br />
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<strong>Finally, for all of us, during NaNo and year round, the following will always fit:</strong><br />
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<span class="huge bqQuoteLink"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/r/raybradbur380547.html" title="view quote"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">You fail only if you stop writing.</span></strong></a></span><br />
<span class="bodybold"><a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/r/ray_bradbury.html" title="view author"><strong>Ray Bradbury</strong></a></span><br />
Read more at <a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/writing.html#FzDkCcXceEFjCWxy.99" style="color: #003399;">http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/writing.html#FzDkCcXceEFjCWxy.99</a> <br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What inspires you most as a writer?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-77904760486218620802012-11-12T09:08:00.001-05:002012-11-12T09:12:49.016-05:00Debut Author Challenge #9 and #10 <br />
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First off, I'm so excited because this year I'm actually going over twelve books for the Debut Author Challenge. Woo! Woo! My library system, sparse at the beginning of the year, came through with four debut audiobooks here toward the end, and I plan to post about all of them.<br />
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Next, <strong>I'm putting off my How Many Have You Read contest until December</strong>. Things have just been so crazy this last month, and I need a little time to catch up. The good news is, I'll combine all my fabulous October and November listens/reads, so I'm sure everyone will have read something to enter the contest with.<br />
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For Debut Author Challenge #9 and #10, I have two Merpeople books: <br />
<strong>OF POSEIDON</strong>, by Anna Banks<br />
<strong>LIES BENEATH</strong>, by Anne Greenwood Brown.<br />
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I got both from Audible.<br />
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Of Poseidon, about a girl who can communicate with sea life but has no fins, goes into the mythical history more.<br />
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Lies Beneath, with an interesting male protagonist, focuses more on the dark side, merpeople as predators. <br />
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Both very different. Both worth reading.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read either of these? Like merpeople books? Any other debuts to recommend?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-70690264443772761142012-11-09T08:00:00.000-05:002012-11-09T08:45:13.056-05:00Are You a Doer or a Talker?<br />
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I worked for many years in Early Childhood. As a mother, I will still sometimes ask parents of young children, "Is he/she a talker or a doer?" (aka: a charmer or one who would rather beg forgiveness than ask permission)<br />
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While shopping yesterday, I lost my concentration several times while listening to an action-packed story. This is when it dawned on me that when it comes to reading and writing, I'm a talker not a doer. I'd rather read/write dialogue than action scenes. <br />
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Like most children, I can do both, but I lean toward talking.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Are you a doer or a talker? As a writer? In life?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-51397869796661337352012-11-07T13:01:00.001-05:002012-11-07T13:05:38.788-05:00Road Trip Wednesday- Best of October<br />
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<strong>This Week's YA Highway Road Trip Topic is:</strong><span style="text-align: center;"> What was the best
book you read in October?</span><br />
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I had a wonderful listening month in October (more on that next Monday for my <strong>How Many Have You Read/Heard</strong> contest). <br />
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My favorite, hands down, was EVERY DAY, by my writing hero, David Levithan.<br />
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The problem is, I already posted about my undying love for this book (and David Levithan) <a href="http://jennhoffine.blogspot.com/2012/10/latest-audiobook-love-every-day.html">HERE</a>.<br />
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Next favorite? Already posted about it (WHAT'S LEFT OF ME, by Kat Zhang) <a href="http://jennhoffine.blogspot.com/2012/10/debut-author-challenge-8.html">HERE</a>.<br />
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My third favorite this month was PERFECTED BY GIRLS, by Alfred C. Martino. I think he's a local New Jersey author, so I'm not sure how available this book is, especially in audio.<br />
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It's a girl-doing-a-guy-sport book. Specifically, Wrestling. I loved that the author dealt with the issues of girls participating in this sport, competing with guys, in a realistic way, and that he gave voice to both sides of the issue (for and against female participation) while still ending up supporting the girls.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? Read any of these? What was your October fav?</span></strong><br />
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Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-88965764943526752902012-10-31T10:30:00.000-04:002012-10-31T10:30:02.984-04:00Road Trip Wednesday- Best of HorrorIf this post comes out before YA Highway's post it means Sandy has taken my power out...I set it on a schedule just in case. Sorry for any confusion this might cause.<br />
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<b>This week's YA Highway Road Trip topic</b>: Halloween! What's your
favorite scary book or movie?</div>
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First off, <strong>I love Supernatural Thrillers</strong> and have read a lot of wonderful YA ones, but they don't really scare me. <br />
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Scary (for me) is when any character, including the main one, can die at any time.<br />
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I don't watch or read a lot of that kind of scary, so for my favorites, I have to go old school:<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Favorite Movie: Aliens II</span></strong><br />
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<img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirlq8yaT5cSi62a6cM1vb3wzWgvoROMYiNmwqSx3mtVUHwuBJV1UdexofWJU4xj_Js6z87w-RqcPIaCGGYxN9X-V2dftane8xydb-ymK_Nhd9Xg80U2snWxIpoO_566Ewm02WUu4AIp8I/s200/Alien-2.jpg" width="200" />Don't get me wrong, the first Alien movie was amazing. And soooo scary. But the second one, with the child involved, scared me even more.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Favorite Book: Dreamcatcher</span></strong><br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What About You? Which books and movies scared you the most?</span></strong> </div>
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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!! </div>
Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-784301609008008440.post-4824346517791153372012-10-24T10:00:00.000-04:002012-10-24T11:03:45.379-04:00Road Trip Wednesday- Lost in Translation<br />
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<b>This week's YA Highway Road Trip topic</b>: It isn't surprising
that this month's <a href="http://www.yahighway.com/2012/10/october-bookmobile-book-of-month.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3366cc;">Bookmobile selection</span></a>, Leigh Bardugo's <i>Shadow and
Bone</i>, <a href="http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/09/12/dreamworks-harry-pottershadow-and-bone/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3366cc;">has sold film rights</span></a>; the darkly magical world of the Shadow
Fold begs for an on-screen translation! But that got us wondering. We'd like to
know, in your opinion, what is it that makes some books seem ideal for a film
translation?</div>
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I'm definitely a <em><strong>the book is better</strong> </em>kind of girl...but I appreciate this week's Road Trip because it has made me think about why I feel this way.<br />
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Both movies and books have different kinds of restraints in telling a story. They also have different kinds of magic...often, I believe, the way these things mesh and don't mesh in the different medias will determine the quality of the translation.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Time Constraints:</span></strong><br />
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Most film adaptations suffer, not from what's there but from what's left out. Visually, the Kira Knightly version of Pride and Prejudice is amazing. The acting, equally so. But there are so many glossed over details (ones many Austen virgins would miss) that I still lean toward the six hour A & E version as my favorite.<br />
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Some left out elements are sad but understandable, like leaving out Hermione's fight for house slave rights in Goblet...it was one of the longer books in the series.<br />
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But I'm still bothered that Katniss didn't get the bread from District Eleven after giving Ru her respectful final send off. That is my favorite moment in the whole book, maybe even in the whole series.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Inner Thoughts:</span></strong><br />
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Which brings us to the next issue. The significance of some moments are in the character's inner thoughts. Katniss considering how much that bread would have cost the people of District Eleven is what makes that moment so significant, but who would have conveyed that info on film? Katniss couldn't mutter it to herself without sounding awkward and/or putting her safety at risk. Maybe they could have flashed to Haymitch finding out about the gift, but even then, who would he share his observations with? Either way, the moment loses its umph without that inner thought (so easily utilized in a novel) to convey the info.<br />
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Comedies, I've noticed, get around this inner thought issue by creating characters who tend to say their inner thoughts out loud. <br />
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Bridget Jones's Diary is such a wonderful film adaptation because it has the outspoken main character plus her diary entries to convey her inner thoughts. <br />
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I don't remember the film version of Princess Diaries using the diary entries as much, and (I think) you lose some of the quirky/outrageous tone of those books because of it.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Scene setting:</span></strong><br />
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I remember vividly my first glimpse of the inside of Hogwarts on film(the moving staircases and the portraits). I felt as if the world Rowling had so brilliantly painted in my head had come to life before me. <br />
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Given that example, it would be easy to say that the better the world building, the better the movie result can be. But this theory doesn't work entirely. <br />
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The Twilight movies suffer, not from author world building so much as the special effects translation of that world building...sparkling vampires may look good on paper, but on film? It sort of loses its luster (for me, anyway). <br />
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Then (also related to inner thoughts), an author's world building is sometimes dependent on character narration. <br />
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Rick Riordan's engaging world of demi-gods, monsters and gods turns into a plain old action film (one with major time constraint issues too) without the main character's witty descriptions of his encounters.<br />
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">What about you? What do you think makes film adaptations work/not work?</span></strong>Jennifer Hoffinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07616744694563644199noreply@blogger.com10