Epic IN THE AFTER Goodreads Giveaway

Woohoo! Harper Teen is giving away 30 ARCs of IN THE AFTER on Goodreads! Enter here!

 

 

 

The Blog Chain – Too Many Smiles

The Blog Chain Topic this week is:

What are your "go-to" scenes or phrases? You know, the ones you have to remind yourself NOT to use too frequently? What do you do to keep yourself from being overly reliant on them?                                          

While I don’t have any “go-to” scenes, I definitely have go-to facial expressions…as in smiling. When I’m in the early rough draft stages of my writing, I always use smiling as a filler reaction/action/expression.

 

For example:

She looked at him with a sad, tight smile.

“It’s not what you think,” he said with a friendly smile.

She smiled bravely. “I know…it’s just…”

He took her hand and offered her a smile. “I had to do it.”

 

Okay, so that’s an over-the-top example (from a soap opera perhaps?) but you get the idea. I always have to back in and make sure people aren’t smiling so damned much, cause really, if you think about it, it’s kind of creepy.

I think it’s easier to edit out your “go-to” words and phrases then to try and banish them altogether. In edits you can more clearly see a scene and work in what people would actually do in a situation.

That’s all for now, (she said with a smile.) J What are your go-to scenes or phrases?

 

Keep following this topic on the chain and check out Michelle’s blog on Monday, or look back at Katrina's post from yesterday.

 

IN THE AFTER Launch Party Date Set!

 

Join me for my book launch!

When: June 28^th at 7:30pm

Where: The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square - 4736-38 N. Lincoln ave., Chicago, Illinois 60625

There will be cupcakes, photo ops, door prizes, giveaways, swag galore and of course, me!

Here's the FB Event Page! 

Hope you can come!

Books = Happiness

I'm currently out of ARCs to read and was going into book withdrawal so I bought a few that I've been meaning to read for a while.

 

 

 

Has anyone read these? Thoughts? No spoilers though please! :)

 



   

Kirkus Review of IN THE AFTER!

 

Here’s my Kirkus Review! (The only thing I cut out was the summary bit at the beginning.)

 

Debut author Lunetta crafts a bang-up, twisty sci-fi adventure/thriller that begs continuation. Plucky, smart, inquisitive Amy’s first-person narration is enjoyably snarky, and this end of the world is original enough to make it a good addition to any collection of post-apocalyptic fiction. Fans will be rabid for In The End, scheduled for summer 2014. (Science fiction. 13 & up)



To authors, Kirkus can be pretty scary...they have a reputation for telling it like it is. I was so happy (and more than a little relieved) when I read this!

 

ARC Spotlight – GOLDEN BOY by Tara Sullivan

 

 

Thirteen-year-old Habo has always been different— light eyes, yellow hair and white skin. Not the good brown skin his family has and not the white skin of tourists. Habo is strange and alone. His father, unable to accept Habo, abandons the family; his mother can scarcely look at him. His brothers are cruel and the other children never invite him to play. Only his sister Asu loves him well. But even Asu can’t take the sting away when the family is forced from their small Tanzanian village, and Habo knows he is to blame.

Seeking refuge in Mwanza, Habo and his family journey across the Serengeti. His aunt is glad to open her home until she sees Habo for the first time, and then she is only afraid. Suddenly, Habo has a new word for himself: Albino. But they hunt Albinos in Mwanza because Albino body parts are thought to bring good luck. And soon Habo is being hunted by a fearsome man with a machete.

To survive, Habo must not only run but find a way to love and accept himself.

Recommended for fans of: YA or MG Contemporary with Substance/ African Culture

This book is amazing. Sullivan has clearly done extensive research on Albinos living in Tanzania. You are immersed in African culture, but you always feel like you belong there. Everything feels very authentic and accurate. It speak from a place that is more than just intellectually though, GOLDEN BOY feels so genuine. You feel stricken when the family is forced to leave their home, just as Habo does. You also get to go on a journey with him as he learns about his condition and begins to grow as a person. I think anyone who has ever felt different can connect with Habo as a MC. GOLDEN BOY definitely deserves the starred Kirkus review it received.

GOLDEN BOY is available for pre-order and will be released on June 27^th.

 

Back Wednesday with the Kirkus review of IN THE AFTER!

Two Months To Go!

Tomorrow marks two months until IN THE AFTER releases! I am so freaking excited! Here's the countdown widget and don't forget to enter this month's ARC giveaway!