LIVE Book Club Chat @ 5PM

     WELCOME!!

Are you ready to discuss Across the Universe by Beth Revis? Great! The chat begins at 5pm (pacific time). Choose a nickname and click enter to start chatting!! We'll have some questions ready to guide the discussion, but please feel free to voice your own comments or questions about the book. We're all friendly here, so don't be shy to join in! Talk to you soon.

UPDATE: Our live blog chat ended at 6:20 (pacific time). Thanks for the really great discussion! We had some new "faces," and I hope we'll see you guys next month! Stay tuned!! April's book choice will be announced on the blog this coming Tuesday! Have you voted yet? If not, find the voting post and make sure to put in your two cents!! :)


Happy Thursday, everyone!! :)

Meg Cabot Book Giveaway!!

It's been quite some time since we hosted a giveaway. Since Meg Cabot gave our blog an AWESOME shout-out on her facebook fanpage, we thought we'd celebrate!!!!! :)

Do you want to win a Meg Cabot book of YOUR choice?

We thought so! :) GOOD LUCK!
*Contest Closes: April 6, 2011 at 11:59PM)*

Traveling Through Books

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.

~St. Augustine

I've always dreamt of traveling. Not just to historical landmarks, exotic beaches, or foreign countries, (although I wouldn't mind traveling to any of those places!) but, also, to travel to the places that are no longer accessible. Only in picking up a novel can I travel through time and visit a beautiful countryside such as Jane Austen's 18th century England in Pride and Prejudice. Or to feel the demoralization and brutality of the French aristocracy in the years leading up to the revolution in Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities.

Now, let's expand our horizons and travel not to the places that once existed, but to those that never existed but in the minds of talented writers. For example, J.R.R. Tolkien created a world that over 150 million readers immersed themselves within. The same goes for C.S. Lewis's epic Narnia series that had over 80 million fans itching for more. These worlds weren't real, but they felt real to the readers who loved them.

What makes a place feel real? Ms. Austen was able to experience England in the 1800's and so she wrote what she knew. (Isn't this what most writers do? Write what they are familiar with?) But I'm quite certain that C.S. Lewis never really traveled to Narnia (or maybe he did and he wrote about it so people wouldn't think he was crazy? Who knows?). In either instance, both of the worlds they created seemed so real that millions of people have responded to the creations of their imagination.

Does a writer have to travel to a place to write about it? I'm sure it would help. And I, certainly, would love to travel to some of the non-existant places in the worlds I've created in my own books. The Internet helps, too. Want to go to England? It's a click away! Ireland? Click! New Guinea? Brazil? Tahiti? Click! Click! Click! How spoiled are we? Is it enough, though? I would like to breathe the fresh air of the long grass on the rolling hills of Ireland and taste the salt on my tongue on the shores of Tahiti while my toes sink into the sand. Wouldn't we all like that? :)

An old writer friend of mine wrote a novel in which her characters went camping. Her details were so vivid that I could actually hear the campfire snapping and feel the nip of the cold air on my nose. It made me want to go camping! That is talented writing. And while I'm sure she's been camping a time or two in her life, she certainly wasn't sitting with her laptop out in the middle of the woods.

So, even if we can't experience these places in person, we are lucky that we can visit them in the written words of writers. We are lucky that we can research them in libraries, the Internet, and by word of mouth from natives of different lands. Only through talented writing can we travel back through time, to places that cease to exist, and to real places that some of us can only dream of. How amazing is that???
xoxo,

Kalina Kay

Abandon Review

CHECK OUT our Meg Cabot Book Giveaway!

Author: Meg Cabot

Publisher: Scholastic

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Hardcover: 320 pages

Summary: (taken from Goodreads)

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Review:

I am a huge fan of Meg Cabot, because whenever I pick up a book she's written, I know that it's going to be fun, hilarious, and entertaining. Her stories sweep me up, taking me into some sort of fiction-vortex, releasing me only after I've read through to the end. So it was a little surprising to realize that Abandon isn't this sort of fun, easy-reading type of story at all. In fact, it's dark, serious, and has very little laugh-out-loud humor at all.

But I liked it.

Given the subject matter, it only makes sense that this story isn't hilariously funny, and I think Meg does an excellent job in switching gears. What I appreciated most about the story is the set-up. For some, this book may drag a little, because of the care Meg puts into its development. (In my opinion, this just shows the trust she puts into her fans to stick with it until the end.) I really felt connected to Pierce and her situation. And though there wasn't a payoff large enough to make up for all the set-up at the beginning, the ending was enough to make me want the sequel, because I do think that Meg has an epic payoff for us at the end of the series and I can't wait to get it.

I also love how all the details at the beginning come together at the end -- I wasn't able to fully predict the ending of this one, which was very exciting. Also, this is a book that can lead to a lot of discussion about mythology and death, which I think is very cool. It would be a great addition to a book club or even a classroom, with the right lesson plan.

What can I say? Meg has once again got me hooked on yet another one of her series. (Not that I'm complaining!)

My rating: 4

**I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A special thanks goes to Ann Larson, Meg Cabot's assistant, for making sure I got on the publisher's list of ARC requests. And another thanks to Scholastic for sending me an ARC of this book. I greatly enjoyed it.

The Lit Express Book Club: Vote for April's Book!

April kind of snuck up on us, didn't it? Well, it's that time of month, so we'd like you to vote for next month's book again! You'll have one week to vote, and I'll announce April's book on April 5. I know that's a little late, but I want to give everyone a chance to have their say in what we read next month. So, without further ado, here are the summaries for this month's options (all are taken from Goodreads):

Clarity by Kim Harrington

When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?

This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.

Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.

And a curse.

When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

Entwined by Heather Dixon

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.

The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.

Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.

But there is a cost.

The Keeper likes to keep things.

Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

What if you knew exactly when you would die?

Thanks to modern science, every human being has become a ticking genetic time bomb—males only live to age twenty-five, and females only live to age twenty. In this bleak landscape, young girls are kidnapped and forced into polygamous marriages to keep the population from dying out.

When sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery is taken by the Gatherers to become a bride, she enters a world of wealth and privilege. Despite her husband Linden's genuine love for her, and a tenuous trust among her sister wives, Rhine has one purpose: to escape—to find her twin brother and go home.

But Rhine has more to contend with than losing her freedom. Linden's eccentric father is bent on finding an antidote to the genetic virus that is getting closer to taking his son, even if it means collecting corpses in order to test his experiments. With the help of Gabriel, a servant Rhine is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free, in the limted time she has left.

The Liar Society by Lisa Roecker

Kate Lowry didn't think dead best friends could send e-mails. But when she gets an e-mail from Grace, she’s not so sure.

To: KateLowry@pemberlybrown.edu
Sent: Sun 9/14 11:59 PM
From: GraceLee@pemberlybrown.edu
Subject: (no subject)

Kate,
I'm here…
sort of.
Find Cameron.
He knows.
I shouldn't be writing.
Don't tell.
They'll hurt you.

Now Kate has no choice but to prove once and for all that Grace’s death was more than just a tragic accident. But secrets haunt the halls of her elite private school. Secrets people will do anything to protect. Even if it means getting rid of the girl trying to solve a murder...

P.S. Be sure to join us for our Live Book Chat about Across the Universe on Thursday, March 31 at 5 PM (Pacific time)

Characters to Love & Hate

I've been thinking about literary characters a lot lately. I'm trying to figure out what makes my favorite characters so great. Sometimes I make a list of what I love about a certain character (like Edward Cullen <don't roll your eyes at me!>) and what I hate about other characters. So what have I learned from these possibly pointless exercises? If anything, I have learned (like Alyssa said in this post) that listing adjectives about a character is not the same thing as really knowing who they are as "people." That goes with real life people, too. Right?

Ted Bundy had a great sense of humor, was nice to his friends and family, and charming (yuck), but that doesn't tell us anything about who he really is--a messed in the head, psycho murderer. Sure, we can make a list about Edward Cullen that says he is moody, brooding, intelligent, sentimental, and a sparkly Vampire, but does it tell us anything about who he is as a real-unliving-unbreathing-granite-fleshed person? Those traits alone are shallow, meaningless. There is something else, something special about him, something deeper than a mere list of adjectives, that has made women of all ages (and some men, maybe) fall in love with him...uh...I mean, fall in love with his character!

Have you figured out why you love the characters in your favorite books? It's not just because they are moody, brooding, intelligent, etc. Those are only snapshots, one second impressions. It's how those traits combine. It's what the characters say and do (or what they said and did in the past) that make us love/hate them. And really, REALLY <epiphany in the making!> it could come down to one simple fact.

What do WE long for in a relationship with a lover--a friend--a parent? Are our favorite characters a reflection of our personal wants and needs as real, living, breathing people?

Bing..bing..bing. I think that may be it, ultimately.

One thing I know for sure: there about a million, no, a BILLION personality combinations. That means each and every character you read in a book should be completely different from the characters in other books, right? If an author does their job, they will be. Are the characters we love ALSO the ones that are unique in the pool of literary characters?

Here is a question I need some help with. Are there make-it or break-it character personality traits?

Have you ever been on a date with someone and REALLY liked them until you found out...they smoke...or call their mom the B word? And, on the other hand, can someone you dislike grow on you a little if you find out something good about them?

Would we like Voldermort a little better if we knew he donated money to orphanages around the world AND cured cancer? (That's a stretch, I know) But would we like Mr. Collins (Pride & Prejudice) a little more if we knew he was browbeaten by his parents and made to feel like a complete imbecile? (Please read this last line over again in a British accent just for the heck of it!) Would we like Edward Cullen less if we knew he kept jars of REAL human blood under his bed to drink when he was alone in his room?

How would you feel about a character that seems pretty cool until you found out they didn't believe in god? Does it change anything? If you are an atheist, does it change your like/dislike of a character if they did believe in god? In real life, most people don't like or dislike a person based on their religious beliefs. But does the same apply to a person's like or dislike of literary characters?

For the other writers out there, I really recommended getting a copy of Characters & Viewpoint by Orson Scott Card. It will really open your eyes and help you improve the depth of your characters.

In closing, I'm REALLY curious about this (especially the religious stuff). I'm a writer, you know, and I'm trying to do research. I'd love to hear your opinions.

HAPPY MONDAY!

-Rane- 

I believe the Robert Pattinson photo came from Vanity Fair.
And just for the record: I love Edward Cullen and Robert Pattinson, too. Ah, sigh, ah.....sigh.......sigh........sigh. Okay, I'm done.

Across the Universe (Live Chat)

Have you read Across the Universe? Did you love it? Hate it? Feel somewhere in between? Are you dying to share your thoughts about this sci-fi tale with a group of like minded individuals who have also read it? If so, you are invited to attend our live book club chat right here on The Lit Express, which will take place:

March 31st, 2011 @ 5pm (pacific time)

We'll see you there! 

Book Review: Linger

Linger (The Wolves of Mercy Falls, #2)

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: July 13, 2010
Hardcover: 368 pages
My Rating: 3

Summary: (Taken from Amazon)
In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past ... and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole.

Review:
Since this is the second book in The Wolves of Mercy Falls series, I had expectations going into it. The first book, SHIVER, is a wonderful read. I rent books and I buy books... SHIVER was a buy-able book. LINGER, on the other hand, was less than buy-able. To sum it up really easily, I was not Wowed with this book.

The plot was slooooooooow. So slow, that I literally picked it up about four times, three months apart, and could never get into it. I put it down, and picked up something else. FINALLY, after the fifth try and about a third of the way into the book, I started to appreciate the characters and get into it more.

Here is the hard part: This book is told in FOUR different peoples point of view. While normally I would say this would add excitement and diversity, it did the opposite. I couldn't get into any one characters head for longer than ten pages! Not only was it annoying but it was also not worth my time.

This being said, I want to add the caveat that when I finally did get into the book, I stayed awake until 2am to finish reading it. Which is why I deemed it worthy of 3 stars. That, and the fact that Maggie Stiefvater is a very talented writer. She is poetic and her imagery is AMAZING. As a writer, I can appreciate her work. As a reader, the plot is forgettable and the tone is a little depressing.

Hopefully, the next book in the series, FOREVER, will be a little more enjoyable for me. I will read it, but at this point--it's a rent-able, not a buy-able.

xoxo,
Kalina Kay


Food for Thought- I see more and more authors writing books that include more than one characters point of view. Is it just me, or is this obnoxious? I would so much rather pick up two books, two different stories, and two different point of views, than have them meshed into one book. It could just be me but I'd love to hear your opinions.

Labels

Watching this video really makes me think about how we view ourselves, especially in this age of social networking. What do you put in your "About Me" section of all your accounts? You only have a certain amount of characters -- even if you have an unlimited space, who will want to read a long description? So we all fall back on adjectives we think accurately describe who we are: outgoing, curious, determined, optimistic, etc. But do these really cover all the bases? Is an outgoing person really outgoing ALL the time? And there must be a limit on curiosity; I mean, I consider myself a curious person, but if someone starts telling me about dust particles or something, I'm asleep before they even start.

So what's the deal? And has it started creeping into our writing?

I don't know about the rest of you, but I've been disappointed in a lot of YA books recently. A lot of characters have no depth. It's like the author decides: this character is going to be optimistic, so he'll never have a negative thought throughout the entirety of the novel.

No nuances, no shades of grey. Everything they are is contained within one word.

I don't know about you, but that kind of thing really bores me.

So let's keep an eye out for this sort of thing. Let's give life to our characters and make them act like real people. More than that, let's stop boxing ourselves in with labels we've created. It's okay to be the person who is outgoing sometimes and shy other times. It's okay to be a walking contradiction. In fact, let's face it: life (and books!) is way more fun that way.

The first few pages of a book

are SO important.

Writers stress over the first few pages of their manuscript.

For readers, it can make or break a book purchase. I'm really picky about the books I buy from the bookstore. I take greater risks with online purchases because the books are half the price and even less than that if they are used. If I pick up a book and the 1st page doesn't hook me, I'll literally put it down and probably never give it another thought. I agree with all you tsk-tsk-ers and those of you shaking your finger at me this very moment. I shouldn't be like that. But come on---with thousands of books out there, and not enough time to read them all, we've got to be picky!!!

That being said, I want to talk about how AWESOME the beginning of Across The Universe by Beth Revis is. I have to admit, I'm always a little late to get started with the book club read, and then I rush to finish before our live blog chat at the end of the month. This time, I'm not so late (still 10 days to go lol).

I've decided to read the first couple pages of the book to you. You be the judge. Does this beginning start off  different from most YA books? Does it hook you? Would you read more??

If so....join our book club <hehe> so you can join us for the live book club chat at the end of this month! Or not, but let me know what you think of the beginning.

And before I start, let me give you tiny blurb to get you started:

"Amy is a cryogenically frozen passenger aboard the spaceship Godspeed. She has left her boyfriend, friends--and planet--behind to join her parents as a member of Project Ark Ship." (Taken from book's inside flap.)

Final thoughts

Starting the book with the process Amy has to go through in order to be a frozen passenger is what kept me reading. I wanted to see how Amy would handle it when it was her turn. I was intrigued by an idea that isn't yet possible in this day and age but could be one day.

-Rane-

Guest Blogger: Do you really own your eBooks?

James Anderson

This is our first guest blogger, my big brother, JAMES!! And not only that, but he's also the first MALE blogger on our site. (He says he's gotta represent!) Give him a warm welcome everyone.....here's my brother....Mr. James Anderson...........take it away:

There is a revolution going on, but it is not what you think.  Or maybe, if you are one of the people who are as disappointed with commercial eBooks as I am, it is.  There is a great misconception being propagated in the world of eBooks my friends, and it is the idea of ownership.

And the cruel reality of the eBook marketplace is that you do not in fact own your eBooks. You did read your Amazon Kindle’s User Agreement right?: “Unless otherwise specified, Digital Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider [Amazon].”  (Now I am going to single out Amazon here, but all of the big eBook distributors have equally claustrophobic language on their websites.)

The misconception lies in the fact that you buy an eBook.  Buying implies ownership.  There is also the matter of the way Amazon presents Kindle books on its website.  eBooks are “sold by: insert random publisher name here,” and if  I would like to I can “Buy now with [just] 1-click.”  The verbage doesn’t matter however, this all boils down to a long-term rental agreement.

Every day I read blogs raving about eBooks.  People are re-buying the books they already own in print as well as new books all in digital format and for virtually the same price as a print book.  It comes as no surprise that in 2010 Amazon has sold more eBooks than print books.  To these people I ask: What happens 20 or 30 years from now?  Will Amazon and Barnes and Noble still be around housing your digital libraries?  Maybe, but there is a good chance these companies will not be around forever.  And, when they go, so does your library of books (in the current model).  Unless 20 years from now you still carry around your archaic Kindle or Nook from 2011 and never erase its memory.

It all comes down to DRM (Digital Rights Management).  These are the programs that put restrictions on the files you download.  These are the same restriction programs that used to be on mp3 downloads before the music distributors wised up and realized the restrictions only encourage piracy and keeping the prices low and the content free encourages business and discourages piracy.  Has the publishing industry learned nothing from the music industry?

What I find interesting is that Amazon beat iTunes to the punch by releasing DRM-free music first.  And by offering the consumer DRM-free songs, they took market share away from Apple.  Ironically though, Amazon has learned nothing from this, and now sells DRM eBooks.

Not to mention the other downsides of eBooks including the fact you can’t lend them to friends or print them legally.

I am a tech geek.  I wait in moderately long lines for the newest tech gadgets.  I spend way too much money on stuff I don’t need, but desperately want.  I am also an avid reader and writer. And, being from the ADD generation I want everything yesterday.  I am the prime target demographic for eBooks and eReaders, and so far I am not impressed.

To me there is nothing like holding the physical book.  I love that new book smell, the fresh printed inks and various types of paper.  The feel of each textured piece of paper comforts me.  Most of all, I like owning books.  My bookshelves are jam packed with years of collecting.

Like many others who have come before me, I am drawing a line in the sand.  The revolution continues through me in this blog.  May the eBooks be liberated, and may balance return to the force.

What say you?

JA

The Goddess Test Review

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 26, 2011

Paperback: 297 pages

Source: ARC (Thanks NetGalley!)

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

Every girl who has taken the test has died.

Now it's Kate's turn.

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review:

I have read so many good reviews of this book, and I tried really hard to like it. Really, I did. And it's not bad, it's just not as great as I thought it was going to be.

First of all, I really liked the premise behind this story. Like I've said before, I'm loving the new mythology twists everyone is coming out with. However, in this case, I think the author was far too ambitious. Dealing with Greek mythology is huge. It has a built-in set of expectations that I don't think this particular novel lived up to.

The thing I found most problematic was that there was very little development going on in this novel. Everyone instantly became friends or enemies, or enemies and then friends. I didn't understand it. Kate may feel like James is a good friend, but I don't feel the same way, because the relationship isn't explained. I don't know enough about him to make a decision for myself. Due to this, the characters were fairly weak; even Kate's character is weak. It's a first person novel, yet I don't know her at all. We don't get enough of her thoughts, just her decisions and actions. No inner conflict. Very little doubts or insecurities.

I also wanted a little more of an attitude on Kate. She just lets people boss her around! Why does she have to wear what Ella tells her? Especially when Kate's supposed to assume the role as queen. These conflicts didn't add anything to the novel, because they seemed trivial and easy to fix. Kate needs to show a little backbone if she's going to be Queen of the Underworld. She also needed a few more flaws. She was way too good and proper for me. I've been over characters like those since elementary school.

However, there were parts of this novel where I got excited and just had to read more. So that shows that the story isn't all that bad -- I was definitely interested. I cared about the outcome of the novel (even though it was painfully obvious to me what was going to happen), and I wanted to know more about the characters. I just wasn't given enough.

My Rating: 2

I'd like to thank Harlequin Teen via NetGalley for approving my request for an ARC of this novel.

Until later,

Are you hyphen savvy?

I must be in the mood to blog. Or maybe I'm trying to distract myself from <clears throat> more important tasks. I was looking up whether three-story (as in a three-story building) should be hyphenated. And I found this "hyphen" quiz. I get distracted easily <which must be pretty obvious> and took the quiz. Some of the questions are very easy, but a couple of them, I got wrong. Yeah. So test your hyphen knowledge. The results just might shock you. Hah!

Hyphen quiz.

-Rane-

The Organizing Zoo

This post really has nothing to do with a zoo, unless you consider your thoughts wild animals you need to round up and put on display somewhere. But it does have a whole heck of a lot to do with organizing your thoughts in regards to your WIP (work in progress).

That's what I'm doing. I'm organizing. It's taken me about a week to do this. I gather all my post-its, loose papers where I jotted down notes, and my journals where I collect ideas. Now I need to go about implementing these 10,000 or so ideas.

As you know WHO IS SAINT GIOVANNI? will be appearing on this blog in about 30 days or so. (OMG) This manuscript has gone through several revisions already. And when I decided to post it in weekly installments, I had actually forgotten that I was midway through a 3rd or 4th revision when I had to stop (because of work or school or some such thing) and left it to sit, unresolved, etc. That means the first half--in some ways--doesn't correspond perfectly with the second half of the manuscript.

I will finish in time. That's really no problem. The problem is where to get started with the 10,000 ideas. Writer friends....what do you do??? Do you start at the beginning of your manuscript and work your way through. This tends to be my MO.

OR do you go through your notes individually and find the spots that need tweaking? What else?

Just for the heck of it, I've decided to throw in a picture of my journals. For past novels, I've actually pinned butcher paper to the wall and charted out my entire novel based on events, so I could rearrange scenes. Have you ever done that? What are some other ways you record your thoughts?

Ok that's all for now. Have a great Friday :-)

UPDATE (as of 12:23pm pacific time)
I don't know why I feel compelled to update. BUT I DO! <hehe> I've decided to read through my entire manuscript and while doing so, take notes on my laptop. SEE:

-Rane-

Dear Kalina Kay: March Release Dates

Thank you for all who participated in the "Dear Kalina Kay" contest. There were lots of great questions posted and emailed to me. Using random.org I selected a winner and it is:

Susana Whitfield

You have one week to email me your mailing address to receive your $15 gift card. If I haven't heard from you in one week, I will select a new winner. Thanks again for all those who participated, your questions are saved and being researched as we speak!

Without further ado, here is the question of the week:

Dear Kalina Kay,
What YA paranormal novels are coming out in March?
Thanks,
Susana Whitfield

Dear Susana,

I LOVE this question because it's something we all want to know. What is hot RIGHT NOW?

While I could make a list of new releases in March, I think it would be more helpful to post some sites that have new releases constantly updated. That way, you can keep current for the rest of the year!

Here are the sites that I found most helpful:

Teen Reads: Coming Soon

Good Reads: Waiting to be Released (Paranormal and Fantasy Lovers)

Good Reads: YA Novels of 2011

Amazon: Epic List of Upcoming Books

YA Reads: March 2011 New Releases (This one is for you, Susana!)

YA Lit: Upcoming

Personally, I am looking forward to three specific books that come out this month.

The First is:

Because I have a teensy soft spot for murder mysteries. :)

The second is:

Because the summaries I've read on this book are pretty vague which leaves me super intrigued.

Plus, the cover is absolutely gorgeous!

And, the third book is:

Because the premise of the book is really twisted and totally creative.

I can't wait to see what happens!

Definitely keep your eyes out for a review from me on these books.

Are there any books you guys are looking forward to that are being released soon?

Until next time-

xoxo,

Kalina Kay

Trickster's Girl Review

Author: Hilari Bell

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Pub Date: 3 Jan 2011

Hardcover: 288 pages

Source: ARC (Thanks NetGalley!)

Summary: (Taken from Goodreads)

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying.

Kelsa has the powers to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.

Review:

I am loving all these mythological-based books now coming out and this one is no different. I love how Bell ties together all the different mythologies to incorporate it into the story she's made. It really works. The novel did have a few problems for me that I will go into later, but first let's talk about the good stuff.

Awesome thing #1: Subtlety. This is a futuristic world, but Bell doesn't make it so futuristic that I can't recognize it. Everything is similar but slightly off, which is exactly how I think the future will be. For example, there are hover vehicles, but regular vehicles still exist. People have "com pods" which I envision as some sort of really fancy iPhone. And some high school teachers seem to teach through computers, but it was still recognizably school. Some may argue that due to the rapid pace of technological advancements, it should have been more otherworldly, which I completely get; however, I really liked how I could recognize the old world in the new. Very well done.

Awesome thing #2: Native American mythology. I feel like this subject doesn't get written about a lot and it is SO interesting. Instead, many focus on Greek and Irish mythology (probably because that's what we mostly hear about in school). I liked the different flavor this mythology brought to the story, and I liked how it tied together with other mythologies. It especially works for the subject matter (healing the "leys," which are, essentially, a part of nature).

Awesome thing #3: It's a small thing, but I really liked how the evolution of the curse words was explained. I could totally see this happening in real life. Related to Awesome thing #1, it was similar enough that I recognized it, but just evolved enough to make it seem strange. Very cool.

Now for the problems.

Problem #1: Conflict. Using her "human magic" (as it's called) seemed to be really easy for Kelsa. And the incantations come rather easily to her. I know that the book says it takes her a little while to come up with the words, but I want to see the struggle. Especially since she's supposed to be conflicted about the existence of magic -- she is in denial, but then she just sits down and reaches out to the earth to heal it? Seems like a huge jump between mind frames. Conflict problems arose throughout the entire novel, I think. It was the biggest problem for me. I thought that things were fairly easy on Kelsa (until the end, of course), which I wasn't very happy with.

Problem #2: Development. Sometime between the beginning and middle of the novel, Kelsa got to become rather comfortable with Raven and his quirks. She would say things like "typical" when he did something, when I didn't find it typical at all. I really wished that there was more description of him and of the relationship they built so I could connect to him as well as Kelsa. This may have been a conscious choice on the part of the author since Raven is a spirit (or whatever you want to call him -- not human, anyway), and is therefore unrelatable. So I'm just going to list this as a personal preference.

However, I did think it was a good, fast read. I would recommend giving it a try.

My rating: 3

Until later!

Catch Me If You Can Blogfest

• It's blogfest time! Yippee-ki-yay! THANKS KRISTINA from KayKay's Corner for hosting this great blogfest!
• I'm posting the beginning of an untitled work in progress of mine. It's a little vulgar in places, so please brace yourself!
• Oh yeah, and it's a short story about a boy who sets out to teach a kid how to live a little, while discovering he's the one who doesn't know what it means to really "live." 

Martin’s fat. That’s why he won’t leave the house. I see him peeking out the blinds once in a while trying to get a taste of real life. He doesn’t get it though, not while he’s in there, where his mama’s greasy fried chicken probably uses up all his taste buds. I’ve even seen the kid, his arms folded on the basement’s window ledge, watching the shoes of us uninhibited pass by, wondering where we’re headed. He’s a dreamer, all right, in a pathetic way. I’m just the type of guy who can’t stand people who dream about things they never have the guts to do. Don’t ask me why.

I ring the bell at the Shelley house. Martin’s robust mama opens the door. She’s holding a glass of lemonade like it’s her lifeline. On a hot day like today, I’m surprised she made it to the door so fast. Through the screen I see a bead of sweat slip down between her breasts.

“What you doing here, Stan?”

“Is Martin home?” I ask out of politeness. Of course, Martin is home. I see him chicken dancing into the kitchen. I know it’s the kitchen because my house, the nicer one across the street, is just like theirs. Same layout and everything. 

Martin glances around the doorframe. With his body half hidden like that, he almost looks regular sized. Too bad he’s not. In another life we might have been amigos. That’s the word for friend in Mexico. Maria told me so last night when we were watching the stars in the bed of her father’s old Chevy. Amigos. I like the way the word rolls off my tongue.

• Thanks for stopping by! Want to join in? Click here!!!!!!

-Rane

Our New Blog Look!

Don't be alarmed! It's still us!
I promise.

One reason I've been so quiet on the blog this week is because I have been working on this new look, making graphics, etc. And this week was the first break I've had after close to 3 months of working 10-12 hours a day, weekends included. YAY! And I must admit, I felt like quite the zombie earlier this week. <deep breath> Now, I'm back and totally refreshed!

Why the new look, you wonder? <do you like it better?>
Honestly, the other look had a real cutesy feel to it, and we all agreed it was WAY too girlie. The guys are thinking, phew, now I can visit this blog while in a public place and not be embarrassed.

Some of our pages are still "under construction," but that will be fixed soon! We are working on a book review policy, which we didn't have before. Some of us here are getting offers from authors and publishers to read ARCs, so I suppose the day has come to have a policy.

Friendly reminders:

• We have a book club on goodreads! We're reading Across the Universe by Beth Revis. Later this month we're going to have another AWESOME book club chat right here on the blog.
• Check out the post below this one if you haven't yet. Kalina Kay has started a Q&A feature. Ask her anything about books or publishing. (See if you can stump her!!) For this first round of questions, she's offering a giveaway. SUPER COOL!
• Kristina Fugate is hosting a really great blogfest this coming Monday & Tuesday. There's a cool giveaway, so make sure you check it out....like....right now.
• OH YEAH, and the first installment of WHO IS SAINT GIOVANNI? (my young adult novel) will appear on this blog in 35 days 11 hours and 45 minutes. Click here if you have no clue what I'm talking about.

This is going to be a great week, and I hope you share my enthusiasm. Happy Sunday!

Rane

P.S. Don't I have the cutest writing buddy in the world? This was where my puppy chose to take her nap while I was working at the computer. She's snuggled between me and the edge of my computer desk (with a pillow behind her).

Dear Kalina Kay....

Do you see that little space to your left? Its a little further down then our "grab our button" section. Keep going, wait, not quite as far as our "currently reading" list. YES! Right there, its a list of our followers! If you look closely, you will notice that we have over 400 followers!


It's amazing. It's like I blinked and all the sudden we had blog friends! How did that happen so fast? I'm not sure but I do know one thing: I want to give back to our friends!

Alyssa, Rane, Linda, and I love our blog friends! We are just so dedicated to the blog, to our book reviews, our chats, and everything in between. And we feel so much love from our friends on here. So... we want to give back to YOU. And there are two ways we are going to do that. (I feel a give-away coming on, don't you?)


First of all, I am starting a new post called Dear Kalina Kay.
For Example:


Dear Kalina Kay,
What is this new feature you are hosting on The Lit Express?
Can I be a part of it?
Where do I send my questions to?
Love,

Confused

Dear Confused,
I am so glad you asked! Dear Kalina Kay is a new feature that will be hosted on The Lit Express at least once a month, sometimes more. It's for our dedicated followers who have questions about books, authors, agents, writing, and everything in between! If you have a question and don't know the answer (or can't find the answer), that's what Kalina Kay will do for you. Sound simple enough? I hope so. Now, in order to submit a question, all you need to do is click on the "Contributors" list at the top, find Kalina Kay and her email is right by her picture. Submit your question via email and she will answer it!
Thanks for stopping by,
Kalina Kay


The second thing we want to do, to give back to our dedicated followers, is host another give-away.
Who wants a $15 gift card to Barnes and Nobles???
In order to enter, make sure you are a follower, and then submit a question to Dear Kalina Kay.
It can be fun, easy, hard, or anything inbetween. To make this easy, you can post your question in the comments section and I will use random.org to find our winner.


I can't wait to see what questions you come up with and I'm even more excited for our one lucky winner who will be announced next Wednesday. That's right... you have one week to enter. Good Luck!


xoxo,
Kalina Kay

The Votes Are In! March's book is...

Thanks to everyone who voted, you guys are awesome! Without further ado, the book you have chosen to be this month's read is (by an overwhelming majority, I may add):

Across the Universe by Beth Revis!

Thanks for everyone for participating. I'm looking forward to awesome discussions with you all over at The Lit Express's Book Club!

PS Any suggestions for April? Go ahead and send us an e-mail, comment, or post on our Goodreads site. This is your book club too and we'd love to hear your input!

Until Later,