End of 2010 Survey!

Since I didn't do a top 10 post for this year, or really anything to wrap up the year, I figured that participating in The Perpetual Page-Turner's End of Year Survey was just as good as anything else! :)

1. Best book of 2010?  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I devoured this book.

2. Worst book of 2010? Perhaps Fade by Lisa McMann. I don't know that I'm a very good judge of BAD books.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010? Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I was expecting something spectacular and just felt like it was a very long, kind of blah book.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010? Folly by Marthe Jocelyn. I never really thought that I was into historical fiction. But, this and other similar books helped me realize that I love a very well-done historical fiction novel.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010? The Hunger Games definitely. I push that book on everyone.  I also recommend The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale a lot.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima. It's a fantastic epic fantasy for young adult readers. My husband and I loved The Demon King and The Exiled Queen, and can't wait for the next installment!

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Leah Cypess (she is so fantastically nice and awesome), Cinda Williams Chima (as mentioned above), and Kiersten White.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter blew me away with the funny dialogue.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?  Mockingjay. I had to know how it all ended!

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? Mockingjay, again. I also really wanted Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George.


11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010? I loved the cover for Matched. Very clean and simple yet striking.

12. Most memorable character in 2010? Katniss from Mockingjay. And Sydelle from Brightly Woven

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. I know this book wasn't written in 2010, but I read it in 2010. It was recommended to me by Angie, who is my go-to gal on well-written books.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?   Folly by Marthe Jocelyn and pretty much every book I read, whether good or bad.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read? Nothing is really coming to mind on that one. I read a lot of newer books this year.

 Book Blogging in 2010 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2010? Forever Young Adult. I read through every single one of their posts because they are so darn hilarious!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010? I wrote a review with my friend Julie on Paranormalcy that was a lot of fun. (link)


3. Best discussion you had on your blog? I started a series called Blogger Confidential. (Which will start up again in the new year). I really liked the discussion on what to do when you don't like a book by an author you love. I had a lot of great comments on that. (link)

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog? Angie from Angieville had a great post on required reading that I participated in. Very interesting topic. (link)


5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? Armchair BEA was really fantastic. It was really spur of the moment, but I had a lot of fun meeting other bloggers and writing some great posts.

But, I also got an opportunity to do a live interview with Scott Westerfeld which was awesome! I am working on the video and it will be posted next week.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2010? Every moment was great. Seriously, I've loved it all.

7. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.) ? Probably NetGalley and Edelweiss. They are great resources for discovering new titles.

Interview with Cinda Williams Chima

Photo by Augusten Burroughs

Cinda Williams Chima

Author of:
The Warrior Heir
The Wizard Heir
Dragon Heir

The Demon King
The Exiled Queen

Author Website 

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The world-building in the Seven Realms series is very intricate. When you were writing the story, did you have a map drawn? (This is a sneaky way of asking if we'll ever get to see a map of your world).

The Seven Realms is a world I created for an adult high fantasy series that I never finished. While shopping The Warrior Heir, I wrote the first two volumes of a planned trilogy called The Star-Marked Warder, set in the Seven Realms. I drew a map at that time, and kept redrawing it and adding places and features as the story progressed. Maps help writers stay oriented in fictional worlds (in the real world, too--I often referred to a map of Ohio when writing the Heir Chronicles.)

I put The Star-Marked Warder aside after The Warrior Heir sold, and began writing The Dragon Heir and revising The Wizard Heir. After finishing the first three books in the Heir series, I wanted to write more books for teens, but try something different. I loved my Seven Realms world and the characters in it, so I decided to go back to that. I took two characters (Han and Raisa) back to when they were teenagers, back to when they met. And that's how the Seven Realms series came about. When the series sold to Hyperion, they hired a cartographer to redraw my lame map, and it appears on the flyleaf of the hardcover. It is also posted on my website at http://cindachima.com/Demon_King/Places.htm. You can print out a pdf of it there for reference, if your book doesn't include it (it was not included in the first printing of the paperback Demon King or most of the foreign editions.)

My ARC of The Exiled Queen didn't include a map. Neither did my finished copy of The Demon King. I'm SO happy that there is a map to reference all the places that we hear about in the book.

Which perspective was easiest for you to write, Han or Raisa? Which did you enjoy the most?

It's probably easier to write Han's perspective, because I'm used to writing from a boy's POV. I felt a certain amount of pressure with Raisa because I wanted to accomplish so much with her character. I wanted her to be strong, yet flawed enough to be realistic. Probably the most difficult task was showing the growth of Han and Raisa through the four books of the series. It's difficult enough to make sure that characters are consistent through a long series. But to  achieve a believable arc of character and maturity takes the kind of planning I don't usually do.

Can you explain your writing process? Do you outline? Free-write? 

I don't outline ahead of time. I wish I did. I actually blogged about plunging vs. plotting here. http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/02/plotters-vs-plungers.html  I generally have a loose framework to begin with, and I generally know how my story ends. I begin with characters, their desires, and the obstacles in the way. Then, as I write, I layer in more conflicts, more complications, connections and relationships. This kind of writing requires a lot of revision.

What do you wish more people knew about publishing? 

I often hear from young and unpublished writers who have questions about publishing. That's one reason I have lots of blog posts about publishing, including this one. http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/12/so-you-want-to-find-publisher.html  The biggest mistake I see writers make is neglecting craft in their rush to publish. Writing is like any other skill--it takes study and practice. Finding a publisher is as competitive as winning a major golf tournament. You wouldn't expect to play a game or two and then get into the Master's.

Without giving too much away, what can we expect in the next book in the Seven Realms series?

HUGE reveals, ruthless politics, scheming wizards, ramped up romance--the usual.

Any tactics for writer's block?

I got links for that, too, of course. One key to overcoming writer's block is to turn off that editor in your head--the one that says that everything you write is terrible, it will never work, this project is a failure like all your others. You have to be willing to write badly in order to finish a first draft. Once you have the bones down, you can always revise, but you can't revise a blank page. Often writers have difficulty getting started because they think they need to have everything figured out before they begin. You don't. Just begin. Here are two posts about Writer's Block: http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2008/02/writers-block.html and http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/01/young-writer-writes-i-recently-started.html.

Since you've built such a complex world, do you think that you'll ever write a spin-off series from another character's point of view? 

I love living in the Seven Realms, so there's a chance I might. I would also like to do something with The Star Marked Warder, which is a kind of sequel to the Seven Realms series. It would require some revision, but my beta readers really really seem to want me to finish it.

Thank you so much to Cinda for dropping by. Her blog and website have a wealth of knowledge about writing, and I highly recommend them.

Nook or Kindle: The Great E-Reader Decision

This post could also be titled, "How I Chose my E-Reader."

I'm hoping that my experience will be helpful to those of you who are considering purchasing an e-reader.

I really didn't have an interest in getting an e-reader until this summer during the Kindle/Nook price wars. I decided I wanted an e-reader because:

• I read a lot.
• I have limited space for physical books
• E-books are cheaper (generally)
• Having access to books when I travel without having a lot of extra luggage
• Publishers switching to e-galleys as a form of ARC distribution

Now, these reasons may not apply to you. But, I felt like those were good enough reasons for me to consider investing in an e-reader.

So, based on those reasons I wanted a reader that would fit my needs.  My choices were between the Nook and the Kindle.

Kindle

Pros:

• Weight and size. The Kindle is light, and has a large viewing area for its size.  It's also very thin.
• Superior e-ink technology. The difference between the Kindle and the Nook in e-ink technology is noticeable. The Kindle has a slightly faster refresh time as well.
• Longer battery life
• Slightly lower price

Cons

• Is not compatible with the EPub format used by the google ebook store. Also not compatible with the Adobe Digital Editions format used by Simon and Schuster Galley Grab program.
• Does not have the lending option. (Amazon has announced that they will have it by the end of the year, so that wasn't that big of a deal)

Nook

Pros

• Compatible with the Epub and Adobe Digital Editions formats.
• Color touch navigation screen
• In-store support at Barnes and Noble
• More friends have the Nook so I can borrow and lend books.
• Expandable memory with MicroSD cards

Cons

• Heavier than the Kindle
• Shorter battery life
• The wi-fi version is white (silly, I know, but I love the look of the graphite Kindle)

Ultimately, I chose a Nook. My husband had already bought me a Kindle, so I actually just gave it to him. :)  For me, the portability of formats was the most important thing.  I needed something that was compatible with my e-galleys, because I don't know that I'll be actually buying a whole lot of books.

I don't anticipate my Nook replacing my current library any time soon. Really, it's just a part of my entire reading experience. I still plan on using the library, and buying real books.

And, the most important decision... The name of my new Nook is Hermoine.

Happy Birthday Jane Austen

Today is Jane Austen's birthday, and in celebration, SourceBooks is making 10 of their Austen-inspired titles available as free e-books for today only.

I suggest you get them now, even if you don't have an e-reader.  Because even if you do not ever intend on getting an e-reader, chances are you will someday. Plus, you can get apps on your blackberry, iphone, android, mac, PC, iPod or iPad. You never know when you might need a book.

• Eliza’s Daughter by Joan Aiken
• The Darcys & the Bingleys by Marsha Altman
• Mr. Darcy Takes a Wifeby Linda Berdoll
• What Would Jane Austen Do? by Laurie Brown
• The Pemberley Chronicles by Rebecca Ann Collins
• The Other Mr. Darcyby Monica Fairview
• Mr. Darcy’s Diary by Amanda Grange
• Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One by Sharon Lathan
• Lydia Bennet’s Storyby Jane Odiwe
• Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy by Abigail Reynolds

Additionally, you can get the illustrated e-book editions of Ms. Austen's works as well:

Pride and Prejudice 
Emma
Sense and Sensibility 
Northanger Abbey 
Persuasion
 Mansfield Park

I haven't read any of these titles, but I went ahead and purchased them all from Google Books. Now all I need is an e-reader.

Barnes and Noble

Google

(via bookshelves of doom)

The Lost Saint by Bree Despain Book Trailer

Have you all seen the newly release trailer for The Lost Saint?  I have been very impressed with the trailers for the two books.

You should all read this series. (And I don't just say that because my name is mentioned in The Lost Saint). Okay, maybe I have a little bit of an ulterior motive.

Funny story about my name being in the book though. I told my husband that my name was mentioned in the book. He asked to see it. So, I flipped through the book and showed it to him.  He then picked up the book and said, "Hey, my name is in here like a hundred times."

His name is Daniel. Did I mention that before?

If you've read the book, you'll know why that's funny. If you haven't, forget I said anything and just go read the book.

But not until you've seen the awesome trailer.

The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima: Review

The Exiled Queen
By: Cinda Williams Chima
Copy received from Disney/Hyperion for review

Synopsis (From Goodreads): You can't always run from danger...
 Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.
Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.
My Review: Oh this series is amazing.  I enjoyed The Demon King, but I absolutely loved The Exiled Queen.  Cinda Williams Chima is a master at world building, and the setting in this book is almost like another character that moves and grows with the story.

There were a few things about the story that I think were lacking. There was a lot of story as it related to Han, but very little about Raisa for most of the book. Which I thought was a little strange given the title of the book. Also, I think that the potential for a story with Fire Dancer has remained untapped. But, there are still two books to go, and from my readings of Cinda's website, they are two very large books.

Even though there wasn't as much of the Raisa story as I would have liked, what was there was very good.  Raisa has definitely grown up, and is learning more about her identity.  Her romances are very real and fun to read about.  My husband and I read the book aloud and found that even reading the "lovey dovey" parts wasn't uncomfortable.

Han's story was definitely setting up for the next book in the series.  Thus, it did drag a little in parts. However, as long as the information that we learned about Han and wizarding history proves useful in the next book, I don't mind much at all.  Also, I did find that I wanted Han to be a little more perceptive than he seemed to be at times. I found that I could easily anticipate his next move, and waited a few pages for him to realize something that I had known was coming.  But, his character remained true in this book, and that's really the most important thing to me.








As I mentioned above, one of the best parts of this series is the world building. What is truly amazing about this book is that while the setting is totally unfamiliar, unlike other high fantasies, there aren't a lot of different races and terms to keep track of. There really aren't even a lot of characters.  I didn't feel like I was so caught up in trying to keep places or people straight that I was missing the point of the story.


Like the Demon King, I really enjoyed the ending.  There was a clear ending of the story arc, but I was definitely left wanting more.  I can't wait for the next book that will be out next Fall.  If you enjoy fantasy, this book is a must read.


My Rating:
 

Profanity: None
Sexuality: Mild
Violence: Mild
Drugs and Alcohol: None

Matched Launch Party

If you are in the Provo area, I wanted to let you know about an awesome event going on at the Provo Library tomorrow, December 7, that is sure to be a blast.  Local author Ally Condie will be signing copies of Matched, her newest novel that has received a TON of great buzz. The Provo Library is truly fantastic about reaching out and bringing super authors to our area.

I hope you'll come out and meet Ally and support our local library!

CSN Stores Preview

I've always been a huge online shopper. I really like the flexibility that comes with shopping around different stores without having to leave my house.  That way I am sure I've got the best deal.

CSN stores makes my online shopping even easier. They price match most items, and many of the items in their stores have free shipping. Plus, their customer service is amazing.

I have the opportunity to review another product from their selection, and with the great selection, I'm having a really hard time choosing just one thing. Maybe some bar tables and stools with catch my eye?

Be watching for a review soon!