In My Mailbox: April 1

In My Mailbox is hosted at The Story Siren

Books I received:
psst.. all links lead to Goodreads. So, add them, won't ya?

Possession by Elana Johnson

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Selection by Keira Cass

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Dark Inside by Jyn Roberts

BZRK by Michael Grant

Bloggiesta To-Do List

This weekend is the bloggiesta! The day where I just sit down and do all the things with my blog that I've been neglecting. You may have noticed yesterday that I posted my mini-challenge to get the juices flowing on some new post ideas.

Here is my to-do list for the weekend:

• Re-arrange my sidebars. By the way, I'm totally bemoaning the fact that my sidebars are just too narrow. It's really time for a blog re-design.
• Do some SEO stuff. I've got to put in a lot of alt-tags for photos, and put in some keywords.
• Update my review lists, and create one for audiobooks
• Update my tags
• Rewrite my advertising page, including an update of stats, update twitter, netgalley, goodreads, and other profiles.
• Get caught up on all reviews for books I've read recently and schedule posts.
• Organize email
• Create yearly reader survey

And, if there is time, I'm going to work on my new blog design. We'll see.

What are you working on?

psst... If you want to know more about bloggiesta, read about it here. 

Bloggiesta Challenge: 8 Ways to Freshen Up Your Content

This challenge is in conjunction with Bloggiesta. Be sure to read all about Bloggiesta on its main page. You can also see the other people doing mini challenges.

Okay, so I'm going to talk about content today. When you first start blogging, it seems like the whole world is at your feet and you will never run out of things to talk about. Fast forward a couple years, and it seems like you can't think of anything to write about. In an attempt to not use memes and features as a crutch, you should have a back-up of ideas that you can use to promote some thoughtful posts. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Write an honest post. Some of the best posts I've written have just been about things that were really on my mind. Even if they are scary. These can be personal, or just things that you want to talk about. I've talked about good guys in YA literature, love triangles,and my love for Harry Potter. All of these things prompt thought from readers.
2. Revisit an old topic or blog post. If you posted something that got a lot of comments, pageviews, or prompted a good discussion and it's been awhile, talk about it again. Post something a little different, or just update the post with new information.
3. Make a web of your content. Try to avoid making your blog just like a stream of consciousness. Interconnect your blog posts together by linking to other posts that you've done in the past when appropriate, or linking to other's work. This creates a continuity that will make readers stay on your blog, and give you lots of ideas for new posts.
4. Writing a post that fills a need. Back when Pottermore first came out, I wrote a post on how to get a beta invite, and an earlier post on my predictions on what Pottermore was. Those two posts combined have got almost 10,000 pageviews, and Yahoo even linked up to one of them. I've also done posts on some technical blogging related things that have got a bunch of pageviews. But, your post doesn't have to be technical, just latch onto an idea that's hot and put a new spin on it.
5. Don't over think it. This one kind of ties in to the being honest thing. Sometimes your half-formed ideas are going to generate a lot more interest than your well-researched ones. Why is that? Because readers like to be a part of the discussion. If you've said all there is to say, why should they comment?
6. Do an interview, or be interviewed. But, not in the way you think. Don't ask a blogger or author what their favorite ice cream is, or what kind of bacteria they'd be. Ask questions that readers want to know. I think that this is why Blogger Confidential has done so well. The questions are tough. Sometimes they are uncomfortable to answer. So, do an interview, but really think about the questions. Take the time to do some research, and you'll come out with questions and an interview that really makes an impact.
7. Write about what you talk about. If you've just had a discussion with your friends on twitter, or gchat, or even on the phone, write about it. If it's a topic that is important enough for you to discuss it with your friends, it's probably important enough to write about. I did this just recently when I talked about my stats. I'd been talking about it for weeks and by that time had so many thoughts and ideas swirling in my mind that it came out in a post.
8. Write about someone else. When I first started blogging, J. Kaye had a great feature where she talked about new blogs that she discovered. I kind of miss that feature, and with that we'd do more discovering and talking about our discoveries. Plus, I believe that any karma you give out comes back to you 10-fold.

Here's your challenge:

Write up 10 ideas for posts that will revitalize your blog

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater: Review

The Scorpio Races
By: Maggie Stiefvater

Every November in Thisby, the capaill uisce (water horses) rise from the surf. They are strong, fast, and deadly. And every November, the people of the island test fate by riding the horses in The Scorpio Races. Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. Kate (Puck) Connelly never intended to enter the races, but must do so to hold on to her brother for as long as possible. As the first female to ever enter the race, and the only one not on a capaill uisce, the odds are stacked against her.

Even after striking out on Maggie's Wolves of Mercy Falls novel, I decided to give this one a try, since it seemed so very different from her previous series. That, and the fact that it was selected as my March title for Tell Me What to Read sealed the deal.

Told from alternating perspectives, the story begins in a time that was unclear to me. There are cars and other mentions of technology, but nothing else that could firmly cement it in one time or another.

Readers who really enjoy a fast plot with exciting twists and turns will find that The Scorpio Races does not fit the bill. But, as one who loves characters that jump (or in this case gallop) right off the page, I didn't mind the slow pace of the plot. I enjoyed taking my time to get to know Puck and Sean and their motivations behind entering the very dangerous Scorpio Races.

As I mentioned before, the writing in the Wolves of Mercy Falls really didn't speak to me. But, the writing in this one just hit the spot. From the very first page I felt the danger of the races. But, I also felt the atmosphere. The salt in the air and the sand that gets everywhere. The fever pitch of the excitement of the festival. Puck's desperation and need to keep her brother close. Her pull to the island. All of it was beautifully crafted and created a sense of magic through the entire book.

So, chalk one up for the man-eating horses. Because I loved this book.

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amazon | goodreads | author twitter

Grave Mercy by Robin L. LaFevers: Review

Grave Mercy
By: Robin L. Lafevers

I read the first few pages on Houghton Mifflin Harcourt's website back in early February. And when the ARC arrived a few weeks later, I plunked myself down and dropped everything and read it.

Things that told me I knew I'd like Grave Mercy:

Assassin Nuns
A very independent and kind of icy main character
Courtly intrigue
A sisterhood (am I the only one that really likes books with a group of women/girls that all have each others backs?)
Poisons and covert methods of killing people.

Grave Mercy begins with our heroine, Ismae, being forced into a marriage with a, shall we say, piggish man. (It's funny because he actually is a pig farmer). She bears a scar across her body from the herbs used as an attempt to abort her in the womb. Those who have seen it, call it the Mark of Death. Ismae is smuggled out of her village and into a convent where the sisters there serve Death as his handmaidens.

To begin, I really think that this book has significant crossover appeal. In fact, I would be more inclined to categorize it as adult fiction, even though Ismae is 17. However, for the time period, and the issues she's dealing with, she's like 30. That's not to say that I don't think teens will like it. Many will, but probably the older crowd more so than the younger.

There were so many things to love about Grave Mercy. I immediately liked Ismae. She's a great example of a non-victim character. Even though she's really dangerous, and you definitely wouldn't want to be around if you bore "the mark," she is loyal to those she trusts. She reminded me a lot of another character I loved; Yelena, from Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder.

I am such a sucker for politics and courtly drama. And most of this book is just that. There are several high-stakes assassinations and such, but much of it is kind of a whodunnit and figuring out who you can trust. And a lot of talking. I would have liked to see some more assassination, but as it was, I still really enjoyed the story.

And, there's the romance. And I can say with absolute certainty that Grave Mercy contains my favorite romance so far this year. If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times: I like romances that take it slow. I have a particular affinity for characters being thrown together and going through the process of disdain, respect, trust, and love. Because even though you know that it's GOING to happen, it's how it happens where the magic lies.

Grave Mercy and His Fair Assassins series is definitely one to watch. And, if you aren't into cliffhangers, you'll be happy to know that this one wraps up nicely, with plenty of suspense for the rest in the series. As I mentioned before, there is some adult content, particularly sexual content. But, personally, I thought it was tastefully handled. Everything else, (drinking, violence, etc) is just typical to the time period.



psst... I'm giving away my ARC along with 7 other titles in my Spring Cleaning Giveaway. Go enter!

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goodreads | amazon | author twitter | author website

The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen: Review

The False Prince
By: Jennifer Nielsen
pst! Read my review in The Deseret News

Peace is teetering on the edge in the kingdom of Carthya. A divided court and rumors that the royal family has been murdered cause Conner, a nobleman, to devise a plan to unite the kingdom. He purchases four orphans to train and compete as impersonators of the lost Prince Jaren, including a particularly fiesty one named Sage. With only a few weeks to prepare, and his life on the line, Sage has to learn to play the part and join in on the scheme.

The False Prince is the best middle-grade historical fiction that I have read this year. Period. I loved this book from start to finish, and was captivated. From the very beginning, Sage had my heart. He's such a rascal, but at the same time, he's just a puzzle waiting to be put together. In many ways he reminded me of Gen from Megan Whalen Turner's Thief series. Like Gen, Sage is a thief. They both have this attitude that they just can't be bothered to care about something, even when they clearly do not have the upper hand. And, like Gen, Sage manages to somehow always seem to have the upper hand. Even when he doesn't. Is that confusing? That's the beauty of both of these characters. I couldn't get enough!

In addition to its dynamic characters, Jennifer Nielsen has created a plot with twists and turns in all the right places. Upon first glance, the plot seems easy to pin down. But where this novel truly shines is by building upon itself with action not immediately shown the readers. This results in a climax that will have readers turning back to previous pages to find all the clues that were there the entire time. The way that the critical plot points unfolded was absolutely brilliant. Like a great writer, Nielsen plants little things earlier in the novel that turn out to mean something later in the book.

Give The False Prince to your reluctant readers, particularly boys. There isn't much romance in The False Prince, which is why I would consider it an upper middle grade or lower young adult. I'm hoping that as the trilogy continues, there will be a little something more there for the girls. But, as it is, I really think that girls will enjoy this book too. “The False Prince” contains very little violence and no heavy language.

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amazon | goodreads | author twitter

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I've got a signed ARC to give away! Enter using the rafflecopter form below. If you're in a RSS reader or email subscription, you're going to have to click over to enter.



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Kindles for Kids Guest Post

Today I have a guest post from Danyelle Leafty about her fundraising effort, Kindles for Kids.

What exactly is Kindles for Kids?

Kindles for Kids is my way of paying it forward. My goal is to raise enough funds to purchase 10 Kindle Fires for the pediatric unit of a local hospital in UT.

How does Kindles for Kids work?

From March 12th-31st of 2012, I will be donating the *royalties I make on THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA: CATSPELL--both in paper and e-book form--toward the purchase of the Kindle Fires.

Royalties are paid a month to two months after the fact. Factoring in that as well as putting in the order, receiving them, and getting them ready, I will be delivering the Kindle Fires to the hospital in June of 2012.

How can you participate?

If you are an author (published) or a writer (unpublished), this link will explain it more. A more detailed link can be found here. In short, I'm hosting an open call for donating **books you have the rights to for the hospital. One book per Kindle Fire. You can also participate by writing a ***short story for a fairy tale anthology I'm putting together for the hospital. If you're a reader, this link will give you a few ideas on how to help spread the word.

How can you help?

The greatest help of all is to help me get the word out. You can do this by talking to people--online and in real life, posting about Kindles for Kids on forums, groups, on your blog, and by printing out and posting fliers. More detailed link here, as well as details for a photo contest. Link for the flyer here.

I can't do this without you, so thank you to all who participate in any way they can!

*Royalties up to 249,000 copies. After that, I have to buy an extended license for the photographs I use for the cover.

**All books will be vetted by me personally for both formatting and content. Since the Kindle Fires are going to the pediatric unit, I would ask that any donations are formatted and edited well, and that they go no higher than a PG rating.

***As with the books, please keep the short stories at a PG or G rating. Again, all stories that are chosen for inclusion in the anthology will be vetted by me personally. Also, because digital copies of the anthology will be donated to the hospitals, and there will be no money made off of them, neither the editor (me) nor the authors will receive payment or money for them. However, everyone who is included will receive a digital copy as either a PDF, a kindle file, or epub.

Hunger Games Movie Thoughts

The moment that I've been waiting for since I read The Hunger Games in April of 2009 (yeah, I was kind of ahead of the curve, but didn't read it RIGHT when it came out) finally came. I went to a midnight showing of The Hunger Games.

I hadn't anticipated on going, but Penelope from The Reading Fever organized a great event, and I couldn't not go with my blogger friends. Jenni Elyse has a great recap up on her blog if you want to know how the pre-party went.

So, here are my thoughts on the movie with as few spoilers as possible. There will inevitably be spoilers for the book, so you may not want to read my review until you've either read the book or seen the movie.

Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. Jennifer Lawrence was Katniss. Yes, she's too old, curvy, not starved, whatever. But, none of that matters to me. She channeled Katniss and even without the inner dialogue that we were privy to in the book, she was absolutely convincing. Things that stood out to me were how she was really cold, but the chemistry between her and her sister Prim, and Cinna, just popped off the screen. Loved it. I also thought she was extremely convincing at showing fear. The moments before she entered the arena were very intense.

Liam Hemsworth as Gale. Eh, he was okay. I thought he really needed to learn to close his mouth though. He looked like a total mouth breather.

Josh Hutcherson as Peeta Mellark. I really liked him! I thought he did a good job as Peeta, and though he didn't blow me away, he wasn't Robert Pattinson.

Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman. I could not get enough of Stanley Tucci. He is to Casear Flickerman as Alan Rickman is to Snape. Born for the role. I WISH he was in Mockingjay so that I could see more of him.

Lenny Kravitz as Cinna. I was not expecting much from Lenny Kravitz. But, he really knocked it out of the park, particularly in his scenes alone with Katniss. Very well done.

Pre-arena stuff was done really well. The CGI for the flames on Peeta and Katniss were a little hokey. But, everything else looked great, especially the capitol citizens. There was a stark contrast between District 12 and the Capitol, which was great.

The arena didn't make me quite as tense as it did in the book. But, things like Rue's death, the tracker jackers, and the muttations were nicely done.

Overall, this is one of the best book to movie adaptations I've seen in awhile. But, it should be noted that all I wanted was to get the same feeling from the movie that I did from the book. And it definitely delivered.

Have you seen the movie? What did you think?

The Miserable World of Stats

I've thought long and hard about doing a post on stats. As bloggers, sometimes it seems like we're obsessed with them. The highs and lows. What kind of posts generate views. How in the heck do you convert those views into comments? And how do you keep people coming back?

In the past, I've made it a habit to only look at my stats occasionally, only about once every month or so. Any more than that, and I obsessed over every little thing I was posting. In short, it made it not fun for me.

However, over the last 9 months, I've started thinking that there's no better time than the present to do what you love. And, the truth is? I love literature. I love young adult fiction, and books of all kinds. And, I want to make it a bigger part of my life. Which means expanding what I'm doing on this little corner of the internet. It began with going to BEA, and it's expanded to getting involved in freelance writing for my local newspaper, and getting more involved with events at my local library. I'm not sure where this is going to lead to, but I'm getting prepared for any opportunity that life throws my way.

So, I started looking at my stats. And I was ashamed. After 3 years of blogging, this is what I have to show for it? What could I have done differently?

To give you some perspective, this is what my last month looked like (according to google analytics, which is WAY more conservative than blogger's, which feeds my ego):

I think you can click the picture to make it bigger

I had a little less that 5k pageviews last month, and just over 1,500 unique visitors. The one thing that I really do like about these numbers is the amount of time on site, which is a minute and half. That's like an eternity in internet time.

EDIT: In case you are interested, here is a screenshot of my stats during the same time period according to blogger:

I don't post this to make it a pity party. Until just recently, I was the sole contributor on this blog. I have a full-time job, a 2-year-old daughter, a husband, and other priorities. And I accept that. I guess what I'm trying to say to all of you bloggers who feel the same way as I do, cut yourselves some slack. Despite my disappointment in my progress, it is still progress. And, I have readers that I care a lot about. Some of you comment on almost every single post.

Now having shown you my stats, it may be a bad time to give some advice on how to grow your own, but I thought I'd share a couple things that I've learned over the last couple years.

•  There is no magic bullet. There are a lot of blog hops and other things that you can do to generate followers. I have not found them to have a lasting effect. A bump in traffic over a couple days eventually fizzles out to where you were before.
• Consistently publish good content. There have been times in my life where I've had to take a little time off from the blog. But, ultimately, the daily posting is what will bring readers back and show that you are serious.
• Make friends with people in the community. I've found that twitter is a great way to get involved. People are more than willing to retweet things and follow links on twitter. And, you get what you give.
• Do whatever you want. It's your blog. You need to do something to make yourself unique, but only you know what that is. Of course there are certain etiquette things that you should follow, but barring that, it's your own. Make it was you want it to be.
• Keep it fun! I'm going to be doing a post for Bloggiesta next week about ideas for keeping content fresh. But, the best way to get people excited about your blog is to stay excited yourself.

 So, there you have it. That's my take on stats, and what they mean. But, I'm dying to know what you think. How do stats work into your blogging goals and do they change how you blog?

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough: Audio Review

Once a Witch
By: Carolyn MacCullough
Narrated by: Hannah Friedman

Tamsin Greene was foretold at her birth that she would become one of the most powerful witches in her family. Fast forward 17 years, and Tamsin has still never shown an ounce of magical ability or, talent. She's attending a boarding school in New York City, and planning her very normal life under the shadow of her older sister, Rowena. When a very mysterious and handsome professor mistakes her for her sister Rowena, Tamsin agrees to help find a lost heirloom. Of course, all is not what it seems to be, and Tamsin discovers a secret that threatens to destroy her entire family.

Audio Review: Simply put, this narrator was not for me. I had a very difficult time listening to the entire book, and must admit that I skipped the epilogue. There was something about the way that emphasis was put on every single word that just didn't make the reading comfortable.


Review: The narrator aside, this was not my favorite book. I enjoyed a lot of the plot and backstory, which is why I liked it well enough to publish a review. However, as you know, I am all about the characters, and I did not like Tamsin.

Tamsin immediately put me off by being at odds with her perfect older sister. Well, let me rephrase that. It's not so much that she is different from her family, but how she acts about it. Namely, a victim. Even when people try to reach out to her, she is rude and unapproachable. So, Tamsin, pick one. Either you want to be part of your family, or you don't.

One particularly confusing thing relating to Tamsin is that she smokes and drinks. I'm not sure where she's getting her cigarettes and beer from, seeing as how she is 17, under the legal age for both smoking and drinking. But, as it was, I didn't see the point in having Tamsin smoke and drink, and that further put me off.

As I mentioned before, the story was definitely there, and with some different characters in place, I think I would have liked it quite well. I was disappointed in the lack of chemistry, to say the least.

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amazon | goodreads | author website

Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1) Giveaway!

Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Remember how last week I shared the trailer for Infamous by Sherrilyn Kenyon?

I have a copy of the first in the series, Infinity, to give away to a lucky reader.

Infinity

by: Sherrilyn Kenyon

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead.
But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he's next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

Fill out the rafflecopter below to win! If you are reading this in an email or RSS reader, you'll have to click on over!

Waiting on Wednesday: For Darkness Shows the Stars

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week's "can't wait" selection is:

For Darkness Shows the Stars

by: Diana Peterfreund

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.

But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.

Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

If the synopsis doesn't sell you, then read Angie's review. And that should be enough to cause an immediate pre-order.

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick: Review

Wonderstruck
By: Brian Selznick
Review by: Kylie Comfoltey

Wonderstruck is a beautifully written and illustrated work paralleling the stories of Rose Kincaid in 1927 and Ben Wilson in 1977. Both characters are deaf and both start their stories at the age of 12, running away to New York City; one in search of an absent mother, the other in search of a long-lost father. Both trying to find their place in a hearing world.

But the book is not about deaf vs. hearing. It's about family, happiness and love. It is about courage and bravery. Above all, it is about recognizing life's potential and acting to reach it.

This is a hefty book at over 600 pages. When I picked it up to start reading, I searched around for a bookmark--turns out I didn't need it! I powered through the whole book in under 3 hours, and I am not a speed reader.

Wonderstruck is a fascinating read. I loved Brian Selznick's approach at storytelling through images. I feel almost guilty for finishing the book so quickly! The drawings are very detailed and beautiful. Rose's story was almost like watching a silent film--which is actually touched upon early in her story. In two words: Absolutely stunning.

The parallels between the two characters are wonderful. The way their stories unfold and intertwine will leave you wishing it were another few hundred pages. It will also leave you wanting to visit New York to explore the American Museum of Natural History and see The Panorama.

Wonderstruck is rated for ages 9 and up. Selznick's ability to draw in a mature audience with a book where over half the pages are illustrated is unheard of. That is not an easy feat to accomplish. I do, however, feel that this book won't captivate a broad range of younger readers. It just doesn't have the oomph kids seem to crave in a book, but what do I know? My kids are babies. If a book doesn't have sparkly butterflies or little holes to poke their fingers in, they're out.

The illustrations will engage younger and older readers alike, and while the stories can certainly be understood by youth, the more complex elements (such as the concept of an unloved child and the question of "who is my father?") will be analyzed by an adult audience. I can see this as a book club read. Such a thick variety of life circumstances and social aspects to consider and discuss.

Overall, I was very impressed. The formatting is incredible. This book is beautiful. Yep. I'd say I was wonderstruck.

    

Sexuality: Zip
Drugs/Alcohol: Cigarettes are mentioned.
Profanity: None
Violence: Zero

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amazon | goodreads | author blog