Johnny Dale, The Darling Budds

Interview PT 2



7. Who most influenced you?

My biggest influence as a YA author is easy to answer: when I read M.T. Anderson's FEED, it totally opened my eyes to what a YA novel could be. I love how the book seems to be one thing at first, based on the premise and the language, but through the course of the book Anderson's deeply humanizing take on the characters makes the story beautiful in its own way, and also just achingly sad.

I also have a handful of YA novels that have influenced me simply by being so bad and written with such laziness. They drive me to want to write a better book just out of spite. I probably shouldn't name any names, though.

8. Did you ever think of just writing the whole story out and submitting it to a publishing house or did you always want to “swim” on your own first?

Honestly, I can't remember. I think the idea in the beginning was that it would just be a novel, not a serial.

But as I started working on it I got excited about what I was doing and I wanted some friends to read the first few chapters, so I put it online for them to read. They liked it and sent the link to a few other people, and the next thing I knew I had a fan base that were waiting for the next "installment."

So once I had a steady readership, what was I going to do? Take it away from them just so I could query it and maybe find an agent and maybe get it published and then maybe have people could read it?

It seems like doing it this way is much more satisfying: I feel like I'm really in touch with my readers and we're a part of each other's lives. Okay, so I don't have a book I can show off to houseguests, and I guess I've lost out on some money from a publisher, but I really feel so much more at peace with being in charge of every aspect of my story and exactly how it's presented to the world as it plays out.

I'm not ruling out having the book published one day--though so many publishers look down on Internet publishing that they've probably ruled it out for me--but for now I'm perfectly happy to continue down this path. It's hard, it's frustrating, it's a hustle, but by God it's mine and mine alone.

9. So we can look forward to maybe seeing a Darling Budds paperback sometime in the future? How about a movie or TV show?

Ha ha…well, let's focus on getting the thing done first. Even if I have to have it made myself, there will be a book eventually, when the story's finished. The full text will always be available online for free. The book will be a keepsake for people who'd like to have physical copy, not a replacement for the website.

As for a movie or TV show, yes! There's a Darling Budds movie coming out next summer. I think fans of the serial are going to love it. I mean, of course they've made a few changes to the story; for example, the story is now about a teenage vampire wizard living in a dystopian future who discovers that he's the Chosen One who can save the world. And it stars a cast of 30-year-olds playing all the teenagers, and it has a soundtrack full of slick modern-rock songs that have nothing to do with the movie, and it'll be in 3D, but…yeah, it's pretty much the same book. It's gonna be awesome.

10. How were you able to give a “voice” to your entire main and sub-characters? I could hear each one of them in your story, they felt like real people.

Oh, thank you…that's so nice of you to say. It was really important that I get all the characters' voices right from the very beginning, so I did a lot of "pre-writing"…stuff that might end up in the story, but probably wouldn't. If you do a little digging, you can find a lot of that stuff over in the Encyclopedia Buddtanica.

I also kept files on each one, where I could plot out their history and where they were going, and as stuff occurred to me about them--the kind of music they liked, who they had crushes on, what their favorite food was--I'd jot it down in their files.

After a while, though, I found that I didn't need to write stuff down any more, I just knew who they were so well that I didn't need to remember anything, they were just "alive" in my mind. In a way, it really is like if I have a question about their character I can just ask them and they'll answer me. Well, most times. Sometimes they're stubborn.

11. What advice do you have for a new or aspiring writer who is stuck or doesn’t know how to get started?

Really, the only advice I can give is the advice that everyone's already heard (and probably given themselves) a million times already: write every day, set a daily word count goal and try to hit it every single day, etc.

Simple, right? Well, simple to say, but—as I'm guessing everyone reading this knows already—hard to do. So really I guess my advice is just: do your best, try hard, don't beat yourself up on the days you miss. Don't write 3500 words in one night to make up for a week of missed work. The writer's life is a marathon, not a sprint.

And, finally, remember always the advice that Saul Bellow gave to those with writer's block: "Plenty more where you came from." That sounds really negative, but it's actually almost freeing: nobody's waiting on your book, nobody cares if you write…it's entirely up to you. Do you have what it takes to sit down at that desk every day, to write in the face of overwhelming odds, to prove to an indifferent uncaring world that you're capable of creating something beautiful and powerful that has never existed before you summoned it to life?

12. The Darling Budds can be pretty daunting to new readers. How do you recommend they get started?

Well, just like any book, you can just start at the beginning and go from there.

But if you wants to get an idea what the story is like and if it's for them, they can always read random excerpts from the story. Basically, a few of my readers pulled out their favorite short bits and I set it up so they show up at random, just like flipping through a book.

Another place to get a feel for the story is to click around in the reference guide I mentioned earlier. The whole thing is written so that there are aren't spoilers, so it's pretty safe to read without ruining the story.

But really: just jump in. If you like it, keep reading. If you don't, eh…at least it was free,

right?

Click Link To Read PT 1

*************EXTRA**********************

I hope everyone enjoyed  Johnny Dale, The Darling Budds Interview PT1 and PT2. I would like to give another thank you to Johnny Dale for taking the time out to allow me to interview him and for giving us a closer look at himself and his amazing creation!

STARBUCKS INSPIRATION#4

 

DRINK: Venti Tazo Chi Tea Latte

DATE: 12/26/2010
INSPIRATION: Holidays

 

   What is Christmas spirit? Why do we say Seasons Greetings as we pass one another on the street? As the Holidays come and go, I'm left wondering why it is that from November 25th until Jan 2nd each year people are kinder, more courteous, and more giving than the other 10 and a half months out of the year?

   Perhaps it's the crisp fall/winter air, lightly scented with burning wood and sugar cookies, that makes our hearts as light as they were in our years as a youth. Maybe it's the green and red lights on every street pole and roof top that makes us smile from ear to ear without any conscious effort.

   For five and a half weeks each year the worries of the world are washed out of our minds and replaced with precious memories of years gone by. Memories of loved ones who have left the earth long ago sit in the place of past due bills and overworked bodies.

   I can't explain what Christmas spirit is or why it takes over even those who do not celebrate the religious aspect of the season, but in a world full of ciaos and confusion, it seems to be one of the few times when the the whole world feels right.

   So, as I sit here, having said goodbye to my family and friends all I can do is smile and thank the Season for all the joy,laughter,thoughtfulness, and love that it brings each year.

    From me and my family to you and yours, have a wonderful and joyous holiday season regardless of what celebrations you may or may not participate in, for living to see another season is reason enough to smile a little longer,laugh a little louder, and love a little better this year!

 

 

What's not to love about The Darling Budds. Like ice cream on a Louisiana summers day, Johnny Dale  satisfies the deepest craving for truth,originality, and substance with The Darling Budds.The Darling Budds is the Titanic of independent books,classic and timeless with a story that transcends age, race and regions.-The Fiction Fairy

Johnny Dale, The Darling Budds

Interview PT 1.



Johnny Dale, Author of The Darling Budds



Johnny Dale is an amazing writer who has captured the story of seven teens caught between adventure and mystery during the summer before their senior year of high school. Although he is not a traditionally published author Johnny Dales, The Darling Budds, should not be overlooked. Johnny was gracious enough to allow me to interview him, so without further adieu  here is PT 1 of The Darling Budds, Johnny Dale interview! 

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Sure, my name's Johnny Dale, and I'm the author of The Darling Budds, which is a Young Adult serial that updates every Sunday afternoon. You can find out more and read the entire story so far at TheDarlingBudds.com

As far as a personal history: I was born upper-lower-class in a trailer in West Virginia, raised lower-middle-class in a duplex in North Carolina, then attended a barely accredited state university. After school I ended up in New Orleans in the usual way—I followed a girl—and my greatly disappointing freelance writing career soon became a wildly successful cab driving career.

In New Orleans, I lived in the Garden District, where The Darling Budds takes place, and drove a cab for eight and a half years. I left a couple years ago…I'm back up in North Carolina now, near the coast, where I work as a professional writer.

2. When did you start writing? When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I guess like most bookish children, I was always writing stories as a child. Or, rather, starting stories…not sure how many of them I completed.

I can't remember a time where I didn't want to be a writer. I know that sounds corny and affected, but it's true. That doesn't mean I was always focused on being a writer: I went to college to study writing, and I have to confess that like a lot of undergrads I became a bit of a phony. I went to readings, I gossiped with visiting authors, I attended workshops…the only thing I didn't do was actually write, or at least not consistently.

Only once I started driving a cab, really, did I start becoming serious about actually being a writer. Because at that point, I had to face the fact that nobody cared if I ever wrote another word again. I realized that if I was going to do it, I was going to have to do it on my own, and I had to ask myself if I wanted to be a writer or if I just wanted to be an author. How much of my previous interest in writing was just the desire to see my name on the front cover of book, and how much of it was a genuine commitment to the craft?

So I started working on a single project, and focusing only on the work itself. And that project eventually became The Darling Budds.

3. What exactly is a “serial” and why did you chose to write The Darling Budds in this format?

A serial is a story that’s released in parts over a period of time. It's not new…in fact, it's how most novels were released for decades. For example, all of Dickens' novels were originally serialized in magazines. In my case, a new episode of The Darling Budds is released most Sunday afternoons on the website.

A serial is a really interesting form, though. On one hand, it's a lot like a novel because it has a very definite beginning, middle, and end. But on the other hand, it's not just a novel that's being released one chapter at a time. In the case of The Darling Budds, there are back stories, sideplots, and character developments that don’t necessarily tie into the main plotline.

I don't really even think of The Darling Budds as a novel any more…I think of it more as an entire season of a TV show: there’s one big story, but that story is composed of a bunch of individual episodes.

As for why I chose to write the book this way…well, ha, I don't know if "chose" is the right word. It's just something that sorta naturally flowed out of the medium and my choice to release a chapter a week. Eventually I realized that writing for the web and building a story over time was changing the nature of my storytelling, as I had the liberty to stretch out and really explore the world of my characters.

4. So many mainstream books seem to have a majority of the characters as Caucasian, why did you decide to “blend” your characters?

Oh gosh…well, again, this wasn't really a decision. New Orleans is predominately black and it has a large Vietnamese population, and so when I was fleshing out my characters it just felt really right and natural that there would be black and Vietnamese characters in the story.

One interesting thing to note about the racial aspect of the book is that the main black character's family is one of the major political forces in the city. This is something that's true in New Orleans and very few other places in the country: African-Americans comprise a good portion of the old school entrenched political status quo, with families who've been involved in Louisiana politics for generations. As one character says in the book: in New Orleans, corruption is equal opportunity.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese characters represent a major new force in New Orleans political landscape: they're relatively new arrivals, they have a lot of voting power, and a lot of them have money. The good ol' boy network--both white and black--isn't entirely sure what to do with the rising influence of the Vietnamese yet. Can they exploit it? Should they be threatened by it? Or are they completely irrelevant to it?

I'm making The Darling Budds sound like some cerebral political book when it's really mostly about wearing blazers and making out, but this changing face of the city is a big part of the background of the book.

5. Clearly living in Louisiana had an influence on how you wrote The Darling Budds, was there anything else that influenced the characters or their situations?

Two things come to mind immediately. The first was just living in the Garden District for twelve years. It's a really interesting place…it has all these huge old beautiful mansions, and you might think that it's exclusively the home of the wealthy. But what you can't tell from the outside is that a lot of those beautiful mansions have been carved up into apartments, and are being rented out to waiters and bartenders and taxi-drivers. So you have a real mix of people living there.

I lived right across the street from a large private school. This wasn't the school I ended up basing Beaumonde Academy on, but watching the students arrive and leave gave me a really good sense of how the teenagers of the Garden District looked and acted.

The other influence, I think, was just driving a cab at night through the streets of the city. I don't mean the passengers I had, I just mean experiencing the city at night like that, from the reckless neon energy of the French Quarter to the quiet Uptown streets where the street lamps are all obscured by maples. The Darling Budds is a real "night" story…if you notice, there are very few episodes that take place during the day, and I know that my life working at night had a big effect on that.

6. How do you keep the main story and side stories straight while writing!?

Ha, mostly by being completely obsessed with every detail of the story during every single minute of my life.

In addition, though, I have two other tools that help me a lot. The first is a program called Scrivener that's really handy for organizing my writing, as well as any notes or research I might have. I don't get obsessed with word processors the way some writers do, but Scrivener really is an amazing program that I highly recommend.

Also, I have this reference guide, the Encyclopedia Buddtanica, that some fans of the book and I put together. It was originally supposed to help new readers have a better understanding of the book, the characters, and the setting, but frankly I use it all the time to help me keep stuff straight.

Click Link To Read PT 2

NEW PRETTY LITTLE LIARS!

If you're anything like me  then I know you love the Sara Shepard inspired, ABC Family drama, Pretty Little Liars. If you're also like me, you have read or are going to read the books of the same title. Now on to the really great news.....it seems that book #8 in the series signifies the end of the "Lying"...WRONG!

Guess what?! Another four, yup you heard right, four books are going to be added to the series. The show has done so well on ABC Family that Sara and the powers that be decided to entice us a little bit more with a few new reads. I have to say I am incredibly excited and although I haven't quite read all the Liars  books that I want to, I can't wait to finish them so I can read the new ones!

The first new book and  #9 in the series will be called Twisted and is scheduled to be released in July 2011. Until then be sure to tune in to ABC Family in January 2011 when The Pretty Little Liars show returns to the air!

HOT BOOKS RELEASED  DEC.21,2010

*All synopsis courtesy of goodreads*

Purchase Books Here--->BORDERS

   RHYMES WITH CUPID

   Author: Anna Humphrey

 Rhymes with Cupid is about a girl named Elyse who, after a terrible heartbreak last Valentine’s day, has sworn off dating as well as celebrating the February 14th holiday. Both things are a bit of a problem, though, since a) she works at a gift & stationery store, surrounded by tacky, sparkly cards and annoying singing Cupid dolls and b) she ends up meeting this guy named Patrick who works in the same mall and is her new neighbour and her driving instructor and is really cute and incredibly charming… which, you know, might be okay except for the whole ‘sworn off dating’ thing and the fact that he seems to be into her best friend.
LOSER/QUEEN

Author: Jodi Lynn Anderson

 

Cammy Hall is what anyone would describe as a loser. She lives with her grandparents and has adopted their way of life… right down to the comfortable shoes and early bedtime. And can she help it that she actually likes to knit?

At school, her skills with knitting needles and some yarn go completely unappreciated: people like Bekka Bell reign while Cammy and her best friend, the fearless Danish exchange student Gerdi, watch from the sidelines. Cammy’s used to being an outsider; after years of humiliating moments, her goal is simply to fly under the radar. Then she suddenly starts receiving mysterious text messages that lead her right to all the embarrassing secrets about the most popular kids in school. Cammy never expected to be able to climb up the high school food chain, and the agenda of the texter may be questionable—but how can she possibly give up the chance to be Queen?

This is the print version of the groundbreaking online interactive serial LOSER/QUEEN that premiered in July 2010 on www.loserqueen.com. Each week, readers voted on major plot twists. The winning choice was then encorporated into the next week's chapters. Now that voting—and the book—are complete, LOSER/QUEEN will be published as a paperback and packed with extras from the author… and readers will have the opportunity to own the book they helped create!

ALL YOU GET IS ME

Author: Yvonne Prinz

 

A summer of love, loss, and justice.

Things were complicated enough for Roar, even before her father decided to yank her out of the city and go organic. Suddenly, she’s a farm girl, albeit a reluctant one, selling figs at the farmers’ market and developing her photographs in a ramshackle shed. Caught between a troublemaking sidekick named Storm, a brooding, easy-on-the-eyes L.A. boy, and a father on a human rights crusade that challenges the fabric of the farm community, Roar is going to have to tackle it all—even with dirt under her fingernails and her hair pulled back with a rubber band meant for asparagus.

FALL FOR ANYTHING

Author:Courtney Summers

 

From the author of Cracked Up to Be and Some Girls Are comes a gripping story about one girl’s search for clues into the mysterious death of her father. 

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he seemed to find inspiration in everything he saw? And, most important, why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. Culler seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on...but are some questions better left unanswered?

TEMPESTUOUS*Wonderous Strange #3*

Author: Lesley Livingston

 

"I don't love Sonny Flannery."

That's the lie Kelley Winslow told to protect the boy she loves from a power he doesn't know he possesses. Devastated, Sonny retreats—to a haven for Lost Fae that's hidden deep underneath New York City.

But Kelley's not about to let things end in heartbreak. To get Sonny back, she's got to find out who's after his magick—and how to use her own. She's got to uncover who's recruiting Janus Guards to murderously hunt innocent Faerie. She's got to help rebuild the shattered theater company she called family. And she's got to do it all without getting dangerously distracted by the Fennrys Wolf, whose legendary heart of stone seems to melt whenever he's around Kelley.
The intrigue and romance that began with Wondrous strange and Darklight come to a stormy head in Tempestuous, the breathtaking conclusion to Lesley Livingston's ravishing urban Faerie trilogy.

THE BOOK OF SPELLS*A Private Prequel*

Author:Kate Brian

The Book of Spells will make you it's witch.
Just as the Private series comes to a close, we take a look back. Hundred years ago, the originals Billings School for Girls and was the sister school to Easton Academy. Meant to turn girls into dutiful wives, it ended up producing one of the school's most enduring legacies.
At the helm is Elizabeth Williams. Joining with her friends, they decide to form the Billings Literary Society. Initiation is difficult and dangerous, but once the eleven girls are part of the society, she informs them she would like them to a part of her coven. A powerful witch by birth, Elizabeth shares the book of spells that has been passed through her family. The girls cast charms, cursing the headmaster and giving blisters to boys with wandering hands.
But soon things grow sinister and the coven begins to splinter, with some wanting eternal wealth and others looking for even darker magic. Can Elizabeth put a stop to what she has created? And what repurcussions will this have for the future girls of Billings?

ROSES AND BONES

Author: Francesca Lia Block

In this new volume, three of Francesca Lia Block's works are collected together for the very first time.
In The Rose and the Beast, nine classic fairy tales are turned inside out in classic Block style. Kirkus Reviews said about this Los Angeles Times bestseller, "Block uses language like a jeweled sword, glittering as it cuts to the heart."
In Psyche in a Dress, the Psyche we all know from Greek mythology finds herself in California. Tempted by gods and demons she must discover a way to find herself again.
And in Echo, a retelling of the story of Echo and Narcissus, Echo meets a broken angel, vampires, and the fairy daughter of a rock on her quest for true love.
Love and magic and believing in ourselves are timeless themes, and this new collection will introduce Francesca Lia Block to a whole new generation of readers waiting to fall under her spell.



STARBUCKS INSPIRATION#3



DRINK: Venti Carmel Brulee Frappuccino with whipped topping

DATE: 12/19/2010
INSPIRATION: Entertainment

WORLD SCHOOL DAY ADVENTURE
*Dora The Explorer Series*
Author: Shakira
Published: October 5th 2010
Publisher: Simon Spotlight/Nickelodeon
Length: 32 pg
Ages:4-8
ISBN: 10-1442416734
TO PURCHASE CLICK HERE---->Amazon

  Who doesn't love Dora The Explorer? Dora and her sidekick Boots not only teach children right from wrong, colors,shapes, and numbers, but also spanish and the value of friendship. Dora truly blends education, entertainment, and exposure to other cultures the way others could only hope for.
  Still, some parents understandably don't want their children stuck in front of a television set 24 hours a day,even if it is spent watching an educational program. Luckily those parents don't have to worry, Dora The Explorer has traditional books available for the little ones to read. What's the best  part about the Dora Explorer books, International super star Shakira!
  Shakira is not only a cross over spanish/english pop superstar, but she is also a humanitarian and now can add author to her list of accomplishments. Although Shakira is not the first Celebrity to take on the task of writing children's books( Mega star Madonna has also written children's books), she is the first to lend her writing to the Dora The Explorer Series.
  Shakiras Dora book will be titled World School Day Adventure. You won't find any potty training story lines in this books. In World School Day Adventure Dora and her Companion Boots become mini humanitarians  delivering much needed school supplies to children in need.
  I absolutely love the idea behind this story. It teaches children the importance of giving back, not just money, but their time. It also teaches the importance of education and how not everyone is afforded the opportunity to go to school, and that it's a world wide problem, but you can help even if you are a kid.
  I commend Shakira for giving her time and star status to something positive, in a world filled with so many celebrities showing kids all the right ways to do the negative  things.
  A percentage of  the World School Day Adventure royalties will go to Shakira's Pies Descalzos Foundation, which is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating children.

THE DARLING BUDDS

THE DARLING BUDDS

*YA Serial(Online)*

Author: Johnny Dale

Published:Online

www.thedarlingbudds.com

The Darling Budds is a serialized Young Adult novel that follows seven teenagers during the long summer between junior and senior year. The glamorous Alexander and Lillian Budd have been sent away for the summer, and possibly longer. Will their friends risk everything to bring them back?

LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL

Author:Jo Knowles

Publisher:CandleWick Press

Released: October 9th 2007

Length:215 pgs

ISBN: 0763632791 (ISBN13: 9780763632793)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL

Leah Greene is dead. For Laine, knowing what really happened and the awful feeling that she is, in some way, responsible set her on a journey of painful self-discovery. Yes, she wished for this. She hated Leah that much. Hated her for all the times in the closet, when Leah made her do those things. They were just practicing, Leah said. But why did Leah choose her? Was she special, or just easy to control? And why didn’t Laine make it stop sooner? In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laine is left to explore the devastating lessons Leah taught her, find some meaning in them, and decide whether she can forgive Leah and, ultimately, herself.

SYNOPSIS*Courtesy of Goodreads*

******************************************



MY REVIEW

I purchased Lessons From A Dead Girl, from my local Borders store about a week ago. It was a quick read, I finished it in about four hours, but the story will stay with you long after your done reading it. Author Jo Knowles has touched on the taboo subject of not only abuse, but same sex abuse. What happens when the person being abused becomes the abuser?

I couldn't help but to cry while reading Laine McCarhtys' story of guilt,shame,despair, and discovery. How could she let this happen? How could she stop what she didn't understand? Leah was her best friend, why would she do this to her, maybe it was her fault......

In Lessons From A Dead Girl you walk with Laine on a journey through self discovery, empathy for herself, and sympathy for others. Page after page you sit with a victim who doesn't realize they have been victimized try to make sense of their life, and you watch the abuser come to terms with why they abuse.

I couldn't believe the words I was reading as I flipped through each page. This story will immediately suck you in and take your mind and emotions places they've never been before.

I would recommend this book to both adults and teens alike, it's an excellent read and should not be overlooked!

COVER:  Mysterious and rich in color.

CHARACTERS:  Amazingly written, I couldn't believe how they all came to life and jumped right off the pages.

IMAGERY:  Lots of descriptions, but not over dramatic. The descriptions are necessary for the allure and mystery of the story...definitely leaves you wanting more.

PLOT: Unconventional YA story line, but one that should be discussed more than it is.

PACE:  Steady, perfect for the storyline.

OVERALL:***********SHOWER***************



OUT TODAY!

ENTICE

**Need #3**

Author: Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsburg Publishing PLC

Released:Dec 14th 2010

Length:272 pg

ISBN:1408810441 (ISBN13: 9781408810446)

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE

Zara and Nick are soul mates, meant to be together forever. But that's not quite how things have worked out.

For starters, well, Nick is dead. Supposedly, he's been taken to a mythic place for warriors known as Valhalla, so Zara and her friends might be able to get him back. But it's taking time, and meanwhile a group of evil pixies is devastating Bedford, with more teens going missing every day. An all-out war seems imminent, and the good guys need all the warriors they can find. But how to get to Valhalla?

And even if Zara and her friends discover the way, there's that other small problem: Zara's been pixie kissed. When she finds Nick, will he even want to go with her? Especially since she hasn't just turned. She's Astley's queen.

SYNOPSIS*Courtesy of Goodreads*

BRAS AND BROOMSTICKS

***Magic in Manhattan #1***

Author:Sarah Mlynowski

Publisher:Delacorte Press

Released: 01/05/2005

Length:311 pg

ISBN:0385731841 (ISBN13: 9780385731843)

CLICK TO PURCHASE BRAS AND BROOMSTICKS

What if all your wishes could come true? Blink your eyes, drink a fizzing pink potion, and poof! Life is perfect. That’s Rachel’s situation. Except she’s not the one who suddenly has magical powers. Her younger sister is. And as Rachel would tell you, spellbooks are wasted on the young!

Yes, yes, of course world peace and cures for horrible diseases are important. But so is dancing without looking like she’s being electrocuted, winning back her best friend, stopping her dad’s wedding, and finding a date for Spring Fling.
Rachel’s not bewitched. Yet. . . .
SYNOPSIS*Courtesy of Goodreads*
******************************************



MY REVIEW

    Where to begin? First off this type of book(cover art,title,synopsis) is not my typical read. However, as many of you may know I have frequented my local Borders now that it is going out of business. How could I pass this book up, I'm a sucker for deals...and this was a steal of a deal. I purchased the hardcover copy for $1.59 at Borders! There's no way I could pass that up regardless of any reservations I had.

    To my surprise from the very first page I was in love. I couldn't believe how much I was enjoying this book. It's written in a very Judy Blume "It's Me Margaret", type of style and I love that. Although the characters are relatively younger than me it's the elements the transcends time. No matter how old you are, you go through regret, doubt, fear,hope, love, and heart break. Bras and Broomsticks has all that and much more.

    Like a classic episode of the Brady Bunch you have your "brilliant idea" , the "consequence" and the "lesson learned".  I can't tell you how many times I actually laughed out loud while reading this book....yes it has parts that are just that funny. Bras and Broomsticks is written in the first person through the main Character Rachel. Every page is a day in her life as it is happening. You feel what she feels, you see what she sees. I can't say enough good things about this unexpected jewel that I picked up! Not only will you walk away having read the first part of a great story, but it will also make you think about your life.

    What are you willing to do for the things you think you want, and once you get them will the price you paid have been worth it? Amazing amazing amazing....needless to say I went back to borders and bought books #2 and #3, which I will be reading and reviewing in the future.

    So, my recommendation would be for everyone to go pick up this book, you will not regret it!

COVER: Cute, but it is a bit more childlike than my usual read.

CHARACTERS:  Very well written, I felt like I knew each of them.

IMAGERY:  This book was not heavily descriptive, but you still could imagine each place, person and thing, but the  "feelings" Rachel gave off about what she say.

PLOT: Classic,but with a twist. A creative way to integrate more than one theme, but still keep you guessing.

PACE: Steady, perfect for this book.

OVERALL:***********SHOWER**************



STARBUCKS INSPIRATION#2

DRINK: Venti French Vanilla Frappacino with whipped topping

DATE: 12/05/2010
INSPIRATION: Online store killed the Stand Alone Store

     Every morning I have the same exact routine: Get up,stumble to the bathroom, stumble to the office, get on the computer and check blog,twitter, blog email and personal email. Day in and day out it never changes so imagine my surprise when I opened my personal email on Saturday to find none other than this YOUR BORDERS LOCATION EVERYTHING MUST GO 33%OFF! What, wait, did I read that right? My location is closing, how could this be? Better yet EVERYTHING is 33% off?! I mean I have an E-reader, but at 33% it was looking like it would be cheaper to buy paperbacks than the E-version.

    Excited,sad,and confused I got dressed and ready and started heading down to my local Borders. Sure thing there was a big yellow sign outside that read  CLOSING! The parking lot was more packed than I had ever seen it, and inside it was row after row of books. Not just old outdated ones but The hunger games series, The 7th realm series, The Iron King series...all with sales stickers, plus an extra 33% off! I was in heaven. 

    I spent about 2 hours going row by row, buying Infinite days by  Rebecca Maizel for a mere 5 dollars and Glimmerglass by Jenna Black for the same! I purchased a few other titles and do you know what my total on 4 books and a book mark was? $19.00.....I'll say it again $19.00! Unheard of I could barley believe my ears! I should've purchased more...I may go back! As I was leaving I passed a mother telling her daughter to get the whole Pretty Little Liars series because it was only going to be $30.00, plus they had the borders card so it would be more like $20ish. This comment made me stop and think, why had she never bought those books before? Was the original price so much to pay? Or had purchasing books online become so convenient and more deal worthy that  who needs to come to the book store anymore?

    Many E-reader sites offer free books, clearance books and even E-books from your library(Sony). Amazon offers amazing discounts on all books paperback or hardcover, I pre-ordered Last Sacrifice for a mere $9.71, and it will be delivered the day it is released! If I had gone to Barnes and Nobles I would've  had to wait in line an pay $17.00! So my question is did the E-book and online book stores kill the paperback and the stand alone store? Have we become a nation of such convince and thrift that the gas to the store, the time spent finding what you want and the added cost the store adds more than we are willing to continue to spend?

    What does this mean for future Borders, Barnes and Nobles, and independent books stores? With chains like Walmart, Sears, and even Ross carrying and selling books at below costs will we stop seeing the bright lights of bookstores with coffee shops and leather chairs in them? 

    I hope that bookstores are able to stand the test of time, but then again even libraries which have FREE books barley has a leg to stand on anymore. I hope my generation and future generations never forget the importance of walking into a bookseller or a library and "searching" for what you want only to "stumble" upon what will be life changing, because if our computers and E-readers were to crash tomorrow and were never  to be repaired I fear for the minds of everyone!

LAST SACRIFICE CONTEST

Contest Closed at 12:00 midnight(eastern time) 12/5/2010
Winner is ferretvamp14

 

Last Sacrifice Winner

ferretvamp14 has won a copy of Last Sacrifice! Thank you to all those who entered, keep checking back for new contest!



CURRENTLY READING:

LEGACY OF LIES/DON'T TELL

**DARK SECRETS:Volume 1**

        Author: Elizabeth Chandler

Publisher:Simon Pulse

  Published:Aug 4th 2009

           Length:431 pg

Two girls haunted by the past...and destined to relive it

In Legacy of Lies, Megan has to stay with the uptight grandmother she wants nothing to do with. She's determined to get through the visit without any drama, but when she falls into a twisted love triangle
In Don't Tell, Lauren knows that by returning to the town where her mother drowned seven years ago, she'll be reliving one of her most haunting memories. When she arrives, she is propelled into a series of mysterious events that mimic the days leading up to her mother's death. Maybe her mother's drowning wasn't an accident after all...and maybe Lauren is next.
SYNOPSIS*Courtesy of Goodreads*

WELCOME!

  The Fiction Fairy was born on Nov.15,2010. She was born of ideas, imaginations, creativity and endless possibilities. I am a lover of all books, but my favorite genre is YA. My favorite author is the late V.C Andrews. Her original works,before her ghost writter, are fantastic. If you have never read her or don't know about her, I would encourage you to read, Flowers in the Attic as soon as you can.
  I hope you enjoy my reviews and that they encourage you to read some of the wonderful books I come across, or even start a blog of your own.
 

So, sit down...stay awhile...and explore the world of The Fiction Fairy.

If you have any review request, questions, comments, or just general chit-chat I can be contacted at:

thefictionfairy@live.com

2011 PERSONAL CHALLENGE

 In 2011 as a personal challenge I will read as many previously released/non debut authors books as I can fit into the year, then post reviews about them.  As I review them, I will leave their covers up, but I will put a simple*reviewed* next to them so you know that the review for that book is currently under the Reviewed page on my site!                                           

  ***The Fiction Fairy***



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