IWSG - When your characters surprise you..

For those of you who have no idea, the purpose of this group is to share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds. If you haven't yet, go check yourself in at Alex Cavanaugh's blog.

 

I remember a few years ago, I read an interview of Stephanie Meyer, in which she said something along the lines of: "I was writing this scene and then my hand just typed 'Jacob, my friend, my son' and I burst out crying. It came out of nowhere and it touched me." Edward said that to Jacob right before the final battle between the Cullens and the Vulturi, remember?

I don't mean that kind of surprises. That kind of surprises is complete bullshit. 

Something John Green said in one of his videos stuck with me. As the creators of our characters, we control what they say and think. We know what will benefit the plot and the characters' growth. But this past week something happened to me that made me reconsider one aspect of this statement. 

I've been doing a lot self-examination lately and, trying to find an answer to a question that has blocked me in a very personal matter, I realized something. Something big. At least to me. 

I am a romantic. 

Wow, I know. Earth-shattering. 

In all seriousness though, if you knew me personally, you'd think that is a complete and utter lie. I'm cynical. I speak my mind, and often do so without regard to the feelings of others. I've always been like this. And people don't get to see other aspects of me because they're too busy denying the stuff that comes out of my mouth. Human hypocresy and all that. And until recently, I was a hypocrite and I didn't realize it. 


 But... I like me weird that way. Not the hypocrite part. The speak-my-mind part. I have many flaws, but I also know I have many virtues. So why, oh why, is it so difficult for me to be in a relationship? It's not rocket science, is it? (If your answer is "yes, it is" you'd provide me a topic for next month's IWSG.)

I figured it out though. It's because I believe in love, you guys. All the friends I've had on the course of my life (some are still around, others are long gone) had been maybe a little too liberal about whom they shared their affections with, yet I always remained pure. Shut up, it's true. I believe that there's one person out there who would get me, you know? And just because I haven't found him yet, doesn't mean I should settle for less. I swear to you, I'm like historical romance protagonist right here on the 21st century, guys. 

Who in their right mind would classify me as a romantic? No one. Because I never shared those feelings with people. Because I never paid too much attention to those things. I mean, I'm doing it here to illustrate my point (I'll get there in a minute, guys), but it's not the same as advertising it for all my friends and family to understand. Because I'm not interested in making everyone understand. I'm interested on the right someone to understand, and his identity hasn't been revealed to me yet. And now I'm a historical romance/mystery/thriller protagonist. Although it would be preferable if my future husband comes without a crazy ex in the attic. You guys probably think I'm sweet, right? Poor, delusional, virtual friends of mine;)

Huh. This monthly posts have made realize I might actually need therapy. Yay for Support Groups!

But back to the topic. If it happens in real life, why can't it happen in fiction? I've shared this experience of self-awareness with one of my characters. And now I have to go back several chapters back to fix her reactions to everything that has happened to her. Because now I know that she's not ready to be responsible for all the things I dumped on her and thus her reactions were ALL WRONG. I'm not taking those responsabilities back because that's how life works. Sometimes, you get more than you can handle. Yet I want people to understand her. She wants people to understand her. Why she's figuratively running. And I couldn't help her there. I didn't know because she didn't know she wasn't ready. And don't worry, even I am confused about what I just said. But makes a weird kind of sense, you know?

Sometimes, a little introspection takes a lot of courage.

And there was my surprise. It's completely my fault for not listening to her from the beginning. I always question YA heroines when they take everything in stride out of nowhere and I didn't realize my own girl was doing that because I was too involved on fixing other parts of the story. Like figuring out what to dump on this poor seventeen year old girl.

Has something like that happened to any of you?

Oh, and before I forget! Next week, I'm taking a very important test. Like, it-will-determine-the-future-of-my-academic-life important. Wish me luck;)

Cover Reveal - A Summer to Remember by Jessica Gunhammer

Expected publishing date: April 2013


Synopsis:

Eighteen-year-old Ava knows this summer is going to be one of the best ones yet, but it isn’t going how she originally planned. Her life takes an unexpected turn on graduation day, when Jason, the love of her life, suddenly dumps her. Blindsided and feeling betrayed Ava is determined to win him back at the end of year frat party. Something that was not in her plan, however, was being sidetracked by a complete and total stranger. Caught off guard by this unexplainable attraction, she can’t figure out why she’s having such a hard time forgetting about him. 

Adrian had one thing on his mind that night. It was to get through the summer and not have to worry about anything, but working with his dad and getting the hell out of this small town. When he meets Ava his whole world is turned upside down. He doesn’t know why but he knows that this is the girl he’s supposed to be with. The only problem is going to be trying to convince her of the same thing…

Add A Summer to Remember to Goodreads.


About Jessica

I’m twenty-three years old, I recently married my high school sweetheart and we live in paradise. I graduated college in May 2012 with a degree in fashion design and quickly realized it was not the right fit for me. So, after spending several years in a fast paced fashion industry, I started looking for something new to keep me busy. 

I have always loved to read, it was a passion of mine. However, I had put this passion on the back burner, as I had no time to read during college. Soon after, my mom and I started a publishing company. It was while working in the publishing industry that I had rediscovered my love for writing. I’ve always known I wanted to write, but I never considered making a career out of it. After some feedback and support from my amazing family I am proud to say, I am now a YA author! 

Go say Hi to Jessica on Facebook.

Or on Twitter.

Or visit her Goodreads' Profile.

Or on her Website

Cover Reveal - Descendant by Nichole Giles

 

 

Descendant by Nichole Giles
Publication date: May 1st 2013
by Rhemalda Publishing 
Genre: YA Paranormal 

 

Synopsis:

 

Seventeen-year-old Abigail Johnson is Gifted.

Blessed—or cursed—with Sight and Healing, Abby lives an unsettled life, moving from place to place and staying one step ahead of the darkness that hunts her. When she arrives in Jackson, Wyoming, she is desperate to maintain the illusion of normalcy, but she is plagued with visions of past lives mixed with frightening glimpses of her future. Then she meets Kye, a mysterious boy who seems so achingly familiar that Abby is drawn to him like he’s a missing piece of her own soul.

Before Abby can discover the reason for her feelings toward Kye, the darkness catches up to her and she is forced to flee again. But this time she’s not just running. She is fighting back with Kye at her side, and it’s not just Abby’s life at stake.

 

 Add Descendant to Goodreads

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S BIO

 

Nichole Giles had early career plans of becoming an actress or a rock star, but she decided instead to have a family and then become a writer. Writing is her passion, but she also loves to spend time with her husband and children, travel to tropical and exotic destinations, drive in the rain with the convertible top down, and play music at full volume so she can sing along.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.nicholegiles.blogspot.ca/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3384651-nichole-giles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/128455014233/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/nicholegiles

Cover Reveal: Drowning in you by Rebecca Berto

 Title: Drowning in You

Author: Rebecca Berto

Expected release date: April 12, 2013

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Group: New Adult Cover

Designer: Okay Creations. ; JacquelineBarkla Photography 

Reveal organized by: AToMR Tours

Add Drowning to Goodreads 

                                                                                                                                                                                    Secretly crushing

                                                                                                                                                                           Crushed by a tragedy

Charlee May’s been crushing on Dexter Hollingworth since she was fifteen. Five years later, a horrific skiing disaster at Mason’s Ski Lift Resort leaves her millionaire dad critically injured and her mom dead at the hands of Dexter operating the lifts. Charlee is suddenly the sole caretaker for her little brother while their world falls apart.

Dexter couldn’t be more different from Charlee. He’s tattooed, avoids exclusive relationships and his Dad has a fair share of illegal dealings. With Dexter’s reputation, almost everyone believes he planned the Mason’s skiing disaster.

And after all these years he’s still crushing on Charlee May, the girl who’s too good for him.

When this cruel twist of fate ties Charlee’s family and Dexter’s reputation together, Charlee and Dexter wonder if their feelings are reciprocated, while Dexter discovers his dad is trying to steal the May’s millionaire fortune.

But like an addiction, one look, one touch, one taste—they’re hooked no matter the consequences.

The premise sounds interesting. And I love the cover! It's very fresh and romantic. And the colors used, in my opinion, convey pretty much the tone of the story itself. Looking forward to reading this one.

About the Author

 

Rebecca Berto writes stories that are a bit sexy, and straddle the line between Literary and Tear Your Heart Out. She gets a thrill when her readers are emotional reading her stories, and gets even more of a kick when they tell her so. She’s strangely imaginative, spends too much time on her computer, and is certifiably crazy when she works on her fiction.

Rebecca Berto lives in Melbourne, Australia with her boyfriend and their doggy.

Rebecca Berto | Facebook | Twitter

Cover Reveal: FAKING IT by Cora Carmack

Hi, guys! How are you all?

Remember a few months ago when I participated on the blog tour of an amazing New Adult indie that then went and became a New York Times and USA Today's Bestseller? No? Here, let me remind you. It was Losing it, by Cora Carmack. (PS.: She's so nice!)

Now the blogger power has been called again for its companion novel, Faking It. This one is centered around Cade. If you've read the first novel, you might remember things didn't end up quite well for him. And he was so sweet! Aaw, I get all touchy about him. No, really. I do. I distinctly remember asking to read more about him the minute I was done with Losing It. I had to scroll through months of emails to give you proof of this, but here it is: "Cade left me curious, though. I'd like to read more about him if Cora ever decides to write about his post-Bliss life." This was dated Setember 22, 2012. I'm like.. psyquic or something.

And now, Faking It is a reality! As a reader, I cannot begin to tell you how happy this makes me. I feel like its long-distance crazy aunt. You know the one. The one that has no real influence whatsoever in your life other than pinching your cheeks every holiday and scolding you when you want more dessert, but when you make it big, she looks at you all teary-eyed and proud and points out that she always knew you were meant to be a star. That crazy aunt.

And now, I want you to forget all that rambling from before and concentrate real hard on what I'm about to show you. Ready?

 

Faking It's cover! Isn't it pretty? I love it. It matches its predecesor perfectly. Cover-Cade is hot! And we already know he's super sweet. In case you are a non-believer (shame on you) here's the blurb:

Mackenzie "Max" Miller has a problem. 

Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, 

and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. 

Even worse, they're expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, 

not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. 

All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, 

but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. 

So far though, he's kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. 

When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request 

to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. 

But when Cade plays the role a little too well, 

they're forced to keep the ruse going. 

And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

Cover-Max looks just like I imagined her from the blurb. Given Cora's records, it's safe to say this one will be hilarious and romantic. If you haven't read Losing it, the paperback releases in the U.S. on February 26, 2013.

I am ridiculously excited about this book. June, be here already. Or not. I turn 23 in June so I'm conflicted.

Review - The Reluctant Countess by Wendy Vella

 

Publisher: Loveswept for Random House

Date of Publication: Out now.

Review Copy obtained from: Netgalley 

Regal, poised, and elegant, Sophie, Countess of Monmouth, is everything that a highborn lady should be. But Sophie is hiding a past that is far from royal. When Patrick, Earl of Coulter, realizes that her story doesn't add up, he resolves to find out the truth of what Sophie and her sister-in-law are concealing. Although Sophie has every reason to avoid him, the handsome and charismatic Patrick awakens something wicked deep within her soul . . . a powerful need that Sophie must stifle in order to protect her place in society.

  

If you're a fan of Romance novels and feel like you've read everything the genre has to offer, then this book is definitely for you. 

It breaks the formula. You know the one, where the female protagonist is this vulnerable lady and along comes her Prince Charming/Sexy Highlander/Brooding Earl and rocks her world, transforming her into a Strong Woman, capable of speaking her mind, be in control, etc, ect.

The Reluctant Countess, Sophie, is a vulnerable young woman, yes. But she has a sense of responsibility and loyalty that makes her tough and fierce long before her Brooding Earl came in the picture. Of course, romance is important (and abundant), but I cannot stress enough how much I loved Sophie for being tough and brave long before Patrick showed up. When I learned her reasons for doing what she did, I loved her even more.

About Patrick... Oh, boy. He's the perfect match for Sophie. He lets her be who she is in spite of what every one thinks. He is afraid she'll be in danger, but he lets her make her own choices. Free will is hot, you guys.

There are plenty of funny moments, as well as perfectly developed secondary characters I wish I could see more of (I'm looking at you, Amelia and Stephen.)

In occasions, the story developed a bit slowly, but even then it was filled with humor and romance. It was also a little bit predictable in the beginning, but about half way something happened that made me wonder: "Where did that come from?" And from then on, adventure also makes an appearance. 

If you like stories with well-developed characters, humor, adventure and romance, you will enjoy The Reluctant Countess immensely.