Shannon Hale at Politics and Prose

I have never read any of Shannon Hale's books, although I've heard how fabulous they are, so I was in two minds about going to her singing at Politics and Prose. When I told my friend Kim though, she said I had to go and that Shannon Hale was a brilliant speaker.

So I did.

And Kim was completely right.

Shannon Hale was excellent. If you ever get the chance to hear her speak, do. She's so engaging and energetic. I went to her morning appearance, which included two school parties, and she completely captivated the kids.

Her talk was one of the funniest I've been too and she was really positive and encouraging to the children as well. They really responded to her questions, as well, which made for a great atmosphere.

As well as talking about her books and where she gets her ideas (fairy tales & what ifs) she talked a lot about her writing journey and how long it took her to get published. I loved that she had kept all her rejection letters and laminated them. It was a great visual message (she rolled them out across the store) not to give up on your dreams.

I bought Book of a Thousand days which along with Princess Academy seemed to be a firm favourite among the girls present. For once I had a camera and remembered to use it, so here is Shannon, me and the baby (at his third book signing!)




Doesn't she have fabulous hair! I love that colour.

Thanks for a great event Shannon and Politics & Prose.

Shannon also has a really great blog Squeetus and her new book is Forest Born

Cover Wars The Hunger Games

The Book

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

The Covers

The US

The UK

Thoughts on the USA

This cover has really grown on me, perhaps because I see it whenever I go into a book store. I love the Mockingjay, and the way they have kept the theme going for Catching Fire. It ties in really well with what the book is about.

The simple logo and block lettering really stand out when this book is displayed alongside others. I'd definitely pick it up.

Thoughts on the UK

This isn't at all how I imagine Katniss and I'm pretty sure it's not at all how she'd dress either. If I saw this one on in a shop (and had been living in a cave and hadn't heard how wonderful it is) I wouldn't pick it up. I'd dismiss it as a sci-fi book. Also, for some reason, it says boys book to me. Which shouldn't stop me buying it because I've read some brilliant books about and aimed at boys, but it would, unless it had been recommend.

The Winner

USA! For a classic cover, can't wait to see the third one or read it.

UK 3
USA 2


Which do you prefer and why?

Waiting on Wednesday for Something like Fate

Something like Fate by Susane Colasanti



Lani and Erin are bonded for life. One thing that connects them is their fascination of fate. Lani wonders how much of our lives has already been decided and how much we can actually influence. Since the Unknown can unexpectedly change our lives forever, how much can we really control?


From the minute Lani meets Jason, she can't deny the intense connection they share. It feels like she's known him forever. She's not sure if he feels it, too. But it doesn't matter. Because Jason is Erin's boyfriend. Lani is determined to ignore her feelings for Jason, no matter how powerful they are, rather than risk hurting her best friend.


How long can Lani keep running from the boy who might be her destiny?

I loved Take me There and this new one from Susane Colasanti sounds great. I also love that cover!

Published: May 18th 2010 by Viking Juvenile

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

What are you waiting for?

My muse is cheating on me!

Yesterday as I was adding books to my TBR list, I'm at 94 now on Goodreads, I found a book whose short synopsis sounds eerily like my last years NaNoWriMo. Not the main one, the Mini NaNo. The one I wrote 45,000 words of in a week and then gave up on. It had to many plot holes, so I returned to the main NaNoWriMo, which also had to many plot holes!

I guess this must happen to published authors quite a lot. I've read a lot of book that are similar in theme and come out around the same time. I guess, as we're all exposed to a lot of the same media and situations it's to be expected that similar ideas will be triggered. Everyone brings their own experiences to their writing though, so we get lots of different approaches and lost of great books.

I can't wait to read this book though. Obviously it appeals to me, I wanted to write one quite similar! I'm also curious to see how alike it really is. I'm thinking probably not that similar but the main character did have the same name. I used an unusual shortening of that name and if she does too, I'll know my muse is cheating!

Book Review: Cashing In

Cashing In by Susan Colebank




What it's about:

There are some problems even winning the lottery can’t fix

With as many hours as Reggie Shaw puts in at the Cashmart, it’s no wonder that her grades and her friendships are slipping. Worst of all, Reggie’s mother’s inability to keep a job means that Reggie is pulling the weight of two people. Then, Reggie’s mom wins big in the lottery. Suddenly the money—and the popularity—comes pouring in. But when Reggie finds out that her mother has been borrowing more money than she actually won, she must face up to the fact that happiness can’t be bought—it only comes with hard work. (from Goodreads)

Why I read it:

My very lovely friend Joelle sent me her ARC, thanks Joelle.

What I thought:

While the premise of Cashing In is intriguing, who hasn't dreamed of winning the lottery, the real strength of the book is in the characters. We have Reggie's best friends, Star Wars obsessed Pete and confident outspoken Sarah, her love interest and fellow cash mart employee Gabe, and arch villain Bridget, I really hated her. All of them are fantastic. I would actually have liked to have seen more of them. Especially Pete and Sarah, whose storyline goes somewhere I wasn't expecting.

Reggie's Mom was the main problem I had with Cashing In. I couldn't really hate her, she isn't an out and out villain, like Bridget. Rather she's quite sad and pathetic. I'd have liked to have seen some emotional growth from her. To be fair though it isn't her story, it's Reggie's, and Reggie does plenty of growing.

As someone who has been known to inhale packets of Jaffa Cakes in times of stress, and who will do almost anything to avoid confrontation, I could definitely relate to Reggie Shaw. I was on her side from the beginning and cheering her on as she faces some pretty horrible situations. While I did get frustrated with her in the middle of the book, I absolutely loved the end when she finally has her say about everything. Yay Reggie!

Cashing In is a fun read that touches on some serious issues. There are some laugh out loud moments too. I'd have liked more of everything though. More of Reggie's friends, more romance with Gabe (and maybe less flannel!) and more of Reggie and her Mom, after everything falls apart.

Susan Colebank can be found blogging at www.susancolebank.com and is currently running a competition to celebrate the release of Cashing In.

When to Quit?

So we're half way through NaNoWriMo and I hope you're all doing well.

I am not.

I want to quit.

But do I want to quit because;

a) I'm distracted by two new shiny ideas AND a possible solution to a plot problem in last years NaNo (Get back in your box!)

or

b) because I'm right in the middle of the story and the middle is always hard. Beginnings are so much nicer.

or

c) I recognize that this story is going nowhere. My first two novels grew around an idea but this one has grown round a character. Now we've met the character and seen him in action for a bit and I'm not quite sure what the point is. But maybe if I keep writing a point will become clear.

So fellow NaNoer's and Non NaNoers tell me this, how do you decide if quitting is the right thing to do?

Book Review: If You Come Softly

If You Come Softly by Jacaqline Wilson







What it's about:
If You Come Softly, is the story of Elisha and Jeremiah or, as they prefer, Ellie and Miah. Ellie is white and jewish and Miah is black. They both attend Percy Academy, where they bump into each other, literally. Both recognize something in the other, and they fall in love.


Why I read it:
I picked this up at the library because I caught the end of Jacqueline Woodson's talk at The National Book Festival and she was amazing. As was the section she read from another of her books, Feathers.


What I thought:
I really loved If You Come Softly. It's a quick read but hugely powerful. The story unfolds in alternating chapters, told from Ellie and Miah's differing perspectives. So the reader gets to see how both of them reacted to their first meeting and to the unfolding of their relationship, which I really enjoyed.

If You Come Softly tackles some difficult issues but it never feels like they are reason for the story. I always felt Ellie and Miah and their feelings for one an other and their families was the main story and that's what drew me along. Having said that, the book certainly makes you think about race, because of course it does become an issue in their relationship. Due to how the outside world reacts to them. This is where the alternating view point is most effective, as we get to see both Ellie and Miah's reaction to the curiosity and hostility their relationship provokes.

There were many lines from the books that made me pause and made me think and perhaps opened my eyes a little because, like Ellie, I rarely think about being white. The one line that really struck me, and I'm sorry to have to paraphrase but the book went back to the library today, is where Miah's remebering his father telling him as a young boy "You never ever run in a white neighbourhood, never." Which just struck me as unbelievably sad.


This would be a brilliant book for a book club. There are so many issues it brings up that I want to talk about, especially the end, but as they all involve spoilers I won't do it here.

I'll just say read it and then get someone you know to read it so you can talk about it, because you'll really want to.