Monthly Archives: January 2014

The Devil’s in the Details–Taking Your Fiction to Higher Level

Posted on January 30, 2014 | Leave a comment

Great post on getting the details correct in writing by author Kristen Lamb

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Screen shot 2012-01-23 at 10.41.44 AM

There are a few common reasons most of us become writers: 1) We are not normal. Let it go. The Normal Ship sailed long ago while we were bartering for a cheaper price on a t-shirt and souvenir shot glass 2) We hopefully like to read and probably need a 12 Step Program for our book habit 3) We are Masters of “Things Few Know and Fewer Care About” 4) We are  pathological liars born storytellers.

This aside, just because we are born to write doesn’t mean we’re any good, especially in the beginning. I use this analogy. We could see some gal at a club who can really dance. She has great moves. This doesn’t mean she’s automatically qualified to tour with Katy Perry. Training (lots of it) and practice (more of it) and discipline (whoa, crap, even MORE of that) is required to go pro.

Today I…

View original post 1,333 more words

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth

Posted on January 30, 2014 | 4 comments

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth.  Published May 1, 2013 by Harper Collins    CDN $10.91Kindle edition

Fighting for survival in a shattered world… the truth is her only hope.

The thrillingly dark sequel to No. 1 New York Times bestseller, DIVERGENT. I have done bad things. I can’t take them back, and they are part of who I am.

Tris has survived a brutal attack on her former home and family. But she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes ever more reckless as she struggles to accept her new future.

Yet if Tris wants to uncover the truth about her world, she must be stronger than ever… because more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead. (Goodreads Excerpt)

WOW, I have to say WOW.  I am so amazed at this story.  Insurgent was as good as Divergent (which is rare) but a little sadder at times and perhaps a little more emotional when you take in all that Tris has to go through including her strained relationship with Four that is tested to the limits.  They go through ups and downs and everything in between leaving the reader in agony over the outcome of their relationship.  

I love the quote on the cover, ONE CHOICE CAN DESTROY YOU.  Like holy cow, no kidding.  This book is all about choices.  Tris has to make some really tough ones that she knows may cost her everything in the end.  She struggles with herself and what she is and risks everything to make the right decision.

I love how the author builds on Divergent and keeps going.  It never lags or drops but keeps you on the edge of your seat.  We learn more about the factions and more about the characters that belong to them. Tris’ whole world is wrapped into a web of secrets and lies and she must decide if the truth is worth everything she might have to sacrifice to obtain it.  The Candor manifesto wraps up this story nicely.

Like a wild animal, the truth is too powerful to remain caged. 

I don’t want to give too much away, but Insurgent is a fantastic sequel to Divergent.  It is amazing, thrilling, full of intrigue and emotion and leaves you breathless and wanting more.  I can’t wait to read Allegiant.

5 stars for me.

 

4 Comments

Posted in Reviews

Tagged , ,

Wordless Wednesday (Jan 28)

Posted on January 29, 2014 | 2 comments

 photo by lillisokey-lovewallpaper.blogspot.com

I love Wordless Wednesday.  I get a kick out of finding the best picture that makes me laugh or go ‘OMG that is so adorable’.  So please  LEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Wordless Wednesday post, or just a comment (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

2 Comments

Posted in Wordless Wednesday

Tagged ,

WWW Wednesdays (Jan 29)

Posted on January 29, 2014 | 11 comments

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Recently Finished: Divergent by Veronica Roth.  OMG I loved this book!  Here is a link to my review:

https://cynthiastacey.com/2014/01/23/divergent-by-veronica-roth/

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)Currently Reading:Insurgent (Divergent #2) by Veronica Roth.  This is a fantastic series.  I don’t want it to end!

Up Next?

I am thinking of the third in the Divergent series Allegiant, of course!  or Fire with Fire (Demonblood #2)

 Allegiant (Divergent, #3) Fire with Fire (Demonblood, #2)

And as always you never know what little treasure will show up and DEMAND to be read.  Happy reading everyone.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

11 Comments

Posted in WWW Wednesdays

Tagged , , , , , ,

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

Posted on January 28, 2014 | Leave a comment

I have to say that I am a big fan of Tom Clancy and his character creation of Jack Ryan.  My favorite is Clear and Present Danger where Jack is played by Harrison Ford.  Having said that, you don’t have to know the back story or anything else about this movie to enjoy it as a stand alone. 

Chris Pine is an excellent Jack Ryan.  I’m a little partial to his acting after Star Trek.  The movie is based on the back story of Jack Ryan, a CIA analyst/operative.  In this version, a young Jack is wounded during a tour in Afghanistan and is recruited by the CIA.  Kevin Costner plays his handler.  (Also a big fan of Costner…just saying.)  Jack uncovers a plot by the Russian government to collapse the US economy.  Jack is tasked with an undercover mission to go to Moscow and investigate.  His plans are interrupted when his suspicious fiancée Cathy (played by Keira Knightly) meets him in Russia and ends up in the thick of the action and blowing Jack’s cover.  If I never saw any other Jack Ryan movie I probably wouldn’t notice anything odd, but this Cathy just doesn’t seem to fit the version in my mind developed by the other movies.  She is too mistrusting, too into the whole covert spy thing and just…too much.  She does a great job misleading the bad guy however so we will forgive the writers for the rest.   

While the first half hour or so of the movie drags and is a little boring, it picks up quickly and delivers a non stop action spy thriller worthy of praise. It is sometimes a little cliché, but it delivers as promised. I really enjoyed the movie and look forward to other versions.

4 stars for me.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , ,

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 28)

Posted on January 28, 2014 | 13 comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

I WAKE WITH his name in my mouth.

     Will.

     Before I open my eyes, I watch him crumple to the pavement again.

Dead.

My doing.

1% on kindle

Insurgent (Divergent, #2) Insurgent (Divergent #2)by Veronica Roth

Really Really REALLY enjoying this series!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

13 Comments

Posted in Teaser Tuesdays

Tagged , , ,

Why Now is the Best Time to be a Writer

Posted on January 24, 2014 | 2 comments

Great article by guest blogger Jessica Baverstock on Kristen Lamb’s blog.

Kristen Lamb's Blog

Those of you who follow my blog know that optimism IS my super-power. Yes, The Digital Age can be daunting. We are entering uncharted territories and often we have to learn by trial and error. One of my peeves is when “statistics” compare earnings or “success” of traditional authors with self-published and indie authors.

Traditional has had generations to shape and mold a business model, whereas the new forms of publishing are still in their infancies. But, I promise you those babies are gonna grow up FAST and boy will they have an appetite.

Just to throw my in two cents; one of the LARGEST blessings of social media is we have unprecedented access to experts. Need to know about guns, law enforcement procedures, geography, whatever? SOMEONE is happy to give the answer. I had a writer friend in Europe who wanted to set part of her book in Texas…

View original post 1,277 more words

2 Comments

Posted in Uncategorized

Is it Friday Yet? (Jan 23)

Posted on January 23, 2014 | 3 comments

 photo by lovemeow.com

Ok seriously, this guy is so cute!  Take him home and call it the weekend.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Is it Friday Yet? post, or just a comment (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

3 Comments

Posted in Is it Friday Yet?

Tagged , ,

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Posted on January 23, 2014 | 7 comments

Divergent (Divergent, #1) Divergent by Veronica Roth.  Published April 25, 2011 by Katherine Tegen Books. CDN $11.99 Kindle edition.

In Beatrice Prior’s dystopian Chicago world, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue–Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is–she can’t have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles alongside her fellow initiates to live out the choice they have made. Together they must undergo extreme physical tests of endurance and intense psychological simulations, some with devastating consequences. As initiation transforms them all, Tris must determine who her friends really are–and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes exasperating boy fits into the life she’s chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she’s kept hidden from everyone because she’s been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers unrest and growing conflict that threaten to unravel her seemingly perfect society, Tris also learns that her secret might help her save the ones she loves . . . or it might destroy her. (Goodreads Excerpt)

OMG..what can I say?  I am absolutely enthralled with this book!  I was hesitant to get into it at first.  I had heard that it was a lot like Hunger Games (Which I loved) but I didn’t want to read a knock off of a great book.  HOLY COW was I blown away.  It was similar to Hunger Games but so totally unique.  I can’t get over the world building in this book.  The attention to detail is amazing.  I was not a big fan of Dystopian books, but I sure am now.

OK calm down now…what to say about the book other than it was amazing?  Lets see, I love Tris’ character.  She is real, flawed and everything.  I love her spirit and her courage and even her vulnerable side.  And Four, OMG this man is fantastic.  The interaction between them is heart wrenching.  The Chemistry, the vulnerability and everything else keeps you on the seat of your pants waiting…

I love a story with a lot of action and this one delivers with a Capitol A.  OMG it is non-stop.  I don’t want to give too much away but it doesn’t disappoint in the action from training that is NUTS to say the least,  government secrets,  heart stopping dare devilness (is that a word?), bad guys and good guys turned bad, and everything else action…this story has it.

I loved it so much; I have already downloaded the next book and am deeply engrossed into it!

5 amazing stars for me.  This is in my top 5 favorites for sure.

7 Comments

Posted in Reviews

Tagged , ,

8 Tips to Make Sure Everyone on Twitter Hates Us

Posted on January 22, 2014 | Leave a comment

Awesome post about Twitter from Social media expert Kristen Lamb!

Kristen Lamb's Blog

As a social media expert, I run into all kinds of strange behavior and tips that make me scratch my head. Social media is social, meaning it’s supposed to be an extension of how we might interact with other human beings in person. Today’s post (obviously) is tongue-and-cheek, but humor can be the best teacher even if we’ve oopsed.

Tip #1—Only Use Automation

Writing a 140 characters is SUPER time-consuming. We aren’t Jack London. Besides, people LOVE talking to robots. I know when I feel lonely, I call AT&T because I know a human being will NEVER answer…EVER. Humans can be so boring and don’t offer us the option of hitting 6 if we want to hear everything they just said all over again. 

Real Life Application: Program cell phones to call friends and family at regular intervals to ask for money. They’d dig that.

Tip #2—Make Sure All Preprogrammed…

View original post 1,117 more words

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

WWW Wednesdays (Jan 22)

Posted on January 22, 2014 | 9 comments

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My Answers:

Stir Me UpRecently Finished: Stir me up by Sabrina Elkins.  Really Really enjoyed this book.  Different from my normal reads but great.  Review here: 

https://cynthiastacey.com/2014/01/16/stir-me-up-by-sabrina-elkins/

Divergent (Divergent, #1)Currently Reading: Divergent by Veronica Roth.  OMG I am LOVING this book.  Almost finished!

Are you kidding?  I love Divergent so much, Insurgent (Divergent #2) is already downloaded on my Kindle!

Insurgent (Divergent, #2)  

And as always you never know what little treasure will show up and DEMAND to be read.  Happy reading everyone.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

WWW Wednesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

9 Comments

Posted in WWW Wednesdays

Tagged , , , , , ,

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 21)

Posted on January 21, 2014 | 11 comments

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

It will require a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation, or a great act of courage to choose Dauntless, and maybe just choosing one over the other will prove that I belong. Tomorrow, those two qualities will struggle within me, and only one can win.

7% on kindle

Divergent (Divergent, #1) Divergent by Veronica Roth

Finally got to read this awesome book!  Just barely into it, but already hooked. AWESOME!!!

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks! :D

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading. Check out their blog!

11 Comments

Posted in Teaser Tuesdays

Tagged , , ,

Predators Abound—How Writers Can Be Savvy in Social Media, Marketing and Promotion

Posted on January 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Great post by Kristen Lamb. Author of Rise of the Machines: Human Authors in a digital World

Kristen Lamb's Blog

We’ve been talking a lot about the new publishing paradigm and all the options writers have. Being the WANA Mama, I feel it’s my duty to feed you guys the grow-up stuff. So, if you want a fluffy kitten hug? This is the wrong place. There are plenty of people who offer a magic algorithm or promotion package or SEO package “guaranteed” to launch a writer to fame and fortune. Yet, these can be misleading and take our focus away from activities that have a better chance of translating into long-term success.

Hoo-Doo Voo-Doo for Sale

What many of you might not know is I sometimes help small businesses. I recently started doing some work for my brother’s company. Why did I step in? Because he (like many others) paid thousands of dollars for a Mega-PR-Expert…who then did NOTHING.

My brother hired this well-known PR expert to create his social…

View original post 1,585 more words

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

CP Matchmaker Starts today!

Posted on January 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Hello everybody!
What is CP Matchmaker, you ask?
CP Matchmaker is hosted by Megan Grimit and is Megan’s way of paying it forward.  Megan considers herself to be extremely lucky in landing the most amazing critique group. The ladies she works with are smart, and kind, and thoughtful and they’ve taught her a lot about the way she writes and the kind of writer she wants to be.
But not everyone has this. And that’s something that eats away at her.
Because everyone should have a team. Everyone should know exactly where to go and what to do to find someone who is going to be honest and helpful.
So, she brainstormed the idea “Why isn’t there a Twitter pitch party for finding CP’s?”
AND CP MATCHMAKER WAS BORN!
(Dramatic, no?)
Ok, so here’s what’s up:
 
What:  A chance to pitch your book to a bunch of like minded writers
Where:  Twitter, of course!
When: January 20th from 10am-10pm EST
Why:  Because it’s going to be so much fun!
But you’re going to need a few things first.
1. A twitter pitch (140 characters or less to include the #CPMatch hashtag)
2. A blog button, should you choose to spread the word and get more people involved. (See below)
3. And a few labels:

For the purpose of easy identification, please include (abbreviated for your convenience) a little about your critiquing style.(Note: These are for how you critique others work, not what you need for your own.)

Do you get straight to the point- STTP
Fan of the compliment sandwich- CS
Are you brutally honest- BH
How about a good copyeditor- GCE
Or are you more of an attention to detail type: ATD
Maybe a critique partner beginner: CPB
Plot hole hunter: PHH
Do you give great big picture notes: BP
Are you a few of these things? Go ahead and list as many as will fit in your pitch.
Need an example of a #CPMatch pitch?
Trapped among bleeding walls, psychotic passengers, and manifested fears,
can Olivia escape with her life? YA #CPMatch CS ATD
And come the 20th, simply search through the feed. If something looks interesting, DM the person and get to know each other a little better. See what you have to offer each other.
And I can’t stress this enough: SWAP A SAMPLE CHAPTER
You’ll never know if you really mesh well unless you see some feedback first hand.
DISCLAIMER: CP Matchmaker is a baby. Not just a baby, a wrinkly, screaming newborn. If there’s something you’re unclear about, email me, and I’ll try to answer your questions. Have a few extra label ideas? Lemme have em! I am totally up for any suggestions here. I want this thing to be helpful to as many people as possible.
And on that note. SPREAD THE WORD. Please. Pretty please, with sugar on top and ice-cream in the middle.
Tweet about it. Blog about it. Tell your neighbor.
She can only help match the people who attend.
So again, please. Help Megan to help other writers find their CP soul mates like She did.  I personally am very excited by this adventure.
If you have any questions hopefully I can help or you can go directly to Megan’s blog http://www.pawsfangsandsmiles.blogspot.com/2014/01/announcing-cp-matchmaker.html and check out the questions others have asked or ask her yourself.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , ,

CP Matchmaker – Starts Monday!

Posted on January 17, 2014 | Leave a comment

Hello everybody!
What is CP Matchmaker, you ask?
CP Matchmaker is hosted by Megan Grimit and is Megan’s way of paying it forward.  Megan considers herself to be extremely lucky in landing the most amazing critique group. The ladies she works with are smart, and kind, and thoughtful and they’ve taught her a lot about the way she writes and the kind of writer she wants to be.
But not everyone has this. And that’s something that eats away at her.
Because everyone should have a team. Everyone should know exactly where to go and what to do to find someone who is going to be honest and helpful.
So, she brainstormed the idea “Why isn’t there a Twitter pitch party for finding CP’s?”
AND CP MATCHMAKER WAS BORN!
(Dramatic, no?)
Ok, so here’s what’s up:
 
What:  A chance to pitch your book to a bunch of like minded writers
Where:  Twitter, of course!
When: January 20th from 10am-10pm EST
Why:  Because it’s going to be so much fun!
But you’re going to need a few things first.
1. A twitter pitch (140 characters or less to include the #CPMatch hashtag)
2. A blog button, should you choose to spread the word and get more people involved. (See below)
3. And a few labels:

For the purpose of easy identification, please include (abbreviated for your convenience) a little about your critiquing style.(Note: These are for how you critique others work, not what you need for your own.)

Do you get straight to the point- STTP
Fan of the compliment sandwich- CS
Are you brutally honest- BH
How about a good copyeditor- GCE
Or are you more of an attention to detail type: ATD
Maybe a critique partner beginner: CPB
Plot hole hunter: PHH
Do you give great big picture notes: BP
Are you a few of these things? Go ahead and list as many as will fit in your pitch.
Need an example of a #CPMatch pitch?
Trapped among bleeding walls, psychotic passengers, and manifested fears,
can Olivia escape with her life? YA #CPMatch CS ATD
And come the 20th, simply search through the feed. If something looks interesting, DM the person and get to know each other a little better. See what you have to offer each other.
And I can’t stress this enough: SWAP A SAMPLE CHAPTER
You’ll never know if you really mesh well unless you see some feedback first hand.
DISCLAIMER: CP Matchmaker is a baby. Not just a baby, a wrinkly, screaming newborn. If there’s something you’re unclear about, email me, and I’ll try to answer your questions. Have a few extra label ideas? Lemme have em! I am totally up for any suggestions here. I want this thing to be helpful to as many people as possible.
And on that note. SPREAD THE WORD. Please. Pretty please, with sugar on top and ice-cream in the middle.
Tweet about it. Blog about it. Tell your neighbor.
She can only help match the people who attend.
So again, please. Help Megan to help other writers find their CP soul mates like She did.  I personally am very excited by this adventure.
If you have any questions hopefully I can help or you can go directly to Megan’s blog http://www.pawsfangsandsmiles.blogspot.com/2014/01/announcing-cp-matchmaker.html and check out the questions others have asked or ask her yourself.

Leave a comment

Posted in Uncategorized

Tagged , , ,