I hate to admit it took me longer to finish LINGER than I wanted.  Life just got in the way…  It was one of my most anticipated reads of the summer, since SHIVER, the first book in the Wolves of Mercy Falls series, is one of my favorite books. EVER. 

Maggie Stiefvater didn’t disappoint.  The book was a slower read than SHIVER, but it was me.  Not her.  She alternated POV between four characters and I found myself wanting to analyze the novel as I read it.  Which slowed me down.  Aside from that – her writing is just magical.  I love the humor and beautiful imagery she provides the reader.  Wonderful characters you totally fall in love with.  I loved Sam in SHIVER and he’s pretty great in LINGER – but Cole… ahhh Cole…  I enjoyed the chemistry between Isabel and Cole.  Isabel is a very strong female protagonist with a strong personality that despite her attitude, is very endearing.  Above all else – this continues a really cool story!  Her take on werewolves is very fresh and creative. 

To me the mark of a great book is the feeling you get toward the end.  You can’t put it down.  You are terrified for the characters and I’ll be honest – I want to read a book that makes me cry.  Which I did at the end of LINGER.  And I couldn’t stop thinking about the ending when I went to sleep, dreamt about the characters and the next morning was still depressed.  Well – depressed may be a slight exaggeration, but sort of a SPOILER ALERT --- the ending – is not your typical HEA.  But it’s how the book HAD to end.  So now, I am waiting… patiently... for the final book in the series, FOREVER. 

LINGER gets a dreamy

Five out of Five clouds… 

The kids are back in school and our schedule is still as hectic as ever.  Now we’ve added homework and football practice to the schedule. 

My MS is in round two of edits.  And down significantly in word count.  I worry that I’ve taken out too much and am sacrificing part of the story.  At least I can always add things back in right? 

I’ve also began writing a few scenes for the next book.  I’m getting the urge to create some new material and when your muse calls, you must listen.

Last week I attended WriteonCon.  It was AMAZING!!!  A totally awesome online writing conference specific to the children’s/YA  market.  I learned so much and can’t wait to apply it. 

I’ve also been in a few other workshops, learning the craft so I’ve been slow getting through LINGER – not that it’s not engaging – I’ve just been BUSY.  This weekend I hope to finish it as I’m feeling that angst.  The feeling that I’ve got to read it to find out what happens to the characters that I’ve grown to care about.  That’s the feeling I want for my story.  Gripping, engaging and makes you worry.

On to editing…

Last week I made some great headway on my MS.  I got back a critique of my first fifty pages from one of my CPs.  She had tons of kudos for me – which helped me feel like I’m headed in the right direction.  She gave me some great ideas and suggestions which I will contemplate.  Another thing which was a tremendous help – she told me what I’d been thinking but just needed someone to say – to keep the story moving, I need to condense a couple scenes.   These are scenes I LOVE and I think adds so much in terms of developing my characters, but alas, the story won’t miss those scenes and it will create a tighter story. 

I’ve done a lot of research on some historical aspects of the novel and even my husband is getting in on that.  He is a history buff and is so excited about the prospects of the novel with bringing the historical angle in.  It’s been fun adding those elements and fine tuning the small details that make the story flow.

In other semi-related events – I just picked up a some new tunage to fuel my muse… The Dark Knight Soundtrack and The City That Sleeps by A Silent Film.  A Silent Film is a British group -- a little techno, a little alternative, a little of everything I like.  The lyrics are reflective and poetic.  My favorite song so far is Lamplight… just a snippet of the lyrics: 

All my hopes - All my fears
Collide when, you are near
Love is like a mast
That shivers at her mercy
These sails maybe tattered and torn
But she's not sinking easy ~ Lamplight by A Silent Film

I have a friend from high school on the new Discovery Channel show called The Colony.  Her name is Sian.  If you haven’t seen this show, it’s a cool premise.  Place seven survivors in an abandoned area simulating what they’d have to do if a disaster wiped out most of the population.  The first episode had increasing conflict, especially external conflict of the elements – finding the basic items needed for survival and then conflict arises with a band of thieves.  It’s funny how I watch the show and analyze it from a writer’s POV and took note of how they raised the stakes.  Check it out – Tuesday’s at 10PM on Discovery.

Happy Monday…

Ugh!  It happens to everyone.  You get to a point where your brain just doesn’t want to cooperate with your heart, yearning for some beautiful prose to materialize on the page.  Usually when I come to a road block, I listen to music to help me visualize what I am trying to convey and voila I can get something down.  Granted, it might not be pretty, but it’s a start. 

Tonight, the music wasn’t helping much.  It’s awesome new tuneage that my sister just gave me.  To inspire me.  Thanks KW!!  It’s Celtic music and should totally get me in the groove.  But - I think I’m feeling a little burnt out on the editing.  I have a self imposed deadline to get more of the MS ready for my beta readers sooner rather than later and now I’m just over it already.  My brain is not coming up with the beautiful prose.  It’s probably because my subconscious has found a couple holes that need to be plugged and subconsciously knows the work I do now might be for naught.  Ugh!!!

I think I need a good night’s rest…  Night Night…

I finished BALLAD last night and highly recommend it for the wonderfully self centered James and wickedly awesome Nuala. The dialogue is engaging. I found the story engaging and full of angst. I LOVE the angst. I was so scared for both James and Nuala throughout the last 150 pages. The chemistry between James and Nuala is amazing. I found a little of the fairie stuff confusing in parts, but just reread and got it or read through and figured it out as I got further along in the story.

So next on my list is LINGER. Another book by the superb author Maggie Stiefvater. This book has four POVs so I am curious to see how she differs the voices of the characters. One thing about being a writer -- now I can't just read for the pure joy of reading. I am also analyzing the work and the words. Taking notes about how the author does things right (and wrong). I have also found myself doing the same thing with plots in movies. Want to hear a secret?? I was in the movie theater with my family watching TOY STORY 3 and taking notes. Crazy yes, but helpful.

In writing news -- I am still sort of editing to widdle words and add some clarity to the story before I let it bake. I want it ready for my beta readers so they can read while I let it simmer on my shelf. This morning a scene for book 2 was itching to be written, so I have officially started on my 2nd project.

Well now I need to get back to my weekend guests. Happy weekend!!!