Bout of Books 11.0: Spell It Out

Today's Bout of Books (LINK) challenge is to spell a word out using the first letter of book titles.

So I noticed that a lot of people are doing their first names, but I don't have the books to do my first name! (And I wanted to do something different-ish.) Instead of doing my first name, I decided to do my last.

My last name is 

Savoie 

and so BOOM! There it is. =D

The books used are...

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Vault of Dreamers by Ann Aguirre

The One by Kiera Cass

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Obviously I did not take into account "the" in titles! Comment below and link to your blog so I can check out your words!

Bout of Books 11.0: Like This, Try this!

Hello again everyone! Today's challenge is from Bout of Books 11.0 again. The challenge today is to take a book and recommend another book that someone would like if they liked the original. I decided to pick a trilogies, as I like trilogies.

So if you like...

The Legend trilogy by Marie Lu

You will also like...

The Enclave trilogy by Ann Aguirre

My reasoning behind this:

So both of these series feature strong female protagonists, June and Deuce. Both females are fighters that are trained young and are the best at what they do. They also have very similar faults that come into play in the books (such as blindly following orders). It's interesting to see similar characters fighting against their faults in their own atmosphere. (Side note: If you've read both of these trilogies, imagine these two girls in a room together.)

The males, Day and Fade, are both swoony (and what else do we really need? ;)) and strong characters. Both of their stories show what happens to them in times of stress and how they fight against that. They each can survive on their own if they so choose, but both work well with their female counterparts are achieving their goals.

Both couples have their faults and struggles that they fight against in both trilogies. (I guess the main thing I'm trying to say in this post is, can you imagine all four of them just hanging out and being friends? Because, yes.)

I'm just rambling at this point. Just believe me when I say, if you like the Legend trilogy, you will love the Enclave trilogy. Comment below if you have comments of your own on my choices!

Bout of Books 11.0: Create A Sentence Challenge!

So as you may know, I am participating in Bout of Books 11.0 (Click here for details!). Throughout the week they have little challenges just to have fun to break up your reading time. 

Today's challenge is to create a sentence using the first two words that appear in a handful of books your choosing. I set out to pick books that I really enjoyed, then rearranged them to make sense. It's a weird sentence, but that's okay! I like it.

The picture shows the books I chose and the order they appear in the sentence.

 Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. The One by Kiera Cass. Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre. Champion by Marie Lu. Cress by Marissa Meyer.

(Find my sentence under the picture!)

Cute, right?

And my brilliant sentence isssssssssssss...

"There was this time I was out of her satellite." 

Awesome, right?

Comment below with your own sentence or a link to your blog so I can check out the choices you made! :)

P.S. Check out my Instagram (CLICK HERE TO SEE IT!!!) for this and other Bout of Books 11.0 pictures!

My Tethered Soul by Dorothy Dreyer out today!

Hey again everybody! Today, My Tethered Soul, the second book in the Reaper's Rite series, came out! Author Dorothy Dreyer, who is an amazing lady if I do say so myself, was kind enough to give me some links and what not to help get the word out, because I love helping out authors!

So, without further adieu!

TA-DA

Look at this beautiful/creepy cover! Buy it for this if nothing else!

If you aren't excited about this, you should be! I mean, look at that cover. That cover alone, amiright?

Below I have provided a blurb and special excerpt from the book. If you're interested after reading the blurb and/or excerpt, and you should be!!!, there are links below to find the first and second book!

Book Blurb for MY TETHERED SOUL:

It’s been months since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, months during which she’s been under her mentor’s magical protection. But now that she’s turning seventeen, that protection is about to run out.

When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she’s manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper’s grasp, or surrender to the Reaper’s Rite, which can only lead to death.

Excerpt:

My body shook, knocking my teeth together. Why was the bed rocking?

“Zadie, wake up.”

My eyes were slits as I pushed Mara away. I was entirely too tired to get up yet. “Five more minutes.”

“Zadie, come on.”

“What do you want?”

“There’s mud all over the floor. Footprints.”

I scrunched my forehead up, my eyes still not all the way open. “What? What are you talking about?”

“There were muddy footprints all over the floor. I wiped the ones up in the hall so Dad wouldn’t see, but there are more here in your room.”

My eyes widened. I sat up and focused on my bedroom floor. Sure enough, a trail of mud led up to my bed. Panic jump-started my heart as I realized someone could have been in my room while I slept. But the footprints only led up to my bed, not away from it.

I grabbed my sheet and ripped it off of my body. “Oh my God.”

My Tethered Soul (Reaper’s Rite 2)

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Tethered-Soul-Reapers-Rite-Volume/dp/1939765234/

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/My-Tethered-Soul-Reapers-Rite-ebook/dp/B00L77YTNO/

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-tethered-soul-dorothy-dreyer/1119705276?ean=9781939765239

Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-tethered-soul-dorothy-dreyer/1119705276?ean=9781939765246

Book Depository http://www.bookdepository.com/My-Tethered-Soul-Dorothy-Dreyer/9781939765239

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20703626-my-tethered-soul

My Sister’s Reaper (Reaper’s Rite 1)

Also a beautiful, and deeply creep, cover!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/My-Sisters-Reaper-Reapers-Rite/dp/0985029498/

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/Sisters-Reaper-Reapers-Rite-ebook/dp/B00CW079T6

Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/My-Sisters-Reaper-Dorothy-Dreyer/9780985029494

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-sisters-reaper-dorothy-dreyer/1109686823?ean=9780985029494

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13597733-my-sister-s-reaper

Author Links:

Author Website: http://dorothydreyer.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/dorothydreyer

Facebook Fanpage: http://facebook.com/AuthorDorothyDreyer

Giveaway:

For some reason, the rafflecopter has decided it's not going to work correctly and show up! So if you'd like to enter a chance to win a 30 dollar Amazon gift card, click on the link and enter!

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/47d81c5/

Bout of Books 11.0 (August 18 - August 24)

(UPDATES ARE AT BOTTOM OF POST)

If you haven't noticed, I've been a little behind on my blogging. I also recently switched emails to be in control of this blog, and somehow in the process, I lost all of the blogs I followed! If you're out there people, comment so I can re-follow you.

Anyway, to help me get back in the groove and mood of blogging, I've decided to do what the kids are calling Bout of Books 11 (go ahead and click on that if you'd like to know more). Or, just read this blurb.

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda @ On a Book Bender and Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal. It is a week long read-a-thon that begins 12:01am Monday, August 18th and runs through Sunday, August 24th in whatever time zone you are in. Bout of Books is low-pressure, and the only reading competition is between you and your usual number of books read in a week. There are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize, but all of these are completely optional. For all Bout of Books 11 information and updates, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog. - From the Bout of Books team


This is my first time doing anything like this, so I'm not going to be overly ambitious. However, below, you will find my goals. (Okay, so maybe I was overly ambitious.)

Feel free to follow me on Instagram and Twitter for updates and pictures throughout the week! Comment below if you're also doing the Bout of Books so I can keep up with your blog!

Also, because of my weird sleeping patterns, my update times won't be done at midnight every night but rather before I go to bed.

Books to Read

• Cress by Marissa Meyer (Need to finish this. 113 pages from the end.) 
• Finished Time: 1 hour 53 minutes
• Passion by Lauren Kate
• Time spent reading: 6 hours 32 minutes
• Rapture by Lauren Kate
• Wither by Lauren DeStefano
• Time spent reading: 5 hours 33 minutes
• Fever by Lauren DeStefano
• Sever by Lauren DeStefano

Updates

Monday

     Pages read today: 63
     Pages read altogether: 63 (I started late!)
     Time spend reading today: 1 hour 5 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 1 hour 5 minutes (I started late!)
     Total number of books I've read: 0 (I just started!)
     Currently reading: Cress by Marissa Meyer

Tuesday

     Pages read today: 182
     Pages read altogether: 245 
     Time spend reading today: 2 hours 49 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 3 hours 54 minutes
     Total number of books I've read: 1
     Currently reading: Passion by Lauren Kate

Wednesday

     Pages read today: 104
     Pages read altogether: 349
     Time spend reading today: 1 hour 37 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 5 hours 31 minutes
     Total number of books I've read: 1
     Currently reading: Passion by Lauren Kate

Thursday

     Pages read today: 106
     Pages read altogether: 455
     Time spend reading today: 1 hour 40 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 7 hours 11 minutes
     Total number of books I've read: 1
     Currently reading: Passion by Lauren Kate

Friday

     Pages read today: 78
     Pages read altogether: 533
     Time spend reading today: 1 hour 14 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 8 hours 25 minutes
     Total number of books I've read: 2
     Currently reading: Wither by Lauren Destefano

Saturday

     Pages read today: 159
     Pages read altogether: 692
     Time spend reading today: 2 hours 35 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 11 hours
     Total number of books I've read: 2
     Currently reading: Wither by Lauren Destefano

Sunday

     Pages read today: 205
     Pages read altogether: 897
     Time spend reading today: 2 hours 58 minutes
     Time spent reading altogether: 13 hours 58 minutes
     Total number of books I've read: 3
     Reading now that BoutofBooks is over: Fever by Lauren DeStefano


Final thoughts:

I had a lot of fun participating in BoutofBooks! I plan on participating in the next round, which is in January, and I recommend others join it if they've never done it.

I didn't end up reading all the books I wanted to read, but I knew it was a far stretch. I ended up working more this week than I was supposed to, and a couple of the days I came home to read and fell asleep! But that's okay. I'm happy I got done what I got done. Next time I think I'll go for a page count instead of a book count.

What're your guys thoughts now that we're at the end?

Job Searching, Writing, and Sometimes Revision

Page two of my own ELEVEN revision notes.
(Picture intentionally blurry!)

Hello everybody!

As you may or may not know, I recently moved to California. I came out here to follow my dreams and to become a big name! (Just kidding. I moved here because I needed to get out of Illinois and my sister lives here with my brother-in-law.)

I thought I was ready for the real world when I was still in school, but now that I'm in it, I'm pretty much falling apart. Okay, well, I wouldn't say that, but I am stressed! I've applied to so many jobs, I've lost count! Because of all the time I've been working on applying to jobs, my writing has taken a back seat. Now, that doesn't meant I've stopped writing! I am definitely still writing! It's just not as much as I'd like to be.

I recently beta-ed my second Nano book to a friend. When I got it back, I had SEVEN single-spaced pages of revision notes. That's not including all the comments actually made ON the manuscript. After reading through them, I agreed with almost all of the notes/suggests/please-change-this-now's. So that's what I've been working on. It's not going to be done as fast as I had originally hoped, but it's coming along.

What's nice, and interesting, about another person looking at your work is, it bring a whole new light to your story. I realized things about my characters I wasn't even aware of. I fixed melodramatic story elements, that originally, I thought were perfect.

For instance, the ending of my manuscript ended in a HUGE way. In fact, it was the original thing I thought up in my mind that my story was based around. (Let's say it involves a crash and public transportation.) It was melodramatic and over the top, but it was the first thing I had ever thought up for this story.

When my friend read it, the only note she put was "Are you serious?" and I knew, deep down, that it was no longer right for the story I was trying to tell. Yes, my entire story grew around this incident, but there was something I hadn't noticed. My story had outgrown it. My story was so much more than that incident now.

So I cut it.

And my story has never looked better.

Hey, look! It's Kevin!

Two books I received as gifts!!

Hey everybody!

I know, I know, you're probably thinking "This kid's alive!?" Well, yes, I am!

It's been a wild ride, this semester. I know I have been in hiatus, but this hiatus is officially over! I plan on writing this blog like never before! (Which means, I'll be posting regularly, and I'll be doing Road Trip Wednesdays, as well as book reviews and what not!)

I do want to apologize for being gone for so long. I went through a lot of personal things in the past six or seven months.

But on the bright side, here are some good highlights!

1. I graduated from SIUC! College is done!
2. I am moving to California in four days!
3. I attended my first writer's retreat! (Four friends eating brunch while writing counts, right?)
4. I started a tumblr! (click if you want to check it out)
5. I was Senior Co-Editor of the lit magazine at my school!
6. I got a short story and a poem published!
7. I won the CURCA award at my school for my short story!
8. Did I mention I graduated?
9. And I'm sure something else I can't remember as of right now.

Those are some highlights of what I haven't been writing about, but no more! My adventures in California and trying to get published will be documented here for you all to read.

I will stop rambling now!

Happy to be back everybody!