The #FridayReads Review (12/9/16)

Welcome to The #FridayReads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week, and what I'm planning to read next! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own #FridayReads Review and leave the link in the Comments below, or just Comment with what you've been reading!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Countdown by Michelle Rowen (PBK)
Finally picked this up as inspiration for Project P edits, but it turned out to be not quite what I expected. It was pretty interesting and engaging to start, but now halfway through I'm rather tired of the main character's slowly lowering intelligence in the face of her slowly elevating mental powers, which I had not anticipated and feel kind of ruin the thriller story. Currently struggling to maintain interest.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski (ARC)
4 Stars. I wasn't impressed with Winner's Curse so I didn't expect much of this earlier work, but it was surprisingly quite good! Although it began with the extremely overused "girl who appears normal but has a dark secret is drawn to a new mysterious boy at school" opening, after some rather shocking violence and alternate world twists it turned out to be an exciting read with engaging intrigue and action and a really strong female lead. I even rather liked the romance, which is very rare for me. Review to come.

>> DNF <<

Dream a Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (ARC)
DNF at Page 37. Opened with too much normal living (not even a hint of the magic to come) and too many character introductions (I couldn't keep anyone straight) for too long. The writing was a bit dense (which admittedly can happen with translations), the main character read younger than I believe she was supposed to be, I really can't stand selfish parents, and I just couldn't find enough interest in the story to keep going. Might just be my current mood, but I'm going to pass. Other dream fantasy lovers would probably really enjoy it though, if they don't mind a probably 50+ page wait for the fantasy part to begin. 

>> [POSSIBLY] READING NEXT <<

(subject to change with my ever-shifting reading whims)

Black Butler vol. 22 by Yana Toboso (PBK)
Finally got my hands on this! Hopefully this volume will finally finish up the latest plot arc.

So what are you reading this week?

The Friday Reads Review (8/1/14)

Welcome to The Friday Reads Review, a regular Friday segment where I share what I've been reading the past week! Want to join the Friday fun? Post your own Friday Reads Review on your blog, and then leave the link in the Comments below!

>> CURRENTLY READING <<

Backstage Prince Vol. 1 by Kanoko Sakurakoji (Pbk)

Fell right back in my reading slump, so I've resorted to manga as I do. I originally read this 2-volume series in Shojo Beat magazine - this is my first time in book form! Enjoying the little extras.

Project P by Me (1st Draft)
I'm also using the lack of novel time to start editing Project P again! Hoping to maybe get it in some type of presentable shape before WriteOnCon, but given my track record it's a long shot at this point.

>> JUST FINISHED <<

Heaven's Queen by Rachel Bach (Pbk)
The first series I've finished in quite a while! This wasn't as good as the first two books for me - there was way too much introspection and discussion where usually is action, the climax dragged on way to long (over 100 pages), and the end was just too neat and tidy and happily ever after for such a violent story. But overall I enjoyed the trilogy and wouldn't mind if Rachel decided to continue Devi's story even further. ;)


>> READING NEXT <<

Backstage Prince Vol. 2 by Kanoko Sakurakoji (Pbk)
See Currently Reading. 
As far as what novel I'll be reading next, I have absolutely no idea...

So what are you reading this week?

Currently...Summer-izing

It's been quite a while, but I have so much to share that I decided to bring back my "Currently..." segment, in which I let you know what I'm currently up to on a number of highly important topics.

I AM CURRENTLY...

READING:

Novels:
Currently reading: Relax, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple. There are very few authors I would purchase a self-published book full price to read, and Natalie is top of the list. I'm halfway through and it's classic Natalie, which means it pains me to put it down and do life things instead of reading it.
Just finished: Take Back the Skies by Lucy Saxon. A quick adventure with some seriously disturbing elements and a definite British twang. Review to come.
Reading next: Graduation Day by Joelle Charbonneau. I actually started this...and then stopped two chapters in when the siren call of Ninja just got too strong to resist any longer. I'll be finished with Ninja in no time at all though, so I'll dive right back in soon!

Manga:
Just finished: Otomen Vol. 18 by Aya Kanno, which is the final book in the series. This was a really cute story about gender roles, and the end was fraught with many aww moments.
Reading Next: Hoping to snag Millennium Snow Vol. 3 by Bisco Hatori and Kamisama Kiss Vol.15 by Julietta Suzuki tomorrow at the bookstore! Kamisama is one of my favorite series, and I've been waiting for more in the Millennium series for several years now - can't wait to see where Bisco takes the story!

WATCHING:

TV: MasterChef is back! I love a good cooking show (as long as there isn't too much swearing ;). Without cable I'm at the mercy of whatever "regular" television offers, but luckily there are always a few good options. And despite the "Seriously?!" moment at the end of the last season, I'm going to watch Under the Dome again. No telling how many episodes I'll give it, but I am a little curious to see where they take it.

DVD: Most of my regular shows have ended for the season (or been cancelled - I'll miss you, The Neighbors *sobs*), but that means all the cable shows I've missed out on are releasing on DVD! And right now there are a slew of Acorn titles, so that means Murdoch Mysteries Season 6, Miss Fisher Murder Mysteries Season 2 (*flails*), and a newly discovered Mr. & Mrs. Murder, which is so good. A "terrific lighthearted crime show" indeed, and the couple is so kooky it is so much fun - highly recommend! The last season of Warehouse 13 also just released, so I'm re-watching Seasons 1-4 before tackling the series end. I am seriously loving so much Claudia in my life right now. <3

WRITING:

I've been telling everyone this summer is for writing, but so far I've been so busy with catching up on life and blogging after my college class that I haven't had much writing time. But when I do...

Project P: Up for Second Draft edits. I actually think I can make something of this novel after all - and sell it.

Project VIN: If I can just push through the tour scene I'm currently bogged down in (they get me every time), I think I can get a First Draft of this New Adult Dystopian down pretty quick. Staying focused and not being distracted by the three other projects that seem equally worth my time is my biggest problem. Currently considering this for my July Camp Nano project, which is definitely going to happen at this point.

BLOGGING:

The summer is heating up not only weather-wise but on this blog as well! Beginning in June, expect this blog to really start hopping!

Blog Tours: I'm signed up for quite a few blog tours via tour websites, publishers, and authors, so be on the watch for some great interviews, excerpts, and giveaways!

Interviews: Speaking of interviews, I'm planning one or two special author interview segments of my own. I only have one author confirmed right now so no details yet, but soon!

And in an effort to offer you, my wonderful Followers, more than just reviews and WoW posts, I'm also adding some new segments to the roster:

Random Thoughts: I'll be sharing fleeting thoughts about anything and everything starting June 1st! As random thoughts are, these shall be sprinkled throughout the week, left for your enjoyment on empty days. Find out more about this new segment tomorrow!

Signature Saturdays: To replace Stacking the Shelves (explanation to come), Saturdays I'll be offering pics of a signed book in my possession along with the story of how I came to acquire it.

The Sunday Post: I've done these before, but they shall return as a regular Sunday feature.

Teaser Tuesdays: I rarely do Top Ten Tuesdays (they take so much time for me to put together), so I'm returning to Teaser Tuesdays instead. Prepare to be teased. ;)

LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, 
AND EVERYTHING ELSE:

Class: My Introduction to Writing Fiction community college class is over! And I'm very happy for it. While it was a very good experience for me to take the class, and I'm very glad I did, I don't think I'll be taking any more. I got great feedback from the group, and now it's time to buckle down and actually focus on my own writing instead of that of the collective. Oh, and for those who followed my grade stress on Twitter, I got a 100% A+. At least that's what the tiny Post-It Note the teacher put in my folder says. Yeah, I still don't believe it either.

Bookshelf: Epic Librarian and a few publishers have been very good to me and I am WAY over capacity shelf-wise. Don't be surprised if you read of my demise under a book draft in the near future. I'm happy to report that I did away with the two huge bags of books taking up precious floor space, though! I've discovered a local teacher who is willing to take books off my hands, bless her - it pays to make friends at book signings in more ways than one. But I still kept plenty of newer titles, so be on the lookout for giveaways soon!


That's it for now! Watch for an explanatory post tomorrow about the Random Thoughts segment, and then the summer fun begins Sunday! :)

PROJECT P IS FINISHED

I interrupt my regularly scheduled review for an important announcement that explains one of the reasons I've been neglecting to post reviews this month:

Project P is finished.

I REPEAT: PROJECT P IS FINISHED.

That's right, I actually finished the first draft of Project P - and in a reasonable time (for me)! I couldn't find the exact date that Project P was born, but I estimate mid to late April of 2012. Therefore, I wrote it in about 15ish months.

That's a record for me, people.

And do you know what finishing Project P means???

No, not that I now have a First Draft to edit and polish and try to sell. Project P still needs so much intricate research done that at the moment I don't want to touch it with a ten-foot pole.

It means that I can start a new project.

And not just start a new project, but start it without guilt.

As most of you know, I get at least one new idea a week. But during Project P, I always felt guilty about working on the new idea when I should've been working on Project P. When I'd finally guilt myself into returning to Project P, it would feel more like a chore than a pleasant job, and I would have to take a break from all writing until the interest returned (which is one of the reasons completing it took so long). But I pushed through Project P with great determination, and now that it's finally finished, I can start a new project - without the guilt!

Needless to say, I AM ALL THE EXCITEMENT.

So what's the new project, you ask? Well, I am currently trying to decide between two candidates:

Project VIN - YA/NA Dystopian/Post-Apoc
I'm a firm believer that NA is a good idea, but not as an excuse to feed more smut to teens. Is it too much to ask for an action/adventure story about college-age characters? I think not! My story: 19yo girl struggles to protect and care for her brother during an alien invasion/war. It's rather epic, if I do say so myself, and I'm All The Flails about writing the first third of the story. I currently pitch it as War of the Worlds meets The Matrix.

Project IM - YA Utopian
Yep, you read that right - not dystopian, but utopian. I have actually come up with a "utopian" novel!!! (I think.) It was taking a backseat after I struggled with the opening scene, but I fleshed out the MC the other night, and then the sequel started plotting itself without my permission, and now it's seriously vying for my attention. I'd tell you the premise, but then I'd have to kill you, so I'll keep it to myself for now. ;)

So those are my choices! I've been poking them (and two other candidates I've already eliminated from the running) the past week while I finished Project P, and now that it's done I'm so excited to start something new I can't settle on one. They both feel like "The Story," so I think I'll start both and see which one elbows its way to the front of the line. ;)

Thank you to everyone here and on Twitter who encouraged me during my struggle with Project P - please stick with me for the new project as well! I'm hoping it'll be the one that finally propels me into the world of serious editing (my Achilles' heel) - and publishing. *crosses fingers*

And don't look at me like that. I will edit Project P...one day.

Currently...Bustling

It's time for another entry in my "Currently..." segment, in which I let you know what I'm currently up to on a number of highly important topics.

I AM CURRENTLY...

READING:

Novels:
Currently reading: Indelible by Dawn Metcalf. While the voice is a little too "unique" for my usual tastes, the story is highly original and the world extremely engrossing, so I'm devouring it and mourn when I cannot be reading.
Just finished: Insomnia by J.R. Johansson. Another highly engrossing and chilling story that I definitely recommend. I will be part of the blog tour for it, so be sure to watch for my post in early June! (here will be a giveaway. :)
Reading next: I normally don't know what I'll be reading next, but this time I do - Reboot by Amy Tintera! I've been dying to read this book. If Indelible wasn't so good, I would've stopped to read Reboot.

Manga: I actually haven't been reading much manga - I know, who am I and what have I done with Skye. I think I've discovered that I read manga when I'm sick, and as my health seems to have improved quite a bit as of late I'm not reading it as much. Actual books seem to take more brain power for me, whereas manga is more of a brainless activity. Still, I did hit a reading slump last week and re-read the Nightschool: The Weirn Books series. Svetlana is a genius - highly recommended.

WATCHING:

TV: Recently discovered the Australian Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries series! OMG I have fallen in love with it - it's classic PI stories but with a wildly independent and playful female detective and her lovable cast of assistants. If you adore classic PI stories and the roaring 20s, this is definitely worth trying. I'm also revisiting Batman Beyond, probably my favorite cartoon from when I used to spend every Saturday morning in front of the television. Took a little doing but I got my hands on Seasons 2 & 3 and now I seriously can't get enough.
Movies: I've been re-watching a lot of favorite movies in lieu of nothing better. In Time was my last one - such an interesting concept and so very well done.

WRITING:

Project P: Since my health has been better I've been doing more around the house and neglecting my writing. I know, bad Skye - believe me, I beat myself up about it every single day. But I do try to work on it when I can, and it is slowly but surely coming along.

LIFE, THE UNIVERSE, AND EVERYTHING ELSE:

Life: As mentioned above, for some unknown reason I have been having some really good weeks health-wise (could I be recovering...? Nah), so I'm being sure to not waste them! I've been spring cleaning my bedroom like crazy, spending time with newish friends (and authors - love you Katie West! ;) and I'm even volunteering at a school library next week! It'll be fun working in a library again. So for once in a long while, I'm keeping myself busy - and quite enjoying it.

Blogging: To fill the Friday void I have right now, I'm going to be starting up a regular Friday Review segment, where I go over what I'm reading and what happened on the blog that week. Keep an eye out for it!

Bookshelf: Of course I have added quite a bit, but I am also proud to announce that I got rid of a whole bag last weekend! My shelves were literally overflowing, so it was nice to make a little room for the new ones coming in. I've had a really good past few weeks though, so that extra space is all but gone now. ;}

That's it for me! What are you "currently" up to?

2nd Annual Book Fast: Results

The results are in! My 2nd Annual Book Fast last week went really well and I got a lot written, although I'm ashamed to say the project (and my stamina) did sort of die out in the end. Here's a breakdown of the week, and the words written:

SUNDAY
Required words: 1,000
Written words: 1,273
Notes: Felt good to get back into it! Took a little effort (I was definitely rusty), but I knew where I was going so it was relatively easy sailing.

MONDAY
Required words: 1,000
Written words: 1,209
Notes: Major action scene! No problem getting words and had to eventually stop myself past burnout.

TUESDAY
Required words: 500
Written words: 1,363
Notes: Major action scene, Part 2! Again, no trouble getting words - had to stop myself past burnout again.

WEDNESDAY
Required words: 1,000
Written words: 1,011
Notes: Fell into a slow spot and had trouble getting words written, but when it comes to Character D, I'm never at too much of a loss for content.

THURSDAY
Required words: 500
Written words: 0
Notes: Had a bad health day and allowed myself to take a break.

FRIDAY
Required words: 1,000
Written words: 722
Notes: Reached a point in the story that required quite a lot of research before I could continue. Did the research instead of writing the last few hundred words.

SATURDAY
Required words: 500
Written words: 0
Notes: Was too sick to do any one any good, including my writing. XP

Words required to be written the entire week: 5,500
Words written the entire week: 5,578

Overall this was definitely a good move for my writing. I was able to push through the end of the murky middle and almost to the peak of the story! After this next carefully crafted scene it will all begin to slide downhill, and although I'm not quite sure how it will go down, I'm looking forward to the ride.

Thank you to everyone for your support! Until next time...

2nd Annual Book Fast Begins! (& Blogging Updates)

Today begins my 2nd Annual Book Fast! *throws confetti* I've been itching to focus on my writing for a month now, so I'm definitely excited to get started. Let's do this! (What is this Book Fast? All the details can be found here.)

My writing schedule for the week:

Sunday: 1,000 words
Monday: 1,000 words
Tuesday: 500 words
Wednesday: 1,000 words
Thursday: 500 words
Friday: 1,000 words
Saturday: 500 words

Project I'll be working on: Project P

If any of you decided to join me this week, feel free to post below and let me know! If not, I can still use all the encouragement I can get, so any cheerleading and whatnot would be greatly appreciated this week, both below and on Twitter (@skyelyte). One day you will read a book of mine! And hopefully this mini-sprint will help me get there a little faster.

Never fear though, this project will not affect my normal blogging schedule. My review of Arclight by Josin L. McQuein goes live tomorrow - it's an awesome book and I definitely encourage you to check it out. I will also have posts for my regular memes, Waiting On Wednesday and Stacking the Shelves, as well as a Friday post of some kind. And prepare yourselves - next Wednesday is my 2nd Blogoversary! I am planning a box giveaway for my loyal Followers, so be sure to watch for it. :)

Now, let the writing begin!

Where in the World Wednesday

It's time for another installment of my writing meme: "Where in the World Wednesday"! Show us where your character is right now in your story, either from a broad view like France or a narrow view like the library on First Street. Wherever they are, blog a picture of the location - but don't feel the need to explain or even tell us where it is if you don't want to! The mystery is part of the fun. ;)

Today's location comes once more from Project P, and my MCs are currently here:

I bet there are some of you who recognize this location! (I just hope it has a bridge somewhere... :\)

So where in the world is your character this Wednesday? Blog a pic and comment below with the link!

Currently...Curious

Between yet more health problems, Nano ML responsibilities, and life in general, I've been totally swamped. But I finally give you another entry for my "Currently..." segment, in which I let you know what I'm currently up to on a number of highly important topics.

I AM CURRENTLY...

READING:

Novels: In the middle of The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories, which I've been looking forward to for a while. I usually don't like short story collections (at all, really), but I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one, and it really hasn't disappointed.
Manga: Have 5 volumes of Bakuman saved up (had to wait forever for Volume 12 from the library), and now I'm enjoying reading through them all at once. Each volume takes three to four times longer to read than regular manga, so they are always a treat. And they are such an inspiration for my writing resolve.

WATCHING:

TV: I was in need of a new old 1/2 hour comedy favorite, so of course I turned to The Addams Family. For drama, I finally, finally got my hands on Downton Abbey Season 2. As promised, it's even better than Season 1.
Movies: Watched Breakfast at Tiffany's again. I thought I remembered a bittersweet ending (i.e. she didn't end up with the guy), but she did so I was happily surprised. Only cried during the Cat alley scene, though.

Worth Mentioning: The Neighbors is my favorite new show this season! If you haven't seen it, DO - it's the funniest thing I've come across in a long time. I already plan to buy the DVD the day it's released.

WRITING:

Project P: Haven't made much progress until this week - just passed 7k for this month's Nano. I reached a point in my outline where I had nothing planned, so of course I threw them into a horribly dire situation I had absolutely no idea was going to happen until they got there. Always such fun. :) Yesterday had to re-do my timetable for the fourth time though, which took over 40 minutes of crazy math, but it was worth it. As long as it's now correct...I hope...
Project NB: I printed out what I have so far (39 pages) and re-read it. While a complete mess, the important bits are really good and I'd really love to finish it someday. It's literary fiction (with a supernatural-esque element), which is totally not what I normally write but I love it to bits.

NANOWRIMO:

Almost halfway through Nanowrimo 2012. Two of the three October programs went really well (one was a huge success, actually, to my surprise), and now I'm just trying to keep up with my duties. Luckily I've gained a helper this year (Shari is the bee's knees, guys, the bee's knees), so things haven't been as crazy as they could have been (considering I've been sick for most of my own November programs).

As for making 50k by December, I've given up all hope of winning. My record shall stand at 6 consecutive wins.

That's it for me. What are you "currently" up to?

Currently...Mediating

Another entry for my "Currently..." segment, in which I let you know what I'm currently up to on a number of highly important topics.

I AM CURRENTLY...

READING:

Novels: Shadowland by Meg Cabot, the first book in The Mediator series. I've been dealing with Restless Reading Syndrome again, but when I suddenly thought of them I got really excited - even though I've already read them twice. ;) I've been trying to get through Defiance by C.J. Redwine, but I've gotten to the point where I'm seething with frustration and don't want to pick it up anymore. No idea why, but it's the characters, for some reason.
Manga: xxxHolic series. It was time for another re-read. So good. Highly recommend.

WATCHING:

TV: Person of Interest Season 1. One of the best shows ever - can't wait for the 2nd Season to start later this month. Also Castle Season 4, the other best show ever. :) And for a little splash of comedy, Hot in Cleveland Season 2. Don't judge.
Movies: Just finished Mirror Mirror, which if you overlook the stupid beginning and ending (a Bollywood musical number to close, seriously?), it was pretty good. The set and costumes were amazing, and the mirror world and puppets were original and awesome.

WRITING:

Fell out of the habit of writing (so easy to do) and couldn't get back to it for several weeks. I literally forgot how, which was a little scary. But happily I'm back at it, and making some progress!

Project P: It is once more in play! I am halfway through Day 1 (the middle part is broken into 7 Days), and it's going well. Am currently at just over 31K. For the next scene I am researching New Museum and climbing gear. Spoilers. ;)
Project V: I have shelved it once again. So close, yet so far. One day, one day...

PLANNING:

Aside for a few snags, my Nano2012 East Valley Region planning is coming along nicely. I have several new programs lined up for October, including a Q&A panel (which I will be on, gulp) and a Story 101 workshop I'm putting together with two awesome local authors. Breaking down the basic elements of writing is hard (especially for three discovery writers), but hopefully we'll be able to pull it off well enough. I also have four local authors lined up for pep talks (they are so awesome, squeezing us into their super-busy schedules!), so we're in for a star-studded November. ;) Thank goodness I have 100 tiny plastic ninjas helping me, though, or I'd never get it all done in time!

That's it for me. What are you "currently" up to?