Ding Dong My Kindle is Dead

So, yesterday, I FINALLY finished the initial draft of edits for project Agent Revise & Resubmit.  These last two months of revision have been long and hard, with various interruptions and hair-pulling moments. So I can’t tell you how relieved I was to finally have the bulk of my efforts over with. Naturally, the first thing I did was contact a few beta readers in hopes of getting an outside take.

The second thing I did was look for my Kindle. Oh yes. I was oh-so-ready to enjoy one of the numerous books off my to-be-read list and get lost in somebody else’s story for a change. 

Alas, when I grabbed my kindle from its place on the bookshelf, I knew something was amiss. The screen was blocked on an audio book page I don’t remember opening and there was an overlaying message:

‘Collecting information.  May take a min.. Will restart when done.. Please wait..’

Those were- *sniff*- the last words my kindle ever uttered.

I tried CPR, mouth-to-mouth, and electric pads. 

Nothing.  

My kindle wouldn’t reboot, turn on, charge, or change screens. And the computer wouldn’t even register anything was plugged into the usb. 

She totally flatlined.

I put out a cry for help on facebook and thankfully, my dear friend Dianne Salerni advised me to call kindle 911.

After trying everything the tech support advisor asked me to do, he regretfully declared my kindle ‘dead on arrival’.  And told me I’d have to package her up and send her through the valley of the shadows of death, all the way back to the Amazon Returns Center.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Since this is apparently a battery-charging defect issue, Amazon is sending me a replacement kindle, free of charge:) So, as much as I’m going to miss my ole’ ereader (we really have been through so many great stories together), all is not lost!

Have you ever had a problem with your kindle or ereader? Was your provider as helpful as you’d hoped? (In my case, I was totally flabbergasted when he told me they’d be sending a replacement.)

Some Library Love

On Wednesdays, while I wait for my kids to get out of their judo lessons, I decided it would be easier and more economical to stop at the public library instead of going all the way home.  I mean, there’s internet access. And a decent children’s department with toys and little bean-bag chairs and enough books to keep my kids occupied in between driving around (with the added bonus that they keep their shoes on and their coats close and can no longer trash the house in the 30 minutes we’re home between lessons). In fact, all this place really needs is a coffee machine and it would make a great second residence. 

Maybe it’s the smell of these musty books (don’t you love that smell?), or the Halloween weather (my library used to host an annual haunted house) but I find myself thinking about the little town public library where I grew up. 

Unlike a lot of the bigger, more modern libraries in the surrounding districts, Aldrich Public Library first opened its doors in 1896 and, while the main Victorian-style building has undergone various paint-jobs and renovations, the truth is it hasn’t changed much in the last 116 years. 

I loved this library. The structure was so old, with sharp angles and shadowy corners and that lovely  smell of old books. In the summer, I’d participate in all the reading contests; devouring whole series of The Babysitter’s Club, Sweet Valley High, and RL Stine’s Goosebumps. 

And when I was thirteen-years-old, I began working there (for free). I shelved books, organized the catalogue and prepped newly received books for service for about two years until I was old enough for a real ‘paying’ job and started working at our local video store. 

Throughout all that time, the place totally gave me the creeps.  And I totally LOVED it. The best part of this creepy old library was the creepy old librarian.  Actually, she wasn’t that old, if memory serves. But she was petite and soft-spoken, and had that haunted, never see the sun or change with the times look (long, dark 60’s style hair, powdery pale skin)- like she had just stepped out of a Jane Austin novel and would be totally out of place outside the late 19th century library dwelling. 

So tell me peeps, what do you love best about your local library?  Is it different from the library of your childhood? Do you get to spend any time there? And for all my East Coast friends and followers, I hope you stay warm and safe during the monster storm ahead.

Goodreads- Star Ratings and/or Reviews. How Do You Decide?

So, this morning I got one of my weekly Goodreads update emails. I love these because I can see what my friends are reading and reviewing.  Oh, and it reminds me to update my own books as well.


Needless to say, I subsequently scanned through my ‘to-read’ pile. I read four books off my list and two that were not on my list while on vacation this summer and it was time to rate and move them to the ‘read’ pile.


I say rate.


 Not review. 


Why? 


I love reviews. I don’t know where I’d be without them and I love reading other people’s takes on the books I’ve read. But the truth is, most often than not, everything I could say about a book has already been said and I just figure my star rating signifies that I support the points and opinions of reviewers who gave the same rating.


However, I will do a written review on some occasions.


If the book or the author isn’t well known and their work took me by surprise.
If a book makes it to my ‘favorite book/series/author of all time’ pile.
If there aren’t a lot of reviews already and I really enjoyed the work.


What is your personal review policy? Do you do a written review for every book you read? What about books that don’t float your boat? Do you stick with the star rating or do you explain why? 


What about some of my author friends out there who have books up on Goodreads? Do you prefer readers to write a review of your book, or are you satisfied with just the star rating? If someone puts a two or three star rating- do you wish they’d write a review to support it?

Chicken Pox Helps You Read...

So, my middle child came home from school Monday with chicken pox.  

Yay. *cue false cheer and mini fist-pump*. 

With current-day vaccinations and fading childhood recollection, I had near forgotten about this wonderful spot-casting illness. That is, until my six-year-old informed me that she had ‘pimples’ on her stomach and under her armpitsL

The doctor told me to expect my other children to start turning spotty sometime this week as well. Lovely! The only highlight of the situation is that I've downloaded a few books onto my kindle in order to pass the time taken off work to watch over my contagious kid.

Hex Hall book 3- Spellbound. I thoroughly enjoyed this entire series. Sophie’s snarky and quick-witted humor keeps us smiling and rooting for her throughout family revelations, boy troubles, demon attacks and encounters with evil headmistresses.

Junk Miles by Liz Reinhardt was a fast-paced read.  Still love her characters, emotion, romantic tension, and love-triangles. I would have finished it in one sitting if I didn’t have to, you know, sleep and eat and make sure the household doesn’t fall apart.

I’m currently reading Wicked Game by Jeri Smith Ready. I became a fan of hers after reading the first two instalments in her ‘Shift’ series so I decided to give her adult urban fantasy a try- especially after reading the endorsement from Charlaine Harris.  The first couple chapters were a little slow going but now that I’m half-way through, I am not disappointed in where things are headedJ  

What are you guys currently reading? Any recommendations for a woman in quarantine?

In an Agent's Shoes

It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that the manuscript we’ve so carefully crafted, re-read, re-written, re-thought, and spent so much time, love, effort, sweat, and tears on goes right from our loving embrace and...

...straight into an agent’s never-ending slush pile.

 -Where we know it will sit in line with hundreds of other manuscripts and risk being avoided, skipped over, or skimmed through if the literary gods look not upon us and the circumstances aren’t in our favor.

It stinks. BUT, I have to say, these last few months— with ebook prices going down and the many many many authors coming out of the woodwork with promotions for their self-pubbed books, my kindle has definitely gotten a little crowded.

My expectations have also gotten higher.

And my attention span has gotten shorter.

And the number of books I actually read all the way through has diminished shamefully.

In the last few months alone I have started five different books and only gotten about a third of the way through four of them before becoming disappointed or disinterested. A year ago this would have been unheard of in katieland!

But it made me realize, if I get overwhelmed just logging through the lists of recently published books and have a hard time getting through stories I’ve paid money for, how hard must it be for an agent to find time and attention for all the pitches that pass through their inbox?

It’s true that agents and editors might let some good stuff slip through their fingers.

But in a perfect world, agents and editors must be pretty amazing creatures- with a love for words and a thirst for stories so profound that they’re able to give every single pitch their full attention and read through chapters of non-client books with a keen eye and an open mind.

I, in any case, would obviously make a pretty crummy slush reader. But it’s reassuring to think that, in a perfect world (I emphasize), the people reading slush are a lot more attentive, patient and open minded than myself.

Do you think YOU could deal with a slush pile objectively?

**I want to thank you all so much for your kind words, thoughts and prayers on Monday’s post. And a special thank you to those who have contacted me by email and shared their own heart-breaking stories. It’s going to be a tough time for awhile but I know I’m not alone in my experience or my grief and that my family and I will be okay so thank you.**

What is Your Favorite Series?

Bottom line is :  A stomach flu is circulating the Creepy household.  The house itself needs an in-depth visit from the cleaning fairies.  Real job is losing it’s flavor and I’ve got brainstorming to do in order to prepare for another round of KISSING FOR COFFEE revisions. 

I need a break from life. 

And nothing spells ‘escape’ better than ‘SERIES’!  (okay,yeah, I know the word ‘series’ doesn’t really spell ‘escape’ at all.  Just work with me here a minute)

For me, there is nothing better than discovering a love for a first book in a series and knowing that there are at least two or three more books following my new favorite characters.  So far in 2011 I discovered and devoured the Sookie Stackhouse and Mercy Thompson series- hours and hours of sinfully delightful plotlines and personalities that totally saved me from having a meltdown.  After all- when compared to being targeted by murderous vampires or beaten down by evil fairies- a trip to the grocery store with the kids in toe just doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

So here I am looking for suggestions. Please tell me- What is your absolutely favorite book series- one that you could read over and over again?  I’m up for anything!

Oh, You Never Forget Your First...

Book, that is.  (Ya, get your minds out of the gutter people) No, I’m not talking about your favorite picture book your parents used to read to you at night.  I’m talking about the first book you ever read because you wanted to and not because it was part of the curriculum. 

 The book that seemed to spring straight out of your daydreams and bring you on the perfect adventure.  

The book that was so good you stole it from your elementary school library in fourth grade only to stumble upon it in an old box at your parent’s house twenty some odd years later.

Or maybe that’s just me.

In my case, this book was ‘Into The Dream’ by William Sleator.  For years I remembered the plot line like the back of my hand but the title constantly eluded me.  Until some serious Googling finally bore fruit (woah-that phrase wouldn’t have made any sense ten years ago). 

Here’s the back blurb:

‘Every night Paul has the same frightening dream. He’s standing at the edge of a vast empty field, trying to move toward a large, glowing sphere.  A small boy is in terrible trouble…and Paul must save him.  Paul’s convinced he’s losing his mind—until he learns that his classmate Francine is having the same harrowing dream!  The two of them are determined to solve the mystery and save the little boy—before their night-mare becomes a terrifying reality.’

I’m going to order myself a new copy of this.  I haven’t read it since fifth grade but from the reviews, it sounds like it’s just as good as the kids from my generation remember and I find it funny that even as a ten year old, my tastes for paranormal were already well defined.)

Does anyone else have a book that stuck with them from a young age and reflects the kind of writer they’ve become?  

Confessions From a 'Hunger Games' Virgin

It took me a long time to finally succumb to buying ‘The Hunger Games’ by Suzanne Collins for several reasons.

I’m not a huge fan of terror, suspense, violence, or gore.  If I’m completely honest, I don’t like intense drama either.  It’s not that I’m shallow (well, for the most part).  It’s just that, with an imagination like mine, it’s in my best interest (and my family’s) that I stay away from that sort of thing. 

I know it’s not real.  My husband tells me over and over whenever he gets me to reluctantly sit down in front of a violent movie. 

But to me, it could be real.       

                    

I can’t stand gore movies that involve torture and kidnapping or rape.  It might not be really happening behind the screen, but I can’t help thinking that somewhere it is happening, has happened, will happen again.  And that thought alone kills my enjoyment and I end up finding the whole act of sitting down to watch a simulation of the worst our society has to offer….a bit warped.  Ok, very warped.

In most cases, I end up covering my ears.  Don't ask me why.   In tense situations, it’s just my first instinct - whether it’s a suspenseful scene in a movie, or the rival football team is about to score a goal on ours, or our car comes close to being sideswiped (which, driving in France- happens quite often).  My hands just rush to cover my ears like that alone will change the direction of things.

During all of the above, my husband has to turn towards me and ask “Why do you do that!!??”  Otherwise, I don’t realize I’m doing it and my hands will stay up for however long until I calm down.

After watching the ‘Sixth Sense’ I saw dead people everywhere.  Not really, but I imagined what it would be like to see them in the minutest detail until my whole body would quake in fear.  Dead girl in the headlights.  Dead old lady in the back seat who smells like cigarette smoke.  Dead guy behind the shower curtain about to push his face against it; his mouth in the form of a terrible ‘O’ (are you getting my drift here?). 

And when I read or watch a movie that’s too emotionally charged, I replay it over and over in my mind, trying to find a way out for the poor tragic fools who ended up dead or separated.  “Revolutionary Road” had me depressed for days.  Ok, fine, weeks.

So, when I read the premise for ‘The Hunger Games’, I was reluctant.  A future where kids ages 12-18 are thrown into hostile territory to battle it to the death? Yuck!

But, no matter where I looked, someone was talking about the book.   I started to wonder if I wasn’t just being a big baby.  SO, I finally gave in and ordered it.   Even when it came in, I read the first page and put it down. 

Poor hungry dirty people…A little girl with an ugly cat…Food shortages…something called a reaping? Like the grim reaper?.  I could feel the dark grey tension clawing at my gut from the word ‘go’.  So I put it down thinking “Um.  Nah.  I’m not really in the mood for this right now.  I want to float on a cloud of happiness and glee.  Lemme go see if Meg Cabot has anything new…”

But Saturday I broke down and read the whole thing, finishing it yesterday.  By the second page I was hooked and by the 2oth page I was completely emotionally involved.  That said, it made me think about how a writer can pull you in and make you read even if you aren’t thrilled about what’s happening.

 I simply couldn’t. put. it. down.

That’s not to say it became my favorite book ever.  There were a few things that threw me.  First of all, I couldn’t pronounce her name in my head.  Between the ‘Catnip’ and ‘Katniss’, it always ended up ‘Katsip’ when I saw the word.  Like ‘would you like some ‘Katsip’ on your hotdog?’

And there were lots of long passages where we’re stuck in her frantic-survival-mode mind that kept reiterating the same things.  Over and over again. Every chapter.  I found myself skipping over those after a while to get to the good stuff.

I often hear of an agent taking on a client because of the story they tell and not necessarily the brilliance of their writing.  And now I realize that it can also work in the opposite way.  A story expertly told can hold you in its grip even if you don’t necessarily want to see it through for whatever reason.  In any case Suzanne Collins spun a wonderful web and despite my prior hang ups, I was caught up from start to finish. 

Now, I can hold my head high and face the world knowing I am no longer a ‘Hunger Games Virgin’.

Ever any books you were reluctant to read but ended up thoroughly enjoying?

**CONTEST ALERT**

Note to Self is giving away copies of the 'Hunger Games' trilogy, including 'Mockingjay'!- contest ends Aug 24th

Angels and Demons and Portals, Oh my! is giving away a pre-ordered copy of 'Mockingjay'.

Carolina from 'Carol's Prints' is having an amazing '10 ARC Giveaway Contest'

Sarah McGlung from 'Babbling Flow' is giving away signed copies of 'Shiver' & 'Linger'

For Me, It's Romance

I love YA.  I write YA.  But if there was another genre for me, I think it would be Romance.  

Actually my current wip is YA romantic-chicklit and I’m just loving working with the elements.

 

When I was 16, I found my mother’s ‘Harlequin’ series buried in her bookshelf.  With the exception of one book ‘Desperado’ (not Diana Palmer but an older book with the same title), the books nor the genre managed to keep my attention for very long….hmn.  I wonder why.  Big difference ten years later, when the kids start accumulating and the marriage anniversaries fly by. 

Suddenly the Romance genre takes on a whole. new. appeal.

And so, like I always do when I find a genre or an author I really like - I binged.

Big time. 

And in my experience, I discovered three different kinds of Romance:

1.       The cute, funny, witty, lighthearted stuff that makes me smile.

2.       The kind with heartbreaking or intriguing back story that gets me totally involved with the characters individually before they get together.

3.       The kind whose characters share an ever elusive deep-rooted love (you know, the eyes shining, tightness in the chest kinda thing) that makes me look over at my husband on the couch as we’re stuffing popcorn and feel as though our marriage is suddenly inadequate.  I try and stay away from those now.

Rachel Gibson got me hooked on number one and after her I just searched out other authors with the same contemporary genre.  Susan E. Phillips got me hooked on the second.  Deborah Simmons got me hooked on the third with her ‘Devil’s Lady’ – which is an older book but well worth the read.

And then there were what I refer to as the ‘J’authors:

Julie Garwood

Jude Deveraux

Johanna Lindsey

Judith McNaught

Seriously- why do so many romance author’s names begin with ‘J’?  In any case, they’re all awesome in their own way.

It’s true, once you read enough romance, the plot lines do start to meld together, but then something will come along and completely knock you off your feet.  For me, this was Lisa Kleypas’- ‘Sugar Daddy’. A perfect mix of the three kinds listed above and totally original.  If you haven’t read it.  Do.

And it’s books like this that keep me hooked in.  I will be a Romance Reader (and maybe even a romance writer) for the remainder of my days.

What is your ‘other’ genre?