The reason for my absence. . .an addiction

So I have a confession to make. I am addicted to unpublished fiction. It's true and that is why I have been so absent lately. Instead of reading the published novels that have been on my TBR shelf forever, I am reading talented writers' unpublished fiction. So please feel free to throw tomatoes, water balloons, and such because I know I deserve it!!

But on another note, now that I have admitted my addiction, I can now begin my road to recovery and go back to the world of published, bound books. So I will be back tomorrow with a review and will be back to regularly publishing.

In order for this post not to be completely pointless I wanted to share some really great sites where you can read and post unpublished fiction. There are the sites I go to. They all have huge communities where you will be sure to get great feedback if you're a writer or read awesome stories if your a reader. So here they are...

Fiction Press - This site is by the same creators of FanFiction.net. It has seperate sections for both Poetry and Fiction and is then sorted by Genre, Length, Language, Age Rating, and Status (complete or incomplete). It offers communities for writers to join together and discuss all things writing. Fiction Press also offers a section for betas, people who will help you edit your writing before posting it to the site. Fans can review, subscribe to you or your writing, or add you or your writing to their favs. Its a really large community that you should check out.

Ink Pop - This is a community run by Harper Teen Publishing. It allows you to add/be added to "My Picks". Writings on the most pick lists have a higher rating. After a month (I think) the top 5 picks are read by the editorial board. How cool is that? You can sort you postings by Format (book, short story, memior, poem), Genre, and by Rating. The also offer chats with real authors and publishers, that can give you great advice on becoming a better writer and the process of getting published. There are also contests and a great community forum to talk with fellow writers and readers. This site also allows you to add your own "book cover" to your postings which is pretty cool.

WattPad - I just recently discovered this community so I'm not really familiar with it so feel free to add some incite if you use it. The coolest thing about this site is the FREE app available on iPhone, iPod Touch, Android, Black Berry, and other mobile devices. Via this app you can read and post on the go. Here's what the site had to say about itself,

Founded in 2006, Wattpad's vision is to revolutionize the way we publish and read written works. Wattpad is now the world's most popular ebook community where readers and writers discover, share and connect, delivering billions of pages from our library, one of the world's largest collection of originally-created ebooks. Wattpad provides a powerful creative outlet and social media for undiscovered and published writers to share what they have written - a romance story, fan fiction, poetry or novel - and attract millions of readers. All the written works are easily discovered on Wattpad's website, mobile site or through the Wattpad application available on all mobile devices including Apple iPhone/iPad, Android, BlackBerry, Nokia, Samsung and more.

So be sure to check out these sites whether you're a writer or a reader. If you decide to join the community, check out my profiles on each site and send me a message! FictionPress  InkPop  WattPad

Blog Tour: I Now Pronounce You Someone Else

Hey Guys! I know it's been forever but I'm going to make it up to you. Today I am the first stop on Erin McCahan's I Now Pronounce You Someone Else Blog Tour! You can check out my raving review here. Here's a little snippet:

"McCahan’s writing style was absolutely not what I was expecting – in a good way. It was sophisticated and not some teeny-bopper “let’s gush over Justin Beiber” crap. I think Bronwen’s age (17-18) had a lot to do with it as well. But I felt like it was something a high schooler or even college student would absolutely enjoy and relate with."

Sounds awesome right? Well here is the best part... I'm giving away a copy of this amazing book!
The Rules:

• You must be 13 years of age or older
• You must be a resident of the US (or know someone in the US that will ship it to you)
• You must Fill Out This Form! comments will not count as entries
• You must enter by September 30th at 11:59 PM EST
• Note: your email address will not be used for any purpose than to contact you if you win, and will not be shared. 
• Winner will be posted on the blog by October 3rd, winner will be emailed and have 1 week to respond.

Also I have something else that is equally wonderful. You can read the first chapter of INPYSE!!

CLICK HERE!

Check Out the other stops on the tour:

9/17 Marjolein’s Book Blog

Mode A La Pie

9/18 Reading Vacation

9/19 I Read to Relax

9/20 Novel Novice

9/21 In Bed With Books

9/22 The Heart of Dreams

CURLGURL Reads

9/23 Pirate Penguin’s Reads
Reading, Writing and Waiting

9/24 DeRaps Reads

9/25 The Bookologist 

9/26 Katie's Book Blog

9/27 Pure Imagination

Book Blather

9/28 Reading Teen

9/29 Korianne Speaks 

Hope’s Bookshelf

9/30 Laina Has Too Much Spare Time

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Bronwen Oliver was switched at birth. Well not really she just likes to think she was. It seems logical. She does not have her mother’s blonde hair or her love of ketchup. She doesn’t have a serious case of craziness like her extended family. She doesn’t even have the same teeth! So as almost-a-senior Bronwen tries to define herself and find a place to fit in, her life is completely changed over a simple cup of coffee. Bronwen meets Jared, a long lost friend of her brother’s and completely perfect in everyway. So she thinks. Jared finally gives her a place to belong, a family that accepts her for who she is and would never even think of handing her a ketchup bottle (she loathes the stuff). But as things start falling out of control Bronwen must decide if this is who she really is or if she is changing into a person people expect her to be.

So I want to apologize that this is going to be more “Ode to Realistic Fiction” than an all out analysis of the book (Though I’ll try to include some of that too!). This is the first realistic fiction I have read in a very, very long time. So this was a blind leap of faith, tackling this book. Anyway enjoy the review…

The Good: INPYSE was such a refreshing, welcome change to paranormal/fantasy. And Bronwen was so hilarious! I mean how can someone have such an aversion to ketchup? She really drove the book and made it keep with a good pace that you didn’t get bored in. McCahan’s writing style was absolutely not what I was expecting – in a good way. It was sophisticated and not some teeny-bopper “let’s gush over Justin Beiber” crap. I think Bronwen’s age (17-18) had a lot to do with it as well. But I felt like it was something a high schooler or even college student would absolutely enjoy and relate with. Jared is also the most romantic guy ever and the romance in this book is incredible! You have many heart-squeezing, all-tooth-smiles to look forward to. Overall this novel was funny and refreshing and a welcome change from the deep twisted world of paranormal. It even inspired me to vow to read more realistic fiction, which I’m hoping all of you will keep me accountable for.

The Bad: As a very uncreative person, creativity really astounds and impresses me. I love when all the crazy details and twists all fit together to make a totally plausible story. Realistic fiction in general, I feel, lacks creativity. And I know I’m not being fair when I compare INPYSE to big paranormal titles like Twilight and The Mortal Instruments series but something about all the attention to little details impresses me. So this is probably why I prefer the supernatural genre to the realistic fiction. That said, this book brought a well needed kick to my behind telling me to wake up and smell the….realistic fiction? Anyway the only complaint I had with this book was the issue Bronwen has to deal with (sorry for the vagueness, trying to keep it spoiler free) was a little hard to relate with. I think we all deal with trying to define ourselves but not all of us have a situation that is forcing us to change.

The Ugly Updates: This is Erin McCahan's debut novel. It is available for purchase. Check out McCahan's website, blog, and facebook.
On September 16, a week from today, I will be part of Erin McCahan's blog tour! So please check back for either a guest post or interview and a chance to win a copy of I Now Pronounce You Someone Else!

Rating: B+

Review copy received from publisher.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Tessa, a young lady traveling to Victorian England, has no one left. Her parents both died when she was young. Her aunt just recently passed away and her brother, Nate, has been in London, working and has just sent her a ticket to meet him. But when Tessa arrives things are not how they should be. Her brother is not there to meet her. Instead two strange ladies meet her insisting her brother sent them, but Tessa is wary. With good reason too. The Dark Sisters are holding her against her will, threatening to harm her brother if she disobeys them and also forcing her to confront a power deep within. After six weeks of strange, monotone servants and dark musty basements, a mysterious stranger appears in her room claiming to be her to rescue her, but it seems much too like her romance novels to be concrete. Tessa is thrust into a world of Shadowhunters, demons, and fighting, betrayal, regret and self-discovery. She must learn to cope with her new found power in order to save her brother from enemies she’s only heard about in nightmares.

The Good: Clare’s writing is just beautiful. It is so sophisticated and a pleasure to read. I think she could make gibberish readable. Tessa was also such a strong heroine, which I love. She had an appropriate amount of sadness and despair without being whiney and annoying. She really drove the book. Will is so much like Jace. They really could be twins in personality. He’s cocky, arrogant, and aloof. But he provides a dynamic that is funny and angering at the same time. I really loved the setting of this novel, which is not something you hear very often. But it was so interesting to learn about and I really love this time period. I sometimes wish I could go back in time to that period and go to balls and dinner parties and have to ride in carriages. So naturally reading about all of this stuff made my day.

I had very high expectations of this book. Lately I have been comparing books to The Mortal Instruments and how perfectly all the details fit together and how really great books are kind of average compared to The Mortal Instruments. So I am really sorry to say that I was not impressed with Clockwork Angel.

The Bad: First, Clare’s descriptions are wonderful but at times they are just too long. They drag on and I sometimes felt myself drifting away from the story because of them. There were also many similarities to The Mortal Instruments, which left me kind of upset. I was really expecting sometime very different from the other series. It was also predictable, unfortunately. Overall, I really wanted to adore this book but I was disappointingly disappointed. And just for the record I will be reading Clockwork Prince & Princess. I love Clare too much not too! 

Ugly Updates: Clare has written The Mortal Instruments series including; City of Bones, City of Ashes, & City of Glass. Also recently announced there will be The Mortal Instruments Cycle 2 including;  City of Fallen Angels, City of Lost Souls, & City of Heavenly Fire. Set to be released April 5 2011, May 2012, & September 2013 respectively. Clockwork Prince, book 2 in the Infernal Devices trilogy, is set to be published September 2011 and Clockwork Princess, November 2012.
Check out Clare's Website, Facebook, Twitter, & Google Groups (One & Two). I use the google group it is a good way to get  up to date info on the books and discuss all things Mortal Instruments as well as other book/movie/music related things. Subscribe the first if you want just important notices from Clare. Join the second if you want to hear what everyone is talking about. Clare is also very good about getting back to questions you post on her Twitter so ask away.
Also for the countdown to all the books listed above check out the amazing widget at the very bottom of my blog.
(Books link to Goodreads)

Rating: B- 

ARC received from publisher.

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

This is book two in the series. Read my review for Lament by Maggie Stiefvater.

After a summer of hell, filled with faeries, almost death, and an awkward text, James is headed off to Thornking-Ash, a prestigious musical school that also seems to be aware of the strange world of faeries. As James struggles with his unrequited love for his best friend Dee and being an outcast in a school of outcasts, he must avoid the strange music he hears every night, calling him. When a mysterious girl shows up asking for James’s talent he begins to approach a line he hoped to never come across again. The line between humans and faeries. As Nuala grows closer to James she has to make a choice that will irrevocably change her and James’s lives.

The Good: Maggie Stiefvater is such a genius. Her characters are so dynamic. I loved James especially and his point of view was very interesting. I dubbed it “The Jacob”, in other words the best friend that doesn’t get chosen in the romance department. I loved learning about the bagpipes and was amused with his hand-writing fetish and large vocab. Dee, though not a large character in Ballad, had unsent text messages to James about things happening to her. This was a unique way to get another side of the story and to clue in the reader but not the main character. Ballad was very well written. Stiefvater has this was of making the world of her books seem so real and believable. Its such a reality check when I remember faeries aren’t real. And Ballad gives me hope that Stiefvater can write books that don’t make me bawl and that Forever will be happy. But it still seems unlikely.

The Bad: Ballad started out a little slow. Till about halfway through the book I just wasn’t very into the book. I found it hard to really get into and relate to the characters. This may just have been a weird time in my week. It felt like I was just kind of watching a tv show and not really paying attention. But I still recognize that Maggie is a fantastic writer and would recommend this book to fans of her. 

Ugly Updates:  Stiefvater has written another series, The Wolves of Mercy Falls. Shiver and Linger are published. The conclusion, Forever, comes out July 2011 . Visit Stiefvater's website for more info about her and her books. She also has a mailing list and a blog with up to date info on all of her books.
(Book links to Amazon)

Rating: B (Thanks Angela!)