SPOTTED: Leah Cypess & Mistwood

Hi guys! Today, I'm with the awesome author of Mistwood, Leah Cypess! I've taken this chance to ask her about her writing, as well as about her upcoming debut novel.

What inspired you to write Mistwood?

The idea for the first scene came into my head, and it all just flowed from there.

What is your purpose in writing Mistwood?

I don't know if I had a "purpose," other than to write a good book!

What lessons will the readers pick up from your novel?

That's up to the reader. :)

What do you like about Shapeshifters?

I love animals, and I love the idea of being able to turn into different types of animals, to experience the world in non-human ways and to use abilities that ordinary people don't have.

So, here in my country, people believe that we have shapeshifters in the far provinces. They turn into dog-like creatures or sometimes, cats. And some claim that they become half-animal and half-human. Do you have a shapeshifter belief in your place/country that you can share?

Wow! That's fascinating; I'd love to find out more about that. I live in the northeast United States, where the most popular type of shapeshifter seems to be werewolves -- at least, for people to read about; I don't know how many people actually believe in them.

What was it like writing how your character changes form?

It was definitely challenging! On the first round, I just relied on my instincts and imagination. Later I did research into specific animal senses and abilities.
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Favorites:

Favorite book?

I have so many favorite books that I feel like every time someone asks me this question, I give a different answer! But today I'll go with The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner.

Favorite author?

Same as above... but to pick one: Connie Willis.

Favorite movie?

The Last Unicorn. (This one, there's no question about!)

Favorite among the characters of your novel and why?

Isabel is my favorite, because she's the character I started with, and the character whose actions and decisions are most crucial to the book. I also like to think that she's a very unique character.

Favorite scene in Mistwood?

I think the very last scene is probably my favorite.
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Was there a part of the novel that was hard to write?

There are two scenes in the beginning, one in the practice yard and one on a riding trip, that were added late in the revision process. They were hard because I had to both figure out that they needed to be there, and then write them, in a very short time period, which is not the way I usually work.

Did you include any personal experiences in the novel? Or was there a part of the novel that was inspired from your personal experience?
I am aware that much of the characterization of anything I write is probably inspired by my personal experience, or by my own reactions to the experiences of close friends and family. I try not to do too much psychoanalysis of my books, though! On a more mundane level, I did some fencing in college, which helped with the swordfighting scenes.

How does your mood affect your writing?

Usually I write when I'm in a fairly positive mood. If I'm very sad, I usually can't write at all. If I'm very angry, it's a toss-up -- some times I can't write at all, sometimes I just pour words onto the page.

Is it important that you are in an ambience that you like when you write? If yes, why?

Fortunately not! I wrote most of Mistwood on the subway; did the bulk of my pre-submission revisions in a hotel lobby in Rochester, Minnesota; and did most of my editor-guided revisions while at a playground watching my daughter. So I'm flexible.

Do you listen to music when you write? Do you have a specific song in mind?

I never listen to music when I write. I sometimes listen when I revise, but I have no specific song.

Do you write continuously or do you take breaks?

I let myself be guided by how the writing is going. When I start slowing down and can't think of what comes next, I usually take a break.

What are you working on now?

I'm working with my editor on a companion novel to Mistwood, and working on my own on a few other new projects.

What tips can you give to aspiring writers (like me)?

I recently saw this quote on Mandy Hubbard's blog: "A published author is an amateur who didn't quit. Don't quit." I think that's the best advice I can give! I would also suggest that you pace yourself in your writing development... first find your own voice and style, then find a critique group to polish it, and only then should you start worrying about publication.

What would you like to say to the people who have read Mistwood or have included your novel in their wishlists and/or to-be-read piles?

THANK YOU!

Thank you for dropping by Leah!
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Mistwood will be available in bookstores on April 27, 2010!

The Shifter is an immortal creature bound by an ancient spell to protect the kings of Samorna. When the realm is peaceful, she retreats to the Mistwod.


But when she is needed she always comes.

Isabel remembers nothing. Nothing before the prince rode into her forest to take her back to the castle. Nothing about who she is supposed to be, or the powers she is supposed to have.

Prince Rokan needs Isabel to be his Shifter. He needs her ability to shift to animal form, to wind, to mist. He needs her lethal speed and superhuman strength. And he needs her loyalty--because without it, she may be his greatest threat.

Isabel knows that her prince is lying to her, but she can't help wanting to protect him from the dangers and intrigues of the court . . . until a deadly truth shatters the bond between them.

Now Isabel faces a choice that threatens her loyalty, her heart . . . and everything she thought she knew.
 
If you're interested, you can watch the trailer below.
 

Writing on Tuesday: Lauren Kate on Curiosity

Hi guys! For Writing on Tuesday this week, Lauren Kate, the author of Fallen and the upcoming Torment, will be talking about curiosity.
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A few months ago, I went to visit my parents at the house where I grew up in Texas. My mom, in mom her way, likes to make use of my presence to clean out closets.


“Can we throw out these softball trophies?”

“What about these old dance recital costumes?”

“You’re never going to wear these shoes again are you?”

And on it goes. If Mom and I fill up a garbage bag to take to goodwill, the day has been a success. This last trip, she was going through my old dresser, tossing things into the trash with reckless abandon—until we came across an old sketchbook buried in the recesses of a drawer.

“What is that?” my mom asked, when I leapt up to save the sketchbook from its date with the trashcan. I recognized it immediately. I’d filled it up on a road trip my family took to Colorado in the summer of 1994. The binding was split and a few of the pages were loose, but otherwise, it was still in good shape. Once glance at its rough maroon cover brought back a flood of memories.

It was the summer between seventh and eighth grade. My family rolled in a dark green Ford Aerostar minivan back then. Baby-tees and colored jean shorts were all any one I knew was wearing. I remember I had this one baby-tee with a bar code across the chest. (Why??) That whole trip I could not be separated from my discman, which would have been blasting either Ace of Base and or the Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dream Coat soundtrack. We drove fourteen hours from Dallas to Boulder with my brother throwing things at me from the back bench of the minivan.

And I wrote it all down.

I’d documented everything we ate on our vacation. Every restaurant name, every dish that every member of my family ordered, every meal of every day. I wrote down everything we wore (yes, the baby-tee with the bar code made a few appearances). I wrote down the weather and what the stars looked like each night and jokes my brother told. I drew floor plans of the little cabin we rented. I drew the escape route we took when we filled the cabin with smoke using the wrong kind of wood to make a fire. I had a page for funny bumper-stickers I saw on cars we passed along the highway. I made notes of what each of my friends were doing the two weeks I was out of town.

It was a time capsule of that summer—but it was more than that.

People ask me all the time when I first knew I was going to be a writer. I don’t think I knew it then. A lot of kids keep diaries. But flipping open this book fifteen years after I’d filled it, I could see it. My attention to detail was pretty intense. I guess I was either going to be a novelist or a detective.

People also ask me if I have any advice for aspiring writers. I don’t think that being a writer means you have to fill a sketch book with every meal every person in your family ever eats, but I do think there’s value in taking note of the things that are happening around you. There’s value in finding something interesting in even the most mundane details of life. Because somewhere, there’s a story in them. Someday, you’ll lose the sketchbook, but the sense of curiosity will be rooted deep inside you. More than anything else, curiosity is what keeps me writing today.

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Thanks Lauren for taking the time to share about this! :)

If you haven't picked up Fallen, better do it soon! Torment, the sequel, will be released this October!

Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Summary (from Goodreads):

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

My Thoughts:

I'm a bit judgmental when it comes to covers. I'm sorry! I couldn't help it. But I'm really glad that I tried reading VA because it was great. It was one of the best books ever written.

With a sexy body worthy of worshipping, a recklessness that gets her in trouble and a sense of loyalty and responsibility in guarding Lissa, Rose lives on in the Academy. She’s the modern paranormal heroine who pretty much raises the level of a female in a traditional society. She reminded me a bit of Lara Croft, in the sense that she’s a bombshell who can kick ass.

One of the things that I liked about VA is the classification. Vampires in this novel aren't simply classified as good or bad. The Moroi are element-wielding vampires, the ones that have the blood of royals. The Dhampir are half-humans, half-vampires, and the race of guardians who are fiercely dedicated to protecting the Moroi against the Strigoi - the evil immortal vampires who thirst for the blood of the Moroi. The history behind the story of VA was so rich. And the twist that flabbergasted and pleased me was this: vampires can go to church. Really! I didn’t expect this. Not one bit. It was nice that Mead established a connection between God and beings that we so often associate with the devil. Another thing is the humor. Sure, I love novels that dwell on the romantic theme. But I also love novels that make me laugh. This one is one of those. Rose Hathaway never fails to make me laugh with her retorts, sarcasm and her thoughts.

Vampire Academy is in a school setting with a paranormal theme. It mirrors the reality within the four-walled classroom. There are popular kids. There are rumors. There is tension. Power is wielded to manipulate in attempts to secure image and at the same time, to make people payback. Words are powerful. They are sharp, carelessly thrown and passed around, the student way. Some of the characters also reflected modern day personas of some students such as the social climbers, the power hungry, the misunderstood and the in-control. I really liked how the characters of VA were really well-developed.

All in all, Vampire Academy is a smoothly written novel. With an amazing plot and a cast of well-developed characters, Mead pulls readers in her vampiric world of power, danger, lust and love. However, there were times that I found it easy to put down the book. But I was really amazed with Mead! Not many authors can write a novel that succeeds both in the plot and the character development.

Rating:

Penitence Kick Off Contest

Jennifer Laurens is having another Penitence Kick Off Contest

in celebration for the upcoming release of Penitence!

Up for grabs: Heavenly,

an ARC of Penitence,

black and white angel tee

and a Heavenly notebook.

Fast Forward Monday (7)

Fast Forward Monday is a Meme that I will be starting in Fragments of Life. It features books that will be released in the next three months.

My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3) by Rachel Vincent

Release Date: June 1, 2010

Book Description:

WHEN KAYLEE CAVANAUGH SCREAMS, SOMEONE DIES

AND KAYLEE IS ABOUT TO SCREAM HER HEAD OFF...

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.

Until something does.

Demon’s breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow, the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And when the epidemic hits too close to home, Kaylee will have to risk everything to save those she loves.

Deathday Letter by Shaun David Hutchinson
Release Date: June 15, 2010

Book Description:

All fifteen year-old Oliver Travers wanted to do when he woke up Thursday morning was squeeze in a little underwear gymnastics before school, until his mom called him downstairs to tell him he had received a Deathday Letter, which sort of ruined the mood.


Content to spend his last day of life at school (where the girls are), Oliver's best friends Shane Grimsley and Veronica (Ronnie) Dittrich convince him to burn his books and ditch school to, you know, have a little actual fun before he kicks the bucket.

In a world where only taxes, Deathday Letters, and teenage boy's hormones are certainties, Oliver, Shane and Ronnie embark upon a bus ride that takes them from the post office, to a house filled with college-aged anti-Deathday Letter activists (and Dave Matthews fans), and nearly to prison. And as the end draws near Oliver learns that living is way tougher than dying…and that kissing is wetter than he'd expected.

Dark Flame (Immortals #4) by Alyson Noel
Release Date: July 6, 2010

Book Description:

At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy. Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen.

Linger (Wolves of Mercy Falls #2) by Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: July 20, 2010

Book Description:

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. Now, in Linger, they must fight to be together. For Grace, this means defying her parents and keeping a very dangerous secret about her own well-being. For Sam, this means grappling with his werewolf past . . . and figuring out a way to survive into the future. Add into the mix a new wolf named Cole, whose own past has the potential to destroy the whole pack. And Isabel, who already lost her brother to the wolves . . . and is nonetheless drawn to Cole. At turns harrowing and euphoric, Linger is a spellbinding love story that explores both sides of love -- the light and the dark, the warm and the cold -- in a way you will never forget.

Linger is a book that I'd do anything for. Name it! Fight, harass, kidnap? Yeah.
Deathday Letter also sounds sooo interesting. I'm dying to read all of these. Really really dying.
That's all for Fast Forward Monday this week!

Carpe Mortediem!

Heavenly Saturday (6)

*photo credit to my friend Luce.

Heavenly Saturday is a new meme hosted by Precious (me) from Fragments of Life, which features verses from the Bible that can spark inspirations within our lives. Personally, I have experienced God in my life and I can attest to the fact that He is 'real.' If He isn't, I don't think I'll be where I am right now.

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you,

and that your joy may be complete.

- John 15:11

Book Blogger Hop (2)

I've found this interesting new Meme called Book Blogger Hop. It's a weekly event that lets bloggers and readers find new blogs to read and follow! Personally, I think this is wonderful opportunity for new bloggers, like me, not only to gain readers that are interested in the books that I review, but also to discover other amazing book blogs out there! Further more, it's a great way to connect with other people that have the same interests as I do. Head to Crazy-for-Books to participate.

This is actually the second week that I'm participating. And I'm looking forward to meeting you guys!

If it so happens that you stumble upon my humble blog, leave a message here so I can look through yours!

Thank you!