Young Women Writers

While perusing the humor section of a Borders, I came across quite a few titles that piqued my interest. I wasn’t going to purchase them all and spend a few hundo on these unknown authors, so I had to do a little re-con first.

I went to the ever-so-trusty Amazon.com to check out the reviews on my list of potential new favorite books. The results weren’t always conclusive, but I had a good place to start.

I am happy to report that 2/3 of the author’s I decided to try out wound up being very good. I may even have a new favorite writer in Lori Notaro. I now own 4 of her non-fiction books with plans to purchase and read more. She’s hilarious!

I also rather enjoyed Chelsea Handler, she has a completely different writing style than Notaro, but I did enjoy reading “My Horizontal Life.”

I’ll be sure to report any new authors that I stumble across, but if you’re into humerous non-fiction and you’re a bit of a misfit, check out Notaro!

I’ve been trying to keep up with the posting, I have a three course teaching load this semester. So, I’m a busy bee!

Anyway, I hope you’ve all enjoyed the 2009 book list and that you’ve found something you enjoy! I read 12 books in January and have read 5 so far this month, the 2010 list should be excellent! I am hoping to top last years list by at least 12 books… It’s probably too trying a feat, but I’m going to attempt it anyway.

As for the book, I haven’t really heard from them since the holidays. I’m told this is a slow process, but it seems we’re crawling along. I have no idea what I’ll need to do to meet the projected release date, but then again I’m not the publisher.

I’ll be sure to let you know of any news that drifts my way.

I haven’t given up the writing dream, but the novella is in the editing stage. So, I’m taking some time off from the writing to focus on my teaching and reading. I am hoping to surpass last years book list this year. It may be a huge undertaking, but I think I’m up to it!

I’m already on my 7th book of the year. I’m sure I’ll slow down a bit when the new semester starts as I’ll  have three courses to teach and tons of papers to grade, but for now I’m zipping along.

I know everyone has been awaiting this list! I did not read as many books as I had hoped this year, things got busy when the end of the semester rolled around and I was scrambling to get grades in, but all in all, I think I did pretty well.

Some of the books were better than others, but nothing was rated below a C- on my scale. So, take a look at the book titles and enjoy! (Note: Most of these are fantasy or paranormal romance, I was on a kick…. though there are a few other genres tossed in along the way!)

This list is chronological…in the order that the books were read, there is no other rhyme or reason to the organization of my list! Beware!

1. Because Your Vampire Said So - Michelle Bardsley
2. When You Are Engulfed In Flames -David Sedaris
3. Myth-ion Improbable - Robert Asprin
4. Myth Alliances - Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye
5. Myth Chief - Robert Asprin and Jody Lynn Nye
6. Blood Lite - Various Authors
7. Wicked Weaves - Jim and Joyce Lavine
8. A Dirty Job - Christopher Moore
9. In The Palm Of Your Hands - Steve Kowit
10. A Babe In Ghostland - Lisa Cach
11. Bloodstained Oz - Christopher Golden
12. Kitty and The Dead Man’s Hand - Carrie Vaughan
13. Dragon’s Wild - Robert Asprin
14. Wartorn: Ressurection - Robert Asprin
15. Personal Demons - Stacia Kane
16. Zen and The Art of Vampires - Katie MacAlister
17. Blood Bound - Patricia Briggs
18. How To Marry a Millionaire Vampire - Karolyn Sparks
19. More Of Me Disappears - John Amen
20. Beast of Darkness - Lisa Renee Jones
21. Touch The Dark - Karen Chance
22. Vamps and The City - Karrolyn Sparks
23. Be Still My Vampire Heart - Karrolyn Sparks
24. The Undead Next Door - Karrolyn Sparks
25. Claimed By Shadow - Karen Chance
26. Embrace The Night - Karen Chance
27. Curse The Dawn - Karen Chance
28. White Witch, Black Curse - Kim Harrison
29. Midnight’s Daughter - Karen Chance
30. Playing With Fire - Katie MacAlister
31. Up In Smoke - Katie MacAlister
32. Magic Lost, Trouble Found - Lisa Shearin
33. Dragon’s Luck - Robert Asprin
34. Dead and Gone - Charlaine Harris
35. Secret Life of A Vampire - Karrolyn Sparks
36. The Iron Hunt - Marjorie M Liu
37. Night Life - Caitlin Kittredge
38. Magic Bites 0 Ilona Andrews
39. Howling At The Moon - Karen MacInerney
40. Blood Magic - Jennifer Lyon
41. Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs - Molly Harper
42. Stakes and Stilettos - Michelle Rowan
43. You’re The One That I Haunt - Terri Garey
44. Sin and Shadows - Lyn Benedict
45. Magic Burns - Ilona Andrews
46. Some Girls Bite - Chloe Neill
47. Wolf At The Door - Christene Warren
48. Crouching Vampire, Hidden Fang - Katie MacAlister
49. Charmed and Ready - Candace Havens
50. She’s No Faerie Princess - Christene Warren
51. Walk On The Wild Side - Christene Warren
52. Like A Charm - Candace Havens
53. Kiss and Hell - Dakota Cassidy
54. The Demon King and I - Candace Havens
55. Winesburg, Ohio - Sherwood Anderson
56. The Reformed Vampire Support Group - Catherine Jinks
57. Faerie Wars - Herbie Brennan
58. Vampire Academy - Richelle Mead
59. Secret Vampire - LJ Smith
60. Daughter’s Of Darkness 0 LJ Smith
61. Spellbinder - LJ Smith
62. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
63. Ghastly Glass - Jim and Joyce Lavine
64. Demon Inside - Stacia Kane
65. Raven’s Gate - Anthony Horowitz
66. Stolen Magic - Esri Rose
67. The Farwalkers Quest - Joni Sensel
68. So You Want To Be A Wizard - Diane Duane
69. Evil Star - Anthony Horowitz
70. The Fledging of Az Gabrielson - Jay Amory
71. Night Rise - Anthony Horowitz

Whew! 71 Books…. I’m shooting to top my record this year. We’ll call it a resolution. I already have one book under my belt…. here’s to good reading!

Hello To Everone Out There In Blogland!

I find myself re-thinking my blogging strategies. I don’t have a clearly defined structure for this blog and it has gone through many different re-incarnations over its short existence.

It’s all been an attempt to write something worth reading and overall has been a failure. I should be dedicating more time to my blog and thinking creatively, but I’m stretched pretty thin these days.

Work and sleep take up much of my time! I can scarce find time for writing, which makes me sad. I have deadlines and grading swirling about in my head. So, I’d like to try again with the blogging. It may be less writing centered, but I do promise to keep everyone up to date on my publications and my book release.

I attempted NaNoWriMo this year, but failed miserably. I’m still trying to write an ending to my most recent novel and have been struggling. Hopefully, the holiday recess will be just the thing to jump start the creative juices. Of course, one of the schools I teach for only has a 4 day holiday recess, but I don’t return to the other for about a month. So, my free time should increase!

Again, thanks for sticking with the blog. I will try to provide some interesting prose for everyone to enjoy. For the time being, stick with me and keep checking in!

I do have an upcoming journal publication. Fickle Muses will be publishing a short play of mine! I’ll let you know about the release as it gets closer!

Thanks!

<3

Me

Hello All!

 Recently I have been reading a bunch of YA literature. As with the rest of the writing world, paranormal romance has exploded.

I have been both pleasantly surprised and severely disappointed with some of the literature I’ve run across. I’ve also decided that it might be easy to break into the YA market.

At the end of the year I will post a list of all the books I’ve read in the past year, the number is rising pretty high! This is the first year that I’ve recorded my reading. So, I have no basis for comparison, but it seems like I’ve been reading more than usual.

Anyway, if you’re interested in what I’ve been reading, stay tuned as the list will show up in just a few weeks now.

XOXO

Me

Things are progressing nicely. I am getting to crunch point in my semester, as we only have 4 weeks left. So, I will be in a grading frenzy! I’ve also recently started teaching my first online class and I am loving it!

The publishing contracts have arrived and will be signed and mailed back today! Hooray for my novel. Look for more news on the novel release in the near future!

How is everyone else?

Hello Friends,

I hope you’ve continued checking up on the blog even though I have not been posting as often as I would like. I have been teaching two college English courses on ground and training to teach online. It has taken up most of my time!

I would like to let you know that my novella has been accepted for publication with Champagne books and that I am having a short play about Medusa published with Fickle Muses. I will keep everyone updated on both projects!

Hooray.

So, my students are all required to keep journals and we usually spend the first half hour of class writing in and sharing our journal entries.

I’ve come up with 14 prompts and would like to share! If anyone is feeling creative, have it it! I also have a few great assignments coming up and I will post them later.

Journal Assignments

Week 1 - About Me

Week 2 - What’s in a name? Often times peoples names hold great meaning. Why were you given your name? What does it mean? Has your name influenced you as a person / your personality? What does your name mean to you? Use these questions as a guide to explain the significance of your name.

Week 3 - Write a story entitled, “The Best Day of My Life” or “The Worst Day of My Life.”

Week 4 - Make a list of 10 things you’d love to do, explain why and tell us why you have not yet done them.

Week 5 - Choose your favorite recreational activity (bowling, reading, singing, etc.) and write about it from the perspective of someone who HATES that activity.

Week 6 - Think of your favorite childhood book or nursery rhyme and re-write it from a more adult perspective.

Week 7 - Write a poem about why you love or hate your job. NO RHYMES!

Week 8 - Using the color RED as inspiration, write a story.

Week 9 - Consider a mistake you’ve made in life. Would yo do things different if you had the chance? Why? Why not?

Week 10 - Write about your favorite food. What does it taste like? Look like? Feel like? Smell Like? Why is it your favorite food. Use detail.

Week 11 - Create a fictional product. Write a 1 page essay to convince someone why they should buy your product.

Week 12 - Who is your hero? Write a few paragraphs that describe your hero and explain why this person is your hero.

Week 13 - Write a 1 page description of the worst nightmare you’ve every had. If you don’t have any, make up a chilling tale.

Week 14 - If you were president…. What would this country be like? What would you change / not change and why?

Hello Friends,

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted something, but I’ve just started my foray into the world of being a college educator. I am teaching two writing courses for a local college this semester… which is keeping me busy like a bee.

I still teaching as a substitute in grades k-12 as well… which means I have no free time, but I’m gaining valuable experience. Hopefully this will help me find that tenure track position I’ve been dreaming about!

I promise to write soon. I’ve been reading lots of new and interesting books! So, I have many suggestions for my faithful readers.

<3

Me