IMM: In My Mailbox (22)

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In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren
 I had a great week this time! I received some amazing books not only for review, but I splurged and bought some great ones that I have been wanting for a bit.  Plus, my secret book fairy sent me a wonderful box of goodness! Sorry for not linking the books to Goodreads for a summary this time, but I am running low on time.

Here is what showed up in my mailbox this week!
FOR REVIEW:
 
 Thank you to Liz Johnson, Around The World Tours, Nancy Holder, Marie Treanor and Ramona Wray.

FROM PBS GAME:
 
PURCHASED:



FROM BOOK FAIRY:


THANK YOU!!!!  
That is what I got this week! Feel free to link your IMM in the comments!

GUEST POST: Author Pam Bachorz

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Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, author Pam Bachorz has decided to stop by to talk about her new book Drought.  Let’s give her a warm welcome and see what she has to say! 

The writing process of a young adult novel
 
So of course every author has a different way of writing their YA novel—and probably it varies from book-to-book. I’ll tell you how I wrote DROUGHT, or at least how I remember writing DROUGHT. Much like childbirth, the process fades into a fuzzy mix of achievement and pain, over time.   

First, inspiration—and dead ends. Once I had a kernel of an idea, I wrote about five chapters… and stopped. I spun off in another direction and wrote about seven chapters… and stopped. Headed off over to a THIRD direction and wrote maybe four chapters and… stopped. Finally I liked where I was going with my fourth attempt and drafted an entire novel. Before I wrote it, I planned the whole thing out on index cards, because I am an obsessive outliner.  
Interestingly enough, some of the settings and themes from those failed attempts are worming their way into my new project. I wonder if they will stay, this time! 
Once the draft was done, I printed it out and edited it, by hand. I use author Holly Lisle’s One-Pass Revision method and I love it. After that I entered all my changes into my computer, and sent the novel to my critique partner. She had many comments. I listened to most. Revised the novel again (this time on-screen).  
Then I sent it to my editor.  She liked the book but… suggested some changes, of course! My solution to her excellent suggestions? To ditch the last three quarters of the book, and keep the first quarter—which became the last part of the book. Then I backed up the timeline and had a whole bunch of new chapters to write.  

After I did that rewrite, I printed the book out again and brought it to this lovely writing retreat I go to once a year, in Taos, called Kindling Words West. In the space of a week I edited my 500 pages (with a LOT of cuts), on paper. It took me two weeks to enter that into my computer and off it went to my editor again. 

That round, thankfully, didn’t require nearly as much fixing. We went back and forth on it for awhile, and finally DROUGHT headed off to copyedits.  

So despite my careful plotting and planning, my road to publication is littered with many, many discarded chapters. I think I have probably two books’ worth of discarded chapters on my computer. For my process, I have to be very open to ditching anything that’s not working, even if it’s a whole lot of the story. I find the good stuff comes along VERY quickly once I do that.  
I’m so curious to see how my process changes over time. Thanks for asking!
DROUGHT
By Pam Bachorz
January 25th 2011

 SUMMARY:
Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.

She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood.

So she stays.

But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known?

PURCHASE AT:

Amazon
Borders
Barnes & Noble


FIND THE AUTHOR:


Website
Twitter
Good Reads


Rich and Mad by William Nicholson

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RICH AND MAD
Author: William Nicholson
Source: Library

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (September 14, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1606841203
ISBN-13: 978-1606841204

SUMMARY:

This is a compelling and beautifully written novel about first love, first sex, and everything in between. Maddy Fisher has decided to fall in love. And not just any sort of love: can’t-eat can’t-sleep crazy in love. Rich Ross is after the same thing. He’s set his sights high, and he’s going to make it happen. The problem is, in life’s messy whirlwind of friends and lies and sex and porn, the real thing can be hard to fine. But there’s always a first time for everything. . .

MY THOUGHTS:

I have had this book on my radar for a while now even though many readers have found this book less than great.  Maybe the cover kept appealing to me, maybe the summary had me hooked, but I just knew I wanted to read this book.  


First of all, let me say that a lot of people have had a hard time reading this book due to certain sexual scenes that can come across offensive.  That is fine and I agree that some of it didn’t really need to be in the book to make the point.  What I will add to that though is I am well past my teen years, but I have children who are just entering this stage.  I don’t censor their reading at all because that is my parenting style.  I would have no problem with my daughter reading this book even with the talk of porn, sex, virginity, physical abuse and sexual orientation.  I feel what is the book going to hurt when they hear about this stuff from friends anyway.  Besides, I have been that age and I remember that books were not the source of info on this stuff–my friends were.  Not trying to sound preachy here in my review, but if you don’t feel the same way, be cautious of your teen reading it.


With all of that being said, the book was still just an okay book for me.  I loved the character of Rich, even though at times his though process made no sense.  Who thinks writing a letter from the pope is going to help get a girl to like them?  I found that funny and less than attractive.  Rich just didn’t think that one through.  Maddy was a great character that you would like for a friend.  She is naive in many things, but she still gives a person the benefit of the doubt.  These two were so naive in ways of thinking love should be.  


Some of the side characters were great.  I loved Cathy and Max.  They were funny and what you would expect in normal teenagers for friends.  Grace was a piece of work who needed serious help, but I can also understand part of the problem she has.  Without going into spoilers, I hope teenagers have learned that this way of thinking by Grace is not love. Joe was up and down for me.  At first he was sweet, then I despised him, and then the author does a complete turn around that redeemed him and made him the good guy again or all along.  


I loved parts of the books, but there were little things that added up to negatives for the book as well.  While I enjoyed it, I didn’t fall in love with it like I thought I would.  I love the cover the most!  It seems romantic and gives you hint at the tenderness that can be found with certain characters of the book. 


MY RATING:

 
Okay book, but it left me wanting more! 3 STARS

Interview & Contest with author Suzanne Selfors

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Today on My Overstuffed Bookshelf, I have the talented author Suzanne Selfors.  Suzanne is the author of Coffeehouse Angel and the newly released book, Mad Love! I am currently reading Mad Love and it is such a fun read!  Look for my review of Mad Love tomorrow!  Let’s say hello to Suzanne and get the interview started!

To start off, welcome and can you tell the readers a little about yourself?
Can you tell us a little about your upcoming or latest release?  

Hi Amy. Mad Love is my latest book. It’s the story of a girl named Alice who, because her famous mother has been secretly hospitalized, tries to write her mother’s next romance novel. There’s a big colorful cast of supporting characters, including a guy who claims to be Cupid. Love is at the heart of the story, love in all its forms–romantic love, parental love, passionate love, commited love, loss of love, etc.
Thus far I’ve written romantic comedies and while I would still include Mad Love in that category, I’ve tackled some darker issues this time round. Perhaps we might call it a dark comedy.

I am a fly on your wall.  What would I report back to my master of your daily schedule?
 

  That I have no real schedule. I basically wing it each and every day. But between children, household duties, walking the dog, and taking a shower, I try to get in three hours of writing, usually at a coffeehouse. It’s all very glamorous.

When you are not writing, what kind of books do you like to read? Do you have any favorite authors, that are must reads? 

 Honestly, I don’t read as much as I used to. I’m under two contracts with two publishers so there’s not much down time. However, I do like to take a break from fiction now and then. I like essays, especially David Sedaris and I just read a history called 1421. In terms of teen novels, I really enjoyed Across the Universe.

What are 3 things that are “must haves” for you when you sit down to write a new book? 

I need something hot to drink. Usually it’s a 12oz single nonfat latte. I need white noise, that’s why I go to coffeehouses. And I need my laptop. I never write longhand.

Do you have a blog or website that your readers can keep up with you and your books?  Twitter?
 

I keep my website updated weekly, so that’s the best place to find me. www.suzanneselfors.com
And I try to answer all my reader letters. I get letters every day, which is so great. I’m thrilled to hear from people. And the response still comes from me, not an assistant.

Now for some fun stuff:

1. What came first–the chicken or the egg? Egg
2. Edward Cullen or Jacob Black?  JACOB!
3. Quick showers or Long Baths?  Baths
4. Sunrise or Sunset? Sunrise

Favorite perfume: Pretty by Elizabeth Arden
Favorite TV show: Big Bang Theory
Favorite Movie: No way can I choose.
Favorite Drink:  Limonata
Favorite Dessert: Anything with dark chocolate. I’m an addict! 

Thank you so much Suzanne for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us today!
CONTEST:

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA, I have ONE copy of Coffeehouse Angel to giveaway!
When a random act of kindness involves Katrina with Malcolm, a handsome teenage guardian angel intent on fulfilling her greatest wish, fame and fortune seem like the most obvious requests. But after two botched wishes, Malcolm knows Katrina is hiding something from him. How can she tell him the truth, when her heart’s desire has become Malcolm himself?
RULES:
1. This contest is open to the USA only.
2. No need to be a follower, but I would love it if you would!
3. Leave a comment with an email address to contact you with if you win.
4. Contest will end on 2/12/2011.
 
GOOD LUCK!!!