Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

I got this book free at the BEA (Book Expo America summer of this year straight from James Patterson's great hands!)



Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life by James Patterson

I will say it here, I love this guy. When he writes for teens he doesn't do boring.

Amazon Blurb:Rafe Khatchadorian has enough problems at home without throwing his first year of middle school into the mix. Luckily, he's got an ace plan for the best year ever, if only he can pull it off: With his best friend Leonardo the Silent awarding him points, Rafe tries to break every rule in his school's oppressive Code of Conduct. Chewing gum in class-5,000 points! Running in the hallway-10,000 points! Pulling the fire alarm-50,000 points! But when Rafe's game starts to catch up with him, he'll have to decide if winning is all that matters, or if he's finally ready to face the rules, bullies, and truths he's been avoiding.

My 8 Year Old Son's review:
Just so you know, I like to give reviews by the audience of readers that enjoy the age range of books. Since I have a son that loves to read, he and I are reading this together.

This book has short chapters (which my 8yr old son loves!) that way he reads a chapter and I read a chapter. There are some large words for him, but he works through them pretty well. The illustrations are fun and he loves reading them also. There are some sayings that have that boy gross spin on it and my son laughed at them even though I thought they were rather corny. Over all it's a great read with the same feel as the Diaries of a Wimpy Kid. My 8yr old son gave it 4 fingers out of 5 because he thought it was too long (lol! but he's an elementary school kid.) My 10 yr old read it in 1 day and thought the size and content was perfect for girls also.

Madness-Black Friday & Cyber Monday

Have you ever been tempted to brave the long lines, the darkness of night, and the possible threat of being trampled to go to the sales event called BLACK FRIDAY?

Well I have. And when I think of the madness that encompasses the event I think of an old cheesy movie my kids love to watch every Christmas.

Jingle All The Way - WATCH VIDEO TRAILER

The Trailer is awesome :-D

BLURB:
A harried father decides to dream the impossible dream, to get that year's hot toy for his son just before Christmas Day.





BLACK FRIDAY CONFESSIONS:

These are the things that have happened to us on Black Friday sales of years past:

2011: My teenaged son attended his first Black Friday. Cut the line for a computer item and ran with it to my husband, only to be chased then tackled by four store employees, handcuffed then released. No lie! This really happened.

2009: I was pushed into the door of a store after the doors opened and the crowds rushed in to get the new game systems that were on sale for like 40% off.

2008: We camped out at the store for 4 hours before open only to be turned away as the store was full to capacity.

2005: Went with friends, did a football break and conquer to get all the toys we needed on sale. Only to forget my purse and have to call my husband while I was in line to drop off my money.


WHY DO I KEEP UP THE INSANITY:

I don't know. Maybe for the rush, but mostly for the incredible deals. But after this year's event, I'm throwing in my BLACK FRIDAY towel and turning to..... CYBER TUESDAY. I think I'll have 3 computers set up and ready to make my Christmas sales purchases.

What do you think? Do you get caught in the madness?

Well DON'T (this is one of those do what I say and not what I do scenarios.) Trust me...after this year, I'm giving it up. I am...

ELEVEN by Carolyn Arnold

Need something to be thankful for? Check out this great Mystery Thriller and you'll be glad that you aren't the one being hunted.

AMAZON BLURB
Product Description
Eleven Rooms. Ten Bodies. One Empty Grave.

Brandon Fisher never expected this when he signed up as a Special Agent for the FBI. Working in the shadow of Supervisory Special Agent Jack Harper of the Behavioral Analysis Unit his career seemed set. But when the team is called to a small rural town where the remains of ten victims are found in an underground bunker, buried in an unusual way, Brandon knows he'll never return to his normal life.

With one empty grave, and the case touching close to home, he fears he's become the target of a psychotic serial killer who wants to make him number eleven. Only thing is, everything Brandon thinks he knows is far from the truth.

Length: 103,000 words

BUY on AMAZON - CLICK HERE

$4.99 Ebook
$14.99 Paperback

Breaking Dawn Pt. 1 (Twilight) Movie review

Fandango Blurb:
At last, Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) are getting married. When Jacob (Taylor Lautner) finds out that Bella wants to spend her honeymoon as a human, he is horrified -- for Edward's passion could accidentally kill her. Bella does indeed survive her honeymoon, but a new complication arises when she discovers that she's pregnant -- and the child is growing at an alarming rate. The pregnancy sets the wolves against Bella and Edward, but Jacob vows to protect his friend.

My Review:
Sweet Romance. Yes, this movie played like a romance novel. It began with the wedding invitations. An angry and tormented Jacob. Bella's jittery nightmares. A cameo appearance from Ms. Myers, the author at the wedding. The wedding was absolutely beautiful. The honeymoon was to die for. And there were some funny lines where I giggled. The innocent beginning to their physical relationship with a display of Edward's barely restrained strength during their well done love scene - then the bruises on Bella, followed by Edward's guilt. I enjoyed this movie, but out of the rest of them maybe not as much since it was rather slow. The special effects on Bella's dying pregnant body and her rebirth was very well done. There was a few fight scenes and they were short and mild. My overall rating is 3.5 fangs. Enjoyable and well-done. But I took of 1.5 fangs because I felt like the movie company just wanted to make money by prolonging the 2nd part of the movie and not combining it. There were scenes they could have shortened or taken out to make one movie. Now I will warn you, I took my reluctant husband with me, and on the 'man' radar he gave it a 2.5 fangs. But he's a guy and doesn't 'get' it.

THE TWO FACED MAN of INDIE PUBLISHING

I have to tell you. It seems like each and every time I finish a novel I get clammy hands. Every time I struggle with whether or not what I write is good enough. Or ready for mainstream. I mean how many times does an author have to hear, “You tell a good story.”

FIGURE OUT ITS POTENTIAL

After I get that baby in shape I think about what I should do. I have to admit, I hate querying. I do. I do. Coming up with a query letter is so painful and I can’t honestly say it gets any easier after the hundreds I’ve written.

But I write one anyway – even though I know that it’s likely that Phenomenal One Press will publish it. Now I have one wip that I just finished that I really think that a large publisher would love it – but, but, but … (I’ll get there later, I got off point)

So, I ask my betas, is this mainstream, what market you see this fitting into? Do you think I should sub it?

Therefore, each writer should look at all their written works and figure out what the best market stream for that product is. Since I write novels – can’t seem to write a short story no matter what, most of my stuff should go to the novel market.

TO PUBLISH THE TRIED AND TRUE OR TRY TO SELL TO A BIG DOG

I admit it, I’m a control freak. Now I have to say I’m pretty darned proud of what Phenomenal One Press produces and sells. Hey, our sells are good and get pre-orders for our books coming out in 2012 from stores and distributors – (NO WAY…yeah WAY, in just 2 years we’ve accomplished a lot as a small pub) Ooops, I digress again.

Even though I know a sure way to get my books to print and to market would be great through Phenomenal One Press – I still pursue the large publishing companies for each and every work.

Why? Well, why not? Alright – here’s why not – because I really hate the query process, I don’t want to wait 1 or more years for my book to go to print, and because – well I do a good darn job at being a partner in a small press.

My advice is, every writer, should attempt all routes to sell, because it flushes out – HOW TO SELL your book. From writing my query letters, synopsis and pitches – I use all of them in publishing my books. From the pitch being my sales handle straight to consumer.

DON’T GIVE UP EITHER WAY

Either way you slice, publishing books is not easy – but it gets MUCH easier with time and experience. And now, it’s very easy for us to publish our books. One of the reasons why I struggle on to try to sell to a large publisher or do it with Phenomenal One Press where I have a lot of the control - okay maybe not sooo much since I have a sales focused partner who keeps my author alter ego in check when it's time to talk sales. Oh...sorry... I digressed again.

I do realize that our small press has been able to penetrate into markets that a lot of the big publishers do, but I really would love to get a movie option for one of my works and we just haven't tackled that ... yet (my partner is researching and sharpening his pitch for a subsidiary rights agent) so who knows.


More and more, there is still talent being scooped up by the big publishing companies and hard working literary agents. Do yourself a favor and pursue both why not? The days when writer’s had boundaries and only one road to free their words are over.

Immortals - Movie Review

Blurb from Fandango:
Theseus is a mortal man chosen by Zeus to lead the fight against the ruthless King Hyperion, who is on a rampage across Greece to obtain a weapon that can destroy humanity. Power-hungry King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) and his ruthless army march across Greece, leaving burned-out villages and the corpses of the innocent in their wake. Hyperion's goal is to find the long-lost Bow of Epirus; with this invincible weapon, he can cast the gods out of Mount Olympus and become master of the world. A stonemason named Theseus (Henry Cavill) heeds the words of the sibylline oracle (Freida Pinto), who convinces him that he is the key to stopping the bloodthirsty king.

My Review:

Okay, just to be clear, I love mythology, gorgeous testosterone driven men in my movies that are itching for a fight. In that department, this movie didn't fail me. Theseus was everything I would love about a hero. He was sensitive, loved his mom, didn't want to fight unless given cause and when he was - he could kick the snot out of anyone that stood in his way. Now, the action, the fight scenes, the evil villain fit the bill. Where this movie fell short was the development of Theseus, I wanted to know more about him. For some reason I really fell in love with the Oracle and her sisters. I connected with their pain. Now don't get me wrong, not because they are females since I usually am drawn more to male characters. But the scenes where these ladies were in just seemed to do more to make you connect to them. In addition, there seemed to be a vivid show of violence just for violence sake and I wish they would have spent more of that time to develop the characters of Zeus and the other gods. So after the movie I was satisfied but still left a bit wanting. For that I give it 3.5 out of 5 bows.

Destined by Jessie Harrell - CONTEST

CONTEST ALERT!! Read the bottom to jump in on the contest and win a FREE EBOOK COPY!


NYIA Teen Book Reviewer is in the HOUSE! Read the review and sign up for the contest.

Amazon Blurb:
"As he approached, I heard the flapping of wings, like an overgrown eagle. The sound dissolved when he landed at the edge of the open window. A rush of wind flew past me and extinguished the flames in the fireplace. Stars glimmered behind him but his body was encircled in black."

***

When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear.

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined.

Destined is a fresh and heartachingly romantic retelling of the Cupid & Psyche myth from debut novelist, Jessie Harrell.

NYIA's BOOK REVIEW:

Destined was a well written, lovely book that took a unique twist on the story of Psyche and Eros. The author, Jessie Harrell, did a great job of keeping the balance between modern and ancient. She did a good job at keeping the story in the time period, but also making it have a modern voice for both Eros and Psyche. The book was split into two different character's opinions, yet the author could relay details but not make it sound as if she is retelling the story too much or leaving something out. The only thing that I had a problem with was that there were parts in the book which seemed less like godly powers and more like magic. The gods also went to sleep and apparently could be killed which confused me because gods are suppose to be immortal. Besides these few details, the story was a good love story based on Greek mythology. I would give this book a 4 out of 5 and suggest that you read it if you want an capturing love story with a hint a adventure.



ENJOY A READING FROM THE AUTHOR - Click Here



Here's the tour schedule. If you don't win now, try one of the other tour stops :-D
http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif

1-Nov Once Upon A Twilght - Book Trailer +Interview Ebook giveaway
2-Nov Books With Bite - Interview Ebook giveaway
3-Nov Living in Literary La La Land Guest Post Ebook giveawayhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
4-Nov I am a Reader, Not a Writer Guest Post Ebook giveaway
5-Nov Paper Hangover Interview Ebook giveaway
6-Nov Nikki Katz Interview Ebook giveaway
6-Nov Fictional Distraction Review Ebook Giveaway
7-Nov Daisy Chain Book Review Interview Ebook giveaway
8-Nov MundieMoms Review + Short Story Ebook giveaway
9-Nov Safari Poet Guest Post Ebook giveaway
10-Nov Good Choice Reading WOW CONTEST + Review Ebook giveaway
11-Nov LM Preston Guest Post VLOG - Read a Scene Ebook giveaway
12-Nov An Avid Readers Musings Interview VLOG Ebook giveaway
13-Nov Skyla11377 Review Ebook giveaway
14-Nov Dark Readers Interview Ebook giveaway
15-Nov Shortie Says... Character GUEST POST Ebook giveaway
16-Nov A Cozy Reader's Corner Reviews Guest post - Sneak Peek Ebook giveaway
17-Nov Stuck In Books Character Interview Ebook giveaway
18-Nov From A to Z Review Ebook giveaway
19-Nov Turning Pages Interview Ebook giveawayhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
20-Nov A Tale of Many Reviews Guest Post Ebook giveaway
21-Nov Read My Mind - AliseonLife Interview Vlog Ebook giveaway
22-Nov S.A.Larson Review Ebook giveaway
23-Nov Starry Sky Books Prize pack giveaway + Guest Post Ebook giveaway
23-Nov Angels and Demons and Portals. Oh My! Prize pack giveaway Ebook giveaway

"If you leave your e-mail address in your comment, you'll be automatically entered to win an e-copy of Destined. The contest will stay open for 48 hours after the post goes live, and then Jessie will use random.org to select a winner. Available formats include .mobu, .epub and .pdf.
And please be sure to visit the other stops on Destined's official blog tour for chances to win copies of Destined and other goodies. [include linked list]"

BUY HERE: AMAZON
BARNES AND NOBLE

Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

NYIA our TEEN BOOK REVIEWER IS IN THE HOUSE!!!!


B&N blurb:
My name—my True Name—is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn.
I am the last remaining son of Mab, Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her.

My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl…


NYIA’s REVIEW:
Oh my gosh! This was so good. Since this is supposed to be the end of the series I can say I liked the way it ended. I’m going to miss Meghan, Ash and Puck. This is a series that I will read over again by me. Probably over the holidays when I want an adventure. Of course with this book there is a great quest with lots of nail biting suspense and drama. Thanks to Puck there is some funny moments. There is a little bit of a twist but a good one. I give this 5 out of 5 wings :-D

Giveaway Alert!!!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Explorer X - Beta

by LM Preston

Giveaway ends December 05, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

Goodreads Book Giveaway

Bandits

by L.M. Preston

Giveaway ends November 14, 2011.

See the giveaway details
at Goodreads.

Enter to win

How to Sell Subsidiary Rights

So now you figured out you are a publisher? Well figure out ways to sell your stuff.

Mid Atlantic Book Publishers #MBPA (use this hashtag to participate) is having a twitter chat this Thursday (11/3) at 9pm EST


SUBSIDIARY RIGHTS

The sale of subsidiary rights is a major source of money for traditional book publishers.


John Kremer states the reasons why publishers should pursue these:

Rights Income will help pay for printing and promos
Make money on your books even before they are released
The sales of these rights increase buzz about your books
The sales of these rights give credibility to your book
More sales create additional sales for other titles
The more sales in this area makes it easier to get booksellers to pick up the book
Movie and TV rights will increase sale of your released book and subsequent books from the author


John Kremer gives tips on selling these rights:

Create a contact list to include buyers for, serial, audio/video, reprints, book club rights and more by category.
Cold call, email, postcard mail these sources to let them know of your upcoming book
Send out review copies with marketing plans, media kits to these prospects
Approach more than one lead at a time
Follow-up with call or face to face visit
Take your time and prepare for the unexpected
Feature rights for sell on your publishing focused website
Get a rights agent that works with publishers


When an author signs a contract with a publishing house, they generally grant the publisher ‘volume rights’ within certain territories. This gives the publisher the right to publish the book in certain formats. The royalties relating to hardback, paperback and sometimes trade paperback (a larger paperback format) editions will be spelled out.

There will be clauses in the contract covering all the other rights. These are the ‘subsidiary’ rights granted to publishers and can also be referred to as sub-leases.

NANOWRIMO Has Started! CONTEST Alert!!

Get your write on for National Writing Month - Nanowrimo

National Novel Writing Month is also known as NaNoWriMo. Writer's (this means you: new writers, experience writers - any writer) can register on the NaNoWriMo website and track of progress for writing up to 50,000 words in a month.

Get involved with the various forums, chats, and tons of resources and groups where writers can work together in person.


Yalitchat is hosting a Nanowrimo contest so get on board!

Link to YALITCHAT website: www.yalitchat.ning.com

CONTEST link: http://t.co/cXkgxAcP

Join in the #nanowrimo contest for free kindle, membership and more! http://t.co/cXkgxAcP