On being a fan

Not me this time... or not exactly.
After 'seeing'/reading some of this author on twitter I was inspired to buy a certain little rockstar in my life Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.

 
 Twelve-year-old Sophie Foster has a secret. She’s a Telepath—someone who hears the thoughts of everyone around her. It’s a talent she’s never known how to explain.

Everything changes the day she meets Fitz, a mysterious boy who appears out of nowhere and also reads minds. She discovers there’s a place she does belong, and that staying with her family will place her in grave danger. In the blink of an eye, Sophie is forced to leave behind everything and start a new life in a place that is vastly different from anything she has ever known.
Sophie has new rules to learn and new skills to master, and not everyone is thrilled that she has come “home.” There are secrets buried deep in Sophie’s memory—secrets about who she really is and why she was hidden among humans—that other people desperately want. Would even kill for.In this page-turning debut, Shannon Messenger creates a riveting story where one girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

And she LOVED it. She's only just 8 and read in in a devouring rush of intense obsession I've only ever seen her have with music before (she is, after all, going to be a rockstar... or audiologist... or author when she grows up) and one other author.

She copied the title to put up on her wall and she drew picture after picture. And she's saving for the sequel.

This is her fan art.... fan art! I can hardly believe it of her. I promised I'd post it for Shannon's contest and she just hoped one of her fave authors might see it!

This is Sophie how Rockstar sees her.

 

 

I'm so glad she feels this way about books. I hope to make people feel this way about mine!!

=)

Conference awesomeness

On the weekend I was lucky enough to go to the Romance Writers of Australia Conference. This year it was in Fremantle and they put on some wild wind and rain the first day but it gradually warmed up. I roomed with fab rural author Rachael Johns(see pic left) and had to take my little rockstar's netball beanie kid as she had a big netball final while I was away (right).

As a bit of an introvert (I'm used to my fictional worlds) I found the buzz of so many writers at once inspiring and exhausting - in a good way.

It was great to talk writing for a WHOLE WEEKEND. There were so many inspiring workshops and talks over the weekend and I scribbled so many notes I think it will take me weeks to go back through.

The social events were just as fun and I went for 'nice' on the Nautical or nice cocktail party on the Friday night. What could be nicer than a block of choc? And I got to wear purple hair!

 The awards gala was fabulous and included a choc fountain - sigh...

There were so many highlights but for me it was a late night chat (there were a few of those!!) where I was talking about one of my stories and the room of writers gave me bucket loads of encouragement. terms like 'awesome conflict' and 'I can't wait to read it' are things I'll treasure as I get stuck back in.

The organisers did an amazing job and I thanks them with virtual hugs and chocolate!!

Have you been to any conferences recently?

i don't even like this song

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:

What song would you love to see a book based on?

Now for this one I’m going to blame my little Rockstar. She’s learning guitar and has an eclectic mix in her repertoire. From Holiday by Greenday and Back in Black by ACDC to So What by Pink and Day Tripper by the Beatles. Her fave singer is Taylor Swift and she plays songs she knows and the album CONSTANTLY.

 One keeps making me see a scene and it’s called The Last Time and it opens:

Found myself at your door,
Just like all those times before,
I'm not sure how I got there,
All roads they lead me here.

I imagine you are home,
In your room, all alone,
And you open your eyes into mine,
And everything feels better,

Right before your eyes,
I'm breaking, no past
No reasons why,
Just you and me.

This is the last time I'm asking you this,
Put my name at the top of your list,
This is the last time I'm asking you why,
You break my heart in the blink of an eye.

Just makes me ask all kinds of questions in my head. I do like to write about the pain/fear of people leaving so maybe that explains it. I wonder what he did before and what has happened to make him come back. The risk of letting someone who’s left in again… it’s a biggie!

What about you??

Imagine

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What was the best book you read in May??

The best book I read in May was Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma.

Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

This drew me in and got me thinking. Thinking til my brain hurt and although I read it weeks ago I'm STILL thinking about it. I don't know whether I actually liked any of the characters which normally would put me right off a book but this one... well, it worked for me anyway.

What about your best May read?

A little surprising.

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.

This Week's Topic:
What's been your most surprising read of the year so far---the book you weren't sure about going in that really swept you off your feet?

I've read quite a few great books this year but the one that really surprised me was The Name of The Star by Maureen Johnson.

I'm not sure it's the very best but I have to say I didn't think I'd love it. And I did. And I was terrified and it left me thinking for ages. All of which surprised me. I think it was the way just when I thought I was comfortable reading the stakes twisted and upped and I gasped and had to turn the next page.

What about you?

Getting around to it.

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic: What book is your 'one that got away?' (What book have you always been dying to read but still haven't yet?)


Up until this week I had two vying to *win* this for me. However, after much prodding from hubby I've started Game of Thrones at last. He's a huge fan and I've been meaning to start but his whining intellectual discussion about the terribleness of the people and the world put me off.

So that leaves The Book Thief.

I have it. I've picked it up. Managed two pages... and then... nothing. I believe it's good but I haven't managed to get into it. Yet. I will.

What about you?

Looking for inspiration

Road Trip Wednesday is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway's contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody's unique take on the topic.





This Week's Topic:
What are some non-writing blogs/Tumblrs/Twitters/Pinterests
/Instagrams, etc., that you follow and get inspired by?


I can't wait to head out to see everyone's answers to this. I have to admit I mainly read about books/writing/authors... these are my happy places.

Alongside that are the blogs/intagrams of some of my fave sport teams. I like the window into the players as people. i am so unathletic, I find it really interesting.

Another is more recent. It's fatmumslim and the photo a day challenge. The pics get me thinking about the different ways to interpret one word and the different meaning it can have to diff people. Which reminds me...

4. In my cup - mmmm coffee... gone.
5. Paper - so she can't spell - cute though
6. Broken - hard to see but mil's gift was missing an udder






 


7. Something beginning with F - bottom pic -Flinders Ranges
8. Shape - hubby's guitar
9. A snack - mmm dip and cider



What's your inspiration?