8.31.2011

WWW...Wednesday (2)


WWW Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
 

  • What are you currently reading?

  • What did you recently finish reading?

  • What do you think you'll read next?


  • My answers:

    I am currently reading Columbine by Dave Cullen. Great book so far, it gives me insight on the tragedy as well as clears up some misconceptions.

    I just finished Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. Awesome book, can't wait to read the second in the this series. Check out my review here.

    I'm trying to decide what to read next. All this death and tragedy in Columbine has gotten me down so I'm not sure if I can jump right into Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. I'm might go back and finish Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty.

    Author Interview: J.J. Johnson


    1.    What inspired you to write This Girl is Different?
    Well, I started writing This Girl is Different during Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. I was interested in his upbringing; thinking about growing up within a system versus being an outsider coming into a system. How do things look to someone with a different perspective? Lately, people seem to think it’s a *bad* thing to have lived in another country and to have a different point of view, but to me it’s fascinating. It’s an amazing personal and intellectual asset. I mean, come on! It’s a big world out there! There soo different ways of doing things—valid, effectual, creative ways you might never have thought of. Evie introduces us to that perspective.

    2. Evie and Martha both are such interesting characters, are they based on anyone in real life?
    Thanks!  Evie and I have a lot in common, but Evie’s not me. I wasn’t homeschooled. Also, as a teenager, I wasn’t as comfortable in my own body as Evie is. Plus, I have a pretty sarcastic sense of humor, while Evie doesn’t have a cynical bone in her body. But we do share an interest in sustainable design, we both value kindness, we both stand up for justice. We both have the ability to listen to divergent points of view: Evie has strong opinions, but she’s open to other people’s thoughts, and she’ll admit when she’s wrong. I respect that about her.

    In the same way, Martha is her own woman—she’s a fictional character.  But I’ve known a lot of wonderful, hilarious, aging hippies. It’s been said that a writer doesn’t write what she knows about humans; she writes what she knows about human nature. That sums it up well. My characters are based on everyone I’ve ever met.

    3. When did you first start writing?
    I’ve wanted to become an author since the day Eric Carle visited my kindergarten and showed us how he wrote and illustrated The Very Hungry Caterpillar.  But it hasn’t been a straight line from A to B; I wasn’t super driven and at times I’ve done other things. But in elementary and high school I was into poetry and short stories, and I’ve always kept personal journals. In my twenties I wrote essays, articles, and creative non-fiction. I didn’t delve into writing novels until I was in my thirties.

    4. As an aspiring author, I'm always looking for advice. What is your number piece of advice for an aspiring author?
    Read, read, read. That’s the most important thing. Read anything and everything, and keep reading all the time. When you do put pen to paper—or fingers to keyboard—remember that writing is a team sport: you need readers, you need a critique group, you need friends to keep you going through the difficult rejection times.

    5. Is there a new project that you are working on?
    I wrote Random first, but it’s coming out after This Girl is Different. Random will hit the shelves in spring 2012 (also from Peachtree Publishers).  Random takes place in the same high school as This Girl is Different, a year or two later.  It’s not a sequel—Evie will be off to college at that point—but if you read carefully, you’ll notice that some of the secondary characters overlap. I am well into my third novel, but as my friends will tell you—with much frustration in their voices—I never talk about what I’m writing until I’ve written the last sentence of the last chapter. I’m quirky that way.

    If anyone wants more information about my upcoming novels, or more behind-the-scenes information, I hope they’ll visit my website: http://www.jjjohnsonauthor.com/  Contact changes daily, so visit early and often!

    J.J. Johnson,
    Author of Young Adult Novels
    http://www.jjjohnsonauthor.com/
    J.j. Johnson on Facebook

    Thanks so much to J.J. Johnson for answering my questions. Please be sure to visit her website and read This Girl is Different. It's a great book! Check out my review here.

    8.30.2011

    Teaser Tuesday (11) and Tune In Tuesday (7) and Top Ten Tuesday (3)

    Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

    "It didn't start with a murder plot. Before he devised his massacre, Eric settled into a life of petty crime. Earlier still, even before adolescence, he was exhibiting telltale signs of a particular breed of killer. The symptoms were stark in retrospect, but subtle at the time - invisible to the untrained eye." (page 111). Columbine by Dave Cullen
    Sidenote: I tell you, this book is giving me nightmares but the psychologist in me just can't stop reading wanting to dig deeper and deeper into the psyche of these boys. I'm going to need something light and fluffy after this book. I might have to put off Thirteen Reasons Why and finish reading Sloppy Firsts in between.


    Tune in Tuesday is hosted by Ginger at GReads. Hop on over there and join in the fun! This week Ginger suggested a song from the 90s!

    This weeks 90s hits are all about the ladies. As solo artists, groups and lead vocalist, the ladies ruled the 90s. I remember dancing around my house singing to most of these songs.

    The Cardigans - Lovefool (1996)
    I love this song! It was on the soundtrack to Romeo and Juliet.

    Mary J. Blige - Real Love (1992)
    Her 90s songs were the best. I still listen to this album from time to time.


    Janet Jackson - If (1993)
    My friends and I knew all the dance moves in this video.

    Mariah Carey - Vision of Love (1990)
    No words. Classic Mariah.

    Alanis Morissette - Ironic (1996)
    This is one of the hubs fave singers too! We still sing this song loudly and off key.

    I could go on and on, Jewel, Sophie B. Hawkins, Britney Spears, Da Brat, Gloria Estefan, etc but I'll stop here.

    Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week list your Top Ten books for the Fall.

    I kind of already answered this a couple of weeks ago but I do believe my list has changed slightly. I will put them in order of importance.










    I just listed 5 changes I made to my old list. I would like these to be the next five books I read. To see the old list, click here.

    8.29.2011

    Book Review: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

    Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
    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.


    I get tired of picking up books that say, if you love Twilight you will love...... Honestly, just because it contains teenagers and vampires doesn't mean it will be the "new" twilight.

    That being said, I loved this book!! It's obvious that this book is the first of a series because it wasn't big on action. A few events take place but it was mainly setting up characters, the good, the bad, the situations and who does what, giving a little insight into this new world of Moroi and Dhampirs and Strigoi. I really appreciate the bond between Rose and Lissa. They are both equally protective over each other. I'm sensing this dark, dangerous side in Lissa that has me a little worried but also intrigued. This book wasn't fluffy at all. It had its dark, edgy moments which I love. Characters which linger in your mind and you can't wait to see what is going to happen with them. I wasn't too impressed with the boys at the academy. They seemed a little flat. The girls ruled this book. However, one guy stood out. Dimitri. Sigh. I can't wait to see what develops between him and Rose. Although, I know technically nothing should develop since they are both supposed to protect Lissa, I'm sure it will anyways!

    Overall, this was a great start to the series. I hate getting into a series then by the third book I'm over it. I really hope that doesn't happen with this series because right now I can't wait to read book two!


    Sidenote: Don't get me wrong because I love the Twilight saga, but Twilight has got nothing on this book. Twilight is a good love story with a little danger, I have a feeling this is going to be a whole lot of danger and some serious love stories. Two different leagues.

    In My Mailbox (2)

    In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren

    This weekend I went to my favorite bookstore, McKay's. I was looking for the second book of the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead. Unfortunately, they didn't have it, they had book 3, 4 and 5 but not 2. :( I was about to leave because I told myself I was in there for that one book that is all. I can spend entirely too much money and time in that store. However, I was prepared to buy a book so I could look around a little, right?



    Anyways I found Columbine! Finally, I'd been looking everywhere for that book. I got the hard copy for $7. Plus I found 13 Reasons Why!! Another book that has been on my TBR list forever. Plus it was just $2! $2! I can't wait to start reading them both!

    8.26.2011

    Follow Friday & Book Blogger Hop & TGIF

    Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee.  This weeks featured blog is Caught in the Pages and the weekly question is:

    Q. In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

    I'm still stuck on the vampires. I know there are alot of other cool creatures like fairies, angels, goddesses etc. but its just something about vampires I like. They're good, they're bad, they blend in. I wish they would come out of the closet. I can't get with the zombies. There is nothing sexy about a zombie.

    Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Crazy for Books This weeks question is:

    “Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?”

    I do. I have a fluffy little kitty cat.

    Her name is Nero. She likes to lay on her head and beg for rubs.


    She is so photogenic.

    tgif is a weekly meme hosted by GReads!  This week's question is:


    Book Associations: 
    Which genre, authors, or particular books do you think 
    people associate with your reading style?
    I'm kind of all over the place but I would say mostly YA, mostly paranormal. My hubs associates me with that non-realistic teeny bopper stuff, as he calls it.

    8.25.2011

    I'm honored!

    I just recieved an award!


    Thanks so much Deirdra for giving me this award! Stop by and visit her blog!

    8.24.2011

    Waiting on Wednesday (15): To Walk The Night by E.S. Moore

    "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

    To Walk the Night by E.S. Moore (TBR Jan. 3, 2012)
    Even a vampire has to face her inner demons…

    Kat Redding is the very thing she hunts: a vampire, thirsting for blood, capable of killing any creature unlucky enough to get in her path. The difference is, Kat kills her own kind in order to protect human Purebloods. She’s good at what she does. Good enough to earn the nickname Lady Death—and the enmity of every bloodthirsty being around. But now a vampire Count is intent on merging his House with a werewolf cult to create a force of terrifying power.

    Kat can’t allow that to happen. Even if it means taking on a den of weres and a vampire more ruthless than any she’s encountered before. She has the weapons, the skill, and a few allies. But that may not be enough to eliminate the Count before her own dark nature rises to the surface—and costs her whatever is left of her humanity.

    Sounds interestin, vampire who hunts vampires? Can't wait.

    Vampire Academy review coming soon.

    8.23.2011

    Teaser Tuesday (12) and Tune In Tuesday (6) and Top Ten Tuesday (3)

    Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

    I finished Vampire Academy over the weekend. I now understand the hype and I'm hype right along with everyone else! I can't wait to start the second book of the series. However, I haven't purchased it yet so I started Sloppy Firsts by Megan McCafferty yesterday.

    "Besides I have never been sweet. Maybe not never, but definitely not after the age of three. That's when my baby blond hair suddenly darkened - and my attitude went with it." (page 5)

    Tune in Tuesday is hosted by Ginger at GReads. Hop on over there and join in the fun! This week Ginger suggested a song from the 90s!

    Ok, so I went to high school in the late 90s and I remember blasting music in my friend's mom's mini van as we flew down the street to Wendy's or McDonalds at lunch time. Ahh, those were the days. Man, I miss those days! Anyways, here are three songs that remind me of those carefree times.

    Semi-Charmed Life (1997) - Third Eye Blind
    This is the ultimate 90s song, I mean we (my little group) wore this song out, actually I know all the lyrics to every song on this CD. When I think of me and my friends in high school, this is our theme song.


    Santeria (1996) - Sublime
    My first and only try at karoke was to this song. My BFF and I sung it at a club here in Nashville, everyone loved it!

    Spiderwebs (1995) - No Doubt
    This is another one of those CDs I know all the words to! This song was on my voicemail for at least a year!

    Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week we are supposed to give a shout out to all the books we loved but didn't review.

    These are books that I may review in the future but I read before I started my book blog. I would like to write a review on them eventually.


    1-4. Twilight Saga by Stephanie Meyer. These four books introduced me to the world of paranormal fiction. Before I read these, I only read books about us plain old humans. I was really missing out!


    5-6. Evernight and Stagazer by Claudia Gray. I read the first two of this series and I loved them, then the third book wasn't out yet and I got impatient and started reading something else. I would definitely like to continue this series. I might have to re-read these two first.



    7-9. Chasing Destiny, Sister Sister, & Naughty or Nice by Eric Jerome Dickey. For the longest EJD was my favorite author and I read everything he wrote. AA fiction at its finest!


    10. The Crucible by Arthur Miller. I read this book in high school. After I read this book, I wanted to know any and everything there was to know about the Salem Witch Trials.  

    8.17.2011

    Waiting on Wednesday (14): Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

    "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
     
    Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (TBR Aug. 30, 2011)
    Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna Dressed in Blood, #1)Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

    8.16.2011

    Teaser Tuesday (11) and Tune In Tuesday (5) and Top Ten Tuesday (2) and a small rant!


    Teaser Tuesday is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. Here are the rules: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page, and BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!

    I'm bad. I forgot my book at home so I can't do a teaser from it. However, I have been writing a lot lately for I'm going to do a teaser from my WIP, entitled The Only Exception.

    “You are so fake!” He yelled then turned quickly to face me. “You think this depression stuff is cool. Popping anti-depressants like candy. Carving on your skin but not brave enough to just cut deeper and end it.”
    “I don’t want to…”
    “I know you don’t.” He said, stepping to my face swiftly. “You don’t want to die, you just want sympathy. You want someone to cry for poor little Leia.”



    Tune in Tuesday is hosted by Ginger at GReads. Hop on over there and join in the fun! This week Ginger suggested a song from the 90s!

    Another thing I loved about the 90s, R&B. R&B was so frickin good then. Man, just thinking about it sends me back to those first little crushes and puppy love. When boys who liked you called you on the phone and sung love songs to you. Sigh. Groups like Boyz II Men, Dru Hill, Jodeci, Shai, Tevin Campbell, the list goes on and on. The four part harmony and acapella. I like Chris Brown, Neyo and all but they have nothing on 90s R&B. Sorry guys.


    Yours - Shai
    I wish there was a real video for this song.




    So in Love - All 4 One
    My little boyfriend in middle school sung this song to me. Awwwwww! lol.


    Can We Talk? - Tevin Campbell
    I had such a crush on him.

    Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish. This week is a freebie week.
    I decided to list my top ten books I must read this year. According to goodreads I'm 17 books behind in my goal of 50 this year. So I have moved 10 books to the top of my TBR pile. They are as follows:


    That Day in September & Columbine


    Fateful & Wicked


    Overbite & Abandon


    Cleopatra's Daughter & Hunger Games


    Thirteen Reasons Why & Some Girls Are


    Lastly, I hate this commercial with a PASSION!


    Seriously.
    If I considered giving Kindle a chance, now that I've seen this commercial knowing that bookstores are closing all over the country, I will never own a kindle. Ugh.
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