Resolution-Update and Photos

The first half of 2011 is almost over, so it's time to take a look at my resolutions for the year to see how I've been doing.

Reading

· Read the 20 books I listed for the Debut Author Challenge 2011.

Update: I've read 6 of the books so far (XVI, Timeless, Warped, Divergent, Across the Universe, The Near Witch). I've fallen behind. Need to read more debuts in the second half of 2011!

• Read more books than in 2010 (more than 45). This resolution might interfere with the two following resolutions...

Update: I've read 36 books so far. If I keep it up I'll definitely reach my goal!

Writing

· Write the sequel to THE OTHER LIFE

· Write secret novel. Let's call it ALOMF. (I'm soooo excited about that one)

Update: I wrote both books. Yay! Reached my goal early!

Personal

• Clean the house more often

Update: Umm...let's not talk about this one...

• Use the WiiFit to get fit

Update: I've been using the WiiFit now and then. Need to work out more often! BUT I lost 14lbs since the start of the year, so yay!

I spent a few days in Stuttgart last week and it was lovely! Here are a few photos:

There's a new group blog of debut sci-fi authors. It's called BRAVE NEW WORDS!

I'm leaving for my vacation tomorrow. Almost 3 weeks touring the east coast! I'm not looking forward to the 8-hour flight but apart from that I'm super excited!

Blogversary contest!

I started this blog almost a year ago on March 5^th 2010. That's a reason for celebration! And there's no better way to celebrate than a contest!

As a 2012 debut author, I want to support this year's debut authors. That's why I'm giving away 2011 debuts.

There'll be two winners. Each winner can choose one of the following books:

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
XVI by Julia Karr

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

So Shelly by Ty Roth

Clarity by Kim Harrington

The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney

Rival by Sara Bennett Wealer

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

The Liar Society by Lisa and Laura Roecker

A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

The contest is open internationally. Contest ends March 5^th (the anniversary of my first blogpost!). Winners will be announced on March 6th 2011.

Comment +1 entry
New blog follower + 1 / Old blog follower + 2
Twitter follower +1 (please let me know your twitter name)

Facebook friend + 1 (please let me know your facebook name)
tweet about contest + 2 (please tell me your twitter name or leave a link)
blog about contest + 3 (Please leave the link in the comments)

Maximum: 10 entries

Review: XVI by Julia Karr

I read this book as part of the Debut Author Challenge 2011.

Publication date: January 6th, 2011

Summary: Every girl gets one. An XVI tattoo on the wrist -- sixteen. They say they're there for protection.

Some girls can't wait to be sixteen, to be legal. Nina is not one of them. Even though, she has no choice in the matter, she knows that so long as her life continues as normal, everything will be okay. Then, with one brutal strike, Nina's normal is shattered; and she discovers that nothing that she believed about her life is true. But there's one boy who can help - and he may just hold the key to her past.

But with the line between attraction and danger as thin as whisper, one thing is for sure...

for Nina, turning sixteen promises to be anything but sweet.

Review:

A glance at the cover already tells you that turning sixteen and the tattoo accompanying that age aren't all sunshine and roses. In Nina's world when you turn sixteen you're allowed to have sex and that makes girls vulnerable to sexual predators who just have take a look at your wrist to determine if they'll have to face repercussions for assaulting you.

XVI is set in a future where Mars and Moon are colonized, people are vegetarians, commercials (verts how it's called in the book) blurt from speakers at every corner and the population is divided into tiers ( a modern caste system).

I love the dystopian world Julia Karr created, though I'd hate to live in it. Girls with the XVI on their wrist are like prey - feminism is dead. As a reader I was constantly worried for Nina. I felt her fear of getting the XVI tattoo and it added to the suspense.

It took me a few pages to get used to the slang Julia Karr created for her dystopian world but then I was so immersed in her world that words like FeLS, trannie, mannebots or NonCon became second nature to me.

XVI is a suspenseful read that makes you turn page after page. If you love dystopians, then this is a must-read. I can't wait for the sequel (I hope there'll be one!!).

Have you read XVI yet?

Review: Entangled by Cat Clarke

Read as a part of the Debut Author Challenge 2011

Publication Date: January 6th 2011

Publisher: Quercus Publishing

Summary:

The same questions whirl round and round in my head:
What does he want from me?
How could I have let this happen?
AM I GOING TO DIE?

17-year-old Grace wakes up in a white room, with a table, pens and paper - and no clue how she got here.

As Grace pours her tangled life onto the page, she is forced to remember everything she's tried to forget. There's falling hopelessly in love with the gorgeous Nat, and the unravelling of her relationship with her best friend Sal. But there's something missing. As hard as she's trying to remember, is there something she just can't see?

Grace must face the most important question of all. Why is she here?

A story of dark secrets, intense friendship and electrifying attraction.

Review:

I picked up Entangled because of its gorgeous cover. The red of the girl's hair and her white skin and the way she looks at you...Gorgeous. Needless to say that I would have bought Entangled even if the plot hadn't interested me.

But Entangled is more than a beautiful cover. So much more.

I loved it.

It made me cry and I don't cry often and almost never because of a book. But Entangled made my vision all blurry and the only reason I didn't start bawling was my husband who sat beside me on the sofa and who would have gotten a shock if I'd cried over a book.

But back to why I loved Entangled:

Grace.

I was nothing like her when I was a teen and I don't understand her actions and I don't support them, but nothing of that matters.

What matters is:

Grace is a character that feels real. She's got flaws. She does stupid things – lots of stupid things. And sometimes I wanted to shake or maybe slap her. And sometimes I wanted to hug her. And sometimes I wanted to cry with her because her worries and pain and insecurities felt so real.

She's someone who'll stay with me even after I've put down the book. I certainly won't forget her name any time soon.

Cat Clarke did a fabulous job telling Grace's story and I loved the way she did it. I loved how we found out more about Grace's life through her writing, how she wrote down her emotions and experiences and how she learned about herself through it.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, so I'll stop here.

Just one more thing: Go, buy the book!

Apocalypsies interviews!

Something you don't want to miss!

The Apocalypsies (2012 Debut authors) will be interviewing the Elevensies (2011 Debut Authors) all through the year! The first interview with Maurissa Guibord, author of WARPED, is now up on the Apocalypsies blog.

So go read it and leave a comment!

2011 Resolutions

2011 is only a few days away and it's time for New Year's resolutions.

Here are mine:

Reading

• Read the 21 books I listed for the Debut Author Challenge 2011.

• Read more books than in 2010 (more than 45). This resolution might interfere with the two following resolutions...

Writing

• Write the sequel to THE OTHER LIFE

• Write secret novel. Let's call it ALOMF. (I'm soooo excited about that one)

Personal

• Clean the house more often (yeah, as if that will happen...)

• Use my Wii fit plus to get fit. My current fitness age is 43. 43!!! FYI, I'm 25. I REALLY need to work out more often. Though, that will have to wait for a while because I slipped on the wet floor and now have a bruise the size of an orange on my upper thigh. It hurts like hell.

So what are your resolutions for 2011?

2011 Debut Author Challenge

Maybe you've already heard about it: The Story Siren is hosting a Debut Author Challenge. If you sign up you agree to read at least 12 debut YA or children's books. The challenge runs from January 1st, 2011 to December 31st 2011.

Here are the books I'm dying to read in 2011:

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Dearly, departed by Lia Habel

Die for Me by Amy Plum

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

Memento Nora by Angie Smibert

Possess by Gretchen McNeil

Possession by Elana Johnson

The Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Timeless by Alexandra Monir

Warped by Maurissa Guibord

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

XVI by Julia Karr

What are the books you are looking forward to?