I’m Excited to Read Books: 2012 Edition

With 2012 here and kicking, I’m getting super excited for this year’s book releases.

Here's my list o' books I can't wait to read:

Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Endlessly by Kiersten White

Arise by Tara Hudson

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Third book in the Matched series by Ally Condie

And Bad Hair Day by Carrie Harris (no cover yet)

I'm salivating here. Can't wait to devour these books!

Which books being released this year are you dying to read?

Writing. Jewels.

Breathless Reads Tour Recap

The Breathless Reads Tour visited Salt Lake City, Utah on Saturday, February 12, 2011. I was blessed with the chance to attend and meet some absolutely GREAT authors.

From left to right: Ally Condie author of Matched; Beth Revis author of Across the Universe; Andrea Cremer author of Nightshade; Kirsten Miller author of The Eternal Ones; and Brenna Yovanoff author of The Replacement. 

For the first hour, the authors had the opportunity to answer questions prepared by the host of the event, King's English, as well as audience questions. The authors all had their own personality in which captivated me. Ally was professional and welcoming. Beth was enthusiastic and comical. Andrea was fun and exciting. Kirsten was confident and  well-humored. Brenna was endearing and proper. I enjoyed getting to know the authors better through a in-person setting. Thanks to the authors for taking the time to visit SLC. 

In which Julia meets Ally and Beth. They're holding my own personal copies of their books. Notice the cheesy smile upon my really excited face. I can't tell you how giddy with joy I was before I met them, and after too. I am totally a book-worm nerd. I like it though. My sister can attest to the nerdiness--she was there. I can't even imagine how I would act if I met Bono from U2 and the other band members.

I can't wait to read the other author's books. If you have read them, or any of the books, what did you think?

Across The Universe by Beth Revis Book Review

I lieu of attending the Breathless Reads Book tour tomorrow in Salt Lake City, Utah, I decided that it was a perfect time to review Across the Universe by Beth Revis. She along with a few other authors are headlining the Breathless Reads Book tour. I look forward to meeting Beth, especially since I devoured her debut novel so quickly. Also meeting Ally Condie, author of Matched, will be fabulous.

Across the Universe is the third book I chose to read for the Off the Shelf Challenge. Twelve more books to go and excited for the journey.

Speaking of journeys, Across the Universe, Beth’s YA sci-fi/dystopian/fantasy novel, unravels while a group of people from the future travel Across the Universe in a spaceship built to sustain life for a LONG time. Definitely, each chapter makes you want to read more.

Some of my favorite words in the book are as follows:

• Whoosh
• Click. Whoosh. Thud.
• Beep, beep-beep
• Aroo! Aroo!
• Plop! Plop!
• Moo-uh-eeee!
• Whirr-churn-whirr 

Yep, they are sounds on the ship. Seriously, without those quirky words describing the sounds, it wouldn’t have been as good. I could distinctly hear what was happening. Well done Beth for the ingenious sounds you gave me—us.

The end was quite a punch in my stomach when I read it. Why? I failed to notice that this book is the first book in a series. Silly me! I thought it was over. And. It sure isn’t. I was thinking, well that’s an interesting way to end a book. Now that I realize it’s a series, I am well-pleased with the ending. It leaves you hanging—wanting more. Phew! Good thing I figured that out. I could have been confused for a long time—maybe long enough to travel Across the Universe. Beth please don't make fun of me for not realizing that. :) *feeling sheepish*

Thanks Beth for writing such a fantastic book—can’t wait for the next two.

Have you read this book? What did you think?

Happy Friday! And have a GREAT weekend!

As an ending, here’s my favorite song from the movie Across the Universe.

Breathless Reads Tour

I know it is not a Monday, Wednesday, or Friday when I usually post, but this is absolutely IMPORTANT for me to let you know about, especially if you live in the states where this book tour is going.

I'm thrilled that this book tour is hitting up Salt Lake City. Why? Cause I live in Utah. And. I. Can. Go. Can't wait to meet Ally Condie author of Matched and Beth Revis author of Across the Universe. Great books btw. Read them. I haven't even finished Across the Universe and I'm recommending it.  Anyone in Utah should go to this event. I will be there so you'll be able to meet me too. Yeah, yeah, I'm not published yet, but you can say you met me before my book(s) graced the book shelves.  For more information, visit Breathless Reads

Have you read any of these books? Let me know what you think of them, especially the ones I haven't read yet.  If you plan on attending the book tour in Salt Lake City, let me know via email: writingjewels@gmail.com We can meet up and have a ball associating with great authors.

Have a great Thursday! 

PS: I will still be posting tomorrow even though I will be attending the auditions for So You Think You Can Dance in SLC! Yah! Yah! Yah! Note: I am not auditioning. Not a dancer. My friend got tickets to get in. Can't wait because I love that show. 

See you tomorrow my fabulous following friends. 

Neglected Blog: Feed Me

Dearest all.  I have to admit, I feel like I've neglected my poor Writing Jewels blog over the past couple weeks.  Usually I try to post 3 - 4 times a week.  I tweeted yesterday that my blog is lonely and it's mommy (me) is not feeding it enough, especially since during Christmas, I fed it every day for my 13 days of Christmas.  I'll be better my poor starving blog.  Here's some food to fill your beautiful little tummy.


My haps during the holidays:

• I deleted  about 12,000 words from my WIP
• I almost went through a whole edit/revision of my WIP - I'll be done this weekend and then will hand it off to 2 of my peeps to edit/critique. Thanks Robin and Sarah. 
• I read two books - Matched by Ally Condie and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.  GREAT books.  Highly recommend.
• I ate lots of candy, especially Peppermint Bark and Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (my fav)
• I had a great time with my family.  Love them dearly.
• I slipped into the snow outside of work which made me giggle wildly.  I wish someone could have seen it.  If I can make someone laugh then the fall was well worth it.
• I ate MORE sweets.
• Typically, I slept in until 10 a.m.  I love sleep!
• I worked 3.5 days total during the holidays (makes for a hard week knowing I have to work 5 days in a row now--insanity I say)
• Two cute stories about two of my nephews, written below:

Nephew (4yo) - During the day on Christmas Eve, he grabbed a suitcase on wheels, put a pillow and blanket inside, and proceeded to walk door to door to see if the neighbors would let him sleepover--he had no takers.  He ended up almost going door to door again that evening after we opened presents.  We stopped him before he could get out of the yard. We wonder what is going on inside that cute little guys head.  He's beyond hilarious.  Plus, when he opened his presents he said, "I totally want that!" 
Nephew (2yo) - Bless the little boys heart or should I say head.  Well, with two older brothers, you can believe that they like to rough house.  They were running around on Christmas Eve.  2yo nephew runs into the kitchen counter.  His face puffs up by his right eye.  My sister-in-law, his mom, was consoling him on her lap while holding some ice on the swelling bump.  And then it happened: he gets off of her lap and onto mine.  I console the cutie for almost 20 minutes.  No offense sister-in-law, I think your son loves me more than you. :)  Just kidding.  I was sad he got hurt, but his coming to me made my heart scream with joy.  He loves me.


Alright, bloggy, do you feel fed?  I hope! 


Anyway, do tell me something fun that happened to you over the holidays.  Make me laugh and snort (sometimes when I laugh REALLY hard, I snort.

Matched - by Ally Condie

This book looks really really really good. Check out the trailer.

http://bit.ly/btHUfw