Month of July Goals

It's reporting times, folks. Yay and a few woots all around! Here's how I did with my Month of June Goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare ---> Getting there...
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND ---> Super Check. Oh, I love this story
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas ---> I'm pretty confident with where it's at right now. I'll hand it off to my agent soon
• Beta a friend's book ---> I've started going through it
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. ---> I went an entire 22 days without sweets as per my detox plan.
• Exercise three times a week ---> Check. I'd like to thank the gym facility where I work and having an hour long lunch break

Here are my Month of July Goals:

• Beta a couple books
• Start reading Beyonders: Seeds of Rebellion by Brandon Mull 
• Continue exercising three days a week
• Only have one treat a week on Fridays
• Start the first draft of BOUND's sequel. I so can't wait

As always, I ask: what are your Month of July goals? You can voice your successes from last month as well.

Writing. Jewels.

Month of June Goals



Well, guys and girls, I'm really glad I'm posting my goals on my blog. It's helping me to accomplish them. I'd suggest you do likewise, for sure.

Well, here's how my month of May goals went:

• Go on a much needed vacation to Washington State Check and Check
• Give myself some R&R for two weeks before I doing anything related to writing Check. I did get sick the week I was supposed to start editing again, so I technically took three weeks off. But then I had a bout with editor's block (writer's block but only when editing). I'm finally back in the game now.
• Read The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter Check and Check. I loved it so much that I've already finished its sequel, Goddess Interrupted. My holy crap, this series is incredible. Read it! Now!
• Catch up on blog commenting Check but this is an ongoing goal.

Well, on and upwards I go. *Drum Roll*

Here are my Month of June goals:

• Read The Mortal Instruments: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare
• Complete an edit of my wip: BOUND
• Hand off BOUND to one more round of betas
• Beta a friend's book--Ashley, I'm so proud of you!
• Continue forward with my no sweets diet. I've done 12 days for 21. Woot!
• Exercise three times a week

Well, what are your Month of June goals? Or what's new in your life?

Writing. Jewels.

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.

Fahrenheit 451

I’ve been eating up a lot words lately. With work, revising my own book, writing blog posts, tweeting, eating, sleeping, enjoying ice cream, having some sort of social life, twiddling my thumbs, day-dreaming about having my very own puppy, etcetera, I‘ve still been able to read the following books:

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Almost finished DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth

Now that I look at the list, it doesn’t look very long at all. Sigh. But it is was it is and seems like a lot more than I should be able to read under the circumstances. I’ve got to have time to brush my teeth and shave my legs, ya know. TMI all the way! Plus, I'm beta reading for one of my Tweeps. I keep myself busy.

Anywho, I love reading. A lot. It’s a part of my life I could never, ever give up. Which brings me to the audio book I’m listening to: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. The premise of the novel is books are outlawed and burned if found. (Pretty Dystopian if you ask me) In the society, thought has been diminished to practically nothing due to the lack of being educated through reading. And the lack of real social interaction. As well as the lack of looking around to see what really is happening in the world. Life’s “happiness” is based around robotic actions that truly won't bring lasting joy.

Its made me think about all the books I have, will have, and currently am devouring. If someone told me I couldn’t own them, read them, enjoy them, what would I do? Would I hide them in my air conditioning shaft? Would I succumb to the maddening law? Part of me says I would give in because I’m a pretty law-abiding individual—except when it comes to the speed limit, of course. Another part of me says I wouldn’t. Couldn’t.

It’s difficult to decide which path I would choose—the one I love or the one I know I’d hate.

Reflecting upon this thought brings me to a decision: I can’t live without books. I can’t live without feasting upon a story that lulls me away to a far away land, driving my imagination wild. Reading has become a large part of me, and I’m not willing to surrender it. I can’t. I won’t. Because I love it too much.

Now I pose the question: What would you do if you found yourself in such a society?

Winner Announced & the Unmotivated Reader Syndrome

I want to thank all those who entered to win Minder by Kate Kaynak. Now it’s time to announce the winner.

*Drum Roll*

Ella Schwartz

Congratulations, Ella. I will be contacting you via email with information to receive the book.

I would also like to thank Kate Kaynak for offering to give away a copy of her book for this contest. Minder is a fantastic read. Check it out!

FYI: The winner was picked according to the order in which people entered the contest. I asked my beautiful angel of a mom to pick a number between the numbers of entrees. She picked “1.” Ella was the first person to enter the contest, so she wins.

Now that I’m done with giveaway business, I’ve got to be honest with you. Every once in a while I go through a phase where I can’t get myself to pick up a book and read it. After about a week I’ll be devouring books again—one after the next. Crazy, huh? All of you obsessed book worms are probably shaking your head at me. Yep, I have found myself in another Unmotivated Reader Sydrome.

Last night, I grabbed Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare off my to-read bookshelf. Sadly enough, I didn’t have the desire to open it to its first page. Let me tell you, I’ve been excited to read that book for a while. Unfortunately, enjoying the book won’t be happening for a few days. In time I’ll get over this reading lull and be back to my I-always-have-a-book-in-my-bag-self.

Does this ever happen to you? How long does it take you to get back into the groove of reading? And please tell me I’m not the only person who becomes less than motivated to read every once in a while. It makes me feel like an alien in the vast world of readers.

The Mortal Instruments Review

If you liked the video above then you’ll love The Mortal Instruments series. If anything, the video probably intrigued you to read the books. I hope.

For the Off the Shelf Challenge, I said I would read the last two books in The Immortal Instruments series, City of Ashes and City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. I previously read the first book, therefore, I will review the series as a whole.

It’s a twist on paranormal fiction including: warlocks, werewolves, vampires, faeries, and demons. The series was cool, especially because it referenced the 80’s flick, Say Anything. You’ll just have to read it to see where Clare placed the reference to the romantic, John Cusack film.  

The element to these books that I thought was the well done was Clare’s hooks. I don’t remember one; yes one, of the chapters that didn’t leave me salivating for more.  Reading for hours was a common theme to my journey to gobble up these books. 

A huge part of the books that I loved and hated was how Clare spread out a major plot element throughout the last two books. I cannot tell you what because that would definitely spoil the series. And I’m not a spoiler. This was another reason why I was hooked into the books.  I could not stop reading without knowing exactly what was going to happen.

I liked the characters, especially Jace. He is the series’ handsome-beyond-reality hunk of a hero. Plus, the villain, Valentine, was someone I would never want to be near. He’d probably sick demons on me just for breathing, or think I’m vampire because of my widow’s peak.

The fourth book comes out later this year, so it’s not over yet. Check out the countdown below. Pick up this series. You’ll enjoy it for sure! 

7th Day of Christmas

Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas Is You
Great song, eh? Peppy and rockin song for sure.  The coolest part about the music video is the two dogs running around in the snow with reindeer ears on.  I am a sucker when it comes to dogs. I love them!
Well, dear followers and friends, here is what I asked my parents to get me for Christmas:

Despicable Me DVD - LOVE this movie.

The last two books of The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare.  I read the first book last month and loved it.  Great ending to hook you in for the rest of the series.

And Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins.

Can't wait to watch the movie and devour the books.  It's funny cause I know exactly what I'm getting for Christmas already. Didn't even have to snoop. :)

What do you want for Christmas?  Can't wait to hear about your Christmas wish list.  Merry Christmas again!