Are Authors the New Rock Stars?

I don't know how middle and high schoolers are now, but books weren't the high topic at the lunch table back then for me, and I don't remember hearing much discussion from my peers. My crowd enjoyed music, like a ton! I'll admit it, when I read, it was for class; it wasn't for fun.

Sadly enough, I didn't really start loving words until I read the Harry Potter series and then came the Twilight Saga. That's when my book collection started and I haven't stopped devouring words since.

Was literature discussed as much before Harry Potter? I assume so; however, it seems like reading is the talk of the town now, and in all age ranges, to boot.

Many movies these days are brought to a theater near you because of books. Goodreads floods the internet with countless reviews to tempt our reading fancy. E-books are available at the click of the mouse.  

Has reading taken over the world on a higher scale than it was ten or fifteen years ago? If so, great! If not, no worries!

Are authors the new rock stars? I'd agree with that statement. 

Hugs

Writing Jewels

Emotional Scenes

Oops, this was supposed to post tomorrow. My human error for not scheduling it. haha Anyway, I'm obsessed with the SYFY show, Warehouse 13. I've watched up to the current episode in the 4th season. So, if you like sci-fi stuff, you'll definitely like this show. One of the closing scenes in an episode sure incited some major emotion in me. For one, I'm way attached to the characters and plot line. Also, the closing scene has a song in it called "Running Up That Hill" performed by Placebo (originally by Kate Bush). Here's a clip from the episode. Beware: If you haven't finished the third season of Warehouse 13, YOU DO NOT WANT TO WATCH THIS!!! *Spoilers*



Anyway, the music at the end of this episode made it an emotional rollor coaster for me. I almost cried. I think I stopped breathing. And the world stopped spinning for a few minutes (at least for me).

Well, here's a list of book scenes that have incited intense emotions in me, be it laughter or crying (Warning: There may be spoilers):

• These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner. One of the end scenes that has to do with Jack. I cried all the moisture out of my body because of it. My nose was dripping snot, too *gross*
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett. The part where all the toilets are placed on a certain person's front lawn
• Delirium by Lauren Oliver. The super-I-growled-at-the-book-for-at-least-30-minutes cliffhanger ending. Super Grrr!
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: The end of course, but the part where Liesel and Rudy make the food delivery boy's bike slip on the ice and they steal the food. I couldn't stop laughing. At all
• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Katniss singing when Rue dies
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer. The troll farting scene in the first book. I was listening to the audio book while driving and almost had to pull over because I was crying so hard from laughing. Almost peed my pants, too. Oh, you know you want to read this book now, huh?
• The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale. When a certain person dies. I'm not going to spoil this one too much
• Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling. Fred and George making their amazing departure when they decided to leave Hogwarts for good. Hilarious with all the magic tricks and fireworks they conjure up
• And of course, when Harry Potter dies (uh...Dobby, too. Probably more so than Harry)

So, what movie/TV/book scenes have incited intense emotions in you? What's your favorite TV show as of late? Is there a song that's been played in a TV show/movie that has made it all the more amazing for you?

Writing. Jewels.

The Hunger. The Games. Begin.

I'm going to watch The Hunger Games movie tonight. Yes, and I've had a ticket for over a month now. Haha Anyway, I'm excited to see how the movie pans out. If it's good. Up to par with the book. Gives justice to the story. And if it shows all sorts of gore. Man, that book was a bit graphic.

This got me thinking about the time I saw the first Harry Potter movie. Now, this could be thought of as showing off right now, but... Okay, I'm totally showing off. I saw the first Harry Potter movie while I lived in England. I nannied for a family while there. We went to the midnight showing. It was super awesome and neat to say I was in ENGLAND where the author is from when I first saw it.

Well, I hope I like The Hunger Games movie as much as I enjoyed reading it. But if anything, it'll be a great Friday night hanging out with my sister.

Are you going to see The Hunger Games? Did you like the book? What was your favorite part?

My favorite part was when Katniss sings to Rue. So special. It brought tears to my eyes. For sure.

Writing. Jewels.

The Books That Made You Cry

I finished a book last night that made me bawl like a baby. Literally, through the last chapters, I could barely read the words for the tears clouding my eyes. However, I loved the book. I loved it so much that I couldn’t help but cry. I had fallen desperately for the story, the characters, and the strength found in the relationships therein. The book I am referring to is called These is my Words by Nancy E. Turner. Despite the water works that overcame me, I would, with all my being, recommend everyone in this world to partake of the beauty found within its pages. Yes, you may shed many tears, but they well are worth it in the end.

After gaining control of my tear ducts, I began thinking about all the books that have made me unable to control my emotions—the books that made me cry. Here is a list (it may not be exhaustive):

• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Traitor by Sandra Grey
• The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale
• New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
• The Great and Terrible series by Chris Stewart

Story time: As I read the seventh Harry Potter book, there came a part where one of the characters was killed. Of course, I’m not going to say which character, so I won’t spoil it. But I will say shame on you if you haven’t read the HP books. :)

My old roommate finished the book a couple days before I did, so she was be able to chitchat about it with me as I read. One night, I could not put the book down and read into the wee hours of the morning. Around 12:30 A.M. the said death occurred. My roommate had gone home for the weekend, so she wasn’t readily available to talk to me as I sobbed. I thought she might still be up, so I called her. To my relief, she answered the phone.

She thought someone real had died and was about to hop in her car to drive home.

Then I said, “***** died!”

She started laughing at my emphatic declaration of sorrow for the lost character. He was given a sock at one point in the series. Spoiler!

I came to find out later that she was not quite sure how to console someone who was crying over the death of a fictional character. Anyway, at least I made her laugh.

So, I pose the question, which books have made you cry?

PS: Don't forget to enter to win a free book called Minder by Kate Kaynak. Go here to enter on my blog! Contest closes tomorrow.

What Inspired Me to Write?

When I was growing up, to be honest, I didn’t like reading. My favorite book was The Plant that Ate the Dirty Socks. Yep, you got it! And I especially liked The Return of the Plant that Ate the Dirty Socks. Still love ‘em too. I read what I had to during school, but that was as far as it went. You may wonder how I am a writer if I never enjoyed reading while I grew up? Here’s your answer: I worked in the music department of a store all throughout high school. The book department manager encouraged me to read the Harry Potter books. At that time, the Goblet of Fire had just been released. I promised her I would read them and bought all four books.

Soon after the purchase, I started college. I don’t remember much of that first semester because my nose was stuck more in the Harry Potter books than my textbooks. I fell in love with the story and its characters.
Now you probably think that I gobbled up books from that point on. Wrong. I only read the 5th, 6th, and 7th HP books. The pivotal point of my writing life and steppingstone to my hopeful (crossing fingers) career as a writer occurred during the summer of 2007. I was bored and really needed something to do. While at Target, I walked passed the book section, and thought maybe I would get a book to read away my boredom. I remembered a book one of my old roommates had discussed with me a year prior—Twilight.

I purchased it, not really expecting much of it. I read the first three books within a couple weeks. I had to wait impatiently for Eclipse to come out, otherwise, I would have finished them in a week. From that moment on, I was a bookworm. I couldn’t get enough of them. Two and a half years later and a slew of books on my reading resume, I had a dream that was the catalyst for my novel. It stuck with me for weeks until one sleepless night I finally plotted out the book. The next day, I started typing away and have been ever since.
I wouldn’t be writing if it weren’t for the Harry Potter books opening up the world of reading to me, or Stephenie Meyer inspiring me to read. It was my love of reading that brought me from being a reader to a writer. I thank all you who write for inspiring me and helping me learn more about writing through reading your stories.
I love writing now and it is what I want to do for the rest of my life. My advice to anyone who desires to write is to read. A lot. And I hope that one day, my works will inspire others to read (or to write) as what happened to me.

Published...

Author Joe Konrath said, "There's a word for a writer who never gives up... published." This is what every author, aspiring or successful, essentially wishes, hopes, and desires to happen. They want to be successful at their craft. Possibly even wants the monetary rewards for their labor (I know I do *wink wink*). But, more importantly, I think authors hunger for their idea to be heard. Ultimately, authors want others to devour the idea that has plagued them for months, years, maybe even decades. The countless hours spent developing their idea requires that glorified end result—being published. Aspiring author, Jenn Johansson, said, “This is not an easy industry. This is not an easy profession. And we choose it anyway.” Yes, authors choose this difficult path because of the burning fire within them to craft their idea until it becomes a reality—reality because their idea, published or not, is acutely real to them. The characters are as palpable as their next door neighbor’s dog. The story is alive with blood flowing through its veins. Harry Potter would never have been born if J.K. Rowling never had the idea and never put it on paper. I believe that Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, Katniss Everdeen and all the other countless book characters are just as real as we are, only in a figurative sense. The stories are real in the creativity of our minds. This is why authors write their idea until it flourishes into a story. And then they work hard to get it published. Publishing allows the story to not only be alive in the author’s mind, but in all the minds of those who read it.
The process an author goes through is not a perfect science because it does not come easily all the time. However, writing is enjoyable and rewarding when you see your story alive through the ink on a page.
I write this to encourage you to read, but more importantly, when you read, remember the patient process of the author who wrote it. Remember their story lives for you because it lived for them.
I wish, hope, and desire that, one day, the idea for my novel will become just as real for you as it is for me. There is one word I will never cease to work toward… published.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Trailer 2 [HD]

The movie Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2010; however, many of us “witches” and “wizards” will stay up late to enjoy it at a midnight showing. I, for one, have watched three of the HP movies for the first time at a midnight showing, as well as multiple other movies. This time around, I will be seeing it at a pre-showing on the 18th at 5 p.m. Don’t be mad! I got lucky this time around and won’t be staying up late to see it.
But, there is something to seeing a midnight movie before it’s released. I feel more excitement for the movie then I would have otherwise because of the anticipation that builds up inside of me throughout the day of the showing. Plus, there is a social aspect to midnight movies—friends gathering together way early to wait in line is all part of the fun. The midnight movie is a great way to hype up the diehard fans, even to the point that they dress up! Way fun to see! And, I would think, there is a method to midnight movie madness—making more money on opening weekend.
So, I’ve had my ticket for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 for a little over a month now, crazy, huh? What is even crazier is that I had a ticket to see The Twilight Saga: Eclipse for about 3 months before the movie was released.

Do you have your ticket for HP yet? Why do you like midnight movies? What makes you stay up late to see a midnight movie when you otherwise could be warm in your bed asleep?

BTW, enjoy the trailer! It has made me all the more excited for the movie to come out!

The Multi-Tasking Reader

Over the past year, I have fallen in love with audio books. I think that they are divine. Before I became "audio books Julia", I listened to music and radio while in the car – driving to and from work, to the gym, running errands, going to hang out with friends, etc, etc, etc. I love music and thrive off of it. Listening to it super loud is been a favorite past time for me. Unhappily enough my car volume just doesn’t go up quite loud enough to fulfill my “loud-sing-like-a-crazy-person-seat-dancing-ways. Don’t get me wrong; on occasion I have slipped back into my loud music ways but on average audio books take up around 29 days of my month.

Last year, my sister started listening to audio books. She told me it was great. I thought, “That is interesting. I don’t know if I would like it.” I tossed the idea by the way-side without another thought. Some weeks later, I decided that I had to re-read the “Twilight Saga” in lieu of “New Moon” coming out in the theatre. I started reading “Twilight” but had so many other books that I craved to devour so I tossed around the idea of reading the “Twilight Saga” audio style. I finished them soon after and was drawn in, hopelessly addicted.

After taking the “Twilight” adventure, I listened to all of the Harry Potter books. Jim Dale narrated them flawlessly. Since then, I have probably listened to at least 30+ books, most of them I already read and own.

I like audio books for a few different reasons:

1. I can be reading a book and listening to a book in the same period of time. Such a time saver. This is called “The Multi-tasking Reader”. Hehe!
2. It makes my driving time much more enjoyable and beautifully educational. I will be an audio book mom for sure. My kids are going to love to read and hopefully this will aid in avoiding quarreling between children!
3. I can be driving down the road rolling in my seat laughing up a storm and sometimes with streams of tears spewing out of my eyes. I have almost had to pull over due to such moments.
4. Most narrators bring a fresh view to the books. It makes the books much more real and more lovable then they were when reading them just out of the book.
5. Last but not least, people must wonder what I am listening to in my car because, like music, I listen to the audio books really loud too. What can I say; I am all about the loudness of things!

A great audio book series to start out with is “Artemis Fowl”. Unfortunately, the narrator is changed at book 5, but seriously don’t let that ruin the adventure for you.

I still think that it is a must to read them the normal way, book in hand! I sure have not given up on the book-in-hand experience of enjoying a book, so you don't either!

So have I converted you to being a “Multi-tasking Reader” being able to read multiple books at the same time? Pray tell me!

Books made into Movies: What say you?

It seems to me like it has become a global phenomenon to produce movies from books. The Harry Potter books were so well received that developing them into movies was the natural course of action. This fall, part one to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows will be entering the theater and I can only assume that it will be huge. Right now, the Twilight Saga: Eclipse is in theaters and making big big big bucks. According to boxofficemojo.com it made $64,832,191 in just the opening weekend alone. Worldwide to date, it has grossed $645, 548,358 and that is only for being in the theaters for a little over a month. Crazy! Just as a side note, The Twilight Saga: New Moon is in third spot for one of the highest grossing films for opening weekend with $152,839,137.

Within the top 10 grossing films of all time, five of those films were literary inspired. Those being, LOTR: The Return of the King, Alice in Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, HP and Order of the Phoenix, and HP and the Half Blood Prince. (boxofficemojo.com)

Over the past ten years, there have been multiple movies that were derived from literature. Here are a some of them:

The Kite Runner, Shutter Island, Dear John, The Davinci Code, Confessions of a Shopaholic, The Road, Sherlock Holmes, The Devil Wears Prada, Secret Window, Chronicles of Narnia, & Bridget Jones’s Diary among many many many others.

Is it just me thinking this, or has this become the way to make movies? Are book writers becoming the new movie writers? I pose the question, what is your opinion on books made into movies? Do you think that producers should be able to use their creative license and change the story completely to the point where the book no longer stands in its originality? Do you ever get mad when your favorite book is slaughtered on the big screen or do you think it is alright for the movie to be tweaked? What do you think of making a profit off of merchandising off of a film made from a book (ie: t-shirt)?

Books made into Movies: What say you?