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Wednesday, December 31, 2014

New Year, new ferris wheel






This is it. Another year is ending and all I can think of is that I want more days here in France. Two days have left before I have to go back home and I want to make them count. But before I do, I have to rewind and recount the year that passed by.

2014 was an interesting year with many ups and downs but what this year taught me is that the change can come. It's like a ferris wheel that' spinning round and round and you may feel dizzy, you'll probably throw up a little and your head will certainly pound like the war hammer, but you must not give in. Just wait, let it pass, breathe in deeply and don't lose your faith. When the world stop spinning and the sound dies down, you'll know that the change is here.

It may be quiet for a while, too quiet to your liking, even a little irritating but hang on a little longer. It's all about patience, work and hope. Do you feel a funny tingle? Does your heart jumping without obvious reason?

Well, get ready because what comes next is the beginning of the change.
Be prepared though because you've just stepped on a new path and another ferris wheel is waiting down the corner.

So, today I'm saying goodbye to 2014 a little wiser (and older but who cares!) because during that year I learned to embrace the change, not fully but still, and managed to make my wheel to slow down a bit so now I can see the world spinning around and I freaking enjoy it.

Cheers to 2015. A new year, a new challenge and a new ferris wheel!
Let it come!


Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas Trip


It's Christmas!

Oh, how much I love this time of year. Every year at this very day I think of snow, firs, Christmas trees and presents. I love seeing people in red clothes and I do wear my red scarf, because it's Christmas!

And it smells like Christmas too. You know that chocolate aroma that makes you wanna eat and drink chocolate and other delicious and unhealthy stuff. I love the chilly air on my skin, and I smile, seeing peoples’ red noses from the cold.

This year though I'll be travelling in Christmas day. Actually I'm leaving in couple hours, heading to Grenoble in France! Yep, some of you know about my trip there last summer and this is where I'm going again, to meet my sis and get so cold, but hey, there will be hot wine. She promised!

It's the first time I'll be abroad for Christmas and New Year's Eve and I'm thrilled. Even if I won't reach at my sis's home until late at night, it doesn't matter. We'll have about half an hour before midnight so I’ll spend half an hour of Christmas at her home.

So, I've packed my woolen clothes, gloves and hats, charged my Kobo and I'm ready to go!

I wish you a beautiful day. May this day find you happy, smiling with lots of food in your belly, wine and lots of love! But hey, don’t forget to laugh out loud people … it's Christmas!


Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Lullaby by Amanda Hocking


*sighs*

So, I read book number 2. Lullaby, what a great title, right? Given what I read in book 1 I pictured the sea shining under the moonlight and a beautiful song sounding from the pit of the world, like magic, calling people to its trap.

Sunday, December 21, 2014

On Writing: Grasp the inspiration


I found time for writing this weekend since I really really needed it. Not that I managed to write as much as I’d love to, but it was enough to start that fire again. To feel the beauty of the world that awaits me, to reconnect with the characters that are too anxious to tell their story, but mostly I managed to think about the story again.

It’s very important for me to have the story in my mind, but when I say story, I don’t mean I have to have all the answers. Hell no. It’s just enough to have in mind the next chapter or the beginning of a chapter, even the ending will do. I’ll be content even if I only have the slightest idea of where the story is heading. That is enough to make me write and while I write everything can change. But first I’ll have to start somewhere.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Books being books


Have you ever felt that a book sounds too much like a book? 

I mean, have you ever felt like you're inside the author's mind while he tries to create that book? As if somehow you can see him sit in front of the PC, squeezing out the words. Imagining him taping the keyboards, while his mind is racing, as he tries to connect the dots of the story he is writing. Have you ever felt that?

Well, this is not good.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Wake - Watersong series


A book about mermaids, sirens and beautiful and compelling characters is always an intrigued one. When I read the synopsis, I knew one or two things would be kind of standard. The song, the blood-sucking and the bossy attitude around people.

The truth is that I was very curious to see if the author would have some surprises for us. Something to make the book stick to our heads and maybe even gasp. And I did gasp, but for the wrong reasons.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

On Writing: Bursting out of you


So, here I am reading a chapter from the story I'm currently writing. It's that dark one with the almost crazy MC who refused to tell me her name even if I had written 30K words! Stubborn one, I'm telling you. But it worth the waiting. I give her that!

Anyway, as I keep reading one chapter after the other, I start seeing a pattern. Not about the story or the plot, but about the simple stuff, the details of the story. You know, a second character's appearance, parts of the stories they share, or the starting theme of a chapter. Those little things that maybe at first seem detached but as the story goes on they fall into place. I didn't notice it until this moment but those parts were more than random choices.

Sunday, December 7, 2014

Lord of the Flies


Books are stories, a way to mentally travel to a new world where the rules you know just seize to exist, or being replaced by new and many times strange ones. But there are also books that makes you shiver without even trying to bend the rules. Because sometimes a story brutally realistic is far more interesting and terrifying.

Such a book is The Lord of the Flies.

I wanted to read this book not only because it’s a classic, but I was dying to see what a bunch of boys can do once they’re left alone. As William Golding had said: “Wouldn’t it be a good idea to write a story about some boys on an island, showing how they would really behave, being boys and not little saints as they usually are in children’s books.”

And yes, it would be a damn good story so since he wrote it, I had no choice but to read it.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Birthday girl


So, today is my birthday! I’m turning twenty-six but no one needs to know, right? This will be our little secret! Shush!

I knew I wanted to do a special post for this beautiful day, but I wasn’t quite sure what to write. So there I was writing my new project and I thought, why not? What is better than share with you what I love the most? You know what they say about writing, that we give a part of our soul and I totally agree.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Think Out Loud: Live YOUR life



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

A Dance with Dragons


So, this is it. I’ve been pushing this book down the list for so long, but I couldn’t resist anymore. It’s not that I didn’t want to read it, but the next book is not published yet and I don’t really know when it will be published, so I did whatever I could not to read this book.

But I read it! And my head spins!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

What happens when you don’t hold on to a thought


So, you’re working on a novel. It may be your first one or your third, it may even be your fifteenth novel. It doesn’t matter. Every new project is a new challenge like writing for the first time so do not be mistaken … it won’t be easy.

Having that in mind is important. Not because is discouraging or intimidating. On the contrary, knowing that this book, this project, won’t be finished in a week, probably not even in a month, it’s the best thing to keep in mind. So all you need to do is relax and get to work.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Think Out Loud: Pop the Bubble



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Harry Hole: The Redeemer


Harry, Harry, Harry ... he is an unpredictable bastard that’s what he is. But I never have enough of his stories. Harry Hole is a truly remarkable character to read and he’s almost always too hard to outsmart.

But there was a guy in this book, who managed quite well to sneak up on him. And that made the story more interesting.

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Rewriting

Lately there is an itchiness inside me, one that I can’t really scratch away and it has to do with editing or better yet, with rewriting. You know what they say, right? True writing is rewriting. According to science fiction novelist Michael Crichton "Books are not written--they're rewritten."  

I’m starting to believe that he is right.

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Think Out Loud: Turtle




This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Monday, October 27, 2014

Where She Went


After reading If I Stay and having mixed feeling about that book, I have to admit that I was a bit confused about reading Where She Went. Having read some reviews though, I decided to give it a try.

I started reading this book without reading the synopsis and I waited a much different story. First of all I was surprised to see that the MC was Adam! I was in Mia mood and I read the first chapter fast, waiting for the next to one to be from Mia’s POV. But it wasn’t and it was hard for me to be inside Adam’s head.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Think Out Loud: Wandering



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Write it NaNoWriMo Style


NaNoWriMo fever! Do you feel it? I can almost hear the whispers in the wind, the loud cheers and the shy screams. November is coming and we crack our fingers, squeeze our brains but most of all we try to control our breaths and get ready for the new novel we want to complete at the end of the month.

I haven’t decided if I’ll join NaNoWriMo this year, but I’m highly tempted to try and finish that first draft of the novel either way. So here’s the way.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

On Writing: Get your hands dirty


So, I write.

Sometimes it starts with an idea that was growing in my subconscious for quite some time, and sometimes is just sudden inspiration from a sound an image or a glimpse of a character that demands to be heard. Once, a paragraph was ready in my mind, all the way to the tiny detail, so I only had to write the words down.

Whatever is the case though the result is the same: I write.

And every single time I feel like flying.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Think Out Loud: Sometimes



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Monday, October 6, 2014

If I Stay - Buddies Say


I’m used to reading books with bloody murders, vampires, crazy robot killers and mutated humans. I do well with these kind of books. I become addicted, excited, curious, eager to solve the mystery and I love some good action. And then I read If I stay. 

I read this book as a buddy read with my friend Penny and even if we both rated it with three stars, you’d be surprised to find out how our opinions differ. It will be fun!

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Think Out Loud: What matters?



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Fireflies in a jar


Thoughts. Random words and unconnected sentences.

A part of chapter here, a growing idea which is not ready yet to become real, and more flashes of stories flying by, untouchable.  I feel like I’m chasing fireflies but my net is too small and so I end up with one little shining creature at a time.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Writing Spots


So, the time has come, you’re finally home. 

You’ve been waiting all day for some peace and quiet. Just you and your laptop. You open the file, that same file that is tormenting you for so long. But it’s a sweet feeling because you love that pain and desperation of the story you’re writing. You love the unanswered questions: how, when, who, how but most of all you love to answer them, to move closer to the end. Two words become two sentences, and then your hands don’t move fast enough to catch your thoughts, your ideas and the sudden inspirational wave that consumed you.

You’re finally there, you’re bleeding, giving a part of your soul to your story.

But where are you?

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Think Out Loud: Tasteless



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Breathtaking: Dark Places

If it’s Gillian Flynn then I’m hooked!

Seriously give me everything she has ever written and I want to read it. I finished Dark Places and I’m more thrilled about her and her stories. If Sharp Objects blew my mind once, Dark Places splattered my brain all over the place.

And I still want more.

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Think Out Loud: Falling skies



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

This is how everything began. 

Do you want to know what happened before Katy met Daemon and Dee? Do you want to know everything about Dawson and his story? 

Here comes the Shadows.

Friday, September 5, 2014

New and excited

New month, new project!

Last week I crossed the finish line for my second YA book, Damaged. 

I was writing on and off, sneaking some time here, finding some time there, so it took me more time  to finish it than I’d wish. I absolutely love working on Meg’s story and even if there will be another book in this series, Damaged is still a priority. Meg’s story is on hold though, until I take a look in Damaged after a month or so. You know, so I can really look at it.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Think Out Loud: Trust your gut instinct



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Think Out Loud: Chaos



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Finish Line

I’m there, almost at the end.

I see the finish line at the end of the road. It’s shining and bright, waiting for me to cross it, but I stand still and watch it.

I really can’t believe that I’m actually this close to finish my book. It was a hard one, not because the voices didn’t talk to me this time, but because time was limited and I was writing on and off, when I was really craving for more.

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Opal

Holy crap! 

That was my reaction when I started and finished Opal, the third book in Lux series. Talk about a powerful start and you got one right here. 

Jennifer L. Armentrout is doing her best for these books. Most of the times as a series goes on, I happen to find stuff I don’t like and disappointment kicks in, but Lux series keep getting more awesome, I’m telling you!

If you still haven’t read the Lux series, just read them now!

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Darkly Dreaming Dexter

Wow, something unthinkable just happened!

Here I am, drinking my hot, black coffee ready to start writing a review about Dexter in the Dark, which is the third book in the series, when I realize I don’t have blogged about Dexter!

How is this even possible?

So, here we go … Dexter!

Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Do authors cry when they kill the best character?


That’s a question from a curious reader, as she calls herself, and I totally see her point. So let’s give an answer to this interesting question!

Let it out. Come on, share with me the truth. What? Do you hesitate? Well, I’ll go first, and if you have followed my blog, I’m sure you know the answer!

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Hysteriata, by D A Botta

Hysteriata!

Curious about the mystery behind this word? You just need to grab a copy and start reading.

I did. And it was totally worth it!  

I’ve talked a little about his book in an older Feature I had written about D A Botta and his series, but today I’m here with my thoughts on the first book in the Elyzian Chronicles series.

On her way to Salem State College, Emily Hobbs has a chance encounter with a fortune teller.  The tarot reading unfolds in a series of dramatic events that sets Emily on a collision course with destiny. 
Emily enters the realm of Elyzia as a witch.  Her powers quickly develop, out of necessity more than the tutelage at Cedalion Covenstead, as her life follows a preordained path of destruction and danger.

Thursday, July 24, 2014

Think Out Loud: Storm



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Soul Twister Blog Tour ... YAY!

Welcome to my stop on the Soul Twister (A Touched Girl #3) by Robyn Jones Blog Tour!

I’m so excited to be a part of this tour and I’m really happy that I interviewed Robyn this time! Don't miss her blog 

And hey, please join us, hang out, comment, check out the Touched Girl series because books 1 & 2 are only $0.99 on Amazon and Smashwords!! And don't forget to enter the rafflecopter giveaway!!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

Think Out Loud: The Cave



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

No more planning


You know, planning doesn’t always works. It’s the spontaneous and random acts that make the difference and really surprise us in a good way. And that counts for writing too. 

Don’t plan, don’t think about it and then it will come to you. Isn’t that what people say after all? Things come unexpectedly and the most beautiful ones come when we least expecting them.

Same applies for our stories. And it is so damn good! 

Monday, July 7, 2014

Writer’s block and now what?


We want to write, continue the story, the chapter and the book we’re working for so long but a black, stony wall rises up before us, hiding the sunny view and the flowery meadow. And now what? How can we bring it down with our bare hands? Seems hard, it is hard, but doable!

Monday, June 30, 2014

The Lux series rock

A while ago this series used to be in every book blog I was visiting. So, one day I decided to give it a try, mostly curious about Daemon Black who was spreading panic everywhere. Is he so interesting? I was wondering, but now I have an answer. 

Obsidian and Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout totally rock!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Think Out Loud: The Sea



This is Think out Loud. It’s a weekly meme created to help bloggers break out from the blogging bubble. The rules are simple. We post whatever we want and let people know what’s in our mind. Visit the creator on Thinks Books and join too. It’s so cool to share your random thoughts.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Stories. Story of my life


I’ve been accused of making scenarios, can you believe it?

This is not an accusation, it’s a compliment! But, well, I have to give the guy some credit. He is right. I’m making scenarios all the time and for everything. Seriously, everything.