The Revival

So, it's been quite a long time since I posted (like, two years, but who's paying much attention to that?).  What got me thinking about this blog was a conversation with Rae.  She started an awesome blog (found here).

And, ... yeah. I decided to try blogging again (because who knows how easy it'll be for me to stop and disappear again). I plan on posting reviews again, and might even try talking about movies (as in book to movie sorts of movies). Oh, and I'll probably talk about randomness.  And post pictures of my cat, because lately, I've been taking all sorts of pictures of this one cat of ours.

That's all I've got for now. That, and this lovely picture of my cat.

Here's Kira, bathing in sunshine. 

Have a nice day!

Waiting on Wednesday (13)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme run by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

What's Left of Me
by Kat Zhang
Publication: September 18th 2012 by Harper

Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t…

For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable–hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet…for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

(Goodreads)

And other pretty cover. I'm a sucker for pretty covers, that's for sure.  This'll be another interesting one, I think.

What's your WoW this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme run by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

The Lost Girl
by Sangu Mandanna
Publication: August 28th 2012 by Balzer + Bray

Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

(Goodreads)

Yet another pretty cover. And the idea is so interesting.

What's your WoW this week?

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme run by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Taken
by Erin Bowman
Publication: April 16th 2013 by HarperTeen

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

(Goodreads)

Another pretty cover from HarperTeen. (That's why, if I ever get an agent, ever am published, I'd watch HarperTeen. Now back to the point...)  The whole no-men thing is interesting. And then what happens afterwards.  But I'll be honest: a major reason why I want this is because of the cover.  It is gorgeous.

What's your WoW pick this week?

In One Week

In one week, I'm going to start with editing.  Editing the winners' projects, and editing Lost Ties (previously titled Sever).  Until then, I aim to get lots more written for LT's sequel, Revived Pasts.  (I still need better titles for these, but I have lots of time (if I ever plan to query (which isn't very likely)).)  I'll also be preparing for Camp NaNo in August.

Right now, RP is at approximately eight thousand words.  I hope to get it around twenty by next week.

When you have no internet, you can get a lot written.  And speaking of no internet, I plan on reading a book a day for the days I am off camping.  I probably won't actually read a whole book, but I will try to get at least two books read soon.

As I get more into reading, writing, and editing, I start to realize that I don't have that much time left until school starts.  Five weeks are left.  Two of those weeks will be spent away from home.  One week will be spent at my school's parking lot, preparing for the upcoming marching season.  So that leaves me with two weeks to spend my time.

And then I need to read more.

Yeah, this summer has been uneventful, and not.  I've completed a novel, and actually am writing the second in the same trilogy.  That's a first for me.  And I hope to win Camp NaNo within two to three weeks.  Probably two.

So, that's my writing update.  I hope to start posting writing tips and more book reviews.

For my writing challenge: I must write 12k in 7 days.  That's about 1.7k a day.  Achievable.

And now, to write!

Waiting On Wednesday (10)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme run by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Stormdancer
by Jay Kristoff
Publication: September 18th 2012 by Thomas Dunne Books 

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima's imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger – a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A HIDDEN GIFT
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

(Goodreads)

This. Is. Amazing.  Well, sounds amazing.  I love anything that is oriental, and this book...  I just can't explain how much I want this.  I will be searching for this book as soon as I can.

What's your WoW pick this week?

Winners of the Birthday Giveaway!

I shall go straight into the winners.

Winner of the 50 page critique:
Meg K.

Winner of the 100 page critique:
Sarah L.

And winner of the full-manuscript critique:
Jennifer P.!

Congratulations, guys! You guys have 72 hours to email me at kellymoton[at]ymail[dot]com. Please let me know what you would like me to look for in the critique. In the reply, I'll ask you to email me your project as an attachment.

I'll be away from wi-fi come Friday, so try to email soon. I will pick another winner if necessary.

Congrats again, guys! I hope to hold another giveaway in the near future. It'll be for the Book Depository.