The Season by Sarah MacLean

Plot Summary: Seventeen year old Lady Alexandra is strong-willed and sharp-tongued -- in a house full of older brothers and their friends, she had to learn to hold her own. Not the best makings for an aristocratic lady in Regency London. Yet her mother still dreams of marrying Alex off to someone safe, respectable, and wealthy. But between ball gown fittings, dances, and dinner parties, Alex, along with her two best friends, Ella and Vivi, manages to get herself into what may be her biggest scrape yet. When the Earl of Blackmoor is mysteriously killed, Alex decides to help his son, the brooding and devilishly handsome Gavin, uncover the truth. But will Alex's heart be stolen in the process? In an adventure brimming with espionage, murder, and other clandestine affairs, who could possibly have time to worry about finding a husband?

My reading interests are not in historical fiction, especially Regency London, at the moment. I’ve read several that were okay, but the story and characters seemed to be repeating themselves over and over again. So I stopped reading them. Then, I heard about THE SEASON from multiple sources (book reviews, fellow writers, etc). When I hear buzz around a book, I make a point to read it, even if it’s not a story I would ordinarily like – I’m a writer, so I need to know what’s out there. : )

I had low expectations, and thought this story would repeat the other Regency books I’d read. The cover, the description, and the first chapter all supported that expectation.

As I kept reading, I was pleasantly surprised. The characters, though similar, were different enough to hold my interest. The dialog and banter were hilarious, and I even laughed out loud a few times (waking up my husband in the process).

I will say up front that this isn’t a story with a heart-stopping and head-scratching plot. The mystery and resolution are predictable, and the overall story is on the lighter side. But it was still fun.

The author has clearly done her homework on Regency London, and even manages to write in a tone that somewhat reflects that time frame, while keeping it modern enough to hold the reader’s interest. The main characters were a bit too modern, and the story was repetitive at times, but I still enjoyed it.

As with all my book discussions, there are SPOILERS below.

I think the author made a common mistake, which took much of the edge off the plot – she told the reader everything that’s going on by putting us in the murderer’s head. Even though she concealed his identity, his thoughts give away too much of himself and his situation regarding the Blackmoor estate. It was easy to guess who he was, even in the early chapters.

I think that if we never saw those thoughts, it would have made the mystery more interesting, and harder to predict. This would have upped the stakes of the story, especially since the resolution between Gavin and Alex is *very* predictable. Having an unpredictable plotline is an added assurance that the reader will keep reading, and want to keep reading, so he can find out what’s going to happen next. The best way of doing this is to not tell the reader things that the main characters can’t see. Then he will experience the unfolding of details as the characters get them, rather than getting everything ahead of time. Readers are smart, and will figure things out. And then we get frustrated with the characters because we’re way ahead and want them to catch up already. : )

Other than that, this was a good, light, and fun book to read.

Inspiring to Motivate

As some of you know, I’ve been working on a MG novel. And, the week before last, I finished it! Yay!! It’s not done-done, it’s just ready-for-critique-done. But all the big pieces are there, plus a lot of the little ones, and I’d been wondering if I’d ever reach this goal.

This story has a long history – seven years of it. During that time, I’ve had varying degrees of both inspiration and motivation to write it. Sometimes it poured in like a waterfall, and sometimes it was hardly a trickle. A question that’s been buzzing around my head lately is this: what kept me going on this story for so long? I certainly wasn’t inspired for the full seven years, nor was I motivated. I even set it on the shelf for years at a time. So why did I keep coming back to it?

I wasn’t really sure, so I sat down to examine the life of this project. Turns out it was shaped like a regular story.

Beginning:
With all my new ideas, there is no shortage of inspiration or motivation. The words almost come too fast for me to keep up, even when I’m in the planning stages. The same thing happened with my MG project. When the initial idea fell into my head, I got so excited that I wrote and wrote for weeks on end. The more I planned, the bigger the story got. But when I started writing it, it got smaller. So I went back to planning, then back to writing, planning, writing, etc. I kept going in this circle until I was so dizzy I didn’t know what to do. All I knew was something wasn’t right, and I didn’t know how to fix it. It irritated the heck out of me, so I set it aside to work on something else.

Middle:
After writing my first YA novel, I went back to my MG project to see what I could see. Again, I got really excited about the idea and set to planning. Again, the words flowed freely and I could hardly keep up. Then, I went through the same cycle as before. But I was determined to work through the problem this time. I even wrote separate pieces of the story, out of order, in an attempt to spark a solution. Nothing worked, and I was even more frustrated than the last time. I threw the story back on the shelf, then huffed off to work on something else.

End:
After writing my second YA novel, I didn’t go directly back to my MG project. Instead, I sketched out another YA story. When I had a rough, high level plan, I closed one eye and peeked at my MG project. I don’t know why I was treating it like it was going to jump out and bite me, because it was still in the same state I’d left it. :) This caution turned out to be beneficial, though. Instead of letting the idea carry me away, I took out the high-level plan and spread it out on the floor. And then, something happened...it all clicked into place. I had almost everything I needed, but it wasn’t in the right order, and some of the characters were playing the wrong roles. I switched those things around, and then *more* clicked into place. That required some new pieces to the plan, so I added those. Pretty soon, my floor was covered with a plan that made sense, really made sense, for the first time. I sat down to write the story, and the words flowed. It was like a dam bursting. I guess since they’d been stuck in my head for seven years, they just couldn’t wait to finally get out. This is the strongest first draft I’ve ever written...but that’s probably because it’s really the 200th draft. : )

But why did it take so long to get to this point? Quite frankly, the story required writing skills that I didn’t have, and I didn’t know how to go about learning them. It took seven years to first understand how to write it, and then to realize that I didn’t have those particular skills way back when. I still have plenty to learn, but at least I know enough to give this story what it deserves.

I also discovered that, through all this time of varying degrees of inspiration and motivation, these two remained constant:
Inspiration – I love the idea behind this story. Plus, I’m an explorer at heart, and I wanted to see where this idea would take me.
Motivation – The underlying themes are a huge part of myself. Sorting through them allowed me to grow internally, which made me a stronger, more confident person.

In other words, from the day the idea hatched in my head, there was never a question that I wouldn’t finish it. I will. It’s just a matter of time.
What keeps you motivated? What do you do when your motivation goes on a vacation?

Drum Cake...sorta

Yesterday was the birthday party of my best friend's son. This is the boy who was born severely premature, who I made the Fender guitar cake for last year.

This year, he wanted a drum. So I said "Sure! I can make that." But it didn't exactly work out that great.

First off, I made this great, three-layer, chocolate-vanilla-checkerboard cake and slathered frosting over the top. Then, while I was rolling out fondant (like playdoh, but made with sugar) to cover it, the top layer of the cake split down the middle and started sliding off. I fixed it, then tried to roll out the fondant faster since I knew it would hold the cake together. But, in my haste, I hadn't used enough powdered sugar on the counter top. The fondant stuck fast, tearing a hole right in the center. I had to start over....in the mean time, the top layer had completely slid off the cake and a crack was forming in the second layer.

My oldest son was in the kitchen with me, so I bit down on the swear that really wanted to escape, then got to work on the fondant again. I got it rolled out, correctly this time, then got to work trying to put my cake back together. I put the pieces back on the top, washed the frosting off my hands, then reached for the fondant...but the cake was sliding off again, and I swear it was faster than before! And, the middle layer was going with it! I screeched, scaring my poor son, then pushed it back together. I even enlisted his help. But the more I worked, the faster the thing fell apart. In a few short seconds, it was nothing but crumbs and frosting, and I had to toss the whole thing and start over.

I ended up with a two-layer chocolate cake, since I didn't have enough ingredients to make the checkerboard cake again. And the decorating didn't go as well as I'd hoped, either. Some of the supplies I'd gotten didn't have nearly the effect I wanted, and I had to improvise. The final product is a cake that somewhat looks like a drum...then, during transport, one of the drumsticks cracked. All in all, not my best cake. :) But here it is:

The Miles Between by Mary Pearson

Plot Summary: Destiny Faraday makes a point of keeping her distance from her classmates at Hedgebrook Academy. Her number-one rule: Don’t get attached. But one day, unexpectedly finding a car at their disposal, Destiny and three of her classmates embark on an unauthorized road trip. They’re searching for one fair day—a day where the good guy wins and everything adds up to something just and right. Their destination: Langdon, a town that Destiny’s unsuspecting companions hope will hold simply a day of fun. But, as Destiny says, “Things are not always what they seem.” Only she knows that Langdon holds far more than that—a deep secret she has never shared with anyone.

Okay, I know this book isn’t out yet, and some of you may consider this review torture (I know I would). But I just finished an ARC, and I can’t keep my mouth shut one second longer.

THE MILES BETWEEN is an amazing book. As soon as it’s on the shelves, go pick up a copy. You’ll be glad you did.

First off: present tense. I’m not a fan because most authors use it when it’s not needed. But I’m now convinced Pearson is the master of present tense. She used it effectively in JENNA FOX, and she did it again in MILES BETWEEN. In both stories, they needed to be told in present tense. Past tense wouldn’t have had nearly the same impact.

This is partly a story of strange coincidence, and partly a story of how things are not always what they seem. Destiny begins to see this on the road trip with her classmates, and she begins to realize that she doesn’t see as much as she thinks. This sets her on a path toward truth, and the reader sees even more things that aren’t what they seem.

The plot is extremely well-crafted. The balance between coincidence and the deliberate is precarious, but the author walks that line well by making the book all about coincidence. She also subtly suggests that we have the power to create our own coincidence, which is a concept I love. If the book just had this, I’d still love it. But it has even more.

The amount of emotion this story evoked was incredible. Even though I had suspected the Big Reveal at the end, that didn’t stop me from being completely absorbed in Destiny’s turmoil. It was so moving that I cried big, fat tears for her, and I don’t cry for books (because I can’t see through the tears, and therefore can't read). The last time I cried like this was over twenty years ago, when I read the ending of WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS. Incredible.

The ending was a little too good in places, which might turn some people off. However, since this book was about strange coincidence and ‘one fair day,’ I thought it fit the rules of the story. So, I’m okay with it.

As with all my book discussions, there are SPOILERS below. If you haven’t read this book yet, please stop reading this review until you have because I really don’t want to ruin your enjoyment of the book.

Have you read it yet? You sure? Okay...

There was only one thing that I thought needed a bit more, and that was the two students at the end who covered for Destiny and her friends. They pop in and pop out so quickly that I hardly had a chance to form an opinion about them. I didn’t need to know much, just more of a reaction from Destiny and friends, and perhaps some acknowledgement and appreciation – after all, this was a day of fairness, and what’s fairer than giving thanks where it’s due?

But that wasn’t nearly enough to ruin my enjoyment of the book. I’m not usually a fan of unreliable narrators, but I certainly loved this book. It’s going on my favorites shelf right next to the author’s other books. : )

Interview with Mandy Hubbard!

Today, we have an interview with Mandy Hubbard, author of PRADA & PREJUDICE. This is her first book, but I think we can expect many more in the future! And now, here's Mandy!

Tell us about PRADA AND PREJUDICE.
It's a novel for teens about 15 year old Callie, who buys Prada heels to impress the popular girls--but then trips, hits her head, and wakes up in 1815.

What was the inspiration behind your idea?
I really love the time period, but novels set in that era are a little harder to identify with. A teen in 1815 would be worrying about finding a good husband, not a boyfriend! So I combined my favorite elements in reading: a modern character and a historical setting.

How long did it take to get from the initial idea to a completed novel?
If by "completed novel", you mean the one you read today, 3 years. If you mean the first time I thought it was complete, a couple of months. As it turned out, I was wrong. Very, very wrong.

How long did it take to find your agent?
Surprisingly, the agent was the easy part. I signed my first agent based on a partial of a book called THE JETSETTERS SOCIAL CLUB. We were together nine months when I decided to leave her, and that was a super scary decision, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. I queried immediately, and within three weeks signed a new agent. As it turned out, nothing else would go that quickly or easily-- it took nearly two years and over forty rejections on two novels before I sold my debut.

How often do you write, and how much do you write in one sitting?
This varies tremendously. I generally write at least six days a week, at least a half hour at a time. In a day, I can write 2,000 to 5,000 words (my record is 8,000). I almost never get to carve out three or four hour blocks-- I write during my train commute, during my lunch break, or after 9pm, when my daughter is in bed. Turns out you can write a whole novel in 20-30 minute increments.

How did you get in to writing for young adults?
That first agented novel, THE JETSETTERS SOCIAL CLUB, was originally about four twenty-something girls. My first agent asked me to rework it as a YA. Ever since I did that, everything else has been YA.

What are you working on now?
I'm writing two projects at the same time-- my June 2010 novella for Harlequin (this one is for adults) and my Summer 2010 YA book. I'm SUPER psyched about the YA and I think it'll really appeal to fans of Prada & Prejudice. I can't announce the details yet, but I hope to soon!

Are you a planner, or do you write by the seat of your pants?
Mostly seat of my pants, but this is slowly morphing. My editor is really amazing at piecing together the elements of a good book and making it the best that it can be, so if I provide her with an outline before I start, she can steer me in the right direction and ask the right questions. So I am trying super hard to start planning more!

Are you a paper person, or the computer-only-type?
I kid you not, I don't think I would write another book if I had to hand write it. I hate, hate, hate hand-writing things. Computer only, for sure!

What does your writing space look like?
I have a spare room at home, with hardwood floors and green and tan painted walls. The furniture is all black ikea furniture, except my bright blue rolly chair. I do have a huge blowup of my Prada & Prejudice cover, too! It keeps me motivated.

How much do you read, and what are you reading now?
I seem to average about 75 books a year. The last book I read was FAIRY TALE by Cyn Balog. She's my critique partner, and I hadn't read Fairy Tale since she wrote the first draft, back in 2006. It was so much fun reliving the story and seeing what she'd done with it!

Thanks so much for joining us today!

To see more of what Mandy is up to, check out her website at MandyHubbard.com, or her blog at MandyWriter.livejournal.com. For a chance to win a copy of this book, go here and follow the instructions to enter!

August Book Giveaway!

This month, I'll be giving away three books to three people! And these books are from two fabulous, debut authors:

PRADA AND PREJUDICE by Mandy Hubbard
PARIS PAN TAKES THE DARE and THE GREAT CALL OF CHINA by Cynthea Liu

Be sure to read the entry guidelines carefully, so you get all the entries you're entitled to.

To enter:
- Leave a comment on this post.
- For another entry, become a follower of this blog and leave another comment telling me so. If you already are a follower, leave a comment telling me this.
- For another entry, post a link to this contest, then leave a separate comment with the URL. If you post to muliple locations, then leave a separate comment for each URL.

I will announce the winners on August 29th. Also, look for interviews with both authors later in the month!

Good luck!!

Edited to add: My husband surprised me with a fabulous vacation, so this contest has been extended to midnight, Sept 2nd. I'll announce the winner sometime Sept 3rd. Good luck!!