NaNoWriMo: Are you thinking about it?

I LOVE November - not just for the fall flavors, the boots, and the chilly crisp air but also because it's the one time of year that I stick to a writing schedule.

I've done NaNoWriMo for 6 years now and I'll be working on my 7th this year. I love it and here's why:

1. Everyone knows I do it, so I'm not pressured into saying yes for other things this month

2. I write Daily (or almost daily, I do take some days off)

3. The creative juices flow and I get into the heads of my characters

4. I feel accomplished after hitting my word count for the day

5. I talk about writing on twitter with other writers - and it's all encouraging

6. I know the words don't have to be perfect -they just have to be there (This was tripping me up before whenever I started writing, but thanks to the short window, now it doesn't matter. I have all the time in the world to go back and fix them.)

7. I have a plotting dinner date with my husband each year before November at the restaurant of my choice. He listens to me plot and offers suggestions when I get stuck.

So, if you're on the fence, bite the bullet and do it. You won't regret it!

Also, I've written a few handy tips here and here should you still be deciding.

When you join up, don't forget to friend me! (YA Book Nerd of course)

Books I'm Dying to Read: December Edition

Here are the books I'm looking forward to reading this month. There's still not many, so I'll be playing catch up and reading holiday romances! 

 

Operation Cinderella: I saw this advertised in an Ingram magazine and it caught my eye. Sounds like a good adult thriller 

Death with All the Trimmings: I've started this one and it's great so far! Love this series set in Key West. It always makes my mouth water.

 

Spell Booked: A new series about witches training their replacements when their spell book is stolen.

Ghost and Mrs Meyer: Book 2 in a pet friendly hotel series where a supernatural TV show has come to town for filming.

If You've Got In, Haunt it: New series about ghosts and vintage fashion

 

Top 10 Clues, You're Clueless: Looks really cute!

In the Cards: Debut that sounds really good

Meet Your Baker: Family bakery could be a place to heal, until someone is murdered

There's this Thing: Cute picture book for Valentine's Day

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Influenced Vacations

This week's topic is book that made you want to visit their setting.

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish

 

for Florence. I 've been there once, but would love to spend more time there.   

Paris! I need to explore this city so much more

 

for Machu Picchu - I would love to see it

 Ireland - I would love to visit Dublin and the countryside

  

Chicago and the hidden doors of Capone

 

Vermont - a resort in the winter in front of a fire and lots of snow on the ground

 Spending a week on an artisan farm

  

Italian countryside

 Scotland - I've always wanted to go there, since I was a kid. 

 

London - I've never been and need to go - one day!

Bonus:

 

The entire series forces the siblings to see amazing place (I'd go without all the danger)

Where do books make you want to travel?

Tween Tuesday Review: All Access Sports

Tagline: A behind the scenes look at the coolest things in sports

Set-Up:
The book's divided into three categories: Athletes, Places, and Gear.
Athletes: Facts about your favorites: from their pre-game rituals to what they like to do with their downtime to their favorite sneakers.
Cool Places: building monsters trucks and cool baseball fields
Gear: What does a hockey goalie really wear - plus cool history from Cooperstown and the making of a football

The Good:
The lift and look pages are awesome
Lots of facts
Great pictures
I like how it covers a variety of sports - from conventional to non conventional

The Bad: 
There's nothing bad about this book

Overall:Perfect - Get this for the young sports fans in your life!

* Sent for review

Famous In Love Blog Tour

The Book on Tour

Title: FAMOUS IN LOVE

Author: Rebecca Serle

Pub. Date: October 21, 2014

Publisher: Poppy

Pages: 336

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

The romantic story of a girl who gets plucked from obscurity to star in the next major feature film franchise based on a book and the ensuing love triangles she gets entangled in on—-and off screen. 

Meet Paige Townsen, Rainer Devon, and Jordan Wilder…

When Paige Townsen, a young unknown, gets cast in the movie adaptation of a blockbuster book series, her life changes practically overnight. Within a month, Paige has traded the quiet streets of her hometown for a crowded movie set on the shores of Maui, and is spending quality time with her co-star Rainer Devon, one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive. But when troubled star Jordan Wilder lands the role of the other point in the movie’s famous love triangle, Paige’s crazy new life gets even crazier.

In this coming-of-age romance inspired by the kind of celeb hookups that get clever nicknames and a million page views, Paige must figure out who she is – and who she wants – while the whole world watches.

Fun Fact:  LOCKED which is the story/movie script the characters are cast for inside FAMOUS IN LOVE is a real book! Written by Rebecca Serle writing as Parker Witter, who is also the reclusive author character in her Famous in Love series! Read the article in Publishers Weekly HERE!

About Rebecca:
Rebecca Serle is the author of When You Were Mine, The Edge of Falling, and Famous in Love and is an obsessive lover of all things pop culture. She blogs about The Vampire Diaries for New York magazine’s Vulture and can be found on Twitter: @RebeccaASerle. She, like Caggie, lives in Manhattan—just far from the Upper East Side.

Photo by Tara Kelly

Find Rebecca Online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Hey guys! Rebecca Serle here, author of the upcoming series FAMOUS IN LOVE. It’s a novel where fiction meets reality When Paige Townsen, a totally normal girl-next-door, is plucked from obscurity to star in the next major film franchise based on a book. When she relocates from her hometown of Portland to Maui (as in, Hawaii!) to film the movie, she falls for the two lead actors she meets on set: Rainer Devon, and Jordan Wilder

       Would you ever want to star in a movie?

I don’t think so, no. I’m much better behind the scenes. Public speaking makes me incredibly nervous. I don’t think I’d last five minutes on a set.

       What book did you base the movie off from? (I love that the blockbuster movie is based off a book)

The movie is based off a novel Locked by Parker Witter. You can read that novel. It’s available online everywhere.

       Do you have a favorite book to movie adaptation?

Yep—Harry Potter. That’s not to say I don’t love others. Twilight, The Huger Games, Divergent—I’m fans of them all. But I grew up with Harry Potter and those adaptations were nothing short of magic. Being a part of the Harry Potter generation is something I will treasure forever.

       Do have a favorite movie love triangle? And literary love triangle?

My favorite current love triangle is probably Damon-Stefan-Elena on The Vampire Diaries. The love triangles I love the most are the ones where the boys have a lot of love for one another. Damon and Stefan are brothers. They’re probably my favorite pairing. Defan for the win!

Literary love triangles—hmm. Clary-Jace-Simon I think. I am a huge TM fan.

       If you were going to a Hollywood Premiere - what dress would you wear?

Something red by Prada because red is my favorite color and Prada is my favorite designer.

       What's up next for you?

I’m working on the sequel to Famous in Love, which should be in your hands next fall. Stay tuned and check www.rebeccaserle.com for updates! 

 See where Rebecca's headed next in week one of the blog tour:

10/14/2014- WhoRuBlog- Review

10/15/2014- Bewitched Bookworms- Guest Post

10/16/2014- Fiction fare- Interview

10/17/2014- Wishful Endings- Review

I really loved this book: read my review  and if you think it sounds good, then you're in luck

Giveaway Details:

Five winners will receive a finished copy of FAMOUS IN LOVE as well as an eBook of Parker Witter's LOCKED! ?(US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Swan Point

* Book 11 in the sweet Magnolia series *

Adelia's still a little shaken up from the break-up of her marriage. She's happy to be rid of her unfaithful husband Ernesto, but starting over is hard with four children.  Plus she feels guilt from her Catholic upbringing and her sisters aren't happy with her choice.  Still, she's moving forward. Adelia bought a new house on Swan Point, which needs a little fixing up.

Gabe has come home to Swan Point. He wants to change his life around and become something other than a trouble maker in the eyes of the town.  Yes, he had a rough time of it as a teen and left town vowing never to come back. His cousin gives him a job at his construction site.  

When Gabe and Adelia meet, neither of them is looking for love, but the sparks fly anyway. Could it be something or just a rush of chemistry?

My Thoughts: I love Sherryl Woods' books, especially this series. I love the strong women characters who band together and look out for each other. I felt bad for Adelia and how her family wasn't always supportive and behind her. I really liked Adelia's kids and how they tried to understand their new life. They were sweet, smart, and resilient.  I love their interactions with Gabe. I liked watching Gabe struggle to overcome his past and fight for his future and for himself. I really hope that the next book features Carolina because I'm worried about her. Sheryl Woods has a way of writing that gets under your skin.

Cover Thoughts: Pretty
Source: My Library

Mini Review: Children's Activity Atlas

The Set-Up:
* includes how to use the atlas page
13 illustrated maps
postcards
passport
stickers to place on the maps (including flags, animals, objects, and architecture.

The Good:
A great learning tool for young readers
Great Facts * Great Illustrations * Great Maps
Very colorful, easy way to learn about the world and different cultures.

The Bad:
With the interactive parts, this book is harder for libraries - but still a great read.

Overall:
This book is perfect for kids wanting to learn more about the world in an easy, but informative matter. The stickers and facts will keep them entertained while learning about the world. I can't wait to share it with my niece.

Book Sent for Review.