RECLAIMED is available for pre-order!

So I had a nice little surprise on Thursday afternoon - Reclaimed went up on Amazon for pre-order. My awesome CP Kate tweeted me a link, and I had a little mini heart-attack when my book showed up. I had no idea it was going up this early! Thanks to everyone who has already pre-ordered it. The whole thing is a little surreal.

If you're interested, you can pre-order Reclaimed HERE.

Also, on Saturday I received a huge box of Reclaimed bookmarks from SHP. Aren't they gorgeous? They have the tagline on the back, which I love. One small town. Two big secrets. Three lives that will never be the same.

Seriously, y'all, I am so looking forward to October and being able to finally share this book with you.

Childhood Revisited: Lindsay Currie Reviews WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS

As a child, I read a lot. As a teen, I read even more. Now, as an adult, I realize how much all of that reading shaped me as a writer. I would spring out of bed like it was Christmas on RIF (reading is fundamental) day and come home with a beautiful, crisp new book. The funny thing was, it was always the same book I brought home. My other copies of it became worn, and the covers tattered between my sticky, little fingers. I always seemed to need a new copy. I'd stash the old ones on my bookshelf and put the new one on my desk so I could enjoy the shininess of its cover.

That book was Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls. The story of a boy and his beloved hunting dogs, living with his family in the heart of the Ozark mountains. It captured not only my attention, but my heart and I read it over and over again. If you look this book up, you'll find it's categorized as a children's novel as the main character is ten, but by many standards it's best read by fourth grade and up due to some salty language. There's also some significant violence, but absolutely none that I would consider gratuitous or irrelevant to the storyline.

Whether or not I knew it at the time, this book influenced me. It made me feel everything right along with the main character, Billy. It made me want hunting dogs even though I had no idea what on earth I'd do with them. I was completely sucked into the story and no matter how many times I read it, I was always in tears by the ending.

It. Was. Beautiful.

There are several books I could cite as being influential, but Where the Red Fern Grows definitely takes the prize for the strongest. Wilson Rawls taught me how vivid language and a beautiful imagination can weave magic. Reading that book encouraged me to write. The ability to move people with words like he could became far more alluring in my fourth-grade mind than any super power out there.

Recently, I read this book again with my son. I can't begin to tell you how powerful it was to see how it effected him, how excited he was for our reading time and how touched he was at the end of the book. Have there been other books that touched him? Of course. But not many that left a mark on the heart like this one. As an adult reading the book again, I'm in awe of this author's ability to juxtapose the bleakness of Billy's poverty with the perfection of the pristine land his family hunts. Rawls was unafraid to capture the moments of darkness in childhood, and the heartache of learning some of the harsher lessons in life. At the same time, he managed to grow that thing we all thrive on - as children, teenagers, adults. HOPE. That four lettered word that keeps us reading. . . keeps us wishing on stars and blowing eyelashes off of our fingers.

So, Where the Red Fern Grows -- my favorite childhood book and one that has stood the test of time for me. I can truly say although it might be a different appreciation, I love it just as much today as I did when I was ten.

 

Lindsay Currie is a YA writer repped by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary. Visit her blog at http://tiptoe-kisses.blogspot.com

or follow her on twitter at https://twitter.com/lindsayncurrie.

 

To Read and Read Again

Books were my first love. My grandmother (a teacher) taught me to read before I started school, so I spent most of my childhood lost in pages. I would hurry though my schoolwork so I could sit and read. I remember getting so lost in a book that I wouldn’t hear my mother calling me for dinner. I grew up in a small town, and books were a way for me to see the world. I felt I had traveled the globe by the time I got into high school and fell in love with Russian literature.

I am a re-reader. Sometimes I admit that with shame. There are so many amazing books out there that I want to read, and I know that I will never get to all of them. That thought makes me sad. When I read the Twilight series, I envied the Cullen’s insomnia. I couldn’t imagine all the books I would be able to read if I didn’t have to sleep.

I feel guilty sometimes when I’m re-reading a book. But I love that world and those characters so much that I want to get lost in it over and over again. Sometimes I re-read even if I didn’t love the book. I might have read the book before I was ready for it, and either it was too difficult for me to understand, or I hadn’t yet reached the point in my life where I could appreciate the struggles of the characters. I have both fallen in love with books that I didn’t really appreciate the first time I read them and have re-read books that, by the time I got to the re-read, had somehow lost their magic for me.

But more often than not, when I re-read I am transported to a familiar world, almost like home, and sometimes I’m even transported back to my childhood.

I’m going to do a series of reviews of childhood favorites. I have several guest bloggers lined up to write reviews of their favorite childhood stories. Maybe you’ll be inspired to read a book you’ve heard about but never had a chance to read. Maybe you’ll be reminded of one you loved. But I hope you’ll be motivated to do the same – re-read a book and maybe recapture a tiny piece of the magic of childhood.

On Growth

 

I’m not a huge fan of the Oscars. I do appreciate artists, those who work and hone their craft, and I am always glad to see that celebrated, as well as disappointed when it isn’t. This is not going to be a long rant on the state of Hollywood, as I know absolutely nothing of the state of Hollywood. But what I have noticed since the Oscars is frequent comments, namely on Twitter, that make me believe that we as a society have failed to grasp the  notion of growth.

 

When Anne Hathaway won, I saw over and over again how an Oscar just went to the girl from Ella Enchanted or The Princess Diaries and isn’t that appalling and horrendous. No, actually, it’s what should happen.

I don’t know where we got this notion that a person – and their talent – is stagnant or frozen. Artists, whether they are actors, painters, musicians, or writers, have to start somewhere. And I don’t believe they are born incredibly talented yet remain undiscovered until finally bursting out into the world fully-formed and incredible. Yes, some do. But most begin with a passion for something. They work hard at this passion, and over the years, they improve.

This is how it should be.

So no, I’m not surprised to see someone grow and improve in their craft. I’m impressed. No, I would not be surprised if someone wrote fill-in-the-blank-with-the-genre-you-think-is-trash novels and then later went on to pen a book that won the National Book Award. That is what growth is.

True artists work hard at their craft, seeking to improve it with each new work. Some of them start out way beyond where the rest of us will ever be. But that doesn’t mean they should stay there. I don’t care where an artist begins – what I want to see is their journey, the way they learn from each work they produce and go on to make it better, more meaningful, different.

I want to see passion translated into hard work and success, whatever that looks like.

I want to see someone become a master of their craft by meeting each day with the idea that they will give a little more of themself and be a little better than they were the day before.
I want to see Ella Enchanted go on to win an Oscar.

Trailer for THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM

I've already shared the beautifully creepy cover for my friend Mary Gray's book The Dollhouse Asylum, but today I get to share the trailer! Check it out:

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when seventeen-year-old Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields, with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe. But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

 

 

 

 

Spencer Hill Press is offering a special The Dollhouse Asylum bone charm necklace to FIVE winners throughout the tour. Potential winners only need to add the book to their to-read list on goodreads! (And, for bonus points, they can tweet about the giveaway!)

 

Add it to your Goodreads!

Cult Dollhouse Asylum link: http://marygraybooks.com/cult-dollhouse/for-members/

A Gif-tastic look at the Writing Process

1.  Oh look, a bright, shiny new idea!  This is probably my best idea ever; I can’t wait to start!



2.  Wow, the writing is going well.  This one is it!



3.  Hmm, not sure where this is going.  I love the characters, but where did I put the plot?



4.  This is horrible.  I hate everything about this.  I’ll just keep plugging away and fix it later.



5.  Later – this is the vilest piece of crap ever saved in a Word document.  It’s a horrible idea, and the writing is putrid.



6.  Ooh, an idea to fix the idea.  Scribble.  Scribble. Scribble.



7.  Nope, that didn’t work either.



8.  Fetal position.



9.  Rewrite the entire thing.



10.  Curse the Muse.



11. Rewrite the rewrites.



12. Kiss the Muse.



13. Drink.



I've never made gifs before, obviously, and it look me three times as long as it would have if I had just written this out. :)

Liebster

I am so grateful for all the blogs out there, big and small, that have entertained and educated me as I continuously try to improve my craft. My blog is new and small, but when I started it I knew I wanted it to be full of those things which I am passionate about. I review books I’ve loved and talk about what I’m learning through my writing journey. I’m thankful to other writers for sharing their passions and inspiring me.

Thank you to RhiannWynn-Nolet for presenting me with the Liebster blog award. It’s for blogs with fewer than 200 followers. The rules require me to answer 11 questions, nominate 11 more bloggers (I picked 9), and make up 11 questions for them to answer.

The questions I had to answer:

1. What’s your writing goal for 2013?

My goal this year is to finish revisions on current WIP and plot out the next two books. More importantly, I want to improve my craft. I want this book to be even better than the one that preceded it in its writing, tone, and resonance.

2. If you could write like any author (living or dead) who would it be, and why?

That’s a tough question because there are so many amazing authors out there that I admire. But I also don’t want to be just like another author. I want to be inspired and challenged by those authors, but I also want to have my own voice.

3. What was your favorite book as a teen?

Asking someone who loves books as much as I do to choose a favorite one is like asking a parent to choose a favorite child. I didn’t read much young-adult as a young adult. I did really adore The Great Gatsby. In the fourth grade I fell in love with The Hounds of the Morrigan and have read that book until the cover has fallen off.

4. What would be the best thing about getting a book published?

My book is coming out in October, and I can tell you that so far, the best thing about getting a book published has been working with my editor. I love being challenged, and I had to take a book that was already the best I could get it and find a way to make it even better. Danielle helped me with that, and it’s been a great experience.

5. Ancient Egypt, Classical Greece, Renaissance Italy. You have to go live in one. Pick one, and tell me why.

I think I would choose Classical Greece. Greece is a beautiful place (I would love to visit soon) and I was always interested in their learning and creation.

6. What’s the one thing that makes you decide not to finish reading a book you’ve started?

If the writing is horrible, I usually can’t go on. Even if the story is good, if I am distracted by the telling or lack of dimension in characters, I can’t stick with it.

7. Tell me three things about the MC in the most recent book you’ve written.

Brave, angry, resilient

8. What’s the single best thing about writing?

Creation. I love taking common words and creating something new.

9. Sea shell, oak leaf, rock, pine cone, cactus. Pick one, and tell me why.

Sea shell. I love the ocean, but I especially love the colors on sea shells and how they can speak to you if you listen closely.

10. Do you hate or love editing/revising?

I love editing/revising. I like it much better than drafting. I never like what I write when I’m drafting, but I love being able to mold it and make it better during revisions. Drafting is like scraping the clay out of the earth with your bare hands. Revising is being able to finally fashion it into something beautiful.

11. Scariest book. Ever. Why?

Probably Stephen King’s It. It’s also one of my favorite books of all time. It terrified me when I first read it in the 8^th grade. But now I love it so much for the relationships that develop between the kids as they are facing unspeakable horrors. It shows there is hope in love and friendship no matter how terrible everything else is.

My 11 amazing nominees:

1. Megan Whitmer, who is funny and supportive and just announced her book deal with Spencer Hill Press!

2. Maggie Hall, who just signed a three-book deal (!!!) with Putnam/Penguin and who offered me her couch so I could come Mardi Gras.

3. Erica Cameron, an amazing friend and whose book, Sing, Sweet Nightingale comes out next year!

4. Kelsey Macke, who can both sing and write beautifully and recently got an amazing agent!

5. Angi Black, a prolific, amazing writer and incredible friend who is brave enough to hang with me IRL.

6. Lindsay Currie, who is an awesome person and whose blog gives wonderful advice.

7. Andrea Hannah, who is absolutely adorable and both an incredible writer and mentor.

8. Darci Cole, a writer who also creates amazing wands. She's also super funny and supportive.

9. Leigh Statham, who is super sweet and has a book that sounds amazing.

My 11 questions:

1. Who (or what) inspired you to write?

2. What was the best piece of advice you ever received?

3. Book you are an advocate for.

4. What is the hardest thing about the writing process?

5. What are your writing goals for 2013?

6. If you could go back and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

7. When I grow up, I want to be ____.

8. What was the last book that made you cry?

9. If you could spend a month anywhere in the world, where would it be?

10. Plotter or pantser?

11. What’s the one thing you’re most excited about right now?