The Buzz: YA Movie Goodies

I didn't really get into The Mortal Instruments series. I only read the first one...

Now I'm kind of glad I didn't continue because it looks like the movies are going to be great, and I'll have no idea what happens in the next one! For some reason I really can't enjoy a movie if I've read the book. It just seems to be lacking in every way.

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

August 23, 2013

ooooh oooh oooh....so excited about the Divergent movie too! Can't wait :)

Release Date: March 21, 2014

LA Times Festival of Books 2013

What I don't tell you in this interview is that I was just in the stairwell nursing my 3-month-old baby in the 90 degree heat while he was on a nursing strike.

I think I held my cool pretty well...

 

Gosh it was a fun event though...basically hanging out with my writer/pub friends all day and meeting fans. Loved it!

Thanks for the interview Scripts & Scribes!

UPRISING Upcoming Blog Tour Schedule

If you've been wondering...what they heck has Jessica been doing lately...

This.

Wheeeew....


Virtual Launch Participants

Kim Chavez

Jill Marie

Vive Le Nerd

Debra Kristi

Meradeth Houston

Lili Lost in a Book

Rebekah Loper
Dyadic Echoes
OMFG Books
Melanie Fowler
Bookmarks
Darkest Addictions
So You're a Writer
Dazzled by Books
Brandon Ax
Mr. Book Wonder
Erin York
Kindred Dreamheart
Fictitious Musings
K.T. Hanna
Andi's Young Adult Books
Dani Bertrand
Sucked Into Books
CoverGirls

Blog Tour Schedule

June 1^{st -} Sat.

Christa Yelich-Koth – Interview

Artsy Musings of a Bibliophile – Book Review

June 2^{nd -} Sun.

Brandon Ax – Interview

K.T. Hanna - Interview & Giveaway

June 3^{rd -} Mon.

Kindred Dreamheart – Book Review & Guest Post

Hypable –Book Review & Giveaway

June 4^{th -} Tue.

Meradeth Houston – Interview & Book Review

Bookmarks – Interview

June 5^{th -} Wed.

So You're a Writer – Guest Post

Ann Marie Meyers – Interview

June 6^{th -} Thurs.

Rebekah Loper – Book Review

Darkest Addictions – Book Review & Interview

Synchronized Reading – Guest Post

June 7^{th -} Fri.

Dyadic Echoes – Interview & Guest Post

Dazzled by Books – Book Review & Guest Post

Mr. Book Wonder – Book Review & Guest Post

June 8^{th -} Sat.

Andi's Young Adult Books – Interview & Book Review

Tattoo Girl Reads – Interview & Book Review

June 9^{th -} Sun.

In This World of Books – Interview Book Review

Melanie Fowler – Vlog: writing advice

June 10^{th -} Mon.

Alex J. Cavanaugh – Guest Post

Hypable - Interview

CoverGirls - Interview

June 11^{th -} Tue.

Bookaholic-ness – Book Review & Interview

June 12^{th -} Wed.

OMFG Books – Playlist & Giveaway

Shattering Words – Interview

Erin York – Book Review

June 13^{th -} Thurs.

Fictitious Musings – Excerpt

Lili Lost in a Book – Book Review

Sucked Into Books - Book Review

June 14^{th -} Fri.

Book Mark Belles – Book Review

June 15^{th -} Sat.

Dani Bertrand – Guest Post

The Buzz: Catching Fire Trailer & Divergent Casting

Whaaaaat? Who's excited??? ME!!! 

In theaters November 22, 2013

For you Divergent junkies:

LATFOB

I'll be at the LA Times Festival of Books this weekend (April 20 & 21)! It will be my first book event with the baby...wish me luck :) I'm SO excited! I hope to see you there. Anyone going?

The Buzz: Author Friends

I'm so lucky to have so many amazing author friends. There are a few who go above and beyond to support me (and I'm sure I'll forget some of you...feel free to call me out!). I wanted to return the favor and post a bit about their books. They deserve all the support they give me and MORE! I only hope one day I can return the many favors these amazing people have done for me.

First, to Meradeth Houston: Thank you for being one of the first to read and review Uprising! I've been so amazed by your support.

Link

Julia has a secret: she killed the guy she loved. It was an accident—sort of.

Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia used to enjoy, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia's not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia's going to lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.




To Brandon Ax: Thanks for everything! The cover of your book is AMAZING!

Sophia's mother disappeared when she was six, leaving behind a broken father and sleep disturbed by silent terrors. Now twelve years later, the nightmares that plagued her youth have suddenly returned.

With dark creatures occupying her nights and a sense of restlessness consuming her days, all she wants is to finish school and get out of her small town as fast as possible. Everything changes when she is confronted with the realization that the shadowy beings from her dreams are real. The truth of this reality hits hard when someone she loves is killed. It would seem that anyone in their way is disposable.

A mysterious boy named Aiden enters her life bringing with him all sorts of complications. They're drawn to each other, but their connection brings Aiden right into the path of her half-demon nightmares. With her father and several new friends put in the cross-hairs, Sophia must decide whether to let the shadows take her or stand her ground and fight. As the school year steadily moves closer to an end her decision may come with the cost of her life or worse—the lives of those she cares about. 

To Alex J. Cavanaugh: Thanks for all of your support in everything!

Link

To pilot the fleet s finest ship Few options remain for Byron. A talented but stubborn young man with a troubled past and rebellious attitude, his cockpit skills are his only hope. Slated to train as a Cosbolt fighter pilot, Byron is determined to prove his worth and begin a new life as he sets off for the moon base of Guaard. Much to Byron s chagrin the toughest instructor in the fleet takes notice of the young pilot. Haunted by a past tragedy, Bassa eventually sees through Byron's tough exterior and insolence. When a secret talent is revealed during training, Bassa feels compelled to help Byron achieve his full potential. As war brews on the edge of space, time is running short. Byron requires a navigator of exceptional quality to survive, and Bassa must make a decision that could well decide the fate of both men. Will their skills be enough as they embark on a mission that may stretch their abilities to the limit? calls to mind the youthful focus of Robert Heinlein s early military sf, as well as the excitement of space opera epitomized by the many Star Wars novels. Fast-paced military action and a youthful protagonist make this a good choice for both young adult and adult fans of space wars. - Library Journal


To Christa Yelich-Koth: You're awesome. Bottom line :)

Link

A scifi-noir graphic novel adventure where a choice must be made: Free Will or Happiness? Noz awakes with blood on his hands. He has just murdered a spy who disclosed the location of his rebel encampment. It won't be long before the aliens who conquered his planet find his team. But as he heads back, he is conflicted. Is he doing his world a favor by restoring their memories? What good is free will if you use it to destroy yourself and those around you? Under the memory-alterations of the aliens, Noz's people are happy, productive and ignorant. Are they better off that way? Noz must decide. And he is running out of time.

To Carrie Butler: Thanks for being awesome!

Link

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.



AnnMarie Meyers: Thanks for reaching out to me :)

Ever since she can remember, ten-year-old Melody has always wanted to fly.


And when she leaps off a swing in the park one day and lands in the mystical realm of Chimeroan, her dream finally comes true. She is given a pair of wings. She can fly! Life cannot be any better.


Yet, dreams do come with a price. Even with wings, Melody realizes she cannot outfly the memories of her past. The car accident that has left her father paralyzed, and her unscarred, still plagues her with guilt—she believes that it was entirely her fault.


In Chimeroan, Melody is forced to come to terms with her part in her father's accident. She must choose between the two things that have become the world to her: keeping her wings or healing her father.

Holly K. Kammier (Critique Partner/Editor/Awesome Friend) - THANK YOU! What would I do without you?

Virtual Launch Party & Blog Tour RSVP for UPRISING

Hi all! Anyone want to join my Virtual Launch Party for the release of Uprising? I'm not above bribing you ;) I'll be giving away a free signed copy of Oppression and a signed copy of Uprising to one lucky Virtual Launch Party participant. PLUS a $25 Visa gift card and lots of other cool stuff as part of my Uprising Blog Tour.

Here's how to help me host the Virtual Launch Party:

In Uprising, things get a little more intense. We meet new Descendants with lots of interesting powers, powers they'll need to use to defend themselves. As part of the Virtual Launch you can: 

1) Write a post on your blog about your favorite supernatural power or what you think it would be like if a supernatural race was exposed to human society.

Or…

2) Simply write a post about the release of Uprising to help me spread the word!

Want to help me host?

When: May 28, 2013

Where: On Your Blog

What: Write a post that shares the news about book 2 in my Children of the Gods series, Uprising.

RSVP below so that I can post a link to your blog when the party starts

I will also be taking Uprising around on a Blog Tour shortly after the launch from June 1-15.

The tour will include the following:

     1.      Book Reviews

     2.      Interviews

     3.      Guest Posts

     4.      Giveaways

If you are interested in having me on your blog for an interview, guest post, or any other awesome idea you may have, fill out the form below

Guest Post: Author of STRENGTH, Carrie Butler

Ooooh goodie. I'm so excited to hand over today's blog post to Ms. Carrie Butler. Not only because I just loved her book Strength (review here), but because I get to incorporate all of her awesome graphics and that sexy cover! Plus, she's hilarious. As you might guess, so is her main character. Rena was constantly making me laugh out loud to myself as I was reading. So, I wanted to pick Carrie's brain and figure out how she went about writing such a funny (yet badass) character. Welcome to the blog Carrie!

5 Tips for Writing a Funny Main Character

Thank you for having me over, Jessica!

To prepare for this topic, I ventured into the shadowy place Mufasa warned us about in The Lion King—the place we, as authors, must never go. That's right. I read some of STRENGTH's reviews.

Thankfully, the mission was simple: Get in, (CTRL + F) search for the word "funny," copy a few excerpts, and then get out. No big deal, right? Wrong. My palms were sweating like the reviewers were all sitting around, eyeing me for a wire. I didn't think I was going to make it out of there alive!

But I did. So, after I had a nice assortment, I threw everything into a Wordle cloud. Now we can actually see into the minds of readers. What resonates with them? Where do their comments overlap? Why do they react the way they do?

Behold...

You know what this says to me? Humor must be character-driven. Thankfully, I have five conveniently prepared tips to help with that!

1.     Write a relatable character. May their actions be ever-human and their thought processes three-dimensional.

2.     Set a nice dynamic. Use supporting characters to (figuratively) open up your MC and show their playful side.

3.     Figure out what makes you laugh. If you're cracking up, it'll translate onto the page. Don't worry about the readers who don't share your sense of humor. At the end of the day, you're not writing for them.

4.     Play up contrasts, i.e. a mousy librarian with overly aggressive thoughts.

5.     Work on your timing. Get a little back-and-forth dialogue going, and then blindside the reader with something crazy. It's always fun to catch people off guard! ;)

About STRENGTH

Series: Mark of Nexus - Book 1
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release Date: March 07, 2013
Formats: E-Book & Paperback
Paperback ISBN: 9781938404351
E-book ISBN: 9781938404368

Synopsis

When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, she’s stunned. Wallace Blake is everything she’s ever wanted in a man—except he can’t touch her. His uncontrollable strength, a so-called gift from his bloodline, makes every interaction dangerous. And with a secret, supernatural war brewing among his kind, there’s no time to work it out. To keep Wallace in her life, Rena will have to risk a whole lot more than her heart.

Links

BOOK PAGE  |  GOODREADS  |  PUBLISHER  |  FACEBOOK  |  PINTEREST  |  BOOK TRAILER

About the Author

Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.

Links

WEBSITE  |  BLOG  |  PUBLISHER  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  GOODREADS  |  GOOGLE+  |  LINKEDIN

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway