9 Heart Review: The Moon Sisters by Therese Walsh + Giveaway! (US)

The Moon Sisters
by Therese Walsh
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Page Count: 317
Release Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: Crown (Random House)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by publisher via tour publicist in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Random House and TLC!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

This mesmerizing coming-of-age novel, with its sheen of near-magical realism, is a moving tale of family and the power of stories.

After their mother’s probable suicide, sisters Olivia and Jazz take steps to move on with their lives. Jazz, logical and forward-thinking, decides to get a new job, but spirited, strong-willed Olivia—who can see sounds, taste words, and smell sights—is determined to travel to the remote setting of their mother’s unfinished novel to lay her spirit properly to rest.

Already resentful of Olivia’s foolish quest and her family’s insistence upon her involvement, Jazz is further aggravated when they run into trouble along the way and Olivia latches to a worldly train-hopper who warns he shouldn’t be trusted. As they near their destination, the tension builds between the two sisters, each hiding something from the other, until they are finally forced to face everything between them and decide what is really important.

Buy the book from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | iTunes | Kobo | Publisher

Review

"If you live your whole life hoping and dreaming the wrong things, what does that mean about your whole life?"

Beth Moon believed in one thing her entire adulthood—something that surpassed the importance of her husband, children, and self. Beth Moon was a writer, one who incorporated her dream into every word she penned, and one who penned words into every dream she dreamed. Upon recognizing the inevitable void in her entire crux of belief, she fell into a terrifying depression; and soon after, she took her own life.

But this is not the story of Beth Moon. Not really, anyways. This is the story of Beth Moon's untimely, ill-fated death: the uncovering of and reconciliation with her past, her ailments, her baggage. This is the story of her dreams and her writing: her unsent letters and unfinished novel. Ultimately, however, this is the story of her daughters, Jazz and Olivia Moon, and more importantly: of their inheritance.

Olivia's reality has always been bizarre, so when she decides to toss her mother's ashes into a suitcase and leave her isolated West Virginian hometown to go off to fulfill her mother's yearnings, Jazz isn't all that surprised.

[Olivia has] never been the poster child for sense.

Olivia's unfaltering quest propels the clashing sisters into what begins as a risky adventure—involving traveling, train-hoppers, and the unforgiving wilderness—and ends in devastating but simultaneously uplifting family revelations that makes The Moon Sisters one of the most evocative and perceptive adult coming-of-age novels I've ever read.

Narrated in alternating first-person voices of the two sisters, the novel elegantly embodies the suffocation and restlessness that arises from living in a small town, as well as the many faces and stages of grief. Readers follow both Jazz and Olivia's physical and emotional journeys as they lose their way, find their way, fall apart, and fall in love; with this progression, readers discover how each sister deals with her own denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, triumphantly: acceptance.

One of the most significant questions Therese Walsh raises through both of the Moon daughters is on the worthwhileness of hoping and believing. The elusiveness of dreams—a once-comforting notion—increasingly causes both sisters distress as they reflect upon their respective childhoods and their mother's dismal reason for existence. Is it smart to hope and dream? Is it safe? Does it ever end in anything other than disappointment?

I was impressed by how realistic Jazz, the older sister, is—so flawed and easy to sympathize with. It was difficult for me to like her because she's so uptight, so logical, but I identify with her in so many other ways. Olivia, on the other hand, is a brightly burning character—both on the pages, and off. Her way of thought is difficult to penetrate—partly due to the synesthesia, partly due to the undeveloped sense of maturity—but it doesn't make her any less distinct; she's a colorful, imaginative character who's entirely offbeat, but that much more lovable. Therese Walsh is excellent with describing the flavor of words and the appearance of sounds and the way a person can smell like the sun. As in Amaryllis in Blueberry and A Mango-Shaped Space, the author vividly creates a different kind of reality from within Olivia; the effect is subtly hallucinogenic and staggeringly poetic.

While Hobbs, Olivia's secretive train-hopping companion, is a minor character, his relationship with Olivia smolders, ignites... intoxicates. I won't give too much away, but their slow-building rapport made me melt and shatter and want to cry. The Moon Sisters isn't explicitly a romance, but it contains overwhelming glimpses into the sheer capacity and capability of the human connection, that will desperately make you wish it was.

Illuminated by Walsh's mesmerizing, commanding voice, The Moon Sisters reads dreamlike—magical and dizzying and airy—but still possesses the emotional weight of coping and continuing—the care, keeping, and purging of ghosts, if you will. Readers will easily identify with the firmly planted emotions regarding tortured souls, family bonds, and the weakness and resilience that comes with being human.

Pros

Perfectly blends adventure, family drama, and personal reflection together // Exquisite style // Both sisters' points of view are equally refreshing and intriguing // Olivia and Hobbs... ugh ♥ // Story lulls in pace, but the tension makes it impossible to put down // Emotionally, powerfully reflective of the human heart and propensity to dream // Trippy, dreamlike perspectives are so well constructed

Cons

Slow start // Didn't like how Beth Moon's letters are actually displayed. They seem much too private and were disappointing solely because it seems impossible to write them the way I imagined them

Love

There was no snapping branches or movements between us then. Only a sense of seeing that went beyond what anyone might perceive with eyes.

He's uglier than sin, you know.

I doubted I would believe that even if I weren't living life on periphery and bound for a further edge, if I could see Hobbs's dragon-camouflage skin with all its details. Liking him felt more honest than anything I'd experienced before, too, maybe because of its quick-form, raw-wound beginning and lack of clarity, its sheer instinct, and the fact neither of us had turned yet to run in the other direction.

"You don't scare me, Hobbs."

"Said the girl who stared at the sun."

Verdict

An intricate, intimate portrait of one young woman's quest to carry out her deceased mother's unfulfilled dream—as well as her older sister's determination to put an end to it—The Moon Sisters is a gorgeously crafted and expressive examination of the importance of sticking together as a family, maintaining fair perspective, and the harmful but necessary means of self-preservation. Offering endless discussion on topics such as the true difference between blindness and sight, the role and impact of mothers, and the dangers of the foolish fire that is hope, this would make a terrific book-club read. Therese Walsh skillfully weaves a complicated story with even more complicated roots in this glorious second novel; I love and recommend it wholeheartedly 

9 hearts: Loved it! This book has a spot on my favorites shelf (x)

Giveaway!

Books à la Mode is giving away one finished print copy of The Moon Sisters—yay!! To enter, all you have to do is tell me:

What's something you're determined to do or experience before you die?

Don't forget to include your email address or Twitter username in your comment so I know who to contact when I choose a winner. Don't make me track you down!!!! No email = No entry!

My serious answer: I know this is way way way too early for me to be thinking about, but I don't want to die before starting my own family. The loving husband, the two-point-five children, the rowdy dog, the white picket fence—all that average stuff ;)
My less serious answer: Write (and publish!) a novel.

What about you?

Please make your comment MEANINGFUL. Comments solely consisting of stock responses or irrelevant fluff like "Thanks for the giveaway!" will not be considered for entry. Therese and I really want to hear from you guys! :)

Don't forget the entry eligibility terms and conditions!

Sponsored wholly by the tour publicist and publisher—a huge thank you to TLC and Random House!
Giveaway ends April 22nd at 11.59 PM (your time).

Open to US residents only—sorry, international readers! Check out my sidebar for a list of currently running giveaways that are open worldwide—there are plenty to choose from!
Void where prohibited.

Winners have 48 hours to claim their prize once they are chosen, or else their winnings will be forfeited.
Although I do randomly select winners, I am in no way responsible for prizes, nor for shipping and handling.

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤

Good luck!

4 Heart Review: The Weeping Empress by Sadie S. Forsythe

The Weeping Empress
Sadie S. Forsythe

Page Count: 242
Release Date: 1 December, 2011 (first edition)
Publisher: Lulu (self-published)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you, Sadie!)
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Chiyo Alglaeca was happy in her life.

That is, until it was all taken away. Forced into notoriety, stalked by a mysterious cult, hunted by the emperor, and facing betrayal at every turn she clings to the only safety she can find: two enigmatic men and the sharp bringer of death, Salvation. The Weeping Empress explores the devastating effects of loss, the hunt for redemption, and the price of destiny. It questions the true meaning of evil and asks: What monster is not also an innocent?

Buy the book at: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Books-A-Million | Sony eStore | Kobo | Smashwords | Lulu

Review

Chiyo tossed, turned, and thrashed about both in reality and in the murky surrealism of her dreamscape. All around her people were dying. They were calling out to her, begging for a savior who wouldn't come. There was nothing she could do ... She ran, stumbled, picked herself up, and threw herself forward again, but she was never able to get away. She was never able to find the way out. She was never able to escape. She was trapped.

I really wanted to like this book because of the grippingly vague synopsis, but unfortunately the grippingly vague synopsis is exactly why I couldn't like it. I went into reading The Weeping Empress knowing neither the context nor the setting. Eventually Chiyo's sudden displacement is explained by a bit of spiritual power, a bit of time travel, but because it isn't stated explicitly, overall this book was very confusing and hard to keep up with.

The exodus of the goddess Kali wreaks havoc upon dynasty-era Japan, which is the time period to when Chiyo one day wakes up. The beginning of this book is awfully slow—as is the end, but at least stuff happens, then; I really had to struggle to get there. In fact, it isn't clear what's happened to Chiyo until the very last few pages, which does serve as a surprising, fitting plot twist, but I would have preferred not to plow through more than 200 pages to encounter it.

As Chiyo becomes unsettlingly involved in the social upheaval of the Samurai, her anger, vengeance, and mental instability soon make her realize the cruelty in herself, and the purpose it serves in fate's even crueler decisions.

I wish I had better things to say about The Weeping Empress but overall it's just excruciatingly sluggishly paced and most of the content doesn't flow well. The premise was promising, but the execution rather disappointing, and the characters unexplored.

Pros

Interesting insights on absolute power, deification, and spirituality // Great conclusion

Cons

Drags on a LOT // Ordinary style, sometimes confusing to follow // Plot is just an unmemorable jumble of battle sequences and folklore—easy to get lost in, and not in a good way // Flat, boring characters // I didn't even pick up on the Japanese Samurai theme until halfway into the story

Verdict

The adventure and edgy violence in The Weeping Empress may please some readers; this high fantasy novel has plenty of action and turmoil to go around. However, I was dissatisfied with it because of how hard it was to read—a result of its slow pace, mundane style, and lacking characters. I personally don't recommend this story about the warrior queen desperate to be saved; while reading, I was the one in desperate need of saving 

4 hearts: So-so; reading this book may cause wrinkles (from frowning so much) (x)

Excerpt and Giveaway: The Holder's Dominion by Genese Davis

Brought to you by Kelley & Hall Book Publicity and Promotion...

The Holder's Dominion
Genese Davis

After her father’s death on a mountain rescue mission, Kaylie Ames watched her family shatter. So when Kaylie fled Tacoma for college in faraway Austin, she figured that even the worst campus drama would be a relief. But when her old friend Elliott turns up on his knees in the grocery store aisle, raving about something called a morphis, Kaylie feels compelled to enter Elliott’s unfamiliar world. 

Guided by Elliott and his friends, Kaylie signs on to the massively popular online game Edannair. There she discovers a world of beautiful vistas and magical creatures, where people from all over the globe step into the roles of warriors on fantastical quests. But a real-world evil threatens the players: the mysterious Holder, leader of the elite team known as Sarkmarr, is coercing his followers into traumatic offline dares known as “morphis assignments.” To save her friends, Kaylie must infiltrate Sarkmarr and survive the Holder’s tests. Will she find the courage there to keep her own family from falling apart?

♥♥♥♥♥: Nette by Barbara Rayne

Nette
Barbara Rayne

Page Count: 158
Release Date: 21 March 2012
Publisher: CreateSpace (self-published)
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review (thank you!)

In a world where gender was distinguished by the eye color, blue for female and brown for male, she had the misfortune of being born as brown eyed girl. Being ugly and a freak to everyone was the least of her troubles. Immortal and destined to be a queen, her mere existence was a threat to the king. After everyone she loved was brutally murdered, she had no choice but to pursue the path she was destined. In a world that made it clear there was no place in it for her, immortal Nette will have to make room even if it means killing them all.

Review

Nette, whose biological makeup defies every rule of the norm, directly experienced the harshness of law and society since the day she was born. Her only crime is existing.

It isn't just her brown eyes that set her apart, however. She was born with great power, as a prophet stated, the power of immortality, whose purpose is to overrule the unjust King Garlid. Because of her differences, no one will accept her. And this, we readers learn, takes a turn for the worst on not only her self-esteem, but also on her morality. Innocent, adventurous Nette goes through hell and high water and soon transforms into a merciless, indestructible Queen.

The journey Nette goes on in order to fulfill her prophecy takes place in an ambitious fantastical world; the adventure is the perfect dangerous blend of suspense, betrayal, and companionship. I loved the plot Rayne creates, but the writing, not so much. The simple, first-person style reads almost in a formal fashion, except it uses contemporary diction. I wouldn't have minded the informal language, considering Nette takes place in the future, but I would have liked the style to match. There is absolutely no showing; the language is all telling—from Nette's irritatingly unworldly and unskilled point of view, at that. This stylistic flaw, along with the countless grammatical mistakes and typographical errors, made Nette a difficult read; I really had to work to comprehend it.

I do like the characters Rayne creates. King Raul, the love interest, in particular, was a pleasant character, though he isn't particularly deep. I wish the author would have elaborated upon the characters better. The good characters are likable and the bad characters dislikable, but that's about as far as characterization goes. Nothing from Nette will be haunting me tomorrow.

The theme of societal brutality and the effect it has on human compassion is especially strong, but again, I wish it had been analyzed more thoughtfully. The overall structure and flow of this book are kind of a mess, but I can tell it has its high points. Albeit, they're rather cloaked by the thick, awkward dialogue and impenetrable narration, but I promise they're there. With a bit of cleaning up, Nette might have potential to be a hit among dystopian thriller aficionados.

Pros

Interesting dystopian premise // Nice love story // Well-depicted characters; protagonists are perfectly lovable while antagonists are detestable // Doesn't lack action and gore // Feelings of frustration and injustice are portrayed well

Cons

Narration is off-key: passive and shows rather than tells // Tone is unfeeling and unmoving // Needs an editor badly // Characters are not explored deeply; I felt detached from them // Dialogue too stilted and actions too fantastical; I couldn't imagine any of this playing out in front of me

Love

"You lost your memory, so you don't know I can kill you with a single move, throw you on the floor..."

"I choose the second option."

Verdict

I didn't hate Nette, but I certainly didn't enjoy reading it either. The dystopian society Rayne immerses readers in is fascinating, and the characterization accurate, but stylistically, this one is terribly unfulfilling. There were aspects I really liked, such as the naturally flowing plot, but can't say I recommend it.

5 hearts: Doesn't particularly light any of my fires; I feel indifferent about this book. ♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Devil's Kitchen by Alison DeLuca

Brought to you by First Rule Publicity...

The Devil's Kitchen (The Crown Phoenix #2)
Alison DeLuca

Page Count: 246
Release Date: 3 October 2012
Publisher: Myrddin Publishing Group
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review as part of the The Crown Phoenix Virtual Book Tour

In The Night Watchman Express, Miriam and Simon were kidnapped and thrown on the strange train... Now in Book Two of The Crown Phoenix series, they arrive at the terrifying destination known as Devil's Kitchen.

There they will face human experiments in a laboratory known as The Infirmary.

Miriam will be forced to work in an underground factory.

Simon is held in a luxurious prison by jailers who are as beautiful as they are deadly...

And their courage will be tested to the breaking point.

Review

Check out what I thought about the first book in the series by clicking here!

I was pleasantly surprised by The Devil's Kitchen because I found myself immersed in the same fast-paced plot and entertaining characters from The Night Watchman Express, but with even more nerve and action. Last time, Neil, Miriam, and Simon made discoveries and grew together, but now they've been torn apart and are left to fight their battles alone. It's hard to determine whose predicament is the most dangerous out of the three children, but they all sound pretty dreadful: Neil starts off with those he trusts the most, but the perils enshrouding the throne of Lampala that he is inevitably tangled up in, make it clear he is nowhere near safe; Miriam is thrown into a dungeon and forced to work in a gruesome, but mysterious factory; and Simon is abducted to a place where he is physically pampered, but severely emotionally abused. Each of them use their wits and take advantage of the gift of chance when it comes to them, but in the end, none of them know whether they'll make it back home—if there even is a home to come back to.

Many of the questions and uncertainties raised by Miriam's late father's company, Pearson's Pharmaceuticals, are clarified through the introduction of a heinous, world-bending drug cartel, as well. The three kids somehow get in the middle of this high-risk endeavor, and they must rely only on quick judgment and wise thinking in order to get out. It was interesting to see how the background information tied together cleanly in the second book to explain the obscurities of the first. Overall it's very closely tied to the first book in the series, so I highly suggest you read The Night Watchman Express before this one. 

DeLuca maintains a consistent style—reading this book didn't feel any different from reading her last. It is sometimes unnecessarily descriptive and oftentimes lacks the suspense necessary to follow the plot, but it's direct and fairly well executed. Not too many complaints in this area.

As a children's story, it has a gratifying happy ending, in which the good guys win—of course. Predictable, but not unenjoyable; I was rooting for Simon, Miriam, and Neil and their allies the entire time! But the ending isn't so clean-cut so that there's nothing left to be explained or further followed. In fact, there's a rather large cliffhanger that suggests, even though the journey is over, a new one is soon to begin. 

Pros

More dangerous and exciting than, as well as a smooth continuation of, The Night Watchman Express. 

Cons

Sort of falsely childish in tone... I'm not sure how many children would act exactly as Miriam would, realistically. 

Verdict

A grittier, more adventurous, and more exciting sequel that is recommended only to those who were left hanging after the first installment in The Crown Phoenix series. The Devil's Kitchen has more action than The Night Watchman Express, yet it still maintains the Edwardian charm and DeLuca's straightforward style found in the first book. Would not make a very good stand-alone novel. 

7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: The Night Watchman Express by Alison DeLuca

Brought to you by First Rule Publicity...

The Night Watchman Express (The Crown Phoenix #1)
Alison DeLuca

Page Count: 291
Release Date: 3 October 2012
Publisher: Myrddin Publishing Group
Source: Complimentary copy provided by author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review as part of the The Crown Phoenix Virtual Book Tour

An underground factory, a terrifying laboratory, and the eerie whistle of the Night Watchman Express...

Miriam has only her guardians' son for company, and she and Simon dislike each other from the start. But they must find a way to trust each other, or they will end up on the sinister Night Watchman Express.

Full of danger, suspense, betrayal, and a hint of romance, this steampunk adventure is for readers of all ages.

Review

This is the first steampunk novel I've tried that's targeted for younger readers, and after reading, I can confidently say I love the flourishing, industrializing backdrop set to Edwardian England in The Night Watchman Express; there's something just so exciting about new inventions and innovative ideas when it comes to children's stories. With a fresh concept, eerie undertone, and unending action throughout, this first installment in The Crown Phoenix series is sure to be a hit among middle grade readers.

The mysticism and mystery shrouding the phantom-like train Miriam hears every night is a creative, avant-garde approach to hidden universes, as well as to imagination, which is why I find the plot quite memorable. While in context, there is nothing magical about the strange, seemingly connected occurrences following the takeover of her father's company, Pearson's, from the perspective of children, they won't pass over without being thoughtfully contemplated upon. The characters and events were entertaining enough to keep me reading and just odd enough to stay in the back of my mind. There's plenty of speculative action as well, meaning, little hand-to-hand combat, but many jarring discoveries, many uncovered secrets, and many plot twists.

The danger is less physical and more psychological, involving hidden schemes and betrayal—it's more of a "danger of the unknown" kind of thing, which I found rather thrilling. That's not to say there's a lack of physical action, however; eager protagonists and fateful journeys make for lots of exploration and many discoveries as well.

The broad scattering of characters is a highlight of the novel. Each of them are distinct and well-depicted; it was very easy to like the heros and very easy to despise the villains. However, a balance of good and bad traits is portrayed in all of them, demonstrating that no matter how great or how evil people are, in the end, they are all human. I would have liked to see a little more dimension in terms of characterization, however. There's nothing personal about any of the characters, nothing exposed and nothing learned; I couldn't really connect with any of them individually, and I think this was mostly an issue regarding DeLuca's style:

Lots of telling going on, hardly any showing, which makes for rather bland prose. The writing isn't bad, certainly not, but there's nothing terribly exciting about it. Had it been better in conveying emotions, implementing suspense, and maintaining the reader's interest, I would have enjoyed reading this book a lot more. 

I appreciated how the characters evolve under the tests of the book's prevalent themes such as manipulation, true friendship, and trust, and found it interesting how Simon, Miriam, and Neil, who are all merely grade school-age, responded to unfamiliar stimuli. Overall, the setting is charming, the action lively, and the conclusion satisfying, but because it wasn't one of those keep-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat reads, it's not something I would read again.

Pros

Dark concept, intriguing setting, lots of twists and turns, rich and diverse cast, open-ended so that it makes you want to try the next book, appropriate for all readers (rated PG).

Cons

Rather plain in diction, too tame!, lame clean-cut ending, stale characters (although they're never boring, which is a plus), drags on a bit, may not be successful in capturing attention due to lack of "fun" style.

Love

'Old Walking Stick,' George repeated ... 'So-called because he looks like he swallowed a walking stick and it be coming out the other end.'

Verdict

Recommended for more mature children (ages 9 to 12) for its dark humor, historical intrigue, and memorable plot, but not an urgent must-read. Not something you should stand in line to buy, but should try if you've already got a copy.

7 hearts - Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Author: Lesley Phillips Guest Post and Giveaway!

The Midas Tree by Dr. Lesley Phillips

Now available for purchase on Amazon in eBook and paperback!

The Midas Tree is a mystical realm where spiritual beings and animals live together in relationship to one another and their environment.

Our hero, Joshua, is drawn into this amazing realm from his home in the garden of color and light. The book follows Joshua’s adventures in the Midas Tree as he grows and learns about his life and destiny in this new world, as he searches for a way back home to his spiritual parent Morfar and the garden of color and light.

Joshua and his journey are analogous to each human’s journey toward spiritual enlightenment. The Midas Tree is planet earth and the creatures and spiritual beings who live there are teachers and guides. They teach Joshua how to meditate and use other spiritual techniques to help him on his mission to return home.

❤author: Jess Lourey Interview and Giveaway!

❤ Today, I'm thrilled to welcome author, Jess Lourey, to the blog today. Welcome to ¡Miraculous!, Jess! Will you please share a short bio with us?

I am the author of The Toadhouse Trilogy: Book One, the first in a young adult series that celebrates the danger and excitement of reading. I also write the critically-acclaimed Murder-by-Month Mysteries for adults with a sense of humor. I've been teaching writing and sociology at the college level since 1998. When not gardening, writing, or hanging out with my wonderful kids and dorky dog, you can find me reading, watching SyFy-channel original movies, and dreaming big.

❤ Tell us little bit about your newest release, The Toadhouse Trilogy: Book One.

Aine (pronounced "Aw-nee") believes herself to be a regular teenager in 1930s Alabama, but when a blue-eyed monster named Biblos attacks, she discovers that the reclusive woman raising her isn't really her grandmother and that she's been living inside a book for the past five years. With her blind brother, Spenser, she flees the pages of the novel she's called home, one terrifying step ahead of Biblos' black magic. Her only chance at survival lies in beating him to the three objects that he desires more than life.

As she undertakes her strange and dangerous odyssey, Aine must choose between a family she doesn't remember and her growing attraction to a mysterious young man named Gilgamesh. Only through treacherous adventures into The Time Machine, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, A Tale of Two Cities, and the epic Indian saga The Ramayana will she learn her true heritage and restore the balance of the worlds... if she can stay alive.

❤ How did you choose the names of your characters in it?

The premise of the novel is that you can actually enter books, and that authors are not who you think they are. So, all the characters are either famous literary/historical figures (Spenser, Gilgamesh, Tru, Aine) or literary terms (Kenning, Tone, Caesura). If you can pick up which famous figure the name refers to, you'll begin to collect clues as to who is really writing the stories, and how their stories will ultimately end.

❤ How did you first get published? Tell us your call story.

It took four hundred and twenty three rejections before I signed my first book contract. Not very good odds, but I'm running with them. It started when I was six. I wrote this Minnesota haiku for my awesome grandpa:

Grandpas are full of love
Grandpas are full of tickles

But grandpas are especially full of pickles.

People loved it. Aunts hugged me, cousins were jealous, uncles asked me to next immortalize them. My poetry skills have not evolved since that day, but the enchantment with words and their power to make people see the world through my eyes has grown like a watermelon seed.

I wrote my first novel when I was 26. It featured three women traveling across the United States, three women suspiciously like myself and the two best friends I had taken a road trip with a couple years earlier. Like most first novels, it was embarrassingly self-involved, full of overwritten description and twenty-pound dialogue tags:

"Why doesn't my alcoholic father accept me for who I am?" Hannah asked pityingly, rubbing the burning, salty tears from her chocolate brown eyes.

Amazingly, no publisher would take a look at the first three chapters. (The fact that I was submitting directly to publishers shows just how green I was.) I tried some light revising, working under the new author misconception that my work was great and the world just wasn't ready for it yet. When the adding of more adjectives didn't net me a three-book deal, I took a sabbatical from writing the Great American Novel and got a real job. I ended up with two Master's degrees, one in English and one in Sociology, and a teaching job at a rural technical college.

But, like most writers, I couldn't stop thinking of book ideas, writing down sparks of description or snatches of conversation that I overheard and would love to work into a story, feeling lazy and envious when I read a fantastic novel. When the nagging sense of ignoring something important got too strong, I started writing May Day. I hired a freelance editor and pumped May Day up to 52,000 words. Next, I wrote June Bug. Then I implemented my systematic plan to wear down the publishing behemoth. I sent out 200 query letters. When the rejections started trickling in, I sent out 150 more. Not an agent or small press was spared. 

Finally, a bite. I found an agent. We never met — she lived out west on a commune, where she edited technical manuals and studied the healing power of crystals. After six months and a handful of offers from publish-on-demand companies, we parted ways amicably. I found another agent shortly after that, and after a year of rejections from New York publishing houses, she found my books a home. I've written eight in that series so far.

I love reading and writing mysteries, but in 2008, around the time my kids started reading chapter books, I realized that there is this amazing genre called young adult (YA). I started devouring my kids' books (figuratively speaking, munch munch bwahaaa, crazy mom), and somewhere in there, the kernel for my own YA trilogy sprouted, and I wrote The Toadhouse Trilogy: Book One.

So, as of today, I'm at 436 rejections and nine novels. Most people would have given up a while ago with those odds, and there is a word for those type of people: sensible. The rest of us, we're called writers.

❤ WOW — that's an incredible journey. Sounds like you learned a lot too! :) How much of your actual life gets written into your fictional stories?

The main characters in The Toadhouse Trilogy, Aine and Spenser, are loosely based on my complicated, amazing children, Zoe and Xander. Otherwise, that book is entirely made up. A lot of real life ends up in my mysteries, though.

❤ What do you consider your biggest strengths and weaknesses as an author?

My biggest strength is my imagination. My biggest weakness is my lack of time, and a superhuman procrastination power.

❤ How would you describe your writing style and tone?

Hmm. I hope my YA is fast-paced and suspenseful, with deep character development. My mysteries are light and funny, though the series is getting darker as I go.

❤ What's the greatest thing you learned in school? 

To read. Seriously — how amazing is that? You open a book, you enter a world.

❤ How do you react to a negative or harsh review to your books?

I post them online for all the world to see. It's like pulling the bandaid off quick for me — get it all out there, ugliness and all. Then, I read through it to see if any of it is true and how I can become a better writer for it, and then I eat a pint of ice cream and curse the reviewer, and then I try to let it all go.

❤ Sounds like a sensible thing to do — very therapeutic too! Give aspiring writers a piece of advice you wish you had known before getting published.

Your first book might not be sellable, but you learn a lot by writing it. Don't give up.

❤ Now give us your best personal advice — something you wish you had known when you were younger and would offer to your own kids.

Learn from the bad things that happen to you, and move on a stronger person. Trust the good things that happen to you because you deserve them.

❤ What would you say are the most important attributes to remaining sane as a writer?

Dogged determination or a pathological unresponsiveness to reality. They're the same thing, so pick whichever sounds better to you. :)

❤ What’s something that you see other authors do, that really drives you up the wall?

I think it takes a lot of courage to be a writer, and short of over-promoting oneself at the expense of everyone else around you, I don't think there are any bad mistakes to make.

❤ Are there any occupational hazards to being a writer?

Lack of money and time.

❤ What’s something you love to see your readers do or say? 

I love to receive fan letters/emails from readers and hearing that my characters came alive for them.

❤ Thank you so much for joining us today, Jess! Where can readers find you on the web?

Website | Purchase

Giveaway!

Jess has been generous enough to offer an autographed copy of The Toadhouse Trilogy: Book One to two lucky readers! To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter form below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway runs through October 29th, 2012 at 11.59 pm (EST).
Open to all readers, international folks included!

As a reminder, you do not have to follow my blog to enter, though it is always very much appreciated ❤ and you get additional entries ;)

Good luck!

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥: Keowee Valley by Katherine Scott Crawford

Keowee Valley
Katherine Scott Crawford

Release Date: September 27th, 2012

Publisher: Bell Bridge Books 

Page Count: 348

Source: Complimentary ARC provided directly by author, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

On the edge of the wilderness, her adventure began.

She journeyed into the wilderness to find a kidnapped relative. She stayed to build a new life filled with adventure, danger, and passion.

Spring, 1768. The Southern frontier is a treacherous wilderness inhabited by the powerful Cherokee people. In Charlestown, South Carolina, twenty-five-year-old Quincy MacFadden receives news from beyond the grave: her cousin, a man she’d believed long dead, is alive—held captive by the Shawnee Indians. Unmarried, bookish, and plagued by visions of the future, Quinn is a woman out of place... and this is the opportunity for which she’s been longing.

Determined to save two lives, her cousin’s and her own, Quinn travels the rugged Cherokee Path into the South Carolina Blue Ridge. But in order to rescue her cousin, Quinn must trust an enigmatic half-Cherokee tracker whose loyalties may lie elsewhere. As translator to the British army, Jack Wolf walks a perilous line between a King he hates and a homeland he loves.

When Jack is ordered to negotiate for Indian loyalty in the Revolution to come, the pair must decide: obey the Crown, or commit treason...

What Stephanie Thinks: Katherine Scott Crawford's debut novel is a lush, vibrant glimpse of the budding Revolutionary War-era America, as well as an impassioned, glittering combination of adventure, romance, and suspense. The story begins with our lovely heroine, Quincy MacFadden, confessing to having been plagued with strange visions, of which she is positive are omens. She's a rebel at heart, raised to be free and to be only herself, so she knows she has to peruse her intuition, especially because she's got a niggling hunch that her mission will lead her to her missing cousin, Owen.

That's only the beginning of the long, momentous, tumultuous journey that is Keowee Valley. Heart-pounding encounters with the Cherokee Native Americans, a star-crossed romance, more visions, and the threat of Redcoats loom in her time to come. While I did find the story to drag on at times (I felt there was just too much. I didn't have trouble getting through it, but there seemed to be an infinite number of pages), it certainly doesn't lack action. 

Crawford's style is absolutely exquisite; her landscape descriptions brim with glittering detail and her emotions are captured beautifully on the pages. It's told in first-person too, which is rare for a historical novel, but all-the-more personal and vivid. Normally with historical fiction, I get bored with with all the material details, but that wasn't the case with this one. I think it had just the right amount of historical content. Rather, like I mentioned, the narrative tends to drag on a bit—overly-detailed in some places and too vague in others!—but it flows perfectly and has been penned with much care, I can tell.

In terms of historical accuracy, it's clear Keowee Valley is well-researched, and better yet, well-depicted through Quincy's likable, earnest perspective. I'm not so sure about contextual accuracy, though; much of the dialogue and situational conflicts seem too casual, too 'contemporary', too slangy. Obviously, as a reader, this is favorable because it makes the book easier to read, but for some reason, I felt like I was just reading a fancier version of a Harlequin penny novel because of its shortfall in literary substance.

Oh, and one of my favorite parts... the romance! How could I forget? Jack Wolf is a fiercely charming hero, 100% male, 100% hot. Swoon! His and Quincy's interactions are steamy, realistic, and perfectly improper; historical romance at its finest. I love how Keowee Valley doesn't only focus on the romance, though. It contains much more, including sentiments on basic instinct, cultural respect, travel, and mutual understanding, that are applicable in both Quincy's world and in ours. Keowee Valley is a truly universal debut that chronicles, dazzles, and provokes. I look forward to more from this author!

Stephanie Loves: "'There's something powerful between us, and it frightens me, because I feel I might lose my soul to it, and to you, if I'm not careful. But then I know that you hold me with you, and that if we burn, lass, we burn together.'"

Radical Rating: 7 hearts: Not without flaws, but overall enjoyable. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥