DONE with UNDONE

So, I wrote a book a month or so ago for a contest. It took me a week and totaled around 45,000 words. I called it UNDONE and it was sloppy, rushed, and 10,000 words shy of where it needed to be but, by golly, I finished it!

I didn't go on to the next tier of the contest but what could be more exciting than finally being able to say I finished a book from beginning to end? An editor contacting me asking for a longer, revised copy of my manuscript. Which is what happened!

Two days ago I resubmitted UNDONE, much happier with the plot, characters, and length (57,000~ words)!

Now I'm back to baby this lovely blog while also working on another manuscript which will be something of a Paranormal Romance > Cozy Mystery type deal. My future posts will revolve around books, writing things, and Pinterest obsessions!

What to expect in the very near future
King Cave by Scarlett Dawn review
Books You Need to Buy with Your Holiday Money
Leading Ladies You Should Love

(This is a teaser cover I made! Photo cred: C. Elizabeth Vescio)

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)
Like my writer Facebook Page
Follow my annoying Tweets
See what Pins have me excited

Monday Suggestions 09/23

I've been wanting to do this Monday Suggestions thing for a while now and finally carved out some time to get down to business! Each Monday I'd like to suggest one book that you should read, one book that's coming out soon to get excited about, and one show to watch. 

I hope you enjoy today's suggestions! If you have any of your own, leave a comment!

Don't let the name of this book throw you off. Do what I did and read the sample that Amazon and/or Barnes & Noble offer with most books. I purchased this Molly Harper book for my Kindle after reading most of the first chapter from the sample. 

Let me level with you...I normally don't read werewolf books. Nothing against them, I just don't like books that are about nothing but the conflicts and journeys of the furry creatures. However, How to Flirt had so much more meat to it than just being a werewolf tale. (I wanted to say "tail.")

Summary

Northern Exposure Even in Grundy, Alaska, it’s unusual to find a naked guy with a bear trap clamped to his ankle on your porch. But when said guy turns into a wolf, recent southern transplant Mo Wenstein has no difficulty identifying the problem. Her surly neighbor Cooper Graham—who has been openly critical of Mo’s ability to adapt to life in Alaska—has trouble of his own. Werewolf trouble.

For Cooper, an Alpha in self-imposed exile from his dysfunctional pack, it’s love at first sniff when it comes to Mo. But Cooper has an even more pressing concern on his mind. Several people around Grundy have been the victims of wolf attacks, and since Cooper has no memory of what he gets up to while in werewolf form, he’s worried that he might be the violent canine in question.

If a wolf cries wolf, it makes sense to listen, yet Mo is convinced that Cooper is not the culprit. Except if he’s not responsible, then who is? And when a werewolf falls head over haunches in love with you, what are you supposed to do anyway? The rules of dating just got a whole lot more complicated. . .

Three reasons I dug this book

1. Mo was entertaining as hell. It's a first person POV so you get all of the fun internal dialogue from her. One of my favorite quotes from her was the first time she really interacts with Cooper: "Well, that cinched it. He was an asshole. I was definitely going to sleep with him." She isn't blind to his moody personality or his jackassary. She doesn't make excuses for him or pretend he's a saint. She also doesn't deny she wants to jump his bones.

2. Dear goodness, I love the secondary characters in this book. From the patrons at the diner to the overbearing hippie mother, there's a myriad of characters throughout the book that you just can't help but love. It makes almost every seen even more entertaining.

3. It's a mystery with a supernatural twist plus a love story! It's an easy read that has a sequel (which I'm currently reading) so you can keep on enjoying all the characters. Fun fact: The sequel doesn't follow Mo anymore BUT it follows someone close to her so she's still in it a lot! 

Barnes&Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

UNCONTROLLABLY WASTED COMES OUT OCTOBER 1! 

I was a beta reader and LET ME TELL YOU, you'll love it. Author C. Elizabeth Vescio is releasing one teaser picture a day until the first! To make sure you see each go here. 

If you don't know what I'm talking about, check out Elegantly Wasted (Book 1 of the Wasted Series) and its site here. Also, check out our site for more posts relating to EW and the series.

Now for yesterday's teaser picture! (For today's check out the Facebook later on tonight!)

I promise I'll branch out and stop suggesting to you (and everyone you know) watch Parks and Recreation. But, really. Go watch it. 

Season 6 premieres Thursday and IT WILL BE EPIC!

Season 1 - 3 are on Netflix. Season 1 is okay but it doesn't start getting amazing (in my mind) until 2, especially when Adam Scott and Rob Lowe join the cast!

Go watch it. Now.

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

The Wasted Book Club + VASSASSINS

Want to know what's sexy?

Book clubs.

Want to know what's even sexier?

A book club dedicated to The Wasted Series by C. Elizabeth Vescio.

I know, I know...we talk about her and the series A LOT around here. Read the first book and you'll see why.

So, back to heart of the matter--The Wasted Book Club.

Starting next month, I want to hold a few online discussions where we can talk about "Elegantly Wasted" (book one in the series) and what we liked, what we loved, and everything else EW-related. I'll provide fun, naughty, and thought-provoking questions along with fun tidbits from Author C. Elizabeth Vescio herself!

I understand that not everyone has a webcam so I'll be looking for a text-based, chat solution to accommodate us all! (If you have any suggestions feel free to leave in a comment or email me at tylerasnell@gmail.com!)

For now I'd like to share the link to sign up: click this, you lovely creature,  you.
Don't worry, I'll keep you in the loop!

Now, let's talk about something kickass for a second.

Starting today you can become a Vassassin. 

What the what? Listen, it's the damn bee's knees.

The Vassassins are a group of people (chicks AND dudes) that make up a street team for C. Elizabeth Vescio and The Wasted Series. What's a street team? It's a support system for both the author and the series--a gathering of readers and fans ready to help promote both. 

Not to mention, once you become a Vassassin, you'll be a part of killer community!

Sign up and you get access to a point system that, if you decide to participate, can yield some badass rewards. Not to mention you'll get access to some awesome resources that any fan of the series will love. 

Need more info.? Go here! Want to sign up? Go here!

Have any questions? Email me at tylerasnell@gmail.com.

Did I mention I'm team captain? Because I AM!

#vassassin out!

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

July Resolution

Normally, we post a structured resolutions post, inspired by She Learns as She Goes. (Her July Resolutions post can be found here.) However, this month we are doing something a bit different.

See, Holli and I are making one huge commitment/goal for the month of July.

Drum roll, please!

We are finishing our books. End. Of. Story. 

If you saw our Monthly Resolutions: June Report Card post then you might be a little wary of our ability to complete such huge tasks, but it's because of our books that last month got hectic! We've been planning, plotting, writing, and getting ready for July for the past few months. 

Why did we decide July was the it month? Well, because of Camp NaNoWriMo! We signed up so that Camp can help get our butts into writing gear. You should too! 

This month our personal goals as well as Almost There's goals are being combined into one giant goal: Finish the first draft of our books.

However, since we have a wonderful steady stream of readers, we will still post here! They won't all be Holli Anne and Tyler Anne but we have some wonderful guest bloggers stepping up to the plate to help us out.

So, be patient with us and send some good writing mojo feelings our way.

If you'd like to be bunk mates or just follow along, our Camp links are bellow. If you want us to follow you put your link in the comments!

Holli Anne

Tyler Anne

Currently Reading: Brightest Kind of Darkness

One of my monthly resolutions is to read all the unread books currently on my Nook. That's eight books.

And that's okay.

I love talking about the books I read with others, I've decided to give a sneak peek of one of the books I'm currently reading. I'm hoping that it will make you want to read it too!

Brightest Kind of Darkness
by P.T. Michelle

Genre

Dark Paranormal YA

Synopsis
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

Currently On
Page 340

The Characters
Oh, sweet goodness, I'm crushing on Ethan Harris. Wait, who?

He's the quiet guy that makes our main girl, Nara, feel all types of emotions. Don't worry though, Nara isn't a Bella Swan and has no foundation without him. She's a strong main character with a relatable personality and a fun paranormal twist. Her feelings for Ethan are sensible and yet unexplainable. She isn't defined by him. He's more of a very fun and sexy addition. Not to mention, I just like the guy. He's quiet, clever, and hey, he loves dogs.

The First Sentence

"For me, being surprised was like wearing my best friend's favorite shirt; cherished for its borrowed uniqueness." 

I'm a stickler for first sentences. I harp about them in The Dark Side of Writing. If they tank I'll still read on but give me an interesting first sentence and I'll read on with new vigor. I'm happy to say that this first sentence piqued my interest. 

It makes me want to know what the surprise is, especially considering that she sees the entire next day before it happens. How did she get surprised? What could do that?

The First Chapter
So, finding interest in the first sentence, I read through the first chapter. I wasn't disappointed.

The First 100 Pages
I'm going to be all sorts of honest here, I was afraid that I was walking into another Bella Swan/Edward Cullen deal. Although I am one of the few who confess to liking Twilight (the books, NOT the movies), I didn't want to read another story about a girl clearly obsessed with a "bad boy" who is all quiet and hot.

Thankfully, the first 100 pages of Brightest Kind of Darkness showed me that its story and characters were much different from sparkly vampires and clingy girls.

During the first 100 pages you get to really understand Nara and respect her as a person. Sure, she's only 16 but her experiences make her more mature and therefore, a lot more interesting to read. Ethan, although appearing to have some Edward Cullen tendencies at the very beginning, quickly becomes a solid character with issues you, as the reader, want to solve.

The plot picks up, along with suspense, and the ever-present questions regarding Nara's "predicament" and what that means, not only to her, but to all of her loved ones.

I read from the second chapter to page 340 in one sitting...and I really meant to stop at chapter three.

The Rest
Once done reading, I will put up the entire review and link here!

The Links

Website - Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Smashwords - Facebook - Twitter - Pinterest

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Tv Inspiration + Lost: Multiple POVs

TV Inspiration is a Summer blogging series that the Annes came up with to help spread inspiring content based on two popular TV series. Holli Anne's series is Parks and Recreation. Her Intro post can be found here. Tyler Anne's series is Lost. Her Intro post can be found here. 
This post is Tyler Anne's Tv Inspiration. 

When I think of multiple POVs in writing or reading, I think of Lost and its use of a very large ensemble cast. Sure, Jack is arguably the main main character but you also bounce around to more than a handful of other characters. This was a big reason why I was hooked by the first few of episodes.

You have a plane crash and multiple survivors. The hope of rescue is pretty slim to none. Then during the pilot you start to meet these random individuals aside from Jack. I have to admit the first two episodes (technically the Pilot) I started stereotyping everyone.

Kate was just another pretty face.
Sawyer was just another dumb redneck.
Charlie was a just another musician with a drug problem.
Jin was just another overbearing jackass of a husband.
Sun was just another passive and abused wife.
Shannon was just another stuck up rich girl.
Michael was just another struggling dad trying to connect with his son.
Locke was just another creepy old man with a lot of knives.
Jack was just another hero.

These are some of the characters you follow throughout the show--whether following them around the Island or watching some of their flashbacks. The stereotypes you put the characters in start crumbling as you progress through each one of their stories. Some fall away quickly, others take time to undo. For example, by episode two you get to see some of Kate's backstory and realize that she's not your average Jane. However, you definitely don't have her pegged down completely either.

What is the point I'm trying to make?
One of the wonderful reasons I love Lost is because I get to experience it through multiple POVs. By following these different narrators I'm able to appreciate their development and the story more.

Now, let's talk about...

Multiple Points of View in Writing & Books
I have to admit that up until a few years ago I was a one-character type of girl. Whether it was first person or third, I was content with only following one person around the story. Sure, I had read a few books that had more than one person that told the story but the authors had lost my interest with some very common multiple POV snafus. Now, I'm more open to the tactic and even have become fond of certain books because of it.

Common Multiple POV Mistakes
One book I read a while back was written in two parts--one was from the POV of a boy, the other from a girl. The author chose to have two POVs because the characters were on the opposing sides of a political and religious battle. Having two different perspectives throughout the book was a smart choice because it helped enrich the overall story. However, when the narrators were in the same scene the author showed us each perspective every single time. I understand that this technique can work to further the character's development but sometimes readers don't necessarily have to be in the same room twice to understand what happened and what was seen and felt.

Another reason I have disliked the multiple POV style is lousy transitions from one person to the next. I've read books that break POV shifts into different chapters or marked off sections and I've read books that simply pick up during the next paragraph. This is the easiest way to lose me as a reader. You've chosen to have multiple narrators and that's fine but please make sure your transitions are clear and keep the readers from mass confusion. If we are reading Becky's thoughts about Jeff in one paragraph and then suddenly we're in Michael's head thinking about how he wishes he could still play football, chances are we will get annoyed as readers.

The last multiple POV ick that I've come across is switching to a narrator for no reason at all. Sure, I'm a fan of Becky but don't take me out of Michael's intense fight aftermath to only plop me down into her life while she does her mundane routines. Make sure you put me there for a reason and not just because you wanted some filler. I didn't buy your book for filler. I bought it for a good story. If you aren't furthering the character or overall plot, then don't make me read about Becky brushing her teeth.

I've recently found a writing blog that's extremely helpful and well-written. It's called The Other Side of the Story and it's by Janice Hardy. If you're an established author, an aspiring writer, or somewhere in between I suggest you check it out. She has many posts about POVs that can be found here.

Thoughts on Multiple POVs
I decided to ask the members of our Writer Talk group on Facebook (if you want to join go here) about their thoughts on one narrator per story versus multiple narrators. Here's some good points they made on the subject.

Aine Crabtree, a soon-to-be published author of The Thief, praised multiple POVs.

"As someone whose book is from multiple POVs...very much prefer it that way. I tend to get tired of one voice over a long enough time, and I get curious about what's going on in the heads of other characters. Inevitably I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of levels of the story if I'm restricted to one character's head."

Eli Carnley, another writer from the group, agreed.

"I'm starting to prefer or at least enjoy stories with multiple perspectives. My current project is first person from one character's perspective and I'm finding the constraints to be more than I'd originally bargained for."

My personal thoughts on the matter have started to change recently. I love following the one person through a journey and, just like real life, never knowing everything that goes on with the other characters and some parts of the story. However, reading stories like The Thief (you'll be able to read it soon too!) has made me reevaluate my earlier nose-wrinkling at them. I guess, to me, it all boils down to the quality of the characters you have. If they are good then I won't mind being passed around between them.

Pros & Cons
I feel like I'm almost bashing the idea of having multiple narrators in this post but I really am not. This is, as a writer, one of the first things you have to figure out before starting to write your book. Will you have just one POV or multiple? I've wrestled with the idea many times and created the following pros and con list to help.

Pro

• You can add more interest, story, and character development by having more than one narrator.
• You avoid being monotonous if you aren't stuck with the same person for the duration of the story.
• You can explore and control larger settings and situations.
• When the story starts to lag, switching to another narrator can keep the readers entertained.

Con

• You can lose reader interest if you have too many narrators with weak transitions.
• You have to make sure each character is solid so the reader will follow them.
• You may lose a more involved intimacy with your characters that you might have if there was only one. Typically, readers invest a lot in one character. With multiple POVs this could be harder for them.
• You can lose the tension you've spent building up by switching to another narrator. 

Now, there are more of both, but for brevity's sake (because this is already a pretty big post!) I only listed the pros and cons that stick out in my mind. I guess, for me, it all just depends on the story and what I want to accomplish with it on whether or not I break out multiple POVs.

Which do you prefer?

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Interview: Story Cartel's Joe Bunting talks free books, writing and new Website

I'm pretty excited about this interview today with Joe Bunting. If you like reading FREE books and/or writing, chances are you'll be excited, too. 

Joe Bunting is the founder of The Write Practice and co-founder of Story Cartel. The first is a blog all about writing and practicing your writing (imagine that!). Story Cartel is a wonderful site where authors give away books in exchange for reviews. WIN-WIN! Seriously, they are two of my favorite places on the Internet, and I think you might like them, too! 

Here's my Q&A with Joe:

For our readers who don't know, could you tell us a little about The Write Practice and Story Cartel?

Story Cartel is a new way for readers to connect with authors. We help authors build their email lists and get reviews on their books by giving away free books to readers. The amazing part is the conversations that happen between readers and authors. Authors tell us all the time that it's one of the most rewarding experiences of their life.

The Write Practice is an online writing workbook sneakily posing as a blog. We post daily instruction on the craft of writing and then ask people to practice with us in the comments section. Daily practice is the best way you become good enough to get published, and we help people practice every day. Also, it's pretty fun. :)

How did you come up with the idea for Story Cartel? Is the concept something you used for your own books?

Exactly. When I launched my first book, I followed a set of steps to build a review team of hundreds of readers, and these readers ended up leaving over 100 Amazon reviews on the book in the first week. It was incredible. We built Story Cartel to help other authors follow the same steps but with a lot less work.

What types of books are typically available through Story Cartel?

It depends on what authors are sharing their books! Right now we have a lot of non-fiction, but in the past we've had quite a few thrillers, we went through a memoir phase, and a stretch with mostly YA books. Books are only available for three weeks, so you have to snap up the ones you like quickly! 

Are the authors who submit books typically independent authors?

Nope. We actually work with traditional publishers to share their books on Story Cartel, too. We want to create a place where independent authors and traditionally published authors can both create meaningful connections with readers.

 

What are the requirements for submitting your book to Story Cartel?

We don't take books with bad covers. The unfortunate truth is that readers judge books by their covers, and they can spot a poorly made, self-published cover a mile away. We want to make our readers happy, so we sometimes have to say no to books with poorly made covers.

As long as you have a nice cover, an Amazon page, a Kindle file, and a PDF of your book, you're set, though.

If I'm a reader, do I have to give a good review of the book to get it for free?

Heck no! If you don't like it, say so. No one benefits with fake positive reviews, not the author and not the reader. 

That being said, the best reviewers know the difference between a book they don't like and a bad book. Hopefully, reviewers can separate their own personal preferences from their critical appreciation of the book. I think that's the best way to create interesting conversations about art.

Tell us what's different about your new Website for Story Cartel?

Since we launched our new website on May 13, we've been blown away by the response. We already have more books available than we had the first three months we started. So the big benefit is more books! The site is much cleaner and clearer, and it's a lot easier for readers to find the perfect book for them. You can sort by your favorite genre, browse our most popular titles, and even book-hop from book to book until you find the perfect book for you.

 

I feel I'd be remiss if I didn't talk about the Write Practice. It's one of my favorite writer blogs on the Internet!

Thanks! We like it, too. :) 

 

For our readers who don't know, can you tell us about the daily writing prompts. What should someone expect if they sign up for these?

I think that daily writing prompts, while fun, can be an incredible waste of time. We try to help writers practice a specific skill every day, and the writing prompts are exercises to help you practice that skill. That being said, we occasionally throw in a lone prompt from time to time, just to keep it interesting. :) 

How many different writers contribute to The Write Practice Blog?

We have six right now, including me. It's a pretty amazing team.

Can you tell us a little about your own writing? What are some of the things you've published and your favorite genre to write?

Sure! I like to write literary fiction. My latest published piece is a short story, "Hands," about a dying musician who reconnects with his favorite, former student. It sounds depressing, but it's really about the music, the jazz that bonds these two men. I had a lot of fun writing it.

Any advice for any aspiring authors?

So much. But you'll have to subscribe to The Write Practice to get it. :)

-Holli Anne
 

Writer Talk: So you want to write a book

Holli Anne made a good point yesterday. When you tell someone you're writing a book they either respond with a.) what's it about? and b.) I want to write a book someday too.

I've run into both reactions before and couldn't help but wonder how many of my friends are actually trying to write and finish a book. So, I made the whole "Like this status if you're writing a book" and was surprised at how many people Liked it and messaged me about it.

See, Holli and I have been making Writer Talk plans and were going to wait to unleash later next month but I don't see why we can't do it earlier!

What we did
We created an open group on Facebook called Writer Talk. Go here to see it.

Its purpose is to first and foremost create a sense of camaraderie among aspiring writers. Anyone can be a writer and that makes for an interesting variety of talents. Writer Talk is a place on the internet where you can talk with The Annes and others about what inspires you, what problems you're having, your success stories, and so much more!

What we will do
We will start daily discussions within the group. We will ask questions that are writing-related and offer writing resources on the web.

Another big part of this group will be our prompts! Every now and again we will give you a writing prompt for you to address within the group. We will then pick our personal favorite response (or all of them, depending) and post it as a Writer Talk post on this site! (That is if you are okay with it. We will not post anything by you without your permission!)

What we hope to accomplish
Basically, we love to network and we love to write. This group is mashing those two things together! Writers face very normal and very weird problems from time to time. This group will allow us (and you!) to talk it out with fellow writers who are just trying to realize a very awesome dream--writing a book!

We hope you'll join our group! Remember, go here to join!

Books Galore: Questionnaire!

Part of running a good blog is making sure you read other good blogs. If only for the inspiration they bring. One of my favorite blogs to stalk read is She Learns as She Goes. Today her post  inspired me to also fill out this little reading questionnaire. (If you do one too we'd love for you to comment with a link to it!)

I'm always yapping about how I am obsessed with reading so some of my answers may be a bit intense!

Do you snack while you read?
Normally, I never eat while reading. I'm too zoned in to realize I need food. However, there have been a few times where I refused to put a book down and had to eat supper around it. Usually though, I'm too focused to break it for something as silly as food.

What is your favorite drink while reading?
Just like eating, I rarely drink while reading. I have been known from time to time to drink some caffeine to help keep me awake and reading, though!

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?
I went through a phase where I would underline or use brackets to section off a sentence that I thought was particularly inspiring or just plain awesome sauce. I had to stop this habit while reading Airborn by Kenneth Oppel...I liked all of the Matt and Kate scenes too much and was basically underlining entire pages.

Then I went through a studious phase in school where I'd annotate in my school books. It's a good practice when dealing with Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad),  Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), and...dare I say it...Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy. (For my thoughts on THAT subject read this post.)

I had to buy another copy of Hamlet because the first was so annotated I could barely read it!

Now, though, I keep a pen and pad near me when I read just in case I NEED to remember something. I try to keep away from writing in books anymore.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? 
I may be weird about my eating and drinking habits while reading, but I'm just plain lazy when it comes to book marks. Usually I just use the receipt it came with or just a random bit of paper. Whatever it is though (and here comes the weird part) I keep with that book forever. Once I'm done reading I slip it under the front cover. So...yeah, all of my books have the original book mark in them. That's normal, right?

Are you the type of person who tends to read to the end of the chapter, or can you stop anywhere?
I used to go until the end of a chapter then put it down. Now, I have a really hard time doing that because at the end of a chapter there is usually a cliffhanger or motivation for me to turn the page. So I'll read to the end of a chapter then HAVE to read the next page and then I tell myself I'll stop at the next chapter. This goes on and on until, finally, I just put the book down during a lull in the middle.

Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or onto the floor if the author irritates you?
I only throw a book if there's a spider. Even then I do it with care. If I threw a book every time I had an irritating author then at least 25 percent of my book collection would be damaged. I make it a point to read really awesome books...and really terrible ones. I've had authors do away with wonderful characters and completely crush great plots before. I've had authors tell me how I feel and spit in the face of plot opportunity. 

I game rage in my head, though!

If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you look it up right away?
Normally I can use the context clues and keep going. When I read on my Nook I can just click the word and BAM there's my definition. If I can't grasp a word and the book is kicking ass, I'll write it down and come back later. If not knowing the word is altering my reading experience, I'll go look it up.

What are you currently reading?
I'm kind of bad about reading multiple books at once. If you are connected to me on my GoodReads account (here) then you probably have seen some of my recent ones.

Right now I'm reading: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline; Redshirts by John Scalzi; Fun & Games by Duane Swierczynski; The Collector by Victoria Scott; Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton; High Five by Janet Evanvich; Better Read Than Dead by Victoria Laurie.

You're probably thinking that I'm a big bag of lies on this one, but I promise I'm reading all of those. Minus the first two, I'm about 75 to 85 percent finished reading them. When it comes to books, my memory is spot on. I can pick them back up and finish without rereading.

I told you I was addicted.

What is the last book you bought?
Elegantly Wasted by C. Elizabeth Vescio

Fun & Games by Duane Swierczynski

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Aunt Dimity's Death by Nancy Atherton

Do you have a favorite time/place to read?
I'll read anywhere at anytime. However, I like reading in a place where I can lean back and prop up my book so I usually find myself in bed with a punch of pillows behind me. For time, well I usually love reading late at night and early in the morning...when everyone else is asleep so I won't be bothered!

Do you prefer series books or stand alones?
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE series books. If it's a really good one I don't want it to stop. Sometimes I won't pick up a book unless I know it will have a sequel. However, some of my favorite books have been standalones so I can't exactly shy away from them all.

Is there a specific book you find yourself recommending over and over?
Recently I've been shouting Elegantly Wasted by C. Elizabeth Vescio off of roof tops. (See my post about that here.) It's a wild ride and I can't wait until the second one comes out.

There's only really be one other book that I recommend to everyone and their mothers and that's The Rook by Daniel O'Malley. 

Both are fantastic reads and I have read them both more than once.

How do you organize your books?
I want to say I have a library like the one in Beauty and the Beast but the sad fact is that I recently moved so all of my lovely books are in boxes. I will be building a huge bookcase soon so I can seem all of them daily! However, right now I do have three or four on my night stand and about a handful on my couch in my office. Plus, my Nook is always near me!

That concludes the reading questionnaire. I really like anything book-related because I'm so passionate about reading! Remember, if you do your own we'd love to have you link us to it in the comments!

Hope you enjoyed!

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Top image found here.

Writer Talk: Over-sharing & Under-sharing

Over-sharing, under-sharing and letting you know about the apple on the table 

Hello, my name is Tyler and I’m an over-sharer. Don’t want to know what I had for lunch, how it made me feel, and what I thought about while I ate it? Then don’t talk to me after lunch. I am a bottomless pit of talk and I’m not afraid to let my words fly.

I’m not ashamed of this particular personality trait, however, when it comes to writing it can be a bit of a problem.

I have read hundreds of books that walk the line of over-sharing and under-sharing details and books that have fallen in between. I know that giving too much information can be as bad as not giving enough. I want to know what the main character is thinking as he sees the city for the first time but I don’t need to know every single detail in the building to his left or the storm drain next to his feet. On the flip side, you can’t tell me that this is his first time to the city and then let him just walk down the street and into a nondescript house without a new thought in his head.

Getting the details just right is a balancing act in any story you write. At times, it’s a struggle for me to pull in my description reigns because I want need the reader to not only understand my story and characters but to see them as well. As the author I will always know 110 percent more than the reader about my story. I know why she bounces her leg whenever it storms. I know that the police station has a leaky basement causing the captain to have a series of hellish allergies. I know that, after the book ends, Mary is going to have a daughter and name her after her estranged sister.

Some of these details enhance the story; others just distract from it and enable over-sharing tendencies. Unless a detail furthers the readers’ understanding of a plot or character, really think about if it should be in there at all.

I’m going to use a very obscure book as an example of over-sharing.

Jude the Obscure (by Thomas Hardy) made me want to become a character in that book just so I could punch Jude and tell him to stop thinking about nonsense all of the time. You don’t have to know about the plot to know that dear ole Jude couldn’t walk a damned step without analyzing everything around him, how it all made him feel, and at least two flashbacks into his past. If I hadn’t been forced to read it for school I would have put it down within the first chapter (and I normally ALWAYS read past the first chapter).

Sure, some thoughts were relevant to the story. He questioned the love of his life, the way the city made him feel, and a bunch of other important who-am-I issues. However, he also described a ton of things that wasn’t worth a damn to him, me, or the story. Now, I know for a fact that some people insanely love this book (awkward moment: trashing this book to your professor before realizing she did her dissertation on it) and that’s good and all but they can’t deny it is, at best, long-winded.

You don’t need to write out everything that your character feels and sees and smells and touches because you love your story. You automatically know more than anyone about your story and you should keep it just like that. Your story, no matter the plot, is an extension of you and you need your secrets. Sometimes I tell you more than you need to know about my main, sometimes I don’t tell you enough to put together who-done-it, and sometimes I just want you to know there’s an apple sitting on the table.

At the end of the day it’s still your story. You can over- and under-share all you want, just remember that there are people who will put down your book in a heartbeat if you abuse either option. Don’t make them compare your story to Jude the Obscure.

-Tyler Anne (aka Chick Tyler)

Books: Organizing, Reading and Writing!

I have a lot of goals involving books this coming year. You may have seen some of them in our New Year goals post.

Specifically, I want to read more books, continue writing my book and here's a new one: find a way to organize my books.

I currently don't have a bookshelf, but I have TONS of books. I found a creative way to display them around my house in decorative form. Some of them are a little practical, being end tables holding lamps. Seriously, they are everywhere: in the kitchen, in my office, in my room and in my living room. 

I like that I at least have something to do with them other than sit in ugly boxes, but my new house is a tiny, tiny cottage.

I'm going to want to control these a little better. 

Since the house is so small, I'm hoping to just find a simple, small bookshelf at a thrift store—no big fancy plans for this storage, but I do think it's a pretty important goal for the order of our future home. 

Other book goals:

I've been thinking about my "read more books" goal a lot, specifically how non-specific it is. 

I'm not ready to just out and claim a number of books I want to read, but I do know that tangible goals are much easier to obtain. So here's a few ways I want to narrow it down.

1. Read every day. Right now, I start reading a book, plow about half-way to three-quarters of the way through it and then stop for a while. I think subconsciously I just don't want it to end. If I make myself read everyday, maybe I can curb this habit.

2. Read and review books from Story Cartel, this super cool Website I found. It's a place where authors give away copies of their book in exchange for Amazon reviews. I loved everything I read on there last year. You can get free books, too, if you click on that link!

3. Read more classics. This is self-explanatory. I just want to read some of the ones I didn't already read in school. 

Do you have any goals involving books this year?

—Holli Anne