Waiting On Wednesday (3)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title & Author: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Publisher: HarperCollins

Publication Date:  January 3, 2012

Summary: Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse. Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland—known as The Death Shop—are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild—a savage—and her only hope of staying alive. A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile—everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky. In her enthralling debut, Veronica Rossi sends readers on an unforgettable adventure set in a world brimming with harshness and beauty.

What books are you waiting for?

Review: Liars guide to true love

Title: Liars guide to true love

Author: Wendy Chen

Received: For Review

Rate:4.5

Summary:Wedding planner Cassandra Hanley is in the business of making other people's dreams come true. But for some reason, whenever she meets a potential mate of her own, she finds herself telling little (and not so little) white lies. She's not trying to sabotage her relationships on purpose: as a people pleaser, she just naturally tells men what she thinks they want to hear.

When Cassandra meets Nick, she's determined to be herself this time—until she learns he abhors weddings. So she recasts herself as an advertising exec, and now she's scrambling to cover up the lie...with more lies.

Into the tangled web wanders Cassandra's college sweetheart, Kevin. Kevin, the one man who knows the real Cassandra, and loves her anyway. Could he have been The One all along?

Torn between the past and the present, Cassandra is about to learn that you can't plan the perfect life the way you can plan the perfect wedding.

83,000 words

Review: This book re awoken some of my past dreams and it also undid. My hidden fears. Its a cute novel, one most people should be able to understand from at least one of the characters perspectives. I do how not like the clifhanger ending. Maybe just because I don't like cliff hangers. Oh well pretty good book! 4.5 stars

The Fearsome Beastie

Title: The Fearsome Beastie

Author: Giles Paley-Phillips

Received: For Review

Where published: UK

Review: Cute little book. Defiantly short enough to keep kids attention and cute enough to keep parents attention as well. I personally really liked it. But of course I'm a kid at heart and in some peoples minds. The monster was adorable! If I was a kid in that book I would probably be the first one eaten because he's so cute and I would feel bad. A must get for the kids. I know my copy will be my cousin's birthday present! We will soon know if a seven year old likes it or not!

Review: Cold Blood

Title: Cold Blood

Author: Heather Hildenbrand

Publisher: CreateSpace

Release Date: November 22, 2011

Received: For Review

Rate: 5+

Summary: Wood Point Academy is not at all what I expected. For one thing, it looks like a cross between military school and Buckingham Palace. Everyone stares, the floors shine so bright you can see your reflection in them from a mile away, and no one smiles. Unless they're kicking your butt in the process. Which happens more often than not for the freshman. Lucky for them, my presence has just stolen the spotlight, and they get a break from the daily joys of hazing. At least I've got plenty to take my mind off the fact that my psycho cousin, Miles De'Luca, keeps calling and declaring his love and promising to come for me just as soon as he's destroyed anyone standing in our way. Wes isn't going to like that idea. So between Miles, Wood Point's evil welcoming committee, and the drill sergeant hottie trainer from hell, I just keep asking myself, how did I end up here?

Review:This series like many great series is VERY addictive. I though it was funny how the chapters were mis-labled (not that, that matters) OMG! Im not sure if this series can get any better. I got to the last page on my kindle I just disn't want to believe the book was done I just kept trying to click next. Whens the next one coming out! I'm excited! I was so excited when i got the book that I automatically downloaded it onto my kindle and didn't stop till I was done (7AM). Amazing amazing amazing!

Cold Blood Excerpt

Excerpt: “Jack pulled me aside yesterday. He said he knows he can’t handle things himself with The Cause.” He paused. “He wants me to step up, help run things.” He finally looked up and met my eyes. “He wants me to lead.”

I blinked back at him, relieved to hear what was behind his mood and glad it wasn’t something… well, bad. Or maybe it was, for him at least. He didn't exactly look thrilled. “But what’s so bad about that?”

Without a word, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me off the bench, half dragging me into the woods. He ducked behind a massive oak and pulled me behind it with him, wrapping his arms around me and burying his face in my hair. My surprise at his sudden affection eased, and I pressed closer and let him hold me.

Until this moment, he’d been so careful with me, as if I’d break from any physical contact rougher than hand holding or lips grazing. This was so much better.

When he pulled away, his expression was halfway between pained and hungry. “I was going to come with you,” he said.

I pulled back. “To school? Really?”

He nodded. “But now, with everything happening with Jack, I can’t. I have to stay.” He didn’t give me a chance to answer, instead pressing his lips to mine in short, hungry kisses that left me dizzy and breathless. The pull between us sprang to life, and my body ached to be closer, a part of him.

"You can come visit me," I said, between kisses.

His lips slowed and stilled against mine, and then he pulled away. His eyes were sad. "No, I can't. At least not for a while. Jack wants me to take over immediately. I'm moving in to help until he's up and around, and then I have to start travelling. He needs to introduce me to all of the allies we have left, so they'll trust me enough to work with me when he hands the reigns over. It's a full time job. I'm sorry."

"I understand," I said. And suddenly I did. Vera’s vision sprang to mind – a picture of Wes and me leading The Cause–and I wondered if this was the first step towards making it true. I shook that off, not wanting to make this bigger than it already was. I focused on the fact that Wes had wanted to come in the first place. His reluctance at talking to me wasn’t about not wanting to be with me, or worrying about the long distance part of our relationship; it was about his responsibility to The Cause. That made me feel better. "It’s okay,” I assured him. “I'll be home for the summer. We'll see each other in a few months."

"I know," he whispered, still gazing at me with a mournful expression.

"So what's the problem? You don't want to take over?"

"It's not that. I...." He stepped away and began to pace in front of me. "I don't know. My father was in charge, and look what it got him. An early grave. It's not like I care about my own life, but–" He broke off and looked up at me. "What if something happens to you, up at that school? And I wasn't there to stop it, because I put business before you? My father put business before family, and it got him and my mother killed. I won't let that happen." He walked over to me, running his hand through my hair.

"Wes, you are not your father. And nothing is going to happen to me." I slipped my hands inside his jacket, running my palms over his chest. I wanted to comfort him, but I didn't know what to say. I thought of Vera's vision again, wondering if he even realized what his taking over meant.

He leaned over, pressing his lips to my forehead, then my temple, then my cheek; I held on to him as his lips trailed along my jaw and then found my mouth. “You have to promise to be careful,” he whispered, between kisses. “Stay on school property. Don’t go anywhere alone.”

All I could do was mumble a noise that resembled, “Okay.”

He finally pulled away, on a long, almost painful exhale and cupped my face in his hands. “I’m going to find Miles and end him. And then you’re going to come home to me, okay?”

I smiled crookedly, too caught up in the moment to mind his protective demands. “And if my mom still hates you?”

His lips curved. “I have three months until summer break to wear her down with my charm. Piece of cake.”

My laughter was interrupted by my mother’s shrill voice cutting across the yard. “Tara, time’s up. Get inside!”

“Coming!” I stayed wedged between the tree and Wes, waiting for him to move and let me free.

“Don’t forget about me up there,” he whispered.

“Never,” I whispered back, already missing him.

 

*Visit the author's website to find out where you can read the next installment of Cold Blood*

www.heatherhildenbrand.blogspot.com

Congrats to:

Sniffly Kitty


You won the Black Sun's Daughter series

Shattered Dreams

Title: Shattered Dreams

Author: Ellie James

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: 12.06.11

Format: Ebook

SUMMARY:

Sixteen-year-old Trinity Monsour wants nothing more than to live a normal life. But that isn’t as easy as it seems. Trinity is different. She is special. She sees visions, and for those she’s seen, it’s already too late.

Trinity arrives on her aunt’s doorstep in New Orleans with virtually no knowledge of her mysterious heritage. She begins settling into life at a new school and even starts making friends. But all too quickly her dreams accelerate; twisted, terrifying visions of a girl locked in a dark room. And when the head cheerleader, Jessica, goes missing, Trinity knows she has no choice but to step forward with what she’s seen.

But people believe that Trinity has information about Jessica’s disappearance not because of a dream, but because she is involved. She is kind-of dating Jessica’s ex-boyfriend, Chase, and Jessica did pull a nasty prank on Trinity. Revenge seems like the likeliest scenario.

Nothing prepares Trinity for the dark odyssey that ensues while searching for Jessica, including the surprising romance she finds with Chase, or the shocking truths she learns, not just about the girl who has gone missing, but the past that has been hidden from her.

REVIEW:

Who want to live a normal life?? Everyone!!  You want great friends you can hang out with, a big family, and the obvious, a really great looking boyfriend. That's all Trinity Monsour wants too. But from a very young age, she has been having visions. She saw her dog die days before it actually happened. The thing about these visions though is that once she's had it, its usually to late for her to do anything about it. 

To make matters even more complicated for Trinity, her grandmother who raised her, never wanted to talk to her about her parents. Talking about how they died was almost forbidden. But after her grandmother also passes away, she goes to live with her aunt who also doesn't like touching that subject either.

Shortly after Trinity is badly pranked by Jessica, she (Jessica) goes missing. Now what happens when Trinity starts having visions about Jessica?? Will people believe Trinity when she tells them about her dreams?? Will they accuse her of Jessica's disappearance?? Will Jessica be found alive?? Will her aunt trying helping her with everything that's going on and start opening about about what happened to her parents?? 

This book had me asking myself ALL these questions. Ellie James did a really good job of researching the history & mysteries of New Orleans. Even though there were times where the writing would throw me off a bit, the darkness of the book itself would captivate me in a way that I found it very dificult to put the book down. I didn't like that there were to many breaks in the writing style itself, but other then that I liked everything about Shattered Dreams.

I had a feeling that the book would have some type of cliffhanger ending, and I was right. The "Million Dollar" question though, is would I read the sequel. The answer is very simple. Yes.

As far as a rating goes, I give it 3 1/2 stars. And I have to admit that I'm looking forward to book 2. 

Sarita 

Moujnir's Birthday/ EarlyThanksgiving Post

So, today is the day I turn fourteen. It's been a crazy year for me, a whirlwind of changes. This year, I joined the blog, edited a book, and wrote a book, all for the first time. And, while exhausting, I have had amazing, life-changing experiences. I hope that by this time next year, I'll be just as happy as I am now. I wasn't sure whether or not to write a post about my how important this year has been to me, but blogging has become a rather big part of my life, and I figured,why not?

I've gotten so many sweet birthday wishes today, and I also got quite a few awesome books. But I'm not writing this post to say "my birthday was awesome". That may be true, but what I really want to say is... Thank you.

I never thought that there would be this many followers on the blog, or that they would enjoy my reviews enough to comment and let me know what they think. I read every comment you guys post, and I love and adore every single one. You guys are what make blogging fun, and I hope that, as I enter the age of fourteen, you guys will continue on enjoying the blog, and the love of reading.

And, in a few hours, it will be Thanksgiving. So, know that I appreciate every single person who stops by this site ; who follows this site ; and who comments and takes the time to read our reviews.

I also want to let my fellow reviewers, Kati and Sarita, for sharing my passion of reading, and a special thanks to Kati for allowing me to be apart of Jagged Edge. You guys rock.

I'm wishing everyone who celebrates the holiday a happy and warm Thanksgiving, and for our international followers, a great day. My birthday for one has been amazing, and I hope Thanksgiving is much the same. And I hope you all have had a great day as well.

Thank you for being awesome. We would be nowhere without our followers. You guys rock- don't forget it!

~Moujnir

Waiting On Wednesday (2)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted here, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Title & Author: Fugitives: Escape from Furnace 4 by Alexander Gordon Smith

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

Publication Date:  February 28, 2012

Summary: I am no longer trapped in the darkness. But the darkness is still trapped inside me. We did it. We cracked the gates, escaped from Furnace. We're out, but we're not free. Not yet. Now the whole city is in lockdown - the roads sealed, the police scouring every building.

What books are you waiting for?

Witches hate Vampires

Title: Witches Hate Vampires

Author: Jennifer Hampton

Publisher: Jennifer Hampton at Smashwords

Release Date: 03.28.11

Format: Ebook 

SUMMARY:

Tasmin McCaw is not your average human. In fact, she’s Witch. She made the discovery when she was twelve. The war with Russia has become so corrupt, that it’s robbed man of their humanity. Tasmin’s family fall victim to the wrath of ruthless soldiers. They've come to deploy the men in her family onto the battlefield. They remove her father and only brother from their home, but that’s not all they wanted. The night turns tragic when the soldiers decide to attack Tasmin and her mother. However, Tasmin’s wrath is a bit more intense than the soldiers anticipated. Tasmin is an adopted child and she’s a descendent from a very powerful bloodline of witches. Tasmin’s power strikes tragedy on the soldiers and saves her mother.
Now, as refugees, Tasmin and her mother must flee to The Dark Coast where prosperity reigns. A place where the world is ruled by constant cloud cover. A place where Tasmin will never see the sun. The one place where rumors circulate that creatures like her walk the lands. However, Witches aren’t the only creatures that roam the Dark Coast. Tasmin encounters a very arrogant and powerful Vampire named Adrian. For the first time, Tasmin’s powers, her humility, and her rage will be tested. Witches hate Vampires, but Adrian has fallen in love with her. Can her feelings surpass the loathing for the one creature Witches have grown to detest?

REVIEW:

Just like the summary says, Tazmin is ANYTHING but your average teenager. After her father and brother are unwillingly deployed to battle, the soldiers come back the their house for her and her mother. But when they return, it isn't in a very friendly manner. Both mother and daughter dont talk about what happened that day, not only because of what the soldiers did, but also because of Tasmin did without lifting a finger. 

Years later, Tasmin and her mother move away to The Dark Coast where they can start fresh. But that doesn't last very long when Tasmin runs into Adrian who decides to make her first days there, a bit dificult to say the least. After some time, (and some apologizes) they get to know each other better, and curtain changes take place. 

I dont want to give to much away about this novella because its really short. But, I'll be honest when I say that even though I read it in 2 days, (it could have been one, but I have alittle girl to take care of...) I didn't want to stop reading. Would I recommend this book to friends of family? Without a doubt. Do I think it could have been longer? Yes. And even though there are many grammatical errors, and one or two redundancies, you have to take into consideration that Jennifer hampton doesn't have an editor, we are human, and we all make mistakes. I found this book, even with it's errors really nice. 

Rating?  4 stars. It's fast paced from the very beginning and I'd love to read book 2.

Great job Jennifer!

Review: Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 2

Author : Stephenie Meyer and Young Kim
Series : The Twilight Saga
Publisher : Yen Press
Publication Date : October 11, 2011
How Received : Borrowed
Rate : 5
 Summary : (as quoted from Amazon) Having uncovered the dark secret of her enigmatic classmate, Edward Cullen, Bella Swan embraces her feelings for him, trusting Edward to keep her safe despite the risks. When a rival clan of vampires makes its way into Forks, though, the danger to Bella has never been more real. Will she make the ultimate sacrifice to protect the people dearest to her?
The second volume of Twilight: The Graphic Novel completes the visual adaptation of Stephenie Meyer'sworldwide bestselling debut novel and is a must-have for any collector's library.

My thoughts :
Twilight: The Graphic Novel Volume 2 is an absolutely astounding adaptation of the original Twilight novel. Bella has just found out that Edward is a vampire. But, she’s already head over heels for him, so she accepts him, openly. As they get to know each other better, they become inseparable, Bella staying in his presence every single minute that she can. Edward finally introduces Bella to the rest of his family, and they all go together to play baseball. While they are playing, a trio of vampires, named James, Laurent, and Victoria, interrupt, and ask if they can join the game. The Cullen’s say yes, and at first, everything seems fine - until James catches Bella’s scent, and, suddenly, decides that he wants her for dinner. This starts a wild-goose chase that leads everyone from Forks, Washington, to Phoenix, Arizona, and back to Forks again. Young Kim did a fantastic job bringing The Cullen family, Bella, James, Laurent, and Victoria to life. I loved her artwork ; she managed to bring everyone to life in such an amazingly beautiful fashion, all while keeping very, very true to the original novel. Twilight : The Graphic Novel Volume 2 is a must have for any avid Twilight fan.
5/5
~Moujnir

Review: Perks of being a Wallflower

Author: Stephen Chbosky 
Series : ---
Publisher : MTV Books
Publication Date : February 1, 1999
How Received : Borrowed 
Rate : 5+
 Summary : (as quoted from Amazon) Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor. This haunting novel about the dilemma of passivity vs. passion marks the stunning debut of a provocative new voice in contemporary fiction: The Perks of Being a Wallflower. 
This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.
Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up.

My thoughts :
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of the most amazing novels I have ever read. The events in the book are described through letters from a 15 year old boy using the alias “Charlie” while writing to an unknown “friend” who is a person he’s never met, but has heard is a good listener through one of his real friends. The letters, spanning from August 1991- August 1992, allow Charlie to unload his thoughts, feelings, and experiences freely. We learn that his sister is in an abusive relationship, and that he himself is a very shy guy, and has problems interacting with people normally. His letters take us through the ups and downs of his life, and the complex relationships he has with both his friends and his family. I was especially surprised by his true relationship with his deceased Aunt, Helen. He always has these weird blank outs when he thinks about her, and we don’t find out why until the last few pages of the novel. The thing I really loved about Charlie was how amazingly honest he was. He didn’t attempt to sugar coat his life, and he said things how he saw them. His sister was a complex character, and even though it took her a long time to grow up, by the end of the novel, I was content in the knowledge that she’d finally learned from her experiences. Besides those two, I really loved Charlie’s two best friends, Sam and Patrick. Sam was definitely Charlie’s love interest, and even though they both tried not to “think about each other that way”, it was obvious that they loved each other dearly. Sam was also a great mentor, and offered Charlie great advice, help, and most importantly, an unconditional friendship. Patrick, Sam’s brother, was one of the funniest characters in the book. His charm, class, and instant likeability provided the perfect addition to a very diverse cast of characters, and gave a view into different kinds of friendship, and what being a friend truly means. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an outstanding book about what it means to sit on the edge of life, and what it means to actually live it ; a must read.
5+/5
~Moujnir 

Read in 2016

Here is a small list of books I read in 2016: 

1) The Driver: My Dangerous Pursuit of Speed and Truth in the Outlaw Racing World by Alexander Roy

2) Air by Ryan Gattis. (Started could not finish. Made it to page 168.)
3) The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
4) Faithful by Alice Hoffman
5) Girl Underwater by Claire Kells
6) Against All Silence by E.C. Myers
7) The Trial by Franz Kafka (Started borrowed out)
8) King Arthur and the knights of the round table by Roger Lancelyn Green
9) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling
10) 

Review: Love that dog

Author : Sharon Creech
Series : ---
Publisher : Perfection Learning 
Publication Date : March 2003
How Received : Borrowed
Rate : 5
 Summary: (as quoted from Amazon)Jack hates poetry. Only girls write it and every time he tries to, his brain feels empty. But his teacher, Ms. Stretchberry, won't stop giving her class poetry assignments -- and Jack can't avoid them. But then something amazing happens. The more he writes, the more he learns he does have something to say. 
With a fresh and deceptively simple style, acclaimed author Sharon Creech tells a story with enormous heart. Written as a series of free-verse poems from Jack's point of view, Love That Dog shows how one boy finds his own voice with the help of a teacher, a writer, a pencil, some yellow paper, and of course . . . a dog.


My thoughts:
Love That Dog is a very cute, emotional read. It is told through the view of a young boy named Jack, who is give varied English assignments to write poems. At first, he dislikes the art of poetry, and is very upset that he is supposed to be writing poems himself. But as his English teacher keeps pushing, Jack soon develops a keen liking of poetry, and draws inspiration from poets such as Walter Dean Myers. He often writes about his dog, Sky. He always gets a bit melancholy when he writes about Sky, and we soon learn through Jack’s poetry that Sky was in a very bad accident that ended in his death. The novel was fun and yet sad, humorous and yet heart-wrenching, all at once. Love That Dog is a great, fast-paced read, and I recommend it for anyone looking for a story that blends both humor and heartbreak together perfectly.
5/5
~Moujnir 

Black Friday Giveaway (US ONLY)

 Black Sun’s Daughter Giveaway

This giveaway is for the first four books 

in the Black Sun's Daughter series. 

To Win all you have to do is leave a comment with your E-mail and Follow Jagged Edge Visibly. 

Also, Please spread the word!


Note: The Winner will be announced on Black Friday (11/25/11)

Review: As I Wake

Author : Elizabeth Scott
Series : ---
Publisher : Dutton Juvenile
Publication Date : September 15, 2011
How Received : Borrowed
Rate : 5
 
Summary : (as quoted from Amazon)Ava is welcomed home from the hospital by a doting mother, lively friends, and a crush finally beginning to show interest. There's only one problem: Ava can't remember any of them - and can't shake the eerie feeling that she's not who they say she is.
Ava struggles to break through her amnesiac haze as she goes through the motions of high-school life, but the memories that surface take place in a very different world, where Ava and familiar-faced friends are under constant scrutiny and no one can be trusted. Ava doesn't know what to make of these visions, or of the boy who is at the center of them all, until he reappears in her life and offers answers . . . but only in exchange for her trust.
 
My thoughts :
As I Wake is a very unique, amazing read. The story begins with a girl named Ava waking up in a place she does not know, into a house - and a life - she does not remember. Jane - the person who claims to be Ava’s mother - is very warm and welcoming, giving Ava everything her heart desires. Her friends, Sophy, Greer, and Olivia, all welcome her back to school as if she was never gone. But something’s not right, and Ava knows it. She starts to remember people from her life, and she does remember Sophy, Greer, Olivia, and Jane. But the thing is, she remembers - know, she knows - different versions of them. Her suspicions are confirmed when she meets Morgan ; a boy no one seems to know except Ava. She remembers him, and with his appearance, she starts to remember the less than glamorous aspects of her old life. And now she is forced to make a very tough decision : she must choose between her new, comfortable life with Jane, or go back to the very harsh, scary world she used to live in with Morgan, the boy who she loves more than anything, and who she would do anything for. I loved Scott’s writing in this book ; the story, while rather complex, was easy to follow because of the beautiful prose in which Scott wrote the novel. I have to admit, it took me a while to finish this book, just because some of the characters truly terrified me, characters such as Sophy and Clementine. I can’t mention much about Sophy ( because then I’d spoil the book for you guys!) nor can I mention much about Clementine, but I will say this : I was not expecting Clementine to be related to Morgan in the way that she is. And, after I found out why Ava was here, I disliked Clementine even more! Other characters, like Ethan, Ava’s would-be crush (if she could just remember him from here!) made me sad. He had everything he could possibly want, except for the one thing he wanted most : Freedom. But, to me, the most important people in the book , who showed courage, embraced sacrifice, and were a beacon of hope to one another, were Morgan and Ava. Their love for each other was astounding, amazing, and gut-wrenching, all at once. As I Wake is an amazing read, and I highly recommend picking it up today.
5/5
~Moujnir

IMM

Interview with Cindy

Welcome to Jagged Edge!

Would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

I’m the mom of four great kids, with one daughter-in-law added to the mix, and a second daughter-in-law-to-be. I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but never found the genre I was passionate enough about to actually finish a manuscript, until I discovered YA. I love to read and wish I had more time to do it. I’m a big fan of riding my Harley Davidson Fatboy through the canyons near my home. I’m a complete tech-junkie, particularly with computers.

What inspired you to write?

In high school I had an amazing English teacher who inspired in me a love of literature, and an even greater love of writing. I already had the desire and inclination to write, but he took it to a new level, made me believe it was something I could accomplish, made me want it more than ever.

What authors influenced you as a writer?

I’ve read a wide variety of authors in a variety of genres. I don’t know that there are specific writers who influenced me, other than that I wanted to be like the ones who continuously put out a good story—not a story that immediately jumps to the tops of the charts, but one that is well written. I don’t want to be the kind of writer who gets lazy and just churns them out in order to get sales without caring about my readers.

What is your favorite Quote? Why is it your favorite?

“Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book.” Anonymous

It’s my favorite because I absolutely believe it. To me, books are an escape from the world, a way to be transported into an alternate universe where you don’t have to make decisions, or stress about paying bills, or whatever. You just get to sit back and enjoy the ride.

If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world, which would it be?

Probably the Maximum Ride world. Things are tough there, but you get to fly. How great would that be?

What is at least one thing that every writer needs to have or do?

Every writer needs to have passion for writing and storytelling. You can learn grammar, spelling, punctuation, even how to put a story together. But if you don’t have passion for what you’re writing, it will come across, and your books will be dull and lifeless.

Are your books different to your personal favorite books by other authors?

Yes, they are. Currently, I’m loving dystopian novels. I find them so fascinating. I don’t know that I could ever create the types of worlds that other authors do in these books, let alone the intense stories. And I’m a sucker for historical romance novels if they are well done, and are about the love story and not the sex story. I’m also a fan of the horror genre, which I would never even attempt to write.

What lead you to writing in this genre?

I think it was not only discovering how many great YA books there are (which were not available in nearly the abundance they are now when I was a teen myself), but also I felt that there could be YA books that are edgy, exciting, interesting, and clean. In a Utopian Society, as a mom, I’d like to think that my teen could pick up a YA book, and I wouldn’t have to worry about them reading adult content. Of course, that isn’t always so, so I wanted to provide books that could be picked up by teens and not be an adult book disguised as YA. Not to say that my characters don’t have to deal with some very adult, hard issues, because they do. But hopefully I present them in a way that won’t have mom’s cringing at their daughters reading my work, but will still feel realistic.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

That’s a tossup between imagining the story before I even begin to write, and writing the pivotal scenes of the book. Those are always the most fun to write. That, and hearing from my readers. That’s probably the best part, actually.

Least favorite part of the writing process?

Again, a tossup, this time between editing and formatting. Those are both time consuming, monotonous, and drain the creativity out of me.

What are you currently working on?

I’m just finishing up a book called Immortal Mine, which should hopefully be published by the time this interview is posted. It’s a bit out of my comfort zone, with some paranormal thrown in, as the title indicates. Hopefully, it will be decent when I’m finished. The hero may be immortal, but at heart it’s still a contemporary love story as are Geek Girl and Heart on a Chain.

Where readers can find you?

www.cindycbennett.com is the best place to find me, with links to all of the other places you can find me as well, such as FB, Twitter, Goodreads, etc.

LAST QUESTION:

Was there a question you wish I would have asked but didn't?

I wish you would have asked where I get my covers from, just so I can show off my beautiful models a little. The original cover of Geek Girl featured my fifteen-year-old daughter, though Cedar Fort gave it a make-over and it now has the stunning red and black cover you can see. Heart on a Chain features my other daughter, who really was seventeen when the photo was taken (many people thought she was older). The cover of Immortal Mine is actually the hand of my friend’s daughter, who is a college student who reads my work and helps me find the missing commas—among other things. (The male hand is one of her friends who volunteered his time, and hand, for the shoot). I like to have something personal about the covers, whether it be someone I know on the front cover, or an inside joke planted somewhere on the cover.