The Weekly Post (October 23-29, 2011)

Best Book: I'm not going to count a certain book I read yesterday because I'm doing a seperate review of it, to be up soon, so the best book I read this week would be The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. This book is magical and adventous and romantic and it's a standalone! Will wonders never cease. Maggie is brilliant and every good thing you've heard about this one is true.

Anticipated Book: Now that it finally has an (awesome!) cover I can finally say The Fault in Our Stars by John Green!!! Which might just be my most anticipated book of 2012. That, and anything Cassandra Clare, that is. But yeah. John Green is my god, so basically I want this book like I want oxygen. I'm writing this at 8:40 AM on a Saturday, I'm allowed to be melodramatic :P


On Writing: My big, scary, important portfolio for creative writing class was due yesterday so the only writing-related things I've been doing all week involve editing pieces for my portfolio and such. I've decided to create a complete outline for my next WIP before I jump into writing it, since clearly my other novel-writing method isn't working in the longrun. This might kill me. Stay tuned.

Favorite Blog Post: A great one from Sarah J. Maas (can't wait to read her debut novel Queen of Glass, which is set to come out sometime in 2012), about how she dealt with a writing slump. Read it HERE.

Song of the Week:

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (October 9-15, 2011)

Best Book: This week I read How to Save a Life, the incredible new book by Sara Zarr. The characters and the story were so real and beautiful, it might just be my favorite book by her. I'd definitely recommend it for lovers of contemp.

Anticipated Book:Is the first book in Robin Wasserman's new series, The Book of Blood and Shadow, which comes out on January 10th. Click the link and read the description on Goodreads! It looks SO interesting.

On Writing: I haven't had much time this week and it looks like I'll have even less next week to work on the WIP *sadface* I had a really long poem (a sestina. It was fun but took forever) to write for creative writing. I wrote mine based on the characters and events in my WIP and I'm pretty proud of it. Maybe I'll post that here some time.

Favorite Blog Post: I've been spending much more time on Tumblr (follow me!) Than reading actual blogs (I believe a Tumblr is considered a type of blog, though in my mind it falls under its own category) so instead of a blog post I'm going to recommend an awesome Tumblr that I found today! it's called HIPSTER JOHN GREEN QUOTES. Yes. When I found out this existed I freaked out. See the gloriousness HERE. (Spell check is informing me that "gloriousness" isn't a word. WTF? It should be.)

Song of the Week: 

 
- Nicole

The Weekly Post (October 2-8, 2011)

Best Book: Was definitely Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. This was one of my most anticipated books of the year and BOY WAS IT AMAZING OH MY GOD. I could rant in all caps for ten pages about my depth-less love for Stephanie Perkins' books, but I won't. Please just read them. Seriously.

Anticipated Book: Is Fever by Lauren DeStefano, the sequel to the first book in her Chemical Garden Trilogy, Wither. The cover is gorgeous and I can't wait to see where she takes the story in the next installment.

On Writing: I've been busy! I've been working on poems and short pieces for creative writing class (check out some of those on my Figment account HERE) and my WIP is at nearly 28,000 words. This weekend I plan on revising some pieces, writing a few others, and hopefully get some more done on the WIP too...

Favorite Blog Post: Holly Black announced the sale of another novel! It looks sooo cool. Read her post about it HERE.

Song of the Week: Check out this awesome cover of an amazing song.

The Weekly Post (September 25- October 1, 2011)

Best Book: Of the books I read this week, there's a two way tie for the most awesome. The first is Goliath by Scott Westerfeld, the last book in his steampunk Leviathan trilogy. AND IT WAS SO GOOD. And the other is The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, the first book in her new Shades of London series which is about boarding schools (!!!) and London and also GHOSTS. It was epic. I'd go into more eloquent detail... but it's Friday afternoon and I don't feel like it.


Anticipated Book:I feel almost silly writing this because, to me, saying "I am SO EXCITED for the next Cassie Clare book" is like saying "I'm so excited to continue breathing". Tis obvious and necessary. Anyway, her next book is Clockwork Prince, the second book in The Infernal Devices series. It comes out on December 6th and I'm, of course, counting the seconds until then!! :D

 

 

 

I made it giant because it DESERVES to be

On Writing: This week I've been working on short pieces and poems for my writing class, as well as brainstorming for the WIP(s). I'm also working to add some new pieces to my Figment account. You can read some of my stuff on Figment HERE :)

Favorite Blog Post: Is THIS one from Let The Words Flow about the importance/necessity of plot for different writers while drafting. Very interesting.


Song of the Week:

 

- Nicole 

The Weekly Post (September 18-24, 2011)

Best Book: This week I was waiting for a bunch of books I pre-ordered from B&N to come in and then did today!! But I haven't read any of them yet. To keep myself occupied (and 'cause they're epic) I reread The Hunger Games trilogy this week. I'm in the middle of Mockingjay right now. This will be my third time reading the series, but it never gets old or less shocking than the first time. Anyone who's read it knows what I mean when I say MJ is one of those books that makes your whole soul ache for days afterwards. In a good way. And a bad way. In every way. JUST READ THEM IF YOU HAVEN'T.

Anticipated Book: Speaking of awesome dystopian books, the cover for Insurgent, the sequel to Veronica Roth's amazing book Divergent was recently released. It's so gorgeous! I can't wait to see how the series continues to unfold. The book comes out on May 28th, 2012!

On Writing: Did a lot of yearning and brainstorming about my WIP and the other 2 ideas in the works this week. No writing time, as usual. Probably won't have much time this weekend, either :(

Favorite Blog Post: I have two this week. THIS one from Victoria Schwab about "how writers are like onions", and one from Natalie Whipple HERE about writer/agent relationships that's very good.

Song of the Week: 

 - Nicole

The Weekly Post (September 11-17, 2011)

Best Book: I read a few books this week and my favorite was definitely A Northern Light by Jennifer Donnelly. I so need to read more historical fiction because whenever I do, I love it. This book, a murder mystery, finding-yourself story set in 1906 was amazing in so many ways. There's absolutely nothing about it I didn't like. I also love Jennifer Donnelly's novel Revolution. She better have a new book out soon :D

Anticipated Book: Is Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes because I just saw the cover for the first time and it's SO COOL. The book sounds awesome and I am so in love with her Raised By Wolves series. If you haven't read it, you must! Every Other Day comes out on December 27th, 2011.

On Writing: I'm writing a lot of poems and working on a short story for creative writing class, I wrote my first paper for AP history this week *gulp*, my first paper for AP English is due next week *more gulping* and I'm going to try and work on the WIP a bit this weekend, and I have a new idea on the back burner that I LOVE, which I wrote a little bit about in my post yesterday.

Favorite Blog Post: I read this one by Tahereh Mafi (her debut novel, Shatter Me, comes out in November - I'm so excited) where she talks about people who want to publish books but don't do their homework, and how people in the online community are awesome, in general ;) It's a really good post, and it definitely made my day a little better. Read it HERE. 

Song of the Week:

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (September 5-10, 2011)

Best Book: I'm ashamed I haven't read any books (for fun) yet this week. I'm probably going to B&N tomorrow, though. I've been reading textbooks and The Scarlet Letter, and boyy do I miss reading for fun . . .

Anticipated Book: Sarah Ockler's new book was just unveiled (I believe today) and I know I'm going to love it because I adore everything she writes. One of my favorite contemp authors! (She wrote Twenty Boy Summer and Fixing Delilah). Her third book is called The Language of Impossible Dreams and it's coming out August 7th, 2012. Yay!

On Writing: WIP still isn't getting much attention. I've been working on pieces for my creative writing class, my journal for creative writing class, and of course, the homework situation is atrocious. *Sob* One day I will get back to my beloved novel. Let's hope absence really does make the heart grow fonder . . .

Favorite Blog Post: Didn't do much blog reading this week, sorry! This is a fail weekly post :)

Song of the Week:

The Weekly Post (August 28-September 3, 2011)

Best Book: I read this week was The Day Before by Lisa Shroeder. It's a book written in verse and it's AWESOME! It's sweet and sad and happy and hopeful and romantic and everyone should read it.

Anticipated Book: Is The Springsweet by Saundra Mitchell, the companion to her awesome fantasy historical YA novel The Vespertine. The cover was just revealed and it's beautiful! The book comes out April 17th, 2012.

On Writing: Don't ask. Seriously. Between not having power or internet for days and starting school I've literally written nothing. I promise to fix that soon. Most likely . . .

Favorite Blog Post: This week is one by one of my favorite bloggers Natalie Whipple about writer confidence. Check it out HERE.

Song of the Week:

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (August 21-27, 2011)

Best Book: The best book I read this week was definitely Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. The photography is SO cool, and the whole idea of it is so original. I really liked the fact that the MC was a boy, Jacob, and I also really liked how Jacob changed throughout the novel. I can't wait for the sequel!

Anticipated Book: One of the books I'm most excited about in 2012 is Gone, Gone, Gone by Hannah Moscowitz. I love her second book, Invincible Summer, and I adore her on Twitter and her blog. The cover is awesome and the book sounds really original and cool.

On Writing: I've been working on my current WIP for a little over a month and it's just over 20,000 words. That's pretty slow for me, but the beginnings are the hardest part, in my opinion, so hopefully, if school and other obligations don't totally eat my soul, I'll meet my goal of having it finished way before the new year.

Favorite Blog Post: This week definitely goes to THIS post by YA author Saundra Mitchell (author of the awesome The Vespertine) about "the problem with boy books" in YA and feminism and other relevant things. Great post!

Song of the Week: Is one of my favorite songs of all time, and one I've really been drawing from for inspiration for the WIP.

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (August 14-20, 2011)

Best Book: I didn't have any new books to read this week (remedying that tomorrow!!) and I've been really busy reading books for school, but I did have time to reread the amazing Demonglass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins. I love this book so much. SO MUCH.

Anticipated Book: So it's only fitting that the book I'm anticipating most this week is the third book in the Hex Hall series, Spell Bound! The cover is gorgeous and I have a feeling it's going to be an amazing finale to the series. Team Archer!

On Writing: Despite how busy I am, the WIP is coming along well. It's at 18,000 words right now. Thanks to the amazingness that is Scrivener I've also been able to organize my notes and outline a bit ahead too, so I'm a happy writer :D

Favorite Blog Post: Kiersten White wrote an absolutely hilarious and sarcastic post about YA genres. You must check it out HERE.

Song of the Week: I'm listening to this one on repeat for the WIP right now.

 - Nicole

The Weekly Post (August 7-13, 2011)

Best Book: Was The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab. Everyone is raving about this lyrical, beautiful fairy tale-like book; everything you've heard is true! It's amazing in every way. One of the most original books I've read in a long time. I can't wait to read more novels from this author :)

Anticipated Book: Is Out of Sight, Out of Time, the fifth book in the Gallagher Girls series by Ally Carter. I LOVE this series, and everything Ally Carter writes. Each book gets better and better. This one sounds.... insanely good. I can't even describe how excited I am for it. It comes out March 20th, 2011! Such . . a . . long . . . time . .  I might not . . .make it . . . :D

On Writing: My work-in-progress novel is coming only slowly but surely. I'm over 15,000 words right now, which means I probably won't make my goal of 30k by August 31st :( I'm really busy right now, and will be even busier once school starts... One word at a time, right? My only long-term goal is to finish the first draft by the end of 2011, which seems quite doable right now!

Favorite Blog Post: The best one I read this week was THIS one by YA author Sarah Rees Brennan (author of one of my favorite series', The Demon's Lexicon Trilogy) about female characters. Love it!

Song of the Week: I love Taylor Swift more than words can say (I've seen her in concert twice!) And this music video says SO much about my WIP heh heh.

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (July 31-August 6, 2011)

Best Book: The most awesome book I read this week was Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer. I already did a review of that HERE. Since I already talked about that one, I also read Supernaturally by Kiersten White yesterday. I also thought this was an amazing sequel. I love the world and the wit and the new problems and information that are revealed in it.

Anticipated Book: Has to go this week to Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. Her first book, Anna and the French Kiss, is a must-read for anyone who loves a beautiful, realistic love story, or just a story about growing up and finding yourself. Or Paris. Or British guys. Basically, it's for everyone. The paperback of Anna came out this week with the first chapter of Lola in it. When I was at Barnes and Noble earlier this week I read the first chapter and it was funny and wonderful just like I knew it would be. So much of Lola's life and personality is shown in that first glimpse, it's astounding. I CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK. All caps necessary. It comes out on September 29th, 2011, and I am counting the seconds.

On Writing: My work in progress is going really well! I've finally figured out most of the major plot events and the ending. I love it so much! It's at 13,100 words right now. Progress is slower than I'd like thanks to how busy I've been, but I'm not complaining as long as something is getting written :)

Favorite Blog Post: Was THIS one from Kiersten White (author of aforementioned Supernaturally. I adore her blog!!) It's about how talent and especially hard work are so important in writing, and uses aforementioned Lola (see how well this all fits together? ;) As an example.

Song of the Week: My favorite Youtube musicians Megan and Liz came out with a new original song and video this week and it's by far my favorite of theirs.

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (July 24-30, 2011)

Best Book: I read a bunch of books this week and my favorite is The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney. I found the idea of a prestigious school where the students governed themselves such an original idea, and the book was really good! 

Anticipated Book: I have SO many books on my wishlist for 2012 already! Including Elizabeth Eulberg's next novel Take a Bow. I really loved her debut, The Lonely Hearts Club, and her second novel Prom and Prejudice was really cute too.

On Writing: This week I was busy writing my new contemp WIP that I love so very much :) It's at 11k words right now and my goal is to get to 30,000 words by the end of summer.

Favorite Blog Post: Was THIS one from one of my favorite writing blogs Let The Words Flow (I also found my CP through this site). YA author and agent Mandy Hubbard explains why agents don't give feedback on queries and offers insight into what it's like on the other side of the desk.

Song of the Week: This is the most important song on my WIP playlist right now!

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (July 17-23, 2011)

Best Book: Confession, I didn't actually read any new books this week. I know, horrible, and very unlike me . . . but I did reread several books for inspiration for my new WIP and the book I love the most that I reread was Where She Went by Gayle Forman (the sequel to If I Stay).


Anticipated Book: A book I can't wait to be released is Wanderlove by Kirsten Hubbard, which looks like a really cool travel/adventure/romance-y book. It comes out March 13th, 2012. And the author announced on her blog that the book will feature drawings and sketches too, which look really awesome! Check out that post HERE.

On Writing: Last week in on writing I talked about the rewrite of the beginning of my dystopian WIP . . . but I'm actually not working on that anymore. Last Saturday night I had a sudden stroke of inspiration for a contemp idea I've been harboring for months and I started writing that. I'm 6,500 words into that project right now and REALLY HOPING I'll stick with this one :D Though I definitely plan on going back to the dystopian later.

Favorite Blog Post: Was THIS one about Harry Potter and the different types of love from Beth Revis. I still love Snape, but it was a true and very thought-provoking post.

Song of the Week: 

- Nicole

The Weekly Post (July 10-16, 2011)

Best Book: The best book I read this week was definitely Forever by Maggie Stiefvater, the last book in the fabulous Wolves of Mercy Falls series.

Anticipated Book: So it seems fitting that the book to showcase as a future release I can't wait for this week would be The Scorpio Races, Maggie's next novel which comes out on October 18th, 2011, and is already getting rave reviews. 

On Writing: Right now I'm working on my second novel. It's a dystopian YA and I love it :) I had 23,000 words written, but didn't write for a few weeks (which, for me, always means something's wrong with the story) and last week I realized the problem. Long story short, I'm currently rewriting it from scratch with the new plot that I adore so much more than the other one! It's at 4,500 words right now. . . 

Favorite Blog Post: My favorite post from this week was THIS one from the wonderful Victoria Schwab about the struggles of writing and wanting it badly enough. 

Song of the Week: I think this says it all:

- Nicole