friday5 for April 1, 2016

Happy April Fool's Day! I promise I won't attempt to pull any fast ones on you today, dear blog readers. The truth is, I'm just not that good at pranks. Maybe one day, but for now, it's enough for me to use today's Friday5 to share a selection of the internet's best gags with you, in case you don't have time to go looking yourself (feel free to share some of your favs in the comments)--and of course, we're also long overdue for a Noteworthy New YA recommendation, so let's get to it!

1. Google has a history of being all over April Fool's Day, and today was no exception. Here's just one of their awesome offerings:

2. WestJet's new inflight helper takes on a lightly HAL-esque personality in this gag ad:

3. Too busy gaming to eat? Razer has you covered:

4. Okay this is actually from yesterday, so not technically an April Fool's thing, but I didn't see it until this morning, and I can't not share:

5. Noteworthy New YA: WALK THE EDGE by Katie McGarry (Thunder Road #2)

One moment of recklessness will change their worlds.

Smart. Responsible. That's seventeen-year-old Breanna's role in her large family, and heaven forbid she put a toe out of line. Until one night of shockingly un-Breanna-like behavior puts her into a vicious cyber-bully's line of fire—and brings fellow senior Thomas "Razor" Turner into her life. 

Razor lives for the Reign of Terror motorcycle club, and good girls like Breanna just don't belong. But when he learns she's being blackmailed over a compromising picture of the two of them—a picture that turns one unexpected and beautiful moment into ugliness—he knows it's time to step outside the rules. 

And so they make a pact: he'll help her track down her blackmailer, and in return she'll help him seek answers to the mystery that's haunted him—one that not even his club brothers have been willing to discuss. But the more time they spend together, the more their feelings grow. And suddenly they're both walking the edge of discovering who they really are, what they want, and where they're going from here.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend!

(early) happy easter

Just a quick post to say no regular post this week. I'll be busy playing catchup after March break and preparing for the long Easter weekend ahead. I do have a quick book recommendation though! If you find yourself with a little extra reading time on your hands this weekend, my agentmate, Emily Bleeker, recently released her sophomore offering, WHEN I'M GONE, and while I haven't had a chance to dive in yet myself, if it's anything like her stunning debit, WRECKAGE, it's going to be terrific. Check it out: 

Luke Richardson has returned home after burying Natalie, his beloved wife of sixteen years, ready to face the hard job of raising their three children alone. But there's something he's not prepared for a blue envelope with his name scrawled across the front in Natalie's handwriting, waiting for him on the floor of their suburban Michigan home.

The letter inside, written on the first day of Natalie's cancer treatment a year ago, turns out to be the first of many. Luke is convinced they re genuine, but who is delivering them? As his obsession with the letters grows, Luke uncovers long-buried secrets that make him question everything he knew about his wife and their family. But the revelations also point the way toward a future where love goes on in written words, in memories, and in the promises it's never too late to keep.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

I hope you all have a fantastic week and a wonderful long weekend, full of good food and good people, whether you celebrate with chocolate eggs or not. And for those who do, Happy Easter!

pretty little reaction: too many secrets, not enough plan Bs

6.20 Hush hush sweet liars | Photo credit: Freeform

Well, I hate to keep things brief for a season finale, but it's also March Break and my time is limited...of course, I can't NOT share some thoughts on this explosive finale, which yes, I definitely enjoyed, and yes, it definitely has me salivating for the next half season, even though no, I did not like a particular fav liar of mine ending the episode in jeopardy (but I also liked it; more on that below). Let's get right to it, shall we? (oh, and this is more than a top 10, cause this is stream of consciousness blogging here, and honestly, this finale packed in way too much for me to narrow it down.)

Looking for A-Moji | Photo credit: Freeform

1. Hanna trusts Hot Caleb. Spencer does too. And Aria's face after they both say this is priceless. Go back and check it out if you can. 
    
2. Where's Jason? I know he's running the family business but where is he physically? I feel like this season could have been even more crazy if he'd been around. I was never much of a Jason fan to begin with, but he's tied up in all this family drama so I hope he's back for Season 7.
    
3. Toby's glasses. That is all.
    
4. Does anybody even remotely know what Sara Harvey is doing right now or ever? Cause I have no clue. Like, if she's not bad, why does she do ANY of the things she does?
    
5. I don't care enough about Nicole to care that she's maybe dead. (Plus, she's almost definitely not dead, right? She's going to suddenly come back to rain on Ezria's parade, I just know it.)
    
6. What the hell Ali's dead mom! 
    
7. It's kind of patronizing that the liars keep referring to it as "babysitting Ali". Old Ali wouldn't have stood for that shit.
    
8. It seems extra strange that they're also sitting around drinking wine. I get that they're "all grown up now" but they seem to sit around drinking wine a lot. Which, okay, I kinda love.
    
9. Spaleb scene.. blaaaah. But worth noting, she said I love you and he silently responded with, "Oh. Oh, no. No, it's not like that. I love Hanna."
    
10. Ezria = "Our book is going to be a bestseller, now let's get it on."
     
11. Haleb flashback is pretty heartbreaking. But also begs the question, how quickly did Hot Caleb get out of there? He didn't seem to linger at all. Plus, leaving his phone behind seems very unlike him.  
     
12. Hanna still love Hot Caleb. No surprise there, right? But it's so nice to see her say it, and it's even nicer to see that HE is the one who makes a move to kiss her. Like, without even wanting to "talk about it" or process the info, or pull the, "but I'm with Spencer now!" card. Nope, he just wants to kiss his sweet Hanna again. And my Haleb shipper heart breaths a massive sigh. Let it also be noted: Spencer says I love you, and Hot Caleb leaves. Hanna says it, and he makes out with her. Yeah. That's pretty much all you need to know about that..
     
13. Sad Ali in the church almost seems as stupid as all the crazy solo missions Em has gone on this season. Where do these girls come up with these random potentially dangerous ideas from?
     
14. I kinda love Mona the party crasher. She just shows up everywhere you don't want her to be. But Spencer seems to actually kinda be okay with it. 
     
15. Also, since I haven't mentioned it yet, I'm glad there is still clearly a Spoby spark cause Spencer is about to get her heart broken...
     
16. Mary Drake is the twin! This does not surprise me. Okay, the part where she's Charlotte's real mother was a bit surprising, but I think her being Ali's aunt is a lot less surprising. 
     
17. Also not surprising is Mr. Ali being evil. I totally called it. I did not call him being British however. And I should have because apparently the actor is British. 
     
18. Hanna is gone. On the surface, I am so not okay with my fav liar being in danger, but did you see how Hot Caleb freaked out, and how angry he seemed with himself at the end? He feels like he let her down, and worse, maybe he's lost her forever. Except no, the show won't off Hanna. She's too awesome. Which means we should get an amazing Hanna rescue (or, dare I ask for it, Hanna escape?) where Hot Caleb does anything to get her back, followed by the hottest of all Haleb reunions. If the show is more adult now, more, let's say, freeform, whatever that means, and we're seeing more nudity (and boy, if this episode was any indicator...), I think season 7 needs to start off with a bang. Literally. A hot Haleb reunion bang. Make it happen, PLL.

No quote of the week this time, because I didn't have time to write one down :) Is anybody else super excited for season 7a? I know I am. Haleb forever.

Sorry for typos. No time to edit. 

~PLR~

friday5 for March 11, 2016

I don't know about you, but I'm bracing myself for March Break next week. If I'm being perfectly honest, I'm looking forward to a few days where it'll be just me and my girl E (with Baby H in daycare), but I know E is going to miss the routine of school, and will probably get quite squirrely by the end of the week. That I'm not looking forward to... Needless to say, there won't be a Friday5 next week, but with the PLL finale airing, there will be at least something of a Pretty Little Reaction post. Housekeeping note over. Let's get to the Friday5!

1. Have you seen the official promo for the new season of Game of Thrones? No? Then you need to. Yes? Then you need to watch it again. There are a lot of goodies in here to discuss. Where to start? Oh, I dunno, how about BRAN AND THE FREAKIN' NIGHT'S KING? Okay, clearly this isn't really happening cause Bran is standing tall, but what's that all about? Is it possible Bran's story won't bore me as much as it has up to this point? We will soon find out!

2. Speaking of GoT, does anybody believe Kit Harrington's claims? Anybody? I'm seriously asking. I go back and forth about this several times a week. It's not like the guy has to worry about credibility. Not really. 

Photo credit: HBO

3. Queen Rowling herself is releasing a whole lot of new information about the North American Wizarding World, to mixed reviews (but let's not get into that here). Feelings about the specifics aside, does anybody else find this feels kind of surreal? Harry Potter fans have been immersed in the UK Wizarding world for so long that it feels really, really strange to now hear these kinds of details about magic's existence outside that. Don't get me wrong, I love the expansion of the wizarding world. I want it to live and grow forever, but it all feels so...disconnected for me right now. Like, everything in HP 1-7 is real, and this somehow isn't. Maybe Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them will change that. I hope so.  

4. Get ready for more Kimmel. ABC has announced that Jimmy Kimmel has been tapped to host the 168th Primetime Emmy awards. I think this is a good choice. He did a plenty good job the last time he hosted, and when it comes to these awards shows, I always find the best hosts are the people who are used to hosting as a regular gig. Should be good. Let's just hope the nominations reflect the actual best talent out there, and not just the same old tired choices year over year. 

Photo credit: ABC

5. Noteworthy New YA: BURN BABY BURN by Meg Medina

While violence runs rampant throughout New York, a teenage girl faces danger within her own home in Meg Medina's riveting coming-of-age novel. 
Nora Lopez is seventeen during the infamous New York summer of 1977, when the city is besieged by arson, a massive blackout, and a serial killer named Son of Sam who shoots young women on the streets. Nora's family life isn t going so well either: her bullying brother, Hector, is growing more threatening by the day, her mother is helpless and falling behind on the rent, and her father calls only on holidays. All Nora wants is to turn eighteen and be on her own. And while there "is "a cute new guy who started working with her at the deli, is dating even worth the risk when the killer likes picking off couples who stay out too late? Award-winning author Meg Medina transports us to a time when New York seemed balanced on a knife-edge, with tempers and temperatures running high, to share the story of a young woman who discovers that the greatest dangers are often closer than we like to admit and the hardest to accept.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

pretty little reaction: love will find a way

6.19 Did You Miss Me? | Photo Credit: Freeform

Wow, how did we get to the second last episode of the season already? These little half seasons really fly by. So not ready for the break, but at least things are looking up for Haleb before the finale. Yes, okay, they're not back together, but they are working together, and making Spencer jealous, which to me, means two things: 1. Hanna and Hot Caleb trust each other pretty much anyone else (and stand united together, no matter what), and 2. The honeymoon is official over for Spaleb. I can't help but wonder what Hot Caleb would have done if Spencer had been against Haleb's plan. But again, PLL showed us how the girls have matured with the time jump by having her force herself to be cool with it. Cause that's what grown-ups do... Anyway, enough about that, let's get to the episode!

Don't mess with Hanna | Photo credit: Freeform

1. I've personally never been a big Hanna and Lucas fan for obvious reasons (dude needs to move on), but they work quite nicely as friends. That I can get behind. But the whole Lucas wanting to buy her a building feels an awful lot like Pacey buying Joey a wall. Do we really need to go down this road again, with Lucas pining for Hanna. He now has two guys in his way, in Jordan and Hot Caleb. Lucas, buddy, it's not going to happen.
    
2. Ali's husband is definitely sketchy. Maybe I'm reading too much into it--or maybe this is symptomatic of PLL making me suspect everyone--but he's super suspicious, right? Did he push Ali down the stairs? Maybe. Probably.
    
3. The card with the X'd out liars on it really stands out to me. And not because of its contents, but because the front of it is a freakin staircase. Maybe Ali is too far away to have seen it, but I'd expect that to stand out to anyone walking around the room, as it did to Hanna. So then why didn't Mr. Ali notice it? Maybe because HE PUT IT THERE? Did it suddenly mysteriously appear after he dropped off more flowers? Cause that's kind of what it looked like. Or is this all just a red herring and it's just coincidentally weird that nobody before Hanna questioned sending a staircase card to a girl who just fell down the stairs?
    
4. Sara Harvey's handy man and Mona. I don't know what to think. My gut instinct these days is to trust Mona, but I dunno. She's done a lot of really bizarre stuff in the past. And what's with the handy man standing around eating ice cream like a big weirdo? That whole scene was strange. And Emily's attempts to be covert were not the best. Em, for the last time, it's called back-up.
    
5. Is it just me or is Ezra's book kinda bad? I couldn't stop thinking about that during the Nicole flashback. Or maybe the acting is just way over the top. 
    
6. Hanna needs Hot Caleb. She really, truly needs him. And he needs her too--he just won't admit it. But he will help. And he will stand by Hanna no matter what. I love the fierceness of this pairing, even if it's a "business partnership". We all know what's really going on. Yes, Spencer. Be wary. You should be. 
    
7. The hand grab. Yes, it was in the previews, but that didn't make it any less magical. Actually, I was kinda shocked by how it all went down. Hanna just sort of went for it. A sign of solidarity is one thing, but that felt an awful lot more like a brazen claiming of territory. And Hot Caleb doesn't really seem to mind until he realizes Spencer is looking, and then he just looks like a million thoughts are racing through his mind. Poor guy is going to have some tough decisions to make soon, I think. 
    
8. Spencer sure is drinking a lot wine...
    
9. The Spaleb Europe flashback probably yields the most chemistry I've observed between the two of them, but it's vacation romance. It's not real. It's got that glow of "we're all alone here and the real world is miles away." It still feels like solace, not love. 
    
10. The Haleb plan goes forward. Hanna confesses to killing Charlotte--but will Devil Emoji buy it? I have a feeling this is almost definitely going to blow back in their faces. That's the PLL way, after all. But however it goes down, I definitely hope it brings both Haleb and Spoby closer together again. 

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"We're all connected like a big bowl of linguini." -Hanna (or like a bunch of friends with secrets and lies...)

~PLR~

pretty little reaction: burn, baby, burn

6.18 Burn This | Photo Credit: Freeform

No Friday5 this week. I spent the time I normally would've spent pulling it together volunteering in my daughter's classroom instead. #sorrynotsorry We spent the time learning about five types of simple machines, which, now that I think about it--Friday5, Five simple machines--maybe I could've killed two birds with one stone? Does anybody care to learn about levers and wedges? No? Okay, then let's talk PLL instead. Things are really *ahem* heating up in this week's episode! Again, #sorrynotsorry

It was totally the girl on the right... | Photo credit: Freeform

1. So Ali and Mr. Ali are married. I can't seem to ever remember his name and since I'm too lazy to look it up. Mr. Ali it is! What are the odds this guy is Devil Emoji? Or Black SUV? About the same as the odds that anyone is DE or BSUV? Yeah, that's what I figured. 
    
2. Toby is back! And he's busting skulls...but wait, Toby! Don't hit Hot Caleb's beautiful face! When I saw this scene in the previews for the season way back when, I had really hoped/assumed (didn't we all?) that the punch was over Spencer, but now that it's happened, I'm glad it's not. I have to say, PLL is handling these new relationships with a lot of maturity--I mean, punching aside. That's not so mature, but at least it was over Toby's current girlfriend and not his ex. I find myself again legit buying into the five year time jump. Well done, PLL.
    
3. I kind of adore the interaction between Ashely and Hot Caleb this week. Ash, ain't nobody gonna blame you for favouring that boy. Hot and sweet as Jordan is, Hot Caleb is the quintessential cute hacker boy next door.
    
4. Aria and Ezra are writing a book together now. This should go well.
    
5. Oh Emily, I honestly don't know if you're badass or braindead. Why do you keep going on these dangerous missions alone? At least she found out a few things this week. More on that below...
    
6. Hanna continues to be just not that into all things related to her wedding, and by extension, Jordan. Look, I'm sure she was plenty happy with him back in fairytale NY, but now that she's back in Rosewood and is constantly being exposes to reminders of the lost love of her life Hot Caleb, it's not surprising this isn't turning out to be the most blissful engagement. Is anybody else kind of hoping for a scene where Hanna finally breaks her cool exterior and Ashley soothingly points out that she's clearly still in love with Hot Caleb? Cause yeah, Ash totally knows what's up.
    
7. Someone who doesn't know what's up is Spencer's dad. Who, dude. Your daughter is an adult now. You can treat her like one. As much as I'm not a fan of Spaleb, Daddy Hastings has no right telling Spence who she can and cannot date. That said, Spencer, please stop dating Hot Caleb. Just don't do it because of your dad. Do it because you have so much more chemistry with Toby. Speaking of which...
    
8. More flashbacks! More flashbacks! I am yet to meet a PLL flashback I didn't like. And this week's FB is solid gold. It's no secret that I haven't been feeling Spencer this season, what with the girl code violations and the icky barn hook-ups, but seeing "old Spencer" back with Toby, even at a very sad, and touching time, was really great. When these two inevitably get back together, I want some sort of a "you were always good enough" moment. I can't believe I'm saying this about Toby...the Creeper Toby of days past. What can I say? I feel for the guy.
    
9. Oh Aria. Poor Aria. What a horrible thing to have to suffer through--wait. What? Only her arm got hurt? HER ARM? Okay, whatever. At least her family is there in her time of...wait. What? Where are her parents? Why did only Hanna feel the need to go to the hospital? What is going on here?? Oh, there's Ezra. Maybe they can use this time to work on their book together...or, you know do the whole totally sweet pining ex thing. That works too. Oh, Liam, you poor oblivious man...
    
10. Mona is the girl with the pink dice. This somehow doesn't surprise me at all. But it does make me happy. I like Mona best when she's up to all kinds of crazy hijinks. This whole diner storyline has been so all over the place that I have no idea what's going on, but that doesn't stop me from liking where it's going. And despite Emily's stupid decisions of late, girl is probably the only liar who seems to actually be getting stuff done. Well done, Em. For now, you can keep your probably badass status. 

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

(A two-liner this time, because it made me snort with laughter)

Spencer: Do you want me to do this or not?
Caleb: Not! I keep saying not and you keep ignoring me!

~PLR~

it falls apart

I'm working on my current WIP today, a young adult contemporary called, IT FALLS APART. This book is all about relationships--from romantic, to familial, to a loyal friendship between two girls struggling to navigate the complications life throws their way.

Though it's a work in progress, I've updated the book page with a working synopsis, and am very happy to share it with you here as well!

*WORK IN PROGRESS*

When Harper Donnelly’s best friend, Chloe, moves out-of-state halfway through their senior year, she figures things can’t get much worse. But then Nan, her grandmother and sole guardian, falls ill, throwing Harper’s life into chaos. She does the only thing she can think of, and takes on half of Nan’s shifts shuttling tourists from the airport, an effort that brings her into regular contact with Chloe’s cute ex-boyfriend, Luke, whose family owns a local inn.

Harper has never been particularly fond of Luke, but with Chloe gone, she starts to see a different side of him, and the two stumble into a friendship that unwittingly deepens into something far more intense. Their secret isn’t so hard to keep—it’s even kind of exciting—until Chloe unexpectedly returns for the summer, and Harper suddenly finds herself torn between the guy she’s definitely falling for, and the best friend she swore she’d never betray.

friday5 for February 26, 2016

It's almost the end of February, you guys. What is UP with that? I for one am more than ready to put winter behind me, and look forward to spring. Seriously, let's get this sunshine show on the road. Are you ready for the last February weekend before we dive into lousy Smarch weather? Maybe this week's Friday5 can help...

1. The X-Files's far too short "event series" ended this past week with a major cliffhanger, leaving everyone wondering two things: 1. How is it possible we barely got any Mulder/Scully interaction in this episode? And 2. When is this show coming back for a slightly longer, better fleshed-out eleventh season? Okay, there were also some people wondering why the brains behind the show seemingly wasted some of the few episodes they had, but that's all very debatable. I thought it was great, and I'm not the only one. Besides, I don't think anybody was expecting a perfect run. That wouldn't be in X-Files tradition. (Remember the episode with the killer cats? Cause yeah, that happened.) Regardless of a few shaky missteps, you can officially consider me on #teamseason11pleaseandthankyou

Photo credit: FOX

2. Ready for the Oscars this weekend? Yeah, me neither. Not having cable certainly doesn't help. But not seeing any of the movies isn't so great either. But dammit if I don't get swept away by the hype anyway! If you're as unprepared as I am, let Honest Trailers do what they do best--tell you what you need to know, no filter required.

3. Hold up, Cruel Intentions TV series, things just got interesting. Sarah Michelle Gellar, the original scheming Kathryn Merteuil herself, is joining the cast. As a fan of the original CI film back in the 90s, this series had been on my radar, but not like it is now. Time will tell if this ends up being a worthy successor, but I'm definitely intrigued...and digging out my old Placebo CD :)

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures, Inc.

4. Did you know Disney is doing a new adaptation of Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time? Because I don't think I did, and now that I know, I'm super excited. The project has signed on a director in Selma's Ava Duvernay, which I'm hoping is a sign they're moving forward and we can start dream casting...Kiernan Shipka as Meg, right? Are we all on the same page? Cause, yeah, that would be awesome. 

5. Noteworthy New YA: FIRSTLIFE by Gena Showalter (Everlife #1)

From the author of the "New York Times" bestselling White Rabbit Chronicles series comes book 1 of a brand new series in which life as we know it is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.
Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girlwho has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she'll liveafter she dies. 
There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death. 
In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she's drawn to isn't where the boy she's falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy Weekend! 

pretty little reaction: there's baggage, and then there's what the liars are lugging around

6.17 We've All Got Baggage | Photo Credit: Freeform

Sorry for the break last week--things were crazy busy, but I'm back and ready to discuss this week's PLL! Before we dive in, I just want to give one more shout-out to the awesome Haleb flashback scene we got last week. It definitely made me yearn for them. And it, combined with what we saw this week, has me feeling very confident a reunion is in our future. I don't want Spencer to get burned, but...meh. She can get back with Toby. Speaking of whom, where's Toby? Definitely not a part of this week's drama, but next week...oh, I have a feeling it's getting good :)

You can't trust that guy, Em | Photo Credit: Freeform

1. So my question about Liam knowing who Ezra really is to Aria was answered quite clearly--he definitely didn't know. But he does now! Ezra seems to handle the whole book thing okay, then Liam and Aria work things out (he never even brings up the creepiness factor! Good man, that Liam. I guess.) Oh and Aria's parents get married, and well, basically everything's a wash for her this week. Expect new drama next week, probably related to her prodigal brother, at least, I kinda hope so.
    
2. Man, I love a good Emily freak out. Nobody does wide-eyed losing it like Em. Also her reaction to Spaleb was classic. Do not want to see. And then there's the whole Damien thing. I totally forgot about Damien until memory was jogged by the whole reporter thing. Right. That guy. He's definitely up to something other than an article, right? I mean, he has to be. Could he be Devil Emoji? Or, Black SUV? (more on that below)
    
3. Hanna's good at planning other weddings, but not her own. Clearly a sign. Also, "This is happy"? No it's not. (And did you notice Hanna's reaction to seeing Spaleb together? And how Hot Caleb removed his arm from around Spencer as soon as he saw Hanna? Haleb is so coming back.) 
    
4. Apparently Devil Emoji and Emily are going to have a baby together. Isn't that nice? Oh wait, no, it's totally creepy. But maybe Emily should take a look through that baby name book. If she leaves it up to Devil Emoji, that kid is going to be named Pizza Slice or Smiley Poop. Actually, Smiley Poop isn't a bad name for a baby...
    
5. The Hanna and Melissa flashback was intense. I kinda love these two together. Can we please see more of them two at odds? Also, how many times is this show going to try and make us believe Melissa is guilty? We know better by now, PLL. That said, I wonder what Melissa is up to...
    
6. Okay, Emily officially needs to stop going to creepy A-related (Devil Emoji-related) places by herself. She gets herself nearly killed every other week. And why does she think the roof is a good place to hide? OBVIOUSLY,w whoever is in the Black SUV totally knows she's up there. This is the most bizarre cat and mouse game I've ever seen. Em, next time just run into the forest. Cars can't drive through trees. 
    
7. What are Hanna and Aria wearing at the wedding? Just. What. Aria's is kinda okay since she's officiating, but a black leather crop top and matching skirt? I know Ella wanted something different, but seriously? Also, I kinda thought Byron and Ella would break apart after their kiss and Magic Mike would be there. Not stupid Liam, who is kinda boring now that any drama related to him is mostly over. 
    
8. Hot Caleb takes the fall. Always our hero. Of course. And then Spencer's mom kicks him out. I don't think Caleb secretly did it, and I don't care for him taking the blame to save Spencer (the campaign overall is fine), but I'm definitely a fan of him not being in that barn anymore. Hooray for no more totally awkward honeymoon phase scenes between Spaleb. I am so done with those. It felt like a brother and sister waking up for coffee and makeouts. Gross. Also, this totally sets the scene for the Haleb reunion. Dare I dream that Hot Caleb will show up at Lucas's condo looking for a place to crash? DARE I DREAM?
    
9. Ali and what's his face (Dr. Something) want to get married. Well, we knew this was coming, but I have to say, I wasn't expecting it now. They seem giggly and happy. And hey, Aria might as well. She's got an officiating resume to build up! Maybe she can marry Haleb next? :P
    
10. Okay, the two "As" thing. Emily seems to think that Black SUV and Devil Emoji aren't the same person. I don't necessarily agree that they have to be two different people. Couldn't Devil Emoji just have shown up to find that murder weapon and then Emily was there and he/she wanted to scare Em off so they did, and then when she got the weapon, he/she grabbed it for his/her own purposes? The show seems to want us to believe there are two people here. So even though I don't agree there's enough evidence to support this, I'm going to go along with it. Which brings me to my next question--which "A" is eating wedding cake and programming a universal remote? I don't even know what we're supposed to make of that...Figuring out how to program a universal remote makes me think the person is old and out of touch with technology, but that's not true. Those things are hard! 
    
    Until next week!

Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"Well, I think it's fate. People who are meant to be together take a break and then find their way back to their first love." -Hanna (of course, I picked this one...)

~PLR~

friday5 for February 12, 2016

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, love is in the air. Well, kinda. We have Deadpool coming out this weekend, and the return of The Walking Dead... but there's some love to be found there, right? Okay, maybe not so romantic, but definitely fun. Here's a mostly relationship-centric Friday5 to balance the scales:

1. The boys are back in town. As in ALL the boys. David Sutcliffe, Danny Strong, Jared Padalecki, and Milo Ventimiglia are set to join the Gilmore Girls revival alongside already announced Gilmore Guys, Scott Patterson and Matt Czuchry (whose name I still have no idea how to pronounce). And they're not the only ones. You can find an updated list of everyone returning to Stars Hollow here. Looks like all of Rory's boyfriends of Christmas past are going to be back in town, but how amazing would it be if the first instalment of the Netflix revival opens with Rory dating Jensen Ackles?

Photo credit: MEGAN SCHAEFER/ IBTIMES

2. Looks like we'll be finding out the fate of Ron and Hermione's marriage (see last week's Friday5 for Rupert Grint's blasphemous prediction) regardless of the ability to attend performances of The Cursed Child in London--as many predicted, the stage play is being published for all to read on July 31 of this year. Are you excited to get your hands on the 8th Harry Potter story, even if J.K. Rowling's pen wasn't the main one behind the tale?

3. The trailer for Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates was released this past week, and with a wedding, a bromance, and a...female bromance? (Femance? Is there a word for that? ), it looks like it could be a lot of fun. I just hope the film utilizes Anna Kendrick more than the trailer does, because girl is funny. 

4. Looking to whip up something sweet this weekend? The Kitchn has collected a slew of inspired recipes that combine sugary sweets with roses--could there be anything more romantic? The only trouble is, these dishes might be too beautiful to eat...

Photo Credit: http://www.abeautifulmess.com/

5. Noteworthy New YA: BLEEDING EARTH by Kaitlin Ward

Between Mother Nature and human nature, disasters are inevitable.

Lea was in a cemetery when the earth started bleeding. Within twenty-four hours, the blood made international news. All over the world, blood oozed out of the ground, even through the concrete, even in the water. Then the earth started growing hair and bones.

Lea wishes she could ignore the blood. She wishes she could spend time with her new girlfriend, Aracely, in public, if only Aracely wasn't so afraid of her father. Lea wants to be a regular teen again, but the blood has made her a prisoner in her own home. Fear for her social life turns into fear for her sanity, and Lea must save herself and her girlfriend however she can.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy weekend!

pretty little reaction: more than a little disturbing

6.15 Do Not Disturb | Photo credit: Freeform

I think PLL has finally done it. I think the new villain has become as invasive as he/she possibly can, short of rape/sexual assault, which we're unlikely to see because it's a "family show", except not, because oh right, it's not ABC Family anymore, it's Freeform. See what you've gone and done, PLL? You've killed family values, possibly right along with Emily's eggs (more on that below). But I still love you for it. On to the reaction!

Team Sparia! | Photo credit: Freeform

1. Aria's parents are...dating? That's their big secret? Okay. I guess that's fine. And I guess this means Byron has an alibi now...
    
2. Spencer and Hot Caleb together will never, ever feel right. I can tolerate this for like 2-3 more episodes tops. And yes, until they are broken up, I will continue to harp on them. I used to be more of a Spencer fan than I am currently, and I want to love her again. 
    
3. Okay wait. The Emily egg thing is legit? I thought that was definitely a cover story. I'm very confused. In fact, I'd probably continue to convince myself it is a cover story, if not for what happens later in the episode...  
    
4. Hanna's boss is a total B. And not in the new-A (Devil Emoji) way. She's just nasty. And a bit of a cliche. And she fired Han, and made her leave her Panda Mug behind! That mug was adorable! And yes, it's very sweet that Jordan pays for gas so Hanna can be driven around indefinitely for comfort, but I'd love to see her confiding in someone else right now... #hotcaleb
    
5. Ali's new guy is kind of a nerd. But he seems to genuinely care about her, which is nice. Also watching Ali up against crazy Sara Harvey makes me realize I'm rooting for Ali. And speaking of SH, who may or may not be Devil Emoji, but probably isn't, why does Ashley continue to let SH live at The Radley? Don't hotels reserve the right to kick out guests who threatened their daughter's life? I think I've mentioned this before, but it continues to boggle my mind. 
    
6. "I'm glad you came to me. You know you can always come to me." Haleb's scene together is waaaay too short! Go away, Spencer!  But that lingering look as Hanna left... her fiancé may be great, but she is sooo not okay with Spaleb. 
    
7. Devil Emoji wants to steal Emily's eggs. What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On. Here?!?  This crosses a new line, right? Like, back in highschool, it was all "Keep your mouth shut or I'll ruin the prom!" and now it's all, "I'm going to steal your harvested eggs!" Devil Emoji seemed kinda tame at first, responding to the girls in almost a friendly manner (plus, I can't tell if DE is involved in Charlotte's murder or some kind of vigilante trying to uncover it), but this egg thing is on a whole other level. Crazy times. Poor Emily.
    
8. Team Sparia! This is how I like my Spencer. And my Aria for that matter! Let's replace all the Spaleb scenes with Sparia scenes and everybody wins! That said, umm, guys, did Aria fall/climb down that deep hole? Does hotel security know about this? Does Ashley?
    
9. I get that SH owns a lot of gloves but do they all have to be on mannequin hands? That is just extra creepy.
    
10. Whoo Hacker Hot Caleb! See, this is how I like my Hot Caleb too--taking matters into his own hands. Definitely looking forward to more of this storyline!

New feature! Prettiest Little Quote of the Week:

"On second thought, could you come over here and toss me like a frisbee?" - Aria

~PLR~

the writer's arsenal: nothing is loved by everyone

It's been a while, but The Writer's Arsenal is back. I've got a whole slew of new writing/publishing related topics I'm looking forward to covering here on the blog, but as always, if there's anything about writer's craft, the industry, query process, whatever that you'd like to know more about, please leave a request in the comments or use the contact form and I'll be happy to cover it in a future post.

Today I want to talk about something I've undoubtedly touched on in the past, but this post is going to go into things a little more in-depth, and that's rejection.

Let me assure you, nobody likes being rejected, but absolutely everybody experiences it at some point or another. Writers (and artists in general) especially need to learn to live with it, because it's something you will continue to experience every step of the way.

Anyone who has queried a novel knows that receiving rejections is par for the course. Some authors manage to luck out with regards to timing, and they hit the right agent at the right time, receiving an offer of representation without having first received many "No thank you"s. But that's just luck and timing. If they'd done things another way, the number of rejections could have easily gone up, and for most authors querying, it does. In fact, for most authors, the number is in the dozens, or easily hundreds. Sometimes it's because the book isn't ready to be published, but a lot of the time, it's just a matter of taste--just a matter of finding the right person. And in the end, it's a good thing. Because a writer wants and needs an agent who loves their writing enough to fight for it. The agents who reject a manuscript weren't the right people for the job. Though unfortunate, it's a good thing they're passing. 

But then let's say, you finally land an agent. Hooray! No more querying! No more "No thank you"s! Except, now you have to submit to publishers, and the song and dance continues. As someone who's been on sub for a while, I know it all too well. And while it's always disappointing to receive a pass (even if it's accompanied by praise and helpful feedback), I know it's for the best. I want an editor who loves my books, loves my voice, and will want to work with me on future projects. If they can't see my potential, they won't be a great editor for me to work with.

Okay, so, let's say your book sells--yes, you've finally made it! The days of rejection are truly over now! Except...they're not. As any published author will tell you, the day your book hits the shelves (or sometimes beforehand, if advance reader copies go out) is the day the reviews start trickling (or hopefully pouring) in. Some of them will be glowing. Some of them won't. Agents rejected you, editors rejected you, and yes, now readers are rejecting you. A lot of writers find this extremely frustrating, and I can't really blame them. How can some people think your book is amazing while others feel it's utter garbage? Well, it's for the same reason some of us love sushi and some of us think it's disgusting. We all have different tastes, and authors absolutely must maintain that tough outer shell that got them through the query process, and find a way to accept the bad with the good, especially since some of the bad you'll see is just people trolling. Sad as it is, people will leave scathing reviews just to get a reaction. And if for no other reason, that's why you simply can't take it to heart. 

In May of last year, I saw something on TvLine.com that struck me so deeply that I grabbed a screen cap to keep as a reminder. David Letterman's final episode of The Late Show had just aired and having missed it myself, I was reading a recap of the show, and then scrolled down to the comments, where I saw this:

Source: TvLine.com

Wow. Just wow. I see comments like this often. An article gets posted, and somebody in the comments rails on it. But there was something about this one that really stayed with me. David Letterman had been hosting The Late Show for 22 seasons. He was a late night icon. Of course, there were people who liked his style, and people who didn't, but here it was, his final episode, a time to recognize what an accomplished career he's had, and there in the comments was someone who not only bothered to say he didn't care for it, but qualified that comment by saying he's not a fan to begin with! In one fairly succinct comment, this guy captured what writers need to keep in mind whenever they read a rejection or negative review of something they've written. Some people simply don't like certain things. And even though they don't like them, they still take the time to write a negative review. This comment might as well have said, "I hated this Sci-Fi book, but I'm not a Sci-Fi fan." Of course, most rejections and negative reviews don't bother to mention that second part, but it's important to keep it in mind. 

Of course, there are people who will recommend that authors don't read reviews at all. I think that's a mistake though, because I think feedback is how we learn and grow. As a writer AND editor, I want to know what people don't like about something I've written because I want to be able to make it better. Be it for revisions, or the next book I write, I want to keep an open mind and improve, even if I know I'll still never be able to make everybody happy. The key to dealing with negative reviews isn't to not read them, it's to not let yourself get baited. Thank people for their praise, and then just let the negative comments exist. Read them with an open mind, remind yourself that people have different tastes, take in anything you can learn from, and then move on. 

Rejection is unavoidable. Even NYT bestsellers receive bad reviews. But those aren't the people you're writing for, right? Just remember, nothing is loved by everyone. And that's okay. The world would be a boring place if that weren't true. The people who love your books are the people who matter most, so keep your focus on them, and keep writing!

friday5 for February 5, 2016

As I mentioned in a post on my Facebook author page yesterday, it's been a busy week. More than busy. Plus, I'm recovering from this cold that doesn't seem to want to go away. I guess recovering isn't actually the right word then. Enduring? Kinda. Anyway, I had to do a bit of condensing with regards to bloggie things this week. Sorry about that. Hopefully, we'll be back to normal as of Monday, but for now, here's the Friday5, including a mini version of this week's Pretty Little Reaction!

1. Let's talk Gilmore Girls revival, because I don't think we've touched on that yet and the four episode (more like four movies given their length) series began filming this week. There's a lot of information swirling out there right now (like this great rundown). For once, I'm actually somewhat trying to limit my exposure to too many details, because I want to be surprised. But oh man, this interview with Lauren Graham has got me so excited: 

Photo credit: NBC

2. Another favourite comic book universe is coming to prime time--X-Men, and FX, the network behind the adaptation, subtitled Legion, has announced that Aubrey Plaza, Dan Stevens, and Jean Smart will be joining the cast. Any thoughts on these choices? Personally, I see a lot of potential, but the scripts will have to be just right. Will you watch when Legion premieres? Or are you getting prime time comic book adaptation fatigue?

Photo credit: FX via THR

3. So, Rupert Grint upset many a Harry Potter fan this week when he predicted that Ron and Hermione probably eventually got divorced. I mean, he had to have been kidding, right? Joking around in a self-deprecating, of-course-Ron-would-fail-at-marriage kind of way? Yeah, that must be it. Cause in reality, I don't see Ron and Hermione, my favs over even HP himself, ever letting go of each other... 

Photo credit: Warner BRos.

Look, I know Ron and Hermione had their ups and downs--they were still children when they first fell in love! They had a lot of growing up to do!--but they'd both come a long way by the end of Deathly Hallows. Did they probably argue a lot? Of course. That's part of their spark! But you can't convince me these two wouldn't continue to love each other enough to work through any problems they might have as a married couple.  

4. As promised, here are my top impressions from this week's episode of Pretty Little Liars--again, sorry about the abbreviated edition! If you want to avoid spoilers, please go right ahead and skip to the Noteworthy New YA.

1. As I feared/suspected, Spencer and Hot Caleb didn't just kiss. They went for it. Like, went for it. Under the category of small mercies, I'm glad Hot Caleb was asleep during that morning after scene. I really didn't want to see AM canoodles between these two.
2. In other news, PLL has finally found a way to make me feel for Toby. I might even be starting to like the guy. Or maybe I just want him to dump the new chick, and conveniently step in to soften Spencer's fall when Hot Caleb inevitably gets back with Hanna. Either way, he's miles from where he used to be back in the Creeper Toby days. And yet, I miss him being creepy too... this is clearly my head-cold speaking now. I'll leave it at that. 
3. What is wrong with me that I actually like Aria's yellow zebra sweater? Is she... growing on me? First Toby and now Aria's wardrobe? Hmmm. I don't feel like I have a fever, but maybe I do!
4. Hanna's fiance is definitely likable. That doesn't mean I want her to be with him, but calling a lawyer when your girl confesses to evidence tampering? He's clearly the smartest person in the liars' lives right now. If--scratch that--when Hanna gets back with Hot Caleb, I hope they keep Jordan around just for his logical coping methods. 
5. Is Aria's dad the killer? I don't think so. But of the suspects they've hinted at so far, I think he's the one I'd most like to see actually responsible. He's definitely not the creeper in the old man mask though... was that supposed to look real? Cause it definitely looked like a mask. New A doesn't appear to have the big budget that old A did. 

6.14 New Guys, New Lies | Photo credit: Freeform

5. Noteworthy New YA: ASSASSIN'S HEART by Sarah Ahiers

With shades of Game of Thrones and Romeo and Juliet, this richly imagined fantasy from debut author Sarah Ahiers is a tale of love, lies, and vengeance. Fans of Kristin Cashore and Rae Carson will devour the flawlessly crafted action and inventive world building.

Seventeen-year-old Lea Saldana is a trained assassin. She was born into one of the nine clipper Families in the kingdom of Lovero who lawfully take lives for a price. As a member of the highest-ranking clan, loyalty to Family is valued above all, but that doesn't stop Lea from getting into a secret relationship with Val Da Via, a boy from a rival clan. Despite her better judgment, Lea has fallen in love with him; but she's confident she can anticipate any threat a mile away.

Then she awakens one night to a house full of smoke. Although she narrowly escapes, she isn't able to save her Family as their home is consumed by flames. With horror, she realizes that Val and his Family are the only ones who could be responsible. Devastated over his betrayal and the loss of her clan, there's just one thing on her mind: making the Da Vias pay. The heart of this assassin craves revenge.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy weekend!

rescue the cliffhanger: the small, dark room

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Well, I've been promising new features here on the blog, and here we go with a little game I'm calling Rescue the Cliffhanger! This is going to be something of an experiment at first. I don't know if it's been done before; it almost definitely has, but maybe not in this format? I also don't know if any of you writers or writing hobbyists out there will take me up on this challenge, but I sincerely hope you do, because I think it could be a lot of fun, and if nothing else, a little brain exercise to break up the day.

Here's the gist: Rescue the Cliffhanger is like a writing prompt, and then some. Below, you'll find a piece of text which ends--surprise, surprise--in a cliffhanger. My challenge to you, dear reader, is to pick things up where the cliffhanger leaves off, then continue the story on your own blog, tumblr, facebook, whatever. It doesn't have to be long (continue it on twitter if you'd like!) It definitely doesn't have to be perfect. It just had to come from your brain. Think of it as a quick writing exercise to stretch those creative muscles. Scary, funny, insightful, poetic--there are no restrictions as to where you take the story next, but if you decide to take me up on this challenge, I only ask that you do the following:

1. Before you dive into your continuation, please leave a quick note explaining that it's part of a writing game called Rescue the Cliffhanger, with a link back to this post so people will know where the story started, and can read the beginning if they'd like.
2. Please come back here yourself and leave a link to your continuation in the comments so that I, and any other readers, can read what you've written. If you post it on Facebook, please make sure the privacy settings for that specific post are set to 'public' so anyone can read it. 
3. Finally, not mandatory, but if you'd like to, please go ahead and end your piece of writing with another cliffhanger, inviting others to continue the story, with the goal of this growing into something of a choose-your-adventure-style story.  

Again, this is an experiment. I have no idea if anybody will respond, or if it'll be a big flop, but I'm putting it out there, and hope we can have some fun with it. If anyone is on board, we'll do it again sometime for sure--I'd love to make it a regular feature here on the blog.

So for now, I present to you, the first--and hopefully not last--edition of Rescue the Cliffhanger:

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I don't know how long I've been here. Surely hours, not days. At least, I think so. How many? I'm not sure. When I came to, I was lying on the hard, planked floor I sit on now, my head pounding.

I've been listening, waiting. I thought I heard murmuring outside the door at one point, but I couldn't make out any words. The only other sound has been my own ragged breath, punctuated by whimpers and gasps of stale air. At one point, I thought I felt the room sway, like a boat meandering feebly over clement waves. But my head is spinning, and the darkness makes me imagine things that aren't really there. 

I managed to find my way to a wall, to rest against, to hold me up, to keep me from feeling tetherless in this inky, black void. I don't know who brought me here, or why, but I'm too scared to crawl around. I don't know how big this room is; I'm afraid of what I'll find. There's a pinhole in the wall above that permits a minute ray of what might be daylight, but it's not enough to illuminate a thing. 

What was that?

Another murmur. I could swear it this time. A shuffle. Maybe even a hand on the door. Somebody's out there.

TO BE CONTINUED...

friday5 for January 29, 2016

Well, I'm not exactly sure how we've reached the end of January already, but here we are. Time flying so quickly is always a bit concerning, but it's winter, and we're steadily moving toward warmer, sunnier days. I see no bad there. But if that shiny glimmer of hope isn't enough to get you through to the weekend, here are a few items that just might! 

1. What is happening here? This is absolutely delightful, and yet another reason Kristen Bell is my spirit animal. You don't need to know anything going into this beyond the fact that KB and her hubs, Dax Shepard, filmed this before the birth of their kids, while they were on safari in Africa. If these two ever break up, I'm going to need therapy. Enjoy!

2. Did you miss Mockingjay Pt. 2 in theatres like I did? No? You saw it because you didn't have trouble working out a babysitting scenario that would work for your still nursing baby? Well, I wasn't so lucky. After seeing the previous three films (the first and third with newborn babies in tow) shortly after their initial release, I just didn't make it out to see MJ Pt. 2. Not a great situation for a big HG fan to be in. But alas, that's life, and now the film is almost out on DVD/Blu-ray and I'll get to finally see it! I might even have to pre-order the 4-film collection, details for which have just been released. Will you be marathoning all four films when Mockingjay Pt.2 becomes available?

3. Were you angry when Pottermore decided to do away with sorting and all the interactive stuff that was actually worth your time? Well, some of those features are back, and whether you liked the house you were originally sorted into or not, now's a great time to find out where you might fit in at Hogwarts, according to the master of sorting, J.K. Rowling herself! 

4. Would you like a splash of Saturday morning nostalgia with your comic books? Cause DC is rolling out some new versions of old Hanna-Barbera favourites. The art is definitely intriguing, but I'm not sure I'll be checking out any of these books beyond a passing glimpse. There's something about Scooby with a cyborg eye that just seems irresponsible ;) Anybody on board with this reimagining?

Photo Credit: DC Comics, courtesy of Entertainment weekly

5. Noteworthy YA of the week: SHALLOW GRAVES by Kali Wallace

For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters human and otherwise lurk at the fringes.

When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she's somehow conscious and not only that, she's able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs where killers hide in plain sight, and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.

Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.

-Courtesy of Indiebound

Happy weekend!