Alyssa S.
Congratulations! I will get these books in the mail to you ASAP. Thanks to everyone who entered. Stay tuned for more giveaways!
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Author Insight: Written Off
What genre of fiction do you read and respect but would never write?
"I’m pretty sure I’d never write crime, although I’ve just read 2 Peter Temple books and been very impressed. Also, hilarious family memoir of the David Sedaris or Benjamin Law kind probably won’t ever pour out of my pen." - Margo Lanagan, author of The Brides of Rollrock Island.
"Nothing. I like to write everything I read, because I never want to get stuck doing one thing. If I read a genre, I’ve tried to write something in it. It keeps me flexible and helps me grow as a writer." - Dan Krokos, author of False Memory.
"Government budgets." - Martha Brockenbrough, author of Devine Intervention.
Monday, June 11, 2012
My Summer Listening & Giveaway
This summer I'm planning to take on the entire Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare. It's a daunting task, and I may never leave the car but I'm excited! I've heard amazing things about the audio for this series and can't wait to get started.
To celebrate "June is Audiobook Month" we've joined together with some awesome blogs to bring you this JIAM Giveaway Hop hosted by Reading Teen! Each blog will be giving away at least one amazing audiobook, so make sure you check them all out! This blog hop ends June 15th at midnight.
Author: Cassandra ClareReaders: Ed Westwick, Natalie Moore, and Molly C. QuinnDescription (City of Bones): When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know. . .
And thanks to Simon & Schuster I can share my summer listening books with you!
Giveaway: US Only.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Timepiece by Myra McEntire
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Age Group: Young Adult
Format: E-galley
Source: Publisher via NetgalleyPages: 336
Buy: Amazon / Book Depository / IndieBound
Description: Goodreads
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...
Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?
Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.
Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...
Last year, I read a book I really enjoyed called Hourglass by Myra McEntire. It had time travel and snarky best friends and one very electrifying romance. Ever since I heard of its existence, I have been pretty excited to get my hands on the sequel, Timepiece. There was just one minor problem. My biggest issue with Hourglass was regarding one character: Kaleb.
Hold on, put those weapons down! Let me finish!!
Kaleb himself is a fine character (in more ways than one). He’s pretty and flirty and dangerous and broken- essentially, a perfect distraction and second option for Emerson instead of Michael. However, I thought he came across as a bit one-note which never entices me. I became a staunch Michael supporter, and with every review I read, it started to feel like I was out there on my own (besides Emerson, of course). So you can imagine my surprise when I discovered (from Myra herself!) that Timepiece was Kaleb’s story, and it would be told in his voice. This intrigued me immensely, as I hoped that gaining some insight in Kaleb’s mind would help me see what was so special about this guy.
One chapter in, I realized that asking me if I’m Team Michael or Team Kaleb is a question wrongly asked. Spending time inside of Kaleb’s world firmly puts me on his side without taking me away from Michael’s. I’m not jumping ship—I simply understand what all the fuss is about.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Jackson Pearce on recording an audiobook
In celebration of June is Audiobook Month, Jackson Pearce is stopping by to tell all about recording the audiobook for her novel Purity (April 2012). Purity, Jackson's fourth novel, is her first contemporary and is decribe in the tagline as "a novel about love, loss, and sex - but not necessarily in that order."
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| Photo by Vania Stoyanova |
Jackson Pearce is twenty-six years old and currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia, with a slightly cross-eyed cat and a lot of secondhand furniture. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in English and a minor in Philosophy. She auditioned for the circus once, but didn’t make it; other jobs she’s had include obituaries writer, biker bar waitress, and receptionist.
Jackson began writing when she got angry that the school librarian couldn’t tell her of a book that contained a smart girl, horses, baby animals, and magic. Her solution was to write the book herself when she was twelve. Her parents thought it was cute at first, but have grown steadily more concerned for her ever since.
Jackson is the author of SISTERS RED, AS YOU WISH, SWEETLY, and two forthcoming books, PURITY (April 2012) and FATHOMLESS (Fall 2012).
*Bio taken from author's website.
How did you wind up reading the audio of Purity? I'd mentioned it on twitter, of all places, to a woman at Hachette Audio. I wasn't sure if I'd get to do it or not-- I just wanted her to know I was interested! I'm really grateful she remembered and made it happen.
What did you do to prepare prior to recording?
I read the book through twice, and tried to figure out a voice for each character. To memorize voices I either thought of them as impressions of other characters, or memorized what part of my throat I used to do the voice. Jonas's voice, for example, I sort of did from the side of my mouth, and Shelby's mother's voice was in the front of my throat, a lot like I'd always imagined Rosie's from Sisters Red.
Describe your experience recording Purity.
It took a lot less time than I anticipated, actually. I went to a local audiobook studio at around 10 in the morning on a Tuesday, and recorded till about 3 with a short break for lunch. It was pretty much exactly what you'd expect-- sound proof room with lots of foam on the walls next to a room full of computers where the sound engineer listened and marked up the nine million takes it took me to read each line (he deserves some sort of trophy for patience). If I messed up a line, I usually just started over at the beginning of the sentence.
It took two days, total, even though I'd blocked off the whole week! I then went back in a few weeks later to rerecord a few lines that were wrong or had background noise.
What was the biggest challenge? Biggest surprise?
The biggest challenge was reading very, very slowly and switching from voice to voice in scenes with a lot of different characters talking. The biggest surprise was how much bigger and more dramatic I had to do things in order to make it come through correctly! It's amazing how much is lost when you can't see someone's facial expressions/body language.
Some of your audiobooks have been recorded by narrators, and you've now recorded one yourself. What are the benefits of each?
Sisters Red is my only other audiobook; it was recorded by two narrators. The nice thing about that is I don't have to worry about it-- no one is going to get angry with me if they don't like the narrators (though the SR narrators are pretty awesome! The plus side of narrating the book myself, though, is that I know exactly what I want it to sound like when read. The emphasis, the pause, the voices, the whole nine yards, are exactly how I heard them in my head.
What was it like listening to the finished product for the first time? Is there anything you'd change?
I've actually only heard the sample, not the full recording! I'm not sure if there's anything I'd change or not-- I'm a pretty picky person, so I'm sure I'll find something to worry over once I hear the whole thing.
Given the chance, would you take on another recording project?
Absolutely. I LOVED doing it.
Keep up with all the June is Audiobook Month action by visiting all the participating blogs.
Mondays - Wastepaper Prose
Tuesdays - Once Upon a Twilight
Thursdays - Page Turners Blog
Fridays - Emily's Reading Room
Friday, June 1, 2012
We're celebrating because...
In case you didn't guess by the banner, June is Audiobook Month (#JIAM)! It's a chance to celebrate audiobooks, recognize the narrators and the producers who make them great, and of course share our love of them with our readers. We'll be celebrating all month long!
I must confess, I haven't always been a fan of audio. Wait, don't make that face yet. You see, I was first exposed to audio during the era of "books on tape" and with that came monotone narration and lackluster production quality. (There was the rare exception, of course.) My past experience made me hesitant to try audio as an adult. I mean, you get burned once and you don't want to get near the stove again.
Last year, I got brave. I tried one audiobook then another and that led to a third, and before I realized it I was excited about audiobooks. It's come such a long way! Now, I take every opportunity to listen and even see how the audiobook measures up. There are even a few audiobooks I'm kind of an evangelist for.
Starting today, Wastepaper Prose will be participating in a month long celebration of audiobooks in partnership with three other fantastic blogs. We'll be featuring interviews with audiobook publishers and authors who've taken on narrating their own books on audio, audiobook reviews, our summer listening picks, news about how others are showing their love for audio and much, much more. There's even a feature at Emily's Reading Room where narrators will spill about their experience recording audiobooks. And of course there will be giveaways thanks to the generosity of several amazing publishers.
In fact, let's kick this whole thing off with a giveaway RIGHT NOW!
Follow along with us this month to keep up with all the audiobook action!
Mondays - Wastepaper Prose
Tuesdays - Once Upon a Twilight
Thursdays - Page Turners Blog
Fridays - Emily's Reading Room
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