.png)
It's time for another What's Up Wednesday! This is a weekly meme for readers and writers, which allows us booky folks to touch base with each other and say 'What's up!' Thanks to Jaime Morrow and Erin Funk (our amazing and never tiring hosts). Of course, you're more than welcome to join in the fun. Just head on over to their blogs and sign up on the linky.
What I'm Reading. . .
I've been an enormous bookworm this last week. I've read:
Secret Circle by L.J. Smith. After seeing some of the series on TV, I was curious how the book was. It's okay...an easy read and SO much different than the show.
Then, I hit The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell, which is a fun mixture of the dancing princesses and the Hades/Persephone's myth.
Then I read the entire Splintered series from A.G Howard. The world descriptions are amazing! Book 1 (Splintered) was fantastic; Book 2 (Unhinged) was fine, but I missed the other world; Book 3 (Entangled) was dark and so packed full of plots and sub-plots that I'm going to have to hit it again just to weave out the last details; and the little novella that goes along with this all was soso - not necessarily worth reading.
AND THEN I hit Unnatural Selection by Victoria Escobar, an enjoyable science fiction story about a genetically engineered girl, who decides she wants a life outside of the lab and escapes. It dives into tension and chase scenes but eases up as the book goes on.
*takes a deep breath*
What I'm Writing. . .
A little here...a little there... With school just getting back into swing (and all that reading), it's been kind of slow, but I'm tweaking a MG Sci-fi that's been in and out with betas and CPs. I've also redone the first chapter of a tween fairy tale retelling, and I started another MG story that fits nicely along with the one out on sub.
What Works for Me. . .
If I only knew! This last week, it's been more of a 'force myself to sit down and write'. Once I get typing, I love it and hate to break away (which always comes too soon because life calls!) But getting myself to open the file and attack those words has been somewhat of a battle.
What Else I've Been Up To. . .
We had a lovely ice storm this past weekend, which meant an indoor party for all. I have a gigantic blanket tent in my living room and another blanket fortress around a space heater in my dining area. It's been a constant diplomatic struggle to be allowed to have our chairs back just for meal time.
I packed away most Christmas decorations. The bare tree is still standing though. My hubs always has a difficult time letting it go. He just loves the holiday season.
So what about you? What books have you read lately? Get any writing done? Have you ever seen the world after an ice storm (gorgeous!)? 'What's up' with you???
A science fiction story? Nice.
ReplyDeleteYour poor bare Christmas tree...
It looks lonely too.
DeleteI've actually been slowing down on all fronts to get ready for a baby...which means reading when I need a break, writing when I've got enough energy, and cleaning only as I have to. ;)
ReplyDeleteYou really did go on a reading spree! I'm imagining something like that will happen with me after this baby gets here, when I'm too tired to do anything else. =)
Cleaning never takes top priority ;) Writing didn't work well for me during that time. Honestly, even reading seemed hard at times. But it doesn't matter. Enjoy it!
DeleteI've been reading a home repair manual that was gifted to me for Christmas. Lots of sewing too. Couple of blog hops this week. Trying to stay one step ahead of the grey sky and chilly rain, running errands. Have a great week.
ReplyDeleteI need to pull out my sewing machine this weekend too. What sort of repair manual?
DeleteSmall things like outlets, dimmer switches, door thresholds, window caulking, etc.
DeleteIt really has helped ~ that and YouTube(smile).
I still have a tree and lights outside. My husband is the tree removal guy. He can get that puppy out of the house without a needle dropped. But he's been working 12 hour days, so I'll not press. And the outdoor lights are frozen into the ground and the roof is icy. No one is climbing up there until it thaws.
ReplyDeleteOh, the outside deco doesn't count. It's frozen right now ;) But this weekend should hit 55, so maybe that will get done too then. Your hubs is going to have to share his secret!
DeleteThat's a lot of books! I just got my copy of ENSNARED and I can't wait to dive in. Have a great week, and stay warm! :)
ReplyDeleteLet me know what you thought of it!
DeleteIs The Secret Circle book better than the series? I didn't think the series was that bad. I just wasn't very fond of the actress playing the main character, and all the love triangles happening so fast, but I thought it had potential. Good luck on your writing this week!
ReplyDeleteMy What's Up Wednesday post.
I was on the border with the series. It was good, but I felt like something was just a tad off...maybe it was the actress. Hmmm... But the book is better! Just totally different.
DeleteI love ice storms as long as we're all safe at home and we don't lose power. They are beautiful, and they are the only reason we need to stay at home all day long. I love that. It's good you had a stack of books.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, even my hubs' company closes down, so we can all stay at home. As to power...that could be a problem.
DeleteI thought The Secret Circle was wayyyyy better than the television series. It was hard for me to get into the Splintered series. Perhaps I need to give it another shot!
ReplyDeleteI felt like I had to warp my brain during the first chapters of Splintered, but when I got settled in dark and odd, it pulled me in. But now that you mention it, after the first pages, I did set the book down for a day before really going at it.
Delete"Getting myself to open the file and attack those words has been somewhat of a battle." Yes! That's where I'm at right now too. I wish I could say I get sucked in like you do, but not lately. :-/ Sounds like you're working on some fun projects, though. Hope this is a great week all around! :D
ReplyDeleteNow, just to get sucked in more often. Have a great week too!
DeleteI grew up in Michigan and it was always so cool after an ice storm. I'm reading some of my kids books now, Warriors and Wings of Fire.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of that one. Sounds like something my son my like.
DeleteIt is freaking cold here in PA, and since we are headed north to ski later this week, I expect to be even colder, soon. As for reading, I recently finished Jackaby, which I liked, and Curiosity, which was okay. I'm working on editorial revisions for the third book in my series, and promotional posts for the launch of the second book. In addition, we threw a surprise birthday party for my eldest daughter -- not on her actual birthday, but on the fake birth date she has posted on Facebook. It was the only way to surprise her, and believe me, we did!
ReplyDeleteI saw the FB pics - how fun! As usual, you sound busy, busy, busy!
DeleteIt's funny how most writers talk about having trouble just sitting down to write, but when they get into it, it's exactly as you describe! If only we could figure out a way to make those first few moments easier . . .
ReplyDeleteYou are a super-cool mom for having blanket fortresses everywhere. But please make sure the one around the space heater doesn't catch fire! As for getting your chairs back . . . dinner picnic, anyone?
Sigh. Wish I had a husband who was so enthusiastic about the holidays. Lucky you!
Oh, that does sound bad with the space heater, doesn't it? But it's not...it's a BIG fortress wall, mostly to keep the dog out. The heater itself isn't covered in any way and blankets are kept at a safe distance. The picnic idea worked the first meal or two...but soup on the floor is a no go. And about that hubs...maybe, in your near future ;)
DeleteI've read all of LJ Smith's pre 2000 works. That series is the only one I can't remember, but I have the short-lived series in my Netflix queue.
ReplyDeleteOMG! Blanket fortresses are the absolute best!! ^_^
I'm going to have to see what else Smith wrote. Hmm... I could take a look at the Vampire Diaries. Haven't touched those yet either.
DeleteVampire Diaries went downhill pretty fast after the first couple of books. Dark Visions and The Forbidden Game are my favorites. Definitely worth checking out if you can find them. :)
DeleteNice job on all that reading! Ice storms aren't too fun while they're happening, but the world is quite beautiful afterwards, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteIt hit harder about 2 miles north of us (closer to town). When I drove in yesterday, I rounded a curve and did a double take. It looked like everything had been covered in silver tinsel. It took a second for me to realize it was ice. Beautiful.
DeleteSometimes forcing yourself into action is the only way anything gets done.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week! Hope you can stay nice and warm in all that chilly weather.
I think the actually sitting down part is sometimes the most difficult step of writing. I'm the same way. Once I get going I don't want to stop but starting can be a real chore. Good luck tweaking your MG sci-fi! :)
ReplyDeleteI am also cold here in Kansas City, but warmer weather is supposedly on the horizon for the weekend!
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way - once I get started, I don't want to stop writing. Getting started though? Hmmm. And love all the reading! Have a great week!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is a lot of reading! No ice storm here, though we had some snow last week. It's just cold. But not as cold as last winter, so yay! But a blanket fort sounds so fun. I'm going to use my nieces as an excuse to build one sometime.
ReplyDeleteNo ice storms, but we've got blanket forts too.
ReplyDeleteBlanket forts! I love it! My hubby has trouble throwing anything out. He even saves broken things, sure that he'll be able to use the parts someday. *sigh* I'm glad you read a bunch of books you like. There's nothing better than curling up in a blanket and reading a good book. :)
ReplyDeleteI hear you about forcing yourself to sit down and write. >_< I have a bunch of plots-in-progress, all of which I really want to work on and actually write, and yet I know I shouldn't start writing a book because of my upcoming move to another state - I don't want to start writing a book and have to pause to move. So even plotting is a chore, because I know I can't get started on the writing anytime soon. Gah.
ReplyDelete