Target date has come

Today is the day that I had planned to have my first draft completed; however, I am still 20,000 words short of reaching my goal. I don't know what's happened really. These last couple of weeks have been absolutely crazy. I've been sick. My kids have been sick. Work. Errands. Life in general has gotten in the way of me finishing on time. Because I want to finish the first draft of this book, I am giving myself another 30 days. Things around here are seeming to calm down somewhat and spring time is coming, which means the kids will be able to play outside more, giving me more quiet time to write.

Hopefully, within the next 30 days I will be able to finish the first draft and start on the second. I'm not giving up on this.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

I finished this book a few days ago but I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to post about it until now.

About the book:

The rules are breaking one by one....

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Rule #2: Don't speak to them.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

Aislinn has always seen faeries and carefully hid her Sight from their cruelty. But now the rules that have kept her safe aren't working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

With her one true love by her side, Aislinn has been chosen to face the ultimate trial. If she succeeds, the full force of Summer will be unleashed. If she fails, she will suffer the piercing cold of Winter forever.

About the author:

Although I was voted “most likely to end up in jail” in high school, I decided to get an M.A. and teach Lit and Gender Studies to college students across the country. Along the way, I’ve been unable to resist trying new things—including working an archeological dig, slinging drinks at a biker bar, and getting fabulous tattoos.
I call all of this “research” for my writing. To fill my craving for new experiences, I’ve lived in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Southern California, and I plan to keep roaming with my family as widely and as often as possible. This year, I think, I’m living in Virginia.

Please visit me on the web at www.melissa-marr.com and help feed my addiction to meeting interesting people. 

My thoughts on the book:

It took awhile for me to get into the book, but once I did, I was drawn in. I had to keep reading to find out what fate Aislinn would end up with. The faeries in this book aren't your typical faeries. They're mean and they're cruel and they're kick ass. All in all, the book was very well written and the characters were well developed, but the book was a little slow to start, at least in my opinion. I will, at some point soon, read the sequel and other books written by Melissa Marr.

Reading now: The Shifter by Janice Hardy

My deadline for finishing my first draft is rapidly approaching and I still have 20,000 words left to write. If all goes as plans, I will still finish by the 20th as I plan to do a lot of writing between loads of laundry this weekend. This last week was unexpectedly busy. I felt like I was hardly home and when I was home, I was working my day job or taking care of other necessary things. This next week will be a much slower week for me thankfully.

Have a great weekend!

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

I bought a Kindle because I have no place left to store any books, and the first book I read on it was The Hollow by Jessica Verday.  I bought this book yesterday afternoon and finished it last night. Here's a little about the book (taken from Amazon):

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead?and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.


Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity. 

About the author, Jessica Verday (taken from Amazon):

Jessica Verday wrote the first draft of her debut novel, The Hollow, by hand, using thirteen spiral-bound notebooks and fifteen black pens. She likes: things that smell nice, rainy nights, old books, cemeteries, Johnny Cash, zombie movies, L.J. Smith books, abandoned buildings, trains, and snow. She is currently hand-writing the continuation of Abbey and Caspian's story from her home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.  Find out more at jessicaverday.com.


My thoughts on the book:

I really liked this book. I couldn't put it down, obviously, because I finished it in just a few hours, but there was one thing that bothered me about the book. The secret that Abbey learns about Kristen didn't really have a conclusion to it. I finished the book a little disappointed that more information wasn't given about the secret. Other than that, the book was wonderful. I loved the setting of the book and how Jessica Verday described everything with such detail that it felt like I was standing right there with Abbey. And the revelations at the end of the book were unexpected and interesting. All in all, it was a very good read.

Next up to read on my Kindle:  Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr