Jennifer Armentrout Interview + Giveaway! -- INT

Jennifer Armentrout Interview

I sat down with Jennifer (I mean sat in my chair in front of my computer to type out questions, of course. Speaking to her via skype would be awesome.) and asked her a few questions about her work. I'm excited to share her answers! I reviewed her book Obsidian,  click here to see it.

Q. Do you recall when you decided writing was a career for you?

A. I don't think there was an exact moment. I just always loved to read and write, so it seemed natural for me to pursue a career in writing.

Q. Who is the hardest character for you to write?

A. Aiden and Seth are tied for that. Both of them are characters that have so many layers and honestly, you really don't know what you have until you've scraped them raw. Both do very surprising things and have vastly different reasons for being who they are today. They are also hard to get into their heads. Writing from their POVs is usually the hardest for me. 

Q. How do you develop characters?

A. I *see* them first and then I just start writing the story. The development just comes as the story unfolds. Usually during 1st draft edits, I go back and add traits in to make them stand out more, but most of the development is spur of the moment. 

Q. What do you like reading in your spare time?

A. I read YA and Adult in my spare time, but I've been on an adult reading kick lately.

Q. What has been the toughest criticism given to you as an author? What has been the best compliment?

A. Toughest criticism? I guess someone just flat out hating your book and finding no redeeming quality, but that's sort of the name of the game. It happens. The best compliment is when someone says they've fallen in love with the characters, because then the story has become real to them and that is awesome.

Q. How does it feel to be the winner of the first round of the YA Sisterhood Tournament? Do you think Daemon will be easier?

A. It feels great. *Kayleigh did an awesome job and I'm sure Daemon will have just as much competition.

*Kayleigh is probably her biggest fan. She tweeted the crap out of the competition and even made a video about it. Props to her!

Thanks to Jen for answering these questions! Now it's time to...

Win her book

That's right! Wanted Readers is giving away an ebook of Obsidian. Just use the rafflecopter below for a chance to win. If you don't have a kindle or nook, you can download them free to read on your computer. This is an international giveaway, so anyone can win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Legend (Audiobook)

Author:  Marie Lu

Title: Legend (Audiobook)

Publication: June 19, 2012

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian

Pages: 336

Audience: 13 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis (from the cover):
Once known as the western coast of the United States, the Republic is now a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors, the Colonies.
Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen -year-old June is a military prodigy. Obedient, passionate, and committed to her country, she is being groomed for success in the Republic's highest circles.
Born into the slums of the Republic's Lake Sector, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths- until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered, and Day becomes prime suspect. Now, caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June tries desperately to avenge Metias's death.
But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths to which their country will go to keep its secrets.


 

My thoughts:
I will not go into great detail in my thoughts because I have a few friends who want to read this book and I don't want to spoil anything. This book had been recommended to my boyfriend by a couple of friends. I just so happened to stop and look at the young adult audiobook selection at the public library and this audiobook caught my eye. My boyfriend was excited because he is legally blind and enjoys listening to books more than reading, but he can see to read it just tires his eyes. He didn't even listen to the book to the half way point before he got bored with it. I was hooked from the first disc. However, the first and second discs were so scratched that they wouldn't play all the way. I took them back to the library to have the discs resurfaced. They were still skipping, but not as bad. This book really did hook me. I'm not sure what it was, but I LOVED it. There was a female narrator for June's parts and a male narrator for Day's parts. It worked and flowed perfectly. The only thing I caught were some math mistakes, which is crazy because I'm horrible at math. In one part the narrator states that there are four top colleges smart kids are sent to, but only three are listed. The other  mistake is that the narrator states that Day was seven when he threw a firebomb at the police station. He didn't have to take his Trial until he was ten, and he was fifteen in the book and it all took place in a five year span...so that didn't add up correctly. Other than that, the book was awesome. I live in the South and it has been so flippin' hot, but I would sit in my car for an extra 20 minutes (that is how long it takes my CD player/radio to turn off) and listen to it. The suspense killed me. I guessed a few things correctly, but some of it caught me totally off guard. During the last disc I was constantly biting my nails wondering what would happen next! I really loved it. The book was just a great read. I really liked the audiobook and the narrators. I think the narrators helped personify the characters and made them more "real". I like how the book ended, but she left some questions unanswered. Prodigy: A Legend Novel will come out on January 29, 2013 according to Amazon. I CANNOT WAIT! I will also wait a little longer for the audiobook and if it continues with Day and June's story, I hope the same narrators are used for the new book. We'll just have to wait and see.

A Christmas Tree for Pyn

Author:  Olivier Dunrea
Illustrator: Olivier Dunrea

Title: A Christmas Tree for Pyn

Publication: October 13, 2011

Publisher: Philomel

Genre: Children, Holiday

Pages: 32

Audience: 3 and up

Rating: 5 out of 5

Source: Public Library

Synopsis:
Pyn is a young girl who really wants a Christmas tree for Christmas. Oother, Pyn's father is a man of few words and is not an easy man to live with. He wants Pyn to call him "Oother" instead of Papa. Pyn also does all the cooking and cleaning. All she really wants is a Christmas tree. She asks her father again and again. Finally, he says, "We'll see." On Christmas Eve, her father leaves out with an ax. Pyn is excited, but decides she will go out on her own and find a Christmas tree. She is so small she gets buried in the snow. Her father finds her and is so touched by her determination that they set out together to find the perfect Christmas tree. Pyn has kept a drawer full of odds and ends and various items she has found in nature to help create the most beautiful Christmas tree. Her father is so moved that he allows Pyn to call him Papa, and allows her to top the tree with a bird he had made for Pyn's mother. Together they allow the Spirit of Christmas to move them and create a beautiful Christmas tree.

My thoughts: 
I know, I know. It's summer, it's July. Some stores and radio stations do sales this time of year called Christmas in July. In honor of that, I'm doing a review on a Christmas book in July. Actually, I had this book on hold at the Public Library over Christmas, but things got too hectic and I forgot about it. Also, I thought it would be better for parents with children to share it with their children. I don't have any, and I could wait to read the book. I had read I believe on Huffington Post that this book went beyond Santa, presents, and the material things of the holiday and showed the love and life is all about the simple, precious moments. This book is so adorable! The artwork is so cute. Pyn in super cute. I just want to scoop her up and hug her because she is so precious. Her father was not my favorite character. His name is Oother and wants Pyn to call him Oother. I kept calling him oaf or Olaf (the villain in The Series of Unfortunate Events) in my head, just because he was not a nice guy. However, Pyn wants a Christmas tree and she is getting one. I love that her father and her go on the adventure to find it. Her excitement over it is contagious. I was excited for her. The ornaments she creates out of things from nature is so creative and impressive. She isn't sad because she does not have glass or shiny ornaments to put on the tree. She is so happy she has a tree to decorate and make beautiful with the things she has available. It really is a heartwarming book and a book to share with children and family during the holidays.

Wanted Reads

Wanted Reads is our list of "bookies" that we will be reading/reviewing in the coming weeks. 

What are you reading? Do you have any suggestions for us?

The Mediator series by Meg Cabot

Author: Meg Cabot

Title: The Mediator
Publication: December 28th, 2004
Publisher: HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult
Rating: 5 out 5

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Synopsis: Suze is a mediator -- a liaison between the living and the dead. In other words, she sees dead people. And they won't leave her alone until she helps them resolve their unfinished business with the living. But Jesse, the hot ghost haunting her bedroom, doesn't seem to need her help. Which is a relief, because Suze has just moved to sunny California and plans to start fresh, with trips to the mall instead of the cemetery, and surfing instead of spectral visitations.

Thoughts:  I love you Meg. Will you marry me?

Nah, just kidding (mostly). Everything she writes, I love. All of her adult and young adult books are addicting. I haven't read her kid/tween selections yet, but I'll get there sooner or later. For now, let's start on her series The Mediator. The main character Suze is a kick ass character that can see ghosts that need help passing over to the afterlife. She's strong willed, quick on her feet, street smart, real, and good with weapons. Not like swords or hammers will do anything to a ghost, but they'll for sure slow one down. On her first day in her moms new house, she finds a hot ghost named Jesse and tries to get him to leave. His argument? I was here first. Pretty legit reason, so Suze copes with a really attractive spanish speaking ghost that not only wont leave her alone, but protects her when other spirits try to harm her... which is so adorable. They become a really good team, and feelings start to grow.

Her mother remarried when her father died (a father she still sees from time to time *wink wink*) and now she's stuck with three brothers. Suze names them after Snow Whites dwarfs because their personality matches. There's Sleepy (the oldest and I believe to be written like he does marijuana), Dopey (same age as her and attractive but not too bright), and Doc (because he's really smart). Doc sometimes helps Suze on her adventures, and he figures out about Jesse pretty quickly. There's lots of humor in it as well, so you'll find yourself laughing in some of the situations she puts herself in.

The series is action packed and written very well. The character development progression is great, I didn't think there were any slow parts in any of the books, her friends are likable, and the cutesy romance doesn't disappoint. You'll get addicted fast, and you're welcome for recommending such a great book. *pats self on back*

The Sandman: Endess Nights

Author:  Neil Gaiman
Illustrators: Glenn Fabry, Milo Manara, Dave McKean Miguelanxo Prado, Frank Quitely, P. Craig Russell, Bill Sienkiewicz, and Barron Storey

Title: The Sandman: Endless Nights

Publication: September 1, 2004

Publisher: Vertigo

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy

Pages: 160

Audience: 16 and up

Rating: 5 our of 5

Source: Public Library

Goodreads Synopsis:  
 "The Sandman: Endless Nights" reveals the legend of the Endless, a family of magical and mythical beings. In this highly imaginative book that boasts diverse styles of breathtaking full-color art, seven peculiar and powerful siblings each reveal more about their true beings as they star in their own tales

My thoughts:

I enjoyed the graphic novel, but not as much as I thought I would. I guess I've overdone it on the Sandman series, but there are little single stories here and there that I feel are important to read as well. Also, Neil Gaiman has recently stated that he is going to release new material about the Sandman in 2013. I going to take a break after the last single story and then I'll be ready to tackle the new stuff in 2013.
Anyway,the stories take place before the Sandman series. The focus in Endless Nights is on Dream's siblings- Death, Delirium, Despair, Desire, Destruction, and Destiny. It was very interesting. I'm so used to everything focusing on Dream that is was a nice change of pace to focus on the other siblings and what a day of their life is like. I don't want to ruin anything, but it explains why Dream does not trust Desire. Death's story was really neat and you see how she has changed. Death was not always a happy Endless character. The weirdest stories was Delirium's and Despair's. Delirium's story is kind of crazy in itself. I'm not entirely sure what happened and I'm pretty sure that was the point. I have ideas, but I'll keep them to myself. If you read it and ever want to discuss it, you can leave a comment or email me. Despair's story was really weird. The artists did many Portraits of Despair. I probably spent a good two minutes or so studying each portrait, no two were the same. The Despair in this graphic novel was the Despair before the one we meet in the Sandman series. Essentially, this was a prequel to the Sandman series. I will be honest and say I cannot really remember any story about Destiny, but I feel like there is a little bit, but not much to change how mysterious he is. I'm pretty sure Destruction was in it, but I cannot be completely sure. It has been a little while, and I've read other things since then. It was  a nice little side story and gave some background information on the other Endless characters.

Can You Keep a Secret? by Sophie Kinsella

Author: Sophie Kinsella

Title: Can You Keep a Secret?
Publication: December 27th, 2005
Publisher: Dell
Genre: Adult Fiction
Rating: 5 out 5

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Synopsis: Meet Emma Corrigan, a young woman with a huge heart, an irrepressible spirit, and a few little secrets: Secrets from her boyfriend: I’ve always thought Connor looks a bit like Ken. As in Barbie and Ken. Secrets from her mother: I lost my virginity in the spare bedroom with Danny Nussbaum while Mum and Dad were downstairs watching Ben-Hur. Secrets she wouldn’t share with anyone in the world: I have no idea what NATO stands for. Or even what it is. Until she spills them all to a handsome stranger on a plane. At least, she thought he was a stranger.…Until Emma comes face-to-face with Jack Harper, the company’s elusive CEO, a man who knows every single humiliating detail about her...

Thoughts:  Emma is having a midlife crisis. She doesn’t love her “perfect” boyfriend, her job is at a standstill, and let’s not forget the spiteful sister making life miserable. She bottles up her feelings until a fateful incident on a turbulent plane ride. She spills all of her darkest secrets to a stranger, then finds out the next day that the man is her companies CEO Jack Harper.

All of the characters in the book are well developed. Everyone has secrets – Emma more than most – and watching her get caught sparks the life she’s been wanting (and at the same time not wanting). Through out the book you see her evolving into a better, mature person. It’s humorous with a tad bit of drama. Definitely a chick lit feel-good read. You really feel for Emma, which means the character is relatable. One of the biggest reasons people like books is to feel an emotion for the characters situation. You certainly have these feelings in this book. Jack is also someone you want to get your hands on. He’s so gorgeous, funny, smart, and successful. Mmmmmm.

Sophie Kinsella is the author of the famous series Shopoholic, which I had no desire to read (shopping isn’t my thing). After reading this book I’m having second thoughts. I would love to follow this author closer, and give this book five stars.