Thursday, December 31, 2015

2015 in Review: Movies and TV

Even though I don't usually blog about movies or tv, I do like my year end list summaries.

2015 Movies I saw this year

Mad Max: Fury Road
The Avengers: Age of Ultron
Insurgent (DVD)
Spectre
Trainwreck (plane)
Pitch Perfect 2 (DVD)
The Duff (DVD)
Sleeping With Other People (plane)
Paper Towns (plane)
Jupiter Ascending (TV)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Jurassic World (DVD)
Minions (DVD)
Home (DVD)

Total of 14 (four more than last year)


Notable movies I saw in 2015 that were released before 2015 

Whiplash
Birdman
Stormpiercer
Mockingjay Part 1
If I Stay
Wild
Interstellar


2015 movies I still want to see

Mockingjay Part 2
Joy

TV series I watched in 2015 


Mad Men Final Season
The Bates Motel Season 3
12 Monkeys Season 1
The Last Ship Season 1+2
Camp Cutthroat Kitchen
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver


How was your year in movies and TV?

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

My Awesome Reads of 2015

I read over 90 books in 2015, and annotated all of them for my MFA program at VCFA, though I didn't talk about many of them here. As you can see by the handy Goodreads graphic below, many of them were backlist. If you click on this link, you can find out more about each of my favorites. Also, see my Awesome Reads of 2014 which I just posted now, one year late!


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

2015 In Review: Music

I bought 220 new songs this year (way more than last year) including 4 albums, Every Open Eye/Chvrches, Beneath the Skin/Of Monsters and Men, Song Spells #1/Sea Wolf, Art Angels/Grimes



2015 songs on heavy rotation (* indicates top 5)

*Flesh Without Blood - Grimes 
*Leave a Trace - Chvrches 
*Happy - Marina and the Diamonds
*True Confessions - Blondfire
*Breaker - Deerhunter
The Shade - Metric
Lightning Strike - A Silent Film
Grey Days - Chelsea Wolfe
1998 - Chet Faker feat. Banks
Trip Switch - Nothing but Thieves
I of the Storm - Of Monsters and Men
Body Talk - Foxes
Hiding - Florence and the Machine
High - Zella Day
Step Brother City - Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Strange Hellos - TORRES
Greek Tragedy - The Wombats
Little Wanderer - Death Cab for Cutie
Begin Again - Purity Ring
The Labyrinth Song - Asaf Avidan
White Lies - Milo Greene
A Beginning Song - The Decemberists 
My Least Favorite Life - Lera Lynn
Empty Gold - Halsey
Blame it on Me - George Ezra
Anything - TOPS
Too Late to Say Goodbye - Cage the Elephant
Water Slides - Mew
Molecules - Atlas Genius
I Feel It - Avid Dancer



Favorite finds from previous years (* indicates top 5)

*Algiers - The Afghan Whigs (2014)
Cecilia and the Satellite - Andrew McMahon (2014)
*Black Soap - Ex Cops (2014)
Go - Grimes (2014)
*Lover - In the Valley Below (2014)
Black Mambo - Glass Animals (2014)
* Lover, Where Do You Live? - Highasakite (2014)
Zigzagging Toward the Light - Conor Oberst (2014)
Lust and Lies - The Ramona Flowers (2013)
*Teen Idle - Marina and the Diamonds (2012)
Sun - Two Door Cinema Club (2012)
Hold On - Alabama Shakes (2012)
My Secret Friend - IAMX (2010)
Christmas Won't Be the Same Without You - Plain White Ts (2009)
I Don't Believe You - The Magnetic Fields (2004)
August - Rilo Kiley (2001)




Live Music in 2015

+ Alt J with Wolf Alice (Feb 7) in Offenbach, Germany

+ Rachael Yamagata (Feb 20) in Frankfurt, Germany

+ Sea Wolf (May 21) in Frankfurt, Germany

+ Of Monsters and Men with Highasakite (July 1) in Frankfurt, Germany

+ Death Cab for Cutie with Twin Shadow (Sept 19) in Columbus, Ohio

+ Landmark Festival in DC (Sept 27) with Chvrches, George Ezra, TV on the Radio, Lord Huron, Houndmouth, In the Valley Below

+ Deerhunter (December 17) in Columbus, Ohio


I'd love to hear about your favorite music of the year - share with me!!

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Book Talk: Spoils by Tammar Stein



It's not too often I come across a character in a novel named Lenore, so this was a nice surprise. I asked Tammar how she came up with the name, and this is what she said:

About Lenore...Well, it's a gorgeous name, of course. You know this already. My main character's names always pop into my mind rather mysteriously. I never have to sit and think about it. It's usually names that kind of surprise me, never the name of someone I know with that name. With Leni, I just knew it was Leni. And then I thought, who names their kid Leni? It's probably a nickname...and it went from there. I liked the thought of her taking ownership of her name, changing it to something she felt comfortable with. I feel like Lenore is a name you have to grow into (though I suppose you would know better than I would.) Maybe a young person wouldn't feel comfortable with such a majestic name. I bet by the time Leni finished college, she'll reclaim her full name.
Interesting! Lenore is indeed a pretty majestic name, though I suppose I grew into it early.

So - the book itself. Lenore is the youngest daughter of a family who won the lottery and then spent the money wildly over the years until there's nothing left. Lenore's parents expect her to give up her part of the money when she turns 18 (it has been in a trust) to keep them afloat, and she is ready to do this until her older sister confesses that the money is dirty and that whatever Lenore does, she needs to get rid of it completely.

So that's the mystery - what's wrong with the money? Turns out, a lot. Lenore is visited by an angel who also warns her to get rid of it - and she only has a week until her birthday to figure out what to with it.

The novel explores the idea of the universe having checks and balances on good and evil - when evil is thwarted by good, it seeks out weaker targets.

I really enjoyed this one! Find out more at Tammar's website.  

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

First Draft Pod!



This summer, the fabulous Sarah Enni was in Paris and asked me and Amy Plum to be guests on her podcast series called First Draft in which she interviews writers about books and life. The episode is now live (we discuss travel and how writing letters and blogging got us into publishing) and I'm excited to go back and listen to the other 59 episodes.


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Playlist October featuring The Summer After You & Me by Jennifer Doktorski

I love music and I love books, which means I really love book playlists. So all through October I'm going to be posting book playlists. I've invited a bunch of authors to contribute, so hopefully we'll all discover some great new music and good reads.



Jennifer Doktorski is here today to share some of the resonant lyrics from her playlist for her new novel THE SUMMER AFTER YOU & ME.

Here's the book summary:

When Superstorm Sandy sweeps up the New Jersey coast, local shore girl Lucy Giordano is brought together for a few intense hours with her longtime crush/part-time summer neighbor, Connor Malloy. Lucy believes their connection is real, but in the hurricane’s devastating aftermath, nothing is the same and Lucy is left to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and home.

 And Jennifer's playlist!



“Crazy For You” Stars on 45

Every single word that you say
Every little thing that you do
Hits like a hurricane
When I'm secretly crazy for you


“Absolutely Still” Val Emmich


We were running from the same noise
We were stuck in the same pursuit
Now the door's locked
And I find that this dizzy madness is bleeding through
Promise me you'll never leave this room


“Every Breaking Wave” U2

Are we ready to be swept off our feet
And stop chasing
Every breaking wave


“Riptide” Vance Joy

Lady, running down to the riptide
Taken away to the dark side
I wanna be your left hand man


“Come to Me” Goo Goo Dolls

Fortune teller said I'd be free
And that's the day you came to me
Came to me


Find out more about Jennifer and her novels at her website: www.jendoktorski.com


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Playlist October featuring IF YOU'RE LUCKY by Yvonne Prinz

I love music and I love books, which means I really love book playlists. So all through October I'm going to be posting book playlists. I've invited a bunch of authors to contribute, so hopefully we'll all discover some great new music and good reads.



Today, I have Yvonne Prinz talking about her playlist picks for her new novel, IF YOU'RE LUCKY.

First, the book summary:

When seventeen-year-old Georgia’s brother drowns while surfing halfway around the world in Australia, she refuses to believe Lucky’s death was just bad luck. Lucky was smart. He wouldn’t have surfed in waters more dangerous than he could handle. Then a stranger named Fin arrives in False Bay, claiming to have been Lucky’s best friend. Soon Fin is working for Lucky’s father, charming Lucky’s mother, dating his girlfriend. Georgia begins to wonder: did Fin murder Lucky in order to take over his whole life?

Determined to clear the fog from her mind in order to uncover the truth about Lucky’s death, Georgia secretly stops taking the medication that keeps away the voices in her head. Georgia is certain she’s getting closer and closer to the truth about Fin, but as she does, her mental state becomes more and more precarious, and no one seems to trust what she’s saying. 
As the chilling narrative unfolds, the reader must decide whether Georgia’s descent into madness is causing her to see things that don’t exist–or to see a deadly truth that no one else can.

And now, Yvonne's song picks!

1. Somewhere Down The Road- Feist

A sad, pretty song for Georgia and how I imagine she yearns for her dead brother, Lucky.


2. Poison Oak- Bright Eyes. 

I love these lyrics. I think that Oberst wrote this song to go with my story. That isn’t true, of course, but the song reminds me of my character, Georgia, and her brother, Lucky. Georgia has always been in awe of Lucky’s ease in his life. He brought the world home to False Bay with him when he returned from his adventures and he made it seem small and friendly. After he’s gone, Georgia doesn’t know how to look at the world anymore.

“I fell asleep with you still talking to me and you said you weren’t afraid to die”

3. Dearly Departed- Shakey Graves 

If You’re Lucky is part ghost story and this song seemed appropriate. I adore Shakey Graves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDycke-u6M



4. Wild is the Wind- Cat Powers

This is a beautiful cover of a David Bowie hit. I played it a lot while I wrote about Georgia losing touch with what’s real.



5. Sailor Song- The Felice Brothers

The Felice Brothers are self-proclaimed slouching Hudson River Pirates. I think this song speaks to Georgia’s slide downward. Her delusions start to define her life as she slips away from reality. I love the sea shanty feel of this tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFFI_VZT6to


6. Shangri-la-Mark Knopfler

Lots of surf culture in this story. Lucky thrived in that life. He worked here and there and then followed the waves around the world. I’ve always loved the way this song speaks to that Gypsy life that Lucky embraced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsO-O8SG7yc


7. Oh, Lonesome Me- M. Ward featuring Lucinda Williams 

The coastline where I set the book in Northern California is one I’m very familiar with and this track is just how I feel when I drive that lonesome highway along the edge of the western world, overlooking the Pacific. There are lots of versions of this Neil Young song but nothing quite touches the soulfulness of this one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MRysO58leA


8. The Riptide-Beirut

Georgia fears the water though it’s all around her while she’s awake and in her dreams. Beirut is a big favorite of mine. I love their rich multi-instrumental arrangements. I like this video too. It’s reminiscent of the scene where Georgia’s family scatters Lucky’s ashes into the ocean.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sX7fd8uQle


9. Minor Swing- Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli

Sonia (Lucky’s girlfriend) and Georgia take a drive down to a small bar in Bodega (near where Tom Waits now lives, incidentally) to see a Gypsy Swing band. They’re surprised when Fin gets onstage to sit in with the band. He’s obviously an accomplished guitar player and neither of them knew anything about this. I loved building a character with a flourish like this, another dollop of intrigue, another layer to explore.


10. In My Sleep- Austin Hartley and Kendall Jane Meade

This one’s a weeper. I see Georgia is hanging on to her dead brother too tight and she sees him in her dreams, always in the water, always reaching for her.

11. Jayne’s Blue Wish- Tom Waits- A nice poetic note to end on. A touch of hope for Georgia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-hYKy62DZM


 Thanks, Yvonne - all these songs are new to me. How fun!

Find out more about IF YOU'RE LUCKY at Yvonne's website and look for it in stores starting October 20th! 

Friday, October 2, 2015

Playlist October! Among the Shadows Story: Panic Room by ... me!

I love music and I love books, which means I really love book playlists. So all through October I'm going to be posting book playlists. I've invited a bunch of authors to contribute, so hopefully we'll all discover some great new music and good reads.



First up, I wanted to share a few songs that go with my short story in the Among the Shadows anthology (out now - buy here). My story is called Panic Room and it's about a girl who has to adjust to life on a doomsday prepper commune before and after an EMP attack.

And here are 5 songs that you can rock out to while reading it:

Lights Out by Santigold

Lights out, shoot up the station
TV's dead, where's there to run?
Watch everybody come undone


Nightlight by Silversun Pickups

If we survive this (WE WANT IT)
We only want it with the lights out
If we say that (WE WANT IT)
We only want it with the lights out


Trip Switch by Nothing but Thieves

They put out the lights, they put out the lights
What we do when the power's out
What do we do when the lights go
Down, down, down, down, down


Bug by Alex G

and when you go there
you stay there
bug in the crosshair
you stay there


Shock to Your System by Tegan and Sara

You got a shock to your system

Pull yourself out of it

I know that shock to your system

Knocked your heart right out of sync

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Book Review: Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer

I realize it's been forever (hehe) since I've posted a review here, but I just had to tell you all about PROOF OF FOREVER.



Four friends who have grown apart reunite at summer camp and end up traveling back in time to the summer before they went their separate ways. Each experience growth, change and truth. Luce's personal challenge is the illusion of perfection - going after accolades for the having of them rather than the meaning in them. Tali is obsessed with appearances and lives life on the surface. Zoe can't face the truth of her authentic self. And Joy is hiding a secret that keeps her from really engaging with those around her.

Hillyer's use of language is gorgeous and her insight into her character's inner lives is impressive. What started off as a fun, breezy read became deeper and I was unprepared for how hard the end hit me emotionally.

Loved it!

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Dr. Seuss Classic Tour: There's A Wocket in My Pocket!

Dr. Seuss has a new book out - WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?





To celebrate I've joined the blog tour along with:

Dr. Seuss 44 Classic Book Celebratory Tour
And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street, 1937 – The Young Folks.com
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, 1938 – Bookish Antics
The Seven Lady Godivas, 1939 – The Eater of Books
The King’s Stilts, 1939 – On Starships and Dragonwings
Horton Hatches the Egg, 1940 – The Book Cellar
McElligot’s Pool, 1947 – Media Mikes
Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose, 1948 –Mommie of 2
Bartholomew and the Oobleck, 1949 – Nonperfect Parenting
If I Ran the Zoo, 1950 – Live to Read
Scrambled Eggs Super! 1953 – Word Spelunking
Horton Hears a Who! 1954 - Bookiemoji
On Beyond Zebra! 1955 - Jessabella Reads
If I Ran the Circus, 1956 – Book Hounds
The Cat in the Hat, 1957 – The Bookbag
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! 1957 – Nightly Reading
The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, 1958 – Winter Haven Books
Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories, 1958 – Alice Marvels
Happy Birthday to You! 1959 – Chapter by Chapter
Green Eggs and Ham, 1960 – Poland Bananas
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, 1960 – Once Upon a Twilight
The Sneetches and Other Stories, 1961 - The Mod Podge Bookshelf
Dr. Seuss’s Sleep Book, 1962 – Good Books and Good Wine
Dr. Seuss’s ABC, 1963 – The Irish Banana
Hop on Pop, 1963 – Mundie Moms
Fox in Socks, 1965 – Page Turners
I Had Trouble in Getting to Solla Sollew, 1965 – Book Rock Betty
The Cat in the Hat Songbook, 1967 – Giveaway Train
The Foot Book, 1968 – I Am A Reader
I Can Lick 30 Tigers Today! And Other Stories, 1969 – Cuddlebuggery
I Can Draw It Myself, 1970 – The Children’s Book Review
Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? 1970 – Curling Up with a Good Book
The Lorax, 1971 - Elizziebooks
Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! 1972 – Reading with ABC
Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? 1973 – Me, Myshelf, and I
The Shape of Me and Other Stuff, 1973 – Paperback Princess
There’s a Wocket in My Pocket! 1974 – Presenting Lenore
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! 1975 – YA Books Central
The Cat’s Quizzer, 1976 – Lille Punkin’
I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! 1978 – Confessions Of A Vi3tbabe
Oh Say Can You Say? 1979 – Ex Libris
Hunches in Bunches, 1982 – No BS Book Reviews
The Butter Battle Book, 1984 – Novel Novice
You’re Only Old Once! 1986 – Dad of Divas
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! 1990 - Jesse the Reader


I'm talking about THERE'S A WOCKET IN MY POCKET today. Because I always had a fondness for nonsense rhyming words, I continue to enjoy the rowdy fun of this book. It doesn't have a plot, but it has a great rhythm for reading aloud.


ABOUT DR. SEUSS
Theodor “Seuss” Geisel is one of the most beloved children’s book authors of all time. His long list of awards includes Caldecott Honors for McElligot’s Pool, If I Ran the Zoo, and Bartholomew and the Oobleck, the Pulitzer Prize, and eight honorary doctorates. Works based on his original stories have won three Oscars, three Emmys, three Grammys and a Peabody. Geisel wrote and illustrated 45 books during his lifetime, and his books have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide. Though Theodor Geisel died on September 24, 1991, Dr. Seuss lives on, inspiring generations of children of all ages to explore the joys of reading. For more information about Dr. Seuss and his works, visit Seussville.com.


ABOUT WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?
In the Fall of 2013, an original manuscript with accompanying sketches by Dr. Seuss, aka Ted Geisel, was discovered in the La Jolla, California home of the late beloved children’s author. That complete manuscript was for the picture book, WHAT PET SHOULD I GET?, and will be published by Random House Children’s Books on July 28, 2015. It is the first original new Dr. Seuss book since the publication of the last book of Dr. Seuss’s career, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! in 1990. WHAT PET SHOULD I GET? captures the excitement of a classic childhood moment—choosing a pet—and features the brother and sister characters that Dr. Seuss drew in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.

What are YOUR favorite Seuss books?

Monday, March 30, 2015

Announcing the Among the Shadows Anthology!

I'm super thrilled to be contributing a short story to the YA anthology AMONG THE SHADOWS!



Check out this awesome author line-up:




AMONG THE SHADOWS is a 100% author organized project, so we're gathering funds on Kickstarter. If you'd like to contribute, pre-order a copy, or check out a few of our other great incentives, including signed copies of books and MS crits (I'm offering one up to 10k words!), have a look at our Kickstarter page here. AMONG THE SHADOWS will be released September 14th.

More details on my story soon!

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Books Read in 2015




YA Fiction

Even in Paradise by Chelsey Philpot
My Book of Life by Martine Leavitt
Hanging on to Max by Margaret Bechard
Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin
We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
The Cost of All Things by Maggie Lehrman
How They Met (And Other Stories) by David Levithan
Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
In A World Just Right by Jen Brooks
Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Fat Kid Rules the World by KL Going
Stitching Snow by RC Lewis
Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray
All The Rage by Courtney Summers
Bone Gap by Laura Ruby
Twisted Fate by Norah Olsen
How It Ends by Laura Wiess
Empty by Suzanne Weyn
Looking for Alaska by John Green

Tithe by Holly Black
The Memory Key by Liana Liu
I Will Save You by Matt de la Pena
The Art of Secrets by James Klise
Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer
The Winter Room by Gary Paulsen
The Third Twin by CJ Omololu
Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse
The Game of Love and Death by Martha Brockenbrough

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
The Golden Day by Ursula Dubosarsky
Lily and Taylor by Elise Moser
The Curiosities: A Collection of Stories by Maggie Stiefvater et al
Caminar by Skila Brown 
The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma
A Step from Heaven by An Na
Nothing Janne Teller
Steampunk! by Kelly Link et al

Monster by Walter Dean Myers
The Killing Woods by Lucy Christopher
The Outsiders by SE Hinton
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
The Secret Sky by Atia Abawi


YA Non-Fiction

Symphony for the City of the Dead: Dmitri Shostakovich and the Siege of Leningrad by M.T. Anderson
Fiction

The Understory by Elizabeth Leiknes
The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
Days of Awe by Lauren Fox
Those Girls by Chevy Stevens

MG Fiction

Whales on Stilts! by MT Anderson
One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi
Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg
The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz
Ghoulish Song by Will Alexander
The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Non-Fiction

Wired for Story by Lisa Cron
The Art of Fiction: Notes on Craft for Young Writers by John Gardner
Steering the Craft: A Twenty-First-Century Guide to Sailing the Sea of Story by Ursula K. Le GuinRising Strong by Brene Brown
Yes Please by Amy Poehler

Graphic Novels

Sheltered Vol. 1 by Ed Brisson
Sheltered Vol. 2 by Ed Brisson
Sheltered Vol. 3 by Ed Brisson
Runaways Vol. 1 by Brian K. Vaughan
American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Monday, January 5, 2015

Giveaway: Half Bad by Sally Green

HALF BAD by Sally Green comes out in paperback on January 13th, just in time to get it read before the sequel, HALF WILD comes out in hardcover on March 24th.




Brew a winter concoction to settle in and read! Enter the giveaway by filling out this form (deadline January 20, 2015).

One (1) winner receives:

· a branded tumbler and hot chocolate,

· plus a copy of Half Bad.



Prizing courtesy of Penguin - Giveaway open to US addresses only


About HALF BAD

He has a powerful Gift. It’s how he uses it that will show if he’s good or bad.

In modern-day England, witches live alongside humans: White witches, who are good; Black witches, who are evil; and sixteen-year-old Nathan, who is both. Nathan’s father is the world’s most powerful and cruel Black witch, and his mother is dead. He is hunted from all sides. Trapped in a cage, beaten and handcuffed, Nathan must escape before his seventeenth birthday, at which point he will receive three gifts from his father and come into his own as a witch—or else he will die. But how can Nathan find his father when his every action is tracked, when there is no one safe to trust—not even family, not even the girl he loves?




About HALF WILD 

In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, seventeen-year-old Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world’s most powerful and violent witch. Nathan is hunted from all sides: nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted. Now, Nathan has come into his own unique magical Gift, and he’s on the run–but the Hunters are close behind, and they will stop at nothing until they have captured Nathan and destroyed his father.



Links!
Book trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIcpalOypmo

Visit the Half Bad website

Find Sally Green on Twitter and Wattpad