Juliana Haygert

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Categories: #ROW80, NTS

#ROW80 and NTS checkin 08/26

Hello friends! Here we are for another ROW80 and NTS update.

My goals for last week and how it went:

  1. Writing: actually, this is going to be revising, instead of writing. I’m back to Amber Energy and gave myself until Sep 15th to finish it. Monday = wrote over 2000 (an entire new scene), and revised a dozen of pages. Tues and Wed = revising, but lost count. And on Thu and Fri I did nothing writing related as my MIL is here and wanted me to drive her around to see the city.
  2. Reading: read book #49. Done.
  3. Social media: blog at least twice and hop on Twitter from time to time. Done
  4. Exercise: 3x at least. 5 times.

I’m one of those blessed girls whose MIL is a nice, fun person and I actually like to spend time with her and talk to her. She’s just awesome. But that means I’m spending a lot of time with her and not writing … But that’s okay. She’ll be gone by next weekend and then I’ll only see her again next year, so I gotta enjoy these moments.

My daughter starts kindergarten on Wednesday and I’m super nervous about it lol I try not to be, but I am overprotective. Being extroverted and very sociable, I know she’ll be fine.

Guys, Lauren is doing a giveaway dedicated to me. Her words: “Just to remind everyone, there is still a giveaway going on! Stop by and leave a comment on Juliana’s short story, INTO THE DARKEST FIRE, and you’ll be entered to win a $5 gift certificate to a coffee place of your choice. THE INTERNET GIVES YOU COFFEE. <–I would say civilization is progressing.” And I say DO IT! ;)

 

My goals for next week:

  1. Writing: since my MIL will still be here, I’ll try to squeeze writing when I can, though I’m not sure how that’s gonna go.
  2. Reading: read book #50.
  3. Social media: blog at least twice and hop on Twitter from time to time.
  4. Exercise: 3x at least.

 

If you can, please support the other ROWers! Have a great week!

Cheers,

Categories: Blog Hop, RTW, WIP

RTW: My Love List

Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival,” where YA Highway‘s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This week’s topic:

Inspired by Stephanie Perkins’ post on Natalie Whipple’s blog, what is your novel’s “Love List”? (link here)

In Stephanie Perkins’ words:

Whenever I begin a new project, I also begin a list called “What I Love About This Story.” I start by writing down those first ideas that sparked the fires of my mind, and then I add more ideas to it as I discover them during my push through early drafts.

My current WIP, Amber Energy, is told from two POVs. First, we have a girl from a realm called Sitara, who was a fugitive. She was captured and to regain her freedom she needs to complete a mission first: go to Earth and train the new Warden. Then we have the human guy who is the Warden and really doesn’t want to get mixed up with things and issues from other realms since his life is already complicated enough.

Here’s my love list for Amber Energy:

  • kickass heroine with purple streaks on her hair
  • hot and cocky hero
  • ninja bike (heroine’s!)
  • violet scent
  • powers
  • portals
  • crystals
  • other realms
  • homemade food
  • family issues (not that it’s good to have one, personally, but it does make a novel more interesting, don’t you think?)
  • friendship
  • trust
  • team work
  • villains with busy agendas
  • betrayal
  • sacrifices

 

Also, you can see my Pinterest board for Amber Energy—though it’s still under construction ;)

Now tell me, what’s your WIP’s love list?

Cheers,

Categories: Beatsheet, Craft, Movies

The Incredibles in 15 Beats

Blake Snyder’s beatsheet is my new blog feature. I’ll try to have posts like this every two weeks or so, Name of movie or book in 15 Beats, and I hope this helps you too.

Two things to keep in mind: I watch most of these with my kid and that means most of the movies will be kids’ movies and I’m not paying 100% attention to the movie. Second, I’m sorta new to the method and still struggle with the Theme, the All is Lost and Dark Night of the Soul beats. In case you have better suggestions, please do so on the comments. We can discuss the points and, if I end up agreeing with you, I’ll change my beats. Deal?

 The Incredibles in 15 Beats

1. Opening Image: The Superheroes on top of their games, saving the city and being recognized by such accomplishments.

2. Theme Stated (4.5%): Have to be more flexible? (help here!) I know the movie is about reconciling their family and finding themselves, but I can’t come up with a pretty line for that ;)

3. Set-Up (1-9%): We follow Mr. Incredible crime saving routine, Buddy (a fan) pursuing him, and his marriage to Elastigirl.

4. Catalyst (10%): Mr. Incredible saved someone who was trying to commit suicide–law suit.

5. Debate (10-22.5%): Fastforward. Bob wants to be Mr. Incredible again, but can’t. He wished he was super still. Family going down the drain.

6. Break Into Two (22.5%): He’s fired and received the package from Mirage with the mission–he accepts it.

7. B Story (27%): Bob and being okay with himself again? Bob and his career?

8. Fun and Games (27-50%): Bob is fighting robots, training, buying nice things, playing with family. He goes to Edna for a new suit.

9. Midpoint (50%): Helen (Elastigirl) thinks he’s cheating on her. Bob goes to another “secret” mission.

10. Bad Guys Close In (50-68%): Helen finds Bob’s teared suit. Bob’s mission is a trap and he’s attacked by Buddy, now called Syndrome. Bob finds out other supers have been killed.

11. All Is Lost (68%): He’s captured and now his wife and his kids were killed by Syndrome.

12. Dark Night of the Soul (68-77%): Later, the four of them are captured.

13. Break Into Three (77%): Mirage helps them escape.

14: Finale (77-100%): Attack on the city. Battle. are supers again, saving the day!

15. Final Image (100%): They get ready to save the world as a family.

*Note that the percentages are approximate. 

Cheers,

Categories: Covers, Entangled Pub, Young Adult

Cover Love: CONJURE

Welcome Lea Nolan and the cover of her upcoming book, CONJURE, from Entangled Publishing.

Be careful what you search for…

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry–hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends–are lost forever.

CONJURE on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425130-conjure

Lea’s website: http://www.leanolan.com/

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Cheers,

Categories: #ROW80, NTS

#ROW80 and NTS checkin 8/19

My goals the past week and how it went:

  1. Writing: actually, this is going to be revising, instead of writing. I’ll get back to Amber Energy. I’m giving myself until Sep 15th to finish it. (I won’t be doing much Thur and Fri, though, since hubby will take these days off work). Mon = short story. Tue = 66 pages revised. Wed = 46 pages revised and a lot distracted. Thur and Fri = nothing (hubby was home).
  2. Revise the short story (2000-4000 words) and submit to the Defy the Dark contest. Yup, it’s up here. You can read it online (only 4000 words, so about 20 minutes) and I would love if you commented and, if you like it, give my story a “heart”.
  3. Reading: read book #48. I started one book, went to up 30% then tossed it aside. It was craft but it wasn’t to the point and I was getting tired of going around and around and around … Then I started another (fiction) and finished it ;)
  4. Social media: blog at least twice and hop on Twitter from time to time. Done.
  5. Exercise: 3x at least. Five times.

I’ve been really down this week. Not sure why. There were times when I thought I would never write another manuscript worth reading/querying/selling … and I blame the internet for that. We (I) read some stories on twitter and on blogs that just mess with our (my) focus. I wish I was strong enough to just disconnect the internet during the whole afternoon and evening so I would never be tempted to peek and read and comment and stress myself.

At least hubby got home Thursday morning and he took Friday off to stay with me and daughter =)

My goals for next week:

  1. Writing: actually, this is going to be revising, instead of writing. I’m back to Amber Energy and gave myself until Sep 15th to finish it.
  2. Reading: read book #49.
  3. Social media: blog at least twice and hop on Twitter from time to time.
  4. Exercise: 3x at least.

My mother-in-law arrives Wed evening and will spend 10 days with us. She and I get along pretty well and it’s always good to talk to her, but having her here means a lot less done on the writing and reading front. So be warned: it’s going to be a slow week.

That’s it for now.

Go check out the other ROWers! Have a great week!

Cheers,

Categories: Blog Tour, Release Day

Release Day Blitz – FLIGHT

Congrats Alyssa!! FLIGHT is here!!

FLIGHT

Genre: Mature YA/New Adult Paranormal Romance

Sometimes you just have to take flight.

A summer in New Orleans is exactly what Allie needs before starting college. Accepting her dad’s invitation to work at his hotel offers an escape from her ex-boyfriend and the chance to spend the summer with her best friend. Meeting a guy is the last thing on her mind—until she sees Levi.

Unable to resist the infuriating yet alluring Levi, Allie finds herself at the center of a supernatural society and forced to decide between following the path she has always trusted or saving a city that might just save her.

 

Author Bio:

Alyssa Rose Ivy lives in North Carolina with her husband and two young children. Although raised in the New York area, she fell in love with the South after moving to New Orleans for college. After years as a perpetual student, she turned back to her creative side and decided to write.

Webiste | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

 

Cheers,

Categories: Blog Hop, RTW, Sports

RTW: On Sports …

Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival,” where YA Highway‘s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This week’s topic:

 In honor of the end of the Olympics, share your favorite sports book!

 

Honestly, I couldn’t remember of any book I read that featured sports. I even went to Goodreads and looked through my lists of books, and found none. I have a couple on my TBR list, like Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally, and I even have the book on my kindle, but didn’t read it yet.

Then I remembered one: the entire Harry Potter series — hello, Quidditch? Yeah!

Hehe, just kidding! (not really).

Well, I did read one recently, where there Hero fights MMA. It is a sport, BUT the book is adult, and very, very hot. It’s called Seducing Cinderella by Gina L. Maxwell. Other than that, what I have to say about this book is: wow! I loved the characters. It’s told in dual POV, so you get stuck in deep third with the hero and the heroine and I loved their voices, and the guy, for being a fighter, was always talking about the ring, and punching, and throwing the towel as his analogies. It was super fun.

From GoodReads

 

And you? Which sports books did you read and liked?

Cheers,

 

***

On an unrelated note, have you read my short story at Figment.com? It’s only 4000 words and I would love some feedback! It’s called Into the Darkest Fire and you can read it here.