Fairy Tale book reviews

Because I am doing a review for four books in one post, the reviews will be more like a description of the book with a rating and good age group.

favorite Beauty and the Beast re-tell:

     ~Beastly by Alex Flinn

A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.

Okay, this is one of my favorite version of Beauty and the beast. I would rate it PG-13 though as of there are a couple of questionable scenes for younger readers.  And that puts the age group at 13-23(ish).

Favorite Sleeping Beauty re-tell:

    A kiss in time by Alex Flinn

Talia fell under a spell. . . . 
Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic. . . .

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels. . . . The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

Again, a great read but also PG-13. Age group the same as well, 13-23(ish). Which isn't all that surprising as of it's written by the same author. . . (is it obvious I like Alex Flinn's work?) 

Favorite Cinderella re-tell

   Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George

Hoping to escape the troubles in her kingdom, Princess Poppy reluctantly agrees to take part in a royal exchange program, whereby young princes and princesses travel to each other's countries in the name of better political alliances—and potential marriages. It's got the makings of a fairy tale—until a hapless servant named Ellen is tricked by a vengeful fairy godmother into competing with Poppy for the eligible prince. Ballgowns, cinders, and enchanted glass slippers fly in this romantic and action-packed happily-ever-after quest from an author with a flair for embroidering tales in her own delightful way.

This book is rated G. It's a great read and girls from all ages will love it! Jessica is an amazing author with wonderful talent! All of her books are enjoyable for all ages!

and last but never least

Favorite mix of Snow White & Cinderella (and possibly some others thrown in there)

  My Fairy  Fair Godmother

After her boyfriend dumps her for her older sister, sophomore Savannah Delano wishes she could find a true prince to take her to the prom. Enter Chrissy (Chrysanthemum) Everstar: Savannah’s gum-chewing, cell phone–carrying, high heel-wearing Fair Godmother. Showing why she’s only Fair—because she’s not a very good fairy student—Chrissy mistakenly sends Savannah back in time to the Middle Ages, first as Cinderella, then as Snow White. Finally she sends Tristan, a boy in Savannah’s class, back instead to turn him into her prom-worthy prince. When Savannah returns to the Middle Ages to save Tristan, they must team up to defeat a troll, a dragon, and the mysterious and undeniably sexy Black Knight. Laughs abound in this clever fairy tale twist from a master of romantic comedy.

Ok, this is one of my all time favorite books! It is hilarious! And I cannot wait for the sequel! This book is rated G. Age group: 12-20. If you have not read this book, you should! And if you have any girls in your life between those ages that love reading and their birthdays are coming up, this is a great present idea!!!

All right, those are all the fairy tales I have for tonight but now. . . .it's time to announce the prize  that I am giving away tonight at midnight.. . . .*insert drum roll*  and the prize is. . . . . 

One of the four books above! Once the winner is announced they will have the option of picking any of the four books mentioned in this post.  

*Should the winner not be interested in any of the above books, do not fear! We will work something out!!* 

A fairy tale untold

As earlier requested, here is some of the things I am currently working on. Starting with the most current one.

"True Love Sleeps' (a re-tell of 'Sleeping Beauty')
The King and Queen prayed they would be able to have children. . . the prayer was answered. . . with twins.
Darya, previously fairy godmother to the queen, now fairy godmother over the first born Princess, see's her future. . . but can tell no one. Can she do what it takes to save the Kingdom from tragedy if it means hurting the princess? And will the Princesses sister help? or will she fall for the same thing that her sister had?

I do sincerely hope that this sounds interesting. As the story develops perhaps I will post a better, more intriguing and more well written heading for the book. As well as some inserts perhaps just for the fun of it!



Beauty's Thief (a re-tell of 'Beauty and the Beast')
She gave her life to a witch to save a strangers.  The witch had only one servant. a boy, a thief.
The girl knew not why the witch was mean. Or why she insisted on forcing her to work with the boy, a mere pain in her side. But she knew that she had to make the witch see good. She never knew that the witch only did what she had for love. . . .

Again, does this interest anyone? I have lot's planned for this book but very little is worked out. And again later on I will post more on it. But for now I wanted to give you something to look forward as I write and develop better skills. Hopefully this will look like a silly scribble compared to the finished (and hopefully, eventually published) work.


Well that is all I have so far. I am hoping to make a collection of re-tell's of all the classic fairy tales.
I have another one but I am not sure if it is really going to be a re-tell or just it's own story!

Apologies

I am soo so so very sorry that I did not get my post in. This does not mean that the surprise post is not coming! It simply means that I am posting it tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening I will post the reviews! Again I am sincerely sorry. I feel terrible!

I'M BACK!!!!!

Alright everybody! I am back! And I'm about to blog an awesome blog including lot's of fairytale stories, a prize and some good news!!!! Stay tuned and remember there are still a couple days left to comment on my blogs to win a prize at the end of the month!!!

Coming up in just a couple hours:
A fairytale party!
Today is a total surprise.


Tomorrow:
I'm going to do reviews for some of my all time favorite retell's of fairytales. In that same post I will be announcing the surprise prize that will be given away at the end of the month to a random winner selected from people who've commented on my blog during the month of March!

Going Offline for a while!

I am going offline for the next couple of weeks so there will be no new blogs for a little while. But you can still comment on all my blogs that are already posted and be entered for the giveaway I am doing at the end of the month!

Hopefully at the end of the month I will have a lot more of my book written!! Cya at the end of the month!

Talk about getting known!

On Tuesday Evening Brandon Mull (author of the Fablehaven series as well as Pingo,  and the candy shop wars) had another one of his HUGE launch parties for his new book called The Beyonders- a World without Heroes.


These launch parties are amazing! He has a group called DC comedy come and do some performances and they are absolutely hilarious! Brandon used to be a part of the DC comedy group while going to BYU along with his brother.  (and if you are looking for the biggest laughs of your life watch the following videos where Brandon is preforming in the group at BYU years before he was a published author!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiAcVoc9rXg&playnext=1&list=PLA8755ADAE068C7F6
(You must watch all six videos. . . trust me it's worth the time!)

Anyways, after the party Brandon had a huge signing and while he was signing my and my brothers books, this photographer was talking to my dad. Once my books were signed I hurried over to find out what was going on. . . as it turns out She had the boys and I model with some of Brandon's books because we're gonna be in a feature article about Brandon in an e-magazine called Millennium Magazine!!!
http://www.newmillenniumnewsmag.com/

So when authors tell you to get out there and get known if you want to be a writer. . what better way to do it than be put in a magazine article with Brandon Mull???!?!?!?!!

Brandon's site!
http://brandonmull.com/site/

So if you haven't read any of Brandon Mull's books do! They are amazing!!

p.s Don't forget that if you comment on any of my blogs during the month of march you are automatically entered for a giveaway at the end of the month! So please share my blog and comment lots! Also I will post the article when it is published. The lady at the party/signing said that it will be next week some time!

What do you want to hear about?

What sort of things interest you? Whats your favorite post that I've ever done?  What would you like to see more of? 

Go share my blog! Then comment on here (One comment for each answer and where you shared my blog. The more you comment the more chances you have of winning a prize) 

Every time you comment on one of my posts for the entire month of March that is one more entry in a drawing I am having for a surprise Prize at the end of the month! So comment lots and share my blog! And comment on where you shared my blog! :D

Pen Names

Why? What is your reason for wanting or not wanting one?What do you think of pen names? Will/would/ do you want to use one when you get published?

Comment and tell me why.

Then share my blog and get entered to win a surprise Prize!

(comment on where you shared my blog)

With each comment you will have a better chance of winning!

It took a life of work to know. . . .

When I first started writing, one of the first things I was taught was to write with someone in mind. (as in the audience)  Though at the time I thought that was quite obvious and easy, I learned quickly that it is not.  But over Christmas I learned a valuable lesson.

A friend of mine and I were chatting online just weeks before Christmas.  I asked her what she wanted for Christmas but she insisted that I didn't need to get her anything. I laughed and told her that I wasn't planning on 'Getting' her anything, but I was going to make it. She laughed understandingly because she knew I was talking about Jewelry.  She said thank you and told me that if I was going to make her a necklace that she would like a Black and White one. Because I do Beading and have access to unlimited beads I thought 'No problem!' So I come into work the next day and I start looking for a great combo of black and white beads. I found the perfect beads that totally screamed her name! While making her necklace I thought 'Why is it that I just made this beautiful piece of jewelry that I could sale for $75 and I know she's going to love it, yet when I make jewelry to sale it never does?". . .it then hit me! I had made the necklace with someone in mind rather than designing a necklace for fun and making it to sale.

That night I went to bed with a whole new realization. . . Writing with someone in mind is writing a story that people read the same sort of thing I do , people that have similar qualities and so forth are going to like! It was an amazing epiphany! But not only that. . .I realized another great lesson.

The 'why me?'. . .

Everyone's said it at least once! And everyone's heard the phrase 'Everything happens for a reason.' But that night I learned just why me! Since I was 14 (maybe even younger)  I wondered, 'Why me? why do I have to work at a rock shop and be home schooled instead of growing up like a regular kid? Why me? why couldn't I got to school and mess around like other kids? And I found my answer.

I got to work at a rock shop because it was the only way for me to become who I am today. If I had gone to public school and messed around like other kids than I wouldn't be nearly as mature as I am now. I wouldn't be a writer, I wouldn't be as smart, I wouldn't be going to writers conferences rather than football games and pool parties and such. So now I don't ask 'Why me?" I say 'Thanks for choosing me! Thanks to my Heavenly Father for preparing me for my future! Thank you for making me realize just why it was me.'!

AND THE WINNER IS. . . .*insert drum roll here*

McElwain Pirates!!!  With a total of 40 points! Come check out her blog's!!!

http://piratezeta-lifeofapirate.blogspot.com/

http://apirateschool.blogspot.com/

http://piratehearted.blogspot.com/

http://photographybypz.blogspot.com/

And don't forget to come check my blog every now and then because I'm doing a giveaway a month!

*****GIVEAWAY*****

I have decided that I would like to help with paying it forward. a program in which writers help writers write! And so I have decided that once a month I am going to do a giveaway! Starting this month with giving away a copy of 'The Write Planner.' A planner for helping authors make and keep goals in writing their books, created by Kim Coates (www.writerremedies.com)

So how do you enter for this giveaway you may ask. . .well here is how. . . 

Tell me:

1. your #1 way of getting rid of writers block. (10 points per idea. nothing can be copied from what I have already posted )

2. something that you think is over used in books.(10 points per idea. Nothing can be copied from what I have already posted)

And:

Share my blog with all your friends. (20 points per share. so if you share on each of the places everyday you will get 20 points each time)

Comment below your answers and where you shared my blog (Facebook, twitter, blogger, e-mail. . .etc)

Have your comments in by 2-28-11 at midnight. 

The winner will be chosen by most/best idea's and most points for sharing my blog. 

And let the sharing begin! 

100 ways to get rid of Writers Block

                                            100 Way's to get rid of Writers Block.
(*=how many people involved)

*+
1.  Music.  Find the right song that fits the mood your attempting to write.  

***+
2. Give every player a piece of paper and something to write with.  Everyone is to write a single
sentence that can say or be about anything.  Once everyone has a single sentence written down,
pass your paper to the person on your right and do step two.  2. Draw a picture that shows what
you get from the original sentence.  Then fold the paper so that only the picture you drew is
visible and pass the paper to the next person. Go through this process until everyone's paper's are
full and then read the story in which you get .  It if exciting and fun for all who play.

**+
3. One person chooses a single sentence or saying.  Take that saying and make a scenario for what happens.  Example: "YOU KILLED HIM!"  Now take that line and describe who killed who and who is accusing.  What is happening?

**+
4. Sit in a room full of various objects (bedrooms are good) Each player is to close their eye's and point to any object in the room.  Keep your fingers pointing and then open your eye's.  Whatever
objects are being pointed at must be written down.  Then each player must write a short story including each object that was pointed at.

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5. Doodle & free writing.  Grab a pen and paper and doodle.  Free writing is like doodling, only with words.

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6.Snacking.

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7. Searching Youtube.   Put random things into the search.  It helps me get great idea's.

*+
8.  Picture Search.  Go to your favorite web searching site (Yahoo, Google. . . etc) and look up
different things in the pictures.  I like to look up Castles and Dragons and Flowers. . . etc.
Whatever your into works.

*+
9.  Do crazy things like look up "Elven Names."  You would be surprised at how many things come up.  Anything like that and you can get crazy with the book ideas that come flooding into your mind.

*+
10.  Look up the meanings and origins of the names for your characters.  (Unless you created the name) I love doing this because I get crazy ideas and I know what kinda theme would really make sense for the name.  P.S you can look up names that you made up.  Maybe something will come up. . . maybe you will find out that you didn't actually create the name after all.

*+
11. Go to your local Library. Maybe go to your genre flip through some books, look at some things in them. Go to another genre and maybe look for name ideas!

*+
12. Create a random world of 'Ifs' and 'Whens'.

*+
13. Visit your local Bookstore. Talk to people there about different books. Open up your mind to all the words around you! Maybe even buy a book!

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14. Work on the history of you characters! When were they born? What was their childhood like? What did they do for fun?

*+
15. Write whatever is on your mind. If you are having a bad day and you can't stop thinking about work or friends or family so on. . write it down. Use your journal and just write away everything you feel. If your mind is clouded with other things than your book won't come easily. So un-cloud your mind!

*+
16. Go to a writers Conference. Its what I had to do to get rid of my writers block! :D

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17. Pick the soundtrack from a favorite movie or tv show. Pick your favorite song. Now. . .picture your characters with that background music. . . write a scene with your characters that fits the music from the movie.

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18.  Go through other blogs. Look at what your fellow writers are doing!

*+
19. Pick your favorite book! Now use that story line but change it to what you think it should have been! Add things, take things out, change characters! Make the story your own! And to really mix things up, change the storyline but keep all the characters the same!

Following myself

Yes, my blog is following my own blog. . . No it is not intentional. . . And I don't know how to fix it so it stays for now. . .

Future Blogs

I will not be posting any more till after the new year and my goal is to blog every day next year!  See you in 2011!!!!

Short stories via Music

Song writers are like novel writers. Only their stories are put into songs.  A song is basically a short story being portrayed with music.  So really song writers are just as amazing as any other writer!  They fit so much detail into so few words!  And that's real talent!!!

A short story must have the same thing as a novel. A beginning, a middle and an end.  A hook, a cliff and a resolve. The difference is a short story must be told in less words which makes it all that much harder!  (I've tried to write short stories, I can never get so few words in that it's still classified as a 'short' story) 

While I work on my books I am constantly listening to music.  It's what keeps me in the right mood to write the scenes perfectly.  If I'm not in the mood I'm trying to write, it doesn't sound like it.  Music, being as amazing as it is, helps stay in focus.  Along with helping me stay in the right mood for each scene it helps me tell the story.  

Example A:  My nine book series:  One of the big things in my nine book series is that one of the main characters has a song for everything!  So lot's of music is involved (so much that it could almost be called a musical)  So with every thing that happens with that character, theres a song behind it.  I have multiple play lists for each of my characters.  The nine book series is based in the modern day and therefore, for the characters to seem real,  they need a life.  What music they like, favorite foods, hobbies, that favorite place they love to go and be alone. . . etc 

Music helps define a characters personality.  One of my characters listens to classical music.  She is very shy and very soft spoken.  She is a very loving character and through the book you learn so much about her.  She's a violinist and pianist.  She's going to college for a degree in music.  So the type of music she listens to and even plays says so much about her!  

Then there's the character that listens to alternative music and pop.  He's a computer geek that LOVES his technology!!  He's fun to be around, not shy by any means and over all a nice guy!  

So on and so forth.   (the list of characters and their music is pretty long so I will stop here) 

Music and writing are my two favorite things!  And put together they make my dreams come true!!!! 

Writing your own Story

For many, many years it has been pounded into my head that I need to keep a journal.  And in the years past I thought 'wow how boring.'  and never kept one.  But about a year ago I discovered something amazing about keeping a journal!  It's like writing a book, just about yourself!  And amazingly it can be super fun!  I've made a tradition of writing each Journal in a different form.  My current Journal, I am writing in third person.  And with each Journal I change it to something new!


It's also really fun to look for Journals or make them! Personally I go by the really expensive ones that are Handmade in Italy made of leather.  Lot's of people wonder why I bother buying the expensive journals and I tell them 'Because My stories are worth keeping in the best books! And it's true!  And now Journal keeping has become a regular daily habit (though there are a few nights here and there that I forget or am to busy)  But I always keep it up to date and make it as fun to read as possible and I know that one day someone will appreciate the fact that I wrote the stories down and kept them in beautiful books!

Write me a Picture

So many countless times I have been asked to draw a picture. sometimes it can be anything and sometimes it's specific, like a portrait.  For the longest time I told everyone 'I can't draw to save my life' 

At those times I never realized that I could. Just not in the way they wanted.  It took a while for me to see that though I could not do it with the swirls of a pencil, I could do it.  Not with lines of free movement but with words. . . 

I could not only draw them a picture but give them an emotion. Make them feel something with every detail.  I could make a picture worth more than a thousand words!  Now when people ask me if I can draw. . .I tell them 'You bet I can. . . just not in the way you meant.'  (I typically get weird looks and raised eyebrows but people laugh all the same when I tell them what I mean)

Too long

Okay! So sorry that it's been two months since I've posted anything!  This time of year comes and every thing else goes!  Anyways,  I will try to keep up and start posting every day again!  And tomorrow I'm gonna start off with something fun!

Happy Holidays!

No Thought 2 Small

This saying is not just a few words put together to form a clever sentence to me.  'No Thought 2 small' is so much more. . . So because It means so much to me,  I would like to tell you why. . .  it all started in 2007. . . 

. . . The wonderful year that I was welcomed into the writing world. . . 

On a Wednesday evening  I was talking to my two friends, Katie and Laurel.  Somehow we got on the subject of writing books of our own rather than just reading wonderful work by others.  That idea had never occurred to me,  especially seems how I had always hated writing stories for homework.  But talking about it with them sparked a sudden interest.  

It wasn't but a week later that Laurel invited both of us to a new writing club for girls our age put together by nine wonderful women, including Laurel's wonderful mother Michelle.  

I told Laurel that as much as I would love to go, working for my parents had disadvantages such as working until 6 and not getting home till 7 every night.  

From then on I guess Laurel just knew that I was meant to be there because from there she took the matter into her own hands and rather than wait for me to tell her that I wouldn't be able to do it,  she had one of the nine women call my Mom and set things up- and This wonderful women that cared enough to go that extra mile was none other than Karen Hoover- My mom was excited for me to get to do something and made sure that I could stay home on those Tuesdays so that I would be able to make it to the meetings.  

From that point on it was pretty simple.  I stayed home on Tuesday's,  Walked to the library so that I could make it to the 4 o'clock club meeting and learn.  I met lot's of girls my age that had a common interest but I wasn't the chatter box I am now, then.  So I sat with Katie and Laurel and we had a blast!  The third wonderful woman in the group I met was Shanna!  An amazing person with lot's of knowledge to share!  

It was then that I first heard the phrase 'No thought to small'.  Shanna said that while teaching on one of the many Tuesdays that we had a meet.  Though I never wrote it down or realized at the time what it really meant,  it stuck with me.  And now I understand and I believe it with all of my heart.  No matter what Genre you write. . . No matter what the thought or idea. . .it is never to small to write.  Because only you can write the ideas that you come up with,  only you can share your thoughts,  there are NO thoughts to small to write or share or make a book out of.  

About a year ago Katie asked me to go to a High School Football game with her. . I'm not really a football fan but I said yes anyways cause it gave us a chance to hang out.  That night at that game I ran into one of the girls that was at that same book club.  And now Lizzy and I are forever friends and laugh at the fact that it took two years after the club to become friends!  

That's how I got started and with those same women behind my every step, guiding me, teaching me,  and helping me I hope to become a published author.  But not only them but Elizabeth as well, who whenever I have a question she will gladly answer without thought of why she should help me or what she will get out of it. .  . 

So to all those that have helped me so far and will help me further, Thank you!  Thank you to all of my friends and family!  I couldn't do it without you!  

(here are the links to some of the above mentioned )

Laurel Jefferies 

http://laureljefferies.blogspot.com/

Michelle Jefferies 

http://cmichellejefferies.blogspot.com/

Shanna Blythe

http://www.writing4me2.blogspot.com/

Karen Hoover

http://karen-hoover.blogspot.com/

Elizabeth  Mueller 

http://elizabethmueller.blogspot.com/

Thank you all!  Enjoy writing and remember that no matter what others think of your ideas,  there is no thought to small! 

Too Long

Okay sorry!  I know it's been a week since I last posted something!  But  to make up for it, tonight I am posting The story behind 'No thought 2 small'!!