Writers and Superstitions

To contact us Click HERE
As the  anticipated day approcheth I was wondering...do writers, of which I am a fairly novice newbee one, have superstitious rituals they go through? Things that they feel might possibly give their story that certain...edge...over another story.

I don't know. I'm fairly sure writers, as a whole, are creatures of habit. We like to write at specific times. Be it morning, or night. Preferably all day if you are (luckily) able to! We like to have our writing "areas" set up in specific ways. The dictionary here, the pens there, twizzlers piled up there.

But Superstitious? Do we have little shrines set up in a corner of our desks where we burn a bit of incense every time we hit 'send'?  Do we cross ourselves three times and run around the room clockwise, naked, chanting in tongues?

Or is the obsessive checking of our e-mail. "If I only check it THREE times a day...and he hasn't replied by Thursday by Noon, NO, by FOUR...that's a good sign!" Is this our own brand of superstition?

I'm crossing into the "Zen" stage of waiting. I'm lucky though. I know the end date. And I know that either way, ToC or not, I will get a response. And, honestly, if I don't make it in...it's been such an interesting experience, I can't wait to find another "Call to Arms"!

Not to say I didn't make the proper sacrifices to the four elements....

Goin's On's

To contact us Click HERE
This week I am over at Unicorn Bell posting about how we write culture into our stories.

Which sounds way more snobby then it really will be.

Mainly I'll be discussing the background noise that goes into the writing of a book. The 'stuff' the reader doesn't notice, but will if it's wrong.

I'll also be discussing the interesting phenomenon that happens along with this when readers bring their Own culture to your story. When they assume they know what the 'rules' are. But don't. I read a very quick snippet of an article on this in Writers Digest (I think) about how readers will Assume your world is male dominated, unless otherwise specified. How your readers will assume a pregnant woman has a husband, unless otherwise specified. How your readers will assume all sorts of things. It was rather interesting. And frustrating. And explained the old way of doing 'info dumps' at the beginning of fantasy and sci-fi books. Problem is. We don't do that now. So how do we get the rules of our worlds across without boring the pants off our readers?

Head over to Unicorn Bell! :) This is what we'll be exploring this week! Politics! Art! Religion! Weapons! All sorts of fun stuff.

Meanwhile...

WRiTE CLUB is still going on! Don't forget to head over there and vote! Vote! Vote!

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

To contact us Click HERE
A Tale of Two Cities - Dickens, Charles 
Summary: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." With these famous words, Charles Dickens plunges the reader into the French Revolution. From the storming of the Bastille to the relentless drop of the guillotine, Dickens vividly captures the terror and upheaval of that tumultuous period. At the center is the novel's hero, Sydney Carton, a lazy, alcoholic attorney who, inspired by a woman, makes the supreme sacrifice.
Lilibeth's Review This novel, A Tale of Two Cities takes place in 1775. It also takes place during the French Revolution. The Two Cities are in France and England, and in this novel a romance is shown. The couple is Lucy and Darnay but they go through great troubles before they can finally be together. An interested reader needs to know that this book is a true love story! I loved it. 
Check Availability

Spiral-bound: Top Secret Summer - Aaron Renier

To contact us Click HERE
Spiral-bound: Top Secret Summer - Renier, Aaron 
 Summary: "In this graphic novel about the young animal characters who live in the Town, Turnip the elephant is using the summer to find his artistic voice through sculpture, his friend Stucky the dog is building a submarine, and Ana the rabbit is working on the town's underground newspaper. Their stories all wind around the town's deep, dark secret about the monster that lives in the pond"--Booklist. 
Paulina's Review I think it is a good book because it combines many animals' lives. Turnip the elephant and Stucky the dog become friends, and Emely the bird and a rabbit have always been friends. They all start getting involved in each other's secrets and concerns. Emely has a secret life that nobody knows about and the rabbit later on gets to be part of. They write on the newspaper without people knowing it was them. Turnip and Stucky get into art camp and try to save the lake monster while others try to expose it. I felt neutral about this book. 
Check Availability

Only in Your Dreams - Cecily Von Ziegesar

To contact us Click HERE
Only in Your Dreams - Von Ziegesar, Cecily
 Summary: Follows the lives of Blair, Serena, and their wealthy Manhattan friends during the summer following high school graduation. 



Cecilia's Review This book takes place in the last summer after high school, before they head out to the next chapter in their lives: college. Serena van der Woodsen is preparing for her new movie role while adjusting herself to a new apartment and a new lifestyle. Vanessa Abrams is also working on the film, but who said filming would be easy? Blair Waldorf is enjoying her visit at London with her boyfriend Lord Marcus. Nate Archibald is fixing his coach's house to pay off his graduation deal, while Dan Humphrey is having the time of his life working at a bookstore. As all of the other Gossip Girl series novels, this book will be full of unexpected romances, make ups and break ups, and of course, full of gossip. They are preparing for their new lives as college freshmans but they are also trying to enjoy every minute of their last summer before they start college. Most of them will have to work, and for some of them their job will forced them to take a new path. You don't necessarily need to have read all the other books to understand this one, although it might make the book more interesting if you have read the other books. It's definitely a great book. You wont be able to stop reading it. I loved it. 
Check Availability

You're the One that I want - Cecily Von Ziegesar

To contact us Click HERE
You're the One that I Want - Von Ziegesar, Cecily 
Summary: After an agonizing wait for college acceptance letters, Blair, Serena, Nate, and their classmates at elite Manhattan prep schools discover that their college choice depends a lot on relationships--old and new. 


Cecilia's Review It's spring on the Upper East Side and all the senior girls and boys are finding out which colleges accepted them. Serena van der Woodsen goes off to the schools that accepted her and falls in love with every school (tour guides included). Will she be able to make the right choice? Blair Waldorf has her eye on Yale and only Yale. Nate Archibald decides to test how bad each school wants them but, will that help him to choose the right school? Vanessa Abrams and Dan Humphrey decide to take a big step in their relationship by moving in together. Dan is debating whether or not to stay in New York for college. Dan's little sister, Jenny, idolizes Serena and pursues a modeling career. Decisions, decisions. Who knows if they will make the right ones. Most of the characters find spots at colleges or universities in the northeastern United States, conveniently within watch of the Gossip Girl, who will no doubt be reporting on them for many volumes to come. This series is quite addictive, and as the other Gossip Girl books, you wont be able to stop reading it. I definitely enjoyed reading this book. 
Check Availability

Charlotte's Web - E.B. White

To contact us Click HERE
Charlotte's Web - White, E.B. 
Summary: Wilbur, the pig, is desolate when he discovers that he is destined to be the farmer's Christmas dinner until his spider friend, Charlotte, decides to help him. 



Jinnee's Review A little piglet, Wilbur, was saved from a horrible fate by a little girl named Fern. When he's all grown up, his life was in danger again. He met a spider named Charlotte and she is trying to save Wilbur's life by using her web. I think this is a good book because you can learn about friendship, trust, love and how important they are. Interest readers need to understand how writers uses metaphor to express their message of the book. I loved it. 
Check Availability