Camp NaNoWriMo 2k15: That One Summer

HALLO! Oh my God, you guys! I missed you all! Did you miss me too? It's officially summer here in the Philippines and it is scorching hot with at least 35 degrees Celsius per day. It's enough to fry an egg on top of my head.

So anyways, I haven't read anything yet. I'm so behind my Goodreads Reading Challenge because of school and with this novel I'm writing. Yes, you heard it right. I'm writing again after 123456789 years. I feel the need to go back into writing because after all, I plan to make a living out of it so what better way to let my creative juices out than writing it. I am joining Camp NaNoWriMo for the first time in my life. I've had a lot of friends joining this and they've been telling me to join. Usually, the standard word count goal is 50,000 words but since I am newbie, I'm gunning for 10,000. I feel like if I set a goal that high I won't be able to reach it. But with 10,000, I think I can.

All I can tell you right now is that this story I'm writing is about romance, loss, summer and life. I can't really give you the exact plot yet because I want it to be a surprise and I suck at writing summaries if I haven't finished it yet. But just know this is something close to my heart and something I want to share with you guys.

COVER:

Photo is not mine though. I found this on Tumblr and tweaked with the saturation and added this really nice font.

INSPIRATION:

This is Mats Hummels. He's the captain of Borussia Dortmund and a defender for the German National Football Team. If you're into football, you'd know that he's a World Champion. I am currently immersing myself with everything football but mostly focusing on the Germany league, Bundesliga. His face got sort of stuck in my head and then he became the inspiration for my male protagonist, Kyle Donovan. Isn't he just gorgeous? *brb swooning*

So, there's Nina Dobrev, Zoey Deutch, and Marie Avgeropolous. All three are gorgeous ladies and are my picks for my female character, Sara Hudson. I couldn't pick between the three. They're all very beautiful and play very strong women on TV and on film.

The following photos are from Tumblr. I was mindlessly scrolling down and reblogging when I saw these photos that remind me of summer. Credits to the owners!

MUSIC:

19 You + Me by Dan and Shay

Dakota by A Rocket to the Moon

Summer by Calvin Harris

The City by The 1975

Waves by Mr. Probz (Robin Schulz Edit)

I was supposed to make a Spotify playlist for this to post here but there's something wrong and I have about 60 songs on that playlist. I know. I listen to a lot of music ranging from alternative rock to EDM. Not only are the songs on my playlist remind me of summer, but they are also my companion whenever I'm writing.

So there you have it guys. My journey to reaching my 10,000 words goal has started and I can't wait for it to finish. I know I have you guys on my back so wish me luck!

{Blog Tour:Giveaway + Review} Love, Lucy by April Linder

Welcome to the last day of the Love, Lucy Blog Tour. This tour is brought to you by the Fantastic Flying Book Club. Today, I'll be sharing with you my review as well as a giveaway.

Publisher: Poppy

Published: January 27, 2015

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || iTunes

While backpacking through Florence, Italy, during the summer before she heads off to college, Lucy Sommersworth finds herself falling in love with the culture, the architecture, the food...and Jesse Palladino, a handsome street musician. After a whirlwind romance, Lucy returns home, determined to move on from her "vacation flirtation." But just because summer is over doesn't mean Lucy and Jesse are over, too. 

In this coming-of-age romance, April Lindner perfectly captures the highs and lows of a summer love that might just be meant to last beyond the season.

This book is perfect since it's already the summer season here in the Philippines. Italy is a place that has been in my bucket list for years. I have five places in Italy that I want to go to: Milan, Florence, Rome, Venice and Lake Como. When I found out that this book is set in Florence, I knew I had to read it. I may not visit it now but soon I will.

The romance in this book is definitely what you'd expect in those totally-cliche movies that admittedly we find annoying but we watch them anyways because we're in love with the male protagonist. YES? YES.

Lucy goes on a tour of Europe and her last stop is Italy where she meets Jesse. Lucy is an actress and it has been her passion. But her father disagrees. He doesn't believe that acting will land her a stable job. This made me cry for Lucy. Having your parents not support what you love, may it be art or dancing or a sport you like, is heartbreaking.

Jesse is a street musician. The moment that Lucy and Jesse sang together on the streets of Italy, it was the most romantic thing ever. Jesse was no nonsense. He sticks by what he believes in. He chose to be a street musician instead of being in college like Lucy. He chose to stay in Italy.

All summer romances, admittedly, end during the summer. Theirs ended as well with Lucy moving on to another guy she met in college. Just when you thought things are going well for the two of them, Jesse comes barging in. Now Lucy has to make a choice.

This whirlwind of a romance swept me away. I really love how easy and light this book is. I definitely recommend this to add to your to-read pile for the summer.

(US ONLY)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

April Lindner is the author of three novels: Catherine, a modernization of Wuthering Heights; Jane, an update of Jane Eyre; and Love, Lucy, due out in January, 2015. She also has published two poetry collections, Skin and This Bed Our Bodies Shaped. She plays acoustic guitar badly, sees more rock concerts than she’d care to admit, travels whenever she can, cooks Italian food, and lavishes attention on her pets—two Labrador retriever mixes and two excitable guinea pigs. A professor of English at Saint Joseph’s University, April lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons.

Website || Facebook || Twitter || Goodreads || Tumblr || Google+

Wicked Review: All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

Published: January 6, 2015

Publisher: Knopf

Acquired: Borrowed Paperback

Amazon || Barnes and Noble || The Book Depository || Fullybooked

Theodore Finch is fascinated by death, and he constantly thinks of ways he might kill himself. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him.
 
Violet Markey lives for the future, counting the days until graduation, when she can escape her Indiana town and her aching grief in the wake of her sister’s recent death.
 
When Finch and Violet meet on the ledge of the bell tower at school, it’s unclear who saves whom. And when they pair up on a project to discover the “natural wonders” of their state, both Finch and Violet make more important discoveries: It’s only with Violet that Finch can be himself—a weird, funny, live-out-loud guy who’s not such a freak after all. And it’s only with Finch that Violet can forget to count away the days and start living them. But as Violet’s world grows, Finch’s begins to shrink.
 
This is an intense, gripping novel perfect for fans of Jay Asher, Rainbow Rowell, John Green, Gayle Forman, and Jenny Downham from a talented new voice in YA, Jennifer Niven.

I would like to thank my friends, Jayvee of Writer for Misfits, for being such a dear with her All The Bright Places tweets that I checked it out because of her, and to Neil for lending me his copy of the book.

It was:

- Beautiful

- Gut-wrenching

- Amazing

- One hell of a ride

- Dramatic

- Intense

Theodore and Violet went to experience what their pretty Indiana has to offer them. What started as a requirement became one of the most beautiful journey's I have ever read. It's a journey to knowing yourself and the person you're with. Theodore has thought of killing himself numerous times but he can't quite get to it. Violet lost her sister and can't seem to get back on track. At one point in my life, I have had thoughts of killing myself. I've had "episodes" wherein I completely shut myself out from the world. But when Theodore met Violet, his world changed.

He let Violet in his messed up world of Post-It notes and carefree attitude. He has multiple versions of himself in the book. He tries to dress up and acts a certain way depending on his mood. He is often misunderstood, I think. He was labeled a 'Freak' by someone whom he saw as a really good friend. He was physically abused by his father who walked out of their lives and started a new family. I knew from the moment I read the book that Finch will be the one leaving the book. Each chapter is told in their POV and below their names are the number of days leading up that. His death didn't satisfy me. I felt like there was something missing. But if only Finch were real and I could get to the fictional purgatory where their souls rest, I'd ask him.

Violet, on the other hand, lost his sister to a car accident. Her relationship with her sister is something I'm envious of. Whenever Violet remembers Eleanor in her memories, I can't help but sort of tear up because I wish that my older sister and I grew up together. Violet's life before the accident was a vibrant one. She and her sister have a website of their own. She has a boyfriend. She's popular. She's passionate with writing. She's part of the cheerleading squad. It was almost perfect. Ever since losing her sister, she lost everything. She blames herself for it. She can't get back to writing. She met Finch. She met the real Finch. She knows who he is. She loved him to death.

Their love is quite scary and beautiful at the same time. Scary because it consumed both of them and beautiful because it's that kind of love that you can dream of and hope that it happens to you as well. This book tackled suicide, bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. Heavy topics, I know. But they are serious. Especially bipolar disorder. It's become a label. I asked a friend of mine who's a psychology major about bipolar disorder and it's serious. Only licensed psychologists/psychometricians/psychiatrists are the only one who can diagnose someone with bipolar disorder. Reading this book opened my eyes to this. I admit that I have used the term bipolar so loosely. I've called people that not knowing the real definition of the word and the implications of my actions before. This is a call for everyone to be more careful with their words and actions as well and to be more aware of people's feelings.

This is a wonderful read. I asked my friend Neil if I could extend my borrowing time because I plan to read it again and he said yes. I am thankful to Jennifer Niven for bringing this amazing YA debut into the world.

By the time I was ten, I had already written numerous songs, a poem for Parker Stevenson ("If there were a Miss America for men, You would surely win"), two autobiographies (All About Me and My Life in Indiana: I Will Never Be Happy Again), a Christmas story, several picture books (which I illustrated myself) featuring the Doodle Bugs from Outer Space, a play about Laura Ingalls Wilder's sister entitled Blindness Strikes Mary, a series of prison mysteries, a collection of short stories featuring me as the main character (an internationally famous rock star detective), and a partially finished novel about Vietnam. I was also an excellent speller from a very early age.

In 2000, I started writing full-time, and I haven't stopped... I've written eight books (two of those are forthcoming), and when I'm not working on the ninth, I'm contributing to my web magazine, Germ (www.germmagazine.com), thinking up new books, and dabbling in TV. I am always writing. 

Twitter || Facebook || Germ Magazine || Goodreads

Author Interview: Elizabeth Briggs (Chasing the Dream Series)

I have something special in store for you all today! One of my favorite NA authors just dropped by the blog! It's Elizabeth Briggs!

Now, I first heard of Elizabeth Briggs on Oops I Read A Book Again when she hosted the More Than Music tour. When I read More The Music, I fell in love with Elizabeth's stories. She wrote a novella, More Than Exes, and now she just released the second book of her Chasing the Dream series, More Than Comics.

Fun Questions:

The last TV show you watched?
- Parks and Recereation - we're rewatching the entire series on Netflix.

The first book you've ever read?
- I have no idea. My mom says it was Goodnight Moon. On my own? I remember devouring Nancy Drew novels as a kid.

The first thing you do in the morning?
- Take the dogs outside and grab a cup of coffee.

Any weird reading habits?
- If I have a print book, I ALWAYS read the last paragraph of the book before I read the rest. I also like to read Acknowledgements first.

How many times have you been to Comic Con?

- I've been going every year since 2008 so this year will be my 8th time!

The Interview:

How was the writing process for More Than Comics?

- More Than Comics was so fun to write! It originally started as a novella but the story kept growing and growing, and I really enjoyed digging into Hector's story. It's also my first book told from dual POVs, which was both challenging but rewarding to write.

What do you think of relationships that started online? Do you think they last longer?

- My husband and I met online over ten years ago, so I definitely think they can last! I've also met many of my closest friends online. It's one reason I wanted to write a book about it.

What do you think makes Tara McFadden stand out from Maddie and Alexis?

- Tara is more warm, optimistic, and friendly than my two previous heroines. She's not afraid to go after what she wants, even if she's not sure what that is sometimes. She's less awkward than Maddie, but just as big a geek. She's not as bold as Alexis, but she's just as independent. All three girls are smart, strong, and passionate about something. 

If you were given a chance to write your own graphic novel, which company would you choose; DC or Marvel?

- Marvel all the way!

Are any of the characters you've written ever exist in real life?

- All of them! I would LOVE to hang out with everyone in Villain Complex.

I just finished reading More Than Comics now that I'm done with my undergraduate thesis. And can I just say how wonderful that book is? IT IS SO GOOD. My review will be posted soon. Thank you so much, Liz, for agreeing to do this with me. It has been an honor!

Hot Dudes Reading

If you've been living under a rock, then I suggest you get the hell out of there. I have something for you. So, not only was the Internet abuzz with that ridiculous dress (if you don't know, then I suggest you get on with program), it picked up one of Instagram's hottest accounts, Hot Dudes Reading. Basically it's just an account showing hot dudes, well, reading. So far, it only has 35 posts and about 400K followers. You won't be disappointed with the amount of hotness that are men reading books. I mean, they're like so hot, okay? I'll count down my personal favorites from this account.

Go follow this account if you want some eye candy on your Instagram news feed. I swear, you won't regret it. Got any favorites? Let me know through your comments!