Discussion Time: Do you prefer reading a book blind?

The majority of my reading is now done on my Kindle. I love my Kindle. I love the easy access, the lightness of it, the way it is stuffed full of so many books. I'm never without a book and that is such a cool feeling.

The only thing I don't like about reading off my kindle is that it's not as easy to flip to the cover or read the book description. When I read a paperback, I'll often pause to re-look at the cover or I'll flick to the back to re-read the description. I like knowing where a book is going.

But now... I don't really do that anymore. In fact, I'm actually getting into the habit of reading a book blind - meaning I'll launch into a book without knowing anything about it.

I bought a book the other day, because I liked the cover and it was written by someone in my writing group. I knew it was set around the water, because it's called Head Above Water, but that's all I knew. I've started reading it (am really enjoying it too) and it's kinda cool not knowing anything about the story. It's a total blank page for me. I can't make any of my own predictions, because I have no idea where the story is going. The further I get into the book, I'm sure I'll be able to get a better idea. It's just fun starting out knowing nothing.

So how about you?
Do you like knowing where a book is headed or do you prefer to go in blind?
I used to like to know, but I'm learning to love the mystery of the unknown as well.

So - if you've never tried it before, I dare you to give it a go. A risk free way of doing this is to head to the FREE listings on Amazon. Scroll through and pic a cover that intrigues you. Download the book and start reading. You'll know within the first 5 chapters whether it's a good read or not. If it's not, you've wasted less than an hour of your time...or you might be pleasantly surprised :)

It's Time For A Holiday...

Hey Everyone,

Well, 2013 has been an epic year for me. I've managed to publish The Elements Trilogy, Before and Beyond - the two Betwixt Series novellas, two Indie Inked samplers and put together three omnibus books. I've also written the 1st draft of two books I'm publishing next year - True Colors and I Know Lucy. I've been invited to be a panelist at UtopYA Con next year and I've signed a publishing contract with Evatopia Press.

I'm really proud of what I've achieved and I can't wait for 2014. I have another 6 books planned and I can't WAIT to share them with you!

My brain is now ready for a little break. My family and I are going away for a week to a sunny resort in Thailand then returning for a snuggly two weeks in the Suzhou cold. It'll be my boys first winter Christmas so it'll be a good experience for them.

I'm planning on getting a bunch of reading done. My kindle is packed with goodies that I'm super excited about getting into.

What's on your reading list?

If you want to add a few more - here are some of my favorite reads from 2013 (in no particular order).

Anna Cruise:
Maverick - If I Fall - It Was You - It Was Me - It Was Us - Down by the Water

Ella James: Selling Scarlett - Taming Cross

Taylor Longford:
Defiance - Chaos - (I read the 1st three in this series last year. I have LOVED them all so far!)

JA Huss: Losing Francesca

Alexia Purdy: Ever Wrath

Cambria Hebert: Text

Shelly Crane: Wide Awake - Wide Spaces

Komal Kant: Impossible

Ruben Gretchen: The Happiness Project

Simone Elkeles: Wild Cards

What have you read and enjoyed this year?

Thank you so much for everyone who has read and followed this blog throughout 2013. I have had so much fun highlighting authors and introducing you all to some top quality reading.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday and a very Merry Christmas :)
I will be back on January 6th with more author highlights, cover reveals, interviews, discussion posts, giveaways and a ton more fun.

Discussion Time: Bad Boy vs. Good Guy

I was chatting to an author friend of mine the other day about bad boys and good guys. We were discussing the merits of both types of love stories.

The ones where the bad boy is turned around by the love of a good girl is appealing. There is something very sexy about it, yet also redeeming. I think it's easy to be attracted to a bad boy. There is something dangerous and sexy about them. The only thing I don't like about it, is the way these female characters put up with being treated like crap. Because sometimes bad boys are just bad boys and there is no redemption for them. I read a great book last month by Anna Cruise - If I Fall and it was actually refreshing to read about a bad boy, who actually stayed bad, because at his core he was a callous jerk. It made the good guy in the story so much cooler.

Which leads me to the good guys.
I love good guys. I love the idea that they exist :) Because they do. There are plenty of amazing men in this world who really care about their women. They want to protect and cherish their girl and I love writing characters like that. They may not be quite as dangerous and sexy, but they are just so incredibly sweet and good, we don't need them to be.

This discussion got me thinking about all the love interests I've written in my books and I've quickly come to realize that I like writing characters that are now good, but used to be bad - like Dale Finnigan from the Betwixt Series. He has been one of my favourite characters to write. Because of his bad boy years he has a depth of character that I love.

Who are you attracted to in books?
Do you like the bad boy? The good guy? Or the guy who has redeemed himself and become worthy of the girl's love?

Me personally - I like reading all three. Variety is the spice of life, right?

How About You?

We love to find out what other people like to read, write or watch, so we're starting a "How About You?" section on the blog as well.

This month's topic is...

Places to read.

My all time favourite place to read is snuggled up in bed. Before I had kids, I'd often wake up on the weekend, reach for my book and read for a couple of hours. Ahhhh.... bliss!!

Although I don't get those weekend treats anymore, I still read every night before I go to sleep. It really is the best place in the world to lose yourself in a story.

So - how about you? Where's your favourite place to read?

Christmas Reading - What Books Are On Your List?

I am the sort of person that saves books up when I know I'm going away on holiday. I have a few little gold nuggets stashed away so that when I leave on my break I can pull them out and lose myself in a book or two as life slows down for just a moment.

We are now home in New Zealand for Christmas and I have my Kindle loaded up.

I have finished reading Dare by Taylor Longford, so her next book Reason (just released!!!!) is the first book on my list.

I am also doing a critique read for my awesome friend, T. G. Ayer. It is the first book in a new series. I am half way through the book and really enjoying it.

Next on the list is a book by a favourite author of mine - Dee Henderson. I haven't read anything from her in ages and I noticed a few months ago that she has a new release - Full Disclosure, so I've added that to my list.

I'm pretty sure that's all I'll have time for, but if I can squeeze in another read, it will be Protected by Cindy M. Hogan. I read her first book, Watched, a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it, so I'm looking forward to book 2 in the series.

What are you planning on reading over your Christmas break?

Friday Favourites - Places to Read

There have been many discussions about whether people prefer to read an actual book or an e-reader. I like both and I like the variety of both. There's nothing cooler than the smell of a book, and being able to turn the pages is delicious, but I love the fact I can have a stack of books at my disposal all on one little device. Now I wouldn't be without either. I love seeing my bookshelf stuffed with books and I love having my kindle in the drawer beside my bed or in my bag.

The reason I am starting with an e-reader/book discussion is because depending on where I am, depends on what I like to read.

For example, if I'm lying in bed (one of my favourite places to read), I want my kindle. It's light, easy to hold and I love just being able to press one button and voila! I have a new page.

 However, if I'm anywhere with one of those delicious satellite chairs (we call them nixie chairs) that you just sink into and never, ever want to get out of, then I want a book. I want to hold it in my hand and turn the pages as I half-sit, half-lie in blissful comfort. Oh yeah - and did I mention the chair needs to be in a quiet room that is bright and sunny?

Where's your favourite place to read?
Do you need quiet or can you tune out noise?
Do you prefer snuggling under blankets or basking in the sunshine?

Ahhhh - just talking about it makes me want to hide away and read. Maybe if I tap my heels together and say, "There's no place like nixie." I'll transport myself there.

Life is too busy when you don't have time to read

I'm trying to remember the last book I read :-(
Actually it was a ARC copy of Melissa's book 'Betwixt' due out in December but apart from that my mind in blank. How sad is that? (by the way, add BETWIXT to your to read lists, it's AWESOME!)

My life is too busy. You'd think as a stay at home mum I'd have lots of time.... NOPE. Even as I write this I'm multi tasking: cooking dinner, playing with my daughter and finishing a graphic design job for a friend.

The problem with not working in a normal job is you get asked to do a lot... Let me count the ways I volunteer: plunket, street community group, church, helping out friends... then are my hobbies: writing, sewing, scrapbooking, crocheting (I could go on and on actually). And not to forget my at home jobs: housework, cooking, washing, kidlets. It's a shame I have to sleep otherwise I could probably just about get everything done.

Oh and I totally forgot blogging. I NEED MORE TIME.

I've started taking a few hours a week to organise my house to try and cut down tidying each week and perhaps gain myself a few more hours. Hopefully that works :-)

What fills your time? How do you find time to read or write?
ZG

eBook or Paperback?

Things are changing fast with books. 20% of books read are ebooks, where as a couple of years ago only 1% were ebooks. That's a HUGE jump.

I read both, but because I don't have an ipad or kindle, I do tend to read paperbacks more often. But I do LOVE how you can read in the dark with an 'E' device! How cool is that? No longer will parents everywhere have to tell kids to turn their lights off and put the book away, because they won't know! Also gone are the days of reading under the covers by flashlight :-)

Pros of ebooks: they are cheap and you can download them in seconds and read them instantly!
Pros of paperbacks: You can see how close you are to the end, they smell good and you get to use your funky bookmarks.

Cons of ebooks: you need some type of device to read them AND a power source
Cons of paperbacks: you have to go to a bookstore or order online and wait before you can read them.

As a teen I could sometimes read three (small) novels a day. I was rather obsessed with those 'sweet dreams' or 'sweet valley high' books. Imagine if I had an ipad back then, I wouldn't have had to wait for them to come into the library or bookstore. Instant books! I would have NEVER got any sleep.

What are the books YOU are obsessed with? And do you prefer ebook or paperback? 

I love hearing from you!
ZG

Music: A distraction? Or Does It Add To The Experience?

I love music. I play the piano, I sing, I even compose when I'm really in the zone.

Music is such a huge part of my life and I always have it playing in the house, which is why I find it so bizarre that when it comes to writing I NEED silence. I can't write with music on - whether it's instrumental or singers, I just find it way too distracting. The same goes with reading. I can't focus on a book when there is music on in the background.

In saying that, when it comes to imagining a scene, music is a huge enhancement. It can evoke emotions in me and add real spice and feeling to a scene. I especially love listening to movie soundtrack music when I'm dreaming or just really romantic songs with a ton of emotion in them - Taylor Swift is a favourite :)

So - what do you think?
Does music distract you from reading or writing?
Or does music make the whole reading experience a million times better?
What kind of music stirs emotions in you?

MP

FUSE Teen Reading Competition

The Auckland City Libraries is running a great initiative. The FUSE Teen Competition is a big drive to get teens into the library system. They want to encourage kids to own their own library card and get reading.

How cool is that?!?

I am super excited about this for a few reasons...

1. I used to be a school teacher so seeing kids read is a total buzz for me.

2. Brenda and I have been invited to speak at the Launch Party on July 11th. 

3. Any initiative that encourages teens to read has to rock.

4. I'm so excited about chatting to the kids who attend the launch party and giving away a few books.

5. Encouraging children to read can only be a good thing.

Okay - how many times can I reword this... :)

You get my point.

So if you live in Auckland, and you have teenagers, send them along to the launch party at Pakuranga Library - 4.30pm.

If you are reading this from the other side of the world... do your local libraries run anything like this? If not, it might be a great opportunity for you to rock on up and make a few suggestions. If you're a writer, it could be great exposure for your books. All the librarians I have spoken to have been SO enthusiastic about having authors chat to kids. I encourage you to be brave and put yourself out there. Some risks are definitely worth taking :)

Pick-a-path

When I was a kid, the most popular books to read were 'pick-a-paths' which used the most rare point of view - 2nd. Second person is where YOU are part of the story.

The books are formatted where after a couple of pages of reading you are faced with a choice. Will you go into the cave or continue through the forest. This continues, giving you choices, until you end at one of about 5 different endings. Being a nerdy reader, I would read the book over and over until I'd come to every ending and gone down every scenario. I LOVED them!!!

Another brilliant thing about them is they got people reading. My brother hated to read but he would devour a pick-a-path.

I wonder if it's time for a come back. Maybe a YA romance or paranormal version where YOU actually get to choose who the heroine ends up with. Fun!

Thanks for stopping by and send me your thoughts :-)

Zealous Girl

Beta Makes It Better

In about one hour I am stopping by Pakuranga College to drop off five manuscripts of Forbidden Territory. Ten students from their book club are going to share them out and beta read them for Brenda and me.

I just wanted to take the time to say I love beta readers. I think they are awesome and so vitally important.

I know your work needs editing, I know it needs critiquing by other writers, but it also needs vetting by your target audience. If they don't like it, you probably shouldn't be publishing it.

Brenda and I have found about 20 - 25 beta readers. A few are adults, but most are students between the ages of 12 - 17. We have made up a questionnaire for them to fill in once they've finished reading and we are hoping for really good feedback - obviously!!

We know that if they all come back saying similar things that we've either struck gold or we've got some work to do.

I used beta readers for my Time Spirit Trilogy and their feedback was so helpful that I ended up rewriting the first book. When I tested it again, the kids couldn't put it down. It gave me the confidence to pursue publishing. I felt like I had hit the mark and the reviews I've been getting are backing this up - phew!!

So this post is a shout out to all you honest beta readers who take our work from average to brilliant. Thank you for your time and your feedback. You guys rock!!

Do you use beta readers for your writing?
Have you ever been a beta reader before?