Friday Favourites - Trailers

I have been thinking a lot about movie and book trailers lately. Last week on my YA Indie Carnival post, I discussed whether or not book trailers were a good or bad thing. I've also just put together a book trailer for Pure Blood (Book #3 in the Time Spirit Trilogy).

Personally, I LOVE trailers for both movies and books. Usually once a week I'll log on to Apple Trailers and down load a bunch of goodies.

What is it about trailers that are so inspiring?
I often feel goosebumps popping over my skin if it's a really good one.

Take the Hunger Games trailers for example. Now those are awesome!!

Have you seen any trailers recently that have made you desperate to see the movie or read the book?
Off the top of your head, what's your favourite YA trailer?

Because I've just talked about Hunger Games, I'm gonna go with that.
And for your viewing pleasure...

Friday Favourites - Girls Who Can Kick A Little Butt

I don't know what it is, but there is something so ultra cool about a girl who can kick some butt. I love watching movies or reading a book where the girl is physically very capable and doesn't need a guy to rescue her.

I guess that's why I wrote Gemma the way I did... and man, was it fun! I love the way she can take care of herself. Because I'm totally biased, I'd say she was my fav.

However there are many girls out there to be celebrated. So I'd also like to include...

Katniss from the Hunger Games series. She is awesome and I can't wait to see her on screen later this year. Excitement!!!

I also quite like Cammie Morgan from "I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You". Her friend, Rebecca Baxter, can be pretty fierce too. Lots of fun :)

And I feel like I can't ignore the one and only, Hermione Granger. Now there is a girl who knows how to cast a decent spell.

So - who are your favourite kick ass girls?

Do you keep a diary or journal?

Do you keep a diary/journal?

I do (yes even as a mum and wife) and although I don't write in it as much as I did when I was 15, it still contains almost all my secrets and important events! Other than my bestie and hubby, it was the first to know I was pregnant :-)

I was reading through my teenage diary last week, and it was all about my friends and boys. Love it. For some reason I blacked out some bits that I obviously didn't want my adult self to read (lol).

Anyway the reason I brought up diaries is, when Melissa and I decided to write our book Forbidden Territory, we got to know our characters by getting them (Mica and Lexy) to write in their diaries. Not only was it super fun, but it totally helped us learn who the girls were, what they wanted out of life and how they thought.

What sort of things do you tell your diary? And, do you think some day, if you have kids, you'll let them read your diary? I'm still undecided!

Book Review - Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life life. Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners. 

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long, and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous and that is simply… the emerald is cursed. 

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all she has her best friend—the gorgeous Hale—and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses, realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time. 

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.


This is the second book in the Heist Society series and I really enjoyed it. The writing was tight and filled with humour. I really loved Kat's journey. She is one independent chick and it was nice to see her FINALLY learning to rely on those around her.


Hale, is once again gorgeous and charming while the rest of the cast provide the well timed humour and tension in the story. I liked the growth in the relationship between Kat and Hale too. 


I also liked the villain this time, she was one clever lady and a great opponent for Kat. 


I don't want to give anything away, so I'm keeping the review brief, but if you're looking for an entertaining story that will keep you guessing, this is a great choice.


Oh - and you have to just LOVE the cover, don't you? It's GORGEOUS!!!


Happy reading :)

Friday Favourites ~ Point of View

Melissa and I were blessed with a few days away from our older kids and husbands this week. We spent the time hanging out, looking after our babies and writing. I LOVED it. Anyway with all the writing it got me thinking about point of view. (Definitions below)

First person - the story is narrated by a character, who reveals the plot through their eyes.
Second person (I don't actually remember having read one from this POV) - the narrator refers to one of the characters as 'you', making you feel part of the story.
Third person - the story is told basically by a God-like figure who can see everything and know what everyone is thinking!

Usually I'm a third person POV writer but I've been writing first person POV this week and it's so much fun getting into one characters head so thoroughly. When it comes to picking a favourite though, I struggle.

When I'm reading I really love being able to get into a characters head in first person POV, but if I don't actually like the protagonist, it can be suffocating being stuck in that characters head. Third person POV on the other hand is fun as you get to see what all the characters think but it doesn't hold much mystery.

What is your favourite to write and to read?

Girl Time

It's nearly time for school to start again. As a last hurrah, Brenda and I are escaping for a few days to write, read, chat and laugh as we watch our little babies play together.

So - we won't be posting as usual this Monday and I'm asking Brenda to do Friday Favourites this week as I will be away for a long weekend with my parents.

I hope everyone has a great week and we look forward to getting back to normal next Monday.

Take care :)

Melissa

Friday Favourites - Book Titles

Well Brenda and I have FINALLY come up with a title for our YA Action/Thriller/Romance. Look out for Forbidden Territory coming later in the year.

As we discussed different titles we had to think about what we liked. We needed something that would hint at the essence of the book, something that would look good on the cover and both of us like titles that are short and sharp. So Forbidden Territory was our final choice.

I thought it would be a good topic for this week's Friday Favourites.

Brenda likes Twilight and I understand why. There is a certain sense of mystery and elegance to it. It sounds great.

I like so many, but the first one that popped into my head was Uncommon Criminal. As soon as I heard it, it got me thinking. Who's the criminal? What makes them so uncommon? What kind of criminal is uncommon? What do they do to make them so special?
Two little words and it immediately evoked four questions. To me, that's a good title.

What are your favourite titles and what do you like about them?

Are there any books out there, that you've heard the title and just thought - I have to read that!