I guess I got carried away with the launch of FAST FICTION and all that. I've probably lost any audience I may have once had, but I thought I'd stop by to say I DO STILL PLAN TO BLOG! I've just been going in many different directions lately (and sitting on some stuff I STILL can't share) so it's all been a little annoying to be out in social media public.
But here I am now, to bring you a hodge-podge of stuff.
First, some blog talk radio shows! If you're interested in hearing more about FAST FICTION, or more than you ever wanted to know about me, here are some links:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/projectempowerment/2014/04/23/project-empowerment--denise-jaden
http://iajw.org/public/department36.cfm
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/itsallaboutyou/2014/04/07/write-a-novel-in-thirty-days
I don't think I have any more public appearances scheduled until September. I'm looking forward to the break (but at the same time, I'm happy to arrange to visit local schools or book clubs or whatever - email me at d(at)denisejaden(dot)com if you're interested).
Through April I have been busy delving into a new area of writing: Screenwriting! It's going very well, (though, the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know!) If there are other screenwriters out there, I'd love your best tips for a newbie!
And...I just got positive feedback from my agent about a new YA contemporary novel I've been working on. So hopefully you'll hear more about that soon!
We've had some house guests and out of town obligations lately, and it's all been a little overwhelming, but I hope to get back on track with some more Fast Fiction Fridays and Writing Prompt Wednesdays very soon!
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Thursday, April 24, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
CRIMINAL by Terra Elan McVoy, now out in paperback!
I LOVED this gritty and raw book by Terra Elan McVoy! If you haven't had a chance to read it yet, be sure to pick up the paperback version this week.
Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.
So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.
But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.
Terra Elan McVoy's Criminal, Out in Paperback!
Nikki’s life is far from perfect, but at least she has Dee. Her friends tell her that Dee is no good, but Nikki can’t imagine herself without him. He’s hot, he’s dangerous, he has her initials tattooed over his heart, and she loves him more than anything. There’s nothing Nikki wouldn’t do for Dee. Absolutely nothing.
So when Dee pulls Nikki into a crime—a crime that ends in murder—Nikki tells herself that it’s all for true love. Nothing can break them apart. Not the police. Not the arrest that lands Nikki in jail. Not even the investigators who want her to testify against him.
But what if Dee had motives that Nikki knew nothing about? Nikki’s love for Dee is supposed to be unconditional…but even true love has a limit. And Nikki just might have reached hers.
Beyond the Book: Terra's Thoughts
In advice to writers, Stephen King says, “Write the truth.” Ernest Hemingway also famously said, “Write what you know.” My thesis director and writing mentor, Mark Winegardner, went further to say, “Write what you most want to understand.” It was this thought that motivated me to start writing Criminal. In 2011, I heard about a murder case in which a young man was accused of killing one of his girlfriend’s parents, out in broad day. When I discovered he had an accomplice—another young woman with whom he’d also been romantically involved—I was even more intrigued. “Who would do such a thing? And why?” Of course I was thinking of the shooter, but really I was most perplexed by the second girlfriend—the one who allegedly helped him do it. Who was she? Why did she go along with it? Did she know about his other girlfriend? And what happened to her after the fact? Reading helps us to imagine things we haven’t experienced on our own, and to, ultimately, empathize with our fellow humans. In writing Criminal, I aimed to explain to myself—and to therefore understand—what it would be like to be a girl very different from me and most of the characters in my other books: someone without resources, without confidence, without an education or good family, and often without hope—so much so that she’d participate in such a horrible crime. The result of my imaginings (and my research) is in this book. I didn’t write it to justify, or excuse, any kind of criminal behavior in the slightest. Instead I hope that in doing so, my readers and I can get closer to understanding that people who make terrible choices like this are more than just the results of their crimes.Wednesday, April 2, 2014
A New YA by Jeri Smith-Ready!
THIS SIDE OF SALVATION
Everyone mourns differently. When his older brother was killed, David got angry. As in, fist-meets-someone-else’s-face furious. But his parents? They got religious. David’s still figuring out his relationship with a higher power, but there’s one thing he does know for sure: The closer he gets to new-girl Bailey, the better, brighter, happier, more he feels.
Then his parents start cutting all their worldly ties in to prepare for the Rush, the divine moment when the faithful will be whisked off to Heaven…and they want David to do the same. David’s torn. There’s a big difference between living in the moment and giving up his best friend, varsity baseball, and Bailey—especially Bailey—in hope of salvation.
But when he comes home late from prom, and late for the Rush, to find that his parents have vanished, David is in more trouble than he ever could have imagined…
What Others Are Saying:
“THIS SIDE OF SALVATION is impossible to pigeonhole. It’s a mystery, a love story, a tale of friendship, of prejudice, and of a family overcoming tragedy…Jeri Smith-Ready has her finger on the pulse of American youth.” — Printz Honor winner and NYT Bestseller Elizabeth Wein
“This is a frighteningly realistic story that delicately handles the issues of religion and family—an emotional mystery sure to be popular and perfect for discussion.” — VOYA, **Highlighted (Starred) Review**
“[A] smart, well-rounded, and unpredictable tale...bringing to light issues of belief versus free will, spirit versus body, and family versus self—while never being heavy-handed.” Booklist, **Starred Review**
“This book has some of the best written, strongest, and most satisfying character dynamics that I have read in a long time...There are no extreme moral rights and wrongs in this book. These people just are, and they work, and they make this story beautiful.” — Bibliopunkk
Giveaways Galore!
Join the Rush swag fest: free EXCLUSIVE swag for everyone who orders TSOS on or before Monday, April 7.
Superfan contest (March 31 – April 9): share the TSOS characters’ “trading cards” on your social networks to earn points. Biggest Superfan wins the grand prize, but there’s a chance to win a book and a gift card every day you play!
Here's the first day's card, featuring the main character, David Cooper:
Cat blogging meets book birthday!
Meet Misha and Twinkle, the real-life inspiration for the cats of This Side of Salvation, on PulseIt, the official site of Jeri's publisher, Simon Pulse.Order the hardcover:
Order the ebook:
Find Jeri
Visit Jeri's website, or follow her on one of these sites:
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