The Coffee Shop - JULY

[Mark.W.Carson]

I only know how to make a few things (I'm not Indian, and only started eating Indian food a few years ago, but yes, good Indian food is something that I must have on occasion). If you want the recipes, give me a shout.

I ended up reading Wild Talents. I wasn't aware, at the time, that it was self published, and was pleasantly surprised with the book (found a few gross errors in formatting, but apparently, that is not that uncommon).

Overall, it was good. The character interaction was clever and believable. I had also downloaded a book called Soulkeeper, which was highly regarded, but I could not get through the first few pages. Wild Talents, however, hooked me early on, had a nice suspenseful middle, but dropped the ball at the ending.

[writersink]

I only know how to make a few things (I'm not Indian, and only started eating Indian food a few years ago, but yes, good Indian food is something that I must have on occasion).

I'm Indian (but I can't cook bacon let alone a full dinner of any sorts.) For some reason I love Chinese and Italian (not at the same time .)

[Mark.W.Carson]

This just shows we need a recipe section on this website. Books and food seem to go together like... a donut and a book... crap. Someone come at me with an analogy that doesn't involve food and books. Meanwhile, I am going to perfect an edible book made of bacon...

[LizV]

Like paper and curry stains?

Or was that not the analogy you wanted?

[dios4vida]

This just shows we need a recipe section on this website. Books and food seem to go together like... a donut and a book... crap. Someone come at me with an analogy that doesn't involve food and books. Meanwhile, I am going to perfect an edible book made of bacon...

Well, I can give you "like a book and a blanket" or "a book on a cloudy day" or "a book and a purring cat" (put those three together and you pretty much have my ideal afternoon) but that's only because I had to push away my first answer - "like a book and a cup of tea." It really does seem like we have a bunch of foodies here. (cheekychook, I'm looking at you and your cakes that make me drool just looking at them!!)

On another note: TWO. MORE. CHAPTERS. Of course, the two chapters I have left are the climatic battle and the mental turning point for my protag (aka the Evil Chapter 36). But after all this time, just two more chapters to go!! Must...finish...

[Mark.W.Carson]

Brenda,

Those are the ones I do best. The ones I suck at are along the lines of "Oh, you need some transitional stuff... nice... six weeks for 2000 words"

[dios4vida]

ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO.

I'm dying. Can it really be true? Can I actually be looking at the end of this book (draft - next it goes to the critique partner for an edit) right around the corner?? Oh, please please please let it be true!!

Buckle down. Get some tea. And some M&M's left over from camp (yay!). Butt in chair. Write. Finish the bleepin' book.

[ladymarella]

I reached two big milestones with my first novel this week.
I draft on paper, and then type up. Firstly I finished all the paper drafts of my novel, all they need is to be typed up, and the first draft is complete.
And then, the next night, when typing up my drafts I reached 100,000 words.

[dios4vida]

I'M DONE!! I'M DONE!!! DonedonedonedoneDONE!!

<happy dance>

[Mark.W.Carson]

Congrats Brenda,

and BLARGH. I can't find a decent YA book that doesn't read like "Textbook paranormal girl who doesn't want to be noticed finds AMAZING BEAUTIFUL BOY"

[Sommer Leigh]

Congrats Brenda,

and BLARGH. I can't find a decent YA book that doesn't read like "Textbook paranormal girl who doesn't want to be noticed finds AMAZING BEAUTIFUL BOY"

While this is probably very true, remember that you are not the primary audience for these books.


OK I finally sat down and skimmed my books looking for something you might enjoy. I maybe picked more than you were looking for, but I broke them down into general categories. I've read all these and loved them all or I wouldn't recommend them.

Male protag, contemporary setting, non-supernatural/fantasy:
Anything by John Green. My fave is Looking for Alaska, but they are all good.

Male protag, contemporary setting, supernatural/fantasy:
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan (This series is one of my favorites. Book 2 and 3 are narrated by female characters though)
The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell
White Cat by Holly Black (#2 is Red Glove and #3 is Black Heart. All awesome)
How I Stole Johnny Depp's Alien Girlfriend by Gary Ghislain (I KNOW this sounds ridiculous, but it's by far the most fun I've ever had reading a book. The writer is a genius.)

Female protag but gender neutral story, Contemporary, non-supernatural, beautifully written, sometimes heartbreaking, also a lot of fun:
How to Say Goodbye in Robot by Natalie Standiford

Female protag but gender neutral, contemporary, supernatural, girls being hardcore and kickass:
Sisters Red by Jackson Pierce
Feed by Mira Grant (this one has zombies, but it's more political thriller than horror. It's sort of The West Wing meets Hackers and also there are pockets of America infested with zombies)
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Female protag and male protag, future, non supernatural/fantasy:
Legend by Marie Lu

Female protag and male protag, vaguely contemporary (covers many years), fantasy, cool magic system, gorgeous writing:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Female protag, fantasy setting, very interesting magic system, girl geing hardcore and kickass:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Finally - the Leviathan series by Scott Westerfeld and the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. He's the greatest YA author of our time, in my opinion. I think he's even better than John Green. Leviathan has both female and male protag, is set in a diesel punk past during World War I, it's sort of like realistic fantasy. The Uglies series is set very far into the future and is a true dystopian. Both are fantastic storytelling.

Most of these have some romance in them (for example Leviathan and Rise of Renegade X has hardly any while The Night Circus is a love story but extremely non-traditional in it's telling.) None of the women in any of these stories make romance their priority.

[Mark.W.Carson]

Wow,

Quite thorough. I realize I am not the intended audience, but the "SAMENESS" of it really seems to be such a drag. They are the same story but the names are changed. I will, however, look at the list you sent and see if I can find something I like.

However, this now makes me wonder how my story would do in a sea of books like this.

[Sommer Leigh]

Wow,

Quite thorough. I realize I am not the intended audience, but the "SAMENESS" of it really seems to be such a drag. They are the same story but the names are changed. I will, however, look at the list you sent and see if I can find something I like.

However, this now makes me wonder how my story would do in a sea of books like this.

Well, there are lots of unique books out there, but the ones you see that are very much the "Same" story over and over again are still quite popular with teen girls. They want more of what they like.

[Mark.W.Carson]

I'll have to figure out a good time to bug you about your thoughts on my story in more depth some time, then.

[Sommer Leigh]

I'll have to figure out a good time to bug you about your thoughts on my story in more depth some time, then.

Any time!