RETURN TO ME by Justina Chen

Thanks to Joanne Fritz for recommending this book.

 

Title: RETURN TO ME

Author: Justina Chen

Publisher:Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 352

 

Blurb:

Nothing is going as planned for Rebecca Muir. She's weeks away from starting college--at a school chosen specifically to put a few thousand miles of freedom between Reb and her parents. But her dad's last-minute job opportunity has her entire family moving all those miles with her! And then there's the matter of her unexpected, amazing boyfriend, Jackson, who is staying behind on the exact opposite coast.

 

And if that isn't enough to deal with, mere days after moving cross-country, Reb's dad drops shocking, life-changing news. With her mother and brother overwhelmed and confused, Reb is left alone to pick up the pieces of her former life. But how can she do that when everything can change in an instant? How can she trust her "perfect" boyfriend when her own dad let her down? Reb started the year knowing exactly what her future would hold, but now that her world has turned upside down, will she discover what she really wants?

 

 

My take: I really adored this book. The writing is beautiful and the character sucks you in to her world that's spiralling out of control. Reb is trying to find her place down a path she never expected to wander on and I think everyone can relate to it. I also enjoyed that her want in life is to become an architect. It's a profession I haven't seen in teen books before. It's refreshing. The touch of the unknown "magic," so to speak, is fantastic too. Right up my alley. It's following-your-gut type thing brought up a couple of notches. It wasn't over the top and I think it fit into the story well. I would recommend this. A great summer read.

 

Thanks to Amazon.com for the photo and blurb. 

 

 

Have you read this book? Thoughts?

 

Have you read any great books you would like to share?

 

Have a great weekend!!

The Dream

Well, I'm still here. Yep, revising. I swear I'm the slowest person on the planet. That's probably a bad thing to admit, but well, it happens. Anyway, it's times like these where my mind wanders and I start to daydream, not only about my books, but I look at where I want to be. Of course, I have to keep everything in perspective and be happy with where I am now, but I'm also human.

I know we all have that dream. You know the one. Where you get the awesome agent, sign a great book deal, travel all over the country signing, and then maybe a movie deal gets thrown in. Yeah. That one. I do have it now and again, but then I have one that's more realistic. Agent, small book deal, local signings. Then as I continue down my path, let's just say lately, my dream has gotten smaller. I try to focus and push forward, and for the most part it's worked, but there's a tinging like a little bell reminding me that I'm me. Sounds crazy, but all my life I've worked my tail off to get what I want and most of the time it falls short. It's like I'm almost there, but . . . type thing.

In life there is always something--an obstacle. Something that continually blocks you or holds you back. Lately, that's what I've been feeling. And as I look back on my journey, I notice it. Almost to the point where I say, "I get it, I suck."

But I still try to push forward a heavy boulder that insists on shoving me backwards. Every avenue I've pursued comes to a dead end. The thing is I don't know what I'm looking for--a light, a positive notion to say, "yes you are getting there." I know things don't happen overnight and I write what I want to write not "the trend", but it sucks to see the trend coming around and the book that you wrote could be in it except no one wanted it. It's like I missed my chance or I'm running to catch it. Always on the tail end. As for the one I'm writing now, I feel like I'm going to have the same outcome. Don't yell, I need to be positive, I know.

It's all part of the path. Writing isn't easy and I'm certainly not the only person this has happened to. I get that. The whole either suck it up or get out. Totally get it. I'm a fighter and I don't know what I would do without writing. I would be empty.

I guess in the end, it's a moment. A moment where you're not sure where to turn or even what to think. You know where you want to be and where you are, and even the path to get there, but every branch you take snaps before you can get to the other side.

Has this happened to you?

Have a great day!

Insecure Writer's Support Group--Layers

Yep, it's that time again. I can't believe it's May. Whoa. Thanks to the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh for hosting this. Check out the other wonderful participants here.

Yes, I'm still revising. It is forever, but you know how life can be. It gets in the way and then your deadline get pushed and you can't concentrate. It happens. Anyway, that's where I've been. Revising. I need a few days of hours alone, but it's not happening.

Today, I want to talk about layers. Not clothing layers or onion layers, just layers. Although, the whole revising process can be similar. I finally realized when revising to do it in layers. I'm stubborn so it takes me a while to learn. Anyway, I'm talking about going through your manuscript one layer at a time. Let's face it, revising can be overwhelming. Where do you start? And how can you think of everything at once?

Right now, I'm adding scenes. I'm an underwriter so I have to add things. I'm also making sure the sub plots make sense. After this, I will go back through making sure voice is consistent, then I'll check the character arc, then make sure each chapter is moving the story forward, then line edit. See layers. Of course, it doesn't have to be in that order, but you do what's comfortable for you.

This of course feels like it takes forever, but in the end you will have a perfect outfit. Well, perfect is left up to interpretation, let's say, polished.

So, that's where I am and I feel like it'll be forever before I'm through, but I'm hoping it ends soon.

Do you revise in layers?

Have a great day!!

Random things

It's Monday and rainy here so it makes me sleepy, but I have some things to share.

-Dianne Salerni's new release, THE CAGED GRAVES, will be out this month (May 14, 2013). Keep an eye out, it looks and sounds awesome.

Pretty, pretty cover.

-Yes, I'm still revising like crazy. Music is still creating visions of my characters, which I love. I've mentioned this several times. This week I've been really listening to the new Depeche Mode release. Yes, that synth pop band from the 80s. They have been producing music all these years, and they are one of my favorites. Here's the song that will be added to my latest WiP's playlist. It will sit beside Silversun Pickups. Total love.



-I'm feeling more comfortable with my writing process and doing things my way, which feels great and helps with the flow of things.

-I am scared to finish my latest revision because that means I'm closer to handing it to betas and it scares me cause, well, you know. Yes, I still get all nervy inside letting anyone read my stuff, but I know it will only help me improve.

 

See totally random. Plus, it's Monday and I'm sleepy.

What's new with you?

Any new books you are excited about?

Have a great day!!

Simply complex

It's funny how writing can make you feel. I know I've discussed this many times here. It does make me happy. I know I could never quit because the visions and ideas in my head never go away. Um, don't commit me now, you know the feeling. So I know I would have to keep writing so I can appease this issue. I've accepted it may take a while. Yes, other's will surpass me and who may have started after I did. This I'm fine with, which is quite freeing, if I do say so myself.

What's happening now is still the fear of never getting there. Yes, this is common. Yes, I've improved, slowly, which is another story, but let's face it, I can't compare to anything so improvement is really left up to interpretation. I guess my problem is why I keep picking the most complicated things to write. Why can't I keep it simple? Why do I have to continually over challenge myself with complex characters and plots? This is what's frustrating. I can't keep things simple in anything I do. The first novel I finished I did it from two, yes, two POVs (a girl and a boy), why? I hope to one day come back to it, but why can't I just write at the level I'm ready for now.

So, for my current manuscript, I'm writing a character inside another character. Seriously, I'm insane. You would think since I didn't really get far with the other two novels that are complex, I'm not with this. I'm trying to stay positive, reminding myself there are reasons for this and this will make me stronger, but there are times when I wonder if I really am. Have I become a stronger writer? Have I made progress? Will any story I write be simple?

I'm not sure of the answers, yet. Hopefully, one day I will. Even though it's frustrating, I have to accept it, because to stop writing would be like never eating chocolate again. Okay, it would be more than that, more like a piece of my heart would be missing.

So what are your thoughts? Do you write things that are super complex? How do you solve this issue?

Have a great day!!

Good old music

I'm on a roll this week. Two posts, look out. :)

As you all know, music is vital to my writing. Certain songs will entice movie-like scenes to appear in my head that usually spark a story. So, I have playlists for every story/manuscript I've written. And it's not one or two songs, it's a lot, we're talking soundtrack.

Over the weekend, I heard a song from my playlist for the first novel that I ever finished. I could see it as clear as day (don't think I'm crazy). I still love that manuscript. Sure, it was my first and all that, but when I see it in my head, I feel it again. It's a book that I shelved and one that I intend to dust off and look at again, one day.

In a way, this thought makes me feel happy cause I'm proud of it and the characters spoke very clearly to me. I know, I'm sounding crazy again. Wait, you're writers so you know what I mean. It's that giddy like feeling where a smile spreads on your face and comfort warms your heart. Okay, I'm getting mushy. First novels have a way to make you feel this way. Because they are your first and it was an exciting adventure. Some people have told me this and it's true, but my first novel is buried in me. It keeps holding on and reminds me of what it could be one day. Yes, I thought about this over the weekend because one song from this book's soundtrack played on the radio. Sigh.

But other things need to be finished before I can revisit the past. I'm focused on my latest manuscript and can't wait to finish this revision. The soundtrack is awesome, if I do say so myself. As soon as I put on the songs, things fall into place and it feels pretty good. *fingers crossed* Yes, I'm still scared to death for anyone to read it. It's that whole everything-I-write-is-crap mentality and the little bug called doubt except I'm starting to learn how to harness the little sucker. I'm getting there.


Working on anything new?

What sparks your muse?

Have a great day!!

Go deeper

I enjoy writing from first person. I don't know why, it's one of those natural things.  I guess, I like becoming the character--getting inside their head and living through them just for a moment is amazing. Writing from this POV isn't the easiest. I'm not saying other POVs are not. Trust me, I don't feel comfortable writing in 3rd and I'm not sure if I could. Not that I wouldn't try, it just doesn't feel natural to me.

Let's face it, writing a novel is like swimming in the sea. Everything can seem overwhelming and scary. We may not know what direction to go when we are on the surface. The story is there, rippling and sparkling in the sunlight, but something is needed. Something that needs to take the reader to another level. When writing any character, I have to take a step back and look at the overall picture. That's when I usually ask myself, "Can I go deeper?" Think about it. If you're in a wide mass of water, you want to know what's beneath, right? Okay, maybe not, the whole JAWS thing, but if you did you'd know what you're dealing with and how to get out. You learn more and it brings your knowledge of the sea to another level.

What? What do you mean? You ask. Can I go deeper into this character's mind? Do I need to pull out more emotion from this character? Would the character react the way I have them react? What is in their head and what are they thinking?

Creating some, if not all of this, will suck the reader in, making them feel, making them care, and really want to know more. Because they'll be invested emotionally. It'll let your character have a stronger voice and make them real. Okay, you know what I mean, not real . . .real. Just real. It's Monday, so give me a break, my brain doesn't function too well in the morning.

My point: As you travel through your revisions, step back, then step into your character's head. Be them. Yes, step inside their skin. Think if you can go deeper into their mind than you have. Ask yourself questions that can take you there. Put yourself in your character's shoes and try to think they way they do. You'll create a character that will allow the reader to be them instead of a character that's just telling the story.

So, do you get into your character's head?

Does anyone want to add their methods or have any craft books they would like to add?

What are your favorite book that you felt emotionally attached to the character?

I bet you wanna go for a swim now, right? Yeah, I have beach on the brain.

Have a great day!