Happy Monday and help me decide what book to read next

Today I'm over at Kylie Griffin's blog talking about all sorts of clever author things (okay, so perhaps it's not very clever, but there's definitely a lot of talking going on), so please come by and say hi. And while you're there, make sure you check out Kylie's blog and website. For those who don't know, Kylie is an AMAZING writer, who after winning just about every writing comp going, including the Golden Heart, finally sold her first series last year. She's also a very energetic blogger and her site is FULL of fab interviews and writing information!!!!

In other news, I've been doing loads of reading lately, which has been wonderful! I finally managed to read Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead, which ended just the way I wanted it to--phew!!!!

I've also just finished The Maze Runner by James Dashner, which was insanely good and I've been telling everyone who will listen about it. I also read Matched by Allie Condie, which I enjoyed but it was tempered by the fact that I've only recently read The Giver by Lois Lowry and there were quite a few similarities.

Two other books that I adored is The Laurentine Spy by NZ author, Emily Gee. Seriously, I can't recommend this book enough. Emily is a freaking amazing writer and the story very much put me in the mind of my favorite books of last year -Graceling by Kristin Cashore! And finally, I also read The Sevenfold Spell by Tia Nevitt. This is a Carina Press book and it's definitely NOT a YA, but I absolutely adored it - it's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty - and the writing is riveting.

I've still got an overflowing TBR pile so I need help deciding what to read next. Here are the choices:

Night Star by Alyson Noel
The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
The Passage by Justin Cronin
Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Firelight by Sophie Jordan
The Demon Trappers by Jana Oliver

(there are actually a lot more but these are in my must-read-or-die pile)

Looking forward to hearing your answers!! Oh, and stay tuned because I'm going to be doing my Fairy Bad Day arc competition Very Soon!!! Retweet this button on every post blogger

Whoops...I forgot to blog again

My blogging habits are becoming a bit of a joke lately and the plan to kick off 2011 with more posts hasn't exactly worked yet, but in case you think that my lack of blogging means that I'm not excited about my upcoming release, Fairy Bad Day in June, then you would be oh so wrong, wrong, wrong!

I'll be unveiling my new website soon and as well as putting up the first chapter, I'll be doing an arc comp with the one spare copy of Fairy Bad Day that I have.

In the meantime, here is what a couple of lovely, adorable YA authors have said about Fairy:

Great fairy fun from page one! If Buffy and Harry Potter got together and threw a magical slayer party, it would be the world Amanda Ashby created in Fairy Bad Day. With plenty of laugh-out-loud humor, emotional depth, and cute boy romance, reading this book will guarantee your day is fairy awesome.

~ Tera Lynn Childs, award-winning author of Oh. My. Gods. and Forgive My Fins

"Fairy Bad Day is fairy awesome supernatural slaying fun." -Stacey Jay author of You are So Undead to Me and Undead Much Retweet this button on every post blogger

GCC presents Laurie Faria Stolarz

Still on deadline and still apologizing for lack of blogging, but I will be back soon-I promise and in the meantime I have a real treat for you! Yup, I'm touring Laurie Faria Stolarz who is a long time GCC member and a complete superstar! She's the author of many amazing ya books including the Blue is for Nightmares series, which has sold nearly 750,000 copies around the world!

Her latest book is Deadly Little Games and if you head over to her website, she has a very cool competition running for her readers!


High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games,who can be trusted?


What was the inspiration behind this series?

1) I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.


Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger. I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing main character over the course of several books.


2.) Are you a panster or a plotter and do you find your writing process changes from book to book?

A plotter, for sure. But, even though I use an outline, I still discover things along the way. In my latest draft, though I had an outline, I ended up discovering something 150 pages in, and in turn needed to throw over 80 pages away. I just like knowing certain things up front, i.e. what my character needs/wants, what keeps him from getting it, what he needs to learn to get there, etc., etc.

3.) I'm a quote queen and there's nothing I like more than reading other people's words of wisdom. Do you have a favorite quote that motivates you or sums up the way the you write?

Perseverance is key. I love this quote because it’s true: it took me over 100 rejection letters to sell my first book, which has now sold over 200K copies, been translated into 15 different languages, been on numerous award lists, and been optioned for a TV series.


4.) What's your favorite television series right now? Okay, I know this isn't a writerly question but I'm a very nosy person who has a very large television habit to feed!!!!

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I know, I know, but what can I say. It’s mindless and entertaining, and after working all day, that’s what I needJ.

5.) Everyone has a talent. Mine is being able to discover chocolate no matter where it is hidden in the house. What about you? What is your talent (apart of course from being a fabulous writer!!!!!)

I’m a pretty good cook. Retweet this button on every post blogger

GCC presents Eileen Cook

Welcome to 2011 - in typical Ashby style I thought I'd ring in a few days late! I'm actually right in the middle of a crazy writing deadline (trust me it doesn't go well with sunshine and school holidays!!!). However, I'm dragging myself away from the wip so that I can play with the fabulously funny and wildly talented Eileen Cook and her brand new book The Education of Hailey Kendrick!

I love Eileen and was lucky enough to meet her in passing at the RWA conference a couple of years ago and now all I want to do is be adopted by her because she was so awesome and cool (and she likes Castle so I really think it could work out well!!!)

Anyway, here is the skinny:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

"Hailey may be an A student headed to the Ivy League, but when it comes to taking a chance on life, she’s clueless. She’s also enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read. Yes, it’s chick lit, but of the highest quality—like a gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” --Kirkus starred review (wow, starred reviews aren't exactly easy to come by, which confirms my decision to be adopted by her!!!!)

What was the inspiration behind this book?

The inspiration came in part from coming across a copy of The Scarlett Letter. I’m very interested in how the process of what everyone thinks of us shapes how we view ourselves. If your identity was suddenly taken away- how would you respond?


Are you a panster or a plotter and do you find your writing process changes from book to book?

I am a panster by nature and a plotter by design. Before I published I wrote completely by the seat of my pants. Now that there are editors and deadlines and requests for proposals I find I need to spend more time plotting out before I write. I am a long term believer in there are no short cuts. You either spend the time up front before you start writing or you have more to do in the revision stage. However- if someone ever finds a shortcut be sure let me know.

I'm a quote queen and there's nothing I like more than reading other people's words of wisdom. Do you have a favorite quote that motivates you or sums up the way the you write?

I’m a total quote junkie too! I can think of zillions of favorites, but my current is “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Eleanor Roosevelt. It reminds me that playing it safe all the time doesn’t get you very far.

What's your favorite television series right now? Okay, I know this isn't a writerly question but I'm a very nosy person who has a very large television habit to feed!!!!

Do we have to pick just one favorite? I love Castle (it’s about a writer so I consider it to be research), Mad Men (I watch for the fashion) and my new favorite is The Walking Dead. There is something oddly comforting about zombies. Unlike the rest of life, years of movie watching has educated me about zombies and I know exactly what to expect. I feel strangely well prepared for any possible zombie apocalypse.


Everyone has a talent. Mine is being able to discover chocolate no matter where it is hidden in the house. What about you? What is your secret talent (apart of course from being a fabulous writer!!!!!)

I love to knit. I’m not especially good- they need to be simple sweaters, but I can also make scarves, mittens and socks. Something about the clickety clack of the needles is strangely relaxing to me. If I’m struggling with a book I’ll often sit down with my knitting and see if I can’t shake something free by switching gears. Retweet this button on every post blogger