Monday, May 2, 2011

Random Monday's

When I get into revision mode, I tend to have a one track mind. I don't do anything else. Well, besides taking care of my children and the hubby and you know, personal hygiene, cleaning house, etc. I don't have time for other stuff. Relaxing stuff. Like reading, critiquing for other people, watching a movie. I stress out over getting my revisions finished. Which is stupid, since my agent is so good about everything. He lets me take my time. He never ever rushes me to finish my revisions quickly. In other words, he wants me to make sure everything is as perfect as I can get it before I send it back to him. He knows the stress it can cause, and he doesn't give me a deadline or anything. Which is good for me right now. If I get a book deal or something that will change, and I know that, but for now, I'm taking my time, fixing the little things that need work. I'm making my story shine.

Anyway, as of Saturday night, I'm almost finished with this round of revisions. There may be more, but my book is coming along great and I'm happy I'm making it better.

Now I have a question for you guys. I've always loved reading. YA is my favorite and just about all I read. Since I have a few days that I don't have to revise, I want to read a good book to get me back in the mood to write. And before this weekend, since I'm going to be hanging with some cool writers at Storymakers! I wish everyone could go. I'll miss you all!

So, here is my question. What was one book you recently read that stuck with you? That you would recommend to everyone who loves to read? Any suggestions? Any series you just can't live without? Let me know if you can think of anything. I need a good read!

17 comments:

Michelle Merrill said...

Um, I absolutely love the Poison Study Series and the Sea Glass series that comes after it. Anything by Shannon Hale, Jessica Day George, or Tamora Pierce. Oh and Maria Snyder (Poison study series) also wrote a book called Inside Out that's pretty good. It's dystopian though where the others are fantasy. Let me know if you need anymore suggestions.

David P. King said...

I'd have to answer with Mistborn. That series really spoke to me, touching on topics that I've had to deal with. Good luck with your revisions. :)

Reece said...

Sabriel, by Garth Nix. I has become my absolute favorite book! It caught my imagination from the very first page and still won't let go (I've read it at least 5 times). I'd also recommend Dan Well's John Cleaver series. If I knew which genres you prefer, I could give you a lot more.

By the way, I also know of a lot of good middle grade, if you're interested.

Candice said...

I like David's answer, Mistborn was awesome!! I loved the whole series, one of the best I've ever read. They're really big books though, be prepared. I lost like three weeks of my life on that series.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

@Michelle Merrill I've read Poison Study, but no others in the series. I really liked it. I LOVED Inside Out. SO GOOD! I've read everything Shannon Hale and Jessica Day George have written. They are two of my favorite favorite authors. I've never read Sea Glass! I read a snippet of it and it sounds great! I'll be adding that to my list! :D Never read anything by Tamora Pierce. Looking up books now... (BTW it's no surprise that we like the same authors! ;)


@David Powers King I've been meaning to read the Mistborn series. I've heard from several people that they are amazing. I don't know why I haven't yet! You've convinced me. I'll give it a shot. :)
@Reece Is that the serial killer series? I've been meaning to read those, but I'm pretty sure they would freak me right out! LOL As far as genres go, I love fantasy and dystopian the most. But I do read just about everything. ;) Thanks for your suggestions! I'll add them to my list! I love middle grade as well, so if you have any suggestions I'd love to hear them. Percy Jackson and Fablehaven are some of my favorite series! And Harry Potter, but that's a given. ;)

MTeacress said...

I am enjoying the Dreamhouse Kings series by Robert Liparulo. The first one was a little slow the first half, but I can hardly put them down now.
I also enjoy Maryrose Wood's The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, but that's a middle grade, not a YA. Still, very fun. :)

M.J. Fifield said...

I just finished "Where She Went" by Gayle Forman last month and it was absolutely beautiful.

Maggie Stiefvater's Wolves of Mercy Falls series is really quite good as are her books "Lament" and "Ballad"

Angela Scott said...

I just finished Thirteen Reasons Why and I read it in one day. I loved it. At that time, it was EXACTLY what I needed to get me in the mood to write. It also increased my faith in the YA genre (I'd read three crapper YA books right before this one and worried YA was slipping).

Anyway, good luck on the revisions and do take a moment to relax and read a little

Krista Van Dolzer said...

Chantele, I know EXACTLY what you mean about not being able to concentrate on anything else when you're revising.

Best of luck finishing up your revisions! I hope to finish sometime by the end of the month, but we'll see.

Ruth Josse said...

I'm so jealous that you're going to Storymakers! Maybe next year...

Its not YA, but I loved Gurnsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Fast read.

Shallee said...

For dystopian, I just finished Wither and I really loved it. Another one I absolutely love is Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly. I recommend it to everyone-- it's one of the most amazing books I've ever read. Yay for YA! :)

Colene Murphy said...

Hope you find some good reads! Sabriel, I see it up there already, is one of my fav series. Odd Thomas was really good(not YA though), and the Kim Harrison series (hollows series) is amazing (not YA either...dang lol) Umm...umm...YA has been falling a little short for me lately...If I Stay was wonderful, The Magicians Elephant was adorable!, Bleeding Violet was pretty darn good, A Certain Slant of Light is one of my favs...Good luck!

Susan Kaye Quinn said...

Hopped over from the Ninja linky! I'm drafting my latest WiP now too - good luck with your writing! :)

As for my latest "awesome read" I would have to say White Cat (and I've got Red Glove lined up)!

Chantele Sedgwick said...

@Michelle Teacress I like MG as well! :) Thanks for the suggestions!
@M.J. Fifield I LOVED Shiver! I'll have to read Where She Went. I've heard it's amazing. :)
@Angela Scott I've heard of that one as well. It sounds really good! Thanks for the suggestion! I will take a minute or two to relax as well. ;)
@Krista V. Good luck in finishing yours as well!! :D
@Ruth I hope you can go next year! I hope I can go next year too! LOL :) I've heard that book is amazing too! Geez! So many good recommendations!!
@Shallee I'm a huge fan of dystopian. I loved Wither. It was so good. So different. I've never heard of Revolution. I'm going to look it up now!
@Colene Murphy I have a friend who loves Odd Thomas. :) Holy cow! Thanks for so many recommendations! I'm writing all of these down! :D
@Susan Kaye Quinn Yay for Ninjas! :D I have White Cat on my library's waiting list! There are like a million people ahead of me though. :P Thanks for stopping by! :D

amberargyle said...

I just read Forbidden Seas by Sheila Nielson. SO GOOD. I can't figure out why this book isn't EVERYWHERE.

Have fun at Storymakers. Wish I could be there. :( BTW, do you ever check you twitter messages? Cause I messaged you like a week or two ago.

Chantele Sedgwick said...

@Amber Argyle Thanks for the recommendation! Oh, and I had no idea about twitter messages. Yeah. I'm that cool. E-mailing you now. :)

Patti said...

I'm a little late on the band wagon, but I just finished The Book Thief, Speak and Across the Universe. All very good.