IWSG, February

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for a monthly meeting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! In the words of the creator of IWSG, and our fearless leader, Alex J. Cavanaugh now is "time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs."

His wonderful co-hosts today are Gwen Gardner, Dolorah, Sarah Foster, and M. Pax! Big thank to them and Alex!

 

What are my insecurities this month? Well, I just started querying again. . . Enough said.

 

So for anyone else in the querying boat,

 

 

here are some words of inspiration from people who know more than me. :)

Run for the Roses

Run for the Roses, which was published back in 2013 by Swoon Romance, is one of three sports themed YAs featured on USA Today's HEA blog today! Which is pretty exciting for me. :)

It's kind of funny because I am so not a sports girl in most ways. (I cannon catch, and I cannot throw.) But I've been showing horses for over twenty years. It's nice to see someone acknowledge it as a sport! It definitely is one, now matter what my husband says. ;-)

Books for 2015

I have a giant TBR list. Every time I finish a book I am filled with a mixture of excitement and stress over having to pick which book I'll read next. I just want to read them all right now!

Here are some of the books I'm most looking forward to in 2015.

First, a list of books that are already out, but I haven't read yet and will this year.

(These are all books I already own and am eager to get to:)


See You at Harry's, by Jo Knowles. I'm a big fan of Jo Knowles's YA novels, and have been really looking forward to reading this MG by her. It sounds wonderful. I was super excited to get it for Christmas. :)










Damsel Distressed, by Kelsey Macke. I've been wanting to read this one since I read Macke's blog post about the music tie in. (For one, because I'm working on a story with a music tie in myself.) Plus, I love a good retelling and this one sounds really fun.









The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, by Michelle Hodkin. Okay, I know I'm super behind here. Everyone's been telling me how amazing this series is and I will finally be finding out soon. :)











Books that come out in 2015:

Made You Up, by Francesca Zappia. Not going to lie, the first thing to draw me in here was the cover. I mean, it's gorgeous, come on. But the story sounds amazing as well and I'm looking forward to it coming out.










Mosquitoland, by David Arnold. I've heard so many great things about this book already. How could I not want to read about a character who describes herself as, "a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange."









 George, by Alex Gino. A transgender kid who's into theater? Count me in! This story sounds so unique, I'm super excited to read it! Plus, how cute is she peeking out of the O? :)










When You Leave, by Monica Ropal. Her new boyfriend is murdered and her best friend is a suspect. Who can she trust? This just sounds so good. I've been waiting on this one for a while and it finally comes out this year!










There are many, many more I hope to read in2015, but these are ones that will for sure make the cut. :)

How about you, what books are you looking forward to this year?

Cover Reveal: BRING THE RAIN

 I'm excited to be able to reveal to you the cover for

Lizzy Charles's newest YA novel, BRING THE RAIN.

It's gorgeous! (And the book sounds great too!)

Four lucky readers will win an ARC of BRING THE RAIN!

 

Lizzy Charles

Young Adult

Coming February 17, 2015

Synopsis

  One summer to make the choice of a lifetime…   Everything is waiting in Paris for Autumn—her new home, her mom, the Louvre, and a life where she can experience art, and not just look at it. But to get there, she'll have to survive the summer in the least colorful place she can imagine — her father's Oklahoma cattle ranch   Autumn finds the perfect summer distraction in Colt, the one cowboy hotter than the July sun. But Colt is her father's ranch hand, and he won’t go for the Manhattan-style fling that she's used to. The closer they become, the more she questions which side of the ocean she belongs.     Then her father reveals an unforgivable secret, and Autumn’s illusions shatter. Will the secret destroy everything? Or could Oklahoma hold the greatest masterpiece of all—a love that could mend her heart?  

 

Don't forget to add it to your TBR list on Goodreads!

 

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other books by Lizzy Charles

Available NOW!

Effortless With You

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1GgZN38

Perfectly Messy

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Ccwuup

 

Author Bio

When Lizzy Charles isn't scrambling to raise her two spunky toddlers or caring for premature and sick babies as a neonatal intensive care nurse, she's in a quiet corner writing or snuggled up with a novel and a few squares of dark chocolate. She married her high school sweetheart, a heart-melting musician, so it's no surprise she's fallen in love with writing contemporary YA romance novels.

Connect With Lizzy

Facebook: http://on.fb.me/17Y39bO

Twitter: @LizzyCharles_

Website: http://www.lizzycharles.com/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7149579.Lizzy_Charles

Email: LizzyCharlesScribbles@gmail.com

Subscribe to her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bb

Books I Loved in 2014

I've seen a lot of posts out there sharing favorite reads from the last year, and decided it would be fun to look back over the books I read last year and share some of my favorites.

I've decided to divide up my favorites from different age groups.

In Middle Grade:

Lulu and the Brontosaurus, and Lulu Walks the Dogs, by Judith Viorst. Both of these books were fun, and charming. Exactly what you'd expect from Viorst. :)











 The Girl Who Walked on Air, by Emma Carroll. This was the first book I've read by Carroll, but I will definitely read more by her. The main character, Louie, was spunky and fun and loved watching her as she reached for her dream and solved mysteries about her past.










In Young Adult: (I have the most here, because it's what I read the most of.)

 The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, by E. Lockhart. I wanted to read this after reading We Were Liars, also by Lockhart. While We Were Liars was pretty awesome, Frankie's story was just so unique. I was fascinated by the story, and by Frankie herself.








 Stronger Than You Know, by Jolene Perry. This was such a lovely story of hope and healing. I loved being able to see how Joy was able to grow and thrive after an incredibly painful childhood.









 How to Seduce a Band Geek, by Cassie Mae. Cassie Mae never disappoints, but this is one of my favorites of hers. Sierra was such a fun character. She's a brilliant juxtaposition of confidence and doubt.










 Dreams of Gods and Monsters, by Laini Taylor. Taylor is such a beautiful, amazing writer. I was really looking forward to the last book in this trilogy, and it was wonderful. Really. It was all I could have asked for to conclude an amazing series.











In Adult:

 Love and Cupcakes, by Susan Crispell. This book had everything I love about magical realism. It was fun, whimsical, and filled with romance and food.











 Landline, by Rainbow Rowell. Rowell has become one of my very favorite authors. She's funny, and her characters are so very real. I loved this book so much. I tell pretty much everyone I know that they should read it.










And that's it! I read a bunch of other great books in 2014, too, but couldn't possibly list them all. Next week I'll share some of the books I'm looking forward to in 2015.

What were some of your favorites from the past year?

IWSG: Blogging

It's the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's Insecure Writers Support Group day. A time for writers to band together and share our insecurities, and our hopes and encouragement for each other.

IWSG was founded by the amazing Alex J. Cavanaugh, who is cohosting this month along with Elizabeth Seckman, Lisa Buie-Collard, Chrys Fey, and Michelle Wallace!. Big thanks to all this month's hosts!


I'm a sucky blogger. I'm sorry. I didn't make a conscious decision to stop blogging, it just sort of happened. Between writing, revisions, four kids, and other real world stuff to do (like laundry. Why is there always so much laundry?) I just sort of lost my blogging time.

And I miss it. I miss my bloggy friends. I still tell people who are just starting out writing, and asking for advice, to go out and blog and meet all the amazing people out there. The writing community is fantastic and I love you guys. I owe a LOT to you guys. My writing would still be at a standstill without all the things I learned through reading other people's blogs.

So this year I want to try and get back to blogging. Even if it's only a couple times a month, I want to really try and reconnect with all of you. (Some of you I get to see on FB still, but it's not the same!)

So wish me luck! :)

Oh! I guess we were supposed to introduce ourselves this month. Hi! I'm Rachel. I'm married with four little kids, I coach HS speech and theater, show Arabian horses, and write YA contemporary. :)

IWSG: December

I had this post written and somehow forgot it was Wednesday until right now! In my defense, it's been a busy day. One kid with a Christmas concert, and a sick kid too. :( Anyway, onto the post!

Hello bloggers! I've missed you! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Christmas will be here before we know it and I've been busy shopping and wrapping presents. :) I love this holiday. I love getting gifts for people.

Today is the first Wednesday of the month, and that means it's Insecure Writer's Support Day! If you aren't familiar with the IWSG, go check it out here. It's an amazing group created by Alex J. Cavanaugh where writers band together once a month to support and encourage each other. So big, big thanks to Alex and his awesome co-hosts, Heather Gardner, T. Drecker from Kidbits, Eva E. Solar at Lilicasplace, and Patsy Collins! 


I am currently working away at revisions on my YA WIP. When I open up the document I get all motivated and work away at it. The problem is getting me to open it. And I don't think the issue is a lack of motivation. It's a fear of it still not being good enough, even after I polish up.

Don't get me wrong, I love the story. I love the characters. But it's been awhile since I queried something, and the thought of getting back to that scares me. It's daunting. It's depressing. It's filled with highs and lows.

But it has to be done, right? And I know it'll be fine. I've lived through rejections before, and I've heard yes before too. So why I'm freaking out this time more than others, I don't know. Maybe it's just the part of the roller coaster I'm in at the moment. I know we all go through our own highs and lows.

So, I'll keep revising, keep forcing myself to open up my WIP, and keep working away. It's the only way to move forward, and I'm not ready to stand still.