I haven't posted much here (read: at all) for a few reasons.
The biggest being: I don't have much to say.
My life is pretty much the same over and over. I write (sometimes), clean the house, do my nanny duties, check my email 1400 times a day, edit, cook dinner, cram in a Skype call (or two) and pass out. Then, I do it all over. In the midst of that, I've found I don't really have much to say in blog posts.
Writing struggles? Time. What is time? Where does it go? Writer's block? Not really, aside from that show I'd rather watch instead because I am exhausted. Shiny New? No time -- my writing schedule is jam packed full for 2013.
I don't have any edits (yet!) so I can't talk about revising. I'm not working on any of my contracted books (yet! Well, not since we through out book two) so I can't talk about that. I'm writing a new story, but it's going to so amazing that I'd rather write it than talk about writing it on my blog. (I seriously am in love with it. *squeezes it closer*) Nothing bad is happening or good is happening. It's calm, which is much needed break. I'm sure any day now it will be the storm that comes after and you'll all be like "stop posting!"
I've also been noticing this really unsettling trend lately. (Especially on twitter.) Every day there's some new drama and it's really exhausting just trying to avoid all the drama. Do I have opinions on drama? Yes, I do. Lots of opinions. But I hate drama, so me sharing my opinions will only add to it--and that feels counter-productive. Plus, it's all going to make someone else mad, and I don't like making people mad. I grew up with the rule of, "If you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything." And as hard as it is, that's where I am.
So, it's hard to blog. Because I have nothing really going on and the only things people are talking about is drama that I don't want to be part of. It really lessens the topics of conversation.
Whatever you are dealing with, wherever you are are struggling, that THING that seems so out of control....IT WILL ALL BE OKAY.
I'm dealing right now. I have all these emotions, all these balls in the air & I've been sick to my stomach for (literally) 4 days now. I don't know which way is up or where I'm going to go next or anything! It's a little overwhelming. All I want to do is disappear into my make-believe worlds, but thats the one thing I can't do.
Why am I telling you this?
Well, sometimes things take a turn. The plans you have can fall apart. You can get tired. Life throws your curve balls & leaves you exhausted from dodging them all. Your story isn't unfolding like it should & that MC just did something that changes EVERYTHING.
Whatever it is, IT WILL WORK OUT.
I feel like someone else needed to hear this today. Like someone else needed to know he or she or they weren't alone.
It will be okay. Take a breath. Take a break. Take a minute or a night.
That thing you are fretting over: It will be okay.
Prepare for a random post--which is actually about good things! Mostly. I think
You know how sometimes people say really really really NICE things about you and you're not sure what to say? Because I've had that happen a couple times this week and I'm just so speechless by it. Because what do you say without it coming off as, "Why yes, I do know I am awesome!" If anyone thinks of an appropriate response, please share. Sometimes "thank you" doesn't seem like enough.
Despite this one randomly awful day on Wednesday, this week has pretty much rocked for me! I mean, like stupendously. Part of that is because of London and part because of friends and part because things I've been working so hard for are on the brink of becoming something else. Maybe. And I mean, I have awesome friends who have lots of exciting things happening--and excitement is contagious!! (Even when my arm is killing me.)
Did yall see that my girl Carrie Underwood released her new album cover AND single? No??? Well let me share!
She's so pretty.
Her new song is called "Good Girl" and I'm addicted! Here's a sneak peek, but you should (and must!!) go buy it.
Speaking of music anyone else been watching The Voice??? Love that show, yall. Love that show...And I enjoy looking at and listening to Adam Levine. As always. Geesh...so good.
He's so pretty.
I read a really really really REALLY awesome book ---Something Like Normal by Trish Doller. It comes out in June 2012 and it's this really amazing story of a marine who's come back home on leave, back to the life he left behind and how he has to fit again. It's beautifully written and underlined with humor. It has the most amazing male protagonist voice I've ever, ever read. You should check it out.
I am so excited for the final installment of THIS BOOK which comes out on Tuesday while I'm in London! And then Rachel Hawkins comes here and I'm so pumped to meet her. YAY.
Anyway, that's my random Friday morning update. Time seems to be standing still sinceI am London boundin only a few more hours! I don't leave until 9pm so help me pass the time by leaving other fun updates in the comments!!
It's Monday! You know what that means? It means the beginning of another LONG week. More work. More responsibility. More days of doing what other people say. And well, that's so boring.
But today I bring good things! Like....did you see???
*flails*
ALSO, I bring the first ever:
Because it's good to give!!! (AND to receive.) Plus, this guy's excited.
I'm going to giveaway something. What? Well, I have a few things. Here's a list, but I can't tell you what one book you will win--that's what makes it random!
Bronxwood by Coe Booth
Underdogs by Marc Zukas
Shut Out by Kody Keplinger (arc)
Half-Blood by Jennifer Armintrout (arc)
The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler (arc)
How do you win? It's pretty easy. Like TOTALLY easy. And, it's all random. There are three ways you can be entered.
Twitter. Talk up this random giveaway! Mention @FrenzyofNoise and/or #giveawayfrenzy so we can find your tweet and you can get an entry.
Comment on Frenzy. There are some cool things going up this week--and some that were around over the last couple weeks. Leave a comment anywhere on the blog with your email in the comment and be entered.
Get Tangled. If you were around last week, I mentioned that I was starting a writing blog with some friends. This week we have EPIC author interviews/giveaways happening on Tangled Up in Words. This one time only, if you comment there with #giveawayfrenzy/email in the comment, you can get an entry here for one of these books!
That's it! If you do all three you be entered three times.
HAPPY MONDAY. See you....sometime this week with a winner (or more!) Spread the word!
Change is coming. It's a wind blowing through Frenzy of Noise like a tornado. Okay not a tornado. Maybe a soft breeze.
I have found two girls who are going to help out around the blog. I'm really excited about it and you will get to meet them on Wednesday!!! The girls are Hannah-Beth and Nicole. And I know they are going to be a fantastic addition over the next few months. In the meantime, I'm revamping some things around here to make it more friendly for them. It's fun because a new set of sheets is always good.
Since we're going to be changing the way some things are happening....I have questions for you and I really, REALLY need your feedback on some things. So take a second and leave a comment for me with your thoughts. Please??
Do you want a rating system? (I'm thinking of bringing it back!)
What about negative reviews? Do you want us to talk about books we don't like too?
What are some things you'd like to see on the blog? (ie. More author or character interviews, guest posts, more popular memes, more reviews, more posts about what we're reading, new....something!)
And, just an FYI--the blog has it's own Twitter now. It's @FrenzyofNoise. So go check it out and add us there!
That's all I have! So take a second and let me know. Change is coming--and I want it all to be for the better!
The biggest and most important event in history is happening tonight at midnight. At least, in literary and movie history.
I can't even handle it. I will cry and I just know it. I'm so nervous, so excited. It's bittersweet to see the end of an era. For some, it's been 13 years from book 1 to this movie. I'm not even sure how to handle that.
I will always have this amazingly special place in my heart for these three children:
And these three gorgeous adults they turned into. (Sometimes British people age well and beautiful.)
If you are going at midnight, here's a hug from me and a box of tissues. It's going to be emotional. I can't believe the end has come! AHHH. Come back here after you watch it and let me know what you thought.
A beginning.
Have you heard of this little book called Shatter Me?If not let me inform you. Here's the description:
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old-girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Sound awesome? IT IS. It's so completely flooring. Well, the cover was revealed today at Hollywood Crush. It too is just GORGEOUS. I imagined the cover in my head and I never imagined this because it's that good. See? I will wait while you swoon.
Seriously. It's fantastic. I'm sure I'll be talking about it A LOT between now and when it releases in November. Taherah Mafi is uber-talented and so so so sweet. And the best part? You can pre-order it now on Amazon | Indie Bound || Book Depository || B&N Some Things In-between.
1) I just read this book for grad school. And it was FANTASTIC. Just wait, yall. Just. Wait.
2) I am currently drowning in life. Seriously loves. Writing, homework, apartment searching, planning, sleeping, working--ah! It's so much right now. I feel like I'm neglecting you and I am so sorry. I will return next week with fun/highly-anticipated book reviews, a giveaway and an open call for awesome. What's that mean? Just wait and see.
There is so much to tell you lovelies. So much because my life is sort of like this post. Only not as funny.
1) I spent the weekend in the DC area with my CP Christina--who is awesome and wonderful and fantastic. (I already knew that but when you get to meet in person it's 10000x better.) AND my other writing buddy Patricia. We had a fantastic time together. (And I'm doing two secret projects with Patricia. Both are exciting. One involves writing. That's all I can say right now. But yes.)
2) I'm only a nanny for a matter of WEEKS. Weeks. Crazy. Scary. Excited because my brain is about to explode from All The Things. And, lovelies, the end of that means I'm living on couches and in spare beds for a few weeks. I have no idea what happens next so don't ask me!
3) I can not stop singing this song!! (Plus, Adam is hot. Gah. Take me away please.)
4) I met Maggie Stiefvater last week. I'm sorry that I forgot to tell you. She was very sweet.
5) I just read this book. And it was SUPER AWESOME. Anyone else? Go buy it and let's discuss!
6) I'm plotting my WIP. It's exhausting. Never ending. So exciting! I can't wait to write again. It feels like it's been forever. FOREVER.
7) GRAD SCHOOL IS HERE. I start on Friday and don't end until July 2. I'm so excited/nervous/wondering what the heck I was thinking. With that said, I'm in class all day every day. I'll be having some guest posts and some reviews coming up over the nine days. I know you will enjoy what they're all going to contribute and I hope you leave them lots of comment-love.
Aw, I miss you little blog and followers! *hugs* I thought I'd give a random update in a list and with pictures! I like all those things. Here's what May has been for me, aside from work, work, work, work, work, sleep, work, work, work. :)
1) I didn't finish my novel. (yet!!!!) BUT I've made incredible progress thanks to #wordwars on twitter. We're doing them every night this week at 10pm EST if anyone wants to join.
Not THAT kind of #wordwar...the kind where people write for an hour (varies) to see who can write the most amount of words. It's oddly productive and fun.
2) I also consumed all three seasons of Merlin in a week. My life is complete and full. I'm a happy girl. Why did no one tell me about this before?? Now, I'm lamenting in being done and waiting.
3) I'm knee deep (more like ear deep) in preparation for school. So excited! Also, freaked. Also, overwhelmed. Scared. Horrified. Good stuff. CRAZY. I'm petrified. Petrified is a good word. *breathes*
4) I wrote some book reviews! So you can expect those pretty soon. *applauds self* I'm also debating blogging/vlogging from BEA. Thoughts on that lovelies?
5) I love Tumblr. I waste so much time there fangirling over Doctor Who and Merlin. Lovely. Follow me!
6) Susane Colasanti is coming to do a signing at my store on Friday night!! I'm super pumped about meeting her. She writes fun books. :) I'll probably give one away. Speaking of, I need to send out that package from NW giveaway. (Sorry! It's coming I swear! I haven't sent my mom's mother's day/birthday gift yet either so...)
If you're in the area you should come! It's at 4pm. There will be cupcakes!!
7) I'm reading an INCREDIBLE book. Like whoa. WHOA. It's good.
8) Apparently, this month, I've done a really great job at wasting time. Why? Because I made this. If you're a Merlin or Doctor Who fan then you will hopefully like it.
9) HARRY POTTER COMES IN OUT IN LESS THAN 2 MONTHS. That deserves all caps. I can't remember the official count. I was going to say 56 days, but if I'm wrong by best friend will flog me. Well, it's not that she reads this...so in 56-ish days. :)
I love you all. I will return to regularly scheduling blogging momentarily. You know....after....after the beep.....Meanwhile, leave a message and tell me how YOU are.
It was a dark, cold Febuary night when I stumbled into a conversation on Twitter where Victoria and Gail were discussing V's upcoming book--The Near Witch. It's a bit of a blur to me now, but I know a few things. I know Gail said the writing was fantastic. I know I said, "Someone should write a song." (I have no idea why I said that.) I know Victoria said, "I would love that."
And then: "I'll do it!" I tweeted. "I'll write a song! A RAP song." From there it's all a blur. Three hours later--The Near Witch Rap was born. Followed by plans to record it, a group of people to help (self-named The Book Pimps) and a release date. Today, I present this to you and I hide from awesome embarrassment.
Before I show you the video, you should know a few things.
1) The Near Witch is one of the best books I've read. It's creative and beautiful and lyrical and almost all these lines were taken from the text in some way.
2) The Near Witch comes out exactly THREE MONTHS from today!
3) Victoria Schwab is all sorts of talented and I have no doubt that you will enjoy this book, future books and just getting to know her through her career. Seriously. Meet her. And she bakes wonderful cookies.
4) You are totally allowed to laugh, to re-watch and to have this song stuck in your head. All of which you will probably do anyway.
5) Press play now.
I'm not sure what to say. Wow. Feel free to watch it again. Uh....Today is a celebration!!
Today marks the THREE MONTH mark until The Near Witch hits shelves. We think a good way to celebrate is to tell you a little bit about the author. My fellow Book Pimps and I will be hosting a short q&a with Victoria Schwab on each of our blogs. We're also each hosting a giveaway featuring some of Victoria's favorite things! All five of us are giving away DIFFERENT items as well as a signed, first edition ofThe Near Witch.
This is why we're all in hats in the video. V loves this hat.
What's your favorite childhood memory?
I remember frighteningly little from my childhood, which I take to mean it was one of contentment. I say that because the times I DO vividly remember are ones of stress or difficulty. I don't mean to be ambiguous, but it's true. I was a daydreamer, with these big blue eyes my family joked could look through people instead of at them, and so it seems odd to me that so little stuck. Maybe because I was always looking up.
What is the single-most (as of right now) significant turning point in your life?
Since I graduated college in 2009, I've felt so constantly in flux, constantly making decisions that unsettle me, sometimes purposefully (like deciding to road trip around the country for three weeks, or deciding to move to the UK), sometimes by accident. There is no doubt that the biggest change has been getting a book deal. It's changed my writing, my process, and without a doubt, it's changed ME.
What do you have in common with Lexi? What are the biggest differences between you and Lexi? What trait does Lexi have that you'd most like to embody?
I think both Lexi and I have a need to prove ourselves. But I want her strength, her conviction. She KNOWS herself. I feel like there's always a question mark at the end of anything I feel, do, think, want. I covet her conviction.
If you follow Victoria on Twitter, then you know she has an obsession with baby animals, loves Neil Gaiman and baking. For my giveaway, I have this:
A copy of THE GRAVEYARD BOOK by Neil Gaiman
2 bookmarks (baby penguins and a cupcake)
A very soft and very cute plush baby bunny
A signed, first edition copy of THE NEAR WITCH (this will be available from Disney*Hyperion close to the release date in August)
The contest is US/Canada only and ends at 9PM EST on Saturday, May 7th. Click here to enter.
Be sure to stop by all these other blogs to see what everyone else is giving away.
May is almost here. With it comes the realization that I am so far behind. So far behind. With BEA on the cusp, I don't want to be far behind because when I come back I'll be that much more gone. On top of a stack of old book reviews to write, new books to read and netgalley requests, I have the biggest issue: my WIP which sits unfinished at less than 20K.
Fear not friends, I have a plan to fix this. And that plan is May.
May is writing month. I'll have 22 days to finish my WIP. I really want to come back from BEA able to edit and read all the wonderful books that await me. I won't be able to read much this month (despite the stack) as I'm only reading on the T going to/from work. This was a hard decision but I NEED to finish this WIP. It's a need that runs deep and I will not be defeated.
What does that mean for the blog?
It will be filled with more writing/life type posts. Or if I have time to write past reviews/new reviews I will do that. Maybe some quest posts. Maybe some more quiet than I usually like. I'm not really sure what will happen. I do have two EPIC things planned. Tomorrow it's the Cassie Clare/Holly Black event re-cap AND giveaway. May 2: The Sekrit Project reveal.
But for the most part, it will be random. There may even be more random contests like before! Just bare with me. I will be back in June with love, books, reviews, a follower contest and a blogoversary! (WOW!)
Grad school starts in a month and I need books/scenes from books/help! Does anyone have any of these that you'd be willing to send me? If so just leave a comment and I'll send you my address/talk with you about shipping and such. Thanks friends! I have one more class that hasn't posted materials yet. :)
Open Secrets by Alice Munro (need: "A Wilderness Station" )
Later the Same Day by Grace Paley (need: "In This Country, But in Another Language, My Aunt Refuses to
Marry the Men Everyone Wants Her To")
Catch 22 by Joseph Heller (first chapter only)
Zen in the Art of Writing by Bradbury
Stop-Time by Frank Conroy (need: pages 110-117)
The Craft of Writing by William Sloane (need chapter on SCENE)
The Scene Book by Sandra Scofield
The Lemonade War by Jacklyn Davies
Children's picture books:
Whistle for Wilie
The Carrot Seed
Miss Bridie Chose a Shovel
Owl Moon
Kitten's First Full Moon
The Night is Singing
Goodnight Moon
Once upon a time there was a girl named Danielle who only wanted (for a whole year) to go to BEA. The girl named Danielle decided she would go--then she realized how poor she was and that she could, in fact, not go. She was sad. So she withdrew from her hotel and tried to deal. Then she got a new job that paid her a lot more money and the pain and disappointment of not being able to go to BEA became so overwhelming that she cried. A lot. Then, late one evening she decided "I am going. Even if I have to eat Ramen for a month." So she is.
Wasn't that a great story? I've decided to take the plunge and shell out for BEA this year. Coming along with me is Nikki from Wicked Awesome Books. It's the first time for both of us and we are super excited.
The only problem: we have no place to stay. Actually, we have an apartment on hold right now in Brooklyn (only 20 minutes from Jatvis), but we'd love some more roommates to split the cost with. We're looking to spend $200-300 each (but would love to keep the number low!), so if you're interested in rooming with us, please email me at
danielle@frenzyofnoise.net
OR Nikki at
wickedawesomebooks@hotmail.com
If you already have a place for BEA, but you're looking for two more roommates, we'd love to work something out. You can email us at the either email address above. Or find us on Twitter: @daniellebunner@nikkayme The apartment we have on hold is only ours until Tuesday, then it goes back up for grabs.
So if you are looking for roommates, please, please, please email me!
Yall really, really provided with the random things. I'll have to do that more often!! It was fun. :) Thanks for sharing your fun stuff. I'll be sure to do this again!
I put 14 numbers into Random.org and the number was 5.
So, the lucky winner is:
Ren
Everything was awesome. Here are some of the things everyone linked!
1)
I'm off today, which is awesome. You have no idea. And my WIP found itself last week in the midst of a huge hole. After talking through the hole with a couple friends, I've finally got a few ideas about how to make it out of the hole. I'm going to work on that all afternoon while I recover from birthday cake coma.
Plus, I like games. Games are cool. And I need some random to keep me going.
In the comments below, send me a link. It can be a video, a song, a post that you loved from someone else--pretty much whatever you want. (and no, it doesn't have to be funny.) Include your email address! The contest will *end* at midnight on Tuesday. And Wednesday morning I'll use random.org to pick a winner---and you'll win a book!
Also, if you tweet this contest then leave a separate comment with that link. That way when I'm putting in the numbers into random.org, I can just see that I have 15 comments and commenter 7 is the winner. Make sense? It's super easy!
Here are the choices:
Die For Me (arc)
Thirteen Reasons Why
Gemini Bites
Cut
The Girl's Guide to Homelessness (arc)
Angel Burn (arc)
Girl Wonder (arc)
My choice: A secret book not on this list.
If 2011 is going to continue like this, I have no doubt that it will be absolutely awesome! *throws confetti*
For starters, look at my blog! Isn't it just so lovely? The amazing Amy re-designed everything for me--including my header which I'm in love with. She even made those cute buttons in my sidebar so everyone can pass along the noise! I owe a hugely ginormous thank you to Amy for taking the time. I love it! Another thing that will happen in a few weeks will be loosing the blogspot IP address and gaining a .net one. Stay tuned for that.
This is my Nook!!
His name is Tennant Fitzwilliam North. You may call him Fitz or Tenne (pronounced Ten-nay) or Doctor. His name is a mouthful but it took a lot of thinking.
Tennant: as in David Tennant, aka Tenth doctor from Doctor Who. He was my favorite and I think he's brilliant. One of my goals this year is to watch everything he's been in that I can find.
Fitzwilliam: as in Darcy. As in Pride & Prejudice. As in yum.
Last night was epic again because I finished Part One of my WIP! I've been toying with this story since September and really writing since NaNo. It's a three part beast. I wrote Part Two first and have been dying to finish Part One. It felt like it would never happen but now it has! I'm pumped about it. Only thing that's left is Part Three and then I can share with my readers and CP and jump into edit mode! Woo!!!
Now, the big announcement: I'm *almost* at 200 followers! *throws more confetti* It's kind of mind-blowing. I thank each and every one of you because you are awesome! I'm devising a giveaway of awesome to celebrate! After I reach 200, I will let you know all the details once I've figured them out. I promise I will try to make it amazing!
We're only five days in but how was 2011 been for you?
As I promised, I am posting something awesome and random each day for my YA Anniversary!!!! And, in case you didn't hear, Victoria Schwab wrote a book called THE NEAR WITCH.
She got some ARCs a few days ago. I just happened to be in Nashville when she got them (and we had an outing planned--so she brought them along too!) It's a really, really, really beautiful ARC. I held one my hands. I promise it is AWESOME. But you can see for yourself...This was how two ARCS of THE NEAR WITCH spent their first evening on the earth.
This is her spine. (PRETTY!)
This is her in YA.
This is her taking over the dark table!
This is V signing her!
This is V's name! She wrote it! I'm so excited...!!!
I know it may be kind of random to feature someone else's news on my Anniversary Posts of Awesomeness....but I love V. She's one of the people who really encouraged me in the beginning of all this so I'm VERY excited for her. Very. Very! I can't wait to read this. Put it on your TBR list.
First off, I must say that I am excited to host by first book tour this week. It's for Jordan Deen's new book, Half Moon, and it's going to be a fun blogging scavenger hunt. I'll post about it later but you can check out some the details here.
Since the book tour happens on Thursday, the Thirteen Interview will be happening on Wednesday.
And, there's a contest happening....a HUGE one over at YAtakeover. It runs until Sept 7 and you can win a 6 book ARC package. Check that out.
I'm starting to post reviews. The first was Paranormalcy (which comes out tomorrow!) and early next week I'm posting Mockingjay. Be ready.
I also wanted to say that while I am a blogger and I love hosting author interviews, book tours and book reviews, I'm a writer. That is my priority and as much fun as all those other things are, I'm going to talk about writing. Not all the time, but sometimes and the point of my starting this blog was to have a place to post about writing and offer encouragement and journey with other people. And, for myself. I think I've lost sight of that a little.
Starting next week, there are going to be some changes to the way I post on the blog. A couple days that are book related and a couple that are writing related. It's important to find a balance. I hope you will still read and share your thoughts. They are important to me as well. And I love YA. I love everything about it--you do too, or you wouldn't be here.
