Monday, May 20, 2013

Check out my new blog home!

moving truck photo: moving truck moving_truck1.jpg

This will probably be the last post I do here. I love each and every one of my followers and I would be absoultely thrilled if you followed me at my new address: http://dianamlong.wordpress.com. I made this move because I really like Wordpress's format a lot better and I think it will benefit me more in the future. Hope to see you all there!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Dealing with 'Writer's Block'

As I struggled to decide what I should post about, I had a brilliant idea of writing about what to do when you can’t write! All of us at some point or another have frozen with our fingers curled over the keyboard, twitching this way and that, trying to decide which combination of letters, numbers, and/or punctuation to punch in. The common term for this is ‘writer’s block’. For some it can last minutes, others days, weeks, months, etc. I decided to hit the dictionary to see what the how writer’s block is described. Here’s what I found:
*Merriam-Webster.com

writer’s block
noun
Definition of WRITER’S BLOCK
: a psychological inhibition preventing a writer from proceeding with a piece
First Known Use of WRITER’S BLOCK
1950
So, pretty much it’s all in our heads. It’s like there’s some evil witch in our head that closes the door to the world that is trying to make its way out of us. It’s the evil witch that locks Rapunzel up in the tower and refuses to let us rescue her. Why does this happen? What are we to do?
Sometimes I lose perspective on a story if I’m concentrating on it too much. I need to step back and take a break. I need to let the evil witch let her guard down while I get juiced up and can break through her wall of thorns surrounding the castle.
Other times, the evil witch will drop you on the outside of a maze with the castle in the middle. Your story starts flowing as you go through the twists and turns. Then you face plant into a dead in. Do you give up? Heck no! You go back and see where you/your story took a wrong turn and try a different approach.
You keep going and going, until you get to the end and save Rapunzel. Or, in my case, some super sexy guy with a few tattoos that was only kept from me because of… Whoa, sorry. Got caught up in the moment there. You get the point. Don’t let writer’s block kick your butt, kick back and eventually you’ll get through.
 
*Don't forget to follow me at my new address: http://www.dianamlong.wordpress.com
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Friday, April 19, 2013

Fun Friday #1

I often received inspiration from my family that I think, "hmm...how can I work this into writing/reading?". In honor of them, I've decided to start Fun Fridays. It will be exactly what it says: 'fun' and on 'Fridays'.

This first post is thanks to my baby sister, Laura.
Like me, she's addicted to reading. While reading a paranormal book that involved a girl finding out that her boyfriend was a werewolf, she scoffed at the girl's reaction and said:
"If I found out my boyfriend was a werewolf, my first thought would be, 'Crap! How many times have they smelled or heard my silent farts? Or heard my belly gurgle while I'm digesting?'."
Yes, guys, she is single. And 19, so she's legal. If you're interested, leave an email in the comments and I'll send you her number. ;)
So, for my first Fun Friday, here's your question:
 
What would your first reaction be if you found out your boyfriend/girlfriend was a werewolf?
 
*Don't forget to follow my new blog. The link is over here. ====>

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Character Names

Coming up with names for your characters is important. Click here to go to my new blog where I'm discussing different things you should take into account when naming your characters, as well as linking to my favorite sites.

Monday, April 15, 2013

Fictional Boyfriends

Everyone has one. Or two. Or twenty. Whatever your number is, join the club. This post was sparked by a pretty sweet facebook page I found the other day called A Book Whore’s Obsession. What the two moderators do, is find pictures of super hot guys and pair them with their super hot literary doppelgangers. It’s all in good fun, you may agree with who they pick, you may disagree. Either way, there’s drool-worthy guys and drool-worthy quotes to go with them.
Alright, time to lay the cards on the table. Who is your favorite literary crush? I’ll go first. Mine is Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. I was in love/lust with him waaaaay before the TV show came out. I loved his bad boy persona and sexy attitude. When Ian Somerhalder was chosen to play him on the TV show, my obsession started all over again.

photo credit: Rico Predador via photopin cc

This is a writing blog, so let’s tie this into writing. When writing about your lead hero, how do you make him swoon worthy enough to become somebody’s next fictional boyfriend? Do you make him sweet and caring? Sexy and tormented by his past? Chiseled abs and a brain to match? I personally prefer my literary hunks to be bad boys with some sort of issue that the heroine needs to help him get past. (Think TVD, 50 Shades, Strength) How about you?

*Don't forget to check the sidebar =====> for the link to my new blog!!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

My Favorite Quote


There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. - Maya Angelou

I love this quote. It's even the screen saver on my desktop. Those who aren't writers probably won't understand the truth behind this statement. Those of us who are... well, you know what I'm talking about.

A story may start off as something small; a dream, a commercial you saw on tv, a pin on Pinterest. Then it slowly begins to build and build, until it's a whirling tornado of a whole other world inside of you, begging to get out. It occupies your mind during lunch meetings, while you're doing the dishes, while you sleep. It keeps crawling its way to the front of your subconcious until you finally give and pour your soul out on paper.

You get so enthralled in the demands of your characters, their problems, their joys. They won't stop hounding you until you've given them closure. They want the world to know what they're going through and you're the only one who can translate for them.

What's your favorite quote?

*Don't forget to follow me at my new address! I will no longer be posting on this one beginning May 18, 2013!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

I'm moving! Blogs, that is...

Blogger or WordPress? The biggest decision in every new blogger's life. At first I started out with blogger (obviously), but the more I looked at blogs using WordPress, the more I liked the clean lines and set up. After researching about the pros and cons of both, I've decided to go to WP. It's definitely different than Blogger, but still pretty easy to navigate, especially with the power of Google at my fingertips. I wish there was a way to just transfer all of my sweet followers over, but I'm stumped. If you know a way, let me know. For now, I'm just going to double post here and at my new WP blog for a while and leave the link to WP for you to follow over there. I appologize for the inconvenience, but I hope to see you all over there!

http://dianamlong.wordpress.com

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

I have some exciting news!

Hey all! I'm back once again. How has everyone been? No, really, I'd love to hear. That's what the comment section is for. I've posted before about how much I love the blossoming New adult category and my favorite go-to blog for all things related to it. (NA Alley, just in case some of you forgot.) Mid-January, the girls posted that they'd be sadly losing one of their members, but they were looking for a couple of new ones. They wanted to find a new contributor to the blog and a coordinator for their social media. Since you and I both know that my ability to be consistent with blogging is a complete work in progress, I applied to the coordinator position. After a few weeks, they said they would make a decision by March 22. Pushing it to the back of my mind so I wasn't constantly obsessing about it the next few weeks, I had almost forgotten about it until Monday. It was my anniversary (7 wonderful years if you wanted to know), and I was checking my email. There was an email from NA Alley and I saw a 'congratulations' in the first few teaser sentances my phone shows. I clicked on it and saw that I had been picked for coordinator. I showed it to my husband and did a little happy dance around the kitchen. I had to keep it a secret for two whole days! Well, one and a half, technically. You can see my little bio and picture proving I'm not making all this up here. They ended up choosing two new contributors, a coordinator (me!), and a librarian. Go check us new people out! New Adult is awesome!

Friday, March 8, 2013

It's finally here! STRENGTH by Carrie Butler

As of March 7, 2013, Carrie Butler's New Adult novel Strength is available for anyone and everyone to buy! I highly suggest you do. Why? Well, check out my review here. Here's all the information about Strength and Carrie and were you can find both of them.

 
    Title: Strength
Series: Mark of Nexus – Book 1
Publisher: Sapphire Star Publishing    Category: New Adult (NA) Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR) Release Date: March 07, 2013
Available at: Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, Nook, Sony Reader Store, iTunes Bookstore, Kobo, Diesel, and Baker & Taylor.


About STRENGTH
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period. Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few minor setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety… Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family. They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.
Book Trailer
 
About the Author:
 Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.
  
Where to find Carrie:
WEBSITE  |  BLOG  |  PUBLISHER  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  GOODREADS  |  GOOGLE+
Where to find Strength:

 



Monday, March 4, 2013

Book Review: Ever by Jessa Russo

Ever (Ever, #1)


Seventeen-year-old Ever’s love life has been on hold for the past two years. She’s secretly in love with her best friend Frankie, and he’s completely oblivious.

Of course, it doesn't help that he’s dead, and waking up to his ghost every day has made moving on nearly impossible.

Frustrated and desperate for something real, Ever finds herself falling for her hot new neighbor Toby. His relaxed confidence is irresistible, and not just Ever knows it. But falling for Toby comes with a price that throws Ever’s life into a whirlwind of chaos and drama. More than hearts are on the line, and more than Ever will suffer.

Some girls lose their hearts to love.

Some girls lose their minds.

Ever Van Ruysdael could lose her soul.


My Thoughts:

I loved how Jenna Russo portrayed Ever. She's sweet, innocent, and slightly insecure, but her insecurities didn't rule her life. She acknowledged them, but seemed okay with them at the same time. Her best friend always wore pink, so I couldn't help but love her! Toby, the sexy, older, bad boy had a sweet and mysterious side to round him out. The one main character I had a hard time really liking was Frankie, the ghostly love of Ever's life. He seemed sweet and I can understand her having a hard time letting go of him since he never really left, but I was on Team Toby the whole way. The bomb dropped at the end was awesome! I love being totally shocked at the end of a story. Can't wait for the next installment of Ever's story!



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Cover Reveal: Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert

 
Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness.

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.

To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.
 
Release Date: April 9, 2013
Cover Design: Okay Creations
 
 
 
Juliana Haygert
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in Connecticut and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
 
Website     Goodreads     Facebook     Twitter
 

Monday, February 4, 2013

Cover Reveal: The Space Between by Vitctoria H. Smith

*I appologize for the late post of this lovely New Adult cover. The flu hit our house and hit me the hardest! Lovely cover Victoria, can't wait until April 2!
 
 
 
When Drake started the night at his father’s campaign fundraiser, he never imagined he’d end it being conned into buying drugs on the West Side. Losing high-stakes poker has its consequences, but he’d repeatedly face them just to hear Lacey Douglas sing. Drake sees Lacey light up the stage, and he has to have her. But his intentions for being on her side of town turn out to be the reason he can’t.
Chicago native Lacey has dreams of the opera, but life has its obstacles. Lacey has come to know her hardships as part of living in the real world and accepts them fully. When Lacey meets the intense and invigorating Drake, a fire is lit inside her, unleashing those dreams again.
Two paths that should have never crossed prove to create the exact pairing the other needs. But when their worlds take time to catch up, everything they have is tested. Finding the space between the two sides that challenge them will be hard, but it’s the only place that will keep them together.
 
Title: The Space Between
Author: Victoria H. Smith
Expected release date: April 2, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Cover Designer: Okay Creations
Cover reveal organized by: AToMR Tours
 
 
 

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.
 
In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes.
 
Author Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Monday, January 21, 2013

Cover Reveal & Give Away: Blurred by Tara Fuller



 

Cash is haunted by things. Hungry, hollow things. They only leave him alone when Anaya, Heaven’s beautiful reaper, is around. Cash has always been good with girls, but Anaya isn’t like the others. She’s dead. And with his deteriorating health, Cash might soon be as well.
Anaya never breaks the rules, but the night of the fire she recognized part of Cash’s soul—and doomed him to something worse than death. Cash’s soul now resides in an expired body, making him a shadow walker—a rare, coveted being that can walk between worlds. A being creatures of the underworld would do anything to get their hands on.
The lines between life and death are blurring, and Anaya and Cash find themselves falling helplessly over the edge. Trapped in a world where the living don’t belong, can Cash make it out alive?
 
 
 
About the Author:
 
  author pic 2.jpg
 

Tara Fuller writes novels. Some about grim reapers​. Some about witches. All of course are delightfully full of teen angst and kissing. Tara grew up in a one stop light town in Oklahoma where once upon a time she stayed up with a flash light reading RL Stine novels and only dreamed of becoming a writer. She has a slight obsession with music and a shameless addiction for zombie fiction, Mystery Science Theater, and black and white mochas. Tara no longer lives in a one stop light town. Now she lives with her family in a slightly larger town in North  Carolina where they have at least three stoplights.



Want to be one of the first people to read Tara's newest installment in the Kissed by Death series? Enter to win an ARC of Blurred! *ARC's are not ready yet, but as soon as they are, the winner will receive one.
 
 


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday, January 17, 2013

Calling all bloggers and book reviewers!

Do you blog?
Do you like to review books?
Do you feel super duper special reading and reviewing books before they release?

If you answered 'yes' to all three questions, then Entangled Publishing needs you! They are compiling The List right now! Go to Kate's blog for all the instructions. May the odds be forever in your favor!

Monday, January 14, 2013

Book Review: Strength by Carrie Butler


Picture





Title: STRENGTH
Series: Mark of Nexus - Book 1
Publisher:
Sapphire Star Publishing
Category: New Adult (NA)
Genre: Paranormal Romance (PNR)
Release Date: March 07, 2013
 
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.

Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation—and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…

Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.

They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do—even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.
About the Author:
Carrie daydreamed her way through college—until they thrust a marketing degree into her hands, slapped a summa cum laude seal on the corner, and booted her out into a less-than-stellar job market. Instead of panicking at the prospect of unemployment, she used her Midwestern logic to steer into the skid and point her life in the direction she really wanted to go: writing out those daydreams.
 
You know those books you can't put down once you start reading? The one you keep thinking about after you've finished? That's how Strength is for me. Tiny, spunky, college girl Rena and tortured, mysterious, Mr.Tall-Dark-and-Handsome Wallace had me sucked in from the beginning. I love how upfront Rena is and her hilarious one liners. Wallace is a perfect gentleman, sweet, generous, and sexy as heck. One thing that did surprise me about the book was the hunky hero's name. I don't know about you, but when I think of someone named Wallace, I don't think rippling abs. Thanks to Carrie Butler, that has changed. Wallace is now going on my 'sexy name' list! I love how Rena slowly falls for Wallace and doesn't just cling to him from the beginning and how Wallace tries to keep his distance, but still gives in like a normal red-blooded male. Too often love stories in the YA/NA category consist of the girl falling all over the guy and the guy being too stuck up for the girl. That's so not the case here.
 
Overall Reaction: Loooooved it! Carrie Butler definitely knows how to write a story and I'm already anxious for the next book. (Which, according to her blog, she's working on now! *squeal*) This is definitely one to buy for the bookshelf. Have you seen the cover? Yum!

Monday, January 7, 2013

New Adult: What's so great about it?

I'm sure everyone in the world of writing has heard of New Adult. Some people, like myself, are all for it, while others roll their eyes and throw tomatoes and lettuce at the thought. If you're wondering what New Adult is exactly, the girls at NA Alley explains it perfectly. You can find the link here. They are my favorite go-to site for anything concerning New Adult. While they do have an awesome blog, I must confess I love following them on Twitter. Each of them are funny, witty, clever, and just downright awesome. Every Thursday they have a Twitter chat (is that even the correct term?) where anyone can join in and chat about the topic of the week.

Back to my original topic, what's so great about New Adult? Well, here's my opinion on it. I love the innocence of a first kiss, the struggles of trying to find out who you are, and growth that takes place in YA books. I also love the steamier side that the Adult section brings out, the freedom of doing what you want, when you want, the confidence they seem to have. New Adult combines those two worlds.

The main characters are on their own, but they don't have experience to yet rely on. They're old enough to fall in love without worrying about what others think, but is it worth it to stay with that one person or catch some other fish in the sea? No longer do they have to sneak out at night, park in back roads to steal a kiss or cop a feel, they can go to their own apartments without looking over their shoulders for Mom or Dad. They have all these new freedoms and liberties thrust upon them. It's exciting, over-whelming, and fun. They also have responsibility thrown at them. You want your own apartment while you're at college? Better find a job. You have a huge test in the morning but the party of the year is tonight. Mom isn't there to take the blame when you call your friends and tell them you can't go.

It's the excitement of being an adult and trying to make your mark on the world. Mistakes are going to be made so lessons can be learned. Hearts will break, love will conquer all, anything can happen. The options are endless! I may also be a bit biased as I am in my mid-twenties, and in that New Adult stage where I'm still making mistakes to learn from. I don't consider myself an adult, but I know I've passed being a young adult (thank goodness!).

If you're looking for some fun New Adult reads, Goodreads has several lists of NA books. You can also join the New Adults Reading Challenge group at Goodreads. Look for me if you do! I also just received an ARC of Strength by Carrie Butler, one of the sisters of NA Alley. Have you seen the cover of it? Sexy, shirtless, rippling abs. Oh, yeah, I'm totally excited to read it! Review to come on that soon. Just out of curiosity, how many of you read book reviews?

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

IWSG: Happy New Year!

Hello all my fellow insecure writers! Who's ready for this new year? New deadlines, new stories, new heartbreaks, new loves. I'm hoping to begin the next step in my writer's journey this year. Querying. The goal is to write The End by Jan 31. Then it's onto editing. I've looked around at a few different agents and publishers and I'm already overwhelmed. So, I'm turning to my fellow writers. What are your favorite sites for looking up different agents? How many agents do you send to at a time? How do you deal with all the waiting?! To end this post on a happy note, I've decided to title my novel Ripple. What do you guys think? A brief synopsis can be found under my WIP's page.