Looking Back

I started this blog in July 2010. Five months later, I'm so happy that I did. I've met a lot of wonderful people both here and through my supporting Twitfeed at @HP4Writers. But there's been a learning curve involved and I'm realizing that I need a game-plan for when life is hectic and its harder to put together a post that requires a lot of time and thought, which most of my analytical posts require.

For the upcoming year, one of my goals is to host more guest bloggers. Jo Hart, of The Graceful Doe, did a great job with her post on What Harry Potter has Taught Me About Writing, and I'd love to have more writers who have learned from JKR contribute in a similar manner.

One thing I find interesting as I look back over the last few months, is which post has been the most viewed. I hate to say "favorite" because I'm not sure that just because it's drawn the most traffic means that it's the one readers like the best. It could just be a matter of search terms. But according to the blogger stats, my top post is All The Kreacher's Men. Sure hasn't drawn the most comments, though. That honor is a 3-way tie split between:

• That Deathly Hallows Symbol
• Deathly Hallows Week, and
• Snape's Gray Undies

Other top-visited posts are:

2) Dumbledore's Theme Song

3) That Deathly Hallows Symbol, and

4) Best of JK Rowling on Oprah


In fact, I greatly enjoyed the live TweetParty I hosted with other JK Rowling fans during the broadcast of her appearance on Oprah, and hope to do other live events in the future when breaking news occurs.

Interestingly, one of my posts that has drawn no comments, which I'm sorry about, is An Open Letter to JK Rowling. Maybe there aren't enough obsessive-compulsive writers out there (like me!) who want to know more about JK Rowling's writing process, but I doubt it!

If I had worried in the beginning as to whether there'd be enough material to continue this blog for a long period of time, I don't now. I feel that I've barely scratched the surface. JK Rowling has gifted the world with such a rich treasure trove of material both in story and in writing, that I know I can continue happily posting here for many years to come. And by then...hopefully we'll have new works to dissect!

May the new year bring us a new release from JK Rowling, sales of our own work, and the continued vast support of our writer friends from across the Internet!

Here's to 2011...and beyond!

Fireworks picture credit

HAPPY NEW YEAR

And don't forget the fireworks...

End of 2010 Survey!

Since I didn't do a top 10 post for this year, or really anything to wrap up the year, I figured that participating in The Perpetual Page-Turner's End of Year Survey was just as good as anything else! :)

1. Best book of 2010?  Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I devoured this book.

2. Worst book of 2010? Perhaps Fade by Lisa McMann. I don't know that I'm a very good judge of BAD books.

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010? Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. I was expecting something spectacular and just felt like it was a very long, kind of blah book.

4. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2010? Folly by Marthe Jocelyn. I never really thought that I was into historical fiction. But, this and other similar books helped me realize that I love a very well-done historical fiction novel.

5. Book you recommended to people most in 2010? The Hunger Games definitely. I push that book on everyone.  I also recommend The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale a lot.

6. Best series you discovered in 2010? The Seven Realms series by Cinda Williams Chima. It's a fantastic epic fantasy for young adult readers. My husband and I loved The Demon King and The Exiled Queen, and can't wait for the next installment!

7. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2010? Leah Cypess (she is so fantastically nice and awesome), Cinda Williams Chima (as mentioned above), and Kiersten White.

8. Most hilarious read of 2010? I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter blew me away with the funny dialogue.

9. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2010?  Mockingjay. I had to know how it all ended!

10. Book you most anticipated in 2010? Mockingjay, again. I also really wanted Princess of Glass by Jessica Day George.


11. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2010? I loved the cover for Matched. Very clean and simple yet striking.

12. Most memorable character in 2010? Katniss from Mockingjay. And Sydelle from Brightly Woven

13. Most beautifully written book in 2010? Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. I know this book wasn't written in 2010, but I read it in 2010. It was recommended to me by Angie, who is my go-to gal on well-written books.

14. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2010?   Folly by Marthe Jocelyn and pretty much every book I read, whether good or bad.

15. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2010 to finally read? Nothing is really coming to mind on that one. I read a lot of newer books this year.

 Book Blogging in 2010 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2010? Forever Young Adult. I read through every single one of their posts because they are so darn hilarious!

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2010? I wrote a review with my friend Julie on Paranormalcy that was a lot of fun. (link)


3. Best discussion you had on your blog? I started a series called Blogger Confidential. (Which will start up again in the new year). I really liked the discussion on what to do when you don't like a book by an author you love. I had a lot of great comments on that. (link)

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else's blog? Angie from Angieville had a great post on required reading that I participated in. Very interesting topic. (link)


5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)? Armchair BEA was really fantastic. It was really spur of the moment, but I had a lot of fun meeting other bloggers and writing some great posts.

But, I also got an opportunity to do a live interview with Scott Westerfeld which was awesome! I am working on the video and it will be posted next week.

6. Best moment of book blogging in 2010? Every moment was great. Seriously, I've loved it all.

7. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.) ? Probably NetGalley and Edelweiss. They are great resources for discovering new titles.

Farewell 2010... Hello 2011

Wow! This hardly seems possible. Here we are in the dying hours of 2010, waiting to ring in 2011! It's madness! It doesn't feel like 5 minutes since we were counting in 2010, not counting it out!

I just wanted to take the opportunity to thank everyone who's made this year a good one! All of my fellow bloggers, especially those who I met in the beginning of February who gave encouragement and advice! And to the people that continue to read! Glad you like the blog so much. And also to the amazing publishers/publicists/authors for all their generosity. I appreciate every single book I receive and cannot believe you're so willing to send them to a nobody like me!

I hope everyone has a very very Happy New Year, and I hope that 2011 treats everyone well! :)

Empire of Books Top 10 Covers of 2010

Just like the Top Books of 2010 chart/list/thing yesterday, this took a heck of a lot of work to put together. So many brilliant covers. It took a lot of thinking, fishing out of physical copies, as we all know that cover art is even more amazing in the flesh, but I think I finally have my Top 10! So without further ado...

10. Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne.

9. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

8. Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide by William Hussey.

7. When I Was Joe by Keren David.

6. The Radleys by Matt Haig.

5. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

4. The Thirteen Curses by Michelle Harrison.

3. The Maze Runner by James Dashner.

2. Trash by Andy Mulligan.

And my favourite cover of 2010 is...

1. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.

Interview with Cinda Williams Chima

Photo by Augusten Burroughs

Cinda Williams Chima

Author of:
The Warrior Heir
The Wizard Heir
Dragon Heir

The Demon King
The Exiled Queen

Author Website 

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The world-building in the Seven Realms series is very intricate. When you were writing the story, did you have a map drawn? (This is a sneaky way of asking if we'll ever get to see a map of your world).

The Seven Realms is a world I created for an adult high fantasy series that I never finished. While shopping The Warrior Heir, I wrote the first two volumes of a planned trilogy called The Star-Marked Warder, set in the Seven Realms. I drew a map at that time, and kept redrawing it and adding places and features as the story progressed. Maps help writers stay oriented in fictional worlds (in the real world, too--I often referred to a map of Ohio when writing the Heir Chronicles.)

I put The Star-Marked Warder aside after The Warrior Heir sold, and began writing The Dragon Heir and revising The Wizard Heir. After finishing the first three books in the Heir series, I wanted to write more books for teens, but try something different. I loved my Seven Realms world and the characters in it, so I decided to go back to that. I took two characters (Han and Raisa) back to when they were teenagers, back to when they met. And that's how the Seven Realms series came about. When the series sold to Hyperion, they hired a cartographer to redraw my lame map, and it appears on the flyleaf of the hardcover. It is also posted on my website at http://cindachima.com/Demon_King/Places.htm. You can print out a pdf of it there for reference, if your book doesn't include it (it was not included in the first printing of the paperback Demon King or most of the foreign editions.)

My ARC of The Exiled Queen didn't include a map. Neither did my finished copy of The Demon King. I'm SO happy that there is a map to reference all the places that we hear about in the book.

Which perspective was easiest for you to write, Han or Raisa? Which did you enjoy the most?

It's probably easier to write Han's perspective, because I'm used to writing from a boy's POV. I felt a certain amount of pressure with Raisa because I wanted to accomplish so much with her character. I wanted her to be strong, yet flawed enough to be realistic. Probably the most difficult task was showing the growth of Han and Raisa through the four books of the series. It's difficult enough to make sure that characters are consistent through a long series. But to  achieve a believable arc of character and maturity takes the kind of planning I don't usually do.

Can you explain your writing process? Do you outline? Free-write? 

I don't outline ahead of time. I wish I did. I actually blogged about plunging vs. plotting here. http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/02/plotters-vs-plungers.html  I generally have a loose framework to begin with, and I generally know how my story ends. I begin with characters, their desires, and the obstacles in the way. Then, as I write, I layer in more conflicts, more complications, connections and relationships. This kind of writing requires a lot of revision.

What do you wish more people knew about publishing? 

I often hear from young and unpublished writers who have questions about publishing. That's one reason I have lots of blog posts about publishing, including this one. http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/12/so-you-want-to-find-publisher.html  The biggest mistake I see writers make is neglecting craft in their rush to publish. Writing is like any other skill--it takes study and practice. Finding a publisher is as competitive as winning a major golf tournament. You wouldn't expect to play a game or two and then get into the Master's.

Without giving too much away, what can we expect in the next book in the Seven Realms series?

HUGE reveals, ruthless politics, scheming wizards, ramped up romance--the usual.

Any tactics for writer's block?

I got links for that, too, of course. One key to overcoming writer's block is to turn off that editor in your head--the one that says that everything you write is terrible, it will never work, this project is a failure like all your others. You have to be willing to write badly in order to finish a first draft. Once you have the bones down, you can always revise, but you can't revise a blank page. Often writers have difficulty getting started because they think they need to have everything figured out before they begin. You don't. Just begin. Here are two posts about Writer's Block: http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2008/02/writers-block.html and http://cindachima.blogspot.com/2010/01/young-writer-writes-i-recently-started.html.

Since you've built such a complex world, do you think that you'll ever write a spin-off series from another character's point of view? 

I love living in the Seven Realms, so there's a chance I might. I would also like to do something with The Star Marked Warder, which is a kind of sequel to the Seven Realms series. It would require some revision, but my beta readers really really seem to want me to finish it.

Thank you so much to Cinda for dropping by. Her blog and website have a wealth of knowledge about writing, and I highly recommend them.

Empire of Books Top 10 Books of 2010

So, after a good day and a half of thinking, umm-ing and ah-ing, a bit of a headache, lots of music and a little bit of reading too, I whittled down all the amazing books released that I read this year into this, the Empire of Books Top 10 Books of 2010! It took a lot of hard work but I am very happy with the final outcome!

10. VAMPIRATES: Empire of Night by Justin Somper.

Unleashed upon the UK in March, Empire of Night is the fifth addition to Somper's hugely successful, and very impressive, Vampirates series. It's the penultimate adventure taking Connor and Grace deeper into their past than ever before. With new alliances, and new enemies, Empire of Night sets things up pretty nicely for an explosive finale. Look out for the final book, Immortal War, out June 2011!

9. Witchfinder: Dawn of the Demontide by William Hussey.

Released in March, this horrific beauty is the first book in a terrifying trilogy that will make your teeth chatter, your spine tingle and your toes curl. Perfection all in a neat little package. Brilliant writing that will draw you right into the heart of the story! I have the second book, Gallows At Twilight and cannot wait to read it! Look out for the remaining two books in the trilogy, both published this year! Gallows At Twilight is out 6th January and what is sure to be a stunning finale, The Last Nightfall is due to land in September! Brilliant! (And this series has such beautiful, eye catching artwork! Check out the cover art for the remaining two books below!)

8. Angel by L. A. Weatherly.

Published in October, Angel is another introduction to a trilogy from author L. A. Weatherly. It takes angels and completely re-imagines them as horrific, merciless beasts, and I for one LOVED it! I am quite simply chomping at the bit to read the second book, Angel Fire out Summer 2011!

7. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore.

With a Hollywood film adaptation already filming before the book was even published, expectations were high for this book when it was published over the Summer and I for one was not disappointed. I was sent a beautiful review copy from Penguin/Puffin and once I started reading I did not want to stop! I was a bit sceptical - it is about aliens that are living amongst us after all, but it's not what I expected at all. It's the first in the Lorien Legacies series, with the second book, The Power of Six due Summer 2011. And with the film out in Feb/March, I cannot wait to see just how far this series really can go!

6. Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne.

Noah Barleywater Runs Away has to be one the most beautifully written books I have ever had the fortune of reading. It takes fairy tale and real life and blends it all together so brilliantly. I love the themes, and the story as a whole. The way this book deals with death is quite simply genius. I wish this book had been around before I experienced the death of a loved one. In my opinion it has brilliant morals and every child should read this book. If not to learn or understand, to read a blooming good story!

5. Birth of a Killer by Darren Shan.

Released in October, Birth of a Killer is the first of four in The Saga of Larten Crepsley, a prequel to Shan's The Saga of Darren Shan, this book was a must read for me! I am a big Darren Shan fan and was delighted to get a proof copy and devoured it in a day. Brilliant book and it sets things up brilliantly for the next book, Oceans of Blood, due May!

4. Dark Matter by Michelle Paver.

I am a massive massive MASSIVE fan of Michelle Paver and could not wait to read this! And luckily for me, that wait was cut short thanks to the amazing people at Orion! And what a book! A slightly terrifying read that chills to the core, it's the best ghost story I have ever read (I believe it's only the second or third, but who's counting?) and only continues to prove what an immense talent Michelle is! And that cover! 

3. Boy's Don't Cry by Malorie Blackman

As soon as I heard the concept for this book, I just knew it'd be a brilliant read. And it was! Malorie Blackman took the concept of teenage pregnancy and flipped it completely, looking at it from the point of view of the father, and that is something I actually haven't seen or heard of before in teen literature! A stunning read, the tale of Dante - discovering and coming to terms with the fact that he is a father - and his brother Adam - coming to terms with his sexuality - run alongside each other. I cannot recommend this book enough. Read it, read it, read it! You'd be mad not to!

2. Almost True by Keren David.

I really really REALLY want to include both Almost True, and the first book in Ty/Joe's journey, When I Was Joe into this list but didn't want to leave out any other amazing books, so I went for my favourite of the two. This ground-breaking book isn't just my second favourite of the year, it is among my Top 5 books ever. I just love it so much. The writing is perfect. It feels exactly like a fourteen year old boy talking. And although Ty/Joe does some stupid things, you can't help but love him and sympathise for him. He's just a brilliantly thought out character! Keren has done amazing things with these books! Tackling the knife culture of today, these books are stark, often quite horrifying reads that will leave a MASSIVE impression on you! Do NOT miss out! Please!

And so we come to Number 1. My favourite book published this year... it was a hard decision, but I've made it and I am confident that it's the right one! I even read last few chapters again just to be sure, and I am... so... My Number 1 book of 2010 is...

1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.

It just had to be Mockingjay. I know quite a few people were disappointed with this book when it was published in August. And yes, it is a heavily depressing and draining read - I was exhausted when I finished it - but it takes a true talent to make you feel real emotion and to have that sort of effect on you. I just thought it was brilliant, epic. I am something of a relative newcommer to The Hunger Games, only reading The Hunger Games and Catching Fire about 2 or 3 months before Mockingjay came out, but I could not wait to read it and it did not disappoint. It had the biggest impact on me since I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows back in 2007 and for that reason alone it was already a front runner. But combined with the plot, and the overall feel of the story, the characters, the cover design, it won by a country mile!

So that's it folks. Those are my Top 10 Books of 2010! Look out tomorrow for my Top 10 Covers of 2010!

That Extra Zing

When studying the phenomenal world-building of JK Rowling, I like to break her craft apart into three sets: The Wide Angle Lens, the Zoom Lens, and That Extra Zing.

In building your set, not only do you want your reader to experience a fully alive, intriguing world in wideness and detail, but you want some of those details to sizzle with extra zing.

For examples of the Zing, I'd like to share two of my favorite details from JKR's worldbuilding which I think go beyond the ordinary to add an extra, delightful touch.  And better yet, they both happen to come from Christmas!  (Hey! It's still the holidays.  My tree's still up.  The kids are still out of school! :-)

The Hogwarts staff, demonstrating a continued desire to impress the visitors from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, seemed determined to show the castle at its best this Christmas. When the decorations went up, Harry noticed that they were the most stunning he had yet seen inside the school. Everlasting icicles had been attached to the banisters of the marble staircase; the usual twelve Christmas trees in the Great Hall were bedecked with everything from luminous holly berries to real, hooting, golden owls, and the suits of armor had all been bewitched to sing carols whenever anyone passed them. It was quite something to hear "O Come, All Ye Faithful" sung by an empty helmet that only knew half the words. Several times, Filch the caretaker had to extract Peeves from inside the armor, where he had taken to hiding, filling in the gaps in the songs with lyrics of his own invention, all of which were very rude.

(p. 395, GoF)

Even though this is a lump of description, it’s kept from being boring by the imaginative, unusual detail, and the action within. That last bit, about Peeves filling in rude lyrics, to me is quite witty and adds the extra zing. JKR could easily have stopped with the everlasting icicles, the hooting, gold owls, and the singing suits of armor. That would have provided the whimsical Christmas feel she was after. But in taking it that extra level--the Peeves factor--she truly brings the whole setting to life...and makes it loads of fun.

One of my favorite descriptions on steroids, which I also listed in my post on favorite tidbits from Harry Potter, was the Christmas tree gnome topping the Weasley tree in HBP.

Stupefied, painted gold, stuffed into a miniature tutu and with small wings glued to its back, it glowered down at them all, the ugliest angel Harry had ever seen, with a large bald head like a potato and rather hairy feet.

(p. 309, HBP Bloomsbury)

Those hairy feet add the zing to an already fully-imaginative description. I would love to be able to come up with something so clever, amusing, and imaginative.

As writers, we build a world in whatever story we write, even if that world is the contemporary one most readers inhabit.  Your reader still doesn't know YOUR particular setting.  How you choose to describe that world, and what elements you choose to highlight, will greatly affect the feel and perception of your story by the reader.  Making sure that you've thought your world through in complete detail (even if it is not all given on the page) to include these delightful, zingy nougats, will help your reader to experience your story as a participant and not merely an observer.

What nuance can you add to your perfectly good description to give it that extra sparkle?

A note of caution on zinging -- a little goes a long way.  With ever-decreasing word counts, we have to be very careful to spend words only where important.  Therefore, make sure any extra details you add to your descriptions are truly wonderful AND that they add to your story significantly...preferably in more ways than one!

Gnome picture credit.