Teaser Tuesday-Trapped by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
1) Grab your current read
2) Open to a random page
3) Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
4) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
“Her expression remained somber, but excitement crept into her voice. You are the Firstborn She…You must go to them. You want me to act as bait? Not bait, Emi. A spy. Our Trojan horse.”
“My Father slowly shook his head. “The Poldi won’t risk such a step, Emi, especially when it comes to maintaining their wealth, their power or their secrets.” p.101 Trapped by Ronda Gibb Hinrichsen
Watch for our review and author interview coming as part of her blog tour on August 9th!
Contest Winners
Congratulations to this weeks’ contest winners!
Bookowner and Becca Buckle won the “Spells” Elemental Fairies art prints http://fireandicereads.com/2010/06/elemental-fairy-art-giveaway.html
FerretVamp14 won the “13 To Life” Inspired Pietersite ring http://fireandicereads.com/2010/07/pietersite-ring-giveaway.html
and Inezzitah won the “Paranormalcy” Movements of Water photo print giveaway http://fireandicereads.com/2010/06/movements-of-water-photo-giveaway.html
@StopDropandRead won an ARC of FADE by Lisa McMann on Twitter and Laura, @Mom4Carlyle won The Makeover of James Orville Wickenbee by Anya Bateman on Facebook
Email us your mailing address to fireandice.heather@gmail.com and we will mail your your prizes. Please let us know when they arrive 🙂 Stay tuned on Wednesday for our Siren blog tour interview with Tricia Rayburn! And today is the last day to enter to win the Matryoshka doll -see our right sidebar. Good luck!
Book Review- SEA by Heidi R Kling
SEA
by Heidi R Kling
published June 10th 2010
by Putnam Juvenile
details Hardcover, 336 pages
url http://www.heidirkling.com/
isbn 0399251634
5 Stars
Synopsis: Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.
She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.
And Sea’s real adventure begins
Ever since I first read about Heidi’s book on Twitter I was intrigued by premise and elements of the story. The teasers started a creative flurry of activity for me of photos and jewelry, and I requested our local Barnes and Noble order it in. The wait has been long, but worth it. What an outstanding debut novel by Heidi R Kling. Sea is lyrically written from the eyes of Sienna, a young girl who suffers from PTSD and nightmares after losing her mother. Once filled with adventure and a love of the ocean, she has changed. When her father, a renowned world psychiatrist gifts her a trip to Indonesia with Team Hope, Sienna is forced to face her biggest fears. From her childhood friendship with a surfer named Spider, to touching lives at an orphanage in Yogyakarta; this book brought me to tears. It’s one that leaves you thinking and feeling hopeful for the power of change. Love overcomes loss as Deni shows Sienna that a choice must be made to live each new day. SEA will stick with you for a long time as will the impressions of post-tsunami recovery in Indonesia. It’s a meaningful, culturally rich novel with purpose. And this is one of those reviews where I feel like words aren’t adequate to describe my experience. So much of SEA is what I felt inside. Thanks to Heidi R Kling for sharing her talent.
Visit Heidi’s SEA store which features our Etsy items at http://heidirkling.com/sea-store/
50 % of all proceeds go to families similarly affected earlier this year by an earthquake and Tsunami in Chile, and the SEA Flickr gallery with photos which reminded me of the book at http://www.flickr.com/photos/heatherzahngardner/galleries/72157624488461623/
Orange Popsicle Haze Card Giveaway
Description 5–1/2 x 4 Fold over note card on 80 lb. smooth white cover stock with white envelope
+3 for following her blog: http://www.twopoochpost.blogspot.com/
Book Review- Welcome To Stalk Lake City
The Rhea Jensen Series #2
by Sheralyn Pratt
published August 15th 2004 by Spectrum (first published 2004)
details Paperback, 285 pages
isbn 0974333182
4.5 stars
Synopsis from Back Cover “Deciding to go “off grid” for a while, Rhea Jensen can think of no better place to disappear than Utah. She settles into a quiet Mormon lifestyle-unless you count skydiving, race car driving, mountain climbing, and overly obsessive workouts. But when her best friends, Kay, tips her odd to a stalking case, Rhea takes the job out of shear boredom. Only then does she realize two things–first being good is hard; and second, she know way too much to get out of the PI game.
So, I have to admit that when I finished book one on the Rhea Jensen series I really couldn’t wait for the mailman to come with my sequel. I was out thrift shopping and lo and behold, stumbled across the old 2004 released book (which was well used by it’s previous owner.) This started the debate in my mind…”Should I? Should I not…?”
Give in to temptation, I did… I took it home and started reading, knowing full well the new book would be different. Luckily, I only got a few hours into it when ta da…just like magic, the fresh new package showed up. Have to say, it was worth reading both versions of the book, repeated plot and all. One just can’t get enough to Sheralyn Pratt’s characters!
In this installment, Rhea Jensen has relocated from her home of Los Angeles to Utah and has found a boyfriend Chad to keep her on the straight and narrow. She is convinced it’s time for a fresh start without her shady private investigator antics. Too bad her old friend Kay has a different idea. She’s bound and determined to show her the spicy side of life over the ordinary “tomato soup.” Rhea takes on a new case and the plot revs up a notch with her hot new next door neighbor Ty in the passenger seat. Buckle up for a fast paced ride, because book two does not disappoint! Sherlaynn Pratt pushes readers to think outside the box while remaining inspiring and fun at the same time. I have a new found love and am hoping book #3 is hot off the press and in my fingers soon. Here’s what other readers had to say about the books…
“Clever, witty, sassy… This fast-paced book will keep you reading into the night and leaving you craving for –Rachael Renee Anderson, author of Luck of the Draw
“Meaningful, fun and addictive! Once I pick up one of Pratt’s books, I can’t set it down. The Rhea Jensen novels have mystery, suspense and brilliant plots, with characters that are complicated and real.” –Cherie Call, singer/songwriter
To Enter To Win a Rhea Jensen Series postcard/bookmark: leave your name and email address in the comments below
+1 for each retweet @FireIcePhotos
+1 for commenting on our Sheralyn Pratt posts http://fireandicereads.com/2010/07/city-of-angels-by-sheralyn-pratt.html
+1 for adding her books on your to be read on Goodreads
+1 for becoming a fan of Sherlyn on Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1182413.Sheralyn_Pratt
Contest ends August 13, 2010 and is open internationally
Author Interview With Sheralyn Pratt
photo by Heather Zahn Gardner
What are your favorite setting and hang out spots?
Ha. At first I wasn’t sure if you were talking about me or Rhea. My favorite hangouts are outdoors on sunny days in an area where my dog can be off leash and the ground isn’t pokey. I can’t wait until they make a writer’s laptop that isn’t backlit (like e-readers) so I can write outside. That will be a beautiful, beautiful day.
When did you start writing and what was your first book? I’ve always written, I think, sort of in the way most people doodle. I was 18 when I finished my first book from beginning to end. It’s called “the Jade Prophecy.” One day I’ll revisit it, I’m sure.
What are your all time favorite books?
Is that question even possible to answer? I just never know what to say when asked that question, but I did read an ARC of a first-time author named Rebecca Maizel called “Infinite Days” that I really liked recently. I think she’s an upcoming author to watch out for.
How did you get the idea for the Rhea Jensen series and which character do you most relate to? Interesting question. Rhea came to me pretty fully formed. I’m not a writer who brainstorms and maps things out. I just see scenes in my head and write them. Sometimes I don’t even know that some of scenes go together in the same story until later. It’s hard to describe, but suffice it to say that Rhea is a pretty immutable character. She shows me a bit, waits until I do the research to write it right, then she shows me more. It’s a fun growing pattern for me. As for which character I relate to the most… if I am yin, then Rhea’s best friend, Kay, is yang. She and I are so polarized that we barely communicate. I don’t how it’s possible that I could relate to her the most, but she is the character who has the strongest grip on my heart. You may see why in Book 4.
Do any of your characters have real life people they remind you of? Stars who would play them…If so, who and attach a photo That’s a fun game! Physically, Rhea is based on Nelly Fertado, but I would love to audition Jill Wagner, Evangeline Lilly, and Missy Peregrym for the role. For Kay, I wish Kristen Bell was like a foot taller, because I would beg her to play the part. Still probably would. There’s just that perfect balance of sass, anger and vulnerability an actor would have to portray to steal all focus the second she walks into a scene. Kristen could do that. She could be “bad” while still making it very clear that she is good to her core. It would be fun to audition Maggie Lawson for the part as well, though, but she just seems waaay too sweet for Kay.
What do you do for a day job and in your free time? I’m a publicist by day, and at the moment I don’t have any free time, but I always make time for walks/hiking with my dog. There’s no way getting around exercising a border collie. That’s the reason I got her—to get me out of the house. The poor thing is bored the other 22 hours of the day, though.
Advice for young writers? Let it flow. Don’t judge your writing as it comes out. Unless you are a freak of nature, it’s going to suck at first. That’s okay. The key is to create until your tapped dry. Then you put your creation to the side and go and read a bunch of authors you love and admire for a couple of weeks before returning to your work. Looking at it with fresh eyes, your goal is to then make your story as fun to read as the books you love. That’s my advice. Repeat this process until you forget you are reading your own work and just want to keep reading your own story for fun.
Do you have a playlist for your books and do you listen to music while you write? Yes, yes, and yes. Music keeps the theme of my book on track and keeps me from going off point of onto tangents. It can take a while to find the right songs for a character or story. Sometimes I only find one song and just listen to it over and over until it’s white noise. I’ve listened to the same song over 1,000 times in a row over a week while writing before. It achieves its purpose, though.
Any upcoming books or events? Oh, my. Yes. Many. And they’ll all be fun. Book 2, Welcome to Stalk Lake City (read first 5 chapters here) technically releases on August 6, which is why we’re having the Stalk Lake Scavenger Hunt on August 7th where one non-profit will win $1,000 in an Amazing Race type of event in downtown Salt Lake. It will be fun, and everyone is welcome to participate by joining a team. See a list of competing teams here. There will be more to come, though, so feel free to keep in touch at http://www.sheralynpratt.com/.
What is the overall message you hope to get across to your readers? Hmm, in a nutshell? I might have to channel Mufasa for that one and say, “Simba, you are more than what you have become.” If I don’t write a story that inspires the reader to contemplate stepping out of his/her comfort zone, grow in some way personally, or become more self aware, tolerant, confident, or empathic, then there’s really no reason for me to be writing at all.
Describe the process of re-writing the books and why?
Well, to start off with, they were dated from their original incarnation. Things (technology, especially) have changed a lot in the past eight years. That, added to the fact that the publisher wanted to change the titles made me feel morally obligated to change and update the books, since someone might end up buying City of Angels who already had Spies, Lies and a Pair of Ties. It’s disingenuous—and should be illegal—to take the same book and package it with a different title and cover without changing it. In some ways I just wanted to start all the way over and change everything, but that would have been even more confusing to people: (“Wait, is this book 5? No? It’s book 1, but everything’s different? So this book pretends that your 3 previous books never happened? What about the ebook? So I should just forget them?…”) It would have been a disaster, so I simply updated them and added new scenes, twists, and endings. Book 1 is fairly similar, but I changed the rest of the series significantly. They’re new rides, and I hope readers of the original versions like these new ones too. *crosses fingers*
Favorite writing snacks? Writing and eating? Hmmm. I think I mostly just drink while writing. Water. How absolutely boring is that? I’m too reactive to food to introduce it into my system while I’m writing. Sugar, caffeine, and carbs put me to sleep and protein makes me want to go run around. It’s best if I don’t eat within a few hours of sitting down to write, so water it is!
Do you have a writing group or peers who beta your work? “Beta.” I just learned that lingo last week, so I’m all in the know now. I just joined a writing group (last week). Yay! We don’t work on Rhea books, though, but the other stuff I write (YA Fantasy). With the Rhea books, it’s actually just been me and my editor because of the tight deadlines.
Favorite scene to write and why? Specifically, or in general? Generally speaking, I like to write action and chemistry. I always say that I don’t write romance, I write chemistry. If it happens to be romantic, then fine, but that push-pull in all relationships can take many shapes, and all of them are equally fun for me to write. Rhea taking down a guy in an alley, two people meeting for the first time, or two colleagues who hate each other can be just as fun to write as a first kiss.
Summer Fun Prize Pack
To Enter To win: Simply leave your name and email below
Book Review- The Icing On The Cake
published January 1st 2007 by Cedar Fort
details Paperback, 301 pages
isbn 1599550113
5 stars
Key To The Repository Necklace Giveaway
Today’s Etsy shop giveaway is a silver key necklace for the book “Keys to the Repository” by Melissa De la Cruz, donated by Emilina Ballerina! My name is Susan and I am the proud mother of two teenagers. I have always enjoyed working with my hands and the creative process. I am inspired by quotes, feelings, memories, beautiful scenery, friendship, and motherhood… I hope something you see here will touch you or strike a chord within you. Namaste
~Featuring unique handmade original jewelry including custom personalized hand stamped jewelry, mommy jewelry, bridal and bridesmaid designs, glass bubble charms, yoga inspired designs, and charm bracelets~
All jewelry comes in a complimentary gift box with a raffia bow and lucky Chinese coin.
Necklace Description: My heart had been closed until I met you. I never thought I could love again but now I am ready to give you all that I am. Please accept this key to my heart and know that you are the only one that holds it from now until forever. The tiniest key ~ simple and delicate on a silver chain , 18″L
+1 for hearting her shop on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/EmilinaBallerina
+1 for becoming a Fire and Ice fan on facebook
+5 for posting this contest on your blog, leave the link
+2 for blog followers
+1 for each retweet @FireIcePhotos
+3 for each dollar donated to Chile relief efforts via PayPal