books

Need by Carrie Jones

Published March 15, 2009 | By joravetz

Need, is a gripping page turner that you won’t want to put down. I have not devoured a book this quickly since I read Twilight. It does share similar themes as Twilight, but has a different supernatural premise. Zara has been sent (not by choice) to live with her grandmother. As she leaves Charleston she sees a man. She continues to see him and is not sure whether he’s a figment of her imagination or a dangerous stalker. She settles in at school and finally confides to her friends and her grandmother about the man. Her friends and soon to be boyfriend begin researching and her grandmother insist she stays inside after dark, due to the sudden disappearances of local kids. Her friends decide that a Pixie is stalking her, especially with the tell tale signs of gold dust littering her driveway. The pixies only enemy are wares. Not just werewolves, but werebears, weretigers, etc.

So, now we know that a pixie is stalking Zara, the big question is why? What does he want with her? Pixie’s are not nice, delicate creatures. They have needs that cannot be ignored.

Pick up a copy and read it. I doubt that you will be disappointed

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Review: The Twilight Saga

Published December 19, 2008 | By joravetz

Ok, So I figured it was about time that I posted my thoughts on the Twilight book series. Two Words.

Loved It!

Start to finish, I loved each book. I’m quickly beginning to lose count how many times I’ve read through them and to be honest I was very late in jumping on the band wagon.

I knew that I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie and once I picked it up I was hooked.

I know that many people didn’t like the last book. I loved it. I like having everything wrapped up. It gives me a sense of completion. I liked the addition to Bella and Edward’s family and that they got married. I know some people will disagree me with me greatly.

I also understand why part of the book was written from Jacob’s perspective. Because it’s written from Jacob’s perspective we get much more information than if it was to be from bella’s perspective if you consider what is currently going on with her. I know I’m probably not saying much but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone who has not read the last book yet.

Anyway, I loved it. I bough my copies about the time the movie came and haven’t stopped reading them yet. Well my husband currently has twilight so when I start over this time I’ll have to start at new moon, but you get my point.

I also loved the movie. I liked the book better but I thought they did do a good job portraying the emotions of the book. I also thought that they did an extremely good job casting the Cullens and Bella.

~Keep Reading

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Things I ‘ve learned the past week or two…

Published August 8, 2008 | By joravetz
Having plot problems? Yeah, me too. Every time I think everything is worked out Aiden throws me for a loop.
Well, I went to the Willamette Writer’s conference this weekend, which was a blast! I recommend it to anyone serious about writing. I picked up a really fabulous book. Manuscript Makeover by Elizabeth Lyon.
This book will help you through those plot problems, characterization, editing, preparing to submit and a whole lot more. I got it for $15.00 from barnes and noble well it was $14.95 or something like that. Elizabeth Lyon was also at the conference, very nice lady.
My point is that we can all use a little help once in awhile, or if you are new to the world of submitting you may need a lot of help, lol. The thing is you may not realize that you need the help. I was doing things that I wasn’t aware of until I read about them in this book and re-revised my chapters.
I received several good pieces of advice this weekend. One of them really stuck with me.
If you are creating a world know it 100% and show 15%. This was from Agent Kelly Sonnack.
That got me thinking. I feel like I know Pelegra 100%, but do I really? That is the question. Well after I got home from the conference (I only attended Friday) I thought about that. And thought some more. I spent a year planning this series before I started writing it. But did I record all of the details that I thought about. No. Big Mistake.
Know the world you are writing about. Know your characters inside out and backwards. So I’ve spent the weekend recording all of the details that I did not previously write down. Do I know my world 100% yes. But I also discovered I needed to make some changes to up the realism factor. As real as a fantasy with travel by refrigerator can be.
So now that you’ve listed to me babble on I’ll summarize my main point.
Know your characters. Know your world. Know your plot. Get help (critque groups are great) and yes you can learn to be a better writer from a book. However, in your editing craze keep something in mind. Keep you in mind and your characters. If, in your aim for perfection, you edit the passion out of your writing then you have defeated your own purpose (Hence I’ll be rewriting the first chapter –again). So if you break a few “rules” but the story is better and the character stronger then leave it up to an agent or editor to decide what to change.

Ok. I think I’m done rambling now.

Posted in Jina Oravetz: life & writing, Writer/Writing Tips, Writing Festivals/Conferences | Tagged , , , , ,