We’re delighted to announce that Marianne will be facilitating the following set of workshops through the Queensland Writers centre in 2014. Please consider enrolling. It will be awesome FUN!

Year of the Fiction Novel

with Marianne De Pierres

When: 10:00am – 4:30pm, Saturday 19 April, 14 June, 16 August, 20 September, 15 November
Fees: $295 deposit + $300 final payment ($595 total)

Get that novel-idea out of your head and onto the page in this year-long series. Marianne De Pierres will help you to navigate the world of your novel, develop your characters and master your story’s structure. Make 2014 the year you feel the thrill of typing The End.

“Solving the Maze was supposed to be the end. No more puzzles. No more variables. And no more running. Thomas was sure that escape meant he and the Gladers would get their lives back. But no one really knew what sort of life they were going back to.

In the Maze, life was easy. They had food, and shelter, and safety . . . until Teresa triggered the end. In the world outside the Maze, however, the end was triggered long ago.

Burned by sun flares and baked by a new, brutal climate, the earth is a wasteland. Government has disintegrated—and with it, order—and now Cranks, people covered in festering wounds and driven to murderous insanity by the infectious disease known as the Flare, roam the crumbling cities hunting for their next victim . . . and meal.

The Gladers are far from finished with running. Instead of freedom, they find themselves faced with another trial. They must cross the Scorch, the most burned-out section of the world, and arrive at a safe haven in two weeks. And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Thomas can only wonder—does he hold the secret of freedom somewhere in his mind? Or will he forever be at the mercy of WICKED?”

 There was so much hype around this series every time another instalment was released, and it seemed like everyone was talking about them. And no wonder! There was not one slow moment throughout this entire book, and throughout The Maze Runner. If you haven’t started this trilogy, you need to ASAP!

The Scorch Trials begins right where The Maze Runner ends. The Gladers have just escaped the maze, but now are facing their next challenges; the world that’s falling down around them, and the Flare, to name a few.

After their arrival, the Gladers wake up to a (clean) man sitting at a desk behind a clear protective shield. He is here to tell the group about their next test; go 100 miles across the desert within two weeks. To get the Gladers to take this seriously, the man tells them that each and every one of them is infected with the Flare, and if they make the distance they will be granted the cure.

This story was so intense, mysterious and crazy! This group of teenagers has no memory of who they are, or what is going on around them. And the reader only knows what the Gladers know.

Besides every page being filled with action and mystery, there was also a lot of character development. The reader was re-introduced to the characters who survived the maze (I won’t be giving anything away, go read the book!) and to a few new ones. Thomas is still the smart and friendly leader we got to know in the first book, but within the second segment we see him facing some difficult situations. Thomas really pulls himself and the Gladers through a lot of tough times. Teresa seemed to be the girl for Thomas in The Maze Runner, but she does a few things, that completely change and spin the minds of readers. I was unsure whose side she’s on!

The new characters we got to meet were Brenda and Jorge, two people that the Gladers bumped into, and decided to bring along for the Gladers sake, and theirs. The two join the ride, in hopes of getting the cure as well. Brenda has Thomas questioning his love for Teresa as he starts to have feelings for her, so I’m excited to see how that works out and who Thomas picks.

I couldn’t believe how action packed this book was, and how much more I enjoyed the characters, even though I already loved them in The Maze Runner! I can’t wait to start reading the third and finally book! Who knows what James Dashner will have in store for both me and the Gladers.

P.S. Does anyone know if they are making these into movies?

Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so–in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history–he agrees to help her complete her “unfinished business.” But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff’s new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he’s made the right choice.

Clash meets sass in this uproarious modern-day retelling of Baroness Orczy’s The Scarlet Pimpernel.

Kindle Edition, 352 pages

Published April 30th 2013 by HarperTeen

Jeff is the new kid in school and has had some trouble getting noticed and making friends. When he begins to anonymously return missing property from a long ago fiasco. Most people are grateful, some are upset, and for others like Sera, old unwanted memories return.

The first person that Jeff encounters as a friend at his new school is a ghost. A ghost that in life stole everything she could get her hands on and hid them in a cave. She thinks she is stuck on Earth for her past actions and with the help of Jeff, they slowly begin to return the property she has stolen.

During the course of the story Jeff does gain some friends through the connection of the property and love connection with Sera, who has some secrets of her own.

Kimberlee is a really mean girl. She is vindictive, holds a grudge and always uses payback against others to make herself feel better. Jeff on the other hand is shy and very loyal person. The two personalities really clash in the story which brings most of the humor to the novel.

Kimberlee does grow the most throughout this book. The connection between Jeff and Sera is truly sincere and slowly grows throughout the story – it was my favorite part. Jeff is such an honest and devoted person.

Life After Theft has a great combination of characters, a unique ghost story and relationships that are life altering. It’s amazing how one small act can change a life. 

It’s Me!

So if the title hasn’t given anything away yet, I’m here today to tell you the five books I’m dying to finally having released in the month of November! And of course, why that it is! If you are just sitting on the edge of your seat, waiting for any of these titles below to finally hit the book store, feel free to comment down below! Or if you’re excited for other November releases that aren’t mentioned here, also feel free to comment! Either way I would love to hear what you’re anticipating and why!

Here are my books:

Champion by Marie Lu.

“June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.”

My friend was actually the one who constantly pushed me to check out Legend and to read it. She’s a die-hard fan. And while I do have to admit the way Day and June meet in Legend is a bit predictable, I was still completely head over heels for it! I can’t wait to see what Marie Lu has in store for both the readers and for June and Day! 

Crash Into You, by Katie McGarry.

“The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that’s who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers and she’s just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker—a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can’t get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks—no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they’ll go to save each other.”

Crash Into You has been on my mind, ever since I read and reviewed Pushing The Limits! I loved Katie McGarry’s writing style, and she almost reminded me of Simone Elkeles and her Perfect Chemistry trilogy. I’m excited to read this one, and see what Rachel and Ian get themselves into, and how far they truly will go just to save one another. 

The Fiery Heart, by Richelle Mead.

“In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn’t over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there’s still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure—and re-education—looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this smoldering fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.”

This series has been around for so long, and I’ve been meaning to start reading it for a few years now, but still haven’t. I’ve read the first book in the Vampire Academy series, I purchased the rest of them as well as her Bloodlines series, but still haven’t picked them up. I’m so excited and I’m always hearing and reading good reviews, but still I always find myself having to read something else first. With winter break coming up soon (ish), I might just have to marathon these two series, and finally get them read!

Loud Awake and Lost, by Adele Griffin.

“LOUD. There was an accident. Ember knows at least that much. She was driving. The car was totaled. She suffered back injuries and brain trauma. But she is alive. That’s the only thing left she can cling to.

AWAKE. Eight months later, Ember feels broken. The pieces of her former self no longer fit together. She can’t even remember the six weeks of her life leading up to the accident. Where was she going? Who was she with? And what happened during those six weeks that her friends and family won’t talk about?

LOST. One by one, Ember discovers the answers to these questions, like a twisted game of dominos. And little by little, the person she used to be slips further and further away.”

A few years ago, when I first started blogging, I headed to the library and found this creepy book called Tighter by Adele Griffin. I was completely creeped out and loved it. Looking back at it now, it probably wasn’t THAT scary, but still I read it in one or two sittings, and could barely force myself to put it down. Since then I haven’t read anything about Adele Griffin, or heard any new books coming out, until now. And that’s why I’m excited to this book to come out, I want to see what Adele Griffin has in store!

Ketchup Clouds, by Annabel Pitcher.

“Zoe has an unconventional pen pal-Mr. Stuart Harris, a Texas Death Row inmate and convicted murderer. But then again, Zoe has an unconventional story to tell. A story about how she fell for two boys, betrayed one of them, and killed the other.

Hidden away in her backyard shed in the middle of the night with a jam sandwich in one hand and a pen in the other, Zoe gives a voice to her heart and her fears after months of silence. Mr. Harris may never respond to Zoe’s letters, but at least somebody will know her story-somebody who knows what it’s like to kill a person you love. Only through her unusual confession can Zoe hope to atone for her mistakes that have torn lives apart, and work to put her own life back together again.”

I haven’t heard anything about this book, nor about Annabel Pitcher, but when I got the chance to read the synopsis, it was going right onto this release list! She’s a teenage girl who fell in love with two boys, betrayed one, killed the other and she writes letters, explaining this to a man in prison who is on death row?! Okay, how crazy is that!? Doesn’t that make you want to buy the book?

Thank you so much for stopping by, and checking out this new type of post I’m trying out! If you like it, be sure to let us know!

 Lisa

 Lisa Smith gives up the inside on how to get Pink Ombre nails!

Things You’ll Need:

 -Nail Polish Remover

-Cotton Balls

-Makeup Sponges

-Clear Nail Polish

-White Nail Polish

-Light Pink Nail Polish

-Hot Pink Nail Polish

-Raspberry Nail Polish

What To Do:

1. First things first, use the nail polish remover and the cotton balls to remove any and all old nail polish. This way you’ll start with a clean slate, instead of having remains of your old color.
2. To prevent staining on your nails, paint on a clear coat. And allow it to dry. I’m using Finger Paints Base Coat.
3. To kind of give the colors a base and a boost in vibrancy, give your nails a coat of white. I’m using Sinful Colors Snow Me White. Again let this coat dry. If you don’t allow each coat to dry, and just keep painting more and more layers, your nails will become gunky and gross.

1. Take the square side of your sponge, and paint lines of each of the three shades of pink. I’m using Sinful Colors Feeling Great, Sinful Colors 24/7 and Wet n’ Wild Tickled Pink. And dab this side of the sponge on your nails. Continue to do this on all your finger nails. If this coat is to thin don’t worry.

• Once you’re done with the first layer, continue to paint more nail polish on your sponge as needed, and add a second coat of the pinks. Also don’t worry, this step should be messy!

• After letting them dry for a bit, finally cover your nails in one more coat of clear nail polish to add that shine and smoothness!

1. Finally clean up your fingers and show of your new coat of nail polish!