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Showing posts with label KatesBookClub. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KatesBookClub. Show all posts
Monday, January 16, 2012
1,000 Subscribers Giveaway!
2:08 PM
My YouTube Channel, Kate's Book Club has reached 1,000 Subscribers!
I'm thrilled!
So I'm hosting a Giveaway!
Three Winners will get their pick of one of these books!
And One Grand Prize Winner will get their choice of three!
Friday, September 23, 2011
A few book reviews
8:27 PM
The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore
Friday, September 9, 2011
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
9:00 AM
Incredible, clever, quippy, intense, lovable, funny, dark, exciting. These are just a few of the words that describe this wonderful novel!
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince
The City of Bones
The City of Ashes
The City of Glass
The City of Fallen Angels
Monday, September 5, 2011
GoodReads!
10:55 AM
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien
9:00 AM
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Thoughts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Incarceron
9:00 AM
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Friday, August 5, 2011
The Seer and the Sword
9:00 AM
Friday, July 29, 2011
The Eyre Affair
8:00 AM
Friday, June 17, 2011
Ender's Game: Book Review
9:00 AM
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Harry Potter: Book Review
7:30 AM
Monday, September 13, 2010
Book Review
7:32 PM
I haven't made a video in so long. It feels so good to get back into it! Woo!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Author
6:04 PM
I need to blog. About two hours ago, I was given some really heart breaking news. I don't want to go into detail. But ever since I've just felt the need to do something. Anything. Get my mind off of this.
So I'm going to blog. I'm going to tell you about something that has made me so happy these past few months.
I wrote a novel. It was for a program called National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo).
The whole concept of NaNoWriMo is to write a novel of 50,000 words or more all in the month of November when NaNoWriMo takes place. I had heard about it in 2008 but not until half way through the month of November, therefore thwarting any thoughts of joining. So in 2009, when November rolled around, I decided to sign up and give it my best shot.
I have tried to write novels before. I've always lacked the discipline needed to actually sit down and finish. My best attempt before 11/09 was about 14,500 words. I loved the story, but there is a big reason why I quit. I was obsessed with it being perfect.
In October of 2009, I had the opportunity to meet and interview one of my favorite authors, Shannon Hale, for my YouTube book review channel. She was speaking at the Utah Humanities Book Festival in Salt Lake City prior to our short interview. She and another author, Sara Zarr, were paired together to talk about their books and writing. They said something profound that I think every aspiring author needs to hear.
"Your first draft is just that. It's a first draft. It doesn't need to be perfect. Just write it, you can fine tune later."
That was my problem with each of my previous attempts. I wanted it to be a publishing ready novel right from the beginning. That doesn't happen. This is also the point of NaNoWriMo. No revisions. Revisions are for December. You spend the whole of November getting the novel written, fixing can be done later.
This is what I did. I ate up the experience, writing for hours and hours each day. I had my 50,000 words by the 17th. Each moment was amazing and it became a race to finish the novel completely by the end of November. I did it. The novel ended up just over 90,000 words. (For those of you who don't understand how many words that is, picture writing about 32.5 term papers for college.)
I've since read through it, doing some minuscule editing and have sent it out for a few family members and close friends to read. It's terrifying knowing that it's in the world being read at the moment. But I've gotten good words of encouragement so far.
"I have not finished your story yet, but I am really into it so far! You really are an awesome writer. Love your work!"
"I too am enjoying your book.....not much editing going on because I am getting lost in the story."
It's been such an amazing experience and I'm so glad that I did it! I can't wait for next November. I'll be writing the prequel to my current novel. Exciting! I encourage you all to join, too!
The cover was made by me, and if it ever gets published this will not be the final cover. I'm just a very visual person with access to photoshop.
Here are some of my favorite lines from the novel:
Beautiful and hollow; just like the flames.
My mind screamed cautions in my head, but my foolish heart was beating so loudly that I didn’t hear a thing.
I hope that someday everyone will get the chance to read it. But even if that day never comes, it's been one of the biggest blessings in my life.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Books!
9:00 AM
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.
Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every 30 days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.
Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers.
Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.
Buy the book on Amazon.com or by clicking on the image!
The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
The People of Sparks picks up where The City of Ember leaves off. Lina and Doon have emerged from the underground city to the exciting new world above, and it isn’t long before they are followed by the other inhabitants of Ember. The Emberites soon come across a town where they are welcomed, fed, and given places to sleep. But the town’s resources are limited and it isn’t long before resentment begins to grow between the two groups. When anonymous acts of vandalism push them toward violence, it’s up to Lina and Doon to discover who’s behind the vandalism and why, before it’s too late.
Buy the book on Amazon.com or by clicking on the image!
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period. For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare. They do not like noise.
If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period. For Mr. Bilbo Baggins visited various notable persons; conversed with the dragon, Smaug the Magnificent; and was present, rather unwillingly, at the Battle of the Five Armies. This is all the more remarkable, since he was a hobbit. Hobbits have hitherto been passed over in history and legend, perhaps because they as a rule preferred comfort to excitement. But this account, based on his personal memoirs, of the one exciting year in the otherwise quiet life of Mr. Baggins will give you a fair idea of the estimable people now (it is said) becoming rather rare. They do not like noise. Buy the book on Amazon.com or by clicking on the image!
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