Month: April 2013

Captive Spirits by M.A. Adair … a captivating cover!

Captive Spirits by M.A. Adair … a captivating cover!

  Captive Spirits Aztar is a planet where no one remembers a time of peace. Fear of those who wield a mystical cruelty holds people as CAPTIVE SPIRITS. All that remains is the waning belief in a savior who will someday come to restore peace 

Letter M: Mary or Melkizadek? Let’s discuss crazy names in YA fiction (with S.M. Boyce)

Letter M: Mary or Melkizadek? Let’s discuss crazy names in YA fiction (with S.M. Boyce)

Hey guys! I’m S. M. Boyce (call me Boyce)—fantasy author of the young adult Grimoire Saga. I’ve been invited over to chat about unique names in novels, particularly young adult. This is an open discussion, so I definitely want to hear your thoughts on this 

L – Live and Learn, because what teenager really knows everything?

L – Live and Learn, because what teenager really knows everything?

Today’s A to Z challenge is brought to you by the letter L! One of my favorite things about writing for the younger crowd is that I sometimes have to relearn a topic. I know because I’m ‘old’ but my teenage characters would have experienced 

K – Kilograms vs. pounds … or while vs. whilst. How authentic should we be?

K – Kilograms vs. pounds … or while vs. whilst. How authentic should we be?

Did you ever watch the movie How to Train a Dragon? It’s actually one of my favorite movies. BUT! I have a big problem in how it was ‘cast’. Cast? you ask. Yes, let me explain. How to Train your Dragon is set on the 

I – means first person perspective

I – means first person perspective

Ever read a book, open the pages and feel like the narrator is telling you HIS or HER story? That’s the first person perspective in writing. If you open a book and read he said and she said and instead of where you might find 

The letter H is for ‘hung’. Do you know what that word *really* means?

The letter H is for ‘hung’. Do you know what that word *really* means?

There are four letters in the word hung. There are four letters in the word cool. They have never changed. But the meaning certainly has. At least if you’re between the ages of oh … 14 – 25? For the oldies, let’s check … Per 

Letter G : Gossip, gossip, gossip — “Goddess Girls : Pheme the Gossip” Are you or are you not

Letter G : Gossip, gossip, gossip — “Goddess Girls : Pheme the Gossip” Are you or are you not

Goddess Girls #10 – Pheme the Gossip Get to know Goddess Girl Pheme…the original “gossip girl”! As the goddess girl of rumor and gossip, Pheme prides herself on being “in the know” and having the most up-to-date info on anyone and everyone at Mount Olympus 

F is for … well what other than the F word? How many are we offending by using it?

F is for … well what other than the F word? How many are we offending by using it?

F is for … well what other than the F word? Yes, yes, I’m talking about that word. That word. And since we’re talking about YA novels, let’s talk about that word. Appropriate or not? Real or not? I have to say, as a teen, 

E is for the Elephant in the room

E is for the Elephant in the room

You’ve heard the expression “the elephant in the room, right?” According to Wikipedia, this means: “Elephant in the room” is an English metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is either being ignored or going unaddressed. The idiomatic expression also applies to an obvious problem 

The letter D: is for Dog. Every book should include at least one animal. Yes? No? Maybe so?

The letter D: is for Dog. Every book should include at least one animal. Yes? No? Maybe so?

More on the A to Z challenge today! There’s nothing like a good dog right? Loads of movies feature dogs as ‘man’s best friend’ and that applies to YA fiction, too. I’ve read books with cats. Books with guinea pigs. You name it, some animal 

The letter C – Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you should. Right?

The letter C – Just because you CAN doesn’t mean you should. Right?

Right? Isn’t that the old saying? Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Examples in young adult literature: – drugs – swearing – sex – violence One could argue those are the realities of teen life though, right? They cuss, they have sex and 

The letter B – brought to you by backstabbing b**ches … are they real and necessary in YA books?

The letter B – brought to you by backstabbing b**ches … are they real and necessary in YA books?

So as I said, this is post #2 in the A to Z Challenge. This one though, is more a philosophical question about young adult books. I know there’s been tons of talk about sex in YA novels, but I’m asking about those girls that 

Letter A : it’s not for adultery … no, not at all.

Letter A : it’s not for adultery … no, not at all.

Today begins the 26 day, A to Z challenge. What is this? It’s a 26 day blog challenge. That means, for 26 days, in April, I will be blogging. I’ve chosen the Young Adult genre (in general) as my theme for the month, so you’ll