Indie Author Spotlight - Joanna Penn

Today's post is the first in a new series called "The Author Spotlight." Going forward I will be posting interviews with some great independent and traditionally published authors. It's a great opportunity to discover new authors to read or learn more about your favorite authors. If you have recommendations for authors to interview for future author spotlights, please leave a comment below! My first author spotlight features Joanna Penn. She is an author, internet entrepreneur and international speaker based in London, England. Joanna's novels have sold over 40,000 copies, becoming bestsellers in the Thriller and Action Adventure categories. I reviewed the first in her ARKANE series, Pentecost, in my January 2013 Book Reviews. Joanna's enthusiasm for writing shines in her responses!

What is your favorite part of writing a novel and why?

I’m a research junkie so I love indulging myself with reading stacks of books and going on research trips before I start to plot in detail. I always have a rough idea of the theme and then I go from there. I also really enjoy the editing process, honing the manuscript from a rough first draft to something I am proud of. Probably the hardest and least enjoyable part for me is the first draft! It’s such hard work and for me, slow going, although I am trying to rectify that in 2013 with more stringent daily word count goals.

The characters of the ARKANE series travel all over the world and the descriptions of these locations in your novels are beautifully detailed. Tell us about the research that goes into an ARKANE novel (or any novel) to depict these great scenes, especially for locations you haven't visited.

I am a very visual person as well as addicted to travel so most of the places in the books are places I have been and that resonate with me. The opening scene of Pentecost features the burning ghats in Varanasi, India and when I was there a few years back, I knew I had to write about it as the experience was so powerful. Jerusalem is also a special place for me so it appears in all my books so far.

For places I haven’t visited, for example, Tabriz in Iran, I try to use Flickr.com which has a lot of peoples holiday snaps and less posed photos which give more of a glimpse into the reality behind the ‘official’ websites or guidebooks.

What is the toughest part of being a indie author?

To be honest, I absolutely love my life right now! I was an IT consultant for 13 years working in large corporates implementing financial systems. I was spiritually and creatively stunted, so how can anything compare with that?

I love the entrepreneurial side of being an indie author, so I actually enjoy marketing and project managing my books as well as the writing and creating. We have so much control as indies and I enjoy the experimentation that it allows. I have also actively chosen this life after several years of research and learning about the industry, so I know what to expect. I work hard and I love it!

Perhaps, like any author, the tough part is how long it takes to build an audience for your books and the inevitable bad reviews. But I also know several “overnight successes” who make an incredible living with their books, and it took them 8-10 years to get to that level and I’m only 4 years in. So give it time!

What are your current writing projects? When can we expect a new novel from you?

Exodus came out just over a month ago, that’s the 3rd in the ARKANE series, so I am now working on the first of a new series, working title Hunterian. It is a crime thriller, set in London - here’s the blurb.

LONDON. When the body of a young heiress is found dissected at the Hunterian Museum within the Royal College of Surgeons, Detective Inspector Jamie Brooke is in a race against time to find the killer. An ancient ivory figurine found inside the body is the only lead and she enlists Blake Daniel, a reluctant clairvoyant, to help her discover the meaning behind the figurine and the message it holds.

As Jamie and Blake delve into an increasingly macabre world of body snatching, dissection and the genetic engineering of monsters, they must fight to keep their sanity, and their lives.

My literary agent is interested in trying to sell that for a traditional book deal, as I am looking to be a hybrid author - best of both worlds! After Hunterian is finished, I’ll be getting back into the ARKANE series with the fourth book focusing on Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism.

I'm always looking for recommendations of great self-published books and indie authors. What are a few of your favorite self-published fiction books?

Here’s a few that spring to mind off the top of my head, although there are LOTS out there these days:

For horror, I recommend Martin Lastrapes - Inside the Outside.

For literary fiction, Orna Ross - Blue Mercy.

For action-adventure, David Wood - Buccaneer.

For romance/ new-adult, try Marion Croslydon - Oxford Whispers.

Thanks so much to Joanna for her thoughtful answers. If you want to learn more about her, visit her fiction website or connect with her on twitter @thecreativepenn. Her novels, Pentecost, Prophecy, and Exodus are available on all major ebook platforms including Amazon.

January 2013 Book Reviews

I skipped the usual monthly book review post in December in favor of My 12 Favorite Books of 2012 so this month I am posting the reviews of books I read in December and January. I read 6 great books the past two months, one of which was extremely long. This post also includes my first pick for a new book of the month series. Each month, I will pick a book of the month from those I read and give a copy away! But, first here are the books I read from the past two months.

The Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans - I featured this book as one of my favorites in 2012, but here's the synopsis if you missed it. I followed Rachel Held Evans on and off for the past few years through her blog. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Her story of living biblically is laced with humor as she attempts activities outside her comfort zone. But, behind the humor and funny stories, Rachel Held Evans tells the stories of women in the Bible, celebrates women of all types, and finds truth in her year of biblical womanhood.

Pentecost by J.F. Penn- I try to read about one self-published book a month and Pentecost was my pick for December. I enjoyed Pentecost, the first in the Arkane series by Joanna Penn. The thriller is in the realm of Dan Brown's work, mixing history with religion in a fictional manner. I thought the book was well written, but a little too predictable. I also thought the two main characters, Morgan and Jake needed to be developed more, but I anticipate that will happen in Prophecy, the second in the series. If you are looking for a fun thriller, it's a great ebook for under $5.00.

A Clash of Kings: A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin- Compared to the first book in this series, A Game of Thrones, this second book in the series was a letdown for me. I really enjoyed the first in the series, but I was lost in the family names, kings and length during the second. Furthermore, there was little forward progress for the plot and story lines in the first half of the book. However, I did enjoy the Tyrion chapters. His character shines again in this book. I hope A Storm of Swords will take the action of the last 100 pages and continue to move forward. If so, it will be a great book.

Turning Pro by Steven Pressfield- Turning Pro is a short book for creatives who are looking to make it- to become a professional writer, artist, musician, etc. Turning Pro is essentially a follow up to Pressfield's The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks & Win Your Inner Creative Battles. The War of Art focuses on Resistance - or what stops us from pursuing our call to write. In this book, he revisits the resistance theme and takes it further, listing qualities and attributes of a professional. The last 1/3 of the book is worth reading over and over if you are looking to become a professional in a creative field.

City of the Falling Sky by Joseph Evans- City of the Falling Sky was an enjoyable young adult book and a great effort by Evans for his first book. This was my indie pick for January. On the positive side, I loved the main character, the setting and the science fiction aspect. I read through the book quickly which is a testament to a good storyline. On the negative side, I felt at times the story fit together a little too conveniently and the book lacked something to tie it all together, but I can't quite pin down what that something is from the first read. But, I definitely will look for the next in the series and continue reading. Evans is an author with great potential!

Book of the Month

Running the Rift by Naomi Benaronis January's book of the month. This book has been on my to-read list for a long time and I'm so glad I finally read it! Running the Rift is a story of a boy chasing his dream to become an Olympic runner within the horrifying backdrop of the Rwandan genocide in the early 1990's. The story follows Jean Patrick, the protagonist, from his childhood into his young adult years. Benaron gives this character a great voice and provides a great picture into Rwanda leading up to the horrors of the genocide. At times the story was predictable, but I was so invested in the characters, I didn't care. I've seen a little bit of criticism for this book because of its simplicity in writing style, but I don't see that as a negative quality. Benaraon wrote a beautiful and tragic story which also educates us about a terrible point in history for Rwanda and the world.

The Giveaway

If you would like a copy of Running the Rift, simply leave a comment on this post or send me an email telling me your favorite winter activity. I will pick a winner form the responses in the next week and send them a kindle version of Running the Rift. Happy Commenting!

Why I Love Goodreads

I've mentioned Goodreads several times in passing on my blog, but I have never given an in-depth explanation. I am a big fan of Goodreads. Goodreads is a fantastic tool for readers no matter if you read a book once a day or once every few months.

Goodreads is an online database and community devoted to readers. First and foremost, Goodreads is a database of millions of books, including self-published books. The book listings include a short book description, author biography, reader reviews and average review rating for the book (out of 5 stars). The database is great, but it isn't much different than searching for a book on Amazon.

Goodreads excels when you setup a free account. From there, you can organize books you have read and want to read onto shelves. I recommend adding a few of your favorite books on the read shelf with 4 or 5 star ratings so Goodreads can give you recommendations. Goodreads gives personalized recommendations for new books to read based on the books you read and rated. I've discovered great books through this tool and I think it's a much better algorithm than Amazon's recommendations.

In addition, Goodreads has a huge social component. You can follow your friends and what they are reading. You can join forums to discuss books or get more book recommendations. They also have a fun book trivia section and conduct author interviews. Perhaps the most unique aspect of Goodreads is the giveaways. Authors and publishers can set up a giveaway through Goodreads to promote their books. Anyone can enter and there are hundreds of book giveaways on a daily basis to win free paperback books- no strings attached!

Currently, the best way to use Goodreads is through your internet browser. They also offer apps for ios and android, but they don’t have the complete functionality of the website at this time. The app experienced has improved over the past year and I'm sure will continue to improve.

If you haven't checked out Goodreads yet, go do it. It's worth it!

This post is part of a small writing project called The Fiction Readers' Handbook. This project will be available to newsletter subscribers in a few weeks for free!

Zelda vs. Gannondorf the Tapeworm

Today's post is the fourth story in the Adventures of Zelda short story series. This story is different from the past three in format and content. Let me know what you think and your favorite Zelda story so far! 

Since Hannah and Nate adopted me, I’ve experienced many adventures and encountered dangerous foes. I faced the leaf pile, Vacuum, a snowman and Squeaks the squirrel. But, the most terrifying villain I faced was a tapeworm Nate named Gannondorf. Gannondorf arrived suddenly and quietly one day, causing me terrible pain for several days. Usually, I protect Hannah and Nate, but this time, they saved me.

This story of Gannondorf started on a day like any other. I woke up, went for my morning walk, played for a bit, and took my mid-morning nap on the couch while Hannah and Nate went to work. I woke up that evening to the door opening. Nate walked in and asked if I wanted to go out. I jolted up to meet Nate at the front door. But, when I started moving, my stomach seared with pain. The pain was terrible and debilitating. However, I desperately needed to go out, so I fought through the pain and went outside with Nate. I quickly did my business and returned inside to lay next to Hannah. I tried to jump on the couch, but I was too weak. I missed the couch and toppled backwards on the ground. Fortunately, Hannah took pity on me. She picked me up and set me next to her. I curled up next to her legs and fell asleep.

I woke up to the sun light seeping through the curtains and my body in serious pain. I looked around and realized I was in the bedroom. I couldn’t recall moving to the bedroom the previous night. I let out a moan of frustration.

“Morning Zelda,” said Nate. He started to massage my body, but I moved out of his reach.

“Zelda, do you want to go out?” whispered Nate. I didn’t move. “Okay, guess not,” he said. I was still exhausted. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

Nate and Hannah were both out of bed when I opened my eyes again. I couldn’t hold it any longer so I slowly walked to the front door and sat. I hoped going outside would make me feel better.

“Okay, let’s go out,” said Hannah from the kitchen. She put on her shoes and coat. We went to the backyard and returned inside. I laid down in my dog bed and tried to get comfortable without any luck. There wasn’t any way to lay without feeling the searing pain. I didn’t know what to do. I started shaking. What was wrong with me?

“Why are you shaking Zelda?” Hannah asked. She walked over and started petting me. Her soft touch calmed my tremors and I allowed my eyes to close.

I woke up with no sense of how much time passed. I didn’t feel any better. Hannah was sitting in the chair across from me in the living room so I moved next to her and laid down. The movement caused my pain to worsen and my tremors returned.

“Zelda, what’s wrong?” Hannah asked. I looked at her and tried to convey my pain with my sad, listless eyes, because I knew she couldn’t understand my thoughts.

The next time I woke up Nate was home. He greeted me with a friendly hello and pet. I started shaking. I couldn’t stop myself.

“I think we should take her to the vet,” he said to Hannah.

“Me too,” said Hannah. “I’ll call now.” She walked into the other room and returned a few minutes later. “We have a four o’clock appointment.”

“Oh wow. We better get moving! ” said Nate. We loaded up into Nate’s car and I felt a glimmer of hope. I loved car rides and maybe we were going somewhere to make me feel better. When we stopped, I hurried to get out of the car. I sprinted towards the door, before I stopped dead in my tracks! I recognized this building. The last time I was here I left with six fewer teeth and an underside in pain. I was not going inside again. Nothing good happened there.

“Let’s go Zelda,” said Nate. I stood motionless. “C’mon, the vet is going to help you feel better.” I didn’t believe him, but I also didn’t have any other choice. I reluctantly followed Hannah and Nate inside.

The variety of animal smells overwhelmed me when I walked inside. Momentarily, I forgot why I was there. I let my nose guide me around the room until Nate and Hannah led me down a hallway into a room with a woman in a white coat. They started talking but I didn’t recognize many of the words.

“It’s okay Zelda,” said Hannah. Nate handed the white coat woman a bag.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes with a diagnosis,” said the white coat woman. Nate picked me up from the counter and placed me in his lap. I wanted this nightmare to be over. I laid down and closed my eyes until I heard the door open.

“Zelda has a tapeworm. I am writing a prescription to cure her. She will be back to normal in a day or two,” said the white coat. “Thanks so much,” replied Nate. The white coat said goodbye and left.

“Did you hear that Z? You are going to be fine.” said Hannah. I really hoped Hannah was right.

“We should call the tapeworm Gannondorf,” said Nate.

“What? Why?” asked Hannah.

“Because Gannondorf was the villain in the Zelda video games,” he replied.

“Oh yeah, I remember now.” Hannah turned to me, “Don’t worry Zelda, we will help you vanquish the evil tapeworm Gannondorf.” I didn’t recognize some of the words Hannah said to me, but I think I got the message. Hannah and Nate had a plan to save me from Gannondorf and then I would be back to my normal walking and playing pug self. We headed back to the car and returned home.

At home, Nate called me to the kitchen. When I walked into the kitchen, I smelled something delicious. I realized the smell was peanut butter as I approached Nate. I love peanut butter. Maybe that’s what would make me feel better!

Nate knelt next to me with peanut butter covering his finger. He signaled for me to eat it and I didn’t hesitate. The peanut butter was delicious. I was in heaven. But, then I noticed something small in the peanut butter. It was hard and tasted bad. I stopped licking the peanut butter.

“C’mon Zelda, you need to eat it, it will make you feel better,” said Nate. He slopped more peanut butter on his finger and called me over. I stared at him. I realized this may be part of the plan to save me from Gannondorf. I started licking and forced the gross food down my throat. I swallowed, drank some water, and reclaimed my spot on the couch.

I slept through the night and woke up with the sun in the morning. I slowly stood up and waited for the pain to return. Nothing happened! I walked to the other side of the bed and stood on Nate to wake him up. I felt discomfort, but nothing like the past few days. I licked Nate’s face.

“Okay Okay. Somebody must be feeling better.” he said. I walked to Hannah and jumped on her. She grumbled at first, but then petted me. “Do you want to go for a walk?” asked Nate. I ran to the front door.

“It’s good to see Zelda prevailed over Gannondorf the tapeworm,” said Hannah with a grin on her face. I waited by the door with squirrels on my mind. I knew one of my responsibilities as a dog was to protect Hannah and Nate- my owners. But, I’m glad they look out for me too.

Character Development and Character Sketches

Any writer or reader will tell you character development is a key component of any story. People want to read about characters who are likable and relatable. We want characters who make mistakes, but learn from them and move forward. We want characters who make us laugh and make us cry. Character sketches are a tool I use during the writing process. Before I start a short story or novel, I create character sketches for the main characters. As I write the story or novel, I revise and add to these sketches as needed. I have ten categories for my character sketches.

Physical Description

Personality

Habits/ Mannerisms

Backstory (Your Character's life before the story starts)

Worldview

Goals & Motivations

Inner Demons

External Conflicts

Character Arc (How Your Character Grows)

Notes (Miscellaneous)

These categories can overlap or may not be applicable in certain stories and settings, but they give me a great baseline for character creation and development.

Character sketches can also be used as a personal development tool. I recommend targeting one aspect of your life for the sketch (such as health, career, family, etc), but creating a general character sketch about yourself is fun and thought provoking too. Here's an example of a targeted personal character sketch:

Character Sketch for Kristen Otte the Writer

Physical Description - 5'4, Brown Hair, Brown Eyes, small & skinny, but in shape

Personality - Type A so organized with lists and calendars, but likes to laugh and make people smile

Habits / Mannerisms - Chewing on my shirt collar, biting my fingernails.

Backstory - College graduate, child of divorce, high school basketball player, avid reader and writer since I was a kid, became a christian in high school

Worldview - People are good and will support you in your endeavors.

Goals & Motivations - To support myself financially through writing

Inner Demons - Fear of Failure

External Conflicts - Money for editor & design services, time to write

Character Arc - Keep writing, publishing and querying until I reach my goal. Learn from my mistakes and the process and move forward.

When you get to the character arc section, the character sketch becomes very useful. Use your sketch and figure out how you can move past your inner demons and external conflicts to grow, develop and accomplish your goal.

Whether you are a writer or not, character sketches are a useful tool. I encourage you to take some time and create one for next novel or your next goal!

The Magic Four: Four Successes in 2012 and Four Projects for 2013

Happy New Year Friends! It's the time of year when people review the past year and set goals for the new year. I set new goals and targets as I finish projects, but it's always beneficial to review the past year and look ahead. The magic number of writing projects I can handle currently (while working another job) is around four. So here are the four successes of 2012 and the next four projects for 2013.

2012 Successes

1. When Light Hits the Path

On January 4, 2012, I released When Light Hits the Path in kindle and paperback forms. When Light Hits the Path was in many ways an experiment for me. I wanted to learn about the self-publishing process. The best way for me to learn is doing something and learning along the way. I formatted my book for kindle, smashwords and paperback. I designed the cover. I experimented with marketing. And I went for it. Honestly, the process was fun and I learned so much. The feedback on the book was positive and I sold more copies than I expected in the first month. When Light Hits the Path is by no means a bestseller, but it was a great first work.

2. Finding Love and Laughter through Story - The Relaunch of KristenOtte.com

2012 was not my most consistent year of blogging. For the first half of the year, I struggled to write posts and find good topics. I didn't know the purpose of my blog or where it fit with the rest of my writing. However, when I finished the first draft of my novel this past summer, I realized the future direction of my writing was fiction. I researched and brainstormed the direction of KristenOtte.com in connection with my fiction writing. By the end of summer, I found my niche. Finding Love and Laughter through Story is the new tagline. The blog is a resource for readers, writers, and those who are looking to create a new story in their lives. Since the relaunch, traffic at my blog has increased, along with newsletter subscribers, twitter followers, and comments on the blog. Thank you!

3. Story Workshops

In 2012, I led my first story workshops. I love teaching, writing, and helping people find their calling and the story workshops combine all three! Discover Your Story is a great workshop for those who want to share their story through a memoir, blog, or other writing and speaking avenues. During the workshop, participants will identify their life shifts to map out the timeline of their story. Participants also complete a redemptive outlook exercise to find meaning in the negative life shifts and a theme to their stories. Live Your Best Story uses the elements of story such as concept, character, and theme along with the 7 Point Story Structure to identify a new trajectory for your life. By the end of the workshop, participants have a detailed roadmap to live a meaningful story. Live Your Best Story is geared for people in midst of transition- recent graduates, retirees, and those exploring a career change. I continue to refine the workshops and look forward to my opportunities to present in 2013. (see below!)

4. The Legend of Zelda

Finally, a big change in my household was the addition of Zelda the Pug to our family. It's amazing how much a small 12lb dog can change your life and habits. But, Brian and I love having her around in the house. I especially like the company at home when my husband is working. On the writing side, Zelda inspired me daily and I decided to create a short story series based on her character. Besides being tons of fun to write, The Legend of Zelda series engages readers with my fiction on the blog. The positive feedback on the series is encouraging and I look forward to developing her character in 2013. If you missed any of the first few stories, catch up here.

2013 Projects

1. The Reader's Handbook

The Reader's Handbook is a resource for readers. In this handbook, I explain why reading is important and beneficial. I also outline the genres of books and help find the right books for you. I make sense of ebooks and print books, self-published books, and traditionally published books along with reading apps for your tablet, using the local library and the website Goodreads. Finally, I share tips and tricks to improve your reading speed and comprehension. The Reader's Handbook will be available early this year (late January or February) and is available only to newsletter subscribers (so if you aren't reading this through my mailchimp email newsletter, you should sign up now to get it!)

2. The Legend of Zelda Collection

The Legend of Zelda short story series will continue into 2013. In 2012, I released 3 stories, one a month, starting in October. I will release one Zelda story each month for the next three months as well. These six stories, along with six more Zelda stories will be self-published in a Legend of Zelda collection this spring. I'm aiming for an April release and super excited about it!

3. The Novel

Writing a novel is a long process. The first draft is complete, along with my first round of beta readers (Thanks Sarah & Jenny!!). My beta readers were extremely helpful, so the next stage is serious revisions in the next few months. After these revisions, the novel goes back to beta readers. Once my revision stages are complete, I plan on querying this novel to agents. But if agents don't bite, I probably will self-publish. The timeline on this project is very fluid, but in a perfect world, I would start querying in the summer of 2013.

4. Story Workshops

My goal in 2013 is to lead at least one story workshop per month. I am teaching the workshops in conjunction with local city recreation departments starting in March. In addition, I am scheduling my story workshops at local churches and looking into other possible venues. The Story Workshops are a great way to get my name out there, sell some books, and help people. If you are interested in participating in the workshop or hosting, read more about the workshops here and contact me with any questions.

Those are my four writing successes from 2012 and four writing projects for 2013.

What were you up to in 2012?

What are your 2013 writing or reading projects?

Finally, I will be taking entries for the December Book giveaway until Sunday January 6th. Read how you can win a copy of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus here.

Kristen's 12 Favorite Books of 2012

I love reading. This year I read 55 books according to Goodreads. I picked out some of my favorites, twelve to be exact, to share with you, along with my favorite book of the year. Most of the books are best sellers in their respective genres, but hopefully you find a new book to read. Also, read to the bottom for a chance to win a copy of my favorite book of 2012! Note: Some of the books listed below I reviewed in my monthly book review posts.

My Favorite Book of 2012

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

The Night Circus is about two magicians, Celia and Marco, who are dueling through the arena of a circus. But, Celia and Marco fall for each other during the game which has to end with a winner. The imagery is absolutely stunning in this book and Morgenstern switches point of view throughout the book, along with the timeline so pay attention as you read. But, somehow she brings it all together with an incredible ending.

General Fiction Picks:

The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach - The Art of Fielding follows a young shortstop, Henry, through his college career. Henry is destined to be a major league player until he makes a big mistake one game which destroys his confidence. Although the backdrop to this novel is baseball, the novel is centered on character development and relationships. The book is very well written. The only downside is its length.

The Magician King by Lev Grossman - The Magician King is the sequel to Grossman's The Magicians. I was curious to see where Grossman would take Quentin, the protagonist, and the story of Fillory after a shaky start in the first novel. In the sequel, the characters grew up and matured and I liked Quentin much more. I found the Magician King flowed much better than the first and I flew through the second half of the book, anxious to see what would happen next. If you like fantasy (Game of Thrones, LOTR, etc), this series is worth a read.

A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin - I jumped on the George R.R. Martin bandwagon due to the success of the HBO series. I read the book before seeing the first season and I loved it. A Game of Thrones is a great fantasy epic filled with sex, violence, and power plays, but it's a ton of fun to read. There are many characters and plot lines to follow, but I didn't have a tough time following along. Martin keeps you guessing and you never know who he will kill off next. The second in the series is next on my to read list.

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn - The plot revolves around a married couple- Amy and Nick. On their 5 year anniversary, Amy goes missing. The plot follows the search to find Amy. Quickly, the suspicions turn to Nick. But the story is much more complicated and Flynn surprises readers every step of the way. Gone Girl is well-written and a great read, but the book is very dark and twisted. If you don’t mind dark and twisted, definitely pick this up.

The Redeemer (Harry Hole Series) by Jo Nesbo - This is the fourth and my favorite book in the Harry Hole crime thriller series by Jo Nesbo, a Norwegian author. The Redeemer has a perfect mix of clues, twists, and turns to keep you guessing on who hired the hit man and why. I also enjoyed this book because we see growth of Harry’s character. Harry learns he can fight his alcoholism and survive. If you like Steig Larsson’s writing, pick up this series and start with the first book: The Redbreast.

Young Adult Picks:

Divergent by Veronica Roth - Divergent is the first of a dystopian young adult trilogy. The novel has all the elements of a great story- intriguing characters, suspense, mystery and conflict. Roth’s novel isn’t perfect though. At times, I disliked the main character Tris. I wanted more backstory to the factions and more character development for the secondary characters. But, I finished the book wanting more. And for me, that means the story was a great one.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard - I read the book after seeing the first two seasons of the television show (not sure I should admit that). I definitely liked the book better than the television show. Pretty Little Liars has an element of mystery that kept me reading and it’s a very quick read. Plus, the book tackles teen issues such as bullying, lying, homosexuality, drugs, and cutting. It’s worth a read if you are interested in the contemporary young adult genre.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - If you haven't read this series yet, it's worth the hype. The first book in the series, The Hunger Games, is my favorite, but the whole trilogy is great. And the movie is pretty good too.

Faith Based Books:

The Year of Biblical Womanhood by Rachel Held Evans - I followed Rachel Held Evans on and off for the past few years through her blog. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. Her story of living biblically is laced with humor as she attempts activities outside her comfort zone. But, behind the humor and funny stories, Rachel Held Evans tells the stories of women in the Bible, celebrates women of all types, and finds truth in her year of biblical womanhood.

Love Does by Bob Goff - Bob Goff's book is a refreshing read about faith and following Jesus. This book's style and message reminded me greatly of Donald Miller who is a good friend of Goff's and helped him write this book. These similarities are a good thing and I flew through the book and finished feeling refreshed. Goff mixes the interesting stories from his life that shaped him to be different and follow Jesus in a radical way. I recommend this book for both believers and seekers.

Heroes & Monsters by Josh Riebock - I picked up Riebock's book on a kindle daily deal for $1.99. I had not heard of Riebock but Heroes and Monsters looked like a memoir I would enjoy. By the end, I was surprised how much I enjoyed the memoir. Heroes and Monsters deals with regular issues that we all face and wrestle with such as love, grief, depression and faith. Riebock separates Heroes and Monsters from other faith based memoirs with his unique voice and narration. It reminded me of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers because of the openness and honesty throughout. I look forward to reading more by the young author in the future.

The End of 2012 Giveaway

What was your favorite book of 2012? Why?

Leave me a comment on this post for a chance to win a free book! One lucky commenter will win a copy of the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (paperback or ebook version - winner's choice). Spread the word and happy commenting!

Merry Christmas!

[vimeo 56034210 w=500 h=281] Merry Christmas! from Kristen Otte on Vimeo.

By the way, Zelda hates wearing her Christmas Sweater. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Peace & Love,

Kristen & Zelda

A Pug Christmas Story

Today’s post is the third short story in the series: The Legend of Zelda. Once a month I post a short story here on the blog. The first story is The Legend of Zelda: Part 1 Beginnings and the second is Zelda vs the Leaf Pile. Today's story is Christmas themed. I hope you enjoy!

The Legend of Zelda: A Pug Christmas Story

The trees are barren, the air is cold, and the cool breeze creates an uncomfortable chill. The sun is out for less of the day.  The morning grass is crunchy, and the puddles on the edge of the yard are frozen. All of these signs point to the unfortunate truth. Winter is here.

I am not built for winter with my short hair and small body. I return from walks with a nasty case of the chills, so my time outdoors is limited. Luckily, I have Ben and Lucy to keep me busy. My favorite toy is the purple owl. The owl has the loudest squeaker. To top it off, the wings of the owl crinkle. I love playing with it.

As usual, I take my afternoon nap while the family is gone. I wake up mid-afternoon to the front door opening. I slowly wake up and greet Hannah, Ben, and Lucy.

“Ben, grab Zelda,” Hannah says. Ben scoops me up as Hannah opens the front door. Nate walks in carrying a pine tree, and he places the tree in front of the big window.

I have seen flowers and small plants indoors before, but never a full-size tree. I search my brain for a reason to plant a tree inside our home, and the only idea that pops in my head is squirrels. Maybe we are getting a pet squirrel? I walk over to the tree and sniff for clues. My sniffs turn to sneezes instantaneously. I back away. The tree top almost touches the ceiling. Compared to the trees outside, it’s a small tree, but in our home, the tree is huge. But I find no trace of squirrel in the tree. Hmmm…

A few minutes later, Nate brings boxes from the basement, cluttering the living room. Hannah, Nate, Ben, and Lucy spend the next hour playing with the tree. First, they wrap strings around the tree. On the strings are small colorful lights. Next they place balls, other objects, and statues on the tree. Everything they put on the tree resembles a toy.

“Does Zelda have an ornament?” Ben asks.

“Here it is,” Nate says and hands something small to Ben. He hangs it on the tree, but I can’t see it from my vantage point.

I investigate the tree a second time. My sneezes and itchy nose return. I find a little man with a red hat, red coat, and a long white beard hanging within my reach. I stand on my hind legs and use the windowsill to maintain my balance. I knock the little red man with my paw, and he falls to the ground. I grab him with my mouth and run to Lucy.

“Hi Zelda,” Lucy says. “Mom, Zelda has something.”

“Zelda, what is that?” Hannah asks. “Nate, can you help me out? I think Zelda has Santa.”

“Maybe Z is trying to tell Santa what she wants for Christmas,” Nate replies with a grin.

“Zelda, drop it,” Nate commands. I drop the statue on the floor immediately. “This isn’t a toy,” Nate picks up the statue and places it back on the tree above my reach.

I run to the tree and find a small, red ball hanging low on the tree. I grab it and bring it to Ben.

“Zelda, give me that,” Ben says. I run away, and he chases me.

“Mom, Zelda has another ornament,” Ben yells in between breaths.

“Get it from her Ben. She can’t have them,” Hannah yells back.

“I’m trying,” Ben shouts.

I run until Ben pins me in a corner.

“I have you now!” Ben grabs for me. I start squirming to avoid his reach, but in the process, I drop the red ball.

“Ah hah!” Ben says. “I got it Mom!”

“Thanks dear. Bring it back to the tree. Let’s move the ornaments up so Zelda can’t reach them,” Hannah says.

“But then I can’t reach them either,” Lucy says. She has her bottom lip turned up.

“I’m sorry Lucy, but we don’t want Zelda to break the ornaments or to hurt herself with one,” Hannah says.

“It’s not fair,” Lucy cries. She walks into her bedroom.

“Not again,” Ben says. “Lucy is always crying.”

“Be nice to your sister,” Nate says. “She’s young. You cried a lot at that age too.”

I run up to Ben with one of my tennis balls.  We play until I get tired. I lie down on the couch, and I fall asleep.

I awake to some noise outside and an empty house. From my perch on top of the couch, I see a man walking three dogs on the sidewalk. I sprint to the window. I stand up, resting my front legs on the windowsill. I start barking. One of the three dogs sees me and barks back. Soon all three dogs are barking. I am pumped. I race to the other side of the tree to get a different view. I stand up on the windowsill, and my front feet slip. I fall into the tree. I hear something hit the floor, but I regain my balance and stand up on the windowsill. The dogs are far down the street. I return to the floor to see what I knocked down. It’s a very little boy.

I pick it up. It’s a little hard for a toy, but it will work. I take it to the back bedroom and bury it in the blanket on the bed next to a milk-bone.

After an afternoon away, my family returns home with bags and boxes. They cover the boxes with colorful paper, put them under the tree, and call them “presents.” Over the next week, more presents appear under the tree. I use the presents to reach more toys on the tree. I’m gathering a collection of the toys. I know I shouldn’t, but I can’t help myself.

Everyday when my family leaves, I look for another toy to collect. So far, I have a small red ball, a small green ball, one little boy, and one little girl. I hide the toys in my favorite milk-bone spots. I have one in my crate under a blanket, one sandwiched between cushions on the couch, and two under the blanket in the spare bedroom.

“Hey Z, what are doing?” Ben asks when he arrives home that afternoon. Hannah joins us in the living room.

“Ready for Christmas Eve dinner?” Hannah interrupts.

“Yes Mom. Can we bring Zelda?” Ben says.

“Sure, why not. My family loves Zelda.”

We spend the evening with Hannah’s family. I love their home, especially when I know the visit is short. I run and sniff all corners of the house while the family eats, drinks, and laughs together. When we return home, I am exhausted. I head straight for bed and drift to sleep.

I hear Hannah and Nate wake up early the next morning. They are normally slow to get out of bed, but not this morning. I get up from Lucy’s bed and follow them into the living room, being careful not to wake Lucy. Hannah and Nate put more presents under the tree and just as they finish, Ben and Lucy wake up. The whole family gathers around the tree. They pass each other the presents and open them one by one. They smile and laugh throughout the entire process.

“Zelda, do you want your Christmas present?” Ben asks.

Ben grabs a stocking hanging on the wall and places it in front of me. I walk over and sniff it. Inside, I see something green. I stick my paw in the stocking and try to get it out. It is firmly jammed in the stocking, but I am able to wedge my paw in the stocking and move it towards me. As I put pressure on the green thing, it squeaks.

I recognize that sound!

I move it a little further; I can grab it with my mouth. I pull out a brand new green owl with a perfect squeaker. I run sprints with it through the house. I bring it to Ben, and we play tug of war.

“What is this?” Hannah asks.

“Huh?” Nate says.

“Come here Nate,” Nate walks over to Hannah.

“Look at this,” she says. She lifts the pillow on the couch to reveal the small green ball from the tree hidden next to a milk-bone. “Zelda must have hidden this ornament here.”

Hannah found my hiding spot. I’m in trouble.

“So our pug hides Christmas ornaments?” Nate says with a big smile.

“I guess so,” says Hannah chuckling. “I wonder if we will find any more around the house.”

“Probably. Oh well, it’s Christmas,” Nate says.

“That it is,” Hannah says. She leans over and kisses Nate.

“So what would you like for Christmas breakfast?” Nate asks.

“Pancakes!” Hannah says. Nate goes into the kitchen and starts cooking breakfast. I follow him into the kitchen. Maybe he will accidentally drop some pancakes or bacon on the floor. If not, it’s still been a great morning. I got a new owl, and I didn’t get in trouble for hiding the tree toys. But I still have no idea why we have a tree in our living room!

The Gift Guide for Readers & Writers

Christmas is just around the corner and time is running out to pick up a gift for that special someone! Lucky for you, I compiled a few ideas for that special person who loves to read or write.

For the Writer:

Scrivener ($50): Scrivener is the best writing software out there for Mac or PC. The capabilities are endless for scrivener and I now use Scrivener for almost all my writing. There are templates to use for novels, screenplays, nonfiction and more. The organization is fabulous. Writers can break down their work into scenes and chapters. Plus, scrivener compiles your documents into many different formats so you can print, email, or even put into e-book format. There is a bit of learning curve, but it's worth the time and money.

Moleskine Notebooks ($10-$20): Even if with the digital age, I still carry notebooks with me to jot down notes and ideas throughout the day. You pay a little more for the Moleskines due to their higher quality paper and binding, but they feel great to hold and the paper is great for note taking. There are a variety of sizes and options in the Moleskine Catalog.

Mind/Word Mapping Software: When I'm outlining a concept for a story, I love using mind maps to plot my ideas. I use Ithoughts HD on my iPad for mind maps, but there are a variety of apps out there depending on your gadget or computer of choice.

For the Reader:

Kindle Paperwhite ($139): I love my kindle even though it's a few years old. I love taking my kindle outside and reading in the sunlight (something you can't do with a tablet). The latest kindle, the Kindle Paperwhite, is the best eReader available. Amazon updated the contrast and the font options, making the kindle reading experience even more like reading a paperback book.

Library Card & the Overdrive App: The e-book revolution is growing and libraries are catching on. If you have a library card for your locality, chances are the library is now checking out ebooks. Overdrive is an app to manage the e-book and audiobook checkout process. The Overdrive App is available on all major mobile devices including Android and iOS, along with PC and Mac.

Books: You can't go wrong with buying books. Check out my book review posts the past few months or stay tuned early next week when I post my favorite books of 2012.

I hope everyone is having a joyful December!

Peace & Love,

Kristen