In Time in 100 Words, and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween, darlings! Zombie up and vampire down. Today's the one day a year you can be anything you want. Enjoy it! I'm going as a Starbucks barista zombie and plan to Thriller at least once. :) How about you? Witch? Fairy? Katniss? I'd love to see some costumes!

Oh, and here's my pumpkin! A little rough, sure, but such a great time. :)

If you carved a literary pumpkin, head over to YA Highway to enter the Halloween contest. It's free books, people. Can't beat that.

So, on to the movie! I was able to see In Time on Friday.

Hi. I'm Marie. I'm a movieholic.

But don't you see? You're my support group...kind of. Umm, anyway! How about 100 words?


Humans age until they're twenty five, then they're on a clock. Time is currency. The rich have lots, the poor don’t. See the political backdrop of this movie? I loveLoveLOVED the idea, but the execution left me with 'huh?' face. Lots of 'time' puns, a look at Vincent Kartheiser post-Angel (Connor), and the extraordinary Cillian Murphy who didn't get enough TIME in this movie. I cared about his character the most, and his story didn't quite have the punch it could've.

If you're curious about Timberlake as an action star, see it in the theaters. Otherwise, wait for the DVD.





For some wonderful reason, every theater in Dayton, Ohio decided not to play Anonymous. Maybe next week...

I won't be posting on Wednesday or Friday of this week due to my Backspace Conference adventure. Speaking of, there's still time to win SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi! Just go here, and comment on my first pages by the end of the day today. I'll announce a winner tomorrow. Thanks again (and ahead of TIME) to everyone who offered advice on my query and first pages. I sincerely appreciate your feedback. :)

-Marie

SHATTER ME Winner! Plus, a Second Chance!

Hi All!

Thanks to everyone who sent feedback on my query and first pages! Such an enormous help!

The winner of SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi is....




drum roll drum roll drum roll drum roll drum roll drum roll




Georgia Summers!


Georgia, shoot me an email with book preference (e-book or hardback) and your mailing addy if you prefer hardback. SHATTER ME comes out on 11/15/11.

I'm willing to give away another copy for more feedback on my first pages of SOULSCAPE, because 1) Mafi's book is to-die-for, and 2) you all are so darn smart in your critiques. Tell you what, anyone who comments on my first pages (pasted below) by end of day Monday, I'll put into a SECOND drawing. If you already commented on my first pages (not the query), you're already in.

I caught him watching every day, drawing in my soul as though he held it on a golden chain. And I held his, but only for a moment. Only until he left. He always left.

He leaned against the cafeteria door that day with fire dancing along his skin. I choked on my apple juice when the first of my classmates walked through him like he didn’t exist. Like he wasn’t lighting up the room with the soft glow surrounding him. Like he wasn’t the center of my entire universe with his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, eyes glued to mine. No one noticed. No one saw him. Except me.

I’m yours.

The thought tingled in my fingertips and crawled through my blood, heating it, haunting me, until it burst into a starry night in the pit of my stomach. Breathing wasn’t an option. Not for either of us. He stumbled backward as if he’d heard my silent promise, his eyes still pulling me, freezing and melting me at the same time, until he touched two fingers to his lips. My world slowed, then stopped as golden light burst from his boots and swept around his legs, along his stomach, over his face until he was gone. I’d never thought my heart could disintegrate. I was wrong.

I bit the inside of my cheek and nudged my best friend’s foot.

“Did you see him, Nicky?”

He followed the thumb I threw over my shoulder.

“Wait! Don’t look!” I said, smashing my bangs over my eyes, embarrassed and stupidstupidstupid. “I mean, well, look, but don’t look like you’re looking.”

Look or don’t look, I told myself. He’s gone.

Nick tugged on the hoop above his eyebrow and swung his baby blues toward the door. “You mean Frat Perkinson?” He asked, losing his perfect cool as my ex sauntered into the room. “Please, please, don’t tell me you’re interested in him again, Kat.”

“Him who?” Leslie drawled as she squeezed into the seat beside Nick.

Penny stiffly took the one by me. My oldest friend pursed her lips as she glared at Nick over the top of her glasses. “You two aren’t talking about Nick’s newest conquest, are you?”

He leaned toward her as his lips twitched. “Try that again with less venom, Penny Perfect. I’m sure the big guy upstairs appreciates my thoughtful approach to free love. My selfless dedication to gender equality. My unceasing efforts to love all the little children of the world.”

I slipped from my seat as the daily fireworks exploded between my friends. But I couldn’t help Leslie calm them down. I couldn’t even calm myself, still catching my breath from the way the boy had kissed his fingertips as his eyes burned into mine. He hadn't just seen my face. He’d heard my thoughts. He’d noticed something bigger, something grander, buried within me and whispering…no, screaming words that made my insides twist and bleed and flare to life.

I’m yours, and you’re mine.

Okay. Let me have it! :)

-Marie

Another Plea for Help with a SHATTER ME Giveaway!

Thanks to everyone who commented Wednesday on my pitch line and query. You're all in the running for a pre-order of Tahereh Mafi's SHATTER ME (brilliant story!).


For a second chance, I'm begging for your feedback on my first two pages. The Backspace conference is NEXT WEEK. During the first pages workshop, the participating agents will stop me when they would actually stop reading. *ahem* It would be RATHER AWESOME if I made it through the whole two pages. That's why I need your help. Where would/did you stop? Why? Rip me apart!


Okay...deep breath...here's my (revised) pitch line to get you grounded, then the first two pages of my YA paranormal romance, SOULSCAPE.


Pitch!

Seventeen-year-old Katherine Wake cuts a deal with the afterlife's gatekeeper to win her dead soulmate a new body. But she never expected that body to belong to a girl, and holding up her end of the bargain may cost Kat her soul.

I caught him watching every day, drawing in my soul as though he held it on a golden chain. And I held his, but only for a moment. Only until he left. He always left.

He leaned against the cafeteria door that day, fire dancing along his skin. I choked on my apple juice when the first of my classmates walked through him like he didn’t exist. Like he wasn’t ignoring the seniors trading yearbooks and gossip and goodbyes in the space between us. Like he wasn’t the center of the entire universe with his hands stuffed in his jacket pockets, eyes glued to mine. They didn’t notice him, couldn’t see him. No one could. Except me.

I’m yours.

The thought tingled in my fingertips and crawled through my blood, heating it, haunting me, until it burst into a starry night in the pit of my stomach. Breathing wasn’t a possibility. Not for either of us. He stumbled backward, his eyes still pulling me, freezing and melting me at the same time, until he touched two fingers to his lips. My world slowed, then stopped as a whirlwind of gold light burst from his boots and swept around his legs, along his stomach, over his face until he was gone. I’d never thought a heart could disintegrate. I was wrong.

I bit the inside of my cheek and kicked my best friend’s Converse under the table.

“Did you see him, Nicky?” Nick followed the thumb I threw over my shoulder. “Wait! Don’t look!” I smashed my bangs over my eyes, embarrassed and stupidstupidstupid. “I mean, well, look, but don’t look like you’re looking.”

Look or don’t look, I told myself. He’s gone.

Nick tugged on the hoop above his eyebrow and swung his baby blues toward the door. “You mean Frat Perkinson?” He asked, losing his perfect cool as my ex sauntered into the room. “Please, please, don’t tell me you’re interested in him again, Kat.”

“Him who?” Leslie drawled as she squeezed into the seat beside Nick, Penny stiffly taking the one by me.

My oldest friend pursed her lips as she glared at Nick over the top of her glasses. “You two aren’t talking about Nick’s, umm, relations, are you?”

Nick practically rolled on the floor. “Relations, Penny Perfect? That’s the word of the day? I’m sure the big guy upstairs appreciates my thoughtful approach to free love. My selfless dedication to gender equality. My unceasing efforts to love all the little children of the world.”

I slipped from my seat as the same hateful fireworks from every other day exploded between my best friends. But I couldn’t help Leslie calm them down. I couldn’t even calm myself, still catching my breath from the way the boy’s eyes burned for me. In the moment the world had hiccupped, he saw something bigger, something grander than my mirror ever reflected, massive in its intensity and whispering…no, screaming the words that made my insides pull and twist, live and die.

I’m yours.

He’s gone.

That was our beginning.

Okay, darlings. Break out the red pens!


I'll announce the winner of SHATTER ME on Sunday, as well as post an updated query and two pages for any last minute feedback. Then I'm off to Backspace!


-Marie

My First RTW, and a Plea for Help!

I've read so many Road Trip Wednesday posts throughout my ten (TEN!) months in the blog universe, but I've never participated. That. Ends. Today!

This week, the lovelies at YA Highway have given me the chance to gush about the best book I read in October. SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi blew my cheetah mind, darlings! Juliette can't touch anyone without hurting, maybe killing them, until now. I can't do it a bit of justice by talking about it, so you must, YOU MUST, go pre-order it. I'll even give you the link. My first ARC (YAY!), and I'm obsessed with Warner, Mafi's sexy, psychotic villain. INCREDIBLE! I gobbled up this book in one day, and you will too. Cross my heart. 


Okay. Off topic, but so important!

I leave for the Backspace conference in a week, *breathes into bag, breathes into bag* so I desperately need your help today and on Friday. In this post, I'm giving you my pitch line and query. If you have time, comment to your heart's content. RipRipRip, because it needs to entice the agent-darlings at the conference to want my book like I want Warner.

To bribe persuade you, I'll enter anyone who comments today and/or Friday (2 entries if you comment both days) into a drawing for a copy of SHATTER ME. Kindle or physical copy, depending on winner's preference. I'll pre-order it for you this weekend.

Okay, here's my pitch line and query. Help!

Pitch!
Seventeen-year-old Kat Wake cuts a deal with the afterlife's gatekeeper to win her dead soulmate a new body, but it's not the body she expects, and holding up her end of the bargain may cost Kat her soul.

Query!
Dear Agent,

When seventeen-year-old Kat Wake learns her true love, Tate, is a soul without a body, she cuts a deal with the afterlife's gatekeeper to win him a new one. But his new body belongs to a girl in their tiny, Bible Belt town. Kat faces the anger and judgment of her family, her community, and even herself as she fights for her love.

But love doesn't slow the hands of the gatekeeper's clock. Kat must still hold up her end of the bargain and steal her tortured English teacher's memory of the afterlife. He somehow knows her plan, though, and has other, wicked ideas for his favorite student. If Kat doesn't succeed in her task, she'll lose everything. Her love. Her life. Even her soul.

My YA paranormal romance, SOULSCAPE, is Gayle Forman's If I Stay meets Inception, and is complete at 60,000 words. This story may stand alone, but has series potential.

Thank you for your time and consideration.



That's it! You're all delightful!

-Marie

100 Words for The Three Musketeers

I didn't see the 1993 Musketeers, so I can't make a fair comparison, but the semi-drunk, quasi-retired musketeers (not to mention, the arrogant D'Artagnan) made me constantly oooh, aaaah, and from-the-belly laugh. They’re on a mission to save France from a bloody war with the Duke of Buckingham (Bloom). An entertaining couple of hours (thank you, Planchet!), brimming with creative swordplay, and all the Mr. Darcy (Matthew Macfadyen) you'll ever need.

CAUTION, though! Orlando Bloom NEVER PICKS UP A SWORD! I couldn't speak for several minutes when I realized it. Guess I'll have to wait for the sequel. :)


A ton of contests are happening all over our beloved internet. Check out this, this, this, and this for ARC's (sorry about all the links, but...ARC's!!!!!), and Miss Snark for the upcoming Baker's Dozen.

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT, POSSIBLY LIFE-ALTERING NOTE!

Got your attention? hehe

If you have any chance at all to get a copy of SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi before it comes out on 11/15/11, GET IT. Finished it in A DAY, and I'm a super slow reader. The devious, spine-tingling, bad boy villain grabbed and crushed my heart in his first scene. I'm his forever!

Happy Monday!

-Marie

When Sheldon met Moss

What would happen if

           





                                                 THIS MAN

met

 THIS OTHER MAN?






*tap, tap* "Moss?" *tap tap* "Moss? *tap tap* "Moss?"

"HeLLO, Sheldon!"

Fiction makes us happy dance for so many reasons! Have you ever met a character who you thought, "Wow, -insert character from different work- would LOVE this person?" TV, movies, books, cartoons. It could be anything, really? Like, I think Pumbaa (Lion King) and Alan (Hangover) would get along swimmingly. :) Right?! And, of course, Moss and Sheldon. Could you imagine the bazingas? hehehe That sounds much dirtier than I intended.

Who are your long-lost, fiction buds? Love to hear from you!

Housekeeping, you want me fluff pillows?!

Okay, THE Janet Reid is having a contest here for a crit or books, all of which are several shades of awesome. And Miss Snark's First Victim is hosting the 2nd annual Baker's Dozen for YA soon. Submissions start on Nov. 1, so polish that logline and first 250 words.

Happy Friday, darlings!

-Marie

Words v. Numbers

Stereotype me.

Go on.

No? Oh...well...umm, this will be a pretty boring post then.

Okay! I'll be you for a sec.


Me: Stereotype me.

You (as played by Me): Okay. You're an Accountant, a BEAN COUNTER. Must be awesome at math and loveLoveLOVES taxes. You're reserved, always quick to contemplate, but never rash in your decisions. And CONSERVATIVE! Accountants are way too conservative.

Me: *devil's-a'comin' scowl*

You (as played by Me): I mean...

Me: Yeah, yeah, yeah! I asked for it.


So, how did momma's little bean counter (worst. descriptor. ever) decide to write a book? Simple!

The same way that lawyer, and those teachers, and HEY YOU! Yeah, you in the corner, that stay-at-home dad. The same way all of you started. With an idea. With a notepad. With a passion. Enjoy it!

BTW, I'm terrible at taxes, can do as much math as the +, -, *, /, and % buttons on my calculator allow, and am the exact opposite of 'reserved.' :D  Our professions don't make us certain things. Our actions do that!

Second BTW! Buy a copy of Lauren Myracle's SHINE. Google her name if you don't know why. :) See? Actions!

-Marie

Jump Back! FOOTLOOSE Review in 100 Words

An accident kills five seniors in a tiny Georgia town, and the church-based community bans 'fun.' Three years later, a mouthy Boston gymnast shakes everyone up.

Someone took a good-but-hard-to-believe story (a ban on public dancing?), and added five scenes to make you invest more in the characters. Whether you loved or hated the original FOOTLOOSE, you'll enjoy this touching remake. There are changes, sure, but so much from the 80's is back in style, you may not notice all the throwbacks. :)

Williard still steals the show, and boy, can those kids MOVE! Everybody, including you, cut loose!


For any other Hunger Games groupies out there, the promo poster with Katniss's mockingjay pin was shining in the 'Coming Soon'  advertisement outside my local theater. I squealed like a potbelly pig and took a picture. Several people passed in that eerie silence that means they're afraid of you. Yeah.....lol.

Hyperventilating-excited!

-Marie

Got Advice? Well, Sharing is Caring!

Loglines are tough stuff. Just like queries, synopses, and writing in general.

But back to loglines!

The FABULOUS Linda at Write Escape is hosting a logline bonanza (MSFV-style!). Check it out here and give as much advice as you can. This community is so SO generous ALL THE TIME. From auctions, to spreading the word, to helping each other. I've never seen this much genuine heart in all my 28 years. I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

:) Sappy Cheetah Out!

-Marie

Call for Log Lines!

I don't post on Thursday, I know! But this is such a HUGE opportunity.

Go here, email your log line, get it critiqued.

Easy as pumpkin pie with that overly large dollop of whipped cream on top, and a sprinkle of nutmeg for equal parts fancy and wonderful-smell. Umm, yeah. Easy as pie. hehe

-Marie

Music: Strong Women and Needy Men

So, I'm driving to work on Tuesday. In those twelve minutes, I hear two songs, a traffic report, and the weather. The traffic and weather were CRAZY interesting, but I won't get you too excited first thing in the morning. It was the music I wanted to talk about, a pattern in music, actually, I've noticed a lot lately.

Strong woman who don't need a man *snap, snap, snap,* especially that insensitive jerkface that dumped them.

AND

Pining men who'll give anything, ANYthing, to win back the strong and sexy girl of their dreams.

Can't we set any of these people up? :) I think a lot of songwriters could be super happy if they, you know, listened to each other.

Personally, I like the arrogant men with moves like Jagger. Umm, yeah, back to the bad boy thing, huh? Yep!

What are you listening to right now? Bonus points if it's My Chemical Romance (LOVE)!

Also, head over to The Rejectionist's blog and bid on an arc of Tahereh Mafi's SHATTER ME. Great, great cause!!!!!

-Marie

REAL STEEL! Really Worth It! 100 Word Review

Charlie Kenton unexpectedly gets custody of his estranged son, Max, and they spend the summer finding, building, and training an outdated sparring bot, Atom, to get in the robot boxing game, the only kind of boxing in the future. Charlie's a ton of terrible things (drinker, gambler, charmer…), but he used to be different. He was a great boxer with heart, heart, heart. As he trains Atom, as Max makes a friend for the first time, as the two finally find each other, Jackman reminds us how awesome Redemption can be.

Excellent movie for the whole family. Don't miss it!



One hundred words can't do this movie justice! Gaaarrrrrrrr.

When I saw the previews, I basically turned up my nose. I thought it was Rock 'Em, Sock 'Em Robots, The Movie. I never expected the effects to be stunning, and I certainly didn't dream I'd cry. Yes, you heard right. I cried! At the end of this Cinderella story, I wanted to stand on my seat and cheer out loud, so take your friends, your family, your kids, your date, because everyone can enjoy Real Steel.

Not convinced? Okay, here's the kicker. A robot...does The Robot. Yes! Go! Now!!!!! ;)

-Marie

Mr. Jobs, Twitter, and baby cheetahs (uh, NOT MINE!)

Hi all, and Happy Friday!

Sad note: The Twitter community understandably teared up Wednesday evening when Steve Jobs passed away. He was an innovator, a think-out-of-the-boxer, who made his dreams come true. No matter what. Whether you liked his methods or have never supported Apple, there's no denying that the man made things happen. For that, he will be missed, but remembered always.

Smiley note: Speaking of Twitter, I'm on Twitter!!!!!! Yes, I finally got my cheetah tail off the couch and figured out what the heck # and @ now mean. There's a cutesy, red button to your right if you'd like to follow me. I'll return the favor, of course. Thanks for the push, Laura Stanford!

Awesome, cutest-thing-EVER note:

Two words.

Flufftastic. Adorableness.

Don't miss it! :D

-Marie

September Books and, as always, a NYR Update

October's here! That means Halloween's on its way, and if you're like me, Halloween means one, incredible thing.

COSTUMES!

There may be a costume contest happening at the Cheetah the first week of November, so dress up, have fun, and get those pics ready. Yay!

NYR's are back on track. The eating's a bit better than August (aka, no longer approaching the land of Epic Fail). I've been mixing up my exercising, which makes it bearable, even fun at times. :) If it's not fun, I won't do it. How about you? Do you absolutely dread exercise? What about going dancing? Probably not as much, huh? Then make that your exercise!

Weekly movies are never an issue, as you all know. October begins the Fall Movie Season, and there are some great ones coming! Real Steel (Hugh Jackman...drool!), Footloose, The Three Musketeers, In Time (that one's going to be aMAZing), Anonymous, Melancholia, and so, SO many more! Which ones are you excited to see?

I'm adding to my writing resolution. I want to have half of my draft polished up and ready for critting by the end of the month. If the first two pages and query pass the test of my fantastic writer-friends (and probably all of you darlings if I decide to post them on the Cheetah for open opinions), I'll be confident going to the Backspace Conference on November 3-4, 2011. Oh, by the way, are you going to Backspace?! You should!

Now, on to the books! I had a late start, then came down to the wire on the minimum resolution number.

1. Evermore: The Immortals by Alyson Noel
Ever's family died in a car accident, leaving her to live a pampered life with her awkward aunt. Except that now she can hear other people's thoughts. Until she meets Damen. Think Twilight meets Sookie Stackhouse. A pretty good read that leaves us wondering what Ever will decide about her apparent immortality. The 'ghost' sister is the best part of the book, acting as both the comic relief and the sad, wandering soul who can't find her way. Thanks for the recommendation, Koreen!

2. Shattered by Sophia Sharp
Another series, I know! Shattered felt a little flat at the beginning, then the middle gives a ton of information, and the end flies, leaving our main characters in a hopeless situation. This is not a stand alone book (my opinion). Laura is self-admittedly average, normal, boring, as are her town and friends. Until, wait for it, a new boy shows up. ;) Logan's different, and he literally shows Laura a brand new world, a forbidden world. When they're discovered, Laura must flee her old life or face death. I found Shattered more Y than A, if you know what I mean, but it passed my 30 page rule.

3. The Great Snape Debate by Amy Berner, Orson Scott Card, and Joyce Millman
Holy. Hot. Dog!
This collection of essays was written after HBP, but before DH, and is split down the middle, half in favor of Snape's innocence and half convinced of his guilt. I won this excellent read from Lisa at Read. Write. Repeat, and it was exactly what I needed to bridge the gap between my second viewing of Deathly Hallows, Part 2 and my visit to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in November (hy-per-ven-til-breathes into bag-breathes into bag!!!!!!!). Not only do the authors explore Rowling's masterpiece, but they dig into Snape's character and analyze his truly heartbreaking life, guessing at his fate in DH, which of course, we all know *sniff*. When you need a Harry fix and fanfiction's just not doing it, this book won't disappoint.

Plans for October:
I'll be finishing The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People this month as CPE for my Accounting certification. It's dry, but it's a necessity. I would also like to read Where She Went by Gayle Forman since I'll be referencing If I Stay in my query for FREEFALL (btw, the awesome Laura Stanford offered up an alternate title, SOUL-CROSSED, for my YA Paranormal Romance. Thoughts?). I also need (yes, NEED) to read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Every time I see a trailer for the new movie, I'm equally creeped out and intriqued. Must. Read. Book. I'm giving myself the minimum once again to make time for proofing and polishing and painstakingly perfecting my MS (perfecting was just a 'P' word; I'm confident, but not crazy!).

What are your October goals for everything? Are you a Halloween lover like me? Do you love it so much you've recently purchased a Dachshund because you want to buy one of those hot dog suits for him/her? hehe. Come on. You can admit it!

Enjoy carving pumpkins, eating lots and lots of pie, and attending as many Fall festivals as you can. Thanks for visiting the Cheetah!

-Marie

Moneyball Review, and Hunger Games teaser!!!!!

First of all, I've seen the Hunger Games teaser several times and always forget to mention it (sorry!). Here's a link. There's no Peeta, but I was hopping in my chair. Literally. Raise your hand if you're excited!!!

Also, the fabulous Amparo Ortiz created a new and crazy-awesome blog called Reel YA where she reviews teen books and movies. I love it! Check it out here. So worth it, especially since she reviewed 10 Things I Hate About You last week. I heart Heath Ledger (miss you)!

Okay! I caught Moneyball over the weekend. Here's 100 words for your reading pleasure!


Combine Pitt's looks, a true story, and Jonah Hill's timing, and you get the inspirational Moneyball. Retired baseball player Billy Beane teams up with economist Peter Brand to put together an inexpensive, winning team based strictly on the numbers. Though the Athletics don't win the World Series, the road to the playoffs will hold your attention for about seventy five percent of the movie. The other half hour kind of drags.

Shining spot? Young actress Kerris Dorsey who plays Beane's daughter. Cute as a button with a sweet-as-cotton-candy voice that tugs at your tear ducts. This girl needs more work!


That's it! An excellent date movie. Sports for the guys, and Brad for the girls. ;) Next week will be a fight between Hugh Jackman and Anna Faris. We'll see who wins!

-Marie