I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I’m taking a big break. There will be an update later.
Goal Achieved!
JEH
Author: byjehunter
I'm the author of the Black Depths and Artifacts of Avalum series. I'm also a reader and I love posting young adult book reviews and blogging about everything related to books. In the morning, I can be found drinking coffee and wishing it was still dark outside. In the afternoon, I'm stuck at my day job, and in the evening, I'm probably working on my latest creation.
What I’m Reading: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman
Young Adult Book Review: This Shattered World by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner (Starbound Trilogy #2)
Early this year I reviewed These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner, book #1 of the Starbound Trilogy. I loved that book, so I wasn’t surprised when I feel right into This Shattered World. The second book of the trilogy has two different main characters, Jubilee and Flynn, but the tension, world, and romance were similar enough that I found the transition easy. Because the mystery is bigger than the characters themselves, it is easy to get hooked.
I listened to This Shattered World as an audiobook. It was nice that the book was ready by two narrators, one for the part of Flynn, and one for the part of Jubilee. Without two separate narrators, I might not have so easily been able to tell the chapters apart. There’s one more book left in this trilogy, and I imagine I’ll be listening to it soon.
4/5 Stars
JEH
What I’m Reading: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep
Young Adult Book Review: Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep (Mythos Academy #1)
I recently had the privilege of attending a writing conference, where Jennifer Estep was one of the Key Notes. I had never read anything from her before, and I wanted to be familiar with her work before the conference, so I picked up Touch of Frost, the first book in Estep’s Paranormal Young Adult series, Mythos Academy.
Now, the Mythos Academy name tells you almost everything you need to know to get started reading Touch of Frost. First, it relies heavily on world mythology; Second, the Gods are back (bad and good), and Third, you’re in for a whole lot of fun. The main character in Touch of Frost is Gwen, who’s a gypsy newly arrived to a school full of warriors, most of which are also blessed with some sort of bonus magical power. Of course, as always happens, things go wrong and Gwen ends up attempting to sort things out.
Touch of Frost was a quick, easy read, set in a world that I would love to live in. There were a few weak elements with the plot, but I could overlook them because the pace was quick, and there was never a slow moment. There are currently six books in the series (apparently #7 is currently only going to be release in Germany. But six books is plenty to keep me reading for a while.
4/5 Stars
JEH
Writing 365,000 Words in a Year Update #29
Well, this is it. I’m getting near to the end. There will be one more post after this one, to end on a nice round number, and then this series, and hopefully my goal, will be complete.
As it stands right now, I’m 43,767 words behind my target of 365,000, and I have until September 4th to get there! Now, I would be panicking if I hadn’t already signed up for the 3-Day Novel Wring Contest and have the entire long weekend booked off for writing. Not to mention that since I’ve returned from vacation, I’ve also returned to my writing groove.
At the moment, I’m catching up on blogging (obviously), and then I’m going to get today’s words wrapped up, hopefully with a couple more than the required 1,000, so that I can make a dent in my deficit. Now that I’m nearing the end of my writing year, I’m realizing what a huge goal I set myself—especially considering that I have a full time day job and two small children. And then there is my 60 book reading goal for 2017! Next year I’m already planning to take it a bit easier, but more on that later. Time to get my daily writing done, sone enough it will be time to relax.
JEH
Road Trips and Toadstools
Recently, I went on a ten day road trip, which began with the conference I recently blogged about (if you haven’t gone to a writing conference and you’re a writer-Go!-they are amazing). Road trips too, can be an amazing source of creative inspiration. But they are also busy, so of course, I got little to know work done.
But what I did get was a great idea for the book I’m going to write for the 3-Day Novel Writing Contest, which runs from September 2nd to 4th this year. I’m at that stage where I’m sorting out characters and names and dramatic points, but it should, hopefully, come together in time.
Below are a few of my favorite scenic pictures I captured on my iPhone during the road trip. I took a load of pictures, most of which are still on my digital camera and have yet to be reviewed. I know I took more than a couple photos for inspiration. Mostly, I loved the woods.
JEH
What I’m Reading: Fat Vampire by Adam Rex
Young Adult book review: Fat Vampire: A Never Coming of Age Story, by Adam Rex
I picked up this audiobook on a whim before a long road trip, mostly because it was available, but also because it sounded interesting. Fat Vampire follows Doug, a fat, fifteen year-old with very low self-esteem as he attempts to adjust to his new life.
At first, I thought the book was quite funny, and I was interested in Doug, in seeing him become a better person (or vampire). But in the end, I found his lack of growth a bit off-putting. My favorite character was Sejal, Doug’s crush and an exchange student from India. This book was a case of secondary characters being stronger than the main character. This book may have worked better if it hadn’t been written mostly from Doug’s point of view, since after a while he just felt whinny. It wasn’t a bad audiobook, it was well read with a fair bit of action, but definitely not among my favs.
3/5 Stars
JEH
Weekly Writing Prompt
Write about someone wandering past this sign.
Conferencing the Weekend Away
I spent the past weekend at the annual When Words Collide readers and writers conference. This was the third time I'd attended, and, as always, I had a great time. I got to listen to various speakers, some of headliners being Guy Gabriel Kay and Jennifer Estep, who both write genres I love. I had plenty of time to visit with friends and meet new people, and even stayed out late to listen to some up and coming writers read their work. 
If you love reading or writing, and have never been to conference like that before, I highly recommend it. It will be an experience you won't forget.
JEH
Weekly Writing Prompt
I’m sure you’ve heard that the eclipse is coming. Here’s a photo prompt along the same lines.
What does your character think when they see the blood red moon? What does it represent to them?
Happy National Book Lovers Day
Here's a picture of a small portion of my to be read shelf. Feeling the love!
J. E. H U N T E R 