Road Trip Wednesday: Autumn & Writing

Hello darlings, 

Can you believe it’s October already? I really feel like it was just July. Anyone else think it was just July? Well, that’s besides the point because I am here to talk about today’s Road Trip Wednesday topic from YA Highway. So, let’s get on with it, right?

Today’s topic: How does your writing (place, time, inspiration, etc) change with the seasons?

Road Trip Song of the Week: Too Close by Alex Clare (I’m slightly in love with the music on this piece)

Autumn. I love the fall season. The colors, the cooler weather, the turkey. Granted, in Arizona we mostly just get the turkey but hey, one out of three ain’t all bad. Maybe a month ago, I would’ve said that the different season doesn’t change my writing, but now I’m not so sure. I feel like I’m looking at pictures of fall a lot more, even though my current book is set in summer. I feel like the season itself, everything fall is, calms me down a bit allowing me to focus my thoughts before starting my daily word goal. I mean, come on. Looking at these pictures, how can you not be transported to another world? 

I also noticed that I like to be outside a little bit more. Especially in the morning. Which is beyond weird if you ask me. First, I’m not a morning person. At all. Second, it’s 100 degrees outside (that’s our cooler weather). No one in their right mind wants to be outside. However, I take my cup of coffee and my trusty iPhone, then walk around in the backyard taking pictures of our roses. And then I write. 

What about you? Does your writing change with seasons? 

Much love, 

Valia 

Road Trip Wednesday: Best Book I've Read in September

Hello lovelies, 
So I decided to participate in this weeks theme over at YA Highway. I really do love these Road Trip Wednesdays. Just a quick note or two and I feel like I'm blogging more often. (No, this is not cheating). 
Anyway, on to the topic for today: Best Book You've Read in September.
For me, it's a book I just finished and it's called Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger. 
Road Trip Song of the Week: Bullet by Jesse James (Click the link. Do it)

First of all, look at that cover. No, seriously, look at it. Isn't it gorgeous? I just love how different it is from the frontal close up that's been going around for a while now. Not that I don't adore those covers either, I do, but this one just took my breath away a little. 

Second of all, read the synopsis. Go ahead, I'll wait. 

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Now take a breath. Or two. It really is as awesome as it sounds. I'll be doing a full blown review within a week, so please come back and gush over the characters with me. 
I'm sad to report that this book is not out until March of 2013, but you MUST add it to your TBR list anyway. You won't be disappointed. Scouts honor (or something). 

What's the best book you've read in September?

Much love, 
Valia 

Road Trip Wednesday: Favorite Required Reading Book

Hello darlings, 

So this week I decided that I'm going to participate in the Road Trip Wednesday over at YA Highway blog. There's some talented people over there, so I highly suggest you head over there and check them out. But wait, you have to read this post first! 

This Week's Topic is: Back to school time! What's your favorite book that you had to read for a class?

My Road Trip Song of the Week: Here With You by Asher Monroe 

Honestly, this is kind of a hard question because I loved many of the books I had to read. While Jane Austen remains my favorite, I have to say that she wasn't the favorite I read in high school. If I had to choose one book I think I have to go with 1984 by George Orwell (either that or Catcher in the Rye). 

Most people wouldn't choose 1984 as a favorite book read, but for me it was definitely an experience. Besides steampunk of Jules Verne and H.G. Wells, 1984 was probably the first book I read that had dystopian attributes. I know Verne and Wells are not dystopian, but they wrote about worlds that were different and I read pretty much everything by them. 1984 was a different experience. it was a book that opened up a world that very well could be outside my doors. It's creepy to read about cameras on the streets as Big Brother watching and realize that there are places around here that have that. 
I'm not going to lie, it was a hard book to read. At times, I wanted to put it down and never come back to it. But in the 
end, I was thankful it was part of my reading list. 


Now, what about you? Do you have a favorite book you had to read in class?

Until next time! Have a great day!
Valia