YA Indie Carnival…Location! Location! Location!

From the trapeze artist’s tent, I can hear the barker calling already, “Location! Location! Location!”. This week at the YA Indie Carnival the topic is Settings.

I am constantly enamored by the rural vistas of the Ohio River Valley (above). This photo actually comes from my farm which was the inspiration for the Hayes Family Farm in the Midnight Guardian series. One of the things I love most about those novels is that they give me the chance to write about a place that is very familiar, the Hayes Farm, and a place that is completely make believe, the Mogdoc Empire, a land of endless midnight sealed from the human world.

I’m currently working on a werewolf trilogy set in Eagle River, Alaska. I’ve had a blast researching this very real place while coming up with a few artistic twists of my own. I had the usual lineup of questions like average temperature per season and sunset times (especially important in a werewolf novel), but I also found myself asking some pretty odd questions like is the grass “crunchy” in the spring.

Thinking on all of this, I can’t help but agree with scholars whom conclude that the setting can be another character. I think this was very true for Great Serpent Mound in Midnight Child.

What would happen to your favorite book if you picked up the characters and plopped them down on the other side of the globe?

See what these talented writers and reviewers have to say on the topic…

1.	Laura A. H. Elliott author of Winnemucca & 13 on Halloween, Book 1 in the Teen Halloween Series	2.	Bryna Butler, author Midnight Guardian series
3.	Heather Self	4.	T. R. Graves, Author of The Warrior Series
5.	Suzy Turner, author of The Raven Saga	6.	Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy
7.	Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog	8.	K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed
9.	Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series	10.	Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
11.	Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey	12.	Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
13.	Gwenn Wright, author of Filter	14.	Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy
15.	Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga	16.	Courtney Cole Writes
17.	Liz Long | Just another writer on the loose.	18.	Ella James
19.	Maureen Murrish	20.	Valerie Sloan

Top 10 Most Memorable Graduation Scenes

The YA Indie Carnival topic of the week is Graduation/Last Day of School. Keira and her friends are still over a year away from graduation, but I’ve been working on the scene since the very beginning. Where do I get the inspiration? I’m so glad you asked. Here’s my personal Top 10 Most Memorable Graduation Scenes (TV & Movie).

10. Facts of Life – First to show graduation for the organized chaos that it really is.

9. She’s All That – Freddie Prinze, Jr. and a soccer ball, need I say more?

8. Billy Madison – On the list for sheer magnitude of graduation scenes, he graduated a grade every two weeks!

7. High School Musical 3 – I’ll admit it. I watched it and I loved it…maybe even shed a tear.

6. 90210 (original) – My high school boyfriend (who’s now my hubby) was totally addicted to the show and made me watch. I remember snuggling up to watch this episode which aired days before my own college graduation.

5. Eclipse – I absolutely loved Jessica’s speech. “Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love…a lot. Major

YA Indie Carnival: YA Picks for Mom

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY

This week in the big top we’re discussing books that Mom would love. In preparation for today’s assignment, I asked my mother what she is currently reading. She said that she’s reading Midnight Child again. I absolutely didn’t expect that. Ain’t that like a Mom? Supportive even when we don’t know they’re being supportive.

I asked Mom to put together her TBR list. I needed to stop and explain what TBR is, though I didn’t mind. You definitely won’t find her on

WIP: Shadows Rising Sneak Peek

This week’s YA Indie Carnival topic is Work in Progress. I have a special treat for you, an exclusive sneak peek at Book 4 in the Midnight Guardian Series, Shadows Rising, which hits stores this fall.

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The scent of orange and ginger meat roasting over an open flame was nearly choked out by the stench of the alley. Even in the ever present darkness, buyers and sellers packed the market. Low voices rumbled in heated negotiation over things like food and weapons, lit only by a sprinkling of strategically placed torches on the towering outer walls of the Citadel.

The night was warm, season-less, like it always is on the other side of the barrier. Ann Martin and Keira Ryan kept watch over the scene from a secure rooftop above the marketplace just outside the mogdoc Citadel, the home of the Empress.

A light breeze drifted past and lifted Keira’s hair. She moved the stray strands from her face and as she did, her eyes wandered to the satin sky.

“Do you think they miss them?” Keira asked with a sigh.

“Who misses what?” Ann replied, unable to tear her eyes away from her duty.

“The stars,” Keira said. “Do you think

Pinterested in All Things Mogdoc?

Have you ever wondered what Ann’s Fall Ball formal looked like? Having trouble imagining the caverns below the Mogdoc Citadel? The Mogdoc News Network has now spread its influence to Pinterest. Pinned to the “All Things Mogdoc” board, you’ll find images that remind me of the Midnight Guardian and her world.

While you’re there also check out the “YA Books for Kindle” and “Nerd Nirvana” boards.

Does a Sequel Affect the Original?

When asked if there would be a sequel for E.T., Steven Spielberg said that he would never make it. He felt that a sequel would just degrade the original work. Spielberg has, of course, gone on to make many sequels of many of his movies, but still left E.T. as a standalone.

So what goes into the decision to create a sequel? I suppose the answer is both emotional and logical. I believe the decision comes from

YA Indie Carnival: This week’s topic is what?

I’ve mentioned in this blog before that even as a teen, I walked the straight and narrow. I’ve always been a good girl. I guess that’s why I had to ask for clarification when I received this week’s topic “LOL! Yeah, that. 4/20 scenes. They go to 11.”

I had absolutely no idea. My mind was a complete blank.

So, like every normal person in today’s society, I googled it.

Dead end there. The only things that popped up were pages with the date 4/20 in the text. Finally, a fellow carnie made a reply that shined some light on it for me. Ohhhh! Pot…mary jane…they’re talking about marijuana. Right? I felt a little like the oooh cat from Puss in Boots.

Sorry, I don’t have any book excerpts that focus on the wacky weed. However, I did stumble across the following selection from Midnight Child about the absolutely wacky Nedda (no weed required). Nedda is Arden’s former mentor and the official historian of the guardians. She holds every detail of that history in her head and thus has been “driven mad by the details”. Hope you find her madness as delightful as I do. Enjoy.

“I do not intend to stay that long,” he said. He couldn’t stay long. That was the thing about Nedda. The longer you stayed, the crazier she became. “I just need…”

He was at a loss for words. What did he need? He needed answers. That’s why he was here, but before he could say that,

13 Coolest Superstitions for Friday the 13th

Welcome to the YA Indie Carnival. This week’s topic is Friday the 13th. Do you suffer from Paraskevidekatriaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th)? If so, here’s a superstition refresher for good luck on one of the year’s unluckiest days.

13: When you move, throw your broom away. It is unlucky to bring an old broom into a new house.

12: When salt is spilled, toss it over your left shoulder quick to prevent the bad luck that spilled salt brings.

11. A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown.

10. Singing at the dinner table is bad luck.

Easter Eggs: Midnight Child

Happy Easter everyone! As has now become tradition, I present the 2nd annual Easter egg post. This year’s post is all about “Easter Eggs” (those little hidden treasures) in my newest book, Midnight Child, Book 3 in the Midnight Guardian series.

So, here are the stories behind the story. Enjoy!

frog princess ornament & decorating gingerbread men on Christmas Eve – Keira mentions to Brun that her favorite Christmas ornament is a frog princess. This is a reference to a new trilogy that I’ve been working on.

YA Indie Carnival: Spring Break

The carnival topic is SPRING BREAK!!! I’m traveling, so I’ve turned this week’s post over to the news “professionals” at MNN, the Mogdoc News Network.

http://mogdocnews.tumblr.com
Top 5 Spring Break Destinations on the Banished Continent

After you visit MNN, come on back and check out Spring Break posts from these other active YA Indie Carnival contributors:

Laura A. H. Elliott	Heather Herself	Amy Jones	T.R. Graves
Suzy Turner	Cheri Schmidt	Rachel Coles	K.C. Blake
Patti Larsen	Dani Snell	Fisher Amelie	M. Leighton
Kimberly Kinrade	Cidney Swanson	Melissa Pearl	Courtney Cole