Hunger Games: DISTRICT INDIE

This week’s YA Indie Carnival hot topic is The Hunger Games. Carnival writers and reviewers were asked to reap a boy and girl “tribute” to compete. Thinking on the Midnight Guardian Series, Brun and Broo Gammen immediately come to mind.

I know what you’re thinking. Yes, brother and sister against each other means big drama. However, these two have never been chummy. They despise each other and only work together when it’s of mutual benefit. They’ve squared off before.

BrooBroo strikes me as more of a Career. She has charisma, strength, and no remorse. Plus, she can shapeshift which would be the ultimate secret weapon in the arena.

BrunBrun would be more of an independent in the games. His fighting skill and speed would make him a fierce competitor, but his acute strategical prowess would put him over the top. He’d play more of a Haymitch thinking game and that smile would be bound to attract many sponsors.

By the way, I was among the insane masses who went to a midnight showing and it was AWESOME. It differs from the book several times. Some things are glaring like Buttercup is black and white. Really? His name is buttercup…a yellow cat named for a yellow flower. What were they thinking? Are there no yellow cats with a SAG card?

So, I still proclaim that the book was better; but the movie doesn’t disappoint. It’s definitely a must see. Violence is toned down greatly, the worst, in my opinion, being at the run for the cornicopia.

See what characters these participating authors would have in the games. And, as always, may the odds be EVER in your favor…

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. Dani Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews 12. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
13. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 14. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind
15. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls 16. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler
17. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter 18. TG Ayer
19. Melissa Pearl, Author of The Time Spirit Trilogy 20. Heather M. White, author of The Destiny Saga
21. Roots in Myth, PJ Hoover 22. Courtney Cole Writes
23. Four Seasons of Writing: Variable like the Employment

Giveaways, Appearances, WIPs, and Books OH MY!!!

Here’s the latest in a nutshell, from the chief nut herself…

Enter the NEW Midnight Child giveaway on Goodreads

Book Signing, 10 p.m. to midnight, Silver Screen VII Gallipolis, before The Hunger Games midnight premiere this Thursday night. Get your pic with Peeta (the cardboard version, but hey, who’s gonna know).

Getting up early the next day to be a judge at the annual Speech Meet hosted by Ohio Valley Christian School.

Mogdoc Drawing Contest for middle and highschoolers, deadline was extended to April 8th. Rules are posted to this blog or you can contact Bossard Library in Gallipolis, Ohio for the details. Winner will be announced during Library Week festivities.

Poetry Slam, University of Rio Grande, on the courts outside the Student Center weather permitting, inside Davis Center if rain, 5:30 – 7:30 pm, April 11th. I’m one of the judges, so bring your best. Event hosted by Rio Friends of the Davis Library and the URG English Honor’s Society as part of  Library Week.

Check out Transfer Student, which goes on sale today, written by fellow indie writer and all around nice person Laura A. H. Elliott.

WIP (Work in Progress): Number 1 question I’ve been asked this week…Is Book 4 the end of the Midnight Guardian series? No, I have six books planned. Book 4, Shadows Rising, is slated for tentative release in Fall 2012. The “shadows” from Ann’s campfire story in Book 1 will be prominently featured. Book 5, currently under the working title of For All Time, has an anticipated Spring 2013 release. The final installment, which I’ve given a working title of House of Gammen, will hopefully release in November/December 2013. That’s the plan. However, my aunt tells me that I’ll never be able to stop at six, so we’ll see. I’ve got some other projects in the works that may help me cope with the loss, but more about that later.

My Top 10 Favorite Love Triangles

After a week of whining to friends and family, I finally convinced someone to go with me to see Breaking Dawn. In honor of the victory, I’m posting My Top 10 Favorite Love Triangles (YA Book Edition). It was really hard to narrow them down, so if you have any additions, post a Comment.

10. Erin, Jason, Zach in the Songs of Magic series by J.L. Bryan

Jason is so completely lovable. There are hints that Erin may not be as perfect as he thinks she is. Her boyfriend, regional male model Zach, cracks me up with his “important” gigs like for Uncle Otto’s Authentic German Pizza.

9. Jack, Peter, Alice in the My Blood Approves series by Amanda Hocking

Is love about the body or soul? Alice meets Jack. She starts falling for his sense of humor and kindness. Then she meets Jack’s brother, for whom she’s feels an overwhelming physical bond.

8. Jolie, Sinjin, Rand in the Jolie Wilkins series by H.P. Mallory

Vamp or Wizard? Rand and Sinjin are equally hot, equally powerful, and equally mysterious. Jolie’s no slouch either.

7. Stefan, Damon, Elena in the Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

When attraction threatens to pull apart brothers, drama ensues.

6. Edward, Jacob, Bella in the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer

I know what you’re thinking. You whined to see the movie then you placed them all the way down the list at six? Really? Yes, really. While I love the movies, I wasn’t exactly gaga over the books which I read before I saw the movies. And this list is based on the books…hence the six. In its favor, I think there is something very insightful about the idea that the perfect person for you may not be your soul mate.

5. Mercy, Adam, Samuel in the Mercedes Thompson series by Patricia Briggs

It’s a choice between the past and present…a second chance or moving on. She’s chosen, but I can’t help but think that nothing is permanent. Forget Mercy, I’m in love with Samuel.

4. Claire, Shane, Myrnin in the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine

Okay, so you caught me. This isn’t exactly a love triangle…yet. The hints are all there and it seems inevitable. Do you love me for my mind or body? Does it make a difference if one suitor is wicked deadly and mad as a hatter? When it all hits the fan it will be amazing.

3. Katniss, Peeta, Gayle in the Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

He may need alot of saving, but I always routed for Peeta and you can’t convince me otherwise.

2. Sookie, Eric, Bill in the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris

It’ll be allright, Sookie. I’m torn between them too. Two powerful vamps who need a partial fairy to bring out the human in them.

1. Keira, Colby, William in the Midnight Guardian series by yours truly

It’s my list, so did you expect otherwise? I love writing for these characters. If love is a fire, is it better started by a spark or embers? Do opposites attract?

YA Indie Carnival: On the Rise…The popularity of YA fantasy

bryna butlerAuthors like me are clamoring to figure out what will be the Next BIG Thing. Therefore, this week’s topic in the YA Indie Carnival big top is “The Popularity of YA Fantasy”.

Anyone who reads industry blogs will see talk about dystopia, zombies, and urban fiction. I get it. I read the Hunger Games trilogy and thought it was fantastic. I’m not usually a fan of that desperate, violent genre, but I can see where books like HG could gain popularity – especially with the blockbuster movie coming out in March. So, I thought it curious when I received this topic that suggests that readers are looking for fantasy.

Then, I opened my eyes and looked at the clues. I had only to look at my DVR to see that two of the most popular new shows this season is Grimm and Once Upon A Time, both fitting very snugly in the realm of fantasy. I then pulled up the Teen Vogue website to see Kristen Stewart’s upcoming summer fantasy blockbuster, Snow White & the Huntsman, splashed all over it. There’s also The Hobbit movies that will start next Christmas.

I blame JK Rowling whose wizarding world bridged the generation gap and brought us all back to fantasy. While I’m not hiding a Gryffindor robe in my closet, I did make chocolate frogs for my son’s class last week and I bought Part 2 on Blu-ray the day it came out.

So folks, grab a handful of fairy dust, break out that spellbook, and give your dragon a kiss from me…it looks like Fantasy is here to stay.

See what my fellow carnival authors have to say on the subject:

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. Darby Karchut, author of GRIFFIN RISING
7. Lexus Luke 8. PJ Hoover, Author of SOLSTICE, Blogging at ROOTS IN MYTH
9. Cheri Schmidt, author of the Fateful Trilogy 10. Rachel Coles, author of Into The Ruins, geek mom blog
11. K. C. Blake, author of Vampires Rule and Crushed 12. Patti Larsen, The Hunted series and The Hayle Coven series
13. Courtney Cole, author of The Bloodstone Saga 14. Amy Maurer Jones, Author of The Soul Quest Trilogy
15. Dani Snell’s Refracted Light Reviews 16. Fisher Amelie, author of The Understorey
17. M. Leighton, Blood Like Poison Series, Madly, The Reaping 18. Abbi Glines, author of Breathe and The Vincent Boys
19. Kimberly Kinrade, Bits of You & Pieces of Me, Forbidden Mind 20. Madeline Smoot, Missing, Summer Shorts, and The Girls
21. Cidney Swanson, author of Rippler 22. Nicole Williams, author of Eternal Eden, Falling Eden
23. Gwenn Wright, author of Filter 24. TG Ayer
25. Melissa Pearl, author of Golden Blood 26. YA Fantasy