Category: Kisses

Kisses, Road Trip Wednesday, writing

My writing time…

Elodie

Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This week’s topic: With Thanksgiving on the horizon we want to know how you balance hectic times like the holidays with your writing schedule.

Well, first, I miss Thanksgiving. I loved that holiday when I lived in the US. I was usually in charge of the mashed potatoes, both the garlic ones and the sweet mashed potatoes with marshmallows…YUM! We also had stuffing, and cranberry sauce, and turkey, and fresh green beans with bacon. Oh and the desserts…Hmmmmmmmmm

Plus, everybody used to come over, it was relaxing and fun, and just great!

Now, that we´re back in Europe, we don´t celebrate Thanksgiving any longer, but I can relate to hectic times.

By Ye Rose Studio, Providence, R.I. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
For the past months, I´ve spent 12 to 14 hours outside of the house…Work has been very busy, and I spend more than two hours a day commuting. That leaves little time for anything else but eating, showering and sleeping, and trying to keep up with everything (including time with my husband, keeping in touch with family and friends…) Luckily, I can write during my commute. My commute includes walking, bus, the train and the metro. While sitting in the train, I get to write. I wish I had more time, but for now I don´t so I have to do with what I can get.

During the holiday season such as Christmas and New Year´s, I write very little. We travel to France for Christmas, and then drive back to my in-laws in Germany for New Year´s. I sometimes get a few writing sessions in, but I don´t schedule them, as I want to be as flexible as possible for my family and friends during that time.

So, tell me…are you planning on writing after eating the Turkey? (or whatever you´re eating tomorrow :-))

If you´re travelling today, be safe!

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Books, Kisses, Road Trip Wednesday

Best Books of the Month…

Elodie

Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This week’s topic: What was the best book you read in March?

This month, I’ve read less books than in the previous ones. I’ve been immersing myself in revising, beta-reading and Stephen King’s ON WRITING…but luckily, all the ones I’ve read brought me a little something something…

              

WANDERLOVE by Kirsten Hubbard : more on this story on Friday (keeping the suspense for Tracey’s YA Book club)

AMY AND ROGER’S EPIC DETOUR by Morgan Matson: I really really enjoyed this novel. The setting was great and made me think of my upcoming honeymoon so definitely a winner for this month! I thought both characters were  well developed and I got lost in their story. And there are definitely a lot of swoon-worthy moments…and those which squeezed my heart. Always a plus! I am definitely adding SECOND CHANCE SUMMER to my TBR list. Thanks again Jaime for pointing this book out to me!

GETTING OVER GARRETT DELANEY by Abby McDonald: A cute one and I liked the premises of the story. I also think the author did very well at portraying the different relationships. I enjoyed the developing and rekindling of friendships.

     

RIPPLE by Mandy Hubbart: I’ve been meaning to read more mermaid books and this one had a different twist to it. While I wish I could have been immersed more in the curse itself, I still wanted to know what would happen to Lexi 😀

INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows: Honestly, I was unsure about this book before started it. I was afraid I’d be disappointed. I’m glad I wasn’t. It took me a few pages to really get into it and once I was, there was no turning back for me. Plus, the swoony moments involved a piano and gosh how I missed mine while reading those lines!

TRAFFICKED by Kim Purcell: Difficult. Heart-wrenching. Some reviewers mentioned that they thought Hannah was too naive and I don’t think she was. Of course, she knew the dangers but she was going for what she thought to be a better life, for her grandmother. I felt for her. I cringe and I wanted to scream at some of the things happening during the book.

So, tell me what was your favorite book(s) of the month?

Kisses, reading, Road Trip Wednesday, writing, young adult

The magic of a kiss

Elodie

Today is Road Trip Wednesday 🙂 RTW is a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question and answer it on our own blogs. You can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.

This week’s topic: A long-awaited kiss, a surprise ending, a character’s sudden decision…  these are the moments that make us smile, gasp, and LOVE a book for the rest of our lives.
What is your favorite literary moment?

So many moments come back to my mind from my decades of reading. Some excerpts from Albert Camus and Victor Hugo which made me think so hard. Some theater plays which got a strong reaction out of me. Some thrillers who got me jumping out of my seat when I heard a noise. Some historical fiction which made me dream I was in another time. Some novels which got me turning the pages so fast because I just wanted to know what would happen next…

However, if I had to pick one and only one  favorite literary moment (arrrghhhhh I don’t like playing favorites :D), it would be the anticipation to the long-awaited kisses and the magical moment when the kisses actually happen.

The butterflies before lips meet either tentatively or with force. Those moments where I turn the page and my own body reacts: my stomach flips, my muscles tense because I wonder what may happen.  Yep, done well, those get me every single time…

So tell me, what is your favorite literary moment?

Kisses, writing

That’s YAmore: Kiss, kisses and French Toast…

Elodie

Are you ready for some romantic, swoon-worthy scenes?


I joined the “That´s YAmore” Blogfest organized by Oasis for YA…The description: Starting the Saturday before Valentine’s Day (that’s February 11th), we invite you to post 250 romantic, swoon-worthy words from your YA WIP.  Then check out the entries from some of the other participants.  (Just be sure you have a fan and/or a cold glass of water on hand.)  We know your Valentine will appreciate you getting yourself in a romantic state of mind…And, as an added bonus, this year we will select one lucky participant to win a swoon-worthy YA read, shipped direct from the Book Depository (meaning the contest is open internationally, so long as TBD ships to your country).

I chose two short swoon-worthy moments from my YA paranormal romance Falling into you: a kiss (because who does not like these tingly feelings before an awaited kiss?) and…a scene where Aleksi shows his sweet self to Erin.

Excerpt 1

“Let me help you.” His mouth almost touches my ear. I shiver and my heart forgets to beat.  I tilt my head and move a bit closer to him. I can’t help it. His lips find mine. The fire melts the ice and as I lose myself in his arms, I find a home I did not know I had been looking for.

——————————

Excerpt 2

When Aleksi gets up, I turn to him: “I guess you have to go too.” I hug my knees, looking at the floor.

“No I don´t. I took the day off, remember? I think I am running a fever according to what my dear grandmother told the school office this morning.”

He takes my face in his hands and gently brushes my lips.

“I´m going to make some coffee. Maybe some French toast.”

“Don´t tell me you can cook”  A pang of guilt grasps my heart as a smile forms on my lips.

Aleksi’s arm embraces my shoulders.

“Not much but my mother always told me that a man should know the basics. French toast. Basic.” I smile again, more easily. Before I can speak, he continues. “How about you go lay down while I do this and I´ll call you when it´s done” He searches my eyes. “You really could not have done anything, Erin.”

“But maybe now I can.” My voice breaks a little. I pause, looking for words.  “Thank you for trying to help, it…it means a lot.”

He kisses me again, this time more deeply. “Don´t mention it”.

I cannot wait to start reading what others came up with 😀 (you can check their entries here)

And as always, I´m curious: what is your favorite swoon-worthy, romantic, steamy scene from novels you read?