Mundie Moms

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

We're chatting with CASSIE TONIGHT!


Hi everyone! WELCOME to tonight's LIVE CP chat with Cassie!! Just as reminder, this is a SPOILERY chat & I'm not taking questions during the chat. Due to the high volume of fans excepted tonight, I already had a link up for a few weeks prior to tonight for fans to submit their questions. IF I can get through all those questions, than I'll open the chat up for questions. Thank you for understanding!

Tonight's chat will start at 8 pm CST/ 9 pm EST and it will be a SPOILER chat for Clockwork Prince only. If we have time, we will definitely ask her a few questions of City of Lost Souls. If you've not yet read CP, or won't be able to join us on Wednesday night, our transcript will remain on the blog.

Don't forget to sign up for an email reminder for the chat!


*Our chat will start at 8 pm CST/ 9 pm EST. To join, hit join and enter a screen name.

* As always, this chat is moderated, meaning your questions/comments will not post automatically and to make is easier for Cassie to read our questions, I won't be submitting every comment made. Please know that even though you can't see the comments, both myself and Cassie can see them.

*Our chat with Cassie will run a little differently than normal, as we will not be accepting any questions for tonight's chat.
All questions needed to be submitted by 12/24/11. The link for those has since been removed from this post.

* Why are we not allowing questions? Our last chat with Cassie we had over 1,000 readers on, as you can imagine it was extremely crazy with trying to go through all the questions fans had for Cassie. In order for us to run the chat smoothly, we won't be taking any questions during the chat.

* YES, we will be chatting with Cassie again in 2012.

*Thank you and we look forward to chatting with everyone this week!

**No part of this chat is allowed to be used with out our permission**


This post will continue to be updated and moved on the blog.

2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Favorite Author Interviews #2


Recently I had the chance to ask a variety of our favorite authors different questions pertaining to writing, their series and over all some fun questions pertaining to a variety of book topics. Today I'm excited to share my latest interview with a few author friends:

If you could write one of your favorite fictional heroines into your book or series, who would you choose and why?

Beth Revis (Across the Universe):

I would pick Puddleglum from the Chronicles of Narnia book, THE SILVER CHAIR, by CS Lewis. He wouldn't exactly fit in on a spaceship, but I think it would be so much fun to stick him with Doc in the hospital. Doc's OCD paired with Puddleglum's perpetual complaining and pessimism would just be HYSTERICAL. I imagine that Doc would just follow Puddleglum around with a mop, and Puddleglum would complain about it every step of the way.

Elana Johnson (Possession):

I would choose Katsa from Kristin Cashore's GRACELING, because dude, that girl can kick some serious butt. I would love to see what she could do to Jag... She and Vi would be the *perfect* torture device. Just sayin'.

Michelle Zink (Circle of Fire):

If I could write one fictional female heroine into my books it would be Lizbeth Salander of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I know it's not YA, but I'm just fascinated with her. I don't think I've ever read a more compelling, broken and yet courageously badass heroine in any book, ever. That she has very obvious symptoms of Aspergers, a photographic memory, is a world-class hacker, and an unapologetic bitch when the situation calls for it only adds to my adoration. As women, we're often taught - either blatantly or subtly - to "be nice". Lizbeth reminds me that I have a higher calling than to be pleasing to others.

Amy Plum (Until I Die):

If I could write one of my favorite fictional heroines into the DIE FOR ME trilogy, I would choose Lisbeth Salander to play a kick-ass Swedish revenant. Stieg Larsson based Lisbeth on a grown up (and emotionally damaged) Pippi Longstocking, who was one of my favorite fictional characters as a child. (And since Pippi would never be able to resist attracting attention—which is a must for revenants’ self-preservation—I can’t just plop her into the middle of the kindred at Jean-Baptiste’s house.) I can just see Lisbeth with her piercings, tattoos and complete lack of restraint whaling on a group of numa. Of course, she would have to die for someone else before animating as a revenant, but I can see her doing that in the right situation.

Do you have a writing ritual? If so, what is one thing you have to do or have before you sit down to write?

Jessie Harrell (Destined):

The only thing that I must have -- without fail, no exceptions -- before I start writing is music. It can come from sirius XM, it can come from iTunes on my computer, or it can come from my iPod or iPhone. I'm not particular. Just so long as there is music in the background, I'm a happy camper. Without music... my Muse melts. :(

Jennifer Armentrout (Half-Blood & Obsidian):

I really don't have a writing ritual, but I cannot write when someone else is in the room with me. I don't know why, but its like being on the phone with someone while you're in the room with someone else. It wigs me out. I can't write.

Kendare Blake (Anna Dressed in Blood):

I don't really have a ritual. But what I need to do before I sit down to write is anything else that could possibly need doing. Even if I don't want to do them, like the dishes, or cleaning my desk. Even if I really, really want to get down to writing. All the other, ridiculous crap manages to get done first. Because that is the craziness that is procrastination. Oh, wait, I just thought of something. The TV is always on in the background. Which is weird because I hate wasting energy, and hate when things are on and no one is paying attention.

Kiki Hamilton (The Faerie Ring):

I don’t have a ‘ritual’ but the one thing I always have to have to write is my laptop. I never write longhand, (my 15 yo daughter just said “add that you’ll gouge out your eyes if you have to write longhand..” J LOL – whatever.) Half the problem is that my handwriting is completely illegible anymore. I don’t even brainstorm or take notes longhand. All of my writing is done on my laptop. It’s like I can think when I’ve got that blank (or half-written) page in front of me. I keep all my notes, ideas, pictures, WIPS, finished novels - everything on there – so I always have what I need to keep moving forward on a story if I find five spare minutes.


Karen Mahoney (The Iron Witch):

I don't know if I would call it a ritual, but most times before I sit down to start a long writing session I like to have a cup of tea or coffee while reading a chapter or two of a great book. This probably sounds strange, in terms of maybe unconsciously picking up on another author's voice or style, but I never find that a problem. Also I make sure that whatever I'm reading, while I'm writing something of my own, is very different either in tone or genre or whatever. For example, right now I'm writing THE STONE DEMON, the third and final book in my trilogy, which is a YA novel written in 3rd-person POV. My current reading book will either be non-fiction (something on creativity, knowing me!), or if it's fiction it will be an adult book written in 1st-person - that way I ensure I don't pick up any voice/style tics that aren't my own. Reading is such a huge part of my inspiration - a huge part of who I am, really - that it plays a big role in my writing process. Sitting down with a hot drink and a good book for half an hour inspires me to jump into my own writing for the day.

Rae Carson (The Girl of Fire & Thorns):

My writing ritual is essential to my creative process! It involves: 1) Chillout/Trance Music (I love Rob Dougan, omg), 2) Solitude, either behind the closed door of my office or, weather permitting, on my back porch, and 3) Rewarding myself for getting words down, which is occasionally a glass of red wine, but most often some snuggle/TV time with my husband.


Thank you to Beth Revis, Elana Johnson, Michelle Zink, Amy Plum, Jessie Harrell, Jennifer Armentrout, Kendare Blake, Rae Carson, Kiki Hamilton and Karen Mahoney for stopping by today!

2011 Mundie Moms Favorites: Contemporaries


Today's 2011 MM Favorites is our favorite contemporaries. Normally I do a list for our favorite paranormal/urban fantasy reads, but this year I wanted to branch out a bit and include genres that we've enjoyed just as much as our paranormals. Like all of our 2011 favorites posts, this list is for books released this year and is made up of books we gave a rating of 4.5 stars or higher.

Here's our list of this year's top 10 contemporaries:
  1. Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter
  2. Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
  3. Where She Went by Gayle Forman
  4. Sean Griswald's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
  5. Prom & Prejudice by Elizabeth Eulberg
  6. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
  7. Will Work for Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris
  8. Moonglass by Jessi Kirby
  9. notes from an Accidental Band Geek by Erin Dionne
  10. Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski
What are some of your favorite contemporaries released this year?

City of Lost Souls Teaser- December 2011


Along with the Clockwork Princess teasers Cassie posted this week, she also shared a new COLS teaser! This is a hot little teaser with Simon!

“Oh, shut up,” she said, and kissed him. This was marginally more successful. Simon had kissed Isabelle before. He loved the texture of her soft lips, the way his hands felt in her long, dark hair. But as she pressed herself against him, he also felt the warmth of her body, her long bare legs against him, the pulse of her blood –and the snap of his fang teeth as they came out.

I'm loving all the teasers! Keep the votes up for our favorite girls! Be sure to check out the latest rounds HERE.


Waiting on Wednesday: The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges


By: Robin Bridges
Published by: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
To Be Released on: January 10th, 2012
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart? -quoted from Goodreads

This sounds like it's going to be one of those books that just sweeps me off my feet. I love historical's and this is one I can't wait to get my hands on. What book or books are you waiting to be released?

Clockwork Princess Teasers



Thank you to the YA Heroine Tournament going on this month, Cassie has now treated us to two Clockwork Princess teasers!! In case you missed them, here they are: ENJOY!

“Would you?” said Gabriel to Will, hotly. “If it was your family?” His lip curled. “Never mind. It’s not as if you know the meaning of loyalty —”

“Gabriel.” Gideon’s voice was a reprimand to his brother. “Do not speak to Will in that manner.”

AND the newest one, which Cassie posted this week:

“He began it,” Cecily said, jerking her chin at Will, though she knew it was pointless. Jem, Will’s parabatai, treated her with the distant sweet kindness reserved for the little sisters of one’s friends, but he would always side with Will. Kindly, but firmly, he put Will above everything else in the world. Well, nearly everything.

You can find links to all of Cassie's other teasers here.

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