James Dashner: Author of the Future?

 I recently had the opportunity to attend an author panel celebrating the release of a new middle grade series called The Infinity Ring.





James Dashner and I

 

I'm currently reading the first book in the series, Mutiny in Time, with my son and loving every minute of it.  The story follows these kids who have to travel in time to fix the "breaks" that have altered history.  There are going to be 6 books in all, the first written by James Dashner (author of The Maze Runner, The Kill Order, etc.).  This book series is one of the future - meaning that the book also has a companion website (http://www.infinityring.com/) with games and activities for kids to follow the characters in the story.  It's a whole multimedia experience. I love this idea!

Since this idea fits perfectly in with our society today, I'm wondering what everyone thinks.  Will the digital world eventually take over the paper one?.  I know I love to sit down with a hardback book and thumb my fingers on its beveled edges, but I also like listening to audio books, and reading electronic books too. What do you think? Do you think printer and paper will eventually die out and be replaced by everything digital?



Book Review: The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

Star Rating: 4/5 Stars

A curl-up-in-your-window-seat-kind-a book.

Summary: Abby thought she was perfectly happy with her normal, scheduled life - good friends, reliable boyfriend, and awaiting to hear from her planned college.  But when Dante shows up at her play rehearsal, Abby is mysteriously drawn to the Italian foreign-exchange student.  Time literally disappears the first time they are alone together and other unsual things begins to happen - like seeing flashes of the future. When she finds out that Dante isn't exactly the person he claims to be, Abby discovers a dangerous secret invention that sent him forward in time - and somehow she is connected to it. 

Review: Cute, sweet, and attention-grabbing until the very end.  I love the character of Abby and how she is willing to give up her seemingly perfect, but average life to "Live without Limits."  Of course, Dante is the dreamy male hero that makes my heart palpitate.  I loved that this novel had romance, but also a mystery that I had to keep reading to find out more clues as to Dante's arrival and past. 

I'll admit, I was a little thrown off by the whole time-travel side of things, but I love that Mangum used Italy and da Vinci in its explanation.  I am definitely reading the next book!

Content Rating: PG
Language/Profanity: Mild if any
Sexuality: Mild (kissing, hand-holding)
Drug/Alcohol Use: None (in fact, Leo at the Dungeon prohibits it)
Intense/Scary Scenes: Mild
**Approved by Robin for teens**  

Ahhhh (sigh of relief) . . .

It's official!  I have completed the first draft of my book!  I feel like I deserve putting up my feet and lounging outside my imaginary beach house, eating a thick strawberry cheesecake shake (oooooo, or maybe Oreo??), and watching the waves as they crash to the shore. Ahh.....

But alas, no, this soon-to-be author, will immediately be getting to work brushing up this novel to get it ready for publishing.  This book has been in my mind for over five years, but I didn't start the writing process until about nine months ago.  That's funny.  I just realized it took me just as long to write this book as it takes to wait for a baby to come.  Well, I guess this book is my "baby" right now.

I know all you curious ones out there are wondering what I've written, so I've come up with what I'd call a book jacket for this Young Adult novel.  I still have some kinks to work out, but this is what I have so far:

Remembrandt

some things are better left forgotten

Forgetting the past is hard to do when you have an eidetic memory, but Alexandra Stewart decides to make her first year at Brown University one worth remembering. After she runs into William on campus, she begins to feel like she can have a normal life and ignore the flashbacks that haunt her at night. Solving puzzles becomes more than just a compelling game, when her Russian professor gives her a puzzle that seems impossible to complete, catapulting her into a world of secret codes and intrigue. As she tries to find a balance between the two different worlds vying for her attention, she wonders if she can have relationships with the ones she cares about while hiding a clandestine life, uncovering the truths of an underground enemy. Will this new found life help her forget her past or is it all somehow connected?

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! Also, follow my blog so that you can hear more about the story and be the first to know where my book is at in the publishing process.  I'm excited to take this journey with my friends and family!