I've signed up for Nano...

and I have no idea what I'm doing!

and I haven't told my husband yet - but I'm sure he won't mind... :)

I have two different ideas brewing...

Both ideas have characters and settings and a few scenes/inspirations but I haven't yet been hit with an inciting incident or major hook/conflict. Madly waiting for the lightning bolt to set one idea on fire! I am a fan of winging it so not too phased by not having an outline...

Following Girl Fridays visual inspiration for her nano - here's some inspiration for mine:

Inspiration for Idea #1:

(carefree and off-beat story)

Inspiration for Idea #2

( a bit darker, more emotional idea)

you can add me (I'm NomesR) - I'm starting to feel kinda pumped about it...

(maybe slightly freaked out as well)

Prologue of Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

I am so thrilled to feature the prologue of Six Impossible Things on inkcrush. Wahoo!

I reviewed this brilliant book yesterday which a much deserving rare 5 star rating from me :)

I know openings of books are so important and I love this opener. It really made me swell with anticipation. I love the mood and beauty and simplicity of it - you can feel the awe and ache in it of one guy crushing on a girl. It also feels nostalgic and teenager-y, plus it's intriguing. (also, awesome first line - in the prologue and the first chapter)

PROLOGUE of Six Impossible Things

THERE'S THIS GIRL I KNOW

I know her by heart. I know her in very way but one: actuality.

Her name is Estelle. I yearn for her.

She walks in beauty - yes, like the night of cloudless climes and starry skies - with one iPod earbud in at all times - the soundtrack of her life.

She's stopped biting her nails, except for the left hand little finger.

She sometimes nibbles the inside seam of her school jumper cuffs.

She's an only child. Like me.

She plays the cello.

She likes mochaccinos. And banana milkshakes - made with syrup, not real bananas. And Cherry Ripes. She has a friend in New York she sends Cherry Ripes to. You can't get them over there.

She has more than one friend. Unlike me.

She lives next door. To where we live now.

She laughs a lot.

She and I have a three band over-lap in our top five bands.

Her favourite writers are Georgette Heyer and J.D. Salinger.

I can't tell you how I know all this stuff about someone I never met.

AND first line of CHAPTER ONE: If you can forget that it means someone just died, inheriting something is a good thing, isn't it?

Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

Fourteen year old nerd-boy Dan Cereill is not quite coping with a reversal of family fortune, moving house, new school hell, a mother with a failing wedding cake business, a just-out gay dad, and an impossible crush on Estelle, the girl next door. His life is a mess, but for now he's narrowed it down to just six impossible things...


Just when I thought the Aussie YA scene couldn't get any hotter right now... along comes Fiona Wood's Six Impossible Things.


I couldn't put this book down.


And then, when I finished, I immediately wanted to go back to the beginning and read it all again from that start. (I settled for another hour of flicking through and re-reading classic moments and favourite lines)


There is so much to love about this book it's hard to know where to begin.


Dan is completely lovable, funny and cute in such an unassuming way. His narration of the many tragic events unfolding  in his life is teen angst with the most grin-worthy one-liners. He is sweet and hopeful and crushing hard on the unattainable girl next door (Estelle).


And the Girl Next Door is ever so funky and cool and smart in that way that you just want to hang out with her in the hope that some of her coolness rubs off. 


The cast in this book were all fleshed out in such an achingly real way. Not only did I fall in love with Dan but I related to his Mum and I love how underneath all the charm and fun in this book, there's a lot of stuff readers can relate to: parent's separating/divorce, financial difficulty, depression, parent's mid-life crisis, wanting to be cool and accepted, getting your first job, wanting to get the unattainable girl and striving to be a better person but always seeming to fall short.


I have to mention: I loved how Dan's attic was connected to Estelle's which led to some sneaky creeping around between the houses. Such an awesome set up.


Six Impossible Things also has such a beautiful and whimsical prologue which I read twice before turning  to the opening :)

six things about six impossible things:

1. It's funny. Brilliant one-liners, dialogue that just kills you with it's goodness, and the situations Dan finds himself in will have you grinning.

2. Dan - one of the best male POV's. Charming and smart and oh-so-funny and he transforms so awesomely from a slightly awkward geek to a cool confident guy.

3. Secret girls stuff. I loved Estelle and how the girl group hung out - it all felt so teenagery and fresh and had me feeling quite nostalgic. I loved Estelle's Diary which so reminded me of my own teenage diary :)

4. The adult cast - completely shone, even those in minor roles. I wish every YA book would strive to put in adult charatcers who are so multi-dimensional and relatable. I also love the plot lines and story arcs for the minor characters.

5. The little quirky details and how it all comes together in a climax that made my heart swell with happiness. Also you never quite know just how the story is going to end.

6.  It's one of the best books I've read - right up there with Graffiti Moon and Raw Blue and Beatle Meets Destiny and Jaclyn Moriarty's work.

Recommended: I find it so hard to review books that completely floor me with it's brilliance - really, what I want to say is: I love this book so hard and think it's truly perfect for teens (guys and girls) and also for adult readers who will find a lot to love about Dan and his experiences. 5 Stars


And: I read in an interview that Dan Cereill is an anagram of Cinderella. I know, very cool!

Fiona Wood is a popular scriptwriter and has worked for many popular shows including Neighbours, Home & Away, The Secret Life of Us, Always greener and more. She also works as a story consultant: "That’s where you sit around a table talking through everything from story ideas to what brand of jeans a character might wear." (what a cool sounding job) Fiona is currently working on her second YA book (already can't wait!) 


Fiona Wood's Website
Fiona Wood on Six Impossible Things
Six Impossible Things on goodreads

Thank you to Fiona Wood and Pan Macmillan for sending me this review copy

The Inkys - voting is open on the short-lists!

The inky's shortlist was announced today and I am so thrilled with the books that made it through from the longlist (see this post for the 10 Aussie titles and 10 international titles that were longlisted)

The inky's are Australia's only teen voted Young Adult book award. Voting is open from today - yay! Teens get to vote for one Golden Inky (for an Aussie title) and one Silver Inky (international title)

Here's the short-lists:

Golden Inky

• Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar
• Stolen by Lucy Christopher
• Swerve by Phillip Gwynne
• Liar by Justine Larbalestier
• Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

Silver Inky

• The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
• Going Bovine by Libba Bray
• Will Grayson Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
• Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Go here to vote (open to those between 12 & 20 years old) Voting closes on Nov 19

Anyone who votes goes in the running to win all ten shortlisted books (three prize packs available) which would be brilliant!

So if I could vote I'm absolutely choosing Raw Blue by Kirsty Eagar (which just won the Victorian Premier's Literacy Award) and The Sky is Everywhere is my pick for the silver.

Which book would you like to see win?

And, I really love the inkys :) Awesome award - so congrats to everyone who made it through the first round of voting!

You Wish by Mandy Hubbard

Kayla McHenry's sweet sixteen sucks! Her dad left, her grades dropped, and her BFF is dating the boy Kayla's secretly loved for years. Blowing out her candles, Kayla thinks: I wish my birthday wishes actually came true. Because they never freakin' do.

Kayla wakes the next day to a life-sized, bright pink My Little Pony outside her window. Then a year's supply of gumballs arrives. A boy named Ken with a disturbing resemblance to the doll of the same name stalks her. As the ghosts of Kayla's wishes-past appear, they take her on a wild ride . . . but they MUST STOP. Because when she was fifteen? She wished Ben Mackenzie would kiss her. And Ben is her best friend's boyfriend. (from publishers site)


You Wish is an addictive, wild and quirky read that cleverly manages to explore some meaningful themes under the madness.

You Wish was always unexpected - anything could happen with the wishes and the way they cropped up in Kayla's life was so creative. It really felt like Mandy Hubbard had a blast while writing this, letting her imagination go wild. She wreaked havoc on poor Kayla with so many cringe-worthy and hilarious situations.

Despite the craziness of the wishes - it did have me thinking about things I've wished for and reminded me of that lovely innocence and make-believe of childhood. At it's core it's a classic coming of age story - Kayla  is in a swirl of her childhood wishes while watching others around her growing up and changing (including her best friend who suddenly blossoms and is leaving Kayla behind for the popular crowd).

As a protag, Kayla is very relatable: she is confident in who she is but unsure of her place among her peers and so wants to be accepted for her quirky, slightly geeky self. She's also crushing on her best friends boyfriend - I think teen readers will find it easy to crush on Ben too - he's pretty spunky, with his grin and motorbike tricks and easy-going nature.

 You Wish is an infectious kind of read - dizzying with wackiness yet touching with some genuinely heart-felt moments.

I recommend this to teens (and it would also appeal to mature pre-teens) who are looking for a fun, quirky and unpredictable read - this could easily cross over into upper MG with it's clean story (no swearing/illicit substances/sex). It's also perfect for reluctant readers, with it's fast pace and accessible prose.

On occasion it was a touch too cute for my tastes - but I think it's spot on for the audience it is written for :)

You Wish is available in Australia now.
You Wish @ goodreads
You Wish @ Penguin
Mandy Hubbard's website

Thank you to Penguin Australia for sending me this review copy

Diary of a Wimpy Kid & Origami Yoda - MG Goodness :)

Reuben :)

So it was my son Reuben's 8th bday last week. Whoo Hoo! He got a bunch of books - most of which we've since read. My son Sam is 9 and he immediately snagged some of Reub's new stash of books too.

Here's what my boys are into - a couple of MG boyish recs :)

He got all four Diary of a Wimpy Kid Books. They are hilarious and have the coolest cartoons in them. Sam read the first three in three days curled upon the lounge amidst holiday noise and chaos, completely absorbed.

And then when we were out Sam spent some of his savings on the Do It Yourself Book. I absolutely recommend them!

Sam spent an afternoon scribbling away in this - I haven't read it, haha, apparently it's PRIVATE :)

opening in book one

Book five is coming out in November (and the boys are planning to buy it...)

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

I read a couple of chapters of this out loud to all three of my kids every day. They loved it. It's right in the pocket for their age level - they love hearing about kids just a bit older than them getting caught up in all sorts of ridiculous and embarrassing situations. They laughed a lot and snickered at some of the stupider characters. Funny funny stuff.

The story is presented in case files for all different characters and each case file has a slightly different voice/feel to it - which was perfectly fun for reading aloud and getting dramatically carried away with. There's cartoons scattered throughout and instructions on how to make your own origami Yoda.

This book is so original - a paper origami yoda that gives advice to middle school kids and possibly uses the force? Crazy genius. It really is made of win :) Plus, Yoda always talks in Yod-ese: "

Awesome post on designing the book cover for Origami Yoda

Sam bought this Star Wars book for Reuben - I think because he wanted it for himself, haha. They love stuff like this - copying the pictures and flipping through it in bed.

My parents visited and let my kids choose something at the shops (anything: toys, dvd's, etc - both my boys went straight to the book section :) and Reuben chose:

Which he has "already read" haha. Which he means he's studied every single page and skimmed the info. It's a very funky book -kinda addictive actually with some freaky stuff in there - my kids love stuff like that.

Reuben also got some Doctor Who activity books :) You can't go wrong, eh? :)

Any cool middle grade books you've read recently?

Any you recommend that you think my kids would love? 

(my boys are 8 & 9 and my girl is turning 6 this week)

The Sky is Everywhere - Covers

One of the most beautiful books I've read this year was Jandy Nelson's The Sky is Everywhere (my review).

Not only is the prose absolutely gorgeous but the layout is stunning, in blue ink and with snippets of poetry throughout in original writing (see below). Also, I love the texture and look of my cover, which feels more like a journal than a novel.

Some different covers for the book:

US Hard Cover

US Paperback 

UK/Australia

French

German

Which cover is your favourite? 

I like the US paperback much more than the US hardcover - it's softer and somehow more emotive (although maybe the hard cover looks better in person?)

 I also like the French cover - so similar to my Aussie one, but with the little hearts, which adds a little bit more whimsicalness to it.

And, for those of you who haven't read it yet...

some shots from the inside of The Sky is Everywhere:

The Sky is Everywhere has been nominated for The 2010 Silver Inky. The short-lists will be announced on Tues the 12th of October. I'm hoping it makes it through to the next round of voting. (info about The Inky's and the 2010 longlist)