More Life Updates

Sorry I haven't been around. I promised that I would do YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday regularly, but  For some reason I keep getting the days mixed up and by the time I realized it's Wednesday I don't have time to write a post. Ugh. I said I wouldn't do this when I started school, but it did. I'm not super busy right now. I'm just sleepy. Really really sleepy. 

In Reading: I'm currently reading Jessica Khoury's Origin. I'm halfway though it and I can't put it down. I suggest you all check it out. 

In Writing: Oh, yeah writing, I said a long time ago that I don't believe in writers block. I take that back. I am seriously blocked. I've tried almost every trick I know to get writing again, but I'm at a stand still. I'm sure I'll get through it soon though.

In Chocolate: Mmm Chocolate. Yeah. 

So that's my life. Questions for  you. What are you reading? Do you have any trick/advice for writers block? What is your current chocolate obsession?

Happy Reading! 

Life Update

So this week I started a Vlog. Here's the video I made today. There are more. If you want to watch them all in order go here

I'm not getting as much writing in as I want to. But I did get a nice start. This week I am dedicating myself 100% to get 1000+ words in a day. I'll keep you updated.

Still haven't finished reading any books. Life's crazy like that.

I think I need to be on the internet less. That will solve 95% of my problems.

Skinny Cow Caramel Truffle=perfection

Too much math for one day.

Happy Reading!

Nano, Memoirs and Cookies

Three things:

1. I will not be doing Nanowrimo this year. I know, I was determined to finish this year, but things came up. It's pretty much the reason why my posts are so irregular. College, extracurricular, procrastination.  I also want to focus on my current WIP and it’s going really slow. I half outlined and wrote out some in my notebooks during class. It’s pretty messy. It’s seriously the only way to keep me from not working on it at all. If any of my twitter followers want to start a word war I’m totally up for it. Especially for you who are doing Nano.

2. I started getting into Memoirs, well mainly by comdeians. I’m reading Chelsea Handler's "Are you there Vodka, It’s me Chelsea?” and it is hilarious. I’m defiantly looking forward to reading more of her work. I also bought Tina Fey’s memoir this summer and I haven’t started it yet but I will soon. Do any of you know any hilarious memoirs I could check out?

3. What is your favorite kind of cookie? My favorite is tied between Chocolate Chocolate Chip and M&M’s. It know this is random but I have cookies on the brain.

Happy Reading!

YA Rebels audition tape

So I audition to be the a part of the YA Rebels. Yeah, there's chocolate involved. Bet.

Summer Lovin'

GAH!!! How is everything going? I've missed you. So my copy of The Hunger Games has migrated to my bookshelf this past week, and it remains untouched!!! I'm so bad at this.
As you knowI’ve stated may times on my blog/twitter about how hesitant I am to read the Hunger Games trilogy. So far I heard nothing but good things about them. I want to read them. I’m going to read them. I just haven’t yet. Right now I’m under a lot of pressure because of the movie coming out next year. Spoilers suck. So I have to read fast.
When it first came out the Hunger Games didn’t really appeal to me. Violence and bloodshed is not really my thing. Ever since the movie was announced it’s been all I hear about on twitter and Yahoo news. I feel kind of out of the loop. Plus, Josh Hutcherson is in it. He's one of my many celebrity crushes. He's not as well known as he should be, but once that movie comes out all the fan girls are going to be all like "OMG I love Josh Hutcherson. Go Team Peeta." I haven't started the books, but I'm pretty sure he's a big deal. So I just want everyone to know that I liked him before he go big.
It's summer time. It's hot. Since this is a blog about chocolate I should inform you that milkshakes are an awesome summer treat that will cool you off on a hot summer day. It's like summer's answer to hot chocolate.I have a question. What is cold hot chocolate? Is it just chocolate milk? I saw a commercial advertising iced hot chocolate. That's weird right?
Happy Reading!
PS Fins Are Forever gift giveaway is coming soon. Be sure to follow the blog or me on twitter.

Summertime

It’s summertime and you know that that means. School’s out!!! I’ve actually been out of school for a while, but for all you high school students yay for summer!!! Congratulation class of 2011, you made it!!!


I’m going to try to perfect my blogging skills too. I feel as if my lack of blogging might have to do with my lack of followers page views. So this summer I’m going to try to blog once or twice a week. Whether it’s about reading, writing, chocolate or whatever I feel like writing about. Once I get into a grove maybe things will pick up.

What’s new for me? Well I’m working on some new projects. Hopefully I’ll be done with one of them this summer. Right now I’m debating if I should continue the revisions on my current manuscript. I’ve been working on it for years, but I feel like it’s not going anywhere. To be honest I wrote it when I was fifteen. I’m nineteen and much smarter now and a better writer. We’ll see. Nothing’s set in stone. I might come back to it some other time. I just don’t know.

I will also be trying to get through The Hunger Games this summer. I started the first one last August, but stopped at page forty. I’ll restart it, but I just never had the time to just sit down and read it. I have avoided all spoilers for years and right now I’m afraid that since the movie is coming out I might stumble upon some spoilers. So my summer goal is to finish all three books. I’m pretty sure I’ll like them, it’s not hard to make me not like a book. And this one had so many good reviews. So we’ll see.

Okay so there are also a lot of summer 2011 releases I would like to obtain this summer. I noticed that most of them a sequels. Anyway here’s my list of books I’m looking forward too.

Fins Are Forever by Tera Lynn Childs

Trial By Fire by Jennifer Lynn Barns

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Passion by Lauren Kate (a third book)

Supernaturally By Kiersten White

Twisted by Gena Showalter (another third book)

Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (not a sequel)

I’m super excited for these books. There are also a few that just came out that I’m excited for. This summer’s going to be awesome!!! If there are any more summer 2011 releases that I didn’t mention post a comment and I’ll check it out.

And in chocolate news I’m looking for a recipe for brownies for my little brother. He’s allergic to eggs and nuts. If anybody can post a link to a website with the best eggless brownies I will shower you with emoticon kisses :* :* okay those need a little work. Please and thank you.

Happy Reading!

New Ideas

This December has been crazy with finals and stuff a so I wanted to take a quick second to tell you that I’m back and next year there might be some changes. I’ve realized the blog has been all about me lately and that’s not very nice. I had the realization a long time ago that I wasn’t a book blogger and that I’m not qualified to give writing advice. So I’m thinking this could be a challenge blog. I’m still working out the kinks but I’m thinking each month or two I’ll challenge you and myself to read or write something with a theme in mind and at the end of the month we’ll report back to my blog (or yours if you want) to see how we did. I don’t know, what do you think? Tell me your suggestions in the comments.


Happy Reading!

PS: There will still be chocolate in the blog. Don’t worry.

Revising, Writing and Chocolate

Yeah I’m procrastinating. Right now I should be finishing up putting in my final revisions for my manuscript on the computer before I requery.

This little bugger needs another 4k

What I’m really doing is staring at the document on my computer thinking “why am I doing this?” I should have given up earlier this year when the rejections were coming in by the truck load. The reason I haven’t is simple. I truly believe everything happens for a reason.

Back in high school I was an active member of the drama club. When I auditioned for one of the plays at the end of the year, I didn’t get in. I was crushed. I worked so hard at my audition and to top it all of it was my senior year. Devastated, I stared doubting myself and wondered if I was cut out for show business. A few weeks later my friend told me about a play the local theatre was having auditions for. She explained that the role I should audition for would be good fit for me. So a few weeks later I auditioned and got the lead role.

In the end everything really did happen for a reason. If I would’ve made my school play I never would have auditioned for the other one and got the lead. The same thing goes for querying. Maybe all those rejections telling me the manuscript is “not the right fit” really means it’s not the right fit. Maybe one day I’ll find the right fit just like I did with the part. Who knows? The right fit could be my dream agent.

However, I did do a lot of research on the play before I auditioned. (Life Lesson) The same should go with querying. RESEARCH AND FOLLOW GUIDELINES!!! There was one time, ONE TIME, I did not follow guidelines. Boy did I feel like an idiot. That won’t happen again.

To the right you see my zombie cell phone. When it dies it comes back to life. Mug is not filled with coffee.

Now that it’s all out, what am I doing now? Well I’m defiantly surprised I used now twice in a sentence. Currently I’m staring at my hard copy thinking “I can do this…and this might not be my final revisions after all. Oh I hope I get this done before I leave for school. I’ll be too busy when I get there to finish this. I want some chocolate. There’s pudding in the fridge. Wait no it’s moose pudding. Did I use the right moose? I should check, there should be a u in it. Phone’s ringing, crap.” Okay that was long. Well I got my pudding mousse and spoon. Yum. Now it’s time to dig into this manuscript and GIT-R-DONE!

Happy reading!

Yummy Mousse Pudding.

Chocolate with Nuts

Hey everyone. Sorry that I've been a bad blogger. This past month has been pretty busy. I had to balance work, writing, closing a play, preparing for college, and getting in some friend time before I leave. You forgive me right?
Not only have I been a bad blogger, but I've been a bad reader also. In all honesty I did not read more than two books last month. I'm still going to read the Sarah Dessen books like I promised, but it's been rough. I've started many books I just never had time to finish them. Maybe since I own most of the books I started, I don't need to rush to finish them before I needed to return them. I bought a book that a book club was reading at my local Barnes and Noble. I only got halfway through it by the end of the month. Needless to say I didn't go to the meeting. (I also forgot about it.)
On the other hand, I have been writing a little bit. My manuscript is on hold at the moment because my friend is reading the hard copy I printed out to edit. Lucky for me she promised to edit it and give me notes. So while the manuscript is away the writer will play. I have been playing with a lot of stories that I shoved behind while I was on my insane query quest. So with my new found freedom I've enjoyed working on other pieces for a change.
As for chocolate. My mom wanted me to talk about nuts. I hate all nuts other than peanuts and cashews. I hate it when my mom gets a can of mixed nuts instead of just peanuts. Then I end up eating all of the peanuts and cashews and that causes problems. Nuts in chocolate it a different story though. I can eat chocolate with almond pieces just fine.I like the crunch. However, if you give me a chocolate covered almond I will eat the chocolate and throw away a perfectly good almond. That's just me. Don't get me started on walnut brownies. The point is I'm not so nuts about nuts.
As you know it's still Reading, Writing and Chocolate's Summer Reading Edition and I'm suppose to give a challenge for the month. Well since I failed at all of my challenges and my life is a little hectic, I'm not going to give a challenge. Instead I say go out and read, write and eat chocolate. I'm going to try to blog once a week and read a lot more before I go to school. I'll continue to write while working on my manuscript. Also, I'll keep an eye out for new chocolate treats to share with you.
Happy Reading!

Summer Reading Edition July

Last month was a lot of fun. Even though I didn’t reach my goal of reading five new releases in June, I did read a lot. Personally I blame my lack of money. It stopped me from purchasing my own copy of the books. Here are all the books I’ve read last month. The Bolded titles are the books that were released last month. The titles in purple are books I own.

1. Violet Eyes by Debbie Viguié

2. Forgive my Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

3. Insatiable by Meg Cabot

4. Cinderella Society by Kay Cassidy

5. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barns

6. Ghost Huntress: Awakening by Marley Gibson

7. Ghost Huntress: Guidance by Marley Gibson

Looking back at what I read, I realize I really didn’t do well with my challenge. Five out of the seven books I read last month have been paranormal/fantasy and if I would have finished Dark Flame by Alyson Noel a day earlier my list would still be heavy on the paranormal/fantasy side. The truth of the matter is that I find it hard to read normal book about real life. Don’t get me wrong I still read the normal stuff, just not as much.

So I have a challenge for you readers. What kind of books have you not really given a chance? Does your list contain more mysteries that dramas. Have you had a hard time picking up a paranormal romance? So for July’s challenge for Reading Writing and Chocolate’s Summer Reading Edition, I challenge you to pick up three books you never thought you would read and read them by the end of the month.

Confession time. I’ve never read a Sarah Dessen book. There I said it. I have never read a book written by Sarah Dessen. Never. Not one. So my goal is to read three of her books this month. Any Suggestions?

With that said. Post below what kind of books you don’t read that much and by the end of the month tell me what you’ve read and if you liked them.

Happy Reading!

PS. What kind of chocolate confection are you munching on this Independence Day?

Quick Post About Brownies

I must blog about Brownies

I LOVE BROWNIES!!! 

Yesterday my friend gave me the best brownies EVER!!!
Well that's it.
Happy Reading!

Rewites

If you haven’t noticed I kind of been failing a blogging lately. I’m just super busy and just don’t have time. My bad.

Anyway, I am here to talk about rewritings. I wrote a novel a few years ago and my attempts to get it published epically failed. So I did what every author/agent/anybody who wrote about publishing said in a blog. I stopped. I left the file untouched on my computer for months. I didn’t query, I didn’t read it and I didn’t even think about it. On Wednesday I went back and started rewriting it. I put new ideas in places where the plot dragged. I added witty dialogue and decided to give one of the subplots a facelift. When I’m done I’m going to comb through it, yet again for months. Maybe this time things will go better.

Oh and for chocolate. I’m selling chocolate for school. You’d think it would be easy. It’s not.

Happy Reading!

Leslie's Choice: Chocolate Ice Creams

I LOVE ICE CREAM!!!
I have three favorite flavors.

3. Cookies and Cream: I love the little cookie peices  they are soft and it's like they are pre-dunked in milk. But it's ice cream.

2. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: It gives me a chance to eat cookie dough. Come on who doesn't love love to eat cookie dough?

1. Mint Chip: I use to hate it because it was green, but now I love it. It's all I ask for whenever we buy ice cream.

So those are my ice cream choices. What is your favorite ice cream?

Blogging and Ranting and Script Frenzy. OH MY!

Happy Wednesday fellow readers, writers and chocolate lovers. I know I haven’t blogged much since Author Appreciation Week, but that is going to change very shortly. I have mapped out a blogging so I can make sure I keep you in the loop. So here it is.
Mondays is reading day. (Where I rant on about reading and what not.)

Wednesday is writing day (Where I rant about writing and what not.)

Thursday is book recommendation day (do I really have to explain?)

And Saturday is CHOCOLATE!!!!! (Don’t worry I will mention chocolate in other post too)

The rest of the week I will probably won’t blog or just talk about stuff.

So it is Wednesday and I have a big announcement. This year I am going to participate in Script Frenzy!!! For those of you who don’t know, head over to this site for information http://www.scriptfrenzy.org/

Script Frenzy is NaNoWriMo’s sister. This time however, we have thirty days to write a one hundred paged script instead of a 50,000 word novel. I’ve dabbled in script writing a few times, but I never wrote  more than twenty pages. This will be a challenge. But you know I’m just always up for a new challenge.

Unfortunately last year’s NaNoWriMo was an EPIC FAIL!!! I could not stay focused to even get 10,000 words out. So in the comments please give me ideas on how to stay on task and get my creative juices flowing. (Chocolate is always a good idea) The best three will be posted in Friday’s blog.

Happy Reading!

Intro!!!

Hello world. This is a new blog about my life called Reading, Writing and Chocolate. Those three things are basically my life. I had this idea for a column for my schools newspaper and I decided to spread the love to the world.
So here is the low down.
I will try to blog at least once or twice a week about reading or writing and how chocolate helps you through it. This collection will include book reviews, information on my writing, pointless rants and of course chocolate.

Happy reading!