Here's to Routine!

“How do you write, work and have a family?” This is the question that I was asked yesterday by a friend. The answer is how can’t I? Those things are essential to me. Writing allows me to express myself and release my creativity, my children allow me to love and be loved unconditionally and work gives me the opportunity to provide for my family and my writing.

While I didn’t say the above to her, I simply said “A routine.” Routines allow me to do all three. I’m a creature of routine for the most part.

This can be both good and bad. As a mom, routines are vital to a smooth household. At least they are for mine. I notice the girls tend to do a lot better with a routine than without and I, as a mom, tend to be a more relaxed parent.

Being a mom I have to be careful with routine as well. Sometimes certain situations and certain children require some thinking outside of the routine. It can be fun to go outside your normal status quo sometimes. Bedtime around here is based on a routine, but during the summer that goes out the window as we enjoy different activities.

As a writer being in a routine is wonderful for the process of writing. I have regular times of writing, such as cheer and gymnastic practices. I have a way that I like to do things. I like to revise at times, write at others, and brainstorm at even other times.

Routine can also hinder my writing. I don’t want my work to be predictable. I want it to capture someone’s attention and keep it. My words should take you on a journey, and you should wonder what is coming next. If someone reading my work knows what is coming then they are going to get bored. They are more than likely going to put down my book and that’s bad. I don’t want that…..

As a reader I want the unexpected. I don’t want to pick up a book and know what comes next in the story. There are very rare times when I have known exactly what was coming and actually enjoyed the book, mostly because I’ve fallen for one of the characters (hello Edward Cullen—insert smile here—and how are you?). When I get bored while reading, which is few and far between, I finish the book but I never recommend it to anyone.

But there’s a certain comfort in picking up a book that belongs to a series and having the routine of that character remain constant. Drastic changes in the characters can be unsettling. Losing the things that made your audience fall in love with your character can cause those readers to walk away.

So while I enjoy my routines, I also crave that unexpected that comes around the bend to shake things up, especially when I can write it. I love those ideas that just make you go “WHAT?” or “WOW, I didn’t see that coming!” That’s my goal.

So here’s to routine! Here’s to spontaneity! Here’s to closing your eyes, holding on tight and enjoying the ride, in life and in reading. Most importantly in writing!

So Many Books.....So Few Dollars......

So on my vacation I had lots and lots of time to read and it was heaven. Purely heaven. I had a lot of new books to catch up on and I enjoyed them. However, like most of you, I’m on a budget and therefore, there were a few books that I have yet to buy and read. I’ve begun making a list of these books as I come across them so I won’t forget them when I do get the opportunity to buy one or two or six…..

Below you will find my Young Adult fiction list. I love to read Young Adult genre books of all kinds but am not limited to them. I love all genres for the most part and while my list at home is rather lengthy I decided to limit my list on the blog. For the most part I tried to stick to one book per letter but seriously there are some great books out there so a few of the letters got more than one. Heck, a few of the letters could have a whole page to themselves, but I restrained myself.
I would love to hear what your additions to this list might be.

One of the best things in the world is when someone suggests a book to me that I’ve never heard of before and I end up loving the book. It is like finding money in the pocket of my winter coat when I pull it out after a long hot summer. Pleasant, unexpected and it puts a smile on my face to recommend it to someone else.

Happy Reading!

My A to Z list of YA books to read:

A—ANGEL STAR BY JENNIFER MURGIA
B—A BLUE SO DARK BY HOLLY SCHINDLER
C—CRESCENDO BY BECCA ROBERTS FITZPATRICK
D—DEAD TOSSED WAVES BY CARRIE RYAN
E—EON: DRAGONEYE REBORN BY ALISON GOODMAN
F—FADE BY LISA MCMANN
G—GONE BY LISA MCMANN
H—HUSH, HUSH BY BECCA ROBERTS FITZPATRICK
I—IF I STAY BY GAYLE FORMAN
J—JEALOUSY BY LILITH SAINTCROW
K—KISS OF DEATH BY RACHEL CAINE
L—LINGER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER
M—MOCKINGJAY BY SUZANNE COLLINS
N—NO MORE US FOR YOU BY DAVID HERNANDEZ
O—THE ORANGE HOUSES BY PAUL GRIFFEN
P—PARANORMALCY BY KIERSTEN WHITE
Q—THE QUEEN OF SECOND PLACE BY LAURA PEYTON ROBERTS
R—THE RED PYRAMID BY RICK RIORDAN
S—SEA BY HEIDI KLING SHIVER BY MAGGIE STIEFVATER SECRET YEAR BY JENNIFER HUBBARD
T—TORMENT BY LAUREN KATE TWELFTH GRADE KILLS BY HEATHER BREWER
U—THE UNINVITED BY TIM WYNNE-JONES
V—VAMPIRE ACADEMY LAST SACRIFICE BY RICHELLE MEAD
W—WAKE BY LISA MCMANN WINTERGIRLS BY LAURIE HALSE ANDERSON
X—X-ISLE BY STEVE AUGARDE
Y—YOU BY CHARLES BENOIT
Z—MEMOIRS OF A TEENAGE AMNESIAC BY GABRIELLE ZEVIN (yes I totally cheated on this listing LOL)