Music, Moments, and Memories

1. What does your writing space look like? Are you an office person, or a laptop and anywhere kind of person?

- I work anywhere. I have a laptop with headphones, which are a crucial tool for me. When I put music on, I can switch off the noise and the world and get writing. I have four small children so being able to tune out the noise they make is very useful. But I do have an office space too. It’s in the basement at our house, which is nicer than it sounds, and I love to settle down there with our family dog, Bamboo, put on headphones and write. Often, however, the kids come in and want to start drawing or chatting with me, so I tend to grab my laptop and go to cafes to work.

2. What is your writing process like? Outlines and rough drafts for days? Or let it flow from chapter to chapter and worry about story structure and editing later?

- I have learned over the years that I write better with some structure. I used to just let it flow, but now I have a mixture of rough outlining and crazy writing binges where I write a thousand words in an hour. I have to do a lot of editing later either way, it seems. Tons and tons of rethinking and rewriting. I’m very lucky to work with some great editors. I’ve attached a photo of one set of edits for your readers to peak at – often an editorial letter will have hundreds of these comments! All the sections you read in these edits have been cut from the final book. It’s a lot of work to rewrite a book but it always gets me closer to the story I’m trying to tell. ** photo will be part of part two**

3. Do you enjoy reading reviews and thoughts from bloggers? If so, do you feel their thoughts change your ideas for your next work?

Q & A with Author Alice Kuipers Part 2

4. What do you find your favourite thing is about both genres you write in?

- I love writing for kids and for teenagers because both age groups give frank responses to books. If a young child is bored by a book, they don’t pretend to love it. A teenager tells you with great enthusiasm if they love your books and they tell you with clear frustration if they hate the work. But, more than that, both age groups are really interesting to me as a writer because of the ideas for stories that come to me. I love exploring these ages when things happen to characters for the first time in their lives. These moments of new experiences- whether that’s writing a book for the first time, like Violet does in my Violet and Victor picture books, or having to make a terrible choice, like Lark does in the newest YA novel, these first time moments make for fascinating stories and characters.

5. How do you feel being published has changed your creative thinking process?

- I work harder now I’m a published author because I know people are eventually going to read the words I write. When someone takes time out of their life to read one of my books, they never get that time back. So I have to earn it, I feel. I edit hundreds of times. And through the publishing process, I get to work with great editors, book designers, and then, once the book is out there, I get to meet all sorts of great readers.

6. If you were ever in an impossible situation similar to Larks, what would you hope your choice would be?

Review | Carissa Vales

This talented and multi linguistic young Canadian has the ability to blend and combine so many unique sounds and flavors into each carefully crafted song. Vales took her song writing skills to each song on the album. Writing solo or co-writing each song as an original tune, specifically crafted to compliment Vales’ vocal talents.

I’ve thought about this book consistently since I read it the first time. I even read it a second time and tried to figure out how I could possibly write a review about this book and not spoil anything. Ive been a fan of CoHo since the Slammed series and love all of her stuff, yet the minute I finished this one I knew it was my new favourite. Colleen has never shy’d away from the tough subjects throughout her many books, yet I don’t think she’s ever embraced one quite so thoroughly either. The cover is amazing, the author is awesome and the book is under 20$ at Chapters … You can’t go wrong with It Ends With Us in any capacity. This book will touch your soul, crack your heart and still leave you stronger by the end then you were at the beginning.

I’m not totally on board with the whole script aspect of this book, I am LOVING getting back into this world and seeing where they ended up and how they’re still a team.

Spoiler Free Review of Demon Road By Derek Landy

Cover Love: 3/5 I really like this cover. Definitely the first thing that caught my eye was the young girl, with red skin and horns. The line “She’s having a hell of a time” was the thing that made me pick it up to read the synopsis.

World Creation: 3.5/5 This world for the most part is set in modern day times with a supernatural twist to it. Pun intended, and if you’ve ever seen the tv show “Supernatural” you know what I’m talking about. I enjoyed almost everything about Amber and Milo’s journey so far, the bar where you meet a old 8 year old girl, the gas station where we met Glen, and of course the little hotel where we meet the vampires.

Author Style: 4/5 I found Derek’s style very easy to read. I especially enjoyed the fight scenes. He described everything in great detail, it was like you were there, you had the blood on your clothes, you had just taken the life.

OTP: 3/5 There was no real love interest in this story so far, it is a trilogy so who knows. However, I am liking the friendship that is growing between Milo and Amber. The more time they spend together, the more family like they become. Which is something that I feel both of them have need of in their lives, so I hope in the upcoming books that it continues.

Characters: 4/5 Milo has got to be my favourite character so far. At first all standoffish and aloof, he left much to be desired. As chapters go by and you learn more and more about him, my affections grew. I mean the moment you find out a guy has a car that can digest people? What’s not to like at that point? He grows to trust Amber more and more and shares some interesting back story’s that tighten the bond between them that reminds me a little of Sam and Dean.

If you are a lover of the tv show Supernatural, or basically any dark, sort of gruesome and bloody book, you should give this series a try. Overall rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Ps. As you can see, I got book two. Will be reading soon to find out what happens next. 😁

Show Review | Three’s A Party Tour 2015

Now they say “Three’s a crowd,” but when the three in question happen to be Jason Blaine, Tebey, and James Otto then “Three’s A Party.” From Halifax, NS to Vancouver, BC these three have been taking their party from city to city giving country fans one heck of a show. With dates scattered from coast to coast, I was able to catch the party during their stop on Ottawa, Ontario. The Algonquin Commons Theatre is a decent venue; clean, roomy, and modern.

Review | Carissa Vales

This talented and multi linguistic young Canadian has the ability to blend and combine so many unique sounds and flavors into each carefully crafted song. Vales took her song writing skills to each song on the album. Writing solo or co-writing each song as an original tune, specifically crafted to compliment Vales’ vocal talents.