[The Writing Process Blog Tour]

A big shout out to my author pal Helen Boswell for tagging me to play along in The Writing Process Blog Tour. She's ridiculously talented and I'm so excited to be working with her on a fantastic writing project that we have in the works with a few other amazing authors. If you haven't heard of Helen's YA Mythology series, you should really check it out, and just because she has a character named Christianna in them. She also has a NA contemporary romance that every one and their mother are raving about, but don't take my word for it. You can check out her blog HERE!

So, let's get to the questions, shall we...

What am I currently working on?

I think the real question is, what am I currently not working on? At the moment I have 4 projects in the works, which is crazy. My NA contemporary is out with Betas as we speak, I'm getting close to the middle point in the first draft of a gender-bending-heavy YA High Fantasy and I'm just getting started on a YA rom/com. But the project that I'm most excited about is a short story for YA Dystopian Anthology that should be coming to you in the next couple of months... (fingers crossed) It's my baby and I'm so glad that I got a talented team of authors to contribute.

My story takes place in a worn down America and it's all about a revenge plot with plenty of gore and guns. Let's just say that these stories are going to be something rather different and amazing to get you in the mood for Christmas! And let's just say that I've been watching lots of Tarantino flicks! Bear Jew anyone?!

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

Okay, is this question easy to answer? No, it's not. I guess I would have to say that my Contemporary novels have a definite Indie movie vibe to them. The stranger and quirkier the characters the better. Think weird settings and ridiculous antics and you're probably on the right track.

My darker pieces tend to be mind benders. I like to trick people. I like to show you something in a guarded light and then flip it on it's head. I'm inspired a lot by the works of Neil Gaiman and Joss Whedon and Danny Boyle. Once again, the weirder the better. I'm starting to think that that should be my slogan. Also, I'm totally okay with death...

Why do I write what I write?

I think I write what I write to see what my brain will come up with once I give it free reign. Life has a certain set of rules that you're supposed to live by (and I already break most of those) but when you're writing, anything goes. It sparks your brain and let's you create outside of the lines. It sets a picture in front of you along with colored markers and says "screw the lines, just do your thing." No one sees it until you deem it ready and I love that.

How does my individual writing process work?

It starts with a spark and usually a song. I'm a huge music junky and have even dabbled in music journalism over the years, so it's no surprise that music plays a huge role in my writing. My high fantasy is actually based on a Wolfmother song (insert unasked for music endorsement here). First thing I do before writing the first line is create a character board on Pinterest and pick out theme songs for each of the main characters, then I build a playlist off of that. Then I outline, and by outline I mean write a couple paragraphs about what happens. I'm not much of a plotter, but I do tend to write down important facts that I come up with as I write on the fly so that I know what's happening as I continue on. You can always find my unicorn clad notebook next to me as my fingers fly across my laptop keys (his name is Oscar Wilde). I also like to write really character driven books, so I write at least one large paragraph for each main character before I dig in. The other thing I like to do is pick a few movies that get me into the mood of the novel I'm working on and I'll watch them if I feel like I'm lost. But when it comes down to it, I force myself to write every day and get words down on paper.

And now I tag some awesome author buds...

Kate Jarvik Birch. Seriously, this woman writes some twisted little books. She has a book out with Bloomsbury Spark called "Deliver Me" and another called "Perfected" which is published through Entangled Teen. I just adored "Deliver Me" and I know that I'll get to "Perfected" soon. Through many internet chats we've also come to learn that we're practically twins, which makes her pretty cool in my book. (see what I did there?) Oh and she's also a part of said Dystopian Christmas Anthology, so she's literally in my book as well.
 

Jen McConnel. She writes about hunky Scottish gents and witches and goddesses and wonderful things like that. Her NA books "The Secret of Isobel Key" and "Her Secret Inheritance" are Bloomsbury Spark releases and I enjoyed both immensely. She's also a part of the Month9 family with her YA "Daughter of Chaos." If you have a thing for travel in your books, read hers.

Leigh Talbert Moore. Leigh has been a huge supporter of my writing since the beginning. She's also one of the authors that made me understand that self-published books could be a wonderful thing. She's written a slew of YA and NA titles and I highly recommend them all. Everyone should read her novel "Rouge", because I need the sequel to exist. Maybe I should start a campaign to get everyone to read that book? You'll also be able to see a sample of her writing in that Dystopian Christmas Anthology I was talking about earlier.

[Review: Drangonfly by Leigh Talbert Moore]

"Dragonfly"
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Series: Dragonfly #1
Pages: 265
Genre: YA Contemporary
Date Published: June 6th, 2013
Publisher: Self published
Format Read: eBook provided by author for honest review

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Summary:

“Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception

Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents.
-That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.
-Things are not always how they appear.

Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.
Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy.

Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew.

Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father.

A secret that could permanently change all their lives.

-Goodreads

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My Thoughts:

This book was the perfect fluffy and fun summer read.  It's got a few hard hitting moments, but mostly it's about a girl trying to fit in around people she doesn't understand and learning about a family secret that doesn't belong to her or her own family.

I think what I love the most about Moore's writing is that even though she writes steamier novels, she somehow manages to do so without making me, or any of the rest of her audience uncomfortable.  She folds the romance into the story, instead of letting the romance take everything over.  It's refreshing and most importantly it's not distracting.  It gives her room to build characters and make you feel connected to them.

I thought that Anna was an interesting protagonist.  She stuck between two guys, her best friend and the mysterious rich kid.  Yes, it's a love triangle and one of the relationships is destructive, while the other is sweet, but in the end the story is about Anna learning self control.  It was nice to see a girl make the choices that Anna did, even though sometimes she didn't actually follow through.  I have to admit that as much as I liked Anna she also drove me up the wall at times.  She just hasn't figured life out yet, but this being a series I can't wait to see where she actually ends up.

And the boys.  Girls the boys are so swoony!  Jack is the blonde, rich and all over the place emotionally guy.  He's nice and all, but there is something off about him and as the story unfolds, you uncover some of those things.  Julian on the other hand is your tall, dark, artist.  He's talented and driven and knows what he wants.  While one has had to work for what he wants (Julian) and one has been given everything and doesn't know what he wants to do with his life (Jack) they both have a huge amount of chemistry with Anna.  In all honesty I couldn't fault her for falling for either of them.

The book also focuses on family.  I adored Anna's parents and her grandma.  Their relationship was refreshing and actually existed.  Both of the boys parents are also heavily featured in the plot.  And Jack's sister Lucy brings a lot of drama and light into Anna's life.  

Knowing that Dragonfly is just the beginning of this series by the sea leaves me excited for more.  A big secret is revealed at the end of the book, which makes you want to pick up the second book Undertow right away.  The fact is you never know who is going to end up being someone that you can't avoid for the rest of your life!  Dragonfly was a blast to read and I highly suggest it to anyone looking for something fun and summery with a high dose of drama and some romance!

Rating:

           4 Unicorns = Close to perfect!

[Promo Post: Dragonfly by Leigh T. Moore + Giveaway]

***Release Week Special! Dragonfly is only 99 cents June 6-8!

1... 2... 3... One Click (link)!!!***

"Dragonfly swept me off my feet! Once I started reading this book it kinda sucked me into the story and I had a hard time putting it down." --Stephanie, My Thoughts... reviews

Five Stars! "Angst, longing, jealousy, mystery, secrets, love triangles, sexy scenes! Could you even ask for more? Well you can because it is also very well-written and fast-paced. Great book to dive into poolside, but I will warn you may get so swept up in it you may end up with some sun burn. So I STRONGLY suggest you invest in some sunscreen as well as a copy of Dragonfly." --Nichole, Goodreads reviewer  

"I truly enjoyed this one! I thought the characters were intriguing, the mystery and story were interesting and definitely have ME WANTING MORE!!!!!!!" --Mandy, The Romance Bookie

“Gossip Girl meets VC Andrews in this contemporary family saga. Love, lies, and betrayal become the new normal when Anna enters the world of Jack and Lucy Kyser.” –Magan Vernon, international bestselling author of The Only Exception
 

On Amazon

Dragonfly

by Leigh Talbert Moore  
Three bad things I learned this year: -People you trust lie, even parents.  -That hot guy, the one who’s totally into you, he might not be the one.  -Things are not always how they appear. Three good things I learned this year: -Best friends are always there for you, even when they’re far away.  -That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.  -Oh, and things are not always how they appear. Anna Sanders expected an anonymous (and uneventful) senior year until she crossed paths with rich-and-sexy Jack Kyser and his twin sister Lucy. Pulling Anna into their extravagant lifestyle on the Gulf Coast, Lucy pushed Anna outside her comfort zone, and Jack showed her feelings she’d never experienced... Until he mysteriously withdrew. Anna turned to her internship at the city paper and to her old attraction for Julian, a handsome local artist and rising star, for distraction. But both led to her discovery of a decades-old secret closely guarded by the twins’ distant, single father. A secret that could permanently change all their lives. Be watching for Undertow, Book 2 in the Dragonfly series, coming July 18!
 

Falling in Love Changes Everything…

“C’mon,” Julian said, helping me stand. “Let’s blow off this party and catch a movie or go to Scoops. This isn’t our scene.” I shook my head. “I just really want to go home.” The tears were trying to start again. “Can I just go home now?” “Sure,” he said, holding my cheek. I took a limping step, and he stopped. “Does it hurt to walk?”  My leg was throbbing. I nodded, looking down, and before I realized what was happening, he was lifting me in his arms.  “Julian, wait,” I held his shoulders. “I’m too heavy!”  “It’s okay,” he said, walking on. I sighed and leaned my head against his shoulder. I didn’t feel like fighting. Gentle pressure against my temple, and he’d kissed me. “You’ll get over this,” I heard him say under his breath.

Get Dragonfly today:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

* * *

Leigh Talbert Moore is the author of the popular young adult romantic comedy The Truth About Faking, its companion The Truth About Letting Go, and the mature YA/new adult romantic suspense novel Rouge, a Quarter Finalist in the 2013 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

She is an award-winning journalist and editor, who has also worked in marketing and public relations for many years. Her writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines across the southeast and Midwest U.S., and she runs the popular writing-craft blog That’s Write.

A southern ex-pat and beach bum, she currently lives with her husband, two young children, and one grumpy cat in the Midwest.

Connect online:

Facebook | Amazon Author page | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

Read excerpts of her books on Wattpad and Figment!

* * *

Enter to #WIN a Kindle Touch loaded with all FOUR of Leigh's books AND an exclusive eARC of Undertow; A signed, print set of Dragonfly and Undertow, or ebook sets of both!
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[Book Blitz: The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore]

I recently read The Truth About Letting Go and loved it!  Seriously, I gave it 5 out of 5 Unicorn heads/stars.  If you want you can check out my review HERE!  And now I'm gonna hand this thing over to Leigh herself, so she can tell us about music inspiration!

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When it comes to music, I'm like that dog in the movie Up... Doug! 

Most songs tell a story, so when one I like comes on, I start singing or tapping along. Then I'm off imagining the story the musician is telling and not mine.

Song

So basically, I can't write while music is playing.

BUT! I often use songs to help me remember certain scenes or to put me in the mood for a scene. If it's angry or happy or sassy. You know.

When I started writing The Truth About Letting Go, I had several songs swirling in my head. So I put them all together in an order that made sense, loaded them onto my iPod, and voila!

The Playlist for The Truth About Letting Go: 

This first set all have that driving feeling that put me in Ashley’s frame of mind. Especially “Breakdown…” by Ryan Adams. Certain phrases in that song make me think of her angry despair and just her inner turmoil, her questions. (Titles are linked to videos.)

"Breaking the Habit" by Linkin Park

"Breakdown Into the Resolve" by Ryan Adams & The Cardinals

"Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" by Fall Out Boy

Next up, "Here Comes Your Man" by The Pixies (This is for Jordan, obvs)

In the story, Jordan has to drive his mom’s ancient Toyota, and he and Ashley are forced to listen to her old music. "Zanzibar" by Billy Joel and "Missionary Man" by The Eurythmics are directly referenced.

Next, "I Knew You Were Trouble" by Taylor Swift (This is for Colt, obvs)

"Play With Fire" by The Rolling Stones. This one could be Ashley + Jordan or Ashley + Colt. Both of those couples are playing with fire in different ways.

"A Little Bit of Everything" by Dawes. This song could be Ashley's theme for the whole book. It sounds like an old hymn, which to me felt like the soundtrack of her ultimate realization and finding peace. Plus, the message is just so great. It’s a realization that it takes “a little bit of everything” to make a life.

"Strangers" by The Kinks. Ditto above, and it's the soundtrack to Ashley’s “walkabout.”

"Fireflies” by Fleetwood Mac. This one sounds like being at the creek to me and the things that happen there, which is a lot.

And there you have it! Happy reading and listening~

The Truth About Letting Go

by Leigh Talbert Moore

Get me!

Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life.

Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes.

Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side.

Jordan wants to follow his heart... but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make.

Up until now, Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, and then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly. 

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, the rules, faith, and then she meets Jordan. 

Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, he's a great kisser... but he's also safe. 

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords | iTunes

Leigh Talbert Moore is a wife and mom by day, a writer by day, a reader by day, a former freelance editor, a former journalist, a chocoholic, a caffeine addict, a southern expat, a lover of any great love story, a beach bum, and occasionally she sleeps.

Find her online at her blog, on Facebook, on Amazon, Goodreads, Twitter, and Tumblr. Read excerpts of her books on Wattpad and Figment!

* * *

Enter to #WIN a signed print set of The Truth About Letting Go AND The Truth About Faking! (US only) *For international entrants, win a digital copy of both books!

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[Review: The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore]

"The Truth About Letting Go"
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Pages: ?
Genre: YA Contemporary, Romance
Date Published: February 21st, 2013
Publisher: Self Published
Format Read: eARC provided by the author for an honest review

---------------------------------------------------------------

Summery:

Ashley wants to smash everything in her once-perfect life.
Charlotte wants to walk in Ashley's seemingly charmed shoes.
Colt wants to turn Smalltown USA on its ear--with Ashley at his side.
Jordan wants to follow his heart... but Ashley is the one sacrifice he never expected to make.

Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing, played it safe, gone to church. And then her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. She rejects safety, rules, faith,

and then she meets Jordan.

Jordan has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe.

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

-Goodreads

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Thoughts:

This book made me feel so many things during my time with it.  It was like an emotional roller coaster.  Sometimes I just wanted to get off of it, because it made me sad and other times it took me for a ride that I enjoyed so much.  There were times I wanted to cry (ok I might have), times I chuckled at things, times I cringed and times I wanted to tell characters to go take a freaking hike.  

The magic of this novel and others by Moore is that she is able to write real, tangible characters that you care about.  Now how you care about them is up to you, but you undoubtedly will feel something about them.  And that's where the magic lies.  That she makes you care about her characters.  She makes you want to know what is going to happen to them.  Makes you want to yell at them.  Makes you want to hug them.  It's rather awesome!

The book consists of a High School senior Ashley and how she deals with the death of her father.  It flips her world upside down and leaves her grasping at straws.  Straws that she can turn into anything.  It's about her finding out who she is after loosing someone special.  And she decides to start from square one, turning her back on everything she's been raised on, including church.  Trying to figure out how she wants to live and getting lost in trying not to feel anything.  Let's be honest, she gets herself into some pretty sketchy situations.  In the beginning I wasn't that impressed with Ash, but as I got to know her, I decided that I do actually like her as a character.  She dynamic and conflicted.  She's kind of like the girl version of the conflicted bad boy.  It's cool to watch.  Though the part where she dresses a guy in clothes she likes made me cringe.

The boys of this novel are brilliant and totally different.  I have to admit that I did not like Colt one bit.  But it makes him no less brilliant.  He's a badass, a total jerk and a horrible manipulator.  He doesn't know where to draw the line, which becomes clear fairly early on.  And he's in to some pretty weird ish.  But then he does have his moments of surprise sweetness, but guys like that always do.

Now Jordan on the other hand was brutally honest.  Which is a delightful contrast to Colt.  He wasn't afraid to talk, to build people up or to wake them up making them face reality.  But he did it all in the sweetest way possible.  He was the ultimate nice guy, who still had some issues.  It was nice that both guys had issues, instead of one being perfect and the other being corrupted.  They were both just people and that's awesome.  But back to Jordan and his awesome nerdyness as well!  Got to love a tall, dark, nerd!  So much to like about this guy.

Ashley's relationships with the other girls in her life were also interesting to watch.  It showed a part of Ashley that we didn't get to see when she was with the boys and it was nice break from some of those crazy moments, though they had their own as well.

Hands down, you've got to read this one if you like Contemporary novels!

Rating:

       Buy the book:
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[Review: ROUGE by Leigh Talbert Moore]

"ROUGE"
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Series: Cheveux Roux #1
Pages: 300
Genre: New Adult, Historical Fiction
Date Published: November 11th, 2012
Publisher: Self Published
Format Read: Purchased eBook

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Summery:

As the rising star of the hottest cabaret in New Orleans, Hale Ferrer has only one goal: Escape.

Escape from the lies and manipulations, from the nonstop work and constant hunger, and from her growing fear that one day she'll have to earn her living in the secret back rooms, where the dancers do more than dance.

But she won't go without Teeny, the orphan-girl she rescued from the streets and promised to protect.

Freddie Lovel, Hale's wealthy Parisian suitor, is the perfect solution. He says he loves her, he knows nothing of her impoverished background, and he has the potential to sweep her and Teeny far away from their bleak existence in south Louisiana.

If only his touch could arouse her interest like Beau's, the poor stagehand who captures her heart. Beau, who makes her laugh and feel safe, who rescues her from more than one close call, and whose blue eyes are like Louisiana iris flowers.

Denying her fears, Hale is ready to choose love and a life with Beau, until a predator lurking in their theater-home launches a chain of events that could cost her everything--Teeny, their one hope of escape, and possibly even her life.

-Goodreads 

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My Thoughts:

Rouge" is one of those books that almost got a 5 star rating from me. And in this case almost is good enough. It was a unique story, that had elements of things like "Moulin Rouge", but only small hints. It was a story that was dashed with little bits of intrigue, even up until the very last moments of the novel. In the very last moments Moore threw some details at us that when carefully looked at, could lead you to the truth of the matter. But it also just could have been a trick of your imagination as well.

The setting of "Rouge" was fun and terrifying at times and that is what keeps you on your toes as a reader. The fact that the theater is not only that and that it moonlights as, well I won't tell you, but I will tell you that it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Or your bed, or whatever your sitting or laying on while reading it! I also loved that the novel was set in New Orleans. It makes me want to visit.

Moore gives us characters that we actually care about. Hale has moments where you just want her to get her shit together and then when she does, it leaves you speechless and ready to give her a standing ovation. And Beau is rather dashing. He's the bad boy turned good guy that every girl dreams about. And even though Freddie is boring in comparison, you couldn't help but like him a lot as well. The love triangle wasn't overly obnoxious and provided a brilliant plot tool for Moore. It was a love triangle created out of obligation more than true love, and I enjoyed that twist on it. And Teeny, she was great! A little ball of energy and awesomeness. I enjoyed all of her antics!

Needless to say that other characters that were not front runners in the story were also extremely well crafted, even ones as small as Molly. Roland, Evie, Carla and Frank all seemed like they were your friends, not just Hale's. Rosa was the mother fill in, that held her role extremely well and Gavin was wonderfully complicated. And well Guy, Guy was just creepy as anything!

This book drops down to 4 and a half stars for the fact that Moore described French kissing all the time, I wanted to yell "I get how it works already", but on the other hand it never made me stop reading the story. This book is written for an older YA audience, or I guess, the newly created New Adult genre. There are a few love scenes and some steamy stuff, as well as the book dealing with prostitution. It's not a tale for someone who wants to read a fluffy book, but if you like a story that isn't entirely happy go lucky, then give this little Indie gem a try!

Rating:

(because God only knows how weird half of a unicorn head would look)