Long Time, No See: The Shadow Book Review

Hello, my lovely readers and fellow writers!

Image taken from http://www.whiskeyriff.com/where-have-you-been/

You don't have to tell me how long it has been because I know that it has literally been YEARS. So much has happened in my personal life that has caused me to take an extended hiatus from blogging and writing. There will be a more in-depth blog post (with pictures) but here are the highlights:

1. Graduated College - two bachelor's degrees in French and English-Creative Writing

2. Met and married the love of my life - Michael <3

3. Graduated with my Masters of Arts in Teaching

4. Now have a big girl job teaching English Language Arts to the best kids in the world. I currently teach American Literature and Composition to Juniors in the Gwinnett County area. AND. I. LOVE. IT.

Taken from https://www.hercampus.com/after-college/15-thoughts-every-girl-has-while-looking-job 

So, those are my four excuses for leaving you all in suspense. However, I do have some great news. The third and final book in The Forget Me Not Trilogy is almost done. Over halfway finished before it is sent to the editor. I promise, as soon as I get information on the publication, you will be the first to know.

But moving on. I am here to review one of my favorite authors and good friends, Marianne Curley. Marianne has published the fourth book in the Guardians of Time Series, entitled The Shadow.

The image is taken from Marianne Curley's Website

If y'all know me at all or remember me from when I used to post on the regular, then you know how much I love Marianne Curley. Not only as an author but as a person. She is truly one of the most humble, kind, and talented young adult novelists that I have had the pleasure to read growing up and to have as a friend now that I am also an author. Even if we live several continents away from one another.

Her latest novel, The Shadow, picks up where the last in her trilogy, The Key, left off. Now, this review will not contain specific spoilers, but if you haven't read this novel or any other books by Marianne Curley, then stop reading now. Seriously. Stop. Go buy them. Read them. Love them.

Marianne Curley takes the reader on a beautiful journey back through the characters she created many years ago. We see all of our favorites: Ethan, Isabel, Arkarian (we know most people read just to see what our favorite blue-haired ageless mentor is doing), Matt, Dillon, Neriah, and many others. Marianne also brilliantly weaves in new characters that seem they have been there the whole time. While most continuation to series can leave the reader empty or wanting more, Marianne Curley successfully and seamlessly brings this world back to life and transports readers to another world where The Named and immortals are real and protect our world from the powers of chaos.

To be honest, I wasn't sure if The Shadow would live up to the last three novels in this series, The Named, The Dark, and The Key, but it surpasses all of my highest expectations. This novel is true to the characters and to the story of The Named. Marianne Curley's prose takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of emotion - from sorrow to hope to suspense to laughing out loud (Legit, I love that Ethan and the others refer to using their wings as "wing out.") to absolute happiness. Readers new and old will not be disappointed by this novel. It is one of my absolute favorites and one I will read and read again.

The Shadow by Marianne Curley can be purchased on Amazon, both in print copy and via Kindle download. Links to Marianne's website and her latest novel are below! GO BUY IT!

Image is taken from Goodreads.com 

BUY BOOK

Marianne Curley's Website

*This review is not sponsored and all opinions are my own.*
* All images are copyrighted to their proper owners found via Google search*

Graduation, Graduate School, and Book Three, Oh My!

Hello my lovely readers! I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update this blog. Senior year of my undergrad has been so busy, but I am happy and proud to say I did it! I graduated a week ago today with a Bachelor's in English-Creative Writing and a Bachelor's in French. YAY! 

WE DID IT!

I am so happy to also say I am returning to school in June to obtain my Masters of Arts in Teaching with a concentration in English. I am so thrilled to continue my studies and become certified to teach English and French at the middle school and high school level. Many of you already know that my novels are young adult, so being able to work with the age group I write for as a teacher is so exciting!

Now that I have graduated, I am excited to be able to focus more on writing (especially the third book in my trilogy) and begin blogging again. I hope you all are excited about this third book. So many twists and turns have been coming about since I have gotten back into my writing routine. I am so excited to finish up this series and share it with you all! 

Since I have some time off before I begin graduate school, I wanted to let you know what I am currently reading and loving at the moment. (P.S. It feels so good to read for fun and not for class!!) Right now, I am reading "Broken" by Marianne Curley - it is the second book in her Avena Series and it is fabulous!! I have already pre-ordered "Fearless" and I cant' wait to see how this story finishes. Ebony and Thane are my favorite characters and I'm loving what Marianne Curley is doing with the idea of Angels. It's a great read! 

I have more blog posts to come, but for now, I will get back to writing book three. :) 

How To Make Time For Writing

I've decided to write a blog post that I think many aspiring writers need to read and one that I especially need to read. It's also a blog post about a question that I am often asked.

How do you make time for writing?

Well, it's definitely not easy. Being a full time college student who is also super involved with extracurriculars such as my university's literary journal, an online magazine for women, honor societies, sleeping, eating, AND writing a third novel....yeah, it's not easy.

However, it is not impossible. I know so many other authors who are just as busy or even busier than I. While it is difficult to balance everything, it is definitely doable. So I want to share with you all a few tips I try to follow to keep my creative juices going and to keep writing.

1. Give yourself a due date. 

While you may not have an editor or publisher giving you deadlines as you write your novel, that doesn't mean you shouldn't. Give yourself reachable deadlines as you write. For example, write 20,000 words by the end of the month. Or tell yourself the first draft will by done by summer. Whatever it is, write your deadlines down and keep them somewhere, like in an agenda, where you will see it often.

2. Give yourself small, reachable goals

While the first tip is helpful, don't give yourself a due date that is impossible. Therefore, it would be also helpful to give yourself little goals that you can meet each week or even every day. For myself, I have created a goal of writing at least 500 words per day. While I haven't been consistent with that goal, it is still something I can remember and attempt everyday. Now, if the words are flowing and you go over 500 words, great! If not, just know that writing something is better than writing nothing at all.  

3. If you want writing to be your job, treat it like one

This goes back to my previous points. If writing is something that you want to make a career out of, then you should treat it like a job. Make deadlines, goals, and put hours in. If you love to write, then it deserves your time. And more importantly, your characters deserve your time.

4. Make an outline

If you are writing an in depth, super complicated multi-book series, then you may want to think about an outline. It isn't fair to you to expect yourself to bust out three books in a year (if you can, then kudos to you my friend!!). However, making an outline so that when you can sit down to write will help you be able to focus and write the scenes and characters you need to write. 

5. Drink coffee... lots of it

I think this tip is self-explanatory. Whatever you drink, coffee is always for me, make some while you write! Whatever keeps you awake, gets the creative juices going, then drink and write my friends! 

6. Don't beat yourself up

This tip is very important. If you dont' meet every small goal you make for yourself, don't freak out! Life gets busy and sometimes writing has to take a back seat. However, don't be so discouraged that you give up. Writing a novel takes time. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day! 

I hope you all found these tips and hints helpful! Happy Writing everyone! 

Also, for more information about my series and my inspiration, please follow me on my Pinterest account here!

The Wait is Long, but Good Things Are Coming

Once again my lovely readers, I must apologize such a long hiatus. Senior year of college is no joke and I haven't even had the time to return to Great Falls to finish the story that has been six years in the making. However, I have good news. I have returned to writing and will hopefully have a third book ready to be released by the end of this year! (fingers crossed)

Book Three in the Forget Me Not Trilogy will be the final installment of this series. This lovely book is still in the writing process and has yet to be given a title that I can love. However, once a title has been decided, you all will be the first to know. 

I also promise to continue this blog (scout's honor!) and keep you all updated as much as I can on the writing process of this new book baby of mine. (Without giving you all any spoilers of course!!) 

While book three is still in the writing process, I'm constantly asked the same questions over and over by readers and friends. And I think many of you have the same sort of questions.

Do you know how the story will end? What will happen to Adeline and Cole? Will any other characters die in this book?

I usually am asked this when I least expect it and feel as if I have to give a very quick answer. Of course, I would love to give these questions the answers they deserve. However, I also cannot answer these questions straightforward like some people wish. Because if I were to divulge all the answers to these questions, well then there would be no need for a novel. And no one would like that (especially my publisher). 

Yet, I will give some very vague, authory (just totally made that word up) answer to these questions. I think I owe you all at least that.

If I am completely honest, I do not know the exact ending for this third book. I have a rough outline that forms and creates itself as I write. With the previous two books I have written, I always kept an ongoing outline that changed as the story did. I love my writing to be organic - too much planning ruins the story for me. So, to answer the first question, I have to say yes and no. I do know the general ending, yet the details and specifics are still up in the air. 

As to the second question regarding Adeline and Cole, well there will obviously be new issues and problems that will arise. They will each face new challenges together and separately. Yes, there will be some distance for these two. (Don't panic! It will be okay!) Which takes me to my next surprise. There is the possibility of a point of view change. You will not be privy to only Adeline's thoughts in this book. ("Who?!" You ask? I suppose you will have to wait and see.)

As for the third question regarding any future character deaths....my lips are sealed. But yes, someone else may die. 

I hope you all continue to stick with me as I go through this journey of finishing a series so close to my heart. Thank you for those who love these characters as much as I do. I hope and pray to give them a final book that is worthy of their story. 

I Leave in T-Minus 3 days, 1 hour, 9 minutes...

I can't even believe it! I'm only days away from going on my European adventure! While I am so excited for this amazing opportunity, I am also nervous and a little scared. This isn't my first time to France, but it is my first longterm stay in a foreign country. Yet, I have many exciting goals and opportunities while I am there.

First, I am hoping to be inspired and get some writing done on book three of the Forget Me Not Trilogy (yes, my lovely readers, I have not forgotten you!). With the long plane ride, different train rides, and days where I can sit in a French café  with un café crème, a croissant, and my laptop, I will have time to type away!

Secondly, I get the opportunity to research a famous 18th century French writer and her personal letters in Vire, France with my lovely French professor. Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont was a French author who is best known for penning the original "Beauty and the Beast." And I get to read, translate, and catalog the original, physical, real copies of her personal letters. Like in my hands. I get to hold them. And smell them.

I will be doing better at keeping my blog up to date as much as possible! Please follow me on Instagram, Vine, Twitter, and Facebook for more updates and pictures!

Instagram: apblanchard1218

Vine: Allison Blanchard

Twitter: @apblanchard

Facebook: www.facebook.com/allisonblanchardbooks

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I travel and move throughout Europe for the next four weeks! And thank you to my readers for all your support. It means the world!

Lack of Blog Posts: Send Complaint Letters to School and Finals Week

Well, it has been quite awhile. And a lot has happened since I last wrote. A. Lot. 

I have finished up my junior year of college and now I only have one year left. Just one. And while I'm thrilled to be so close to my degrees, I can't help but think it's gone by too fast. I can't imagine saying goodbye to all my friends I have made these past three years. But thinking about saying goodbye to my best of friends, reminds me of another heart wrenching goodbye that is going to happen fairly soon.

Now that finals are over and I have most of the summer to write (I'll explain why it's only most of the summer - keep reading!), I must now get back to finishing up The Forget Me Not Trilogy. Meaning I must say goodbye to Adeline, Cole, and all of those characters from that world. I think I have been procrastinating writing book three (at the annoyance of my best friend, sorry Kelly!) because once it's written, it is done. Now, I'm not saying there will never be another book about Adeline and Cole. I'm not writing off that idea completely, but as of now, the story must come to an end. And it breaks my heart. 

Yet, I'm excited at the same time. While I'm sad the story must end, I'm thrilled to share it with everyone who has been on this journey with me since I was first published a year and a half ago. I can't wait to see what you all think - book three is going to be a crazy ride!

Now, speaking of exciting things, the reason I only have most of the summer is because I am going to France for a little over a month in June and July! 

In 38 days and 3 hours I leave for France and I am beyond excited. I'm studying abroad in Strasbourg and Paris where I get to do some research on this 18th century French woman author, Madame Beaumont. But more on that later. 

I'm going to be posting specific blog posts about my travels on this blog for your reading pleasure. Plus I know that I am going to need to a place to upload pictures and pour out my excitement. EEKK! So more posts are to come (I promise!!) on writing book three and packing for France/living in France! 

This last summer before my senior year will be busy, but exciting. And I look forward to sharing it all with you. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sticking with me.