Emily Rachelle Writes

Today brings our second annual blog bash to an end, my lovely readers.  We had a lot of fun.  There were plenty of great gifts, a few wonderful guest bloggers, and several new author interviews.  Plus, your numbers, lovely readers, actually doubled!  So to all my new lovely readers, welcome to my blog!  Here's the link list of all guest posts, my posts, and author interviews during the party, in case you missed anything. You Should Try NaNo If... {guest post} Eggless Banana Muffins Review Rachel Coker Interview Holiday Break To-Do: Watch These 5 Classic "Going to College" Films {guest post} Cidney Swanson Interview Daring and I {guest post} 4 All Humanity Jewelry Review What Christmas Means for Me {guest post} Christmas in Apple Ridge Book Review One Word 365 Worst Photos of 2012 Gail Carson Levine Interview Connection Book Review Stephanie Morril Interview Maple Syrup Candy Fail + Candy Kick Caramel Recipe Interrupted Book Review Jill William...

I have huge news.  First, though, I want to just remind everyone of this post and ask you to read my big news in light of the word I chose to live out this year: dream . On January 7, 2013, two big things happened to me: I came home from the homeschool drama and speech class at the library, opened my email account, and in the very big stack of virtual envelopes saw TIME SENSITIVE.  So, naturally, I opened it first.

A Change of Fortune by Jen Turano Comedy of manners meets comedy of errors. Click the cover to buy This book was highly praised by a friend of mine, and the cover looked beautiful and very high-end and professional. Before I start being a Debbie Downer, let me point out that there were moments when this book had me laughing out loud.  So it's not all bad... just mostly .

The entries have been tallied, the lot cast, and the winner of either Saving Mars or Defying Mars is... *Drumroll!* Rhonda Compton! Congratulations Rhonda!  I'll be in touch about claiming your ebook. :)  Everyone else, don't forget - you can still enter the Super Girls' Giveaway for three more chances to win!

Hello everyone, and happy Saturday!  Have you enjoyed the party so far?  This year's celebration is drawing close to the end, but we can still enjoy these last few days.  (Especially the final presents in the Super Girls' Giveaway!) This year, not only am I hosting my second annual blog party, but I also hosted a real-life Christmas party with some girlfriends of mine.  This wasn't my first time hosting a Christmas party... but let's just say it's my first successful Christmas celebrating endeavor. *ahem* While words are usually my medium of choice, everyone knows that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I've decided to let the photos from my party tell their own story.  Enjoy! A note: since my party skills have grown much this year, I've decided to join Hostess with the Mostess and post my favorite parties I've planned/hosted!  Right now only my brother's pinata birthday and my Christmas party are up, but I plan to add other parties I'...

After a trip to Walmart and the local used book store, Gottwals (love that place!), I have some goodies for you!  Just like last year, I have three wonderful, girly prize packs for three lucky winners in the final giveaway of this year's party.  Here they are... Planets & Stars Stardust DVD Two autographed Saving Mars/Defying Mars  Cidney Swanson bookmarks Notes: To keep the photo-quality bookmarks safe, I removed the plastic from the DVD case and put the bookmarks in the case. Fairy Tale Fancy Sunlight and Shadow by Cameron Dokey, paperback Beauty by Robin McKinley, hardcover Notes: Beauty's  dust jacket may be a little ripped/worn. Secrets & Sleuths The Secret of the Old Clock by Carolyn Keene (Nancy Drew #1) The Secret of the Mansion by Julie Campbell (Trixie Belden #1) Notes: The Trixie book has a bit of price-sticker residue. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Remember earlier this month when Stephanie Morril came for an interview?  Today a friend and co-blogger of Stephanie's, also from Go Teen Writers , has joined us!  Her name is Jill Williamson, and she is a Christy-award winning author of various young adult speculative novels.  (I only mentioned Replication in the title because it's the one book of hers I've read.  I have a hardback, autographed copy that I'm in love with!) Click the cover to read the first two chapters Hi Jill!  It's nice to have you here.  I'll be asking several of the same questions I asked Stephanie, since every writer is different; therefore, naturally, your routines and experiences will mean different answers.  Let's get started! How long have you been writing?  I started writing books in 2004. Have you always wanted to be a writer? Nope. When I was younger, I wanted to be a fashion designer. I went to college in Manhattan to finish my fashion degree, then my...

I know you're all anxious to hear who won their own copy of Interrupted by Rachel Coker.  So I probably shouldn't take up your time with a great big, long introduction. The winner is... *Drumroll!* Rachel Harrison! Congratulations Rachel!  To everyone else that entered, don't dispair - Cidney Swanson's ebook giveaway is still open, and I can personally say that her Mars books are amazing .  Plus I may have a few last goodies up my sleeve...

Interrupted by Rachel Coker Click the cover to buy Can love really heal all things? From Amazon: Can love really heal all things? If Sam Carroll hadn't shown up, she might have been able to get to her mother in time. Instead, Allie Everly finds herself at a funeral, mourning the loss of her beloved mother. She is dealt another blow when, a few hours later, she is sent from Tennessee to Maine to become the daughter of Miss Beatrice Lovell, a prim woman with a faith Allie cannot accept. Poetry and letters written to her mother become the only things keeping Allie's heart from hardening completely. But then Sam arrives for the summer, and with him comes many confusing emotions, both toward him and the people around her. As World War II looms, Allie will be forced to decide whether hanging on to the past is worth losing her chance to be loved. First of all, I have to admit the main reason I bought this book - and paid full price - was because Rachel Coker was a tee...

Good morning, my lovely readers!  As you all know by now, indie author Cidney Swanson has quite a presence here on my blog.  You can read this year's interview with her, and see links to previous posts she's been involved with, here .  Today, she's agreed to sponsor another giveaway! One lucky winner will receive their choice of the Saving Mars or Defying Mars ebook!  Best of luck to you all! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Has anyone here read the Little House on the Prairie books?  Or seen the show?  I've never read through/watched through them, but I've read excerpts in literature classes and my family has several DVDs from the show. One thing I've always wanted to try is making maple syrup candy.  That was from one of the early books, which I read an excerpt of in elementary school.  The whole Ingalls family got together during the maple-sap season and made syrup and maple candy.  Basically, they boiled the sap into syrup and then poured some hot, "waxing" syrup onto a pan of snow.

Today's interview is a bit unique - a first for me.  I've never actually read any of this author's books!  However, I am a subscriber to and follower of her blog Go Teen Writers , as well as a member of its Facebook community.  Being the face of a large part of the teen writing community, I felt like I ought to invite her to the party.  I do plan to read her books eventually... meanwhile, her blog is above inspiring and awesome. Hi Stephanie!  Welcome to my blog!  Let's start off with some generic questions. How long have you been writing?  I started writing stories in 1st grade as part of my school curriculum and fell in love with it. From that moment on, I knew I wanted to be a writer. As I grew up, I was always writing stories and pursued it as a profession. Sometimes I wanted to be a writer and a teacher or a writer and a veterinarian, but writing was always going to be in the picture. Who or what has had the most influence on you as...

In a few days I shall share my review of Interrupted by Rachel Coker.  But first!  Today you, my lovely readers, have a chance to win a copy of this great book for yourselves or a friend!  Just enter with the Rafflecopter below. :) Good luck! Click the cover to buy a Rafflecopter giveaway

Connection by Emily Ann Ward Click the cover to buy Anna and Aaron have read each other's minds - literally - since they met as kids.  Eight years later, their touch sets off massive electric currents and a mysterious agency claims there are others like them. I'm just going to jump right in with this one, since I can't come up with an introduction. The characters in this book were realistic and varied.  Some of them were more irritable, while others were definitely lovable   I enjoyed the spectrum of people shown, especially the siblings that you could tell were related but were still very distinct, different people.

This is huge - amazing - epic.  Today Gail Carson Levine,  THE Gail Carson Levine, the author of Ella Enchanted and Fairest - of Ever and The Two Princesses of Bamarre - of the Princess Tales and Disney Fairies - is here, at my blog, for an interview!  Excuse me while I have a panic attack.  She's here ! Ms. Levine, I love your books - especially the Fairest audiobook, which is what introduced me to contemporary audiobooks - and I know you're a pretty big name author.  Not to mention the person behind what became Ella Enchanted , the movie!  I'm so honored to have you here.  Let's get started! How long have you been writing? I wrote as a child, but I stopped after high school, and only started again in 1987 when I was thirty-nine. Then it took me nine years to become published. Why did you start writing? Have you always wanted to be a writer? I never thought of becoming a writer. I was interested in acting and painting. But I always ...

During last year's party, I posted funny search terms used to find my blog and the worst photos taken during my year of blogging.  Well, this year I was going to do the same thing.  Except last year's list of search words was merely two, and this year's has absolutely nothing.  Seriously, most searches that lead to my blog are Christmas-related... plus searches for cookies, griffins, and other random stuff that I actually have blogged about. Therefore, I decided to do away with the search term list and instead make the Worst Photos my tradition.  Enjoy the awful! a photo of a sea sponge at the aquarium, taken by my then-ten-year-old brother Nick my Christmas tree... with all wrong lighting a coconut growing into a tree in Dominica ugh... *shudder* me in Capitol citizen costume for seeing The Hunger Games the first time around. this was an awful idea. (the costume, not the movie) blurry image of some wild daisies by the l...

Last year at this time, a favorite blogger of mine - Melanie from Only a Breath - shared something she'd discovered: OneWord365 .  The idea is that, instead of making lists of things you want to change or creating resolutions that never go anywhere, you choose one word which you then live out through the year. For 2012, Melanie chose "give."  I've watched as she and the online community she influences were blessed by everything that one word led to. I did some research and discovered just what a huge movement this one-word idea has grown into.  Actually, there are communities/individuals who do this with no affiliation with/knowledge of the OneWord365 site.  I've decided to try it myself.  Maybe I'll make it a lifetime tradition. My word for 2013 is...

And here they are!  The winners of the Christmas Talent Contest.  Unfortunately, we didn't receive many entries in this contest. :( Actually, to be honest, I only received two.  It was sad. But. I'm planning future contests, so hopefully next time we'll have a better turn out! Meanwhile, enjoy the images created by the two readers who *did* enter, Emily Van Eaton (blog reader who also won a recent giveaway) and Eddie Russell (little brother of yours truly). ~Emily Van Eaton ~Eddie Russell

Today's another day for announcements - of the winners of Pinterest projects by me!  Let's jump right in. The winner of one crayon wax piece is... *Drumroll!* Emily Van Eaton! The winner of one sticker quote canvas is... *Drumroll!* Sara Wicks! The winner of one hot glue quote canvas is... *Drumroll!* Kelley Roach! And the winner of a set of hand-painted floral glass jars is... *Drumroll!* Miranda la Barge! Congratulations ladies!   I'll be emailing you to get your mailing information.  However, since I'm currently in Indiana on a last-minute Christmas vacation, your prizes won't be mailed until I get back in early January.  Thanks for your patience! If you didn't win, don't worry!  There's still a few weeks left in our party, and I'm not out of presents yet ;)

Christmas in Apple Ridge by Cindy Woodsmall Click the cover to buy Experience the holidays with the Plain folk of Apple Ridge, Pennsylvania. This is my first time reading, much less reviewing, an Amish book.  Most Christian and/or female readers are probably aware of the huge Amish trend going on right now.  Honestly, I've been more than reluctant to try it myself.  I only decided to review this book because (a) I wanted something Christmas for the party, and (b) I figured three novellas in one book made a great "Amish fiction" sampler and would give me a better first impression/opinion than one novel. The stories were great.  I'm not about to go out and buy her next book the minute it releases, like I might for Cidney Swanson or Shannon Dittemore.  But I'm the target audience for those writers, and I'm not for this book.  The writing was pretty strong.  There were a few parts were the story seemed a little slow or bogged down. ...