Introducing Boy Craze: Excerpt from Chapter 1

I know I haven't actually given you much to go on with Beautiful Sun and you've been waiting like years to find out more! Well here's more! Here is an excerpt from Chapter 1 of the book.

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Everyone complained, but Mrs. Burnstine didn’t care.
“Life isn’t gravy, you good for nothings,” she’d yelled. She, of course, saw no problem. When she was their age, she had to walk for nearly an hour to get to school and she couldn’t afford the luxury of a car. Now she made sure she could by making the children walk and stuffing the transportation funds into her pocketbook.
But transportation or not, this morning Saffire was destined to be late. She had stayed up half the night studying. But it wasn’t the major test in her science class that she had studied. Saffire usually didn’t study for tests since they were mostly straight from the homework. Most days after school, instead of studying, she would visit the library to get books and surf the Internet to find out more about the Divine. The Divine was also called the Living God.
Saffire’s grandmother was the first to tell her about Him. She said that the Divine was the very essence of love but He was also a Judge. To a four-year old that had just lost her parents, that is a very confusing thing. Which would explain why Saffire immediately forgot about the Divine; her young mind just couldn’t comprehend it. But when she really started to wonder why her life had ended up this way, she remembered what her grandmother told her and decided to find out more.
The library was a good source for finding things out about Him. But with all the cookbooks, chat rooms, and magazines she found herself too distracted and going home many days having found out nothing at all. But yesterday she had determined not to let this happen because no matter how distracted she became, she truly wanted to know the Divine’s plan for her life so she could follow it.
She finally hit the jackpot with a book called “The Divine’s Purpose for Life”. But by the time she found it, it was already late and the library was closing. Once back in her room, she was forced to listen to the ramblings Laurean and Shayla, with the occasional support of Kaitlin going unseen by the two. But eventually they went to sleep and Saffire was able to focus entirely on the book. She made notes upon notes, writing late into the night.
Falling asleep right on top of the book, Saffire’s mind still raced with theories and theologies. After a short time the ideas in her head came together in a dream and took the form of a person, a person that cared for her. She couldn’t see who it was, but she heard a voice talking to her. It was a mumble at first, then the sound grew, but still she didn’t know what was said. Saffire looked around in the darkness, trying to find the voice.
“Where are you?”
“Right here,” the voice said. Saffire couldn’t tell from where the voice was coming.
“Help me. I don’t want to be alone in the dark.” Saffire said.
“You never were alone. Wake up and you shall see me.” The voice said softly.Saffire felt her eyes open, not by choice. Her heart was beating slightly faster than normal. Then she realized she had been dreaming. She lifted her face from her book noticing the time. As the page, which had been pressed into her cheek, peeled off, there came a knock on her door.
She became scared, her dream still being eerily vivid. Saffire sat still staring at the door in anticipation. The door creaked open slowly, and it was Burnstine.
“Saffire.” “Ye, yes Mrs. Burnstine.” Saffire felt herself now shaking.
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So tell me! What do you think? Interesting? Lame? Wanting more? What type of person do you see Saffire as so far? Probably not very many opinions on that, seeing that she isn't viewed from too many angles yet. But that's ok, I'll be posting about Saffire soon. She's really me y'know O_O ^_^

Violet Eyes - the real review

Well y'know how I said Violet Eyes was SO GOOD? I was mistaken. It's okay. I mean it, the ending of a book can really steer how a reader sees the entire piece. Not to be an expert on the matter, I mean I am still a writer in progress. As a matter of fact, I hope that my work is more than naught. But really, if you see things the way I do, you'll probably want to read the sequel, Silver Eyes. I do want to read it. But also, if you see things the way I do, you'll probably think to yourself, "Wow if this book made it through the publishing process, Beautiful Sun should have no problem being successful."

Now don't get me wrong. The first 6 chapters of the book is very addicting. She does have a good hook. But there are just certain things that never meet together, besides the few (truly just a few) randomly placed sentences. I do have to admit, the whole thing with Wendy and Angel spending the night together, and the short conversation at the end of chapter 1 fit very nicely (once you've gotten thru chapter 12 or 13 it finally makes sense). But come on! If someone was super-human, perfectly intelligent - perfectly, how could a mere human match in smarts, wit or logic? Sometimes that really made me sick in the read of this book. It was like reading about how Superman was beat down by Billy Blanks or Hulk Hogan. I mean, in his day Hulk Hogan could've beat down most average guys because he was trained y'know. But honestly, he would've been no match for superhuman (alien actually) Superman. Even in his prime. Well I had this type of thought reading through those last chapters. Especially since I couldn't see anywhere how Michelangelo had shown any extraordinary intelligence (or extraordinary anything else) during the story.

One other thing that began to get on my nerves and I had to leave siding with Angel for 2 seconds and I sided with Mike on this - who could you believe? There was a lot of story cover up and I began to wonder, how do you trust anyone? Everyone was lying or had a hidden motive. I didn't know who to really believe, which I admit, made the mystery of the book very enticing. Yet, it got to a point where you began to wonder why were they doing what they were doing? Why did they care? They could've just escaped.

Overall, I still think it was a good book in an okay sort of way. If you are willing to suspend your belief in several instances and hold tightly to the loveable characters they are introduced as in chapters 1-7, you'll get through the book fine. The story is very varied which helps things to never get dull. And if you like mystery, it'll be all the more entertaining for you. But just don't get too comfortable with how the book begins because the setting and atmosphere created disappears and there is a change in the type of story you are reading. Which if it was a movie, I think would've been great. The plot is very well put together but yes, there are places where it seemed like the author forgot to say something so perhaps she was like "oh I'll just drop this here". lol - sounds like something I am guilty of doing a lot in my book too... but then again maybe not! It's hard for me to judge. So why don't you judge for me? DOWNLOAD STORY HERE.

Violet Eyes was certainly good enough to spark some thoughts in my mind about Boy Craze’s plot. Last entry I decided that my book is a fairly simple read with a pointed plot. Book 2 though could vary and include several storylines or at least one more. But I wasn’t sure what to do and I wanted to do something with Shawn. But I need help! Comment and let me know of some plot that would involve Shawn Tanaze. Perhaps one of you would give me something to go on; something that may very well change Book 2 back to a Shawn story! So Comment Comment Comment.

If I've sparked your interest about Violet Eyes by Nicole Luiken, you can probably find it at your local library or check out SimonSaysKids.com

Rose's Story

WHY DO I WRITE?

When I was a teenager I started to go down the wrong road and became, what I call, hypnotized into the things of this world. My heart was focused more on friendships, boys, and getting people to like me. I believe all teenagers go through this on some level - the want for acceptance. But my continual failed attempts eventually sent me into depression, suicidal thoughts, and an anti-social attitude. I didn't hate myself or others, but I felt dark. I now realize it was because I was pulling away from God. In a sense it might have also been God pulling me to a place where I had nothing else BUT Him and if that hadn't been the case, I would have continued on grappling for acceptance.

The depression drove me to near hopelessness. I knew only God could help me, if He was really there, I mean if He was REALLY REAL and truly did love me as He said in the Bible. So I cried out to Him and begged for Him to change things, to save me if He cared. I'm not quite sure what happened, but soon, that same hour, I wasn't as sad anymore. Slowly I became preoccupied with knowing and hearing from Him and things I thought mattered, mattered less and less. Well nothings perfect, I bounced in my walk of faith many times after that, but God always took me back.

Sometime in college I began writing fiction stories, always wanting them to be a picture of God and how He works in our lives. My desire to write grew intensely for a while. Now the desire is like a river that sometimes ebbs but usually flows, displaying God's love, especially to youth.

WHAT'S ROSE'S BACKGROUND?

M. Rose Barnett currently lives in Missouri, USA with her husband, who is also a writer for the Lord.
She follows Christ, holding on to the truths presented in the Holy Bible. Rose writes a lot about those truths and how they impact us.
She began journaling regularly as a teen, having a need to express her thoughts, and also wanting to leave her mark in the world. Although she has a college degree in business, she feels driven to teach theology through counseling, mentoring, and writing.

WHAT'S ROSE'S WRITE-LINE?

• A successful online weblog (via Livejournal) for 4 years
• Published a fantasy, web-story called the "Sunshine Kingdom" 2002-2004
• Became a Columnist for AnimeAngels Mangazine and published the articles, "What is Christian Anime?" and "Do you want a Revolution: What is so Revolutionary about Utena?" 2004
• Became Managing Editor of AnimeAngels Mangazine 2004-2005
• Wrote other articles (mostly for Christian teens), short stories and wrote website content for 3 starter sites 2003-2005
  
• Published Beautiful Sun: Boy Craze (Christian modern fiction story) 2007

HOW DO I CONTACT ROSE?

Facebook
Lulu
Y! 360
Livejournal
or leave a comment in this post!