Fall Happenings!

Happy October! The leaves are changing and it's boot and cardigan weather. What, you don't label seasons by fashion options? I'm a fall girl forever. My favorite season by far. 

Time to check in on my personal reading challenge.

The point of this challenge was to read books from my own shelves. Let's just say a slew of new releases, a member discount sale at my indie bookstore, and some tempting ebook additions at my library equated to me reading almost exclusively NOT from my own shelves. Oh, I read books, just none of them were books I already owned.  

It's a nice problem to have--too many books. 


My updates so far:

image: Goodreads

1.) A book you really want to read: 


THE WALLS AROUND US by Nova Ren Suma. I loved this author's YA Magical Realism book IMAGINARY GIRLS. I saw this option at in my library's ebooks and had to download. From the first page, this book was haunting and captivating. Girls in a juvenile detention center run free (or so they think) after all the cell doors mysteriously release. The story kept me guessing at the connection between the two main character narratives--one girl imprisoned, another girl on the outside. This is the perfect fall YA book. Highly recommended if you liked WE WERE LIARS.

image: Goodreads

2.) Something small
THE CATCHING KIND by Bria Quinlan. This was about 200 pages. I love her type of contemporary romance set in the city around a busy coffee shop. This one involved a YA writer in need of a publicity boost, a star athlete with an out-of-control social life, and two enterprising agents who fix them up. Cue shenanigans.

image: Goodreads

3.) Read an ebook
JOYRIDE by Anna Banks, YA contemporary. Another library ebook download. I really liked this story about a teen girl living with her brother and working herself to the bone to earn enough money to bring her deported parents back from Mexico. The story gets a bit soapy & sensational at points, but I liked seeing many sides of what people experience with immigration. 

Image: Goodreads

4.) An author you've been meaning to try

IT'S YOU by Jane Porter, contemporary women's fiction. I saw this lovely cover awhile back and added it on my To Read list. I thought I might meet her at RWA but didn't. I ended up winning this book from a blogger after commenting on the review. I liked some of the unconventional storytelling, but overall this read a bit like a catch-all of every women's fiction concept. The main character was a successful dentist which I thought was pretty cool. How many dentists do you read about?

MORE FALL STUFF

#BloomsburySpark chat Myself and other Bloomsbury Spark authors are hosting another twitter chat next week October 8, 8pm EST. Drop in and chat books with us!

Fall Writing Bootcamp with YA Buccaneers 
This is just for OCTOBER this time and focusing on preparing for National Novel Writing Month, or finishing up a project. Also, anyone joining can option in for a private Facebook group for more interaction. Join here on YABuccaneers. 

#YARWAchat
My Romance Writers YA chapter just hosted a chat with author Clara Kensie (see Storify link here).
Our next chat is October 20, 9pm EST. Topic TBD. This is a moderated, topic-focused chat. Join us!

Writers: October contest and pitch opportunities courtesy of Sub it Club 

AND My own RWA chapter's Four Seasons Contest with really good final round editor and agent judges for each category plus overall top finalists receive a bonus critique from 1 or 3 excellent authors in our group. Ten days left to enter, deadline 10/10/15


Thanks for catching up. What are you reading? What is your favorite thing about the fall season? Chat with me in the comments!