The Joys of Vacation

Vacation was everything it promised to be: RELAXATION. Creative reboot. Change of scenery. Did I mention, RELAXATION.

Want proof? I don't blame you...

This is Southport. If you find my heart on the shore, please leave it there until I get back. Thank you.

While on this shore, I gathered my first ever sea glass loot (the dark green on the left was the first piece I spotted, but my favorite is the lavender on top).

We took the ferry, when it was in service, to save time.

A Midsummer's Nightmare: Book Review

(click on the image for more info on Kody Keplinger!)

Great read*! 
Brought this one to the beach and finished it in two days - I couldn't get enough of Whitley and the ever fun Nathan (every girl needs a Nathan in her life, just saying...). Whitley is a new favorite of unlikeable characters, or at least unlikeable by most standards. I was enamored by her independent and strong-willed attitude when we first meet her, though it's easy to see that this flippant, carefree attitude will lead to some big self-destruction. And boy, does it lead her down that path! 
Kody Keplinger has once again mastered the YA contemporary/romance genre in A Midsummer's Nightmare. There are true-to-life issues for Whitley, honest and compelling reasons to root for her and against her in the same breath (which is no easy feat for any author), and each character that crosses Whitley's path is defined and intriguing. Did I mention the sizzle factor?! I had to stop myself from reading ahead in an effort to get to more Nathan-Whitley passion-charged scenes! 
I could go into more detail, but that'd give too much away and I'm not a fan of spoilers. So, I'll finish by adding: if you want a fun, sexy, honest-to-the-core story of love, heartbreak, and gritty confrontation this is a perfect read!
If you can't tell I'm a huge Kody fan. Enjoy, readers!


*I received this book for free through a contest on Daisy Whitney's The Mockingbirds Facebook page. Which was super exciting as I usually never win the contests I enter and I'm a HUGE fan of Kody's! And, for no reason other than to share my crazy with you - The Mail Guy still thinks I'm crazy as I once again did my little IGOTBOOKS twirl when he handed me the book-package.

Getting Creative, or Recharging

The Sessoms Clan arrived to the NC coast yesterday at 4:37 PM. We all needed a vacation, but for myself...well I'm officially recharging my creative batteries, y'all!

More details to come. Here are some pics for now:

4314 Beach Drive. The Sessoms' Bungalow (for a week)...

View from the Master Bedroom. The ocean makes my soul sooooo happy!

The first night is always a lazy one after driving all day, so we ate out at one of our favorite spots. Our table was on the pier behind the restaurant. The kids' laughter melded with the live band for a lazy, unwinding atmosphere. The food was scrumptious. And the view was simply gorgeous.

Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys

If you're not a fan of Maggie's work, get your tail over to her website, and check out all of Maggie's books, amusing blog posts, and incredibly talented self-made book trailers!

Yep, you heard me right, Maggie Stiefvater makes her own book trailers. The Shiver series trailers were made from paper cut-outs put together with stop animation filming. The Scorpio Races trailer was made from gel-like paint, I believe, again using stop animation filming. If you haven't watched them, or read her blogs about the process, you're sorely missing out!

Her newest trailer is for her much-anticipated new series: The Raven Boys.

Have a peek below:

Wasn't it wonderful?! I love to see an author create outside of writing. 

Maggie is hosting a giveaway on her website in honor of the trailer debut, 10 lucky winners will win and ARC of The Raven Boys. Will you, dear reader, be one?