rereads & research

novels don't take long enough to read, and that's a problem. i was telling my husband yesterday that i try to read multiple books at the same time not to sound smart...but so the stories will last longer! he proceeded to say "yes, ashlyne, that is correct. when you are reading one book, you are indeed not reading the other." gee, thanks, hubs. :)

we had just left barnes and noble at vanderbilt, and it was glorious. i bought two books. one repeat, one new. i am trying to work through all the novels i remember liking in my twenties. all the initial emily giffins, kristin hannah's, elin hilderbrands, etc. i remember them well because i needed an escape back then. i wanted to have a different life (no not dramatically, but i was in college, hadn't found mr. right, you know the drill), so i read them and soaked up the alternatives my characters had. 

for the third time, i remember liking the books (loving them), but it's been long enough where i don't remember all the details. that's the best place to be in!! because now i can go back through and be surprised all over again! and the final reason i'm excited is that i read them when i wasn't pursuing a life as an author. back then, books were recreation...so now when i'm reading, i'm so looking with a different eye, a "how did you do this and why did i like it so much" eye. 

i was talking to my mentor lindsey as i normally do, and she was saying she spent more time reading articles and such when she wasn't actually working on her manuscript because it almost felt like cheating if she was reading...because reading novels like the ones you write (or unlike) seems like too much fun for it to be work. that's the beauty in being a writer!! you get to read during your day and not feel badly about it! it's actually detrimental to your own writing if don't! 

best. news. ever. 

so i finished baby proof by the way, and i absolutely loved it. i have come to the conclusion that i was way too young when i first bought it to have appreciated it. like i said in my last post, it was about babies, and although i loved babies, i had no idea how complicatable (not a word, but i'm ok with it if you are), they could be since i wasn't in that spot of my world. it's one thing to know the issues might exist, but it's another to be old enough where you are surrounded by it on a daily basis (by your peers, not just the ''older kids''). 

so, read baby proof, definitely. great job, emily. as usual. 

now i'm off to start one of my rereads: something borrowed. emily's first! 

and then i'll get into this list! 

ahr. 

currently reading: baby proof

i am already reading another book. it's the best feeling when you can stop one and pick up another. i have had this particular title for probably four years. i read emily's first two books something borrowed and something blue, and then for whatever reason, i heard this one wasn't as good. at the time, i wasn't married, wasn't even close to finding my husband, and anything with a "baby" in the name was just that. i knew i wanted children...always have know that...but i didn't have the same bug as you get when you can see the actual father of your future children standing right next to you. it's different. so...i basically never read it, but i never got rid of it either. it's been sitting on my shelf for months, and i keep looking at the yellow spine wondering what it could be about. wondering if i would like it. but somehow skipping over it. 

i finished the last book by kristin hannah, and all of a sudden, i was in the mood. i picked it up off the shelf and i'm halfway now. (did i mention i'm also reading another book on my iPad? i'll get into the particulars in another post) anyway, i really like this book. i like how it's written, i like emily's voice. it's different than the other ones she's written. so i disagree with all the "it's not as good" as the other books. 

i think it's a difficult thing for readers to hang up the story at the end of a good novel. you want it to continue on with the characters, go on forever if they will let you. and it's even worse if there is a sequel, because you get that chance a little bit don't you? you almost feel owed another book, another chapter in the story by the end! so when you read something borrowed and something blue, you almost expect baby proof to be a part three. but it's a totally different story! it can't live up to your imagination's expectations because it's not darcy or rachel or ethan or dex.  it's now claudia and ben. 

why does all this matter? well, it's a cry for giving a book a chance. it's about not putting expectations on a book until you read it, until you give it a shot, until you release it from the preconceived ideas you have on it. read every title of emily giffin's. i can go ahead and tell you that right now. she has a unique voice, that lady. and i for one am a big fan. 

*i'll let you know how it ends! (well not how but if my feelings are the same!)

happy reading! 

currently reading: fly away

kristin hannah was one of the first  authors i got into post-nicholas sparks. once i had finished everything he'd written, i went in search of a new author i could get into. i like books that are full-on stories, ones that you can live alongside during the book. i like thrillers (love me some dragon tattoo and stephen king), but i've always gravitated towards authors like nicholas sparks, emily giffin, jane green, elin hilderbrand, and of course, kristin hannah. i remember i was in the west end barnes and noble (and now i happen to live right here), and i was just looking for a tile/cover that jumped out. sometimes you have to judge a book by its cover...it helped me make a choice at that moment at least. i saw this thick blue book that read firefly lane. it looked a lot like the one above, soft and inviting. and i just knew i'd like it. well, i was right--one of the few things i was right about back then--and i devoured the book instantly. it was wonderful, down to the last page. i cried, i laughed, and most importantly, i felt for tully and kate. 

this book above, fly away, is the sequel to firefly lane. you need to read both, in order to get the full effect. and you won't be sorry. if you have a friend, a close one, this book will make you want to hold on tightly to that friend--more than ever. and once you are done with these two titles, kristin hannah has many many other ones for you to choose from. she's quite the accomplished author :) and a big inspiration to me. 

so, first firefly lane if you've not read it, then, fly away. i'd say it's not too late for some good ole summer reading. 

ways to write: make time for it

my wonderful friend (who also happens to be a writer), send me this amazing piece of advice in the form of an article. (here is the article: Writer's Rules Article)  aimee bender realized that she needed to make some rules if she was going to get serious about writing...and i am inclined to agree.

if you are a writer and want to find a way to stick to making it a priority, well, first, read this. and then find a mentor (mine is lindsey, that wonderful friend i was telling you about). that mentor will be the accountability partner you need to keep you focused.

so here's what we decided on:

i have to write for at least one hour, uninterrupted each day (minus two days off if i need them)
that means i cannot take calls or have the tv on or Facebook or email accessible--if i am going to be a serious writer, i need to be writing ONLY. and if i am going to be a serious writer, i have to treat it like a job. and when anyone else has a job, they aren't allowed to slack off either--why should i be any different? :)

so far, we have been doing well, lindsey and i.  and we intend on keeping each other writing every day!

there are obviously more rules in our contract, but that's the biggest one:)

if you are looking for the contract,  click here : Writer's Contract 

Lindsey and her hubs David at my wedding :)