BOTW - List #34

BOTW WEEK 34:

BOTM - The Baby Project

The Baby Project

Meet Aurora "Rory" West. She's clever, sarcastic, and pretty but still very average.

Meet Kale Matthews: the cliché playboy. He has the money, the life, and a charming personality that no woman can deny. Well, except Rory.

These two had little in common. In fact, the only thing they shared was their hate for one another. Little did they know that one day their whole lives will change due to one little thing:  A baby.

Wattpad

Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

I'm fifteen and turning 16 this coming March! Many people are surprised to hear this but I am a Muslim!

2. What types of books do you write?

I write humor, teen fiction, and romance!

3. How many books have you written?

The Baby Project is my only book I've written. I had two other ones, but they were more for testing out my writing skills.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

This year I was really excited for the third book in the 'Divergent' series. It came out a week ago! I'm not going to ruin the series for you if you haven't read it...

BUT OH MY GOD THE ENDING! :'(

5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I really like teen fiction books with a little romance and humor! Too much romance (like Twilight) just doesn't work for me. Sorry Team Edward and Team Jacob fans! Haha :)

6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

1. Continuous supply of food
2. Limitless amount of water
3. Vast amount of books

7. Are you considering a sequel?

No, not for The Baby Project.

8. What inspired you to become a writer?

For some people, writing is a way to entertain. For others, it's a way to express what they are feeling. My inspiration for writing stems from both. I was amazed by the mere essence of books and the sense of security and happiness they gave me. When I had bad days- with bullying- I would just come home to read and it honestly made me feel better. From that feeling and through gradual maturity, I determined why not give writing a go? Me writing was never for the votes, reads, or fame. If I can be a reason that someone smiles, no matter what is going on in their life, then why not write and make that little difference in their life?

The Baby Project Scavenger Hunt

Click the image below for more details

Author Spotlight - EvilGhost

Haunted

Wattpad

Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

My name is Pooja, my friends call me Pooh and I'm 15 years old, from India. I first started reading books when I was 10. I started by borrowing a book from my previous school's library. The first book I read was-- The journey to the center of the Earth and since then I am hooked to reading books.

I love to read and finish a book within two days to start with another. I've grown up reading books by Enid Blyton, Rick Riordan, Anthony Horrowitz, Christopher Paolini, L.J. Smith, R.L. Stine and more. And I usually tend to mess up while I'm writing because I'm not so fluent with English and also because it's not my first language. Irrespective of that, I love to read English novels--a lot!

2. What types of books do you write?

I write romance books, as I find it easy to express. However, I love to write horror, paranormal, action but my knowledge and vocabulary holds me back. So, Haunted will be my second try on Paranormal.

3. How many books have you written?

I've written 5 books, some on standby because I have no idea how to continue them with the same flow I had when I first started it. I have 3 stories that I'm working on at the moment. However, none of them are completed.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

I'm looking forward to reading- The Blood Of Olympus by Rick Riordan which, I think, will be the last book in the The Heroes of Olympus Series. As this is year is already coming to an end I'm dying to watch Fast and Furious 7 which may release next year-- 2014.

5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I love reading books that contain suspense, action, thriller, adventure and paranormal. Books that keep me excited and the craving to know more.

On Wattpad, I like reading Romance as many of such genre books are written by teenagers like me and it'll be like an experience to know what today's generation of teenagers are capable of in writing and many have surprised me-- in a good way. :)

6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

1. An iPod (with a battery that never gets over-- if such do exist)
2. Books
3. FOOD and plenty of water!

7. Are you considering a sequel?

It depends on how the story ends. If the readers enjoy it and want to know what happens after the story ends then I may make a sequel to it.

8. What inspired you to become a writer?

I love to read books and not once did the point cross my mind to write a story of my own. That was until I discovered Wattpad, recommended by a friend on Twitter. She wanted me to read and tell her how I liked the story, since then I started reading more books on Wattpad and was surprised to know that it was written by teenagers like me.

Inspiration kicked in when I read The Payne Killer. It gave me an idea to create my own story. Since then I let my imagination take control and express itself, that let me into new bases of writing. And I would get these wonderful ideas only when I'm going to sleep or in shower.

By the time I step out to jot it down, I wont even remember what the base of the story was. I usually mess up with my tenses, grammar and stuff, but I believe that experience is the best teacher. :)


Excerpt

“I wish I could listen to your morning voice every time we talk,” she whispers, nibbling on my ear lobe.

I flip to face her and wrap my arms around her bare waist pulling her closer, until our bodies left no gap in between.

“I could do that,” I reply, and pull her beneath me as I hover above her. She giggles like a little kid and locks her arms around my neck, pulling me closer.

I oblige and stick my tongue out, licking her jaw line and turn towards the soft spot I’ve known on her neck to plant a small hickey.

“You’re something, Harry,” she whispers, tilting her head towards the side giving me full access to her neck.

I smile at her remark when a cold sensation jolts me out. I pull away and fall down the bed, with her laughter ringing above me as I struggle with the tangled blankets. She repeatedly calls my name, “Harry, Harry.”

My eyes flutter open into the bright light emerging from the window in front of me as the cold sensation springs on my back again. 

“Harry,” a familiar voice calls.

“What just happened?” I question, taking in my surrounding and shaking my head vigorously as droplets of cold-water fall down my curls.

 “You wouldn’t wake up and had this goofy smile on your face, I had to do it.” The person shrugs, waving an empty mug in front of me.

“Had to do it by pouring cold water over me?” I ask, crossly.

“It worked, what were you dreaming about?” the person asks, kneeling beside me, when I finally take his appearance. It was Colton.

“Whatever,” I reply and stand up, pulling off my wet t-shirt and shove it to the other end.

“What were you dreaming about?” he speaks after a long pause.

“Why do you ask?” I question and turn towards my wardrobe and pull out a black shirt.

“You were constantly smiling like an idiot,” he says, and I notice the smirk in his words, “…probably a girl?”

“I was thinking about cupcakes,” I reply without thinking and Colton bursts out laughing.

“Sure,” he says and walks out, giving me my peace of time.

After a quick shower, I meet Colton downstairs for breakfast. He was sitting on the couch, breathing out a cloud of smoke whilst talking on the phone.

I serve myself to a cigar and settle on the sofa next to Colton.

“Did you hear about Daniel?” he asks.

“Yes, it was very unfortunate though.” I reply, scrunching my nose as I tried to remember the pale faced, black haired friend of mine back in high school, “I don’t understand. How could that happen?”

“His girlfriend said he had a heart attack, so did the doctors.”

“He had an unfortunate death, when’s the funeral?” I couldn’t do anything, but grieve at my friend’s death.

“It is around 5PM, be there, at least this time,” he states, firmly.

I answer with a nod and place my cigar into the ashtray, leaning towards the headrest of the couch and closed my eyes.

Laughter cringes into my ear and I flutter my eyes open, looking into my surroundings searching for the voice’s owner. There was nothing but silence. I turned to Colton, who was busy smoking yet another cigarette. I shake my head and close my eyes again.

Laughter erupts into my head again and I sit straight on my seat and turn towards Colton, “You hear that?” I ask.

“Hear what?” he questions back. He couldn’t hear the laughter, how was that possible!

I shake my head, “Nothing.” I lean back onto the couch back and close my eyes for the third time.

The same laughter rings into my ears and I fall to the conclusion that it was just my head, playing different emotions, including the laughter.

Laughter of a girl, I knew.

The laughter rings louder into my ears, and a smile creeps its way onto my lips as I drain in the memory of the voice’s owner. Suddenly, the voice croaks and faints into small sobs. The sobs become louder, until, words begin to form, “Harry, please,” in a moments’ time the sobs turn into loud screams as the voice shouts, “Harry!”

I jolt awake and shake my head vigorously and my curls fall all over forehead. I swipe them away and turn to a worried looking Colton, “You alright, Harry?” he asks.

“Need some fresh air,” I say, and get up and clumsily walk outside, into the cold November air.

I skip my way towards the Cadillac standing on the porch avoiding the convertible that—still unfortunately —haunted me.

 I get into the car and drive out into the open. I stretch my arms outside the window and let the cool air take the suffocation off me for some time.

The laughter, memories and everything of my past seemed inevitable and threatening, it was as if I would lose my emotional balance any moment.

I stop my car into an empty car park and slam my fists onto the steering wheel, frustrated. I needed a break, from her, her memories and my conscious guilt.

I was in time for the funeral, in fact; I was half an hour early. Daniel and I sure did break out on bad terms 4 years ago, but that didn’t stop me from visiting his death ceremony, even if he didn’t stay alive for sharing apologies, and those sweet memories of college times.

However, I wasn’t prepared to meet the sight of his family’s condition. His girlfriend was crying, leaning on to Daniel’s sister’s shoulder while his mother stood there, staring at the ground, with a deep aura of sadness and grief surrounding her.

Any moment now, I knew she was going to break down. I walked towards her and she lifted her head to look at me. She gave me a weak smile before she lost her balance and fell. I took hold of her and she dug her face into my shirt, weeping.

I stroked her head softly and muttered soothing words, or I tried to, “He’s not going anywhere, he shall always be with us, in our heart.”

What killed me in the inside was the cause of his sudden death, a heart attack? Daniel stopped drinking 4 years ago—that’s what I think—and he never smoked. He was the like those guys who always had a healthy diet and went to gym regularly. What could possibly go wrong?

Daniel’s sister—Rosemary, took her mother in her arms as she let me walk towards the grave.  

I read the words softly, “Daniel Rolleston, 1977-2000.”

Happy New Year 2014!

BOTW - The Unusuals

The Unusuals

Teen Fiction /Adventure

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Jamie Smith was never a normal girl. All her life she was training and running from The Government. Everything changes when everyone except her and five other Unusual are left to fend for themselves. Jamie Smith must now over come not only running from the Government but also betraying best friends, prophecies and the fear of losing everyone she loves...

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - The Perfect Match

The Perfect Match

Teen Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Alexandra "Alexa" Carter has had this mega huge crush on her bestfriend, Alex ever since they were eight when he scared off the bullies picking on her. He's this hotshot football player while she's this geeky highschooler who thinks that walking for five meters is a huge task. He has millions of girls swooning on his feet while she's the epitome of socially awkward and impaired. He likes to spend the weekend partying while she stays home absorbed in a thick book. Though they're so different, they just clicked.

Throw in an envious, bitchy sister, a very mysterious new guy, matchmaking parents and throw in what you call life. Would Alexa be able to find her perfect match? Or would she end up on the couch with a box of tissue in hand, crying her eyes and heart out?

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - First Kiss & Broken Promises

First Kiss & Broken Promises

Teen Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

First Kiss can be earth-shattering and so can ‘broken promises’, especially when both are sealed and delivered by the one who has held your heart in the palms of his hands since the day you turned a teen. 

Seventeen year old Divya Narayan is a high-spirited young girl with an adventurous streak in her, who doesn’t think twice before taking a risk. She learns very early in life that broken promises by ones you love equals a broken heart. So she makes two promises – Never to fall in love and never to break a promise. 

One fateful night four years ago, Aryan Diaz not only broke Divya's heart but also her trust and their unique bond of friendship. When the charming heart-breaker returns next door to Divya, he holds more than a key to her locked heart; he has answers that can set her free to break the promises she made. 

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - Haunted

Haunted

Paranormal / Horror

Click here to read the book.

Upcoming Releases for 2014

I haven't been excited about books for some time now, so I'm hoping the new year has a spectacular bundle of must-reads to reignite my passion.

Here are a few books that are on my radar for 2014.

January
See Jane Run by Hannah Jayne

February
Destination Unknown by Amy Clipston

May
Boys Like You by Juliana Stone
After the End by Amy Plum

July
Eleanor by Johnny Worthen

August
Just Call My Name by Holly Goldberg Sloan

BOTW - List #33

BOTW WEEK 33:

Merry Christmas from CBY!

Here's to a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!

See you all in 2014!

Author Spotlight - Neerunni

First Kiss & Broken Promises

First Kiss can be earth-shattering and so can ‘broken promises’, especially when both are sealed and delivered by the one who has held your heart in the palms of his hands since the day you turned a teen. 

Seventeen year old Divya Narayan is a high-spirited young girl with an adventurous streak in her, who doesn’t think twice before taking a risk. She learns very early in life that broken promises by ones you love equals a broken heart. So she makes two promises – Never to fall in love and never to break a promise. 

One fateful night four years ago, Aryan Diaz not only broke Divya's heart but also her trust and their unique bond of friendship. When the charming heart-breaker returns next door to Divya, he holds more than a key to her locked heart; he has answers that can set her free to break the promises she made. 

Join me as I paint their love and their first kiss with vibrant colors that dull the promises they both had to break.

Wattpad | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Ask.fm

Interview

1. Please tell the readers a bit about yourself.

My name is Neeraja, but friends call me Neeru. I am from India. I have seen 38 summers and would like to believe I am wiser for it. I am a hands-on mom who loves to write, dream, and write some more when am not busy driving my family crazy. 

I am one of the directors, along with my husband, in a mobile app development company that we started a year ago. Since I’ve started writing, I have hardly been able to do justice to my role there. Thankfully, my husband understands my need to focus on getting my first fiction right with as little distractions as possible. Becoming a published author is a dream destination. Meanwhile, am thoroughly enjoying the journey.

2. What types of books do you write?

I am currently writing romance but would love to branch out into murder mystery, historical, fantasy, or even horror someday. 

3. How many books have you written?

First Kiss & Broken Promises is my first fiction.

4. What movie and/or book are you looking forward to this year?

Playing catch up with Hunger Games and in Television, I’m looking forward to Arrow, Game of Thrones, Homeland, and Intelligence. 

I’m most excited about beta reading one of the most popular fantasy books on Wattpad, which the author is currently rewriting for publishing. I already have the first few chapters in my inbox. 

Secret by Rhonda Byrne and the Millennium series by Stieg Larsson are few others I am eagerly looking forward to reading. 

5. What type of books do you enjoy reading?

I love most genres – romance, mystery, thriller, historical, and fantasy (this is a recent addition after reading ‘Paladin’ by Sally Slater on Wattpad). Werewolf stories are my guilty pleasure.

6. If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?

1) My sanity intact 

2) Characters from my story ‘First Kiss & Broken Promises’ to keep me company 

3) Power of teleportation *I did mention retaining my sanity: D

7. Are you considering a sequel?

Absolutely but depends on the characters. If they decide to run away to the deserted island without me, then I may have to find closure in this book itself :)

8. What inspired you to become a writer?

A burning need to express, emote, role play, dream, imagine, and create has been the main source of inspiration besides encouragement from friends and family. Simply put – I just want to tell a story the best I can.

Excerpt

“Wanna chase me, Pigtails? Come get me,” he taunted, his laughter fading with the blurring images.

I tossed restlessly, tangling the sheets around my legs. The heat was unbearable, and I struggled to sleep. Car doors slamming shut woke me up from my sorry attempt at sleep. 

Light giggles and whispered conversations wafted through the open windows. My eyes shot open and I sat up on the bed. It was a still night with curtains as motionless as the walls beside it. I threw the sheets off my legs and got off the bed. Walking to the window, I drew the curtains aside and peered into Annie’s courtyard where her mom’s car was parked.

I could make out Annie’s silhouette near the car; she was talking animatedly with someone. My brows furrowed and my head tilted as far as the window would allow in an attempt to catch sight of the person behind the car’s open trunk door. The person must have said something funny for Annie threw her head back and laughed loudly. Her arm shot out to punch the person playfully with so much familiarity; my sleep deprived mind cleared instantly.

Airport! They were back from the airport! 

As if to validate my brain’s lucidity, a hand emerged from behind the trunk door holding a haversack. My breath locked in my throat, anticipating what my eyes longed to see. Those seconds, those precious seconds he took to shut the trunk and emerge from behind, felt like hours and then the time stood still.

My eyes zoned in and stayed riveted on his appearance. Moonlight cast a silver shadow on his silhouette defining his long slender frame. This was a moment my fingers itched to hold my camera and capture, but my eyes refused to shift its gaze from the man, drinking in his every movement. He hitched his haversack onto his right shoulder, shaking his hair out of his eyes and weaving his left hand through it. He then casually threw his arm around Annie’s shoulder and pulling her close, he started walking to the front door.

A few feet from the door, Annie broke away and ran back to the car. As usual, she forgot something. My eyes refused to follow my friend and stayed on the man…the boy I had not seen for four years.

Aryan!

He lifted his head towards my window so suddenly as if I had called out to him. My eyes bulged out of their sockets and I quickly clamped my mouth shut with my hands, resisting the impulse to duck or dive back into the room away from the window.

Despite the storm raging inside me, I stood rooted to the spot as still as the moonlit night, as still as the man below. He could not see me, right? But I could feel his eyes bore into mine and my heart hastily beat a staccato. I blinked. In that instant, the moment broke and he turned his head away towards Annie.  Both of them entered their home without a backward glance.

I stood there, looking at the last spot he had been.

Pigtails! I closed my eyes on a sigh.

BOTW - Trouble

Trouble

Teen Fiction / Coming of Age / Humour

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Alexandra Carter is a trouble maker with a capital T. She's a straight D student and rides a big bad Harley. She spray painted the school locker twice, vandalized the girl's bathroom once, got into numerous catfights, almost set the girl's bathroom flaming, set the girl's bathroom on fire. And got sent to the principal's office a billion times. When she gets expelled, much to her happiness and gets transferred to a new school, much to her dismay, she has to start over.

Meet Alexander Parker. Handsome. Tall. Arrogant. Black sheep. And did I mention that he is the sole heir to the throne of Gerbaine? So when these two bad asses collide, what do you get? A crazy roller coaster ride with annoying catfights, more rule breaking, sarcastic comebacks, innuendos, prank wars and a whole lot trouble.

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - More to Life

More to Life

Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

Running from the past is hard, but with the right help, the freedom can taste oh so sweet. 

Start with splash of Brianna, a determined romantic who is trying to fight heartbreak and maintain her idealistic notion of true love.

Mix in equal parts of Mitch and Emma, twenty-somethings who are ready to paint the town red with their single-life escapades.

Top it off with Tom, a fellow romantic with a growing sweet spot for the new girl.

Pour them all together in Asia, add ice, and shake well for the perfect Mai Tai cocktail full of shenanigans, romance and heartbreak.

As the months progress, the secrets begin to unravel, and what started off as good fun, could very well test the limits of their fragile bonds.

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - First Kiss & Broken Promises

First Kiss & Broken Promises

Teen Romance

Wattpad Book Blurb:

First Kiss can be earth-shattering and so can ‘broken promises’, especially when both are sealed and delivered by the one who has held your heart in the palms of his hands since the day you turned a teen. 

Seventeen year old Divya Narayan is a high-spirited young girl with an adventurous streak in her, who doesn’t think twice before taking a risk. She learns very early in life that broken promises by ones you love equals a broken heart. So she makes two promises – Never to fall in love and never to break a promise. 

One fateful night four years ago, Aryan Diaz not only broke Divya's heart but also her trust and their unique bond of friendship. When the charming heart-breaker returns next door to Divya, he holds more than a key to her locked heart; he has answers that can set her free to break the promises she made. 

Join me as I paint their love and their first kiss with vibrant colors that dull the promises they both had to break.

Click here to read the book.

BOTW - Stone Cold

Stone Cold

Teen Fantasy

Wattpad Book Blurb:

"The stone first started to show on his father's right forearm. Pale onyx veins then spread throughout his body, shining like polished marble."

Stone has claimed most of the magical creatures of the world, forcing the rest to go into hiding. It seeps into their skin and sucks the magic out of them, drop by drop until only their hulls are left behind.     

Xander is the prince of the Tuatha Dé Danaan, also known as the fae. He is tasked to find the one who can stop the stone. But after five decades of trying to find it, he comes up empty handed. Until one fateful night, when he sees a girl breath life into stone.

Click here to read the book.