Paranormal, Horror and other fun stuff
What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than curled up on a couch with a great indie read! My fabulous YA Paranormal Romance novel Connected is FREE today and tomorrow to celebrate the holiday.
If you missed it, don’t worry, I’m going to adjust the price to .99 on Wednesday, so you’ll still have a chance to get it for a steal!
Please tell all your book loving friends! Thanks for your support, as always. 🙂
I want to talk about gaping plot holes. Why? Because it’s something I think about a lot, especially when writing a book about people with super powers. I go over every scene, thinking about the powers on the table or even powers of characters that aren’t there, trying to look at it from every angle. My biggest fear is that someone will read one of my books and say something like, “Well why can’t Tommy see that tiny clue that unlocks the whole mystery?” or “How come Roz didn’t have a vision of that?” With book one, it was a little easier to control, because there were a set number of powers. Book two is a different beast all together. As with any good sequel, you have to up your game, and Connected 2 has no fewer than six new powers revealed. So if you’re wondering why the heck it’s taking so long to get the book out, that’s part of the problem. 🙂 I’m not going to lie, that and life in general (I promise, it’ll be here soon).
Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because I’m wondering if I’m overthinking it, which is an annoying habit of mine. I have to wonder when I see so many popular movies with HUGE plot holes. To illustrate this, I’ll pick two cartoon movies, “Home,” and “Inside Out.” Okay, I know what you’re thinking, why not a horror movie? I don’t know about you, but for me the gaping plot holes become more apparent the more times I watch a movie. And because I’m a parent, I’ve seen cartoon movies far more times than any sane person should.
“Home,” is based off the fantastic novel, “The True Meaning of Smekday,” by Adam Rex. If you haven’t read the book, go purchase it now. I know it’s not indie, but it’s so much fun. The movie is fun too, I mean Jim Parsons just blesses anything he’s in. I digress, the gaping plot hole in “Home” has to do with technology and aliens. I understand the desire to make the movie less “heavy” in subject matter than the book, so they came up with this new plot of Oh sending out an email to everyone in the galaxy. Here’s the problem for me: I’m in IT.
Really, you’re telling me an advanced alien race with the power of intergalactic travel plus the ability to mod an automobile to fly using slushy machines can’t recall a simple email or change a user’s password? There isn’t a single system administrator in the entire Boov collective? Humans have been able to do this since the early versions of Outlook and Windows. I get that it’s a cartoon and I’m supposed to suspend my disbelief, but I feel like the writers just got lazy.
I really love “Inside Out” – it’s such a fun movie, and it teaches children that it’s okay to experience all your emotions, that it’s normal and healthy to feel sadness sometimes. And the casting was perfect in that movie… Amy Poehler is just a genius. But upon watching it for the hundredth time, I discovered two plot holes. One is more minor, the kind of thing you could excuse because the characters maybe just didn’t think of it. It’s when Joy and Sadness run into the mind workers that are clearing out old memories. One of the mind workers sends up the Triple Dent gum commercial, and it goes straight to headquarters. So my question is – why didn’t Joy just send up the core memories then? Obviously they still would’ve had to get back, but it would’ve solved half the problem.
The second plot hole is the more offensive one, and I only discovered it recently. It’s towards the end, when Fear decides to quit and gets himself sucked up the tube, only to be spit back out because emotions can’t quit. If Fear couldn’t get sucked up in the tube, why were Joy and Sadness able to get sucked up in that same tube? That one is more unforgiveable – you can’t explain it away with intention, it’s not like the tube can differentiate an emotion trying to escape versus an accidental foray into the tube. Disney writers are probably some of the best in the world. It’s difficult to get anything to appeal to such a wide range of audience; they really do have to entertain the parents as much as the children. So why did they allow that to sneak through? Did they just not care? Or am I over-analyzing the whole thing?
How about you, what are some of your favorite gaping plot holes? And do you think this is something to be concerned with when writing a book, or are you of the opinion that I’m totally deranged? Post a comment, let me know what you think!
I think I discovered Jonathan Yanez from YASH – I found myself subscribed to his newsletter, and he was giving away a few copies of the audiobook for the second book in this series. I happened to win a copy, so I figured I should start at the beginning. I recently emailed my subscribers about this book – I instantly fell in love with the characters, the plot and his no-nonsense writing style. It’s a fun YA Paranormal read and best of all, it appears to be permafree. 🙂 Here’s my review below, be sure to check it out!
There are so many things I loved about this book…where to start? Probably super powers. I’m a huge fan – the more the merrier – and Mr. Yanez does not disappoint.
The main character Alan is realistic and likeable. There is noticeable character growth throughout the novel, always a nice touch. This particular novel is heavy on action and light on romance, though there are hints and I’m hoping the romance is developed more in the later installments.
I have to admit, as a fan of the movie, “The Prophecy” I was giggling like a little girl when I read the last chapter. For me it was the perfect ending to the book; I love my sadistically evil villains. 🙂
The pacing is fast and Mr. Yanez manages to keep it light and fun, even with the heavier topics he’s handling – depression, isolation, and the obliteration of the human race. I also love the underlying theme of realizing your potential.
The only thing that had me scratching my head was that a nickname wasn’t chosen – it was introduced and I thought by the end of the novel Alan would have one. Guessing it’s saved for a later novel, and I can live with that as I will most definitely be devouring the rest of the series. Do not hesitate to get this book and start a fun superhero series!
Found another Indie gem I fell in love with – The Cilantro in Apple Pie by Kimberly Nadine Nights. The storyline was so original and the characterization expert. Okay, there weren’t any superpowers, but Ms. Knights manages to engage the reader regardless, with mystery elements in this largely character-driven debut. Though it’s mostly serious, I laughed out loud at some of her descriptions and comparisons, so it was fun for me in that way. Here’s my Amazon/Goodreads review:
Wow, this book is so unique and masterfully written. The way Ms. Knights defines her characters really engages the reader. The storyline is very unusual – without spoilers, I can safely say you won’t predict where it’s going. I very much enjoyed all the dialect used, along with the dictionary at the beginning, it just adds to the charm of this wonderful debut novel. The only element I didn’t care for as much was the ending, which felt a little long to me. All in all I highly recommend this book for its richly detailed characterization and original plot. Looking forward to the sequel.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review, but I would totally purchase it. It’s awesome. 🙂
Check it out, you won’t be disappointed: The Cilantro in Apple Pie
Just got my review back from Self-Publishing Reviews (SPR), and they gave Connected 4 stars! So excited, the review has a few negatives but most of it’s positive. The only thing that had me baffled was the typos – I thought I caught most of them.
Here’s the full review:
“Connected by Kat Stiles is an entertaining paranormal escape for young adult readers.
Emily is a high school student who doesn’t feel like she fits in. To make matters worse, Em discovers she has a special power. Fortunately, she isn’t alone and her best friend Roz has her own gift. Tommy, the boy Em likes, seems to be different as well. When people in their town start to die, Em, Roz, and Tommy join forces to find a murderer.
The theme in Connected is intriguing and inspirational for younger readers in a world that is becoming increasingly more disconnected. Em and Tommy are portrayed as outcasts right from the start, while Roz’s beauty sets her apart as well. Emily, at first, doesn’t see her ability as a positive:
I got enough strange looks from people without them knowing about my ‘gift.’ If they ever found out…I’d get the freak of the year award for sure.
However, the three of them band together and find strength through their relationship, which is a powerful message. High school, no matter if you’re a jock, loner, popular, or geek to name a few types, is a difficult time for everyone. And more than likely, most high school students feel alone at some point. Reading about three teens who discover something different and scary about themselves and turning to their friends for support is fantastic, and drives home the point to young readers that no matter what, they aren’t completely alone.
Each of the three main characters is unique, however the narrative is told from Em’s perspective. She’s a difficult character to pin down. Since she’s been bullied by classmates, she comes across as meek. Furthermore, Em’s sister and mother aren’t the most supportive. The reader wants to cheer Em on, however, she struggles finding her voice, which can be frustrating for readers who like to see more personal growth, even in the first book of a series.
The writing is straightforward and intended for a younger audience. There are some pesky typos that are distracting. Certain plotlines could have been tightened or cut to make for a more seamless and captivating read. While the book blurb and cover illustrate the paranormal aspects of the novel, the budding romance between Em and Tommy hijacks the story and dampens the excitement of the trio hunting a serial killer.
That said, the author does an excellent job of dangling enough plot elements for a future book or books in the series, such as the strained relationship between Em and her father. The mystery around the father is alluded to, but never fully explained and it seems that the author plans to explore the relationship more in depth in the next book.
Also, the reader may wonder how many more in the Texas town have special powers. Will Em, Roz, and Tommy have to fight off more evildoers who wield their gift for personal gain? It’ll be interesting to see how the author develops this aspect.
Connected is the perfect book for young adults who enjoy paranormal aspects coupled with a sweet romance. Stiles has crafted a novel that is intriguing and opens the door to what promises to be a thrilling series.” 4 Stars
And here’s the cool picture they sent:
So I’m happy overall, and hoping this helps with the sales a little. 🙂