Nikki Katz

I have big plans for next week - plans that involving locking myself in a room and not coming out until I’m done reading Mockingjay!

As I wait for the third installment of the Hunger Games series, I keep contemplating what I hope happens. Initially I started out firmly planted on Team Gale. But the needle keeps swinging more toward the middle. Sure, Gale is the sullen best friend who obviously loves Katniss and wanted her to run away with him. But Peeta is growing on me - his devotion and self-sacrifice is certainly endearing.

It makes me think about writing a love triangle. I have yet to do it and it would take some detailed planning. Both boys (or girls) have to be distinct but lovable. Strong in their own unique qualities.

What team are you on, and why?

This week’s writing prompt … my three words:

West
Sixth
Argue

My sentence:

I stood sixth in line, waiting to argue with the Wicked Witch of the West about the big fat F on my persuasive argument essay.

Your turn (with three new words … or you can use mine!):

Observer
Ethical
View

We have a winner to the ‘Matched’ ARC (thanks to Random.org)! Congratulations to Ann F!

Next up is a giveaway for my ARC of The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. I admit to not reading this one, because I’m not a fan of horror. But I’m sure someone will love it :)

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate’s baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

To Enter:

• For your first entry - all you have to do leave a comment below. Then include the following if you’d like:
• +3 if you friend/follow this website - you can join in the Google Friend Connect —->
• +1 if you Retweet the contest (you can do this up to 3 times before the contest ends)

The contest will end on midnight August 15th and is only open to United States residents.

Good luck!

At Oasis For YA we’re doing a Blog Carnival across our blogs! Here’s the prompt:

You just graduated from high school and your parents took you on a trip to the Sechelles Islands off the coast of Africa. They also let you bring along your long-time boyfriend or girlfriend. This is the view from your open-air hotel room. You have one paragraph to describe what you’re experiencing AND you can only use ONE of your senses. Go.

I chose sound…

A sharp rap on the door and suddenly Drew stood on the other side of the room, back against the wall. His breaths came jagged and uneven, mirroring my own. My mother opened the door; of course she had a key. “Hi!” I said, my voice loud and fake. Hiding the flush creeping across my cheeks, I turned to the suddenly interesting landscape outside the hotel. Birds trilled greetings in sharp tweets and low chirps. Far below, waves lapped the shore’s edge in a soft whoosh, mimicking the slowing pulse echoing in my ears. My mom had the worst … or maybe the best … timing ever.

Visit the other blogs:

• AE Rought
• Jessie Harrell
• J.A. Souders
• Sheri Larsen