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My Storymakers Update

I'm taking a page from Dashner's book and making a numbered update of my weekend @ LDStorymakers Conference:

1. Seeing friends from last year (Brent and Sallie), making new friends (most of whom are on my blog roll now) and hanging out with A.I.ers (parrtttee!).

2. Talking, eating and laughing with the best-est authors ever. I will not name drop so I won't tell you how I talked to Rachel Anne Anderson and told I kept thinking she was my cousin because their names are similar or how Janette Rallison and I refrained from comparing stretch marks.

3. Learning that I can still learn more. The presentations I attended were amazing. I'll post my personal notes over the next few weeks.

4. I can make a living writing.

5. Sneaking in snacks is a good idea. Luckily, the snack police were busy.

6. I LOVE chocolate truffles.

7. The LDStorymakers committee ROCKS! All of them. Jaime and Crystal did a fantasticwonderfulepic job.

8. My book will get nominated for a Whitney. Someday.

9. Set no expectations-I entered the first chapter contest with the idea I was paying for critiques. That's what I got. Next year, I'll win :)

10. I finally bought my favorite book and didn't get it signed.

The Sapphire Flute by Karen Hoover

It has been 3,000 years since a white mage has been seen upon Rasann. In the midst of a volcanic eruption miles outside of her village, Ember discovers she can see magic and change the appearance of things at will. Against her mother's wishes, she leaves for the mage trials only to be kidnapped before arriving. In trying to escape, she discovers she has inherited her father's secret--a secret that places her in direct conflict with her father's greatest enemy. At the same time, Kayla is given guardianship of the sapphire flute and told not to play it. The evil mage C'Tan has been searching for it for decades and the sound alone is enough to call her. For the flute to be truly safe, Kayla must find its birthplace in the mountains high above Javak. The girls' paths are set on a collision course...a course that C'Tan is determined to prevent at all costs.

I won this book in a contest and was anxious to read and review it for Karen, especially after I met her!
I was intrigued by the flute part of the book. I wondered what kind of justice an author can do with a musical instrument. Anyone can write about putting a piece of metal/wood/crystal to their lips and blowing, but can they portray the essence of the music?
That was my first thought, well, subconsciously. You see, I'm a Band Fag. Yup. That's the name any member of our marching band was called.
So was Karen.
I played the flute.
So did Karen.
We will soon be BFF (she doesn't know that part yet so let's keep it on the DL, ok?).

Anyway, the book follows two different girls from two unique worlds.
They both have magic, families, a destiny.
Karen wove this tale well from the description of the world to the people who inhabit it. I could picture each person through their unique personality and voice (well, not one character since he didn't talk but he had personality).
I became invested in story right away and found myself rooting for the good guys (or girls) and hoping the bad ones are defeated. Or at the very least, frustrated.
The girls, Ember and Kayla, are not aware of each other except maybe in dreams. But when they both decide to take fate into their own hands, they are set on the same path, and hopefully, will meet soon.
The writing is clean and flows well. The characters are well developed and keep growing. Obstacles and trials are constantly standing in the way of the goals, which change when faced with the possibility of the bad guys winning. The descriptions are bright and thorough. I had no problem entering the world Karen created.
There are many characters and a few times I had to remember which ones belonged to which girl but the problem resolved as I read more.

I await the second book, Karen, and would love to review it for you! hinthintwinkwinknudgenudge

Rating G
S: None
L: None
V: Some fighting

LOOK!! Great Posts on the Web

Here are a few great posts I found:

From Shannon Hale: To Ban or Not to Ban

From Market My Words: Marvelous Marketer: Kay Cassidy (The Cinderella Society)

From Follow the Reader: Which Book Publishers Tweet Best?

Do you have any to add??

Awesome Blogfest via Elana Johnson

Do you have a favorite book you'd give 10 stars?
Tell me what it is!
I need to pile on more great books!

Ready to add more books to your growing reading list?

How about 60 more books?

That's what Elana's doin' to ya.

And it's Awesome!

Click here for the link.

WARNING!

You will be distracted all day reading reviews!

Ok.

You've been warned.

Oh yeah!

Many of the blogs are giving the book they're reviewing!

Love this Picture! Have a great weekend