Read Like No One's Watching 

   We've all heard of that classic saying- dance like no one's watching. But what about reading? Every hard core reader has those moments when you just can't hold in the giggles or the gasps as one of your precious characters steps out of line, whether in a comedic or a heart-wrenching way. So why hold back? Here are five ways to let your newest literary obsession lighten your mood, just by pretending like you're the only reader in the room: 

1. Laugh out Loud

Instead of silently chuckling at [insert snarky heroine's name here]'s newest quip, why don't you just unleash your inner nerd? Who cares if everyone in the late night study room hears you snorting- maybe they'll ask what you're laughing at and grab an extra copy. 

2. Don't Withhold Information 

If you just can't keep your mind off of your newest book find, tell everyone! Friends, family, that kid who sits next to you in that really boring Art and Culture class you're only taking to fill credits- spill the juicy details of Katniss Everdeen's latest exploits regardless of the audience. Perhaps you'll find that a lot of your friends are obsessed with similar fictitious characters. 

3. Make Time for Fiction

Just because everyone is working hard on some project or another doesn't mean you can't read that new YA dystopian thriller you splurged on- go for it! Don't let deadlines or stress keep you from your sacred reading time. Just be sure to plot out time on your calendar to finish it all, and take breaths in between to read a few chapters; nothing clears your mind and refreshes you like a hardy thriller, packed with breathless romance and suspense. 

4. It's Okay to Gasp

Let me guess- the lead love interest just introduced an amazing plot twist and you can't help but yell? Yep, sounds about right. Not to sound like every other Disney crazed fangirl on the face of the Earth, but in this circumstance just "let it go." Throw that book down and gasp so loud the person next to you raises his eyebrows. It's okay! Whatever you're reading is worth the exclamations and a few weird looks ;) 

5. And, Finally, Remember to Smile

When you finally turn the last page of that fantastic novel you picked up twelve hours ago, (because, let's face it, you stayed up well into the night to finish), lean back and have a smile. Because hey, whatever you just read straight through without a breath is worth a few moments, right? Just take a second to appreciate the awesomeness that was that story, and savor the moment after a solid reading binge- trust me, it's worth it.

So there you have it folks- a few things to help all of us readers while we're out in public. Not that we're every actually aware of our surroundings in the first place, of course. So lean back, relax, and remember to smile, because the people around us will probably realize we're in a different world at the moment anyway. 


Best wishes and happy reading,

-Ashley 

Check out Ashley on social media! 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.dawson.1690

Wattpad: http://www.wattpad.com/mystories

Podcast/Interview on Good Reads Mad Reads Radio

Come listen to my interview on Good Reads Mad Reads Radio about writing, conservation themes, marketing, and publishing. 

Thanks Marina Hume! :)

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/good-reads-mad-reads-radio/id909844431?mt=2

Top Summer Reads (Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt)

Here are my top reads for the summer!

1) Taking by Kimberly Derting

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas 'n' Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn't aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra's old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn't sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin's annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra's father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

2) Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano

Nearly Boswell knows how to keep secrets. Living in a DC trailer park, she knows better than to share anything that would make her a target with her classmates. Like her mother’s job as an exotic dancer, her obsession with the personal ads, and especially the emotions she can taste when she brushes against someone’s skin. But when a serial killer goes on a killing spree and starts attacking students, leaving cryptic ads in the newspaper that only Nearly can decipher, she confides in the one person she shouldn’t trust: the new guy at school—a reformed bad boy working undercover for the police, doing surveillance. . . on her. Nearly might be the one person who can put all the clues together, and if she doesn’t figure it all out soon—she’ll be next.

3) Vengence by Megan Miranda

Falcon Lake will have its vengeance.

When everyone thought Delaney was going to die, Decker made a bargain. Anyone but her. Everyone but her. He never realized someone might actually be listening.

Carson pulled Delaney out of the frozen water of Falcon Lake, and he died on the side of the road with his mouth pressed to hers. Troy tried to recreate Delaney’s accident, and the lake took him instead. All the talk about a curse doesn’t shake Decker, until yet another unthinkable tragedy strikes and there’s just too much coincidence and death for Decker to take . . . and too much anger.

Because Delaney knew it was coming, and she never said a word. Falcon Lake still has a hold on them both, and Decker can’t forgive Delaney until he knows why.

4) Intuition by CJ Omololu

With every new vision from her past lives, Cole understands more about who she is in this life...and her love for Griffon grows as quickly as her unique Akhet abilities. Able to sense people's innermost emotions, Cole is a much needed asset to the Akhet's worldwide plan. Then she meets a young millionaire named Drew who reveals a startling connection to Cole's life in Elizabethan England. His intense desire to restore their past confuses and excites Cole but his affections complicate her plans with both Griffon and the Akhet. 

When her best friend Rayne is endangered by Cole's carelessness, Cole must find a way to save Rayne and prevent the Akhet's plans from falling into the hands of people out to destroy the world. Only by trusting in herself and her newfound abilities can Cole fight for her friend, her love, and her rightful destiny.

5) Faking Normal by Courtney C. Stevens
Alexi Littrell hasn’t told anyone what happened to her over the summer. Ashamed and embarrassed, she hides in her closet and compulsively scratches the back of her neck, trying to make the outside hurt more than the inside does.

At school, nobody sees the scratches or her pain. The only person she connects with is the mysterious Captain Lyric, who writes song lyrics on her fourth-period desk for her to complete. With pencil marks and music, Alexi carves out a comfortable space for herself as she and the Captain finish each other’s songs – words on a desk feel safer than words spoken aloud.

But when Bodee Lennox, the quiet and awkward boy next door, comes to live with the Littrells, Alexi discovers an unlikely friend who understands her better than anyone. He has secrets of his own and knows all about suffering in silence. As they lean on each other for support, Alexi gives him the strength to deal with his past, and Bodee helps her find the courage to finally speak up

Now for the Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt

The Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt will run from TODAY until midnight on SUNDAY (19^th July). To enter to win FORTY signed paperbacks by a wide range of authors PLUS $30 worth of Amazon Gift Cards, simply hop around ALL participating stops, collect all of the highlighted numbers (mine is 11!), add them together, and then go enter the requested details along with your calculated answer in the ENTRY FORM. 

You can find more information on how the stop works HERE. All stops will direct you to the next place to hop across to. And don’t worry if you get lost, because the entire list of participating authors can be found HERE.

Or, if you have all of your numbers and are ready to enter, then hop across to the Summer Reads Scavenger Hunt Entry Form.

In this post, you should have your number (Your number is:  11 I recommend this is displayed in a different colour to the rest of the text in your post, and made bold to make it easier to spot.)

Comment here for a chance to win a set of 3 Sweet Evil trilogy bookmarks from Wendy Higgins. 

Your next stop is Wendy Beck.

My writing and writing process - blog roll style

Kimberly Derting tagged me in a blog roll to talk about writing and the writing process.

(She talks about hers here...and I loved her answers! :)


1. What am I working on?
Oddly enough, I am working on a couple of picture book projects and a middle grade series. I am also continuing the Untraceable series into Book 4. (Book 3 just released in June)


2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I usually write very dark teen thrillers. For some reason, I need a short break from those so I'm veering off my main path to have some fun in different genres. But my heart is in YA thrillers.


3. Why do I write what I do?
I love thrillers in general so I love writing them. It's most of what I read and watch on movies. If someone doesn't die or isn't being chased, it's hard for me to get into it. Though I'm getting better about branching out some :)


4. How does my writing process work?
I used to be a pantser but it would take me much longer to finish a book. So now I have a process that seems to work for me. I create a logline and synopsis. Then I do a strawman outline. I pretty much write from that outline (keeping it open so I can make changes along the way.) The simple process gives me structure yet flexibility to be creative.


5. How does my writing process not work?
It works for me :) Right now....at least I think it does.


Three other tagged authors...

Amy Evans - author of one of my favs, Clicks.

Elle Strauss - author of the awesome Clockwise series (and author of Lee Strauss' Minstrel series)

Karen Hooper - author of the gorgeous Kindrily series.