Guest Post by Wanita May

Today I'm excited to welcome author Wanita May. I met Wanita through the Blue Ridge Literary Agency. We have the same agent! Wanita's here to talk about reading and how to find a book worth your time.

To Read Or What To Read

I’m an avid reader. Have been -- ever since I learned how. As a kid, I read when I woke, after school, before bed, and even when I was told to go to sleep (little dollar-store flashlight came in handy). I read any and everything I could get my hands on – I wanted to be pulled into someone else’s world and save the day, or fall in love, or hurt so bad my tears covered the pages. I loved it. All of it. Still do.

Except now I’ve grown up, finished school, finished university, got married, had babies. I still want to be pulled into a make-believe world or, for just a little bit, be pulled into someone’s mind and try to figure out how it ticks. I love it that my kids want it too. It must be innate, inside all of us but probably at different levels. I think mine is turned up to full volume.

The problems is: Life is way busier now so I don’t have as much time to read. I don’t have the time to grab anything and fall in love with the story. I’ve grown more selective with what I read. I’m awful, but I do judge a book by its cover, but at least I need the back blurb to confirm the front. I’m still pulled into YA – who doesn’t love some form of young adult? I also want some fantasy or mystery or a good sci-fi that seems surreal and so believable at the same time.

So how do I know a book is worth my precious time? Besides basing it on the cover and back flap? The publishing world has changed… a book store isn’t like it used to be (oh, that makes my heart bleed a little bit). But there is a positive: the internet now lets you check out the cover, the back flap, a sample and get this added tidbit – reviews. The views of people like you and me saying the book is yeah or ney. It does help and if you read something you enjoy (or lack there of) let other readers know. It helps.

There are also cool Book Trailers (let me raise my hand here as an author, I’ve made one… or two… okay, three). But they’re fun to make and awesome to watch. It’s like a movie premier to a book. And I love movies (though they’re never as good as the book imo).

So now when I want to choose a book, I’ve got the cover, the back blurb, reviews, samples, book trailers… and all at the click of a button. Did I mention the hubby just bought me a kindle for my last birthday? And not the tiny one, I got the big “book” size one.

Now all I need to find is that handy little flashlight I used to have…

Thanks for letting me stop by Aubrie! Rae of Hope, the first book in the Chronicles of Kerrigan, comes out November 15th in print. It’s currently available in eBook at all the regular stopping sites.

You're welcome, Wanita! Now here's where to find Wanita and her new release on the internet:

W.J. May
Website
Blog
Facebook: Author Wanita May
Twitter: @wanitajump
Book Trailer



Book Blurb:

Fifteen year-old Rae Kerrigan is used to being invisible. Living in New York with her Aunt and Uncle after having been orphaned at a young age by a terrible fire, her life has been quiet, filled with excellent grades and not much else. Then came the letter from Guilder Boarding School, a mysterious place Rae had never heard of which will change her life. She crosses the ocean to enter a world she's never known existed, one where she's center stage and has a very important role to play.

Will the sins of a father choose her path? Or will she have the courage to change her fate? The decision will be made, by fate or teen, in the Rae of Hope.

The question is, as hero or villain? It seems most of Guilder is voting the later, and it's up to Rae to prove everyone wrong and bring hope to her world. But will she succeed, or will the shadows draw her in and swallow her whole?