Sarah Enni

Love and Letters

sarahenni — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:59:37 +0000

It’s February! Usually I love this month because it kicks off with the Superbowl, but I can’t really get jazzed about this year’s matchup. So I’m skipping right past that to my next favorite thing—Valentine’s Day! It gets a bad rap, but I’ve always appreciated a day that’s meant to celebrate a powerful, positive thing. A best friend or even a pet can be a Valentine, technically. Love is love, it doens’t just have to be romantic!

And, in that spirit, and because I use this blog to feed my Etsy addiction care, I gathered some of the best literary Valentine’s cards and gifts I’ve seen lately. It’s not too late to get your beta reader, writing mentor, agent, editor, or muse a little reminder of your unending love and admiration!

Not quite a card, not exactly a pillow, this notebook-inspired keepsake from CornFlowerBlue Studio is unique, fun, and frameable. It’s the note I always wished someone would pass me in study hall!

Feel like letting your beau know you think of them whilst brooding on misty moors? No better way than sending them one of these Valentines from Presse du Four with words from The Original Emo Crew—Shelley, Byron, or Keats.

Love a techie bibliophile? They’ll delight over Rich Neely Designs‘ incredible array of iPhone-charging tomes. (And hey, don’t flinch at the idea of drilling into a hardback Harry Potter edition. This one was a horcrux anyway.)

Decoration? Inspiration? Command? This lovely print from coniLab can be whatever they need it to be, and that’s the beauty of it!

If making saucy innuendos about libraries is wrong, Constellation & Co. doesn’t want to be right.

This and so many more Ex Libris Journal prints are clever and beautiful and begging to be framed in any self-respecting literati’s office!

What about you?? Are you a V Day lover or a hater? Have you found any great writerly gifts lately? Has Etsy warped your brain as much as it has mine??

RTW: Best Book ‘o the Month

sarahenni — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:43:13 +0000

Welcome to another Road Trip Wednesday, a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway posts a weekly writing- or reading-related question and anyone can answer it on their own blogs.

This week’s topic is:

What was the best book you read in January?

In addition to getting me out of my Game of Thrones writing rut, John Green’s newest kept me up until 2:30 AM reading, crying, and hugging my cat, teetering on the verge of an existential crisis. It made me feel ALL THE FEELINGS.

GPOY

But it’s disingenuous of me to say that I just love the book. I do love the book. Certainly it would stand on its own, but what raises The Fault in Our Stars specifically and John Green generally is a community of YA readers called Nerdfighters. I met them, en masse, at Green’s Jan. 11 Washington, D.C. book tour stop. Through being a fan of John Green I got to see real teens (a crapload of them) find a connection to books, to a thirst for knowledge, to the desire to think about more than what MTV thinks they think (what), and most of all a connection to each other*.

John Green, by being a nice guy, an incredible author, and someone who does not ever talk down to teens, got a room filled up like this:

With teens who greeted an author like a rock star, sing along to songs about Quarks, and ask questions about feet and the meaning of life and get equally thoughtful answers. Teens who sit quietly and soak it up when someone talks to them like the intellectual-conversation-starved people they are, instead of just asking what college they’re going to.

The Fault in Our Stars was an incredible book. Amazing. Read-it-with-a-pencil-because-you’re-gonna-want-to-underline-stuff good. It flirted with too patently philosophical, but never crossed the line. I recommend it to humans who like thinking about humanity.

What awes me even more than John Green’s prose, though, is the opportunity he’s giving teens to find their like-minded peers. To celebrate life and all its complexities with them. If I’d had the Vlogbrothers in high school, I might’ve done some things differently. I would have met a lot more people I felt connected to, probably, and I would’ve felt less embarrassed to like the weird shit I liked like.

But you know what? I’m 26 now, and he’s still giving me that.

(A substantial portion of the DC Mafia, from right to left: Rick Lipman, Jessica BS, Cristin Terrill, Sara McClung, and Lindsey Roth Culli. Not pictured: Me and Sasha)

So The Fault in Our Stars gets my nod for best book I read in January. And John Green gets my thanks for making this month more incredible than it would have been without him.

What about you?? What was the best book you read in January? Did you get a pre-signed copy of TFiOS? Did it have a Hanklerfish?!

*And yet the boy to girl ratio was horrendous. Seriously, nerdboys, you need to come to events like this. Play the odds game, fellas.

A Writing Slump/A Mummer’s Farce

sarahenni — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:51:46 +0000

No, the second phrase in that title is not some secret dirty lingo. It’s a commonly used phrase in George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire books (maybe you’ve heard of them?) that means, basically, that something is a ruse, an act, a joke. And that is exactly what my attempts to write have been lately, friends. For serious.

I always take a healthy break after finishing a first draft, because drafting is difficult and tiring for me. So after wrapping up the WiP sometime after Thanksgiving, I set it aside and focused on the exciting trip I took, and the new friends I made. Something I enjoyed—like, a lot—during my break was reading Martin’s series.

If these books were food, they'd be a controlled substance.

I got… um… quite into them. In about three weeks I read the first three books—a total of more than 3,000 pages of a high-fantasy series that features kingdoms, swords, horses, dragons, wolves, and just about every single thing that is NOT in my contemporary YA WiP.

So when I opened up Scrivener and began to clear the cobwebs from my book… I couldn’t quite do it. Everything was “m’lady” this, and “by the seven gods” that. I couldn’t shake the urge to sit and read A Feast for Crows; I just wanted to immerse myself in that world again.

Frankly, it was getting a little bit weird.

Then, like a just-in-time life vest tossed from the U.S.S. YA*, came January 10 and the release of John Green’s (brilliant, wonderful, Kleenex-box-crushingly sad) novel The Fault in Our Stars.

It was a jarring switch from 27 characters that mostly want to put each others’ heads on spikes to an introspective 16-year old cancer patient that watches America’s Next Top Model. But it was like changing from fun but intense party shoes to sole-worn ballet flats. The same thing that always gets me about YA—the colloquialisms, the youthful cadence, the ability for authors to USE CAPS LOCK IN DIALOGUE—got my creative side to wake up again. My thoughts started returning to the WiP of their own accord, and I stopped having nightmares about undead strangers in the snow.

I’ve read countless tweets and blog posts about people carefully selecting the books they read while drafting, worried that the voice or style would interfere with their writing by being too different, or too much the same. But I’d honestly never experienced it ’til now! It was confusing and strange, and overall I’d say I don’t recommend it. I’m back on the path and gearing up for revisions. But man, that was a wild sidetrack!

What about you?? Are you careful about what books you read while drafting/revising/rewriting? Have you had a book/series take over your creative brain? How do you break out of writing slumps?

*Yeah, you're right, that was a bit of a stretch. I told you, I've been outta the game!

Vlog: Hammer Time!

sarahenni — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 09:00:01 +0000

The pictures of writers and their cats are from the Writers and Kitties Tumblr.

More information on the Hemingway Cats here.

More info (and pets!) through the organization that brought us Hammer, Homeward Trails.

RTW: My Nom de Plume

sarahenni — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:04:49 +0000

Welcome to another Road Trip Wednesday, a ‘Blog Carnival,’ where YA Highway posts a weekly writing- or reading-related question and anyone can answer it on their own blogs.

This week’s topic is:

If you couldn’t use your own name, what would your pseudonym or penname be?

Well, as some of you know but many may not, I actually am using a pseudonym. Right now. At this very moment. Sarah Enni is, in fact, neither my given nor my married name.

I’ve always said I would use a pseudonym if I got published. Actually, I said this before I was even writing, when it was a kind of “when I circumnavigate the globe, I’ll fly the Finland flag!” kind of declaration, which is to say, a silly and far-fetched one said aloud purely for entertainment value.

But then I started writing, and decided to blog about it. I had to make the decision then if I wanted the blog to serve any kind of branding purpose, so I decided to go with Sarah Enni (Enni being a family name, and yes—it is Finnish, like my imaginary schooner’s flag). It’s unusual without being unpronounceable (en-knee), and though people frequently see my email and think I’m Sara Henni (a gross-looking and worse-sounding potato sack of a name, no offence to any Sara Hennis that are hopefully not lurking), I very much enjoy my writing name.

What about you?? Are you using a faux name? If you had to, what would you choose? Should we use the “name of the street you grew up on + name of your first pet” combo for pseudonyms (in which case I should change this blog to kristenaurora.com)?

2012 Motto

sarahenni — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 06:00:07 +0000

This post was first published on January 1 last year, but it worked so well that I’ve decided to use the same motto for this year, so it applies now more than ever.

I am often late to things. And by things, I don’t mean birthday parties or brunch. I mean like, late to the airport. So late that I miss flights. Sometimes. Okay, often. (This is really fun for my friends and family, let me tell you.)

I used to be late and then freak out. On the metro, in the taxi, in the check-in line, in the security line. Like, cursing myself and stomping my feet and shaking. This was a stressful and not terribly productive use of my time. I gained wrinkles and lost some hair doing this.

Then one day, as I was in the shuttle on the way to the airport trying not to check my watch every three seconds or bite my nails to bloody stumps, I thought of something. A little phrase that stood out, rooted itself in my mind, and allowed me to breathe easier:

I am when I am.

Now when I’m in line, or on hold, or in traffic, I repeat this to myself and it helps keep me calm. It’s a calming dose of reality, like the strangely humbling comfort John Lennon always gave me in “All You Need is Love” when he said there was nothing you can sing that can’t be sung, nothing you can make that can’t be made, and nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. You can only be where you are, in that moment.

2012 is going to be a year of change. Lots of important, exciting things are or could happen. But I can’t rush them, or will them to happen sooner. I can’t pass by them, overeager for the next exciting thing. I need to be calm and present for every moment.

So, I am adopting I am when I am as my official motto for 2011. I’ll think it to myself when friends start to query, but I’m just not ready. When friends get agents before me, and start the publication journey I am so anxious for. I’ll be happy for every one of them, and I’ll be happy with exactly where I am. I am when I am, and when things change I’ll be ready.

What about you? What are you doing to prepare yourself for the new year?

Most Anticipated of 2012

sarahenni — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 09:00:01 +0000

Just so we don’t spend the ENTIRE week getting too weepy about leaving 2011 behind, today we’re all going to discuss what books we can’t wait for in 2012! Hold onto your spectacles, because 2012 is going to be JAM PACKED with books I am salivating over.

Veronica Roth’s Insurgent

May 28

I find Tris Prior to be one of the most refreshing YA characters I’ve ever read. How she struggles with fighting for what she wants versus feeling guilty for wanting it reflects a truly painful human conflict we all battle, regardless of age. Tris suffers from an inability to bullshit the world about who she is, and people don’t always take kindly to teens (and in particular young women) who live that way. The people in Tris’ world REALLY don’t take kindly to it, and I’m so eager to see where Roth takes Tris, both in the geographic world of the Divergent series and in her emotional journey.

Erin Jade Lange Butter

Date TBA

I remember reading the Publisher’s Marketplace announcement about this book, and the concept really struck me: “A boy everyone calls “Butter” is about to make Scottsdale High history. He’s going to eat himself to death live on the Internet – and everyone will watch. He announces his deadly plan to an army of peers and expects pity, insults or even indifference. Instead, he finds morbid encouragement.” And a funny thing happened with this idea. It stuck around. I kept thinking about it when there was a rash of horrible teen suicides last year. When the Hunger Games movie started discussions about teens interacting with the world through “reality” shows. I love this concept, and most of all I’m so eager to read how Lange handled these issues in her book, and see what kind of discussions it sparks.

Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue

May 1

I’ve struggled over the last two years with some YA heroines who are physically, butt-kicking strong, but who lack a nuanced emotional vulnerability. Kristin Cashore’s fantasy books feature leading ladies who assert themselves physically, and lead rich and complicated inner lives. Cashore brings each character such depth that their struggles with innate superpowers or neon monsters seem totally relatable. I can’t WAIT to see what Bitterblue has in store for us!

Stephanie Perkins Isla and the Happily Ever After

Fall 2012

With Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door, Perkins has crafted two stories that are some of the best contemporary YA I’ve ever read, and I’d argue the most natural, fresh voice in that genre right now. What’s drawn me to her work, along with the perfect pacing and general quirky spirit, are the boys. These are boys. By that I mean, dudes. Guys. People that I’ve met, that I’ve known, that I’ve loved. They’re imperfect, they’re not drop-dead gorgeous, they’re awkward, they’re scared to death of the women they’re attracted to. Etienne, Cricket, and Josh are the most swoon-worthy boys in YA that I’ve ever met, and quite frankly I married one of them. It’s an absolute joy to see Perkins translate the thrills of falling in love with someone so real.

(GPOAB* included in lieu of not-released book art because he/Seth Cohen typify the type of guy that Perkins writes, and also, I think she’d approve.)

Justin Cronin’s The Twelve

August 28

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! There is no conceivable way I can wait another eight months for this book, the sequel to Cronin’s 2010 novel The Passage (pictured above because artwork for The Twelve is being shrouded in mystery and impending terror, no doubt). I loved The Passage more than I have loved a book in a very long time, because though it clocks in at an astounding 800 pages, not a scene is unnecessary, not a word misplaced. The action is tense, the characters are vibrant, the world is, in a word, angsdngfksd. Everyone called this a vampire book, but it was really more like a vampire-zombie post apocalyptic mash-up of Mad Max and 28 Days Later. I will be pre-ordering this to my Kindle and staying awake to begin reading the minute it downloads.

Check out what everyone else had to say!

* Gratuitous Picture of Adam Brody

2011 in: Recommendations

sarahenni — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:00:21 +0000

If you love reading (and my guess is, since you’re here, you do), you know that recommending books for others is an art. Every reader is different, so when your sister/boss/neighbor/niece asks for suggestions, a lot of thought goes into it. I find that my list of favorite books doesn’t always sync up with the list of books that I recommend most—I tend to recommend books that I think have more broad appeal, ones that I’ve seen most everyone pick up and love. So today we’re going to share the books that we’ve evangelized most for in 2011!

The Passage by Justin Cronin

This book made my “most recommended” list last year, too, and that really says something. It’s been more than a year since I read it, but Cronin’s haunting 800-page post-apocalyptic zombie-vampire cross-country journey tale still haunts me. It’s one of my favorites of all time, and I’ve yet to find someone who doesn’t enjoy it.

Graceling and Fire by Kristin Cashore

I’m counting these as one book, because I never recommend one without the other. Cashore’s YA fantasy world has the complex world-building and medieval-style throne lust that typifies epic fantasy, but they feature strong female characters, a paranormal twist, and emotional arcs you can sink your teeth into. I loved getting lost in the stories of Katsa and Fire, and most of the people I recommended it to gave it a thumbs-up.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Though I’ve been recommending it to anyone who’d listen for years, I saw a definite uptick in interest when the Hunger Games movie started filming, most especially when the trailer came out and looked BOMB. The Hunger Games is, frankly, a book I dare anyone not to enjoy, and I’m so excited for it to blow up in March with the film!

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

As soon as I started reading this book—and I woke Dr H up because I was laughing so hard—I knew I had to spread the word on the book. I’ve found it’s a great introduction to people that aren’t familiar with YA, or how the YA voice is different from the contemporary lit they’re used to reading. The combination of Green and Levithan makes for such a great balance of humor, angst, outlandish scenarios and real human stories, all in one book.

Check out what everyone else had to say!

2011 in: Favorite Books

sarahenni — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 09:00:28 +0000

And now for the ultimate end-of-the-year reading list, my favorite reads of 2011! There were so, so many books that swept me off my feet this year, I had an extremely hard time narrowing my list down!

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

I had some issues with the last third of the book, but the journey getting there was so incredible, I wouldn’t (and haven’t) hesitate to recommend this to anyone. Reading a Laini Taylor book is like sitting down at a word buffet where everything is rich and dripping in sauce. She can spin a world with just a few sentences that you’ll want to be stuck in forever, and evokes Prague as a dark, funky, ethereal otherworld. And DoS&B’s main character Karou was one of the most interesting, unique, fun, independent leads in YA this year.

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Reading Ashes was like taking a crash course in conflict and raising the stakes. I simply couldn’t put the book down, because every few pages something wrenched my heart into a tighter knot and I had to keep going because omg wtf is going to happen are you serioussss! I’ve been reading a lot of zombie books over the last couple of years, and this one had me flipping the pages double-quick. I can’t imagine how it could get worse for Alex, but then again that’s what I thought every chapter along the way. VERY excited about the sequel, too!

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Stephanie Perkins is non-pareil when it comes to evoking the most pure, unadulterated (har har) experience of being a teenager in love. Her characters are complex, genuine, selfish, loving, confused, brave. Her stories are rich—and funny! When I read Perkins’ books I feel like the stories could come from my life—if I were cuter, my family were quirkier, and the world outside my door was gorgeous and romantic every day. It is an absolute joy to read Lola and Anna, which is probably why I’ve already read both several times.

The Magician King by Lev Grossman

Quentin and the Brakebills gang returned in maybe the first sequel book I’ve ever read that actually improves, significantly, upon the original. When Lev Grossman came out with The Magicians a couple of years ago, I was pretty dang excited. Reviews trumpeted it as “like Hogwarts, but with more illicit fondling.” Like I was gonna say no? And I enjoyed it—I definitely did, and would recommend it to adult fans of sci-fi and fantasy—but in the end wasn’t blown away by the outcome of the story. Happily, The Magician King is exactly what I hoped The Magicians would be. In my opinion, this sequel exceeds the original in pretty much every way. The first book was lacking something of the hero’s journey that I’ve come to want/expect from fantasy, or at least it lacked the kind of reflection on Quentin’s journey that I wanted. Well, the second book was entirely about the pursuit of a hero’s journey, the subversion of it, and then twisting it again. All the while, Grossman is weaving a funny, crazy-readable story every bit as brutal at its core as The Magicians was. (Also, I am truly terrible at this whole reviewing business. For more eloquent reflection, please see Phoebe North’s review.)

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente

Valente is a poet, and every rich, meaty sentence brings that home in this book. Heartbreaking and gorgeous, I found myself re-reading paragraphs and saying words aloud, soaking up the beauty and wonder in each painstakingly wrought phrase. Valente’s book reminded me why we line edit, why we select words carefully, and how we can better imbue our everyday prose with a sense of magic and whimsy. I challenge anyone who claims to be tired of myth retellings to take this book under consideration. I had not heard any of these old Russian myths before, but it didn’t matter. Set against the devastation of early 20th-century Stalingrad, Valente takes traditional Russian myths and evokes them in heart-wrenching poetic detail.

Check out what everyone else had to say!

5 Favorite YA Characters

sarahenni — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 09:00:14 +0000

Today we’re sharing some of our favorite characters from 2011. I love pointing out characters that have left an impression on me, because—though every great book needs great characters—not all great characters come from our favorite overall stories. It’s a different way to think about all the books I read, and I’m happy to say that the characters I listed (split into five girls and five boys, in no particular order) have stuck with me like good friends.