RTW: Best Book of July

Reading Song of the Day: "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath

After a two-week hiatus, we are THRILLED to join the lovely ladies at YA Highway for another Road Trip Wednesday. This week they want to know:

What was the best book you read in July?

To which our response is: Gulp.

You see, we had to take that hiatus for a reason: to move, to work on our thesis presentations, and to help out our sis and co-editor, Racquel Henry, launch the first issue of Black Fox Literary Magazine (more info on that on the bottom of this post). Needless to say, we didn't get to read as much as we wanted, but the ONE book I read was actually pretty awesome:

After reading so much hype about the Iron Fey series online, as well as wanting to read it for research for my own fairy WIP, I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Here's what Goodreads has to say:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

I say this quite a few times, but this book truly led me on a roller coaster of emotions. I swooned over Ash, felt bad for Meghan's best friend, Puck, feared for Meghan's safety, and literally cried from laughing at one of Meghan's first encounters with some nasty fairies (just ask Quita--she thought I was dying). I truly would recommend this book for anyone who loves fantasy, adventure, and romance. I can't wait to read the rest of the series now!

Side note: the very first issue of Black Fox Literary Magazine will be released THIS FRIDAY!!! If you can't tell, we're just a tad bit excited. To honor our launch, we have extended the Black Fox Twitter contest--more details to come on that. Just swing by our blog on Friday to celebrate with us!

And now--any book recommendations for us? We have A LOT of catching up to do.

A Few Announcements

Helping Song of the Day: "Help!" by The Beatles

We interrupt your weekly Road Trip Wednesday to bring you some important news:

1. The amazing Kate Hart is joining forces with other writers for Help Write Now. This is a writing auction to assist with storm relief in the South. Several writers, agents, and other publishing industry insiders will be donating their services. Quita and I have also joined a few of our writer buddies for a pretty awesome critique pack. Please stop by and see how you can help.

2. You may have noticed on our sidebar a cute icon for Black Fox Literary Magazine. Quita and I are co-founders and co-editors, along with our sister from another mister, Racquel Henry. Our very first issue will be this summer--woo hoo (if you can't tell, we're uber excited)! We're still looking for submissions and interviews for our website, as well as for the actual magazine. For submissions, click here. If you're a writer (published OR aspiring) that is interested in being interviewed, please email us at cuzwewrite@gmail.com.

2b. Black Fox Lit has also surpassed 100 followers on Twitter, so we're having a contest! We're giving away T-shirts, pens, notebooks, and a print copy of our first issue! Click here for details. Oh, and don't forget follow @blackfox on Twitter. :)

Shwew, lots of news! Speaking of which, we're in dire need of good news--big or small. Anything you have to share?? :)

Calling all Writers!

Writing Song of the Day: "On Call" by Kings of Leon (Check it out on the Rock With Us tab)


Remember a while back we introduced you all to Black Fox Literary Magazine? It's a little project that we are taking on with our adopted lil' sis Racquel. And now we're taking things up a notch!

We're working on totally revamping our website and making things more accessible. Also, we are calling for poetry and flash fiction entries. Flash fiction is a new style of writing that has become extremely interesting to us and if you know your flash is the shiz...please do visit the site and submit.

Finally, we are looking for writers to interview for our issues. If you are interested in being a part of our venture, please either reply here or get in touch with us through e-mail: marquitahockaday@gmail.com or pamharris1981@gmail.com

Also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/blackfoxlit

NOTE: We will not be posting any new blog posts next week-- except to respond to YA Highway's Road Trip Wednesday. Happy Holidays EVERYONE!!!! See you in all in the New Year :)

Write Like a...Fox??

Writing Song of the Day: "Right Above It" by Lil' Wayne ft. Drake

What's up, writers/readers?? As we get ready to attend another writer's conference this fall (James Rivers Writers- woot woot!) and you all get ready to go into a great weekend, we would like to encourage you to submit some of your fantastic writing to our new up and running literary magazine.

The Black Fox Literary Magazine is a quarterly online lit mag for all types of writing (come on YA writers!!!) started by us and our writer friend (and adopted little sister) Racquel Henry. We are all attending a low residency MFA program together, and realized that our styles of writing are highly unrepresented in the literary world. Racquel had the brilliant idea to start a literary magazine that will showcase all genres/styles of fiction and we jumped right on board!


The Black Fox (partly named for the foxes that we NEVER got to see while in New Jersey) lit mag is focused on promoting talented writers from all fiction genres. We would love to especially highlight the fiction genres that are not as represented in other literary magazines (did we already say come on YA writers?). The magazine is now accepting submissions for our first issue that will be released Summer 2011. Right now we also have two contests, one for a cover story (with the writer getting a special shout out!) and cover art.

So please go to the site to check out submission guidelines, learn more about the editors of the magazine, and to enter some contests. I mean, come on- who doesn't like to enter a contest?

Also follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/blackfoxlit