Guest Post: Adi Alsaid’s Writing Process + Giveaway (WK2)

For this week two of the Book blitz for Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid, we will get to know his writing process. Last week I've posted Alsaid's Top 5 Things to Pack and Travel-Themed Reads/Books to Read on the Road, check out the post and enter the giveaway.

     What’s my writing process? It’s easy. Like Hemingway said, I just sit at a typewriter and bleed. Except I do the modern version, which is I go to a coffee shop, open my computer, and stare.

My typical writing day is broken up this way: Two to three hours of writing in the morning, usually beginning at around 10. Then a break for coaching basketball, or if school’s out I’ll go have lunch, do some reading, walk around until all the coffee I drank in the morning has settled. Then I write for another two to three hours, or until I’m done with my goal, which varies. At my typical non-hurried pace, that’s about 1,000 words a day. When inspired or on a shorter deadline, I aim for somewhere between 1,500 and 2,000, or a chapter every two days or so.

I grew up as a basketball player, and the training I did as a teen helped to discipline me to keep a consistent schedule for writing. Especially on first drafts, I write every single day, with very few exceptions made; special events, travel, uninspired days where it’s useless to try to churn something out (note, on these days, I’ll still sit there and stare for a few hours until I admit to myself it’s just not happening).

I prefer working in public, since staring is just more interesting out and about in the world than in my living room. Like everything else, I make exceptions to this, too. Sometimes I just feel like making a pot of coffee and blasting music as I write, rather than listening through headphones. Sometimes the Mexico City rainy season makes me feel like protesting the weather by staying in (I’m not someone who thrives or finds inspiration in rainy days—give me sun and warmth), sometimes I feel like my wallet needs a break from all the coffee shop excursions.

There are also the occasional manic bursts of productivity, where no matter where I am or what the situation is, the writing is coming, and it’s best to let it out until it runs dry. This happens sometimes on flights, at late night outings, or, recently, at five in the morning after a night of board games with friends.

        My main guideline is easy: To write well, do it often.   

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Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Early Praise:

“Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels.” – School Library Journal

“Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss.  ” – Justine Magazine

“Moving and poignant.”  - Glitter Magazine

“An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut.” – Kirkus

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." ―YABooksCentral.com

“This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.” –Booklist

Available Now!

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indie Bound * Harlequin.com

Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer.

 He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.  

Let's Get Lost Website!

Author Links:

   

1 signed hard cover copy of Let’s Get Lost

1 Let’s Get Lost luggage tag

1 Harlequin TEEN notebook

1 Let’s Get Lost sachel

1 Harlequin TEEN tote bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Guest Post: Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid + Giveaway

One of the YA Contemporary release this 2014 is Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid. Since I saw this book in Goodreads and read its synopsis, it became my "one of the most awaited-and to read book" for 2014. Five strangers on a road trip? YEAH *more of because of the road trip ;)*! Below is Adi's choice of Top 5 Things to Pack and Travel-Themed Reads/Books to Read on the Road and don't forget to join the giveaway!

           5. Books 

4. Notebook/pen

3. My “I wish I could fly” penguin t-shirt for airplane days.

2. If it’s a road trip, snacks.

1.  Not much else. I prefer to keep it light.

      With Friends like These by Danny Wallace- A very funny man—the author of Yes Man—decides to revisit long lost friends across the globe. A touching and entertaining read about the things worth traveling for.

     Timbuktu by Paul Auster- A canine protagonist will teach you more about loneliness and how to be okay with it than any other book I’ve read. A great companion to the inevitable lonesome lulls while traveling. Plus it’s nice and light, so easy to carry with you.

    101 Summertime Knock-Knock Jokes- Just kidding.

    The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams- To vicariously go where no man has before, and to find the answer to the universe.

     Best American Travel Series­- I usually go for the Best Shorts collections, but I picked up one of the travel collections once and it immediately made me want to hit the road. The pieces range from touching to insightful to just plain entertaining. With contributors like Anthony Bourdain and Gary Shteyngart, there’s something in it to please everyone, and plenty of ideas for not just where to go next, but how.

       Tales from Nowhere edited by Don George- Another collection of short pieces, all sent from different nowheres. From the back copy: “Nowhere is a setting, a situation and a state of mind. It's not on any map, but you know it when you're there.” A great non-fiction companion to Let’s Get Lost.    

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Let's Get Lost by Adi Alsaid

Release date: July 29, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Tenn

Five strangers. Countless adventures. One epic way to get lost.

Four teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named LEILA. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.

There's HUDSON, a small-town mechanic who is willing to throw away his dreams for true love. And BREE, a runaway who seizes every Tuesday—and a few stolen goods along the way. ELLIOT believes in happy endings…until his own life goes off-script. And SONIA worries that when she lost her boyfriend, she also lost the ability to love.

Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila's own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth— sometimes, what you need most is right where you started. And maybe the only way to find what you're looking for is to get lost along the way.

Early Praise:

“Reminiscent of John Green’s Paper Towns and road trip novels that feature a teen paving the way to adulthood, Alsaid’s debut is a gem among contemporary YA novels.” – School Library Journal

“Five love stories, beautifully woven together by a special girl in search of adventure, hope, and full appreciation of life’s simple pleasures. A do-not-miss.  ” – Justine Magazine

“Moving and poignant.”  - Glitter Magazine

“An entertaining and romantic road-trip debut.” – Kirkus

"Leila's quest to find the Northern Lights takes readers on a captivating cross-country journey, where four strangers' adventures collide into one riveting tale of finding yourself." ―YABooksCentral.com

“This will likely be a popular summer hit, especially for older teen about to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery.” –Booklist

Pre-Order Today!
Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Indie Bound * Harlequin.com

Adi Alsaid was born and raised in Mexico City, then studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While in class, he mostly read fiction and continuously failed to fill out crossword puzzles, so it's no surprise that after graduating, he did not go into business world but rather packed up his apartment into his car and escaped to the California coastline to become a writer.

 He's now back in his hometown, where he writes, coaches high school and elementary basketball, and has perfected the art of making every dish he eats or cooks as spicy as possible. In addition to Mexico, he's lived in Tel Aviv, Las Vegas, and Monterey, California. A tingly feeling in his feet tells him more places will eventually be added to the list. Let's Get Lost is his YA debut.  

Let's Get Lost Website!

Author Links:

   

1 signed hard cover copy of Let’s Get Lost

1 Let’s Get Lost luggage tag

1 Harlequin TEEN notebook

1 Let’s Get Lost sachel

1 Harlequin TEEN tote bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blitz Organized by:

Crystal Fire by Jordan Dane Excerpt + Giveaway!

 As the Indigos prepare to battle the Believers, they train in every way possible. Rayne Darby is the sister of Crystal child Lucas, but has no powers of her own, except for her unflinching courage and loyalty, which will be tested in Crystal Fire. Here’s a training scene between her and Gabriel Stewart.

Excerpt

Stewart Estate 
Bristol Mountains—east of L.A. 
Next morning

   Rayne Darby had on her lucky stuff, a black Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” T-shirt with her favorite jeans that were shredded on the thighs and her dark brown café racer motorcycle boots. Both wrists were laced with leather, and beads coiled around them. She wanted to kick ass today in her best gear. If her parents had been alive and knew she planned on declaring war on a church, they would have totally grounded her.

   A spotlight shone down on her as she stood in the cool darkness of a large room and stared at a man’s lighted silhouette twenty-five yards away. The tiny details of his face didn’t matter to her. Only one guy haunted her mind whenever she held a gun in her hands, like now.

   The Stewart Estate had a firing range located in its basement, along with other rooms Gabriel and his uncle Reginald had dedicated for training. The Stewarts came from a long line of Indigos. The family had taken every opportunity to hone their abilities because they knew they’d need every protection possible. The others had powers that made weapons unnecessary. Rayne was the only one who clocked time at the firing range. At first Gabe had resisted the idea of her with a gun, but when she told him that he might not always be around to be her white knight in blue flames, he reluctantly agreed to lend her a handgun and show her how to use it.

   She’d come alone to practice with a Glock 21, but Gabe’s ghost dog Hellboy had followed her. She welcomed the company, but the dog must have sensed her jittery mood and paced the floor behind her, whining.

   “Settle down, boy. I can’t kill you, remember? I’m the only one in danger here. I could shoot my eye out.”

   Guns made her nervous. She had to get over that. Not long ago, she’d pointed a gun at Boelens, a cruel man who hunted kids for the Believers. He’d made fun of her for not knowing about the gun’s safety. She was determined that wouldn’t happen a second time. If she ever had that man in her sights again, she’d know which end to point and how to wipe the smirk off his face.

   Staring at the paper target of a man’s silhouette, she imagined facing someone who could shoot back. She got the cold sweats every time she pictured standing in front of Boelens again. With her eyes on the target, she slipped on her protective goggles, but before she donned her ear muffs, a low voice with a faint British accent sent shivers down her arms.
“You look quite fetching in those goggles.”

   When she turned to see Gabriel standing on the edge of the spotlight, she smiled and put down her weapon.   
   “That’s something a girl doesn’t hear every day.”


   He walked up and pressed his warm body against her back. He fit in all the right places as if he’d been made for her. 

   Rayne couldn’t help it. She stifled a gasp when he ran fingers through her hair and she felt his breath on her skin.

   “Protection is important,” he whispered in his sexy British accent as he nuzzled and kissed her neck.

   “Are you here to give me a…lesson?” She leaned back against his chest and let him wrap his arms around her.

   “You need one?” He put his lips next to her ear. “Anything you want, I’m your guy.”

   Rayne heard the smile in his voice. She fought a grin too.

   “Give me the run down one more time and do it slow. I want to remember everything.”

   It would have been easy to stick with the flirty teasers and kiss Gabriel all afternoon, but he took weapons seriously and she did too. Too much was at stake and she hadn’t forgotten the reason she wanted to practice. After Gabe pulled away, he stayed at her back and spoke in her ear as she stared at the target, the second object of her growing obsession.

   “You must do one very important thing before you ever pick up a gun,” he told her.

   “Oh yeah? What’s that?”

   “Read the manual. Not everything comes with instructions, but firearms do. Take advantage of that.”

   After she moaned and flashed back to high school, she said, “Okay, I got a homework assignment. What comes next?”

   “Find a suitable target, preferably very bad men. Not me,” he said. “And don’t fire at Hellboy. You’ll only piss him off.”

   “I’d never shoot your dog.” Rayne winced. “Not on purpose.”

   “Ah…your confident assurance makes me feel much better, but my four-legged friend is another matter.”

   When she looked down at Hellboy, the phantom dog cocked his head and perked a blue shimmering ear.

   “I swear he understands every word you say.” She smiled.

   “Funny. He never listened when he was alive. Being dead has improved his disposition.”

   “Okay, don’t shoot dead dogs. Got it. What’s next?”


   Gabriel went down the list, cautioning her to keep her finger outside the trigger guard unless she was ready to shoot. He had her practice holding the gun until she felt more comfortable and watched her rack the slide to load the chamber.

   “Spread your feet, shoulder width.” He moved his fingers along her arms as she aimed and repeated what he’d told her, about where to place her feet, knees and elbows.

   “Firm grip and lean forward a bit,” he said. “Now align the front sight with the rear one and aim for center mass. No fancy head shots, Annie Oakley. When you’re ready, take a deep breath and let it out before you squeeze the trigger.”

   Gabe slipped her earmuffs over her head and put on his own gear before he stepped out of the way. When he gave her the thumbs-up, she took her deep breath and aimed her Glock.
Rayne squeezed the trigger and blasted the target. This time she didn’t close her eyes.

Crystal Fire (The Hunted #2) by Jordan Dane

Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: November 26th 2013

Blurb:

Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

A storm is brewing on the streets of LA, one that has intensified since a tragic and deadly confrontation claimed an innocent life.

While Gabriel Stewart trains his army of teen psychics to stop Alexander Reese--the obsessed leader of the Believers--the fanatical church becomes more bent on the annihilation of all Indigo and Crystal children. They're silencing the voices of the telepathic hive, one soul at a time, with frightening experiments cruelly executed on vulnerable minds.

When the Believers torture a mysterious homeless boy, Oliver Blue, they brainwash him into betraying his own. The boy becomes a deadly pawn to take Gabriel down. As the fires of chaos burn around him, Gabe is running out of time. He'll need to confront his past--and the man who made him--before the hope of peace for the future is silenced forever.

You can purchase Crystal Fire at the following Retailers:

 

KOBO

Book one:

Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1) by Jordan Dane

Purchase: Amazon | The Book Depository

Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.

A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.

  

Author Bio

Avon/HarperCollins launched Jordan Dane's debut suspense novels in a back to back publishing event in Spring 2008 after buying the 3-book series in auction. Pursuing publication since 2003, Jordan had received awards in 33 national writing competitions and was an energy sales manager in the oil and gas industry prior to selling. Now she is following her passion and writes full time.

Ripped from the headlines, Jordan's gritty plots weave a tapestry of vivid settings, intrigue, and dark humor. She loves challenging a reader's moral barometer with the borderline ethics of her characters and their flawed personalities—dark, angst-ridden antiheroes pitted against unforgettable villains. Publishers Weekly compared her intense pacing to Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner, and Tami Hoag—"romantic suspense that crosses over into plain thriller country with tight plotting and exceptional male characters, both bad guys and good."

Jordan and her husband share their residence with two cats of highborn lineage and the spirit of an intelligent canine who is impossible to forget.

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