YA – Page 10 – THE COOKIE JAR

Category: YA

21
Nov
2018

So Thankful

categories: Adorkable, Happy Holidays, Ninja Girl, self-publishing, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, writing, YA

Does anyone else feel slightly discombobulated lol? I can’t believe Thanksgiving is this week! It’s super early this year, and in addition to that, Christmas is going up everywhere I turn. Not that I’m complaining, ha! It’s all good :).

I love the changing leaves, the beautiful weather (when it stays cool here in the south), the time spent with family.

Just a look around reminds me: There’s so much to be thankful for.

And I am.

There are too many to name them all, but here are a few things I’m feeling extra thankful for this Thanksgiving:

My family and friends. They are always first in my heart, and though their numbers are few, I couldn’t be more thankful for all of the good times, good laughs, and good memories with my people. They are the best of the best. I love them the most, and I hope they all know that.
Good health. Currently fighting off a cold, but I’m so grateful for my health and that of the people I love. The breath in my lungs, the ability to move freely, I’m truly grateful for all of it.
Good food. Green bean casserole tomorrow, whoop! I basically wait all year for this lol.
Good music. Music just makes life better.
Dogs. Dogs make life better, too.
Dance. Dance is one of the great loves of my life, and I’m so thankful for my job, my students that inspire me and the ability to create to music that moves my soul.
Books, Readers, and the ability to Write. Books are magic. Readers rock (especially all of the lovely people I’ve met through this journey <3). Writing is a gift. I still can’t believe I have three books out there: ADORKABLE, NINJA GIRL, and The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder. I’m thankful every day when I think about how I almost never published a word. So very thankful.

So yeah, there is a lot to be thankful for :).

If you’re curious about my writing, yesterday, I finally reached 50,000+ words on my current WIP! *__* Yayyy, hooray, woohoo!!!! My goal is and has been to finish this book before the end of the year (which is coming soon, eep…). I’m hoping to publish it in 2019. I’m truly enjoying writing this book, and what’s even better? I love the story and am SO excited to share it with readers once it’s finished!

If you’re reading this, just know I’m thankful for you, too. So thankful. I wish you all the best books, the best times with your family and those you love, and of course, a great heaping portion of super-delicious green bean casserole :).

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I’m also thankful that ADORKABLE is #1 on Amazon for one of its categories! How awesome is that? Thank you so much again, bookworms!

31
Oct
2018

If You Liked This, Then You’ll Like That

categories: Adorkable, Be Yourself, doing what you love, fun, nice surprise, Romance, YA

A while ago, I mentioned something about ADORKABLE being an if-you-liked-this-then-you’ll-like-that book. You’re probably thinking, “What the heck does that mean?” Well…although I’m a little uncomfortable comparing my books to others, I noticed a few times where people have mentioned my debut/me in connection to other books! 🙂 It was surprising and actually pretty sweet. I just love seeing my books mentioned; I think it’s an author thing. No, you say? It’s just you and your weirdness lol? Well okay, I’ll own it then. I love seeing people mention my books–when it’s something nice, of course ;).

Here are some if-this-then-that things I thought were cool and thought you might like, too.

This first one is from a blog called Bookcrushin’ posted by Kelli Spear. She basically says that if you liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, you may like ADORKABLE. What I found so freakin’ hilarious was that she hoped she wouldn’t “catch heat,” hoped it wasn’t “sacrilegious” to say such a thing–and those were my thoughts exactly LOL!!! I love Rainbow Rowell. She’s one of my all-time favorite authors. And while I admit I haven’t read all of the other books in this post (yet), I have read Fangirl. And yeah…that is a high bar right there. I’m not even touching that lol! But I gotta say…I love her for saying it! <3 Thank you so much Kelli for even mentioning ADORKABLE in connection with anything Rainbow Rowell-related. You’re lovely!

This next one is from a review written by Jen from Star-Crossed Book Blog about a book called Glitter and Sparkle by Shari L. Tapscott. Jenn writes, “If you’re a fan of Cookie O’Gorman, or even the feelings you got while watching the movie Clueless, then you definitely have to give this one a try!” First off, Jen rocks. Second, she has great taste in books, and I’ve found several through her awesome reviews. Then she had to go and mention Clueless, which made my heart go gooey. I love Clueless, and I love that Jen thought of me when writing a review for a book she loved! It was such an awesome suprise–and Glitter and Sparkle is definitely now on my TBR list!

The third screenshot is from the blurb for a book called My Fake Valentine by Kellie McAllen. This is the first (and only) time I’ve ever seen another author say if you liked ADORKABLE, you’ll like my book, too. And it was so cool! Now, I haven’t read this book, but it was still all kinds of fantastic to see that someone thought ADORKABLE was worth a mention :).

And lastly, of course, I have to include this amazing article written by Kerri Jarema from Bustle called 10 Rom-Com Novels With Fake Relationships That Will Give You Serious Lara Jean & Peter Kavinsky Vibes. Okay, so I don’t know Kerri. I have no idea how she found ADORKABLE. I do know that several readers compared it to Jenny Han’s To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, and that that is what drove me to read the book last year. Having ADORKABLE mentioned on Bustle (Bustle, you guys!) in the same post as this awesome book right around the time the awesome Netflix movie was released? My mind was officially blown. But one of the best parts about it? My Aunt Pat, who I love so much and miss every single day, used to LOVE Jennifer Crusie–and one of Crusie’s books, Strange Bedpersons, is right above ADORKABLE. I really think Pat would’ve liked that.

So yeah, apparently ADORKABLE is an if-you-liked-this-then-you’ll-like-that book. Who knew? 🙂 I hope you’re all doing well and having a great fall so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

16
Oct
2018

Congrats, Thank You & A “Cruel” Book Recommendation

categories: Adorkable, book recommendation, doing what you love, giveaway, Ninja Girl, Romance, YA

Hi everyone! I’m sorry this is a bit late, but I wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who entered the NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway! Again, I was never sure NINJA GIRL would reach 1,000+ readers/ratings on Goodreads, so it was definitely a milestone/goal/amazing piece of awesome when it did :). Thank you to all of the readers who helped get it there! You ninjas are adorkable and unbelievable ;).

Without further ado, the winner is…

Stephanie!!!

Congratulations, Stephanie, and thank you so much for entering! Your $25 Amazon gift card is on the way (in fact, it should be there already by the time I post this lol). Congrats again, and I hope you enjoy your gift card!

I also wanted to say a heartfelt, infinite THANK YOU to everyone who reached out to me after my last post. You did not have to do that. It was very unexpected and yet so appreciated. Like everyone, feelings, especially the unhappy ones, are something I struggle with. I only have maybe one or two people I can share/talk about it with when I am feeling down. And I’ve always thought my readers are awesome, not just awesome bookworms but awesome people, but then, they go out and prove it by sending such amazing comments and emails of support. Each one was read, each one was taken to heart, and each one helped me in some way. So again, thank you all so so much.

On Sunday, I spent all day reading. Like literally, it was one of those days when you do nothing else but seclude yourself in a room, bury your head between the pages of a great book and don’t come up until…well, the last page. It was, in a word, glorious :). A much needed escape, and I wanted to share that book with you.

The Cruel Prince is most definitely the best book I have read in some time, possibly/probably my favorite book of the year. This is a YA fantasy romance that revolves around a girl named Jude and her twin Taryn, both mortals, who have been taken to live in Faerie. Now, I will say I love fairies. The courts, the intrigues, the deceptive beauty, the secrets, and the thought of mortals living alongside immortals, all of it is interesting to me. But no one writes fairies better than Holly Black. The characters were amazing (I loved Jude so freaking much!). The world was so well-drawn and picturesque. I loved the dialogue, pacing, side characters (each one had their own agenda and goals, and they were all just so interesting), the plot twists, and yes, the amazing ending. I didn’t know at first, but The Cruel Prince is the first book in a trilogy–something I usually avoid until at least two of the books are out–but Book 2 comes out in early January, so at least, the wait won’t be too long lol. The romance was just right, in my opinion. And Prince Cardan, youngest of six in the royal family, Jude’s nemesis, too beautiful to be real, uncaring, unfeeling, arrogant, clever, cruel…but possibly still likeable? Ah, I loved him. Cardan was terrible and wonderful, and I love it when an author can pull off a character like this. Loved Cardan, loved Jude, loved Holly Black’s writing, and definitely loved this book!

I’d recommend The Cruel Prince to anyone and everyone <3. I hope it brings you as much entertainment/escapism/joy as it did me.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. ADORKABLE reached 500 reviews on Amazon!!! This is another thing I never thought would happen (because I always doubt and with Amazon’s disappearing reviews etc.), but it finally did–and I took a screenshot to prove it lol. I just want to say again: Thank you so much readers! You guys are amazing!!!

02
Oct
2018

Honestly

categories: Adorkable, giveaway, Ninja Girl, the pit of despair, YA

To the four or five people who read my posts, I’m sorry for the short hiatus lol. I’m also sorry for how dreary this is about to be. My life hasn’t been all roses and happiness recently, and I was trying to wait until it got a bit better…

…but you know how that goes.

Maybe it’s because I use a pen name, or maybe it’s because I really don’t think many people read my blog, but sometimes I feel I can be more honest here. And honestly? Despite a lot of good things happening–and there have been several really awesome, wonderful things–I have been feeling…sad. “Down” would probably be a better word. And since I’m writing the truth here and am a big fan of using movie references, “the Pit of Despair” would probably be the most accurate.

I’ve been in the Pit of Despair for a while now, and it’s awful how I can’t seem to shake it. So many great things are happening, in my life and in other people’s lives. I should feel happy, but somehow I feel separate from the good. Sigh.

Again, to be honest, this time of year always gets me down. It probably always will because my best friend isn’t here, and September-December is always a giant reminder (as if I could forget). Let’s just be honest: I am aware of this all year, every day, every second, but it hits me hard sometimes.

I wish that the wonderful things felt better. I wish I felt like everything mattered. I wish I wasn’t such a downer and could just get over it. And I think I will soon. Hope so anyway.

In bookish news, I’m hoping to get some bookmarks made and will have a pretty awesome surprise to share with you in November. If you’d like to enter the NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway, there’s still time! Some people have said ADORKABLE made them happy (which makes my heart glad), so possibly Sally & Becks could lift my spirits as well <3. Maybe I’ll even watch The Princess Bride again while I’m at it :).

Anyway, I hope you are all doing well–definitely not in the Pit of Despair and are instead reading awesome books! I hope it’s been a great October for you so far!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

13
Sep
2018

Time for a Giveaway!

categories: giveaway, Ninja Girl, Romance, YA

Hi everyone!

As promised, here’s a giveaway to celebrate all the NINJA GIRL (and Boy) readers out there! 🙂 There are several ways to enter, and the prize is a $25 Amazon gift card. The NINJA GIRL Reader Giveaway will run from September 13 until midnight on October 5, 2018. Thank you so much, ninjas, for helping me reach 1,000+ on Goodreads!!! You’re awesome, and I’m so thankful for all of you! Good luck in the giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

05
Sep
2018

1000+ Ninja Girl (And Boy) Readers!

categories: doing what you love, Fan Art, Nindzsalany, Ninja Girl, Romance, YA

Yes, it’s true! I actually noticed this a little while ago, but I was waiting to post anything in case it was a hallucination lol (but seriously).

NINJA GIRL now has over 1,000 readers on Goodreads, you guys!!! Yayyyyy, woohoo, hi-yah! *__*

I couldn’t believe it at first. Truthfully, I watch my numbers like a hawk (it’s an awful habit, and I definitely don’t recommend it. But it is what it is), and I wasn’t sure if book baby #2 would ever reach that number. But it did, and I am so thankful for that!

One of those awesome readers made this beautiful collage, paired with a great review for Nindzsalány (the hungarian version of NINJA GIRL), and I love it <333. I don’t speak Hungarian, but I know how to use Google Translate ;). Imádom! Thank you so much, Patti!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk6m9mLFpzr/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet

Another awesome reader, Abbey, took this incredible picture and chose NINJA GIRL‘s Snow as her strong female lead for a challenge–which ahhhh! Thank you, Abbey, I love everything about this! <3

And did you know that out of those 1,000+ readers, there’s a wonderful mix of female and male ninjas?

Of all of the books I’ve released so far, I think NINJA GIRL has had the most male readers (at least judging by the usernames which I know aren’t always accurate…and sometimes they can be girl or boy names but still…). It was something I noticed early on, and it was such a surprise! With YA romance, I’d think my target audience is mostly made up of young female readers which rocks! But I’m also glad that boys/men read my books because 1) YA romance is awesome and 2) I hope everyone can enjoy it :).

Maybe it’s a ninja thing? Idk, but again, I’m just so thankful for every single reader!

Thank you, ninjas, for reading and supporting my books! Thank you for embracing Snow and Ash, Sally and Becks, Delilah and Ethan!

You all rock, and I hope you know it.

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

P.S. I will be doing a giveaway next week to celebrate!!! 🙂

22
Aug
2018

Thank You, Netflix

categories: Adorkable, doing what you love, nice surprise, Romance, YA

It’s official: Netflix is awesome.

I recently watched two different book-to-movie adaptations on Netflix, and they were fantastic. I’ll start with To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before because gah! They actually did the book justice <3.

Not gonna lie, I was nervous they’d mess it up somehow. To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before was my first read by Jenny Han. I read it because several readers mentioned it in their reviews of ADORKABLE, and of course, I ended up loving the book! I read it on the plane back from England to the U.S. last summer–which I didn’t realize would be so perfect, but if you’ve read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before, you know in the beginning they talk about how Margot (Lara Jean’s oldest sister) is going to college in Scotland and how they’ll plan a trip to Paris. And we were returning from a cruise to Ireland/Scotland/France!!!

Anyway, like I said, I devoured it. I bought the second book right when I got home because with the ending it was impossible not to lol! (Note: The movie ends a bit differently–which is a good thing as movie #2, P.S. I Still Love You, doesn’t exist (yet)!)

Lara Jean was brought to life by the absolutely amazing Lana Condor. She was flawless. I believed her as Lara Jean, and her personality matched the narrator’s “voice” I had in my head while reading the book. Then there was Peter Kavinsky. *Sigh* Oh my goodness, this actor! He was the one I was most nervous about just because…well, it’s Peter! And he’s the main love interest, and we have to fall for him. The actor, Noah Centineo, was wonderful!!! The chemistry he had with Lana/Lara Jean was off the charts. The screenplay was well done, and I enjoyed it SO much!

Disclaimer: I still loved the book more than the movie, so I’d definitely recommend reading it first! BUT after that, watch the Netflix movie because it’s awesome-swoony-romance goodness!

The other movie I watched/loved is called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

It was, in a word, beautiful. The story was complex, the characters utterly likable, and the setting of Guernsey was breathtaking. I also loved the costumes, and of course, the romance. Juliet and Dawsey were such a great love match. Watching the movie honestly felt like a breath of fresh air, and although I haven’t read the book, I’d recommend this one to anyone who enjoys romance.

Sometimes book-to-movie adaptations aren’t the best–especially if you’ve read and loved the book–but these two were awesome imo. If ADORKABLE ever gets made into a movie, I hope it will be done this well. And I know you’re thinking, “Keep dreaming, Cookie! Like your little book would ever be made into a movie? HA!”

Or maybe that’s the voice in my head lol.

Dreams are good for you, though, so…if ADORKABLE ever was made into movie (or any of my books for that matter), I hope the people making it love the story and show as much care with the adaptation as these directors/actors/screenwriters seemed to.

Have you seen these movies? I’d loved to hear what you thought! If you have any recommendations, I’d love to hear those, too :).

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

14
Aug
2018

Inconceivable!

categories: Amazon, Kindle Countdown Deal, Romance, self-publishing, The Unbelievable Inconceivable Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder, YA, YA mystery

Awesome deal alert: You can now read The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder for just $0.99!!!!

Inconceivable!

You have to picture this said in Vizzini’s voice from The Princess Bride lol–but seriously, it’s true. The deal will only last for a limited time, so if you’ve had your eye on the book or if you want to read my latest release, what are you waiting for? Delilah and Ethan are totally awesome, and this is one YA romance murder mystery I think/hope you’ll enjoy!

And again, for the first time ever, The Unbelievable, Inconceivable, Unforeseeable Truth About Ethan Wilder is available for just $0.99!

I hope you’ll check it out <3. If you’d help me spread the word, as always, I would be so grateful. Book deals are awesome, and with this one, I hope more readers will find (and love) Delilah and Ethan’s story. Have a great day, everyone!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

09
Aug
2018

Happy National Book Lover’s Day!

categories: fun, Romance, YA

Apparently, it is National Book Lover’s Day–although, let’s be honest; isn’t that every day for us bookworms lol? 🙂 One of my students sent me this (thanks, Brady!), and I just had to do a post. Books are wonderful, fabulous, amazing things. They have the ability to transport us to different places, pick us up when we’re down, make us cry one moment and smile the next. (Note: I prefer the feel-good books that make me laugh and/or swoon :)) I don’t know what the world would be like without books, but I do know I never want to find out.

Have you read any good books recently? Here are two that I’m looking forward to reading and one that I enjoyed (a lot more than I probably should have):

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Love Me Never by Sara Wolf

I’ve been waiting to read the first two for a while. Eliza and Her Monsters just sounds awesome and will be my first read from Francesca Zappia. In the past, I’ve loved Holly Black’s books about fairies, so of course, The Cruel Prince captured my interest immediately. Then there’s Love Me Never which I’ve already read and enjoyed. A lot. This book was…wow. It reminded me of Boys Over Flowers–one of my favorite Asian dramas–actually strike that, it is my favorite lol. Love Me Never was nowhere near as sweet, but it was definitely a guilty pleasure read.

Have you read any of these books? Did you enjoy them? I hope you’re all doing well and having a great week! And again, Happy National Book Lover’s Day!!!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman

03
Aug
2018

Friday Fun :)

categories: Adorkable, Fan Art, fun, nice surprise, Romance, YA

I have some very sweet/awesome/fun things to share with you this Friday :).

ADORKABLE came out at the end of June as an audiobook–yay!!!–and if that wasn’t awesome enough, on one of my random searches of my books (don’t judge lol), I found these beauties.

This is, to my knowledge, the first and possibly only hand-drawn piece of ADORKABLE fan art!!!! <3 It was apparently on Pinterest, and seriously, I LOVE IT!!!!! I love everything about it from the little Yoda, to the soccer ball for Becks, to the Gryffindor crest for Sally, to all the characters’ names (including Sally’s mom and all of Becks’s brothers *sigh*). And I noticed this part last, but that’s a German flag! Because Sally speaks German in the book! Gah, it’s so freaking perfect and just…ADORKABLE! 🙂 Wherever you are Amber, thank you SO much for this!

This beautiful collage is for Kamuzások, Kavarások (the Hungarian version of ADORKABLE), and all I’ve got to say is WOW 0__0. The pictures are amazing and were paired with a very sweet book review on Bookworm’s Bookshelf blog. Thank you so much, Lillsz!!! You’re wonderful! <3

And that, my lovely readers, is a picture of ADORAKBLE alongside all of the other “Most Read This Week” in Young Adult Romance on Goodreads! It was such a nice/wonderful surprise!

I know school is starting back for a lot of my readers, and if you’re one of them, I hope you enjoy it! Whether you’re starting back or long past your school days: Have fun, read books, be YOU because you’re fantastic, and don’t let the muggles get you down. I hope you all have a great weekend!

Happy reading,

Cookie O’Gorman