Authors Are My Rockstars: Author Rewind (Part 1)

So this will be a lengthy post with a lot of recap about author's I've recently had the privilege of meeting. I think I'll do this in chronological order. That seems like a good way, right? Funny story, I didn't realize, until I started this post, how long ago I stopped blogging. I was looking for the pictures from when I met Ally Condie, author of the Matched Trilogy (Matched, Crossed and Reached), but kept running into pictures from Christmas. Then I realized I met her all the way back in NOVEMBER. God that feels like forever ago...Okay not funny, or really interesting so I'll just move on. 

________________________________________________________________________________

Anyway, Ally was great to listen to. She said we could take as many pictures as we want but not video because why else would people come to hear her speak if they could just look online for a video? Somehow I don't really think anyone thinks like that, but to each her own, I guess. Ally made it informal and was more open to questions than giving a long spiel. 

What I found most interesting about her explanation of the books is that she wanted to use more modern poems than the ones she ended up using in the books because of the cost to use poems "by people who are alive" vs. authors who are deceased. Meaning it cost a lot less to use copyrighted things from dead authors. It made me wonder how significant the effect was in the books.

She also talked about her inspiration for the setting of Crossed, which was Utah where she's from. She said most apocalyptic movies are shot there and that criminals like to use the mountain region because you could hide in there forever. I've never read a book that used this setting before so I thought it was cool that it was based on a real place. 

She explained her inspiration for the Matched world was talking to her husband about Proposition 8 (where residents of California voted on whether or not same-sex couples can marry) and the conversation made her wonder what would happen in a world where the government chose who you had to marry. Judging by the inspiration, I don't think the government allowed for same-sex marriages in her world....

No I haven't read Reached yet, still. I'm not in a hurry because the series was just Ehh for me. I think it's for a younger demographic but I'll get to it one day.

So, there were a lot more people at this signing than the Fierce Reads Tour, surprisingly. I guess I didn't figure the books are a popular as they are. My Bad. Either way, I'm always at least an hour early to these things because of anxiety issues (not a terrible anxiety issue, right? What I mean is, if you had to choose one, timeliness wouldn't be so bad). I got good seats --long story short. 

My review of Matched and Crossed.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Now, I'm back more in the present. I had a busy fun filled time seeing three different authors in one week in February. IT WAS GREAT!

Let me get to it. On Tuesday of my author filled week, I met Marissa Meyer author of the Lunar Chronicles (Cinder and Scarlet so far). I finished Cinder at the day of the signing. I've had it for a while after winning it from a giveaway so this kicked my butt in gear to read it. And...I really liked it! I don't like when the narrators in stories change so we'll see about Scarlet.

On to Marissa. I have to say she was one of the nerdiest authors I've met. This is a compliment! One nerd to another. She's obsessed with Star Trek and Sailor Moon in particular.


She actually began writing Sailor Moon fanfiction which lead her to enter a Sailor Moon writing contest where she had to choose from two different elements for the book. She decided on science fiction and fairy tales (you can see where this is heading) about Puss in Boots because Sailor Moon has a lot of talking cats in it. She got second place out of two. However, this got her going on the science fiction/ fairy tale route. She has a dream about Cindrella where instead of Cindy's shoes falling off as she runs up the steps, it was her cyborg foot. Marissa decided to use this idea in a NaNoWriMO contest (where you write 50,000 words in a month) with the idea of Cinder in mind. In order to win a spot on an episode Star Trek, she had to have the biggest word count in a contest in her region. She got second place by only a thousand words (she wrote over 150,000. Whaaaaa), unfortunately. But good for her because she got the ideas for the first three books in the Lunar Chronicles. Yes, so she's that geeky and it was great! I loved her enthusiasm. 

She was the first author I've seen to read from their book. She read a section of Scarlet in Scarlet's POV. However, the most interesting part of the night was that I got to have dinner with her, her husband, another author from the DC area and her book tour host guy (ehh?). Plus me and five girls from a book club I joined through ForeverYoungAdult.com. It 
was her birthday so we went to a fancy French (to celebrate Scarlet) restaurant. She was super sweet and so was her husband who took off work to go on a two week tour with her. It was her actual birthday so it was really cool of her to spend the time with her fans. 

Us at dinner! I'm on the left of Marissa by two seats.

_________________________________________________________________________________

So that's two authors down, three to go! In Part Two, I'll talk about meeting Stephenie Meyer (author of The Host and the Twilight series) plus Max Irons and Jake Abel form The Host movie , Kami Garcia (author of Caster Chronicles) and Lauren Oliver (author of the Delirium Series).

Why I Dreaded Blogging, Stopped Blogging, and What I'm Doing to Change That.

My last blog post was November 1st 2012. That's truly pitiful.

It's also the longest I've gone without posting anything since I started this blog in January of 2012. 

Now I'll admit, I'm nowhere near a good blogger in the first place.

During my unemployment over the summer, I did 30 posts in a month. However, on average, I was writing about 3 to 7 a month. Mostly books I promised to review or giveaways.

When I started the blog, I just did it to write reviews and to find other bookish blogs. Then came the thought: I need more followers! How else can I get newest, coolest books to review? If I want to be an author, I need a big online base, right?

Suddenly I was waiting til 11pm, going to sleep at 12 or later, on Thursdays to write a meme to get people to follow me when I was already tired and had to get up at 7 the next morning. I started a Twitter and a Facebook page even though I hate the social media I'm already apart of. Truth is, I don't like being on the computer all that much. I feel like it sucks out a tiny piece of my soul. I admire those blogs that post everyday. The blogs that advertise their posts on their FBs or Twitter. Copy their reviews to Netgalley, Amazon, Goodreads, etc. How can you not admire such dedication? But for me, that sounds a lot like a job and a lot like spending more time on the computer which is extremely unappealing.

I'm also a really competitive person. I have to admit that I wanted to get a lot of followers and be a big, popular blog. Except here's one of the major problems (as if I haven't already mentioned tons of others): I hate commenting.

I hate answering comments. I hate writing comments. Sometimes I didn't look at comments on my reviews because it made me that nervous. Even though they were nice. Even though I knew it was something simple and kind about my post. I just don't like the feedback --negative or positive.

And this is a big problem for me. I want to be a writer. I need to handle feedback. If I can't handle good feedback, how can I deal with the bad that inevitably comes from putting my writing out there?

I am also terrible at time management. I get emails and answer them days later. For comments, I would say I would do it the next day and never get to it then feel guilty and not want to look at my blog. 

So these problems are all in my crazy little messed up brain but nonetheless, it stopped me from enjoying blogging. Once I started to care about becoming a bigger blog, getting more followers, being a part of blog tours, and getting lots of comments, my (admitably poor) motivation to blog became non-existant.

I'm not even sure I like blogging all that much now. Except I did like reading other people's blogs and author's blogs. I did like thinking out what I liked about books and putting it into the written word.

So in order to combat these issues one at a time, I'm gonna start with the commenting problem first. I've decided to turn off the comments to my blog until I get more comfortable with it.

After all, isn't blogging supposed to be about my enjoyment? 

Yes, I would like to use my blog as a platform for my writing career but I think I should work on one thing at a time. Like, say, actually finishing that book...

 To end on a good note, I'm proud of myself for writing in this blog as long as I have. I've never known myself to be much of a follow through person. To be consistent or to put more effort than necessary into something (as hard as that is to admit). But I am proud of myself for going 11 months straight with this blog. Hopefully, it's a step in a better direction for me.

Thanks for reading! My email is always available to talk. I can't promise to get back to you too quickly. Same goes for Twitter. I'm trying to get better though.

Book Review and Giveaway: Reaction

Author: Jessica Roberts
            Website
            Facebook
            Twitter
Series or Stand-alone:
            Book Two in a Two part series

Format:
           Ebook Finished Copy

How I got it:
            For a Book Tour

Publisher: S/P

Genre: New Adult / Contemporary

First Published: November 6 2012

Buy it from: Amazon

Add to Goodreads

The GIST (From Goodreads):

Harmony…

I’ve previously had that in my life, but only once, briefly, a while ago. It was during the time I’d started my first year of college. My own apartment, a new old car, and a life free of deadbeat stepfathers, all of which was fulfilling enough. But if it wasn’t, I also had a best friend, soul mate, and boyfriend all in one. Yes, life was near perfect.

But one stormy night can change everything…

For many months I rested in a prolonged sleep, fighting for my life. Well, more than fighting for it, also dreaming of it. Dreaming of him. Thank goodness, the dream is over and I’m back in the real world now. And all I want is for everything to return to the way it was. But nothing’s the same; most of all, us.

Once again, I find myself at the crossroads of a ruthless battle, this time not for life, but love. Do I fight for the guy I twice fell for, or do I let her take him away?


OPINION:

***Warning: Mild spoilers from Book 1: Reflection***

In my review of the first book Reflection, I talked about how the love interest was awesome but that I skipped a lot of the book because it was boring and unnecessary. In this book, both things were lessened. I read more of the book overall, however, I liked the love interest less in this book.

Reaction leaves off after the first book. Heather has woken up from a coma after two years. The "love of her life" is now engaged to someone else (I say that in quotes because they only knew each other for 6 months prior to her accident). Her life is in shambles and she's trying to pick up the pieces.

What was surprising about this book was the interactions between Nick and Heather. Heather is just so pathetic throwing herself at Nick while his girlfriend is right there. Trying to practically stalk Nick into submission. Just like last time, I could see her attraction to him but not the other way around. Heather even thinks "Hey we were only together for six months but I love him soo much!" Ugh. Nick and his fiance were together for at least a year so I didn't understand his greater connection to Heather.

The things Heather said were so awkward that I wanted to slap myself from second hand embarrassment. She just blurts crap out like crazy which I thought was funny and true to life until she did it for the millionth time and made herself look so absolutely fangirl for Nick. I guess my problem was that Heather was so immature while Nick was the opposite. Also, their relationship was still not as deep as the circumstances warranted it had to be. To want a girl you dated for 6 months after thinking she betrayed you and ran off with another guy two years ago, you really have to love her. I just feel that a substantial love was not written in this book.

I also didn't like how Nick's fiance is the opposite of Heather. A girlie girl with a nasty attitude. It would have been more interesting if she was somehow likable.

OVERALL:

The overall pacing was better than in the last book but the love story felt flat and superficial. -- 3.5 out of 10.







JESSICA ROBERTS grew up in the San Francisco, California Bay Area where she spent most of her time playing sports alongside her six siblings. She was crowned Miss Teen California her senior year of high school, and went on to Brigham Young University where she graduated in Human Development. Her love of family, church, writing, athletics, and singing and dancing keeps her life busy and fulfilled. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and three children.




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Authors Are My Rockstars: Fierce Reads Tour

I went to the Fierce Reads tour at the Bethesda Library in Maryland on Wednesday and got to meet some awesome and inspiring authors.

Caragh O'Brien, author of “Promised,” book No. 3 in the Bookmarked trilogy, Gennifer Albin, author of “Crewel,” Leigh Bardugo, author of “Shadow and Bone,” and Marie Rutkoski, author of “The Shadow Society.”

I've never read the "Promised" Series so unfortunately I didn't get any of Caragh's books.

 

However, I just finished "Crewel". I have been wanting to read "Shadow and Bone" for forever. "The Shadow Society" has been on my to-read list too so I did buy some books there.

It was great meeting such a range of authors with such completely different styles and books. Also it was a small crowd. Maybe twenty or so people so there was plenty of face time with the authors.

 

Basically each author talked a little about her book. I've never been to a signing where the authors were asked questions and had to give their own rundown of their work.



Truthfully, it was really awkward. The room was so small and quiet that it made for a lot of uncomfortable pauses. Maybe authors are just awkward anyway (could be why they spend a lot of time alone writing). Either way it was really fun.

This is a funny face Leigh made

There was a Q and A with the audience.  The dreaded question about where they get their ideas came up. Gennifer actually had a cool answer about a painting where people are sewing a tapestry that is flowing out of the window and creating the world. In the corner is a girl sewing herself into the tapestry. It stuck with her for about nine years until she wrote Crewel.











I asked the last question about how long it took them all to get agents and for their book to sell. Each one said that it went really quick for them but that's not the norm. At the end, I got my books signed. I really felt a strong connection to Leigh, who was funny and sarcastic, and got to talk to her about the book I'm writing. I've been having the problem of getting down on my writing ability because I read so many great authors. She told me to take a break from reading and just start writing. We both expressed our general dislike of blogging. It's ironic I'm blogging about not liking to blog....Anyway....









She wrote something really cool in my book.

It says:

Don't be afraid to free the page. Looking forward to seeing your work on the shelves one day!


I've actually gone back to my WIP because of this meeting. So thanks Leigh!!

Next month Ally Condie will be at the library for when "Reached" comes out and I'm planning to go to that. If you live around the area you should come too!

Remember I have a Giveaway going on that ends Saturday at midnight for one Signed Obsidian and two unsigned Onyx to 3 winners.

New Adult Cover Reveal: The Crimson Hunt by Victoria Smith

Author: Victoria H. Smith
Series or Stand-alone:

            Book 1 in the Eldaen Light Chronicles

Genre: New Adult/ Science Fiction Romance

First Published: November 12, 2012

Add to Goodreads

The GIST:

College junior Ariel Richmond is working on year three of Project Normalcy.

Her house reeks of keggers past and her bestie is just a slight bit vulgar. But the thing is—they both aid in making life refreshingly uneventful.

So much for hard-earned mediocrity when Luca Grinaldi appears on the scene.

Luca’s sudden presence on campus is hard to ignore. Those bright eyes act like a beacon to unsuspecting females, and with features like his, he’s got to be moonlighting for GQ. Luca hopelessly captivates Ariel with his confidence and charisma, but the mysteries surrounding him make him nearly untouchable. And just when Ariel grows close enough to unlock his secrets, a tragic event sends her life in a downward spiral.

That steady life is no longer an option and allies quickly become scarce. The mysterious Luca seems to be the only one willing to help her—but with that trust comes the burden of his secrets. He has a dark mission of otherworldly proportions, and is willing to sacrifice as many lives as it takes to see it completed.

Gone are the days of simply maintaining normalcy, and if Ariel isn’t cautious with her trust, so soon may be her future.

 

Victoria H. Smith has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. She puts it to good use writing romance all day. She resides in the Midwest with her Macbook on her lap and a cornfield to her right. She often draws inspiration for her stories from her own life experiences, and the twenty-something characters she writes give her an earful about it.

In her free time, she enjoys extreme couponing, blogging, reading, and sending off a few tweets on Twitter when she can. She writes new adult fiction romance in the sub-genres of science fiction, urban fantasy, and contemporary, but really, anywhere her pen takes her she goes.

Victoria H. Smith Links: Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Playlist created by the the author for the book:

 

 

Why Rebel Heart by Moira Young (Blood Red Road Sequel) might be a DNF for me

WARNING: Spoilers from Blood Red Road and a tiny bit from Rebel Heart

Guys. GUYS. I am so sad. SO SAD about Rebel Heart. SADDDDD.

Backstory:

I'll admit I was a little slow getting on the Blood Red Road bandwagon. I started blogging in January 2012 and hadn't heard of the book before then. Since then, I'd seen it on countless blogs but it wasn't until a few weeks ago that I actually read it. 

AND I LOVED IT! 

Kickass Saba plus cool Jack. What wasn't to love? 

But when Jack leaves at the end of the BRR, I worried that Rebel Heart was gonna suffer what I call Sequel Syndrome: The second book in a three part series that has a brain numbingly boring plot that only escalates at end of novel with the romance reigniting.

It must seem necessary to authors, I guess. I can see why. It makes the love between the characters that much more special after they are separated for a period of time and it really tests the bond between them. Add a love triangle and its the Sequel Syndrome: prognosis DEATH by CLICHE.

BUT I ABSOLUTELY HATE IT!

HATE IT! I kick and scream and cry and throw the book against the wall. (Then kiss it and tell it I'm sorry because it's not its fault its so crappy.)

For visual purposes think New Moon if you were Team Edward. Think Pandemonium if you were Team Alex. I'm sure there are so many more but I'm too lazy to go looking through my brain for them.

  But you see what I mean, right? 

It's an epidemic in Young Adult! On a flip side: I loved Insurgent (Divergent Sequel) for not doing it and God bless Veronica Roth for not resorting to a love triangle either. 

Back to Rebel Heart. When I won an ARC on Goodreads, I was so freakin' estastic I almost cried. I just couldn't wait to read it.

However...

I can't get through it. I've tried. I really have. I work at a place where I run a group called Book Club where all my clients just read a book and so do I. I run a group called Typing Skills were I can just sit and read. I bring it home. I try in the car. I even try to read it back to front. This is starting to sound like Green Eggs and Ham. I will not read it Sam I Am!

The beginning starts in third person point of view through Jack's experience. It gives away his whole motivation! What the hell! Through what I've read, which is a little less than half the book and then I skimmed the rest, Saba thinks Jack betrays her. But by having his POV as the first chapter, Young pretty much gives all the suspense away before you even get to that point! 

And it's just so boring. Saba is going crazy, like delusional crazy. She lost all of her mojo. It's sad really.

If Sequel Syndrome was a real disease, Rebel Heart would be DOA.

 I can't. I just can't. 

This is going to be a Did Not Finish for me right now until I forget about my disappointment and anger and can try to pick it up again. Maybe I will by the third book.

Le Sigh.

Sorry to disappoint those who are excited to read it. Maybe you'll like it better than me.

DIY Halloween Costume How To: Katniss Hunting and Arena (Part 2)

In Part 1, I went over possibly the most important part of the costume. 

 Click here for THE HAIR

 In Part 2, I'm going to go over how to put together the clothing aspect that will make your Katniss costume awesome. There are two routes you can go though: really authentic or recognizable but cheap. It's your choice.

Again...

There are three great things about this costume:

1.Most of the stuff you can re-wear.
2.You probably have some of these things in your closet.
3. If you don't, they are mostly cheap. The distressed look is a big part of the costume so go down to your local thrift store and buy those crappy cargos. They're perfect! 

So after reading that list and realizing this is the costume for you, you are set on being Miss Everdeen. Congrats! Continuing on reading my tips for the perfect Katniss costume.

The List:

Main elements to Hunting Katniss (before the Hunger Games):

 

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder.

2. Distressed brown leather jacket.

3. Brown striped trousers.

4. Lace up knee high brown leather boots.

5. Wooden Flat Bow, Quiver, and Arrows.

6. Long sleeved button Y t-shirt 
7. Brown leather belt with gold buckle.

8. Mockingjay pin (not worn in this scene but helps for people to identify who you are)
9. Forage Bag (Not in movie)

 

Main elements to the Hunger Games Arena Katniss:

 

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder.

2. Hooded long black rain resistant jacket.

3. Olive green or brown cargo pants.

4. Brown leather ankle boots.

5. Dark brown Recurve Bow, Quiver, and Arrows. 
6. Dark brown belt with gold circle cutouts doubled around the waist.

6. Black V-neck short sleeve t-shirt.

7. Bright orange backpack.

8. Mockingjay Pin.

Hunting Katniss (before the Hunger Games)

Descriptions of her outfit from the book: 

Chapter 1:

"I swing my legs off the bed and slide into my hunting boots. Supple leather that has molded to my feet. I pull on trousers, a shirt, tuck my long dark braid into a cap, and grab my forage bag."

  

"As soon as I'm in the trees, I retrieve a bow and sheath of arrows from a hollow log."

VS.

How she looked in the movie:

                 Differences between the Movie and Book:

                    Book                                                                           Movie

 

                      No jacket                                                               Leather Jacket

 

                          Regular Braid                                                      Around the Head Braid 

 

                   Carries a Bag                                              No Ba      g   No Bag      

   

                Wears Hat Bag                                                               No Hat 

 

The List:

Main elements to Hunting Katniss (before the Hunger Games):

 

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder.

2. Distressed brown leather jacket.

3. Brown striped trousers.

4. Lace up knee high brown leather boots.

5. Wooden Flat Bow, Quiver, and Arrows.

6. Long sleeved button Y t-shirt 
7. Brown leather belt with gold buckle.

8. Mockingjay pin (not worn in this scene but helps for people to identify who you are)
9. Forage Bag (Not in movie) 

Keep a look out for Cheap Tricks noted in Blue

The book gives a lot of leniency about how Katniss is dressed. It describes trousers, a braid, leather boots, a shirt and a forage bag.

Therefore, I'm going to describe more of the movie's look of Hunting Katniss:

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder. Although the book describes a regular braid, the movie version will definitely seal your costume as Katniss.
        

             ---See Part One for the How To



2. A brown leather jacket is an important part of this outfit so try your best to find one. She's not wearing one in the book but, again, the movie is the visual that people have of what Katniss looks like.
          


                         ---Cheap trick: It doesn't have to be a great looking jacket. Actually the more distressed, the better! So borrow your Dad's or brother's, go to the Thrift store, etc. Plus, a distressed leather jacket can be used in your everyday life too if you need to get one for the outfit.



3. You can do trousers. In the movie, hers are a medium brown with a subtle vertical light colored line running throughout which you can see in the picture on the right.
         


                        ---Cheap trick: Wear a pair of brown or gray trousers, skinny pants or cargos which are able to be tucked into boots and aren't too baggy or too fitted. Lots of options.

4. She wears leather boots in the movie and book. In the movie they are brown and laced. I recommend wearing brown because it's supposed to be the more earthy looking costume vs. the more bad ass Katniss in the Arena.



                     ---Cheap trick: Knee high brown leather is the best but they aren't a focal point of the costume so if you want to wear any brown leather boots or ones that sort of look like brown knee leather boots, go for it! (Uggs not recommended).


 5. Katniss carries a wooden flat bow her Dad made her, homemade arrows and quiver.
              


                    ---Cheap Trick: Let's get real here. What kind of Bow and Arrows can you get? GOOD ENOUGH! You can even make the quiver and arrows. You'll need something to keep them in if you want to carry bows. Get creative! Use a towel roll and cover it with black/ brown paper, covering the bottom completely. Use black/ brown string or belt. Glue/ tie to towel roll so it's long enough to cross your chest. Arrows can jut be long sticks with red paper glued to the tips.

Cute Boy Optional

6. In the movie she wears a long sleeve black button Y t-shirt but I think the most important part is that it's black.

    
                   ---Cheap Trick: Any plain black shirt would work. Avoid anything frilly. Katniss IS NOT FRILLY!



 




7. She wears a brown leather belt with a gold buckle in the movie that isn't holding up her pants...just around the waist. What's the point?



          ---Cheap Trick: This is completely optional.




8. No Mockingjay Pin, not yet. (Evidence on Left) but if you want to wear one, it's no big deal. It will make the costume more identifiable. 
             


 ---Cheap Trick: These are everywhere right now. Look at Amazon or Ebay to find one for cheap.


 

9. No idea what a forage bag is but I picture a burlap sack. Anyway, this is not in the movie and it is just more to lug around.



                             ---Cheap Trick: Skip it.

__________________________________________________

Hunger Games Arena Katniss

Descriptions of her outfit from the book: 

Chapter 10:

"Cinna does my hair in my simple trademark braid down my back. Then the clothes arrive, the same for every tribute. Cinna ... helps me dress in the undergarments, simple tawny pants, light green blouse, sturdy brown belt, and thin, hooded black jacket that falls to my thighs."  

"The boots, worn over skintight socks ... have a narrow flexible rubber sole with treads."

"I feel it's sturdily made although a rather unfortunate color. This orange will practically glow in the dark."



VS.

How she looked in the movie:

                 Differences between the Movie and Book:

                        Book                                                                         Movie

 

                      Light Green Blouse                                                     Black V-Neck T-shirt

 

                         Regular Braid                                                      Around the Head Braid 

 

                      Bright Orange Backpack                                    Black and Orange Backpack 

 

The List:

Main elements to the Hunger Games Arena Katniss:

 

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder.

2. Hooded long black rain resistant jacket.

3. Olive green or brown cargo pants.

4. Brown leather ankle boots.

5. Dark brown Recurve Bow, Quiver, and Arrows. 
6. Dark brown belt with gold circle cutouts doubled around the waist.

6. Black V-neck short sleeve t-shirt.

7. Bright orange backpack.

8. Mockingjay Pin.

Keep a look out for Cheap Tricks noted in Blue

.

Best picture I can find of her total outfit lol

1. Reverse french braid or dutch braid (same thing) over shoulder. Although the book describes a regular braid, the movie version will definitely seal your costume as Katniss.
        

             ---See Part One for the How To


2. Katniss wears a black jacket that hits her thighs in the book. It keeps her body temperature regulated and keeps out wind and rain. The movie makes it look like a thin black leather jacket but any shiny, black hooded jacket will do.


                  ---Cheap Trick: Add silver duck tape to the sleeves and red tape around the zipper line to give the jacket a more authentic look.



3. The pants in the movie look olive green or light brown in some lights. The book describes her pants as tawny so you have a lot of freedom with the kind of pants you want to wear as long as they aren't so baggy that they look weird in boots. I prefer cargos.


                  ---Cheap Trick: Brown, gray, green....cargos, skinny....you have a lot of options here. Look in your closet for something first. No jeans though.

4. Katniss definitely wears boots in the book. They're brown ankle leather boots in the movie.



          ---Cheap trick: You can really wear brown or black boots with this outfit. Knee length to mid-calf to ankle, it's up to you. They aren't really important to the outfit but keep them boots.




5. Katniss uses a more quality, sleek Recurve bow in the Hunger Games vs. hunting at home.



                   ---Cheap Trick: Like I said for the last outfit, let's get real here. What kind of Bow and Arrows can you get? GOOD ENOUGH!  And lucky you, you can put the arrows in your backpack.



8. She wears a dark brown belt with a lot of gold holes that goes twice around in the movie.



                   ----Cheap Trick: The belt isn't essential at all. Don't buy it if you don't have it.




 
7. Black simple short sleeve shirt.




8. In the book she grabs a bright orange backpack and covers it with mud. In the movie, they tone down the backpack and make it a combo of black and orange.




          ---Cheap Trick: Using the backpack to hold arrows is okay with me! I think you should have an orange one but whatever you can get is better than nothing. Add orange using colored tape or paper. Paint it if you want to.








9. Mockingjay pin. Small but important.



          ---Cheap Trick: These are everywhere right now. Look at Amazon or Ebay to find one for cheap.

Miscellaneous:

1. Scars, blood, rips, dirt etc. are all up to you. Depends on how far into the Hunger Games your Katniss version is.

2. She doesn't wear makeup in either part so keep it simple and clean if you do!

MOST IMPORTANT! HAVE FUN! 

Oh and tell me if you use my tips.