I've been reading a lot of good books lately. This is always a good thing, but one of the shared characteristics has been an interesting twist in the Space-Time Continuum, i.e. the structure of the novel. I find it interesting to read a book that could have started another way, gone in a linear fashion from start to finish, but instead chose somewhere pre-story or mid-story and bounced around from there. When you're reading and think, "Oh, now I get where this story started in order to bring us to Page One in order to bring us to this magic moment" is something that always makes me smile, feeling suddenly smart and knowledgeable and in on the author's plans all along. It's something I didn't know I liked until it struck me like a chord again and again.

When I was strategically withdrawing in Vermont, the great and awesome Alvina Ling spoke about structure, how an "ordinary story" can become extraordinary if you mix things up a bit, either with the timeline or POV, including a countdown to a crucial event or reflections being chronologically out-of-order. It keeps things interesting by keeping the reader on her/his toes, creating tension and surprise where ordinarily there was a steady build-up and reveal. These things came back to me while I was reading the latest in my (very long) TBR pile.

THE SPACE BETWEEN by Brenna Yovanoff features the luscious prose and gorgeous covers I've come to expect (and yearn for) but also had the sort of pre-story beginning that hit me as both artistically and cinematically brilliant. The tale could have started as many YAs do where the ordinary mortal is going about their everyday existence and *poof* the otherworldly hottie pops in and changes his/her life. In while that happened, Brenna took the less traveled path, as she did in her debut THE REPLACEMENT, by stealing in through the eyes of the Other and giving that story first as a prelude to What Happens After. Given the POV and tense switch, it was enough to keep me turning pages like gaining purchase on a ship bound for adventure. I couldn't put it down. It reminded me a lot of another book I raved about, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE, whose mid-story saga revealed an entire book "pre-Chapter One" whose discovery completely changes the reading; from that point onward, it's a different book.

Yovanoff also used the "countdown" wherein chapters gave a ticking clock number to something that was going to happen if you just keep reading! I think the first to do this was John Green's LOOKING FOR ALASKA, but it's become a really effective way of hooking the reader and pulling them forward knowing that something's coming but we don't know what. It *feels* a lot like a movie where we know the title of the film and suspect every dark and shadowy corner will reveal it to us in a rush of color and noise. It sneaks up on us because we're all too aware of it. The anticipation does the work of tension for us and the payoff comes after the event has finally struck. We sigh and glance around: What Now? We are begging to be lead to the next step of the journey towards a satisfactory conclusion promised at the very first chapter heading.

John Green's latest novel, THE FAULT IN OUR STARS, begins as a reflection but moves chronologically forward although retains some of the "jumping" quality by changing settings dramatically and often. This montage effect works amazingly well when it messes with the timeline, something that works amazingly when done well like in THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE by Audrey Niffennegger, THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak, CRACKED UP TO BE by Courtney Summers and 13 REASONS WHY by Jay Asher. Shaking up the past, present and future does a lot to hold our interest and make what might have been a linear story one with untold surprises and discordant revelations that keep me up til 4am.

None of these stories were "ordinary" from the start, already amazing ideas that were taking shape on the page, but the order in which they were revealed to us, the readership, raised the bar and the story to dizzying heights, begging questions and answers and just-one-more-page and really, who could ask for anything better than that?

If you have any other favorite books that jostled the timeline, thus changing the whole story, please plunk them in the comments--it's more fun to share!

This past long weekend allowed for some much-appreciated creative refueling and Paradise City Arts Festival is something I look forward to every year. There are those artists I love to see again and new ones to discover; it's like visiting a museum crossed with a Renaissance Faire with better food. I thought to pass along some of the things that inspired me and perhaps they'll inspire you as well (I take no responsibility whether you are inspired to write some more or pick up a credit card--don't say I didn't warn you).

We started off with the first booth in the barn being the one we stopped by three times later! Artist Christina Meyers creates gorgeous fabric collage landscapes, a sort of visual quilt of autumn leaves and birches and winter rivers trimmed in gold. It's a great balance of color and texture and nature. The more I looked, the more I discovered in each picture.

October River by Christina Meyers

Daniel J. Ricco's is someone whose booth I visit each year and come away with another purchase. His bronze and silver pieces capture everything I love about miniatures, fantasy themes, and attention to detail. Everything from teeny tiny figurines to fairy bells and thimbles makes me want to pick it up and marvel. The animals are the sizes of bugs and the bells barely bigger than thimbles. It's like all of it belongs in a fairy tale princess's dollhouse. (And the artist himself looks like he should be a steampunk-y mad scientist! Always a plus in my book.)

I cannot adequately express how cool and tiny these things are!

From itty bitty to giant pieces, Stephanie Young's carved-porcelain urns were something to gawk at: somehow capturing "nouveau" style with ancient-feeling themes, I was tempted to build a shelf just to display her work. Something like Greek or Atlantis plays in her watery patterns with butterflies, fish, shells, octopi and jellyfish (a huge theme this year throughout the festival), but her porcelain held something ancient in the pale blues and greens and chocolate browns...it's hard to describe, but worth more than one look! I could write entire books inspired by any one of her pieces.

It was hard to choose just one to show here. Go click the link!

Ever see something that reminds you of someone else? Well, Robert Alan Hyde's work reminded me of all things Stiefvater: from wolves playing to swirling waves of horses to satyrs and fairies peeking through entire forest landscapes made of thin lengths of wire littered in gold leaves, I was awestruck by the complex beauty of these metal sculptures. Unique and intricate, his style managed the feeling of motion, line by line. I was utterly blown away!

Unbelievable forest landscape, "At Forest Edge" by Robert Alan Hyde

This is a FULL SIZED wolf sculpture, each hair and nettle in place!

And, yes, there was one thing I got for myself, an unexpected treat from Sue Lances whose playful, colorful wearable art had long "leaf scarves" on display, adding a touch of color that felt like costuming, which is always a winning combination. (No pretty online pic, we'll just have to meet up in person one day!) I have a hard time buying things for myself as opposed to gifts for other people or something for the house, but thankfully, my husband knows me too well and bought one for me.

*GASP!* So many pictures! Methinks I hear Tumblr calling if I keep this up...

Hope you had a lovely long weekend & found something to inspire YOU!