The Best Reader:
Kimberly Derting

  • Dark Days: Interview & Giveaway with Kimberly Derting for The Last Echo

    Dark Days: Interview & Giveaway with Kimberly Derting for The Last Echo
    Kimberly Derting

    It's no surprise that I absolutely adore Kimberly Derting. The Body Finder was one of the first books I read as a blogger and I was instantly in love with the story. From that moment I have been a stalker… ahem… fan of Kimberly's.

    Believe it or not, it's not just Kim's writing that makes her incredible. She is one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure to talk to. She is nothing but kind and considerate, and when I was just a newbie blogger who had no idea what I was doing, she was one of the first authors to be on my blog.

    For all those reasons, I was completely thrilled to be her blogger for the Dark Days tour. I've always wanted to be part of the Dark Days tour, but to have Kim as my author, makes it so much more special!

    I had the pleasure of interviewing Kim again and, trust me, you guys wanna check out her answers!

    1. What are a few of the most important lessons you've learned while writing The Body Finder series so far?

    Aside from never, EVER talk to strangers, and learning the difference between “lay” and “lie” (I’m still shaky on this one!), I think I’ve learned to be a more patient person. When I was a newbie author, I was always in a hurry-up-and-wait mode, and now, not so much. I’ve come to appreciate the downtime, even though there isn’t usually much of it.

    2. What is the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
    For me, it’s trying to set a writing schedule and actually sticking to it. I find myself constantly distracted by Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest (OMG Pinterest!), blogs, and email. Also, my family’s constant need for food and attention can be a little distracting as well!: )

    3. Can you tell us one way Violet has changed throughout the series?
    Violet has always been really (really!) private, probably stemming from a lifetime of keeping her gift a secret. She’s learning to open up—and even starting to lean on others a little. I think it’ll probably take a while to get the hang of it, though!

    4. Can you share with us a few of your favorite lines from The Last Echo?

    “Mocking me will get you nowhere.” But he [Jay] leaned down, his breath tickling the side of her neck, and a rush of warmth flooded Violet’s stomach. “There are other ways to break me, though.”

    Claire pursed her lips. “Don’t do it, Chels. They’ll spit in your food if you send it back. You don’t want them spitting in your food, do you?”

    Violet wanted to nod, but she was too afraid to. Their lips were far too close. Dangerously close.

    “I gotta say, if you’re gonna get hurt, this is the place to be. The drugs here aren’t half-bad.”

    Sara dangled the familiar surfboard keychain Jay had gotten her when he and his mom had gone to Hawaii. It said Maui on one side and Victoria on the other, the closest he could find to Violet.

    There was a thin veneer of frost that coated every surface of her skin and dusted her perfectly tweezed brows and the thick fringe of her lashes, making them look brittle but beautiful.

    BIGGEST Questions
    This is the biggest Dark Days event so far, so we are celebrating by asking each author
    some"biggest" questions.
    Biggest Celebrity Crush
    George Clooney. (Sorry, honey!)
    Biggest Pet Peeve
    People who start sentences with “Not to be rude… ” but then say something horrible about someone else.
    Biggest Guilty Pleasure
    The Kardashians, or any reality show featuring the Kardashians.
    Biggest Book-Boyfriend Crush?
    If I just say Jace, do you know who I mean??? (Hint: I mean Jace from the Mortal Instruments series.)
    Biggest Embarrassing Moment
    There was a moment when I was 19, involving an adult filmtitled “Beaverly Hills Cop” which I mistakenly thought was “Beverly Hills Cop”. They are not, I repeat NOT, in fact, the same movie!
    Biggest Fan-Girl Moment
    When I met Kim Harrison, I was so excited I told her I was a “Harper Arthur” too! Turns out I’m an “author” not an “Arthur.”
    Biggest Fear
    Anything involving spiders, sharks, vampires, being buried alive, snakes, exercise (I’m sure there’s phobia for that!), Big Foot, or having toilet paper hanging from the back of my pants when I leave the women’s room. I may be a little neurotic.
    Biggest Accomplishment
    Not ever having toilet paper hanging from my pants when I leave the women’s restroom.
    Biggest Addiction
    Online shopping. (This may fall under the column Biggest Guilt Pleasure as well!)
    Biggest Regret
    Not a fan of regrets, so yeah…

    The Last Echo

    The Last Echo is the third book in the Body Finder series.
    USE GOOGLE to add The Body Finder Desires of the Dead The Last Echo … to Goodreads

    Published by HarperCollins Date: April 17th, 2012

    Schedule for leg 4

    4/3Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/5Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/10Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/12Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/17Dan Wells at Bookalicious

    See the authors in person

    Kimberly Derting (THE LAST ECHO), Jill Hathaway (SLIDE), and Dan Wells (PARTIALS) April 18th @ 7pm | Books & Co | Dayton, OH | Supernatural Snark April 19th @ 7pm | Anderson’s Bookshop | Naperville, IL | Live to Read April 20th @ 7pm | Barnes & Noble | Burlington, MA | Books Complete Me

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Follow @pitchdarkbooks and use #pitchdarkdays in your tweets
    Stay connected to all things Dark Days on the Pitch Dark Facebook page, including exclusive content features every Wednesday! Make sure you check out this amazing widget that will tell you everything you need to know about the Dark Days authors and their books.

    Prize:

    • 1 winner will receive an ARC of The Last Echo.
    • 4 winners will receive a swag pack from The Body Finder series.
    Rules:
    • You must be at least 13 (or have permission) to enter.
    • Name and email must be provided.
    • Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
    • Contest is US/CA only and ends April 24th.
    • Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
    • The form must be filled out to enter.

    Thanks for entering! Good luck!

    Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | HarperTeen

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

  • Dark Days Tour Review: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

    Dark Days Tour Review: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

    The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting
    Publisher: HarperCollins (April 17th, 2012)
    Reading Level: Young Adult
    Hardcover: 358 pages
    Source: ARC from Publisher
    Series: The Body Finder #3
    Rating: 5 of 5 stars
    In the end, all that's left is an echo…
    Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by"the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new"relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye…

    Review:

    I have adored Kimberly Derting for years and her Body Finder series was one of my first paranormal loves. I remember finishing Desires of the Dead and desperately wanting to read the next book just to see what would be in store for Violet and her new job with the mysterious Rafe and the rest of the psychic team led by Sara Priest. Not that I would ever want Violet to forget about Jay (impossible as that would be), but it's always nice to throw something new in there and see what happens.

    We all know Violet can see imprints of the dead and it helps her to find out who committed the murder. Now Violet has found others with unique abilities as well. Finally, Violet is able to get to know others who know what she is going through. She doesn't have to keep the big secret all bottled up as she had in the past. She spends more and more time with this group and it takes her a while to feel part of it. She worries about the purpose of her ability, but soon finds her place and appreciates the fact that these individuals know what she has been going through.

    I did miss Jay a lot in this story. It seems that as the series progresses, we can really see Violet mature and notice how her situations mature as well. She is no longer a girl worried about high school issues, she has an important job to do. Her situations are much more dark and scary.

    If there is one thing I know about Kimberly, she can sure come up with some creepy characters! In The Last Echo we meet"The Girlfriend Collector" and wow, he is very sinister and disturbing. One very unique factor in this series is that we get the point-of-view of the killers. We may not know who they are exactly, but we get a glimpse into their minds and see how they pick out and treat their victims. This particular character wishes for someone to love him and when they don't, he gets rid of them.

    If I was Kimberly, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night after writing this stuff, eek! Definitely a book that kept my heart racing and my eyes darting around making sure no one is lurking in the dark. I think Kimberly must really enjoy knowing her readers are absolutely terrified and sleeping with a night light after reading her stories.

    If you have been lucky enough to get your hands on the first 2 books in this series, you will devour this one as well. Kimberly Derting never fails to rise to the occasion and bring us heart pounding action, unique plot twists, and a brilliant romance. Delightfully chilling! I can't wait to get my hands on the next installment!

    Recommended: Anyone looking for a YA that is truly terrifying! Be sure to start by reading The Body Finder and Desires of the Dead so you don't miss a second of the action!

    Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook | HarperTeen

    Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

    Today is the official kick-off of the 4th leg of the Dark Days tour! Kimberly Derting will be visiting my blog next Tuesday, the 10th, with an interview and giveaway so please stop back by!


    Schedule for leg 4

    4/3Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/5Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/10Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/12Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/17Dan Wells at Bookalicious

    See the authors in person

    Kimberly Derting (THE LAST ECHO), Jill Hathaway (SLIDE), and Dan Wells (PARTIALS)
    April 18th @ 7pm | Books & Co | Dayton, OH | Supernatural Snark April 19th @ 7pm | Anderson’s Bookshop | Naperville, IL | Live to Read April 20th @ 7pm | Barnes & Noble | Burlington, MA | Books Complete Me

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Become a fan at facebook.com/PitchDarkBooks

    Follow @pitchdarkbooks and use #pitchdarkdays in your tweets
    Stay connected to all things Dark Days on the Pitch Dark Facebook page, including exclusive content features every Wednesday!
    Make sure you check out this amazing widget that will tell you everything you need to know about the Dark Days authors and their books.

  • Haunted Halloween: Desires of the Dead Prologue!

    Haunted Halloween: Desires of the Dead Prologue!

    Kimberly Derting, who is one of the sweetest people on the planet, has given me an absolutely amazing honor! I get to bring to you, for the first time anywhere, the Desires of the Dead prologue. *happy dance!*
    I am a huge fan of The Body Finder (you can see my review of it HERE) and I can't wait to read Desires of the Dead! So now, I give to you… the prologue!

    Prologue
    Violet leaned forward on her hands and knees over the frozen landscape. Inside her boots, her toes felt as if icy shards were burrowing beneath her skin and slithering into her veins. Her fingers were very likely frostbitten within her gloves. The flashlight’s beam slashed through the veil of blackness that had settled over the wintry forest, creating a spotlight where Violet had been trying to uncover the ground beneath the soft layer of snow. In her drugged state, she couldn’t be certain that she wasn’t hallucinating as she stared at the man who towered over her. His weathered skin seemed to glow with an unnatural life of its own. It was both strange and beautiful. But her thoughts were thick, and she struggled for each one, dredging them up from the swampy depths of her confused mind. He spoke to her, unaware that her brain filtered his words, jumbling them and making them something less than coherent. She tried to concentrate as the tranquilizing sensation bled through her, deadening her senses. But she was cognizant enough to be afraid—terrified, even—of this man. She could understand enough of what he was saying to recognize that he was disturbed. And dangerous. He’d followed her. In the middle of the night. And even through the haze that distorted her awareness, she realized that he must have known why she was there. That he somehow knew she had found the body. She glanced down at his hand, at what he held there, and her tangled thoughts immediately cleared.
    She watched while he gripped the handle of the shotgun tightly in his fingers, and then he looked at her. “I’m really sorry that you found her,” he explained sadly. “I didn’t want anyone else to die.”

    Desires of the Dead by Kimberly Derting Publisher: HarperCollins (March 21st, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 368 pages Series: The Body Finder, book #2 The missing dead call to Violet. They want to be found.

    When Violet Ambrose's morbid ability to sense the echoes of those who've been murdered leads her to the body of a young boy, she draws the attention of the FBI. She is reluctantly pulled into an investigation that will endanger more than just her secret… but her relationship and possibly her life as well.

    - Kim- I can not thank you enough for letting me post the Desire prologue!
    Enter for a chance to win The Body Finder swag Add Desires of the Dead to your Goodreads page

    To find out more about Kimberly Derting: Kimberly Derting / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / HarperTeen

    Pre-Order Desires of the Dead: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble

    *Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post with Kelly Keaton and an international giveaway for an ARC of Darkness becomes her.
    *Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

  • Haunted Halloween with Kimberly Derting and a giveaway!

    Haunted Halloween with Kimberly Derting and a giveaway!

    By: Kimberly Derting
    So, my husband and I love Halloween.
    Wait, let me rephrase that: My husband and I are total Halloween dorks! We’re those freaky people who LOVE dressing up (possibly more than we should as grown-ups)! We actually start thinking about our costumes, before even getting an invite to a party!
    The more ridiculous, the better! Over-the-top, you say? I’m your girl! I’ll even wear something stupid… as long as it gets me a laugh.
    We’ve been Austin Powers and one of his Shag-a-licious Girls. (Okay, the worst part of this costume was driving home from the hair salon after getting my hair backcombed into a bouffant. I got the strangest looks from other drivers!)

    AUSTIN POWERS
    We’ve been a cowboy and saloon girl…

    COWBOY
    … Heroes (I was Trinity from The Matrix… she was sort of a hero, right?)

    HEROES
    I was pregnant-Britney Spears (complete with Big Gulp, flip flops, and wad-o-bubble gum), and my husband was K-Fed, LOL!

    BRITNEY and K-FED

    We’ve dressed up for Vegas Night…

    VEGAS
    … and an 80s Party (check out my bangs and side-ponytail)

    The 80’S

    It’s even rubbed off on our kids:

    My two youngest on Halloween

    An my oldest on St. Patty’s Day.

    Yeah, Halloween’s kind of our thing!

    The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting Publisher: Harper Teen (March 16, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 327 pages Series: The Body Finder, book #1 Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her “power” to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world.. and the imprints that attach to their killers.

    Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat had tired of playing with. But now that a serial killer has begun terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he’s claimed haunt her daily, she realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

    Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet on her quest to find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved to find herself hoping that Jay’s intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she’s falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer.. and becoming his prey herself.

    Prize:

    • 1 winner will receive The Body Finder swag! Includes tote bag, poster, bookmark, bracelet, and stickers.

    Rules:
    • You must be at least 13 to enter.
    • Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
    • Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
    • Contest is US ONLY and ends October 25th.
    • Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
    • The form must be filled out to enter.

    - Thank you so much Kim for the swag donation and the wonderful pictures!: )

    To find out more about Kimberly Derting: Kimberly Derting / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook / HarperTeen

    Purchase The Body Finder: Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble / IndieBound

    Book Trailer:

    *Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.
    *Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

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