Yes, it's true. The End is HERE! Don't be afraid. We have prepared for this and have all the necessary tools for survival. Want to know more about THE END? Check out this link to Epic Reads. I am the blogger for the UNEARTHLY series by Cynthia Hand. It's no secret that I am a huge fan of the series. I even wrote my very first letter to a character in my review of HALLOWED. HALLOWED and UNEARTHLY were both amazing books and I was super excited to get my hands on BOUNDLESS. Even though it is the end *tear!* I will never forget this series! Today I have an interview with the lovely Cynthia Hand. Be sure to check out the giveaway below for a chance to win UNEARTHLY and HALLOWED!
1. What originally inspired you to write about mythology?
Actua lly, it was a single verse I remember puzzling over in the Bible, years and years ago, something about the Nephilim, the children of angels and men, and how they were the “heroes of old, men of renown.” I was like, whoa, that’d be a lot of pressure, to know that you’re part ANGEL. So when I was writing about Clara, and I knew that she was something supernatural, that verse came to mind, and angels seemed perfect for the story I wanted to tell about destiny and free will.
2. What has been the most surprising thing a fan has done for you? I am always so thrilled when a fan has come a long way just to meet me. There was also a fan who made me a necklace with little charms for each of my book covers, which was so wonderful and sweet.
3. How do you feel now that the series is wrapping up? A little nostalgic and teary, truth be told. It’s hard to be at the end. But I’m also excited for the big wide world that’s opened up in front of me, and all that I could write.
4. Clara is such a strong character. When you first started writing this series, what were the most important qualities you wanted her to have?
Well, first of all, I wanted Clara to be flawed. I wanted her to have a lot of room for growth over the course of the series. And I wanted her to have doubts, about herself, about her purpose, about everything. She wonders if she’s a coward, but when push comes to shove, she can be incredibly brave—that sort of thing. I wanted her to love the people around her—her mother, her brother, her friends, deeply and truly, but also for her to struggle sometimes with being selfish, and having to overcome that selfishness. And, maybe most of all, I wanted her to have a good sense of humor, so that we could laugh as we went down the hard roads together.
5. Readers have strong feelings of either being Team Tucker or Team Christian. I know this is difficult, but if you were Clara and had these two hot guys after you, who do you think you would choose? Hmm, if I was Clara.. I think I’d go with Christian, because I would believe him if he looked at me with those gold-flecked eyes and said we belonged together! Seriously, though, I think I would probably do the good-old pros and cons list, and go with Christian, because his pros list would convince me over the cons. And then I’d throw out the list and ride off into the sunset with Tucker. But then I might like to FLY off into the sunset with Christian. ACK! I don’t know!!!!! Poor Clara!!!!!
Boundless by Cynthia Hand Publisher: HarperTeen (January 22nd, 201 3) Re ading Le vel: Young Adult Hardback: 438 pages Series: Un earthly #3 The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.
Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her.. even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California — and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.
As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one.. With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfil her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.
In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.
Prize:
1 winner will get a Hardcover copy of UNEARTHLY and HALLOWED by Cynthia Hand.
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 February 6th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
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1. I gotta say, the first thing that grabbed my attention about this book was it's amazing cover. Did you play a part in the design, and what did you think when you saw the finished product?
Oh my gosh, I love my cover, not to toot my horn, lol. The amazing Neil Noah made it! I heard of him through my two good friends and fellow authors, Elizabeth Isaacs and Hope Collier, who both had worked with him in the past for their covers. I design book covers for others, but I knew I’d never be satisfied with something I created, so I had to outsource. I sent Neil a couple designs I’d played with, and then he worked his magic. The cover was one of two covers he sent me. I fell in love with the cover the minute I saw it. We tweaked some things, of course, but oh man, he nailed the cover. I was so excited! I hope people like it as much as I do.
2. Can you tell us a little about Levi's personality?
Levi was fun to write, but at the same time, he was hard. It’s tough to write from a guy’s POV when you’re female, haha! Moreso, I wanted to think like he would, were I in his shoes. Can you imagine how hard it would be to know that you were damned, but you still held hope to maybe someday get away from the problems you’ve caused yourself? Can you imagine trying to guard people and make sure they were safe, when you knew they may end up like you if the wrong choices were made? He’s so torn – he doesn’t want to break any more rules, but he wants to know Hannah more. She makes him feel things, but he doesn’t know why. He’s cautious, but reckless at the same time. He’s a little irreverent, but he lets Ethan take care of most of the trouble making. I really like Levi. He’s hard to read, and it’s part of the reason I had to ask my brother and husband what a guy would think in certain situations! Overall, he’s just trying to figure out what to do. He’s sixteen and a guy. Really? Of course he makes no sense haha.
3. What is one of the things that makes Hannah unique to Levi?
No Call that Levi’s ever had was able to make him feel. He’s never felt the need to get near a human. Hannah, for some reason, changes that. He’s curious, and he can’t help but get near her. That’s what sets it all off… you know what they say, “Curiousity killed the cat.” We’ll see if it turns out all right for Levi!
4. Do you have a favorite excerpt or line that you could share with us?
I loved writing Ethan, he’s so snarky and tries so hard to be this rude guy, when I think deep down he’s alright. I guess we’ll see. Anyway, here’s a little excerpt from one of his scenes.
I smirked at Ethan as he jumped and dodged me like I had leprosy. “You know, they’re not contagious.” “ Easy for you to say. You’ve already let that human touch you.” Hannah sighed. “I have a name, you know.” Ethan laughed. “Yup, and it’s Bag ‘O Bones to me. You’re human. You live, you die. Well, you were supposed to have already died, but Rambo here decided to tempt fate. You know what? I’ll just call you Bob for short. How’s that?” 5. What tends to be the most difficult part of the writing process for you?
Finding the time! My 5 month old son takes up quite a bit of time, so the writing is a bit slower now. I wouldn’t trade it for the world, but if I would have known the lack of time I’d have, I probably would have written 5 or 6 novels before I had him! Haha.
Forbidden by Megan Curd Kindle Edition: 270 pages Published: October 22nd, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Series: The Guardian Chronicles #1
Levi's job is to protect his human until it's their time to go. That's what a Guard does. He's done it for years on end, and he'll spend his eternity doing the same, mundane thing, following the same, mundane rules.
… Watch from afar. … Never share your name. … And above all, never touch a human.
What Levi doesn't know is that his newest human to protect, Hannah, just might be the catalyst to tipping the scales between good and evil, and he will be forced to decide which side he belongs to. Which friends will he side with, and who will he ultimately protect: his human, or the delicate balance that hangs on stopping the heartbeat of the person he has sworn to protect?
And, when you're already condemned, what's there to lose by breaking the rules?
Today I have the tremendously talented, GOAT (greatest of all time), superhero of writing (he made me say these things!), Jay Clark!
But seriously folks, Jay is probably one of the funniest people I've ever emailed to and he really knows how to perk up an interview. You'll want to read this one, I promise!
Sign up below for a chance to win an ARC!
Bookaholic:"Can you share with us a few words you would use to describe each main character in The Edumacation of Jay Baker?"
Jay: "Jay Baker: Snarky-but-lovable man-boy whose heart is usually in the right place at the wrong time.
Cameo Appearance Parnell: Beautiful disaster who’d rather keep things fresh-‘n-flirty than drab-‘n-Debbie-Downerish.
Caroline Richardson: Mysterious, super-focused tennis goddess whose past is about to play mind games with her.
Abby Baker: Frighteningly popular homecoming queen who’d take a bad outfit to the chest for her brother, Jay.
Ms. Lambert: Earth-motherly, heavy-meddling history teacher whose bark is bigger than her “Bite me.”
Mike Hibbard: Half-teen/half-barn-animal (?) with a surplus of “Bullying for Dummies” put-downs to mask self-esteem shortage."
Bookaholic:"How much of this book is based upon your own experiences?"
Jay: "I thieved quite a bit of the plot from my very own walk-in skeleton closet. A few guilty bystanders will have a bone to pick with me, but I’ll be sure to write them all an apology email from my computer in hell. P.S. This makes me seem like I’m too lazy to reinvent the literary wheel, and that would be accurate. Lately, however, I’ve been thinking of writing about a magical land where a bespectacled orphan becomes a wizard and … $%#!, that’s already been done, hasn’t it?"
Bookaholic: "Do you think hell has free wi-fi? And, could you provide an example of the individuals you may enrage or offend with your book (names can be changed to protect the guilty)."
Jay: "Hell hath no fury like me if it doesn’t! No, I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Sa-to-the-tan has kept up with the technological times. How else would #cometosatanbaby be trending on Twitter right now? Weird, my index finger just burned up in flames."
Well, okay: The character Rene Rotrovich’s nickname, “Rene Rottencrotch,” was inspired by an old friend who was called that particular surname all throughout school. Not that I ever said it myself, or even thought she had a rotten crotch (yet to be proven in court, I might add). I just thought it captured the vibe of my class to perfection and had to include it." *Ducks*
Bookaholic: Tell us 5 funny facts/events from your life.
Jay: "Dude, I tried out for American Idol. Twice. The first time I sang “Your Song” and Elton John called to ask for it back. The second time I sang “Flake” and very nearly made it my own. But then the bored-looking prelim judge asked me to sing something else, and I was like, “Huh?” I bombed that one like there was no tomorrow."
Bookaholic:"So apparently you do NOT work well under pressure huh? Go ahead, sing for us, right now!" *sits back in her chair, sipping on her Coke*.
(Photo: Close.but not Jay)
Jay: "I always accuse my sister of being a choker during board games and flip-cup and such, but maybe it’s been me all along. Nothing like a little healthy projection to give oneself a false sense of confidence. Anyway, sis and I do a great rendition of “Summer Nights,” from Grease. It gets kind of weird when I sing, “Well, she got friendly, down in the sa-ha-haaand,” and then bend my knees like John Travolta, but there’s something to be admired about that kind of commitment—just not sure what it is.
(Photo: Again, totally not Jay) I’m a longtime basement dweller who’s basically lived underground since graduating college. In other words, tornadoes haven’t stood a chance since ’05 (booyah). Besides, who needs fresh air when you have Glade PlugIns and a decent supply of snacks?" Bookaholic:"That depends. What sort of snacks? Are we talking chocolate?"
Jay: "Chocolate schmocolate. I discovered this great vanilla yogurt/raspberry sorbet combo made by Haagen-Dazs (had to look up that spelling and didn’t feel like adding the accent mark) a few months ago and have been killing pint after pint ever since. It’s annoying when I have to go upstairs to get it from the freezer, though. I need a little ice box or something. And an unlikely endorsement deal, because that crap’s expensive!"
Barf alert: I was born with simple syndactyly of the second and third toes, on both feet. I had a complex about it—cue: groans—until seventh grade, when a podiatrist took a scalpel and… why am I talking about this? My fiancé tries to touch the scars sometimes, which I am not a fan of. She’s welcome to go to town on my corpse, though."
Bookaholic: EEK *runs away hiding eyes* I am not a foot fan.
Jay: "Everyone’s a critic!
I come from a family of gamblers. None of us know when to hold ’em, fold ’em, or walk away, but we have a blast in Vegas every year—not to mention our drinks are totally free!"
Bookaholic: *slowly re-enters the room*"Okay okay, so are you any good when you gamble? Or, do you end up broke on the street begging for change?"
Jay: "Lady luck and I have our intimate moments, for sure. She can also be a real wildebeest—especially when her hormones kick in and start blanking out the slot machine. Not that I don’t deserve it."
I have a drinking problem that starts and ends with Mountain Dew. I’m intentionally trying to lower my sperm count, because I hate children.
Bookaholic: Yumm, Mountain Dew is my favorite pop! But seriously, you hate children? How is that possible? Don’t you want a little mini-you someday?
Jay: "When you put it that way, how can I resist?! I do think kids would help round me out and make me less inclined to worry about dumb crap, but the fact that I just typed “me” twice is a bad sign."
(Photo: Jay's future child)Bookaholic:"If you were a superhero, what superpower would you have?"
Jay: "Introducing Paranoia Man! Paranoia Man is all anxiety, all the time, and one-hundred-percent evil. In fact, his sole purpose on Planet Earth is to transfer his nervous energy to the far-more-rational beings who walk among him. Beware the plethora of panic attacks at his disposal, and no matter what he says, don’t accept anything from his prescription bottle. Otherwise, you may find yourself asking the following questions to no one in particular:
Why hasn’t this person responded to my email yet?! Is my dog mad at me, or what?! Wow, the Starbucks barista is being hella-weird today, am I right?!"
Bookaholic:"Haha, that’s funny. But why are you staring at me like that? Do I have something on my shirt? OMG, you think I’m a horrible interviewer, don’t you??"
Jay: "It’s working! I’m feeling calmer already."
Bookaholic:"What are some of the major differences between the writer Jay, and the character Jay?"
Jay: "They laugh alike, they talk alike, sometimes they even have IBS alike. Differences? As much as it pains my fragile male ego to admit, I think Jay Baker has more of a way with the ladies than Jay Clark. He’s a baller in sheep’s clothing. I mean, Jay Clark is obviously better-looking, but in high school he couldn’t get the pole out of his b-hole long enough to let his freak-flag fly. Jay Baker is more of a come-what-whatever risk-taker, and that’s why he has his own book while Jay Clark remains chopped liver." (Photo: Could be Jay. I'll have to ask.) Bookaholic:"Okay, here is a test. I want you to tell us some pick-up lines. Tell us one YOU would have used during your pick-up-line days (before you got old and settled down)… and then one from the character Jay (the youthful risk-taker).
Jay Clark: “Hey… you. Wanna come over to my house after school so I can make you some toast with my grandma’s strawberry jam on it?” (This actually happened and, shocker, was not followed by a hookup session.)
Jay Baker: “You have a thing for my man-bangs, don’t you?” *Points to hair* “’Cause there’s a lot more where that came from.”
Bookaholic:"I'm even more shocked that you have a fianc é! Now, tell us 3 things you wish you could go back to high school and do?"
Jay: "I say this without an ounce of sarcasm: Seek out my future fiancé, Caroline. I started shedding a lot of my unnecessary habits when I found her. Good stuff. Spend even more time with my family. It’s a shame the measures people take to avoid their relatives, but maybe I’d feel differently if I had <insert your psycho-sibling here> snipping off locks of my hair in the middle of the night.
Tie myself to a tree until they build some freaking tennis courts on school grounds. That’s kind of an oxymoronic way of going about it, but the tree and I will cross that bridge when we come to it—unless we need to actually build a small bridge to the tennis courts, in which case I’ll turn to the tree and say, “Nice knowing you, sucker!”
Bookaholic:"You were wilder in college, right? Did you do anything insane then?"
Jay: "Not really… I’ve pretty much always been a snoozefest."
Bookaholic: *Yawns*"Since you are just a sweet, innocent, unaware-of-all-the-bad debut author, what scares you the most about the writing world? Be honest, are you most afraid of us angelic bloggers?" *whips out her halo*
Jay: "People on the internet are terrifying, yes. Especially bloggers hiding their true identities behind wide-eyed avatars or extreme close-up pics of their cat/dog (maybe I should double-check your website before mentioning that). But, really, it’s hard for me to complain. If someone’s taken the time to read my book, then they can say “He blew it!” all over the internets till the cows come home. Then they can go blow a cow, for all I care. Kidding! I blame this horrible answer on your question."
Bookaholic:"HEY, my avatar is offended by your comment. She does not have wide eyes! Okay… maybe she does." Thank you Jay for being on my blog and for sharing such fascinating details of your crazy life. You are so much fun (I know, I can't believe I said that either!)."
The Edumacation of Jay Baker by Jay Clark Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. (January 24th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 272 pages A few “sexy” bullet points about Jay: • He is in love with a cheerleader named Cameo “Appearance” Parnell • He is forever losing “Love-15” to tennis-playing goddess Caroline Richardson • He rocks a touché array of pop-culture references, jokes, and puns • His family-life cookie is about to crumble. Live vicariously through Jay as he faces off against his mortal enemy, gets awkward around his dream girl(s), loses his marbles in a Bermudian love triangle, watches his parents’ relationship implode, and, finally, learns to get real and be himself(ish).
Prize:
1 winner will receive an ARC of The Edumacation of Jay Baker.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US only and ends February 10th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
I am so happy to be part of the 12 days of Morganville Madness tour! The Morganville series by Rachel Caine was one of the first I picked up, and even after a few years, I still find myself hooked to this series. I am featuring the 10th book in this incredible series, Bite Club, and Rachel is here to tell us a little about it. Be sure to sign up below for a SIGNED copy of Bite Club and a Black Dawn bookmark.
Tour Stop #10 – BITE CLUB 1. What kicked off the concept for this book?
You know, it seemed pretty obvious to me that Shane had anger issues to work through, and that he’d jump at the opportunity to join up with people who promised to provide a way to fight vampires. And that it would go badly, somehow.
2. Which character do I think stood out in this book, and why? I think this was Shane’s book, through and through; it was also the first time I ventured into his point of view, because I knew that what he was going through wouldn’t be nearly as understandable if we just say what Claire saw. We needed to feel how he felt about it. And luckily, he had a lot to say. 3. Five things I loved about writing this book:
A. Changing POV. After 8 books written exclusively from Claire’s POV, this was a great way to break free and experiment. B. This was a seriously dramatic turn of events – Shane, suddenly beginning to turn on his friends, and lose control of his temper. And his friends doubting him. C. Fencing! I love fencing. D. I really enjoyed finally pitting Shane and Claire against Bishop in a cage match. E. Oh, hey, Mr. Bishop! Where you been? 4. Five things I didn't love about writing this book
A. Mr. Bishop. Man, that guy is no fun to write. B. Shane’s descent into Angry Shane was difficult for me, since it contrasted so sharply with his usually snarky, funny tone in my head. C. It’s surprisingly difficult to write a bunch of ‘roided-up angry people in groups, too. I just don’t know that many of them in real life. D. I wanted more fencing. MORE. E. There is no E. 5. If I could do this book over, what would I do differently, and why? I would probably make Michael a little edgier, but I was intending to save that for the future. 6. Favorite quoted passage from the book Myrnin sent a message through the portal — well, more of a rock with a note tied to it, which rolled across the floor and scared Eve into a scream before the portal snapped shut. Eve kicked the rock resentfully with her thick black boots and glared at it, then the wall. Claire, who was coming down the steps, gave her a what-the-hell kind of look. "Your boss," Eve said, and reached down to grab the rock,"needs to figure out texting. Seriously. Who does this? Is he actually from the Stone Age? 7. What I learned from this book I need to go to the gym more. A lot more. 8. Fun research moment
I ended up Googling all kinds of strange stuff for some reason, including fencing videos, which rekindled my love of movies with swords. Win!
Short Review I wanted to share a short version of my review. The full review will be posted later today.
I'm not sure how Rachel Caine is able to keep this story flowing so well. There are so many series out there that seem to lose their spark after a few books. That is not the case with the Morganville series! The characters are so spectacular that you can't help but want to know what will happen to them next. Claire continues to change and grow, and the rest of the Glass House is just so darn entertaining that it makes you wish they were part of your group of friends. Yes, even though Michael is a vampire: ).
Bite Club by Rachel Caine Publisher: NAL Hardcover (May 3rd, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 340 pages Series: The Morganville Vampires, #10 After discovering that vampires populate her town, college student Claire Danvers knows that the undead just want to live their lives. But someone else wants them to get ready to rumble.
There's a new extreme sport getting picked up on the Internet: bare—knuckle fights pitting captured vampires against each other—or humans. Tracking the remote signal leads Claire—accompanied by her friends and frenemies—to discover that what started as an online brawl will soon threaten everyone in Morganville.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Bite Club by Rachel Caine.
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 only and ends May 13th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Website | Twitter | Goodreads | LiveJournal
Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble Next Tour Stops April 30: LAST BREATH (Book 11) http://www.literaladdiction.com/ MAY 1: BLACK DAWN (Book 12) http://mundiemoms.blogspot.com/
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 is the third book in the Body Finder series. USE GOOGLE to addThe Body FinderDesires of the DeadThe Last Echo… to Goodreads
Published by HarperCollins Date: April 17th, 2012
Schedule for leg 4
4/3 — Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/5 — Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/10 — Kimberly Derting at Confessions of a Bookaholic 4/12 — Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole 4/17 — Dan 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
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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 Savage Grace, the final book in The Dark Divine series, was just released March 13th. Bree is here today to tell us a little more about herself and her writing.
Fill out the form below for a chance to win a copy of The Savage Grace. 3 winners will be picked.
1. How has your writing style or strategy changed as The Dark Divine series has progressed? Before being published I could write whenever I wanted and be as slow as I wanted--which means that it took me 4 years to write the first book. Now that I write on contract, I've had to learn how to compress my writing process into a much shorter period of time (usually 5-6 months). I strive to find the balance between being a mom and making those tight deadlines--which means I end up putting in a lot of late nights.
2. What are a few of the most surprising things your fans of the series have done? I always find it funny when fans paint their toenails to match my book covers and then tweet pictures of their feet to me. It's a good thing I am not someone who is grossed out by toes!
3. Can you tell us something that most people may not know about you? I went to a royal ball in an Austrian palace when I was 17--and all I had to wear was a little red gingham dress. I'm totally going to use that experience in a book someday.
4. You had a pretty scary accident happen to you years ago and it made you want to start writing again. What would you like to tell people who may be putting off their dreams in order to deal with the stresses of life? I always tell people to think about this question,"If you died tomorrow, what would regret not having done in your life?" Then I tell them to go out and try to work towards that thing. Most dreams take a lot of time to achieve, so the longer you put off trying to strive towards them, the greater you are running the risk of running out of time. 5. What are some of the things that help you if you are having a difficult time writing a certain scene? I like to go for walks around the lake near my house. I call them"plot walks." Sometimes I go alone just to think, and sometimes I bring my husband along and we talk through the issue. I've also been known to cover my family room walls with giant post-it notes and work the problem out on paper in visual way. Scribbling on the walls always makes me feel a little giddy like a mad scientist.
The Savage Grace by Bree Despain Publisher: EgmontUSA (March 13th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 488 pages Series: The Dark Divine #3 A troubled soul. An impossible choice. A final battle.
Wrestling with the werewolf curse pulsing deep inside of her, Grace Divine was finally able to find her brother, but it nearly cost her everything.
With her boyfriend, Daniel, stuck in wolf form and Sirhan's death approaching, time is running out for Grace to stop Caleb Kalbi and his gang of demons. If she fails, her family and hometown will perish. Everything rests on Grace's shoulders.
The final installment in The Dark Divine trilogy brings Daniel and Grace's love story to a breathtaking conclusion.
Prize:
3 winners will receive a copy of The Savage Grace
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 only and ends April 13th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Hello everyone… it's time for another post for our second month of Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed!! Today we have a exciting and very different, yet fun interview with Partials author, Dan Wells. We hope you'll enjoy it, as much as we have. A quick message: Lisa (A Life Bound By Books) and I would love to thank everyone who participated in last months discussion. We're still working out the kinks of this new feature for both of our blogs, but we believe it's been a great addition for each of us. We hope you guys will continue along with us for the journey as we bring you new and exciting books and authors each month.
Title: Partials (Partials, #1) Author: Dan Wells Publisher: Balzer + Bray, 472 Pages (February 28th, 2012) Add Partials to: Goodreads Order Here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository
Synopsis: Humanity is all but extinguished after a war with partialsóengineered organic beings identical to humansóhas decimated the worldís population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island. The threat of the partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to the disease in over a decade. Humanityís time is running out.
When sixteen-year-old Kira learns of her best friendís pregnancy, sheís determined to find a solution. Then one rash decision forces Kira to flee her community with the unlikeliest of allies. As she tries desperately to save what is left of her race, she discovers that the survival of both humans and partials rests in her attempts to answer questions of the warís origin that she never knew to ask. Top 5 Interview:
1. Give us 5 words you would use to describe Kira? Smart, Brave, Reckless, Temperamental, Determined
2. 5 words you would use to describe the"world" we see in Partials? Decaying, Empty, Overgrown, Dangerous, Waiting
3. Tell us 5 ways we would know someone is a Partial? 1- They're stronger, faster, and tougher than a human. 2- They're trained in battle. 3- They heal at a superhuman rate. 4- They can communicate silently with other Partials, which also means: 5- You can tell someone's a Partial if you are a Partial yourself
4. The 5 major survival skills humans would need in order to stay safe. 1- Stay away from old houses; most of them lack steel construction and could collapse if you're not careful. 2- You can find water almost everywhere, but make sure you purify it first. The Old World put a lot of scary chemicals into the soil. 3- Most canned food is still good, so you can find food almost anywhere (but watch out for cans that are bloated or swollen--they've gone bad). 4- Stay away from Partials at all costs. 5- Partials aren't the only bad guys. Wild animals have reclaimed most of the planet, and unscrupulous humans might be the most dangerous threats of all.
5. What are 5 symptoms of the RM virus?
1- Intense fever. 2- Loss of bodily fluids (mucus, urine, sweat), and with that the threat of dehydration. 3- Hallucinations. 4- Loss of muscular control. 5- Destruction of the immune system.
Thanks so much for taking the time out of your busy touring schedule to stop by today and be part of this months Blogger Talk. It was great to have you here, you're more than welcome anytime and we're looking forward to having you stop by again later this week when we share some favorite quotes with everyone.
Find Dan Online:
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Check out my review of Partials HERE!
Book Trailer:
Be sure to stop by again later this week for quotes from Partials and discussion post we hope you'll join in on to help us celebrate this FANTASTIC book and author.
Hello and Welcome again to our First month of Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed! Coming to you a little later in the month than we had planned… but better late than never, right? Is an interview with Brodi and some favorite quotes from the three of us — Brodi, my co-host Lisa from A Life Bound By Books and I. Next month these posts should be a bit more spread out throughout the month.
Title: Everneath (Everneath, #1) Author: Brodi Ashton Publisher: Harper Collins/Balzer + Bray, 370 Pages (January 24th, 2012) Order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository
Synopsis: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld… this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's… Interview:
1. The cover of Everneath is beautiful! What did you think when you first saw the image?
I thought, Holy Wow! I LOVE IT!! I was also very grateful I wouldn't have to pretend to love my cover.: )
2. Can you tell us 3 words you would use to describe Nikki's personality?
Damaged, resilient, constant
3. Would you be able to share something about Nikki, Jack & Cole that we might not know?
That's a hard question! I'll give you a tidbit about Cole, since he has lived a longer life. He was born in Norway, and he used to be an apprentice.
4. If Everneath was being made into a movie and you could cast the roles for Nikki, Jack & Cole, who would you want to see play the parts?
Ack! Another hard question. I don't know, because I haven't ever researched it or anything. I'd love to hear what your readers would think and who they would cast!
5. From concept to published book, what was the easiest and hardest part of the experience for you?
Easiest part: reading every fan letter. I'll never get tired of it!
Hardest part: deadlines, deadlines, DEADLINES!!
6. Everneath is your debut novel! What has been the most surprising thing you've learned as a debut author?
The most surprising thing has been how much of it all is beyond my control. Especially watching the early buzz around EVERNEATH. I would just sit back and go,"But I'm not responsible for any of it!" The blogger community has been great.
Thanks so much for having me on the blog!
Brodi, it was really great to have you here today, on both of our blogs. And we can't say thank you enough for being part of our first month for"Blogger Talk: Novel Exposed."Thanks for everything!
Quotes From Everneath:
A favorite quote of Brodi's - "Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with." -Mrs. Stone (the English teacher)
A Couple of My Favorite Quotes -
" 'I can't carry the team to victory without you,' he said. 'You're my lucky rabbit's foot.' I craned my neck around to look at him. 'I've always dreamed of some guy saying that to me.'" -- Jack and Nikki (page 19).
" 'Your cheeks turned red, and I was gone for you.' He shook his head, and his lip quirked up in a smile. ' I know you felt it too. The connection between us. It started even before the Feed.'" — Cole (page 37).
" The next morning [after the dance], I found a note in my jacket pocket. I unfolded it and read two words, written in Jack's handwritting. Ever Yours" — Nikki (page 64).
" 'Why do you care if I get hurt?' All he said was, 'I hate to see it. Whether you go with me or not, I don't like you getting hurt.' But his face seemed to say more. As if there was something he wasn't telling me." — Nikki and Cole (page 67).
A Couple of Lisa's Favorite Quotes - " 'Strange, isn't it, Nik? The Connection between us now." He grimaced and cocked his head to one side, as if he were waiting for me to close the distance between us. When I stayed perfectly still, he added,"You don't have to fight it." — Cole to Nikki (Page 29)
" Jack shifted toward me."So, Jules gets a smile, huh?" I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for a response. He hadn't tried to talk to me since that first day, and his voice directed at me again did strange things to me. Made my stomach flutter. Of course, Jack had always had that power over me. I kept my eyes down, but I couldn't stop my lips from turning upward. 'I see that," he said. Jack always saw everything." -- Jack and Nikki (page 52)
" He shook his head and looked at me as if I were delusional. As if I didn't know what winning was all about. Then he put an arm around me and it was almost like he was mourning my life with me."I don't understand the things you would give up for mortal relationships." " You better hope you never do, Cole." -- Nikki and Cole (page 100)
" 'What are the screens of?" I asked. " Elvis Presley as a corpse. You wanna come look?" Cole Gave me a grin as if he'd just asked me if I wanted to see rainbows being made. " You had me at 'corpse.'" -- Nikki and Cole (page 116)
*Note: These quotes, from Lisa, were taken from ARC of Everneath.
Find Brodi Online:
Website/Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Everneath Trailer: Be sure to stop back by tomorrow for the discussion post with Jessica, where we'll be talking about all things Everneath and we hope you'll join in with us for the talk in the comments section. We might have some other things up our sleeves as well, so you won't want to miss dropping in.
I am participating in the tour for Where it Began and today author Ann Redisch Stampler is here to share her This or That list with us. I was lucky enough to get 2 ARCs of Where it Began so be sure to sign up below for the chance to win a copy! THIS OR THAT
Peanut Butter or Chocolate Chocolate. Oh my God, chocolate. I just ate leftover chocolate raspberry birthday cake for lunch. Coffee or Tea Mostly tea. Irish breakfast and green. Writing in quiet or Writing with music Mornings, maybe music. Night, absolute quiet. Organized or Cluttered Aspire to organized. Not entirely successful Spontaneous or Planner With writing, in the beginning stages, it has to be spontaneous. No outline. Can’t force anything. Then when I have hundreds of pages of disjointed chapters, and vast numbers of disembodied sentences, lots of catch-up planning. Beach or Mountains Beach. I grew up in Santa Barbara. Beach! Comedy or Horror Comedy. There’s more than enough naturally occurring horror in the world without cultivating it. Geek or Chic I am so chic. Don’t laugh. (There are certain articles of clothing Gabby makes fun of in the book that I actually own.) Adventure seeker or Couch potato Adventure seeker. Aspirationally. Unfortunately, writing involves a tremendous amount of sitting on a couch. I actually write on a couch. Early bird or Night owl Insomniac. I’m just always up.
Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler Publisher: Simon Pulse (March 6th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 384 pages Sometimes the end is just the beginning.
Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. But when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss… Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.
And Billy's nowhere to be found.
All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.
It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.
Especially if it means everything changes.
Prize:
1 winner will receive an ARC of WHERE IT BEGAN.
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 March 12th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
The wonderful Keary Taylor is here to share with us some news about her book Eden, the bind-up of her Fall of Angels series, and her newest book being released soon!
She has also offered up a copy of Eden for one lucky winner!
1. You've had some fabulous news lately. Would you like to share that with everyone and tell us what your first reaction was after you heard?
So, that fabulous news is that KK&P has acquired the film rights to my dystopian EDEN! Mark Morgan, who produced The Twilight Saga is the producer as well as Kami Garcia, co-author of the Beautiful Creatures series! It was amazing to hear from them and that they loved Eden! It all just didn't feel real when they first contacted me and said they wanted it! I kept waiting for someone to say"Just Kidding!", lol! It's all an amazing time, and I couldn't be happier with how things have been progressing toward the big screen!
2. Your Fall of Angels series has been very popular and is now available as a bind-up of the entire trilogy. What do you think was the biggest key to your success?
Oh man, honestly I don't really know! I want to say it's because I've written a fantastic story, but really it's my readers who have to say that! I think I just published at a great time, e-readers have gone crazy and the genre I write in is huge right now. And I just have some really fantastic readers who are incredibly supportive.
3. Your new book What I Didn't Say is very different from your previous novels. Can you tell us a bit about the book and the characters Jake, and Samantha?
It really is a lot different for me. I'll be honest, when I got the idea for it, I was terrified to actually write it. It's a YA contemporary that's based on a boy who becomes mute after an accident. It's a story that has to be handled very carefully because it is based on a lot of real experiences and stories, many of them my own. It's also different for me considering it's told from the point of view of a 17 year-old boy, Jake Hayes. He's a really great kid who has a lot of amazing support around him during this difficult time, and Samantha Shay is a part of that. Maybe after all that's happened to him he'll have the guts to tell her what he didn't say before the accident; ) 4. Do you have any other projects you are currently working on? How do I answer this… umm… maybe? Haha. I have a few things that are really up in the air right now, depending on how things play out. I'm afraid I can't say anything more that than. How's that for cryptic? But I do have an idea for a YA science fiction I hope to start on once I finish What I Didn't Say. Not dystopian, but very hard core sci-fi. Think along the lines of The Matrix. I am beyond excited to start on it! As of right now I'm thinking it will be a trilogy.
Eden by Keary Taylor Published: June 6th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 408 pages Eve knew the stories of the Fall, of a time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. She's seen the aftermath of the technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter, able to grow new organs and limbs, how it evolved out of control. The machine took over and the soul vanished. A world quickly losing its humanity isn't just a story to her though. At eighteen, this world is Eve's reality.
In their Fallen world, love feels like a selfish luxury, but not understanding what it is makes it difficult to choose between West, who makes her feel alive but keeps too many secrets, and Avian, who has always been there for her, but is seven years her senior.
The technology wants to spread and it won't stop until there is no new flesh to assimilate. With only two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction. While fighting to keep Eden alive, Eve will discover that being human is about what you will do for those you love, not what your insides may be made of. And even if it gets you killed, love is always what separates them from the Fallen.
Fall of Angels: The Complete Trilogy by Keary Taylor Published: November 29th, 2011 Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 752 pages Plagued by nightmares of angels all her life, but left with the scars to prove they’re more than dreams, Jessica has hidden herself away from the world on the shores of Lake Samish, Washington. But when caring but almost too-perfect-to-be-true Alex, and beautiful yet terrifying Cole enter her life, everything about Jessica’s world is about to change. She’ll learn that the angels aren’t content to stay in her dreams any longer and they’ll do anything to drag her into their world. The lines between right and wrong will be blurred as she fights to cling to the life she’s built and the love she’ll find.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of EDEN.
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 March 7th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Debra Anastasia is here today to talk about her adult title, Poughkeepsie. I've read this book and I just gotta say… WOW! It's incredible!
Debra has been kind enough to offer up a great giveaway (sign up below) for US and International readers.
Poughkeepsiehas a very emotional plot. Can you tell us what inspired this story and the main characters? The plot was very organic. Actually, I originally thought the whole story would take place on the train station platform. So it would have been centered on only the two lead characters. But when Blake takes Livia into his world, I knew we would meet some interesting people. Beckett was a scariest to write, I never knew what he was going to say next. Interestingly, the thought of a homeless hero harkened back to a trip to New York City with friends when I was a teenager. A homeless man approached us and asked for money for lunch. We walked past ignoring the beggar, as we were taught to do by our parents. I put my hand in my pocket and realized I had five dollars. I turned around and ran back and handed him the money. He looked up and smiled so big, it put tears in my eyes. When I got back to my group of friends they teased me for the rest of the day, but there was a connection when he had smiled at me. That gentleman made me realize that he was not something to avoid, but a person. So when writing a story about an impossible love, I remembered him and thought about that connection. Did you have any images in mind when you were creating Blake and Livia or did you just start writing?
I’m very visual when I write, so when I began writing about the train station, I picked the pretty one that is close to my in-laws. It’s the Rhinecliff station near Rhinebeck, New York. But when I thought about Livia’s commute, the commuter train doesn’t come all the way to Rhinecliff from the city – its last stop is Poughkeepsie. I was very relived when we drove by the Poughkeepsie station and I remembered how gorgeous it was.
The tattoo the three main boys have became a real symbol for their brotherly connection. I have two designs, one by Steve Zap and the other by Shannon Lumetta. I loved the tattoo so I was thrilled when it was placed on the cover of Poughkeepsie. Four readers have actually gotten the tattoo on their real bodies! I’m going to have to do something really special for them. I guess I’ll have to get it too as soon as I find my courage. One of the things I did for fun was have the tattoos made into temporary tats. So I’ve worn both designs, technically. I toss a few in as swag for anyone that gets their book or bookplate signed. (There are a few tats in this giveaway!)
The other huge symbol for me is the Cardboard Piano that Blake carries with him. I loved how a simple piece of cardboard could mean so much. When I was preparing to make the trailer, (with tremendous help from my author friend Carol Oates) I looked for pictures of a keyboard drawn on cardboard everywhere on the Internet with no luck. Then I decided to stinking make it myself. My husband drew the keys on and we took it to the train station for some pictures. Now, the piano is on a world tour! Readers are sending it to one another and taking pictures. It’s adorable and really fun.
So as far as actors in my head, I pictured Jonas Armstrong as Blake Hartt (the music clef in the tattoo). I fell for him in the BBC version of Robin Hood. He’s got a great, deep smolder:
For Cole Bridge (the cross), my tortured, would-be priest, I found Jesse Williams was a perfect fit. His eyes look endless and deep, just like Cole.
And for Beckett Taylor (the knife), the big ol’ pimp, I’ve got Daniel Conn picked out. Actually, he’s not an actor but a rugby player. Half of the images on Google have him with a bloody face, so he’s even more perfect. I would have never found him if it wasn’t for my friend Jess at Book Passion for Life! She showed me a picture and I was sold. Bookaholic ETA:"HOLY CRAP. He's hot!" Can you share with us a few of your favorite lines from the book?
Sure! I’ll find some clean ones for you. “When you saw me? You saw me. And then you smiled at me like I was the same as everyone else on that platform.” (From Blake) “It was like he’d just discovered fire, and she was the main ingredient.” (From Cole)
“Blake took her face in his hands. “You let me touch you. Kiss you. Your skin? It feels like piano keys. My hands know just where to go.” (Blake again)
“You make the rest of the beautiful things in the world cry for even trying at all. You make it hard for me to breathe.” (awww, from Blake) Beckett’s quotes are too dirty for primetime, but he has some great one-liners. Are you currently working on any other books we can look forward to seeing? Yes! I’m currently writing my first book’s (Crushed Seraphim) sequel. Then I have a few I’d really love to get to. I have a superhero story and a hotel romance banging around in my head. I’ve had a few requests for a Poughkeepsie sequel, so I’m hashing out a plot for that one as well. Thank you so much Jessica for having Poughkeepsie and I on your blog!
Poughkeepsie by Debra Anastasia Publisher: Omnific Publishing (November 22nd, 2011) Adult: 17+ Paperback: 384 pages He counts her smiles every day and night at the train station. And morning and evening, the beautiful commuter acknowledges him—just like she does everyone else on the platform. But Blake Hartt is not like the others.. he’s homeless. Memories of a broken childhood have robbed him of peace and twisted delusions into his soul. He stays secluded from the sun, sure the world would run from him in the harsh light of day.
Each day, Livia McHugh smiles politely and acknowledges her fellow commuters as she waits for the train to the city. She dismisses this kindness as nothing special, just like her. She’s the same as a million other girls—certainly no one to be cherished. But special or not, she smiles every day, never imagining that someone would rely on the simple gesture as if it were air to breathe.
When the moment comes that Livia must do more than smile, without hesitation she steps into the fray to defend the homeless man. And she's surprised to discover an inexplicable connection with her new friend. After danger subsides, their smiles become conversation. Their words usher in a friendship, which awakens something in each of them. But it’s not long before their bond must prove its strength. Entanglements from the past challenge both their love and their lives.
Blake’s heart beats for Livia’s, even if her hands have to keep its rhythm. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love never fails. Love never fails, right?
Prize:
1 US winner will receivea copy of Poughkeepsie, 2 temp. tattoos, a train schedule, and a bracelet!
2 INTERNATIONAL winners will receive the ebook copy.
Rules:
You must be at least 17 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/International and ends March 5th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Courtney Cole, the author of If You Stay, is here today for an interview. You can click the banner above to see her tour stops and be sure to check out the giveaway below!
1. I have to say that the cover for IF YOU STAY is amazing. It is perfect for the book. What did you have in mind for this cover and what did you think once you saw it finished?
Well, first I'd like to say thank you so much for having me here.: ) I really appreciate it. And my cover… I love it too. Sarah Hansen did a beautiful job. This was exactly what I had in mind. I wanted Pax to be front and center- and I wanted his vulnerability to show. I think it comes through loud and clear in this cover. And when I first saw it… I was breathless. It was perfect.
2. Pax is very strong-willed and flawed, to say the least. Was it difficult writing from his point-of-view?
He definitely is. He's stubborn, he's opinionated and he lacks the ability to be cautious or afraid of anything. He doesn't care about himself or anything else, and he definitely doesn't care how his actions affect anyone else. At least, that's how he was in the beginning. Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard to connect with Pax. I knew exactly how I wanted his personality to be, so I just tried to think that way too. I have a husband and two teenage boys, so I've been schooled on how men really think sometimes. And the thing with Pax is that in the beginning, he didn't have a filter. He said and did whatever he wanted to do.
3. Developing a character that could steal Pax's heart must have been hard. What qualities did you know Mila had to possess in order to achieve this?
Well, it wasn't really that hard. I knew it would take someone who was his polar opposite, but I also knew I had to put them in a unique circumstance so that he could really see her for the beautiful person that she is. I knew he would need to see that she is much more than a pretty face. A mere pretty face wouldn't have swayed him.
After she saves his life, he sees her as a breath of fresh air, something light which is opposite of the dark that he considers himself to be. He was intrigued from the start, mainly because he couldn't fathom that she would actually give him mouth-to- mouth in that circumstance. In his world, someone wouldn't have gone out of their way like that. But Mila did it without a thought. And that fascinated Pax.
4. Can you share a few of your favorite lines from the book?
Yikes. This is a hard one. Hmm. Toward the end, there is a great scene."Love never fails, Mila. And I'll never fail you again. That's a promise." I love that one because Pax had come so far. Another one that I like is a thought of Pax's, from the beginning part of the book."She's like a breath of fresh air. I may be the big bad wolf, but even wolves need to breathe."
5. Can you give us a hint to what you will be working on next?
Yes. I'm working on a companion novel to If You Stay. It is titled If You Leave and it will follow Madison Hill, Mila's sister. Maddy is a pretty fascinating character and I can't wait until you get to know her better.
Thank you again for having me here with you today. It's been a pleasure!
If You Stay by Courtney Cole Published: Lakehouse Press (February 5th, 2013) Reading Level: New Adult ebook: 220 pages Summary: 24-year old Pax Tate is an asshole. Seriously.
He’s a tattooed, rock-hard bad-boy with a bad attitude to match.
But he’s got his reasons.
His mother died when Pax was seven, leaving a hole in his heart filled with guilt although he doesn’t understand why. What he does know is that he and his dad are left alone and with more issues than they can count.
As Pax grew up, he tried to be the kid his father always wanted; the perfect golden boy, but it didn’t work. His dad couldn’t overcome his grief long enough to notice and Pax couldn’t keep up the impossible perfect façade. So he slipped far, far from it.
Now, he uses drugs and women to cope with the ugliness, the black void that he doesn’t want to deal with. If he pretends that the emptiness isn’t there, then it isn’t, right? Wrong.
And it’s never more apparent than when he meets Mila. Sweet, beautiful Mila Hill is the fresh air to his hardened frown, the beauty to his ugly heart. He doesn’t know how to not hurt her, but he quickly realizes that he’s got to figure it out because he needs her to breathe.
When memories of his mother’s death resurface from where he’s repressed them for so long, Mila is there to catch him when the guilt starts making sense. Mila is the one… the one who can save him from his broken troubled heart; from his issues, from the emptiness.
But only if he can stop being an asshole long enough to allow it.
Julianna Baggott, the author of Pure, is here today to talk about the book and one lucky winner will get a signed copy!
1. Can you give us 5 words that you would use to describe Pressia and Partridge?
Haves and have-nots collide.
2. Can you share with us a few of your favorite lines from Pure?
There's a character in the novel who only has the ability to echo, more or less, what's been said. There's a term called"echolalia" in which people can say anything they want to but often repeat things they've said or someone else has said — directly after. I love writing his dialogue because it's never a simple repetition. What Helmud decides to repeat and how are the key to understanding him. What he says can be loaded.
3. Pure involves such a unique and dangerous world, what was the most difficult part of the writing process? How did you build upon the world we see in the book?
I have to see the landscape — when in the world of PURE — before I write it. This isn't true of other books I've written where sometimes the words arrive and the setting takes hold. So it's dream first, write second.
4. You've accomplished a lot in the writing world. What would you say is your biggest accomplishment?
PURE exist because of all of the things I've written in the past. Those works have led me here — as disparate as they seem. And the blurbs for PURE mean an awful lot to me. The range is incredible — from Pulitzer Prize Winner Robert Olen Butler to the producer of the Paranormal Activity Franchise, Steven Schneider (who's also an author). I don't want to namedrop anymore than I already have — but I admire the writers who've commented on PURE so damn much — I'm truly thankful and humbled by their endorsement.
5. Fox 2000 bought the film rights to Pure! Congrats! What did you think when you heard the news and do you have any new details about the deal?
Honestly, I was relieved. There'd been a lot of action and talk and bustle and huge anxiety for a week or so … and then they swooped in and took it. I knew the producer already and knew immediately that I was in good hands. Deets? I have no idea. My job at present is to keep my fingers crossed.
Pure by Julianna Baggott Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (February 8th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 448 pages Series: Pure #1 We know you are here, our brothers and sisters..
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers.. to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash..
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.
When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a SIGNED copy of Pure by Julianna Baggott.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US only and ends February 25th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Cherie Colyer is here today to talk about her debut novel Embrace. This is a book that I am super excited to read and 3 lucky readers will get the opportunity to check it out as well.
Fill out the form below to be entered to win. 3 winners will get an ebook of Embrace.
1. In Embrace, a lot has happened and Madison is struggling with all the changes, can you tell us a little of what she is dealing with when we meet her character? We meet Madison in October. She’s a junior in high school, single for the first time since freshman year, and learning to accept the fact that one of her friends returned from summer break with an unfounded hatred toward her. Madison manages to keep her chin up though: staying in touch with her ex who now lives in another state, pretending she doesn’t hate her English class, being the woman of the house, and doing her best to avoid any more changes in her life. When Madison’s best friend tells her that her life’s about to change, Madison is less than thrilled to find out what’s next. 2. There seems to be a lot of mystery in this book. What are 3 words you would use to describe the story? Fast-paced thriller 3. Tell us a little about Issac.
Isaac’s the mysterious new guy who’s caught more than just Madison’s eye. He’s a senior, six-foot-some, brown hair, velvet brown eyes, and he’s a guy with a secret. It’s the things he doesn’t say out loud that have Madison questioning if he’s right for her. He’s a strong male who knows how to handle himself. Being brought up by parents who know exactly who he his has allowed him to sharpen his abilities. I don’t want to say much more or I’ll give away his secret, but I will say you don’t want to get on his bad side. 4. Embraceis your debut novel. What has been the most surprising part of being a debut author? I’m going to have to say just how many things have to be done to successfully launch a book. There are so many steps that a novel goes through from the time an author signs the contract to when the book is released and just as many people involved. It can be a bit overwhelming, but I had a wonderful editorial staff, an amazing marketing team that made sure nothing fell through the cracks, and the support of fellow authors to lean on for moral support and guidance. 5. I saw that you are working on a few new projects right now. Can you tell us a bit about them? I’d love to. I’m currently working on a sequel for Embrace. Madison and her friends will be back, facing new threats and new supernatural elements they’ll have to defeat. I recently finished writing a teen paranormal thriller about a brother and sister who have been Chosen by otherworldly beings to be unwilling participants in a celestial battle that threatens to tear their relationship apart by forcing them to fight on opposite sides. Having both heaven and hell watching their every move is bad enough, but it’s the lengths these siblings are willing to go to save the other that puts them in the greatest danger of all. And last but not least, my middle grade ghost story follows four friends as they search for ghosts, confront their fears, and find the inner-strength needed to face the unknown.
Embrace by Cherie Colyer Publisher: Omnific Publishing (December 20th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 222 pages Madison is familiar enough with change, and she hates everything about it. Change took her long-term boyfriend away from her. It caused one of her friends to suddenly hate her. It's responsible for the death of a local along with a host of other mysterious happenings. But when Madison meets a hot new guy, she thinks her luck is about to improve.Madison is instantly drawn to the handsome and intriguing Isaac Addington. She quickly realizes he's a guy harboring a secret, but she's willing to risk the unknown to be with him.Her world really spins out of control, however, when her best friend becomes delusional, seeing things that aren't there and desperately trying to escape their evil. When the doctors can't find the answers, Madison seeks her own.Nothing can prepare her for what she is about to discover.Dangerous, intoxicating, and darkly romantic, Embrace is a thriller that will leave you spellbound.
Prize:
3 winners will receive an ebook of Embrace by Cherie Colyer
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 International and ends February 18th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Jennifer R. Hubbard is here today to talk a little about her newest book Try Not to Breathe. It was just released last week and I can't wait to get my hands on it!
Fill out the form below to be entered for some swag!
1. Try Not to Breathe had a cover makeover. Can you tell us a little about the process and what your reactions have been as you've seen the old and new covers? The original cover, which appeared on the ARC, captured several of the book's symbols: rain, glass, waterfall. It was also a beautiful cover, pale blue with that dreamy quality. The cover that is going on the hardback is bolder, edgier, perhaps more modern-looking: it's a closeup of two faces. Authors generally don't have input into their covers, and I didn't have any say over either image. What the design team is aiming for is a cover that will make people look at the book and pick it up. I'm not a visual artist nor a designer, so I don't really know what will accomplish that. I only hope that people like what's inside! Because the change was made fairly late in the design process, I had bookmarks made with the original cover, and I have bookmarks with the new cover. I'm happy to provide both to people who request them! 2. Did your writing strategy or style change as you prepared to write this novel — as compared to when you wrote The Secret Year? I was toying with the idea of writing a verse novel when I started Try Not to Breathe. The beginning of the first draft was a mix of verse and cut-line prose and prose poems, very different from the first draft of The Secret Year. I quickly turned this book into traditional prose, but (I hope) something poetic about the language remains. 3. Can you tell us 5 words you would use to describe each character — Ryan and Nicki? Ryan: thoughtful, cautious, loyal, intelligent, self-protective Nicki: sympathetic, free-spirited, adventurous, assertive, curious 4. What is the biggest lesson you have learned as an author? That's a very difficult question. Probably, I would say that the writing itself is still its own reward. Writing brings us many side benefits, and communicating with others through novels is a wonderful experience. But there's so much we can't control, so much that's a matter of chance, about what happens to a piece of writing when it goes out into the world. The writing itself is the starting point and the central act, and it's a beautiful thing to do no matter what else happens afterward.
Try Not to Breathe by Janenifer R. Hubbard Publisher: Viking (January 19th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 272 pages A dark and provocative novel from the author of The Secret Year
Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again.
Prize:
5 winners will receive a Try Not to Breathe bookmark.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US/CA and ends February 7th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
1. Can you share with us how you juggle raising 4 kids and writing? Any tips?
Careful planning and lots of organization! My kids have always been on a schedule… it was the only way I could get anything done or have some"me" time: -) I also learned to become the queen of multi-tasking. As far as writing, when they were little, I would write during naptime. When they outgrew naps, I would write during quiet time (they had to go somewhere quiet and watch a full movie while resting, and then they could come out. If they came out before it was done, they had to go back to naps. Worked like a charm). Now all my kids are in school, but I still tend to write in the afternoon. I guess I'm just conditioned that way, so that's when I'm most creative. Always schedule"me" time, or you will go crazy. When mommy's happy, everybody's happy; ) 2. What has been the most surprising part of the writing, publishing, and promoting process for you?
The surprising part of writing has been discovering I can write a lot more genres than I originally thought. I love light and funny, but I always thought that meant I could only write romantic comedies or chick lit. I never realized I could still keep my voice and write light and funny stories in both UMG action adventure stories as well as adult cozy mysteries. It's been fun stepping outside of my box, and who knows, I just might try something else as well: -) As far as publishing, I never realized how long it takes for a book to hit the shelves. A year is actually a quick turnaround these days. And for promotion, I had no clue how much work is involved on my part and how little control a writer has over how much his or her publisher is willing to do. Yet promotion is everything when it comes to a book's success, especially in the first sixty days. Thank goodness I love promotion, but the key is to balance promoting a book while working on your next work in progress. Not an easy task.
3. The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused is a very unique story. Have you had any other ideas that are unique, but you are more hesitant to tackle them?
I never lack for ideas, and I've learned over the years to go for unique. The more unique the better. However, the publishing world is fickle. They don't always go for them, but that doesn't mean they never will.The key is to keep coming up with premises that are different until one sticks. But don't chuck the rest, keep them and keep going back to them. The publishing world works in cycles. What's oversaturated now will come back around in five or ten years, so that great idea you had for a certain type of book is never really dead. It's just dormant, waiting to be reborn: -)
4. Can you give us a few hints as to what Samantha may face in book 2?
In book two, FEARLESS June, 2011, Samantha Granger has finally come to terms with being different. The only way to keep her situation under control is to stay far away from Trevor Hamilton or risk bringing Digital Diva out of retirement. She gets her wish when the goverment gets involved. They've discovered Sam's identity and threaten to expose her if she doesn't cooperate. She's whisked off to Washington DC to a special school for gifted students called IPR (Institute of Phenomenal Research), where she discovers she's not alone. Only, when a mole threatens their very existence, it's up to Sam and her fellow Phenoteens to save themselves. 5. Your other series is described as a"Paranormal Adult Cozy Mystery"; can you tell us a little about it?
TEMPEST IN THE TEA LEAVES (August 2011) Sunshine Meadows is a big city psychic who moves to a small town in Upstate NY to open her fortune telling business, inheriting a haunted house and a strange cat residing within. Sunny gives her first reading to the town librarian and discovers the woman is going to die. When the woman flees in teror, Sunny calls the police. Only, the hard nosed cynical detective is a"non-believer". He finds the librarian dead, and Sunny becomes his number one suspect, forcing her to prove her innocence. 6. Is it difficult to jump from writing a middle grade book, to writing an adult book? What are the challenges of those transitions, if any?
Both my heroines are fun quirky characters and the stories both have humor and a bit of romance; however, the tone and pace are different. My Samantha Granger books are fast paced and full of action and adventure. Whereas my fortune teller books are slower paced and have that Murder She Wrote cozy feel to them. When I finish one book, it's refreshing to write something different. Keeps things fun and interesting so I don't get bored, and writing never becomes a chore. The most difficult part is making sure my language sounds age appropriate. I don't want Sunny sounding too young, or Samantha sounding too old: -) 7. What is next for you and what are you working on now?
FUSED is out on the shelves, FEARLESS is finished and comes out in June, TEMPEST IN THE TEA LEAVES is fiinished and comes out in August. Right now I am working on book 3 of Samantha Granger, FREEDOM, which will come out in November of 2011, and then after that I will start book 2 of my fortune teller series, CORPSE IN THE CRYSTAL BALL, which will come out in May of 2012, followed by TROUBLE IN THE TAROT CARDS which will come out in February 2013. Phew! Deadlines galore. Careful what you wish for, people, but I'm not complaining: -)
Thanks so much for listening to me ramble, people, and please let me know what you think of FUSED! I love hearing from my readers: -)
The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused by Kari Lee Townsend Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (November 1st, 2010) Reading Level: Middle Grade Paperback: 192 pages After Sam is fused with her cell phone, she's ready to conquer the world! Or at least the 8th grade…
When Samantha Granger touches a meteor while talking on her cell phone, her life is changed forever: her body now has all the capabilities of her phone (GPS, phone, text, camera). She secretly calls herself a"Digital Diva" as she rushes to answer emergency calls. But will her identity be discovered when sparks fly (literally!) between her and Trevor, her dreamy crush? Samantha has to get a handle on her abilities and quick, because when Sam gets kidnapped and the entire town is in danger, she is the only one who can save them.
The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fearless, book 2 of the series, will be out June 7th, 2011.
Find out more about Kari Lee Townsend Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Purchase The Samantha Granger Experiment: Fused Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / IndieBound
1. What are the biggest differences now that you are promoting the second book, Purpose, from when you were promoting Promise? Releasing Promise was one of the most exciting times of my life because it was my debut. My first in everything. That also made it a lot more stressful, because I was scared to death people would hate it. Fortunately, they didn’t. J And now they’re looking forward to Purpose. Combine that with my own feeling that Purpose is a better story and I’m not quite as worried about that part of the equation. Of course, I’m still anxious – maybe it’s not what readers are expecting, maybe the change in Alexis turns them off, maybe it takes a direction fans don’t like, etc. – but this is the book I started out writing, the one that grabbed my heart and soul. So whether people like it or not, I personally feel a lot better about it than I did Promise.
2. I do know that you have had a few major events and awards since you were last on here, would you like to share some of those? Hehe Yes, Promise has exceeded my expectations in the big world. It won the 1st Place Fantasy (Published) Royal Palm Literary Award for the Florida Writers Association. That is a huge honor that I don’t take lightly. It’s also received some great reviews, including a “highly recommended” by the prestigious Midwest Book Review. MBR may not mean a lot to the average reader, but it has a strong influence on booksellers and librarians. It’s a feather in the industry cap. Promise is also (finally!) available at all major and indie retailers (though you may have to request it), including for international delivery through The Book Depository. I’ve also done some appearances, like at the Miami Book Fair International, and have some signings and presentations coming up in January.
3. Can you share with us some of what we can expect for the continuation of this story? In Promise, Alexis starts out as a young woman just barely getting started in this world she had no idea existed. Purpose really initiates her into the world, giving her (and the reader) a taste of what’s to come. She has many challenges ahead of her as she fulfills her destiny of being the fierce protector of human souls and, eventually, taking her leadership role of the Angels’ army on earth. She transforms from vulnerable, pretty naïve and nearly human in the first book to kickass warrior in the books to come. The love story of Promise evolves into stories about the various forms of love we all experience, from love of our soul-mates to our children to complete strangers and people we never thought we could love.
4. Will any other books be featuring these characters? The rest of this part of the series – 5 or 6 books – is Alexis’s story, so, yeah, there’s a lot more coming. Some of the major-minor characters have been sharing more of their stories with me, too. I don’t know if they’ll be full series or even books, but at least some short stories or novellas.
5. Do you have any other books in the works? We NEED more from you!: ) I’ve started book three, but it’s been back-burnered for quite a while, so I don’t know where I’m really at with it. I’m really looking forward to getting back to it, however, I’m also excited to work on some of these other stories. So many ideas, so little time…
6. What is the main thing you have learned from the entire process of getting a book out to the public? Patience. That goes for any writer, regardless of where you are in the process. You need patience to produce the best story possible; patience in seeking publication; patience with the publishing process; and patience on the other side, as well. The word has been spreading, but it takes time to build buzz and momentum. Just because someone wants to read a book doesn’t mean they go out and buy it right away. Or even if they do, they don’t necessarily read it right away. I’m the same way. My TBR pile is a mile high. And I know most readers are that way. So we just have to have patience while the snowball grows.
7. Did you have to take out any scenes that you wish you could have kept in the story? What were the biggest changes in the story from the time you first wrote it, to the finished version? Promise and Purpose started out as one story. Now, ending up as two books, they are, in some ways, quite a bit different than when I wrote that first draft. There are many scenes that didn’t make it and many new ones that have been added. I’m happy with the final results, but there were some sweet scenes originally in Promise with Alexis and her mother Sophia and others with Alexis and Tristan that just didn’t do enough to move the story along so they had to be cut. Probably the biggest change from that very first draft, however… something I didn’t see at first while focused on just this one book… something that has added a whole new twist to the entire series… originally, Dorian wasn’t born alone.
8. You've had quite a roll in the promoting of Promise and Purpose and you have done a fabulous job! Is that part more stressful than the writing? Marketing is my background and I mostly enjoy it, but writing is my passion. The most stressful part, really, is not having enough time to do everything.
9. Do you have any recent events planned that you would like to share? Of course, there’s the virtual release party for Purpose going until 12/18. After the holidays, I’ll be doing some local signings and by spring, I should be expanding the tour into other states, including Virginia, Arizona and Minnesota.
10. Can you give us a little excerpt from Purpose?
A shadow shifted in the corner. Two small, red lights glowed from about two-thirds up the wall. I realized they were eyes. It can’t really be Daemoni—can it? We hadn’t been bothered for over seven years. Not a single visit or even a threat. Nothing at all. They had what they wanted. “Don’t you know?” The shadow moved forward, just enough for the light from my clock to slightly illuminate a face—pale, bluish-white in the clock’s glare, glowing eyes and… fangs. The light reflected off his glimmering teeth, bared in an evil grin, if that’s what you could call it, and I knew for sure those were fangs. And I knew immediately what he was. From what I could see, he favored some of my characters, as if he’d stepped out of the pages of the books I wrote. Such a strange feeling—to feel as though I’d awakened in my usual way but know I was dreaming again. I had to be. Monsters were real, but vampires were not. “C-Claudius?” My voice shook. I knew this dream was about to become a terrible nightmare. With his dark hair floating around the sides of his face, this visitor looked similar to my Claudius, leader of the evilest vampire nest in my make-believe world. “Ha!” the shadow barked. “So you do see the resemblance.”
Purpose by Kristie Cook Publisher: Ang'dora Productions (December 15th, 2010) Reading Level: 17 and up Paperback: 377 pages Series: Soul Savers, book #2 Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she’ll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she’s been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she’s forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself… but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
Don't forget to check out the Re-Cover contest of Promise and Purpose. Entries must be in 12/18.
Find Kristie Cook Kristie Cook / Promise / Goodreads Purchase Signed Copies of Purpose
Today I have the wonderful Beck McDowell here to talk a little about her new book, This is Not a Drill.
Be sure to check the links below to follow along with the rest of the tour.
1. As someone who taught in schools, were you ever afraid of a situation like what happens in your book, happening in your classroom or school?
I was never consciously afraid of violence in my classroom, but I dreamed about it several times, so I know the anxiety was there. It’s just such a huge responsibility, knowing that – if something happens – the lives of those 20 or 30 kids are in your hands. I also traveled in Europe with my students in summers, so I was very aware of safety issues.
Fortunately, nothing like this ever happened to me, although I remember several occasions when a student was found carrying a gun in our building. The only time I ever felt danger was when I was pregnant and got knocked to the ground while trying to break up a fight. A huge crowd of students was surging forward to watch and couldn’t see me on the floor. It was terrifying! Fortunately, another teacher came, broke it up, and rescued me. I haven’t tried to break up a fight since.
2. What inspired you to tell this story?
My then 2nd grade nephew told me they’d been instructed, if they were in the bathroom and heard gunshots in the hall, to lock the stall, sit on the toilet, and pull their feet up so an intruder wouldn’t see them. It was heartbreaking to picture him in there alone and terrified. It made me feel like kids were already losing their innocence when we had to paint that kind of scenario for them. I hate that our world requires those kinds of scary conversations with our children, but it’s obvious, in light of recent events, that teaching them to hit the floor if shooting starts might save their lives. How do you teach that without traumatizing them – but how can you risk not teaching it?
3. What can you tell us about Emery and Jake?
Emery and Jake are both fighting their own inner battles long before they’re involved in the classroom one. She’s dealing with an absentee parent, a domineering one, and a puzzling illness. Jake is reeling from the death of a parent, a difficult step-parent, and a damaged reputation. But I don’t think I’ve overloaded their lives with unrealistic conflict. So many of the teens I taught were facing these huge life issues – several at once – and yet they moved through the school day with poise and strength that amazed me. I only knew about those incredible hardships through their writing or sometimes when they came after school to talk; I was honored by their trust when they shared problems with me.
Emery and Jake are a lot like the students I taught – they’re smart and strong and brave when the need arises. They draw on inner resources they didn’t even know they had when facing down an armed gunman. I’d trust my kids to respond with the same calm competence in a real crisis.
4. What was the most difficult part of writing such an emotional story?
The last few chapters were the hardest part to write. There can’t be a truly happy ending to a story like this. When unstable people are armed, we can’t always protect the innocent. I wanted a resolution that made sense – one that readers could accept if not embrace. I wrote what I felt would actually happen in a situation like this — but with a twist or two to keep readers guessing.
5. What do you hope readers take from this story?
I hope to foster a little better understanding of post traumatic stress. Our culture frowns on what’s considered “weakness” if someone needs help, when – in reality – any reasonable person would be deeply troubled by war or abuse or an accident or tragedy. Our soldiers face a huge adjustment coming home from war. Brian Stutts is the “bad guy” – no doubt – but would he have instigated this horrific tragedy in a first grade classroom if he’d had psychological help?
I’d also like to increase awareness of POTS, which is easy to treat but tricky to diagnose – and affects 1 in 100 teens. I hope, too, that the bravery of Emery and Jake will inspire any readers who find themselves in a dangerous situation to stay calm and help those around them.
This is Not a Drill by Beck McDowell Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books (October 25th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 224 pages Two teens try to save a class of first-graders from a gun-wielding soldier suffering from PTSD
When high school seniors Emery and Jake are taken hostage in the classroom where they tutor, they must work together to calm both the terrified children and the gunman threatening them--a task made even more difficult by their recent break-up. Brian Stutts, a soldier suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq, uses deadly force when he's denied access to his son because of a custody battle. The children's fate is in the hands of the two teens, each recovering from great loss, who now must reestablish trust in a relationship damaged by betrayal. Told through Emery and Jake's alternating viewpoints, this gripping novel features characters teens will identify with and explores the often-hidden damages of war.
Website | Goodreads | Twitter
Amazon | Barnes & Noble Check out the next tour stops:Monday, Nov. 12 KATIE’S BOOK BLOG — http://www.katiesbookblog.com/
I'm thrilled to have Albert Borris on my blog today. He is the author of Crash Into Me.
1. What initially created your interest in being a counselor?
Being a child in a family with an alcoholic parent may have something to do with it. 2. What is the most challenging part of that career?
The most challenging part of my career has been suicides. 3. What would be the best advice you could give a teen who is experiencing problems? Talk. Talk and talk and talk. Talk to your best friend; your parents; the police; a counselor. They are places you can go for help and people who really want to help. Call 800-999-9999, a voluntary, safe and confidential helpline. 4. You have traveled to so many places. What one sticks out in your mind as your favorite adventure? One place that sticks out in my mind is India. Poverty, so much poverty, it blows my mind.
5. Crash Into Me involves the difficult issue of teen suicide. What do you hope teens and adults take from reading this book? I hope they know that are not alone and there are people and places available to teens for help! 6. What would people be surprised to know about you? My readers may not know that I had a stroke. People usually don’t become aware of that. No kidding! Also, I just renewed my marriage vows with my wife of ten years in Belize! 7. Can you share with us your general philosophy of life? What rules you strive to go by. My philosophy on life is “this too shall pass.” I don’t know who said it, but I agree.
Crash Into Me by Albert Borris Publisher: Simon Pulse (July 21st, 2009) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 257 pages Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides… and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living--or if there's no turning back.
Giveaway Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of Crash Into Me by Albert Borris.
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 November 21st.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Find Albert Borris Albert Borris / Myspace / Facebook
Purchase Crash Into Me Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Thanks to Albert Borris for the interview and The Teen {Book} Scene for the tour opportunity!
I am a huge fan of the Morganville Vampires series! The 13th book, Bitter Blood, was just released yesterday and I have a FABULOUS prize pack you can win!
It's also time for the Morganville Mayoral Elections!
Rachel Caine will be hosting a video contest on her website (http://www.morganvillevampire.com ) in which fans can submit their endorsement ads for their ideal Morganville Mayor! Go there and VOTE, or submit your own video!
1. I'm sure the election is an exciting time in Morganville. What do you feel are important qualities needed in the next Morganville mayor? I think what the vampires are looking for is someone who will sit quietly on the town’s council and do what they’re told … but I feel that Morganville needs something more than that. Definitely, the new mayor will need to have good survival instincts, crazy diplomatic skills, and clothes that don’t show bloodstains.
2. Can you share with us some strengths and weaknesses of each political party (Human vs Vampire)? Well, the humans seem to be disorganized and separated on key issues, such as mixed-party marriages (though to be fair, the vampires have some divisions as well). Of course, the humans will definitely bring out voters in big numbers this time around, since the candidates are so polarizing. Mostly, they’ll probably be out to vote against Monica Morrell. On the vampire side, I think their complacence may well be their undoing …
3. What can you tell us about the new TV show that makes its appearance in Morganville in Bitter Blood ? You know how many ghost-hunter reality shows there are now? A lot. And this is yet another one, desperately seeking some creepy, blurry footage and barely-credible hauntings to boost their ratings … and they’ve come to the wrong place, because Morganville’s going to give them a whole lot more than they ever bargained for. However, the ghost hunters are going to stir up a lot of trouble in the ghost world, bringing back some unquiet spirits that are both harmful and helpful. They’ll also give our most recent Glass House ghost some serious problems!
4. Which character do you think will surprise readers the most in Bitter Blood ? Well, to absolutely no one’s surprise, Myrnin will continue to be unpredictable … but for the first time, you’ll get his point of view, and it’s a delicious slice of crazy. So hopefully, that will deliver some thrills!
5. Each book in the Morganville series is so full of action and drama! What are some things you've learned along the way that enable you to keep writing such a complex series? The biggest thing is to let the characters drive not just the action, but the consequences of the action … it’s the story of how they deal with what happens, not just what happens. It’s tough to allow your characters to grow and change and become new people, because it’s a bit scary, but in a long-running series I think that’s key.
6. Do you think there is a chance this series will someday be a TV show? Because honestly, that would ROCK!: ) I WISH! That would indeed be awesome and fun, but right now, it appears that TV is a little be scared of vampires. They’ve been so scarily successful that there’s a feeling among the show-buyers that people might be over them, and the last thing a TV network wants is a show nobody will watch. Of course, it’s a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy to say, “Nobody watches vampire shows anymore,” and then not put any on TV, but there you go. These are the times in which we live. But it’ll change again. Vampires always come back. (cue dramatic music) Thanks for hosting me today, and for your support of the series! And remember: vote!
Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine Publisher: NAL (November 6th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 404 pages Series: The Morganville Vampires, #13 For years, the human and vampire residents of Morganville, Texas, have managed to co-exist in peace. But now that the threat to the vampires has been defeated, the human residents are learning that the gravest danger they face is the enemy within…
Thanks to the eradication of the parasitic creatures known as the draug, the vampires of Morganville have been freed of their usual constraints. With the vampires indulging their every whim, the town’s human population is determined to hold on to their lives by taking up arms. But college student Claire Danvers isn’t about to take sides, considering she has ties to both the humans and the vampires.
To make matters worse, a television show comes to Morganville looking for ghosts, just as vampire and human politics collide. Now, Claire and her friends have to figure out how to keep the peace without ending up on the nightly news… or worse.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a prize package that including: A signed copy of BITTER BLOOD, a Morganville Coffee Mug, an election t-shirt, and a tote bag.
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 November 22nd.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
