Shortly after reviewing "Losing Faith " for Denise Jaden, I received an email from Denise about The Contemps. The email contained a very awesome PDF explanation; because I can't really post a PDF on blogger (that I know of), I simply copied and pasted. THE CONTEMPS: YA Authors Keeping it RealEmbrace the Real! www.thecontemps.com Introducing The Contemps!
We're a group of YA authors with contemporary novels releasing over the course of a year. We are passionate about realistic fiction because these are the books that remind us we're not alone in this real world. Our mission is simple — to spotlight contemporary fiction for young adults through blog posts, author events, and (over)sharing from our teen years.
We hope you'll help us spread the word to readers about our group! We have fun things planned on the site all year long, including a contest going on NOW through November 15, 2010.
Take the Challenge! Read 18 of our 21 books and enter to win all 21 of our books! The contest is open to anyone age 13 — 113! Visit the "Get Involved" page at www.thecontemps.com for more information. Read, Write and Celebrate Realistic YA with: Denise Jaden, LOSING FAITH (S&S/Simon Pulse, 9/2010) Kody Keplinger, The DUFF (Little, Brown/Poppy, 9/2010) April Henry, GIRL, STOLEN (Henry Holt, 9/2010) Mindi Scott, FREEFALL (S&S/Simon Pulse, 10/2010) Daisy Whitney, THE MOCKINGBIRDS (Little, Brown, 10/2010) Sarah Ockler, FIXING DELILAH (Little, Brown, 12/2010) Courtney Summers, FALL FOR ANYTHING (St. Martin's Press,12/2010) Michael Northrop, TRAPPED (Scholastic, 1/2011) Sara Bennett Wealer, RIVAL (HarperTeen, 2/2011) Lindsey Leavitt, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD (Bloomsbury, 3/2011) Kirsten Hubbard, LIKE MANDARIN (Random House/Delacorte, 3/2011) Micol Ostow, FAMILY (Egmont USA, 4/2011) Emily Wing Smith, BACK WHEN YOU WERE EASIER TO LOVE(Dutton, 4/2011) Jo Knowles, PEARL (Henry Holt, Spring, 2011) Hannah Harrington, SAVING JUNE (Harlequin Teen, 5/2011) Lisa Schroeder, THE DAY BEFORE (S&S/Simon Pulse, 6/2011) Elizabeth Scott, BETWEEN HERE AND FOREVER (Simon Pulse, 6/2011) Melissa Walker, SMALL-TOWN SINNERS (Bloomsbury, 7/2011) Brent Crawford, Third CARTER book (Disney-Hyperion, summer, 2011) Kristen Tracy, SHARKS AND BOYS (Disney-Hyperion, summer, 2011) Sarah Darer Littman, WANT TO GO PRIVATE? (Scholastic Press, 8/2011)
I printed two copies of the PDF and have one up for my students to see (above) and one up with my own progress (which is very little right now, "Losing Faith" and "The DUFF") (below).
Since posting these I have had several students ask how they can get in on the "challenge" and what the prizes are. I've had such a great response that I have about six girls coming in after school on Wednesdays to talk about what they are currently reading and how far they have come in the challenge.
This has turned out to be a fantastic classroom activity that has really sparked the interest of my students. I only have one book on my shelf right now, "The DUFF," but students have really gone out of their way to find these books, at least the ones already released.
My class and I will be participating in this challenge, will you?
Release Date: April 2008 Publisher: Henry Holt & Co. Challenges: Audiobook Challenge, 100+ Reading Challenge, Dystopia Challenge
"Who is Jenna Fox? Seventeen-year-old Jenna has been told that is her name. She has just awoken from a coma, they tell her, and she is still recovering from a terrible accident in which she was involved a year ago. But what happened before that? Jenna doesn't remember her life. Or does she? And are the memories really hers?"
Much like "The Maze Runner, " when I began listening to the Jenna Fox audiobook I almost had to stop to make sure I was starting with track one on disc one (and consult Twitter to confirm I was supposed to this confused. Once I realized that it wasn't just me, I was able to let go and listen.
It took me about four days worth of walks to begin to understand what was going on. This didn't exactly "put me off," but I wasn't in a hurry to find out either. The best word to describe how I felt about the beginning of this novel is "indifference." Because I had absolutely no idea what was going on I didn't feel a connection with Jenna and therefore didn't feel a connection with the book overall until very late into the novel.
That being said, while reading "Jenna Fox" I was able to see and understand all sides of the controversy — Jenna's, her parent's, and society's perspective. Generally I feel that as readers we automatically side with the protagonist and all other perspectives are simply "foot-noted." But with "Jenna Fox," all the perspectives were very equally represented and I appreciated the ability to think for myself as a reader and decide which perspective I agreed with.
I appreciated the novel and the ethics presented but, if I'm being honest, I didn't feel the connection to this book that I needed in order to pick up the second book. Again, I just felt indifferent towards this book — it wasn't awful but it didn't scream "never put me down" either.
I'm looking for a "never put me down" book to get out of my funk — any suggestions?
-Visit Mary around the web here: Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
Chain Reaction (Perfect Chemistry #3) by Simone Elkeles (Walker Books for Young Readers 8/16/2011) Bargains and Betrayals (13 to Life #3) by Shannon Delany (St. Martin's Griffin 8/16/2011) Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead (Razorbill 8/23/2011)
Sweetly (Sisters Red #2) by Jackson Pearce (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 8/23/2011) The Power of Six (Lorien Legacies #2) by Pittiacus Lore (HarperCollins 8/23/2011) Nocturne (Claire de Lune #2) by Christine Johnson (Simon Pulse 8/23/2011)
Hades (Halo #2) by Alexandra Adornetto (Fiewel & Friends 8/30/2010) Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna Dressed in Blood #1) by Kendare Blake (Tor Teen 8/30/2011) Damned (Crusade #2) by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing 8/30/2011)
Twisted (Intertwined #3) by Gena Showalter (Harlequin 8/30/2011) The Fox Inheritance (Jenna Fox Chronicles #2) by Mary E. Pearson (Henry Holt and Company 8/30/2011) Soul Thief (The Demon Trappers #2) by Jana Oliver (St. Martin's Griffin 8/30/2011)
Possess by Gretchen McNeil (Balzer & Bray 8/23/2011) Descended by Blood (Vampire Born #1) by Angeline Kace (Accendo Press 8/23/2011) Fury (Fury #1) by Elizabeth Miles (Simon Pulse 8/30/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for August 16th-31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
Amplified by Tara Kelly Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (October 25th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardback: 304 pages Source: Publisher Rating: 5 of 5 stars When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it.. Review: I adored this book. I read it a few months ago and it singlehandedly brought me out of my reading slump. I even picked Jasmine as one of my favorite characters of 2011.
Jasmine was a kick-butt character. LOVED her! Even though she had a privileged background she didn't want that life anymore. She ran away with her savings and went off to pursue her dream to play music. She had no idea what was ahead of her but she was willing to jump in headfirst and take on all the obstacles.
As soon as she stars on her journey, she hits a roadblock. Her car breaks down and she has to deal with this guy who has a horrible attitude. He thinks he already knows all about her but Jasmine wants to show everyone that she is much more than what she seems.
She soon explores some ads for housing/bands and finds the perfect opportunity. She could live in an oceanfront house with the band members. But first she has to audition and a few of them have little hope of her impressing anyone.
Jasmine is a little afraid of playing in front of people but she soon shows them just how talented she is. And that guy she met at the body shop? Yeah, he may more a part of her new life than she would have thought.
This book was surprising in so many ways because I loved each and every character. They were so realistic and believable. I can't imagine how difficult it would be to bring a lot of major male characters to life in a story but Tara did an outstanding job! Each guy was so different and interesting. I wanted to live in that house!
Amplified is a perfect example of how characters can break free from stereotypes and show some spunk and personality. Jasmine is a girl so many people can relate to and she just may encourage some people to take a leap of faith on their own.
Tara Kelly, you rock!!
Recommended: Contemporary/music fans looking for a fun, exciting read with a lot of depth.
Well, Haunted Halloween is officially over and we had a wonderful time! First, We'd like to thank all of the authors who took time out to write posts and to send donations. You all are amazing!! And we have to thank all of our readers. You guys made this event way more than we expected and we cannot thank you enough for visiting each day and leaving so many great comments. Now, it's time for the wrap-up!
Totals
2 Bloggers + 65 Authors + 2400 Comments + 146 books given away! = An amazing book-ish Halloween!!
We also want to thank the following publishers for making many of the donations possible
Harlequin Flux Hyperion Books for Children Penguin Simon & Schuster /MTV Books / Simon Pulse Macmillian — St. Martin's Press / Feiwel & Friends / Henry Holt and Co. Egmont USA Candlewick Press Llewellyn Chronicle Leap Books Sourcebooks
We plan to have Haunted Halloween again next year and hope to make it even bigger than this year! We will be setting up an information post soon that will provide more information. Thanks everyone! Hope you all had a great Halloween!
Once Every Never (Once Every Never #1) by Lesley Livingston (Penguin Canada 7/14/2011) Love Story by Janenifer Echols (MTV Books 7/19/2011) Pearl by Jo Knowles (Henry Holt and Co. 7/19/2011)
The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt (Wendy Lamb Books 7/19/2011) Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker (Bloomsbury 7/19/2011) Ripple by Mandy Hubbard (Razorbill/Penguin 7/21/2011)
Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1) by Janenifer Estep (Kensington Publishing Corp. 7/26/2011) Supernaturally (Paranormalcy #2) by Kiersten White (HarperTeen 7/26/2011) Everblue (Mer Tales #1) by Brenda Pandos (Obsidian Mountain Publishing 7/31/2011)
Wolfsbane (Nightshade #2) by Andrea Cremer (Philomel 7/26/2011)
Wildefire (Wildefire #1) by Karsten Knight (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 7/26/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for July 14th- 31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
This year we wanted to add to the excitement of Top 10 lists by making it an event! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, Rachel from Fiktshun & Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books and and I are hosting a top 10 week where everyone can join the fun! You can check out this post for more information. Each day you add your top 10 list to the linky (below), you get an extra entry into the giveaway for a $50 amazon gift card! Just remember, each day will have a linky for THAT Top 10 topic and your list has to be for that top 10. Today is Top 10 Book Characters of 2011! I decided to go with favorite heroines because I really love when a book has a strong girl in the story.
Divergent by Veronica Roth Katherine Tegen Books (May 3rd, 2011)
Who: Beatrice Prior (Tris Why: Tris was incredibly strong and determined. She went away from what she had known and picked a difficult path. But once she got there, she always gave 100% of herself. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself. During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins Hyperion Books (March 22nd, 2011)
Who: Sophie Mercer Why: Sophie was an incredible character and not just for her strength. She was hilarious and always found a way to get out of hard situations. She really makes this series shine! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Sophie Mercer thought she was a witch.
That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.
Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.
But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?
Obsidian by Janenifer L. Armentrout Entangled Publishing (December 6th, 2011)
Who: Katy Why: She's a flippin' book blogger!! How can I not love her?? She's a book version of ME and she gets THAT in her life *points to book cover*! It's like a dream come true!: ) Ha! But seriously, she was amazing because she never backed down or pretended to be anyone but herself. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Starting over sucks.
When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I’d pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring… until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.
And then he opened his mouth.
Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something… unexpected happens.
The hot alien living next door marks me.
You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon’s touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.
If I don’t kill him first, that is.
Stay by Deb Caletti Simon Pulse (April 5th, 2011) Who: Clara Why: Clara was sweet, caring, and very mature for her age because of what she had been through. I liked that she had a great connection with her father and had the strength to leave a difficult situation. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Clara's relationship with Christian is intense from the start, and like nothing she’s ever experienced before. But what starts as devotion quickly becomes obsession, and it's almost too late before Clara realizes how far gone Christian is—and what he's willing to do to make her stay. Now Clara has left the city—and Christian—behind. No one back home has any idea where she is, but she still struggles to shake off her fear. She knows Christian won't let her go that easily, and that no matter how far she runs, it may not be far enough…
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi HarperCollins (November 15th, 2011)
Who: Juliette Why: Juliette was just.wow! Even though she had a life no one could imagine, and felt she was a monster, she is able to push through her fears and turn into a very powerful young woman. She completely blew me away! Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.
The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.
The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.
Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.
Catching Jordan by Miranda KenneallySourcebooks Fire (December 1st, 2011) Who: Jordan Why:Jordan was great because she went against the norm, and her father's wishes, in order to pursue her dreams. She never backed down from a challenge and really showed how girls can do absolutely anything.Read My ReviewAdd it to GoodreadsSummary: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though — she leads them as the captain and quarterback on her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starring position on the team… and has her suddenly wishing to be seen as more than just a teammate.
Half-Blood by Janenifer L. Armentrout Spencer Hill Press (October 18th, 2011)
Who: Alex Why: Because, yet again, Janenifer really knows how to create characters! Alex has had a difficult time dealing the various obstacles that arise but she keeps pushing through. She has a lot of qualities I think many people would love to possess. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.
Forgotten by Cat Patrick Little, Brown (June 7th, 2011) Who: London Why: London had to go through a lot and she never backed down. She's sweet and smart, and she deals with her memory problems in the best way she can. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary: Each night at precisely 4:33 am, while sixteen-year-old London Lane is asleep, her memory of that day is erased. In the morning, all she can"remember" are events from her future. London is used to relying on reminder notes and a trusted friend to get through the day, but things get complicated when a new boy at school enters the picture. Luke Henry is not someone you'd easily forget, yet try as she might, London can't find him in her memories of things to come. When London starts experiencing disturbing flashbacks, or flash-forwards, as the case may be, she realizes it's time to learn about the past she keeps forgetting-before it destroys her future.
Amplified by Tara Kelly Henry Holt (October 25th, 2011)
Who: Jasmine Why: Jasmine left her comfortable life to go on her own personal journey. She could have easily ran away from the teasing and issues that came up, but she stuck it out and gained more courage each day. Add it to Goodreads Review Coming Soon Summary: When privileged 17-year-old Jasmine gets kicked out of her house, she takes what is left of her savings and flees to Santa Cruz to pursue her dream of becoming a musician. Jasmine finds the ideal room in an oceanfront house, but she needs to convince the three guys living there that she's the perfect roommate and lead guitarist for their band, C-Side. Too bad she has major stage fright and the cute bassist doesn't think a spoiled girl from over the hill can hack it..
Hourglass by Myra McEntire Egmont (June 14th, 2011) Who: Emerson Why: Emerson was just a bundle of awesomeness. She's kind but so protective of the people she loves. She was so well developed and absolutely perfect for this story. Read My Review Add it to Goodreads Summary:One hour to rewrite the past.. For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened? Tomorrow's Topic — Top 10 Coming in 2012! Don't forget to link each day! Signing up & then linking your Top 10 posts early you EXTRA entries into the $50.00 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway. The last day to share your posts is January 8th, 2012. The winner will be picked using Random.org and announced during the week of the 9th, 2012. Good Luck!
NOTE: this is the SAME Linky on each of the Co-Hosts Blogs, so please only enter your Name, Blog Name and URL once. Thanks!
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.
