The Best Reader [Search results for Holly Cupala] 

I am so excited to have Holly Cupala on the blog today because she is sharing an exclusive with us! Not only is she sharing some amazing pictures from"Halloweens past" but she is presenting chapters 18 and 19 from Tell Me A Secret through the free podcast. I am so honored that for the first time, for little ole' me, Holly has released 2 chapters at once! If you haven't checked out the podcast yet, DO IT! The information will be listed below. But first, pictures!

When Holly and her husband were dating. How adorable!

The year they got married.

Tell Me A Secret
And here is a teaser section from chapter 18:

“We have to go to Dylan’s Halloween party next year,” Delaney had told me last spring. “It’s an Elna Mead legend. He’s been throwing them since, like, his junior year. You have to know him or one of his housemates to get in—but you’ll be with me.” When I asked her about the party before class, she shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t think he’s having one this year—I was thinking about going to visit my mom in L.A. What are you doing?” Apparently Milo didn’t get the top secret memo, because now he stood in the hall with a stack of party flyers, handing them out with a lazy smile to any reasonably attractive female. “Heeeey, see you there?” A pack of sophomore girls took the flyer, not realizing they had received one of the school’s most coveted invitations. They giggled, rolling their eyes as they bustled by and let the paper flutter to the ground. I snatched it up, slipping it into one of my folders, completely unnoticed… In art class, I pulled Milo’s flyer out for a closer inspection. Delaney’s initials were scrawled in the corner with a red pen—the key to opening Dylan’s door. Underneath the address and time, the scrabbled shape of a black crow stood out in relief against the white half sheet, an inversion of the white bird in my drawing. Like a sign left by Xanda, bidding me to follow.

Podcast

In order to get access to the Tell Me a Secret podcast, click on the banner or HERE to get to the page. Once there you can listen via iTunes or click RSS and pick the chapter you would like to listen to. Holly added Chapters 18 and 19 to help us celebrate Halloween because these chapters involve the"Halloween party" in the book.

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala Publisher: HarperCollins (June 22nd, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 256 pages In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.

- Thank you so much Holly for putting up 2 new chapters for Haunted Halloween! The podcast is amazing and I am truly honored that you did that for the event!: )
Also, you can find ME on Holly's blog today! I was so excited when Holly asked me to be part of her feature"What YA Bloggers Want". If you would like to check out the posts from this feature you can USE GOOGLE to see the bloggers that have already appeared so far this month.

Find Holly Cupala Holly Cupala / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

Purchase Tell Me A Secret Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble
Book Trailer

* Check out Lisa's Haunted Halloween post.

*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here.

Here is the fabulous cover for Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala. Publisher: Harper Collins Release Date: October 8th, 2011 Summary: Joy Delamere is suffocating.

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words—tender words, cruel words—until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe… if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.

To celebrate, she's having a giveaway! 3 lucky winners will get a signed copy of her first book, Tell Me A Secret.

To enter: Leave a comment here and at other participating blogs for 1 extra entry each. All blogs are listed below. Include your email address in your comment. Giveaway is INTERNATIONAL Must be at least 13 to enter.
Must comment by 11:59pm CST tonight.

Find Holly Cupala Holly Cupala | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Pre-Order Don't Breathe a Word Amazon | The Book Depository | Barnes & Noble

The other blogs having participating in the cover reveal today Kari at A Good Addiction Steph Su at Steph Su Reads
Blogs that participated in the cover sample pieces on Monday.
Kristi (http://www.thestorysiren.com/)
Angela (http://www.readingangel.com/)
Lena (http://addicted2novels.blogspot.com/)
Eve's Fan Garden (http://evesfangarden.com/blog/)
Lauren (http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/)
Danielle (http://www.theresabook.com/)
Sarah (http://sarahbear9789.blogspot.com/)
Andye http://www.readingteen.net/)

Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala
HarperTeen (January 3rd 2012)
Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 299 pages
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5 of 5 stars
Joy Delamere is suffocating…

From asthma, which has nearly claimed her life. From her parents, who will do anything to keep that from happening. From delectably dangerous Asher, who is smothering her from the inside out.

Joy can take his words — tender words, cruel words — until the night they go too far.

Now, Joy will leave everything behind to find the one who has offered his help, a homeless boy called Creed. She will become someone else. She will learn to survive. She will breathe… if only she can get to Creed before it’s too late.

Set against the gritty backdrop of Seattle’s streets and a cast of characters with secrets of their own, Holly Cupala’s powerful new novel explores the subtleties of abuse, the meaning of love, and how far a girl will go to discover her own strength.
Review: I absolutely loved this book. The first word I think of when recalling Don't Breathe a Word is raw. Holly transports you to the streets of Seattle and flawlessly places intriguing characters into the story that help readers feel as if they are seeing it all through the eyes of a troubled teen.

Joy is a young girl who feels trapped in her situation. She has a boyfriend who may seem perfect to some people, but she knows that is far from the truth. He is manipulative. His words make Joy do things she wouldn't normally do. She is slowly losing herself and she can't see a good way out.

She soon makes the decision to run away. To break free of her boyfriend and her overprotective parents and start a new life as someone else. There is one thing she wants-- to find the boy who plays music on the streets. She has seen him before. He would know her story and he would help her. So she takes off on her journey and quickly finds out what the streets are like. Even though she is immediately faced with scary situations, Joy doesn't back down or give up. Eventually her efforts pay off and she does find Creed.

Creed is sort of the protector of their little group and he soon takes on the role of trying to protect Joy — or Triste, as she calls herself --. It takes some time for her to really be accepted by the others and soon she sees what exactly people have to do in order to stay alive. During this time we get glimpses into Joy's past. We can see the path that made her run from her past. This was very beneficial because I could see how her boyfriend, Asher, slowly brought her down.

Holly is an outstanding writer. She doesn't disguise situations with fluff or vague terms. She tackles a hard subject in a way that is gritty and bold. The streets are a scary place and Holly really enables the character and reader to see exactly what that may entail.

I truly got invested in this story and I was completely astonished by how emotional it made me. Joy's story came to life and her connection to Creed was a bright spot in this story. It slowly grew until it was something Joy could really hold on to and put her hope in.

Don't Breathe a Word is simply brilliant. A powerful look into the life of a young girl trying to break free and find her own way-- away from the people that were keeping her trapped. Holly Cupala knows how to approach a difficult topic and give it clarity and substance.

Recommend: I highly recommend this book! It is perfect for people who love contemporary titles or want something that will really have an impact. (More appropriate for older teens due to subject matter).

Website | Book Site | Twitter | Goodreads

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Tell Me A Secret is a fabulous story that I will not soon forget. I posted my review of it HERE and now I am thrilled to be a stop on the blog tour. Today I am honored to get a chance to speak with Miranda herself!

J: Thank you Miranda for being on my blog today. Can you tell us one thing that teens may not realize when they feel they are in a serious, romantic relationship?
Miranda: I don’t think there is anything wrong with serious romantic relationships, but it’s easy to get caught up in them and lose sight of the bigger picture—that’s part of what happened between Kamran and me, both of us for different reasons. Remember to stay grounded in your friendships, your goals, and the things you know to be true.
J: If you could go back to before you were pregnant and give yourself advice, what would you say?
Miranda: I think I would tell myself to take a step back. I did good things for the wrong reasons and some not-so-good things for the right ones. It’s hard to see things clearly when you’re right in the middle of them. It helps to have good friends to stand by you through the hard times, and the confusing times. Sometimes it’s difficult to find a true friend, but it’s worth it.

J: Out of everything you have had to experience, what sticks out as the hardest part? What one thing did you learn the most from?
Miranda: The hardest part was losing my sister and learning to stand on my own. I think I was looking for myself in her, and later in Delaney and other people. It seems so distant, now that my life has taken such a different turn. When you learn something with your heart and not your head, it changes everything.

J: Most teens don't have a good understanding of what pregnancy is actually like. Can you share with us what part of it surprised you the most?
Miranda: I think it surprised me that you could get so close to something you’ve never seen or heard. After Lexi was born, I just kept staring at her, like, Is that you? Is that really you? Someone you know and don’t know at the same time. It still surprises me every day.

J: If Xanda had been alive when you learned the news of your pregnancy, what do you think her first words to you would have been?

Miranda: I’m not sure what she would say, but I can picture what she might do: she would spin around with her hands over her mouth. She might say, “That’s terrible.” Or she might say, “That’s wonderful!” She might even say, “I can’t believe it’s you and not me.” But after the initial shock, she would throw her whole self into sticking by me through it all.

J: Do you have a new outlook on life and loss, or a new philosophy you now try to go by?
Miranda: What sticks out for me the most is when Nik talked about why difficult things happen. She said, “We don’t always know why things happen until down the road.” The future is where the hope is, she said. I don’t know what’s in the future, but I know I’m hopeful now.

And here is a BONUS! A video from Holly where she discusses her deepest, darkest secrets! Wouldn't you like to know some of Holly's Secrets?

Tell Me A Secret by Holly Cupala Publisher: HarperCollins (June 22nd, 2010) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 256 pages In the five years since her bad-girl sister Xanda’s death, Miranda Mathison has wondered about the secret her sister took to the grave, and what really happened the night she died. Now, just as Miranda is on the cusp of her dreams—a best friend to unlock her sister’s world, a ticket to art school, and a boyfriend to fly her away from it all—Miranda has a secret all her own.

Then two lines on a pregnancy test confirm her worst fears. Stripped of her former life, Miranda must make a choice with tremendous consequences and finally face her sister’s demons and her own.

Giveaway

Prize:

• 1 winner will receive a TELL ME A SECRET ART PRINT — Inspired by the book trailer.

• 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 December 15th.
• Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
• The form must be filled out to enter.

Podcast To access the Tell Me a Secret podcast, click on the banner or HERE to get to the page.

Find Holly Cupala Holly Cupala / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads
Purchase Tell Me A Secret Amazon / The Book Depository / Barnes & Noble
Book Trailer

Thanks so much Holly for the post, giveaway, and VIDEO!

The Tell Me A Secret blog tour is hosted by Teen {book} scene.You can USE GOOGLE to visit the other stops on the tour.

The amazing Holly Cupala is having a trailer release party for her newest book Don't Breathe a Word. Holly has incredible book trailers so you gotta check it out!

And there are PRIZES!
PRIZES:
Five Grand Prizes: Signed copies of Don’t Breathe a Word, Tell Me a Secret, the TMAS special edition audiobook, bookmarks, stickers, and other swag*
Ten Runner-Up Prizes: Don’t Breathe a Word flyers, bookmarks, stickers, and a TMAS button*
Plus the first forty people who buy the book at this link between now and Valentine’s Day get DBAW bookmarks and stickers from me!*
*Must include mailing address with entry. All prizes ship to US addresses (sorry!) HOW TO ENTER:
1. USE GOOGLE to go to the DBAW trailer link, then click the Share button to send to your Facebook, Twitter, Google+, MySpace, blog, or other social network. 5 pts each 2. USE GOOGLE to tell us where you posted and enter to win
3. Buy the book at this link for more chances to win!

It has been a crazy month since we moved so I am extremely behind on IMM. This isn't everything from the past month but it's most of the books/swag. Hopefully soon I can get back on track and do them each week again: ) Sorry for the picture overload in this post!

Special thanks to HarperTeen, Penguin, Bloomsbury, Little Brown, Random House, and Sourcebooks.
And, big hugs to Deb Caletti for taking the time to sign my books, Jeri Smith-Ready for sending me a signed copy of Bad to the Bone, Nancy Holder and Erin (love you both!), Angeline Kace, Michelle Zink, and Sophie Jordan for the other goodies this week!

Signed Books

Review
Audition (ARC) by Stasia Ward Kehoe
Circle of Fire by Michelle Zink
The Power of Six (ARC) by Pittacus Lore
Supernaturally (ARC) by Kiersten White
Love Story by Janenifer Echols
The Carrier of the Mark (ARC) by Leigh Fallon
Don't Breathe a Word (ARC) by Holly Cupala
The Fox Chronicles by Mary E. Pearson
Vanish (ARC) by Sophie Jordan
Sweet Venom (ARC) by Tera Lynn Childs
The Dream Catchers by
The Predicteds by Christine Seifert
Glow (ARC +2 HB copies) by Amy Kathleen Ryan
Michael Vey by Richard Paul Evens
Hades by Alexandra Adornetto
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
Melody Burning (ARC) by Whitley Strieber
The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
The Shattering by Karen Healey
… and adorable towel from Little, Brown!

Purchased
A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford
The Summer of Skinny Dipping by Amanda Howells
Birthmarked by Caragh M O'Brien
The Fledgling Handbook 101 by P.C. Cast

Purchased (Signed)

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Spells by Aprilynne Pike

Gifted (Signed)
Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
Crusade by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (and signed bookplate)

From Ash to Nash Tour (got signed)
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Hourglass by Myra McEntire
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Swag
Firelight and Vanish cards and stickers from Sophie Jordan
Descended by Blood bookmarks (signed) by Angeline Kace
Card from Deb Caletti

Deb Caletti (Signed)
When I worked with Deb Caletti on the Stand Up Against Abuse feature she was kind enough to sign all of the books I had by her!
The Fortunes of Indigo Sky
Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
The Six Rules of Maybe
Stay
The Secret Life of Prince Charming
The Nature of Jade

Something that didn't come IMM!

I got a new car!! It's a 2011 Kia Soul (Alien color!) and I absolutely love it. Technically this is my very first car that's just for me (okay.me and my 3 year old, ha!) But if you are thinking"ya know, this car makes me think of a hamster" you would be correct! It is the car that was featured on the VMAs and I adore their commercial!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

*IMM is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren and it was inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Never to Sleep (Soul Screamers 5.5) by Rachel Vincent (Harlequin 1/1/2012) Irises by Francisco X. Stork (Arthur a. Levine 1/1/2012) The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Janenifer E. Smith (Poppy 1/2/2012)

Darkness Falls (Immortal Beloved #2) by Cate Tiernan (Poppy 1/2/2012) Unraveling Isobel by Eileen Cook (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012) Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012)

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer (Philomel 1/3/2012) Don't Breathe a Word by Holly Cupala (HarperTeen 1/3/2012) Pretty Little Liars: A Pretty Little Liars Collection (HarperCollins 1/3/2012)

Dreaming Awake (Falling Under #2) by Gwen Hayes (NAL Trade 1/3/2012) Charmfall (Dark Elite #3) by Chloe Neill (NAL Trade 1/3/2012) Dragonswood by Janey Lee Carey (Penguin Young Readers 1/5/2012)

Love? Maybe by Heather Hepler (Dial 1/5/2012) The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (Dutton Juvenile 1/10/2012) A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis (Razorbill 1/10/2012)

Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica #2) by Beth Fantaskey (Harcourt Children's Books 1/10/2012)

Cracked by K.M. Walton (Simon Pulse 1/3/2012) Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (HarperCollins 1/3/2012) The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams (Simon & Schuster 1/3/2012)

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer (Feiwel & Friends 1/3/2012) Switched (Trylle Trilogy #1) by Amanda Hocking (St. Martin's Griffin 1/3/2012) A Witch in Winter (Winter Trilogy #1) by Ruth Warburton (Hodder Children's Books 1/5/2012)

Destiny's Fire by Trisha Wolfe (Omnific Publishing 1/10/2012) Ditched: A Love Story by Robin Mellom (Disney Hyperion 1/10/2012) The Gathering Storm (The Katerina Trilogy #1) by Robin Bridges (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 1/10/2012)

What books are you most excited to read?

If you know of any other new releases for January 1st-15th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!

3. Do you have your own blog or plan to start one? (If you have one, do you find blogging to be fun? If you don't have one, why the heck not??)

I’ve had a blog (http://blog.jerismithready.com) since September 2004. When I first started blogging, it was this magical way to interact instantaneously with my friends (and eventually readers) and spout off about whatever weird thing I was thinking about. It was more fun, inclusive, and substantive than e-mail and chats. But now, Twitter and Facebook satisfy my urge to socialize much better than blogging does. I can have an actual conversation instead of me putting out this essay and people responding.

I really admire authors who can blog well and do it consistently, but good blogging for me comes from the same well of creative energy as writing books does. So you can always tell when my writing is going well, because that’s when my blog gets really quiet.

I think authors (or anyone) should only do the stuff online that they enjoy, because that — Jeri Smith-Ready

I do have three blogs. One is on my website--nancyholder.com. Another is my live journal blog (Nancy Holder) and I am a member of the Simon and Schuster Pulse It! Community for teen readers. I wish I had more time to just sit and blog. I read a number of other people's blogs to wind down late at night, and I thoroughly enjoy catching up on their experiences. — Nancy Holder

I have blogs, but not a book blog. My author blog is at www.KristieCook.com and my writer blog (yes, there’s a difference, this one is for other writers) is at http://a-musedwriter.blogspot.com/ I would love to have a book blog but I would want to give it the time and love needed to make it as great as this one. If I did that, I’d never get another book written, which could upset a few people, including myself. — Kristie Cook

I have had a blog since 2004. I’ve chronicled my writing career, my books, my trips to England and other far-flung places. Now I currently maintain two blogs – one for the main JanaOliver.com website and one for the UK DemonTrappers.co.uk site. Sometimes the main website content is mirrored on the UK blog, but most time the UK has a different bent. It’s quite a challenge to come up with interesting articles to post. I’m not as polished as some, but I do enjoy it. — Jana Oliver

I tried blogging, but it doesn’t come naturally to me. While I can lose myself in writing fiction, writing a blog is, in a way, baring my soul (without the shield of fiction!) I used to write book reviews for newspapers, and when my first book came out, I found I couldn’t do it anymore. — Julie Chibbaro

I totally have an author's blog and I love it. There's so much more to blogging than just"dear diary." A lot of work goes into it, and the potential for fun is endless. — Janenifer DeLucy

I do indeed, at www.hollycupala.com. I blog about beloved books, events, and of course lots of secrets about Tell Me a Secret and Don’t Breathe a Word. One of my favorite series ever was when a bunch of YA bloggers guest posted for me on What YA Bloggers Want. It was a lot of fun to see what they said—and helpful for me as an author. Thank you for participating, Jessica! — Holly Cupala

I blog! At http://bethrevis.blogspot.com. I blogged for years before I got my book deal and I adore the blogging community. — Beth Revis

Yes, I do have a blog on my website, and blogging is definitely fun! I enjoy writing about different topics that will hopefully be of interest to readers. — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

I do have a blog as part of my webpage, and I usually use it to make announcements and share reviews of the books that I'm reading. I'll admit that I'm not that active with it, but it's a great way to keep in contact with people and respond to news and stuff. Having it linked to Goodreads is really great because I've been lucky enough to find a lot of readers over there. — Jason Letts

I have a blog, but it's for my shameless promoting. lol. I wish I had more time to review books on there and write other stuff. Maybe one day when my preschoolers are older. — Brenda Pandos

* The fourth question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.

Today is the release day of Suzanne Young's newest book A Need So Beautiful . I can tell you that I have read this book and it blew me away! It is unique, captivating, addicting, and more! In order to celebrate this epic release, a few lovely people came up with a great idea of how we can all"pay it forward" and show some kindness to others. If you are wondering why that is important to the book, here is the book summary.

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten…

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.
Authors have provided several Random Acts of Kindness to me that have helped me stay positive and enjoy my passion of books. When my blog first started it was those initial conversations with my favorite authors that inspired me to keep going and share my love of books with others. I will never forget the people who helped me along the way. It's important to always pass on kindness in any way you can.

Giveaway
We have several giveaways to tell you about, with lots of ways to get extra entries!

Extra Entries:

Earn one extra entry for each of the following: -Take a picture of an author's book in the wild and tweet it to us and the author
-Post a positive Amazon review for a book you loved
-Donate a book to a library or classroom
-Tweet a good deed you plan to do this week, using the #ANeedSoBeautiful hashtag

Earn 10 extra entries for each of the following: -Take a picture of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL in the wild and tweet it to us and Suzanne Young -Post an Amazon review for A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL -Donate a copy of A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL to a library or classroom

Prize List:
First 3 chapter critique (Jessica at Confessions of a Bookaholic ) YA Lit Swag Bag (Sara at N ovel Novice )
Hourglass Order from TBD – Int (Corrine at Lost for Words )
Random Books (Jessi at The Elliott Review )
2 Header/Button Packs (Jessica at Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile )
First 3 chapters Critique (Cindy at Books Complete Me )
First 15 pages Critique (Kari at A Good Addiction )
Signed ARC of Hereafter (Kari at A Good Addiction )
Query Letter Critique (S hannon Messenger )
Signed copy of Invincible Summer – US/Can ( Hannah Moskowitz )
First Chapter Critique and a Skype Chat ( Keri Mikulski )
Signed copy of Tell Me a Secret with signed TMAS art print — US ( Holly Cupala )
Signed copy of Chasing Brooklyn – US ( Lisa Schroeder )
The Pledge Swag Pack including ARC ( Kimberly Derting )

Daisy Whitney's Blog: 5 copies up for grabs by going to her facebook page or blog.

Rules:
Contest ends June 28th
Open Internationally but some giveaways are US only.
Fill out the form below to enter.

*NOTE- This is the same form on ALL of the participating blogs. Please only enter once!

I am also giving everyone a chance to win a copy of A Need So Beautiful in the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop. It is open Internationally.

Suzanne Young: Website | Twitter

A Need So Beautiful: Balzer & Bray (6/21/11)
Add to Goodreads

This page will be updated each day when a new post or giveaway is added.
Bookmark this page and check back each day for more chances to win amazing books and swag!

USE GOOGLE for details. ROUND 2 VOTING- ENDED

USE GOOGLE for details. ROUND 2 VOTING- ENDED

Comment contest through 10/31.
USE GOOGLE for details.

2 winners. 5 book each. (ENDED) USE GOOGLE for details.

2 winners — 12 books each! Ends 10/31 — US only. USE GOOGLE for details.

Posts and Giveaways

Giveaways will be marked with a * (L) = Lisa's blog at A Life Bound By Books
October 1st * Andrea Cremer and a giveaway for Nightshade. (ENDED) *(L) — Janenifer Archer and a giveaway for an ARC of Through Her Eyes. (ENDED)

October 2nd Amy Brecount White
*(L) — Wayne Josephson and a giveaway for Emma and the Vampires (ENDED)

October 3rd Andrew Jacobson * Book Feature- Alyson Noel & Leah Cypess and a giveaway for a signed copy of Radiance and bookmarks (ENDED) (L) — Tricia Rayburn
October 4th * Nancy Holder and a giveaway for a signed copy of Possessions and The Evil Within (ENDED) *(L) — Kathy Charles and a giveaway for John Belushi is Dead (ENDED)

October 5th * Shannon Delany and a giveaway for a signed copy of 13 to Life and swag (ENDED)
Julie Chibbaro
*(L) — Shaun David Hutchinson and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Deathday Letter and swag (ENDED)

October 6th
* Denise Jaden and a giveaway for a signed copy of Losing Faith (ENDED)
*(L) — Lee Nichols and a giveaway for a signed copy of Deception (ENDED)

October 7th
Jennifer Hubbard
@The_Omega_(Black Dagger Brotherhood)
*(L) — Sara Bennett Whealer and a giveaway for a signed copy of Rivals (ENDED)

October 8th
*Tammar Stein and a giveaway for a signed copy of Light Years (ENDED)
Emma Michaels
*(L) — Ty Roth and a giveaway for a signed copy of So Shelly (ENDED)

October 9th
*Elizabeth Rudnick and a giveaway for a signed copy of Tweet Heart and a water bottle (ENDED)
Linda Joy Singleton
*(L) — Leah Clifford and a giveaway for a $20 gift card (ENDED)

October 10th
Adult Giveaway post - 2 winners get 5 books each (ENDED)
*(L) — @Wrath_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)

October 11th
*Kimberly Derting and a giveaway for a swag pack from The Body Finder (ENDED)
Desires of the Dead Prologue
*(L) — Kelly Keaton and a giveaway for an ARC of Darkness Becomes Her (ENDED)

October 12th
@Vishous_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)
(L) Amanda Hocking
*(L) — Sean Ferrell and a giveaway for a signed copy of Numb (ENDED)

October 13th
*Joy Preble and a giveaway for a signed copy of Dreaming Anastasia and swag (ENDED)
*Jordan Deen and a giveaway for a signed ARC of The Crescent and swag (ENDED)
(L) Beth Revis

October 14th
* YA Giveaway post — 2 winners get 12 books each (ENDED)
*(L) — Gwen Hayes and a giveaway for a $10 gift card (ENDED)

October 15th
Alyxandra Harvey
*Judith Graves and a giveaway for Under My Skin swag (ENDED)
*(L) — Janenifer DeLucy and a giveaway for a signed copy of Seers of Light & Whisper of Light (ENDED)

October 16th
* Melinda Metz & Laura Burns and a giveaway for Crave -2 winners (ENDED)
@Tohrment_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)

October 17th
* Jeff W. Crawford and a giveaway for a copy of Dreamshaper (ENDED)
*(L) — Christine Johnson and a giveaway for Claire de Lune swag (ENDED)
October 18th
* Holly Cupala
(L) — Brenda Yovanoff
*(L) — Book Feature — Lauren Oliver and a giveaway for swag (ENDED)

October 19th
Anastasia Hopcus
* Book Feature — Kelley Armstrong and a giveaway for a signed copy of Industrial Magic & Personal Demon (ENDED)
*(L) — Lish McBride and a giveaway for an ARC of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer (ENDED)

October 20th
* Brenda Pandos and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Emerald Talisman & bookmarks (ENDED)
* (L) — Lesley Livingston and a giveaway for a signed copy of Wondrous Strange (ENDED)

October 21st
Jennifer Murgia
* (L) — Rebecca Maizel and a giveaway for a signed copy of Infinite Days & swag (ENDED)

October 22nd
* Adele Griffin and a giveaway for a signed copy of The Julian Game & a Picture the Dead t-shirt (ENDED)
Jocelyn Davies

October 23rd
* Kate Kaynak and a giveaway for a signed copy of Minder (ENDED)
* (L) — Jeri Smith-Ready and a giveaway for a signed copy of Shade (ENDED)

October 24th
* Michelle Zink and a giveaway for a signed copy of Prophecy & Guardian, plus a CD (ENDED)
* (L) — @Rehvenge_BDB (Black Dagger Brotherhood)

October 25th
Marley Gibson
Jessica Souders
* (L) — Beth Fantaskey and a giveaway for a signed copy of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (ENDED)

October 26th
* Daniel Waters and a giveaway for a signed copy of Passing Strange (ENDED)
* Ghost and the Goth Character Interview and a giveaway for a signed copy of Ghost and the Goth (ENDED)

October 27th
* Lauren Hammond and a giveaway for a Love Sucks ebook (ENDED)
Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 1

October 28th
Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 2
(L) — Cyn Balog

October 29th
* Lisa Desrochers and a giveaway for a signed copy of Personal Demons and swag (Ends 11/12 — US only)
* Black Dagger Brotherhood Interview- Role Play Group — Part 3 and a giveaway for the first 6 books- Box Set (Ends 11/15 — International)
* (L) — Claudia Gray and a giveaway for 4 signed Evernight books (Ends 11/12 — International)

October 30th
* Sarah Ockler and a giveaway for a signed copy of Fixing Delilah or Twenty Boy Summer (Ends 11/13 — US only)
* Simone Elkeles and a giveaway for a signed copy of Perfect Chemistry (Ends 11/13 — US only)
(L) — Lisa Cach

October 31st
* Kristie Cook and a giveaway for a signed copy of Purpose and swag (Ends 11/14 — US only)

2. What are some of the favorite features you see bloggers do?

I really enjoy a chance to interact with book people. I was even invited to do a live chat in Spanish! Another thing I've been grateful for is the chance to donate books to charity auctions and literacy campaigns. We all love books, stories, movies, and talking about the arts. I like hearing about new books to read, which I get from bloggers. — Nancy Holder

Contests and giveaways are great, of course, especially when I get the opportunity to share my books. I’ll often peek at the IMM’s and WoWs just to see what bloggers are getting and what they’re looking forward to. I really enjoy discussions, though. Whether it’s about covers or characters or whatever, it’s fun to see two or more bloggers go back and forth on a particular topic. It doesn’t matter if they agree or disagree with each other, I just enjoy the conversation. It’s like being a fly on the wall of a kitchen where two reader friends talk about what they just read, a character they hate or love, a plot twist that really threw them, comparing books, etc. I would love to be able to sit in on these conversations that go on all over the world at any given time. They’re fun and I learn a lot as a writer. I’d love to see these done more often on the blogs. — Kristie Cook

As an author I do interviews for a lot of blogs. It can be difficult to come up with new and interesting answers. I adore those bloggers who ask me off-the-wall ones, they make me work for it (LOL).
I also like blogging as one of my characters. Again, it’s something different and fun. And my characters get to chance to “show off.” — Jana Oliver

The Challenges are cool. Of course, I love the Historical Fiction Challenge. The In My Mailbox meme is exciting – it has that ‘new car’ feel to it. I love when a great idea catches fire, and you see — Julie Chibbaro

Oh, wow, that is so hard. I would have to say that I love character interviews. I also love traditional reviews, though. There's nothing more satisfying than reading how a book emotionally impacts a reader in his or her own words. — Janenifer DeLucy

What especially impresses me is when bloggers do something off the beaten track, or generate deeper discussions about books and other YA topics. Creative and interactive posts are always fun, and I’ll confess… it never fails to make my day when I see someone’s “Waiting on Wednesday” featuring one of my books.: ) — Holly Cupala

I love interviews, especially the ones that really go in depth about writing or books, something more than just"Where did you get the idea for this novel?" I also am rather fond of the"Waiting on Wednesday" meme--I've found several new books that way. — Beth Revis

Bloggers do so many wonderful features. “Waiting on Wednesday” and similar features are great, because they spread the word about upcoming titles. Interviews and guest posts are also fantastic, as they give authors an opportunity to discuss their novels and to share their thoughts with readers. I have seen so many other fun and informative features that I have enjoyed, too. I’m quite impressed with bloggers’ insightfulness and creativity! — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

There are so many fun aspects of books that bloggers have picked up on, making it difficult for me to choose. I love cover art, and I love the mailbag segments that you do where you show off what's come in the mail. As much as I like reviews of specific books, I like to hear from bloggers about how how they feel about common elements in many of today's popular books. Reading thoughts on what makes a good love triangle, villain, or fantasy world would be fun. One thing I would like that I don't think I've ever seen anyone do would be to choose a short excerpt from a book and describe why you like it. Doing some close reading in the way would be a nice way to think deeply about a book. — Jason Letts

The blog hops, waiting on wednesday, in my mailbox come to mind. — Brenda Pandos

* The third question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.

1. Can you tell us a little about your experiences with bloggers?

It’s been great! I’ve been overwhelmed at the “blogosphere’s” response to SHADE in particular. *blushes* A writer friend of mine compared YA book blogdom to science fiction/fantasy fandom, because they’ve formed a friendly, passionate community around the thing they love most—books! — Jeri Smith-Ready

I love bloggers! They have really helped me get the word out about my new books. I've made a lot of friends all over the world--Spain, France, New Zealand--and we stay in touch. They've helped run contests, review my books, and connect me with other bloggers and fellow bookophiles. — Nancy Holder

In one word, bloggers ROCK! My experience has been almost 100% positive. As a debut author without the backing of a major publisher, I’m responsible for all of my marketing. One of the first things I did was look for bloggers who might want to review my book. I contacted 10 at first and received 9 yes’s. One or two didn’t get the reviews done, but I really was overwhelmed with the kindness and excitement everyone else had about reading my story. Then others contacted me, asking me to please, please, please send them a copy. No book that’s been read by a decent amount of people is going to get all glowing reviews – there’s just no way everyone is going to love our books – and I’ve had a few that were not so stellar. But they’re usually written well and make great points, whether the reviewer liked the book or not. There have been a couple that seemed to be written just to hurt the author and these just make me sad for both the author (me or someone else) and the reviewer because they’re not helpful at all and only create bad feelings. Most bloggers, though, give so much heart and soul to their reviews and to their blogs that you know they’ve really considered what they’re writing and how it will affect both writers and readers. — Kristie Cook

I’ve had really good experiences with bloggers. Even if I don’t fully agree with a review, I respect the fact that someone took the time to read my book and write about it. Sometimes a blogger will pose a question, and I’ll follow up in the comments section. I seem to startle bloggers when I do that, which leads me to believe there are some that don’t have the time to post. I hope I will continue to be able to follow and contribute to the blogs. I figure if you took the time to write the article or a review I will take the time to thank you. Even if you spelled my heroine’s name wrong (wink). — Jana Oliver

When my first book, Redemption, came out in 2004, I wasn’t aware of bloggers. This time around, for Deadly, I realized that bloggers were really, in essence, rabid book lovers. Being a book lover myself, I could identify. Actually communicating with bloggers to ask for reviews and interviews was a bit scary for me (I feel a little funny promoting my self/book.) Some bloggers were highly receptive and communicative, and some less so. It was important to pair my book not just with the bloggers who’d be receptive, but also with bloggers who were interested in my kind of work, this historical medical mystery type thing. It took me awhile to understand how important that was. — Julie Chibbaro

I count bloggers as some of the best experiences I've had since being published. I had no idea such a community of women existed before. Some of my most joyful moments came from reading their reviews, because they are the real reader. These are true representatives of the people buying and reading my books. — Janenifer DeLucy

I went to my first kidlit blogger conference a few years ago, but honestly I had no idea the YA blogger community was so vast until Kristi at The Story Siren chose Tell Me a Secret for her 2010 Debut Author Challenge. Since then I’ve met some of you in person at events, had coffee with others, and have happily visited your blogs as a guest and on tour. You are celebrities to me! — Holly Cupala

I love bloggers! They have been so wonderful--they care about books and about spreading the word on good books. They're like the librarians of the online world. — Beth Revis

My experience with bloggers has been absolutely amazing! I first learned about book bloggers when I joined Twitter last year. I was very flattered by the warm welcome they gave me, and I continue to be so grateful for their excitement and enthusiasm about Other Words for Love. — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

The funny thing about bloggers is that most of the time they are indistinguishable from readers. I can be talking to someone about books on twitter, goodreads, or wherever, and I'll be completely surprised to hear that person's a blogger. It just goes to show that anyone can develop strong opinions about literature and present them in a convincing way via a blog. As a result, I've come into contact with such a wide variety of opinions about different books that it's really helped broaden my sense of what readers are looking for. Because we're all a little different, I have a theory that no two people ever really read the same book, and so it's wonderful to read reviews on a number of blogs to see the variety of ideas and perceptions. — Jason Letts

Bloggers in general have been nothing but ah-maz-ing to me! Without their undying promotion and love of books, getting word out about great novels would be harder to come by. Many of these bloggers (including you) are now my closer online friends and they warm my heart with their kindness. — Brenda Pandos

* The second question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.

5. If you could share your thoughts or feelings with bloggers, what would you tell them?

I would give them a giant HUG! (You know, if they were okay with that. If not, then a hearty handshake or at least an appreciative nod.) Reviewing books and doing it well is hard. I am in awe.

Thanks again for inviting me to your big party! — Jeri Smith-Ready

THANK YOU!!!! — Nancy Holder

I guess what I just said – bloggers shouldn’t ignore or take for granted their role in the book community. If you have a decent following, you’re affecting the lives of others, including both authors and readers… as well as editors, publicists and anyone else who has worked or somehow invested in the book you’re discussing. Even if you’re just getting started and your followers are currently only real-life friends and family, what you put on your blog can be found by the world. I preach to writers about being careful what they say on their blogs and in other social media because once it’s out there, it’s there forever and for anyone to see. And it’s all a representation of them. The same goes for book bloggers. Even if you’re small and unknown now, you never know what might happen in the future and what you say now will still be there then. Think about what you’re doing and how it could affect other people, including yourself. Remember that an author’s book, especially their debut, is their baby. They’ve put their heart and soul, along with blood, sweat and tears into it. They may have worked years on it and they have put their last ounce of energy and self-worth into this book. And all of that can feel like it’s destroyed with a single negative comment. If you don’t like the book, you can say, “This book was horrible, the author is a fraud and should go back to their day-job” or you can say “This book wasn’t for me.” Which kind of image do you want to project? Do you want to be the person who says, “Hey, your baby is fat and ugly. You should never reproduce again”? I’d hope you’d never say that to someone’s face. If you’re going to say it on your blog, you’re building a certain reputation for yourself, just like you would in the real world. If that’s the reputation you want, then go for it, but remember, that’s the reputation you’ll get and keep. Think about what kind of image you want to project to readers, authors, the publishing community and the world at large and then be genuine to that image. And most of all, stay true to your passion – your love of reading and sharing the stories you love with others. — Kristie Cook

Thanks! You guys rock. You provide so much value to our Internet community and ask for very little in return. A bit of postage here and there, an ARC or some swag, most of which you unselfishly send back to your loyal followers with your contests and giveaways. All of our lives are richer for you being there. Please continue to keep us informed on what is going on, what you like and don’t like and why, what you’re reading, watching on TV and at the movies. As an author, I am keenly aware of the hours that you dedicate to your blogs. You are a mirror to our readers and that’s so very cool. So thanks and please keep writing! — Jana Oliver

I went through a lot of emotions talking to bloggers – and I’ve finally come to this conclusion: The reviews on blogs are for readers. It’s nice if bloggers love my book; if they don’t, it’s not my business. I want to say also that I appreciate the amount of work bloggers face: a mountain of books, readers expecting reviews, authors and publishers hounding. Blogs are a great way to make friends, to share your opinion, to express yourself in a wonderfully creative way. I think bloggers should continue with their awesome labor of love. A big round of applause for all of you! And Happy Anniversary to you, Jessica. — Julie Chibbaro

Oh, this is easy! Keep on doing what you're doing, because not only is it a beautiful support for emerging authors, it's also doing a wonderful service, spreading your passion for reading to all generations… keeping books in people's hands and on their e-readers! — Janenifer DeLucy

You know what I like best about you? Your commitment to great books. Even if we don’t have the same opinions, and even if we don’t love the same books, we have a common bond. I’m glad the conversation continues and that you are right there at the forefront. — Holly Cupala

Thank you!!! You all rock! — Beth Revis

I want to tell bloggers that I truly appreciate them and everything they do. — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

I'd tell bloggers to keep going what they love. Even if you don't have the biggest blog out there, the time you spend on it still makes a difference. Hearing that you enjoyed a book can really make an author's day, which is one of the major reasons why I even started writing in the first place. Books are supposed to be about enjoyment and entertainment, and we do our best to come up with something clever and unique for you. It's nice when it works out the way we intend it. So keep up the great work!
I'll close with a huge congratulations to Jessica for a fabulous year of blogging! Between her schoolwork and her family, I'm surprised she's not forced to eat in the shower to conserve time, but she manages to put together an amazing blog showcasing lots of up-and-coming authors. I hope your next year is just as incredible! Thank you, Jessica! — Jason Letts

Most bloggers are so professional, thankful, polite and follow-through with what they say they'll do. I've only found a handful of those who have a chip on their shoulder and write snarky reviews or get so unindated with books, they forget to do as they promised. One thing that irks me is review policies that say"I will do my best to review books, but I might be able to get to them all" especially if they ASKED for the book. That is just plan ridiculous and unacceptable. If you agree to receive a free book in exchange for a review, review it (timely), especially if the author is sending a copy they paid for. It's just polite. If you can't finish it, then say so and pass it along. Don't waste their investment.Also, provide spoiler free or warnings that your review will have spoilers, please. Don't get me wrong, though. Overall, bloggers are awesome, thoughtful and I appreciate all they do! — Brenda Pandos

*I'd like to thank all of the authors for participating. You are all amazing and I enjoyed seeing your outlook on the blogging community. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.

4. In what ways do you feel bloggers make a difference in the book community? Have you ever been surprised by their influence?

It feels like they make a big difference, or at least I’d like to think so. They definitely can help make an author look good to their publisher, which is always nice.

I’m not sure how much they affect book sales on a grand scale, because I see some books adored by bloggers that don’t sell well, and some huge bestsellers that bloggers give very mixed or negative reviews. I guess that’s the case with anything, though—like movies that do great at the box office despite really bad reviews.

That being said! If a reader sees ten good reviews for a certain book, even if they just glance at them and don’t follow the links to read more or buy, that tenth good review might be the one that makes them pick up that book when they see it in the store or library. So even though Reviews 1-9 didn’t directly result in a sale, that doesn’t mean they weren’t necessary.

I would love to hear readers talk about what it is about certain reviews that puts them over the edge between, “Hmm, that sounds good, I might want to read that some time,” and “I must buy that book now!” — Jeri Smith-Ready

It was a little difficult for me to realize how many people are reviewing my books, and keeping track of my publications. I was a bit self-conscious for a while, but I've gotten used to it over the years. I'm delighted that bloggers have so much influence. They help me get the word out about what I'm doing, and what's coming up soon. — Nancy Holder

Bloggers have found a way to bridge the ravine between author and reader. Professional reviewers who write for the big newspapers and magazines are at arm’s length of both writer and reader. They serve a purpose, but they’re just talking heads giving a static opinion. Bloggers make the connection and create the personal relationships. They are real readers who read for fun, get excited about authors and books and enjoy sharing their passion with others. Instead of getting the opinion of some person sitting in a sky-rise office, we’re getting the opinion of a friend whose tastes we know and usually tend to agree with.

Bloggers also provide a way for authors to reach out to readers through interviews and guest posts. They help to make authors feel more like real people to readers, as well as the opposite – give authors names and faces of their fans. A good blogger can have such a positive influence on the book community. I can’t say that I’m surprised by their influence, but I’m glad for them to have it. Actual readers deserve to have a say in what they want to read instead of choices being dictated by a handful of decision-makers. Bloggers represent the readers and serve as their voice. It’s really an awesome position to be in and one bloggers shouldn’t take lightly. — Kristie Cook

I’m still amazed by the truly global nature of many of these blogs. People from many nations all gather in one location to share their words, their stories and talk about what’s important to them, be it real life, books, movies, whatever. Wow. Talk about shrinking the world to fit on the head of a pin. I have met many new friends via blogs from as far away as Israel and Australia. They share with me books they enjoy and I do the same. That global community of readers is truly awe inspiring, at least for me. — Jana Oliver

Bloggers open up a completely new avenue for communication with readers. They’re like friends telling you their opinions of things. I think the whole internet is like that. We’ve fallen in love with judging things, which I think comes pretty naturally to us. I’m not sure bloggers always realize how powerful they are. — Julie Chibbaro

Bloggers, in so many ways, are more focused on good books… not necessarily highly commercialized ones. I've seen many an indie author being recognized for their work thanks to bloggers, and I absolutely know they impact other readers. I think people can relate well to how real bloggers feel about a story more than anyone else, and these bloggers are right there in the thick of novels, reading like it's going out of style. They're some majorly dedicated people. — Janenifer DeLucy

Definitely. After Kristi blogged about Tell Me a Secret, suddenly it was everywhere. Bloggers helped spread the word about the book launch and later the trailer launch party, which spread like wildfire in just a couple of days. I often read my favorite blogs to find out about the latest book obsessions, what interests readers, and their thoughts about the future of YA. — Holly Cupala

I think bloggers do a fantastic job about getting the word out about books. I've found countless books from bloggers, some of my favorite reads. The blogs I like best are the ones that really embrace books. I'm not at all surprised by their effect because really, the best thing you can do for a book is tell a friend about it. Blogging is telling a friend--and the rest of the online world. — Beth Revis

I think that bloggers make a huge difference in the book community. I honestly have no idea how people knew about new novels before book bloggers came along! The internet is an efficient way of spreading information, and bloggers do a phenomenal job of publicizing literature. The book blogging community is filled with intelligent people who love reading and writing, and their passion for books is evident. It’s fantastic that there is a thriving community of people who enjoy discussing and promoting books in a productive and positive way. The existence of this community is also great for young people, especially high school and college students. Reading and writing used to be such a solitary activity—it wasn’t as if young people could join a team of readers and writers. But now they can, because book bloggers provide the same support and synergy as a team, which is fabulous! — Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Book bloggers are the cornerstone of the book community. It's not an accident that the biggest fans of any book are usually bloggers, because they're the ones who are most interested in spreading the word about great, new stories and most eager to get their hands on new ones. There's an interesting kind of trust in the relationship between bloggers and other readers. It's more like hearing from a friend who liked a book rather than reading a review published in a newspaper somewhere by someone whose tastes might be completely different than yours and who you'll never meet. Most bloggers are very accessible and eager to talk. That's where the community feel comes from. — Jason Letts

Totally. They create such a great buzz and tell their friends, it's really helped my sales tremendously! — Brenda Pandos

* The fifth and final question for the bloggers will be posted tomorrow in 3 parts. USE GOOGLE if you want to know more about the blogoversary celebration.