St. Martin's has a great new promotion for Fated, book one in #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël's new Soul Seekers series. When fans pre-order Fated in any format (print, e-book or audiobook) and submit their receipt, they will receive a pair of soul seeker inspired earrings–while supplies last. They look so cute! Check out the rules by visiting http://stmartins.com/fatedpreorder St. Martin's be mailing out the earrings approx. 4-6 weeks after Fated goes on-sale (5/22). If you want to read more about Fated, you can read an excerpt & a special bonus scene on the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/soulseekersseries.
Fated by Alyson No ël Publisher: St. Martin's Press (May 22nd, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 308 pages Series: Soul Seekers #1 The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.
Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.
There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before… but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with… or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy. I can't wait to read Fated and I'm already in love with the cover. Anyone else excited to check out this new series?
The Immortals: Everlasting (The Immortals #6) by Alyson Noel (Macmillian Children's Books 7/1/2011) Fins Are Forever (Fins #2) by Tara Lynn Childs (Katherine Tegen Books 7/1/2011) Settling (Solid #2) by Shelley Workinger (CreateSpace 7/4/2011)
Original Sin (Personal Demons #2) by Lisa Desrochers (Tor Teen 7/5/2011) Twisted (Pretty Little Liars #9) by Sara Shepard (HarperTeen 7/5/2011) Sirensong (Faeriewalkers #3) by Janena Black (St. Martin's Griffin 7/5/2011)
Paradise by Jill S. Alexander (Feiwel & Friends 7/5/2011) Falling For Hamlet by Michelle Ray (Poppy 7/5/2011) Forever (The Wolves of Mercy Falls #3) by Maggie Stiefvater (Scholastic Press 7/12/2011)
Sass & Serendipity by Janenifer Ziegler (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011) Dragon's Oath (House of Night Novellas #1) by P.C. & Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Press 7/12/2011) Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011)
Starstruck by Cyn Balog (Delacorte Books for Young Readers 7/12/2011) Sometimes it Happens by Lauren Barnholdt (Simon Pulse 7/12/2011) Undercurrent (Siren Trilogy #2) by Tricia Rayburn (EgmontUSA 7/12/2011)
Lost Voices (Lost Voices #1) by Sarah Porter (Harcourt Children's Books 7/4/2011) Luminous by Dawn Metcalf (Dutton Children's Books 7/7/2011) Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris (Delacorte Press 7/12/2011) If you know of any other new releases for July 1st-13th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey (Walker Childrens 1/17/2012) The Asylum (The Vampire Diaries: Stefan's Diaries #5) by L.J. Smith (HarperCollins 1/17/2012) Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand (HarperCollins 1/17/2012)
Truth (XVI #2) by Julia Karr (Speak 1/19/2012) Try Not to Breathe by Janenifer R. Hubbard (Viking Juvenile 1/19/2012) Havoc (Deviants #2) by Jeff Sampson (Balzer + Bray 1/24/2012)
Fallen in Love (Fallen #3.5) by Lauren Kate (Delacorte Press for Young Readers 1/24/2012) Daughter of the Centaurs (Centauriad #1) by Kate Klimo (Random House Books for Young Readers 1/24/2012) Forbidden by Syrie James & Ryan M. James (HarperTeen 1/24/2012)
The Way We Fall (The Way We Fall #1) by Megan Crewe (Disney 1/24/2012) Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick (Lerner Publishing Group 1/28/2012 Destiny and Deception (13 to Life #4) by Shannon Delany (St. Martin's Griffin 1/31/2012)
Lenobia's Vow (House of NightNovellas #2) by P.C. and Kristin Cast (St. Martin's Griffin 1/31/2012) Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton (Katherine Tegen Books 1/31/2012)
Fracture by Megan Miranda (Walker & Company 1/17/2012) Halflings (Halflings #1) by Heather Burch (Zonderkidz 1/17/2012) Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross (St. Martin's Griffin 1/17/2012)
Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic (HMH Children's Books 1/17/2012) Everneath (Everneath #1) by Brodi Ashton (Balzer + Bray 1/24/2012) Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodi Meadows (HarperCollins 1/31/2012)
Article 5 (Article 5 #1) by Kristen Simmons (Tor Teen 1/31/2012) New Girl by Paige Harbison (Harlequin Teen 1/31/2012) What books are you most excited to read?
If you know of any other new releases for January 16th-31st feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
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!
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?
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!
This week was sooooooooo good!!! Not only was I blessed with great review books but I won an incredible contest from the Bewitched Bookworms and won 5 signed books from the Dark Days of Supernatural tour! *happy dance!!* Absolutely made my week. I didn't have anything by these authors signed and I'm a huge fan of all of them so I will cherish these books forever.
Also, huge thanks to Janenifer Sommersby (who gave me the best book personalization of all time), Harlequin Teen, Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Tachyon Publishing, and Lisa at A Life Bound by Books.
Review Sleight (SIGNED) by Janenifer Sommersby The Urban Fantasy Anthology (ARC) by Various Authors If I Die (ARC) by Rachel Vincent Blood Red Road by Moira Young Sirensong by Janena Black
Gifted Albatross by Josie Bloss (Thanks Lisa!)
Won Die For Me (SIGNED) by Amy Plum (and bookmark) Hereafter (SIGNED) by Tara Hudson Cryptic Cravings (SIGNED) by Ellen Schreiber Illusions (SIGNED) by Aprilynne Pike (and 2 tattoos) Divergent (SIGNED) by Veronica Roth Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
and a bracelet too (not pictured because my daughter ran off with it. Thief!)
HUGE thanks to the Bewitched Bookworms for having this amazing contest and for asking my question during the signing! EEK! I've never been to an author event before but siting here watching it from home was just as terrific!: )
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.
Crazy-good book week!! Got some great summer/fall titles that I've been wanting badly!! Thanks to Hyperion, HarperTeen, Random House, Simon & Schuster, St. Martin's Press, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and author Megan Duncan.
Review Mercy (ARC) by Rebecca Lim The Near Witch (ARC) by Victoria Schwab Putting Makeup On Dead People by Jane Violi Girl Wonder by Alexa Martin .an UNrequired reading water bottle and 2 packs of cards (1 for giveaway soon) Sass and Serendipity by Janenifer Ziegler (ARC and finished copy) Fateful (ARC) by Claudia Gray The Beginning of After (ARC) by Janenifer Castle A Beautiful Dark (ARC) by Jocelyn Davies Released (SIGNED) by Megan Duncan Soul Thief (ARC) by Jana Oliver Damned (ARC) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Vigule Sometimes it Happens (ARC) by Lauren Barnholdt Forgotten by Cat Patrick The Lost Crown by Sarah Miller The Other Countess by Eve Edwards Wildcat Fireflies by Amber Kizer Starstruck by Cyn Balog The Summer I Learned to Fly by Dana Reinhardt Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris Amen L.A. by Cherie Bennett Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Purchased Shadowspell by Janena Black
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.
The wonderful C.C. Hunter is here today to tell us 13 things we will learn from her newest book, Taken at Dusk.
Make sure to sign up below for a chance to win a copy!
Thirteen Things You’ll Learn From Taken at Dusk 1. The only thing worse than trying to help a woman with amnesia remember her name and life is trying to help a dead woman with amnesia remember hers.
2. Be careful what you wish for—you might just get it.. and the reality will probably not be anything like the fantasy.
3. The person you think is your enemy could just turn into a friend who'll do anything to save you.
4. The scariest thing in the world isn't ghosts or rogue vampires bent on murder—it's falling in love.
5. Explaining why you have a skunk curled up in your arms to your mom and your old best friend is as easy as eating a brownie while brushing your teeth.
6. We all make mistakes, which is why it's so important to practice forgiveness.
7. The only thing worse than a pissed-off shapeshifter is a pissed-off shapeshifter in love.
8. Sometimes the earth really does have to open up and swallow you whole before you can accept the truth that's right in front of you.
9. Vampires have no sense of humor.. especially when they get turned into a kangaroo.
10. Free will gives us choices, but even making the right choices can't change destiny.. and learning to accept that can be the most painful lesson of all.
11. People aren’t always who they say they are, even if you really want them to be.
12. Sometimes when you try to save someone, they end up saving you instead.
13. Never get between a dragon and a warlock on the war path.
Taken at Dusk by C.C. Hunter Publisher: St Martin's Press (April 10th, 2012) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 400 pages Series: Shadow Falls #3 Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.
Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she’s meant to be with—and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she’s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever… and not always for the better.
Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it’s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different—and more astonishing—than she ever imagined.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a copy of Taken at Dusk.
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 27th.
Once contacted, the winner will have 48 hours to respond.
Chosen at Nightfall by C.C. Hunter Published: St. Martin's Press (April 24th 2013) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 400 pages Series: Shadow Falls, #5 Summary: Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:
When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all… and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same.
Review:
*sigh* I'm so sad to see this series end. Although there will be a spin-off, I'll really miss Kylie, Lucas, and Derek. Usually it's so common to see a series fall apart after a few books but that isn't an issue with this one. I never once debated putting any of the books down or not continuing on with the series. C.C. Hunter did a tremendous job piecing together this world and, in the end, allowing each character to grow and find their own peace.
In this book, Kylie finally knows what she is and what exactly being a Chameleon means. As the book starts, Kylie is coming back to camp after leaving in order to find out more about herself and her family. She knows where her place is now and she looks forward to facing her reality.
I felt that Kylie showed amazing strength and courage in this book. She knows what issues she will face with Lucas and I loved that she doesn't always just fall back in his arms. She really shows how a strong, confident girl can stand up to people and make someone work for their love. Lucas really has to prove to her how much he loves her.
I was wondering how everything would come together for this final book and I was so pleasantly surprised. We still have some twists and turns but I couldn't have been happier with the outcome. For once, after finishing a series I felt sad to see it end, but still completely satisfied with the results. I won't go into too much detail in case you haven't read the previous books but as someone who reads a lot of books, and a lot of paranormal, I'd really suggest picking up this series. Each book is a nice, well-formed read with an engaging plot and outstanding characters we learn to love with each page. I definitely plan to read more from C.C. Hunter!
The cover of Destined, House of Night book 9, was just released and oh la la, HOTNESS! I am still a fan of this series and even Heath (who is on this cover). I mean c'mon, he's HOT! This series lost me somewhere around the middle but don't give up! It does get better (in my opinion) so if you are thinking of picking these books back up, do it!
Destined (House of Night #9) by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 25th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it on Goodreads In Destined, the forces of Light and Dark collide as their epic struggle focuses on Tulsa's House of Night. Zoey is home where she belongs, safe with her Guardian Warrior, Stark, by her side and preparing to face off against Neferet. Kalona has released his hold on Rephaim, and, through Nyx's gift of a human form, he and Stevie Rae are finally able to be together if Rephaim can truly walk the path of the Goddess and stay free of his father's shadow.
But is Zoey really safe? Does she truly know those who are closest to her? And will love win when it is tested by the very soul of Darkness? Find out what s destined in the next thrilling chapter of the House of Night series.
Here is the cover for A Beautiful Evil, book 2 in the Gods & Monsters series by Kelly Keaton. Very spooky!
A Beautiful Evil by Kelly Keaton Publisher: Simon Pulse (February 21st, 2012) Hardcover: 320 pages Add it to Goodreads A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight.
When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.
Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.
Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.
And a section of this post I will title "Book I Just Want to Talk About 'Cause it Sounds Amazing"! I picked up, and finished, Chain Reaction by Simone Elkeles on Tuesday and Wow, it is awesome! The Perfect Chemistry series is one of my all-time favorites! I realized that I love that type of love story. When I went looking for more like it, I discovered KISS CRUSH COLLIDE by Christina Meredith. First, let's check out the cover.
*fans self* loveeee it! And now, the summary. Kiss Crush Collide by Christina Meredith Publisher: Greenwillow Books (December 27th, 2011) Hardcover: 336 pages Add it to Goodreads Leah has the life most high school girls would kill for—popularity, glowing grades, a rich, athletic boyfriend. So why does she feel like she can’t breathe? And why can’t she stop thinking about the boy from the country club? The one who isn’t her boyfriend, the one that her mother would never, ever approve of, the one that her perfect older sisters would never, ever look at twice. The one who is always looking back at her. Irresistible attraction, smoldering glances, the bad boy and the good girl—Kiss Crush Collide has everything that a steamy forbidden romance should, and then some.
With graceful and honest writing and an electric love story, this is a book about growing into your own skin. For fans of Perfect Chemistry ( <---THAT'S ME!), Sarah Dessen ( <--- THAT'S ME TOO!), and John Green (<--Haven't read anything by him yet). Gotta love a good forbidden romance! So how many of you want to get your hands on this book???
Bookperk News
You all probably know I'm a huge fan of the Bookperk site from HarperCollins. I've purchased a signed (by the movie cast) version of I Am Number Four and a signed copy of Guy Fieri's cookbook from them already. They add new offers all the time and I just wanted to mention a few of the new ones.
You can USE GOOGLE to see the current deals going on. If you haven't signed up, you can use that link as well. It's good to at least be signed up because amazing deals pop up all the time and sometimes they have very limited quantities.
I write for a living but I think in pictures. I’ve always been a visual learner. When I conceive of a story, I usually get a line or two accompanied by a whole slew of images. As I outline my books, I often build the pace around visual cues –and I block out my scenes as if they are on a big movie screen in my head. Readers and reviewers tell me that my novels play out like movies to them. I find that genuinely satisfying.
No doubt there’s a connection between my visual sense and my childhood. I’ve always wanted to write, but before I actually had a decent command of language I was telling stories using toys. After I discovered comic books, I began drawing my own. I was also addicted to TV and movies. I grew up in the sixties with shows like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Lost in Space, Dark Shadows, Outer Limits, Star Trek, and reruns of The Twilight Zone. I watched every movie they played on TV, from the sword-and-sandal Steve Reeve epics to old Universal monster flicks to John Wayne westerns. By the time I was nine I was bluffing my way into the movies to see films I should never have been allowed to see. Like Night of the Living Dead, which premiered when I was ten.
For a long time I thought that I would become an artist rather than a writer, and specifically a comic book artist. I wanted to be both Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. I wanted to be Denny O’Neil and Neal Adams. I have thick folders of old sketches. All sorts of stuff, from pictures of animals to character concepts to portraits. Some of it’s pretty good, a lot of it –sadly—isn’t.
The thing about my art is that it’s wildly inconsistent. I’ve done a few pieces that were good enough to have prints made. My Bruce Lee portrait, a study of a Crow, and my interpretation of Gandalf all sold out signed/numbered limited print runs of 500 each. Unfortunately my good days are like little islands in a sea of mediocre days.
That’s a hard thing –the point where you realize that you have a talent, but there just isn’t enough of it to open a doorway into a career.
Luckily, my first love was really storytelling, and I have made a very successful career as a novelist, short story writer, magazine feature writer and –yes—comic book writer. (But they don’t let me draw my own comics… and I can see their point).
I do enjoy drawing, though, and I wanted to share a few of the pieces I’ve done that I either really like, or that have interesting back-stories.
BRUCE LEE: This is the picture that is permanently set on Bruce Lee’s tombstone. I drew it right there, sitting cross-legged on the grass in Lakeview Cemetery in Seattle.
GANDALF THE GRAY: In eleventh grade I talked my AP English teacher into adding The Lord of the Rings to the official reading list. I had to make a real case for it, and somewhere I still have the paper I wrote. And I had to stand in front of the class and defend my choice. A number of years later I met an old friend for lunch who recalled that incident. Afterward I sat down and drew this.
CROW: A lot of people tell me that this looks more like a raven. We don’t have ravens in Philadelphia and I drew this while looking out the window at a bunch of crows. Maybe there was raven traveling incognito.
UNDEAD (for Ghost Road Blues): This is a concept sketch I did while plotting out my first novel, GHOST ROAD BLUES. I had an image in mind of a vampire pretending to be a scarecrow in order to play a very ugly prank on his victims. I think the visual quality of that novel helped it to become a success, and it won the Bram Stoker Award for Best First Novel and was a finalist for Novel of the Year. This is one of several drawings of this kind of monster. I may actual use this for a middle-grade novel in a year or so.
HUNTING FOR MONSTERS: This is another concept sketch, this time for BAD MOON RISING (third in the Pine Deep Trilogy, of which GHOST ROAD BLUES was the first. The middle book is DEAD MAN’S SONG). I had a scene set in a cellar and wanted to capture the spooky, claustrophobic feel of the scene. Even though the scene –as actually written—is a bit different, that scene started with this sketch.
AIRMEN OF LOTT: Another concept sketch. This one’s for a Steampunk story that I’ve had cooking in my head for a while. I’m developing a Young Adult story –or possibly a series—that’s a collision of alternate history, fantasy and Steampunk. It’s still in development, though.
Dead of Night by Jonathan Maberry Publisher: St. Martin's Press (October 25th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Hardcover: 320 pages A prison doctor injects a condemned serial killer with a formula designed to keep his consciousness awake while his body rots in the grave. But all drugs have unforeseen side-effects. Before he could be buried, the killer wakes up. Hungry. Infected. Contagious. This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang… but a bite.
The Eternal Sea (Everlasting #2) by Angie Frazier (Scholastic Press 6/1/2011) Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari (Scholastic 6/1/2011) Stupid Fast by Geoff Herback (Sourcebooks Fire 6/1/2011)
The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen (Point 6/1/2011) The Ivy: Secrets (The Ivy #2) by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur (Greenwillow 6/1/2011) Forgiven (Faithful #2) by Janet Fox (Speak 6/2/2011)
He's So Not Worth It (He's So/She's So Trilogy #2) by Kieran Scott (Simon and Schuster 6/7/2011) The Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski (HarperTeen 6/7/2011) Nyx in the House of Night (House of Night) by P.C. Cast and others (Smart Pop 6/7/2011)
Everlasting (The Immortals #6) by Alyson Noel (St. Martin's Griffin 6/7/2011) My Life Undecided by Jessica Brody (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux (6/7/2011) Chicks Kick Butt (Shifters) by Various Authors (Tor Books 6/7/2011)
Crush Control by Janenifer Jabaley (Razorbill 6/9/2011)
Possession (Possession #1) by Elana Johnson (Simon & Schuster 6/7/2011) Hereafter (Hereafter #1) by Tara Hudson (HarperCollins 6/7/2011) Forgotten by Cat Patrick (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 6/7/2011)
If you know of any other new releases for June 1st-13th feel free to add them in the comments so others will know about them!
This week was an amazingggg book week! I got 2 huge packages from HarperTeen, and books from Scholastic, Penguin, Spencer Hill Press (Thanks Kate!), Tor, St. Martin's, and a surprise from Jordan Deen!
Review Wanted (ARC) by Heidi Ayarbr Dreamless (ARC) by Josephine Angelini (!!!!!) Darkness Before Dawn (ARC) by L.A. London Hemlock (ARC) by Kathleen Peacock Until I Die (ARC) by Amy Plum The Lost Code (ARC) by Kevin Emerson Sweet Evil (ARC) by Wendy Higgins Destined (ARC) by Aprilynne Pike Vesper by Jeff Sampson Havoc by Jeff Sampson Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake Lenobia's Vow by P.C. and Kristin Cast A Confusion of Princes (ARC) by Garth Nix Never Fall Down (ARC) by Patricia McCormick All the Right Stuff (ARC) by Walter Dean Myers Fall From Grace (ARC) by Charles Benoit Trafficked (ARC) by Kim Purcell Perception (ARC) by Kim Harrington Minder (SIGNED) by Kate Kaynak Half Moon (SIGNED) by Jordan Deen
Purchased The Fault in Our Stars (SIGNED) by John Green
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.
This is a super hard list for me. I've read a huge number of books this year. 154 books as of today! Picking 10 of my favorites makes me break out in a sweat! But I will try my best.
Title: Deity Author: Janenifer L. Armentrout Publisher: Spencer Hill Press Add to Goodreads "History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time."
Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner… and so is Aiden.
If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time"training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.
But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed… and destroyed.
Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate.
Title: Easy Author: Tammara Webber Add to Goodreads A girl who believes trust can be misplaced, promises are made to be broken, and loyalty is an illusion. A boy who believes truth is relative, lies can mask unbearable pain, and guilt is eternal. Will what they find in each other validate their conclusions, or disprove them all?
When Jacqueline follows her longtime boyfriend to the college of his choice, the last thing she expects is a breakup two months into sophomore year. After two weeks in shock, she wakes up to her new reality: she's single, attending a state university instead of a music conservatory, ignored by her former circle of friends, and failing a class for the first time in her life.
Leaving a party alone, Jacqueline is assaulted by her ex's frat brother. Rescued by a stranger who seems to be in the right place at the right time, she wants nothing more than to forget the attack and that night--but her savior, Lucas, sits on the back row of her econ class, sketching in a notebook and staring at her. Her friends nominate him to be the perfect rebound.
When her attacker turns stalker, Jacqueline has a choice: crumple in defeat or learn to fight back. Lucas remains protective, but he's hiding secrets of his own. Suddenly appearances are everything, and knowing who to trust is anything but easy.
Title: Onyx Author: Janenifer L. Arme ntrout Publisher: Entangled Publishing Add to Goodreads Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…
Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.
Something worse than the Arum has come to town…
The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.
But then everything changes…
I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?
No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…
Title: Partials Author: Dan Wells Publisher: Balzer + Bray Add to Goodreads The human race is all but extinct after a war with Partials--engineered organic beings identical to humans--has decimated the population. Reduced to only tens of thousands by RM, a weaponized virus to which only a fraction of humanity is immune, the survivors in North America have huddled together on Long Island while the Partials have mysteriously retreated. The threat of the Partials is still imminent, but, worse, no baby has been born immune to RM in more than a decade. Our time is running out.
Kira, a sixteen-year-old medic-in-training, is on the front lines of this battle, seeing RM ravage the community while mandatory pregnancy laws have pushed what's left of humanity to the brink of civil war, and she's not content to stand by and watch. But as she makes a desperate decision to save the last of her race, she will find that the survival of humans and Partials alike rests in her attempts to uncover the connections between them--connections that humanity has forgotten, or perhaps never even knew were there.
Dan Wells, acclaimed author of I Am Not a Serial Killer, takes readers on a pulsepounding journey into a world where the very concept of what it means to be human is in question--one where our humanity is both our greatest liability and our only hope for survival.
Title: In Honor Author: Jessi Kirby Publisher: Simon & Schuster Add to Goodreads Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn’s celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.
Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn’s last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn’s best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn’t seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn.. and ruggedly good-looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn--but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?
Title: Taking Chances Author: Molly McAdams Add to Goodreads Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.
Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.
She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled… they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.
Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything.
Title: The Secret of Ella & Micha Author: Jessica Sorensen Add to Goodreads Ella and Micha have been best friends since they were kids. But one tragic night shatters their friendship and their lives forever.
Ella used to be a rule-breaker with fiery attitude who wore her heart on her sleeve. But she left everything behind when she went to college and transformed into someone that follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. But now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home.
Ella fears everything she worked so hard to bury might resurface, especially with Micha living right next door. If Micha tries to tempt the old her back, she knows that it will be hard to resist.
Micha is sexy, smart, confident, and can get under Ella’s skin like no one else can. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. And he’s determined to bring his best friend, and the girl he loves back, no matter what it takes.
Title: Born at Midnight Author: C.C. Hunter Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin Add to Goodreads Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…
One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.
Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.
Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…
Title: The Edge of Never Author: J.A. Redmerski Add to Goodreads Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.
Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.
With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.
But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?
Title: Anew Author: Ch elsea Fine Publisher: Firefall P ublishing Add to Goodreads Two years ago, Scarlet awoke in the forest alone, afraid, and unable to remember anything. Lost and confused, her life was a mystery… until she met a boy with a familiar voice.
Gabriel Archer has a voice from her past, and Scarlet's determined to remember why. She immerses herself in his life only to discover he has a brother he's kept hidden from her: Tristan Archer.
Upon meeting Tristan, Scarlet's world becomes even more muddled. While she's instinctively drawn to Gabriel, she's impossibly drawn to Tristan--and confused out of her mind. As she tries to piece together her history Scarlet realizes her past… might just be the death of her.
Now it's YOUR turn! Link up your list using the Linky below! Lisa from A Life Bound By Books is hosting the giveaway for today!! Note: This is the SAME Linky on all FIVE Co-hosting blogs.
