I'm the second stop on the White Flame tour for Jordan Deen's upcoming book Half Moon. If you'd like to visit the first stop it was with Reading Teen. First I have an interview with Jordan and later today my review of Half Moon will be up. This series ROCKS by the way: ) I highly suggest it. There are 12 stops on this tour and it all ends at Jordan's blog on Half Moon's release day, 1-13-11. All of the blogs on the tour are listed below. There is also a giveaway and you could win… 'Half Moon' swag Signed ARC of 'Half Moon' $25 Barnes and Noble gift card Leather Bound Bracelet
1. What did you learn between writing The Crescent and then Half Moon? What were the biggest differences in how you tackled this project?
When I started working on 'The Crescent' I was so green in the world of writing. The difference between the two novels is night and day. I think readers will notice the difference in my writing style between the two novels. The story is deeper, more detailed and the plot is richer. I hope readers appreciate the transformation the characters (and I've) gone through in the past year.
2. Can you give us a teaser as to what is in store for Lacey in Half Moon?
Lacey will learn more about her parents and her history. She'll get to meet some new people, including a few that she never thought possible.
3. Are there any scenes you had to take out of the story that you wish could have stayed in? Yes. There was one scene that I had to remove, but not because of publisher demands. I removed it myself. I know that sounds crazy, however, I had to take out a scene between Lacey's new best friend (Brea) and her mate, (Catch), that didn't make since to put in at this point of the overall story. But don't fear, that scene is going to be in 'Full Moon'. I've already got it planned out.: )
4. You have recently had book signings and that has to be exciting! Can you tell us a little about that experience and if you have any more events coming up soon? My first signing was nerveracking. The store was not ready for me and several people walked right past me, asked me where the restrooms were, picked up the book and said werewolves suck… yup- true story. However, you take the good with the bad. I had one girl come back after buying the book and told me the book was amazing. It was a great feeling. Plus, I've met some amazing people. Currently, my signings are on hold in preperation for 'Half Moon's release. I'll be starting signings again in March (fingers crossed).
5. Full Moon is the third book in this series. Does the writing seem easier or more difficult as you go? This story has gotten easier and more difficult in many ways. Easier because I'm growing into each of the characters skin and harder because I know that this great story is coming to an end and I want the readers to be comfortable in the ending of the story. The struggle is to write to that point-- write to the ending, knowing that it's coming.
6. If you could use 3 words to describe the relationship between Lacey and Brandon, what would they be? And, what words do you think Lacey would use? Only three word?! I'm a writer! What are you trying to do to me? Only 3? Okay-- in my opinion: heartbreaking, fated and natural. From Lacey's opinion… I think her idea of her relationship changes throughout 'Half Moon', so, I'll give you three words from the beginning Lacey: crushing, convoluted, and stressful
Thank you so very much for participating in the 'White Flame Tour' for 'Half Moon's release. I'm looking forward to sharing this story and 'Full Moon' with all your followers!
Half Moon by Jordan Deen Publisher: Black Rose Writing (January 13th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback Series: The Crescent, book #2"I’d been a fool for coming here with them, and now… no one would come to save me. The world that hid in the shadows of humanity was full of enemies."
Faced with death, Lacey Quinn ran away from the only family she’d ever known.
That… was just the beginning.
As the decision she’s made sinks in, Lacey struggles to fit in with the pack and find the key to bonding with her werewolf soul mate, Brandon. But, lies can only be concealed for so long.
Adjusting to a powerful new best friend, a twelve-year-old roommate with a nauseating Barbie fetish, and a lost love that won’t stop haunting her dreams, she knows she has no hope of having a normal future—ever again.
After a long talk with the dead mother she never knew, and an almost deal-breaking night out with Brandon, Lacey starts spiraling into the underworld—a place where all things are possible and everyone is out to kill her.
With mysterious legends of witches and sorcery marring her past and clouding her future, she quickly learns—werewolves aren’t the only ones lurking in the woods… waiting to claim her powers for their own.
The Mares? Well, they are the least of her worries.
Tour Schedule Reading Teen -12/10 Confessions of a Bookaholic -12/13 <-- You are here The Leo's Den -12/16 Bibliophilicbookblog -12/19 A Simple Love of Reading -12/22 Narratively Speaking -12/27 The Bookshelf Sophisticate -12/30 A Great Read -1/2 A Tale of Many Reviews -1/5 Murphy's Library -1/8 Mundie Mom's -1/11 Jordan Deen -1/13
Find out more about Jordan Deen Jordan Deen / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter
Purchase The Crescent Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
Half Moon by Jordan Deen Publisher: Black Rose Writing (January 13th, 2011) Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback Source: Author Series: The Crescent, book #2 Rating: 5 of 5 stars"I’d been a fool for coming here with them, and now… no one would come to save me. The world that hid in the shadows of humanity was full of enemies."
Faced with death, Lacey Quinn ran away from the only family she’d ever known.
That… was just the beginning.
As the decision she’s made sinks in, Lacey struggles to fit in with the pack and find the key to bonding with her werewolf soul mate, Brandon. But, lies can only be concealed for so long.
Adjusting to a powerful new best friend, a twelve-year-old roommate with a nauseating Barbie fetish, and a lost love that won’t stop haunting her dreams, she knows she has no hope of having a normal future—ever again.
After a long talk with the dead mother she never knew, and an almost deal-breaking night out with Brandon, Lacey starts spiraling into the underworld—a place where all things are possible and everyone is out to kill her.
With mysterious legends of witches and sorcery marring her past and clouding her future, she quickly learns—werewolves aren’t the only ones lurking in the woods… waiting to claim her powers for their own.
The Mares? Well, they are the least of her worries. Review: Half Moon is the sequel to The Crescent and one that I highly enjoyed. In this book Lacey is now fully aware of the werewolves and is trying to adjust to her new life. She struggles with the isolation and secrets everyone continues to hide from her. Brandon is keeping secrets as well and it's something that brings a lot of old feelings back for Lacey. I have to say that I don't think I have ever read a series where I have switched"Teams" as much before. I found myself hoping she would end up with Brandon, then Alex, then Brandon, then Alex, etc. throughout the book. I am still unsure! But I loved it because typically books always have the guy who will win in mind. Half Moon gives us an introduction to a lot of new characters that will be like a family for Lacey. I enjoyed each one and thought Jordan did a fantastic job depicting their lifestyle and how it varied from what Lacey was accustomed with. Lacey had some dark times during this book and I felt sorry for her as she struggled with her idea of mating with Brandon. It was easy to see the pressure she was under and how her dreams would make her question what she really wanted. I was happy to see male characters who are not perfect. Both Alex and Brandon have their flaws and it's refreshing. Their common thread is simply the hope for Lacey's safety. The environment Half Moon presents is one that we don't get to see in The Crescent so I'm curious to see where the next book will go. Overall: In Half Moon Lacey continues on her journey of change and discovery as she enters the world of the werewolves and attempts to forget about her previous life. The romance, history, and prophecy she is forced to deal with all ends up as simply one wild ride for the reader. I'm excited to see what else happens to Lacey as she is faced with more questions in her life for what she will become and who she will love.
Find out more about Jordan Deen Jordan Deen / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter
Purchase The Crescent Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
1. The Crescent involves Lacey who is brought into a world of werewolves. Where did your interest in werewolves originate? Hey Jessica! Thank you so much for hosting the Crossroads Tour authors! We are so thankful to be with you!
I’ve had an obsession with all things paranormal since I was young. Ghosts especially, however, werewolves became part of my world because of my dog. When he hit two, he suddenly morphed into this obscenely huge beast that was more horse than dog. So, when he became seriously overprotective, the idea just continued to go and go and go until Bisquit (my german shepherd) became a werewolf. Go figure. Odd, I know. But that is how my mind works. 2. Are there any authors you would love to work with someday? There are so many that I’d love to work with. I love to organize a compilation book with several authors. Shannon Delany, Janenifer Murgia, Judith Graves, Karen Kincy, Lisa McMann, and Alyson Noel. 3. What is your favorite paranormal creature? Are there any creatures you would never write about? My favourite paranormal is by far shifters. They are so versatile. You can do so many things with them. I mean, look at the series True Blood. The different characters on there really bring different levels to the story. I won’t say that I’ll never write anything. The one thing I never thought I’d write was zombies, however, I have a short story that is on option right now with a publisher. So, never say never! 4. Do you have any other books or projects you can tell us about? What can we expect from Benches? There have been lots of people talking about Benches on this tour! Come on Agents! Sign me! I swear a publisher will pick it up! J Okay, Benches is unlike anything I’ve ever written or read. It is a two person point of view novel that follows Danny, a boy that is fighting his demons and anyone else that gets in his way. He drinks to try to forget everything he has done and everything he hasn’t. The other point of view, Lauren, is running from everything, just like Danny is. Her father might be a cheater and her mother might be an arsonist, and she is stuck in the middle—determined not to get sucked into the firestorm of a life that they’ve dragged her into. The novel is about the two of them, Danny fighting to be everything Lauren wants, and Lauren not to see him as anything she wants. It’s such a strong, heartbreaking, life changing story. I can’t wait to share it with everyone!
5. Can you tell us a little about the next book in The Crescent series, Half Moon?
Half Moon is the second novel in The Crescent trilogy. It continues with Lacey trying to work on the bond with
Brandon and failing miserably. Magic, mystery, and some unexpected twists will leave her confused, but stronger, than she ever thought she’d be.
The Crescent by Jordan Deen Publisher: Black Rose Writing Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 187 pages Series: The Crescent, book #1 Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator. Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused. Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever know.
Find Jordan Deen Jordan Deen / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter
Purchase The Crescent Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
The cat. The last thing I remember is the cat. The cotton restraints bind me in place. Dr. Pollock twists in her chair. This has to be just another bad dream… one that has followed the last month of bad luck. “A cat?” she says disapproving, like this is the first time she’s heard it from me. “Yes, the last time I saw Toby he was taken by the cat.” Hmmmm… her southern accent vibrates in her throat. “And, the cat didn’t advance on you?” “No. It hissed at me.” She stifles a laugh. Every other session has gone this way. The dark mahogany furniture doubles for bars on my cell. I see them more than anything else, well, that and the cats that haunt my nightmares. Toby’s frail body being dragged into the woods is only an afterthought sometimes. Everyone thinks I’ve lost my mind. “Hissed?” I think of Toby, the last day at the lake house. We ran after each other and played in the
hot springs. He laughed and played… more than he had in months. Chemo had almost destroyed his livelihood; he had become just barely a shell of his former self. I guess that made him an easy target. “Yes, meowed and hissed.” That damn cat. I’ll never forget that meow. Like the cursed feline wanted to taunt me; egging me on to make a mistake—so it could claim me to. I wouldn’t let it. I couldn’t. I had to stay safe- make the right choice to get Toby back. “Do they still come to you?” “They?” I say, playing coy. I know what she’s talking about. The cats. They can’t know they still haunt me. “The cats. Are you still having nightmares about them?” “No.” They are the reason they keep me here. The reason the red camera light still blinks in my room. Why I’m never alone anymore. Why I’m on constant suicide watch. “Are you sure? Nurse Raliegh said last night you awoke, screaming.” Shifting in my chair, I slap on my best teenager attitude to give the appearance of normal. “Is it against the law to have a bad dream once in awhile?” “Is that what we are calling them now?” The images of the black and white cat, the leader of them all, dragging my younger and only brother out to the woods. A cat. Not a monster. Not a lion or a tiger. Just your normal, everyday, average house cat. That’s what stole my brother. That’s what took him. That’s what I have to fight to get him back and to save my own life. “Yes. Anyone that watched their brother being dragged off would have nightmares.” She flips back through the pages and pages of notebook paper. “Yes, when you came to us you were unresponsive and mumbling incoherent things. Eventually, you told us a tale of a cat dragging your brother into the woods. Tell me about that.” My eyes glaze over, thinking of Toby playing too close to the woods. The hissing and howls of the feral animals vibrating through the woods. They stalked us; waited for the right opportunity to claim their prey. The wind whipped my hair into tangles and only momentarily blocked my vision—that’s when it happened—when they claimed him. Took him back to Max their leader… their commander—the one that rallied the pack into war against us—against my family. A war based on retribution. “I already told you what happened,” I snip and try in vain to get to an itch at my side. Restraints are so last year. And eggshell is not a flattering color on me. I’ve always been a spring, not a winter. “I don’t want to talk about it.” “Well,” she taps her chrome pen to the notebook, “do you think he is still out there?” “Who, Max?” I slip. She flips through the notebook, her instant recall of our sessions failing her. “The cat? I was referring to Toby. Your brother. Is he still in the woods, Miranda? We just need to find him. Your parents deserve… closure.” It’s finality they seek. The truth is hard to accept. It’s easier to believe I may have done something to him than to think a housecat took his life. “Toby is with them.” I start to rock back and forth in my chair; my mind shutting down and my heart breaking in my chest. “He is with Max. The cats took him, claimed him for my mistake.” Her eyes shoot to mine. The one thing I hadn’t told them. The reason the cats pursued us, hunted us down. I killed Max’s mate; ran her over on the road to the cabin. I brought this nightmare to my family. “We were laughing in the car. I wasn’t paying attention. I swerved… but still I hit it.” “Are we talking about the cats again?” Annoyed, I respond hard, “Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.” Of course, my attitude she chronicled in her notebook. She’d use that against me later, I’m sure. This wouldn’t get us Toby back, and my confinement only kept the cats at bay. Eventually, they would come for me, too. They’ll never give up. Max demands his justice. He demands repayment for those he lost. “I think we are done for the day,” she says tapping the top of the golden tenth-anniversary clock the hospital gave her per the little plague on the bottom. Another twelve hours and I’d be back in this chair. Back in hell. A head shrinker is not what I need—a witch doctor? Maybe. Nurse Raliegh leads me back to my room, pushes me inside and I turn to give her easy access to the locks confining me, only to be met with a seven by seven foot concrete confinement. I pick up my chalky rock that I dug out of the limestone jail. I start to draw on the walls again—walls adorned with every size and shape cat imaginable. They’re still out there. They prowl at the gates of the hospital. Just waiting for redemption. They wait for me. And so I sit. And rock. And wait. Wait for the day the hissing meows come for me. Meow.
The Crescent by Jordan Deen Publisher: Black Rose Writing Reading Level: Young Adult Paperback: 187 pages Series: The Crescent, book #1 Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator. Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs. Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused. Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever know.
Prize:
1 winner will receive a signed ARC of The Crescent and The Crescent and Half Moon swag.
Rules:
You must be at least 13 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and l ink s must be provided.
Contest is INTERNATIONAL and ends October 27th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
Half Moon, book #2 in The Crescent series, will be released January 13th, 2011.
- Thank you so much Jordan for the story and giveaway!
Find out more about Jordan Deen Jordan Deen / Blog / Goodreads / Twitter
Purchase The Crescent Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository
* 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.
I’m a city girl. I married a country boy. After 10 years of living in various cities and suburbs, my husband had enough. Along with my brother-in-law, we bought 90 acres south of Kansas City and split it. He got the half with the old homestead (and a cemetery!). We built a house. Brand new. No reason it should be haunted. Right? Eerie things happened in that house. We’d hear strange noises in the basement and, armed with various “weapons,” would check them out to find nothing. The microwave would turn itself on… even after we bought a new one. Just little things. But we lived out in the country, where dark is really dark, so it was easy to freak ourselves out. One Halloween, I was traveling for business. My husband took the kids into town for trick-or-treating while he hung out with friends, no doubt watching scary movies, and then they went home and he watched Ghost Hunters. He finally went to bed by himself around 1 o’clock. He called me the next morning with the following story. He had barely fallen asleep when something woke him. Kneeling by his side of the bed, down toward his feet, was a woman with white hair. She seemed to be crying. When she looked at him, her mouth moved, as if talking to him, but no sound came. He closed his eyes and when he opened them again, she was gone. A little while later, after staring at the moon for a while (it was the country – no need to close the blinds), he started to drift off when something woke him again. The woman had returned and this time it looked like she yelled at him. Her face looked angry or frustrated, as if she tried to tell him something important. But he heard nothing. This happened a few more times and each time, she became more agitated. Too terrified to sleep, he watched the moon move across the sky. Around 3 o’clock, she was there again, but really angry now, throwing her hands at him and, again, soundlessly yelling at him. Then she moved around the corner of the bed, to where he couldn’t see her anymore. He lay, frozen, hoping she’d gone away for good. No such luck. He lay on his side, still facing out, when he said it felt like it does when I crawl into bed. He felt someone getting into my side of the bed and sliding under the covers. He squeezed his eyes shut, barely able to breathe and shaking like a leaf – a big, 6’2”, 225-lb leaf. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder, pulling on it, trying to roll him over. After a string of profanities, he prayed furtively, “Please, God, make it go away.” And it did. As the moon moved out of sight, he was finally able to fall asleep, not to be awoken again. The next morning, as they’re preparing to leave for school and work, my husband told my oldest son, “I swear I saw a ghost in my room last night.” No other details. My son asked, matter-of-factly, “Was she blond?” We moved to Florida not too long after that, but still hadn’t sold the acreage. When my husband had to go back to do some renovations before selling, he stayed at the nearest hotel, 30 miles away, refusing to spend the night in that house.
Purpose by Kristie Cook Publisher: Ang'dora Productions (December 15th, 2010) Reading Level: 17 and up Paperback: 377 pages Series: Soul Savers, book #2 Lost in despair, Alexis teeters on the edge of an abyss, her lifeline of hope fraying into a thin thread. If it snaps, she’ll plunge into complete darkness. With the help of her son and her writing, she’s been able to hold on. Until now. Erratic impulses, disturbing delusions and her own demonic blood threaten her sanity. When she’s forced to choose between hanging onto hope or letting go to serve her Amadis purposes, she faces a decision with inconceivable sacrifices.
Alexis runs to the one place she thinks will provide answers, only to find herself at the center of another battle of good versus evil, not only with the Daemoni, not only within herself… but also against the worst opponent imaginable. But even if she wins, what will she lose?
Prize:
1 winner will receive a signed copy of Purpose and bookmarks.
Rules:
You must be at least 17 to enter.
Name and email must be provided and counts as 1 entry.
Extra entries are possible and links must be provided.
Contest is US ONLY and ends November 14th.
Once contacted the winner will have 48 hours to respond with their mailing address.
The form must be filled out to enter.
- *Hugs* Thanks Kristie for the spooky story and book donation of Purpose, which I can not WAIT to read!
Pre-Order Purpose (Soul Savers, Book #2) Pre-Orders now available HERE!
* 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.
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.
It is now time for the 2nd round of voting! Here are the top 8 stories picked from round 1!
We are changing the voting for this round. We had an instance of false voting during the last round. Someone used a variety of email addresses, including ones from authors, to cast votes. We became suspicious and decided to verify these votes. We contacted the authors and they said that they did NOT vote, so that person has been disqualified. We are truly saddened by this instance of cheating. Lisa and I worked really hard to gather the books and swag for these giveaways and we will not tolerate cheating. It is not fair to us or the people who worked hard on these stories and covers. They deserve a fair chance. That is why we changed the voting for this round.
Now, voting MUST come through comments. We will not accept anonymous comments.
* The stories are in the order that we received them.
Voters: PLEASE ONLY CAST YOUR VOTE ONCE!
For round 2, I will be posting the story vote, and Lisa will post the cover vote.
To vote for the COVERS- USE GOOGLE
To vote, put your email address and the number of the story you like into the comment.
Email addresses may be used to verify votes, only if needed. Hopefully we will not need to for this round.
If you are participating in the comment contest, say"I'M VOTING!" in the comment and you will get an extra entry into the comment contest.
Vote for your favorite!
Participants:
Feel free to post about the voting starting. Please encourage people to vote for their favorite.
You can cast a vote for your own cover, but only once each round.
Rules:
This is Round 2 of voting. It will end Friday, the 29th.
4 stories will win prizes!
The winners will be announced on Halloween!
Votes from Round 1 have been deleted.
For this contest we will be posting excerpts from each story in the order that they were received. If a story grabs your attention, click on the link below it to read the rest. The link will take you to the blog post where the story can be found.
Story #1 — Invisible Gotta find the exit. I just have to. I don't want to die I am too young. He told me that it wouldn't end like this that if I just give him what he needed then he would leave me and my family alone. I have been running for nearly three days and every time I think I am safe I see his shadow again. It all started back when I met the new kid in school. He was gorgeous nonetheless. Always seemed so perfect and mysterious. Apparently my judgment was correct except for the perfect part. As I grew closer to him the more I drew away from school, friends, and even worse my family. There seemed to be something pulling me deeper into his world, something that was turning me almost invisible to the world around me. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #2 — The Current-Day 1900's Spiderman: A Little Boy's Tale A shaggy haired two year old boy with wide eyes watched the hall of his newly built home. Not only was his puppy barking at it but both pet cats were hissing as well. His mommy turned to the hall then back at the display in front of her calling their attention. The little boy dropped his multi-colored duplos and looked to his mommy, his eyes glistening with a look she never seen before, then pointed to the short hall between the living room and the playroom saying one word. “Man.”
The appearances of 'man' didn't stop that one quiet night. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #3 — Friendly Fire Fire. One word. One very short word. And yet, for Kaylee it was the most important word in the world. It was the last thing her mother ever said to her. As a child she had been hurt that her mother hadn’t spoken words of love and encouragement in the last moments of her life, it was only when she was older that she understood the true power behind that one word.
Fire. It brings warmth. It brings light. It brings destruction. And eventually it can bring life. But for Kaylee it brought wonder and mystery and a power so overwhelming that the mere sight of her would strike fear into complete strangers. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #4 — Blackbird Sing They say the beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations. For the most part, I have been a fairly responsible adult during the course of my life. I live in control and in restraint; I have no weakness.
When I approach the enormous tree with the bare and scraggly branches, I see it is full of blackbirds. I should think something is not right. But with a sensible head resting atop my shoulders, omens never affected me. I could shatter a thousand mirrors and still live in good health and in good luck.
My phone shrills in my pocket. I do not want to pick it up. Instead, I gaze at the still blackbirds, with their graceful feathers and beady eyes. Nothing is wrong. Just a tree full of silly birds. I see them all the time. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #5 — Lifeless Love Her breath raced as she ran down the hill. Sweat glistened on her face in the light of the half-moon. Her pursuer was not far behind, his long arms flapping limply at his sides. She turned right and hid behind a trash can and prayed he would pass her by.
“Chloe,” He croaked. “Come out. You know I won’t hurt you. How could I hurt you? I love you.”
Silent tears slid down her face. How she wanted to believe those words. But she knew now that he was lost to her.
Footsteps were heard receding into the distance; he was gone, for now. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #6 — The Secret Ball Louisiana, 1862 I could hear the carriage roll on the damp stone path. The path where what had mattered most was silently taken from me. I saw men in white masks embellished with jewels and lined with intricate black lace. The men who took Dylan, my love. Who were they? Why didn’t I panic? “Olivia Preston,” I remembered hearing the husky voice say with invisible lips, “thank you. You’ve done well.” Unfortunately, it’s simple to know who I am. I’m the daughter of James Preston, the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Was Dylan taken because of this? Because of where I come from? Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #7 — Strange Things Are Happening Emily walked towards the sound of the music. Her friend, Mel, and she were on their way home from school when they first heard it, and they had followed it all the way until they came to the source: Shay Manor. Shay Manor had been abandoned for so long that no one could even remember when someone had lived in it last or why they left. The only people who went in the supposedly haunted mansion now were teenagers looking for a scare on the weekends. “Emily! What the—” Mel started, coming up behind Emily. “Shh!” Emily hissed. “Do you hear that?” Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #8 — Under the Bed I folded my arms and did the infamous mom stare in front of my little sister. “Jessie, I thought you were old enough not to believe in this stuff anymore,” I said, shaking my head. “I am a big girl,” my five-year-old sister whined. “But this time it’s different, something is under my bed!” “Look it’s one thing that I missed the biggest Halloween party ever to take you trick or treating, but it’s not fair I have to do this.” For a moment, just from the pleading in her tiny blue eyes, I believed her. I shook it off and let out a deep sigh. “Fine, Kylie, I’ll go look. But just one time. Ryan is coming over in ten minutes and we’re watching a movie.” She stood at the bottom of the stairs, biting her thumbnail nervously as I entered her room. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
*Reminder: If you are interested in the COMMENT CONTEST, remember to include your email address and"I'M VOTING" with your comment for an extra entry! Please read full entry rules here. To vote, include the number of your favorite cover and email address in your comment!
"The plot isn't necessarilynewand the characters aren't exactlyoriginal, but there is definitely something different about this story... somehow a generic (albeit tragic) plot with cliche characters has completely won me over. " — Miss Remmers
"Anyone who’s had something truly crappy happen to them will tell you: It’s all about Before and After. What I’m talking about here is the ka-pow , shake-you-to-your-core-and-turn-your-bones-to-plastic kind of crappy.
Sixteen-year-old Laurel’s world changes instantly when her parents and brother are killed in a terrible car accident. Behind the wheel is the father of her bad-boy neighbor, David Kaufman, whose mother is also killed. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Laurel navigates a new reality in which she and her best friend grow apart, boys may or may not be approaching her out of pity, overpowering memories lurk everywhere, and Mr. Kaufman is comatose but still very much alive. Through it all there is David, who swoops in and out of Laurel’s life and to whom she finds herself attracted against her better judgment. She will forever be connected to him by their mutual loss—a connection that will change them both in unexpected ways." "The Beginning of After" starts like almost every other contemporary YA novel that revolves around tragedy. At first the "cliche-ness" of it all really bothered me — you know, the good girl who gets straight A's, super anal-retentive, and the ultimate perfectionist who, of course, suffers some huge tragedy and along with the bad boy "gang member" who also suffers some huge tragedy. They fall in love. End of story.
Right?
Sort of. About page twenty when I felt like I had this entire story figured out I was about to put it down and say "Okay, back to paranormal fiction for me!" But I didn't. Maybe I'm stubborn or maybe I am just desperate to finish a book — but I kept reading. [I read the first half of this book in the car on the way to our "mini-moon" vacation] Soon I was annoyed when the car stopped for bathroom breaks and meals and decided that it was in my best interest (and the hubby's) for me to continue reading and skip the breaks. I couldn't pull myself away from the story — not necessarily the plot (two very different things) but the story.
Once we arrived at our destination I didn't necessarily have the time to read because of all the activities planned and of course we were surrounded by family who wanted to celebrate our first two months of marriage together and Laurel's situation slowly became a subtle rhythm (rather than a loud banging drum) in my subconscious. Until the baseball game on Tuesday night (the second baseball game of our vacation). I brought my Nook only to read during the pre-game/batting practice. But page by page (or click by click) I found myself running out of time. The game was about to start at any minute and I wasn't ready to be done reading. After the "Star Spangled Banner" I put down my Nook but by half way through the first inning I was sneaking peeks at the screen. By the end of the second inning I was down right reading shamelessly. The in-laws, friends, and my amazing husband were (for the most part) very understanding and just let me finish. I just kept saying "I'm almost done. I'm almost done."
I finished after the fifth inning. There were times when my heart literally hurt — but I have a hard time explaining why. The plot isn't necessarily new and the characters aren't exactly original, but there is definitely something different, something I can't put my finger on, about this story by Jennifer Castle. Perhaps it is the way it's told, or the subtle progression of the character's grief process — I don't know. It reminded me of "If I Stay" by Gayle Forman because "The Beginning of After" challenged me to consider my own life without my loved ones. But unlike Mia, Laurel doesn't have a choice to stay or go — she must simply continue on.
Despite the genericness of it all, I somehow found Laurel to be refreshing and easy to relate to and David mysterious and more than slightly selfish. I fell in love with the American Boy Joe Lasky. I felt for Laurel and David (although with each additional animal in Laurel's house I felt like I lost more and more of my sanity). I saw and understood the different ways that Laurel, David, and Laurel's grandmother dealt with their grief. It's almost as if Castle has somehow reinvented this plot and these characters through her fantastic story telling ability and has created something entirely different and heartbreaking.
The truth is somehow a generic (albeit tragic) plot with cliche characters has completely won me over. I highly recommend this book to any one who enjoys contemporary YA if for no other reason than to give Laurel (and Castle) the opportunity to prove that the whole "parents die in a car accident" plot is not entirely washed up.
-Visit Jennifer around the web here: Website | Blog | Goodreads | Twitter -BUY THE BOOK: Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble | Nook
It is now time to vote on the story entries! Thanks to everyone who entered! We really appreciate you all for sharing your stories with us! We do hope that everyone takes time out to read each story before voting for their favorites! You have until this Friday, the 22nd to vote. Voters:
Lisa and I will both be posting the stories.
PLEASE ONLY CAST YOUR VOTE ONCE!
The form is the same on both blogs so duplicates will be deleted.
To vote, put your email address and the number of the story you like into the form.
Email addresses are only used in order to check for duplicate votes.
If you are participating in the comment contest, leave your email with the comment for it to be counted. Same as with the other Haunted Halloween posts.
If you voted, say"I voted!" in the comment and you will get an extra entry into the comment contest.
Vote for your favorite!
Participants:
Feel free to post about the voting starting. Please encourage people to vote for their favorite.
You can cast a vote for your own story, but only once each round.
Rules:
This is Round 1 of voting. It will end Friday, the 22nd.
Round 2 will begin next Sunday, the 24th. It will end Friday, the 29th.
8 stories will continue onto Round 2!
The winners will be announced on Halloween!
For this contest we will be posting excerpts from each story in the order that they were received. If a story grabs your attention, click on the link below to read the rest. The link will take you to the blog post where the story can be found.
Story #1 — Found"Hello my love." Came a horribly familiar voice. I slowly turned around and there he was. My worst nightmare. The last time I saw him he was covered in my blood. My knees felt week and I didn't know if I had the strength to keep them study. He smiled that same dark smile that he had the day he tried to kill me. I thought I had escaped, I thought it was over. As he reached for my hand I knew it would be soon."How I have missed you." He said as our hands met. I felt a tingle run up my arm as he touched me. I couldn’t speak, couldn’t move, everything that I had worked for, to get past the memory of him was gone. All there was in the world was him and his hand upon mine. I couldn’t bring myself to run or to scream. I was lost in his murderous eyes. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #2 — Invisible Gotta find the exit. I just have to. I don't want to die I am too young. He told me that it wouldn't end like this that if I just give him what he needed then he would leave me and my family alone. I have been running for nearly three days and every time I think I am safe I see his shadow again. It all started back when I met the new kid in school. He was gorgeous nonetheless. Always seemed so perfect and mysterious. Apparently my judgment was correct except for the perfect part. As I grew closer to him the more I drew away from school, friends, and even worse my family. There seemed to be something pulling me deeper into his world, something that was turning me almost invisible to the world around me. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #3 — Sun and Moon The obsidian building towered high into the thunderous clouds, and was surrounded by a large iron-wrought fence. Erus, a grim and depressing boy for his age, stared at the bleak view before him: This was to be his new home: The Orphanage. Erus picked anxiously at his raggedy blue sweatshirt. His dark black hair obscured his vision, but gave him a sharper look. The pale skin of his face often made others think that he was dead, maybe a vampire. Maybe he was, no, he most definitely was. Due to the monumental hunger he felt building up inside him like carbon in a soda bottle. Every sense in his body became more acute, and human blood sang beneath luscious skin. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #4 — Ghost girl This was when I was around 17 years old. My parent move us in to our first house after living so long in an apartment. The house had 3 bedrooms and one bathroom. I was sharing a room with my sister, she was 16 year old. My two brother were sharing the room next to ours. my parents room was across the hallway. My room had the only window a/c unit. Our bedroom was the smallest bedroom and we only had a bunkbed an old tv, those old one that had the wooden box arround and with the big knobs. After a week I was watching tv late one night and the tv out of nowhere turn off. I thought the tv had a short and went to sleep. The next week weird things started to happen. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #5 — The Blood Spirit 1920 It was in the small town of Ashbury, New York that the rumor became. “Oh, Mary, I’ve missed you so much!” “Hahaha, well, I told you I’d return didn’t I, silly boy.” The girl’s sweet voice filled the room. It was like a drug to Everett and he wanted more. He had long awaited her return spending night after night staring longingly into the mirror on his dresser, until she had finally appeared that night. “I thought… maybe you had moved on.” Everett’s voice tried to cover his emotions at the thought of losing his beautiful Mary. Mary, the one that had saved him from all the darkness in his life and now he could barely stand to look her in the eyes because of her beauty. They had shown with understanding, but that was all a mask to help cover up the thing she really was. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #6 — The Current-Day 1900's Spiderman: A Little Boy's Tale A shaggy haired two year old boy with wide eyes watched the hall of his newly built home. Not only was his puppy barking at it but both pet cats were hissing as well. His mommy turned to the hall then back at the display in front of her calling their attention. The little boy dropped his multi-colored duplos and looked to his mommy, his eyes glistening with a look she never seen before, then pointed to the short hall between the living room and the playroom saying one word. “Man.”
The appearances of 'man' didn't stop that one quiet night. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #7 — Friendly Fire Fire. One word. One very short word. And yet, for Kaylee it was the most important word in the world. It was the last thing her mother ever said to her. As a child she had been hurt that her mother hadn’t spoken words of love and encouragement in the last moments of her life, it was only when she was older that she understood the true power behind that one word.
Fire. It brings warmth. It brings light. It brings destruction. And eventually it can bring life. But for Kaylee it brought wonder and mystery and a power so overwhelming that the mere sight of her would strike fear into complete strangers. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #8 — Stranger in the Night"We should dance," Brady smiled. Prom night. I heard a voice."Excuse me," someone said from behind.
"Sorry, sorry" Brady muttered.
Me, I couldn't speak. It was his eyes; they smoldered. I had never seen a guy with black eyes before. Taking one look at his face --pale, chiseled, eerily handsome-- I was totally, totally lost.
"Stephanie," he grinned. I parted my lips, but couldn't speak.
"Stephanie?" I couldn't hear Brady. I couldn't even tell he was still there. Everything was a big, buzzing blur; his hand at my waist, it wasn't even there. I swear it wasn't. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #9 — The Good Mother Our lake is haunted.
Long ago there was a Mother who fell asleep by the water. While she slept her child crawled into the water and was lost.
The Mother, unwilling to accept her child’s death, dove beneath the waves and disappeared.
Supposedly, she searches for him still. Children roaming near the lake on the night her child disappeared will disappear too. She waits to wrap them in her watery embrace. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #10 — Blackbird Sing They say the beautiful song of the blackbird makes it a symbol of temptations. For the most part, I have been a fairly responsible adult during the course of my life. I live in control and in restraint; I have no weakness.
When I approach the enormous tree with the bare and scraggly branches, I see it is full of blackbirds. I should think something is not right. But with a sensible head resting atop my shoulders, omens never affected me. I could shatter a thousand mirrors and still live in good health and in good luck.
My phone shrills in my pocket. I do not want to pick it up. Instead, I gaze at the still blackbirds, with their graceful feathers and beady eyes. Nothing is wrong. Just a tree full of silly birds. I see them all the time. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #11 — The Mattress Kasey never liked hospitals. They just made her feel uncomfortable. Everything smelled like hand soap or old people, and everything was so… sterile. She especially hated it at night when her room's light was turned off. The hallway would still be brightly lighted — yes, even in the middle of the night — but even the small sliver of light that she could see under her door wasn't comfort enough. Being in the dark scared her, and being in the dark alone was even more frightening.
She had had three concussions in the past spring from playing rugby — three too much. She had spent week after week in hospitals attempting to recover, missing school, missing her friends, missing life. She hardly knew what sunshine felt like. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #12 — Lifeless Love Her breath raced as she ran down the hill. Sweat glistened on her face in the light of the half-moon. Her pursuer was not far behind, his long arms flapping limply at his sides. She turned right and hid behind a trash can and prayed he would pass her by.
“Chloe,” He croaked. “Come out. You know I won’t hurt you. How could I hurt you? I love you.”
Silent tears slid down her face. How she wanted to believe those words. But she knew now that he was lost to her.
Footsteps were heard receding into the distance; he was gone, for now. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #13 — Whisper Damien was filled with dread as he crossed the threshold of Milton Manor. Fear emanated from his every pore, clouded his vision, and burned its way through his lungs with each breath.
Then the whispers began…
Get out! You don’t belong here. This is our home!
With each whisper more and more voices joined in, bringing the words to a crescendo, reverberating around Damien’s head and bombarding his mind. The voices began screaming at Damien, commanding him to leave.
Leave now or we’ll kill them all! Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #14 — Howl at the Moon The sharp ululation had my head snap back. Shivers shot up my spine, the harsh wind causing my cheeks to sting. They were coming for me. I tried to cover my scent with the dirt and foliage around me, but it didnt work. They had super noses, and hearing. I tripped over a root and landed on my knees and hands. I muffled a cry. I quickly got up, ignoring the globs of blood appearing on my knees. I could almost here them approaching me. My blood ran cold, my limbs grew stiff even as I stumbled my way through the forest. My breath thickened, blood tricked down my legs. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #15 — The Secret Ball Louisiana, 1862 I could hear the carriage roll on the damp stone path. The path where what had mattered most was silently taken from me. I saw men in white masks embellished with jewels and lined with intricate black lace. The men who took Dylan, my love. Who were they? Why didn’t I panic? “Olivia Preston,” I remembered hearing the husky voice say with invisible lips, “thank you. You’ve done well.” Unfortunately, it’s simple to know who I am. I’m the daughter of James Preston, the wealthiest man in New Orleans. Was Dylan taken because of this? Because of where I come from? Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #16 — Strange Things Are Happening Emily walked towards the sound of the music. Her friend, Mel, and she were on their way home from school when they first heard it, and they had followed it all the way until they came to the source: Shay Manor. Shay Manor had been abandoned for so long that no one could even remember when someone had lived in it last or why they left. The only people who went in the supposedly haunted mansion now were teenagers looking for a scare on the weekends. “Emily! What the—” Mel started, coming up behind Emily. “Shh!” Emily hissed. “Do you hear that?” Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
Story #17 — Under the Bed I folded my arms and did the infamous mom stare in front of my little sister. “Jessie, I thought you were old enough not to believe in this stuff anymore,” I said, shaking my head. “I am a big girl,” my five-year-old sister whined. “But this time it’s different, something is under my bed!” “Look it’s one thing that I missed the biggest Halloween party ever to take you trick or treating, but it’s not fair I have to do this.” For a moment, just from the pleading in her tiny blue eyes, I believed her. I shook it off and let out a deep sigh. “Fine, Kylie, I’ll go look. But just one time. Ryan is coming over in ten minutes and we’re watching a movie.” She stood at the bottom of the stairs, biting her thumbnail nervously as I entered her room. Want to read more? USE GOOGLE
*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.
If you vote include"I VOTED" in your comment for an extra entry in the comment contest!
Well, I didn't get near what I wanted to get done on Friday. I blame Twitter. I loved talking to everyone and finding out what everyone else was doing. But this still didn't work because I completely neglected Google Reader! Ah!
Today will be my last FULL day of Bloggiesta as my special someone returns from Colorado tonight and tomorrow I have RA Training for most of the day. I hope to get a lot accomplished and I hope that this will keep me occupied while waiting for him to show up (I'm very exciting. It's been a long month).
I also spent a good time this evening trying to figure out if I can afford to go to BEA in May. I've found an awesome roomie (Thanks Sheila!) and can now afford it. So I spent pretty much all of HP and the Half Blood Prince looking up hotels, flights, and fun stuff like that! I'm so excited!
But now for what I want to do on Saturday:
Finish answering/checking emails
Read and comment on posts in Reader
Add Bloggiesta participants to Blog Roll!:)
Create a Cheat Sheet
Get rid of "dead" links
Continue to update "Bloggiesta Twitter List " with new participants
Review Starred Items in OLD reader
Organize Reader
Create my Goals Post for tomorrow!
Write and Schedule my Sunday Salon
Write my Disclosure Statement
Set up Author Interview
"The Color Question"
Post Guest Reviews
Clean Up Sidebars
Update "Series" (Suggestions on good series?)
Review "New Moon"
Review "The Christmas Carol"
Manage Bookmarks (Hot mess! Woa!)
Go through posts and get rid of anything not worth keeping
Here are the books I've received over the past 6 weeks. Lots of great titles I can't wait to read! Thanks for the publishers and authors for these books and other goodies!
Review The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz Partials by Dan Wells Balthazar by Claudia Gray The Butterfly Clues by Kate Ellison Bewitching by Alex Flinn Two Truths and a Lie by Sara Shepard A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford Gil Marsh by A.C.E Bauer Someone Else's Life by Katie Dale The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley My Awful Popularity Plan by Seth Rudetsky The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Verra Hiranandani Daughter of the Centaurs by Kate Klimo Black Gold by Albert Marrin The Savage Grace (ARC) by Bree Despain A Want So Wicked (ARC) by Suzanne Young Smart Girls Get What They Want (ARC) by Sarah Strohmeyer For Darkness Shows the Stars (ARC) by Diana Peterfreund Arise (ARC) by Tara Hudson Dreamless (ARC) by Josephine Angelini The Story of Us (ARC) by Deb Caletti Those That Wake (ARC) by Jesse Karp Split by Swati Avasthi Destiny and Deception by Shannon Delany Cloaked by Alex Flinn Black Heart by Holly Black The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth Trafficked by Kim Purcell Dead to You by Lisa McMann Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler Pure by Julianna Baggott (with scary flying butterfly that came out of the book! EEK) Starters (ARC) by Lissa Price Vampire's Kiss by Veronica Wolff All Wounds by Dina James The Onyx Talisman (signed) by Brenda Pandos (and bookmarks) Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler Fallen in Love by Lauren Kate The Last Echo swag (for the Dark Days tour posts coming up!) Poughkeepsie swag (temp. tattoos, train schedule, beautiful bracelet!)
NOT PICTURED Wanderlust by Kirsten Hubbard The Immortal Rules (ARC) by Julie Kagawa
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.
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