One A Day Y.A.

In My Mailbox / New Arrivals

2012-03-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

These books are the books I've brought into my home, from the past two weeks. All the links go to goodreads, so you can check out the summary and add to your own list if you think it interests you.

Bought (used from the library):
Bear Daughter by Judith Berman
Rumble Fish by S.E. Hinton

From the library:
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
Pie by Sarah Weeks
The Fallen and Leviathan (The Fallen #1) by Thomas S. Sniegoski
Persistence of Memory by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes
Vesper (Deviants #1) by Jeff Sampson
Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington
Dark Angel by Eden Maguire

For Review:
Starters by Lissa Price

Thank you to Random House Childrens Books for sending me a book to review!

Thank you to Kristi at The Story Siren for the idea behind In My Mailbox and for hosting a linky every week.

What did you get in your mailbox?

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-03-07T17:38:00.000-05:00

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris

Release date: April 24, 2012

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she's opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn't possible, she knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her revival, and Ben's possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI agent father's files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what's right in front of her: Everything that's happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben's sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she's going to need to uncover Ben's secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl's fight to save herself, her world, and the boy she never saw coming.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

March Release in Review: Embrace (Embrace #1)* by Jessica Shirvington

2012-03-06T12:23:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Sourcebooks Fire

Summary:

It starts with a whisper: “It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Violet Eden dreads her seventeenth birthday. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. As if that wasn’t enough, disturbing dreams haunt her sleep and leave her with very real injuries. There’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms that wasn’t there before.

Violet is determined to get some answers, but nothing could have prepared her for the truth. The guy she thought she could fall in love with has been keeping his identity a secret: he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her.

A centuries-old battle between fallen angels and the protectors of humanity has chosen its new warrior. It’s a fight Violet doesn’t want, but she lives her life by two rules: don’t run and don’t quit. When angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Why I Read This:

Counts for the 2012 Debut Author Challenge.

Thoughts:

I didn't realise this until now but angels have kind of crept up on me. I have found a few series that I like and look forward to reading the next books in. So I guess I have gotten used to the worlds and the way that angels are portrayed in fantasy, just a little bit. Jessica Shirvington has kept some of those things alive that I love in other books and at the same time made it completely her own.

I loved the idea of the Grigori - half human and half essence of an angel. And I loved most of all their purpse on earth - protectors of free will. And I liked that there is so much to learn about these creatures. The author doesn't give all the information at once and that made it really interesting for me to keep reading the story to find out more.

The characters were so interesting too. Everyone had a fascinating backstory, espcially Pheonix. She really kept me guessing about him. Was he good or evil? Were the little hints about him true or not? That's another thing the author does well, is not making everything black and white. There are angels of dark and light but none of them are purely good or purely evil. Same goes with both of Violet's love interests. I guess you could say Phoenix was the bad boy and Lincoln the good guy, but it didn't seem that straight forward to me. And even though I liked Lincoln more, I didn't actually mind when Violet was with Phoenix.

This one felt really deep and yet pure fun at the same time. I guess it depends on how you read it, how you will feel about the book at the end. It's one of those stories that for me could have gone really wrong, but luckily I was in the right mood for it and totally enjoyed it. There were moments of calm and where the characters just sat around talked and then there were really cool action scenes and so much drama. For me, it was like getting the best of both worlds.

I absolutely love this book. I can't wait to read Entice and for once that's not because of a huge cliffhanger at the end. The story seemed to wrap for the most part. But I can't wait to see what happens next in Violet's life, how she learns and grows and how a few of the unanswered questions get played out.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my hones opinion.

* This series is also known as The Violet Eden Chapters

Want to read La Estrella (The Star) in English?

2012-03-05T12:11:00.001-05:00

Javi Araguz and Isabel Hierro, authors of The Star need your help. They want to know if English speakers are interested in reading their book. If enough people say yes, they may just have their Spanish-language dystopian translated.

Here is some more information, the book cover, and summary:

On a planet where the surface is constantly changing shape, Lan will partner up with her worst enemy to rescue her family and return The Quietude to the world. THE STAR. A novel by Javi Araguz & Isabel Hierro.

Head on over to their website to find out more, read the first chapter, and request it in your language!

BookTheStar.com

February Release in Review: Gil Marsh by A.C.E. Bauer

2012-03-02T09:13:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Random House Books for Young Readers

Summary:

Good looking, athletic, and smart, Gill Marsh is the most popular kid at Uruk High School, even though he is only a junior. When Enko, a new kid from Montreal, shows up, Gil is wary. Yet Enko is easy going and matches Gil's athletic prowess without being a threat. Soon, the two become inseparable friends, practicing, studying, and double-dating.

Then suddenly, to everyone's shock, Enko succombs to an aggressive cancer.

When Enko's parents take his body and return to Canada, Gil is unable to even say good bye. He is inconsolable. Determined to find Enko's grave, Gil sneaks away and heads north.

Closely based on the ancient story of Gilgamesh, the Sumerian King from 3000 BC, A. C. E. Bauer has carefully woven the classic elements of myth to follow Gil's quest and explore the grief and growth of a young man.

Why I Read This:

Canadian author.

Thoughts:

Who is Gil Marsh?

This is the one question I had that pushed me from notknowing anything about the book to wanting to read it, and soon. Of course thecover and synopsis are what drove me to that point, so they've obviously donetheir jobs well.

After reading the book I'm still not entirely sure who GilMarsh is. Except... he's a track star, a loyal friend to the very end, and abit on the dangerous side. It takes a lot of guts for a teen to crossinternational borders alone - parents and everyone else unaware of hiswhereabouts. So I'm going with brave as well.

Being Canadian, Gil's trek from the U.S. into Quebec wasn'tas much as a learning experience for me as I know it will be for American andinternational readers, but I thought I'd mention it anyways because it is anaspect of the book that seems to stand out for me as important. Adding in bitsand pieces of a culture or place to share with the reader is one of thosethings that could be done poorly, disrupting the flow of the flow of the story,but in this case I think it was done really well.

Every thing Gil learns about,every person that thinks differently than him all have parts to play in thestory and plot pregression. Nothing is there just because the author wants youto know about it. You never end up feeling like "Oh no, another lessonhere" but everything mentioned is still memorable enough that you end uplearning something in the end anyways.

This book to me was all about certain scenes - they seem tohave worked their way into my heart and have become difficult to forget. I loveGil and Enko for being such amazing best friends to each other that it almostfeels like you are reading a love story. And I love Gil for being that brave,loyal guy who would do anything for his friend, even when he's no longeraround. Gil and Enko breathe life into every scene and I think that's why Iloved them so much.

For me, the thing that worked the least about Gil Marsh wasthe ending. It just didn't satisfy. There needed to be something to push thestory over the edge from where it was into something amazing, absolutelyunforgettable. I kept waiting, holding out for that moment, but it just neverseemed to come. So when the end was a bit anti-climactic, it was sort of like,"That's it? You're really going to end it there?"

Overall, this is good story that. Do I know if it's a goodre-telling of the Epic of Gilgamesh? I have no clue - haven't read it!But...there is so much that is memorable here. You might want to give this onea shot if you have the chance.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I received a free e-copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-02-29T15:57:00.000-05:00

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Release date: April 24, 2012

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Interview + Giveaway with Tony Graff, author of Juniper Crescent

2012-02-28T09:08:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us author Tony Graff whose debut book, Juniper Crescent released in October 2011. Tony has joined us for an interview below:

Tell us a little about yourself and the book(s) you've written...

I’m Tony Graff. 25, and a collegestudent. I collect cuff links and am a huge Doctor Who fan. (I’ve seen all thedoctors except the sixth and seventh. True Story.) My first novel, JuniperCrescent, is about an operation that is changing the world. The Isis operationhas the capacity to cure genetic disorders, certain forms of cancer, and makeus stronger, faster, better, and hardier than humans were evolved to be.

Why do you write? What got you going?

I write because that’s how I keep mybrain organized. So many ideas and thoughts run through my head, and the worldmakes sense after I’ve written something about it down. It lets me expressevery thought I couldn’t share otherwise in a format that many people haveagreed with me on.

Even more, it helps me connect withpeople on a totally different level. People have read Juniper Crescent and toldme about their favorite character, and I’m able to connect with them when Iotherwise wouldn’t.

How do you choose the names for yourcharacters?

Here’s where brainstorming hell breaksloose. I have to sit and mull over names until something connects for me. I’llrun through census databases and random name generators all day until I havethat sudden insight and there’s the name. It has to fit just like that or itbugs me until I fix it. It’s hard to describe, but it just feels right when Ifind the character’s name.

Do you outline your stories before youbegin writing? How do you determine where to start?

Nah, I usually start with a reallypowerful image connected to a powerful emotion. Juniper Crescent started withan act of bullying. I saw an image in my mind of a girl with cheetah spots onher arms and legs going to her car to find the word “cheeter” spray-paintedacross the windshield. From there I make a simple outline, then make sure Ihave the characters completely researched and designed. Once I have a completecharacter, I get to sit back and let him/her tell me their story. It can bedemanding, but it build such a bond with my characters that it feels like theycan tap me on the shoulder and let me know I didn’t write it correctly.

How do you balance storytelling withreal life? Is there a line somewhere or do your realities get blurred?

It all blurs.I think that is one of the hardest, but more rewarding parts of writing.Reality is a great big blurred line for me, and for the most part, it’s a lotof fun. It gets a smidge difficult when I’m enjoying a movie cuddled up with adate, and some detail stands out and tells me it’s a part of a story I’mwriting, and doesn’t stop bugging me until it’s written. Or a person wearssomething a character would wear, and I have to ignore the thought that Ishould get Oksanya or Nick that item or something like it, only to remindmyself I’d be getting a gift for a fictional character.

But, if Iget to immerse myself in this world, I think those who read Juniper Crescentwill get to see it, too.

What will your next book be about?

The second book follows Kora, who wemet in Juniper Crescent (she’s mixed with a lion). While preparing for hermarriage, she unexpectedly gets pregnant. Instantly, she’s a celebrity, and atarget. Then the doctors tell her that her operation has affected thepregnancy.

What was life like for you when YOUwere a teen?

I like tothink I haven’t left the teen thing behind. I’m still a YA, and teens have theopportunity to have the most fun.

Who is your hero? Why?

My hero is C. S. Lewis. He wrote theChronicles of Narnia, and many others. He’s my hero as far as writing goesbecause of a book he wrote called the Screwtape Letters. Once it becamepopular, everyone was writing up and wanting more Screwtape letters, and herefused. He told people he hated writing it. Every day he would get into themind of Screwtape, and it was a world of darkness and sand. He had to hateeverything good, and adore everything evil.

When I read that, I adored C. S.Lewis. If he could do something that, how could I do anything less? He knew howto transport us to a different world because he was already familiar with it.He would drown himself and revive himself to take us on the path he took, andit is amazing.

What is the first line of the firstbook in your bookcase?

Oh, golly.Which bookcase?...

“I clasp theflask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has long sinceleached into the frozen air.”

Is there a Y.A. novel you wish YOUwrote?

I wish I hadwritten the Alcatraz series. I just finished listening to the audiobook forAlcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson. Wow. He’s got someserious skills about writing first-person omniscient. Wow.

What advice would you give your teenreaders about life?

“Life” is alibrary. Your life is a book in that library. There isn’t a thing that’stelling you to be one specific way or have a specific chapter in your story.Write it how you see fit. And if your book talks about cool critters,bibiophiles, and Indian food, I hope your book is next to mine.

Thank you for sharing with us, Tony. Here is some more information about Tony and Juniper Crescent:

Summary for Juniper Crescent:

JuniperCrescent tells Oksanya’s story. She developed Muscular Dystrophy at a youngage, and seemed condemned to be in a wheelchair by college until the Isisoperation claimed it could cure her. It replaced the defective genes in herbody with those of a cheetah, giving her greater speed, sight, and hearing thanany other human in the world.

Not everyone seems to think that theIsis operation is all that it is cracked up to be. While able to cure certainforms of cancer and genetic disorders, many people are wary that this willbecome the new toolkit for criminals. With this fear, Oksanya becomes a targetfor prejudice.

Find it on Blue Planet Bookstore, Amazon, Amazon Canada, Barnes & Nobles, Chapters, and The Book Depository

Or add it to your Goodreads and/or LibraryThing

Author Bio:

I was born in Kansas, then spent the next fourteen years moving aroundbetween the United States and Germany. Then I finally settled down in Colorado.Throughout all of that, I fell in love with science fiction and fantasy. Bookshad been my universal friend no matter where I loved to. I’m currently going tocollege for a creative writing degree. (And I’m currently working on the thirdbook in the Juniper Crescent series. Stay tuned for more details.)

Find Tony on Goodreads, his official website / blog, Twitter, and Facebook

Giveaway:

I have a signed paperback of Juniper Crescent to give away. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks to everyone who enters and good luck!

February Release in Review: Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

2012-02-27T17:35:00.002-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Razorbill

Summary:

After her mother died, Glory retreated into herself and her music. Her single father raised her as a piano prodigy, with a rigid schedule and the goal of playing sold-out shows across the globe. Now, as a teenager, Glory has disappeared. As readers flash back to the events leading up to her disappearance, they see a girl on the precipice of disaster.

Why I Read This:

It sounded unique. It also counts for the Debut Author Challenge and the YA Contemporary Challenges I am participating in.

My Thoughts:

This book wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. Told entirely in pictures, interspersed with dialogue and chat, this is really more of a graphic novel (although I'm not sure you can call it that either).

The entire book was almost like looking through a scrapbook. You get pieces of everything that has happened, but YOU have to figure out what it all means. There is no one beside you, guiding you along except for the linear placement of items and photographs.

I thought the story was very cute. Basically, this girl Gloria is a famous pianist. One day a boy, Francisco, moves in next door and she falls in love with him. Then her father wisks her away to Europe to work on her career in music but she misses Fransisco so much that she keeps slipping into the song Chopsticks (a reminder of her days spent with Frank) during recitals.

I liked the fresh new take on storytelling. The inclusion of links to youtube videos was unique. I actually went online and watched them as the story unfolded. I thought it a bit weird though. They aren't made for the book - they are real people's youtube videos. So do these people know they are being watched by some readers because their link was in a novel?

All in all I enjoyed it. Although I had a hard time filling in the gaps for myself in some spots and am not convinced the storytelling style completely worked for me, I would let other readers know about this one that enjoy graphic novels or experimental writing - this one is cute.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I read a library copy.

In My Mailbox / New Arrivals

2012-02-27T17:06:00.000-05:00

I admit I am no good at participating in IMM every Sunday, but I thought I'd try and make a post whenever I can get to it. I have always loved these posts on other blogs and want to participate somehow. I will keep these posts to the books I'm likely to review here.

These books are from the past two weeks. All the links go to goodreads, so you can check out the summary and add to your own list if you think it interests you.

Bought:
Ashfall by Mike Mullin
Graceling by Kristin Cashore
This One Time with Julia by David Lampson
Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott

From the library:
Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony
The Miseducation of Cameron Post by Emily M. Danforth
Far From You by Lisa Schroeder

For review:
Juniper Crescent by Tony Graff
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

Thank you to Tony Graff and Sourcebooks for sending me books to review!

Thank you to Kristi at The Story Siren for the idea behind In My Mailbox and for hosting a linky every week.

What was in your mailbox?

Paranormal Activity Giveaway Hop: Win Hallowed, Incarnate, or The Alchemy of Forever

2012-02-23T19:25:00.000-05:00

Young Adult Paranormal Activity Hop runs from Feb 24-28, 2012 and is hosted by the lovely I Am A Reader, Not a Writer and vvb32 Reads. I am stop # 84!

As this hop is for paranoraml reads I will be offering one prize to one winner and they can choose from either

Angels:

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

Incarnations:

Incarnate (New Soul #1) by Jodi Meadows

Or, alchemists:

The Alchemy of Forever (Incarnate #1) by Avery Williams

I had a hard time deciding which book to giveaway so I am giving a choice between these three books which are so far my 2012 paranormal reads. I would recommend all three to paranormal lovers.

Rules:

Must be 13 or older to participate.
Open Internationally, wherever The Book Depository ships.
Ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST

To enter, fill out the Rafflecopter below. Everybody gets one free entry and you can earn up to 2 more.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone. Have fun on the hop!

The next two stops on the linky are: #85 My Keeper Shelf (INT) and #86 Chirenzenjie (US)

You can also find a list of all the participants on I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.

Don't want to leave yet? Awesome. If you are a blogger why not sign up for the Showers of Books Hop (April 20-25) I am co-hosting with Kathy. If you are a reader why not take a look around at some of my reviews or interviews, or enter yourself in my other paranormal, ebook giveaway for Winterborne and Ravenstoke I have going on at the moment.

February Release in Review: Fever (The Chemical Garden #2) by Lauren DeStephano

2012-02-23T17:37:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Simon & Schuster

Summary:

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

Why I Read This:

I enjoyed Wither, the first book in this series.

My Thoughts:

Being the second book in the Chemical Garden trilogy, I was eager to get my hands on Fever. Everything about the way Wither ended made me want to know more - more about the world, more about the characters, more about Rhine and Gabriel and Rowan (but I said characters already didn't I).

I was not dissappointed. Rhine enters a world that is just as dangerous and scary as her captor's and husband's household. Plus it was much more than that. Fever was thrilling and full of adventure. I found the writing easy and just wanted to stay in that world to see what would happen next.

There were so many memorable moments here. Between little girls, truck rides, hiding - everywhere, the fever, and the ending (again...ugh...why must I always wait to find out more!). There are so many things I want to tell you about. But I also don't want to spoil you.

So really, all you can do is go out and read it for yourself. It is so good. If you have read Wither you need to read this one too. A great follow up.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I won this book in a giveaway. Based on ARC.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-02-22T08:15:00.000-05:00

A Confusion of Princes by Garth Nix

Release date: May 15, 2012

You’d think being a privileged Prince in a vast intergalactic Empire would be about as good as it gets. But it isn’t as great as it sounds. For one thing, Princes are always in danger. Their greatest threat? Other Princes. Khemri discovers that the moment he is proclaimed a Prince.

He also discovers mysteries within the hidden workings of the Empire. Dispatched on a secret mission, Khemri comes across the ruins of a space battle. In the midst of it all he meets a young woman named Raine, who will challenge his view of the Empire, of Princes, and of himself.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Excerpt + ebook Giveaway with Augusta Blythe, author of Winterborne and Ravenstoke

2012-02-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

Today we have indie author, Augusta Blythe with us to share an excerpt of her book Ravenstoke and a giveaway.

Before the excerpt, I thought you might like to learn more about the books in this series. Below are the summaries and covers:

Winterborne (Universe Unbound #1)

Sixteen-year old Mia Winterborne is destined to be special. Details are sketchy, though, as her dad disappeared with all the answers when she was five. Mia only knows that she'll inherit her kickass superpowers on her seventeenth birthday. Helping Mia prepare for her anticipated ascendancy is Loie Bryce, her best friend and eternal sidekick extraordinaire. The girls' intense friendship has never wavered until now, when Andreas arrives in Salcey Ridge. They both fall hard for the British hottie, who quickly becomes a fixture in their lives. When they discover that Andreas is not who he appears to be, the frightening reality of Mia's powers finally hits home. The nearer Mia's birthday draws, the more the danger escalates and long-buried lies are exposed, putting the girls on a path that they never expected.

Find it on Goodreads, Amazon

Ravenstoke (Universe Unbound #2)

In Winterborne, Loie and Mia's seventeenth birthdays brought more drama and surprises than they ever expected. Now, in Ravenstoke, they are adjusting to the aftermath and struggling to keep those newfound powers in check. When Andreas is called away to England under mysterious circumstances, a new guy is sent to Salcey Ridge in his place. Cian is smarmy and cocksure and Loie wants nothing more than to unleash a hellhound on him. Unfortunately, Cian isn't the only complication in their lives as the girls must also contend with the reappearance of Mr. Winterborne himself and Loie's most dreaded fear of all - a part in the school musical. Can the girls survive the rest of junior year unscathed.

Find it on Goodreads and Amazon

Excerpt from Ravenstoke:

Once back at the house, I creep in through the patio door and jet upstairs before Georgia sees me. The last thing I need is to explain why I’m soaking wet and what happened to my pants. Mia is already upstairs. Upon hearing my footsteps, she hurries into my room and lets out a hearty laugh when she sees the state I’m in.
“Hey, don’t mock,” I say, taking off Cian’s black jacket and stripping off the rest of my wet clothes. I grab a towel and rub it vigorously all over me. “I almost died.”
“In your Hello Kitty underpants? That would’ve sucked.”
“Yes, Mistress of the Obvious, it certainly would have. I root around for a decent outfit. “Have you read anything about kelpies?”
Mia thinks for a moment. “They look like horses and drag people to their death under water, usually a lake or river.” She glances at the wet pile of clothes on the floor and back at me. “Are you serious? A kelpie in Salcey Ridge?”
“Why not?” I sigh. “Bring us your kelpie, your homicidal pixies, your huddled masses of magic-folk yearning to practice the black arts freely.”
“Hyberbolic much?”
I pull on a pair of jeans and a light blue sweater. There, much more flattering, although I don’t know why I care how I look for Cian McSlick. Basic vanity, I guess.
“Whose jacket is that?” she asks, eyeing the clearly masculine jacket on the bed.
I give my head a little shake to clear away memories of the pixie. “Cian’s. Oh yeah, forgot to mention Cian.”
“Keane? Like the band?”
“Yes, the entire band of Keane happened to pass by and rescue me from the clutches of a kelpie. They’re standing on the riverbank in a brooding formation, playing a song about it as we speak.”
Mia ignores my sarcasm. “Stranger things have happened to us.” I can’t argue with that. “So who is he?”
“Some Universal assigned to stalk me until Andreas gets back.”
“Someone you met in Sanctuary?”
“Nope. New guy.”
“Is he hot?”
“He’s slimy and sleazy and I’ll bet the only animal he can morph into is a snake.”
“Wow,” Mia says, “all that in how many minutes of meeting him? Sounds like a keeper. So where can we find this Cian? Somewhere Only We Know?”
I groan. An actual Keane joke from Mia. Will wonders never cease? “He’s staying at the cabin. Please come with me. I feel like he’s going to pull the old yawn, stretch so he can put his arm around me.”
“Well, he already managed to get you out of your pants.”
I roll my eyes in disgust. “I need back-up, not back talk.”
“Wild horses couldn’t drag me away,” she says with a wink. Oh, the hilarity at my expense. I’ll remember this the next time she skids toward death.

About the author:

Augusta Blythe is the author of Winterborne and Ravenstoke, YA urban fantasy novels. She is also the author of Hostel Takeover written under the pseudonym Keeley Bates. She currently lives in England with her husband, two children, a clown fish, a cleaner shrimp and a mine urchin.

Find her on Goodreads, her blog, Twitter, and Facebook

Giveaway:

I have an ebook copy (.mobi, .epub or PDF) of both Winterborne and Ravenstoke to give away. To enter, use the Rafflecopter form.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck, everyone! I hoped you all enjoyed the excerpt today.

Book in Review: Stealing Heaven by Elizabeth Scott

2012-02-18T18:18:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Harper Teen

Summary:

My name is Danielle. I'm eighteen. I've been stealing things for as long as I can remember.

Dani has been trained as a thief by the best--her mother. Together, they move from town to town, targeting wealthy homes and making a living by stealing antique silver. They never stay in one place long enough to make real connections, real friends--a real life

In the beach town of Heaven, though, everything changes. For the first time, Dani starts to feel at home. She's making friends and has even met a guy. But these people can never know the real Dani--because of who she is. When it turns out that her new friend lives in the house they've targeted for their next job and the cute guy is a cop, Dani must question where her loyalties lie: with the life she's always known--or the one she's always wanted.

Why I Read This:

Somebody recommend Elizabeth Scott's lighter novels to me after reading Grace last year.

My thoughts:

Since last fall, I've had the pleasure of reading three novels by Elizabeth Scott. The first was Grace, the second Stealing Heaven, and the third Living Dead Girl (review pending). Of the three novels, Stealing Heaven was my favourite.

This book had one thing going for it that is often lacking in my reading experience - it made me happy and all smiley-like. It isn't a book that is filled to the brim with happiness, but even when things were down, the tone that the writing and characters took still made me feel cheery. Don't misconstrue that as me saying this is a light and fluffy book. It is not. There is sadness, sickness, and loneliness in these pages. But there is also quirkiness, relief, and a feeling of flight about it. You know what? I like complex books like this. A lot.

And there is romance. Oh boy, I loved the romance in this one. Talk about star-crossed lovers!

If you like sweet contemporaries this is the book for you. If you like characters who are put in complex situations and have to dig their way out, definitely for you too. This is the book that will have me tracking down Elizabeth Scott novels much more frequently from now on!

My rating:

Disclaimer:

I bought my copy.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-02-15T07:56:00.000-05:00

Dark Eyes by William Richter

Release Date: March 15, 2012

Get ready for the vigilante girl detective of the next generation.

Wally was adopted from a Russian orphanage as a child and grew up in a wealthy New York City family. At fifteen, her obsessive need to rebel led her to life on the streets.

Now the sixteen-year-old is beautiful and hardened, and shes just stumbled across the possibility of discovering who she really is. She’ll stop at nothing to find her birth mother before Klesko—her darkeyed father—finds her. Because Klesko will stop at nothing to reclaim the fortune Wally’s mother stole from him long ago. Even if that means murdering his own blood. But Wallys had her own killer training, and she's hungry for justice.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens, this debut thriller introduces our next big series heroine!

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Valentine's Day, My Fair Book Date, Blogger Love-a-thon, and an Interview

2012-02-14T08:42:00.000-05:00

Today is Valentine's Day. I generally use this day as an excuse to binge on candy and chocolate. But today I am also celebrating (reflecting?) by reading a book that also focuses on love - Delirium by Lauren Oliver.

In this world people are "cured" from the disease amora nervosa deliria (or, love). They are then matched with the choice of 5 life partners and told to choose one. I'm hoping this will be the perfect book to read on Valentine's Day. As they say, you can't fully appreciate what you have until it's gone.

Today I am also meeting my match. Earlier this month I signed up for My Fair Book Date which is hosted by Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole and Jazmin at Books!!! Everybody who signed up chose 5 books we've been meaning to read, then we were assigned an anonymous partner. This person then chose one of the 5 books for us to read.At the end of the month we will fill out a survey about our date with this book.

And my match is...

Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

This is the reason my partner chose this book for me:

It's one of my favouritedystopians, and sadly the series was ended at just two books, instead of morethat were originally planned because they weren't selling as well as thepublishers had hoped they would, which is a shame because it is SO GOOD! It'sset in a very unique world, and it's full of action and excitement - lots oftension and a huge cliffhanger at the end leaving you needing the next book! Trella, the main character, is awesome,and she's determined and brave and great to read about. There's a littlesmidgen of romance too, not so much that it takes over the plotline, but enoughto keep romance fans happy, I think! I really hope you enjoy(ed) it! :)

I look forward to reading Inside Out. I have had it on my "to-read" for quite some time. Last year, I even made a word search based on the summary.

Here is another thing I may be doing for Valentine's Day, although it doesn't take place until this Friday:

Kate's Tales of Books and Bands is hosting a Blogger Love-A-Thon.

Here is what it is all about:

"A Blogger Love-A-Thon! This will be a day full of commenting on blogs, following blogs, tweeting about blogs, thanking blogs, sharing the word about awesome blogs, telling another blogger how freaking awesome they are, the list goes on and on. Basically it will consist of fun posts, mini challenges, lots of commenting, and perhaps a giveaway or two! I do not have a full schedule completely detailed out yet but I will be e-mailing it to everyone who hopes to participate. Since I am a simple person and like to keep things that way, it will most likely be a fairly easy-to-follow schedule!"

You can sign up to the Blogger Love-A-Thon here.

Yesterday, I was given some blogger love by being interviewed by Cathy at The Crazy Bookworm. Thank you Cathy! You can go here to see what 3 books I would save in a fire, the 5 people (dead or alive) I would like to have over for dinner, and more.

And lastly,

Happy Valentine's Day!

Showers of Books Giveaway Hop - Sign Ups

2012-02-13T08:56:00.000-05:00

April showers bring ~~May flowers~~ BOOKS!

The Showers of Books Giveaway Hop will take place April 20th-25th and

is co-hosted by One A Day Y.A. and I Am a Reader, Not a Writer.

Hop Rules:

You must host a giveaway on your site, you are responsible for obtaining a prize for giveaway and taking care of the shipping charges.
You must giveaway something a reader, author or blogger would enjoy.
Your giveaway post must include the hop image & linky (or links to the host's sites if you can't get the linky to work).
Please only 1 mandatory entry (up to 5 optional extra entries).
Your post must be live by 12:01 EST on April 20th.
The giveaway must be specifically for this hop.
Your site must be family friendly - no erotica or 18+ sites.

To host a giveaway add your blog to the linky below with your shipping info in parenthesis following your blog name.

Example: One A Day Y.A. (Int)

Book in Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

2012-02-10T14:48:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Razorbill

Summary:

It's 1996, and Josh and Emma have been neighbors their whole lives. They've been best friends almost as long - at least, up until last November, when Josh did something that changed everything. Things have been weird between them ever since, but when Josh's family gets a free AOL CD in the mail,his mom makes him bring it over so that Emma can install it on her new computer. When they sign on, they're automatically logged onto their Facebook pages. But Facebook hasn't been invented yet. And they're looking at themselves fifteen years in the future.

By refreshing their pages, they learn that making different decisions now will affect the outcome of their lives later. And as they grapple with the ups and downs of what their futures hold, they're forced to confront what they're doing right - and wrong - in the present.

Why I Read This:

Sounded like a great nostalgia book for me. I liked the concept of seeing the future through Facebook.

My Thoughts:

This was my first book read by both Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler. I think they make great team. The changing perspectives between Josh and Emma were cute and fun. They had me guessing what was going on in each of their heads and why they would react to each other the way they did. Then I'd get to find out at some point later in the story.

As for the setting - 1996 - this was probably my favourite part of the story. I wasn't yet in high school in 1996 but remember a lot of the cultural references, especially the music. I also found myself laughing over some things. Like the free AOL trial CD. Those things seemed to be all over the place back then. I remember at one point we had so many my sister decided to make "art" out them to put on her wall. Anyways, I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. The nostalgia was fantastic!

There were some parts of the story that I didn't like so much though. Emma was way too obsessive over her possible future. It made sense the first two or three times she logged on to AOL and saw Facebook. But after a while it just started to get annoying. She analyzed every single facebook status update so thoroughly that even what she was eating for dinner had her anxiously trying to change the outcome of her future. But obviously, I wouldn't have kept reading if that part of the story wasn't compelling enough - and it was. Even though I did find Emma annoying at times, her obsession did turn into an "Oh no, what is she going to do next?" guessing game for me, which had me turning the pages to find out more.

The other aspect of the story was the friendship between Emma and Josh. The two had some fun tension going on as well as some funny moments. I liked that the story focused on their friendship and even though there was always the possibility of love that it never took over too much. It added a lot to the nostalgic element for me.

Overall, an enjoyable read!

Rating:

Disclaimer:

I read a library copy.

My Deserted Island Picks: Guest Posting on Snowdrop Dreams of Books

2012-02-09T09:58:00.000-05:00

Today I'm participating in Chrystal's "Deserted Island" feature on Snowdrop Dreams of Books.

Go check out the post to see which five books and five items I'd want to have with me on a deserted island.

Click here

Winners of The Signature Collection Giveaways!

2012-02-08T14:59:00.000-05:00

It's time to announce all the winners for last month's giveaways!

Prize Pack #1 (inc. Witchlanders)

Tiffany

Prize Pack # 2 (inc Wuftoom ARC)

Christina

Prize Pack #3 (signed bookmarks + button)

Melliane
Lena
Sam
Sharon
Yto

Signed Ashfall Poster from Mike Mullin

Sonia

Breaking Beautiful Swag Pack from Jennifer Shaw Wolf

Juhina

One Last Giveaway of Awesomeness (inc.. Shadows Cast by Stars cover, Never Eighteen swag, etc)

Diana

Congratulations to all the winners! Everyone has been emailed. I will need replies within 48 hours. Thank you to all who participated and entered the giveaways and especially to the authors who gave up some pretty cool stuff to win. My next two planned giveaways are on February 20th and 24th, so please stay tuned for those if you're looking for more chances to win.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-02-08T09:11:00.000-05:00

Perception (Clarity #2) by Kim Harrington

Release date: March 1, 2012

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Just a note: I will be posting all the winners for January's giveaways later today. So if you've been wondering...there almost here!

Book in Review: A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis

2012-02-06T15:56:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Razorbill

Summary:

Godspeed was fueled by lies. Now it is ruled by chaos.

It's been three months since Amy was unplugged. The life she always knew is over. And everywhere she looks, she sees the walls of the spaceship Godspeed. But there may just be hope: Elder has assumed leadership of the ship. He's finally free to enact his vision - no more Phydus, no more lies.

But when Elder discovers shocking news about the ship, he and Amy race to discover the truth behind life on Godspeed. They must work together to unlock a puzzle that was set in motion hundreds of years earlier, unable to fight the romance that's growing between them and the chaos that threatens to tear them apart.

In book two of the Across the Universe trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Beth Revis mesmerizes us again with a brilliantly crafted mystery filled with action, suspense, romance, and deep philosophical questions. And this time it all builds to one mind-bending conclusion: They have to get off this ship.

Why I Read This:

To continue reading the series.

Thoughts:

A Million Suns was so good! I liked it even more than Across the Universe, which to me means the story is getting better and much more interesting as it goes along. Also, Across the Universe had that whole "The Season" thing which I didn't like at all and was incredibly distracting for me to the rest of the story. But I'm so glad I went ahead and read A Million Suns.

My favourite part of the whole story has to be the wild goose chase Orian had Amy go on. The whole reason I started this series to begin with was the promise of "mystery...in outer space". Well, there is definitely a mystery in this one (actually there are two...but Orions was my favourite over the murders). And although I didn't really get why Orian would choose to give Amy all the information he wanted her to know in little bits and pieces, it was really fun and had me turning the pages. I guessed what this was all about almost from the beginning. But I was pleasently surprised that my guess wasn't spot-on and the reveal had me melting in my seat for more ATU installments before I even turned another page.

As for the characters, they all really came alive. There is character development in this one, especially for Elder. It was actually hard to watch his story as he seemed at times like a little kid who wanted his way and didn't know how to get it except for by shouting at people. And Amy seemed like she was off in her own little world. Even when things are falling apart on the ship all she seems to care about is figuring out Orian's message. But what was redeeming about those two aspects of the story was that Beth Revis could see this too and off course the characters around them give Amy and Elder a chance to grow out of that. And Amy and Elder weren't even the only interesting characters. Bartie, Victria, Doc, the Shippers. We get to learn about so many characters and get to care about them as well.

A wonderful follow-up to Across the Universe! I'll be keeping my eye out for Shades of Earth - next January that is!

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I bought my copy.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-02-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

The Fine Art of Truth or Dare by Melissa Jensen

Release date: February 16, 2012

"Pretty in Pink" meets "Anna and the French Kiss" in this charming romantic comedy.

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

ps. If you are just dropping by please take some extra time to enter to win some fabulous signed prizes (Int giveaway). Click here!

The Signature Collection Wrap-Up + Survey!

2012-02-01T09:22:00.001-05:00

Wow, I can't believe January is over already. It seemed to just fly by for me. I had an incredible month of blogging, hosting One A Day Y.A.'s first ever event. What was The Signature Collection event? As you may recall, I posted this at the beginning of the month, but I will do a recap for those of you who missed that post.

The Signature Collection Event was thought up as a way for both bloggers and authors to say good-bye to 2011 and share their excitement for the coming year. As welll, I wanted to put you all in touch with a way to get some awesome author signatures and fun swag! We had lots of guest authors sharing what their most memorable moment of 2011 was as well as interviewing debut authors and bloggers. It was so much fun!

As this event is ending I wanted to take the time to thank these amazing people who either sent in prizes for you all to win or who participated in a guest post or interview:

Tara Altebrando
Kathy @ I Am a Reader Not a Writer
Megan Bostic
Lena Coakley
Ashley @ Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing
Giselle @ Xpresso Reads
Jennifer Shaw Wolf
Nick James
Ashley @ Book Labryrinth
Mocha @ A Cupcake and a Latte
Mary G. Thompson
Mike Mullin
Amber @ Down the Rabbit Hole
Sophie Jordan
Catherine Knutsson
Deborah Cooke

As well as these wonderful people who sent in prizes:
Leah Cypess
Rhiannon Paille

And these wonderful people who had previous given me "extra" signatures to give away on the blog:
Veronica Roth
Lauren Oliver

Please make sure to check out the schedule of events which links to everyone's posts.

And make sure to check out my One Last Giveaway of Awesomess post where you have one more chance to win some new signed prizes! It is open until February 7, 2012.

Winners for the prize pack giveaway, Breaking Beautiful swag, and Ashfall poster will be announced within the next few days so be on the lookout for that as well.

And one last thing - I want to hear what you all thought of the event! Here is a short survey that would help me out a lot next time I host an event like this :D The form is completely annonymous and feel free to skip questions if you need to.

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Signature Collection: One Last Giveaway of Awesomeness!

2012-01-31T15:48:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I had some prizes arrive late this month. I also had some extra swag because I wasn't sure if I could afford to include more prize packs in the giveaway (but now I can...yay!).

So instead of adding them to my already up prize pack giveaway which closes tonight (go check it out if you missed it), I decided to make one more prize pack and have it open for the next week. Here's what you can win:

Click the photo to see a larger image

* ONE signed book cover for Shadows Cast by Stars by Catherine Knutsson

* A Never Eighteen prize package from Megan Bostic which includes:
      - signed postcard
      - temporary tattoo
      - sticker
      - tag
      - button
      - bookmark
- wristband
      - Class of 2K12 bookmark

* TWO signed bookplates, one each from:
      - Leah Cypess
      - Lauren Oliver

* ONE button for Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando

* THREE signed bookmarks, one each for:
      - Nightspell by Leah Cypess
      - Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
      - Flame of Surrender by Rhiannon Paille

RULES:
* There will be ONE winner
* Open INTERNATIONALLY
* Must be 13 or older to participate
* Open until February 7, 2012 @ 11:59 PM EST

TO ENTER:
* Leave a comment below telling me which book you are most excited to read in 2012. Make sure to leave a way to contact you in case you win!

Please also make sure to check out all these authors' guest posts and interviews for the month!
Catherine Knutsson
Megan Bostic (plus my review of Never Eighteen)
Tara Altebrando
Lena Coakley

Also, don't forget to enter in the giveaways for signed Breaking Beautiful swag (US/Can) and a signed Ashfall poster (Int). Both end tonight (Jan 31st) at midnight!

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Guest Post with Deborah Cooke, author of The Dragon Diaries: One Memorable Moment in 2011

2012-01-31T08:52:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us Deborah Cooke, author of The Dragon Diaries series! I read Flying Bling last year and loved it so I'm very excited to have her here today. I've asked Deborah to tell us about one of her memorable moments in 2011:

One Memorable Moment in 2011

by Deborah Cooke (http://www.deborahcooke.com)

There were a lot of great things that happened in my writing career over the past year, including the launch of my first YA series. The Dragon Diaries (http://www.thedragondiaries.com) is a paranormal YA trilogy which is a spin-off from my Dragonfire series of paranormal romances (http://www.deborahcooke.com). It was a lot of fun to write these books and share the coming-of-age adventure of Zoë, the new Wyvern of the Pyr (and the only girl dragon shifter in my Dragonfire world.)

But what stands out for me for 2011 was the sale of the first two Dragon Diaries books to Allison & Busby for separate UK commonwealth editions. I've had books sell into other markets before, but in the past, it's happened quietly through the publishing house. I've found out much later when I received copies of the books - although that didn't always happen either. This sale was different because my editor told me immediately that it had happened - I think she was as excited as I was! - and also because I was involved in the publication process at A&B. It was great to have the opportunity to read proofs for their editions, and also really exciting to see their covers for the books. I like that my girl Zoë has been introduced to the world by two different publishers, and I can't decide which set of covers I like best.

FLYING BLIND was published by NAL in the US and Canada in June 2011. It was published by A&B for UK Commonwealth in October 2011. (And yes, Canada is part of the Commonwealth, but we ended up as part of the US distribution anyway.)

WINGING IT was published by NAL in the US and Canada in December 2011. It will be published by A&B for UK Commonwealth at the end of January 2012 - with a quote from a familiar blogger on the cover!)

BLAZING THE TRAIL will be published by NAL in June 2012. No word yet whether there will be an A&B edition, but I have my fingers crossed!

Thank you for sharing with us, Deborah! You can read more about Deborah and her books below:

Summary for Flying Blind, book 1 of The Dragon Diaries:

The next generation of shape-shifting dragons from the popular author of the Dragonfire novels.

Zoë Sorensson is perfectly normal, except she's been told she's destined for great things. Zoë's the one female dragon shapeshifter of her kind. But Zoë is at the bottom of the class when it comes to being Pyr and her powers are AWOL, so she's sent to a Pyr boot camp.

Zoë quickly realizes that she has to master her powers yesterday, because the Pyr are in danger and boot camp is a trap. The Mages want to eliminate all shifters and the Pyr are next in line-unless Zoë and her friends can work together and save their own kind.

Find it on Amazon or add it to your Goodreads list.

Also, find Winging It, the 2nd book in The Dragon Diary series on Goodreads and Amazon.

About Deborah Cooke:

Deborah makes her home in Canada with her husband. When she isn't writing, she can be found knitting, sewing or hunting for vintage patterns. Deborah Cooke has always been fascinated with dragons, although she has never understood why they have to be the bad guys. She has an honors degree in history, with a focus on medieval studies. She is an avid reader of medieval vernacular literature, fairy tales and fantasy novels, and has written over thirty romance novels under the names Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix.

Find her on Goodreads , Facebook, and on her website: http://www.deborahcooke.com

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Interview with Catherine Knutsson, debut author of Shadows Cast by Stars

2012-01-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us debut author Catherine Knutsson whose book, Shadows Cast by Stars releases on June 5, 2012. Catherine has joined us for an interview below:

Tell us a little about yourself and the book(s) you've written...

First, thank you so much for interviewing me! My name is Catherine Knutsson, and I’m a born-and-bred Vancouver Islander. I’ve lived here most of my life, aside from short sojourns in Vancouver and Iran (yes, Iran!). My wonderfully supportive husband, Mikel, and I share our home with two cats, and up until recently, I worked as a singing teacher, but now I’m a full-time writer.

SHADOWS CAST BY STARS is my first book to be published, and I’m very proud of it. I’m Métis, so the story draws on thoughts I’ve had about my heritage, and more general wonderings about story, culture, myth, and multi-generational healing.

Why do you write? What got you going?

To paraphrase Anne Lamott, I write because I’m not good at anything else! But, on a more serious note, I’m one of the few writers I know that didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer. I wanted to be a musician, and it was only when I started to have some physical issues due to spending all day behind a piano that I knew I needed to make a change. I’ve always loved language--that was one of the reasons I studied singing--and somehow, I just started writing a story that turned into a novel. It was terrible! But, one novel led to the next, and a couple of years later, I had found an agent who believed in me and my writing, and a short time later, we sold SHADOWS CAST BY STARS. It still seems really surreal!

Which of your characters is your favourite? How is she or he different from yourself?

Oh gosh, I really adore Paul, who is the brother of Cassandra, the book’s narrator. My editor described Paul as a “still waters run deep” character, and that really connected with me. Oh, and I also love the raven, a character who is several things at once. I would be happy writing his voice all day long!

Do you have a favourite line or two from one of your book(s)? What is it?

My favourite lines are:

The cottage watches us with wary eyes. It knows we’re leaving and as if to reinforce that point, three ravens fly overhead, a trio of black periods in the sky. Dot, dot, dot. What happens now…

How much control did you have have over the cover design of your book? Do you like it? If you didn't design it yourself, how do you think it would have turned out if you did?

Actually, I didn’t have any control over the cover. One day, it just arrived in my inbox with a note from my editor saying “Surprise! I hope you love it as much as I do”, and wow, did I ever! It fits the story perfectly, I think.

How do you balance storytelling with real life? Is there a line somewhere or do your realities get blurred?

Balance is a constant struggle for me. I have to book time to do things other than writing, because, otherwise, I would spend all day in my head and never get anything done. I write constantly, and by that, I mean I’m always shaping story in my head (I do a lot of work in my head before I ever sit down at a keyboard), and I’ve learned to stash notebooks all over the place in case I need to write something down. I now have a designated office with a desktop computer, so that “going to work” is really that - it’s a physical act. Otherwise, I would be working all day, non-stop, and I actually don’t think that’s good for me. As a former teacher would say, an artist has to fill their creative well, or the well runs dry!

Do you have an acknowledgement section at the end of your book? If yes, can you tell us a little bit more about ONE of the people you mention?

Sure! One of the people I thank is my agent, Diana Fox, who has been such a tremendous support for me throughout this process. I can’t imagine going through the publication process without an agent (though I know lots of authors do it, and hats off to them!), and she always gave me an encouraging word or a morale boost when I needed it most. We all need champions, and she’s been one of mine!

Do you have any fun hobbies other than reading and writing? What are they?

I’m a completely unabashed horse nut. When I was a kid, I wanted to BE a horse. Now, I’m happy to spend time with them whenever I can. I volunteer for our local therapeutic riding association, and I’m also a dressage rider. Currently, I’m riding a school horse, but it’s my hope to buy my own horse in the next year or so.

Is there a Y.A. novel you wish YOU wrote?

HOW I LIVE NOW, by Meg Rosoff. Oh gosh, I love this novel so much, and I just heard it’s getting made into a movie with Saoirse Ronan in the role of Daisy, and I couldn’t be more excited!

If you could live in any time period (other than the current one) which one would you choose?

Just one? There are so many time periods I’d love to live in! But, okay, just one....Salzburg in the late eighteenth century, so I could see (and listen!) to Mozart. Failing that, I’d also be happy to spend time in pre-Roman Britain, or ancient Egypt, or Persia, or anywhere in Europe during the Renaissance, or in pre-contact North America. And don’t even get me started about Middle Earth! *grin*

What was the last thing you ate? Did you enjoy it?

I firmly believe that life is too short to eat things you don’t like. So, the last thing I ate: toast with almond butter and lemon curd - so yummy!

If you could have a pet that was a mythical creature, which creature would you choose?

Pegasus!

What is the most fun you’ve ever had?

Every two years, my husband and I go on an epic road trip, and I think the most fun we’ve had was on our epic trek to Alaska a couple of years back. Every day was an adventure, and we loved it - the scenery, the wild animals (we almost had a moose jump in the back of our car!), taking detours to ghost towns, and seeing parts of the Pacific Northwest and the North that we had never seen before, places like Wells (where we ended up modelling for a travel photographer before being invited to an experimental film festival) and Barkerville (where we stayed in a gold rush hotel!) and Iskut and Kitwanga (tiny First Nations villages). Oh, and we LOVED Whitehorse (where they have very good beer and even better coffee!) - I’d love to spend a winter there some time!

What advice would you give your teen readers about life?

Be true to yourself. And, the important things in life are rarely easy. Be ready for that, and love the hard work, because hard work is often important work. Had someone told me those things, I think my teen years would have been a lot easier!

Thank you for sharing with us, Catherine. Here is some more information about Catherine and Shadows Cast by Stars:

Summary for Shadows Cast by Stars:

Two hundred years from now, blood has become the most valuable commodity on the planet - especially the blood of aboriginal peoples, for it contains antibodies that protect them from the plague that is ravaging the rest of the world.

Sixteen-year-old Cassandra Mercredi might be immune to the plague, but that doesn't mean she's safe. Government forces are searching for those of aboriginal heritage to harvest their blood. When a search threatens Cass and her family, they flee to the Island, a mysterious and idyllic territory protected by the Band, a group of guerilla warriors, and by an enigmatic energy barrier that keeps outsiders out and the spirit world in. And though the village healer has taken Cass under her wing, and the tribal leader's son into his heart, the spirit world is angry, and it has chosen Cass to be its voice and instrument...

Find it on Amazon.com, Amazon.ca , Barnes & Noble , Chapters , and The Book Depository

Or add it to your Goodreads list.

Find Catherine Knutsson on:

Official website: www.catherineknutsson.com
Blog: www.catherineknutsson.com/blog
Twitter:@catknutsson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cknutsson
Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3099505.Catherine_Knutsson

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

January New Release in Review: In Darkness by Nick Lake

2012-01-27T16:44:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Bloomsbury

Summary:

Bloomsbury is proud to be the global publisher of In Darkness, a stunning tour-de-force set in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. "Shorty" is a Haitian boy trapped in the ruins of a hospital when the earth explodes around him. Surrounded by lifeless bodies and growing desperately weak from lack of food and water, death seems imminent. Yet as Shorty waits in darkness for a rescue that may never come, he becomes aware of another presence, one reaching out to him across two hundred years of history. It is the presence of slave and revolutionary leader Toussaint L'Ouverture, whose life was marred by violence, and whose own end came in darkness. What unites a child of the slums with the man who would shake a troubled country out of slavery? Is it the darkness they share . . . or is it hope?

Raw, harrowing, and peopled with vibrant characters, In Darkness is an extraordinary book about the cruelties of man and nature, and the valiant, ongoing struggle for a country's very survival.

Why I Read This:

Counts for a number of reading challenges. The cover was beautiful. The summary was exactly what I was looking for.

My Thoughts:

This is a beautiful book. It deals with extreme poverty. It deals with complexity. It deals with human emotion. And it deals with injustice. It is the kind of book that deserves...more attention, a careful study, an award.

I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I saw this one up for grabs on Netgalley. Ever since college I've been interested in learning more about Haiti. Not in that boring textbook way that tells you nothing about human emotions and motivations but rather just lists off the facts. No, if I was going to read a book about Haiti it had to be one that took human life and complexity into account. And I will tell you why. When I was in college one of my professors was from Haiti. One day she started teaching. Then she started crying. She tried to hide it and keep going but we just couldn't let her go and had to find out what was wrong. It turns out that her husband was kidnapped for ransom. And this wasn't even the first time something like this had happened. She was left all alone to deal with the pain and get her husband back. I cannot even imagine the agony she was going through. And that is why I needed this to feel real and to be truthful in ways that textbooks just can't.

The book is beautifully written. It's powerful and violent and doesn't sugar-coat anything. These are people that have seen things and have done things that are indescrible to someone like me who has lived a fairly cushy, delicate life. I felt incredibly sick to my stomach at times. Even though I did know from my studies some of the things that go on in extreme poverty, I guess I could never quite imagine them actually happening. This book made me imagine they were real. And I know...they are.

The story is part contemporary, part historical so there was a ton to learn about Haiti in this book. For the first time I found out about Toussaint L'Ouverature, Aristide, Site Soleil, and voudou (although I did know about that...this just seemed like the kind of voudou people might actually practice in Haiti).

So I'm telling you, this is a really well written book. I want to recommend it to everyone. But...I know there will be people who can't handle a lot of the things found inside the pages. If you are very squeamish then this might not be the right book for you. There is a lot of violence in it. I can't exaggerate that enough. There are very gruesome things that happen. There is also a ton of swearing. If you really hate swearing this might not be for you either. But if you think you can handle those things then I suggest you learn more about Haiti through In Darkness. I feel this is a very significant book.

Lastly, although I'd like to give this book I higher rating than I've settled on, I just can't do it. I did struggle a lot with the violence and swearing. I also have a problem with foreign languages in my books which aren't translated, leaving me guessing. Even though contextually they are explained, it always irritates me to have anything in the story that isn't translated fully back to English (this is a quirk of mine I just can't seem to get over). So yes, even though I'm highly recommending this one based on what the book is and how beautifully written and emotional it is, I am leaving this one at a 3.5/5. It's a great book! But take it or leave it at your own risk ;)

My Rating:

3.5/5 but calendars don't come in half days.

Disclaimer:

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

January New Release in Review: A Tinfoil Sky by Cyndi Sand-Eveland

2012-01-27T16:01:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Tundra Books

Summary:

Mel and her mother, Cecily, know what it’s like to live rough, whether it’s on the streets or in the apartment of an abusive man.When Cecily announces that they’ve had enough and that they are going to go home to her mother’s, Mel dreams of security, a comfortable bed, and a grandmother’s love seem to be about to come true. But some mistakes cannot be easily forgiven or erased. Her grandmother is not what Mel expects, and though the local library offers sanctuary, a real home seems beyond her grasp. Mel’s determination to rise above what fate has dealt is about to change that.

Cyndi Sand-Eveland’s work with homeless youth gives her characters an authenticity no reader will forget. Ultimately, a story of hope and acceptance, A Tinfoil Sky is a powerful, can’t-putit- down novel.

Why I Read This:

Impulse read based on cover and summary.

Thoughts:

For me, A Tinfoil Sky wasn't exactly the book I expected it to be. Because the book deals with homelessness and social issues I expected it to be much more emotional, darker, and grittier than it was. The story ended up focusing on the more positive aspects of Mel's life. The library was a huge focus and seemed much of the book's energy went into seeing if Mel would get a job there. The librarian and her son are very welcoming so even when there was supposed to be tension between them (Mel is ashamed of her situation and doesn't really want Paul to know that she was living on the streets for a while), I just kept expecting everything to work out for the best so it felt a little predictable to me. The situation with Mel's mother and grandmother were sad and were actually dark but those scenes somehow ended up fading into the background for me.

I did end up enjoying this one. There are many things about it that are good eye-openers for a younger audience that maybe hasn't run into many of these issues before. Like what it means to have an alcoholic mom who can't hold down a job, live on the streets by yourself, not be accepted by people that most children would never dream of betraying them. But there is also hope. Like what it means to push through all that and make friends, carve out a piece of the world for yourself, and work on healing relationships. And I find hope is always a good eye-opener for everyone, no matter their situation. That is what I suppose this book was all about, and even though I wished it had felt more grittier and darker to me than it was I can see the power that hope can give to people when they do have to go through tough times in their lives.

An enjoyable read. I'd recommend this one to a younger audience (middle grade).

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Guest Post with Sophie Jordan: Most Memorable Moment of 2011

2012-01-27T10:44:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us Sophie Jordan, author of the Firelight series! I read Firelight last year and loved it so I'm excited to have her here today. I've asked Sophie to tell us about one of her memorable moments in 2011:

Most memorable moment of 2011:

That's hard to say. I've had so many great moments this year - as a writer, as a wife, a mother, a friend. Career/book-wise, I have to say the release of VANISH ranked right up there with most memorable. After the great response to Firelight - and yes, leaving everyone hanging on a cliffhanger - I couldn't wait for everyone to see what happened next ... including who the girl on the cover actually was! ;) This year - wow, 2012!! - I'm very anxious for everyone to read the final book in the trilogy and see how it all wraps up.

Thank you for sharing, Sophie! You can read more about Firelight and Sophie Jordan below:

Summary of Firelight, the first book in the Firelight series:

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Find it on Amazon or add it to your Goodreads list.

Or find Vanish, the second book in the series on Amazon or add it to your Goodreads list.

Author Bio:

Sophie Jordan grew up in the Texas hill country where she wove fantasies of dragons, warriors, and princesses. A former high school English teacher, she's also the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Avon historical romances. She now lives in Houston with her family. When she's not writing, she spends her time overloading on caffeine (lattes and Diet cherry Coke preferred), talking plotlines with anyone who will listen (including her kids), and cramming her DVR with true-crime and reality-TV shows. Sophie also writes paranormal romances under the name Sharie Kohler.

Find her on: http://www.sophiejordan.net/

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-25T09:00:00.002-05:00

The Miseducation of Cameron Post by emily m. danforth

Release date: February 7, 2012

When Cameron Post’s parents die suddenly in a car crash, her shocking first thought is relief. Relief she’ll never have to tell them that, hours earlier, she had been kissing a girl.

But that relief soon turns to heartbreak, as Cam is forced to move in with her conservative aunt Ruth. She knows that from this point on, her life will forever be different. Survival in Miles City, Montana, means blending in and not making waves, and Cam becomes an expert at this—especially at avoiding any questions about her sexuality.

Then Coley Taylor moves to town. Beautiful pickup-driving Coley is a perfect cowgirl with the perfect boyfriend to match. To Cam’s surprise, she and Coley become best friends—while Cam secretly dreams of something more. Just as that starts to seem like a real possibility, her secret is exposed. Ultrareligious Aunt Ruth takes drastic action to “fix” her niece, bringing Cam face-to-face with the cost of denying her true self—even if she’s not quite sure who that is.

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a stunning and unforgettable literary debut about discovering who you are and finding the courage to live life according to your own rules.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

January New Release in Review: Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic

2012-01-24T20:49:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

HMH Children's Books

Summary:

Austin Parker is on a journey to bring truth, beauty, and meaning to his life.
Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

Why I Read This:

It sounded amazing. Also, it counts for the 2012 Debut Author Reading Challenge.

My Thoughts:

What does it feel like to know that you will never turn 18? Never become an adult, grow up and see your friends go to college, find jobs, love, and create their own future? How does it feel to know that you wont be around, that your time is limited? I've always wondered. Always wanted to know. So of course I had to pick up a copy of Never Eighteen and find out how that topic would be explored.

What I found inside the pages of this short little blue book with a car on it's cover was something really quite beautiful. I expected this to be a sad book. It was beyond sad. I was crying within about 20 minutes of picking it up. And 20 minutes after that and probabaly more than a dozen times after that. Not just because it was sad that Austin was dying. But because the writer had a way with words that made me fall in love with all of the characters without barely knowing anything about them. Also, Never Eighteen was a deep, meaningful reflection on the beauty of life, the way we treat each other, and making every moment count. It made me think about my own life differently and respect Austin for trying to help his friends change their lives for the better.

I also didn't expect there to be so much joy in Austin. It was another really beautiful thing about the story.

There is so much I could say about what I love about Never Eighteen. So much happens. It is really an adventure story as well as a tradgedy, a love story, and an awakening. I loved it all and you should read it too. It is a very special book.

Rating:

Disclaimer:

I bought my copy.

Interview with Megan Bostic, Debut Author of Never Eighteen

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

New Year's Interview with a blogger: Amber from Down the Rabbit Hole

2012-01-24T17:07:00.000-05:00

This New Year's I've asked a few bloggers to come and share a few reflections and goals with us. Today I'm interviewing Amber from Down the Rabbit Hole. Check out what she has to about her most memorable reads and the books she's looking forward to in 2012.

What are your top three most memorable reads (good or bad) of 2011?

I am so glad you said three because I have a Top 5 favorite list of this year and I get to include my three most squee-worthy!

First up has to be DIVERGENT by Veronica Roth. I just fell in love with the characters and the world that Roth created. It's one of those books that I'd be reading and I'd look up and pity the world for not reading it too.

Next is most definitely THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER by Michelle Hodkin. I felt like Mara Dyer, Noah, Jamie and all the others were my friends. They felt real to me in a way that characters don't often do. Plus, some of the lines were so dang funny, I was snorting out loud!

The last one has got to be SHATTER ME by Tahereh Mafi. I opened up this book and was blown away by the writer's gorgeous prose and how strong Juliette is. Adam and Juliette's very hot make out scenes definitely didn't hurt my reading pleasure either!

What three books are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?

This is a really tough question because it feels like every new book I see coming out is my next favorite! So I'm cheating just a little.

For sequels, I can't wait for INSURGENT by Veronica Roth, BLOODROSE by Andrea Cremer and GIRL OF NIGHTMARES by Kendare Blake.

For new books coming out, I'm going to go with THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME by Jess Rothenberg, THE ALCHEMY OF FOREVER by Avery Williams and INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows.

Again, there are a million others I can name that I am DYING for but these are a few that I can't wait to get my hands on!

There’s an old prophecy based on the Mayan calendar which says 2012 will bring in the end of days. 2012 is also a good year for dys and apocalyptic reads. If you were to write a story, what do you think you’d have “cause” the apocalypse (or society’s downfall)?

After a lot of thought (seriously, I sat on this one for days) I think fear will end up being society's downfall. Fear of the unknown, fear of dying, fear of starving, fear of never having enough. Fear is the root to all the other bad and desperate things people do and I feel like a lot of the time, people who are trying to help go too far. This will be what eventually leads to our downfall because even if the world is ripped apart by some terrible earthquake or blizzard, it is the dark part of humanity that will kill us off. Fear brings out the worst in everyone.

Man, that's a pretty dark answer but it's mine and I'm sticking to it. To distract you, I'm throwing out the words "kitty", "sparkle" and "rainbow". I think that made everything better...

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

2012 Printz and Newbery Winners!

2012-01-24T13:10:00.000-05:00

Yesterday the 2012 ALA Awards were announced, among them the Printz and Newbery winners!

Printz winner:

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley

Just when seventeen-year-old Cullen Witter thinks he understands everything about his small and painfully dull Arkansas town, it all disappears. . . .

In the summer before Cullen's senior year, a nominally-depressed birdwatcher named John Barling thinks he spots a species of woodpecker thought to be extinct since the 1940s in Lily, Arkansas. His rediscovery of the so-called Lazarus Woodpecker sparks a flurry of press and woodpecker-mania. Soon all the kids are getting woodpecker haircuts and everyone's eating "Lazarus burgers." But as absurd as the town's carnival atmosphere has become, nothing is more startling than the realization that Cullen’s sensitive, gifted fifteen-year-old brother Gabriel has suddenly and inexplicably disappeared.

While Cullen navigates his way through a summer of finding and losing love, holding his fragile family together, and muddling his way into adulthood, a young missionary in Africa, who has lost his faith, is searching for any semblance of meaning wherever he can find it. As distant as the two stories seem at the start, they are thoughtfully woven ever closer together and through masterful plotting, brought face to face in a surprising and harrowing climax.

Complex but truly extraordinary, tinged with melancholy and regret, comedy and absurdity, this novel finds wonder in the ordinary and emerges as ultimately hopeful. It's about a lot more than what Cullen calls, “that damn bird.” It’s about the dream of second chances.

Find it on Goodreads and Amazon

Newbery winner:

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is "grounded for life" by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launced on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder. Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air. Dead End in Norvelt is a Publishers Weekly Best Children's Fiction title for 2011. One of Horn Book’s Best Fiction Books of 2011.

Find it on Goodreads and Amazon

See all the honorees and other award winners by going to the ALA website.

Guest Post + Int. Giveaway with Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall

2012-01-24T09:55:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us Mike Mullin, author of Ashfall (Ashfall #1) which was published last year by Tanglewood Press. I've asked Mike to come share with us his most memorable moment of 2011. Here's what he has to say:

MyMost Memorable Moment of 2011

Thatwould probably be August 12^th, 2011 when I found out ASHFALLreceived a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, “TheWorld’s Toughest Book Critics.” Here’s the quote from Tanglewood Press’spublicist, Rebecca Grose, that accompanied theemail: “Enjoy! And congrats!!! A starred review -- YAAAAAAAY!!!” That prettymuch summed up my whole week.

Onthe 14^th, the owner of Tanglewood Press, Peggy Tierney, showed up atmy house with a bottle of champagne. Tanglewood is a small, reputable press,and ASHFALL is the first book they’ve published to earn the coveted Kirkus star.Once Peggy, her husband, my wife, and I settled into my living room, champagneflutes in hand, we didn’t talk about ASHFALL. We rarely do—instead, we had a lovelythree-hour conversation about children’s and young adult books. It’s a joy tobe published by someone who loves this literature as much as I do.

I’msitting in a McDonald’s in Sullivan, Indiana as I write this, so I don’t have achampagne flute to raise, but if I did, I’d offer a toast to Tanglewood Press.Here’s hoping that ASHFALL will be the first of many future starred reviews.

Thank you Mike! Read more about Ashfall and Mike Mullin below:

Summary of Ashfall:

Many visitors to Yellowstone National Parkdon’t realize that the boiling hot springs and spraying geysers are caused byan underlying supervolcano. It has erupted three times in the last 2.1 millionyears, and it will erupt again, changing the Earth forever.

Fifteen-year-old Alex is home alone whenthe supervolcano erupts. His town collapses into a nightmare of darkness, ash,and violence, forcing him to flee. He begins a harrowing trek in search of hisparents and sister, who were visiting relatives 140 miles away.

Along the way, Alex struggles through alandscape transformed by more than a foot of ash. The disaster brings out thebest and worst in people desperate for food, clean water, and shelter. When an escaped convict injures Alex, hesearches for a sheltered place where he can wait—to heal or to die. Instead, hefinds Darla. Together, they fight to achieve a nearly impossible goal:surviving the supervolcano.

Find it on:

Or add it to your Goodreads list.

You can also read an excerpt:

Find the first two chapters of Ashfall on Mike'swebsite: www.mikemullinauthor.com.

Author Bio:

Mike Mullin’s first job was scraping thegum off the undersides of desks at his high school. From there, things wentsteadily downhill. He almost got fired by the owner of a bookstore due to hispoor taste in earrings. He worked at a place that showed slides of poopydiapers during lunch (it did cut down on the cafeteria budget). The hazingprocess at the next company included eating live termites raised by theresident entomologist, so that didn’t last long either. For a while Mikejuggled bottles at a wine shop, sometimes to disastrous effect. Oh, and thenthere was the job where swarms of wasps occasionally tried to chase him offladders. So he’s really hoping this writing thing works out.

Mike holds a black belt in SongahmTaekwondo. He lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his wife and her three cats.ASHFALL is his first novel.

Find him on:

Giveaway:

One winner will receive an Ashfall POSTER which has been SIGNED by Mike. (Poster is as seen in the picture above.)

Open INTERNATIONALLY. Ends January 31, 2012.

To enter, leave a comment for Mike along with a way to contact you if you win. Good luck!

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Discussion: Annual Book Awards, 2011 Goodreads Choice Winners

2012-01-23T21:02:00.000-05:00

Today I wanted to talk about Book Awards. In most cases they are an annual event and the announcement for some of them are so big they make national headlines. Books with the rubber stamp of approval usually even come in new editions once announced, like the Newbery and Prinz Awards which get a medallion printed on the front cover. Even the Newbery honoree's get reprinted.

So, my question is: What do you think of annual book awards? Are they worth paying attention to? Do you attempt to read from the lists?

For me, I love them. I love seeing what book is chosen because in most cases I haven't heard of it. And I love trying to read them all because it's just fun to have a goal to work towards. I also love the satisfaction of knowing that because these lists exist, I will be reading books that others are paying attention to as well (which means more conversations about them). And I also love reading them knowing that maybe, one day, my daughter will read them too. And I will know what the book is about and know how to talk to her about it - ahead of time.

Those mostly apply to book awards like the Prinz and Newbery. But there are others too. And they are fun for other reasons.

Like thenow annual Goodreads Choice Awards. Which is fun because of the participation aspect. I love reading throughout the year and then at the end chosing my absolute favourite in a genre and having a voice with thousands of other people to let the author know - we are readers and we love their books. I love seeing what other readers have chosen as their favourites, especially in the genres I didn't get to read much of, because maybe one day I'll take those books as good recommendations from people all over the world (not just a panel of judges). And I love the satisfaction of seeing a book I voted for win, because I know, I'm not alone.

For me, there are many good things to love about annual book awards and so I do pay attention to them - at least the ones I'm interested in. And I do read from the lists. And I can't see that ever stopping.

BTW, here is the list of young adult award winners in the 2011 Goodreads Choice Awards:

Favorite Book of 2011: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Best Young Adult Fiction: Where She Went by Gayle Forman
Best Young Adult Science Fiction & Fantasy: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Best Middle Grade & Children's: Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan
Best Graphic Novel & Comics: Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
Best Goodreads Author: Cassandra Clare (author of The Mortal Instruments and Clockwork Angel series)

I'm excited to see young adult authors winning in the non-young adult categories. And Divergent is favorite book! That's for all genres. Not just young adult. Woohoo!

What do you think of these winners? If you want to see the official list, you can head on over to Goodreads.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Interview with Mary G. Thompson, Debut Author of Wuftoom

2012-01-23T14:29:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us debut author MaryG. Thompson whose book, Wuftoom releases on May 8, 2012. Mary has joined us for an interview below:

Tell us a little about yourself and the book(s) you've written...

I used to be a lawyer, but I quit about two years ago to become an author. I’d wanted to write for years and was always frustrated that I didn’t have enough time. Toward the end, every day I had to spend not writing was slow torture. Finally, I couldn’t take it any more, and I decided I’d come to The New School to get my MFA in Writing for Children. Over the summer before school started, I found out that I’d sold my first book, Wuftoom! So it looks like I made the right choice. Wuftoom is about a 12-year-old boy who’s slowly turning into a disgusting worm-like creature. As he changes, he learns about the underground world of the Wuftoom and their enemies, the Vitflys, and he has to figure out where he fits in. It’s a little bit scary, but also a little bit fun and fun-gross. Hopefully it also has a lot of heart.

What is your favourite thing about writing?

I can do it in my pajamas. Just kidding. My real favorite thing is that it can take me absolutely anywhere. As a writer, I’m only limited by the size of my imagination. There’s no other job where everything that you want to happen, happens.

What is one thing you'd like your readers to take away from your book(s)?

I hope they’ll take away more than one thing. I’ve tried to make Wuftoom not just an adventure, but something deeper. I want people to ask questions like: Who are we really—our minds or our human bodies? What is it acceptable for us to do to protect our families or our friends? How can we learn to accept things about ourselves that we don’t like?

How do you balance storytelling with real life? Is there a line somewhere or do your realities get blurred?

It may seem like a funny question in relation to a fantasy book, but even fantasy books are usually, at their hearts, about regular people. I definitely get caught up in my characters! For some reason my characters end up in my hands. Evan is struggling with membranes pulling his hands closed, so I feel that!

Is there a dedication at the beginning of your book? Who did you dedicate it to and why?

The book is dedicated to my mom. Since this is my first book, I had to dedicate it to the person who’s done the most for me. She’s not only supported me through all my life choices, but she’s done it with a straight face. That’s a tall order. Thanks, Mom!

What will your next book be about?

My next book is a lighter-toned sci-fi called Escape From the Pipe Men! It’s about a couple of kids who have grown up in an alien zoo and go on an adventure across the universe. Watch for it in Spring 2013!

Who is your hero? Why?

I don’t believe in having heroes, and I feel pretty strongly about that. Everyone should be their own hero. But I do admire a lot of people. Anyone who has picked a life goal and gone after it has my respect.

You are stuck in a time loop. Do you a) try to brainstorm your way out of it b) be content knowing you'll live forever (even if they are the same moments over and over again) or c) none of the above (in which case you would...)?

How long is the time loop? I’d definitely try B for a while if it’s long enough to go find a good book and read it!

Is there a Y.A. novel you wish YOU wrote?
Feed by M.T. Anderson. It’s the perfect blend of science fiction and emotion—a very realistic portrayal of both the way the world could be in the future and how people are right now.

If you could live in any time period (other than the current one) which one would you choose?

The future! Freeze me and bring me back in, say, 300 years. I can’t wait to find out what’s going to happen!

What was the last thing you ate? Did you enjoy it?

A Braeburn apple. Mmm mmm!

What advice would you give your teen readers about life?

Watch where you’re walking so you don’t step in something gross.

Thank you for sharing, Mary! Here is some more information about Mary and Wuftoom:

Wuftoom Summary:

Everyone thinks Evan is sick … Everyone thinks science will find a cure. But Evan knows he is not sick, he is transforming. Evan’s metamorphosis has him confined to his bed, constantly terrified, and completely alone. Alone, except for his visits from the Wuftoom, a wormlike creature that tells him he is becoming one of them.
Clinging to his humanity and desperate to help his overworked single mother, Evan makes a bargain with the Vitflies, the sworn enemies of the Wuftoom. But when the bargain becomes blackmail and the Vitflies prepare for war, whom can Evan trust? Is saving his humanity worth destroying an entire species, and the only family he has left?

Find it on Amazon.com , Amazon.ca , Chapters , and The Book Depository

Add it to Goodreads

Author Bio:

Mary G. Thompson was raised in Cottage Grove and Eugene, Oregon. She was a practicing attorney for more than 7 years, including almost 5 years in the U.S. Navy, before moving to New York to write full time. She attended Boston University and the University of Oregon and will graduate from The New School Writing for Children Program in 2012.

You can find her on

Official website: www.marygthompson.com
Blog: www.teenwritersbloc.com
Twitter: @marygthompson
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-G-Thompson/129712753742444
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5127816.Mary_G_Thompson

Don't forget to enter this month's giveaway for a chance to win an Advance Reader's Copy of Wuftoom, signed by Mary!

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

January New Release in Review: me@you.com by KE Payne

2012-01-20T13:30:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Bold Strokes Books

Summary:

Is it possible to fall in love with someone you’ve never met? Imogen Summers thinks so – because it’s happened to her.

Immy is a normal 18 year old, with a normal life, a normal family and a normal boyfriend. But when she finds herself falling for a girl on an internet message board, a girl she knows only as the mysterious Fickle, her so-called normal life is suddenly turned on its head.

As her relationship with Fickle develops into more than just friendship, Immy finds another message board friend, the sweet and lovely Joey, the perfect person to confide in. But can Joey stay out of it when she starts to fall for Immy herself? Things are about to get complicated...
Why I Read This:

Out of my comfort zone (sometimes...you just have to).

Thoughts:

me@you.com started me off on a journey that I didn't know I even wanted to take. I've never read a GLBT book before. Of course, many books have had GLBT characters in them, but then, they just happened to be there. This one was different for me because not only was the main character a lesbian, it was also about her journey of self-discovery and realisation that other woman were who she wanted to be with.

I don't know what it was about this book but there was something in the summary that made me think I would like it more than I expected to (if that makes sense). I would not usually pick out a contemporary book with a GLBT character struggling with identity issues. I don't seem to connect well with the "identity issues" aspect of the books somehow. But then it didn't sound like the struggle was going to be a heart-wrenching, painful experience. And it wasn't.

I was actually really happy with this book. I liked the take on self-discovery the author decided to go with. There is of course tears and hurt for Imogen but that has less to do with the fact that she discovers she's into women and more to do with relationship issues and people taking advantage of her. From the moment she realises it, it's really more of a burden lifted and a joy that enters her life. It had depth but it was light-hearted at the same time. More dynamic than I expected.

As for the writing style, I enjoyed the online banter and chat-room talk. I liked the switch in perspectives. I am not a huge fan of books that are written all in chats or all in message boards, blogs, etc. I liked that it was mostly told from inside Imogen's head with a lot of chat interspersed throughout. What I didn't like was in those moments that Imogen was not thinking or chatting (and flirting) with her online buddies there was way too much telling rather than showing (I did this, then I did this, then this person came over, etc. etc). It was a shame because it really took away from the effect of the story for me. The other aspect of writing I found a little difficult was all those English slang words. I had never heard of a lot of them and so I found myself guessing what some things meant. I wouldn't say to change it, but as a Canadian (and not English) reader I would have liked some kind of glossary.

So this book won me over on GLBT books because I discovered that they can be more fun and uplifting than I assumed. I could see this book as a great thing to give young women going through these issues as well. I have since put several more of them into my "to-read" list and hope those go well for me too.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

Received ARC from publisher via NetGalley.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

New Year's Interview with a blogger: Mocha from A Cupcake and a Latte

2012-01-20T10:00:00.001-05:00

This New Year's I've asked a few bloggers to come and share some of their reflections and goals with us. Today I'm interviewing Mocha from A Cupcake and a Latte. Check out what she has to say about her most memorable reads, books she's looking forward to, and evil cupcakes.

Q. What are your top three most memorable reads (good or bad) of 2011?

My top three most memorable reads for 2011 are;

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Modelland by Tyra Banks

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Both Anna Dressed in Blood and Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children amazed me beyond words. They were both unique, exciting, and phenomenal. Modelland, however, was one particular 2011 read that didn't strike me at all positively. In fact, my experience was exceptionally negative, therefore making it one of my "bad" memorable 2011 reads.

Q. What three books are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?

My three upcoming 2012 highly anticipated reads;

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

Blazing the Trial by Deborah Cooke

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake is the highly anticipated sequel to one of my most memorable 2011 reads, Anna Dressed in Blood. Blazing the Trial is another one that I'm super excited about, being written by one of my all-time favorite authors Deborah Cooke. The Immortal Rules is one I'm really interested in learning more about. It's the brand new series by the best selling author of my beloved Iron Fey series!

Q.There’s an old prophecy based on the Mayan calendar which says 2012 will bring in the end of days. 2012 is also a good year for dystopian and apocalyptic reads. If you were to write a story, what do you think you’d have “cause” the apocalypse (or society’s downfall)?

I totally agree, 2012 is a very big year for post-apocalyptic reads. There are so many coming out that sound so wonderful that I'm finding myself having a hard time keeping up!

If I were to write a dystopian title, the cause of my apocalypse would most likely be the rise of evil zombie cupcakes. Yes, evil scientifically engineered zombie cupcakes...with...lasers! (Jeez, how predictable am I?!)

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-18T09:22:00.000-05:00

Dead to You by Lisa McMann

Release date: February 7, 2012

Ethan was abducted from his front yard when he was just seven years old. Now, at sixteen, he has returned to his family. It's a miracle... at first. Then the tensions start to build. His reintroduction to his old life isn't going smoothly, and his family is tearing apart all over again. If only Ethan could remember something, anything, about his life before, he'd be able to put the pieces back together. But there's something that's keeping his memory blocked. Something unspeakable..

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

New Year's Interview with a blogger: Ashley from Book Labyrinth

2012-01-17T20:39:00.000-05:00

This New Year's I've asked a few bloggers to come and share some of their reflections and goals with us. Today I'm interviewing Ashley from Book Labyrinth. Check out what she has to say about her most memorable reads, books she's looking forward to, and scary genetically motified crops.

What are your top three most memorable reads (good or bad) of 2011?

The first would be "Divergent" by Veronica Roth. It had so much hype, but I feel like it totally lived up to it. Definitely one of my favourite books of the year, and I've recommended it so many times that it really sticks in my head.

The second is probably "A Touch Mortal" by Leah Clifford, but not for good reasons. Omigosh, I don't know what to make of this book. It is all over the place, and I was shocked by the themes and content. Definitely not for me.

A third is a book that was actually released years ago, and that is "Jellicoe Road" by Melina Marchetta. I decided to pick it up after reading such good things about it and I'm so glad I did because it's now my all-time favourite book.

What three books are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?

Well first of all there are so many older books I want to tackle in 2012. But ignoring sequels/series books that I'm looking forward to, I'm also really excited for...

"Bittersweet" by Sarah Ockler (Figure skating, hockey boys, family, friends, cupcakes, drama... need I say more?)

"For Darkness Shows the Stars" by Diana Peterfreund (Post-apocalyptic retelling of "Persuasion"? Yes please!)

"My Life Next Door" by Huntley Fitzpatrick (Boy next door romance!! This sounds like a really great contemp.)

There’s an old prophecy based on the Mayan calendar which says 2012 will bring in the end of days. 2012 is also a good year for dystopian and apocalyptic reads. If you were to write a story, what do you think you’d have “cause” the apocalypse (or society’s downfall)?

Ooh, very interesting question! *thinks* Maybe scientists are trying to create crops that grow more quickly in order to feed an over-populated earth and that causes something to get into the water supply. People start getting sick and are exhibiting weird symptoms... it becomes like a plague that kills off 90% of the earth, and the only people that survive are those with a certain blood type, or a certain immunity they were born with. Cue: panic, the emergence of a faction with totalitarian ambitions, and a small group of renegades who take our heroine under their wing when she's the only surviving member of her family.

Guest Post: 2011 Reflections with YA author Nick James

2012-01-17T13:57:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us Nick James, author of The Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy #1). His book was a 2011 debut, publishing in September by Flux. I've asked Nick to come share with us some of his reflections on the year. Here's what he has to say:

2011: The Year I became a Published Author.

by Nick James

2011 has been quite a doozy. All throughout 2010, 2011 seemed like that magical year far off in the distance where I would make that leap from writer to published author. Now that we’re ushering in 2012, I can’t believe how fast it’s all gone.

My debut YA science fiction, SKYSHIP ACADEMY: THE PEARL WARS, was released early this September. I’d known that it was going to be published since the tail end of 2009, which meant there was a lot of time to think about it. And think I did! it was impossible not to!

This year started off with some final edits of the book before the final, polished draft was sent to my publisher. Then came the cover… and then a second cover to replace the first (long story, but it all worked out for the best).

In May, I had my first brush with “the life of an author” when I was invited to New York City to attend and sign at the Book Expo of America. This was a time of many firsts. First trip to New York (hopefully there will be many more), first time signing my own book (craaaaazy), and first time being a speaker on an author panel. It was a very exciting week for me, and a great introduction into the new world my career offered. I also got to meet a number of wonderful people at BEA. Authors, bloggers, teachers and librarians.

Throughout the Summer, I worked on the sequel to SKYSHIP ACADEMY, which will be released next Fall. I also played around with a few new projects. Once the book was released, it was all about promotion. I got to attend some great conferences, have an awesome launch party, visit schools, and interact with so many awesome book bloggers. It was a huge learning experience for me, and a great opportunity to see how awesome and supportive the book world is. It's still a pleasant jolt of surprise when I step into a Barnes and Noble and I see the book on the shelves. Even though it's been two years since I signed the first contract, it still feels surreal.

2011 ended on a high, with the sale of the third book in the SKYSHIP trilogy. it's funny, because this happened at almost exactly the same time of year that we sold the first one. There's definitely some nice symmetry there. Of course, the big difference is that when we sold the first manuscript, it was already written. This third one is not yet finished. I'm definitely going to have a busy 2012!

Thank you Nick! Read more about The Pearl Wars and Nick James below:

Summary of The Pearl Wars:

A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship slacker, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess.

Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn't know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.

Find it on Amazon, The Book Depository, and more.

Add it to your Goodreads list.

About Nick James:

When he was a young boy, Nick James’ collection of battle-scarred action figures became the characters in epic storylines with cliffhangers, double crosses and an unending supply of imaginary explosions. Not much has changed. The toys are gone (most of them), but the love of fast-paced storytelling remains. Working in schools from Washington State to England, Nick has met thousands of diverse students since graduating from Western Washington University and braving the most dangerous job in the world: substitute teaching. Luckily, being dubbed the “rock star teacher” has granted him some immunity. He currently lives and teaches in Bellingham, Washington.

Find him on:

Official website: www.nickjamesbooks.com

Twitter: @nickajames

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4638190.Nick_James

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Discussion: Your favourite read of 2011

2012-01-16T21:37:00.000-05:00

Today I wanted to take some time to talk about our favourite reads of 2011. My question is simple this time:

Can you narrow your list down to just ONE favourite read of 2011? What about FIVE? What is one your favourites list for 2011?

I always find it extremely difficult to narrow any book list down just to a handful, never mind just one. I find each book brings something different to the table. I read for different purposes, get different things out of different kinds of stories. And on top of that, I jump genres...a lot. There have only been two years where I could say without a doubt that one book topped them all. The first was in 2010 when I read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. And I'm thrilled to be able to say that without a doubt, my favourite read of 2011 was...

Divergent by Veronica Roth

(that is really not a surprise, is it?)

Love, love, love, love, love! This book had everything in it, delivered more than I imagined it could, and even had me dreaming Dauntless. If you haven't read it yet, you're crazy. (My review is here and on goodreads)

And yet...I still feel bad for all those books I loved and wont be mentioning...no wait! I can't do that. I just can't (see my problem...I am an info junky, only I'm trying to make everyone else one too). I had these lists posted on my sidebar and added to them as the year went by (No links to my reviews. Silly me, I'll have to add that feature this year but in any case, you can find most of them in my reviews archive). I read a lot of 5 star and 4 star books in 2011. Even a lot of the 3 star books are worth mentioning even though I wont because then this could get really long. I can't wait to see what's next in my pile!

Amazing YA Reads 2011 (4.5-5 Star Reads)

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
2. Because I Am Furniture by Thalia Chaltas
3.. The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
4. Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
5. Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke
6. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
7. Divergent by Veronica Roth
8. Dreamland Social Club by Tara Altebrando
9. Flame of Surrender by Rhiannon Paille
10. Matched by Ally Condie

Also Recommended YA Reads 2011 (4 Star Reads)

1. Firelight by Sophie Jordan
2. The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
3. Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann
4. Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
5. Leviathan and Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
6. Clarity by Kim Harrington
7. Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
8. Unlocked by Ryan G. Van Cleave
9. Looking for Alaska by John Green
10. All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
11. Forgotten by Cat Patrick
12. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (MG)
13. Gossamer by Lois Lowry (MG)
14. Fever by Lauren DeStephano
15. Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by David Levithan and Rachel Cohn
16. Irises by Francisco X. Stork
17. Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

I would love to see your lists. Maybe add a few more books to my "to-read" list. I'd love to know your answer to the question above. Can you pick just one? What about narrowing it down to five? Are you in love with Divergent as much as I am? What about the other books on my lists?

January New Release in Review: Fracture by Megan Miranda

2012-01-16T21:21:00.001-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Walker & Company

Summary:

Eleven minutes passed before Delaney Maxwell was pulled from the icy waters of a Maine lake by her best friend Decker Phillips. By then her heart had stopped beating. Her brain had stopped working. She was dead. And yet she somehow defied medical precedent to come back seemingly fine

—despite the scans that showed significant brain damage. Everyone wants Delaney to be all right, but she knows she's far from normal. Pulled by strange sensations she can't control or explain, Delaney finds herself drawn to the dying. Is her altered brain now predicting death, or causing it?

Then Delaney meets Troy Varga, who recently emerged from a coma with similar abilities. At first she's reassured to find someone who understands the strangeness of her new existence, but Delaney soon discovers that Troy's motives aren't quite what she thought. Is their gift a miracle, a freak of nature-or something much more frightening?

For fans of best-sellers like Before I Fall and If I Stay, this is a fascinating and heart-rending story about love and friendship and the fine line between life and death

Why I Read This:

Mostly cover love. But also, because I heard this book was going to be great and the summary sounded intriguing.

Thoughts:

Fracture really surprised me. I started reading it not really remembering what it was about as I didn't re-read the summary beforehand. I enjoyed the beginning and thought I knew how it was going to turn out from the start. So although the writing was compelling, I kept reading with the idea not to get too attached because it was just going to end up how I thought - cliched and anti-climatic. Well...that was completely wrong. And it was a totally futile endeavor to try not getting attached to it. Megan Miranda's writing is so thrilling and every time I put it down I found myself craving more. Why did I keep trying to resist it? That was quite silly.

Not to mention the dream like plot. I kept wondering what was real and if the writer was 'playing with me'. For example, Delaney's odd magnetic pull towards Troy, who always seemed to be in the same place of someone dying. It seemed so surreal to me and yet Megan's explanation of why that kept happening turned out to be realistic. That kept happening too. What I thought was not realistic at all and almost too dream-like would turn out to have a completely realistic and reasonable explanation. I found that so compelling that in the end I am completely in awe of Megan's storytelling ability.

Delaney was also a fascinating character to watch. After basically coming back to life, then in a coma and waking up with no physical effects she started to question if that meant there was something seriously wrong with her which just kept driving her crazier as the doctors kept telling her she was fine. It added to the drama of the story quite well. And the tension between Delaney and her parents was extremely hard to read about - overbearing parents and all - and the way she felt so trapped in her new life because of them was cringe-worthy. But only because it was again so realistic and the explanation for it so reasonable that it seemed it could happen to anyone.

It's the type of book where spoilers have to be avoided at all costs otherwise the effect will be ruined. So that's the core of my opinion - this book totally surprised me. The ending was so far from anticlimatic and the characters had my eyes glued to the pages. I recommend and hope you find it in you to pick up Fracture - preferably soon.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

ARC from publisher through Netgalley.

This review was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more.

Interview + Giveaway with Jennifer Shaw Wolf, Debut Author of Breaking Beautiful

2012-01-16T08:46:00.000-05:00

Today we have with us debut author Jennifer Shaw Wolf whose book, Breaking Beautiful releases on April 24, 2012. Jennifer has joined us for an interview below:

Tell us a little about yourself and the book(s) you've written...

I’m a mom to four great kids; two teens and two grade-schoolers, and I have the most amazing husband in the world. I live in Lacey, Washington, near Olympia. I grew up in land-locked Idaho, but I love the ocean. The Washington coast is breathtaking, because of its beauty. (Also how cold it is). For me the Northern Pacific coast has a mysterious, sometimes harsh and heartbreaking beauty. I used it as a background for my story. BREAKING BEAUTIFUL is set in a fictional town by the ocean called, Pacific Cliffs, somewhere between Hoquaim and Forks.

BREAKING BEAUTIFUL is about Allie, a girl who is trying to recover from the car accident that killed her boyfriend, Trip. Allie feels very alone, she’s an Army brat who has moved around a lot so she has very few friends. She’s living in her mother’s hometown and somewhat in her mother’s shadow. She’s holding onto a terrible secret about her relationship with Trip, that threatens to condemn her and the people she loves most. To save herself, she has to find out what really happened to Trip before anyone else does, she has to decide who she can trust, and she has to have the courage to face her past.

How do you relax after a long day of writing?

Writing for me is my relaxation, especially after a long day of chasing kids, keeping the house clean, and doing the really important things, like making sure everyone has clean underwear. When I write, I get to live in a world I created, with people and places I make up, and unlike my kids they do whatever I tell them to do (usually). I’m not saying writing is easy; it isn’t, but I’d rather be writing than doing almost anything else in the world. However, when writing makes me crazy (and it often does) I clean my house (weird, I know). When I need to relax from both, like after all-night, deadline induced revision sessions, I get into a hot bath with a good book (words I did not have to come up with) and then I take a nap.

Do you outline your stories before you begin writing? How do you determine where to start?

I’m trying to be an outliner, really I am. What usually happens is an idea for a story works it’s way into my brain, and then I play it over in my head, scene by scene (unfortunately, never in order) until I’m ready to write. At that point, I write a first chapter, or maybe just a first scene, and then try to outline the entire story. I almost always know how I want the story to end, but I usually end up re-writing the outline as I go. I’m a big believer in outlines, if not always a great follower of them.

How many finished stories did you write before seeing your first book published? Do you think you'll ever go back to them and try again?

I wrote two complete novels and a whole bunch of chapters, outlines, and synopses for other ideas. I’m stubborn so I’m not ready to give up on any of them yet. The characters from the first two manuscripts I finished bug me all the time. I’m always trying to figure out what I need to do to make those manuscripts saleable or at least more workable. Lack of time and other commitments has kept me from doing a complete overhaul on any of my “drawer” (or more accurately) “hard drive” novels.

Is there a dedication at the beginning of your book? Who did you dedicate it to and why?

My book is dedicated to two people; my wonderful husband, David and Jason, the boy who I took care of as a home-health aid during my last two years of high school and my first couple of years of college. He was seven when I started working with him. Jason, like Andrew in BREAKING BEAUTIFUL has Cerebral Palsy. Jason has the most wonderful spirit, an infectious laugh, and beautiful deep brown eyes, a lot like Andrew in the book. Jason can’t walk or talk, or feed or dress himself, but during the years I spent with him, I saw what an amazing person he was. He taught me a lot about the many abilities that people with disabilities have.

If you weren't writing what do you think you'd be doing?

Sometimes I think if I weren’t writing, my life would be easy; no revision deadlines, no promotional stuff, no worrying about what the world is going to think about my story. Maybe I could spend my extra time of keeping my house spotless, taking long naps, or watching TV, but honestly, that isn’t me. If I weren’t writing I would have found something else to occupy my over-active imagination. I know I’d still need some creative outlet. Maybe I would spend more time on video production projects (which I also love), sewing (which sometime love, but don’t really have the patience for), or knitting (haven’t learned because I’m not really coordinated enough). I’ve always had stories in my brain, so even when I didn’t have time to put words on paper, I was still writing in my head. I can’t imagine my life without it.

Do you have any fun hobbies other than reading and writing? What are they?

I graduated with a degree in broadcasting, so one of my other hobbies it creating videos. I’ve done three book trailers for other people, various wedding videos, and I shoot and edit a lot of children’s productions. What I learned in college about video production has helped a lot when I put scenes together in my stories. I also love skiing with my family and miss very much the horseback riding I did when I was younger (not enough time for everything).

What was the last thing you ate? Did you enjoy it?

Macaroni and tomato juice. Yes, I enjoyed it. It might sound weird, but it’s one of those simple meals that remind me of my childhood. My mom used to make shell macaroni with tomato juice all the time and now I know why, so easy. It’s also good with ground beef or cheese mixed in.

If you could have a pet that was a mythical creature, which creature would you choose?

I’ve always wanted a flying horse like Pegasus. I’m a huge horse lover and wow, can you imagine riding a horse that could fly?

What advice would you give your teen readers about life?

One of the best sayings I ever heard was from one of my college professors, “Even when things don’t work out, they work out.” Meaning whatever happens, life will still move forward and things are almost never as bad as you think they are. Other advice would be: Love life. Enjoy being whatever age you are, but look forward to the future. Believe in yourself and follow your dreams. Be nice to other people, no matter what you think the cost is, being nice never comes back to haunt you as much as being mean.

Thank you for the interview, Jennifer! You can find more information about Breaking Beautiful, Jennifer Shaw Wolf, and enter to win some cool swag below:

Breaking Beautiful Summary:

Allie lost everything the night her boyfriend, Trip, died in a tragic car accident—including her memory of the event. All she has left are the scars and a sneaking suspicion that the crash wasn’t an accident after all. When the police reopen the investigation, it quickly turns on Allie and her best friend, Blake, especially as their budding romance raises eyebrows around their small town. As the threats begin and the survivor’s guilt sets in, Allie’s memories collide with a dark secret about Trip she’s kept for too long. Caught somewhere between her past and her future, Allie knows she must tell the truth. Can she reach deep enough to remember that night so she can finally break free?

Find it on: Amazon, Amazon.ca, Barnes & Noble, Chapters, and The Book Depository

Add it to Goodreads and LibraryThing

About Jennifer Shaw Wolf:

Jennifer Shaw Wolf grew up on a farm in the tinytown of Wilford, Idaho. She spent cold Idaho mornings milking cows in the darkand summers bridge jumping and cruising main street. She’s always been awriter, whether it was sewing together books to read to her little brothers orstarting an underground newspaper in sixth grade. She has a degree in BroadcastCommunications from Brigham Young University. Now she lives in beautiful,green, (rainy) Lacey, Washington with her husband and four kids. She loves to producevideos, ski, ride horses, and read, but really all she has time for is chasingkids and writing.

You can find her on:

Officialwebsite: www.jennifershawwolf.com

Blog: www.wolftalez@blogspot.net

Twitter:@jenniferswolf

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jennifer-Shaw-Wolf/186114384755483?created

Goodreads:http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4750309.Jennifer_Shaw_Wolf

Youtube:jen18wolf

Giveaway:

One winner will receive:

A signed BREAKING BEAUTIUFL bookmark

A tigerseye stone (Tigerseye has an important role in Breaking Beautiful)

A Class of 2k12 bookmark, pin and guitar pick.

Open to US/Canada. Ends January 31, 2012.

To enter, leave a comment below for Jennifer. Make sure to include a way to contact you in case you win. Good luck!

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Discussion: Reading Goals and Challenges

2012-01-13T21:49:00.000-05:00

Last week I had Kathy from I Am a Reader, Not a Writer on to tell us about her 2012 reading goals and challenges. Today I wanted to take the time to discuss them some more and share my own.

So let's start at the beginning. What is a reading challenge? A reading challenge is a goal set, usually at the beginning of the year that focuses on reading a certain number of X type of books. That can be either general, like "Read 50 books in 2012" or more specific like "Read 15 dystopian books in 2012" or "Read 12 debut authors in 2012". These are usually done in a community where you sign up and track your progress (if you have a blog you may also post about your progress). It helps to keep you accountable, motivate you to finish, and meet new people interested in the same things you are (like dystopian reads, or debut authors, for example).

But why? Well...you could join a reading challenge because you want to expand your horizons or maybe because you love a genre and want to read more of it or even just to motivate yourself to find the time to relax and read more (the first time I joined a challenge I wanted to find ways to get away from too much tv watching).

Then there are reading goals. These are even more general and usually have something to do with well-being or financial goals. For example, "Use the library more.", "read all books from my own shelves before buying any more" or "read outside my comfort zone".

So my question to you is: Have you made any reading goals or joined any reading challenges in 2012? If not joined, have you made your own personal reading challenge or like Kathy have you decided just to relax take them as they come? If yes, what are they? (I want to know if there are any really interesting ones out there!) And lastly...what motivated you to create or join a challenge/goal this year?

For myself, I join challenges to motivate myself to read more of the genres I love but for some reason don't read enough of. So even though my favourite genres are fantasy and dystopian/near future you wont be seeing those on my list of challenges - I'm going to read them anyways! I usually set a number goal of total books read I want for the year (Goodreads has made this extremely easy to track since I can just make a 2012 shelf rather than my old system which was a numbered list on MS Word).

This year I am also challenging myself to relax more about my choice of books. Every time I try to choose a book off my shelf I freak out about the amount of books I still have to read and start 3-4 rather than picking one and sticking with it. I'm trying not to question my choice and giving a book a chance before I put it down for another. I'm also challenging myself to read more off my personal shelf and use Netgalley more to save money (and yes, even using the library less is going to save me money - I seem to be racking up at least $15 every few months in fees because I get too many out at once and then forget to renew them).

These are the official challenges I've joined in 2012:

The challenge: read at least 12 books from young adult or middle grade debut authors.

My goal: 12 books

The challenge: read your desired level of young adult contemporary books, published in 2012.

My goal: Level 2: 10+ books

The challenge:
Option 1: Read more contemporary Y.A. books in 2012 than you normally would.
Option 2: Read more out of your comfort zone in contemporary Y.A. (for readers who are already reading lots of contemporary books).

My goal: Option 1, to read more contemporary in 2012 than I did in 2011. I read 15 contemporary books in 2011 (so far...I will recount at the beginning of 2012) so my goal is to read at least that plus more. I already joined the YA Contemporary Challenge, so there will be some overlap here.

The challenge: Read Newbery and Prinz medal books (winners and honors are both acceptable). Pledge to read as many books as you think you can finish in 2012.

My goal: To read at least 8 Newbery or Prinz medal books.

You can see my progress for these goals throughout the year on my Reading Challenge page. Then there are these off-site goals as well:

Hosted by Bookish. You can find my progress on Suddenly Books!

Rules:
* Any genre, length, or format counts.
* Only books from 2011 and earlier count.
* No counting new purchases or fresh-off-the-press releases.
* There is a challenge for every month's wrap-up post hosted by a different blogger.
* To go along with the challenge is a prize.

My goal: 21-30 books (any genre or age bracket) from my shelves (obtained prior to 2012).

2012 Reading Challenge

Erika has read 4 books toward her goal of 175 books.

hide

4 of 175 (2%)

view books

My # goal for 2012 is to read 175 total books. This includes every kind of book, short story, picture books, etc but hoping to read at least 100 novels.

The great thing about reading challenges and goals is that you can use one read book for more than one challenge (for example, Never Eighteen by Megan Bostic will be counted towards the Goodreads 2012, YA Contemporary, Just Contemporary AND 2012 Debut Author Challenges). So joining more than a few challenges can seem daunting at first but can also be totally do-able.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

January New Release in Review: Irises by Francisco X. Stork

2012-01-13T16:49:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

Arthur A. Levine

Summary:

Two sisters discover what's truly worth living for in the new novel by the author of MARCELO IN THE REAL WORLD.

TWO SISTERS: Kate is bound for Stanford and an M.D. -- if her family will let her go. Mary wants only to stay home and paint. When their loving but repressive father dies, they must figure out how to support themselves and their mother, who is in a permanent vegetative state, and how to get along in all their uneasy sisterhood.

THREE YOUNG MEN: Then three men sway their lives: Kate's boyfriend Simon offers to marry her, providing much-needed stability. Mary is drawn to Marcos, though she fears his violent past. And Andy tempts Kate with more than romance, recognizing her ambition because it matches his own.

ONE AGONIZING CHOICE: Kate and Mary each find new possibilities and darknesses in their sudden freedom. But it's Mama's life that might divide them for good -- the question of *if* she lives, and what's worth living for.

IRISES is Francisco X. Stork's most provocative and courageous novel yet.

Why I Read This:

From the summary, I thought it would be a book I'd Enjoy.

Thoughts:

Gorgeous!

The story was a quiet, down to earth approach at a look at two girls on the edge of womanhood. They learn what it takes to make tough decisions while staying true to themselves. After their father's death, Kate, the older sibling must face her choices. Are the selfish or are they what's best for everyone? Mary, who's been distant from everyone around her learns to take risks and let people in to her world. Both stories interweave seamlessly and even though the two of them are very different from in each other in what they want it's fascinating to see how a shared upbringing effects them in very similar ways.

I loved the way Irises was written. Even though it's one of those books where barely anything happens, it never feels dull or boring. The issues the two are dealing with are powerful enough to stand on their own and the author knows that, never trying to complicate anything but letting things fall into place on their own. My favourite part of the story was probably the role that faith played in it. Mary was an amazing character to me because she seemed unique in the YA world. There was never a crises of faith in her. She always knew where she stood and stuck to her beliefs, even feeling so uncomfortable as to wear a new dress to church (at Kate's request) in case she seems too material. This a voice I haven't seen much of in YA which has always surprised me because there is that voice in real life. I will have to make the effort to seek out more books like this in the future (suggestions, anyone?).

One warning I must give you if you read this book - both the beginning and ending are sad. I was heartbroken for these characters at what they had to go through and the realizations they made about their parents throughout. Their innocence is shattered, but in a way I think we can all relate to.

I look forward to reading more of Francisco X. Stork's novels in the future :)

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

Received an ARC from publisher at my request.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

New Year's Interview with a blogger: Giselle from Xpresso Reads

2012-01-13T10:25:00.000-05:00

This New Year's I've asked a few bloggers to come and share some of their reflections and goals with us. Today I'm interviewing Giselle from Xpresso Reads. Check out what she has to say about her most memorable reads and books she's looking forward to.

What are your top three most memorable reads (good or bad) of 2011?

Oh my god I've read SO many memorable books in 2011 that it's hard to choose! The one I'm sure belongs on this list, though, is Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen. I absolutely Loved this book and it has become one of my all-time favourites. It's nothing like I've ever read before and it totally took me by surprise. Especially since I didn't think I'd like it very much. It was getting so much hype and I was thinking "what can be so great about a circus book?". I'd never read a circus book before and I was expecting it to be lame. Boy was I ever wrong! It's so much more than just a circus book. If you haven't read this one yet you absolutely must! I promise you will never forget it!

Ok now let me think… these other two I've enjoyed recently and I know they'll stick with me for a long time.

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout is a dang sexy book! The male lead - Daemon - is an incredibly gorgeous and just plain, well.. irritatingly sexy character! He's the kind of guy you'd want to punch and kiss at the same time. He's infuriating but he looks hot doing it! The chemistry between him and the protagonist is one of the best I've ever read. Jennifer is a genius and thus we must praise her! *bows at her feet*

The third one I have to add on this list is Ashfall by Mike Mullin. This one is definitely going to stay in my mind for a while. Especially during our upcoming end of the world hype (choose any of the dates you please). A huge volcano has erupted and the ash that is falling is incredibly hard to live with - literally it's killing all source of foods, animals and a lot of humans. It was So intense and terrifying because this situation could Really happen. It also has a strong message about humanity and what it takes to survive. It's incredibly realistic. All of it. The violence, the crimes, how inhuman a person can become. It's a definite eye opener!

What three books are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?

These questions are so hard!! *whimpers*

Ok, if I MUST pick 3, I'd have to pick Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin which is a retelling of gothic story (by the same name) of Edgar Allan Poe. The cover is what made me check this one out at first it's incredible! I love gothic stories, they're creepy and just always have a great suspenseful vibe that I really enjoy.

I'm also super excited for The Calling by Kelley Armstrong - the 2nd book in her Darkness Rising series. Kelley is one of my favourite authors ever. I've loved everything she has written. Her Women of the Otherworld series is fantastic! The Darkest Powers trilogy is in my favourites as well and I'm really looking forward to reading what she's going to give us in this sequel. The Gathering - book 1 - was great but it left us hanging at the end! So cruel!

For my third pick I'm going to go cliché here and say Insurgent. Because Divergent was FREAKING AWESOME! That is all.

Ooh there have been a lot of awesome scenarios and theories. If I was writing a story, I'd go with something a lot more believable than most, scientifically I mean. I won't believe the world will suddenly rain blood and we will all die of a strange new zombie disease. I'd go with an unusual planet alignment or, like Ashfall - a natural disaster. It makes a more believable apocalypse thus making the reader more scared. And I love books that just give you chills! Real chills. Zombies can be scary and everything, but they're fun-scary (Braaaiiiiiiins).

But really, I think the Mayans just ran out of rock to write on!

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Waiting on Wednesday

2012-01-11T10:00:00.001-05:00

Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral

Release date: February 2, 2012

Glory is a young piano prodigy. Frank is the boy who moves in next door. Over the years, their friendship blossoms into an undeniable romance. As Glory descends from stunning piano prodigy into a kind of madness, Frank's love becomes more and more unshakable. They both become hopelessly fixated on the song "Chopsticks".

Part love story, part mystery, part visual collage, this novel is told through images as much as it's told through words. Ultimately the reader must decipher what is real, what is imagined, and what has been madness all along.

Richly imagined by author Jessica Anthony and hauntingly designed by Rodrigo Corral, Chopsticks will rivet teens and adults alike on numerous platforms, including a gorgeous book and paid app for the iPhone and iPad, with many additional features.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

New Year's Interview with a blogger: Ashley from Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing

2012-01-10T12:00:00.004-05:00

This New Year's I've asked a few bloggers to come and share some of their reflections and goals with us. Today I'm interviewing Ashley from Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing. Check out what she has to say about her most memorable reads, books she's looking forward to, and scary genetically motified crops.

What are your top three most memorable reads (good or bad) of 2011?

My top memorable reads for 2011? Seriously? You are asking me to narrow it down to three?! Thou art cruel. But if I have to pick, I would say

*The Day Before by Lisa Schroeder which was my first book by Lisa and I loved it. I love this book with my whole heart and I recommend it to everyone. I promptly went out and read everything else Lisa has written and I'm convinced the woman is a genius. I've also chatted with her a bunch on Twitter, she participated in my Just Contemporary November event and she's amazing.

*Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert is a book that is as completely removed from my life experiences as it is possible for a Contemporary book to be. I'm not even kidding. I've read fantasy and paranormal books where characters have experienced things closer to my life. But something about the way Stephanie created these characters just screamed reality. I was completely blown away by this book. And I loved them. I haven't connected to a story like that in a long time and I will never forget this book. I've talked to Stephanie a bunch to and she's absolutely awesome. I interviewed her for Just Contemporary November too and she told me that I asked some of the best questions she's ever seen for her books and I pretty much died. And then- She wrote a blog post about gratitude, and she used my name. Like, for realz. Guys. I'm still geeking out about this. I'm going to be 85, talking to my grandkids and still geeking out that this awesome woman whose ability to write completely blows my freaking mind talked about me. Word.

*Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick is another book that I can't stop thinking about. It's a story about an 8th grade boy who learns that his 5 year old brother has Leukemia. I cried for the entire book. Seriously. I cried the whole time. In public too. I had at least three people, very concernedly as if I was okay... I had heard good things about this book, but I wasn't expecting it to be so amazing. But it's such an incredibly powerful story and the ultimate message of the book isn't tragic at all. It is one of the most touching and powerful books about love I have ever read. Seriously, I am tearing up just talking about it, because I'm thinking about the things the main character does for his brother and I have never felt a love that strong in a book before.

(Also, Erika, you really should know that there are at least 5 or 6 other books sobbing into their bindings because I didn't pick them. And I'm blaming you. You have the tears of many wonderful books on your hands because you made me pick only three... )

What three books are you most looking forward to reading in 2012?

My most highly anticipated 2012 books? Well first, I have Shadows on the Moon by Zoe Marriott (and I'm going to cheat and include FrostFire which will be released in the UK). I have had a UK copy of Shadows since September and I want to cry every time I think about the fact that I haven't read it yet. Zoe is the only non-contemporary writer that consistently makes it on my list of favorite authors. I love her and cannot wait to read these books!

I'm also itching to read Enchanted by AlethaKontis because it looks like a stunning fairy tale retelling and I love those. A lot.

The final book(s) I'm wanting to read are Finnikin of the Rock and Frio of the Exiles by Melina Marchetta (and possibly the third in the series, if it releases). Melina Marchetta is pretty much my most favorite author ever. Jellicoe Road is my favorite book of all time and I think the woman is made of genius. These books are her being a fantasy writer and I'm terrified of them, because I'm terrified that I won't like them. So I haven't read them yet. But I'm going to. I need to. Melina Marchetta FTW folks.

Also, I don't know if anyone else besides me finds this interesting or relevant, but all three of my favorites this year (and most, if not all of the ones I didn't pick) are Contemporary (which is my favorite genre) and all three I'm looking forward to for next year are not...

Anyway, for your final question, I chose to answer both of them. For an apocalypse, I'd go with the Yellowstone super volcano erupting. I know that Mike Mullin already did that with his novel Ashfall (it's a very good book, too) but since I live less than 2 hours away from Yellowstone and had nightmares when I was a kid, right after learning that Yellowstone was, in fact, a ginormous volcano, horribly vivid nightmares about driving in the car over this rim, straight into a bubbling mass of boiling, oozing molten red and orange lava (even though I had been to Yellowstone many times before that and knew exactly what it really looked like) I'm pretty sure that I'm allowed to still think a lot about the horrid nastiness that would result if and when Yellowstone does decide to explode again. And you know what, I'm actually very glad that if Yellowstone does blow? I just die. It might be instant, or I might get about 20 minutes to watch the giant pluming ash cloud come to destroy me. Just depends on how the wind blows. But either way, I'm dead. And I'm okay with that. The world an eruption would leave behind is not somewhere that I'd like to be.

But, if we are talking society, I'd have the downfall of my society be ignorance. So much happens as a result of ignorance it makes me sick. And I'm using ignorance as a broad term, letting it umbrella out over other, related topics. I was going to expound on this more, but realized that not only would it take more space than I imagine I have, but it's also pretty much guaranteed to offend someone. So, take it how you will, read into it whatever you like. But ignorance and apathy are what I'm putting my money on as the reason society falls.

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

Guest Post: Most Memorable Moment: Lena Coakley's Bronte Summer

2012-01-10T09:00:00.001-05:00

Today Lena Coakley, author of Witchlanders is here! And she is sharing with us her most memorable moment of 2011.

My Brontë Summer
by Lena Coakley

It’s probably odd to write a post about the highlight of my year that is not about Witchlanders. After all, it was my very first novel, the culmination of ten years of hard work. There’s no doubt that when I’m a little-old-lady looking back on my life, completing and publishing Witchlanders will be one of the accomplishments that I am most proud of. And yet… I’ve noticed that by the time a book comes out, many authors have already set their sights on their next book, and this was certainly true of me. To promote Witchlanders I wrote guest post after guest post about Ryder and Falpian and their frosty, wintery world, but my mind was often on a very different setting and on four very different characters: Charlotte, Emily, Branwell and Anne.

Charlotte, Emily and Anne Bronte, painted by Branwell Bronte

Yes, THAT Charlotte, Emily, Branwell and Anne. The novel I’m writing now is a historical fantasy that takes place in 1834 in which the young Brontës appear as characters. Selling Witchlanders gave me a great opportunity to go to England and study these famous siblings.

For those who don’t know, the Brontës were the brilliant children of a poor but well-educated Yorkshire parson. The three sisters, Anne, Charlotte, and Emily, all became published authors. Only Branwell, the brother, failed to live up to his potential. He died of drug addiction and tuberculosis in his early thirties, and Emily and Anne died soon after, also of tuberculosis. Charlotte was the only one who lived long enough to enjoy her fame—her novel Jane Eyre was the most popular book of its day—but she, too, died young, at thirty nine.

I’m a great fan of Charlotte and Emily’s writings in particular, though for very different reasons. Charlotte is wry and witty, and her books always have a great narrative voice. She writes with searing honesty about depression in her novel, Villette—a book I couldn’t get through in my twenties, but which is now one of my favourites. And Jane Eyre, the poor and plain governess who wins the love of her employer, the mysterious Mr. Rochester, is a heroine I loved when my grandmother read the book out loud to me as a kid and who I still love today.

Still, I think it’s Emily Brontë I love the best. Emily is a bit of a cipher to her biographers. Because she seems to have never made a friend (other than her sisters) she has left behind very little correspondence. Critics are left to get a sense of her character from Charlotte—who has been accused of creating a distorted picture of her—and from her works: a collection of excellent poetry and one novel.

And what a perplexing novel Wuthering Heights is. Since reading it as a teenager, I’ve been wondering about this strange book and about this strange woman who roamed the Yorkshire moors, and I think it’s this wondering more than anything else that has inspired my own work.

The first stop on my Brontë journey was the university city of Oxford, where I had signed up for a literature course I hoped would shed some light on Wuthering Heights and some other novels of the Brontës.

Christ Church College , Oxford University

The course was offered through The Oxford Experience, a program that allows students to live and study in Christ Church, one of the university’s most impressive and beautiful colleges. Participants came from all over the world to study subjects as diverse as Alice in Wonderland to King Alfred and the Vikings. Needless to say, our dinners—held in the huge dining hall used in the Harry Potter films—were alive with interesting conversation.

Lena at the entrance to the Christ Church dining hall

My course, The Brontës, focused on Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë. Every morning about ten students and I met to praise, criticise, and argue about these novels, discussions that often continued through lunch and into the afternoon. I’m happy to say that this deepened the mystery of Emily and Wuthering Heights rather than explaining it.

As one student pointed out, when reading Villette or Jane Eyre, no one is ever left to wonder if Charlotte approves or disapproves of her characters. She judges them all, and leaves their motivations splayed out on a table for the reader to approve or disapprove along with her. Emily never judges and never explains. Is the abusive kidnapper and hanger of dogs, Heathcliff, meant to be a romantic hero or a villain? Is he truly haunted by the ghost of his lover Catherine or is he delusional? Is the narrator Nelly Dean reliable or not? Emily will never tell.

The village of Haworth

My next stop was Haworth itself, the Yorkshire village where the Brontës grew up. Because two of his elder daughters had contracted tuberculosis at school, Mr. Brontë decided to educate his four remaining children at home for their early years. The little parsonage at the edge of the moors became a hothouse for the active imaginations of four brilliant children. Together they acted plays, invented imaginary worlds, wrote tiny newspapers and magazines and developed their creativity.

The Bronte parsonage

I was very lucky to have been granted permission to study in the archives of the Brontë Parsonage Museum, so on the days I wasn’t traipsing over the moors I could be found hunched over scholarly texts on the Brontës that aren’t available to me in Toronto.

But Emily’s elusiveness was in evidence her too. Although the museum houses voluminous amounts of juvenilia written by Charlotte and Branwell, almost all of Emily’s early writings have been destroyed. We only get tantalizing hints and snatches of the imaginary world of Gondal that she and her sister Anne created in childhood.

The ruins of Top Withins, the farmhouse that inspired Wuthering Heights

Finally I ended my trip in London at the British Library where I viewed the original handwritten manuscript of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre. It was open to the page where Jane announces, “Reader, I married him.” Seeing it made me a little verklempt I have to say—what a Brontë nerd I am! But as for the original manuscript of Wuthering Heights…it has been lost. The reclusive Emily remained mysterious to the end.

About Witchlanders

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—

Are about him.

Author Bio:

Lena Coakley was born in Milford , Connecticut and grew up on Long Island . In high school, creative writing was the only class sheever failed (nothing was ever good enough to hand in!), but, undeterred, shewent on to study writing at Sarah Lawrence College .She got interested in young adult literature when she moved to Toronto , Canada ,and began working for CANSCAIP, the Canadian Society of Children’s Authors,Illustrators and Performers, where she eventually became the AdministrativeDirector. She is now a full-time writer living in Toronto . Witchlanders, her first novel, has received three starredreviews and was called “a stunning teen debut” by Kirkus Reviews. It is a Junior Library Guild selection and an ABC new voices selection.

Related Posts:
Captioned!: "Falpian's Magic" (excerpt from Witchlanders)
Book in Review: Witchlanders by Lena Coakley

This post was part of my New Year's Signature Collection event.

Watch out for more guest posts, lists, reviews of January releases, author interviews, and more throughout January.

January New Release in Review: Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand

2012-01-09T16:46:00.000-05:00

Cover:

Publisher:

HarperCollins

Summary:

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

Described by Richelle Mead as “utterly captivating,” Unearthly received outstanding reviews, garnered accolades from New York Times bestselling authors, and was named an Indie Next Pick. In this heart-wrenching sequel, Cynthia Hand expertly captures the all-consuming joy of first love—and the agony of loss. This beautifully woven tale will appeal to fans of Lauren Kate, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Aprilynne Pike.

Why I Read This:

I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Unearthly.

My Thoughts:

Hallowed is a real gem.

I was surprised to find that I loved Hallowed even more than Unearthly. I'm normally more dissappointed by sequels because they often don't live up to the excitement of discovery that a first book holds for me. And part of that is often the continuation of plot without the expansion of the world around the characters. So fantasy books are even more prone to me liking them less than the first. But I enjoyed Hallowed even more than Unearthly (Don't get me wrong...Unearthly was fabulous...Hallowed is just better!). Why?

The biggest thing I can say is this story not only delivered a wider view of the world in it (we learn A LOT more about the world, about more characters, and we get a deeper understanding of the characters we have been introduced to) but also...the story was much more meaningful. In Unearthly I read the story to find out what Clara's purpose is and also to see which one of the guys Clara ends up with. But in Unearthly, I read the story to find out who dies and how Clara deals with that. It's hard to explain why it's so much better for me without spoilers (and I wont do that) but the plot made a huge difference in the way I saw everything. I also have to applaud Cynthia Hand for the way she wrote an angels perspective on death. I really got a lot out of that, personally.

I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the rest of the series. It's even easier to see now just how talented Cynthia hand is and if I like this one better than the first (which I loved to begin with) I just can't wait to see what happens next.

My Rating:

Disclaimer:

ARC provided by publisher through NetGalley.