Interview with... ME!

Hayley Anne Perkins, author of the upcoming novel Green, has a weekly feature on her blog called Book Bloggers Get Blogged. Every Wednesday she features an interview with a different book blogger. This week I was lucky enough to be featured.

If you get a chance, go check out the post and comment. The questions were super fun and I had a blast answering them, though I probably sound like a dork.

Great Opportunity for Teens

I received an email today about a new teen essay contest. Despite the illustrious guest judges and prize ($250 Apple gift card), I think that the best part of this contest is the topic. Cancer is something that impacts so many people in America but, as the press release says, teens aren't generally thought of when it comes to cancer. If you or a loved one has been impacted by cancer and have a story to tell, I'd highly suggest taking a look at this contest.

Official press release:

GILDA’S CLUB LAUNCHES “IT’S ALWAYS SOMETHING” TEEN ESSAY CONTEST TO PROVIDE A FORUM FOR TEENS TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES WITH CANCER

Gilda’s Club New York City, a cancer support community named for the late comedian Gilda Radner, launches its inaugural Teen Essay Contest

NEW YORK – (September 28, 2009) – Are you a high school student who has been impacted by cancer? Gilda’s Club New York City is launching its inaugural “It’s Always Something” Teen Essay Contest to provide high school students with a forum for sharing their stories about living with cancer. Teens may submit an essay about the experience of their own cancer diagnosis, a family member or friend living with cancer, or the loss of a loved one to cancer. Celebrity Judges include Alan Zweibel – Emmy-winning writer and close friend of Gilda Radner, Matthew Zachary – Founder of I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation, William Sherman – Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for New York Daily News, and Tonya Hurley – author of the NY Times best-selling “ghostgirl” novels.

More than 70% of teens have been impacted by a cancer diagnosis yet teens are often an overlooked audience, especially regarding cancer prevention and dealing with the social and emotional needs brought about by cancer. Nationwide, 25% of families with a cancer diagnosis have children under the age of 18. “Our primary objective is to provide a forum for teens, grades 9-12, to share their experiences with cancer and more importantly, raise awareness of the issues teens face when they are living with cancer. By partnering with local schools and community organizations, we are hoping that our inaugural ‘It’s Always Something’ Teen Essay Contest will open the door for teens to express themselves and provide an opportunity for our community to hear what they have to say about life with cancer” says Lily Safani, CEO of Gilda’s Club New York City.

Essays must be postmarked by Friday, October 23, 2009. The contest is open to all high school students who are legal residents of the 50 states or the District of Columbia. Subject to official rules available at: http://www.lifetimetv.com/essaycontest. Or write: Gilda’s Club New York City, c/o "It’s Always Something" Teen Essay Contest, 195 W. Houston St., New York, N.Y. 10014. The essay winner will receive a $250 Apple gift card. A ceremony for all participants will be held at Gilda’s Club New York City on January 14, 2010.

About Gilda’s Club New York City

Gilda’s Club New York City creates welcoming communities of free support for everyone living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends. Our innovative program is an essential complement to medical care, providing networking and support groups, workshops, lectures and social activities, all free of charge.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

A prodigal son

A dangerous love

A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

If I had to describe The Dark Divine in one word, it would be enthralling.

What I loved most about this book was that it was simple. There was never a time when it felt overly complicated or the weight of the mysteries became suffocating. The plot moved along at a smooth, natural place and Grace’s voice was perfect for narrating the story. Each conflict was presented at the opportune moment and in a way that allowed me to digest each curveball as they came.

When a book contains so much myth and legend it’s natural for some of story to be lost among everything that’s happening. With The Dark Divine, however, that never happened. Plot holes were few, if any, and there was never a time when I felt confused. Despain did a wonderful job of explaining the myths, legends, and mysteries so that the I was never left behind.

The chemistry between Grace and Daniel was the icing on the cake, ensuring that I was completely absorbed.

The Dark Divine is a wonderful debut novel, and yet another reason to look forward to December. Believe me, the wait is worth it.

5 Stars!

Chick Chat: Jess C Scott

Jess C Scott is the author of Eyeleash: A Blog Novel. For more information on Eyeleash and Jess check out her blog.

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Did you always want to be an author? If so why? If not what did you want to be?

Deep down, it’s something I’ve always wanted to be. It’s through writing that I share my thoughts and vision for humanity on the whole. I know it sounds dramatic, but I wouldn’t be spending so much of my life doing something, if I didn’t think it’d be worth it.

Other occupations I’ve considered through my life so far: psychologist, vet, criminologist, environmentalist, hairstylist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, rockstar wannabe...

Is being an author what you expected?

Yes, through and through. Maintaining my sanity is a daily effort on my part.

What was your road to publishing like?

Tiresome. This post has the summarized stats: http://eyeleash.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/blog-novel/

You’re book centers around two teens’ blogs. Are you a blogger yourself? If so, what is your blog about?

I own several blogs, so I guess that makes me a blogger! I usually focus on writing about my ongoing writing/publishing experiences, and content that’s relevant to my book(s).

What inspired you to write EyeLeash?

“A series of unfortunate events” – EyeLeash is a consolidation of fact and fiction. However, I do have a disclaimer on the book’s copyright page...

Most writers have a close friend and/or family member that gives them support and criticism. Do you have anyone like this in your life? If so how have they contributed to your writing?

I think I am my own harshest critic. That being said, I am very grateful to have a small network of very close friends and family members, who are always there to deal with/witness my various “shenanigans”.

Many teens dream of becoming authors. What advice would you give to writing teens?

a) Don’t be afraid to take a stand on something. In my case, I was usually the oddball on the side wondering why I couldn’t just be like everyone else, liking whatever (current, popular fad) everyone else was into.

b) Keep writing; I kept writing through my teenage years (journal entries and poetry – I had no time for anything else).

c) Don’t let negative input/sentiments get you down. That’s detrimental in the long run.

Would you rather see your book turned into a TV show or a movie?

Due to the blog/IM format of the novel, it’d be nice to see how it would transcribe onscreen. I think a four-part TV series, and/or not-too-long movie, would work best.

If you could cast anyone to play your characters what would your dream cast be?

My dream cast would consist of as-yet undiscovered talents. An interesting cast that really understands and enjoys playing the characters, would be more favorable to me, than having a star-studded “instantly recognizable” lineup that’s in it for the money (assuming there’s a significant production budget). I like exploring new ground, so perhaps this is an extension of that trait of mine.

Besides writing and reading what else are you passionate about?

Art, music, and being true to myself. I think a strong self-identity comes in handy when figuring out how to navigate one’s life.

Are you working on anything new? If so, what and when can readers expect to see it in stores?

I am currently working on a young adult series. I give more details once a project is complete ;). The first book might be out by next year, depending on when I’m able to finish it, and/or when I think it’s good to go. Right now, I’m preparing to launch my second novel (a short story collection), so I’ll be Super Busy for the time being.

Ruined Winners

The random number generator has spoken, and the five lucky winners of the Ruined giveaway are:

#16 -- Robin

#22 -- Orchid

#27 -- Elnice

#30 -- Kristine

and #45 -- Nancye

Congratulations to you all! I'll be emailing you within the hour. Remember to respond within 72 hours or else you'll forfeit your prize.

Also, a big thank you to everyone who entered. If you didn't win this time don't worry because I have many more contests in the works, so make sure to check back regularly.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

She is the last of her kind...

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. In King City, the young King Nash is clinging to the throne, while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. War is coming. And the mountains and forest are filled with spies and thieves. This is where Fire lives, a girl whose beauty is impossibly irresistible and who can control the minds of everyone around her.

Officially, Fire serves as a prequel to Graceling. You don’t necessarily need to have read Graceling in order to understand Fire though. In my opinion, both of the books are perfectly good standalone novels.

Despite my opinion, I know that many will still try to compare the two. Let me just say that Fire and Graceling should not be compared. Fire, in comparison to Graceling, develops at a much slower pace. However, one must consider that Fire has far more key players and lacks an all encompassing central conflict. Rather than one main driving force, dozens of subplots entwine together to ultimately create the story.

In the beginning when each of these plots was being introduced, I’ll admit that the story lagged a bit. Once more of them began to appear and blossom, however, I was completely enthralled. Since Fire tackled such a broad range of conflicts, at any one time there was at least three plots developing, whether I knew it or not at the time. It was because of this constant development that I enjoyed Fire so much. For me, the story was a puzzle that needed to be solved. Each subplot fit together somehow, and it was up to me to figure out how.

This was a stunningly crafted novel and a wonderful read.

4 Stars!

Private: Suspicion by Kate Brian

Forbidden fruit...

Reed, Noelle, and former Billings Girls Kiran and Taylor have been living it up on St. Barths over winter break. The tropical sun has melted away all the tensions of last semester, and for the first time in months, Reed is happy. She's got her best friends by her side, she has a palatial suite with an ocean view, and she's landed Upton, the most sought-after guy on the island.

Reed is falling in love.

But dating Upton makes Reed St. Barths' highest-profile guest — and not in a good way. Upton has a dark past, and he's broken a lot of hearts. One of his exes still wants him. And she'll do whatever it takes to get Reed out of the picture.

Despite the fact that this is the tenth book in the series, Kate Brian has found a way to continue to preserve the characters and the story.

I wouldn’t say that this book was one of my favorites though. In my opinion, the books are better when set at Easton. Something about them being at school sets a tone for the books that make everything the Billings Girls do seem all the more glamorous and elusive.

There were many times during the course of this book, as with the rest of the series, when I honestly wondered if Reed had any self-preservation skills whatsoever. I’m starting to believe that she’s not a magnet for trouble at all; she simply walks right into it. Either way, I still enjoyed the book considerably.

In the end, Brian ended the book with yet another one of her notorious curveballs. This book was both an ending and a beginning for Reed, but truly, in terms of the series, it was a transition. It looks like Reed is finally going to start a new chapter in her life, which of course means something horrendous will happen and suck her back in. I can’t wait!

3.75 Stars!

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover... Or Can You?

For this week's Cover Judge rather than sharing the covers of some upcoming books on my wish list, I'm going to be sharing some covers that cause me to do a double take. These are a few covers that I believe have cover models that look strikingly similar to popular stars.

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The first double take cover is Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead.

St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Is it just me or does the cover model have an Angelina Jolie-esque look to her?

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Front and Center by Catherine Gilbert Murdock is the sequel to Dairy Queen and The Off Season.

After five months of sheer absolute craziness I was going back to being plain old background D.J. In photographs of course I’m always in the background . . .

But it turns out other folks have big plans for D.J.

Like her coach. College scouts. All the town hoops fans. A certain Red Bend High School junior who’s keen for romance and karaoke. Not to mention Brian Nelson, who she should not be thinking about! Who she is done with, thank you very much. But who keeps showing up anyway . . .

Like the other two books, Front and Center is sporting a cover with a bright blue sky and lush green grass. Unlike the other two covers, however, it's also sporting a cover model that resembles actress Shailene Woodley, better known as Amy on ABC Family's "The Secret Life of the American Teenager."

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Blade of Fire is a part of Stuart Halt's series, The Ice Mark Chronicles. This is another cover that I frequently see and have to do a double take of.

Many years have passed since Queen Thirrin and her allies defended the Icemark against a brutal invasion. But now General Bellorum is back, along with his bloodthirsty spawn--twin sons even more vicious than him. Thirrin and Oskan also have a family: two girls and three

boys. But darkness lurks within the House of Lindenshield: Medea, the couple's cold-hearted fifteen-year-old daughter, is just coming into her magical powers, and she may be the downfall of the kingdom. It's up to her brother, Charlemagne, crippled by polio as a child, to return from exile and rescue the land he loves.

Being a huge fan of ABC Family's "Wildfire" whenever I see this cover Kris Furrilo (Genevieve Cortese) and Junior Davis (Ryan Sypek) immediately come to mind.

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What do you think? Do these covers make you do a double take too?

BBAW: Day 5

Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I meant to but then I awoke with swine flu. I'm back now though, so it's time to celebrate the final day of BBAW!

In 50 words or less here's what I love about my blog:

Reviews! I love reading books and getting to say what's on my mind. Even better, people actually read it! Which brings me to my second point, my wonderful readers and followers. You guys rock! Also, my Cover Judge posts because it allows me to share all of my favorite covers.

Now, in 50 words or less here's what I'd like my blog to be by next BBAW:

Of course I'd love to be nominated for an award, but what I really hope to do is improve my blog and get more readers. The YA community is awesome and my biggest hope is to become more involved with it in the next year.

Thanks to all of you who have visited my blog this BBAW!

BBAW: Day 3

Day three of BBAW means reading meme time. I had so much fun answering (and coming up with) these questions. I hope you enjoy them too:

Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of
writing in books horrify you?

O.o writing in books?! I refuse to even consider that.

How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears?

Bookmarks of course! Especially since I have so many lying around...

Hard copy or audiobooks?

I don't think I've ever used an audiobook.

Are you a person who tends to read to the end of chapters, or are you able to put a book down at any point?

Honestly, I stop whenever I feel like it. I wish I could say I always read to the end of chapters, but the longer a book's chapters are the more often I stop in the middle.

What are you currently reading?

Private: Suspicion by Kate Brian

What is the last book you bought?

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

Are you the type of person that only reads one book at a time or can you read more than one at a time?

I can only balance two book at a time, one for school and one for pleasure (aka blogging).

Do you have a favorite time of day and/or place to read?

I can read anywhere, and I do mean anywhere: beaches, Disneyland, in the car, at a restaraunt, during class, waiting in line...if I have free time I'm reading.

Is there a specific book or author that you find yourself recommending over and over?

A Great and Terrible Beauty, The Hunger Games, and Shiver have been my most recommended books as of late (along with Hush, Hush and Beautiful Creatures, but those aren't out yet).

How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author’s last name, etc.?)

Stand alone books in order of how I finish them and series and companion books on a separate shelf in no real order.

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

Penelope Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister Persy. But when Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can't help being distracted from her studies. Especially when she learns that the handsome young nobleman is reputedly an illegitimate cousin of the new young Queen Victoria, her friend and idol, whom her sister saved from an ambitious wizard's control spell the year before.

Niall Keating has strict orders from his sorceress mother Lady Keating: to make young Miss Leland fall in love with him so that she can be convinced to use her magical powers to help reconcile him to his true father, the Duke of Cumberland, Queen Victoria's uncle. Niall is delighted to comply until he discovers his mother's true aim: to assassinate Queen Victoria by magic and put Niall's father on the throne of England.

Penelope is thrilled when Lady Keating reveals her powers and offers to tutor her in magic. But Niall has fallen deeply in love with the lovely young woman. Even if he halts his mother's evil plans, will Penelope be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot against her beloved queen?

I spent a great deal of this book with horror movie syndrome, willing Pen to stop being so naïve. Despite my utter despair at her blindly trusting Lady Keating, I couldn’t help but enjoy this book.

As with her previous novel, Bewitching Season, Doyle has created another diamond in the rough. When I first began reading Betraying Season I was a bit worried that the story may not be quite up to par with the previous. Though the premise was interesting enough, my attention wasn’t entirely captured in the start. Then suddenly, I was swept up into Pen’s story and unable to put the book down.

I especially enjoyed the changing views. Being able to see the story unfold from both characters points of view was wonderful. Niall and Pen were simply adorable together.

The overall effect was, well, bewitching. Doyle has delivered yet another magical romance filled with secrets, society, and betrayal.

5 Stars!

More chances to win!

Looking for ways to improve your chances of winning my Ruined giveaway? Here's a chance to earn two extra entries:

+1 if you follow my blog

+1 if you follow me on Twitter

Once you're following me (or if you already are), leave a comment on the original contest post to let me know. Make sure you leave separate comments for each though.

Go follow now!

BBAW: Day 2: Interview Swap

Since today is the second day of BBAW it means it's time for my interview swap with the wonderful Marie Burton from the Burton Review.

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Your blog focuses mainly on Historical Fiction, what is it that drew you to reviewing Historical Fiction?

A co-worker introduced me to this new genre in February 2008 by giving me The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillippa Gregory. I was amazed at the Tudors, and Henry's six wives, and the drama of their realities. I read non-fiction to counter act the 'fiction' part of the genre to help balance the truth for me, but I still primarily read Historical Fiction.

How long have you been blogging?

I wrote my first post in the end of December of 2008 after my father suddenly passed away. It was pure luck that I named my blog The Burton Review, as I had not intended it to be primarily a book blog but that is what it evolved into within a few months.

Who are some of your favorite historical figures?

I will always love the Tudor era, but the actual figures are Anne Boleyn(Henry VIII's second wife) and their daughter, Elizabeth I, who are most inspiring for me right now. Elizabeth overcame much adversity to rule for 45 years at a time when a woman having any power at all was unheard of.

What is your favorite historical period to read about?

I have expanded from the Tudor period (1480-1503) to also enjoy reading the era before that regarding the Plantagenet Era in England. I find the politics intriguing and the mystery surrounding the missing Princes in The Tower even more interesting.

What do you find the most challenging aspect of blogging?

NOT ENOUGH TIME IN THE DAY!!

What do you find the easiest?

The participating in other blogs and interacting is the easiest and most fun part for me. I love meeting the new bloggers, especially those that are share my passion for Historical Fiction. There are some new bloggers out there that have fit this bill recently and I am so happy that I am not the newbie anymore! I can share my little technical knowledge when needed and that is fun to do; I enjoy helping everyone who needs it. They are all a wonderful group of bloggers, and to feel a part of that community is very easy and most gratifying!

Do you participate in any special features or memes on your blog? If so, what are they?

I have actually created a special event to coincide with the BBAW week, which is called Historical Fiction Bloggers Round Table. It is going to be filled with blogger interviews and guest author posts and fun giveaways. I have had a lot of help from Ms. Lucy at http://enhantedbyjospehine.blogspot.com/ and with her help I hope that we can make this tons of fun for all! I also participate in the daily memes such as The Sunday Salon, Mailbox Monday, Teaser Tuesdays, either Waiting on Wednesday or Wordless Wednesday, Booking Through Thursday and Friday Fill-In. I personalize my Friday Fill-In a little different then others which makes it fun for my Historical fiction Followers; I turn it into a loyal Riddle where they have to guess who the subject is. I haven't stumped my regulars yet though!

How many books do you read a week?

I typically read one book a week. Most of my books are long such as 400 + pages, and I only get to read at night when the two kids are in bed and I am done taking care of the family.

What is your favorite book and author?

Anna Elliott recently wrote Twilight of Avalon which I really enjoyed, I also read Jean Plaidy, Sharon Penman, and a new-to-me-author Michelle Moran is probably going to be on the list too.It is hard to narrow down one book in specifics but When Christ and His Saints Slept by Sharon Kay Penman opened up a whole new world to me and was totally awesome, all 784 pages of it!!

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Thanks Marie for taking part in the interview swap and answering my questions! Being a fan of historical fiction, it was super fun looking at her site. If you haven't read her blog before and are interested in historical fiction I'd highly suggest giving it a look.

Also, don't forget to check out The Burton Review to read my side of the interview.

See you all tomorrow for more BBAW fun!

Book Trailers (5)

Remember how I mentioned Vania (Reverie Book Reviews) also makes book trailers? Well she’s just made a gorgeous trailer for one of my favorite books, Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl.



And for more book trailer fun:

BBAW: Day 1

Drum roll please... BBAW starts today!


I'm so excited to celebrate BBAW this week and have a lot in store for readers, so make sure to check back everyday.


Now officially today is to honor the nominated bloggers. The shortlists were released last week and there are some wonderful bloggers nominated, so make sure to check it out and congratulate them.

While those bloggers are all fantastic, there are many other bloggers out there that are equally good. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for all of those nominate and think they deserve it, but I'd also like to give some recognition to those not recognized on the short list.

For example, Vania from Reverie Book Reviews, in addition to running a fantastic blog, also takes beautiful photographs and makes book trailers. The gorgeous photos and trailers she creates really bring the books to life and are always a joy to see.

There's also Bookworm Readers, who I've followed for who knows how long and always enjoy reading.

And B.A.M. Book Reviews , who're fantastic about commenting. I can't tell you how many times they've commented on my blog. Whenever I thought my blog was dropping off, BAM (excuse my pun) there they were with a comment.

These are only a few of the many great blogs and bloggers out there. Book reviewers are awesome, and today let's honor them for all of their hard work. Who're some of your favorite non-nominated bloggers?

In My Mailbox

Look at me, putting together my In My Mailbox post Sunday morning, aren't I a procrastinator. I'm trying to be better about posting these, but they always seem to slip my mind so bear with me. Anyways, here's what was in my mailbox this week:

Penelope Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister Persy. But when Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can't help being distracted from her studies. Especially when she learns that the handsome young nobleman is reputedly an illegitimate cousin of the new young Queen Victoria, her friend and idol, whom her sister saved from an ambitious wizard's control spell the year before.

Niall Keating has strict orders from his sorceress mother Lady Keating: to make young Miss Leland fall in love with him so that she can be convinced to use her magical powers to help reconcile him to his true father, the Duke of Cumberland, Queen Victoria's uncle. Niall is delighted to comply until he discovers his mother's true aim: to assassinate Queen Victoria by magic and put Niall's father on the throne of England.

Penelope is thrilled when Lady Keating reveals her powers and offers to tutor her in magic. But Niall has fallen deeply in love with the lovely young woman. Even if he halts his mother's evil plans, will Penelope be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot against her beloved queen?

Thanks Kristi (The Story Siren)!

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Four Little Words Written in Lipstick...

mean Emily must say goodbye to everything she knows. Emily Carson has always been a good girl. So when she throws a party the night her parents leave for vacation, she's sure she'll get busted. What Emily doesn't know is that her parents will never return. That their plane will go down. And the only thing left amidst the wreckage will be a tray table with the words: Emily please forgive me scrawled in lipstick—her mother's last words.

Now it's fall in New York City and Emily's trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Her public tragedy captures the attention of more than just the media—and soon two very different boys at her new school are pursuing her: the cute, popular Owen and the quirky chemistry partner slash pastry-baker-by-night, Anthony. But even with such delicious distractions, Emily can't let go of her mother's mysterious apology. Does she have the courage to face the truth?

With help of a whole new kind of family—one that includes a make-up artist to the stars, a teen model, and a wacky hairdresser—Emily must choose between the boy who makes her forget it all, and the one who encourages her to remember, and ultimately, heal.

Sometimes goodbye is just the beginning.

Thanks again Kristi.

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I also received Cairo Modern. However, my galley has no cover and I'm unsure about the (old?) description so I don't have anything to post. I'm not sure if this is a reprint of a previous book or new book, but it looks fairly interesting.

Chick Chat: Shana Norris

Shana Norris is the author of Something to Blog About and the newly released Troy High, a modern retelling of Homer's Iliad. For more information about Shana and her books, check out her website.

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Did you always want to be an author? If so why? If not what did you want to be?
I’ve wanted to be a writer since around the age of nine. I’ve always loved telling stories and as a kid I would make my own little books out of construction paper that I folded in half and stapled in the middle. Even before I started writing stories down, I was making up stories that I would make my younger brothers and sister listen to—even if they didn’t really want to listen! But before I decided I wanted to be a writer, I wanted to be a ballerina and an archeologist and a teacher. All at the same time! I had it figured out that I could be a teacher during the school year, a ballerina on weekends, and then an archeologist during summer vacations. As I got older, I figured out that plan probably wouldn’t work out as well as I thought, so I decided to become a writer.

Is being an author what you expected?
In some ways, yes, because I get to go to conventions and booksignings and connect with readers and hear what they think of my characters. That’s really fun and it’s a part of being an author that I was looking forward to experiencing. But in other ways, it’s not what I expected. I used to think authors were so glamorous and led such exciting lives, always jetting off from one part of the world to another, meeting celebrities and going to all these exciting places just because they’re authors. But my life as an author is still pretty much the same as my life before I got published. I still work a day job in addition to writing, I still have to do the dishes each night rather than have someone who does all of that for me. Most of my time being an author is spent alone, typing in my living room with my dogs and cats all sleeping around me. Being an author is really not as glamorous as I thought! But it is tons of fun and I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything.

What made you decide to retell Homer’s Iliad for teens?
I’ve loved Greek mythology ever since I learned about it in seventh grade English class. I just fell completely in love with all of the gods and goddesses and the unlucky mortals that got caught up in their stories. I knew that I wanted to retell a story from Greek mythology, I just wasn’t sure which one until a few years ago when I was rereading some information about the Trojan War. The idea for a high school version of Helen of Troy hit me and as I played around with the idea and remembered my own high school experiences, football stood out as the perfect way to have the two opposing sides battle to prove their superiority. And the love triangle of the Helen of Troy story already makes a great high school conflict on its own, so the whole story was a lot of fun to write and reinvent for a modern setting.

Many teens dream of becoming authors. What advice would you give to writing teens?
I know everyone says this, but it’s true: keep writing. I wrote all the time as a teen. I have notebooks full of stories and character notes from that time. Every time I wrote a story, even if it was terrible, I still learned and grew as a writer. Writing a lot before you start focusing on getting published is very valuable practice for making a career in writing because you can explore different styles of storytelling and different kinds of characters without having to please anyone other than yourself. You can figure out what stories you like writing best and what your writing voice is. Then, when you do start trying to get published, my advice is to not let rejection get to you. Everyone gets rejected, it’s part of the process of becoming a writer. Whenever I got rejections, I kept telling myself, “If I give up now, I’ll never know if the next story I sent out would have been the one that got me published.” All it takes is one editor who likes your work enough to change you from an aspiring writer to published writer.

Would you rather see your book turned into a TV show or a movie?
I think either one would be fun, but I would probably say TV show only because there’s more chance to get invested in the characters and the story through watching a season or two of TV episodes than just one hour and a half long movie. A TV show would give a chance to explore more of the world of Troy High and introduce new problems for the characters and let them grow, which could be a lot of fun.

If you could cast anyone to play your characters what would your dream cast be?
Ooh, this is a good question! I have a weakness for Michael Cera as the nice guy who is a little goofy at times and so I would pick him for Greg. In fact, in my Troy High behind the scenes notebook that I used while writing the book to keep track of notes and things, I do have a picture of Michael Cera stapled to the info sheet about Greg. I could see Cody Linley as Perry and Ellen Page or Miranda Cosgrove would be a cute, sarcastic Cassie. Channing Tatum is who I’ve always had in mind for Hunter so he would be perfect in the part. Drew Roy would be a good Lucas because he has the right look. I’d love Corbin Bleu as Owen and Keke Palmer as Mallory. (Wow, I watch a lot of Disney Channel and Nickelodeon! I keep thinking of actors from their shows.) And I think Taylor Kitsch from “Friday Night Lights” would be a great Ackley. As for Elena, she’s always been hard for me to cast. Her picture in my Troy High notebook is just some random model from a magazine ad whose name I don’t know. But just recently I’ve thought that Meaghan Jette Martin, the actress who plays Bianca in the new “10 Things I Hate About You” TV show, might make a good Elena. Her bubbly personality on 10 Things is perfect for Elena in Troy High.

Which one of your characters do you identify with the most?
I think I’m a combination of Cassie and Greg. I definitely know what it’s like to feel like an outsider like Cassie and to feel ignored by everyone around me. But I’m not quite as sarcastic as Cassie can be. My personality probably is more similar to Greg’s. Loyal to my friends and family, afraid to just say what’s on my mind at times, and trying to keep the peace as much as I can but getting involved when I have to.

Besides writing and reading, what else are you passionate about?
I’m really addicted to scrapbooking. I have a whole scrapbook area set up where I work and lots of finished scrapbooks already. In fact, I’m running out of room to put more!

Are you working on anything new? If so, what and when can readers expect to see it in stores?
I am working on what I hope will become my third book. There’s nothing definite on it yet, so unfortunately I don’t have an estimate right now of when it will be in stores. But readers can always keep an eye on my blog and I’ll post any news that comes up over there! I’m really excited about the book I’m working on though, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will make its way into stores in the next year or so. The main character is so different from who I am as a person that it’s fun and interesting to step into her shoes and see life through her eyes.

Blog Lists

One of the oldest features on my blog is my Bedazzling Blogs list. However, lately it's begun to slack. There are so many amazing blogs out there, and more are appearing everyday. Thus, I haven't been able to keep up with all of the blogs, both old and new. The same goes for my Amazing Authors (a.k.a. author blogs) list.

That said, I'm going to be updating both lists over the course of the next week or so. If you're an author or YA/MG blogger who would like their blog added to the list, please email bloglist.chicklitteens@gmail.com with your blog's name and URL, as well as which list you'd like to be added to.

Thanks in advance for your help!

P.S. If you're a publisher or webmaster for a YA book site and would like your site added to my Sensational Sites list, send your information as well.

Ballad Teaser

This is a teaser from Maggie Stiefvater's BALLAD, a novel involving homicidal faeries and kissing that's coming out October 1st.

He turned towards me. For a long moment, he stood facing me. I was held, anchored to the ground – not by his music, which still called and pushed against the music already in my head and said grow rise follow – but by his strangeness. By his fingers, spread over the ground, holding something into the earth, by his shoulders, squared in a way that spoke of strength and unknowability, and most of all, by the great, thorny antlers that grew from his head, spanning the sky like branches.

Then he was gone, and I missed his going in the instant that the sun fell off the edge of the hill, abandoning the world to twilight.

Buy it here. Enter the contest at Maggie's blog here.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets.

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

I first fell in love with the Victorian age while reading A Great and Terrible Beauty. The time period is perfect for dark, gothic tales while also being sophisticated and not too oppressive. Although I love the era, I haven’t been able to find many books set in that time. Luckily, I found that in Prophecy of the Sisters.

In addition to the setting, Prophecy of the Sisters has all of the qualities to make a chilling, but beautiful story of the age old struggle between good and evil. The prophecy that binds both Lia and Alice not only provides cause for tension between the sisters, it also creates a puzzle for readers and makes the book hard to put down.

While this book was a great read, I felt that it was setting the stage for a grander story to be told in the next book, Guardian of the Gate. That said, I can’t wait for the next book’s release so I can continue reading about Lia’s quest to end the prophecy.

4 Stars!

Ruined Contest

When Rebecca Brown goes to New Orleans to stay with her voodoo-obsessed aunt, she finds the beautiful city haunted by the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Rebecca is also startled to discover a haunting of a different kind: near a graveyard one night, amid the Spanish moss and beneath the moonlight, she meets a ghost girl named Lisette, who has been dead for 150 years. Lisette helps Rebecca unearth an ancient mystery in her aunt’s house, along with some troubling historical truths. Meanwhile, Rebecca must juggle adjusting to her snooty new prep school, developing a serious crush on a handsome boy, and dealing with an elite group of popular girls who may be linked to the ghostly mystery themselves.



Interested?

Five (5) lucky readers will win their own copy of Ruined! All you have to do to enter is:

+1 for commenting bellow with your name and email
+1 for linking to the contest via Twitter, Facebook, blog sidebar, etc.

Please submit a separate comment for each entry.

This contest will end on Tuesday, September 22 at 12:00 midnight EST.

Rules of entry:
The Ruined book promotion is open to participants with a United States mailing address only (international readers can enter if you have a friend in the States who can accept your prizes by mail!). Entrants under age 13 must have parent or guardian permission to enter. No P.O. boxes please.

These are in addition to Chick Lit Teens' standard contest policy.

You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover... Or Can You?

Cover Judge is a weekly post that examines the covers of books on my wish list. This week I'm featuring the beautiful cover of Tera Lynn Child's upcoming novel:

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Release: May 2010

Synopsis: Lily Sanderson has a secret, and it’s not that she has a huge crush on gorgeous swimming god Brody Bennett, who makes her heart beat flipper-fast. Unrequited love is hard enough when you’re a normal teenage girl, but when you’re half human, half mermaid like Lily, there’s no such thing as a simple crush.

Lily’s mermaid identity is a secret that can’t get out, since she’s not just any mermaid – she’s a Thalassinian princess. When Lily found out three years ago that her mother was actually a human, she finally realized why she didn’t feel quite at home in Thalassinia, and she’s been living on land and going to Seaview high school ever since, hoping to find where she truly belongs. Sure, land has its problems – like her obnoxious, biker boy neighbor Quince Fletcher – but it has that one major perk – Brody. The problem is, mermaids aren’t really the casual dating type – when they “bond,” it’s for life.

When Lily’s attempt to win Brody’s love leads to a tsunami-sized case of mistaken identity, she is in for a tidal wave of relationship drama, and she finds out, quick as a tailfin flick, that happily-ever-after never sails quite as smoothly as you planned.

Cover: GORGEOUS! This cover is ah-mazing. In case the blue lips and eyeshadow didn't look magical enough, the gust of blue and purple completes the ambiance. Her green-blue hair that fades to brown on the bottom also ties into the magical look, as well as Lily's mermaid/human dilemma. I really don't know what else to say about this cover, other than I absolutely love it!

Read Legacy for free!

That's right free!

For a limited time only you can get a free Kindle download of Cayla Kluver's wonderful debut novel, Legacy, from Amazon.com.

Interested?

All you have to do is go here and click download.

Remember, this is a limited time offer so make sure to jump on it, you won't be sorry.

If you're interested in learning more about Legacy or Cayla check out my review and/or interview.

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

*THE HUNGER GAMES SPOILER ALERT*

Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

While I was excitedly anticipating the release of Catching Fire, I was also weary. When a book is as good as The Hunger Games it’s hard to carry on that high level of interest in another book, especially without the suspense of the Games. Nevertheless, Collins has once again delivered a wildly captivating novel that, in my mind, exceeds the first.

Catching Fire is like a roller coaster ride. Every turn of the page brings another revelation, another shock that you could’ve never seen coming. From complete elation to the pits of despair, there’s no telling what will happen next. After all, going through something as traumatizing as the Games with a character makes a pretty strong connection between the reader and character. Even if the interest level hadn’t been as high in this book as the first, getting to see what happens to Katniss after the Games would’ve been enough for me.

If you haven’t read The Hunger Games or Catching Fire yet, I suggest you do so. Especially before the release of the next book, because if it’s anywhere near as good as this book alluded to it’s sure to be a hit.

5 Stars!

Ratings Explained

Recently I've been thinking more about how I rate a book. A few months ago I posted a key to my ratings on the left hand sidebar, which I feel explains the sentiment behind each rating fairly well. However, that only explains what the rating means on the surface, there's so much more that goes into rating a book. So, I give you my ratings explained:

It's a 5 star book if...

• I stay up all night reading because I can't put it down.
• I think about reading the book whenever I'm forced to stop.
• the story continues to play in my head long after I've finished reading.
• I want to live the character's life.
• I can't stop talking about the book.
• I want to reread it the minute I turn the last page.
• I find myself verbally responding to the book (i.e. shouting, mumbling, warning, etc).

It's a 4 star book if...

• it captures my attention and can hold it.
• the characters are relatable and I can imagine being friends with them.
• I recommend it to my friends.
• I can just bear to set it down, but not for too long.

It's a 3 star book if...

• it's fun, but not phenomenal.
• I'm mildly interested, but not consumed.
• the plot is a bit too predictable.
• I like the characters, but I don't develop any attachment.

It's a 2 star book if...

• three pages feels like thirty.
• skimming the book feels as rewarding as actually reading it.
• the story is too quirky for my liking.
• I just can't get into it.

It's a 1 star book if...

• I sigh in relief when it ends.
• there's no connection with the characters or story.
• each chapter seems to stretch on ominously.
• I just don't get it.
• I'm left more confused at the end than I was in the beginning.
• I want my time back when I finish.

There you have it, a snapshot at what goes through my mind when I'm rating a book. How do you decided on a book's rating?