Former Flame Friday (2)

After a short hiatus due to scheduling conflicts, Former Flame Friday is back!

For those of you who don't know, Former Flame Friday is a semi-weekly feature that takes a look back at my favorite books pre-blogging. Basically, it's a chance for me to be nostalgic.

This week I'm featuring:

Bad Kitty by Michele Jaffy

Meet Jasmine forensic supersleuth and unwitting victim of a naughty feline.

All Jasmine really wants is to enjoy her family vacation in Las Vegas. And avoid her evil cousin Alyson and Alyson's best fiend, Veronique. And show her suspicious dad that she can be a Model Daughter. And maybe meet the hot guy she's been eyeing from across the pool. It that too much to ask?

Apparently, yes. One moment she's an innocent bylounger, the next the central figure in a Las Vegas-sized mystery. Fortunately, Jasmine is both a forensics enthusiast and possessed of some very, well, special friends. Polly, Tom, and Roxy crash the vacation, BeDazzle Jasmine's wardrobe, and find themselves key players in the most outrageous adventure in a town known for outrageous adventures.

All because of a very bad kitty.

I hold this book close to my heart, it is seriously incredible.

This is the book that started it all. I'm fairly sure this was the first YA book I ever read and, honestly, one of the reasons I fell in love with the genre so much. Words cannot describe how awesome this book is.

If you couldn't tell from the synopsis, this book is laugh out loud funny. Michele Jaffe is brilliantly wittty. The entire book is punctuated by her unique brand of humor - the type of randomness that makes you burst out into spontaneous laughter.

What I love most about the book,however, is that it's not just chick lit (which I love!). It's chick lit, meets comedy, meets murder mystery, meets spying, meets teen angst. There are so many random subplots going on in the book, and somehow Jaffe was able to spin them altogether to make a story that's both heart pounding and humorous.

Great characters, great story, great wit - Bad Kitty is an all around win. I'd HIGHLY recommend it and its sequel, Kitty Kitty.

5 stars!

Random Reviewer's Note: My copy of the book is pink, not black. It seems that most of the cover pics are black though. Odd.

Birthday Extravaganza Winners!

The winner of Sucks to be Me is NatalieRenae!

The signed copy of DupliKate goes to RKCharron!

A Dark Divine swag pack goes to Katie (InnerMusic)!

The winner of a Hush, Hush audiobook goest to J Lee!

A hardback copy of Hush, Hush goes to Sylvia!

A neck pillow from CSN mattress stores goes to Chrysalide and Elnice!

And finally, the winner of the Ballad contest is Kara!

Congratulations to all the winners! Please email me your addresses ASAP. You have 72 hours to do so. If I don't hear from you within 24-36 hours I'll send you a warning email.

I'd like to thank all the authors who participated and everyone else who celebrated my Birthday Extravaganza with me!

In My Mailbox

In my Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This week I was super excited to receive...

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young!

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

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

Cover Judge is a weekly feature that spotlights the gorgeous covers of books on my wish list. This week I'm extremely excited to share the cover of Ally Carter's new book!

Heist Society by Ally Carter

I heard all about Heist Society and the characters from Ally during the Wordplay event I went to earlier this year. From what she alluded to, it's going to be a fantastic book. Even better, it now has a fantastic cover to match!

Release: February 9, 2010

Synopsis: When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre…to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria…to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving “the life” for a normal life proves harder than she’d expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring Kat back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has a good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat, there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family's history--and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

Cover: I really like how they used the sunglasses to reflect to paintings and the museum, which are central to the plot. As Ally would say, the paintings are the McGuffins of the novel, so having them represented in the cover was a great idea. The cover really catches the proposed tone of the book in my opinion; the model looks sophisticate but mischievous, with her secretive little smirk. All in all, another beautiful cover for Ally.

Book Trailers (6)

Birthday Extravaganza: Hayley Anne Perkins

Hayley Ann Perkins is the author of the upcoming novel, Green. For more information on Green and Hayley check out her website.

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Describe Green in five words or less.

Do the five words need to be a plot summary? I'm terrible at short plot summaries, but here's a go: "Teenage universe explores her power." If I can describe it in five adjectives, which would make me quite pleased, as I feel like that plot summary sounds a little like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles... and the book is not really all that like TMNT at all, despite both having Michelangelo in them.... I would describe Green as "Funny, sexy, philosophical, mythological mayhem."

Which one of your characters do you relate to the most? Why?

I relate to all of them in some way, and it's hard to answer this knowing that most people haven't yet had a chance to read Green and meet the characters for themselves. I'm going to cop out a little bit and say that I think that I, like most people will, most relate to (MC) Lindy because there's something very compellingly ordinary about her despite being embroiled in fantastical circumstances -- but she's actually a character who is delightfully ordinary, rather than being a blank-canvas vessel of clumsiness and blushing that somehow I'm supposed to find likable. Lindy has definite likes and dislikes, true friendships and friendships of convenience, and reacts to her explorations of the supernatural world in the way that I think I would... with wonder and wit, but also a small struggle to believe that everything is real.

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

Well, at the moment, I'm still looking forward to seeing Green as a beautiful hardcover book, but in my daydreams I definitely see it as a movie. It sounds a leeeeetle bit conceited, but I don't think that the plot would work well as a TV show, since it's so multilayered and full. You'd really have to catch every episode for it to make any sense, and I'm not sure that forty-four minutes a week could really delve into the mythos of the Metempsyche universe if you also had to recap its inner workings for new viewers.

Who would be your dream cast?

It sounds totally cliche right now, but I would give just about anything to see Tom Sturridge play the part of Daniel, the romantic lead of the series. He's a phenomenal actor who says so much in scenes of silence, and he's got the closest "look" I've seen to how I imagine Daniel -- a very delicate but strong face, very masculine but beautiful, and a little bit scary behind the eyes when he needs to be. He probably wouldn't be interested in playing a werewolf, though, given what playing a vampire has done to his best friend, so I also like the idea of Avan Jogia, who is closer to the right age, I guess. But I'm a Tom girl at heart.

It's harder for me to place a Lindy that I like, because I'm so protective of her. Kay Panabaker was suggested by one of my Focus Group readers, and she would be OK. The singer Savannah Outen looks similar to Lindy as well, in that they both have very big eyes and kind of round faces.

In terms of any other characters, I'm working on a collection of short stories of their narration that will come out one at a time leading up to the release of Green, so once you read those... you can let me know who you see as the characters! I'm not going to spoil everything all at once!

Outside of writing, what do you enjoy?

I watch a lot of television. I also really enjoy food and cooking, so I do that a lot. My original editor and I actually get together most Saturdays to cook together; it's a LOT of fun. I also worked as a graphic designer for a long time, so I like making digital and multimedia art, but I can't draw at all. AT ALL. Other than that, my day job takes up a lot of time and sends me on a lot of random business trips, so to get in my forty hours a week of writing on top of that, I don't have a lot of time for much else these days.

What is your favorite adjective? Why?

It sounds facile, but I think my favorite adjective is "beautiful." I like its ambiguity and the way it exudes a sort of quiet sigh of perfection.

If you could meet any author (past or present) who would it be?

Only one? I think by default I would need to say J.K. Rowling, because she's influenced the way that I approach reading and writing more than any other writer. If she were to be unavailable, I'd want to meet Jack Kerouac, just to listen to him ramble for a while and how beautiful it would be.

What’s next for you?

Right now, working on getting the Metempsyche series on shelves for everyone to read and -- hopefully -- enjoy. Writing the collection of short stories starring that world's secondary characters. Finishing up my website [a href=http://www.hayleyanneperkins.com, please] to make it full of fun and interesting Green and YA Lit things, and of course blogging [a href=http://www.hayleyanneperkins.com/blog/, please] pretty copiously, including the superfun Book Bloggers Get Blogged, featuring the lovely Chick Lit Teen herself, Jessica!

Happy Birthday Extravaganza, Jessica!

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Thanks Hayley!

And that concludes my Birthday Extravaganza. I hope you all enjoyed it! Contests will continue running until October 24th, so don't forget to get your entries in.

In My Mailbox

I had such a great time making my vlog earlier this week that I decided to do it again for my In my Mailbox post. In my Mailbox is a weekly meme that was created by Kristi at The Story Siren.

For review:

• Little Black Lies by Tish Cohen
• Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Swag:

• Hush, Hush posters
• "Laugh often, live well, love much" key chain from Kay Cassidy

Birthday Extravaganza: Sarah MacLean

Sarah MacLean is the author of The Season. For more information on Sarah and The Season check out her website and my review of The Season.

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Describe The Season in five words or less.

Boys, ball gowns, and murder.

Why the Regency era?

There's something lush and wonderful about the Regency...the fashion, the drama, the rules...they all make for such a powerful, potent combination that sucks you in and keeps you hooked.

What kind of research did you for The Season?

Considering the rate at which I devour books (both fiction and non-fiction) about the Regency, it was no chore to do my own research. I spent more than a few Saturday afternoons in the microfilm room at the New York Public Library reading the Times of London from the Spring and Summer of 1815. I would counsel anyone considering tackling historical fiction to not put pen to paper without reading the newspapers of the time. They're the closest you'll ever get to real life and, if you let your imagination go, you've got dozens of ideas before you've even started.

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

oooh....good one! I think a TV show! It would be awesome to see my story come to life on the big screen--but it must be way more fun to see what television writers do to keep the characters alive and exciting season after season (obviously, my show would be a HUGE hit).

Who would be your dream cast?

Hmmm...I'm so bad at this. So so so bad at it. Assuming English accents and appropriate ages, Alex: Cameron Diaz, Ella: Kristin Chenoweth, Vivi: Audrey Hepburn, Gavin: Robert Sean Leonard, Freddie: Ed Westwick

Which of your characters do you relate to the most?

Is this the part where I'm supposed to say that I love all my children equally? Wow. This question is hard . . . and makes me actually nervous, as though one of them will overhear and tell the others. But in honor of your birthday, I will tell you. Freddie Stanhope. He's a rake and a cad, yes, but he's also clever and perceptive, and someday, he's going to get his heart stolen in an explosion of awesome. I really can't wait to see that happen.

If you could meet any author (past or present) who would it be?

John Irving. He starts all his books with the last line. WHAT?!? Amazing. Someday I will write a last line of a novel that will rival his. And then I will know I am an author. I also think he's totally dreamy.

What’s next for you?

I actually have three adult romances coming from Avon/HarperCollins next year...I am currently working on the second of the three, but I can tell you about the first! It's a Regency-set romance...the heroine is a 27-year-old spinster who has spent her whole life dreaming of adventure and romance...and finally decides to take matters into her own hands. She makes a list of the 9 things she would do if she didn't have to face society...or the consequences. And then she does them. Oh, and there's a dreamy rake in there, too.

Birthday Extravaganza: Kimberly Pauley

Kimberly Pauley is the author of Sucks to be Me and the sequel, Still Sucks to be Me, which is still in the works.

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What inspired you to write Sucks to Be Me?

Well, a few things. I had quit my corporate job to write full time (thanks, hubby for supporting me!) and I was working on a manuscript that was okay, but not really going anywhere fast. And I read this book (that shall remain nameless) and it tied into the whole Dracula thing. And got stuff wrong. It annoyed me. A few nights later, I was thinking about how most vampire books are all the same (you know, blood & guts, vampire slayers, unwilling victims, dark & macabre, sexy aristocratic vamps…) and thought it would be fun to turn all that upside down. The first paragraph I wrote that night (probably around 2 AM) and then it just kept coming.

How did you select your characters' names?

Mina was easy, since she’s named after the character in Dracula. Some were named for character traits and others were kind of random. George is named after my old typewriter. Yes, you read that right. J When I was a teenager I had an old school typewriter that I loved to bang around on. clickety-clickety-clack and all that. And I called it George. I have no idea why.
If you could bring any one character from your book to life who would it be and why? Uncle Mortie, probably. Since the world needs more unabashedly crazy uncles.

What can you tell readers about Still Sucks to Be Me?

The revisions are done! Woot! Wait, you probably meant plot-wise, huh? Well, in the beginning of the book, Mina’s life is once more under a great deal of upheaval and she’s not liking it at all. The VRA is relocating the family and she feels like she’s losing everything. Then she gets to their new location and things just aren’t what she expected, old enemies pop up…

Is writing your second book harder or easier?

I think writing the sequel was a little harder, partly because you’ve got the weight of expectations on you. I’ve had a lot of people write me with what they think ought to be in the book and who should be in it and what should happen to them. And a lot of it isn’t in the book, partly because I don’t think anyone else thought of going where the book goes. But I mostly just concentrated on staying true to the characters (i.e. What Would Mina Do in such and such a situation). I like how it turned out. It’s got a lot more action in it, and some danger as well, though the humor is still there. I hope people like it too.

Who would be your dream cast for Sucks to Be Me?

I have such a hard time with this question. I see people and then see them in another movie and go, eh….Like the girl who plays Bella. Back before she was cast in that, I actually thought she’d make a good Mina (based on her performance in Zathura). But now that’s been Bella, I don’t think it would work. There are some actors I’ve seen with the right look, but not necessarily the right style, if that makes sense. I’m still searching. I post who I find in my blog every now and then. And I’m always looking for suggestions!

What’s one thing you can’t live without while writing (food, song, etc)?

Oh, hmmmmmmm. If I listen to music, I listen to pretty mellow stuff, like Morcheeba. I don’t really have a favorite food for writing and I mostly stick to water or sometimes tea. Geez, that’s boring. I need to spice up my life, eh?

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Thanks Kimberly!

Now it's time for a giveaway. Kimberly has donated a copy of Sucks to be Me for a giveaway. Just leave a comment with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24.

Birthday Extravaganza: Cherry Cheva

Cherry Cheva (full name: Cherry Chevapravatdumrong) is the author of She's So Money and the soon to be released DupliKate.

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Describe Duplikate in five words or less.

Unexpected clone, then shenanigans!

In addition to writing YA, you also write for the TV show Family Guy. How has writing for TV influenced your writing?

It’s probably made me better at dialogue, because that’s what a majority of a TV script is, plus you get used to getting in and out of scenes as quickly as possible because you only have 22 minutes to tell a story. On the other hand, these habits can sometimes be counterproductive in novel-writing—for instance, my book editors are always telling me to add more description, and I get really foot-draggy about that because from TV I’m used to describing things in like two words and then moving onto the next joke.

What drew you to writing YA?

Happy coincidence! It actually didn’t occur to me that I was even writing a YA novel at first—in retrospect I have no idea why, because obviously the characters were in high school—but I guess I was just kind of clueless about books back then. But it turns out I LOVE IT...part of my brain is stuck in high school mode, for sure.

How would you describe your writing style?

“Much worse than John Green.” “Much less lucrative than Stephenie Meyer.” “Not nearly as funny as Seth Macfarlane.”

Duplikate is your second book, how has your writing style changed since She’s So Money?

Hmmm. I don’t think it has, actually, at least not in a way I’ve noticed.

Did you find writing your second book easier or harder?

HAAARDER! First of all, I had a much more badass deadline this time around, which is a technical issue, but still. Second of all, She’s So Money was—I mean, it wasn’t a story that happened to me, but with the main character being a Thai girl from Michigan whose parents own a restaurant, etc.—that made it more personal, which, coupled with it being my first book, made it just slightly more fun and exciting to write, which made it slightly less hard.

Which one of your characters do you relate to the most? Why?

Maya from She’s So Money, because she’s the only one actually based on me—mostly just the background facts, not really personality-wise, but I certainly have more in common with her than with any of my other characters.

If you could meet any character from any book, who would it be and why?

Any book?ANY BOOK? Oh my god. This is—okay, this is really hard. Um. I wanna say someone from Harry Potter just so I could watch ‘em do wacky magic stuff, but it’d have to be someone game for doing wacky magic stuff for no reason, so that is leading me towards one of the Weasley twins, but didn’t one of them die or get an ear cut off or something? Wow, and I thought I was a fan, and look at my terrible memory there. Yikes. Better answer: Garfield, because fat cats are awesome.

What’s one thing you can’t live without while writing?

The internet. It’s terrible. It actually PREVENTS me from doing work, but I want it all the time anyway, even though I know perfectly well I’ll get more done without it.

What’s next for you in terms of YA?

Hmmm, nothing I can report any concrete info about yet, but my next episode of Family Guy airs soon, and it’s about Stewie getting obsessed with Hannah Montana, and the Evil Monkey meeting the family.

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Thank you for the interview Cherry!

I have another chance for you to win, yes another! Cherry has donated a signed copy of Duplikate. Now, are you ready for the drill? Here's how you can enter to win DupliKate:

Leave a comment with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24!

Best of luck!

The Hollow by Jessica Verday

When Abbey's best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey goes through the motions of mourning her best friend, but privately, she refuses to believe that Kristen is really gone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen's funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey's life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he's the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again...but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen's betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her -- one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

I have developed a theory lately about big books, meaning books that are 400+ pages. It is my belief that any book in that realm is automatically good or bad. There is really no gray area. When you write a book that big you have to capture your reader, otherwise, what’s their motivation to keep reading? The Hollow, being around 500 pages, falls into this category. So keep in mind that in order for me to be reviewing this book, therefore having finished it entirely, there has to have been something that kept me reading.

When I’m reading a hefty book, I expect the characters to be somewhat well explored. In my experience, every book that breaks the 300 page barrier has tied me to the character in one way or another. Even if I’m not a huge fan of said characters, after that much time it’s impossible not to feel as if you know them and become involved with their story. With The Hollow, however, I didn’t get that connection. There was no spark with the characters. Even now, I’m not 100% sure why. The entire time I was reading I felt more like an onlooker than a part of the story, as if there was a peice of glass seperating me from everything else. I wouldn’t say this was a completely horrible thing – it didn’t make me want to stop reading – but it did keep me from becoming incredibly invested in the story and was a bit of a drawback.

Finally, the book was far different than what I expected. It wasn’t the adventurous, thrilling love story I’d thought it would be, but rather the trials and tribulations of Abbey's rather dull life. I kept waiting, hoping it would get better. "The intrigue has to come some time," I thought, "it has to pick up eventually." But, sadly it didn't. And when it finally seemed as if something interesting might happen, I wished it hadn't. After enduring so much, the ending was a complete and total bust. I would've liked if Verday had just left The Hollow as I'd dubbed it, "Abbey's journal." It may not have been incredibly interesting, but it wouldn't have been nearly as disappointing as where it left off.

I was looking forward to seeing where Verday would take Caspian and Abbey after The Hollow, but now I'm not quite sure I want to know. After where she left off, I'm not sure where she'd take it, or even if it would be worth it.

2 Stars

Tempted Exclusives

I have a special treat for House of Night fans today. The new, exclusive trailer for the Tempted, due out October 27. If you don't know what these books are about, here's a quick blurb:

The House of Night is a thrillingly engaging book series from St. Martin's Press. The series follows 16-year-old Zoey Redbird, who gets “Marked” by a vampyre tracker and begins to undergo the Change into an actual vampyre.

Even better, if you're a fan of the books and are eagerly anticipating the release of Tempted, you can read and/or listen to the first two chapters online.

Every time I hear about another one of these books and see the new trailers, I'm always tempted (no pun intended) to read the series. I've heard nothing but great things about it and it looks super good. I think I'm finally going to acquiesce to my friend's requests and read it. I mean, look at that cover. Is it not gorgeous?

Birthday Extravaganza: Bree Despain

Bree Despain is the author of the upcoming novel, The Dark Divine. I'd just like to start out by saying that this book was fantastic! I'd guessed it would be good, but I had not idea just how awesome it would be. I'll stop gushing now, but if you want to hear more take a look at my review or Bree's website.

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Describe The Dark Divine in five words or less.

Prodigal seeks redemption and love

Why did you decide to write YA?

I took a creative writing class in college where we had to write a picture book, a non-fiction article, the first chapter of a middle grade novel, and the first chapter of a YA novel. I sucked at picture books (and probably always will) and thought I wanted to write Middle Grade fiction—until I tried my hand at YA. As soon as I wrote the first few lines of my YA chapter, I realized that was exactly where my voice belonged. It just felt like me. Probably because I constantly have to remind myself that I’m not 17 anymore J

Which one of your characters do you relate to the most? Why?

I love writing Grace because I feel like she is the stronger version of myself as a teenager. In fact, whenever I try to figure out what Grace will do in a certain situation, I think, “What would I have done?” and then I make Grace do the exact opposite. It really is a lot of fun!

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

Ooh, interesting. Everyone asks me about a THE DARK DIVINE movie, but you are the first to bring up a TDD TV show. Now that I think about it, a TV series would be even cooler than a movie. I can see the 1st book being fleshed out more to become the 1st season of an awesome fun teen drama on CW or FOX. I love those kinds of shows!

Who would be your dream cast?

Well, I’m totally obsessed with the idea of Taylor Kitsch (from FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS) playing Daniel. If only I could cryogenically freeze Taylor so he’ll stop aging! I also think that if it were possible to bad-boy-up Zac Efron enough, he could make a good Daniel.

Jude and Grace are harder to cast. I always thought of Jude as a young Tom Welling—but Tom is definitely getting way too old to play a teenager. Perhaps Chase Crawford with dark hair? As far as Grace goes, I’m keeping my eye on Emma Roberts. Depending on how she ages, she could play Grace in a couple of years. I also think a younger Taylor Swift with dark brown hair might be a good choice. Grace definitely needs to be played by someone who has a sweet “good girl” vibe, but who is also pretty darn strong-willed.


What was your road to publishing like?

LONG, bumpy, and with lots of unexpected twists and turns. The day my book comes out (December 22, 2009 FYI) will be almost exactly 10 years (!!!) from the day I decided to seriously pursue becoming a published author. It’s been a long road, but every step has been worth it.

What song(s) did you listen to the most while writing?

I love this question because I love sharing my playlist with people. You can check it out here: http://www.breedespain.com/TDDsoundtrack.html
But if I were forced to narrow it down to 2 songs, I’d have to say “One with the freaks” by The Notwist, and “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service. Oh, but there are so many other good songs that inspire me! Seriously, check out the playlist.

What’s next for you?

I’m currently working on a sequel for TDD, and I have many other stories that are competing in my head to be written after that. Most are also paranormal romance, but I also have a sci-fi romance I want to write, and a few humorous realistic fiction stories just to change things up a bit.

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Thank you so much Bree! I'm glad to hear there will be a sequel to The Dark Divine!

Now, for my daily contest. Bree generously donated a Dark Divine swag pack. The pack includes:

• Bookmarks
• Nail polish (so you too can have awesome purple toes)
• The Dark Divine soundtrack

To enter simply leave your name and email by midnight EST on October 24.

Good luck!

Birthday Extravaganza: Book Birthdays

Looking for a great book? Check out these books that were just released today:

Sara Black is tiptoeing across a fraying tightrope.

As the new eleventh grader at Anton High–the most elite public school in the country–she sticks out like an old VW bus in a parking lot full of shiny BMWs. But being the new kid also brings a certain advantageous anonymity.

In Anton High’s world of privilege, intelligence, and wealth, Sara can escape her family’s tarnished past and become whomever she wants.

And what’s the harm in telling a few little black lies when it can lead to popularity? That is, until another it girl at Anton becomes jealous of Sara’s social climbing.

With her balance evaporating, one small push could bring Sara crashing down.


The daughter Macbeth might have had, if Shakespeare had thought to create her…

Albia has grown up with no knowledge of her mother of her father, the powerful Macbeth. Instead she knows the dark lure of the Wychelm Wood and the moors, where she’s been raised by three strange sisters. It’s only when the ambitious Macbeth seeks out the sisters to foretell his fate that Albia’s life becomes tangled with the man who leaves nothing but bloodshed in his wake. She even falls in love with Fleance, Macbeth’s rival for the throne. Yet when Albia learns that she has the second sight, she must decide whether to ignore the terrible future she foresees—or to change it. Will she be able to save the man she loves from her murderous father? And can she forgive her parents their wrongs, or must she destroy them to save Scotland from tyranny?

In her highly anticipated follow-up to Ophelia, Lisa Klein delivers a powerful reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, featuring a young woman so seamlessly drawn it seems impossible she was not part of the Bard’s original play.


For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

You are what you eat. . . .

Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This funny and thoughtful novel explores how girls feel about their bodies, and the ways they can best take care of their most precious resource: themselves.

Birthday Extravaganza: Hush, Hush Giveaway (Take Two)

Welcome back to day four of my Birthday Extravaganza! Today I have another great contest for my US readers (and international readers with friends in the US).

Today is the official release of Hush, Hush! This book was seriously awesome, it's one of my most recommended books of the fall/winter. Luckily, Becca Fitzpatrick is extremely generous and donated another prize to my extravaganza!

Anyone interested in a Hush, Hush audiobook and bookmark? I thought you might be! Well all you have to do to enter is...

Comment with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24.

Want more entries?

+1 if you go tell Becca congratulations

Again, this contest is only open to readers with a US address.

I'll be posting another post later today with some other great reads whose book birthdays are today, so make sure to check back later!

Birthday Extravaganza: Hush, Hush Giveaway

Becca Fitzpatrick was so sweet and donated a hardback of Hush, Hush and a bookmark to my birthday extravaganza. If you don't know about Hush, Hush, it's awesome. Not only do I love the cover, but I also love the book.

Want your own finished copy? Believe me, you do. I have an ARC and even I want a finished copy! Apparently they changed the ending...

Anyways, all you have to do to enter is leave a comment with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24th answering the following question:


What book are you looking forward to the most this fall/winter?


Sorry to all my wonderful international readers, this one's only open to US residents. (If you have a friend in the US willing to ship it to you though...)

Good luck!

Birthday Extravaganza: Gift Time!

Though I'll be celebrating all week, today is my actual birthday. Over the weekend, however, I had my annual girls weekend in San Francisco and got some wonderful gifts. Since I've never done a vlog, I thought I'd share some of my gifts with you in a vlog. It's epic, well not really, but I still think it's pretty cool. Also, please excuse the poor lighting and try not to laugh at me.

Books mentioned:

• Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
• The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan

People mentioned:

• Heidi R Kling

Birthday Extravaganza: CSN Store Giveaway

CORRECTION: This giveaway is only open to US readers. Sorry to all of my international readers!

It's giveaway time again!

CSN Mattresses was kind enough to donate two neck pillows for a giveaway! The pillows look super comfy, don't they? They look perfect for curling up with a book. If you want one of these cool pillows all you have to do is leave a comment with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24.

Want another entry?

+2 if you're a follower (new or old)

Now, don't forget to check back tomorrow for a special post from me and giveaway of one of my favorite books with one of my favorite covers.

Birthday Extravaganza: Christina Diaz Gonzalez

Today I'm happy to host an interview with Christina Diaz Gonzalez! Her debut novel, The Red Umbrella, will be released May 11, 2010. For more information take a look at her website.

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What inspired you to write The Red Umbrella?

The absolute dreariness of people walking around with black, boring umbrellas on rainy days. No, I’m just kidding. My book is actually based on the true experiences of over 14,000 children & teens who were part of Operation Pedro Pan (the largest exodus of unaccompanied minors in the Western hemisphere) and it’s part of my family history. In fact, it’s an important part of American history, but there hasn’t been much written on it, especially from the point of view of a teen girl experiencing the whole thing…I wanted to change that.

What kind of research did you do prior to writing?

Well, my first sources of information were my parents, mother-in-law, grandfather and the rest of my extended Cuban family (way too many people to list here). I also spoke with others who were part of Operation Pedro Pan to hear about their experiences. In addition, I read newspapers of the time (both Cuban and American) to gain a perspective as to what was happening and how it was being reported. In fact, I incorporated actual American newspaper headlines at the beginning of each chapter to give the reader an understanding of what was truly happening in Cuba (the newspaper dates follow the story’s timeline).

What do you hope readers take away from The Red Umbrella?

I’d love people to leave with an understanding that home is not a physical place. It’s where you feel you belong, where you are surrounded by people who love and accept you.

What was your road to publishing like?

Let’s start with the fun and exciting part. I met my editor at a SCBWI conference where she was assigned to critique the first ten pages of my manuscript, The Red Umbrella. I was shocked when, instead of telling me what was wrong with those ten pages, she actually said that she loved my writing and that Random House would be interested in acquiring the book. Fast forward three months (it took me two months to write the book because I only had about twenty pages written when I went to the conference---my editor didn’t know that) and there I was, getting ready to accept an offer from Knopf/Random House. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of rejections. I started writing short stories (no magazine wanted them) and chapter books (no agent wanted to read them) until I’d fine-tuned my writing skills to the point of having something published. The key is to keep writing because you never know when you’ll capture that lightning in a bottle and that’s when all the magic happens!

Outside of writing, what do you enjoy?

Hmm, so many different ways to answer this question. I enjoy spending time with my family and traveling. I enjoy eating chocolate (especially dark chocolate…yummy!) and I love watching my favorite shows on TV (absolutely love LOST).

What is your favorite adjective? Why?

Splendiferous is one of my current faves. Why? I guess because it seems to be a mix of sophistication (I imagine one of the British royals giving a polite clap saying “Splendid, splendid!”) and a certain type of innocence (it reminds me of Snuffleupagus on Sesame Street- who wasn’t my favorite character, but I did love saying his name). Truly, I have no real reason.

If you could meet any character from any book, who would it be and why?

I think I’d have to go with a safe choice and say Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. She’s smart, feisty and independent which are all qualities I like in my friends. Yep, I could totally hang with her.

Do you have any future plans for writing YA?

Absolutely! I’m working on a middle grade novel right now, but a few YA characters have been popping up in my daydreams and their stories are next on my list.

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Thanks so much Christina! I look forward to reading The Red Umbrella next May.

Birthday Extravaganza: Maggie Stiefvater

To kick off my week-long Birthday Extravaganza I have a quick, but hilarious, interview with Maggie Steifvater. Maggie is the author of Lament, Ballad, and Shiver. For more information on her or her works visit her website.

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Describe Ballad in five words or less.

Egotistical bagpiping teen tackles faeries.

What’s one thing you can’t live without while writing?
Music.

Would you rather see Ballad as a movie or TV show?
oooh. TV show a la Buffy.

What is your favorite adjective? Why?
Dark. Because it makes everything sexier. Witness:
1) There was a dark figure on the hill.
2) His expression turned dark.

3) She played a dark tune.
4) The dark duke darkly donned his dark dress to do his deadly dark duty.
See? Sexy.

What song(s) did you listen to the most while writing?

While writing Ballad? I have a playlist (http://m-stiefvater.livejournal.com/128429.html) up on my blog for it: But it's safe to say that I listened to "Leslie's Tune" by Kila on repeat a lot, as well as "Forever Can Be" by Ashes Divide.

If you could meet any fictional character who would it be?
Bran from The Dark is Rising sequence by Susan Cooper. Because he's dark. ;p

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If my review didn't convince you that Ballad is awesome, are you hooked now? Well I hope so because Maggie was generous enough to donate a copy of Ballad! All you have to do to enter is leave a comment here with your name and email by midnight EST on October 24.

Check back tomorrow for another great author and giveaway!

Chick Chat: Stacey Kade

Stacey Kade is the author of The Ghost and the Goth, coming summer 2010 from Disney Hyperion. For more information on Stacey and her book visit her website here.

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

This will probably make me sound remarkably dumb, but when I was growing up, I never really thought about where books came from. I loved reading and telling stories of my own, but it didn't dawn on me for a long time that I could BE an author. My childhood ambition, therefore, was to be a librarian so I could get first dibs on all the new and interesting books. :) I also, at various times, aspired to be a psychologist and a casting agent, neither of which I pursued, but I can now see both of those as being part of the same motivation that drives me to write--understanding people, giving a face and a personality to words on a page.

Is being an author what you expected?

I'll be honest, when I started seriously writing and working toward publication about ten years ago, I had no idea what I was doing or what to expect! I had stories I wanted to tell and I hoped someone else would think they were worth sharing. I love what I do, and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to do it! The joy of a character whispering in your ear for the first time...I still delight in that, more than anything. The most surprising and pleasing part about being an author has been meeting other authors, finding friends among them and really enjoying that sense of community.

What was your road to publishing like?

All the advice suggests starting with short stories and articles to build up writing credits, but I just sort of jumped in with both feet. I wrote my first novel over the course of about two years. I had no idea what I was doing, so it took me a long time but I learned a lot. At the end, I decided I couldn't possibly send it out. I'd learned enough to recognize it wasn't publishable without a LOT of rewriting, and I had other ideas clamoring in my head. So, I started another book instead. Once that book was finished, it took another two years of rejection letters to find it a home. Then...my publisher closed! So, I had to start over again. I had three adult novels out (two science fiction romance and one mystery) under my "real" name with an independent publisher, and then last year, I signed with my fantastic agent, Laura Bradford, for this book, THE GHOST AND THE GOTH, and we sold to Disney-Hyperion. I am still so excited and thrilled!

What inspired you to write THE GHOST AND THE GOTH?

I love reading YA. LOVE it. And one day, when I was working on another unrelated book, a voice just kind of popped into my head (yep, sounds crazy, but I love it) and said in this really privileged and disgusted tone, "Just because I'm dead doesn't mean I can't have a life." Or something to that effect. I knew she was in high school, she was dead (but not a vampire or zombie) and she was one of those high school princess-type girls I never got along with. :) I was immediately intrigued, but had to finish my other book first!

Looking back on it now, I can see big influences from Mean Girls, particularly in the way Alona dies, and the classic John Hughes film, The Breakfast Club.

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?

My friend and mentor, Linnea Sinclair, has been invaluable to me, providing expert advice and a shoulder to cry on when needed. I also have a group of good friends, mostly from college, with a variety of backgrounds who read first drafts for me. One of them in particular, Ed, I rely on to help me fix my weak science/technical areas! My whole family--including all the various branches of it--has been very supportive, but my sister, Susan, has been a great help especially.

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

If this is something you really want, if you love writing, don't give up. EVER. Keep learning, keep trying, keep challenging yourself. Try all different kinds of writing until you find what suits you best. I wrote my first book (which is in a drawer, never to see the light of day!) in third person point of view, and on a dare to myself, I wrote the next one in first person point of view and found that I liked that better. Also, don't be afraid of trying and failing. I know that's easy advice to give and hard advice to follow, believe me! But if you don't try for what you want, you're definitely not going to get it. Surround yourself with people who believe in what you're trying to accomplish, and ignore the naysayers. :)

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

I'd be excited either way, but if I had the choice, a movie. We're all big movie buffs in my family, and I cannot imagine what a thrill it must be to see people who once only existed in your head come to life on the big screen!

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

Hmm, good question! I'm not sure. I've always pictured Will Killian as sort of a mix between a younger Cillian Murphy and a younger Tom Welling. Alona Dare is a mix of Hayden Pantierre (Heroes) and a younger Becki Newton (Amanda from Ugly Betty--nobody sneers like that woman and I love her for it!)

Besides writing and reading what else are you passionate about?

We have three rescued greyhounds at home. I would have more if I could! They're beautiful, smart, and gentle dogs who deserve good homes. I've recently taking up running again (ugh!) and I love taking them with me. The youngest, Pansy (her racing name was She Wears the Pants, isn't that hilarious?), is just two and loves to go bounding along beside me while I'm desperately trying to catch my breath. I also LOVE watching television and movies.

What are your favorite TV shows and/or movies?

Oh, so many! I loved Veronica Mars, especially the first season. I'm a HUGE science fiction geek (and proud of it), so I am still crying over the end of Battlestar Galactica this year. I adore The Big Bang Theory, too. True Blood, Psych, Burn Notice, Castle, How I Met Your Mother, Lost in Austen, Dollhouse, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, ...yes, I watch a lot of TV. Thank goodness for Tivo and DVDs. I'm also really excited for the reboot of "V," coming in the fall. Can't wait to see how that turns out. Movies...I could not possibly think of them all, but here are a few, in no particular order: Pride and Prejudice (the 1995 version with Keira Knightley), The Breakfast Club, Disturbia, GalaxyQuest, Ghostbusters, Star Wars (IV-VI), Never Been Kissed, Star Trek IV (the one with the whales), Serenity, Mean Girls, Sixteen Candles, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Replacements, The Matrix..the list goes on! We also enjoy going to see movies in the theater, so I've seen the new Star Trek movie twice (fabulous!) and the Hangover three times. :)

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

The Ghost and the Goth will be out in June 2010, so I'm still working on minor edits and such for that. But I'm also working on the sequel to The Ghost and the Goth, which is tentatively titled Princess Poltergeist. It's due out in 2011.

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

James Morgan has an almost unearthly gift for music. And it has attracted Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and then feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. James has plenty of reasons to fear the faeries, but as he and Nuala collaborate on an achingly beautiful musical composition, James finds his feelings towards Nuala deepening. But the rest of the fairies are not as harmless. As Halloween—the day of the dead—draws near, James will have to battle the Faerie Queen and the horned king of the dead to save Nuala's life and his soul.

Wit, sarcasm, homicidal faeries, this book has it all! James was a phenomenal narrator. In Lament I never thought much of him, but now that he has his own story I’m seeing so much more of the real James, and, boy, do I love him. His sarcastic remarks and humorous inner dialogue immediately had my attention. It’s been awhile since I’ve come across such an enjoyable narrator.

The text message interludes placed throughout the story help to drive the story. They served as both a subplot and foreshadowing, all in less than 200 characters. The idea of using text messages to add to the plot of the story was incredibly creative and fun.

Steifvater is a master at threading together the supernatural with ordinary life. If you’re looking for a great fall book, Ballad is the perfect choice.

4.5 Stars!

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

Cover Judge is a semi-regular feature that spotlights the gorgeous covers of books from my wish list.

Ever since my post about purple covers a few weeks ago, I've been noticing more and more purple covers. So this week I'm featuring more purple covers! Let's celebrate the return of purple!

The Mark by Jen Nadol

(Whoa! Revelation! I just figure out that this book is one I've had on my wish list for months. I just hadn't put two and two together. You'd be suprised how often this happens to me. Now, where were we again....)

Release: January 19, 2010

Synopsis: Sixteen-year old Cassie Renfield has seen the mark since forever: a glow around certain people as if a candle were held behind their back.

The one time she pointed it out taught her not to do it again, so Cassie has kept quiet, considering its rare appearances odd, but insignificant. Until the day she watches a man die. Mining her memories, Cassie realizes she can see a person's imminent death. Not how or where, only when: today.

Cassie searches her past, her philosophy lessons, even her new boyfriend for answers, always careful to hide her secret. How does the mark work? Why her?

Most importantly, if you know today is someone's last, should you tell?

Cover: With each new purple cover I fall more in love with the color, and this cover is no exception. Just, wow. This cover is so gorgeous. Not only is the purple beautiful, but the contrast of the pink is dazzling. The whisps of dandelion are so mesmirizing that they almost appear to be glowing embers. This may very well be one of my favorite Tenner covers.

The Everafter by Amy Huntley

Release: September 29, 2009

Synopsis: Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this—she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can reexperience—and sometimes even change—moments from her life.

Her first kiss.

A trip to Disney World.

Her sister's wedding.

A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life—and death.

This is a haunting and ultimately hopeful novel about the beauty of even the most insignificant moments—and the strength of true love even beyond death.

Cover: Okay, so this book may already be out, but when I saw the cover earlier this week I knew I had to feature it. The simplistic, yet beautiful design can only be described as ghostly. The juxtaposition of the nearly translucent white orchids against the deep purple-blue background is hauntingly beautiful.

In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme created by Kristi from The Story Siren. This week I received:

Former Flame Friday (1)

This week I'm instigating a new bi-weekly feature on Chick Lit Teens, Former Flame Fridays.

We all have them. Those books we used to love and remember fondly. Every other week I will be posting a review of one of my "former flames." These are books I read pre-blogging, but love so much I just have to share them with you.

Mermaid Park by Beth Mayall

Sixteen-year-old Amy dreads her family vacation. With her new stepfather in the picture, life feels like one big disappointment . . . until Amy discovers Mermaid Park, an old tourist spot where girls dressed in fabulous costumes perform underwater shows. When Amy sees "mermaids" gliding through the water, she is utterly captivated, convinced that if she could become one of them, the rest of her life could be just as beautiful.

This book was truly gorgeous. Not only are both of the covers beautiful but the characters, the story, and the message are all equally beautiful.

Mermaid Park was nothing like I expected and I loved it even more because of that. It's the opposite of a simple fun and flirty beach tale, it's a breathtaking coming of age story full of secrets and teen angst. Amy is the type of girl you immediatley relate to, her voice is so real and compelling that you can't help but sympathize with her.

I will admit that the ending leaves something to be desired, but I wouldn't want it any other way. This book isn't all flowery and the bittersweet ending was a perfect fit in my opinion.

If you haven't read Mermaid Park yet, do it now. The story is so achingly real and beautiful, that you'll be happy you read it.

5 Stars!