Chick Chat: Alex Bell

Alex Bell is the author of Lex Trent Versus the Gods. You can find out more about Alex and her novel by visiting her website. Here's a bit about the novel:

Law student Lex Trent’s world is inhabited by fearsome magicians, ageing crones and a menagerie of Gods and Goddesses.

And while Lex is seemingly dedicated to his legal studies he’s always enjoyed a challenge – which is why he leads a double life as the notorious cat burglar ‘The Shadowman’ who has been (luckily) evading capture for years.

But Lex’s luck is about to run out, because the Goddess of Fortune has selected him to be her player in the highly dangerous Games. Losing is not an option for Lex (particularly as it so often involves dying) but can he really win each of the perilous rounds?

Given that the reward for doing so is money, fame and glory – all things that Lex is quite keen on – he’s going to do whatever it takes to make sure he will… and he’s certainly got good experience of cheating.

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Describe Lex Trent Versus the Gods in five words or less.

Sneaky thief beating the odds.

What inspired you to write Lex Trent Versus the Gods?

I was in my second year of a Law degree and almost dying from boredom. Lex was born out of my own desire to run away from lectures, and the legal profession in general.

Why did you decide to write YA?

Lex came into my head as a teenager so it made sense that the book should be YA. I also really wanted to get a comic fantasy published, and had already written an adult one but although a lot of the publishers I sent it to said that they liked it, they didn't want to publish comic fantasy at the time. I thought the YA market might be more receptive to the idea.

What was your road to publishing like?

Fairly straightforward compared to some of the other authors I know but I finished my first novel when I was 17 and spent two years sending that out - as well as lots of short stories and two other novels - before I finally got my agent. So I did go through the horrible rejection phase as well!

Which one of your characters do you identify with the most?

Probably Lex. Awful as he can sometimes be (and I would hope that I'm not quite as selfish as him!) a lot of his feelings about being a law student, and his grandfather's illness, come directly out of my own experience. I think everyone would like to behave like Lex at times but our sense of responsibility keeps us from doing so. It's a lot of fun to write a character who is not constrained by any of that!

Besides writing and reading what else are you passionate about?

Politics, Great Danes, Siamese cats, vegan high heels, Treacle Moon products, and animal rights. And vegetarian haggis.

What's next for you?

A second Lex Trent book is scheduled to come out early next year. It involves another Game with even more dangerous rounds and even tougher opponents. And in this one Lex finally meets his match in the form of his new companion - an outlaw cowboy called Jesse who comes in very handy in a scrape but gives as good as he gets where Lex is concerned!

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Thank you, Alex!

Book Trailers

It's time once again for my semi-weekly book trailers round up. This week I have trailers for some great new books.



Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus



Tension of Opposites by Kristina McBride



Dead is Just a Rumor by Marlene Perez



Shade by Jerri Smith-Ready



Burned by P.C. & Kristin Cast



Claire de Lune by Christine Johnson
What do you think? Which are your favorites?

Cover Judge

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

Release: November 16, 2010

Synopsis: Nora should have known her life was far from perfect. Despite starting a relationship with her guardian angel, Patch (who, title aside, can be described as anything but angelic), and surviving an attempt on her life, things are not looking up. Patch is starting to pull away and Nora can't figure out if it's for her best interest or if his interest has shifted to her arch-enemy, Marcie Millar. Not to mention that Nora is haunted by images of her father and she becomes obsessed with finding out what really happened to him that night he left for Portland and never came home.

The further Nora delves into the mystery of her father's death, the more she comes to question if her Nephilim bloodline has something to do with it as well as why she seems to be in danger more than the average girl. Since Patch isn't answering her questions and seems to be standing in her way, she has to start finding the answers on her own. Relying too heavily on the fact that she has a guardian angel puts Nora at risk again and again. But can she really count on Patch or is he hiding secrets darker than she can even imagine?

Cover: First off, let me just say that I was a big fan of Hush, Hush's cover and was very excited to see how the Crescendo cover would compare. The cover for Hush, Hush was brilliant, giving Crescendo big shoes to fill. That said, I like how they decided to continue on the atmospheric black and white clouds from the first cover, as well as the gorgeous burst of light in the background. Even with these similarities, however, I still believe that Hush, Hush's cover was stronger. Don't get me wrong, the lightning in the background and the pouring rain are beautiful. The thing I'm not too hot about is the model. Is it just me or does she look a bit too old to be a teen? In addition to that, I find the positioning to be a bit awkward. It's a lovely cover overall, but I'm not sure if it's one of my favorites.

10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge Chat with Kay Cassidy!

Calling all 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge participants!

Tonight (Monday, May 26th) at 8:00 pm EST we will be chatting with Kay Cassidy, author of The Cinderella Society and challenge co-host.

Here's a bit about The Cinderella Society:

When the Prom Queen becomes your fairy godmother…

Sixteen year old outsider, Jess Parker, gets the chance of a lifetime: an invitation to join a secret society of popular girls dedicated to defeating the mean girls of the world. The Cinderella Society guides all new recruits through its top secret ultimate life makeover. It’s all part of preparing them to face down the Wickeds and win. Determined not to let the Cindys down, Jess dives in with a passion. Finally, a chance to belong and show the world what she’s made of.

… be careful what you wish for.

Jess’s transformation wins her the heart of her dream crush and a shot at uber-popularity. Until the Wickeds–led by Jess’s arch enemy–begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers the real force behind her exclusive society. It’s a high stakes battle of good vs. evil, and the Cindys in power need Jess on special assignment. When the mission threatens to destroy her dream life come true, Jess is forced to choose between living a fairy tale and honoring the Sisterhood… and herself.

What’s a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn’t want to wear it anymore?

We'll be discussing the novel, chick lit, our challenge progress, and more. These chats are loads of fun and you won't want to miss it.

Now, about the chat room. Chatzy has recently changed its policies, allowing for only 10 users in a room at a time. Because of this, Kay and I have created a permanent, premium room that will allow us an unlimited number of users. We will be hosting all future chats in this official challenge chat room, including tonight's. You can find the chat room here.

See you tonight!

Winners!

The two (2) winners of the Airhead/Being Nikki giveaway are:

Emily from The Ninja Librarian

and

Leslie G!

The winners of the two (2) Blogiversary Bonanza: Wish You Were Here & swag packs are:

April (hardback)

and

Alicia! (paperback)

And the winner of the Blogiversary Bonanza: The Black Sheep & swag pack is:

CC!

Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to everyone who entered! 

10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge: April Check In!

It’s time once again for the 10 in ’10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge check-in post!

It’s now April, which means we’re a third of the way through the challenge. In addition to this, it’s also a very special month for my co-host Kay Cassidy, whose first book The Cinderella Society was released this month. I was lucky enough to read The Cinderella Society last year and absolutely adore it. It’s the epitome of chick lit – fun, flirty, and with a great message. To celebrate her release, Kay will be our featured author this month and we’ll be chatting with her tomorrow (Monday, April 26) at 8:00 pm EST. I hope to see you all there!

Okay, now for a quick update on my reading. This month has been very kind to me in terms of the challenge. I read three of the seventeen titles already on my list and added another, giving me grand total of six books read.

One of the books, The Summer I Turned Pretty, is one I’ve wanted to read for quite awhile and am so happy I had the chance to read it for the challenge. It was fabulous, breathtaking, and wonderfully written! You can read my full (gushing) review of it here. In addition to that I also read Breathing by Cheryl Rene Herbsman, which is another one that has been on my reading list for quite awhile. I was once again pleasantly surprised, finding it to be not only a great chick lit read, but also very deep. Both of these books had great voice and explored the psyches of some great young woman.

My other reads this month include: Runaway by Meg Cabot and Scandal by Kate Brian (a participant in the challenge!). Both of these were the newest installments in some of my favorite series and, surprisingly, they both ended up being some of my favorites of the series.

That’s all the progress I’ve made this month. Now, what about you? Link your reviews and/or check-in posts to the Mr. Linky below.

See you tomorrow evening!




For more information on the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge or to sign up, read this post.

Shadow Hills by Anastasia Hopcus

His love captivated her... his secrets might kill her.

Since her sister’s mysterious death, Persephone “Phe” Archer has been plagued by a series of disturbing dreams. Determined to find out what happened to her sister, Phe enrolls at Devenish Prep in Shadow Hills, Massachusetts—the subject of her sister’s final diary entry.

After stepping on campus, Phe immediately realizes that there’s something different about this place—an unexplained epidemic that decimated the town in the 1700s, an ancient and creepy cemetery, and gorgeous boy Zach—and somehow she’s connected to it all.

But the more questions she asks and the deeper she digs, the more entangled Phe becomes in the haunting past of Shadow Hills. Finding what links her to this town…might cost her her life.

Beneath this vibrant cover lies a thrilling adventure with astonishing secrets waiting behind every turn, all set in a mysterious boarding school at the heart of a small town.

I was pleasantly surprised by the premise of the novel. The entire time I was reading Shadow Hills I could tell that Hopcus had spent a great deal of time nailing down facts and fabricating the brilliant central idea. The secrets that surround Zach were so well written and fascinating that they quickly became my favorite part of the book, even overshadowing Phe’s own secrets. It was such an intricate, unique idea that it was hard not to be drawn in by it. I couldn’t wait to find out the next bit of information, to uncover another facet of the story.

In spite of all of this though, I will admit I was disappointed with the ending. It was not a bad ending per say. In fact, it was a rather good place to leave off. However, after all of the intricate plots and secrets that filled the core of the novel, I felt a bit let down. It was all a tad anticlimactic after the fantastic, fast-paced center of the novel.

If there is a second book, which I really hope there is, I understand why Hopcus left the story so open at the end. Even so, I would’ve preferred to have seen a bit more of the loose ends come together. The whole novel seemed to allude to some grand culmination of all that Phe had discovered – both about the town and about herself. I was very much looking forward to seeing how all the pieces would fit together, which would no doubt be in an action-filled, suspenseful climax. Only it never really happened. The story seemed to trickle out right when it should’ve been shooting up.

Overall, I was quite pleased with Shadow Hills. The book is filled with far more mystery and suspense than I ever would’ve imagined. Rich in dark secrets that will have you at the edge of your seat, this is an enjoyable paranormal read. Just don’t get your hopes up too much for the ending.

3.75 Stars!

Source: 1 ARC Tours

Runaway Twitter Party

Join Runaway author Meg Cabot and Thea and Ana of The Book Smugglers for a Twitter party Thursday, April 22, between 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. EST!

• Be sure to follow Meg @MegCabot , Point at @ThisIsPoint, and Thea and Ana @BookSmugglers before the party!  
• Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!  
• Anyone who tweets during the party using #MegCabot is entered to win a limited edition Runaway t-shirt – featuring the winning design voted for by fans!  
• Watch for questions from @BookSmugglers and win awesome prizes including an iPad, $50 Sephora gift cards or $25 VISA gift cards!  
• To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #MegCabot on Twitter.  
• Ask Meg questions or chat with other partygoers—just use the tag #MegCabot in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)  
• Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

Chick Chat: Kay Cassidy

Kay Cassidy is the author of the newly released The Cinderella Society, which is fabulous. In addition to being an author, Kay is also my co-host for the 10 in '10 Teen Chick Lit Challenge and the creator of The Great Scavenger Hunt. To find out more about Kay, her book and her other endevours, visit her at her website.

 If you don't already know about The Cinderella Society, here is a bit about it:

What a girl to do when the glass slipper fits, but she doesn't want to wear it anymore?

Sixteen year old Jess Parker has always been an outsider. So when she receives an invitation to join The Cinderella Society, a secret society of the most popular girls in school, it's like something out of a fairy tale. Swept up by the Cindys' magical world of makeovers, and catching the eye of her Prince Charming, Jess feels like she's finally found her chance to fit in.

Then the Wickeds--led by Jess's arch-enemy--begin targeting innocent girls in their war against the Cindys, and Jess discovers there's more to being a Cindy than reinventing yourself on the outside. She has unknowingly become part of a centuries-old battle of good vs. evil, and now the Cindys in charge need Jess for a mission that could change everything.

Overwhelmed, Jess wonders if The Cinderella Society made a mistake in choosing her. Is it a coincidence her new boyfriend doesn't want to be seen with her in public? And is this glamorous, secret life even what she wants, or will she risk her own happy ending to live up to the expectations of her new sisters?

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How did you select your characters’ names?

Character names are something I really sweat over. I often can't write a character thoroughly until I nail the perfect name because it's so much a part of who they are. I knew early on that Jess was Jess and Ryan was Ryan. But some of the other names were harder, like Gaby and Paige. But once I glommed onto the name, their personalities came to me almost fully formed.

If you could bring any one character from your book to life who would it be and why?

If you're asking me as an adult, I'd have to say Heather. I just want to give her a big hug and tell her everything is going to be okay. But if you're asking me as a teen? I would've wanted to bring Ryan to life. ;-)

Why did you decide to write YA?

I actually started writing YA because a teen librarian at my former local library introduced me to three YA novels that I absolutely adored. She gave me The Princess Diaries, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and How My Private, Personal Journal Became a Bestseller. I completely fell in love with YA and knew this is what I wanted to write. (PS – Librarians ROCK!)

In The Cinderella Society you give teens positive role models and really emphasize girl power. What is one piece of advice would you give to teen girls?

Don't worry about every little thing. When I was a teen (and okay, even now as an adult), it's easy to second guess myself and think “Why did I do that? Is she mad at me? Is everyone laughing at my faux pas?”

The truth is, most everyone is too absorbed in their own worries to even notice half the things we fret over. Seriously! While we're thinking, “OMG, that was such a dumb thing to say. She probably thinks I'm a moron!”, the other person may very well be thinking, “OMG, why did I ask that? She probably thinks I'm a moron!” I promise you, your faux pas are almost never as bad as you think they are. (And yes, I'm going to heed my own advice any day now.) ;-)

What's next for you?

Next up is the sequel to The Cinderella Society titled Cindy on a Mission. Cindy on a Mission will be on shelves in Spring 2011. It follows the further adventures of Jess and the Sisters when the Wickeds' score a major win that threatens everything the Cindys care about.

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Thank you for stopping by Kay!

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han

Some summers are just destined to be pretty. 

Belly measures her life in summers. Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August. Winters are simply a time to count the weeks until the next summer, a place away from the beach house, away from Susannah, and most importantly, away from Jeremiah and Conrad. They are the boys that Belly has known since her very first summer -- they have been her brother figures, her crushes, and everything in between. But one summer, one wonderful and terrible summer, the more everything changes, the more it all ends up just the way it should have been all along.

Let me start off by saying this book was absolutely enchanting. That said, please excuse any rambling and/or excessive raving. 

I’ve been meaning to read The Summer I Turned Pretty for quite some time, and I’m so glad I finally did. I laughed, I cried, I loved. I was with Belly for every step of her journey and enjoyed every second of it.

The Summer I Turned Pretty is a raw look at a young girl’s struggle to find herself. Belly is self-conscious and unsure of herself. She’s blossoming into a young woman when, inside, she still sees herself as a child. The flashbacks to the various summers of her childhood help to develop Belly’s character and give the reader insight into the reasons for her actions. With each flashback you’re given another piece of Belly’s character, another piece of what makes her who she is. Between her memories and the inner struggles she faces over the course of the novel, it is impossible not to fall in love with her character. You get to know her so well that you feel as if she is your best friend.

Even when Belly was acting petulant and irrational, jumping to conclusions and missing what was right in front of her, I still loved her. She’s a teenage girl. She makes mistakes. The struggle she goes through to correct and understand those mistakes is what truly reflects her character.

Another reason I loved this book was the writing. From the start it drew me in, capturing the salty smell of the air and the essence of the beach. I was transported to that small beach town and felt as if I was Belly, returning to the home I’d spent countless summers in and the people that had colored them for so long. From that first page on I could not put the book down. I wanted to know Belly and the story of this summer, as well as those that had preceded it.

I loved this book so much that I’m glad I put off reading it. Now I don’t have to wait nearly as long for the sequel! This book is a must read for fans of teen chick lit, especially those who love Sarah Dessen.

5 stars!

Source: Purchased

The In's and Out's of Asking for a Review

Now that I’ve been blogging for a few years I’ve begun to become quite familiar with review requests. As with anything, there are the good…and there are the bad. Now, review requests aren’t make-or-break for getting a novel reviewed. If I’m not a fan of the way a person requests a review, it doesn’t automatically mean I won’t review the book. However, I’d be lying if I said they didn’t play a role in it. A request is a book’s first impression and a good one can make me accept a book even if it’s not something I normally would review.

That said, in light of some rather interesting review requests, I thought I’d make up a list of dos and don’ts to keep in mind when putting together a request.

Do:

·      Tell a bit about yourself
·      Include a link to your website

·      Include a bit about your book

·      Include a bit about your writing background and previous novels

·      Refer to the blogger by their name and/or blog name (I like feeling like it’s not some mass email and I’m just one on a loooong list)

·      Be nice (If you know me from Twitter or read my blog frequently, it’s okay to mention. That makes the request personal and makes you stand out from the crowd.)

·      Research the blogs you request (I’m not going to review an adult non-fiction about dealing with depression or weight loss or feeling younger. Now a YA book about a girl with depression who struggles with her weight and has a crazy mother who’s obsessed with looking young? That is more down my ally.)

·      Be understanding if they can’t accept your request

·      Tailor your request to fit what you want (If you want me to post your book trailer, mention that first. Don’t pitch me a book and then at the end change what you’re asking for.)

·      Offer alternatives if they can’t review it (Just because I’m overrun with books doesn’t mean I don’t want to help you publicize your book.)

Don’t:

·      Send the book first and then request a review (You’re pretty much forcing my hand)

·      Send a mass email

·      Burry review information in superfluous information (If I have to scroll way down the email to find out what you want, you may never get my response)

·      Make it too difficult to accept the request (If you email me a request, don’t make me have to email someone else to accept the request.)

·      Be overly chummy (If I don’t know you yet, being super chummy may scare me off. You don’t want to be the overeager kid. A bit of formality is good.)

·      Complain or whine about how your book is “ignored.”

·      Bash other books in the genre to make yours look better (I like YA, so bashing it isn’t a way to earn my favor.)

·      Pitch a book that you don’t have copies of (I know there aren’t an unlimited number of books, but if you can’t provide a copy say that first.)

·      Ask too many things at once (Asking for a review, interview, book trailer post and contest all at once can be a bit overwhelming. Have a main thing and then put the option out there, if I’m interested I’ll follow up with you.)

·      Change the subject on each email (My inbox is hard enough to keep track of, thank you.)

·      Request review of things that are completely unrelated (I review books, not food or water.)

These are some of the things I've come up with that are preferable for me. They may not be for everyone else though, so don't take my word as law.

Now that you've seen my list, what's on yours?

Sea Trailer!

Right now I am just a wee bit excited. Okay, I'm really, really excited, like hyperventilating excited. The trailer for Heidi R Kling's amazing Sea was just released today! I've been following its production on Twitter and am so insanely excited to see the finished product.




Isn't it gorgeous?!

The trailer was done by Vania from VLC Photo, who is extremely talented. Her previous trailers include Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, White Cat by Holly Black and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Before, Beautiful Creatures was my favorite of her trailers, but I think Sea's may be taking that place. Gorgeous photographs and a beautiful score, not to mention a fabulous book!

What do you think?

The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea M Campbell

Damien Locke knows his destiny--attending the university for supervillains and becoming Golden City's next professional evil genius. But when Damien discovers he's the product of his supervillain mother's one-night stand with--of all people--a superhero, his best-laid plans are ruined as he's forced to live with his superhero family. 

Going to extreme lengths (and heights), The Rise of Renegade X chronicles one boy's struggles with the villainous and heroic pitfalls of growing up.

Let me just start by saying that I don’t like comics nor do I read many (if any) superhero books. I wasn’t too keen on this book and wasn’t actually planning on reading it until I won an ARC in a contest. When I actually read what it was about, it interested me a bit, but I was still unsure. My only experience with YA superheroes and supervillians was Sky High, a movie I thought the book sounded quite a lot like. This only increased my wariness.

Boy was I wrong!

The Rise of Renegade X was fabulous. The main character, Damien, was absolutely enchanting. His snarky, sarcastic voice had me laughing on multiple occasions. Even if the story had sucked, I still would’ve enjoyed the book simply because of Damien. He’s cynical and quirky and doesn’t give a care what people think about him or who he hurts. He’s the supervillian you should be rooting against but can’t help but love. I highly enjoyed watching him struggle with identity and the goodness that lies beneath his evil exterior.

The story was unlike any other superhero story I’ve read, proving my previous concerns wrong. It was intriguing to see the story from the supervillians’ side rather than the superheroes’. I couldn’t decide who I was rooting for. I liked the people on both sides, even if the supervillians were being extremely evil. In addition to that, all of the characters were extremely well written. They all had their little quirks and, no matter what side their allegiances were with, I found myself liking them. Each and every one of them was wildly different than the others and their odd traits made them all the more endearing.

Finally, I really liked Campbell’s idea to make a person’s thumb reflect whether they were a hero or villain. It was a unique idea and played into the story wonderfully. It brings up the question: What really defines a person? Is it their genes? Or their actions? I loved it and the way it applied to Damien, as well as all the other superheroes and supervillians.

This book was a complete and total surprise. I’m so happy I decided to read it because Damien could possibly be one of my favorite YA boys of the year. Whether you’re a fan of superheroes or not, I’d highly suggest this book.

5 Stars!

Source: Won from a contest

Airhead and Being Nikki Giveaway

Airhead and Being Nikki are the first two novels in the Airhead trilogy. They are both five star books in my opinion and I'm extremely happy to be able to giveaway both of them to two lucky readers. For those of you who have yet to read Airhead, here's a bit about it:

It’s about modeling. Gaming. And corporate greed. With hot guys. Oh, and a poodle. Airhead is the first book in a new trilogy by #1 New York Times best-selling author Meg Cabot. With Cabot’s signature wit, Airhead is pitch perfect for teen summer reading.

One day she’s a brainiac. The next she’s…not herself. Emerson Watts isn’t your average sixteen-year-old girl. She loves playing video games and hanging out with her best friend Christopher, and has made peace with her less-than-supermodel-esque looks. But when she’s involved in a mysterious accident, she finds herself…not herself at all. Who’s behind it? What’s their motive? And how can she get Christopher to realize she’s still the same person inside? One thing’s for sure: Em Watts is gone. Nikki Howard is here to stay.

And here's a bit about Being Nikki :

CAUTION: This may contain spoilers of Airhead

Emerson Watts was pretty sure there couldn’t be anything worse than being a straight A student whose brain had been transplanted into the body of a teenage supermodel. But it turned out she was wrong: Because that supermodel could turn out to have a mother who’s mysteriously gone missing, a brother who’s shown up demanding answers, and a British heartthrob who’s written a song about her that’s topping the charts.

Now Em’s got to deal with all that, plus a lingerie fashion show, a crush who’s intent on destroying the company she works for to avenge the death of his lost love; and a boss that seems to be turning to the dark side….But then, nobody said it was going to be easy being Nikki.

For more information on the Airhead series and Meg Cabot, you can visit 

http://www.thisispoint.com/megcabot/.

Sound like something you'd like to read? Well good, because I have two Airhead/Being Nikki prize packs! Each prize pack includes a paperback copy of Airhead and a paperback copy of Being Nikki.

The contest will run until Monday, April 19th at midnight EST. This contest is only open to readers with a US mailing address. No PO boxes please. To enter, simply fill out the form below.

Good luck!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Courtney Sheinmel

Courtney Sheinmel is the author of Positively and My So-Called Family. For more information on Courtney and her novels, you can visit her at her website. Here is a bit about Positively:

Emerson Price cannot remember a time when life was ordinary. She was four-years-old when she and her mom were diagnosed as HIV-positive – infected with the virus that causes AIDS, and eight when her parents divorced. Now she is thirteen and her mother is dead. Emmy moves in with her father and stepmother, but she feels completely alone. Even though everyone has always accepted her, no one – not her father, or stepmother, or even her best friend – understands what it’s like to have to take medicine every single day, to be so afraid of getting sick, and to miss her mom more than she ever thought she would.

When Emmy’s dad and stepmother send her to Camp Positive, a camp for HIV-positive girls, Emmy is certain she is going to hate it. But soon she realizes that she is not so alone after all – and that sometimes letting other people in can make all the difference in the world.


I have yet to read Positively, but I will be adding it to my 10 in '10 list, as it sounds amazing.


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What inspired you to write Positively? 

I owe the book to a woman named Elizabeth Glaser.  In February of 1991, when I was thirteen years old, I read an article about Elizabeth in People Magazine.  She was infected with HIV and had unknowingly passed the virus onto her two children.  After her daughter’s death in 1988, Elizabeth founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, in hopes of saving her son.  It was one of the saddest, bravest, most hopeful stories I had ever heard, and I decided I wanted to get involved.  Since then, I’ve met a lot of men, women, and children who are HIV-positive – regular people who never imagined how their lives would be changed by illness.  I’ve often wondered how I would handle being thrust into that situation – particularly as a young kid.  In Positively, the main character, Emerson (“Emmy” for short) is thirteen, and she has a personality that’s a lot like mine; but unlike me, she is living with HIV, and loses her mother to AIDS. 

Besides writing and reading what else are you passionate about?

Off the top of my head, in no particular order (and this is by no means an exhaustive list):  My family.  My friends.  My godson, his older brother, and all my friends’ kids.  Broadway shows.  Music by Carly Simon, Sheryl Crow, and Madonna.  Extra cheese.  Reruns of ER.  New York City.  California.  Taking pictures.  (I would like to say I’m passionate about exercising, but that would be a lie.)

What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing Positively?

In a lot of ways, I was my own worst enemy while I was writing this book.  I felt like I didn’t have a right to tell the story.  After all, my mom is alive and well; I can see her and speak to her whenever I want.  And I’m HIV-negative, and don’t have to take pills everyday.  I wanted to do right by Emmy, and I didn’t want to offend anyone who was living with HIV.  One night I had dinner with Elizabeth Glaser’s son, Jake.  He has been HIV-positive since birth, and when he was ten years old, his mom died from AIDS.  I told him that I was really scared about what I was writing, and he encouraged me to keep going.  He said he believed in me, and believed I could tell the right story.  I will always be grateful to him for that. 

How did you select your characters’ names?

Naming characters is one of my favorite parts of writing a book!  Often, I use the names of people I know, and when I reread my work, I love seeing those familiar names – it’s like proof that the book in my hands is actually mine. 

In Positively, a few of the characters are named after my stepsister, her husband and kids.  One day I called my niece, Nicki, and told her that I’d named Emmy’s best friend – a very pivotal character – after her.  I thought she would be thrilled.  Instead she asked if I could name a character after her dog, Dakota, who had just died.  I hadn’t been planning to put any dogs in the book.  Nicki was really disappointed, so we worked out a compromise, and it ended up being part of one of my favorite scenes.  Thank you, Nicki!

What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

I know when a book is labeled an “issue” book, there’s the danger of sounding preachy, or like you’re trying to teach certain lessons.  I hope that’s not the case with Positively (or anything else I write).  My goal is to write well enough so that the story is realistic, and readers can identify with my characters and empathize with their situations.  And I hope, when they finish the books, they feel like the time they spent reading was worthwhile.

What's next for you?

My next book, Sincerely, Sophie/Sincerely, Katie, will be published by Simon & Schuster on June 8, 2010 -- I think it’s fitting that the book is a Gemini, because there are two protagonists.  Sophie Turner and Katie Franklin are 11-year-old cross-country pen pals who confide in each other when their home lives seem overwhelming.

And I just finished the edits for my 2011 book (we haven’t settled on a title yet), which follows seventh grader Carly Wheeler, whose life is turned upside-down the day FBI agents come to her house to arrest her mother for a white-collar crime.  I went to law school and practiced law for several years before becoming a full-time writer, and this book marks the first time I’ve worked any of my legal knowledge a piece of fiction!

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Thank you, Courtney! 


And that concludes my two year Blogiversary Bonanza. I hope you all enjoyed the author interview and contests. Don't forget, you still have a few weeks to enter the contest! Thank you again for all of your support!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Contest Update

So I just walked in the door after a week of vacation and what do I find? Books! And swag! What does this mean? More contests!

Now, in addition to the previous two prize packs I'm giving away, I'll also be giving away a third prize pack. Those of you who already entered (so long as you checked either or Wish You Were Here) will be automatically entered into the drawing for this third prize pack. Here are the details:

Prize Pack #3 -

• Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark (paperback) (signed)
• Cinderella Society card (signed)
• The Red Umbrella bookmark (signed)
• Chasing Brooklyn bookmark (signed)
• Chick Lit Teens bookmark
• Catherine Clark bookmark

In addition to this, I also updated the info on the other two prize packs. Some of the swag and books are signed and I've added another piece of swag.

You can sign up for the contest on this form, for those of you who missed my previous post.

Good luck!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Contest Time!

In honor of my two year blogiversary, I thought I'd do a fun little contest. There are two things every book lover can't get enough of (if Twitter is to be believed): books and book-related swag. That said, I decided I'd do a book/swag pack giveaway. Two Three lucky winners will win one of the following prize packs:

Prize Pack #1 -

• Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark (hardback) (signed)
• The Dark Divine sticker
• The Red Umbrella bookmark (signed)
• Chasing Brooklyn bookmark (signed)
• Catherine Clark bookmark
• Chick Lit Teens bookmark

Prize Pack #2 -

• The Black Sheep by Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout (paperback)
• Beautiful Creatures sticker
• Sea bookmark
• Chasing Brooklyn bookmark (signed)
• Catherine Clark bookmark
• Chick Lit Teens bookmark

Prize Pack #3 -

• Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark (paperback) (signed)
• Cinderella Society card (signed)
• The Red Umbrella bookmark (signed)
• Chasing Brooklyn bookmark (signed)
• Chick Lit Teens bookmark
• Catherine Clark bookmark

The contest will run until midnight on Saturday, April 17th. You must be a follower of Chick Lit Teens with a US mailing address in order to enter. All you have to do to enter is fill out this form.

Good luck!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Victoria Schwab

Victoria Schwab is the author of the upcoming young adult novel The Near Witch, due out August 2011. To find out more about Victoria and her novel, you can visit her website. Here is a bit about The Near Witch:

There’s an old ghost story in the town of Near. It tells of a witch that lived on the edge of the village, and gobbled up all the darkness, and sang the hills to sleep, and loved the children almost as much as the garden she kept beside her house. 

Sixteen-year-old Lexi Harris, the daughter of a tracker, has heard the stories her entire life, first from her father, and then from old Magda and Dreska, who might be witches themselves. Everyone loves to tell the story, but everyone knows a different ending. Some say that the Near Witch blew away on a gust of wind. Others tell of darker things. Of murders and curses and buried bones. 

To Lexi, they’ve always been stories, nothing more. But when a strange and silent boy walks into the village of Near, and then the wind begins to lure children from their beds at night, she starts to wonder if there’s any truth in them. Why are the children vanishing? Who is the newcomer? And could the Near Witch be more than a ghost story?

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How did you come up with the title for The Near Witch?

I actually get asked that a lot, and I don't have a particularly clever reply. The town in the book is called Near, and there was a legend about a witch :P I actually had TNW as the working title, but it stuck! I suppose it draws people in because it doesn't quite make sense, if you don't know that Near is the setting. I like that it makes people wonder. 

What is your favorite adjective? Why?

Frenetic. Maybe because I am fairly frenetic, or maybe I just like the way it sounds, all harsh bits that flow off the tongue in a strangely smooth way, but I love it. 

If you could meet any fictional character, who would you choose?

Oh man, that's hard. I think it's a tie between Magnus Bane from The Mortal Instruments, and Voldemort. 

Why did you decide to write YA?

I didn't, really. I wrote a story, and was then told by my then-not-yet-agent it was YA. I hadn't read nearly enough YA, and so I went on a binge, began to devour YA, realized how much I loved it, and loved the community, and loved the stories in my head that kind of fit, and here I am. I still never write TO YA. 

How has The Near Witch evolved since you first began writing?

Hahah. A LOT. It sold as a little, 50k fairy tale, too sparse and too unsure. Now it's 80k and has all this wonderful WEIGHT. I don't know, it's hard for me to explain, but my editor put it well when she said that in the beginning TNW was sketched out. Now it's a painting. It went through a lot of ugly and a lot of "oh crap, what have I gotten myself into" but it's here now, and somewhere along the way I fell in love with it. I hope others will, too.

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Thanks Victoria!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Gwen Hayes

Gwen Hayes is the author of the upcoming YA novel Falling Under. For more information on Gwen, you can visit her website.

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Can you tell us a bit about Falling Under? 

Falling Under is a paranormal young adult book set in the fictional coastal town of Serendipity Falls. The waterfalls are actually a portal between realms so the town is an epicenter of paranormal activity--some good and some very, very bad. 

Theia Alderson meets a mysterious young man in a strange dreamworld. He's intriguing, a little scary, and when she wakes up--he's enrolled in her school. Haden Black is drawn to Theia, in both worlds, but he's here for some very nefarious purposes and wishes he could find the strength to stay away from her before it's too late.

When can readers expect to see it in stores? 

I have a tentative release date of early summer 2011 from NAL (a Penguin Imprint). The as-yet-unnamed sequel will be released about a year later.

Why did you decide to write YA? 

There is something really invigorating about that time in a person's life. Everything is new and everything is important. First kisses, first heartbreaks, first successes, first disappointments--it's all so much on the surface. 

Which one of your characters do you identify with the most? 

As a teen, probably Theia's friend, Amelia. She's struggles with her self-esteem but at the same time, is self-assured. Very contradictory. Very me.

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

First and most important: Don't let anyone tell you can't. If you want to you can and will, but you have to be willing to put in the effort and you have to learn how to take and use criticism. 

Second: Read. Read writing craft books, read poems, read in and out of the genre you want to write. I find even listening to audio books helps my writing cadence. I think reading is the most fundamental skill of writing. 

If you could meet any fictional character, who would you choose? 

Meg Murry from Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time. Oh...or I'd love to spend the day at the Glass House with Claire, Shane, Michael, and Eve (from Rachel Caine's Morganville Vampires Series). But just one day. I'd like to be on the road before sunset if you know what I mean.

What are you working on now?

I'm working on revisions for Falling Under and getting ready to write the sequel. And also, when nobody is looking, I am working on another young adult series set in Serendipity Falls. I have to do it on the sly, though, since I'm supposed to finish one before I start the next. Don't tell my editor. Or my agent. Sshhh. Our little secret. 

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Thank you for stopping by Gwen! And don't forget to check back tomorrow as the Blogiversary Bonanza continues!

Blogiversary Bonanza: Heidi R Kling

Heidi R Kling is the author of the upcoming YA novel Sea, due out June 10. 

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Sea and absolutely loved it (my review will be up closer to its release). Here is a bit about the book:

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.

She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

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What inspired you to write Sea?

My husband's real life volunteer trip to Indonesia after the tragic 2004 Tsunami in Indonesia. Full story is on my website: http://heidirkling.com

In Sea both the setting and the tales of the orphans are expertly written. What kind of research did you do prior to writing?

Thank you! I interviewed several of the orphans and was in touch with a long-term volunteer at the real life pesantren. Also, living with the person who actually did this work was very helpful! My husband kept excellent journals, and answered all my many questions.

What is one thing you hope readers take away from your novel?

Hope. The concept of hopelessness is the ultimate tragedy, and there is so much hope in the world, even with all the disasters and the pain that comes along with the human experience. Also, a great appreciation for the world we live in. The U.S. is a land of so much abundance: Super Stores, Super Cars, etc., and there is so much more to this planet than just us. Just our experience. I wanted to introduce a world where things are different: food, religion, culture -- It's nice to have some awareness and appreciation about that.

What was your favorite scene to write in Sea?

I'm sort of in love with the prologue. I love all the scenes with Sienna and Deni. Sienna and Spider too. It's weird because every scene in SEA I've gone over SO MANY TIMES in revision, but I never got sick of any of them. I feel like the characters are my good friends, so reading them, re-reading them over and over is just like being there with them. Along with Sienna on her epic journey.

What’s next for you?

I'm wrapping up final revisions on a sexy fantasy pitched as a modern Romeo and Juliet with magic. It’s a planned trilogy. Exciting!

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Thank you Heidi!