THE BOOK BUTTERFLY

Top Ten Paranormal Books by Amy Garvey, Author of Cold Kiss!

2011-09-25T21:42:00.000-04:00

Top Ten Paranormal Books

My favorite! I love scary books (and movies and TV and haunted houses). I read a lot of really bad horror when the genre was at its pulpy, mass-market height way back when, and I love that it’s coming back now, and the books are even better. Some of the books below aren’t horror, per se, but they all have that paranormal twist, and I think you all should run right out and read them. Go ahead. I’ll wait.

1) Jane-Emily, by Patricia Clapp. I’m not even sure if this is still in print; I bought it at a Scholastic Book Fair at school when I was in fourth grade, and I still have my very worn, falling-apart original copy. It’s still a great read even now, which is the mark of a really good book. It’s 1912, and Louisa is taking her niece Jane to her grandmother’s house after her parents (Louisa’s sister and her husband) are killed in a carriage accident. But there’s a spirit waiting in the quiet house in Lynn, and it wants Jane … Spooky and atmospheric, and Louisa and Jane both are spunky and likeable.

2) Ghosts I Have Been, Richard Peck. The second in the Blossom Culp books, but this time the psychic Blossom has visions of the Titanic sinking. Set in 1913 – I was a sucker for historical set fiction then, and still am. Richard Peck is all-around genius, too – any of his books are worth reading.

3) The Haunting of Hill House, Shirley Jackson. One of the creepiest books I’ve ever read, and I mean that in the best possible way. Forget the movie (although the original is fantastic – please forget the horrible remake with Liam Neeson) , the book really raises the hairs on the back of your neck, and takes you so far into Nell’s experiences at Hill House, you begin to wonder if you’re going crazy with her.

4) Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr. I loved Holly Black’s Tithe, too, but Marr’s version of faerie was so richly detailed, and so surprisingly realistic in terms of character motivations and interactions, I was blown away. These are fae the way I always imagined them – sexy, dangerous, impulsive, otherworldly. A gorgeously written start to a great series.

5) The Witching Hour, Ann Rice. Oh, Anne Rice. You got me with this one. The New Orleans setting, the tangled family history, the love story between Rowan and Michael – I unabashedly love this book.

6) Ghost Story, Peter Straub. This is one of those books that’s a fabulous read and also requires, like, a doctorate if you want to actually unravel all the allusions and homages to the genre in it. (Stephen King does a great job in Danse Macabre, actually.) So fabulously atmospheric and scary.

7) Salem’s Lot, Stephen King. It took a minute to pick just one King book, because I’m a huge fan of his, but as a strictly paranormal, fantastically terrifying book, this is the one. Vampires! Really scary ones, too. So delicious.

8) A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray. Not horror, obviously, but so wonderfully paranormal. Gemma’s discovery of the Realms and her place in them – as well as the effect it has on both her and her friends – is mind-blowing. I loved this series so much.

9) White Cat, Holly Black. So incredibly original – curse workers! The whole premise captured my imagination, and Black is such a sharp, honest writer. Cassel’s voice is amazing, too.

10) Heart-Shaped Box, Joe Hill. Stephen King’s son! Not that he needs the name-check – this book is as horrifying as anything his father ever wrote. An aging rock star gets a “gift” in the mail, but it’s not a gift anyone would want. And it will not go away. The tension in this book is almost unbearable, and the contents of the box are both genius and seriously disturbing. Read this one with the light on.

“It seemed so right. Danny was mine, I was his, and that wasn’t going to work if he was dead. So I would make him not dead, not anymore. I didn’t think any further than what it would feel like to kiss him again, to wrap my arms around him and bury my head against his shoulder.
That was my first mistake. It also turned out to be the biggest.”

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Amy Garvey’s transcendent teen debut is perfect for fans of Shiver and Beautiful Creatures. Wren’s unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned

Blog Tour Review: Damned (Crusade Book 2) by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

2011-09-01T09:40:00.001-04:00

DAMNED BY NANCY HOLDER AND DEBBIE VIGUIE
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (August 30, 2011)
Language: English
Read: Chapter 1

There is a fine line between love and sacrifice…. Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question.

Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle.

Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness…or die trying.

I first became acquainted with the plot of the first book CRUSADE upon reading the short story in the vampire anthology, THE ETERNAL KISS: 13 TALES OF BLOOD AND DESIRE. If you haven't read this story, entitled Passing, and you've started CRUSADE anyways, you don't have to worry about being lost. But, I would highly recommend reading it anyways --it really is a fantastic short story and provides a good amount of background for this series. CRUSADE was a 5-star read for me (read review here) and DAMNED did not disappoint. Though the first book is definitely my favorite of the two (the foray in Damned with monster-ish hybrids lost me a bit), DAMNED still packed one heck of a punch. For me, the strength of this series lies within the complex relationships and motivations of the supporting cast as well as Jen Leitner's journey to becoming a confident, self-possessed leader.

All the vampire hunters had interesting and well-drawn out personalities. In fact, I could see future spin-offs centering around each of the characters-Jamie, Holgar, Eriko, Skye and Antonio. Skye, with her witchcraft and dark secrets fascinated me the most. Holgar, the fierce hunter with supernatural tendencies, was a close second. Antonio, the ex-priest turned vampire was utterly fascinating and at times, heart-breaking in the way his conflicting desires weighed upon his conscience. As a vampire hunting his own kind, I was immediately drawn to his character and found myself looking forward to any and all scenes involving him. The scenes in which Antonio veered from his normal persona were the best though. It was a great way to change things up and get the heart racing. I'm glad they did it--it showed another layer to his personality and endeared his character to me even more.

With non-stop action, DAMNED is sure to make your heart race while you battle alongside the hunters as they take on some truly frightening vampires. I look forward to the next installment in this thrilling series and highly recommend CRUSADE and DAMNED to both adult and teen readers who enjoy scary, action-packed vampire books.

Nancy Holder has published sixty books and more than two hundred short stories. She has received four Bram Stoker awards for fiction from the Horror Writers Association, and her books have been translated into more than two dozen languages. She has written or cowritten twenty Buffy and Angel projects. Her books from Simon Pulse include the New York Times bestselling series Wicked and the novel The Rose Bride. A graduate of the University of California at San Diego, Nancy is currently a writing teacher at the school. She lives in San Diego with her daughter, Belle, and their growing assortment of pets. Visit her at nancyholder.com.

Debbie ViguiÉ holds a degree in creative writing from UC Davis. Her Simon Pulse books include the New York Times bestselling Wicked series and the Once upon a Time novels VIOLET EYES, SCARLET MOON and MIDNIGHT PEARLS. She lives in Florida with her husband Scott. Visit her at debbieviguie.com.

Guest Post with Kendare Blake, Author of Anna Dressed In Blood

2011-08-28T22:57:00.003-04:00

In Which I get Serious

(For like five minutes and then I go back to being a dingus)

Kendare Blake

“The hard thing isn’t becoming a writer. It’s staying a writer.”

Look at that quote. Read that quote. Repeatedly. I know I did, back when I was hip deep in the “becoming” part. I can’t remember who said it, but I remember that it was a writer I admired, Harlan Ellison, maybe, and that for a time, it floated around a circle of writers that I really looked up to, as they lamented the business that is “Staying a Writer.”

I don’t mind telling you: I called BS. The hard part isn’t “becoming”? I wanted to shout. Really? All this writing and soul-searching, and revising and submitting and being politely or less politely rejected…this isn’t the hard part? Because if that’s true, then what. The. Frick.

I told myself then that I would never forget what it took to “become”, if ever I was lucky enough to see publication. I wouldn’t forget the nail-biting and the self-loathing and the fleeting triumph of finishing a project just to see it dashed against the rocks as not-quite-good-enough-not-what-we’re-looking-for.

And I haven’t. The sheaf of unpublished literary stories on my hard drive remind me. The spreadsheet tracking all the agencies and magazines I submitted to remind me. But here I am. Out of the becoming, and into the staying, and I find…that the staying isn’t easy either. Looking back at one of my old journal entries I told myself that if I had a book published I wouldn’t whine or moan no matter what happened. I’d only be grateful. And now I get to call BS on myself.

That’s not to say I’m not grateful. Of course I am. It’s magical and wonderful and blah blah blah to the moon and back. But there’s struggle and strife and drama of Southern Belle proportions (vespers, I think they call it vespers) in my future, and that’s just the human condition. Because I know now what those writers meant. It’s hard at every turn. At every stage. But it’s also fan-fricking-tastic at every turn and every stage.

If I were to give advice (and I hate to give advice, what the heck do I know) it would be that if you are travelling a similar worn road, SAVOR every triumph. But don’t forget to glance back once in a while, to remember what it took you to get there.

And returning to dingus mode in 5…4…3…

ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD BY KENDRA BLAKE

(August 30th 2011)

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.

So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.

When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.

But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

Author Bio: Kendare Blake is an import from South Korea who was raised in the United States by caucasian parents. You know, that old chestnut. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business from Ithaca College and a Master's degree in Writing from Middlesex University in London. She brakes for animals, the largest of which was a deer, which sadly didn't make it, and the smallest of which was a mouse, which did, but it took forever. Amongst her likes are Greek Mythology, rare red meat and veganism. She also enjoys girls who can think with the boys like Ayn Rand, and boys who scare the morality into people, like Bret Easton Ellis.Official Website

Character This or That Picks: The Revenant by Sonia Gensler

2011-08-27T13:02:00.002-04:00

Boarding School or Public School?
Boarding schools can be a challenge, what with the wealthy snobs you often encounter, but I would much prefer to board than to attend a day school that requires me to go home at night.

Horseback or carriage?
I never learned how to ride, so it’s a carriage for me. Riding the train is best, however – if one can afford it.

Hair up or down?
In the Oklahoma wind, I’d have to say hair up – with a considerable number of pins to hold it in place!

Reading or writing?
Reading! I’ve never been good at expressing myself in writing – never really realized how bad I was until it came time to mark essays.

Gowns or simple dresses?
All I have are simple dresses. It would be marvelous to have a gown that was made just for me.

Small towns or bustling cities?
I’ve never seen a bustling city, but I think it would be grand to visit one. I’m certain I’d find good theater there. I’d love nothing better than to see a Shakespeare play with professional actors and a decent costume budget.

Family or friends?
Friends, please. Especially ones like Olivia Adair. Since Papa died, I do my best to avoid family. That’s not something a proper young lady should say, I know, but I just can’t be myself around my family.

Dancing or singing?
I’m no singer. And technically we’re not allowed to dance at the seminary – not with boys, anyway – but I do love to watch the younger girls dance. They put on secret performances on the third floor, and I’ll certainly never tell on them!

Staying home or going on an adventure?
Adventure, always! At home it’s all drudgery.

The Revenant by Sonia Gensler
Publisher: Knopf Books
Release: June 14, 2011
Buy the Book: Amazon

About the Book:

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . Courtesy of Goodreads.com

About the Author:
Sonia Gensler is a former high school teacher turned full-time writer living in Oklahoma with my husband and cat. Her debut novel, THE REVENANT (Knopf 2011), is a ghostly mystery set at a Cherokee girls' school.

Want to learn more? Website & Goodreads

Interview with Scott Tracey, author of Witch Eyes and Giveaway

2011-08-24T21:26:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's tour stop on the Teen Book Scene's blog tour for Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey. We decided to change things up by having Scott answer my questions using lines from the book. See details below for your chance to win a copy of the book. Enjoy!

In Witch Eyes, Braden’s gift to see through spells and lies is both a gift and a painful burden. Can you describe an instance where having this gift would be the most terrifying and conversely, when it comes in the most handy?

Taking a shower with sunglasses, and keeping them from falling off, was a struggle....People did really nasty things in the bathroom, things that could scar an innocent boy like me.
------------
Our eyes met, and I saw through him. Trey unraveled in front of me, layers upon layers that peeled away like petals falling off a rose. I saw how deep loyalty ran within him, silver and gold threads that kept all the other parts together. I saw reflections and memories against diamond walls, decayed flowers that had been trampled underfoot, and icy winds of sarcasm that surrounded the core, the dark parts even he couldn’t see.

What are your favorite types of scenes to write (action, romance, etc) and can you share with us an example of one from your book?

“Hackers reference,” Drew supplied. “Angelina played this hot teenage hacker badass schoolgirl chick.”
“Didn’t we talk about you being offensive?” Riley said, actually sounding caustic for once.
“I could try harder, right?”

On your blog, you write about how 2011 is the “Year of the Witch”. What do you think it is about witch-themed novels that appeals to readers of Young Adult books?

Power. Greater than normal magic. Something far more severe. Deadly, but a beautiful kind of strength. I could do anything if I had that kind of power.

What is it that you love most about Braden’s character?

Had he known? Why else ask me that question? “That was the point of dinner, wasn’t it? Give Braden the magical roofie and watch him spill his guts."
“Was she wrong? My mother’s not stupid, Braden. She’s worried you might be a threat.”
“Of course I’m a threat, you idiot!”

What was the hardest aspect of building the world within your novel and how did you overcome it?

Lucien pressed another button, cutting her off. His eyes grew vacant and he glanced behind him, toward
the view over the city. “He does so enjoy unraveling my schedule.”

Which of your supporting characters would be perfect for a spin-off or novella and why?

“I’m Riley. Newspaper editor extraordinaire, fashion wunderkind, and resident expert on all things beautiful and damned.” She shook her wrist, settling the bracelets all to the bottom. “Belle? Dam? Get it?”
-------------------------
Lucien’s expression was inscrutable. “Your son finds himself a beau, and you invite him over for a playdate. How very modern of you.”

Demon Eyes is the second book in the series scheduled to release in 2012. Can you give us any hints or teasers as to what we can look forward to in the next installment?

“He wants the door unlocked. The door that no key should open,” I whispered.

Witch Eyes

by Scott Tracey (September 8th 2011)

Braden was born with witch eyes: the ability to see the world as it truly is: a blinding explosion of memories, darkness, and magic. The power enables Braden to see through spells and lies, but at the cost of horrible pain.

After a terrifying vision reveals imminent danger for the uncle who raised and instructed him, Braden retreats to Belle Dam, an old city divided by two feuding witch dynasties. As rival family heads Catherine Lansing and Jason Thorpe desperately try to use Braden's powers to unlock Belle Dam's secrets, Braden vows never to become their sacrificial pawn. But everything changes when Braden learns that Jason is his father--and Trey, the enigmatic guy he's falling for, is Catherine's son.

To stop an insidious dark magic from consuming the town, Braden must master his gift—and risk losing the one he loves

Want to win a copy of Witch Eyes? Just leave a comment below along with your email address. Contest ends September 1, 2011. US/Canadian residents only. Must be 13 years or older to enter. Good luck!

Top Ten Ways to Spot a Draki by Sophie Jordan, Author of Firelight and Vanish!

2011-08-21T21:25:00.000-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Sophie Jordan, author of Firelight (quite possibly my favorite book of 2010). The sequel to Firelight, entitled Vanish, releases in just a couple of weeks on September 6th- Hurray! Sophie stopped by today to share with us an amusing guest post on her top ten ways to spot a draki. (For those of you who haven't read the book, a draki is a person with dragon ancestry and certain capabilities)

VANISH (FIRELIGHT #2) BY SOPHIE JORDAN

Sept. 6th 2011

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.

Top Ten Places to spot a Draki by Sophie Jordan

1) In Jacinda’s pride, of course. Good luck finding it.

2) In the night sky, if the climate is right.

3) Um, wherever you find Will Rutledge.

4) In a hunter’s net.

5) In the clutches of the enkros.

6) Snapshots can be found on several UFO sites. You didn’t think that was really a flying saucer, did you?

7) Well, normally it wouldn’t be Chaparral... but these days, you better go ahead and look there.

8) Wherever there is an unusual amount of mist/fog.

9) According to Sophie Jordan’s husband … “In your face!” Yes, he’s forever a teenage boy at heart. ;)

10) Maybe right next to you….they walk among us, after all.

Win a finished copy of Tout Sweet by Karen Wheeler!

2011-08-18T22:20:00.000-04:00

How about a contest? For everyone that's ever dreamed of packing up and moving to a foreign country, here's the book for you-

TOUT SWEET BY KAREN WHEELER
(August 1, 2011)

In her mid-thirties, fashion editor Karen has it all: a handsome boyfriend, a fab flat in west London, and an array of gorgeus shoes. But when her boyfriend, Eric, leaves she makes an unexpected decision: to hang up her Manolos and wave good-bye to her glamorous city lifestyle to go it alone in a run-down house in rural Poitou-Charentes, central western France.

Tout Sweet is the perfect read for anyone who dreams of chucking away their BlackBerry in favor of real blackberrying and downshifting to a romantic, alluring locale where new friendships–and new loves–are just some of the treasures to be found amongst life's simple pleasures.

Karen Wheeler is a British fashion and beauty journalist. She moved to France and began a blog about her experiences at www.toutsweet.net, written under the pseudonym of Mimi Pompom. Tout Sweet, a memoir, is her first book and is subtitled Hanging Up My High Heels for a New Life in Rural France. (Interview by Angela Smith)
CONTEST

TO ENTER to win, simply comment and leave your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Contest is open to all entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only.
Must be 13 years or older to enter.

Ends Sept 1st 2011. Good Luck!

Blog Tour Stop: Win an ARC of Between by Jessica Warman!

2011-08-16T23:46:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's tour stop on Jessica Warman's blog tour for her new book Between which recently released. See below for details on how to win an ARC!

BETWEEN

BY JESSICA WARMAN

(August 2, 2011)

Elizabeth Valchar --- pretty, popular and rich --- wakes up the morning after her 18th birthday on the yacht where she’d been celebrating with her closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, she finds her own drowned body is hitting the side of the boat. Liz is dead. She has no memory of what happened to her, and can only observe in horror the fallout of her death.

She’s also soon joined by Alex Berg, a quiet boy from her high school who was killed by a hit-and-run driver. The two keep each other company, floating in and out of memories and trying to piece together the details of what happened to each of them.

In her regular life, Liz was a runner. It wasn’t abnormal for her to run 8-10 miles per day. But as memories from closer to her death begin to surface, Liz finds that she’d been running much more than normal, and that she’d all but stopped eating. Liz’s mother, who died when Liz was nine, had battled with anorexia as well, and those around her worried that Liz was following in her mother’s footsteps. But something more sinister was consuming Liz from the inside out..

JESSICA WARMAN is also the author of Breathless, which received three starred reviews and was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and Where the Truth Lies. The idea for Between came from an incident in her childhood, when a local boy went missing after a party on a yacht (he was eventually found, alive). www.jessicawarman.com

To enter to win, just leave a comment with your email so I can contact you if you're the winner.

Contest is open to all entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. Must be 13 years or older to enter.

Ends August 26th 2011. Good Luck!

Guest Post with Shelley Workinger, Author of Solid

2011-08-14T23:11:00.001-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Shelley Workinger, author of the YA paranormal series, Solid. Shelley stopped by today to discuss her favorite type of scenes to write. Take it away Shelley!

Shelley Workinger grew up in Maine, graduated from Loyola University New Orleans, currently resides in New Jersey, and considers all of them home.Official Website

My favorite scenes to write are without doubt the conversations – particularly the ones involving Garrett, because he totally cracks me up.

Yes, I know what you’re thinking: Since she’s writing those scenes, doesn’t that mean she cracks herself up?

And the answer is, “Sure not.” Let me tell you why.

I write in what I know most people see as a very unique way; essentially, I let the characters write the story. I “launch” a scene in my head, then take notes as they run with it. It’s like planning a dream (which I also do); I imagine a setting, then close my eyes to watch as it develops on its own. Unfortunately, also like dreaming, this method works best late at night, so I’m often up until the wee hours scribbling notes in the dark!

The characters of “Solid” just exist so clearly in my imagination that for me to “direct” them would almost be unnatural. They may be fictional, but they are strong, distinct personalities who can really only react one way to the situations I’ve created for them in order to stay consistent and believable. So I may know where the story’s going and how to roll out the plot, but I have to let them talk amongst themselves to pick up their dialogue along the way.

In case I really am sounding as bizarre as I think I might be, let me give you an example:

When know-it-all Miranda asks Garrett if he washed the banana he’s about to eat, he asks (in typical Garrett-fashion) “To get off what? Monkey pee?” and she immediately throws back, “Insecticides, fungicides, nematicides….” I didn’t even know all those words before the scene evolved, but Miranda had to. Then Clio, who’s quick-witted and sarcastic but lets too many things fly out of her mouth without a filter thinks, “If [Miranda] didn’t lay off the ‘cides,’ she was going to end up a victim of friend-icide. And that was the best-case scenario.” Again, it was the response she had to have; I heard her voice in my head way before I had time to sit down and think, “Hmm, how would Clio react to that?”

So that’s the part of writing that’s funnest* for me; the moments when, if only for a second, I get to feel almost like a reader – like any other member of the audience enjoying the scene and not already thinking two chapters ahead. Every book is an adventure to experience, so why should I have to miss out on my own?

Writers are still readers at heart, after all.

*Yes, I know “funnest” is not an officially recognized word, but I think it should be and so will continue to use it.

SOLID
BY SHELLEY WORKINGER
(July 9, 2010)

Eighteen years ago, a rogue Army doctor secretly experimented with a chromosomal drug on unknowing pregnant women. When he was killed not long after the children were born, any knowledge and evidence seemed to die with him - except for the living, breathing, human products of his work.

Almost two decades later, the newly self-proclaimed "open-book" military unearths the truth about the experiment, bringing Clio Kaid and the other affected teens to a state-of-the-art, isolated campus where they soon discover that C9x did indeed alter their chromosomes, its mutations presenting as super-human abilities. The military kids, who come from across the nation and all walks of life, come into their own as lighter-than-air 'athletes'; 'indies' as solid as stone walls; teens who can make themselves invisible and others who can blind with their brilliance.

While exploring her own special ability, forging new friendships and embarking on first love, Clio also stumbles onto information indicating that the military may not have been entirely forthcoming with them and that all may not be as it seems...

Fab Five Questions for Devon Ashley, Author of Ordained

2011-08-10T21:42:00.001-04:00

1. In Ordained, Abby knows how to fight her way through demons, controlling the elements and setting things on fire with the flick of her wrist. Can you share with us a favorite line, scene or passage from the book?

[Noel] returned with a glass of blue tonic water and tried to hand it to her. Her stomach growled and her face cringed. She didn’t need to smell the stuff to know she wouldn’t like it.

“No way am I touching that nasty potion,” she said boldly.

“I’ve changed the formula. I added vanilla to make it taste better.”

Abby accepted it but still eyed it reluctantly. Alcohol never sat well with her system. “How much vanilla?”
“Like I’d really load you up with enough alcohol to throw your balance off. Just drink the tonic, Abby. You’ll feel better quicker.”

She sipped the tonic. Her face puckered again. She gagged, covered her mouth and mumbled in disgust, “Oh my God!”

“I said it tasted better, not great.”

Abby continued to force the sour tonic down in sips. She could taste a hint of vanilla but the potion left a bitter aftertaste that was similar to vinegar. Her stomach gurgled and burned.

“Water,” she coughed after her last sip of tonic.

“No. You’ll dilute it,” Noel said firmly, relieving her of the glass.

Smartly, she rebutted, “Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do after drinking poison? Or is it throw up?”

2. What three words best describe Abby’s personality?

Stubborn, Sarcastic, Protective

3. Abby’s fellow friend and hunter Emily is important to the story. What is a day in the life of a hunter like Emily like?

Well, right now, Emily’s been forced to return to school and not allowed outside the manor’s protective borders (like that stops her), so she’s not really hunting. But that doesn’t mean life is any easier inside the manor, especially when a group of demons break through the magical enchantments that protect the school…

“And just out of curiosity, how many of these twelve did you two end up killing?” [Emily] glared at the Chancellor. Surprisingly, he didn’t back away from her eyes.

Abby hesitantly looked toward Noel. She could tell he didn’t like where this was going. He slowly and quietly raised three fingers. “Seven.”

“Seven?” she huffed. “Wow. Two of them, seven demons. Well, I’m glad the twenty of us could help you out with the other five,” she ranted sarcastically.

“All right, that’s enough!” the Chancellor bellowed. Reddened, he added, “We’re all upset by this attack. None of you would be alive right now if you hadn’t been given the training you received during your school years.”

“You’re delusional!” she stressed. “These demons kicked our [bums]! Abby and Noel are the reason the rest of us are still alive. Your training only kept us alive long enough for them to sort out the mess!”

“Emily!” yelled Ethan, stamping forward. “You will stop this right now!”

“I’m not taking orders from you anymore!” she yelled back. “Any of you!”

Ethan approached Emily with fury in his eyes. With only four steps, Abby put herself directly in his path and caused him to stop abruptly.

4. Abby has been isolated for thirteen years, lacking affection and nursing a broken and bruised body. What do you think would be the hardest thing about being Abby?

Abby has an evil entity living within her that fights for control of her body – the same evil that took control and murdered five advisors when she was sixteen. The hardest thing about being Abby is keeping the entity contained, but sometimes it manages to break through and stuff her deep within herself, into what she refers to as the hollow.

5. Ordained is the first book in a new series, The Immortal Archives. Can you give us a hint of what we can look forward to in the next book?

Lots of physical changes, especially with Emily as her body undergoes transformation.
A high pitched screech once again reverberated through Emily’s head. She threw her hands to her ears to block the noise, but it had the opposite effect. The inside of her head vibrated violently. She fell to a crouch, writhing and crying out in pain.

“Emily?”

But Emily couldn’t stop screaming. She felt a pair of arms lift her from the doorstep, then drop her on the sofa. She continued to jolt back and forth viciously. The intense vibrations and screeching within her head refused to relent. She knew it was pointless to scream, but she couldn’t stop the only release her body was giving her.

Thanks to Kim for having me! Don’t forget to stop by my Crazy Dream Blog for a chance to win a copy of Ordained signed with a personalized doodle-graph. Giveaway ends August 20th.

ORDAINED
BY DEVON ASHLEY
(The Immortal Archives #1)
Release Date ~ November 15, 2011

Normally, the school creates the hunters - not the monsters.

Abby Sorrensten likes to play rough. Ripping the horns off the foreheads of demons, manipulating lightning and setting things on fire with the flick of your wrist can give you a serious rush. So she probably wasn’t the best choice for the Order’s experimental training program. Thirteen years of isolation, lack of affection and a bruised and broken body from horrendous training sessions creates more than just an exceptional fighter. It creates an evil within - an evil responsible for several deaths the night she left.

Two hundred years later Abby resurfaces as the very thing the Order trained her to kill: a vampire. A mythical demon has set his sights on the school and only the ordained hunter has the powers to face it. Unbeknownst to the Order, Abby’s their precious ordained one and their only chance for survival. As much as she would love to leave them hanging, she’s not willing to risk the life of Emily, a fellow friend and hunter also fed up with the organization.

But for Abby, locking herself away in a fortress with angry descendants of those she killed causes suspicions and tensions to run high. Abby must learn the demon’s weaknesses for battle before the Order learns hers.

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops. Devon will be stopping by Ivy Reads on Friday, August 12th.

Interview with Jon Skovron, Author of Misfit

2011-08-08T22:12:00.002-04:00

MISFIT

BY JON SKOVRON

(August 1, 2011)

Jael Thompson has never really fit in. She’s changed schools too many times to count. The only family she’s ever known is her father, a bitter ex-priest who never lets her date and insists she attend the strictest Catholic school in Seattle. And her mother—well, she was a five thousand year old demon. That doesn’t exactly help.
But on her sixteenth birthday, her father gives her a present that brings about some unexpected changes. Some of the changes, like strange and wonderful powers and the cute skater boy with a knack for science, are awesome. But others, like the homicidal demon seeking revenge on her family? Not so much.
Steeped in mythology, this is an epic tale of a heroine who balances old world with new, science with magic, and the terrifying depths of the underworld with the ordinary halls of high school.

Jon Skovron has never really fit in, and has no plans to start now. After twelve years of Catholic school, he went on to study acting at a conservatory program for four years before returning to his first love,writing. His second novel, Misfit, will be published in August, 2011 by Amulet Books. Official Website

1.Jael Thompson is no ordinary Catholic school girl, just trying to fit in with the other students. With her unique capabilities, what do you think the hardest aspect of her newfound abilities would be, and conversely, is there any really great perk to being half-demon?

I would count near invulnerability and throwing fireballs as some of the perks. The biggest drawback is probably that everyone hates you.

2.What did you love most about bringing Jael’s character to life in Misfit?

I've never felt so comfortable, so sure of someone as I do Jael. I'll follow her wherever she leads. I trust her implicitly.

3.What were you like as a teen and what do you think your teenage self would say if he was to read Misfit?

I was part rocker, part bookworm, part tech geek, part theater dork: i.e., I didn't fit in anywhere. I would have totally related to Jael.

4. Was there a specific line of dialogue or special moment that is your particular favorite?

"The world is like a giant toolshed filled with babies who don’t know how to use the tools, and don’t even realize that the tools are anything other than something to stick in their mouths."

5. What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given as an author?

“Paint what you like and die happy” - Henry Miller.

Be sure to check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops! The next scheduled tour stop is for tomorrow (August 10th) at Urban Fantasy Investigations.

Blog Tour Stop: Win Nightshade & Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer!

2011-08-06T09:37:00.001-04:00

WOLFSBANE (NIGHTSHADE, BOOK 2)

BY ANDREA CREMER

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything- including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming while roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Minnesota, but she thinks of her homeland as the “Canadian Shield” rather than the Midwest.

Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. When she’s not writing, Andrea teaches history at a very nice liberal arts college in St. Paul.

In the little spare time she can find, Andrea stares up at trees, rescues infant rabbits from predatory cats, and invents names for pug puppies with her husband. She has an unfortunate tendency to spill things – white carpets beware!

Official Website & Blog

Top Ten Places to Read by Andrea Cremer

10. On a plane: I love traveling and reading while on my way to another place is frosting on the cake. I also love peeking at what other travelers are reading.

9. At the airport: Waiting to board is boring. Good books make the time go by like nothing else.

8. In coffee houses: I love the sounds and scents of coffee houses. Reading in coffee houses is great for relaxing while still feeling the buzz of life all around you. Plus – caffeine!

7. In parks: Outside? Reading? Unless there are mosquitoes this is a win win scenario.

6. In bookstores and libraries: Browsing the shelf after shelf of books – books I love like old friends and new books that I can’t wait to tread – is one of my favorite ways to spend time

5. When dining alone: I’m out and about by myself frequently. I actually don’t mind dining alone, but having a good book along makes it even better and keeps me from attempting napkin origami.

4. In art museums: I love spending hours wandering the halls of art museums. But my feet get tired, especially in big institutions like the Met. Reading provides the perfect the break in between gazing at paintings and sculptures.

3. At my parents’ house: I grew up in a family of readers and being in a room with my mom and dad, with each of us lost in a story, is one of my favorite things about going home.

2. In bed: The only problem with getting caught up in a wonderful book late at night is that you might get any sleep.

1. With my dogs: They love to snuggle and are better than blankets in the winter.

**GIVEAWAY**

And now thanks to Penguin, I have a set of Nightshade (paperback) and Wolfsbane (hardcover) to give away to one lucky winner! This contest is for entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only. Giveaway ends 8/15/2011. Fill out the form below to win.

FORM

The Book Butterfly is a proud member of the Pyralis group. Find out more information by clicking here and be sure to head over to Page Turners tomorrow (August 7th) for another fun tour stop.

Top Ten Reasons Your Neighbor Might Be a Siren by Lisa Papdemtriou!

2011-07-31T09:55:00.001-04:00

Welcome to today's tour stop on Lisa Papademetriou's blog tour for Siren's Storm! Lisa stopped by to share with us this adorable guest post. For more tour information, be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene.

Top Ten Reasons Your Neighbor Might Be A Siren

by Lisa Papademetriou

10. Beautiful singing voice causes neighbors to go insane

9. Uses a wheelchair (due to fin)

8. You swear you’ve seen her face on the bow of a ship

7. Keeps trying to order kelp salad at local diner

6. Grizzled old sailors give her the eye

5. Wears a bikini top made of seashells

4. Gee-Her-Hair-Smells-Like-Seaweed

3. Backyard pool features live fish, sharks

2. Combs hair with a fork, best friend is a seagull

1. Yard riddled with bones of dead sailors

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

July 12th 2011

Nothing has been the same for Will ever since what happened last summer. One day, on an ordinary sailing trip with his brother, there is a strange accident. When Will wakes up, he learns his brother has disappeared, presumed drowned. Worst of all, Will can't remember what happened—his family finds him unconscious, with no memory of the accident.

Now Will and his best friend and neighbor, Gretchen, are starting a new summer. Gretchen seems troubled—her sleepwalking habit is getting worse, and she keeps waking up closer and closer to the water. Will is drawn to Asia, the exotic new girl in town. Nobody knows where she's from—all Will knows is that her beauty and her mesmerizing voice have a powerful effect on people.

Then there is another mysterious drowning, and Will and Gretchen begin to wonder: Is Asia just another beautiful, wealthy summer resident? Or is she something entirely more sinister . . . and inhuman?

Lisa Papademetriou has worked in an editorial capacity at Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Disney Press. She has written or adapted over thirty books for young readers, including Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me; The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey; How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days, and the New York Times bestselling Disney Fairies novel, Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon.

Lisa lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog, playing guitar, dancing around the house to 80's music, and eating at the vegetarian cafe (even though she isn't vegetarian).
Official Website

Guest Post with Shawn Thomas Odyssey, Author of The Wizard of Dark Street!

2011-07-25T22:35:00.002-04:00

The Wizard of Dark Street is available to the public for the first time today, July 26^th, 2011! I can’t tell you how VERY, VERY, VERY…VERY EXCITED I am to finally be able to share the mysterious world of Dark Street and Oona Crate’s extraordinary story with the world. What better way to celebrate the book launch than to share some of the character’s favorite books? Have you read any of them? Have a look. There’s some really good ones here. Might be a little hard to find, to be sure.

The Wizard of Dark Street character’s favorite books:

Deacon: The Encyclopedia Arcanna. (A set of more than one hundred reference books regarding all things magical)

Oona: The Dark Street Who’s Who: 36BC to Present. (This book contains information on nearly every person who has ever lived on Dark Street past and present)

The Wizard: The Gentleman’s guide to Social Gathering and Party Planning. 1877 edition. (The name of this book pretty much speaks for itself)

Samuligan (the faerie servant): The Last Faerie Road: an incomplete history of Dark Street, by Arthur Blackstone.

Adler Iree: Any book on magical law. (The older and more ancient the book the better)

Isadora Iree: The Handbook for the Academy of Fine Young Ladies. (Everything a young lady needs to know about appropriateness, suitability, and social correctness in the year 1877. Not that Isadora always follows these rules, but they are good to know so that, when the opportunity presents itself, she can make others feel stupid when they show their ignorance.)

Lamont John-Michael Arlington Fitch III: Prefers to read The New York Times cover to cover.

Inspector White: He’s been meaning to read the official Dark Street Police Department’s Procedure Handbook for quite some time…but hasn’t quite gotten around to it yet.

Constable Trout: Cheep yellow-back romance novels and penny dreadfuls. (Trout can’t get enough of them. Reads them constantly…indeed, it has been noted that the man has a serious problem)

Shawn Thomas Odyssey is the author of THE WIZARD OF DARK STREET, a Middle Grade novel of detection and magic. Coming July 26, 2011, from Egmont USA.

The Wizard of Dark Street
by Shawn Thomas Odyssey
(July 26, 2011)

Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard's apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

Despite possessing the rare gift of Natural Magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case, she is determined to prove that logic can be just as powerful as wizardry. But when someone attacks her uncle--the Wizard of Dark Street--Oona is forced to delve even deeper into the world of magic.

Full of odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end.

The Wizard of Dark Street is available in bookstores nationwide and online in both hardback and eBook formats.

Please visit: http://www.thewizardofdarkstreet.com

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops!

2011-07-20T00:07:00.001-04:00

Welcome to today's stop on The Teen Book Scene's blog tour for Jennifer Jabaley. Jennifer is the author of Lipstick Apology and Crush Control, which recently released on June 9th. She stopped by to share this fun post on her favorite books at different ages. Take it away Jennifer!

Born in New York and raised in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Jennifer Jabaley is a graduate of James Madison University and Southern College of Optometry. She began writing in 2006 and tries to manage optometry, writing and motherhood. She lives in Blue Ridge, Georgia with her husband and two children.
Official Website.

What books would you have recommended at Ages 5, 11, 16 and 20?

At age five I loved HARRY AND THE DIRTY DOG by Gene Zion and the FROG AND TOAD books by Arnold Lobel.

At age 11 I adored Beverly Cleary books (particularly the Ramona books) and of course Judy Blume. ARE YOU THERE GOD, IT'S ME MARGARET was practically required reading in my circle of friends.

At age 16 I discovered Mary Higgins Clark. One summer I devoured just about every book she wrote. I loved that most of her books took place in New Jersey, my homestate, and often in locations very similar to where I grew up. I loved that she had strong, independent female protagonists that relied on their brains to solve mysteries and murders.

Crush Control by Jennifer Jabaley
June 9, 2011
Willow has spent most of her life as her mother's sidekick in a popular Las Vegas hypnotism show. So when she and her mom move back to their sleepy southern hometown to start over, she thinks she's in for a life of quiet normalcy. Except that her new life turns out to be anything but, when she kinda sorta hypnotizes Quinton, the hottest guy on the football team, to fall madly, deeply, head over heels in love with her. But what started out as an innocent way to make her best friend, Max, jealous soon gets way out of hand, and Willow begins to wonder if the mind - and more importantly, the heart - is something you can really control

Guest Post with Paula Bradley, Author of Chosen & Giveaway!

2011-07-18T20:34:00.000-04:00

When I was encouraged to become a writer, I thought, What am I going to write about? And then things just started exploding in my head. While I experimented, I read nearly thirty books on how to write. I realized something odd: I was doing nearly all the things the experts said to do, and not doing what they said not to. In my youth, I never gave writing a thought as a profession because it always came naturally to me and I never believed anything easy was worthy.

I'm glad I had to quit my corporate job, because I can now do something I've always loved to do: tell stories. I can remember trying to get out of punishments for some (minor) infractions when I was a child, so I would tell a whopping tale, making it up as I went along. I always wondered why my father’s lips; I never realized he was trying to keep from laughing. Then he would say, “Is that the truth?” I learned quickly that if I ’fessed up and admitted it was just a story, I usually got off pretty lightly. I realized then that if you're entertaining, people are liable to forgive a lot of misdemeanors.

I see the world as one great, big plot line. I naturally pay attention to my surroundings; to what's happening, and what people are doing (or not doing). People intrigue me as I try to imagine what they're thinking, what just happened before I saw them, and where they're going.

Of course, I have to throw in paranormal activity in these musings. Most lives are mundane, but they become downright exciting when you toss in a cosmic oddity or an antagonist with special powers.

If I am so lucky, I can envision writing the rest of my life and never run out of material. Articles in financial magazines have hidden treasures bubbling just below the surface; a cookbook can become a subplot to a fascinating mystery; a pharmacy holds frightening poisons that just needs a genius sociopath to bring about mayhem.

So if you're looking to write a story, listen to sounds of life around you, to cars flying by on the highway, to malls with endless stores, and people who exhale the very life of a great novel.

CHOSEN BY PAULA BRADLEY

July 5, 2011

Have you ever wished you had superhuman abilities - a six sense? An ability to fly? Superior strength? The shy and introverted Mariah Adele Carpenter sure doesn't! The talent of clairvoyance that plagued her since childhood has been carefully concealed by her mother to prevent marking her a paranormal freak.

In Paula Bradley's heart-pounding debut novel CHOSEN, Mariah's faith, perceptions, and sanity are put to the test. After a suicide attempt, her powers can no longer be concealed. Mariah thought the woes of her powers would be extinguished by taking her life, but somehow a mysterious being saves her and sets her on a journey.

The supernatural rescue enhances Mariah's extrasensory power so much that she becomes a person of interest to the FBI, another government agency, and the media. She can't escape the intensifying outer turmoil and she quickly finds herself tormented by nightmares and an obsession of trying to find the ambiguous character that haunts her dreams. This page-turning thriller is a trip for the reader as well as the gripping danger and unexplained happenings challenge their own beliefs on the nature of faith and the value of discovery.

Is Mariah's gift a blessing or a curse? You decide!

Want to win a finished copy?

It's easy. Just leave a comment for Paula along with your email address.

Official Rules: Must be 13 years or older to enter. Contest is open to entrants with a valid U.S. Mailing address only. Ends 8/1

Blog Tour Stop: Win an ARC of Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademtriou!

2011-07-13T23:10:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's tour stop on The Teen Book Scene blog tour for Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademtriou! Today I am giving away an ARC of the book. To enter to win, leave a comment below with your email address. Contest ends 7/30 at midnight eastern standard time. Good luck!

Siren's Storm by Lisa Papademetriou

July 12th 2011

Lisa Papademetriou has worked in an editorial capacity at Scholastic, HarperCollins, and Disney Press. She has written or adapted over thirty books for young readers, including Sixth-Grade Glommers, Norks, and Me; The Wizard, the Witch, and Two Girls from Jersey; How to Be a Girly Girl in Just Ten Days, and the New York Times bestselling Disney Fairies novel, Rani in the Mermaid Lagoon.

Lisa lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and dog, playing guitar, dancing around the house to 80's music, and eating at the vegetarian cafe (even though she isn't vegetarian).
Official Website

Guest Post with Jennifer Ziegler, Author of Sass & Serendipity!

2011-07-12T22:12:00.002-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Jennifer Ziegler. Jennifer stopped by to share with us her thoughts on writing her latest book Sass & Serendipity (which releases today!). See details below on how you can win a copy of the book.

What are your favorite scenes to write?

My favorite scenes always involve my most beloved characters. With Sass & Serendipity, I adored my two sisters, Daphne and Gabby, and I knew I’d enjoy spending time with them during the writing process. However, there was another character I really fell for while drafting the book: sweet, loyal Mule. I found myself really looking forward to his scenes. In fact, if I can say this without sounding a little warped, I probably developed a slight crush on him.

This always happens to me while crafting a novel. I find myself really drawn toward one of my side characters. I suppose it makes sense in a way. As an author, you don’t feel quite as responsible for them. The minor characters don’t frustrate you as much as your flawed protagonists or antagonists. They are there to help your main characters see the errors of their ways – either directly or indirectly. They offer insight, encouragement, and/or comic relief.

Here’s a scene where he ends up comforting Daphne, the younger sister, when she is reeling from a huge emotional setback.

“Hi,” Mule said. “Is Gabby here?”

Daphne shook her head. “She’s …” But she couldn’t remember where her sister was. Work? The store? The bank? Someplace important. What time was it, anyway?

Mule cocked his head and studied her. She could almost see him taking note of her blank expression, her gravity-defying hair, and her rumpled pajamas with the cartoon monkeys all over them. No doubt by now he’d caught a whiff of the sharp scent, like overly ripe fruit, that her body was giving off after three straight days of no bathing.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

His voice was so full of worry that her eyes automatically misted up and her throat got that just-choked feeling. She wanted to say, “Yes,” but that would be such an obvious lie. On the other hand, saying “No” would just invite more questions. And saying anything right now would squeeze the tears out of her. So she just stood there, feeling helpless and pitiful. And stinky.

“Hey, uh …” Mule shifted his weight and raked his fingers through his curls. “How about I hang around until Gabby gets back. Would that be okay?”

Daphne nodded. She left the door hanging open and flopped down on one end of the couch, propping her bare feet on the coffee table.

Mule walked inside and set down his backpack, keeping his eyes on Daphne the whole way. “Sure is nice out today,” he said, slipping off his jacket and draping it on the nearby chair. His movements and voice were extra steady, as if he were an expert negotiator and Daphne were some crazy person with explosives strapped to her chest.

Slowly and gently – as if trying not to spook her – he settled himself on the opposite end of the sofa. Out of the corner of her eye she could see him watching her as she focused on the muted television screen. They were now interviewing one of the drivers of the pile-up. The guy appeared dazed, but not too freaked to ramble to a reporter. The camera then panned to a dead deer lying on the shoulder of the road. Its mouth was open and bloody, and its glassy eyes seemed to be staring right into Daphne. Once again she could feel that downward tugging sensation inside her. It felt as if she were teetering on a ribbon-thin brink, in danger of plummeting into a dark, cold abyss.

Then Mule loudly cleared his throat.

“So I’ll just say it. I … heard about what happened,” he said, turning his torso enough to face her. “I’m really sorry…”

There isn’t a whole lot of spoken dialog in this scene, but what is said is revealing and what isn’t said is even more revealing. Daphne has just been through a difficult ordeal, and as the author, it was tough for me to put her in that situation. That’s why this later scene was so refreshing and uplifting to write. Sweet, devoted Mule happens to stop by and instead of avoiding Daphne, he reaches out to her – in his own adorably awkward way.

Where my job as storyteller was to turn the protagonists’ world upside-down, Mule was the character who most often stepped in to offer guidance and reassurance. I loved him for that. I suppose, in a way, he was the most serendipitous part of writing this book.

Sass & Serendipity

by Jennifer Ziegler (July 12, 2011)

Daphne Rivera and her sister Gabby could not be more different.

For fifteen-year-old Daphne, the glass is always half full, a dab of lip-gloss can ward off a bad day, and the boy of her dreams—the one she's read about in all of her beloved romance novels—is waiting for her just around the corner.

But Daphne’s older sister Gabby wishes Daphne would get real. In Gabby’s world, everyone’s out for themselves, wearing makeup is a waste of time, and boys only distract you from studying before they break your heart. The only boy Gabby trusts is her best friend, Mule, who has always been there for her.

Both Gabby and Daphne are still reeling from their parents’ divorce, though in very different ways. While Gabby will never forgive her unreliable father for failing her mother, Daphne idolizes her daddy and is sure that everything would work out fine if her cranky mom would just let him back into their lives.

When a crisis leaves the girls and their mom homeless, help comes from an unexpected source, and both girls are courted by surprise suitors who shake up their views of the world. Suddenly the glass isn’t so clearly half empty or half full . . . and love seems a lot more complicated than they ever could have imagined.

To learn more about Jennifer, visit her official website and blog.

A Sassy Giveaway! Three lucky winners will each receive one copy of Jennifer Ziegler's SASS & SERENDIPITY along with Jane Austen's classic, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY. To enter, send an e-mail to SassandSerendipity@gmail.com. In the body of the e-mail, include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address (if you're under 13, submit a parent's name and e-mail address). One entry per person; prizes will only be shipped to US or Canadian addresses. Entries must be received by midnight (PDT) on 8/5/11. Winners will be selected in a random drawing on 8/6/11 and notified via email.

Guest Post with Emily Wing Smith, Author of Back When You Were Easier to Love

2011-07-10T22:02:00.000-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Emily Wing Smith, author of Back When You Were Easier to Love. Emily stopped by to share her thoughts on items we would've found in her teenage garage sale. Take it away Emily!

Even as a child, Emily Wing Smith had overly thick eyebrows, a passion for writing, and a tendency toward attending odd schools. So it wasn’t much of a surprise when she graduated first with a BA in English from Brigham Young University, and later with an MFA in Writing for Children from Vermont College. It’s also no real shocker that she spends too much money on eyebrow waxing.
Emily lives with her husband in Salt Lake City, where she writes, bakes chocolate chip cookies, and occasionally substitutes at her old high school (which hasn’t gotten any less odd). Official Website

Teenage Garage Sale – Here’s what you’d find if I had a garage sale during my

teen years:

1.Alanis Morisette Ironic single on cassette

2.Plaid button-down shirt

3.Hawaiian shirt, floral head-wreath, gray sweatpants and black silk gloves—all leftovers from unfortunately-themed school dances

4.Plastic fishbowl (sad reminder of fish gone by)

5.Gigantic poster of the Eiffel Tower

6.Tie-dyed T-shirt I made at Hollins pre-college summer program

7.Size 8 sandals (I wear a 6 ½ but for some reason didn’t acknowledge it)

8. Tapestry vest

9. Baby-Sitters Club board game

10. Silver-studded denim wallet my Grandma gave me in third grade (okay, so there’s no way I would have actually sold this—but I was told I should many times. Okay, so I was told I should just throw it away. I ended up using it until I was 21).

Back When You Were Easier to Love by

Emily Wing Smith (April 28th 2011)

What's worse than getting dumped? Not even knowing if you've been dumped. Joy got no goodbye, and certainly no explanation when Zan - the love of her life and the only good thing about stifling, backward Haven, Utah - unceremoniously and unexpectedly left for college a year early. Joy needs closure almost as much as she needs Zan, so she heads for California, and Zan, riding shotgun beside Zan's former-best-friend Noah.

Original and insightful, quirky and crushing, Joy's story is told in surprising and artfully shifting flashbacks between her life then and now. Exquisite craft and wry, relatable humor signal the arrival of Emily Wing Smith as a breakout talent.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

2011-07-09T11:01:00.002-04:00

HAUNTING VIOLET BY ALYXANDRA HARVEY

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Walker Childrens; First Edition edition (June 21, 2011)

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Full of mystery, intrigue and that trademark humor she's known for with The Drake Chronicles, Alyxandra Harvey exceeded my expectations with Haunting Violet. This was more than just a ghost story. It was a well-thought out paranormal piece of fiction told with great attention to historical accuracy. I thought Harvey did an amazing job with the historical aspects of the book. I loved the Victorian backdrop and felt as if I had stepped straight into the 1870's with each turn of the page. It was obvious to me that Harvey did an incredible amount of homework in constructing the scenes with the fake séances as well as other details. When I think back about the book, one scene always stands out in my mind- Violet being forced by her mother to wear a pair of bellows strapped under her dress so that she could create a "supernatural" breeze under the table for her mother's customers! Hilarious! It really was fascinating to me just how much people who want to believe so badly can be easily led astray with just a little ingenuity and a few careful props.

Right from page one, I couldn't help but connect to Violet. This was a girl whose whole life revolved around her fraudulent mother's schemes to trick upper class society into thinking she was a powerful medium. Yet she maintained an incredible sense of compassion and determination. I couldn't help but become vested in her story. There was a good romance in Haunting Violet that complemented the ghost story while never overshadowing it. I adored Colin, the Irish orphan Violet had known and worked with since childhood alongside her mother. If I had one critique of the book it would be that I almost wish it had been more on the adult side- I think I would've enjoyed it even more if the romance had been taken up a notch and the murder mystery a little more intense. Also a couple of times I did notice that the dialogue became a little "modernized", but these things were minor and in no way hindered my overall enjoyment.

Alyxandra Harvey's writing seems to have grown with each of her books, and this was my favorite one. I think it has something for everyone- mystery, supernatural and a touch of romance.

Other Books by Alyxandra Harvey- The Drake Chronicles

Alyxandra Harvey lives in a stone Victorian house in Ontario, Canada with a few resident ghosts who are allowed to stay as long as they keep company manners. She loves medieval dresses, used to be able to recite all of The Lady of Shalott by Tennyson, and has been accused, more than once, of being born in the wrong century. She believes this to be mostly true except for the fact that she really likes running water, women’s rights, and ice cream.

Among her favourite books are ‘The Wood Wife’ by Terri Windling, ‘Jane Eyre’ by Charlotte Bronte, and of course, ‘Pride and Prejudice’ by Jane Austen. Elizabeth Bennet is her hero because she’s smart and sassy, and Mr. Darcy is, well, yum.

Aside from the ghosts, she also lives with husband and their dogs. She likes cinnamon lattes, tattoos and books. Official Website

Interview with Eileen Cook, Author of Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood and The Education of Hailey Kendrick!

2011-07-07T22:27:00.000-04:00

Welcome to today's Teen Book Scene tour stop with Eileen Cook.We're doing something a little different with this interview. Eileen has to answer my questions using lines from either Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood or The Education of Hailey Kendrick which released in January of this year!

1. If you could spend the day with Hailey Kendrick from The Education of Hailey Kendrick and Helen from Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, what would you do with them? Do you think they'd get along?

With Hailey, although I sing like a bad American Idol reject, …”I realized there was something worse than putting myself in a life-and-death situation. Karaoke.” (TEHK Page 179)

When hanging with Helen, “Once I dressed up a Barbie doll in a cheerleader outfit and tossed it into the giant wood chipper in the park. I grinned as a the flesh-colored plastic sprayed out in tiny half-moon crescents onto the ground.” (GRLW Page 23)

As to Hailey and Lauren getting along it would have to be out in the open and not a secret. “I’m not interested in being friends with you if you’re going to be all CIA I’d tell you, but then I’d have to kill you. I don’t even know if you want to be my friend.” (GRLW Page 206)

2. Name a favorite quote of Hailey's and Lauren's from your two books.

Hailey: “Did you know that more people are killed every year in falling vending machine accidents than in shark attacks? Our school had an entire wall of unsecured ending machines in the lobby of the gym. If someone were crushed to death trying to get a frosty can of Diet coke, it wouldn’t be my fault.” (TEHK Page 9)

Lauren: “Old movies are black-and-white; they’ve got good guys and bad guys. The thing was, I didn’t want to live in the past anymore. It was time for my life to go full color.” (GRLW Page 261)

3. If you were a book on a bookshelf, what books would you want your neighbors to be?

“Bon Appetit” (GRLW Page 80) because I love to cook and “The New Yorker” (TEHK Page 4) because they always have great articles and cartoons.

4. In Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood, Helen wants payback for all the pain Lauren put her through. What would you say is Helen's greatest fear?

“You make him sound like a cocker spaniel. That’s not love. That’s affection. He’s a habit. Deep down you want to break the habit, so you did the one thing you know he wouldn’t be able to stand. You kissed someone else, and now you’re free. You’re scared to be off track, but I think you’re sick of always living in the lines.” (TEHK Page 145)

5. Describe your books to us in 5 words or less.

Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood: Karma (page 25), best friends (Page 98) Revenge (Page 38) Fun (Page 126)

The Education of Hailey Kendrick: Independent (Page 255), Wondering (Page 149) declaration of love (Page 187)

6. What is something surprising that Hailey keeps hidden from others The Education of Hailey Kendrick?

“I wouldn’t have pegged you as a the vandal rebel-without-a-cause type.” (Page 97)

7. If Helen was a superhero, how would you describe her?

“Fa-la-la-la kind of crazy.” (GRLW Page 127)

8. What can we expect next from you?

“I’m not sure where life is going to take me….but at least now I feel like I’m going somewhere.” (TEHK Page 225)

Eileen Cook is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer. Her latest release, Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood was released in Jan 2010.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at http://www.eileencook.com/. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else.

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops!

Read my review of Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood

The Book Blogger's Cookbook and Chance to win a Kindle!

2011-07-06T23:17:00.000-04:00

Heard of The Book Blogger's Cookbook? It's described as "a community project from some of the blogosphere's best book bloggers in a simple, easy to read format. The cookbook combines a love of reading and dining to help you find books you'll devour and recipes you can't put down."

The Book Blogger’s Cookbook has 25 different book reviewers from every corner of the blogosphere. It bridges the gap between author and reader—putting you in touch with book reviewers who can separate the 5 star books from the mediocre.
The Book Blogger’s Cookbook showcases great reads and provides an interactive experience with links to author and book reviewer websites. The cookbook is created for those who like to experience what they read long after they’ve closed the book.The Book Blogger’s Cookbook tells why each recipe complements its companion book. Recipes and books combine to make the reading experience satisfying and entertaining.

Be sure and stop by the website to check it out. (I have a couple of quotes in there too!)

Check out Christy Dorrity's blog for more! And as a special bonus, Christy is offering anyone who comments on this post an entry into a drawing to win a Kindle and free books! It's easy!

Interview with SM Reine, Author of Six Moon Summer

2011-07-04T21:35:00.003-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome SM Reine, who stopped by to discuss her new werewolf series entitled Six Moon Summer. Book 1, Seasons of the Moon released in April and I had a few questions for SM. Let's get started!

SIX MOON SUMMER (BOOK ONE SEASONS OF THE MOON)

BY SM REINE APRIL 26 2011

Rylie's been bitten.

She's changing.

And now she has three months to find a cure before becoming a werewolf... forever.

Rylie Gresham hates everything about summer camp: the food, the fresh air, the dumb activities, and the other girls in her cabin. But the worst part is probably being bitten by a werewolf. Being a teenager is hard enough, but now she's craving raw flesh and struggles with uncontrollable anger. If she doesn't figure out a way to stop the transformation, then at the end of summer, her life is worse than over. She'll be a monster.

INTERVIEW

1. In Six Moon Summer, Rylie is an outsider – always picked last and always bullied. Then she's sent away to summer camp and Rylie's life changes in ways she never could've imagined. Can you tell us a bit more about the book and perhaps share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

On the surface, Six Moon Summer is about a young woman who is bitten by a werewolf and only has three months to find a cure before she loses herself forever. Underneath that, however, it’s about insecurity and growing up and finding out who you are-- and being comfortable with it! But that’s my inner English major talking. I can’t resist the urge to talk about the themes in books!

Bullying is a major problem in schools these days, and you really have to find your inner strength to deal with it. Rylie struggles to deal with these things in Six Moon Summer. I’ll let this scene speak for itself:

The cabin’s lights were already on. The sounds of laughter poured out the window. Disappointed she wasn’t the first back, Rylie pushed the door open.

Her four roommates were clustered around a cot by the door. “...but I hope he doesn’t ask me out,” read Patricia in a nasal voice. “I don’t want to reject him and hurt his feelings, but I don’t want to be his girlfriend, either.”

Rylie recognized those words. She had written them herself.

In her diary.

The contents of her backpack were spilled across a bed as her roommates pawed through them. Patricia held out her diary so everyone could see it. None of them had noticed Rylie yet. “I bet she made it all up,” said Kim. “Who would want to go out with her, huh? She wouldn’t even show up for the date!”

“What are you doing?”

The girl with the gold anklet looked up. Amber. She was holding a pair of Rylie’s shorts in one hand and Byron the Destructor, her favorite stuffed cat, in the other. “We noticed you hadn’t unpacked yet. We were just... helping,” she said before bursting into giggles. The other girls followed suit.

Rylie stared at them. Her embarrassment in the mess was nothing in comparison to the numbness spreading through her now.

“Nice teddy bear,” said Kim before dissolving into snickers.

“You guys-- you-- I can’t...” She didn’t know what to say. Her mouth worked, but no sounds came out. “It’s not a bear. It’s a cat.”

She ripped the backpack off the bed, and they scattered. They had gone through everything, even her underwear. Rylie snatched her diary from Patricia’s hands and stuffed it into her bag.

“Way to be grateful,” laughed Amber. “Didn’t you hear me? We were helping!”

Eyes stinging, Rylie backed up until she hit the door. Why were they laughing? What was so funny?

“Of course,” she whispered hoarsely. Helping.

Rylie flew out of the cabin and passed Louise, who was setting pokers and marshmallows on a table by the fire.

“Where are you going?” called Louise. “Rylie? Rylie!”

She ran without looking where she was going. She passed a line of people heading back from the dining hall, and she knew they could all see her crying. Everyone would know what Patricia and Amber did to her. The teasing would only get worse.

Rylie had to stop by the office on the shore of the glistening lake. Her chest felt constricted and she wheezed with every breath. She fumbled for her inhaler and tried to let all the air out of her lungs, but it took a few tries before she could calm down enough to breathe at all.

She sucked down the medication. Wheezed again. Took another puff. Slowly, her air passage relaxed.

“How could they do this to me?” Rylie rasped, fist clutched around her inhaler. “I hate them. I hate them.”

2. Six Moon Summer has a twist on the classic man-eating werewolf story in that this time around, the heroine is actually the wolf. What made you decide to write a story with this type of roll reversal?

You know, I never considered it as much of a role reversal at all. When I’m plotting out a story, one of my main thoughts is that I want to write characters to whom I can relate. I write what I like to read, and that’s usually strong but flawed women who take control of their lives. Although I love a good romance as much as anyone else, I don’t want to imagine myself as the woman waiting for some big beastly man to sweep me off my feet-- I want to be the beast!

3. What do you think sets Six Moon Summer apart from other werewolf books currently in the market right now?

In Six Moon Summer, werewolves are cursed beings. They are controlled by insatiable hunger. Even so, Rylie is still a good person at the core. How does she deal with her new, violent urges? There’s a depth and humanity to the book you often don’t see in classic horror, where the wolf man is purely monster, but the subject also isn’t sterile. Werewolves are scary, and you get to really experience the horror!

4. What is the significance of the title "Six Moon Summer"?

The werewolves in my mythology don’t immediately transform as soon as they’re bitten. There’s a transitioning phase elapsing three full months, wherein they change on every new and full moon-- so that’s six moons from the bite to the final change. Rylie experiences her transition during the summer, so... there you have it. :)

5. What three words best describe Rylie's personality?

Awkward, abrasive, and adventurous.

6. In what ways (if any) do you relate to Rylie?

Rylie’s kind of a punk kid who doesn’t know how to handle the adult problems happening in her teenage life. I was much the same, although I got along much better in high school than she does! I had a great support system, but Rylie is alone. We don’t have too much in common.

7. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

Ooh, anywhere? How about everywhere? Haha! I want to go somewhere no other human has set foot in centuries, like a river deep in a jungle canyon. I would love to be somewhere as beautiful as the places I imagine in my head! Of course, I’m not super athletic, so I’m probably not cut out for hiking to remote places. I’ll just go to the Middle East.

8. What are some young adult novels you think every teen and adult should read?

Obviously the Harry Potter books. Anybody who hasn’t read Harry Potter is living a dull, sad life. I forced them on my husband as soon as we married! Brandon Mull’s Fablehaven is also amazing (and terrifying), and I think Christopher Pike’s Last Vampire books are a total must-read... although maybe not the new ones.

9. What was the most unexpected thing you've learned so far on your publishing journey?

Nothing happens without work. Every little bit of this has been the result of hours of sweating and stressing and hair-pulling, from the cover to the editing to the promotion. It would be wonderful if there was a magical publishing fairy that came along and made it all happen, but no matter which route you pursue in publishing, you’re going to spend so much time bleeding your life into the book. It sounds gruesome, but it kind of is!

10. Can you discuss with us what we can look forward to next in this series? Any other upcoming projects in the works?

I don’t want to share too much and spoil it, but we can look forward to Rylie learning even more about herself and coming to terms with the events of the first book. There’s going to be four books in the series, so Rylie still has a long, painful journey ahead of her before she finds some kind of catharsis. We also get to learn a lot more about the mysterious Seth and his family.

SM Reine is an author of dark fantasy for teen and adult audiences. Her most widely known work is "Six Moon Summer," which has been hailed as "fresh and fast-paced" and "captivating." She lives in Nevada with her husband, the Helpful Baby, and too many black animals to count.

Interview with Deborah Cooke, Author of Flying Blind!

2011-06-30T22:21:00.002-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Deborah Cooke, author of Flying Blind: The Dragon Diaries, the first book in a new series about shape-shifting humans trying to control their "inner dragons". Deborah stopped by to discuss the book with us, which recently released on June 7th. Be sure and check out my contest to win an ARC of Flying Blind as well.

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

INTERVIEW

1. Zoe Sorensson is a girl trying to “fly blind” in a world where other find it effortless to conjure and control their dragons. As the only female dragon shape shifter with special powers, what would you say is the hardest thing about being Zoe?

Having no references and no one to ask for advice. I think it really bugs her that she can't just look up Wyvern and get an itemized list of what she should be able to do, maybe some tips on how to accomplish it.

2.If you had to name a theme song to sum up Zoe’s personality, what song would you pick and why?

I was listening to a lot of old music when I wrote this book. The one song that ran in my head for Zoë was Queen's first hit, KEEP YOURSELF ALIVE. It's a song that to me seems to be about being careful what you wish for.

3. With your history degree and special focus on medieval studies, can you share with us some interesting research tidbits about dragon folklore you’ve encountered along the way?

Probably the most interesting thing is that medieval people believed that dragons were real. They lived off the edges of the maps ("here be dragones") or in Africa, where all sorts of strange creatures were known to live. Any hero worth his salt had to have killed one in a fierce battle, and a lot of medical remedies were made of dragon components - dragon's blood, or dragon skin. Saints also confronted dragons and were eaten alive by them - or defeated them with the sign of the cross.

The other interesting thing about dragon lore is that most cultures in the world tell stories about dragons. Maybe they are real!

4. You are the author of the adult series Dragonfire and have written over thirty romance novels under the pseudonyms Claire Cross and Claire Delacroix. What made you want to venture into the Young Adult genre? Would you say it’s been more challenging than writing for adults?

I followed Zoë's story into the YA genre. In the adult Dragonfire series, there is only one female dragon shifter at a time, called the Wyvern. The current Wyvern died in book #$3 of that series, which was KISS OF FATE. And so the child conceived in that book turned out to be a girl, not a boy, and was named Zoë. The idea was that she would ultimately become the new Wyvern. It took me a while to realize that Zoë's powers would manifest at puberty - the guy dragons come into their powers at puberty - which meant that her teenage years would be particularly challenging. I thought her coming of age story would be fun to write, but it was only when I realized that she'd be turning 16, in high school, keeping her dragon identity secret from her friends, etc. etc., that I saw it as a YA trilogy. So, it wasn't so much that I wanted to write YA, as that I wanted to tell Zoë's story and her story was a YA.

I like writing different kinds of stories, so I wouldn't say this series was more challenging. The structure of the story is different, as it is the story of Zoë's journey - while the Dragonfire books are romances. She became more clear to me when I wrote in first person, so that's a difference from my romances, too. Writing YA was actually more similar to writing women's fiction for me, specifically the four Coxwell books I wrote as Claire Cross. The first two of those were in first person, as well, which is one of my favourite writing tools.

5.Winging It, the second book in the series is currently scheduled to release in December 2011. Can you give us any insider scoop on what we can look forward to next for Zoe, rocker Jared and best friend Meagan?

Trouble! One of my favourite things to do to characters is challenge their expectations. Zoë's will be challenged in a big way in this next book - and again in the third one. Essentially, as she becomes more adept with her abilities, she needs bigger challenges in order to grow even more. I really like the dynamic between her and her father in WINGING IT. It was only a matter of time before two dragons in one house became too hot to handle.

Flying Blind (The Dragon Diaries Book 1)
by Deborah Cooke (June 7, 2011)

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

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

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

Check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops on the Flying Blind Tour.

Freedom Giveaway Hop: Win an ARC of Hourglass by Myra McEntire!

2011-06-30T21:01:00.001-04:00

Welcome to Tour Stop #125 in the

Freedom Giveaway Hop
(July 1st - July 7th)
hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

What's a blog hop you ask? Well each blog participating in the hop hosts a contest. Then we link up together allowing our followers to hop easily from one giveaway to another. For followers this means lots of chances to win free books and other goodies. For blogs hosting a giveaway it means lots of new visitors and followers. It's a win-win! Be sure and check out other tour stops for more chances to win.

And now …
… curious about what you can win?

I have one ARC of

Hourglass by Myra McEntire!

HOURGLASS BY MYRA MCENTIRE
Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: EgmontUSA (June 14, 2011)

One hour to rewrite the past . . .

For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn't there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents' death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She's tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson's willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he's around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

How to enter? It's simple. Just leave me a comment along with your email address. That's it!

You MUST be a follower to enter.

Official Rules:

Must be 13 years or older to enter and have a valid U.S. mailing address

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

2011-06-29T22:49:00.002-04:00

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL BY SUZANNE YOUNG

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 272 pages
Publisher: Balzer + Bray (June 21, 2011)

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.
Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

Book Opening:

"I sit on the front steps of St. Vincent's Cathedral and pick at the moss nestled in the cracks of the concrete. I'm waiting for Sarah- as usual."

Notable Scene:

"The force of it hits me. A shiver that runs from my toes to the top of my aching head. An intense burning in my shoulder. A vine that twists around my gut.

The Need. It's back."- Page 77 ARC version

A Need So Beautiful stormed into my life with both guns blazing and immediately captured my heart. Normally when I sit down to read, so many things can easily distract me- cell phone, email- you name it. Not this time. I read this book entirely in one sitting. When was the last time you read a book in one sitting from start to finish? Let me tell you, that is not a normal occurrence for me. But right from page one, A Need So Beautiful captured my interest and I relished every minute of it!

I loved how Suzanne Young took the angelic element, and reworked it into something entirely her own. I have never read a book where the main protagonist has an overwhelming “Need” to help people and then was faced with the fact that everyone would soon forget her as she slowly and painfully disappeared from their memories. This was so fresh and exciting to me. Also, I can't express enough how much I appreciated that Young did not resort to the standard “we lock eyes and now we’re instantly in love” routine so prevalent throughout the YA genre today. Charlotte was already in a committed relationship with the dreamy Harlin as the book began—I loved this departure from the norm. Why can't we see more of this in YA? As for Harlin himself, he was definitely my kind of guy. A dangerous looking bad boy on the outside but with a heart of gold on the inside. But the best part? He didn’t just serve in the book to be the token boyfriend—he was an important plot driver and his relationship with Charlotte only deepened my affection for both of their characters. I also thought Suzanne Young transitioned beautifully between moments of pain and pleasure. I never felt bogged down by the emotional burden of Charlotte’s situation and I always felt connected with all the people in Charlotte's life. From troubled best friend Sarah, to Mercy, Charlotte's good-hearted foster mother, each character was unique and memorable. All were important to the story and Charlotte’s bonds with the people in her life only strengthened my connection to her and the choices she was being forced to make.

A Need So Beautiful was a book with a beautiful premise and thought-provoking questions. If you are expecting your run-of-the-mill paranormal romance, do not be mistaken. This is not your typical YA book. Charlotte was no socially awkward, passive teenage girl waiting for a super hot supernatural boy to burst into her life and give it meaning. Her character was built instead with an inner strength that evolved as she was pushed further and further to her limits. To sum up, A Need So Beautiful was a contemporary, unique novel, both engaging and entertaining with its strong, sympathetic female protagonist and lingering questions of self-sacrifice, love and the power of memories. I absolutely can’t wait for the sequel.

More books by Suzanne Young:

Suzanne Young currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she uses the rainy weather as an excuse to stay inside and write obsessively. After earning her degree in creative writing, Suzanne spent several years teaching middle school language arts. Now she can be found at home chasing after her two children and writing novels for teens. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com.

Giveaway: Win an ARC of Flying Blind by Deborah Cooke

2011-06-29T06:38:00.002-04:00

Flying Blind (The Dragon Diaries Book 1)
by Deborah Cooke (June 7, 2011)

Welcome to today's tour stop for Deborah Cooke's Flying Blind. I am giving away an ARC copy.

How to win:

Simply leave a comment with your email address.

Official Rules:

Open to entrants age 13 years or older.

Open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address only.

Contest ends July 10, 2011 at midnight eastern time.

Check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops along the way. The next tour stop is Thursday June 30th at I am a Reader, Not a Rider.

Character Interview from Breath of Angel by Karyn Henley

2011-06-28T06:29:00.000-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Karyn Henley, author of Breath of Angel. Karyn stopped by to share with us a character interview with Iona, one of the novice priestesses from the world within her novel. Read my review here. Let's get started!

1. In Breath of Angel, the world’s fate rests on the shoulders of a young priestess Melaia as she finds herself caught in an epic battle between earthbound angels and immortal humans. Iona, you are a fourteen-year old novice priestess. What do you think the advantages/disadvantages of living in an immortal body would be like some of the characters from the book?

    I think an immortal body sounds wonderful when you first look at it. Think of all the good you could do. I’m a priestess with skills of healing. I could help so many people. But then I think about the people I can’t help. How many times could I watch people die? If my friends and family were not immortal, I would eventually lose them. I might even be tempted to stop allowing myself to get emotionally involved with anyone, because of the certainty of grieving their loss someday. So I don’t know. I have mixed feelings about it.

2. There were a lot of intense events that occurred in Breath of Angel. Was there one scene in particular that was the most emotional for you?

    Yes, but it’s hard to even think about without tears. You see, Melaia, Nuri, and Peron are priestesses I’ve grown up with, and we’re like sisters. What happened . . . well, you’ll have to read about it, but I could hardly bear it. I would have taken Peron’s place in the blink of an eye, but it wasn’t possible. I don’t know if things will ever be the same.

3. Iona, can you talk to us about what you feared the most during the events of Breath of Angel and how that fear motivated your choices?

    I was most afraid of what would happen when we were taken by the hawkman to be concubines. Being the oldest (after Melaia), I felt I could bear it even though I would hate it. But my heart broke for Nuri and Peron. I would do anything to spare them. So I tried to be strong, to be the comforting voice and keep everyone’s courage up. But inside, I felt like shriveling up and blowing away.

4. What is the most surprising thing you learned about angels during the course of your interactions with them?

    The most surprising thing was that not all angels have wings. I guess I thought they all flew. In a way, they do, because they are forms of light and speed through the air. But since the Tree has been destroyed, they’re trapped in their human forms and look like normal people. I also thought angels would command and direct our decisions, but it turns out they don’t interfere in human will. They quietly counsel and suggest, but it is usually we who make the decisions.

5. Melaia often had mixed feelings about important choices to be made in Breath of Angel. Why do you think she had a hard time struggling with her feelings—such as whom she could trust, issues with forgiveness and most importantly, the awareness of her destiny?

    We were trained as priestesses to do what’s right, but what’s right seemed so easy to discern when we were in Navia at the temple simply doing the duties assigned to us. Melaia had always been told that she would be the high priestess of Navia, so to us, her future was assured, her life lined out for her. When that changed, our secure world turned head over heels. None of us had experience with people who were intentionally deceitful toward us. Yes, we knew there were people like that, but we were sheltered by the temple and our reputation. I guess we hid from the world behind our priestess’s robes.

6. Melaia was raised in the temple by the high priestess. How do you think your time as a priestess shaped who you and Melaia became?

    First of all, we were taught to work. So we’re not afraid of hard work. We were taught to care for people and to live a life of integrity. People depend on us, so duty is very important to us. I don’t think we’ll ever stop caring about people. We’ll leap in to help wherever help is needed. But I think we’ve come to see that the world is a lot bigger and wider and more complicated than we thought it was. Decisions between what’s good and what’s bad are easy to make. But what about deciding between two goods? Worse, how do you decide when either way you decide, the outcome seems bad? That’s when it really gets hard.

7. In Breath of Angel, there is a legend that differs from what is actually true. Without giving too much away, can you discuss this with us, particularly why legends tend to be different from actual historical events and how they can shape people’s beliefs and actions?

    I’ve come to see legends as stories based on something true that happened long ago. In our world, most legends have been handed down for generations by storytellers around the hearthfire or campfire. Of course, storytellers add some details and forget others. Eventually the story is exaggerated and embellished so that in one kingdom it’s told one way and in another kingdom it’s told another way. Some stories get scribed on a scroll, and then the telling doesn’t change as much. Still, I’ve learned not to rely on the details of a legend, but to look for the truths that lie under the story, for it’s those common truths that are most valuable.

8. What do you hope readers will take away from Breath of Angel above all else?

    I hope readers will see that there’s hope even when you feel like everything has gone against you. Keep trying. Keep hoping. Keep moving forward. You can push through the hard places and get to the beauty and peace that’s on the other side. The beauty and peace are there even when you can’t see them.

BREATH OF ANGEL BY KARYN HENLEY
Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: WaterBrook Press (June 21, 2011)
Download sample chapter HERE.

The stranger’s cloak had fallen back, and with it, a long, white, blood-stained wing.

When Melaia, a young priestess, witnesses the gruesome murder of a stranger in the temple courtyard, age-old legends recited in song suddenly come to life. She discovers wings on the stranger, and the murderer takes the shape of both a hawk and a man.

Angels. Shape-shifters. Myths and stories—until now.

Melaia finds herself in the middle of a blood feud between two immortal brothers who destroyed the stairway to heaven, stranding angels in the earthly realm. When the feud turns violent and Melaia becomes a target, she finds refuge with a band of angels attempting to restore the stairway. But the restoration is impossible without the repayment of an ancient debt—the “breath of angel, blood of man,” a payment that involves Melaia’s heart, soul, and destiny.

Award-winning author Karyn Henley has written over 100 titles, which include a mix of children's books and articles, parent-teacher books, articles, and curricula, and preschool musicals and CD's/DVD's of original music for children. An accomplished songwriter, Karyn has been a Dove Award nominee, and received a regional Emmy Award as Music Composer for a Christmas television special. She has traveled worldwide speaking to parents and teachers and entertaining children and their families in storytelling/active movement sessions and concerts. Most of her work has been in the area of spiritual development. She is best known as the author of the original version of The Beginner's Bible, which during the fifteen years it was in print (1989-2004), sold over 5 million copies and was translated into 17 languages.

A graduate of Abilene Christian University (BSEd), Karyn received a Master's of Fine Arts degree from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2004. She lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
Official Website

Check out the Teen Book Scene for more tour stops along the way.
You can also read my review of Breath of Angel.

Guest Post with Lisa Schroeder, Author of The Day Before!

2011-06-26T22:22:00.005-04:00

Today I'm thrilled to welcome one of my favorite authors, Lisa Schroeder. She has stopped by today to share with us a fun post on her favorite movies. Her latest book, The Day Before releases June 28th. For more on Lisas books, check out my reviews of Chasing Brooklyn and Far From You.

The Day Before

by Lisa Schroeder (June 28th, 2011)

Amber’s life is spinning out of control. All she wants is to turn up the volume on her iPod until all of the demands of family and friends fade away. So she sneaks off to the beach to spend a day by herself.

Then Amber meets Cade. Their attraction is instant, and Amber can tell he’s also looking for an escape. Together they decide to share a perfect day: no pasts, no fears, no regrets.

The more time that Amber spends with Cade, the more she’s drawn to him. And the more she’s troubled by his darkness. Because Cade’s not just living in the now—he’s living each moment like it’s his last.

Today, I’m going to try and do the impossible.

I’m going to try and name my top ten favorite movies of all time. In The Day Before, Amber and Cade play a little game where an object or conversation will remind one of them of something that happened in a movie, so he/she will ask: Did you see that movie? And then the other person tries to guess which movie.

I counted, and there are eight movies mentioned in the book. I’m not going to tell you what they are though – you’ll have to read it, and see how many of those movies you’ve seen. Two of them made my “Top Ten Movie List” of all time. Hmmmm… which ones do you think they are?

So here we go. My top ten favorite movies of all time.

#10: Footloose – Kevin Bacon is the cute boy in the classic VW beetle, moving to a town where music is outlawed. Really? Outlawed? He can hardly stand it. One day, he can’t stand it anymore, and has to go to an abandoned warehouse where he can crank the music and get his groove on. Okay, that scene was a little weird. But I have to put the movie on here because it’s one of the few movies I really remember from my teen years. I loved it so much back then. I loved the soundtrack too, more than I can even tell you.

#9: Almost Famous – Mostly because of this scene, about how music can bring people together, and change the mood in a heartbeat. Love this so much:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qn3tel9FWU

#8: The King’s Speech – a fairly new movie, so it probably seems odd to add it to my list of all time favorites, but goodness gracious, I LOVED THIS MOVIE. Maybe it’s because I love a good historical story. Maybe it’s because I love a good friendship story. Maybe it’s because Colin Firth makes my heart pitter patter. I don’t know, but this movie is one I can’t wait to watch again.

#7: Toy Story 3 – My two sons grew up with Woody and Buzz. The original Toy Story came out when my oldest son was too young to see it in the theater, but we rented it some time later, and we were so excited to the second one when it came to the theaters. And of course, years later, my boys were all grown up when we saw the third one. And I’m pretty sure no other movie has made me cry the way Toy Story 3 made me cry. I love it when movies for kids have lots of heart (as they should), and this one definitely did.

#6: Say Anything – Oh Lloyd Dobler, how I LOVE YOU!!! This movie, it’s all about Lloyd for me. So many great scenes where John Cusack just KILLED it. Cameron Crowe was one of the greatest directors of my generation. Did he understand teens or what?

#5: A League of Their Own – Girl power! Another movie that has one of my most favorite scenes EVER! I can’t tell you how many times I tell myself – the hard is what makes it great. Thanks, Coach.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ndL7y0MIRE4&feature=related

#4: Titanic – Would anyone else admit that this movie is on their top ten list? I don’t know – probably not. Well, I can’t help it. I love this movie! I love Leo in it, and I love the love story – the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and the rich girl. And all of the work that went into making this film – it just, it really did make a splash, didn’t it? (pun intended)

#3: Cold Mountain – So many great characters in this movie. Even now, having not watched it for a couple of years, I can hear their voices in my head. The story of war – of people being ripped apart because of it as well as people pulling together because of it – is one that just sucks you in. Oh how desperately you want Inman to make it home. To be reunited with the woman he’s grown to love. I sort of hated the ending. But I loved Jude Law in it. And Renee Zellweger. And Nicole Kidman. Everyone did an amazing job, really. I never read the book. Maybe I should.

#2: Life is Beautiful – I laughed. I cried. Life can be cruel, and yet, love is there, and yes, that is what makes it beautiful.

#1: The Sound of Music – Oh Julie Andrews, you had me at “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”

Lisa Schroeder is a native Oregonian which means her childhood summers were spent camping, fishing, reading books (of course!) and playing in the sun, when it finally came out. These days, Lisa spends her summers, and every other part of the year, sharing all of the wonderful things Oregon has to offer with her husband and two sons. She is the author of numerous books for kids and teens, including CHASING BROOKLYN (Simon Pulse, 2010) and IT'S RAINING CUPCAKES (Aladdin, 2010).

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops

Top Ten List with Lisa Desrochers & Signed Galley Giveaway for Original Sin!

2011-06-23T22:05:00.002-04:00

Today I'd like to welcome Lisa Desrochers, author of Personal Demons and its sequel, Original Sin, which releases on July 5th. Lisa stopped by with a really funny top ten list to share with us and she brought along a signed galley of Original Sin for one lucky winner to enjoy. Details below.

Top Ten Ways to Find Out if Hell is gunning for your soul:

10) You suddenly crave chili peppers

9) You shiver in a sauna.

8) You get excited when someone tells you to go to Hell.

7) You let all your eggs rot because you like the smell.

6) You’re disappointed when you discover the highway to Hell is only metaphorical.

5) Your head spins a full circle.

4) You start speaking in tongues.

3) You giggle when you watch the movie Seven.

2) You consider the seven deadly sins a checklist.

1) You sprout horns.

Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
If you had to choose between Heaven and Hell, which would it be?

Are you sure about that...?

Frannie Cavanaugh is a good Catholic girl with a wicked streak. She's spent years keeping everyone at a distance--even her closest friends--and it seems her senior year will be more of the same...until Luc Cain enrolls in her class. No one knows where he came from, but Frannie can't seem to stay away from him. What she doesn't know is that Luc works in Acquisitions--for Hell--and she possesses a unique skill set that has the king of Hell tingling with anticipation. All Luc has to do is get her to sin, and he's as tempting as they come. Frannie doesn't stand a chance.

Unfortunately for Luc, Heaven has other plans, and the angel, Gabe, is going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Luc doesn't get what he came for. And it isn't long before they find themselves fighting for more than just her soul.

But if Luc fails, there will be Hell to pay...for all of them.

Original Sin (A Personal Demons Novel)

by Lisa Desrochers

Luc Cain was born and raised in Hell, but he isn’t feeling as demonic as usual lately—thanks to Frannie Cavanaugh and the unique power she never realized she had. But you can’t desert Hell without consequences, and suddenly Frannie and Luc find themselves targeted by the same demons who used to be Luc’s allies.

Left with few options, Frannie and Luc accept the protection of Heaven and one of its most powerful angels, Gabe. Unfortunately, Luc isn’t the only one affected by Frannie, and it isn’t long before Gabe realizes that being around her is too…tempting. Rather than risk losing his wings, he leaves Frannie and Luc under the protection of her recently-acquired guardian angel.

Which would be fine, but Gabe is barely out the door before an assortment of demons appears—and they’re not leaving without dragging Luc back to Hell with them. Hell won’t give up and Heaven won’t give in. Frannie’s guardian exercises all the power he has to keep them away, but the demons are willing to hurt anyone close to Frannie in order to get what they want. It will take everything she has and then some to stay out of Hell’s grasp.

And not everyone will get out of it alive.

LISA DESROCHERS lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. She can always be found with a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places and then take her by surprise. Growing up all over the country inspired wanderlust, and Desrochers loves to travel, which works out well since she lectures internationally on a variety of health care topics. Lisa Desrochers has a doctorate in physical therapy and maintains a full-time practice. Official Website & Blog

Want to win a signed galley of Original Sin?

Just leave a comment below along with your email address. Must be 13 years of age or older and have a valid U.S./Canadian mailing address. Contest ends July 1st.

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops!

Interview with Jill Alexander, Author of Paradise

2011-06-22T22:11:00.002-04:00

Today I'm thrilled to welcome Jill Alexander author of Paradise, a book I thoroughly enjoyed reading. Read my review here. Jill stopped by to discuss Paradise with us and she brought along a signed copy of her first novel, The Sweetheart of Prosper County for one lucky winner. Details below.

PARADISE BY JILL ALEXANDER

Paisley Tillery is the drummer for a country rock band. If they can make it to the stage at the Texapalooza music fest, then Paisley will be closer to her dream of a career in music and a ticket out of her small Texas town.

Drumming and music are what Paisley has always wanted. Until the band gets a new lead singer, the boy from Paradise, Texas.

With Paradise in her life, what Paisley wants, and what she needs, complicate her dreams coming true.

1. Paradise is the story of a small-town country rock band. It conjures up images of pasture parties, hot summer nights and sweet Southern romance. When Paisley, the band’s drummer develops a romance with the group’s new lead singer, it leads her to question if what she wants is really what she needs. If you had to choose one song to sum up Paisley’s personality, what would you pick and why?

    It’s so hard to pick one song to sum up Paisley because she is many things – passionate yet cautious, fearless but sensitive. I have to go with the song that first came to mind and that is Cowboy Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks. The song is about a girl loving her rural country home and the cowboy beside her. In PARADISE, Paisley struggles at times with the tension between those two loves.

2. Paisley dreams of a career in country music and a ticket out of small-town life into the bright lights and big city world of country super stardom. You’ve mentioned how you grew up in rural East Texas so I have to ask, what were you like as a teen? Did you share Paisley’s desire to leave small town life behind in the dust?

    To me, Paisley’s desire is not to leave anything or anyone behind. There’s a difference between “venturing out” and “leaving behind.” I think she’s reaching toward a future and experience with one hand while holding onto home with the other. Like Paisley, I’m a rural-route country girl. Wherever this life takes me, I’ll always be that girl and proud of those roots. In the novel, Paisley finds that it’s her connection to home that keeps her strong. We have that in common.

3. What was the most challenging aspect of writing Paradise and conversely, what seemed to be the easiest?

    I loved writing this story, and I hope readers will feel the passion in the music and relate to the intense love Paisley has for her family and band mates and home. I don’t think writing is ever easy, but the storytelling can be smooth. And for me, PARADISE poured like honey.

4. Your debut novel, The Sweetheart of Prosper County, is about Austin Gray, a fifteen-year old girl who will do anything to become the coveted FFA Sweetheart, including raising a farm animal, hunting or fishing. What is it you enjoy most about writing for teens?

    When I sit down with the laptop, I don’t think I’m writing a book for teens. I’m writing a story for me. Deep down, the teen girl in me needs to both heal and be celebrated. I’m so humbled by the mail I receive that teens relate to my stories. We can heal and celebrate together. *Hugs*

5. What can we look forward to from you next? Any upcoming series or new projects in the works?

    I’m always writing and am currently finishing a third novel. And yes, there will be small-town teens keeping it real.

Thanks Jill for taking the time to talk with us. Now, up for grabs, I have one signed paperback copy of The Sweetheart of Prosper County.

To enter to win, just leave a comment for Jill below, along with your email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. Contest is open to entrants with a valid U.S. mailing address and must be 13 years or older to enter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill S. Alexander is the author of The Sweetheart of Prosper County. A Texas native, she taught high school English and Spanish before turning to writing full-time. She lives in Tyler, Texas, with her husband and son. You can visit her on the Web at www.jillsalexander.com.

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more of Jill Alexander's tour stops. Her next stop will be on Friday, June 24th where with Danielle at There's a Book.

Book Review: Paradise by Jill Alexander

2011-06-21T22:55:00.001-04:00

PARADISE BY JILL ALEXANDER

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (July 5, 2011)
Read an excerpt

Paradise is the story of a small-town country rock band. It conjures up images of pasture parties, country-fried cooking, sweet summer nights and Southern romance. For Paisley, the band's drummer, Texaspalooza could be just what she's been waiting for- a one way ticket to country super stardom. But when she develops a romance with the group's fiery lead singer, Paisley must decide if what she wants is really what she needs.

Okay, I must admit, I was a little worried about taking on a book like this. I don't gravitate toward "realistic fiction" very much. If it doesn't have supernatural creatures, it's usually not on my radar. But I wanted to branch out and try something new. It took me a chapter or two to get hooked on Paradise, but then before I knew it, I was completely caught up in Paisley's life- her highs were my highs and her lows were my lows. I loved Paisley. Being a city girl myself, Jill Alexander's Paradise opened up a completely different world for me. The way the characters spoke, their manner of dress and even the things they did for entertainment- it all had a laid-back kind of charm that immediately captured my interest. There are creative song lyrics interspersed between the chapters which also helped to capture the mood of certain events transpiring in the book at that particular moment. I thought this was a nice touch as well.

I enjoy music like most everyone but I don't live and breathe it. The characters in Paradise did though and once I got to know them, I felt their passion. Moved by the music, I wanted to pick up Paisley's drumsticks and play along with the band, caught up in the magic of a perfect set. I even found myself googling Vallento accordion style music. (Who knew accordion playing could be cool, or better yet--sexy?!). But the characterization in Paradise is what really stood out to me, It was thoughtful and full of emotion. Paisley's long-suffering sister Lacey, her well-meaning but overbearing mother and amiable father all captured my heart. I felt like I knew them intimately. I understood why her mother was the way she was and why her sister was afraid to do anything about it. The way the family evolved and eventually became stronger was meaningful for me as well. I loved Paisley's character most of all, but I know I fell a little bit in love with Gabe too.

Be prepared to walk away from Paradise wiping away a few tears. The ending is incredibly shocking and unexpected. I can't say I'm thrilled with how Jill Alexander ended the book, but it definitely left an emotional punch that I thought about for days. And shouldn't a good book do just that?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill S. Alexander is the author of The Sweetheart of Prosper County. A Texas native, she taught high school English and Spanish before turning to writing full-time. She lives in Tyler, Texas, with her husband and son. You can visit her on the Web at www.jillsalexander.com.

Interview with Suzanne Young, Author of A Need so Beautiful

2011-06-20T22:17:00.003-04:00

Welcome to today's stop for Suzanne Young's blog tour for A Need So Beautiful! Suzanne stopped by today to answer a few questions about her book (which I thoroughly enjoyed- review to come soon!) Let's get started-

Suzanne Young currently lives in Portland, Oregon where she uses the rainy weather as an excuse to stay inside and write obsessively. After earning her degree in creative writing, Suzanne spent several years teaching middle school language arts. Now she can be found at home chasing after her two children and writing novels for teens. Learn more about Suzanne at www.suzanne-young.blogspot.com.

A Need So Beautiful is a book unique in premise with a fresh take on angelic principles of light and dark. What inspired you to stray away from the traditional angelic elements played out in the majority of YA books today?

I hadn’t read any angel books when writing this book, but to me the idea of Charlotte’s existence not being grounded in any one religion was important. I wanted her to a being of the light, an honest love that doesn’t follow traditions. Something pure and without prejudice.

2. What three words would you say best describe main character Charlotte, a girl whose fate is both fascinating and terrifying?

Brave, Kind, Forgotten

3. As A Need So Beautiful kicks off, we learn that Charlotte already has a relationship with Harlin, her dreamy motorcycle-riding boyfriend of two years. In a genre where most protagonists meet and rapidly fall in love, what prompted you to switch things up and have Charlotte firmly planted within a committed relationship right from the start?

I feel that you can learn a lot about a character by their interactions with others. And I wanted to have high stakes, something truly wonderful (her relationship with Harlin) that she would fight for. I’m definitely a fan of the established, healthy relationship. I do it again in my next series as well.

4. You spent several years teaching in the middle school system. Do you think being around young people has helped to bring a sense of authenticity to your character’s speech and actions? Do you ever draw aspects of your characters personalities from teens that you have worked with?

I think teaching helped me with my pacing. I taught reluctant readers and starting out, I kept them in mind. Would they turn the page or set the book down? But I didn’t draw from them or their lives. I had enough angst of my own.

5. The end of A Need So Beautiful is very open-ended and leaves much to the imagination. Can you give us some insider scoop on how you see Charlotte’s story progressing? In addition, do you already have her path mapped out or are you letting the creative muse guide you where it will?

A Want so Wicked is finished and heading into revisions. I really wanted to make sure the sequel had a story of its own and wasn’t just a continuation of the first book.

A NEED SO BEAUTIFUL BY SUZANNE YOUNG

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be forgotten.

Charlotte's best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she's cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what's really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become—her mark on this earth, her very existence—is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny—no matter how dark the consequences?

Be sure and check out The Teen Book Scene for more of Suzanne Young's tour stops. Her next stop will be on Wednesday, June 22nd where she will interview with Just Your Typical Book Blog.

Guest Post with Dawn Metcalf, Author of Luminous

2011-06-19T22:22:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the The Teen Book Scene's blog tour stop for Luminous by Dawn Metcalf which releases on June 30th of this month! Today we asked Dawn the following question:

What books would you have recommended at ages 6, 11, 15 and 19 ?

Age 6: In the Night Kitchen by Maurice Sendak. I was fascinated by the idea of a little boy covered in dough, baked into fantastic things and dream-like adventure. I *felt* this book very viscerally; the idea of being enfolded in warm dough was like me snuggling up under my heavy blankets at night. It reached out and touched me.

Age 11: ElfQuest by Wendy and Richard Pini. I'd read the novel from the library and had heard that there were more in the series, but was upset when I ordered it from the bookstore and it was a comic book. Still, I'd paid for it, so I read it and was hooked on a world that completely redefined "elves" for me. That fascination with reinventing folklore and myth has stayed with me ever since.

Age 15: Time Travelers Strictly Cash by Spider Robinson. I loved the world of Callahan's Place and shared it with all of my friends--the warm, welcoming, kooky roadside drinking hole that you could only find if you needed to and all the people were tragic heroes of the heart, soul, and space-time continuum.

Age 19: The Children of Sanchez by Oscar Lewis was one of my anthropology books that I kept and read over and over. It was written in four parts in four different points of view by each of the four Sanchez children recollecting memories about their siblings and their family. It was fascinating to see the same stories being told differently and sparked my interest on how the same world changes when seen through different eyes.

I wish I'd had Harry Potter growing up, but I'm pretty happy to share them now with my kids!

LUMINOUS BY DAWN METCALF

As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

The role of Dawn Metcalf will be played by the tall brunette in the off-the-shoulder, floor-length leather straightjacket. Makeup by Clinique, buckles by Jada Pinkett-Smith, hair by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

I have no good excuse for the way I write. I lived in a normal, loving, suburban home, studied hard, went to college, went to graduate school, got married, had babies, and settled down in northern Connecticut. Despite this wholesome lifestyle, I've been clearly corrupted by fairy tales, puppet visionaries, British humour and graphic novels. As a result, I write dark, quirky, and sometimes humorous speculative fiction.

Official Website

Check out The Teen Book Scene for more tour stops on the Luminous tour. Also,

Dawn is also running an amazing contest. Head on over to her site for more details on the LUMINOUS Grand Prize Giveaway.

Blog Tour Interview with Dawn Metcalf, Author of Luminous!

2011-06-18T22:50:00.001-04:00

LUMINOUS BY DAWN METCALF
As reality slips and time stands still, Consuela finds herself thrust into the world of the Flow. Removed from all she loves into this shifting world overlapping our own, Consuela quickly discovers she has the power to step out of her earthly skin and cloak herself in new ones-skins made from the world around her, crafted from water, fire, air. She is joined by other teens with extraordinary abilities, bound together to safeguard a world they can affect, but where they no longer belong.

When murder threatens to undo the Flow, the Watcher charges Consuela and elusive, attractive V to stop the killer. But the psychopath who threatens her new world may also hold the only key to Consuela's way home.

1.Luminous is a unique book revolving around the in-between reality of the Flow, a shifting world overlapping our own where teens with extraordinary abilities are bound together. Can you discuss the Flow a bit more with us and share a favorite line, scene or passage that really embodies what Consuela sees when she enters it?

The Flow is a place where distance has no meaning and time is fluid, so traveling from one point to another is more like a flipbook than a walk in the park. It takes a lot of getting used to and navigating the Flow is something Consuela has to learn by doing. This is one of my favorite bits describing what it's like for Consuela as she follows Tender through the Flow while he's talking:

“Come.” Tender turned and lead the way through the Flow, passing quickly through a darkened bar, a tiled bathhouse, and a ruined bathroom stall full of scribbled phone numbers and chipping, green paint. Consuela, trailing in the wake of the swiftly-changing landscape of phantom rooms, followed.

2.What three words best describe the Flow?

Shifting, amorphous, malleable. (All great Scrabble words!)

3.What was the most challenging aspect of building the world around the Flow?

Remembering exactly what the Flow is and is meant to be. It can't be a random collection of cool scenery, and I had to keep that in mind while writing. But I can't say more for fear of spoilers.

4.Consuela has the ability to step out of her earthly skin and the flow and make a new one out of organic matter. If you could have her abilities, what do you think would be the best and worst aspect of your new found capabilities?

I think the best thing would be able to experience the world without limits of being human. I think that's at the heart of a lot of great science fiction and fantasy: imagining a totally different perspective. The worst might be the loss of control; being compelled to do something against my will, whether I'd do it willingly or not. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being asked to help a stranger, but I guess I like the idea of being asked as opposed to told and that I have a choice in the matter. It comes down to giving up one type of freedom for another.

5.If there was one message you’d want readers to take away from the story regarding Consuela’s metamorphosis and growth, what would that be?

I'm not really into "messages" but I'd borrow the one that V uses through the book: "Know thyself." It's about getting who you are at your core and being that person whenever you say so, no matter the circumstances, no matter the obstacles, and despite what anyone else says about you. If you can be true to YOU, then everything else falls into place.

Flowing from Mindful Musings Blog, the next stop on the MundiMoms' LUMINOUS Blog Tour is Reading in Color.

This interview on the MundiMoms' LUMINOUS Blog Tour was brought to you by the letter: E. Collect all the letters along the blog tour, unscramble the puzzle, and win a secret surprise as well as an extra entry in the LUMINOUS Grand Prize Giveaway, June 30th! Details at www.dawnmetcalf.com.

The role of Dawn Metcalf will be played by the tall brunette in the off-the-shoulder, floor-length leather straightjacket. Makeup by Clinique, buckles by Jada Pinkett-Smith, hair by Jim Henson's Creature Shop.

I have no good excuse for the way I write. I lived in a normal, loving, suburban home, studied hard, went to college, went to graduate school, got married, had babies, and settled down in northern Connecticut. Despite this wholesome lifestyle, I've been clearly corrupted by fairy tales, puppet visionaries, British humour and graphic novels. As a result, I write dark, quirky, and sometimes humorous speculative fiction.
Official Website

Guest Post with Erica O'Rourke, Author of Torn!

2011-06-16T22:45:00.002-04:00

Welcome to today's Teen Book Scene tour stop for Torn by Erica O'Rourke. Erica stopped by today to share her picks for my "this or that" questions.

Erica O'Rourke lives outside Chicago with her family, including two very bad cats.
She likes coffee, denim, naps, and sushi.
She hates fish, bridges, and talking about herself.

Official Website

1. Mardi Gras in New Orleans or St. Patricks Day in Ireland?

St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland – I’ve never been there. And while I love New Orleans, I hate crowds and tourists, so Mardi Gras is the only time I wouldn’t want to visit.

2. Takeout or Cooking?

Cooking, provided I have the time and someone will do the cleanup.

3. Dogs or Cats?

Dogs. We have two cats, and I’m highly allergic to them. We can’t get rid of them, because it would break my kids’ hearts, but it is no fun to have a pet you can’t cuddle.

4. Coffee or Tea?

Coffee with skim milk and real sugar. I like tea, but coffee is like oxygen – necessary to sustain life.

5. Vacation Travel Tours or "Grab a Map and Explore"?

Grab a map, hands-down. I am much more interested in the day-to-day life of a place than the scenic highlights.

6. Free writing vs. Outlining?

Outlining. I am easily distracted by shiny things, even in stories. An outline keeps me on track.

7. There are two important guys in Torn. Who was your favorite: Protective Colin or Brash Luc?

Ooooh…I don’t think I can answer that for fear of spoilers. My favorite thing about Colin is that he never lets Mo get away with anything. My favorite thing about Luc is that he’s such a smart-ass. Mo’s not used to that, and it’s good for her.

8. Bookstore signings or Online Blog Tours?

I haven’t done a bookstore signing yet, so I can’t really say. It would be nice to meet readers in person, but I have a lot of fun answering these questions. My husband likes the blog tour because he gets to tease me about my answers.

9. Paperback or e-book?

I’m using my e-reader more and more these days, but in my heart, I prefer paperbacks.

10. Favorite books to read: YA or Adult?

YA. I love the freshness and inventiveness of the writing, and to me, the voice often rings more true.

TORN

BY ERICA O'ROURKE

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Kensington; Original edition (June 28, 2011)

Everyone has secrets. Even best friends.

Mo Fitzgerald knows about secrets. But when she witnesses her best friend’s murder, she discovers Verity was hiding things she never could have guessed. To find the answers she needs and the vengeance she craves, Mo – quiet, ordinary, unmagical Mo – will have to enter a world of raw magic and shifting alliances. And she’ll have to choose between two very different, equally dangerous guys – protective, duty-bound Colin and brash, mysterious Luc.

Two guys. Two destinies. One wants to save her, one wants to claim her. Which would you choose?

"Who doesn't love a character torn between two dangerous worlds and two risky guys? The only thing safe about this book is how good it is." —Lee Nichols, author of Deception, A Haunting Emma Novel

Visit The Teen Book Scene for more from Erica O'Rourke. Saturday June 18th the tour will be stopping at Lesley from YA Addict's blog for a review.

Interview with Christina Garner, Author of Gateway!

2011-06-15T21:30:00.002-04:00

GATEWAY

BY CHRISTINA GARNER

Ember has always known she doesn’t belong in this world. But when she tries to correct the mistake, she wakes to find herself in a mental institution.

She’s soon drawn to Taren, the mysterious boy with hazel eyes. He’s not what he seems, but what is he?

When chaos erupts, they are forced to flee the institution together, and the secret that Taren has been keeping brings Ember closer to understanding her own. And leads her to… the Gateway.

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INTERVIEW

In Gateway, Ember finds herself fleeing from a mental institution with a mysterious boy named Taren . Can you tell us a bit more about the book and share with us a favorite line, scene or passage?

Gateway tells the story of troubled teen, Ember Lyons. After a failed suicide attempt she wakes to find herself in Windsor Mental Hospital where she meets a cast of characters--most notably, Callie and Taren. Callie wants to kill her and Taren thinks he knows why...

“You're OK, Cal, I'm here.” Taren's reply was so soft I almost didn't hear it.

Not for the first time, I wondered at their relationship.

Callie was panic stricken. “No, I have to get out of here. Get me out—”

“Please,” Lauren interrupted, “do as she says, get her out of here.”

“Shut up, shut up SHUT UP!” The voice that erupted from Callie seemed too big to be housed in such a small girl.

She lurched up from the table and launched herself across it—straight at me. I was taken by such surprise that I didn't have time to react. One instant I was sitting in a folding chair, the next I was knocked to the cold tile. Callie was stronger than her looks suggested; it was all I could do to fend her off. As blue as her eyes were, they seemed on fire. Her hand arced up and I saw it—a plastic knife. My eyes widened. My last thought was going to be what the fu—

And then Taren was there, pulling her off me. Stunned as I was, I saw him try to pocket the knife, but orderlies had rushed over by then and confiscated it.

Taren no longer needed to restrain Callie, she was sobbing into his chest. The orderlies pried her off, though she clutched at him.

Her eyes bore into me as they dragged her away. “I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I swear I didn't want to. I'm so sorry…”

What three words best describe Gateway?

Edgy, Engrossing, and Relatable. (I hope!)

What is it that you love most about Ember’s character?

I love her sense of compassion for those around her that are psychologically wounded. I appreciate her willingness to do whatever it takes for the people she loves.

What was the hardest aspect of building the world within your novel and how did you overcome it?

I think the hardest part might have been, "Why Ember?" I had this idea that I wanted to explore, but needed to justify it, otherwise it's just a cheap plot device. Between the first and the second drafts I needed to do a rewrite from the ground, up. Much of the novel changed, but I think it deepened both the characters and their motivation, which in turn strengthened the story and made it more relatable. And honestly, being relatable is what I want most for this story. Gateway deals with elements of fantasy, but they are metaphors for what the average young adult is going through. The books I have always loved the most are the ones that suck me into a compelling story and also leave me with something to think about in my own life. That's my intention for Gateway.

Which of your supporting characters would be perfect for a spin-off or novella and why?

I think Callie is a great character to explore. She starts out so soft-spoken and fragile, but begins to come into her own. I plan on giving her more attention in future volumes of this series, and can see her carrying her own story in a spin-off. When I created her, I had in mind the Hindu Goddess, Kali, who is both chaotic (which is how Callie starts out) and the "destroyer of illusions." I'm looking forward to unearthing different facets of her character.

What can we look forward to next from you? Any upcoming projects or new series in the works?

My next project will be book 2 in the Gateway Series. I want to deepen the relationships and ratchet up the danger.

I'm also going to be adapting a screenplay I wrote a few years back, called Coventry House, into a YA novel. It focuses on a sorority that also happens to be a witches' coven.

Writer, traveler, hopeful cynic. Vegan gelato enthusiast. Too much angst for my age. Author of the YA Urban Fantasy, Gateway. Official Website

Interview with Myra McEntire, Author of Hourglass

2011-06-12T22:47:00.000-04:00

1. In Hourglass, Emerson is plagued by what she believes to be ghostly apparitions so I have to ask -were you a big fan of ghost stories growing up? Were there any favorites from slumber parties or camping you loved in particular?

I did. I especially liked the one about the girl who wore a ribbon around her neck, and told her love he could never remove it. Except he did. And her head fell off. Oops!

2. Is there any one particular part in Hourglass that was your favorite to write? Can you share with us a special quote, juicy bit of dialogue or a scene?

I enjoyed writing the scene in Murphy’s Law between Lily, Emerson, and the rolling pin. And the juicy dialogue from that one is “Rama Lama Ding Dong.” (You know the one!)

3. Did you put personality traits of yourself, or the people in your life into the characters of your book?

Emerson inherited my broken edit button and my love of Converse. Poor girl. :D

4. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

I went to school in London for a bit. I’d love to go back and see how everything has changed.

5. What are some young adult novels you think every teen and adult should read?

Definitely the Harry Potter books – so life changing for me. The minute I finished Deathly Hallows was the minute I knew I had to write a book.

Myra McEntire knows the words to every R&B hit of the last decade, but since she lives in Nashville, the country music capital of America, her lyrical talents go sadly unappreciated. She’s chosen, instead, to channel her “mad word skills” into creating stories infused with her love of music. Hourglass is her first novel. You can visit her online at www.myramcentire.com.

In My Mailbox!

2011-06-12T14:46:00.001-04:00

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey (June 21, 2011)

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

Cold Kiss by Amy Garvey (September 20, 2011)

“It seemed so right. Danny was mine, I was his, and that wasn’t going to work if he was dead. So I would make him not dead, not anymore. I didn’t think any further than what it would feel like to kiss him again, to wrap my arms around him and bury my head against his shoulder.
That was my first mistake. It also turned out to be the biggest.”

When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Enthralled: Paranormal Diversions (Sept. 20, 2011)

Contains:

Giovanni’s Farewell by Claudia Gray
Scenic Route by Carrie Ryan
IV League by Margaret Stohl
Red Run by Kami Garcia
Things About Love by Jackson Pearce
Niederwald by Rachel Vincent
A Mortal Winter King by Melissa Marr
Facing Facts by Kelley Armstrong
Let’s Get This Undead Show on the Road by Sarah Rees Brennan
Bridge by Jeri Smith-Ready
Skin Contact by Kimberly Derting
Leaving by Ally Condie
At the Late Night, Double Feature, Picture Show by Jessica Verday
Gargouille by Mary E. Pearson
The Third Kind by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Automatic by Rachel Caine

LIBRARY:

I'm excited to read all these books. Hope you guys got some good ones this week! Happy Reading!