Wednesday, October 9, 2013

COVER REVEAL for The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes AND INT giveaway!

You guys know how much I love Ms. Paula Stokes--she's got to be one of my favorite people in the world. Now I'm thrilled to be able to reveal the cover of the first book under her own name! :-)

Flap copy: 
To win back the one she loves, she’ll have to go to “war” . . . 

Soccer-star Lainey Mitchell is gearing up to spend an epic summer with her amazing boyfriend, Jason, when he suddenly breaks up with her—in public no less! Lainey is more than crushed, but she's not the kind of girl to take defeat lying down. With help from her friend Bianca, Lainey resolves to do whatever it takes to get Jason back.

And that’s when the girls stumble across a copy of The Art of War. With just one glance, Bianca’s sure they can use the military handbook to lure Jason back into Lainey’s arms. Lainey channels her inner warlord, recruiting spies to gather intel and persuading her coworker Micah to pose as her new boyfriend to make Jason jealous. After a few dates, it looks like her plan is going to work! Perfect...except that her relationship with Micah is starting to feel like more than just a game.

What's a girl to do when what she wants is totally different from what she needs? How do you figure out the person you're meant to be with, if you're still figuring out the person you're meant to be? 

My thoughts: I love this cover because Lainey looks like the kind of girl I'd love to hang out with-- cute and mischievous at the same time!
Paula's thoughts: I love this cover! It's full of happiness and hope and fun. It does a great job capturing the spirit of the story and the girl is a perfect fit for Lainey. Great job, HarperTeen :-)

But before I get to the contest, Paula wanted to introduce you to the staff of Denali, the fictional coffee shop where most of the characters work:
 
name: Lainey
age: 17
hair color: strawberry blonde
eye color: green
occupation: barista
likes: soccer, dancing, spray-tanning, celebrity stalking
claim to fame: I scored the winning goal at the state championships last season!!

name: Bianca
age: 17
hair color: black
eye color: brown
occupation: barista
likes: soccer, reading, hiking, hanging out with my brothers
claim to fame: I'm not big on fame. I'm more of a behind the scenes kind of girl.

name: Ebony
age: 23
hair color: flesh-colored?
eye color: brown
occupation: manager
likes: crushed velvet, piercings, playing bass for the Hellkittenz
claim to fame: I'm the hottest bald chick you’ve never met

name: Leo
age: 17
hair color: light brown
eye color: gray
occupation: cook/barista
likes: theater, baseball, astronomy
claim to fame: N/A

name: Cal aka “C-4”
age: 27
hair color: brown
eye color: blue
occupation: cook
likes: mixing hazardous chemicals, sniffing glue, funny cat videos
claim to fame: my beard is so big it gots its own Netflix account

name: Micah
age: 17
hair color: brownish black, but subject to change (my little sis likes to dye it)
eye color: hazel
occupation: prep cook
likes: punk music, vintage cars, cartoons, baking
claim to fame: Um…people say I make really kickass cookies and brownies? 

Name: You 

That’s right, YOU can be the newest member of the Denali staff because Paula wants to put you in her book! Your first name, physical description, and (if possible) your claim to fame, right there in the pages of THE ART OF LAINEY, with full-name mention in the Acknowledgments if desired.

To enter this contest:
  1. You must be at least 13 years old (and willing to pretend to be 15 if you want to work at the coffee shop. We don’t want Lainey’s dad to get arrested for violating child-labor laws, right?)
  2. You must be human. Sorry, there are no open positions for vampires, werewolves, zombies, selkies, aliens, etc.
  3. You must be flexible. It’s always possible your particular you-ness won’t work in THE ART OF LAINEY. Perhaps your name is Lainey—two Laineys in one book would be a bit awkward, right? Perhaps you just fit better (or prefer to be featured) in LIARS, INC instead. I will make every attempt to put you in the book of your choice, but my editor and I maintain the right to cut you misbehaving movie extra if things just don't work out. But don't worry, because they will! ;-)  In the meantime, I’m also giving you a $25.00 gift card to Powell’s Books so you have something to read while you wait for your big debut. This contest is international. For more info on Powell’s shipping, click here.
link: http://www.powells.com/info/shipping.html


About Paula: Paula Stokes is half writer, half RN, and totally thrilled to be part of the world of YA literature. She started out writing historical fiction under a pen name and is now branching out into other YA genres. 

When she's not writing (rare), she's kayaking, hiking, reading, or seeking out new adventures in faraway lands. She's petted tigers, snuggled snakes, snorkeled with stingrays, and once enjoyed the suction-cuppy feel of a baby elephant's trunk as it ate peanuts from her palm. Her future goals include diving with great white sharks, learning Krav Maga, and writing a whole slew of novels, not necessarily in that order.

OK now enter this awesome contest!!! I totally wish I could win myself!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

54 comments:

  1. LOVE this book, love the cover, love both of you!!! Congrats, Paula!!! I can't wait for Lainey to be out in the wild <3

    xoxo
    Rachel

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    1. Yay! Rachel :-) You should totally be in my book, except I think you are too busy for even a fictional job!

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  2. This is soooo cute! Paula, I love it! They did a great job and the story sounds super fun.

    I'm not entering because I don't ever want to work in food service, ever again. But I can't wait to see who does!

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    1. Hehehe. Right? It's slave labor, even with a group of wacky coworkers to distract you from the grind :-)

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  3. Thank you so much for this giveaway!! I would be so honored to be in your book if I won! :D

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  4. I LOVE IT!!!! Lainey looks so adorable & fun!! I can't wait to meet her and all the staff at Denali!!! Thanks for the contest Paula ♥

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  5. How wonderful!! Love the cover and what a wonderful opportunity!

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  6. Love it! It is so cute and fun and I adore the font treatment on the title! Can't wait for something new from her! <3

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  7. Love it!!!!! Can't wait for itttt!!!! :DDDD

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  8. Oh! I cannot wait to read this contemporary! And in Paula's own name, at that! Fantastic!!

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  9. Oh! I cannot wait to read this contemporary, and in Paula's own name, at that! The cover is fantastic, a nice, realistic change form many of the covers out there. Looks like someone I might see at the table next to me...

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. Oh yes, this is alll ME. Maybe too much me ;-) Somewhere during the writing process it totally turned into a "book of my heart." So scary, but exciting! Thanks for the comment, follow, etc :-)

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  10. Love the concept and the cover - very cute contemp. Added to my TBR - thanks so much for introducing me to this!

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  11. Adorable cover - love the concept. The book sounds so cute. Added to my TBR!

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  12. Thank you so much for this apsolutely amazing giveaway!! I simply love the cover & this sounds like a fantastic read. x

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  13. Thanks so much for the cover love, everyone. I wrote this book in Spring/Summer 2011 and thanks to the wonderful team at HarperTeen it has become something I am incredibly proud of. I can't wait to share it with you all!! :D

    And thanks to Christina for being a fantastic blogger and supporter and friend, and to Antony John too, should he stop by, for introducing me to Christina in the first place :D

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  14. This is an amazing prize, thanks so much for the chance! The cover art is adorable.

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  15. This is an awesome prize. I LOVE Ebony she sounds like an awesome baddy. Would for sure want her has my bff. Thank you

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    1. Hee. Ebony has a smaller role, but she and Lainey have some interesting interactions, to be sure ;-)

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  16. Oh goodness, that is the cutest idea for a prize that I've heard in a long, long time. Very cool!

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    1. Yay! I got the idea from the Veronica Mars Kickstarter where they put fans in the movie as extras. Clearly, this is not that cool, but hey, you don't have to travel to LA to do it and you have a much less chance of being cut :)

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  17. It would be so cool to have a character in a book named after me awesome contest! And i cant wait for this book to come out!

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  18. Ahhhhhhhh! I can't wait for the Art of Lainey to come out! Paula is one of my favourite people in the world as well and I seriously would LOVE to be in her book. My name is Allison, not Lainey, so maybe I have a chance....? :D I seriously can't wait for this book to come out. I seriously LOVE you for holding this contest right now!

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    1. Fun fact--my first of 2 drawer novels is called RUNNING INTO ALLISON :D

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  19. PRETTINESSSS!!! Love the cover super cute and has this "I sooooo know what I'm doing kind of vibe" :P Alsoooooo how can I enter the contest to be part of the book! THAT would be AMAZING!!

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  20. Nevermiiiind! I totally read the Rafflecopter wrong. Whoops! Sorry!

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  21. This is fabulous news!!! Congrats :D

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  22. This looks like such a fun, cute and adventurous read! And what a fun giveaway :)

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  23. This sounds like a great book! I love the cover. Seriously looking forward to reading this! :D

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  24. I love this cover ! The font is amazing.

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  25. I love this cover! :) I'm so stoked to read this when it comes out! I really love the idea for this giveaway too. It's genius!

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  26. AHHH :-) Guys thanks SO MUCH. Your comments are so kind and thoughtful and you are making me feel all the feels! I'm so honored to see people adding the book to their TBRs. I will always appreciate the time you spend reading and reviewing my books, and so far all of the ones I've sold are so different that chances are if one isn't for you the next one might be.

    I feel incredibly lucky to be part of the kidlit community and hugs to all of you for being part of my joy <333 I would be proud to put any of you in one of my stories :-)

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  27. Love the cover, and can't wait to celebrate with you at the launch. Congrats!

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  28. Yay! I'm too exited. I got Venom as an ARC and want to read everything new she comes out with!!

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  29. Love it!! Thank you for this contest ;-)

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  30. Thanks for the giveaway! Can't wait to read this book:)

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  31. I love it and this sounds gooooood! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! :D

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  32. Okay. I clicked the comment button on the contest before I wrote this so... I hope it works. Lainey et al. sound like a super cool bunch of cafe kids! I would wanna work with them in a flash, but for my job talking to their parents and trying to keep said parents sane. Bravo Paula. Can't wait to read!

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  33. The Cover is so sure, I love it. It also sounds like something I would read and love. Thank you for the amazing giveaway

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  34. Love you, Paula! And love the cover, of course! I can't wait to read it and flail over it to you! *hugs* :)

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  35. AHHH, Paula you are the most awesome author I have evaa talked to <33 "internet hug"

    I love this cover so much, and I can't wait to read it frantically! :)

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  36. Love the cover, seems like a good read!

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  37. Cute cover! Can't wait to read this.

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  38. I love Paula SO much and I seriously cannot wait to get my hands on this book! EEEP! I love contemporary so much and this looks like it'll be right up my alley. The cover is adorbs too! Wooot! :D

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  39. The Art of Lainey sounds like such a fun read! I love the cover and how it looks kind of mischievous! Thanks for the great giveaway...the prize is really awesome and I have my fingers crossed to win ;)

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  40. I've been wanting to read this one. It sounds so good! Thanks so much for the great giveaway too!

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  41. One more time, thanks for all of your comments everybody. And thanks for being readers. You make it possible for authors to live our dreams :D

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