Interview with Erin Albert, author of The Prophecy, and Huge Book Giveaway (INT)!

Guys! I've finally read and reviewed The Prophecy by Erin Albert, and it's fabulous! What's even better is that I have an awesome giveaway for you guys, which only leads up to an even BIGGER giveaway!!!!


Goodreads Book Description: Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction—for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

My Rating: 5 Couches!

  

My Review: Erin is a good friend on twitter, so I admit I was worried. I always worry about reading friends' books because you want to be honest, but let's face it, it always sucks reading a book you don't like that was written by a friend. Thank goodness, this wasn't an issue because The Prophecy ROCKS! :-)

The Prophecy by Erin Albert is the first book of a YA fantasy trilogy that whisks us away to the nations of the Vanguard and the Ethereals. Layla is our main protagonist, although the perspective of the book shifts from character to character effortlessly, and she is one of the Vanguards. Her adoptive family is worried that she may be the Fulfillment because of her black hair and purple eyes. It's been foretold that the Fulfillment will bring the two kingdoms together in peace.

All Layla wants to do is go to the Vanguard celebration and get some sweet bread. She doesn't feel like the Fulfillment, but she's quickly found by a zealot and taken off to become Wil's bride. Wilhelm is the heir to the Ethereal throne. As Layla meets both Wil and a mysterious boy named Nash, she will be forced to decide between her mind and heart on every level, and make a choice that may save or destroy the kingdoms and the hope for peace.

I loved this book. It was fast paced, and the world building was seamless. I've seen books that completely fail on that level, but The Prophecy had a wonderful balance between world building, character building, and plot. Each of the characters were well described, and I found myself rooting for each of them. I loved the plot twists, and I found a new book boyfriend in Wil, who is one of the sweetest characters I've met in a long time.

Layla was hard to like initially, but she quickly won me over, which is critical in a book like this. I also loved how the older generation of kings and queens played a large role in this book as well.

I wasn't a huge fan of Nash, and I felt like some of those scenes were forced. However, this is my only slightly negative comment about the whole thing, and I know this is just a personal preference. There are several people out there who are glad I don't like Nash so they can have him for themselves!

Overall, a really wonderful YA debut by a wonderful person. I'm beyond relieved that this book is terrific, because it makes my job as an honest reviewer that much easier! I'm dying to get my hands on the next installment!

Interview with Erin:
1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you got into writing.
I’ve always loved the written word. I read my first book Morris The Moose Goes To School at age four and typed up my very first poem (with my Mema—grandma—helping me spell). I’ve been writing since that moment. In addition to novel writing, I enjoy theater and have written and directed many plays.

2. What was the best part of writing the Prophecy, and the worst? 
The absolute BEST part about writing The Prophecy has been working with my friends (aka: The Dream Team). They add so much to the process. I think the worst part of any author’s life is waiting, which seems to be something we do a lot. LOL!

3. Tell us about your editing process, and what kind of time and effort and people that go into it.
I am a grammar freak, so I do a good deal of editing before I employ the efforts of others. I start with the story itself. I write that without paying too much attention to grammar, sentence structures, etc. Once it’s complete, I go through and edit myself—a long, painstaking process. I then ask my Dream Team and critique partners to give it a gander and offer their thoughts and edits. When I got the contract for my book, my publisher assigned me editors. I worked with them in several iterations to sharpen the story even more. I ended up spending weeks in the editing cave, but I think those ladies really made the story shine.

4. Name a book that you wish you had written yourself and why.
I wish I had written the Percy Jackson series. I have a MAJOR fictional crush on Percy Jackson. More than that, I think the stories are creative and humorous. I like to think I’m a funny person, but Rick Riordan just takes the cake for me.

5. All your fans want to know... which guy are you partial to in your book? Wil or Nash?
Hmmmmm…I can’t really say lest my answer give away any plot twists in the future books. I can tell you what I like about each of them.

Wil—I love his tender heart, morality, romantic nature, and chivalry. He’s a rare gem of a person.

Nash—I love his strength, passion, mystery, and fierceness. He has so much stacked against him, yet he never gives up.

6. If Layla could have a best friend from another book, tv show, or movie, who would it be and why?
I think Layla would get along well with other tough girls like Tris (Divergent), June (Legend), Allison (Blood of Eden), and Katniss (Hunger Games). Those five just might have the ability to take over the world!! LOL!

7. Can you tell us a little about the sequel to The Prophecy without giving anything away?
In the sequel, you will be introduced to several new characters (some you’ll like and some you won’t), get an answer to Wil and Vespa’s fates, meet the Outlanders, and discover there might be more to the prophecy than meets the eye. There is a scene in this book the Dream Team and I refer to as The Scene. So, be prepared!! ;)

AND NOW! The fantabulous giveaway!!!  

Erin has been supremely generous, and we're giving away FIFTEEN e-copies of The Prophecy! And if that's not cool enough because this book is awesome, the OTHER reason you want to win this book is that IF YOU WRITE A REVIEW, there is a giveaway in January where there is a tremendous, fantastic prize with tons of books and ARCs from 2014 and a gift certificate for one lucky winner! 
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Good News, A New Look, and a Giveaway!

Dear All:
First, I have some good news. I officially passed my Pediatric Boards! Whoohoo! Never have to take that sucker again.

Also, let me know what you think of my redesign. As you can tell, I love the color blue. But I adore the new look. It still preserves the minimalist thing I have going on, but is way prettier! Please let me know what you guys think!

Also, there's a great giveaway going on by one of my favorite indie authors, Christina Smith (plus, she has a pretty great name :-)). She is giving away all 4 of the books in the Moon's Glow series.
https://www.facebook.com/christina.smith.7161953

To celebrate all this good news, we're gonna do a giveaway! :-) Also, stay tuned for posts on my writing process, reviews on some great adult reads, and my journey as a freelance editor.

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NEW NAME: Ensconced in Lit and Updates and GIVEAWAY!

Dear all:
As you know, I've taken a pretty long hiatus from blogging. There are a couple of reasons why:

1. Took Pediatric Boards in October 
Studying for this pretty much took up any spare time, so I had to cut down on my favorite past time.

2. Writing my first novel 
It's currently in its third draft and with one of my traditionally published friends to see if it's worth sending out to the world in some form or fashion. I'll keep you guys posted and have some upcoming posts about the writing process!

3. Editing
I'm a freelance editor in my spare time, so I've taken a pretty big project recently, to edit a wonderful memoir by Barbara Amaya, who is a trafficking survivor. Working with her has made it clear that this book needs to be out in the world to make people more aware of this huge problem. If you didn't know (and I didn't), it's a huge problem not only internationally, but also here in the United States. I'll be doing a preview and some promotion for this in January.

4. Work:
Things have gotten pretty crazy in the research lab that I'm working in, but finally in the last two weeks have been getting some amazing results! 

Anyway, I'm hoping to get back into blogging. I'll never do it as frequently as I did when I started since I'm transitioning to writing books more, but I'll try to post once a week.

I've decided to rebrand my blog as ENSCONCED IN LIT because my novel is adult contemporary, and I've branched out from reading just YA. I want to share some of those reads with you all without having a second blog.

It was nice to take a break from YA, but it'll always be my first love!

I'm also going to start doing some giveaways this month to thank my readers and hopefully remind people I'm still around! Can't wait to see you all more in the future!
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The Prophecy Blog Tour: Author Highlight, Erin Albert

Dear All: So excited to introduce Erin Albert, a good friend, who finally has come out with her first book, The Prophecy! I can't wait to read it!

The Prophecy Book Description:

Growing up on a small farm in the kingdom of Vanguard, seventeen-year-old Layla Givens lives a deceptively tranquil existence. But her carefully constructed life quickly falls apart when she’s abducted by a religious zealot who proclaims her The Fulfillment of an ancient peace prophecy and whisks her away to marry her greatest enemy.

Wilhelm, Prince of the Ethereals, is reluctant to meet his new bride. He's grown up believing Vanguards are evil, an enemy to fight and fear...not love. Can he set aside his prejudices and work alongside Layla to bring lasting peace after centuries of war?

Nash, a loner who has never fit in, carries a huge secret, one big enough to destroy both kingdoms. When he accidently meets Layla, he’s no longer content to live in the shadows, but he must resist his growing attraction—for her safety and for the longevity of the two kingdoms.

When Nash's secret is revealed, a firestorm sweeps through both realms, with Layla at the center. Now she must choose between duty and desire while the fate of two nations hangs in the balance.

Erin Albert is an author and fitness trainer.  Since she picked up Morris the Moose Goes to School at age four, she has been infatuated with the written word.  She went on to work as a grammar and writing tutor in college and is still teased by her family and friends for being a member of the "Grammar Police."  In her free time, Erin enjoys acting, running, kickboxing, and, of course, reading and writing.  

Find me online:

Twitter:  @ErinAlbertBooks

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Erin-Albert-Books/182769448541270

Website:  www.erinalbertbooks.com

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18160774-the-prophecy

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MANMADE Boy Blog Tour: Guest Post: Jon Skovron, author of Manmade Boy

Welcome to the MAN MADE BOY blog tour! The son of Frankenstein’s Monster and his Bride, 16-year-old Boy has lived his whole life in a secret enclave of monsters hidden beneath a Broadway theater, until he runs away from home after he unwittingly unleashes a sentient computer virus on the world. Together with the granddaughter(s) of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Boy embarks on a journey across the country to L.A. But Boy can only hide from his demons for so long…

Wetware: Hacking the body

The main character of MAN MADE BOY is named Boy, and he’s the son of Frankenstein’s Monster and the Bride of Frankenstein. Like his parents, he’s a stitched together patchwork of body parts brought to life by some mysterious, and at least in my book, magic process. He’s also a computer nerd who loves writing code. He refers to himself as a hacker, but he’s quick to clarify by saying he’s not one of those sleazy identity thieves or script kiddies. And as a hacker, he’s always trying to find better, cooler ways of doing things. One of the more drastic things he does is modify his own body so that he can interface directly with his computer. For example, he has big clunky patchwork hands that make typing very slow. So he adds USB ports to his wrists to bypass the keyboard and mouse. By doing this, he taps directly into his nervous system so that all he has to do is think about typing and it shows up on the screen. Pretty cool, right?

This is not a new idea, though. In fact, it’s based on a long held theory that your brain activity is mostly comprised of electrical impulses. If that is true, then conceivably, those impulses could be translated into computer code, creating a bridge between the digital and physical world. The idea of using emerging technology to join these two worlds, or to enhance the physical body in other ways, is generally referred to as bio or wetware hacking. A lot of it is built on wacky “what if” ideas, and you might have seen a dramatized version of some of them on television shows like Fringe. But make no mistake, there are real people out there doing real wetware hacking to themselves or others.

There are two basic types of wetware hacking: invasive and non-invasive. Let’s ease in with some non-invasive methods first.

Sound

Brainwave entrainment is the process by which the dominant brainwaves of a subject are induced to a desired frequency. Certain types of music and many natural sounds of nature randomly accomplish this task. A song can alter your mood. The sound of a babbling brook might relax you. Some of this is merely associative memory. But there is also a measurable response in how certain combinations of sound can alter brain function in the cortegofugal network of neurons. In other words, during a brain activity scan, we can see a difference, even if we don’t yet understand what it means. What if we were able to codify how sound translates to the brain. What if we could develop a combination of sounds so complex that it could alter not only your mood, but your thoughts and basic cognitive functions?

Vision

A group of neuroscientists in California and Seattle published a paper showing how they used bursts of light to change the behavior of neurons in mice. After undergoing prolonged stimulation, the mice would attack anything put in the cage with them, including other mice and even inanimate objects. Their behavior suggested that they had more or less gone berserk.

Magnetic Fields

This is where things start to get more invasive. There are people who believe that by surgically implanting a small “natural” or rare-earth magnet in their finger, they can sense electromagnetic fields all around them, giving them a sort of sixth sense. Some tattoo parlors are even starting to offer the service. Of course, most people just do it at home, and things can get nasty if it gets infected. Whole sections of wetware hacking forums are dedicated to reducing or preventing the risk of infection.

Wireheading

And finally, the ultimate in wetware hacking, direct brain assault. The basil ganglia is the part of the brain that controls gross and fine motor control, including speech and facial expression, but not cognition. Researchers experimented on mice, inserting a wire with a blue light into the basil ganglia. When the light was switched on, the mice were unable to move. Obviously, it’s a crude first effort, but it seems more an issue of scalability than plausibility. Could it be that one day they could sick a wire into someone’s head and move them around like a puppet? What about a wireless implant?

I don’t want to give too much away, but in MAN MADE BOY, a certain rogue digital intelligence utilizes most of these methods in her efforts to interact with the “real” world. And the end result ain’t pretty.

MAN MADE BOY Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Boy’s father is Frankenstein’s monster and his mother is the Bride. A hacker and tech geek, Boy has lived his whole life in a secret enclave of monsters hidden beneath a Broadway theater, until he runs away from home. Now, the boy who’s never set foot outside embarks on a madcap road trip with the granddaughters of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde that takes him deep into the heart of America. Along the way, Boy falls in love, comes to terms with his unusual family, and learns what it really means to be a monster—and a man.

About Jon Skovron

Jon Skovron is the author of STRUTS & FRETS and MISFIT.  Visit him at jonskovron.com.

#C2BookExplosion Twitter Party, Now Nov 6th, 8pm CST with me and Crystal! Be there! Tons of Prizes!

Because of unforseen circumstances, the twitter party date and time has been changed, so mark your calendars.
Just a couple of reminders for the party: 
WHERE: Twitter
WHEN: November 6th, 8pm CST.
WHO: You and hopefully a few authors I can get to change their plans for this Wednesday!
PRIZES: Tons of physical books, e-books, swag! INT prizes available, so come too if you're INT!

Tips for the party: 
1. You should have a twitter account.
2. You should be following both @CAhnBooks and @crystalbookland to ensure that we see your tweets and that we can contact you with prize information.
3. After each comment, you should end it with #C2BookExplosion or else we won't see it.
4. I'll be selecting winners RANDOMLY throughout the party, so the more you participate and the LONGER you participate, the more likely you are to win a prize.
5. Retweets will NOT count towards a prize. But these are nice to do for your fellow tweeters if you like what they are saying.
6. There will be one contest in the last 15 minutes. If we can't decide a winner easily, then all entries will be placed into a randomizer.
7. If we TREND, meaning if enough people attend and comment over a period of time that we get recognized by Twitter, then we will be giving away a bonus prize!
8. The EASIEST way to follow a twitter party is to hook up your account to a chat program. I use http://twubs.com All you have to do is put #C2BookExplosion at the top of the page where it says "Enter hashtags." It should prompt you to link up your twitter account. Say yes. Then you should be good to go! The other nice thing about this is that you don't have to type the hashtag after each comment, the program automatically does it for you. And you don't have to search for the hashtag, it automatically just follows the convo.
9. To those poor souls who don't have a twitter account. It's totally EASY. Get a twitter account! I finally got one for my blog, and it took literally seconds to set up. I'm so sorry, but if you don't have a twitter account, you won't be eligible for the prizes.

List of books that you can choose from (there are more than this):
1. ARC of Kinslayer by Jay Kristoff
3. Signed copy of Hurt by Tabitha Suzuma
4. ARC of Snakeroot by Andrea Cremer
5. ARC of Find Me by Romily Bernard
6. ARC of Once We Were by Kat Zhang
7. Hardback of Light by Michael Grant
10. ARC of Flicker and Burn by TM Goeglein
12. ARC of Origin by Jessica Khory
14. ARC of Icons by Margaret Stohl

Hopefully, there will more than this by Wednesday, but I figure this can get people started :-)

SO EXCITED! I hope to see a ton of people there! 8pm CST on November 6th for one hour! Be there!

Interview with Antony John, author of the Elemental Trilogy, and Giveaway of Signed ARC of Firebrand (US only) AND... Book 3 title reveal!

I am thrilled to have one of my favorite authors and a good friend in St. Louis, Antony John, back on my blog to talk about his new book coming out this month! I beta read this novel so I can assure you it's going to be awesome and EXPLOSIVE just like the title!

Goodreads Book Description: In this sequel to the dystopian fantasy-adventure ELEMENTAL, which James Dashner called "fantastic," the stakes are life-or-death and nothing is as it appears to be.

Thomas and his friends have rescued the Guardians and commandeered the pirates' ship, but the pirates still hold fast to Roanoke Island. Using his newly discovered element, Thomas hears a radio message calling for refugees to head to Fort Sumter. They sail south, but quickly discover that their elements wane as they leave Roanoke behind. There is something sinister going on in the refugee colony too. From the perilous food-gathering squads, to the constant threat of rat infestation, to dangerous secrets, Thomas and his colonists begin to realize that this promising new world may be even more terrifying than the one they left behind.

Fans of The Maze Runner and Ship Breaker will love the fast pace, high stakes, and touches of romance in this thrilling novel by an award-winning author.


Blurb about Antony: Antony John was born in England and raised on a balanced diet of fish and chips, obscure British comedies, and ABBA's Greatest Hits. In a fit of teenage rebellion, he decided to pursue a career in classical music, culminating in a BA from Oxford University and a PhD from Duke University. Along the way, he worked as an ice cream seller on a freezing English beach, a tour guide in the Netherlands, a chauffeur in Switzerland, a barista in Seattle, and a university professor. Writing by night, he spends his days as a stay-at-home dad—the only job that allows him to wear his favorite pair of sweatpants all the time. He lives in St. Louis with his family.

Antony, it's great having you back here at Ensconced in YA to celebrate the sequel to Elemental, FIREBRAND!

Thanks for having me! 

1. What were the hardest and best things about writing a sequel?

The best thing was knowing in advance that I was going to have that opportunity, which meant that I could think beyond a one-book story. Book 2 of a trilogy allows some narrative threads to be tied up, others to be started, and some to be continued into book 3. Working it all out is very gratifying. It's also very hard. Making sure that book 2 stands alone when it begins and ends in the middle of a larger story was definitely the greatest challenge. 

2. Now that you've been with your characters a little longer, who other than your main character do you think has grown/developed the most? Why?

Rose, for sure. In ELEMENTAL, she was almost a foil for Alice, who was the dynamic risk-taker. But when things turn dark in FIREBRAND (and, believe me, things turn very dark), Rose is forced to become extremely active. To me, her journey feels very organic and believable, and I think readers will identify with her. While we may wish we were more like Alice (or Katniss, or Tris), the truth is that many of us are like Rose, just trying to do the right thing, while bringing people together. What's interesting to me is how we respond when we no longer have the option of playing peacemaker.  

3. Since you don't like chocolate, what is your go to snack food? :-)

If you put fresh-baked bread in front of me, I can't help myself. I know it's not exactly a snack, but it's my weakness, for sure. 

4. If you could give three tips to a newbie writer, what would they be?

Take your time. Many first books are written quickly (think: Nanowrimo) and instinctually, which is great. But it really helps to put the manuscript aside for a while (preferably months) before editing. Use the time to work on a second project. The advantage is that when you return to the original book, you'll be more objective about its strengths and weaknesses.

Write for yourself. No book will be universally adored, and every writer has to come to terms with bad reviews at one time or another. As long as you're writing the book that you want to read, and making that book as strong as possible, you'll learn to live with negative feedback. If you're writing for someone else, you'll feel like you've been exposed as a fraud.

Surround yourself with a support team, and be honest about which person is best for which role. I'm not talking about an agent and editor, either (though both are wonderful allies). Almost ALL writers can assemble a team of thoughtful and positive beta readers, ego-boosters, and picky copy-editor types who will improve the manuscript and make the writing journey less lonely. However, do NOT keep someone in your support team if they cannot be open and honest, or if their input brings you down. 

5. Which is your favorite Harry Potter book and why?

Book 3 (aka PRISONER OF AZKABAN), because it was the book in which I realized "Holy moly, she really has planned this whole thing out to last seven books." I cannot imagine undertaking such a gargantuan task.  

6. If you could reread a book for the first time, what book would it be and why?

HOW I LIVE NOW by Meg Rosoff. I read this book in 2005 when I was first starting to write, and it completely blew me away. Everything about it -- the voice, the scope, the taut pacing -- helped to cement my impression of YA as a highly sophisticated genre. Now that I've been writing for years, I'd be interested to see if I can simply immerse myself in those elements (as I did back then), or if I'd find myself wanting to deconstruct the novel in hopes of working out why it's so darn good. 

7. Can you tell us a little hint for what's in store for Book 3?

Well, let's start by revealing the title for the first time!

( . . . drum roll, please . . . )

It'll be called RENEGADE, and picks up right where book 2 leaves off. I don't want to give any spoilers, so I'll just say that it answers all of the lingering questions from ELEMENTAL and FIREBRAND, including lots of juicy stuff about The Lost Colony. I'm fascinated by the legend of The Lost Colony, so this was seriously fun for me :)

Thanks again for having me along, Christina!

Sign up to win a signed ARC of Firebrand by Antony (US only)! 

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#UNBREATHABLE Twitter Party with the amazing debut author Hafsah Laziaf, Oct 29, 8pm CST

 I'm so excited to get the opportunity to host the #UNBREATHABLE twitter party for the wonderful Hafsah Laziaf who wrote this book!

Goodreads Book Description: One hundred and fifty years ago, Earth was destroyed, and the remaining humans fled to the dusty red planet of Jutaire, where the only oxygen is manufactured, food is scarce, and death strikes often.

When Lissa's father discovers Earth still exists, she accidentally inhales the toxic air of Jutaire, and in one breath, discovers she isn't quite human.

Her father hangs for his discovery, and Lissa knows the Chancellors will come for her, for she saw the Earth that night too. With nothing to lose, she sets out to expose the truth. It isn't long before she meets Julian, a beautiful boy who can breathe the toxic air like she can - and shows her that the Jute, the original inhabitants of the planet, are more tangled in their lives than she knows.

But the Chancellors are only pawns in a greater game - one where the Jute control everything. Worse, the Jute plan to leave Jutaire for Earth, but to get there, they need her. And they'll stop at nothing until Lissa is in their clutches, even if they kill every human in the process.

The race for Earth has begun.

Unbreathable is a tale of love, redemption, and sacrifice, and one girl's struggle to find her place in a world where she doesn't belong

About Hafsah: Hafsah Laziaf was born on the east coast on a hot summer day in 1993, raised on the west coast and is now stuck in the middle – in Texas – with more books than she can read.She’s the designer behind IceyDesigns andthe blogger behind IceyBooks.

Just a couple of reminders for the party: 
WHERE: Twitter
WHEN: October 29, 8pm CST.
PRIZES: Books, e-books, swag! Only one of the prizes isn't INT, so definitely come if you are INT!

Tips for the party: 
1. You should have a twitter account.
2. You should be following both @CAhnBooks and @IceyBooks to ensure that we see your tweets and that we can contact you with prize information.
3. After each comment, you should end it with #UNBREATHABLE or else we won't see it.
4. I'll be selecting winners RANDOMLY throughout the party, so the more you participate and the LONGER you participate, the more likely you are to win a prize.
5. Retweets will NOT count towards a prize. But these are nice to do for your fellow tweeters if you like what they are saying.
6. There will be one contest in the last 15 minutes. If we can't decide a winner easily, then all entries will be placed into a randomizer.
7. If we TREND, meaning if enough people attend and comment over a period of time, then I will be giving away a bonus prize!
8. Ask Hafsah all of your questions! I will be there to guide discussion if need be.
9. If you've read the book, NO SPOILERS! Nuff said.
10. The EASIEST way to follow a twitter party is to hook up your account to a chat program. I use http://twubs.com All you have to do is put #UNBREATHABLE at the top of the page where it says "Enter hashtags." It should prompt you to link up your twitter account. Say yes. Then you should be good to go! The other nice thing about this is that you don't have to type the hashtag after each comment, the program automatically does it for you. And you don't have to search for the hashtag, it automatically just follows the convo.
11. To those poor souls who don't have a twitter account. It's totally EASY. Get a twitter account! I finally got one for my blog, and it took literally seconds to set up. I'm so sorry, but if you don't have a twitter account, you won't be eligible for the prizes.

SO EXCITED! I hope to see a ton of people there! 8pm CST on October 29th for one hour! Be there!

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!!!
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Time After Time Playlist: Anna's Pick - Best of What's around by DMB and an INT GIVEAWAY!

This post will be one of the rare times this month I come out of hiding from studying for boards to say hello and do a promised post for a beloved author friend. It seems only fitting that I do this because I absolutely love Tamara Ireland Stone both as a person and as a writer and have been a long time fan of Dave Matthews Band. This way I get to combine my love of his music with my love for YA!

Goodreads Book description: Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds.

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

My thoughts on this book: I've actually already read this wonderful book (thanks, Netgalley!) and will just say fans of the first book won't be disappointed!

I have to once again post a wonderful picture of both Tamara and me at a book event :-)

Now to the song. It's been a while since I've read the lyrics to this particular song, but they really do fit Anna perfectly. Bennett and Anna are stuck in an impossible situation, separated by space and time, but they are such a great match for each other in every other way. Tamara told me the other day that she got the shivers when she reread the lyrics "Turns out not where but who you're with that really matters." It's so true.

And then the end of the song is so perfect, because it brings both Anna and Bennett full circle, and I can totally see her saying this to him: "Turns out not where, but what you think/ that really matters/ We'll make the best of what's around."

Sigh. YA book boyfriend anyone? OK, I admit it, I have a bit of a crush on Anna too :-)

"Best of What's Around" - DMB

Hey, my friend
It seems your eyes are troubled
Care to share your time with me
Would you say you're feeling low and so
A good idea would be to get it off your mind

See you and me
Have a better time than most can dream
Have it better than the best
So we can pull on through
Whatever tears at us
Whatever holds us down
And if nothing can be done
We'll make the best of what's around

Turns out not where but who you're with
That really matters
And hurts not much when you're around
And if you hold on tight
To what you think is your thing
You may find you're missing all the rest

Well she ran up into the light surprised
Her arms are open
Her mind's eye is

Seeing things from a
Better side than most can dream
On a clearer road I feel
Oh you could say she's safe
Whatever tears at her
Whatever holds her down
And if nothing can be done
She'll make the best of what's around

Turns out not where, but what you think
That really matters
We'll make the best of what's around!

Spotify links:  Time After Time: Anna's Shelf (1991-1995) and Time After Time: Bennett's Playlist (1995-2012)

I hope you enjoyed this stop of the blog hop! Don't forget to see the other stops too and also enter the giveaway!

Here's the link to the entire blog hop :-) 

http://tamarairelandstone.com/tat-playlist-blog-hop/

Now, enter this awesome INT giveaway to win a hardbound book set of Time Between Us and Time After Time OR an autographed copy of Time Between Us!

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Review of Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 by Richard Paul Evans and US giveaway of one of his books SIGNED!

I'm so excited to introduce the next book! I literally just finished it an hour before writing this post. Before I get to the book, I'd like to take a few moments and gush about how awesome Left Bank books, our local bookstore, and the library system are in St. Louis! The reason I know about this book is because I'm an affiliate of Left Bank Books, and they asked if I wanted to publicize this book and author since Richard Paul Evans is going to be in St. Louis IN PERSON for a signing on Monday, September 23rd at 7pm at the St. Louis Public Library, Central Library, 1301 Olive St. Yup, guys and gals, that's TOMORROW!

Anyway, because Left Bank Books is just that amazing, they told me they'd be willing to do a giveaway for a signed copy of one of his books. In response, I was like, welllll, I've never read any of Richard Paul Evans' books so why don't I go to the St. Louis County Library and see if they'll get me a copy. While they didn't have a copy in their library, I requested it, and 24 hours later, the book was ready for me to pick up! That's what I call service!

Then for the double win, I read the book, and it's terrific!

Goodreads Book Description: My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story.

To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers.

Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive.

My Rating: Somewhere between 4 and 4.5

My Review:  As mentioned above, I was asked by Left Bank Books to check out this book. Man, I'm glad they pointed it out to me. Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 was an unexpectedly good read for me. I actually didn't know too much about the book before reading it, so all I knew going in was that it vaguely had to do with super powers.

Michael Vey seems to be an ordinary 14 year old, but we find out in the first chapter that he has a hidden power. To make matters worse, he has Tourette's, which gets him in trouble since he says the wrong thing at the wrong time because of it. His powers are a secret, however, so he is forced to suffer in silence. When the prettiest girl in school approaches him, Michael realizes that maybe it's not so bad being him after all. The two of them and Michael's best friend Ostin (yes, his mother mispelled the name of the Texas capital) band together to try to figure out the mysterious origin of their powers. They discover deeply buried and explosive secrets (pun completely intended), and Michael has to decide between what is right and what is easy.

Okay, so I totally ripped off a promo for a movie or something. Not sure which one that phrase came from (maybe Spiderman?), but just let it suffice to say that I totally didn't make that up by myself. Anyway, what makes this book is the characters. We've all read books about kids with secret powers-- it's been overdone. How many books similar to the X-men have we all read?  But Michael is hysterically funny and has a unique voice, which completely makes this book succeed. Add a feisty, cute love interest and a hilarious, sidekick best friend who is smarter than everyone else combined (including the adults), and you get a terrific, fast paced read. 

This book doesn't reinvent the wheel, and I'd like to see more growth in the main character, which is why it didn't get a perfect score, but this is only the first book, and it sets up the next two in style. 

Overall, a terrific and fun read, and I can't wait to pick up the next book in the series. 

Now, enter to win a book from the Michael Vey series signed by Richard Paul Evans (US only)! Winner gets to choose which book!

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Character interview with Roemi from Tag Along by Tom Ryan and US/CAN giveaway of a signed copy of his book!

I'm so excited to introduce Roemi, my favorite character from Tag Along by Tom Ryan!

Goodreads Book Description: It’s junior prom night. Andrea is grounded, Paul is having panic attacks, Roemi has been stood up, and Candace is trying to avoid one particular cop. Over the course of eight eventful hours, paths are crossed, plans are changed, messages are mixed, and four near-strangers form some unlikely bonds.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Blurb about the Author:
Tom Ryan was born and raised in Inverness, on Cape Breton Island. He spent his childhood reading, wandering the countryside, making up stories and bossing around his younger brothers. After high school, he studied English at Mount Allison University and then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he studied film production. He currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with his partner and dog. In the future, he would like to write more books, travel the world, direct a feature film and eventually move back to beautiful Nova Scotia.

Character Interview with Roemi

Thanks for visiting my blog, Roemi! Can you tell us a little about your family and where you grew up?

My parents are both doctors who grew up in India. They emigrated to Canada before I was born, and so I’ve spent my entire fabulous life in not so fabulous Granite Ridge. They’re always telling me that they came to Canada so that their kids (i.e. yours truly, I’m flying solo here) would have more opportunities than they had, and I’m sure that’s true, but there are moments in January when I would kill to be chilling with my cousins back in my Mom’s hometown instead of staring out the window of a snowstorm, feeling totally tragic.

What is your favorite TV show? 
Omigod, where to begin? I was into True Blood for a loooong time, for obvious reasons, but now it’s just kind of ridic, so it’s not must-see-TV for me anymore. I just TIVO it and save up the episodes for sick or lazy days. I’m totally over Honey Boo-Boo, that kid got on my last nerve pretty quick. I’d have to say that at this point, the show I love the most is Breaking Bad, because that shizz is thirty-three million percent cray. Also, Jesse Pinkman is totally hot. Sorry, not sorry.

Who would you say your best friend is and why?

I’m not into the besties thing, although I let some of my friends at school think they’re the most important thing that’s ever happened to me. It’s just too much effort to spell it out for them. I like to think of myself as a lone wolf, a dazzlingly, dramatically, effortlessly, suave lone wolf with killer moves.

What's your favorite quote?

“I am a star. I am a bright big shining star.” Marky Mark in Boogie Nights 

Coffee or hot chocolate?

If I had sunglasses right now, I’d push them to the tip of my nose and give you a withering stare. Do you really need to ask? Chocolate beats rock, paper, and scissors, every time.

Would you rather-- get $1000 or receive a trip to the Caribbean that is double that amount?

A thousand bucks, any day. If I had a thousand bucks, I’d blow it on one incredible night with my friends. It’d be the kind of night that people talk about decades down the road. Legen – wait for it – dary.

Describe your perfect date.

Oh, it would have to start with a killer outfit. Skinny jeans, white belt, popped collar, you get the idea. I’d want to be a full on swag-demon, and it goes without saying that mister lucky had better show up looking pretty slick himself. Then we’d go for a romantic walk at the beach or some park or something like that before hitting up a fancy restaurant in the city. After that, we’d get milkshakes from Bizzby’s, and he’d take me for a fast drive on the highway. To finish it all off, a lingering kiss in the driveway before he drops me off. I’m swooning already.

Thanks, Roemi! It's been so awesome having your unique commentary on my blog :-) Hope you guys enjoyed it as much as I did! Now enter to win a signed copy of Tag Along!

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Interview with Tom Ryan, author of Tag Along and US/CAN giveaway of signed copy of his book!

I'm so excited to introduce Tom Ryan, the author of the wonderful Tag Along, which totally took me by surprise! (In a good way, of course!)

Goodreads Book Description: It’s junior prom night. Andrea is grounded, Paul is having panic attacks, Roemi has been stood up, and Candace is trying to avoid one particular cop. Over the course of eight eventful hours, paths are crossed, plans are changed, messages are mixed, and four near-strangers form some unlikely bonds.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Blurb about the Author:
Tom Ryan was born and raised in Inverness, on Cape Breton Island. He spent his childhood reading, wandering the countryside, making up stories and bossing around his younger brothers. After high school, he studied English at Mount Allison University and then moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he studied film production. He currently lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with his partner and dog. In the future, he would like to write more books, travel the world, direct a feature film and eventually move back to beautiful Nova Scotia.

Author Interview

1. I always love hearing about how authors got started. Can you regale us with your story?

I’ve been making up stories since as long as I can remember. I lived in a really rural part of the world – in an old farmhouse on a dirt road surrounded by fields and forests and the low lying mountains of the Cape Breton highlands – so I spent a lot of time by myself, wandering around and imagining myself getting caught up in adventures. 

I also read books constantly. I grew up in the 80s, pre-internet, and we didn’t have cable, just a couple of local Canadian channels with very little to watch, so books were my world. I’m so happy that I was pretty much forced into that corner, because I’m still not sure if I would have become the reader I am today if I’d had access the distractions of today’s world!

I loved books so much, in fact, that I ended up studying English literature at university. One of the courses I took was a creative writing workshop. It was my final year, and every Friday afternoon ten of us would meet with our amazing professor in a wood paneled room high in the rafters of the old stone humanities building. That course totally changed the way I looked at myself as a writer. Having the opportunity to discuss my work with other fledgling writers under the guidance of a creative and enthusiastic teacher, really lit a fire under my butt. I kept writing after I graduated, and eventually that lead to the opportunity to publish my first YA novel, WAY TO GO. 

2. My favorite part of your story is how amazingly real all of your characters seem. Did you have a personal favorite? (I did). Did any of them surprise you?

I’m really happy to hear you say that! One of the things I remember most clearly and fondly about high school is how so many crazy combinations of friends were able to develop in unusual but organic ways. I wanted to write a book that followed a few different characters through the same night, and it was really important to me that each of the four main characters – Paul, Andrea, Candace and Roemi – have distinct voices.

I did a lot of planning before I wrote, since I had to weave together four different plotlines, and so I had a pretty good idea of what was going to happen with each character, but I have to say that at the end of everything, Candace really surprised me. Her story took me in a different direction than I’d originally expected, and her outcome was maybe the most satisfying for me. 

As for favorite character, that’s like asking someone about their favorite kid! I will say that the idea for the book came to me when Roemi burst into my mind, fully formed. It’s a special thing as an author to have a character show up ready to roll. I just had to sit back and let him do all of the work, so I definitely have a special fondness for him.

 3. In three words, how would you describe Tag Along?

Good question! Hmmmm…. I’m going to go with “unexpected friendships develop.”

 4. Did you come up with the title Tag Along? If so, how did you come up with it?

Yep, it’s my title. The funny thing is, I just stuck it onto the manuscript when I submitted it, because I couldn’t think of anything better. I always figured I’d change it, but as the book went through several rounds of editing, it became clearer and clearer that it had a nice ring to it and it really does fit the story.

 5. What is a book you wish you could read again for the first time?

Oh man, this is a tough one. There are so many. I’m going to go with “The Secret History,” by Donna Tartt, because I absolutely love that book. I read it on vacation about five years ago – we were renting a little cottage on the South Shore of Nova Scotia and I sat on the beach and devoured it. Now whenever I see a copy for sale at a yard sale or secondhand bookstore, I grab it and give it to the next friend who admits they haven’t read it.

I also love her second book “The Little Friend,” and I’m super excited for her third book, “The Goldfinch,” which comes out in October!

6. What person have you always wanted to meet?

Oprah. Don’t judge me.

7. What do you have on the horizon? Will we ever see the characters from Tag Along again?

I have a couple of middle grade novels coming out, one in October, at the same time as TAG ALONG, and one in the spring. They’re called TOTALLY UNRELATED and BIG TIME, and they are both part of a new line of books Orca Book Publishers is releasing about young teens in the performing arts. They were a lot of fun to write.

At the moment I’m working exclusively on a manuscript that I hope to use to find an agent. I was lucky enough to get into the publishing biz without even querying, but I’m at a point now where I could really use some advice and help developing my career. As for what the book is about, I’ll just say that it’s book one in a trilogy, and I’ve been working on it for over a year and hoping to wrap it up over the next couple of months. It’s been a departure for me, since it’s my first non-contemporary, but I’ve loved every second of writing it!

Thanks so much for joining us, Tom, and enter to win his awesome book! Also, stick around for tomorrow's interview with the fabulous Roemi, my favorite character in Tag Along!

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