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