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By: C. C. Gevry,
on 5/16/2013
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A delightful book about tackling your fears awaits young readers in Meg the Egg by Rita Antoinette Borg.
Mother Hen is thrilled when her two chicks, Peg and Keg, hatch into the world. But Meg wants to stay in her egg because she is frightened by the noises she hears each night. No amount of coaxing from Mother Hen can convince Meg to hatch. When Howls the fox snatches Mother Hen off her nest, Meg the Egg decides she must push aside her fears to save her.
Facing your fears can be tough even for adults. In this charming picture book from Rita Antoinette Borg, children follow Meg as she taps into strength she doesn’t know she possesses to save her beloved mother who has been begging her to hatch. Showing kids that a bit of ingenuity goes a long way, Meg the Egg educates and entertains. Fun illustrations and onomatopoeia fill the pages of this empowering story.
This is a book children will want to read time and again. Just like the classic story of The Three Little Pigs, children will enjoy watching Meg face her fears and outsmart the fox.
Rating: 
Paperback: 32 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform; Lrg edition (June 1, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1466353147
ISBN-13: 978-1466353145
Last Day to Enter for Your Chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card or
1 of 5 Free Electronic Copies of Meg the Egg!
Visit the book’s tour page at http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2013/04/01/pump-up-your-book-presents-rita-antoinette-borgs%E2%80%99s-meg-the-egg-book-blast-%E2%80%93-win-25-amazon-gift-card-and-free-books/ and complete the Rafflecopter form to enter this fabulous giveaway.
Rita Antoinette Borg was educated in New York and now resides on the Mediterranean island of Malta. She performs storytelling and creative writing workshops in schools across the country and works as a freelance writer for local magazines and newspapers. Ms. Borg has published four picture books aimed at early readers as well as an anthology of short stories for older children. Her books have been recognized by the Malta National Annual Literary Awards. Her book “Don’t Cross the Road, Holly!” was chosen as the year’s best Children’s Book in English. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Writers & Illustrators.
I received a free ecopy of this book from the author. The author paid me a fee to promote this book through a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book. That fee did not include a review. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.
Title: The Guilty One
Author: Lisa Ballantyne Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Publication Date: March 19, 2013
Review: Daniel Hunter is no stranger to lost causes. In fact, there was a time, not too long ago, when he himself was seen as a lost cause. His mother was a junkie, so he spent most of his childhood dependent upon the state to place him in proper care. He always felt a constant need to look after his mother, even sacrificing his own needs for her benefit.
But then he went to live with Minnie. At first, he treated her like all the other foster parents, eager to leave and return to his mother. But there was something different about Minnie. A widow who lost her husband soon after the shocking death of her only daughter, Minnie seemed just as damaged as he was. Soon, the two formed a bond, and Daniel finally seemed to find a home.
Then the betrayal happened. While Daniel was beginning his studies as a law student, he discovered a secret that Minnie had kept from him. This information was simply too much to handle. Suddenly Minnie changed from a loving mother figure to just another person who betrayed his trust. In that moment, Daniel vowed never to speak to her again, and to create his future on his own.
Fast forward a few years, and Daniel is a successful solicitor working in London. His own troubled background has provided him with the unique ability to defend troubled youth. After the unexpected death of an eight-year-old boy, found dead in a playground, he is called to defend the eleven-year-old neighbor, Sebastian Croll, accused of murdering the other boy. Instantly, Daniel feels a connection to Sebastian. The young boy is surprisingly aware of his situation, and consistently declares his innocence. But there is something unsettling about the boy. He seems strangely fascinated with the details of the other boy's death, and displays an unusual interest in topics that most would find disturbing.
Despite this, Daniel agrees to defend Sebastian. Immediately, the media latches on to the story, shining a light not only on the lives of the victim and accused, but on Daniel as well. As the case begins, Daniel learns of the death of Minnie. Now, as he embarks on arguably the most important case of his career, Daniel finds his past colliding with the present, forcing him to remember his past actions, and atone for his own personal guilt.
In The Guilty One, author Lisa Ballantyne has crafted a genuine story of believable characters facing the harsh realities of our time. She calls into question the practices of juvenile trials, and the effects such events have on the mental and physical health of those involved. Each chapter alternates between the present events of the trial Daniel's personal flashbacks. In doing this, Ballantyne lets to story slowly unfold, maximizing both the suspense as well as character development. She beautifully creates connections between the past and present events, bringing and inevitable coherence to the entire narrative. Despite the often unpleasant subject matter, especially in the details of the small child's death, I felt emotionally connected and moved by the characters and events that unfolded. The ending, while not necessarily expected, left me satisfied and craving even more time with the characters that a grew close to. This is an exceptional novel of emotional depth and lingering suspense.
By: C. C. Gevry,
on 5/12/2013
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Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop
May 13th – 19th
Hosted by
KidLitFrenzy, Mymcbooks
& I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
What is Children’s Book Week?
Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Each year, books for young people and the joy of reading are feted for a full week with author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast!
For more information please visit: http://www.bookweekonline.com/
Celebrate & Promote Children’s Book Week by taking part in The Children’s Book Week Giveaway Hop.
Giveaway Hop Rules
Each participating blog will host a giveaway on their site.
- The giveaway must be for a children’s book (picture, juvenile fiction, middle grade, young adult).
- No more than 6 possible entries per person. 1 mandatory & up to 5 optional.
- Offering a Gift Card or book of choice from The Book Depository is fine.
- Any family friendly blog or site is welcome to join.
- Your post must include the Children’s Book Week image, the linky or a link to one of the host’s sites & must be live by 9:00 AM on May 13th.
The Children’s and Teen’s Book Connection is offering the following giveaway:
My First Touch and Feel Farm compiled by tiger tales
My First Touch and Feel Pets compiled by tiger tales
My First Book of Things to Learn compiled by tiger tales
My First Book of Things to See compiled by tiger tales
How to enter for your chance to win:
1. Leave a comment (including your email address so we can contact you if you win) answering the question: What is your favorite book from your childhood?
2. Tweet this giveaway for a bonus entry (+5). Leave a link to your tweet in the comments section.
Rules of this giveaway: Open to residents of the United States 18 years of age or older. Only those who follow the rules of this contest are eligible to win. Winner will be selected by Random.org and contacted by email. Winner has 72 hours to respond with mailing address or a new winner will be selected. Prize will be shipped via USPS. The Children’s and Teens’s Book Connection is not responsible for items lost or damaged in shipment. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM Eastern on May 19, 2013.
Visit More Participating Blogs:
Okay, so this giveaway is super awesome and super easy! Like one comment easy. And it's for real finished copies of SOLSTICE, not ARCs.
Tor is offering up 4 finished copies of SOLSTICE for giveaway, but it's only going on for a few more days, so head over to their blog and check it out!
In more YAB Fest awesomeness, the very cool Sharon Bayliss has put together an amazing giveaway of signed books by some of the participating YAB Fest authors!
(And if you missed it, you can read my post on YAB Fest here.)
About YAB Fest:"The Young Adult Book Festival (or YAB Fest) is a brand new book festival designed to promote reading among teens in the suburbs and surrounding areas of North Austin and northern Central Texas. Our goal is to provide students with a phenomenal experience to meet and interact with a wide variety of authors writing in different genres." - from
yabfest.com****
About the Giveaway:Sign up on the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win. Signed paperbacks must be picked up from the authors at the festival!
GIVEAWAY FOR YAB FEST ATTENDEES:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
It’s finally May—the flowers are pushing through the dirt, the sun is ablaze with warm promises…and, well, it’s time to take a break!
I thought I’d consult with someone who knows vacationing very well. No, not my Aunt Myrna, the Long Island travel agent queen. Salina Yoon’s Penguin!
He’s a cute, chubby fellow with an itch for adventure. Let’s scratch it, shall we?
Penguin, thanks so much for joining me today. Tell me, what’s been happening at home that you decided a vacation was in order?
Hi Ms. Tara! I was just bored of the snow and ice. I can only count to 99, and after I counted my 99th snowball, I didn’t know what else to do.
You could make 33 miniature snowmen, but ya know, I like the vacation idea better.
What did Grandpa say when you packed your bag?
33 miniature snowmen…I never thought of that!
Grandpa always says to me that I should go and explore the world—and I will come back a wiser penguin. I think he is right. Grandpa is very wise, and he has traveled very far. In fact, he has been to the beach once long ago. He gave me his old swim suit for my trip. It fit perfectly.
I hope you sent him a postcard. He probably missed you very much.
I did better than that, Ms. Tara! I met a lovely seagull on the beach, and she had a camera. It went, “click! click! click!” and pretty pictures came out of a box. She took some photos of me and Crab, and Seagull delivered the photos to Grandpa because she can fly! It was very nice of Seagull. It turns out that we are distant relatives!
Speaking of Crab, you did some fun things together. What other places did you two visit on your vacation?
Crab took me caving, snorkeling, and even cliff diving on the island! I am a very good swimmer, so it was very fun. But the caves were nothing like the ice caves back at home. It was fun to see and try new things.
What advice do you have for kids heading away on vacation to someplace new and different?
My advice is to make new friends on vacation, because they will know how to have fun there even if you don’t! Also, I would say to be open to trying new things because you can do what you always do and eat the foods you always eat when you get back home. And take sunscreen…if you are going someplace sunny!
Where would you like to vacation next?
I would love to visit the Grand Canyon one day, even though I would have to pack a lot of ice with me to stay comfortable. I would also like to visit Mount Everest and see the world from the highest point on Earth! And then of course, Disneyland!
That sounds perfect. I can hear the television announcer booming, “Penguin, you just had your book published, what are you going to do now?!”
Thanks for waddling by today, Penguin. And thanks for leaving behind your adorable book signed by Salina, plus a beach ball to boot! Or throw. Or float in the pool with. Whatever the winner prefers!
Thank you for inviting me to talk with you, Ms. Tara. And happy vacationing, friends!
Please leave a comment below telling Penguin about your favorite vacation spot.
A winner of the book and ball will be randomly selected in one week!
Good luck!
By: C. C. Gevry,
on 4/29/2013
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A. R. Talley (April R Talley) received her Bachelor of Arts degree in mass media communications from the University of Akron, in Akron, Ohio. Previous to the completion of her degree, she was employed by Osmond Productions working on the production staff of The Donny and Marie Show and several other shows produced at Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah. She later worked as vice president and part owner of a dance and sportswear clothing boutique. She has been married for over thirty years, the mother of seven children, and grandmother to six. Now, she keeps herself busy caring for the two children she still has at home, volunteering for her church, reading and writing. David’s Song is her debut novel and the first of a trilogy. You can follow April on her blog – talleyar.blogspot.com, or on twitter – A.R. Talley@ARTalley13, or on Facebook – ARTalley7
Thank you for joining us today, April. Can you please start off by telling us a bit about yourself?
Well, as the bio said, I am a wife and mother and grandmother…although I don’t think I’m old enough to be the latter. I was born in the month of April, that’s how I got my name. My mother was very original – good thing I was not a boy. I live in Ohio with my husband and two of my children who are still in school. I am relatively new to the writing game. I started writing about 5 years ago. I wish that someone would have told me when I was much younger that I could write down all those stories I had floating around in my head, because I LOVE doing it. I also love music and reading. I play the piano. I also enjoy poking around in the garden, decorating, and traveling (especially cruises because I can sit on the deck of a ship and read…best of both worlds!)
When did you first get bit by the writing bug?
Like I said above, I started writing about 5 years ago. And I guess you could say that the bug bit hard. In the last 5 years I have completed 4 novels and have the beginnings of 2 more.
Why did you decide to write stories for the YA market?
I don’t consider David’s Song a YA novel, but I have written one. I wrote it after finishing the David’s Song Trilogy. And I decided to write in the YA genre for two reasons. 1. I enjoy reading YA fiction. And 2. I really like teenagers. I think they are interesting and fun to be around.
What is your favorite part of writing for this group? What is the greatest challenge?
My favorite part of writing for the YA group is also the most challenging part – and that is getting the language right. Teens and Young Adults speak very differently than I did when I was that age. I found myself asking my teenagers and college age kids if I was getting right. When I did, it was fun to play with the language.
Can you tell us what your latest book is all about?
By latest book, I assume you mean David’s Song. This book is about a young woman, Annie, who while in college meets and falls in love with two men. One breaks her heart and the other marries her. Several years later, while on a get away with old college roommates, Annie meets up with David, the boy who broke her heart. At this time, she’s having some marital difficulties and is feeling insecure and vulnerable. David feeling a spark of old feelings, courts and attempts to woo Annie away from her troubled marriage. The story culminates as Annie is faced with the choice of her marriage – or a chance at lost love. You’ll have to read the book to find out which she chooses.
What inspired you to write it?
I was inspired to write the story after meeting up with a man who I had a crush on in college. We were nothing more than casual friends at the time. But I started wondering what would have happened if things had worked out differently.
Where can readers purchase a copy?
Readers can purchase a print or ebook copy online at Barnes and Noble, Amazon (look for it under the author name of A.R. Talley), or at Authorhouse.com.
What is up next for you?
Up next is getting the second book of the trilogy printed. It’s titled Jeremy’s Promise, and readers can actually get a sneak peek at the end of David’s Song. I’m hoping to release Jeremy’s Promise this fall.
Do you have anything else to add?
Just want to thank you for this chance to share a little bit about me and my work. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!
Thank you for spending time with us today, April. We wish you much success.
ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A $50 AMAZON GIFT CARD OR PAYPAL CASH. ENDS 5/12/13. CLICK HERE.
Deliah Lopez Dreser’s in town to take care of family business. They say the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, but there’s more to Lilah than meets the eye. Cole’s in danger of losing his heart when this firestorm throws sparks his way. However, is she simply playing him for the fool in order to exact revenge for her brother’s murders?
Maggie and Seth’s reaction when the truth is revealed pushes friendship to the limit. And this time around it won’t be a Dreser causing an uproar in Port Fare. It will be Cole's good friend Booker. But does Booker have it all wrong? Usually not!
Full cover
Book Trailer
Author Bio
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Unlovable was Sherry's debut novel and quickly rose to many top seller lists on Amazon. She is pleased to announce that Unlovable is currently being made into a movie. She has added three more novels to her body of work. Souls in Peril, the poignant story of Max Sanchez who is on a journey to help the struggling JD Miller survive high school, and Pete & Tink, a fun, light-hearted novella of a manga-loving geek and and five-and-a-half inch fairy. And UNBELIEVABLE, Book 2 in the Port Fare Series
Sherry and her husband, along with their children and a couple of crazy dogs, call Upstate New York home. It is where she spends her nights writing instead of sleeping {:
Click Links:
ONLY THREE entries are Mandatory, the rest are optional on the Rafflecopter!
Prizes:
1. A Signed paperback copy of Unlovable and Unbelievable
2. An Ecopy of Unbelievable
3. A signed book wreath made from the pages of Unlovable
4. Swag5. Sheppard's Hook Bookmarks
This is open to everyone. I can't always afford shipping when it's going overseas but I do want international people to get recognized too. (I haven't forgotten about you guys!)
I have an ARC of The Elite up for grabs. I wanted to put this post up yesterday but alas, my laptop decided to do updates and then my battery went dead.
Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.
America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.
Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.
Rules:
Open to everyone
13+
Winner must respond within 48 hours
a Rafflecopter giveaway
I'm doing a blog tour this week and next. Hope you can drop by one of these sites. A few of them have giveaways, so you can enter for a chance to win my book, Unraveled.
April
15 – Spotlight @ Dana’s YABook Pile
15 – Guest Blog and Giveaway @ A Little Bit of R & R
17 – Spotlight and GIveaway @ The Rambling’s of a Toddler’s Mom
17 – Interview @ Laurie’s Non-paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
18 – Spotlight & Review @ Lindsay’s Scribblings
18 – Spotlight @ The Bootheel Cotton Patch
19 – Spotlight & Extended Excerpt @ Laura Diamond
19 – Guest Blog & Review @
My Guilty Obsession22 – Guest Blog @
Karen Y.Bynum24 – Interview & Review @
Out There Reviews and Stuff25 – Interview & Review @
Girls Heart Books26 – Spotlight & Review @
Falling into Reading Reviews29 – Spotlight @
New Age Mama30 – Character Post & Review & Giveaway @
Reader Girls (Post from Autumn's Point of view: What makes a great FBI profiler and what she expects to gain from becoming one?)
Parallel is due to release on May 14th and I have an ARC to give to someone who will review it. If interested, please enter below and good luck!
Abby Barnes had a plan. The Plan. She'd go to Northwestern, major in journalism, and land a job at a national newspaper, all before she turned twenty-two. But one tiny choice—taking a drama class her senior year of high school—changed all that. Now, on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, Abby is stuck on a Hollywood movie set, miles from where she wants to be, wishing she could rewind her life. The next morning, she's in a dorm room at Yale, with no memory of how she got there. Overnight, it's as if her past has been rewritten.
With the help of Caitlin, her science-savvy BFF, Abby discovers that this new reality is the result of a cosmic collision of parallel universes that has Abby living an alternate version of her life. And not only that: Abby's life changes every time her parallel self makes a new choice. Meanwhile, her parallel is living out Abby's senior year of high school and falling for someone Abby's never even met.
As she struggles to navigate her ever-shifting existence, forced to live out the consequences of a path she didn't choose, Abby must let go of the Plan and learn to focus on the present, without losing sight of who she is, the boy who might just be her soul mate, and the destiny that's finally within reach.
Rules:
US Only
13+
Winner must respond within 48 hours
a Rafflecopter giveaway
SORRY FOR THE DELAY!
Geesh, I am full of apologies lately. I’m so far behind in everything, which might not surprise you if you read my Emu’s Debuts post about “balance” being overrated. Being a mother, an author, managing my book launch and Multiple Sclerosis…phew. Wanna be an intern? Inquire within. Better terms and conditions than Kramerica Industries!
First I’d like to THANK YOU for backing my friend Ryan Hipp’s Kickstarter project, LITTLE STEPS. Ryan has exceeded his goal with more than a week to go. HIPP HIPP HOORAY!
Next, here are the winners from the past two giveaways! (Selected with the help of Random.org.)
WATCH YOUR TONGUE, CECILY BEASLEY by Lane Fredrickson:
Tina M. Cho!
NUGGET AND FANG PRIZE PACK from Tammi Sauer:
Laura Dineen!
CONGRATULATIONS! Watch for an email from me.
And that’s all folks. But stay tuned—lots of book reviews coming soon, including a rare “poisonous” foray into YA fiction! I’ll also be walking you through what it takes to plan a book launch, which today includes getting quotes for COOKIES. Sweet!
It’s my pleasure to announce the winners of the prizes from the Sixth Annual Slice of Life Story Challenge. Yet again, I ran into a good problem this year. More people sliced and… Read More →
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By: Caroline Starr Rose,
on 4/2/2013
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I've been preparing behind the scenes since January, working with eighteen different teachers, readers, librarians, authors, and poets to bring you their thoughts on poetry. For the rest of the month* this space will be devoted to their words. I'm excited to share these wonderful posts with you and to join in the discussion !
4/3 -- Jennifer Gennari :: Opening the Heart of Characters Through Poetry
4/4 -- Paul Hankins :: Coming Back to Poetry and Leaving the Textbook Behind
4/5 -- Lee Wardlaw :: 8 Things I Learned From My Cats About Writing Haiku
4/6 -- Caroline Starr Rose :: Words Inspiring Words -- a Poem for Sharon Creech's LOVE THAT DOG
4/8 -- Lisa Taylor :: Three Poems and Why I Know Them
4/9 -- Gabrielle Prendergast :: Using Acrostic Poetry Both In and Out of the Language Arts Classroom
4/10 -- Paul Janeczko :: Poetry is to Share
4/11 -- Rosanne Parry :: The Reluctant Poet
4/12 -- Anne Greenwood Brown :: Victorian Poets and Paranormal Romance
4/15 -- Jessica Bell :: The Vignette
4/16 -- Augusta Scattergood :: Learning by Heart
4/17 -- Robert L. Forbes :: Looking Out the Window
4/18 -- Laurel Garver :: Stories that Sing -- Poems with a Plot
4/19 -- Amy Ludwig VanDerwater :: Poem Spools -- Stitch by Stitch
4/22 -- Jayne Jaudon Ferrer :: C'mon, Give It Another Chance
4/23 -- Margaret Simon :: The ABC's of Poetry
4/24 -- Kathryn Fitzmaurice :: On Destiny and Emily Dickinson
4/25 -- Kathryn Burak :: First Poems and My Mother -- The Sleever and Muse
4/26 -- Theresa Milstein :: Becoming
4/30 -- Giveaway winner announced
*4/29 We will return to our Lucy Maud Montgomery Read Along discussion briefly before the final poetry post on 4/30.
Giveaway:
Dudes, it’s new Tammi Sauer! YES!!!! *Jersey fist pump*
Ya know Tammi, right? She’s the most prolific picture book author this side of the Atlantic! (And that side, too.)
An annual contributor to Picture Book Idea Month, Tammi has dispensed invaluable picture book pointers about story structure, celebrating the weird stuff in life, and putting a twist on the familiar. She’s also a regular PiBoIdMo participant, and NUGGET AND FANG is her success story from the November 2009 event!
So the unlikely underwater duo are here today to chomp away! (Don’t worry, Tammi’s here, too. Fang didn’t gobble her up.)
Tammi, what about unlikely friendship stories makes them so fun to write?
If two characters are at odds in some big way, that immediately builds in tension and offers real deal conflict. This can provide great opportunities for humor, too. That’s fun stuff! Some unlikely friendships deal with issues such as neatness versus messiness or quiet versus loud. The quandary that my characters face is clear–sharks and minnows aren’t supposed to be friends because everybody knows sharks EAT minnows.
Sharks are popular characters these days! What makes FANG stand out in the world of storybook selachimorpha? (Yes, that is a real word. I looked it up. Honest.)
Michael Slack’s first sketch of the carnivorous chums.
I love that I have a contender in storybook selachimorpha. It sounds super sophisticated. As for Fang, he stands out among regular sharks because he has a huge heart. Yes, he’s toothy, but, holy mackerel, my guy is irresistible. If I were a minnow, I’d be honored to be his friend.
What are some of your favorite unlikely friendship stories/books?
My Favorite Unlikely Friendship Story of 2012 was BOY + BOT by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Dan Yaccarino. That book is brilliant in 2,465 different ways. Plus, Ame has blue hair. (Tara’s note: sometimes it’s pink or purple, or even rainbow leopard.)
A fun and endearing unlikely friendship story that just came out this past February is WOOBY AND PEEP written by my oh-so-fabulous critique partner Cynthea Liu, illustrated by Mary Peterson. (Hey, WOOBY AND PEEP are coming soon to a blog near you. Umm, this one.)
If NUGGET and FANG could endorse their book personally, what do you think they would say?
Nugget: Holy mackerel! Get your fins on this book. It’s FANG-tastic!
Fang: Sink your teeth into our book. It’s a total NUGGET of awesomeness!
Well, I’ve got a nugget of awesomeness for you, dear blog readers: a “NUGGET AND FAN” (not a typo–you’re a fan already, right?) prize pack, including a signed first edition, a teacher’s poster, and adorable tattoos you can slap on any fin (or bicep). Just leave a comment or question for Tammi to enter and a winner will be chomped up later this month! In the meantime, go visit these seaworthy sidekicks!
Dear Teachers and Librarians,
The fabulous folks at Viking Children's Books and Penguin Young Readers Group, are playing host to me for a week long, cross country tea party to celebrate the publication of TEA REX! I'll be stopping in for tea and biscuits (and books) in Raleigh, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, before coming back home for the terrific TEA REX launch party at Changing Hands Bookstore on April 13!
And, as one good turn deserves another, I would like to play host to your class- for a tea party in my studio!
A virtual tea party... which includes:
*A classroom Skype visit with me (and REX) over tea
*A copy of TEA REX
* Tea and Cookies for everyone!
To enter your class for a chance to win, kindly R.S.V.P. by leaving a comment below before midnight (PST) April 14, 2013.
And please spread the word by inviting a friend to do the same!
One winning entry will be randomly chosen on April 15.
Cheers!
Today, I'd like to welcome Kathleen Tucker, author of Ten Tiny Breaths, to talk about the hot, up-and-coming New Adult genre!
New Adult: What’s all the fuss about?
New Adult is a relatively new term in the publishing world. So new that, up until very recently, publishing houses have not accepted works as “New Adult”, classifying them as either “Young Adult” or “Adult”. But finally people are giving this thing that exists between YA and Adult a closer look. Why do I call it a thing? Well, I’ve heard NA called a genre, a sub-genre, a category. I can’t say exactly what it is.
The NA books hitting today’s shelves (both virtual and physical) take the romance genre and give it new life, or an edge. Up until about a year ago, I didn’t read a lot of contemporary romance. In my head, I pictured one of two things: one—a bored housewife diddling the next door neighbor to satisfy her long-lost urges or two—fifteen-year-olds and a climatic kiss at a school gym dance. Neither appealed to me, especially with all of these amazing paranormal, dystopian, and high fantasy books out there, full of excitement and gripping heart ache; love stories tied to big, disastrous situations. Exciting, right?
Well, then I got schooled. Last summer I read a few fantastic books that could be considered New Adult or Mature YA romance. No vampires, no magic. Just real people dealing with disastrous situations and love. The authors took situations like rape, physical violence, and inappropriate relationships and spun stories that I couldn’t put down. Those books were Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, Slammed by Colleen Hoover, and Easy by Tammara Webber.
NA books have breathed new life into the romance category, creating a need to tell edgy stories about problems that people face in their late teens and twenties, when they are old enough to be out on their own and make decisions but still don’t really know who they are. It’s a time in their lives when they will make mistakes and stupid choices, where angst over love interests still exists, and where partying and sex can steer decisions. To be clear, New Adult isn’t about drugs, alcohol, and sex (not a well-written story anyway). That’s not what I’m saying. But, as is the case for many people during this time in their lives, these elements are a part of what makes life confusing. Sometimes it’s a big part.
That’s my take on why New Adult has taken the industry by storm. :)
Thanks to The Bookish Type for hosting me today! xoxo
Thanks so much to Kathleen for stopping by!Buy the bookJust breathe, Kacey. Ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them.
Four years ago Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, holding her boyfriend’s lifeless hand and listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, twenty year old Kacey and her fifteen year old sister Livie escape Grand Rapids, Michigan to start over in Miami. Struggling to make ends meet, Kacey needs to figure out how to get by. But Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D.
Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes, deep dimples, and perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction is undeniable and Trent is determined to find a way into Kacey’s guarded heart—even if it means that an explosive secret could shatter both their worlds.
Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.
For more about this author, please visit:
And follow the rest of the tour:
March 18: I Love Lady Porn AND ChickLovesLit
March 19: 3 Chicks & Their Books
March 20: A Book Lovers Review
March 21: FicTalk AND Shh Mom's Reading
March 22: Chapter by Chapter AND The Bookish Type
March 23: Waves of Fiction
March 24: Brittany Blabs Books
March 25: The Book Hookup AND The Bookish Babe
March 26: ReaderGirls AND Books Complete Me
March 27: Anna's Romantic Reads AND BookBite Reviews
March 28: Stuck in Books
March 29: Book Bitches Blog
GIVEAWAY
Enter to win 1 of 3 signed galleys! Physical copies will not be available elsewhere until October, so you don't want to miss your chance to get your hands on a copy!
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At least, in my writing.
My new story is available now.
Promise of Tomorrow
An Amish of Tomorrow Series
Volume One: Salvation
I've written in the Amish genre before. Some of you may have read the
Defective Amish Detective series. It is sometimes silly and sometimes sweet. We are currently working on Volume 4, but if you have not read it, you can find part 1 for Kindle here:
http://goo.gl/UuI5vWhile the Defective Detective is fun to write, I am taking a more serious turn with
Promise of Tomorrow. That's not to say there won't be humor, but it will not be outright slapstick. In this new series, I am excited because it gives me a chance to explore my own faith. I am not converting, not packing up to head to Pennsylvania. I put a little more of myself into this one and, at the same time, taken it far beyond where I could ever physically go.
I like the quote from Joss Whedon, "I write to give myself strength. I write to be the characters that I am not. I write to explore all the things I'm afraid of." I feel like that on this new story. Funny thing, my writing music for this one was the
Firefly soundtrack (and that was before I read this quote).
You can find this first part of my 10 part series on eBook.
Now, here comes the fun part! My publisher, Helping Hands Press, has a new event that will take place every Wednesday on their Facebook page:
http://on.fb.me/WHBW5D
There will be fun discussions and exciting giveaways! I am one of the featured authors this week (3/20), so who knows what you might see when you stop by from 7 to 8:30 PM EST!
And if you don't make it to Wacky Wednesday, be sure to check out the widget at the top right of my blog. We are doing a Goodreads giveaway too!
Thanks to Walker Books, I have a copy of Megan Miranda’s Hysteria to give to one of you!
About the book:
Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can’t remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn’t charged. But Mallory still feels Brian’s presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others.
In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda’s masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.(
Ready for your chance to win a copy of Hysteria by Megan Miranda? Just will out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following. US mailing addresses only.
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If you start the adult challenge no later than Monday, March 4th and properly link your slice of life stories to the daily call for slice of life stories through March 31st, then you will be eligible to win a copy of What a Writer Needs, Second Edition.
I am so excited to be featuring the first stop on
The Chronicles of Egg tour!
Author Geoff Rodkey is traveling around the blogosphere to give readers a look into his series, The Chronicles of Egg. Here on GreenBeanTeenQueen, he's giving us a peek into the character of Egg. Don't forget to follow the tour and enter for your chance to win one set of signed, personalized copies of the paperback of
Book One: Deadweather and Sunrise and an ARC of Book 2: New Lands.
MEET EGG MASTERSON Egbert "Egg" Masterson, the narrator and unlikely hero of
Deadweather and Sunrise, has no shortage of problems.
First of all, there's his name. Egbert might just be the world's worst first name, made all the more awful for the fact that his older siblings are named Venus and Adonis.
Those siblings are a whole other problem. Venus and Adonis are as cruel as they are stupid--although the stupidity's actually a blessing, because if they were any more clever, they'd be absolutely lethal.
The children's tutor, Percy, is no help at all--not just because he's staggeringly lazy and every bit as mean-spirited as Venus and Adonis, but because he's a complete fraud. He owns a hundred and thirty-seven books but hasn't read a single one, and while he's fond of spouting endless facts about science, history, and the like, none of them are actually true.
Not that Egg's father notices any of this. He's too busy running the family's ugly fruit plantation, which is the only non-criminal enterprise on Deadweather--an island that, except for the Mastersons, is entirely populated by pirates.
The pirates, as you can imagine, are not very good neighbors. Although in some ways, they're less of a threat than the volcano--which belches smoke and shakes the earth just often enough to remind Egg that some day, life on Deadweather might turn REALLY nasty.
But Egg's not the type to complain--and he does get some comfort from reading Percy's 137 books, as well as playing an occasional game of ugly fruit catch with Mung, a mute former pirate who's missing a large chunk of his brain.
Still, life is pretty lousy. Until one day…
Egg's father makes a mysterious discovery on the plantation--and takes the family on an equally mysterious errand to Sunrise, the carefree, rich, blissfully pirate-and-volcano-free island next door.
Within hours of arriving on Sunrise, Egg's entire family disappears in a freak accident, and he's taken in by the glamorous Pembroke family and their beautiful, sharp-tongued daughter Millicent. Life at the Pembroke's mansion is like a happy dream, and for the first time in his life, Egg's problems vanish.
Until someone tries to throw him off a cliff.
Suddenly, Egg's got a brand-new problem: he's running for his life, marked for death with no idea who's trying to kill him or why, and with nobody to help him except Millicent and a one-handed, possibly deranged cabin boy named Guts.
That's when the fun really starts.
Visit Wanted Readers for the next stop on The Chronicles of Egg Blog Tour.Enter to win one set of signed personalized paperback copy of
Deadweather and Sunrise and an ARC of
New Lands-One entry per person
-US and Canada addresses only please
-Open to 13+
-Extra Entry:
Become a fan of Chronicles of Egg on Facebook -Contest ends March 12
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Welcome to my Lunar Love Giveaway Hop. This hop runs from March 8th to 13th and is hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Bookworm Lisa. You can win lots of new reads, so click here for a complete list of blogs participating in the hop.
I am giving away a finished copy of The Last Princess by Galaxy Craze.
About the book:
A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless. When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target.
Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year old Princess Eliza manages to escape. Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope-and love-once more.Now she must risk everything to ensure that she does not become… The Last Princess.
To enter, fill out the widget below. Earn extra entries for following. US addresses only, please
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First, I want to thank everyone who participated in the lively discussion on my last post. Even discounting my replies, that post generated more comments than any other post in my four years of blogging. Now for this week's recommendation:
Will Sparrow's Road by Karen Cushman (Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin, November 2012, for ages 10 and up)Synopsis (from the book jacket): Will Sparrow, liar and thief, is running away -- from the father who sold him for beer, the innkeeper who threatened to sell him as a chimney sweep, from his whole sorry life. Barefoot and penniless, without family, friends, or boots, Will is determined to avoid capture and, of course, to find something to eat.
Some of the travelers he meets on the road have a kind word for him and a promise of better things to come, such as coins and juicy beef ribs. Eager to go along, Will repeatedly finds himself tricked by older and wiser tricksters.
Why I liked it: Will's a remarkable character, who at first cares for "no one but myself and nothing but my belly!" Writers who struggle with character growth should study this because Will grows and changes more than any protagonist I've come across recently. And if you're a fan of historical fiction, you'll love the story. The inimitable Karen Cushman infuses the novel with colorful personalities and plenty of Elizabethan flavor as Will travels from one market fair to another, along with an assortment of "Oddities" in search of a place to call home.
(My only trouble with this book was every time I read the name "Will Sparrow" I kept picturing Will Turner and Jack Sparrow. Guess I've watched "Pirates of the Caribbean" too many times!)
Now for the giveaway. Since I didn't receive an arc, I purchased a hardcover copy. And I'm eager to share it with one of you. To enter the giveaway you must be a follower and leave a comment on this post. International entries welcome. This giveaway will end at 10 pm EDT on Saturday, March 23, 2013. Winner will be chosen by random.org and announced Monday, March 25. Good luck!
Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is the brainchild of Shannon Messenger. See her blog for the links, or check out my sidebar.
Melody Grace wants to share info about her new book, Unbroken! Check out the deets about her New Adult release, and then enter for a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card!
“So, you own the bar now?” I say, “That’s great. Why didn’t you say?”
Emerson gives me a measured look. “You didn’t ask.”
I stop. How is this my fault? “Yeah, well I didn’t exactly have time, what with you pummeling a guy, pretending like you were going to make out with me, then judging every one of my life choices.”
My reply whips out before I can stop it. I clamp my hand over my mouth, and stare at the shocked expression on Emerson’s face. He so wasn’t expecting that! But why the hell shouldn’t I say it? It’s the truth, after all. I let out a giggle, unable to stop myself.
His expression changes.
“You’re drunk.” He says shortly.
I shrug, defensive. “So what if I am?”
“You never could hold your liquor.” He shakes his head, and takes another gulp of his beer. “I wonder, what else has changed…?” Emerson’s mouth curves into a lascivious smile. “You still make that breathy noise when you come?”
I gasp, shocked. “Fuck you!”
“Already been there, darlin’.”
About Melody Grace
Melody is a small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover. After spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time to try writing one for herself. She loves bad boys, steamy romances, and (of course) happily-ever-afters.
Find Melody Grace
blogspot.com
Twitter: @melody_grace_
author/show/6926290.Melody_
Grace
melody.grace.771
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on 3/19/2013
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Rita Antoinette Borg was educated in New York and now resides on the Mediterranean island of Malta. She performs storytelling and creative writing workshops in schools across the country and works as a freelance writer for local magazines and newspapers. Ms. Borg has published four picture books aimed at early readers as well as an anthology of short stories for older children. Her books have been recognized by the Malta National Annual Literary Awards. Her book “Don’t Cross the Road, Holly!” was chosen as the year’s best Children’s Book in English. She is a member of the Society of Children’s Writers & Illustrators.
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What a great idea for a children’s story. I love the premise. Oh, and I love the cover art too!