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Hi everyone! Just popping in for a quick post about Pasadena Loves YA. Our friend Jane Gov who is the teen librarian at Pasadena Public Library (Central Branch) has organized this event for the past couple of years, and we're really looking forward to seeing everyone there again!
What: Pasadena Loves YA is a free teen book festival presented by Pasadena Public Library
Where: Pasadena Public Library - Central Branch, 285 E Walnut St, Pasadena, CA 91101
When: Saturday, Sept 17, 2016 from 12-4 pm. First 300 attendees get free tote bags, so get there early!
What: Meet 19 young adult authors, listen to panels speak about various topics, and get your books signed! Book sales by Vroman's Bookstore. Helping hands provided by Bridge to Books. Find out more at pasadenateenbookfestival.com and follow @pasadenalovesya on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook! No ticket is necessary but we'd love it if you could RSVP here. The official hashtag = #plya16 (you can also tag = #pasadenalovesya)
Who:
Josephine Angelini (Witch's Pyre) Frank Beddor (Crossfire) Elizabeth Briggs (Future Shock) Julie Buxbaum (Tell Me Three Things) Cecil Castellucci (Stone in the Sky) Tobie Easton (Emerge) Dana Elmendorf (South of Sunshine) Charlotte Huang (Going Geek) Kerry Kletter (The First Time She Drowned) Eric Laster (#Static) Aija Mayrock (The Survival Guide to Bullying) Shannon Messenger (Let the WInd Rise) Marisa Reichardt (Underwater) Robin Reul (My Kind of Crazy) Robyn Schneider (Extraordinary Means) Evelyn Skye (The Crown's Game) Ingrid Sundberg (All We Left Behind) Thomas Voorhies (The Giant) Nicola Yoon (Everything Everything)
What a lineup, right? There will be giveaways and some refreshments, too!
Just a few pointers:
Parking - Parking can get a little hairy! There's metered parking on the street and a time limit on the lot, but if you park next door at University of Phoenix you should be fine (and it's covered!). Just don't park in any reserved spaces. There are also 2 public parking lots in walking distance.
Books - You may bring books from home. Is there a title you can't live without? Better bring it--Vroman's will have the latest from each author, but supplies will be limited. Of course, supporting our indie bookstore partner with purchases will be greatly appreciated, and will help ensure they'll be back next year with more books!
Food - There aren't any places to buy food in the library during the event, and while there are sometimes refreshments, we tend to run out. We highly recommend bringing a picnic lunch, snacks to munch, and something to drink (coffeeholics, I'm looking at you! the nearest Starbucks is at the Paseo Colorado). You can also eat in most of the spaces such as the auditorium, the story room, and the patio--just make sure to keep the library clean!
Autographs - Signings and panels will be in the same room--you should be able to listen to the next panel while waiting in the signing line. We will have volunteers armed with Post-Its and Sharpies if you want your book personalized.
Tickets - No tickets are necessary, but we'd be grateful if you would RSVP at the Facebook event listing. It would also be awesome if you could share the post with your friends!
Social Media - We'd love to see your photos and tweets on social media! Make sure you tag them #plya16 and #pasadenalovesya so they make it to both this year's and the continuing tag feeds. We'll be publishing a quick guide to all of the authors' Instagram and Twitter handles next week, along with the schedule, so you can plan your day!
Any more questions? Head over to pasadenateenbookfestival.com or message pasadenateenbookfest at gmail dot com. We'll do our best to provide answers!
Hi, everyone! I know we've been a little bit lax in the events department lately but we wanted to let you know about a few really awesome events that are coming up. Fall is a great season for books and we have so many amazing authors coming to town. Please check out the tour calendar and let us know if you'll be at any of these events.
We are currently still adding events for the rest of the year but if you know of an event that isn't on here yet, please leave a comment here or email us at [email protected] so we can get it on the calendar.
We hope you can make it out to next month's Pasadena Loves YA event, which Alethea will definitely be at. Happy reading!
Hey Everyone, welcome to my blog tour post for Little Black Dresses, Little White Lies by Laura Stampler. I've been so excited about her debut YA novel hitting the shelves (as it officially will do on July 19)! For more about the tour itself, click on the banner above or go straight to www.rockstarbooktours.com.
Read more about the book and the author below, as well as enter the Rafflecopter giveaway! We also have a guest post and links to the rest of the tour. Please stop by each one as they open up in the next three weeks to find more guest posts, character interviews, and reviews.
You can pre-order a personalized, signed copy of LITTLE BLACK DRESSES, LITTLE WHITE LIES at Oblong Books through July 9th. Details can be found HERE!
About the book
Title: LITTLE BLACK DRESSES, LITTLE WHITE LIES
Author: Laura Stampler
Release Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 352
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Description:
The Devil Wears Prada meets Sex and the City in a wickedly funny debut novel about a girl who lands a dream internship at a magazine in New York City. If only she hadn’t lied about being a dating expert on her resume . . .
Harper Anderson has always thought she should have been born somewhere more glamorous than her sleepy Northern California suburb. After all, how many water polo matches and lame parties in Bobby McKittrick’s backyard can one girl take?
Already resigned to working at a Skinny B’s Juice Press for the summer, Harper is shocked when the ultra-prestigious teen magazine, Shift, calls to say they want her to be their teen dating blogger for the summer. All she needs to do is get her butt to New York in two days.
There’s just one teeny, tiny problem: Apart from some dance floor make-outs, Harper doesn’t have a whole lot of dating experience. So when Shift’s application asked for an “edgy” personal essay, Harper might have misappropriated her best friend’s experiences for her own. But she can just learn on the job...right? Will the house of lies Harper has built around her dream job collapse all around her, or will she be able to fake it until she makes it in the big city?
When I started my internship at Shift magazines, one of the first things I learned on the job was: Shift Girls Don’t Say Sorry. Ever.
Not because it’s cool to be catty (although, off-the-record, a ton of the Shift Girls totally are) but because women tend to apologize way too much for things that they absolutely shouldn’t be sorry for. Like, asking a question. Or having a bad phone signal.
Only after I started weeding the S-Word out of my vocabulary, did I realize that I’d being using it so much the word had started to lose its meaning!
So here are five things that I promise to never say “sorry” about again:
1. Crying
I can’t count the number of times I’ve apologized for crying after a teacher or mean girl said something, well, mean. I also can’t count the number of times I’ve apologized for crying at my internship because a BuzzFeed listicle was JUST TOO SAD. But there’s nothing to be sorry about! Human beings are allowed to have feelings! (And God gave us tear ducts for a reason.)
2. Having to go to the bathroom on an airplane
What should you do when you’re feeling the effects of all that free Ginger Ale but seriously want to avoid side eye from the grumbly, armrest hoarding person sitting in the aisle seat? Go to the bathroom without any remorse! Just as humans are entitled to have feelings, humans are entitled to pee! So go forth and go to the bathroom. This isn’t worth embarrassment or getting a UTI over.
3. Sending back the wrong order at a restaurant
While you definitely shouldn’t be a jerk when your server brings you a side salad instead of fries, you also don’t need to apologize for politely pointing out the error so that you can get what you asked (and paid) for.
4. Someone else bumping into me
I once apologized when some dude stepped on my toe on the subway.
5. Needing some “me” time.
No matter what your friends (or FOMO) are telling you, you don’t have to be social all the time. I’m not saying you should blow off your bestie’s birthday with zero warning to take a bubble bath, but don’t feel bad about opting for spending the night in instead of crashing some dude’s party. You’re allowed to put your needs (and sanity) first.
Sorry not sorry.
<3 Harper
About the Author
Laura Stampler is a Californian turned New Yorker. After graduating from Stanford University, she became a journalist, interning—and then worked on staff—at various newspapers and magazines. Laura has written about everything from dating to social media stars to social justice issues at Time magazine, Business Insider, Huffington Post, The Nation, The New Republic, and The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. When she isn’t writing, she’s probably looking at pug GIFs on the Internet.
There is a tour-wide giveaway for a hardcover copy of LITTLE BLACK DRESSES, LITTLE WHITE LIES to TWO (2) winners – US only
Must be 13 or older to enter. Giveaway is US only. Giveaway ends July 26th at 11:59 PM Pacific. Book will be ordered from Amazon. Prizing courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours.
The BFG Starring: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader Directed by: Steven Spielberg Produced by: Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Sam Mercer Executive Produced by: Kathleen Kennedy, John Madden, Kristie Macosko Krieger, Michael Siegel, Frank Smith, Naia Cucukov Written by: Melissa Mathison, Roald Dahl Studio: Disney, Amblin Entertainment in association with Walden Media
Release Date: July 1, 2016 Rating: PG - Parental Guidance Suggested Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Hello all! A couple of days ago, I was invited by Walden Media to a free screening of their new film, The BFG. So here I am to tell you all about it, and please keep in mind that I did not let the complimentary passes affect my opinion of the film.
I actually don't remember reading the book at all when I was a child, though I'm sure I probably cracked it open at some point. I mean, how do you hang out in any library with books for children and not peruse a Roald Dahl book at some time or other? It's very hard to do. Whether it's Charlie & The Chocolate Factory, Matilda, or The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), it's just a given that you'll have had some kind of idea of what a Dahl story should be like: playful, clever, a bit weird, and involving main characters who are orphans or in some way disenfranchised. But unlike the film versions of Charlie & The Chocolate Factory (old and new) and Matilda (who's all grown up now, by the way), you probably don't have an iconic vision of what The BFG is supposed to look like in real life, because the first film to be made based on the book was made in the cheeseball era of animation.
Anyway, I walked into The BFG with pretty close to a blank slate as one could possibly have. All I knew was it was a Disney interpretation of the classic Roald Dahl story, with Steven Spielberg at the helm. I walked out at the end well pleased. THIS is the iconic BFG we didn't even know we wanted. Mark Rylance does a great job voicing the big friendly giant whose existence is beleaguered by nine other giants who bully him endlessly (some of whom you'll recognize as voiced by Jemaine Clement, Bill Hader, and Adam Godley). Ruby Barnhill portrays the central character, Sophie, who is kidnapped by the BFG to stop her tattling to the whole world about giants, with precocious aplomb. Treat of treats, Penelope Wilton also turns up as The Queen. The late E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial screenwriter Melissa Mathison, to whom the film is dedicated, wrote the well-paced script.
The BFG was both prettily animated and laugh-out-loud funny. As a childless person, I usually try to avoid seeing kids' movies when crowded, not-so-quiet-whisper-filled audiences are likely to be in attendance, but this is one I would recommend seeing right away and with as many young people as possible. At some point, during the breakfast scene, I think, there was a child in the audience belly laughing so uncontrollably, we couldn't help but laugh along with her. And yeah, there is a large percentage of the humor that is fueled by fart jokes, but that's frobscottle for you.
There are parts that are a little bit scary, which is likely what gives it the PG rating instead of G. The giants keep threatening to eat people, after all. After a while we trust that young Sophie is safe with The BFG, who is a vegetarian, and no human is ever consumed on-screen, but there is also sad confirmation that The BFG isn't exaggerating when he calls his fellow giants "man-eaters". Still, the light outweighs the dark in this one. The BFG's day job involves collecting and re-distributing dreams: the fantastical animations and funny labels on the dream jars highlight the whimsy, while Sophie and The BFG's word-mashing repartee bring wit to the fore.
The effects, costumes, and the rest of the movie's filmcraft elements are interesting (like Sophie's quilt that she drags about for a good portion of the movie--seriously, I am contemplating making one now), but somewhat forgettable. About the only thing I really found disappointing was the soundtrack. Yes, it's a John Williams score, and I suppose he's had enough scene-stealing music in his lifetime that we can let this one slide. It wasn't awful; it just wasn't special. The biggest takeaway from the whole experience is that Ruby Barnhill, who plays the brave orphan heroine with unnatural ease, is a born ham; at several points she made me wonder if Steven Spielberg even had to direct her at all. At 12 years of age she's already got comedy pretty down pat; I hope she gets more opportunities to hone and show off her drama skills, too.
All in all, The BFG was a whizpopping good time. Bring a child or three with a good sense of humor.
FTC Disclosure: I received complimentary review copies from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The giveaway prizes are provided by the publisher.
Hello everyone! I am happy to announce a great giveaway today--1 winner will receive hardcover copies of Journey and Quest, by Aaron Becker, to celebrate the August release of Return, the third book of this wordless picture book trilogy. US & Canada only please! Giveaway ends on 7/10/2016. Read on for more about the books.
Journey
Book # 1 in the Journey Trilogy A 2014 Caldecott Honor Book
Follow a girl on an elaborate flight of fancy in a wondrously illustrated, wordless picture book about self-determination — and unexpected friendship.
A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and through it escapes into a world where wonder, adventure, and danger abound. Red marker in hand, she creates a boat, a balloon, and a flying carpet that carry her on a spectacular journey toward an uncertain destiny. When she is captured by a sinister emperor, only an act of tremendous courage and kindness can set her free. Can it also lead her home and to her heart’s desire? With supple line, luminous color, and nimble flights of fancy, author-illustrator Aaron Becker launches an ordinary child on an extraordinary journey toward her greatest and most exciting adventure of all.
Aaron Becker, creator of Journey, a Caldecott Honor book, presents the next chapter in his stunning wordless fantasy.
A king emerges from a hidden door in a city park, startling two children sheltering from the rain. No sooner does he push a map and some strange objects into their hands than he is captured by hostile forces that whisk him back through the enchanted door. Just like that, the children are caught up in a quest to rescue the king and his kingdom from darkness, while illuminating the farthest reaches of their imagination. Colored markers in hand, they make their own way through the portal, under the sea, through a tropical paradise, over a perilous bridge, and high in the air with the help of a winged friend. Journey lovers will be thrilled to follow its characters on a new adventure threaded with familiar elements, while new fans will be swept into a visually captivating story that is even richer and more exhilarating than the first.
One more video, then it's time for the giveaway!
Giveaway Time!
Enter to win hardcover copies (1 each) of Journey and Quest by Aaron Becker. Prize provided by Candlewick Press.
Open to the US/Canada only, ends 7/10/2016.
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
Thanks for reading! Did you enjoy this post? Follow us on Bloglovin' to make sure you don't miss a thing! I'll also be back in a couple of weeks with the review post for Return, the latest in the Journey Trilogy.
Hello everyone! I seem to be a day late and a dollar short on everything this year. In any case, I'm glad you're reading this--our blog tour post spotlighting Ann Redisch Stampler's new YA suspense novel, How to Disappear! Make sure you read through to the end to enter to win a prize pack that I put together just for this tour.
About the Book
This electric cross-country thriller follows the game of cat and mouse between a girl on the run from a murder she witnessed—or committed?—and the boy who’s sent to kill her.
Nicolette Holland is the girl everyone likes. Up for adventure. Loyal to a fault. And she’s pretty sure she can get away with anything...until a young woman is brutally murdered in the woods near Nicolette’s house. Which is why she has to disappear.
Jack Manx has always been the stand-up guy with the killer last name. But straight A’s and athletic trophies can’t make people forget that his father was a hit man and his brother is doing time for armed assault. Just when Jack is about to graduate from his Las Vegas high school and head east for college, his brother pulls him into the family business with inescapable instructions: find this ruthless Nicolette Holland and get rid of her. Or else Jack and everyone he loves will pay the price.
As Nicolette and Jack race to outsmart each other, tensions—and attractions—run high. Told in alternating voices, this tightly plotted mystery and tense love story challenges our assumptions about right and wrong, guilt and innocence, truth and lies.
About the Author
Ann Redisch Stampler is the author of the young adult novels Afterparty and Where It Began as well as half a dozen picture books. Her work has garnered an Aesop accolade, the National Jewish Book Award, Sydney Taylor honors, the Middle East Book Award, and Bank Street Best Books of the Year mentions. How to Disappear (Simon Pulse, 2016), her first young adult thriller, will be released on June 14, 2016. Ann lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband Rick.
Preorder Promo Giveaway
Order a signed copy of HOW TO DISAPPEAR before June 14th, 2016 and you’ll receive a swag pack with your book order.
With your signed book, you’ll receive a bookmark; the tiny flashlight from Nicolette’s escape kit; Nicolette Holland and Cat Davis’ (fake!!!) ID's; and one skeleton key in a pretty tulle bag (there are lots of different kinds of keys) that Nicolette used to unlock the doors at the Bluebonnet.
To receive your swag, order your copy of HOW TO DISAPPEAR online at shoponceuponatime.com and in the Order Comments field, enter a name if you would like to have the autograph personalized, or "signature only" if no name is required.
If you pre-order an electronic copy of HOW TO DISAPPEAR, forward your receipt or proof of purchase to [email protected] with the name & address where you’d like your goodies sent.
Preorder the book from Once Upon a Timeto receive the special swag pack pictured above. To enter to win the blog tour giveaway, scroll down and use the Rafflecopter widget to record your entries.
Enter to win a signed copy of HOW TO DISAPPEAR by Ann Redisch Stampler, as well as a special swag bag of stuff! (Sorry, not everything is in the photo--the book and a special surprise item are not pictured.)
US only, giveaway ends June 11, 2016.
No purchase is necessary. Void where prohibited.
One set of entries per household.
The blogs/author/publisher are not responsible for items lost or damaged in the mail.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
One winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
Hi everyone! I goofed up and missed my date for the blog tour for Beth Kephart'sThis Is the Story of You. Sorry about that! Here it is: make sure you read through to the end and enter the giveaway (open to US & Canada, ends 6/14/2016).
FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The publisher also provided the blog tour giveaway prize.
This is the Story of You By Beth Kephart
YA Fiction
A masterful exploration of nature’s power to shake human foundations, literal and figurative.”
— Kirkus Reviews, starred review
This beautifully written book works on many levels and is rich in its characterization, emotion, language, and hint of mystery.
— School Library Journal, starred review
We fall in love with Kephart more and more every year.
— Bookpage
An exploration of the unrelenting power of nature and a reminder of the one thing in the world that is irreplaceable: family.
— Booklist
About the Book
On Haven, a six-mile long, half-mile-wide stretch of barrier island, Mira Banul and her Year-Rounder friends have proudly risen to every challenge. But then a superstorm defies all predictions and devastates the island, upending all logic and stranding Mira’s mother and brother on the mainland. Nothing will ever be the same. A stranger appears in the wreck of Mira’s home. A friend obsessed with vanishing disappears. As the mysteries deepen, Mira must find the strength to carry on—to somehow hold her memories in place while learning to trust a radically reinvented future. Gripping and poetic, This Is the Story of You is about the beauty of nature and the power of family, about finding hope in the wake of tragedy and recovery in the face of overwhelming loss.
About the Author
Beth Kephart is the award-winning author of nineteen books, including Going Over, Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir, and Small Damages. A National Book Award finalist, Kephart is also a winner of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts fiction grant, a National Endowment for the Arts grant, a Leeway grant, a Pew Fellowships in the Arts grant, and the Speakeasy Poetry Prize. Kephart teaches workshops at many institutions, to all ages and creative nonfiction workshops at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a popular keynote speaker and frequent contributor to the Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and many national journals. She blogs daily at beth-kephart.blogspot.com
Q&A with Beth Kephart
Beth Kephart: Hello, Read Now Sleep Later (Such a GREAT blog name; I’m there; I get it; do I sound sleepy?)
RNSL: :D
Q: Did you have a "Project Flow" in school? If yes, what was it; if not, what do you think it would have been if required?
BK: I did not have a Project Flow, but I have a book named FLOW, an autobiography of one of Philadelphia’s rivers. I’ve been out there teaching FLOW and natural history and environmental empathy to young people for a long time—a program that is actually called FLOW under the care of the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center. So these Project Flows come from a very real place in my life, and I thank you for noticing.
RNSL: The style of THIS IS THE STORY OF YOU leans toward more poetry than prose. How much of that was intentional as the writing unfolded? How much of it just develops organically because of how you create your work?
BK: I hang my head. I confess. I can’t help it. I write language as I hear language. Language as mood, passion, need.
RNSL: When you write, are you often influenced by real life, or are more of your ideas born in your mind and on your page? For example, the way Jasper Lee puts words together or collects sand, or the rituals of the Year-Rounders?
BK: I am very interested in studying the real world and projecting it back onto the page. I have written of the Berlin wall (Going Over), Florence and neuroscience (One Thing Stolen), Centennial Philadelphia (Dangerous Neighbors), Juarez (The Heart Is Not a Size), etc. All of my books—fiction or nonfiction—are deeply researched. Jasper Lee’s words erupted; I’m not sure from where. The rituals of the Year-Rounders were both observed and researched.
RNSL: This novel is very lean, all the excess trimmed away. Was there anything "left on the cutting room floor", so to speak, that you wish you had kept in?
BK: Well, much was edited, but the edits were what I felt to be the edits required by the excesses of my own language. I had a very particular story I wanted to tell. I saw no need to clog it up with tangents. There is a storm. It had an impact. A mystery emerges in the aftermath. There are best friends and a brother-sister, and sisters, and a daughter-mom, and an old woman, and teachers… There’s a whole community here. No one gets short shrift. But I’m not interested in false, novel-extending plot tangents. I guess I never am.
(I hang my head again.)
RNSL: Did you have to do any research for this book? For what elements, and how did you go about it?
BK: Of course. We’ve all lived storms. But how well do we know anything until we really study it? So I read all about storms. All about rising seas and vanishing cities and sea monsters and dolphins and survival. And then I talked to people who had survived Storm Sandy. And of course I did more research on Hunter syndrome.
RNSL: Names are very significant to Mira. Can you tell us about some of the names you chose for characters, like why you chose them?
BK: I am LOVING your questions, by the way. Mira’s last name, Banul, is the last name of a student I’d had at Penn—a young man who taught me so much about courage. Nearly every survivor we meet on the beach has the name, and a characteristic, of a friend (reading the acknowledgments provides a tip to some of that). Deni Norfleet’s last name is the last name of a very solid minister friend. And, etc.
RNSL: What's your preferred weather?
BK: Autumn.
RNSL: Do you have a favorite poet, and if you do, who is it, and why?
BK: Many, many, many poets to love. Mary Oliver. Jack Gilbert. Gerald Stern. Stanley Kunitz.
RNSL: What's the most memorable piece of writing advice you have ever received?
BK: I was never taught writing. Which is odd, since now I teach it myself at the University of Pennsylvania and at workshops across the country—and even wrote a book on the craft of memoir (Handling the Truth: On the Writing of Memoir). I think less about advice, I’d have to say, and more about the impact of books I read. Can I be as urgently poetic as Michael Ondaatje or Colum McCann, say? As precise as Sallie Tisdale? As elegiac as Patricia McCormick? As wise as Ali Benjamin? As clear as Mary Oliver? I read across all genres. I ask myself what is working and why. And then I go back to my own pages.
RNSL: My co-blogger Thuy always asks: Cake or pie? (Or both? And why/what flavor?)
BK: Cake cake cake never pie. And my mother’s chocolate chip cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, which I miss so much and have missed so much, ever since she passed away.
RNSL: Thank you so much, Beth! Readers, I loved this book. Full review to come. I hope you'll love it, too.
Enter to win a copy of Beth Kephart's This Is the Story of You. The prize will be provided by Chronicle Books.
Open to the US/Canada only, ends 6/14/2016.
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
When I was in 7th grade, I was determined to be a writer. I loved English class. I loved to read. More than anything, I loved to write, even if I didn't really have anything to write about. I would journal about my days and try to make them sound exciting, for some future self who might someday be reading my diary. I would scribble story ideas on napkins and used envelopes, and stick them in a notebook for future writing inspiration. I probably still have one or two or ten of those notebooks lying around, gathering dust.
So what happened? Well, lots of things. My perspective on the world changed a lot when I went home to Manila instead of applying for an Ivy League school like I'd always planned on doing. Depression happened. Working in retail and being really tired all the time happened. Community college happened. Not all things that happened were necessarily good or bad, it was just life. I honed some skills (baking, knitting, art) and got worse at some things (exercising, staying organized, swimming).
Now and then when I think about writing, I realize I have lots and lots of things to talk about. Want to know about that time I got kicked off the school paper? Or that time I really embarrassed myself in front of a guy I liked? (Those times, I should say, there were a few.) How about that time I got left back a grade even though I had the most freaking perfect grades a student could ever want? Oh man, I have some stories.
I read a lot, too. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but reading is so, SO important for anyone who wants to be a writer. You have to learn how words work, how they string along together to do something, like teach a lesson or evoke a feeling or make you cringe. You have to know the rules before you break them. You have to learn what bores people to tears so you can, you know, NOT write like that.
I almost think reading, too much reading, is the thing that has eaten away at my writing life the most in the last 20 years. Every year I try to read more than I did the year before. Every year I write less, and less, and less. I can tweet, no problem. I usually strive for funny/informative in 140 characters or less. I just want to share things that I think people I know will find interesting. I love hashtags, too. They're the best on Instagram--I probably spend more time picking hashtags there than writing the caption. I kind of hate writing reviews now. I still form opinions on things, but I'd rather comment about them on Facebook than really go into a full analysis of something. I want to have short text conversations with others more than I want to carefully compose a critical essay (because that feels like homework). I just want to react and use as many emojis as possible to get my feelings across. Tumblr is my absolute favorite. I don't even have to comment: just reblog. Always reblog.
When I'm not chasing deadlines for school work, I read. I have read some pretty amazing books, and that's kind of the problem. Have you read The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss? How about every book ever written by Leigh Bardugo, or Mary Pearson, or Maggie Stiefvater, or Maria V. Snyder, or Margaret Atwood? How about Carlos Ruiz Zafon's The Shadow of the Wind (no relation to the other previously named book with "wind" in the title)? I love those books. I think some part of me thinks too far ahead, that I'll never be as good as they are, and why waste time working on something that will never pan out, that won't pay the rent, when I can sit here and unwind from my day job by watching 6 episodes of Gilmore Girls every night?
Part of me knows it's not supposed to be easy if it's worth doing. But another part of me insists I need to do something else first. Cleaning the fridge, or scrubbing the toilet, or putting away the laundry: once the most pressing to-do-list items have been checked off, by the time I'm done, all I'm good for is putting my feet up and watching, you guessed it, just one more episode of Gilmore Girls. Some perverse part of me thinks getting on a treadmill for an hour should come first. Barring that, I should play paper ball catch with the cats so they get some much-needed exercise. These are things worth doing. Maintaining good hygiene, cooking a meal from scratch, getting my teeth cleaned. All worthwhile and responsible uses of time and effort. When I'm done with all of these other things, I'll read. When I'm done, I'll paint/knit/sew something. When I'm done, I'll write. It's always in the plans.
Today, however, and every other day for at least a week, I am writing first, and everything else later. (Actually, I thought up this challenge for myself while procrastinating on the final paper I have to turn in to my teacher on Friday.) Every other day, the moment I'm free, the books will stay closed. The knitting bag stays unopened. Netflix remains frozen on the Gilmore Girls episode I stopped watching last night because I had to be up at 4:30 for work.
What do I think will happen? Well, I don't think I'll have a bestselling novel anytime soon. I won't even have a finished first draft of something in the next year (oh school, I love you, I hate you!). I think I will write about writing, about not writing, about things that are not writing. But maybe, just maybe, I will write.
Is there something you'd like me to write about? Let me know in the comments. Here are some things I brainstormed while procrastinating some more because I am really, really not ready to work on this paper for class:
learning to drive
favorite restaurants
collections
forgiveness
how much I hate shopping for clothes
celebrity crushes
disorganization
being a bad god-parent
being a bully
my cats (of course)
unrealistic musical aspirations (probably)
how much I love eating out alone
used bookstores
pain
optimism
sugar
talking on the phone and how much I hate it now
knitting
sewing
looking for work
working in groups
board games
video games
why I procrastinate
Ok, I think that's enough procrastination for now.
I'm going to go cook some spaghetti while watching Gilmore Girls, then work on my paper... after I watch an episode of Gilmore Girls...
0 Comments on Every Other Day Blog Challenge (1) as of 1/1/1900
FTC Disclosure: Sweet by Emmy Laybourne giveaway prize is provided by the publisher for promotional purposes.
Hey gang! Just popping in really quick (still in recovery mode after putting on the Tots, Tweens, & Teens Book Festival) to let you know you can enter to win a paperback copy of Emmy Laybourne's SWEET from Macmillan. Ends 6/6/2016, US/Canada only please.
Hint: You can find the link to read the story behind the redesigned cover if you go to Emmy's Facebook page.
About the book
The luxurious celebrity cruise launching the trendy new diet sweetener Solu should be the vacation of a lifetime. But Laurel is starting to regret accepting her friend Viv's invitation. She's already completely embarrassed herself in front of celebrity host Tom Forelli—the hottest guy ever!—and she's too sick to even try the sweetener. And that's before Viv and all the other passengers start acting really strange.
Tom knows that he should be grateful for this job and the chance to shed his former-child-star image. His publicists have even set up a 'romance' with a sexy reality star. But as things on the ship start to get wild, he finds himself drawn to a different girl. And when the hosting gig turns into an expose on the shocking side effects of Solu, it's Laurel that he's determined to save. Emmy Laybourne, author of the Monument 14 trilogy, takes readers on a dream vacation in Sweet that goes first comically, then tragically, then horrifyingly, wrong!
Sweet comes out in paperback on June 7, 2016. You can pre-order the book at:
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
The first Tots, Tweens, and Teens Book Festival will take place on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at Pasadena High School in Pasadena, CA. This event is FREE and open to the public.
When: Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 12 pm to 6 pm
Where: Pasadena High School, 2925 E Sierra Madre Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107
Ashlyn Anstee Bethany Barton James Burks Vincent X. Kirsch Carson Kügler Tina Kügler Michelle Markel Ken Min Jennifer Gray Olson LeUyen Pham Lee Wardlaw Marcie Wessels Brian Won Keika Yamaguchi with moderator Carter Higgins
MIDDLE GRADE STAGE
Elana K. Arnold Pseudonymous Bosch Barbara Brauner James Burks Cecil Castellucci Andrew S. Chilton Tracy Holczer Leslie Margolis James Iver Mattson Lin Oliver
YOUNG ADULT STAGE
Elana K. Arnold Julie Berry Virginia Boecker Aaron Hartzler E. Katherine Kottaras Michelle Levy Jessica Love Nicole Maggi Gretchen McNeil Cindy Pon Amy Spalding Ann Redisch Stampler Ingrid Sundberg Henry Turner and introducing Jessica Cluess
Happy book birthday to The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood! To celebrate, we're posting our answers to questions we were asked for the blog tour--answers from a few months ago, and answers from today. Read on to see more about the book, about the author, and where you can find more bloggers answering questions about #thisiswhoiamnow from February this year, then the same questions again a few months later.
About The Square Root of Summer
My heart is a kaleidoscope, and when we kiss it makes my world unravel . . .
Last summer, Gottie's life fell apart. Her beloved grandfather Grey died and Jason left her - the boy to whom she lost her virginity (and her heart) - and he wouldn't even hold her hand at the funeral! This summer, still reeling from twin heartbreaks, Gottie is lost and alone and burying herself in equations. Until, after five years absence, Thomas comes home: former boy next door. Former best friend. Former everything. And as life turns upside down again she starts to experience strange blips in time - back to last summer, back to what she should have seen then . . .
During one long, hazy summer, Gottie navigates grief, world-stopping kisses and rips in the space-time continuum, as she tries to reconcile her first heartbreak with her last.
Harriet Reuter Hapgood is a freelance journalist who has worked with Marie Claire, ELLE, and InStyle in the U.K. The Square Root of Summer was inspired by her German mathematician grandfather and her lifelong obsession with YA romance. She majored in Romantic Comedies at Newcastle University and wrote her MA dissertation on Dawson's Creek. She lives in Nottingham.
#ThisIsWhoIAmNow - Questions and Alethea's Answers
What brings you the most joy in life?
FEBRUARY 2016
I love my cats. They are both rescues we raised from when they were 3 and 4 weeks old. They have their own Facebook Page and Instagram account because let's face it, it would be wrong to keep all this cuteness to myself.
MAY 2016
I mean, I still love my cats, but I also love having a working air compressor and not randomly stopping (read: car turning off completely for no reason) in the middle of the freeway. Oh and being able to plug my phone into the car for music, audiobooks, texting and navigation is pretty sweet. Yeah. (Thanks, parents, for helping us pay off hubby's car so we can be a one-car-payment family.)
What are you reading?
FEBRUARY 2016
Ugh, yeah, not a lot of reading was going on in February that didn't involve a textbook. And I didn't want to take a photo of the textbook. No one needs to commemmorate that pile of blah.
MAY 2016
I can't just read one thing when I am reading. I'm partway through The Passion of Dolssa by Julie Berry, Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow (read by Scott Brick), The Haters by Jesse Andrews, and The Square Root of Summer by Harriet Reuter Hapgood (of course!) Not pictured, because I'm reading an eBook and I didn't think to grab the cover image off the internet--The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare by M.G. Buehrlen. I am just thankful that the class I'm taking now is nowhere nearly as stressful and crazy as my last one.
What is something you're really looking forward to?
FEBRUARY 2016
Reaaaaaally looking forward to the end of that class. I kept this book close by, thinking I would reward myself with a chapter every time I finished a chapter of my textbook, but the last thing I wanted to do after reading that textbook was more reading, even if it was going to be fun!
MAY 2016
This! This event is going to be so much fun. I am really looking forward to it, although I'm dreading it a little also. (See next question/answer.)
What is one thing that's worrying you?
FEBRUARY 2016
I hope you're sensing a theme with that class I had in February. I seriously was so stressed out with worry that I would often just blank out on stuff. Like where to find and complete the quizzes and assignments that were due the first two weeks. Yikes.
MAY 2016
I'm definitely a worrier. I've been working on this book festival project for ages now, and we're less than two weeks away, and I keep thinking, did I think of everything? Did I do everything that needed to be done? I still don't know. Totally drawing a blank here. I'll let you know after May 14th, I guess. *gulp*
I mean, things usually turn out fine in the end. My grade for that class that had me all wound up in February? A-. Not too shabby, and I would settle for an A- on this event as well.
What is something that you always have with you?
FEBRUARY 2016
I was not a big fan of February 2016. Not. At. All.
MAY 2016
Now that I can breathe again, I can concentrate more on productivity and creativity.
What is something you wish you could change?
FEBRUARY AND MAY 2016
This answer is the same for both months. I'm trying to eat better, exercise more, and re-organize my life (the way I used to be once). Like Gottie, I am having this past-present conflict between the way things are and the way I want them to be. I'm not there yet. Maybe soon.
Check out this list for more bloggers answering these same questions! (I'll try to get the links updated on Tuesday, but there are so many!)
FTC Disclosure: I received no free copies of these books for myself. The giveaway is sponsored by the publisher, Candlewick.
The Agency Series by Y.S. Lee
A Spy in the House The Body at the Tower The Traitor in the Tunnel Rivals in the City
Hi everyone! I hate putting up those disclosures at the top of every sponsored post, but what can you do? I want to emphasize that I love, love, love Y.S. Lee's The Agency Series and indeed, I bought the 4th book just a month ago to reward myself for finishing a terribly boring college class (although, the engrossing class that followed has thus far stopped me from reading it. Oh well. At least now my collection is complete and I can stare at it longingly every time I lift my eyes from my current college textbook. Haha!
Well, now thanks to Candlewick, not only is the whole series getting new covers, but you, yes you! get the chance to win the entire series. Read on for a quick overview, a guest post from Ying Lee, the giveaway rules, and the Rafflecopter widget.
About The Agency Series
BookPage called the series, “full of thrills and danger and wonderfully sharp writing” and of the final book, Kirkus Reviews said: “Intrigue, romance and the rich details of Victorian life are the focus in the fourth installment of this mystery series featuring a complex female detective…As with the previous volumes, the elements of Victorian life are well-drawn, adding rich texture to the storytelling…. Readers of the series will find this addition deeply satisfying as both a mystery and a historical romance.”
Audiobook Sample
Guest Post by Y.S. Lee
Four Victorian novels that changed the way I think about the era
William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair. Brown-skinned characters everywhere, if you just keep your eyes open. They’re marginal figures and Thackeray didn’t seem to know what to do with them, but at least his panorama includes them. Brown people! In high society, even.
Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Leigh. Aurora appears to live on her own, in Kensington, and entertains a bachelor visitor without comprising her reputation! What is going on, here?
Wilkie Collins, The Moonstone. One of the first detective novels ever. A funny detective novel, at that, with a mixed-race physician and a surprisingly racy scene between Rachel and Franklin.
Charles Dickens, Bleak House. Secret love affair, illegitimate child, suicide by shame and opium, and the crushing weight of British law. And who else could get away, in a supposedly realist novel, with attributing a character’s death to “spontaneous combustion”?
About the Author
Y.S. Lee
Y.S. Lee has a Ph.D. in Victorian literature and culture and says her research inspired her to write Book One of The Agency trilogy. “Women’s choices were grim in those days, even for the clever,” she says. “The Agency is a totally unrealistic, completely fictitious antidote to the fate that would otherwise swallow a girl like Mary Quinn.” Y. S. Lee lives in Ontario, Canada.
Win a complete set of the 4 books of Y.S. Lee's The Agency series.
Open to the US only, ends 5/8/2016.
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
FTC Disclosure: I received an electronic ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Good morning! I was supposed to post a review for The Untimely Deaths of Alex Wayfare by M.G. Buehrlen, but I am sorry to say I haven't finished the book yet (it's midterms week and I'm trying to keep my grades afloat)! I am about 2 hours away from finishing, so expect another post really soon with my hopefully spoiler-free review. For now, read on to find out more about the series and enter the giveaway.
I originally read The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare a couple of years ago when I was visiting my mom in the Philippines. Not only did it hit the spot in terms of an emotional experience, but it had a great romance and a very satisfying execution of the time travel element.
About The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare
For as long as 17-year-old Alex Wayfare can remember, she has had visions of the past. Visions that make her feel like she's really on a ship bound for America, living in Jamestown during the Starving Time, or riding the original Ferris wheel at the World's Fair.
But these brushes with history pull her from her daily life without warning, sometimes leaving her with strange lasting effects and wounds she can't explain. Trying to excuse away the aftereffects has booked her more time in the principal's office than in any of her classes and a permanent place at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Alex is desperate to find out what her visions mean and get rid of them.
It isn't until she meets Porter, a stranger who knows more than should be possible about her, that she learns the truth: Her visions aren't really visions. Alex is a Descender--capable of traveling back in time by accessing Limbo, the space between Life and Afterlife. Alex is one soul with fifty-six past lives, fifty-six histories.
Fifty-six lifetimes to explore: the prospect is irresistible to Alex, especially when the same mysterious boy with soulful blue eyes keeps showing up in each of them. But the more she descends, the more it becomes apparent that someone doesn't want Alex to travel again. Ever.
And will stop at nothing to make this life her last.
Time travel, adventure, and romance come together in the highly anticipated sequel to The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare.
Alex Wayfare is back in Base Life. Her 57th life. She's in Chicago searching for Blue, who travels with her whenever she goes back in time. She's never met him in Base Life, but she's hoping he'll remember her in the present, and that he'll want to be with her like he does in the past.
Their romance is put on hold when she's attacked by henchmen working for Durham Gesh, who wants to harness her abilities for his own ugly purposes. But that threat seems insignificant when she returns home to face her younger sister's deteriorating health. Researching every possible remedy, from ancient herbs to forgotten medical advancements, Alex seeks a cure for her sister's cancer in the past.
The journeys are never simple. From the countryside of eighteenth-century China to a top-secret research lab in 1970s Michigan, Alex is plagued by enemy Descenders who seem to anticipate her every move, and realizes she may have a traitor in her small band of allies. A traitor who might bring Gesh straight to Alex's front door.
The only person Alex feels she can trust is Blue. But there are secrets Alex doesn't know secrets about Blue, about her team, and about herself. And the biggest secret of all will change her life, or her lives, forever.
Giveaway Time!
Win 1 paperback copy of book 1, The 57 Lives of Alex Wayfare, by M.G. Buehrlen.
Open to the US only, ends 5/5/2016.
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
FTC Disclosure: I received free print (Book 1) and digital (Book 2) copies of the Curiosity House books from the publisher, HarperCollins
Hey everybody! I hope you are all having a good reading week.
I am happy to share a blog tour post today for the second book in the Curiosity House series, The Screaming Statue, written by New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver & the mysterious H.C. Chester. I have a Q&A with the authors and one of the characters, as well as a giveaway for you, so read on!
The book is about, among other things: the strongest boy in the world, a talking cockatoo, a faulty mind reader, a beautiful bearded lady and a nervous magician, an old museum, and a shrunken head.
Blessed with extraordinary abilities, orphans Philippa, Sam, and Thomas have grown up happily in Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders. But when a fourth child, Max, a knife-thrower, joins the group, it sets off an unforgettable chain of events.
When the museum’s Amazonian shrunken head is stolen, the four are determined to get it back. But their search leads them to a series of murders and an explosive secret about their pasts.
This sensational new series—a 2016 Edgar nominee for Best Juvenile book—combines the unparalleled storytelling gifts of Lauren Oliver with the rich knowledge of the notorious relics collector H. C. Chester.
About Curiosity House: The Screaming Statue (Book 2)
Edgar Award nominee for Best Juvenile Mystery
In this second book in the exceptional Curiosity House series by bestselling author Lauren Oliver and shadowy recluse H. C. Chester, four extraordinary children must avenge their friend’s death, try to save their home, and unravel the secrets of their past... before their past unravels them.
Pippa, Sam, Thomas, and Max are happy to be out of harm’s way now that the notorious villain Nicholas Rattigan is halfway across the country in Chicago. But unfortunately their home, Dumfreys’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders, is in danger of closing its doors forever.
But their troubles only get worse. The four friends are shocked when their beloved friend, famous sculptor Siegfried Eckleberger, is murdered. As they investigate, they find clues that his death may be tied to the murder of a rich and powerful New York heiress, as well as to their own pasts.
Book 3: Coming Soon!
Q&A with Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester
Click the illustration above to read more about the authors.
Read Now Sleep Later: How would you describe your Curiosity House writing approach--weird with a side of fun? sinister but sensitive? How does that approach contrast and coexist with the other creator's approach to the series?
Lauren Oliver: We have fun, for sure! And there is definitely a lot of weirdness. There has to be. The whole book series is in many ways a celebration of weirdness.
H.C. Chester: My approach is that I provide Ms. Lauren with access to my unique collection of rare artifacts, along with my encyclopedic knowledge of the subject, and then permit her to do all the work.
RNSL: You have quite a cavalcade of characters. How do you keep track of who everyone is?
LO: Oh, these characters are not exactly the shy-and-retiring types. It's less an issue of keeping track of them than in getting them to shut up when I want to take a nap.
HC: I let Ms. Oliver keep track of everyone as well as everything else that occurs in the book.
RNSL: The people and plot of the novels are spectacularly fantastic, but as the saying goes, truth is stranger than fiction. Are there any elements of the book drawn from people or things that existed/happened in real life?
HC: From what I have gathered through many years of research, there was an actual Dumfrey's Dime Museum and a quartet of extraordinary juvenile performers.
LO: Yes, absolutely! As Mr. Chester suggests, we've found references to a Dumfrey's Dime Museum in several sources, although none of them are absolutely creditable. However, dime museums most definitely existed, and were a huge component of the entertainment industry in the early 1900s. Dime museums boasted collections of zany, unique, and weird artifacts and also featured live performers, much like the ones in our book.
RNSL: Your house is burning down and you can only take one thing with you before the whole place goes up in flames. What one thing do you rescue from the conflagration?
LO: I'm counting ALL my animals as one animal. I'm assuming my fiancé can get out on his own. Other than that, my stack of writing notebooks.
HC: TRUDY!!!
RNSL: You are about to go on a book tour around the world and you need to bring an assistant. Which denizen of the museum do you take along as your traveling companion?
HC: TRUDY!!! I admit she is not technically a "Denizen of the Museum" but I cannot conceive of traveling without her.
LO: That is a fantastic question. I would say Sam, because he is a sweetheart and can carry all my luggage, no matter how many shoes I pack!
Q&A with Smalls, the Giant
Nearly 8 feet tall, Smalls has a near-constant bump on his head from grazing the ceiling. An aspiring poet, Smalls has published several of his own original works (including “Ode to a Toaster” and “The Elegy of an Unknown Dust Bunny”) in a literary magazine he publishes and circulates himself.
Click the illustration above to read more about the characters.
RNSL: If you could have written any other author's poem or book, what would it be and why? (I would love to have written The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, but she beat me to it.)
Smalls: Though I have deep admiration from the Greats, from the Bard to the esteemed if oft-overlooked Giuseppe de Peppecinno, famous for being the first to rhyme "spaghetti" with "come get me", I would never trade my voice for anyone else's, as a voice is to a poet what tomato sauce is to a vine. (As I point out in my poem "Ode to Tomato Sauce on a Vine.")
RNSL: What do you think is the most essential tool a poet needs to write well?
Smalls: A poet needs nothing but a pen, a place of solitude, and a velveteen thinking cap, preferably with a tassel. I like mine in hunter green.
RNSL: If tallness was a thing you could trade for any other characteristic, physical or personal, would you trade it away? If no, why not? If yes, what would you like to trade it for?
Smalls: No, no. I should never trade my stature, for it allows me to see clearly and penetratingly into the future--and at the movie theater even if I am in a back row.
RNSL: In your opinion, what is the best word in the English language?
Smalls:Taradiddle. I have been told again and again that I am full of it, and though admittedly I have not had time to research its precise meaning, assume it is a synonym of "wisdom," or perhaps "learnedness."
RNSL: If I gave you a tiny pouch in which you could carry any one item, large or small, and keep it with you at all times, what would you put in the pouch?
Smalls: I do carry a small pouch! Of course, though it is small to me, it might seem quite sizable to a non-giant, and it contains a bound copy of my Versos Completas, my latest collection of poems, just in case I should run into a literary-minded person, preferably one with access to a large printing press and a large quantity of cash.
1 copy of Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head (paperback)
1 copy of Curiosity House: The Screaming Statue (hardcover)
1 deck of Curiosity House cards featuring art from the series
Want to win? Sure, you do! Read the rules, then enter on the Rafflecopter widget below.
Open to the US only, ends 4/26/2016.
No purchase is necessary to enter the giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We and the publisher/publicity department are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
If you are lucky enough to be in Las Vegas this week, make sure you check out the RT (Romantic Times) Booklovers Convention! I attended a few years ago when it was here in Los Angeles and I had a lot of fun. This year, it's at the Rio Hotel & Casino (3700 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103) from April 12-17. Teen Day is Saturday the 16th! Keep reading for an exclusive interview with The Casquette Girls author Alys Arden. Thanks to RT for sharing information about this great event.
The Young Adult lineup includes Kami Garcia • Tamora Pierce • Mary E. Pearson • Kody Keplinger • Julie Kagawa • Gretchen McNeil • Cindy Pon • Ellen Hopkins • Colleen Houck • Richelle Mead • Jodi Meadows • Lauren Oliver • Julie Murphy • Andrea Cremer • Christina Lauren • Kimberley Griffiths Little • Sophie Jordan • Cynthia Hand • Kresley Cole • Kiera Cass • Kimberly Derting • Rae Carson • Jennifer L. Armentrout, a.k.a. J. Lynn • Victoria Aveyard • Marie Rutkoski • Renée Ahdieh • Cecelia Ahern • Morgan Rhodes • Elizabeth Briggs • Alexandra Bracken
and many more! Click the buttons below for more info.
Make sure you check out the Teen Day Party at the end of Saturday's panels (6-7:30 PM at Brasilia 4). It was my favorite part of the last RT Convention I attended because you really get to rub elbows (well, not literally, unless the room is really really small!) with your favorite authors. You also get a really cool tote bag (the first 500 teens have dibs, then everyone else can have a bag full of books and swag! :) Ahem, one of the swag things may have been made by me. If you guess what (and comment below with your guess by 4/19) I'll mail you a prize!
I’ve always been fascinated with the myths and legends of the French Quarter, so this book takes three of them and twists them together. But the real inspiration is the resilience of New Orleanians after storms.
Were the monsters and the magic always there or did they arrive in New Orleans with the storm?
Monsters and magic have been a part of New Orleans since before New Orleans has been New Orleans. In The Casquette Girls, everything is so strange looking post-storm when Adele and her father get back in town after the mandatory evacuation, it takes her a while to realize that weird things are actually happening in town. So the monsters and magic have always been there, but they don’t enter Adele’s life until after the Storm hits. (Or so she thinks).
What's up next for you?
I’m working on the sequel, The Romeo Catchers, which is due out this winter! The sequel will introduce three more New Orleans legends and a whole additional set of spooky characters. :)
Why do you enjoy coming to RT/what are you looking forward to at RT?
I love coming to RT because it has such a great mix of content! I like to go YA events, but also Paranormal/Fantasy/Horror, and of course a little Romance. RT has events for it all. I love getting to meet readers, but also see so many of my writing friends that I typically only see online!
What's your favorite romance story?
My all-time favorite is A Midsummer Night’s Dream because it’s a fantastical whirlwind and you’re never quite sure what is real and what is imagination.
Find lots of other info about the Book Fair and Booklovers Convention at www.rtconvention.com. If you go, I know you will have a ton of fun!
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Well, I meant to post this and many other things last Friday, but things got away from me, as they sometimes do. I'll try to make up for it this week.
Let's start it off with the first book in the middle grade novel series DC SuperHero Girls, Wonder Woman at Super Hero High by Lisa Yee.
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. I am raffling off the same copy I received (because due to random circumstances, it turns out I ended up with two copies of the book).
Other disclosure: I'm Facebook friends with Lisa Yee and she has generously supported a couple of our Bridge to Booksevents. Our acquaintance with each other has not influenced my review in any way.
Ok! Now that we've dispensed with the formalities, we can get on with the reviewing!
Wonder Woman at Super Hero High is the first in a series of middle grade novels targeted at young readers, drawing upon over 70 years worth of DC Comics history. Veteran author Lisa Yee joins a long list of writers whose task is to reinterpret and reinvent classic characters while trying to stay true to those characters and the world they inhabit. That Yee's task also includes making those characters and their stories conform to the needs and expectations of young female readers adds an extra layer of complexity to her mission to craft a timely, educational, and yet fun adventure.
The first installment of the DC SuperHero Girls booksmanages to toe the line between canon continuation and accessory to blatant money-grabbing; it manages to fall just on this side of worth-it. Truth be told, if I had room in the house for more action figures, I would probably also spring for not only the $10 action figures, but the $20 foot-tall dolls--of which there are 6 of each so far. I'm certain future books will require quite a range of strong female super heroes and villains in doll and action-figure format.
The story opens with gossip: the inexplicable expulsion of a student appears to coincide with the arrival of a new one, Wonder Woman, sparking rumors that their principal got rid of someone just to make room for her--and just in time for training to begin for the Super Triathlon. Though ecstatic at no longer being homeschooled (ha!), Wonder Woman comes to doubt whether she can really fit in with her classmates at Super Hero High. Her desire to attend the school stems from a deep commitment to saving the world, but things start to go wrong pretty much as soon as she arrives. A flying exercise goes embarrassingly awry. Her roommate, Harley Quinn, seems welcoming and excited about her admission to this elite institution, but she mostly seems thrilled at what Wondy's appearance (yup, they call her Wondy, ugh!) has done for her reality-video webcast's ratings. And while her mother's golden cuffs protect her from projectiles and laser beams, they can't protect her from the insidious, nasty little notes that seem to appear whenever something bad happens.
Yee covers a wide range of topics relevant to the middle school set: academic anxiety, friendship troubles, crushes on cute boys--the works. The characters range from mainstream (Raven, Beast Boy, and Lois Lane, with an oblique reference to Superman) to the more obscure (well, I'd never heard of her before, and I'm not going to tell you who it is now, as that would be a spoiler!) and fitting, without forcing them, a multitude of archetypes into the middle grade milieu. Her signature sense of humor pervades the storytelling and keeps the book balanced between light-hearted hijinks and the serious business of protecting and serving the world.
The strong girl characters populating WWaSHH are diverse not just racially, but also in terms of their interests and skills, as well as how they react to and deal with problems. Savvy young readers may also be intrigued by the idea that villains go to school side-by-side with heroes at Super Hero High. All in all, Wonder Woman at Super Hero High is fun, funny, and friendly introduction to the super-heroines of DC.
Want to win a copy of Wonder Woman at Super Hero High? Read the rules, then enter on the Rafflecopter widget below.
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We are just under a week away from the sixth annual Ontario Teen Book Fest! Today, I'm spotlighting young adult and middle grade author Elana K. Arnold. Make sure you read on for a Q&A as well as a giveaway for a signed poster.
Before we get to that, here's the important stuff to know about the festival so you can plan and find your way there.
Important Stuff
When: Saturday March 12th, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Colony High School 3850 E. Riverside Drive, Ontario, CA 91761
Side note, if you attend, you will be fed. Panera sandwiches and water/sodas are provided for attendees (since it's kind of hard to leave campus real quick to get some food--you might miss a panel!). I usually bring snacks anyway (and sandwiches are verboten on the anti-inflammatory diet I am currently on, so I do have to bring my own grub this time).
Books will be sold by Once Upon a Time. There will be t-shirts and posters as well.
At the end of the post, make sure you enter on the Rafflecopter for a poster signed by all of the authors!
Also, please share details about the fest on social media, and use the hashtag #OntarioTBF.
Last but not least, show the event bloggers some love by heading over to their websites, reading their posts, and leaving a comment! Not mandatory but it would be super nice of you. And you can see by the schedule who this year's authors are!
Elana K. Arnold is a Southern California native, and author of Sacred (RH/Delacorte, 2012), Splendor (RH/Delacorte, 2013), and Burning (RH/Delacorte, 2013). Her latest book about young adults, Infandous, was released by Carolrhoda Books in March 2015. She holds an M.A. in Creative Writing/Fiction from the University of California, Davis.
"Once there was a mermaid who dared to love a wolf. Her love for him was so sudden and so fierce that it tore her tail into legs."
Sephora Golding lives in the shadow of her unbelievably beautiful mother. Even though they scrape by in the seedier part of Venice Beach, she's always felt lucky. As a child, she imagined she was a minor but beloved character in her mother's fairy tale. But now, at sixteen, the fairy tale is less Disney and more Grimm. And she wants the story to be her own. Then she meets Felix, and the fairy tale takes a turn she never imagined.
"Things don't really turn out the way they do in fairy tales. I'm telling you that right up front, so you're not disappointed later."
Sometimes, a story is just a way to hide the unspeakable in plain sight.
More books by Elana K. Arnold:
Q&A with Elana K. Arnold
Read Now Sleep Later: What was the seed that grew into your latest YA novel, Infandous?
Elana K. Arnold: When I began working on the book that grew into Infandous, the first thing that came to me was Sephora’s voice. She was the loudest, clearest character I had ever heard. And it was clear from her art and her obsession with the goriest, most awful fairy tales and myths that she had a secret. I, however, literally had no idea what that secret might be. So I wrote to find out. About fifty pages into the book’s first draft, I was fooling around online and came across a list of 26 real words that we don't use anymore; “I” was for “Infandous,” which, I learned, means “that which is too terrible to be spoken of aloud.” At once, like a sickening wave, I was overwhelmed by the truth of Sephora’s secret. In that moment, I had found a title and direction... and a terrible sense of dread.
RNSL: In Infandous, Sephora is seeing "beyond the veil" that some popular fairytales wear (i.e. Disneyfication). I assume you had a revelation about this at some point, since you wrote a character with this point of view. What did you think when you first came to realize that fairytales aren't the euphemistic, sanitized versions served up in the mainstream?
EKA: I was fortunate to have been raised in households full of books, with no restrictions prescribed because of our age. If we found it and picked it up, and if we were capable of decoding the information, the book belonged in our hands. We had both at home and at my grandparents’ house (where I spent a lot of time) collections of fairy tales, fables, and mythology—the original stuff. I actually met a lot of the characters that star in Disney movies first in their source material. When I later re-met them, sanitized for the screen, I was put off by their transformations.
RNSL: Why do you write for young people? Did you choose the audience, or did it choose you?
EKA: Adolescence for me was terrifying, often lonely, and overwhelming. But sometimes it was also ecstatically free and dangerously exciting. I don’t write books for teens, particularly; I’m firmly in the “about, not for” camp, more and more as my career progresses. It’s up for publishers to decide if my books are YA… and, honestly, with both Infandous and my forthcoming YA, What Girls Are Made Of, I was pleasantly surprised that they found homes as such.
RNSL: Were you a writer and/or a reader as a child? If not, when did your road to becoming an author begin? Do you have a particular author, relative, or teacher who helped you on this path?
EKA: I was a myopic, dreamy, constant reader. My dad was a huge reader, too, as is my paternal grandmother who has a “real” library in her home—a room dedicated entirely to books. I spent long swaths of time there, happily following the patch of sunlight on carpet, reading indiscriminately and eating bowls of fruit.
RNSL: In general, people think of fiction as made-up stories, tales about things that are not real--however, fiction often exposes greater truths. For you, does the truth come first and have the story grow into being around it, or does the story lead you there?
EKA: For me, truth and fiction are always tightly paired, sometimes in ways that, when I’ve gotten some distance, shock and embarrass me. It’s most often in unconscious ways that truth seeps into my fiction, forming the emotional landscape of the book. The events may be fictional, but the heart is real.
RNSL: Do you write on schedule, or do you find that you have to carve bits and pieces of time out to write in the midst of your day-to-day activities?
EKA: I tend to write in big chunks sometimes, and in bits and pieces other times, and also, sometimes, not at all. Growing up, well-meaning adults loved to tell me that “writers write,” and yes, sometimes this is true. But writing is only part of the craft of being a storyteller. Living, and loving, and failing and hurting and all the other mess of life counts, too. When I finally released myself from the “butt in the chair every day” prescription, the stories began to demand space and time. Different approaches work for different writers, but as someone who struggled with eating disorders, I find that an all-or-none dictum usually leaves me self-flagellating and miserable. Which leads me to your next question…
RNSL: Do you have a favorite piece of writing advice you've received from or given to someone else? What is it?
EKA: Be gentle with yourself. There is time.
Be gentle with yourself. There is time.
Elana K. Arnold lives in Huntington Beach, California, with her husband, two children, and a menagerie of animals. Her latest middle grade novel, Far from Fair, will be out this week, and if you're lucky enough to be in Long Beach, California, check out Gatsby Books at 7 pm on Tuesday, March 8 for her launch party! Her next YA novel, What Girls Are Made Of, is due out in Spring 2017 from Carolrhoda Books. You can find more information about her and all of her books at elanakarnold.com/home.html and tweet her @elanakarnold
You guys! It's that time of year again. It's the sixth annual Ontario Teen Book Fest and I'm happy to be posting about one of the keynote speakers today, Marissa Meyer! I had the distinct pleasure and privilege of supplying the themed party food for the Los Angeles stop of her Winter book tour. You can read Thuy's recap and see lots of cool photos here. If you haven't read her Lunar Chronicles series yet, well, there's no time like now to get started, especially if you can join us in Ontario, CA to see her at Teen Book Fest!
Before we get to that, here's the important stuff to know about the festival so you can plan and find your way there.
Important Stuff
When: Saturday March 12th, 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Colony High School 3850 E. Riverside Drive, Ontario, CA 91761
Side note, if you attend, you will be fed. Panera sandwiches and water/sodas are provided for attendees (since it's kind of hard to leave campus real quick to get some food--you might miss a panel!). I usually bring snacks anyway (and sandwiches are verboten on the anti-inflammatory diet I am currently on, so I do have to bring my own grub this time).
Books will be sold by Once Upon a Time. There will be t-shirts and posters as well.
At the end of the post, make sure you enter on the Rafflecopter for a poster signed by all of the authors!
Also, please share details about the fest on social media, and use the hashtag #OntarioTBF.
Last but not least, show the event bloggers some love by heading over to their websites, reading their posts, and leaving a comment! Not mandatory but it would be super nice of you. And you can see by the schedule who this year's authors are!
Marissa Meyer is the author of the Lunar Chronicles series. She thrilled YA fans with her debut novel, Cinder, which landed on the New York Times bestseller list at #10 in 2012. While to the untrained eye, Cinder may have looked like just another fairytale retelling aimed at teens, it is really much more than that. It's a socio-economic analysis, a political intrigue, a science-fiction thriller, a teen drama, a cyber-punk romance, and a dystopian fantasy all rolled into one (with an occasional hint of chibi comedy thrown in, just for fun).
Click the book covers to find out more about the books themselves.
Meyer continued to expand on her Lunar 'verse with sequels Scarlet (Red Riding Hood), Cress (Rapunzel), and Winter (Snow White). Each novel not only reveals more about Cinder's story, as well as the history and culture of the moon-dwelling Lunars threatening to take over the Earth, but also allies her with the strong, smart young women each volume is titled after. In the interval between Cress and Winter came Fairest: Levana's Story--filling in the gaps of the story by exploring the childhood and young adulthood of the primary antagonist in the series, the Lunar Queen herself.
Her most recent release is Stars Above, a print collection of nine Lunar Chronicles short-stories, only four of which had previously been published. It also contains an excerpt from the upcoming Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired Heartless, a stand-alone YA novel telling the story of a girl before she became the Queen of Hearts. Heartless hits shelves (and, I'm sure no one will bet against me on this) best-seller lists on November 8, 2016. The thing that amazes me most about Meyer's novels is how she manages to make the totally familiar fairy tale elements thematically fit the far-flung story she concocts in every book. You wonder why you never thought about it that way before because it just totally makes sense. I'm almost certain Heartless will not be an exception to this rule.
Did you know?
Marissa started writing Sailor Moon fanfiction when she was 14. You can still find her stories at fanfiction.net under the pen name Alicia Blade.
She has three cats named Calexandria Josephine, Stormus Enormous, and Blackland Rockwell III.
She has a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing and Children’s Literature from Pacific Lutheran University and a Master’s degree in Publishing from Pace University.
Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress were all written for NaNoWriMo (that's National Novel Writing Month).
She loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband. Tweet her @marissa_meyer. You can find a TON more information about her at www.marissameyer.com, as well as music and book recommendations, downloadables, fan art, and details about Lunar history and real-world technology that Cinder might make seem like she thought it up (but these things totally exist, or may exist shortly if scientists keep at it).
So, this is how much I didn't want to do homework last week. For once in my life, I put together links to all the local book events.
There's some crazy crazy stuff coming up, so I hope you all have been saving your book allowances! (I haven't. Bad booklover.)
If I missed some, please let me know! You can email [email protected], tweet it at us @rnslbooks, or message us on Facebook. I can't guarantee everything will be put up, but I'll do my best!
We hope you see you at some of these. I will almost definitely be at Ontario TBF, and make sure you mark your calendars for our big Bridge to Books event in Pasadena on May 14. (More details on that to come!)
Greetings, lovely readers! Get your tutus on for some Ballet Cat fun times. We have a giveaway sponsored by Disney-Hyperion (US only, ends 2/15/2016), and read on to find out more about the new book from author-illustrator Bob Shea. I received a copy of the books in exchange for an honest review, as well as a plush Ballet Cat from MerryMakers Inc. and I also have a set to give away to a lucky reader!
Alethea's Review
You may as well know I'm a big Bob Shea fan. His collaborations with Lane Smith, Big Plans and Kid Sheriff & The Terrible Toads, are a couple of my very favorite picture books. Shea's style is fun, funny, and a little funky. Just check out the retro style on these Ballet Cat book covers! Ok, yeah, so Ballet Cat is a bit bossy--er, confident and self-possessed. Whether she's trying to get Sparkles the Horse to twirl or Butter Bear to do some super-high leaps, she's determined to have a great time doing what she does best. Dancing!
Maybe her friends' ideas of fun aren't quite pliés and pas de bourrée. Maybe they'd rather make ice pops, sell lemonade, eat endless bowls of cereal, and play just one more game of checkers. Whatever their differences, these furry friends learn from each other about friendship, bravery, and how to be honest with each other.
You can check out some of the interior pages from Dance! Dance! Underpants! right here:
For Ages 6-8 Book 1: The Totally Secret Secret (in stores now!) Book 2: Dance! Dance! Underpants! (in stores February 2)
About the Books
The Totally Secret Secret
Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests--making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade--goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?
Dance! Dance! Underpants!
Ballet Cat is getting her friend Butter Bear ready for her big ballet debut. "Leap, Butter Bear, leap!" Ballet Cat prompts. But Butter Bear would prefer to just point her toe. When Ballet Cat keeps pushing, Butter Bear gets hungry, then thirsty, then sleepy . . . The bottom line is that Butter Bear would rather do almost anything to avoid making a big leap. Why? Because her bottom is covered in silly underpants! This second entry in the Ballet Cat series will have beginning readers rolling on the floor with laughter.
About the Author
Bob Shea is the author of the first book about Ballet Cat: THE TOTALLY SECRET SECRET, the Dinosaur vs. series, and several other picture books, including DON'T PLAY WITH YOUR FOOD and UNICORN THINKS HE'S PRETTY GREAT. He and his wife have their own design studio in Madison, Connecticut.
Welcome, one and all, to our NIGHT STUDY blog tour post! Read on to find out more about the sequel to SHADOW STUDY, including an interview with author Maria V. Snyder, and a giveaway (open internationally)!
Ever since being kidnapped from the Illiais Jungle as a child, Yelena Zaltana's life has been fraught with peril. But the recent loss of her Soulfinding abilities has endangered her more than ever before. As she desperately searches for a way to reclaim her magic, her enemies are closing in, and neither Ixia nor Sitia is safe for her anymore. Especially since the growing discord between the two countries and the possibility of a war threatens everything Yelena holds dear.
Valek is determined to protect Yelena, but he's quickly running out of options. The Commander suspects that his loyalties are divided, and he's been keeping secrets from Valek... secrets that put him, Yelena and all their friends in terrible danger. As they uncover the various layers of the Commander's mysterious plans, they realize it's far more sinister than they could have ever imagined.
When Yelena was a poison taster, her life was simpler. She survived to become a vital part of the balance of power between rival countries Ixia and Sitia.
Now she uses her magic to keep the peace in both lands—and protect her relationship with Valek.
Suddenly, though, dissent is rising. And Valek’s job—and his life—are in danger.
As Yelena tries to uncover her enemies, she faces a new challenge: her magic is blocked.And now she must find a way to keep not only herself but all that she holds dear alive.
About the Author
Maria V. Snyder changed from being a meteorologist to a novelist in 1995, when she began writing to keep her sanity while raising two children. Since then, she has published numerous freelance articles in magazines and newspapers, and teaches fiction-writing classes at the local college and area libraries. The classes give her the wonderful opportunity to encourage fellow writers, and to keep improving her craft.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maria always had a fascination with big storms. Dreaming of chasing tornados, Maria earned a bachelors of science degree in meteorology at Penn State University. But she discovered, much to her chagrin, that forecasting the weather wasn't one of her skills. In order to chase tornados you had to predict where they might form. Creating fantasy worlds where she has complete control of the weather was more agreeable to her.
Maria's research on food-tasting methods with an expert chocolate taster, her husband, turned out to be a delicious bonus while writing Poison Study.
Maria has a brown belt in Isshinryu Karate, and enjoys playing volleyball and the cello. Traveling in general and via cruise ship in particular are her biggest distractions from writing. Maria has traveled to Belize, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
Maria lives with her husband, son, daughter and yellow lab, Hazelnut, in Pennsylvania where she is at work on more LUNA novels. She also earned a master's degree in writing fiction from Seton Hill University.
Readers are welcome to contact Maria at the following email address: [email protected].
RNSL: The world of the Study series is so deep and wide now, how do you keep the details (about characters, plot, etc.) straight?
MVS: I have a couple things I do to help me keep all the details organized. For each of my novels, I have an old fashioned notebook where I write down all those details for the book, including the story's timeline and all my research notes. I also have an Excel spreadsheet that has details for all my characters from the books. That spreadsheet is a wonderful resource. I can't take any credit for that as Natalie, one of my readers, put it together for me. She also did one for each of my other series as well! The last thing I do is just refer back to the book. I keep a copy of all my books next to my computer.
RNSL: Authors are so connected to social media now. How much do you let fan reactions affect the decisions you make when you write?
MVS: I really enjoy interacting with my readers, but I let the story develop without worrying about their reactions. However, I do think about them when I'm writing. I smile and think, “Oh, they're going to love this.” Or “I hope they don't kill me over this.” :) And I did write more Study books for them.
RNSL: From your first book to this one (your 14th novel!), has your writing style or method changed, and how?
MVS: I don't think my style has changed, but I have started writing from multiple POVs in my books and doing third person because I wanted a challenge and I really like showing what's going on with the other characters in the books. My method is about the same. I still use the notebooks. However, when my kids were little, I wrote when they were at school. Now, I write at night and love it.
RNSL: We love hearing about the things that inspire you from the real world that end up in your Ixia/Sitia stories. Has Night Study added any new hobbies or interests to your list?
MVS: I've learned quite a bit about plants, including cross breeding and grafting techniques for Night Study. It's doubtful the knowledge will help me as all my attempts to grow green things has resulted in failure.
RNSL: What's your preferred writing fuel right now?
MVS: Decaffeinated English Breakfast tea for when I'm writing and then, if I hit my word count for the evening, a glass of red wine to celebrate.
RNSL: You dropped the biggest bombshell at the end of Shadow Study! Do you think it accomplished what you set out to do?
MVS: I knew I wanted to reveal that bombshell near the end of the novel. I really didn't plan to make it the very last line, but when I reached that point in the story, it felt right. And I think it was fun for my readers since it's not quite a cliff-hanger—the main plot/story was resolved, but it gave them something they'd been hoping for and something to think about while waiting for Night Study.
RNSL: Will the next Study book be the last, and if so, how do you feel about the series ending/rolling along?
MVS: Dawn Study will be the last for Yelena and Valek. Yelena's journey was the focus of the first three books and these new ones are a bit more focused on Valek's journey. And that's a good thing—I think writing more about them I would have to raise the stakes so much it would be like “jumping the shark.” There are a few characters—Reema, Teegan, Fisk, Heli, and Quinn—that I would like to explore more and might write a few books about them—no plans yet as I usually like a break and a chance to do something new before I return to a world.
RNSL: The cover changes in tone from Shadow Study to Night Study--I like them both, but prefer the direction Night Study is going in. Can you discuss the changes?
MVS: Yes I can! The reason is I had more input into Night Study's cover! I expressed my concerns about Shadow Study's US cover to my new editor—I really wished they hadn't put a model on the cover—not that she wasn't beautiful, but her makeup was so over the top, it appeared as if she had a black eye! So when they were designing Night Study, I was able to give the art department more feedback.
RNSL: Were there any other book or series ideas percolating while you worked on Night Study? If you can't share details, can you discuss what it's like for you to have multiple ideas vying for attention?
MVS: I generally concentrate on one book or story at a time—I can't work on a short story in the afternoon and a novel at night. I have to stop one to work on another. However, I do get ideas and I write them down when they come to me. When I have time between projects, I explore those ideas. Right now I don't have any set plans for what's next, which is kind of scary! I have three different novel ideas and I'll see which one of those my publisher will be interested in (if any!).
Giveaway Details
6 Winners will receive a finished copy of NIGHT STUDY, US Only.
4 winners will receive a finished copy of NIGHT STUDY, International.
Over the weekend, the RNSL team was a part of a very special book event. About 8 months ago Salina Yoon, the extremely talented and prolific author/illustrator of books like Penguin and Pinecone, Penguin in Love and Stormy Night, asked if we and some of our friends would help her plan the launch party for her 2016 picture book release BE A FRIEND. As huge fans of Salina and her work, we of course said yes. We had worked with Salina previously, but this party was going to be different. Be A Friend was very special to Salina and, as such, she wanted to celebrate in a big way. (You can read more about Salina and her feeling on the book here.) So we gathered some of our bookish and imaginative friends (you know who you are) and got to work. Below is just a brief recap of the event. All pics are by our amazing friend and photographer Katie Ferguson.
Guests were asked to sign in at the guest table when arriving, where they received a felt heart pin and a raffle ticket. They were then welcome to help themselves to some snacks and drinks as the sounds of French music serenaded them.
There was a full dessert table as well as a candy bar. The amazing treats above were created by Maskipops by Adri. They were beautiful and delicious!
We also had 2 delicious signature cocktails created by the amazing and adorably attired Jen.
Once the guests settled in, it was time to start the presentation. First up was a performance by the talented singer/songwriter Emily Arrow, who creates literature inspired music for children. Her song required some audience participation, and everyone was happy to oblige.
Salina was up next and she thanked everyone and then read Be A Friend, with a little help. There were two wonderful theater students who helped Salina with her reading.
After a brief Q&A, it was time to start the signing line. Guests were called up in groups so they didn't spend all of their time in line and could partake of the food, drink and other fun activities while they waited. One of my favorite features of the event was the photobooth. Thanks to Eric for manning it and for the awesome volunteers for creating and procuring the props.
It was just a fantastic night filled with friend, food, and books (and one adorable corgi). Huge congrats to Salina on the publication of Be A Friend. Thanks for letting us be a part of it. Huge, huge thanks to all of our friends and volunteers who helped make this event happen. :)
FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I really look forward to getting the Macmillan catalog every season, but now that I've gotten over the initial excitement of being offered review copies by a publisher, I now only request books I really, really, really want to read. I tend to go through the catalog very quickly, making snap decisions--if it didn't grab me right away, I don't request it (though I might write the title down or put it on my Goodreads TBR shelf). So when I got the spring catalog, I spun through the PDF, scrolling the mouse or trackpad like a Price Is Right contestant, and where did it stop? Sweaterweather!
Not only are we actually experiencing some pretty chilly days here in Southern California (it's 54° F here in Los Angeles right now)--actual sweater weather--but author/illustrator Sara Varon is one of my very favorites. I first noticed her book Bake Sale in 2011 (I haven't actually read her breakout graphic novel, Robot Dreams). Some artists take umbrage at their art being called "cute", so I won't call it that (whether Varon takes umbrage or not). Her illustrations take "cute" up to the next level, for which I don't really have a word, or at least, not a single one. Her repertoire of animal characters and the glimpses into their lives is endearing, welcoming, comforting amusement. Themes of friendship, creativity, and community tie her stories together. Her drawing style isn't saccharine-sweet, but it will make you grin. Her stories have the cumulative warming effect of a fuzzy-soft sweater, warm socks, and the best cup of hot cocoa.
Sweaterweather was originally published in 2003--Varon's first book. She has since illustrated others, including one of our favorites by another author, Cecil Castellucci--Odd Duck! The new hardcover reissue of Sweaterweather includes the original stories plus additional content. While I all of love the short comics, I really appreciate the addition of comments and notes from Varon on each story, what inspired her, or why she drew it. There are many tidbits of technique, inspiration, and process, including short interviews of her colleagues, that make this book a great glimpse into the life of a working artist. I imagine this book in the hands of another reader, an illustration geek or budding creative, a young person just starting to develop the style that will set them apart from others when they tell stories, draw pictures, or make music.
The knitting on the cover (and the immediate recognition of Varon's artwork) is what initially drew me in, and the Turtle & Rabbit story covers the friendship/knitting/hot tea comfort aspects of Sweaterweather very well. Not to be missed is an abecedarian about going to the local grocery store, a story about a clueless lion who reads a self-help book about fitting into the African Grassland, and a diagrammatic illustration about beekeeping. There is also a thoughtful, tender, if somewhat jarring salute to her Dalmatian, Violet.
You can find out more about the new edition of Sweaterweather at firstsecondbooks.com, and read more about Sara Varon at her website, chickenopolis.com.
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Hello, one and all! 2015 may have had a sad ending, but I hope you are all welcoming in the new year with hope and renewal. I spent the day re-organizing my bookshelves. Still not done--not by a long shot!--but progress has been made. Speaking of progress, if you want to win some books, make sure you read all the way to the end of the post!
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Here's what I'm looking forward to this year:
Books: You guys, a new Maria V. Snyder book comes out in February! We'll be part of the Night Studybook tour, so stay tuned for that. And there are so many other things coming out, too many to name at this point with the whole year ahead of us!
Events: Ruta Sepetys is coming to SoCal! and Thuy has handily updated the calendar for the next few weeks. I will likely be at this next week.
Movies: Oh, OH so much to look forward to. Captain America: Civil War will be out soon (I have already requested the day off) and there will be a slew of Tom Hiddleston things coming up, including High Rise (March 18, alongside Elisabeth Moss and Luke Evans, and based on the J.G. Ballard novel), The Night Manager (April on AMC, based on the John Le Carré novel, co-starring Hugh Laurie), and I Saw the Light, (March 25, based on the life of country legend Hank Williams, co-starring Elizabeth Olsen, who will almost certainly make me weep my face off in this movie).
* for the record, I don't think you should read the book before the movie if you haven't read it by the time you know the movie is happening. Read it after, if you like (the book is almost always better), but reading it before is just like spoiling yourself on purpose.
Comedy: David Cross, one of my most favorite comedians ever, is on tour for the next 6 months, and the husband bought us tickets. Much excitement.
Music: School of Seven Bells has a posthumous (RIP Benjamin Curtis) album launching in a few weeks. I must have it. New Animal Collective too! Cautiously trying not to think too hard about the previously unreleased originals and covers by the late Jeff Buckley in March.
Things to do: Universal Studios Hollywood's Wizarding World of Harry Potter opens in April. OH MY.
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I don't have resolutions, but I do have a couple of simple, and I think, doable goals this year:
Organize and declutter my apartment--really, I was good at this once! And can be again.
Finish knitting this thing I promised my friend I'd knit (sorry, Christina)
Get A's in my next 4 business classes--I just started my first one of the year!
Find a home for this kitty:
Yep, that's our sweet, nameless foster kitty who I will be very sad to let go, but let go we must--once we find her a good forever home. So if you're in the Los Angeles area and in the market for a young, well-behaved, formerly feral cat, please email me! She really is a stellar kitty... we'd very nearly trade one of our existing cats for her, except that would be really cruel (I'm just glad John Carter & Mars can't read!)
The rest of her cat colony (3 other cats) is still out there in the rain and cold :( I wish we could take them all in! If you would like to help them, please check out this fundraiser by my friend Esmeralda (who is saving up to get the remaining cats placed in a no-kill shelter).
What are you excited about or looking forward to this year? Let us know in the comments!
If you're in the US, you can enter to win two of our favorite books from 2015, All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven, and Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo.
Open to the US only, ends 1/31/2015.
No purchase is necessary to enter a giveaway. Void where prohibited.
We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items.
One set of entries per household please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us at [email protected]
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps, but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.
In May 2010, Cynthia Jaynes-Omololu, author of the YA novel Dirty Little Secrets, stopped by my Borders store in Glendale to sign copies of her book. I had read and loved her book, and sent her an email to let her know how much I enjoyed reading it. She was so gracious and thankful that she offered to stop by on her way down to Disneyland with her husband and sons for their annual trip. My store was in Southern California and she lived in Northern California with her family. It was incredibly generous of her to take time out of her vacation to meet me. We hugged warmly, and I got them all treats from our cafe. It was a short but unforgettable visit. I stayed in touch with her online afterwards.
She was diagnosed with cancer about a year ago, and today her family and friends mourn her passing. I hope she is free from pain and suffering. My heart goes out to her loved ones. She embodied kindness, beauty, and love, and will be greatly missed.
She also leaves behind her books, Dirty Little Secrets, Intuition, Transcendence, and The Third Twin. You can find links to her work on her website at www.cjomololu.com.
Rest in peace, Cyn.
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