Hey there, I'm Elizabeth. I write young adult novels. I live just outside Washington DC with my husband and dog, and am unable to pass a bookstore without stopping and going inside.
All right, and I can't leave without buying at least one book.
Usually two. (Or more!)
My husband, my dog, and a way for me to get all the books I wanted...
Um...okay. I'll be honest. Fritos. (I know! But they're soooo good!)
Just a place to sit (although I've never tried writing standing up before) and of course, something to write on--and with!
I fully embrace my TV love--but I don't always tell people I have a soft spot for several seasons of 3rd Rock From The Son (but then, it's John Lithgow! And Joseph Gordon-Levitt! And those other two!)
Welcome to author Cyn Balog!Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She is author of young adult paranormals FAIRY TALE (2009), SLEEPLESS(2010), and two other forthcoming novels from Delacorte. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and daughters.
Interview:
What is the last book you read?The Scorch Trials by James Dashner. The series is so weird, but so good. I have no idea what's going on but that makes it so compulsively readable. It's like the book version of LOST.
What is the last movie you saw?It was a Columbo TV movie. I am currently obsessed with Columbo. Does that make me a nerd? Probably. But I really can't stand the TV cop shows of today... they all thrive on either sex or the gruesome. There is this prevailing thought in entertainment these days that nobody will pay attention if you don't include something like a stripper who was murdered in some bizzare and grotesque way like being stuffed into a microwave. I love the shows which rely on the detecting, the solving of the mystery, instead of cheap gimmicks!
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?Chocolate Marshmallow. And if I can get one topping... toasted coconut.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?I eat Banana Nut Crunch EVERY DAY, without fail. I go into withdrawal if I do not have it. I'm a Banana Nut Nut.
What do you do when you are in-between books?Really.... think about the next book I am going to write!! I am obsessed!
You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy?I would go to Seaside Park, NJ and buy my grandparents' house at the beach back. I spent every summer there as I child and I have such fond memories of it! It was sold back when I was in high school. I saw it recently on the market for $750k. I would need the other $250k to fix it up, because it probably still has avocado appliances and shag carpeting.
How did you celebrate the sale of your first book?I bought a swing set. Completely for me. Actually, that's only part-true. There is a disc-swing on the end of it, and that IS just for me. I have been known to swing on it often, much to the amusement of my neighbors!
Finish the sentence- one book I wish I had written is.... THE HUNGER GAMES ... because I am just like every writer out there, completely envious of Ms. Collins' abilities.
Sleepless:Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.
But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad
Welcome to author Lauren Oliver!Lauren Oliver comes from a family of writers and so has always (mistakenly) believed that spending hours in front of the computer every day, mulling over the difference between “chortling” and “chuckling,” is normal. She has always been an avid reader.
She attended the University of Chicago, where she continued to be as impractical as possible by majoring in philosophy and literature. After college, she attended the MFA program at NYU and worked briefly as the world’s worst editorial assistant, and only marginally better assistant editor, at a major publishing house in New York. Her major career contributions during this time were flouting the corporate dress code at every possible turn and repeatedly breaking the printer. Before I Fall is her first published novel.
She is deeply grateful for the chance to continue writing, as she has never been particularly good at anything else.Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?Hmm. Neither, unless it was a fictionalized version of the past! Then I would go to, like, Regency England.
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?Easy--my boyfriend, my sister, and three best friends!
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?A cell phone to call for help, sunscreen, and a really, really long book. like Proust's Remembrances of Things Past.
What is one book everyone should read?To Kill a Mockingbird.
If you were a superhero what would your name be?The Magnificent Multi-Tasker.
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?The power of flight.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?Chocolate fudge brownie, with chocolate sauce. Mmmm, chocolate...
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?Peanut butter toast! I eat it every morning.
Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music) Nope. I write on subways, in restaurants, on planes...I wrote a whole novel on my blackberry!
Night owl or early bird?Definitely night owl. I am NOT happy in the mornings.
One food you would never eat?Bananas. Ew!
Pet Peeves?Negativity.
Skittles or M&Ms?See my answer about chocolate, above...
If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or female, doesn't matter and why?Athena was pretty badass. But I'd probably go for Zeus, since he's pretty much top dog.
How do you react to a bad review?I try not to put too much stock in any reviews, positive or negative. It's important not to become too dependent on other people's points of view. And of course, it's impossible to write a book that will please everybody!
If you could be a paranormal creature, what would you choose to be?A gremlin. Ha ha, just kidding. Probably a vampire, because apparently then people would think I was hot!
What is your favorite book that has been made into a
Welcome Author Lesley LivingstonLesley is a writer and actor living in Toronto, Canada. Captivated at a young age by stories of mythology and folk lore, past civilizations, and legendary heroes, she developed into a full-fledged Celtic Mythology Geek, steeped in stories of the Otherworld, Faeries and King Arthur. Lesley went on to earn a Master’s Degree in English from the University of Toronto specializing in Shakespeare and Arthurian literature.
For almost three years, Lesley hosted weekly late-night movie marathons on the nationally broadcast television show, SPACEBAR, as the Waitron-9000, a sparkly holographic waitress with an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure B-movie trivia. She is also a founding member and principal performer with Tempest Theatre Group.
Lesley is an unrepentant egghead – a character-trait that somehow doesn’t interfere with a love of shoes and shiny things. Lesley is the author of the Wondrous Strange Trilogy: Wondrous Strange 2008, Darklight 2009, Tempestous 2010.
http://lesleylivingston.blogspot.com/Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future? The past… even though I know I would regret the choice almost immediately (I’m fond of things like plumbing and heat), but I am a total history junkie. That’s why my book ONCE EVERY NEVER (coming out next summer) has my heroine time-travelling back to 1st Century Britain!
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?(In keeping with the above historical theme) Shakespeare, King Arthur, Hatshepsut, Boudicca, Julius Caesar
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Coffee. It is an essential food group all on its own.
Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music)My Mac, my fuzzy writing boots (if I’m at home – the office gets chilly). That’s it. Otherwise, I can make do with a cocktail napkin and an eyeliner if an idea strikes.
Night owl, or early bird? What is this “bird of earliness” of which you speak??
Favorite Cartoon? Anything classic Warner Brothers (this does NOT include those ridiculous movies!). Bugs and Daffy rock!
What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Hockey. Even though the Leafs love to break my heart, I still can’t leave them.
If you could be a paranormal creature, what would you choose to be?One of the Fair Folk. Faerie rock. (Was that too obvious?)
What is your favorite book that has been made into a movie? I’m very fond of the Lord of the Rings movies. A fantastic adaptation that actually understands the difference between the two mediums.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. If it’s the WONDROUS STRANGE books, then: because it would please the Fae immensely if you would be so kind. (And I do suggest staying on their good side, lest ye wake up to shoes full of pudding…)
If you could jump in to a book, and live in that world.. which would it be? Guy Gavriel Kay’s Fionavar Tapestry series. Or Chicago in The Dresden Files.
What is your dream cast for your book? A couple of brilliant young unknowns for Sonny and Ke
Welcome to Author Elizabeth Eulberg!Elizabeth Eulberg was born and raised in Wisconsin before heading off to Syracuse University and then making a career in the New York City book biz. She lives outside of Manhattan with her three guitars, two keyboards, and one drumstick. In researching The Lonely Hearts Club, she tried swearing off boys forever. It didn’t work. She did, however, learn how to play Rachmaninoff’s Eighteenth Variation from Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini on the piano while writing Prom and Prejudice, so she’s not a total slacker.
Interview:You have a new book Prom & Prejudice coming out - What can you tell us about it?Prom and Prejudice is a modern retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Instead of the English countryside and searching for husbands, my book takes place at a prestigious Connecticut boarding school where the characters are obsessed with prom. It definitely has nods to the original, but has its own twists. If you’re going to retell something (especially a classic like Pride and Prejudice - no pressure!) you have to make it your own.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?iPod - I need to have music around me at all times, I can’t even walk three blocks without listening to my iPod.
Guitar – I’m guessing this desert island doesn’t have an electrical outlet, so I’d have to create my own music once the batteries run out!
Notebook – So I could write.
What is one book everyone should read?The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of my favorite novels. It is such a powerful book, and while it is narrated by death, the message you take away from it is hope. If you haven’t read it yet – do it, NOW.
What is the last book you read?I’m really behind on my to-read pile, but it would be Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It was for book group and I can’t believe I never read it before.
What is the last movie you saw?Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1 – I got my Imax tickets weeks ahead of time. Amazing!
If you were a superhero what would your name be?Oddly enough, a friend and I created alter egos for one another years ago. I’m Bionic Betty! (Although I don’t go by Betty!)
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?Flying – it would make everything so much easier, especially with all the new TSA rules.
When you were 12 years old what did you want to be when you grew up?Musician – I still want to be a rock star!
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?Ben and Jerry’s Chubby Hubby
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?John Lennon
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?Mr. Darcy
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?Bagel with smoked salmon and cream cheese
Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music) Music!
Night owl, or early bird?I have my late nights, but usually I’m an early bird.
One food you would never eat?I’m allergic to melon (I know, random!) so I never eat that.
You have won one million dol
I've still got 6 days of Best I've Read giveaways coming. Everyday from now until Friday, December 17th there will be chances to win books on my blog.
But there are only 4 days left to enter the Best I've Read Grand Prize Giveaways.
There is a US Giveaway & an International Giveaway - You can only enter one of the giveaways.
US Grand Prize!
One lucky winner will receive the following Prize Package:
- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
- Firelight by Sophie Jordan
- Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
- Pathfinder by Orson Scott Card
- Amy & Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
- Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
- Spells ARC (signed) by Aprilynne Pike
- 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
- Heavenly, Penitence OR Absolution by Jennifer Laurens
- Gaurdian of the Gate by Michelle Zink
- Immortal Beloved by Cate Tiernan
- Escaping the Tiger by Laura Manivong
- Secondhand Charm by Julie Berry
- Bad to the Bone by Jeri Smith-Ready
- Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
- Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- Losing Faith by Denise Jaden
- Signed ARC of Shadow of the Sun by Laura Kreitzer
PLUS:
Your Name written into a sequel to Intrinsical by Lani Woodland
The Dark Divine bookmark
Shiver/Linger (signed) bookmark
13 to Life bookmark
13 to Life postcard
Open only to those with a US mailing address:
We also have 2 International Prize Packs - These will be shipped from The Book Depository so they must ship to your country to enter.
International Grand Prize Pack 1 - Contemporary:
- Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
- Sea by Heidi Kling
- Matched by Ally Condie
- The Mockingbirds by Daisy Whitney
- The Duff by Kody Keplinger
International Grand Prize Pack 2 - Paranormal:
- The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
- Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel
- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
- 13 to Life by Shannon Delany
- The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
No US mailing Address - The Book Depository must ship to your country to enter:
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Welcome to author Kimberly Derting. I have a fabulous interview with her today and then a giveaway for her book The Body Finder.
Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?To the past, although they’d have to have showers, microwaves, and DVRs…so not too far back ;)
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?For the writer in me: JK Rowling and Stephenie Meyer (because they’ve changed the face of YA), Stephen King (because he was my favorite author when I was a teen), and Oprah (because, well, she’s Oprah!). And for the girl in me: George Clooney (I don’t think I need to explain, do I?).
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?A toothbrush, my fuzzy blue bathrobe, and a book called “How to Build Life Rafts for Dummies”.
What is one book everyone should read?To Kill a Mockingbird
What is the last book you read?Sea by Heidi Kling. Loved it!
What is the last movie you saw?The Social Network. Loved it!
If you were a superhero what would your name be?Kimpossible, of course. :)
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?That’s easy, flying!
When you were 12 years old what did you want to be when you grew up?A Lady Trucker (thanks to a popular TV show in the ‘70s called BJ and the Bear)
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?Coldstone’s Birthday Cake Re-mix
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?I think Queen Elizabeth would be fascinating, she was the original feminist!
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?Jace Wayland, because he’s bad-boy hot.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?Crepes with lots of butter and powdered sugar…mmmm…
How many books do you read a week/month?Probably only 3 a month. Although I wish I were a faster reader.
What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?Do I have to admit this? I like pop music, so my favorites change constantly. Right now, though, I really Lily Allen’s song “Who’d Have Known” (it’s on the Desires of the Dead playlist).
Is there anything you need in order to write? (ie Chocolate, quiet, music) Tea and Skittles. Not necessarily in that order.
Night owl, or early bird?Early bird. I’m like a farmer.
One food you would never eat?Beets.
Pet Peeves?Mispronunciations of certain words, like “Nuclear”…especially if you’re the president. Although I find it hilarious that my husband can’t pronounce the word “lozenges”.
Skittles or M&Ms?Out of the bag: Skittles. In hot-buttered popcorn: M&Ms.
Favorite Cartoon?Currently it’s Adventure Time. Every time my daughter turns in on, I end up watching it!
If you could trade your life for that of a fictional character, who would that character be?The girl from The Cat in the Hat. Funnest. Day. Ever! :)
On the Sixth Day of Best I've Read Inspired Kathy Gave to Me...
- Tyger, Tyger by Kersten Hamilton (Open Internationally)
- Personal Demons by Lisa Desrochers
- Freefall by Mindi Scott
- Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
- The Replacements by Brenna Yavanoff
- Dark Flame by Alyson Noel
- 13 to Life & Signed Limited Edition Chapbook by Shannon Delaney
Tomorrow's Giveaways:
The Body Finder & swag by Kimberly Derting
The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberh
Darklight by Lesley Livingston
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver
Sleepless by Cyn Balog
The Unwritten Rule or Grace by Elizabeth Scott
Shadow of the Sun by Laura Keitzer
The Thirteenth Chime by Emma MichaelsHATRED NEVER DIES...
Destiny has finally found the life that she has always wanted. She is about to finish college, has a fiance that loves her, and a great summer on the West Coast planned with her friend, Stephanie. But her world is turned upside down when an antique clock mysteriously chimes thirteen times and someone attacks them, sending Stephanie and her mother to the hospital.
Alone, and without any help from the police, Destiny has no choice but to turn to the one man she had left behind a year ago - her ex-boyfriend, David. Together, they must solve the riddle of the thirteenth chime before the clock strikes thirteen again. Yet as they face their own past and hearts, a trap over half a century old is waiting for them to become its prey.
For revenge, fifty years is never too long...
Welcome to Author Emma Michaels.Emma Michaels was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, until she moved at eighteen to Washington State. Suddenly, the world was a new place filled with tall green trees that reached further for the sky with every moment, making her want to do the same. Ever since, she has tried to make her life something new and different from what it was before, pursuing her future career, setting high goals and reaching for them with every moment.
With her Debut novel, The Thirteenth Chime which was released August 13th 2010 and future releases planned Emma Michaels aspires to one day make it to the top ten of the New York Times Best Sellers List. With her fiancé at her side and her small white Chihuahua, Hope, she writes, reads, reviews and tries to live everyday to its fullest, whether in the pages of a good book or reaching out to others.
Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?I would probably go forward into the future simply because curiosity would get the best of me, though there are many people from the past who I would really love to be able to meet. Then again, I am sure there will be many amazing people in the future I will want to meet and hopefully, a few I can look forward to actually getting to meet in my lifetime! The other reason is if I went back into the past I would probably be too frightened about changing evens whereas I would not be nearly so scared about changing the future.
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?I love family dinners so to be honest it would probably just be my normal family but at the same time there are a LOT of authors who I hope to one day get to meet. So I would probably invite Tamora Pierce, Sharron Shinn, Elizabeth Kerner, Susan Butcher and Jim Butcher (because he seems like he would really be able to make us all laugh and I love all the interviews I have read where he was featured).
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?I have a new answer for this one. I have been asked this a few times and I finally decided. I would want as my first thing a fully functioning house with clean running water, my fiancé and my puppy.
What is one book everyone should read?Mine *wink* Just kidding, although I hope they do check it out! I wou
Welcome to Author Shannon Delany!Shannon Delany has written stories since she was a child. She began writing in earnest when her grandmother fell unexpectedly ill during a family vacation. In 2008 her greatly abbreviated version of 13 to Life (written in just five weeks) won the grand prize in the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world through Textnovel.com .
Shannon was thrilled when St. Martin’s Press offered her a contract for a series about her 13 to Life characters. She expanded on the cell phone novel version, adding the subplots and characters she didn’t have time to during the contest. As paranormal as werewolves seem, the grief Shannon used to build Jess’s character is something she personally experienced with the loss of her own mother. Focusing on Jess and Pietr’s story of loss, love and dramatic and dangerous changes, Shannon came to better grips with her own struggle. The resulting novel has earned her blurbs from authors she respects most.
The first novel in Shannon’s YA paranormal series, 13 to Life, was released on June 22, 2010.
Previously a teacher and now a farmer raising heritage livestock, Shannon lives and writes in Upstate New York and enjoys traveling to talk to people about most anything.
Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?Into the past (and take some heavy antibiotics and Purell ;).
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?In real life? My beta readers. They rock. I'd totally cook for them. A fictional five? Pietr, Max, Cat, Alexi and a character you won't meet until Bargains and Betrayals--Nadezhda.
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?A good book, a sturdy shelter and Max (hey, he's entertaining ;).
What is one book everyone should read?I'm sure I'll get myself in trouble on this one, but if it can only be one, I'd suggest reading the Bible as a commentary on human behavior, traditions, psychology and the establishment of commonally accepted morality and law.
What is the last book you read?The Lovely Bones
What is the last movie you saw?Gamer
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?To freeze time around me--hey, I have deadlines to meet (and a fierce curiosity about observing people).
When you were 12 years old what did you want to be when you grew up?At twelve I think I was between being a police officer or a writer.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?It depends on the company...Turkey Hill does a great chocolate peanut butter combo. I have a weakness for that flavor combo but the ratio has to be just right...
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?Mark Twain. We're supposedly related and he was a clever, clever man.
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?It's a toss-up (and varies by my mood) but today? Either Captain Jack Sparrow or Westley, the Man in Black from The Princess Bride. If I'm brooding--Wolverine.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?Biscuits and gravy--my mother was a Southerner and Southern food says "home" to me.
How many bo
Welcome to Alyson NoelAlyson is the New York Times bestselling author of: FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOE, FIRST KISS (THEN TELL)- an anthology, CRUEL SUMMER, and the IMMORTALS series, including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, DARK FLAME, RADIANCE and more to come in 2011!
A couple quick interview questions and then a giveaway for Alyson's book Dark Flame!
Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e. Chocolate, quiet, music) I always start with a steaming cup of green tea, a scented candle, and my most current playlist, and I’m ready to go!
Who is your favorite author?I have so many favorites it’s impossible to choose, though Judy Blume and JD Salinger are two authors who inspired me to be a writer too!
Dark Flame (The Immortals #4)By Alyson Noel
Published by St. Martin's Griffin
Released June 22, 2010
http://www.alysonnoel.com/At the start of this mesmerizing new installment of the Immortals series, Ever is helping her friend Haven transition into life as an immortal. But with Haven drunk on her new powers and carelessly putting them all at risk, their friendship becomes more and more strained. At the same time, Ever delves deeper into magick in order to get control over her enemy Roman and free Damen from his power. But when the spell she casts on Roman backfires, she’s bound to her deadliest enemy. Frantic to reverse the spell the moment the moon enters a new phase, she finds her efforts are fruitless—there’s a strange, foreign pulse coursing through her, one that propels her toward Roman. Desperate to break free of this terrible curse before Damen or the twins can discover what she’s done, she turns to Jude and delves deeper and deeper into dark magick, ultimately risking everything she knows and loves—including Damen.
Also released by Alyson this year:
Radiance:Riley has crossed the bridge into the afterlife—a place called Here, where time is always Now. She has picked up life where she left off when she was alive, living with her parents and dog in a nice house in a nice neighborhood. When she’s summoned before The Council, she learns that the afterlife isn’t just an eternity of leisure. She’s been assigned a job, Soul Catcher, and a teacher, Bodhi, a possibly cute, seemingly nerdy boy who’s definitely hiding something. They return to earth together for Riley’s first assignment, a Radiant Boy who’s been haunting a castle in England for centuries. Many Soul Catchers have tried to get him to cross the bridge and failed. But all of that was before he
The Replacement by Brenna YovanoffPublisher: PenguinRelease Date: September 21, 2010http://brennayovanoff.livejournal.com/
Book Summary : Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement—left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.
Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.
Edward Scissorhands meets
The Catcher in the Rye in this wildly imaginative and frighteningly beautiful horror novel about an unusual boy and his search for a place to belong.
Giveaway Details:One copy of the Replacements by Brenna Yovanoff
Shipping to US only
Ends December 16th
To enter please follow and fill out this form:
Welcome to Andrea Cremer!Andrea Cremer spent her childhood daydreaming and roaming the forests and lakeshores of Northern Wisconsin. She now lives in Minnesota, but she thinks of her homeland as the “Canadian Shield” rather than the Midwest.
Andrea has always loved writing and has never stopped writing, but she only recently plunged into the deep end of the pool that is professional writing. When she’s not writing, Andrea teaches history at a very nice liberal arts college in St. Paul.
In the little spare time she can find, Andrea stares up at trees, rescues infant rabbits from predatory cats, and invents names for pug puppies with her husband. She has an unfortunate tendency to spill things – white carpets beware!
Interview:If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?Because I study the American colonies I'd be fascinated to see them firsthand, but the idea of seeing the future is incredibly tempting. I'm really curious to see if we ever get anywhere with space travel.
If you could invite any 5 people to dinner who would you choose?David Levithan, John Green, Joss Whedon, Jane Lynch and Kiersten White
If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?Sunscreen, fresh water, and Katniss Everdeen
What is one book everyone should read?Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale
If you were a superhero what would your name be?Zephyr
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?Flight
When you were 12 years old what did you want to be when you grew up?A doctor
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?Mint chocolate chip
If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose?My husband's mother passed away when he was fourteen, I would love to have met her
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?Aragorn from the Lord of the Rings
One food you would never eat?Frog legs. I could only ever think of Kermit.
If you could trade your life for that of a fictional character, who would that character be?Tonks from Harry Potter
If you could be a paranormal creature , what would you choose to be?A pegasus because I love horses but I'd also love to be able to fly
Paranormal or Normal?Paranormal
If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or female, doesn't matter and why?Artemis. I love the moon, I love her independence, and I'd love to go on the hunt with her dogs.
How do you react to a bad review?I try to keep in mind that opinions are just that: opinions.
Nightshade
9 Comments on #BIR2010 - Book Giveaway: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer + Interview, last added: 12/14/2010
Welcome to Author Mindi Scott. Mindi released her debut novel Freefall on October 5th.
Interview:If you could meet one person who has died who would you choose? My dad. He didn't die until I was four, so I wouldn't be meeting him for the first time. But I have only a few memories of him that are my own; almost everything I know about him is from what people have told me.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Soup. (I don't like breakfast-type foods very much.)
What is on your mousepad? Denise Jaden's Losing Faith cover art.
Favorite Cartoon? Star Wars - The Clone Wars
What is the last movie you saw? Pirate Radio
What is the last book you read? One Night that Changed Everything by Lauren Barnholdt
You have won one million dollars what is the first thing that you would buy? The house up the street from me. It's twice the size of mine and has a tiny yard (a major plus, in my mind), and I've been coveting it since it went on the market this summer. Want. New. House. Badly.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Ben & Jerry's Phish Food.
What was the first book you read? It was a learn-to-read book in Kindergarten, but I don't remember the name. The first book I read at home on my own was Go, Dog. Go! which I JUST NOW realized is by P.D. Eastman and not Dr. Seuss.
How do you react to a bad review? Of my book? Well, it depends. If it's a critical review that's well written and well-thought out, I think, How interesting and ponder which parts, if any, that I agree with. If it's a negative review that is totally knee-jerk, doesn't say anything constructive, or is so off-base that I have to wonder if they actually even read my book, I check through some of their other reviews and feel superior when I see that they've (inevitably) written a gushing review of My Least Favorite Book of All Time.
If you could be any author, who would you like to be? I would like to be me! Just with more money so I could write full time and have in the aforementioned house.
Skittles or M&Ms? The answer to this until about a year ago was M&Ms. Now I love, love, love Skittles. I like Starbursts even better, though.
Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book. It's narrated by a really cute boy! ;-)
Learn more about Mindi on her website:
http://mindiscott.com/index.php/about/Freefall by Mindi Scott:How do you come back from the point of no return?
Seth McCoy was the last person to see his best friend, Isaac, alive, and the first to find him dead. It was just another night, just another party, just another time when Isaac drank too much and passed out on the lawn. Only this ti
Welcome Lisa Desrochers!Lisa Desrochers lives in central California with her husband and two very busy daughters. It was her oldest daughter’s love of books that first inspired her to write for young adults. There is never a time that she can be found without a book in her hand, and she adores stories that take her to new places, and then take her by surprise.
Growing up all over the country has inspired wanderlust and she loves travel, which works out well because she lectures internationally on a variety of health care topics. She has a Doctorate in Physical Therapy and maintains a full-time practice in California.
Interview:Please tell us in one sentence only, why we should read your book.In the words of Melissa Marr: Personal Demons has “hot demons, hot angels, nasty demons, and very steamy romance.”
What is the last book you read?Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Pure genius.
What is the last movie you saw?By the time this posts, it will be Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I know this because I’m going over to the theater right now to get in line. ;p
If you could trade your life for that of a fictional character, who would that character be?Fred Weasley. I’d say George, but I’m pretty sure he’s the one who dies. Fred and George have the world at their fingertips, and they know how to take advantage of that.
If you could go back in time and meet one author, who would it be and why?Edgar Allen Poe. I’d love to get inside that mind.
If you could travel in a Time Machine would you go back to the past or into the future?Well…I wouldn’t want to go too far into the past, because I’m spoiled rotten by flush toilets, and I know what happens in the not so distant past, so, I think the future. Maybe to meet my great, great, great, great grandchildren or something.
Which fictional character would you most like to meet?Heathcliff. He is so deliciously warped.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast?Nothing.
How many books do you read a week/month?That depends on if I’m writing. When I write, I’m obsessed. I’ll finish a book in six to eight weeks and read nothing in that interim. When I’m finished with a book, I try to read as much as I can. Usually a couple of books a month.
What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?There’s no way I could ever pick a favorite song. My musical taste is pretty eclectic. I can generally count on liking anything by The Frey, Linkin Park, Breaking Benjamin, Pink Floyd and Three Days Grace, as well as most Saving Abel, Nickleback, Incubus, Skillet, My Chemical Romance and Pillar. But I also love Vivaldi and Mozart.
Who is your favorite author?You can’t possibly expect me to choose just one! You’re getting the short list: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, the Bronte sisters, Melissa Marr, Kristin Cashore, John Green, Suzanne Collins.
What is your dream cast for your book?I had to choose actors this summer for the film agent at my literary agency. I went with Logan Lerman for Luc, Lucas Till for Gabe and Chloe Mortez for Frannie.
Do you prefer to write on the computer or with paper?What’s paper?
Welcome to Author Kate Kaynak!Kate was born and raised in New Jersey, but was able to escape. Her degree from Yale says she was a psych major, but her true course of study was YPMB (Yale Precision Marching Band)
After serving a five-year sentence in graduate school, Kate started teaching psychology around the world for the University of Maryland.
While in Izmir, Turkey, she started up a conversation with a handsome stranger in an airport. She ended up marrying him.
They now live in New Hampshire with their three preschool-aged kids, where Kate enjoys reading, writing, and fighting crime with her amazing superpowers.
Interview:If you were stranded on a desert island what 3 things would you want with you?A satellite phone, a boat, and a GPS. I like being able to solve problems, and I'm not the kind of professor who can make a radio out of a couple of coconuts.
What is one book everyone should read? Other than mine? I’d say Harry Potter.
If you were a superhero what would your name be? That would depend on my superpowers, of course! But I’d be upset if it ended in “girl,” like Supergirl or Batgirl, especially if my male counterpart had a name that ended in “man.”
If you could have any superpower what would you choose?Remote viewing would be pretty useful. My husband loses his keys and stuff a lot, and it would be nice to know what my kids are doing when they’re out of my sight.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Something half-melted in the chocolate family, like Phish Food or Fenway Fudge.
What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? Weirdly, I LOVE Bird’s Eye garlic chicken pasta. I microwave a bowlful 4-5 mornings a week. Yeah, I know, it’s bizarre.
What's your favorite music genre? Favorite artist? Song?I have eclectic musical tastes but lately I’ve been loving Muse and Jed Whedon. The Gary Jules version of “Mad World” has more than 1000 plays on my iTunes--it partially inspired Minder.
Is there anything you need in order to write? (i.e., chocolate, quiet, music) I can’t write around my kids (5-year-old twins and a 4-year-old), so I need them to be sleeping or with a sitter or something.
Night owl, or early bird? Night owl. It takes two cups of Jet Fuel coffee just to get me conscious enough to get the kids dressed, fed, and to school on time.
One food you would never eat?Anything ever served on “Fear Factor.” Seriously--ick.
Pet Peeves? Paper towels or toilet paper hung underhand.
Skittles or M&Ms?M&Ms…without peanuts. Peanuts just take up space that could be better occupied by chocolate.
Favorite Cartoon? “The Simpsons,” and anything ever made by Pixar.
If you could be one of the Greek Gods, which would it be, male or female, doesn't matter and why? Athena. She was both smart (goddess of wisdom) and tough (a warrior goddess).
How do you react to a bad review?I argue with it inside my head, send a gracious “thank you for reviewing” email, and make sure that they’re not on the ARC list for th
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My fingers and anything else I can cross are corssed too!
PS I responded to your comment on my CSK post. I'm beyond honored to hear that you are going to share it with your students.
I recommend reading Bleeding Violet first and then 8th Grade Superzero. Fantastic books
Man oh man I need to read this book :)
To MissAttitude: That CSK post was awesome! You really made me think about the award and about the range of Black authors that I've been recommending to my students. I'm grabbing both Bleeding Violet and 8th Grade Superzero the very next time I go to the library!
To Juju: Yes, you do!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sherman Alexie's books deserve any award they are nominated for. My son, age 14, and I both love The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian.
LOVE this book! *crosses fingers*
Jen
Great minds think alike: I just finished writing my review of this book and pulled out this quote too. It is my favorite and just speaks to Junior's voice. Loved the book--it was so impressive and funny and sad.
I've never read Sherman Alexie. Really should one of these days.