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So here's a fun upcoming event.  Thanks to the organizational genius and generosity of K.M. Walton (whose mega book launch party you read of here), a number of young adult writers will be convening at the Barnes & Noble (Exton) on April 18 for the Educator Reception.

We're hoping to see you there, and to entice you further, I'm providing details below:



5:00 PM K.M. Walton
HOW TO GET YOUR STUDENTS TO WRITE LIKE THEY MEAN IT

5:30 PM Beth Kephart
STORY TOPICS THAT INVOLVE THE WHOLE CLASS AT THE SAME TIME

Signings by:
 K. M. Walton
CRACKED (YA)
TEACHING NUMERACY: 9 CRITICAL HABITS TO IGNITE MATHEMATICAL THINKING

Bio: K. M. Walton is the author of Cracked. As a former middle-school language-arts teacher and teaching coach, she is passionate about education and ending peer bullying. She lives in Pennsylvania with her family. You can find her online at KMWalton.com and on Twitter at @KMWalton1.


Elisa Ludwig
PRETTY CROOKED (YA)

Bio: Elisa Ludwig lives in Philadelphia. When she's not writing fiction for teens she writes about food for the Philadelphia Inquirer and other publications. Pretty Crooked is her first novel, and the first of a three-book series.

Amy Garvey
COLD KISS (YA)
Bio: Amy Garvey is a former editor who now enjoys working from the other side of the desk. She grew up reading everything she could get her hands on and watching too much TV (which she still does, and now includes an obsession with the CW's Supernatural). Cold Kiss is her first novel for young adults, and the sequel, Glass Heart, will be out from HarperTeen in September 2012. 


Beth Kephart
YA Books:
UNDERCOVER
HOUSE OF DANCE
NOTHING BUT GHOSTS
THE HEART IS NOT A SIZE
DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS
YOU ARE MY ONLY

Bio: Beth Kephart is the author of five memoirs, including the National Book Award finalist A SLANT OF SUN and the BookSense pick GHOSTS IN THE GARDEN.  Her other eight books include the autobiography of Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, FLOW, and such acclaimed young adult novels as UNDERCOVER, HOUSE OF DANCE, and YOU ARE MY ONLY.  SMALL DAMAGES, Kephart’s seventh young adult novel, will be released by Philomel in the summer of 2012, and she is at work on two more Philomel books as well as a middle grade book about 1871 Philadelphia. Kephart teaches memoir at the University of Pennsylvania, reviews for the Chicago Tribune, has judged numerous literary contests, and has had her work translated into more than fifteen languages. She is the strategic writing partner in the boutique marketing communications firm, Fusion, and is a freelance reporter for Publishing Perspectives. Please visit Beth’s blog, twice named a top

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Today is the kickoff of the Dark Days author tour!  There is a Livestream event TODAY from 4:00 – 5:35 pm EST, featuring Claudia Gray, Kiersten White, Amy Garvey, Anna Carey, and Jocelyn Davies!  Check it out here: http://www.livestream.com/epicreads.

The tour officially begins on October 12th at the Barnes and Noble store in Lynnwood, Washington.  Check the tour dates to find out if the Dark Days tour will be stopping by your city:

Wednesday, October 12th
7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Lynnwood, WA
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Anna Carey (EVE)

Thursday, October 13th
7:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Huntington Beach, CA
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Anna Carey (EVE)

Friday, October 14th
Time TK
Tattered Cover
Highland Ranch, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)

Saturday, October 15th
1:00 PM
Barnes & Noble
Boulder, CO
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)

Sunday, October 16th
2:00 PM
Anderson’s
Naperville, IL
with Claudia Gray (FATEFUL), Kiersten White (SUPERNATURALLY), Amy Garvey (COLD KISS) and Jocelyn Davies (A BEAUTIFUL DARK)
*This event will be Livestreamed.

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Publisher: HarperTeen (September 20, 2011)
Format: ebook from Netgalley (Hardcover 336 Pages)
Genre: YA Paranormal
Amy Garvey's Blog

From Goodreads. When her boyfriend, Danny, is killed in a car accident, Wren can’t imagine living without him. Wild with grief, she uses the untamed powers she’s inherited to bring him back. But the Danny who returns is just a shell of the boy she once loved.

Wren has spent four months keeping Danny hidden, while her life slowly unravels around her. Then Gabriel DeMarnes transfers to her school and somehow, inexplicably, he can sense her secret. Wren finds herself drawn to Gabriel, who is so much more alive than the ghost of the boy she loved. But Wren can’t turn her back on Danny or the choice she made for him—and she realizes she must find a way to make things right, even if it means breaking her own heart.

Review by Kate
COLD KISS, by Amy Garvey, is a heartbreaking tale with an undertone of the paranormal. Wren and Danny were the perfect couple, but a startling accident left Danny dead and Wren heartbroken. Through her grief she channels the unspoken powers of her family and brings Danny back to life. But this Danny is not the one she loved, he is but a shadow of what she lost. Wren distances herself from the life she could be leading to keep Danny a secret, but it isn't as easy as Wren thought.

Minus the cover (I'm sorry but it creeps me out!), I really enjoyed this book. Harvey created an MC that was lovable and who I wanted to see succeed even when her world threatened to crumble over her. Wren's guilt for bringing Danny back tugged at my heartstrings. I really enjoyed exploring Wren's gifts, but was disappointed that her mother ignored them and didn't help her daughter control them. To add more guilt, her best friends Jess and Darcia wanted to rekindle their friendship lost after Danny died. Wren's fear of getting close to anyone was consistent throughout the book and I wanted to jump into the book and give her a hug!

Gabriel seemed to be the light to Wren's dark hole she buried herself in and I definitely appreciated how forthcoming, honest, and brave he was throughout Wren's dealing with her dead ex-boyfriend. I thought all her problems could be solved with Gabriel's help but Wren's stubbornness to fix her own mistakes added to her depressing life.

I really loved the paranormal aspect of this book. As if I didn't feel bad enough for Wren's situation, adding the uncontrollable powers that sparked within her made it worse. But Wren's intellect and exploration of her gifts was really awesome to behold. I wish Harvey got more into the paranormal aspect, because I am such a sucker for it, but I think the balance between paranormal and contemporary was perfect.

This book is a bittersweet story about dealing with grief and realizing that even in the face of death it is possible to move on and be happy. Wren acted with her heart the whole time and I think she will jump right into yours if you let her.

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