Katy Upperman's Blog, page 3
December 29, 2017
2017 Standouts
I read some amazing books this year — including tons of debuts.
I’d love to highlight the stand outs here, with the hope that you’ll pick up a few recommendations for the New Year. The books I’m including weren’t necessarily published this year, but I discovered and devoured and loved each one during 2017. The novels below are ones that made me feel — made me laugh, made me long, made me wonder, or made me hurt. They’re the books I’m still thinking about, the books I want you to read, too, so we can chat about them later.
(Book titles link to my Goodreads comments.)
Let me know what your 2017 standouts are in the comments! 
December 12, 2017
I ❤️ the Holidays YA Giveaway!
November 30, 2017
November Reading Wrap-Up
I read some of my favorite books of the year this month!
My “Three Things” thoughts coming right up…
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Jane, Unlimited by Kristin Cashore
1. Unique storylines. I have never read a YA novel with subject matter quite like this. I bet you haven’t either!
2. Unorthodox format. Five genres, and five different plots, all happening simultaneously. To say more would be a spoiler, but again: very unusual. 
November 26, 2017
Upcoming Events…
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(Photo by Brigitte Tohm)
So looking forward to these December events;
if you’re in the Virginia/D.C./Maryland area, come see us!
Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers
Lit Night
Contemporary YA Panel
w/ Christina June & Brigid Kremmerer
Bethesda Popup Museum
Bethesda, MD
December 8, 2017 6 PM – 7 PM
YA Author Game Night
w/ Leah Henderson, Christina June, & Lisa Maxwell
Scrawl Books
Reston, VA
December 15, 2017 6 PM – 8 PM
Hope to see you!
Filed under: Uncategorized
October 31, 2017
October Reading Wrap-Up
Happy Halloween! 
October 10, 2017
October Events
[image error]YA Debuts Reading
with Meg Eden, Lisa Rosinsky, and Misa Sugiura
East City Bookshop
October 13, 2017 6:30 PM
“Come hear debut YA authors Misa Sugiura (IT’S NOT LIKE IT’S A SECRET), Katy Upperman (KISSING MAX HOLDEN), Lisa Rosinsky (INEVITABLE AND ONLY), and Meg Eden (POST HIGH-SCHOOL REALITY QUEST) read from their works and talk about the writing and publishing process. Then, stick around for the first meeting of W(h)ine & Angst, a YA book club for readers 21+, discussing AN INHERITANCE OF ASHES by Leah Bobet.”
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Fall For the Book Festival
In the Mood for Love Panel
with Ada Calhoun & Lindsay Detwiler
Merten Hall, Room 1203, George Mason University
October 14, 2017 2:30
“Ada Calhoun, Lindsay Detwiler and Katy Upperman chat about the art of writing about L-O-V-E across genres. In WEDDING TOASTS I’LL NEVER GIVE author Ada Calhoun is revered for her honesty, poignancy, and sense of humor in her memoir about the complexity of marriage. Calhoun is a contributor to the New York Times’ “Modern Love” column. Romance novelist Lindsay Detwiler shares the gripping tale of a married couple, fighting for their lives and their love in the novel REMEMBER WHEN. Katy Upperman continues the discussion with her debut YA novel KISSING MAX HOLDEN about a forbidden teenage romance with the boy next door.”
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Roundtable: A Conversation with Authors of Teen Fiction
Catonsville Library
Sunday, October 22, 2017 2:00
“Join 6 writers of fiction for teens (Faith Boughan, Meg Eden, Christina June, Kathy MacMillan, Sharon Huss Roat, and Katy Upperman) for a lively, interactive panel discussion about their inspirations, writing process, and the value of stories in the modern world. Books will be available for purchase and signing after the program. This panel is co-sponsored by Baltimore County Public Library and the MD/DE/WV Region of the Society for Book Writers and Illustrators.”
Hope to see you! ❤
Filed under: Uncategorized
October 3, 2017
YA Scavenger Hunt (Team Pink
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!
During this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating author, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
[image error] There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I am part of the PINK TEAM — but there is also a red team, orange team, gold team, green team, purple team, and blue team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books!
(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in pink!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the pink team AND added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form HERE to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will qualify.
Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR
[image error]
Today, I’m super excited to welcome Tera Lynn Childs to my blog! She’s the RITA-award-winning young adult author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. series, the Forgive My Fins mermaid romance series, the kick-butt monster-hunting Sweet Venom trilogy, and the Darkly Fae series. She also wrote the City Chicks sweet chick lit romance series and co-wrote the Hero Agenda and Creative HeArts series. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages. Learn more about Tera by checking out her author website, where you can also find more information about her books! Tera also has a Facebook page, and Goodreads author page, and you can follow her on Twitter!
~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM TERA LYNN CHILDS
[image error]
As best friend and emissary to her mer kingdom’s princess, Periwinkle Wentletrap juggles many responsibilities. At the moment those include getting the princess (and herself) ready for the upcoming Sea Harvest Dance. When a trip to the Thalassinian marketplace for pearls and dress-making supplies leads to a reunion with her long-time crush, Peri is once again caught up in the swirl of emotions she feels for a thoughtful pearl trader who reminds her of a dashing pirate. But things are never simple with Riatus Ballenato. The shadows of his past have come back to haunt him and he will do anything to keep those he cares about from getting caught in the darkness. Even if that means pushing away the girl he’s falling for. With the dance fast approaching, it might take a little outside help to bring Peri and her crush together at last.
~~~~~~~~~~
And now, some really fun exclusive content from Tera — and Peri!
~~~~~~~~~~
Ahoy! Periwinkle Wentletrap here, aka the star of Pretty in Pearls and the best friend since guppihood of Lily Sanderson, Crown Princess of Thalassinia.
When TLC asked me to come up with something special to share for the YA Scavenger Hunt, my first thought was PIRATES! My first thought is usually pirates, so that’s not surprising to anyone who knows me. (After you read Pretty in Pearls you’ll understand why I have a special affinity for the rebellious sea captain sort. *cough* Riatus *cough*)
So here, in no particular order, is my list of my top ten favorite pirate(ish) movies.
10 – Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!
If you love pirates as much as I do, then I think you’ll love these movies.
Yo-ho-ho,
Peri
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books from me, Tera Lynn Childs, plus many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number (in pink!) hidden somewhere in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PINK TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter for our grand prize!
To keep going on your quest for the secret code, check out the next author on the PINK TEAM, Ginger Scott.
YA Scavenger Hunt (Team Pink
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!
During this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating author, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
[image error] There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I am part of the PINK TEAM — but there is also a red team, orange team, gold team, green team, purple team, and blue team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books!
(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in pink!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the pink team AND added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form HERE to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will qualify.
Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR
[image error]
Today, I’m super excited to welcome Tera Lynn Childs to my blog! She’s the RITA-award-winning young adult author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. series, the Forgive My Fins mermaid romance series, the kick-butt monster-hunting Sweet Venom trilogy, and the Darkly Fae series. She also wrote the City Chicks sweet chick lit romance series and co-wrote the Hero Agenda and Creative HeArts series. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages. Learn more about Tera by checking out her author website, where you can also find more information about her books! Tera also has a Facebook page, and Goodreads author page, and you can follow her on Twitter!
~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM TERA LYNN CHILDS
[image error]
As best friend and emissary to her mer kingdom’s princess, Periwinkle Wentletrap juggles many responsibilities. At the moment those include getting the princess (and herself) ready for the upcoming Sea Harvest Dance. When a trip to the Thalassinian marketplace for pearls and dress-making supplies leads to a reunion with her long-time crush, Peri is once again caught up in the swirl of emotions she feels for a thoughtful pearl trader who reminds her of a dashing pirate. But things are never simple with Riatus Ballenato. The shadows of his past have come back to haunt him and he will do anything to keep those he cares about from getting caught in the darkness. Even if that means pushing away the girl he’s falling for. With the dance fast approaching, it might take a little outside help to bring Peri and her crush together at last.
~~~~~~~~~~
And now, some really fun exclusive content from Tera — and Peri!
~~~~~~~~~~
Ahoy! Periwinkle Wentletrap here, aka the star of Pretty in Pearls and the best friend since guppihood of Lily Sanderson, Crown Princess of Thalassinia.
When TLC asked me to come up with something special to share for the YA Scavenger Hunt, my first thought was PIRATES! My first thought is usually pirates, so that’s not surprising to anyone who knows me. (After you read Pretty in Pearls you’ll understand why I have a special affinity for the rebellious sea captain sort. *cough* Riatus *cough*)
So here, in no particular order, is my list of my top ten favorite pirate(ish) movies.
10 – Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!
If you love pirates as much as I do, then I think you’ll love these movies.
Yo-ho-ho,
Peri
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books from me, Tera Lynn Childs, plus many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number (in pink!) hidden somewhere in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PINK TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter for our grand prize!
To keep going on your quest for the secret code, check out the next author on the PINK TEAM, Ginger Scott.
YA Scavenger Hunt (Team Pink
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!
During this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating author, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
[image error] There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I am part of the PINK TEAM — but there is also a red team, orange team, gold team, green team, purple team, and blue team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books!
(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in pink!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the pink team AND added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form HERE to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will qualify.
Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR
[image error]
Today, I’m super excited to welcome Tera Lynn Childs to my blog! She’s the RITA-award-winning young adult author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. series, the Forgive My Fins mermaid romance series, the kick-butt monster-hunting Sweet Venom trilogy, and the Darkly Fae series. She also wrote the City Chicks sweet chick lit romance series and co-wrote the Hero Agenda and Creative HeArts series. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages. Learn more about Tera by checking out her author website, where you can also find more information about her books! Tera also has a Facebook page, and Goodreads author page, and you can follow her on Twitter!
~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM TERA LYNN CHILDS
[image error]
As best friend and emissary to her mer kingdom’s princess, Periwinkle Wentletrap juggles many responsibilities. At the moment those include getting the princess (and herself) ready for the upcoming Sea Harvest Dance. When a trip to the Thalassinian marketplace for pearls and dress-making supplies leads to a reunion with her long-time crush, Peri is once again caught up in the swirl of emotions she feels for a thoughtful pearl trader who reminds her of a dashing pirate. But things are never simple with Riatus Ballenato. The shadows of his past have come back to haunt him and he will do anything to keep those he cares about from getting caught in the darkness. Even if that means pushing away the girl he’s falling for. With the dance fast approaching, it might take a little outside help to bring Peri and her crush together at last.
~~~~~~~~~~
And now, some really fun exclusive content from Tera — and Peri!
~~~~~~~~~~
Ahoy! Periwinkle Wentletrap here, aka the star of Pretty in Pearls and the best friend since guppihood of Lily Sanderson, Crown Princess of Thalassinia.
When TLC asked me to come up with something special to share for the YA Scavenger Hunt, my first thought was PIRATES! My first thought is usually pirates, so that’s not surprising to anyone who knows me. (After you read Pretty in Pearls you’ll understand why I have a special affinity for the rebellious sea captain sort. *cough* Riatus *cough*)
So here, in no particular order, is my list of my top ten favorite pirate(ish) movies.
10 – Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!
If you love pirates as much as I do, then I think you’ll love these movies.
Yo-ho-ho,
Peri
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books from me, Tera Lynn Childs, plus many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number (in pink!) hidden somewhere in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PINK TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter for our grand prize!
To keep going on your quest for the secret code, check out the next author on the PINK TEAM, Ginger Scott.
YA Scavenger Hunt (Team Pink
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt!
This bi-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors… and a chance to win some awesome prizes!
During this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each participating author, you also get a numerical clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize — one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 120 hours!
[image error] There are seven contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one, or all! I am part of the PINK TEAM — but there is also a red team, orange team, gold team, green team, purple team, and blue team, all offering a chance to win different sets of books!
(To learn more about the hunt, find links for all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page.)
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, I’ve “hidden” my favorite number. (Okay, hint — it’s highlighted in pink!) Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the pink team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve visited the blogs of all members of the pink team AND added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form HERE to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number answer will qualify.
Fine Print: Open internationally. Anyone under the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 8th, at noon PST. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
~~~~~~~~~~
SCAVENGER HUNT GUEST AUTHOR
[image error]
Today, I’m super excited to welcome Tera Lynn Childs to my blog! She’s the RITA-award-winning young adult author of the mythology-based Oh. My. Gods. series, the Forgive My Fins mermaid romance series, the kick-butt monster-hunting Sweet Venom trilogy, and the Darkly Fae series. She also wrote the City Chicks sweet chick lit romance series and co-wrote the Hero Agenda and Creative HeArts series. Tera lives nowhere in particular and spends her time writing wherever she can find a comfy chair and a steady stream of caffeinated beverages. Learn more about Tera by checking out her author website, where you can also find more information about her books! Tera also has a Facebook page, and Goodreads author page, and you can follow her on Twitter!
~~~~~~~~~~
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT FROM TERA LYNN CHILDS
[image error]
As best friend and emissary to her mer kingdom’s princess, Periwinkle Wentletrap juggles many responsibilities. At the moment those include getting the princess (and herself) ready for the upcoming Sea Harvest Dance. When a trip to the Thalassinian marketplace for pearls and dress-making supplies leads to a reunion with her long-time crush, Peri is once again caught up in the swirl of emotions she feels for a thoughtful pearl trader who reminds her of a dashing pirate. But things are never simple with Riatus Ballenato. The shadows of his past have come back to haunt him and he will do anything to keep those he cares about from getting caught in the darkness. Even if that means pushing away the girl he’s falling for. With the dance fast approaching, it might take a little outside help to bring Peri and her crush together at last.
~~~~~~~~~~
And now, some really fun exclusive content from Tera — and Peri!
~~~~~~~~~~
Ahoy! Periwinkle Wentletrap here, aka the star of Pretty in Pearls and the best friend since guppihood of Lily Sanderson, Crown Princess of Thalassinia.
When TLC asked me to come up with something special to share for the YA Scavenger Hunt, my first thought was PIRATES! My first thought is usually pirates, so that’s not surprising to anyone who knows me. (After you read Pretty in Pearls you’ll understand why I have a special affinity for the rebellious sea captain sort. *cough* Riatus *cough*)
So here, in no particular order, is my list of my top ten favorite pirate(ish) movies.
10 – Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!
If you love pirates as much as I do, then I think you’ll love these movies.
Yo-ho-ho,
Peri
~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, scavenger hunters! Don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of books from me, Tera Lynn Childs, plus many more authors! To enter, you need to have found my favorite number (in pink!) hidden somewhere in this post. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the PINK TEAM and you’ll have the secret code to enter for our grand prize!
To keep going on your quest for the secret code, check out the next author on the PINK TEAM, Ginger Scott.
Filed under: Uncategorized
