Denise Jaden's Blog, page 60

Friday Four...at last!

I've been doing giveaways on Fridays for so long, I can't even remember the last time I posted a Friday Four. I'm really excited about doing it today! There's so much freedom in coming up with four unrelated points!

1. First of all, have you heard about this week's awesome giveaway? I'm giving away a very rare and in-demand advance copy of Laurie Halse Anderson's FORGE (It's even signed!). All you have to do is comment or tweet your favorite things about the author or her books. Today, our twi...

Book Reviews Vs. Movie Reviews

I enjoyed reading the wide variety of comments on book reviews and how much they matter yesterday. (Scroll down if you haven't read them yet). I was especially surprised by the fact that many of you would quickly forgo a movie with a single bad review, whereas it would likely take many bad reviews to make you skip over a book, which you would need to dedicate at least three times as much of your precious time to.

And so would I, I think. I've been pondering this. Is it because we rely on a sm...

Reviews - How much do they really matter?

I saw my first review of Losing Faith this week! It was cause for celebration, first of all because it was a pretty darn good review, but secondly, just because the waiting is finally over. I feel like I've been on the edge of a cliff for the last month or so, not knowing how I would feel or react when people I didn't know started talking publicly about my book. Of course I still need to wait and see how I'll handle the negative reviews.

Here's a little quote from Crystal from My Reading Room ...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents 101 Reasons We Love Laurie Halse Anderson!

Okay, now don't be too disappointed, but I don't have an interview to share with you this week. However, I DO have a signed advance copy of FORGE!


Yes, you read that right! Today I'm featuring one of my very favorite authors, Laurie Halse Anderson, just because I think she's amazing, and I'm giving away her ARC, just because I appreciate all of you!

Just to prove to you all that I have a copy and it is signed by the lady herself, here's a picture of me being all can-barely-form-a-sentence fangi...

I'm Back!

I'm not sure if you missed me, but I can promise you that I DID miss all of you. I went through a serious case of withdrawal from my online friends this last week. But I'm back and ready to catch up.

First, before I forget, I just want to mention that I'll be starting a new and awesome contest tomorrow, so please stop back and check it out. I'll be giving away a signed ARC by one of my favorite, made-of-awesomeness authors.

Secondly, I want to know what I missed! The blogosphere is way too huge...

Blogging Hiatus

I had planned on blogging, at least some, while I'm out of town. However, I'm having lots of trouble with Internet connections (I'm actually posting this from my phone, as that seems to be my only access at the moment). Rest assured, I will be back next week with plenty to say and some more awesome prizes.

Have a great week, everyone!

Genres and Pseudonyms: and the Winner is...

Thanks so much for everyone who weighed in on the topic of switching genres and pseudonyms. What an interesting discussion, with opinions from all across the board! I still plan to stick with one name, even if I branch out, simply because I can't imagine keeping up with social networking on more than one. Of course I would always take advice from my agent or editor on this though.

Now for the exciting news: this week's prize pack - 3 ARC's, BEFORE I FALL and DELIRIUM by Lauren Oliver and LOW R...

Do You Dream About Your Characters?

I woke up this morning in the midst of a dream about two of my characters. In that sleepy, dreamy state, they were so vivid and real, and it left me energized and invigorated to go and write an awesome scene about them.

This got me to thinking...dreaming about my characters and stories, or waking up thinking about them, is not an unusual thing for me. In fact, I'd say it's a necessary part of the process, as it helps to make everything in my story more vivid to me. It helps me to feel like my ...

Would You Rather Wednesday

I had so much fun reading everyone's responses to the last Would You Rather Wednesday for writers and readers, I thought I'd try it again! Feel free to answer one of them or all of them, and I'll come back later to add my answers to the comments.

Would you rather...

1. Read a book full of cliches or a book that's so original it becomes unbelievable?

2. Write about something you already know, or something you want to know about?

3. Read a big book with lots of extra sensory details or a short and ...

Teen Author Tuesday Presents Anastasia Hopcus!

Another Tenner has come to hit the Teen Author Tuesday platform this week. Anastasia Hopcus is super-nice (I met her recently in New York) and her hair is even more electrifying in person than it is in pictures! Her debut novel, SHADOW HILLS, releases today, July 13th, from Egmont USA. It is a  Paranormal YA for ages 12 and up



Welcome, Anastasia. Can you tell us about your book in seven words or less.
Boarding school, mystery, cemetery, Greek mythology, epidemic

Oooh, sounds great! Other than...