Jessie Harrell's Blog, page 15
July 12, 2012
Announcing SEAWEED by Elle Strauss
A teen swim athlete discovers a merfolk world that threatens to keep her out of the ocean forever.
Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length. Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery. But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too. Dori has new fantastical enemies , and they will do anything to get to her. Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?
SEAWEED is FREE for a limited time on Amazon! It's also free on itunes and smashwords.
Elle Strauss writes time travel and merfolk chic-lit, light SF and historical YA fiction. To ward off writer's butt she does a bit of hiking, biking and yoga. Elle is married with four children and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada, and Germany.
Dori Seward can’t wait to get out of Eastcove, a sleepy fishing village on the border of New Brunswick and Maine. She bides her time by hanging out with friends, attending swim club, and holding her biggest competition, Colby–who wants more than just friendship, at arm’s length. Then Tor Riley comes to town and he has everything Dori dreams of in a boyfriend–looks, athleticism and mystery. But Tor also has a tantalizing secret and Dori is determined to find out what it is. The truth is crazier than her wildest imaginations and more dangerous, too. Dori has new fantastical enemies , and they will do anything to get to her. Her life, her dreams and her love for Tor are all weighing in the balance. Will Dori risk it all in order to have it all?
SEAWEED is FREE for a limited time on Amazon! It's also free on itunes and smashwords.
Elle Strauss writes time travel and merfolk chic-lit, light SF and historical YA fiction. To ward off writer's butt she does a bit of hiking, biking and yoga. Elle is married with four children and divides her time between British Columbia, Canada, and Germany.
July 11, 2012
Cover Reveal: The Vampire Christopher by RaShelle Workman
You may have read
RaShelle Workman
's first novel in the Immortal Essence series entitled "Exiled." If not, check it out, it's free on amazon. If you have read it, and are anxiously awaiting book 2, "Beguiled,"or haven't read it, that's okay. She has a new series out. Blood and Snow. Here's what a few reviewers have said about the series so far: "...A fun, smart, and sexy read!" "This book will definitely suck you in (no pun intended) instantly.""Best books that I have read!"
The Blood and Snow series Summary:"Lips red as rubies, hair dark as night. Drink your true love's blood, become the Vampire, Snow White."Every thousand years the Vampire Queen selects a new body, always the fairest in the land, and this time she's chosen Snow White.*******Each volume is novelette length. Book 1 is "Blood and Snow," book 2 is "Revenant in Training," and book 3 is entitled "The Vampire Christopher." All three are now available.Today is the big reveal day for book 3...Ready! Set! Here it is!!!
To purchase Blood and Snow, click
HERE
.Revenant in Training (book 2), is FREE from July 11th through the 13th. Pick it up by clicking
HERE
. And, The Vampire Christopher (book 3), click HERE.Twitter: @RaShelleWorkmanFacebook: RaShelle Workman AuthorWebsite: http://www.rashelleworkman.com
About the author: Lover of books, baking, and toffee-making. The author of Aligned: An Immortal Essence Short Story, Exiled, Sleeping Roses, and the series, Blood and Snow. Honorary nerd with attitude.
July 10, 2012
Happy Debut YA Book Birthdays
I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July and you're ready to get back to celebrating debut authors. Up for the party this week are loads of dystopians and ghost stories ...
INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid
More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.
Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?
Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.
LONG LANKIN by Lindsey Barraclough
In an exquisitely chilling debut novel, four children unravel the mystery of a family curse — and a ghostly creature known in folklore as Long Lankin.
When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less-than-warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they don’t know is that their aunt’s life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries — before it’s too late for little Mimi. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.
THE LITTLE WOODS by McCormick Templeman
Are the woods behind St. Bede's Academy really haunted, or does bad stuff just happen there? When Calista Wood, a new student, arrives midway through her junior year, St. Bede's feels like a normal school . . . until she discovers that a girl had disappeared a couple of months earlier. Some kids think she ran away, others think she was murdered, but it's only when Cally starts digging around that she finds the startling truth.
Watch as Cally enters a world of privilege, weekend-long parties, high school romances, and . . . well-kept secrets. This page-turner will appeal to teens looking for a fast-paced thriller. Written in a voice at once gripping and crystal clear, debut novelist, McCormick Templeman, will take readers on a twisting and turning journey as only a "new girl" can experience.
QUARANTINE: THE LONERS by Lex Thomas
It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.
A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school.
In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.
THE FORSAKEN by Lisa M. Stasse
A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.
As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE DEBUT RELEASES?
INSIGNIA by S. J. Kincaid
More than anything, Tom Raines wants to be important, though his shadowy life is anything but that. For years, Tom’s drifted from casino to casino with his unlucky gambler of a dad, gaming for their survival. Keeping a roof over their heads depends on a careful combination of skill, luck, con artistry, and staying invisible.Then one day, Tom stops being invisible. Someone’s been watching his virtual-reality prowess, and he’s offered the incredible—a place at the Pentagonal Spire, an elite military academy. There, Tom’s instincts for combat will be put to the test and if he passes, he’ll become a member of the Intrasolar Forces, helping to lead his country to victory in World War III. Finally, he’ll be someone important: a superhuman war machine with the tech skills that every virtual-reality warrior dreams of. Life at the Spire holds everything that Tom’s always wanted—friends, the possibility of a girlfriend, and a life where his every action matters—but what will it cost him?
Gripping and provocative, S. J. Kincaid’s futuristic thrill ride of a debut crackles with memorable characters, tremendous wit, and a vision of the future that asks startling, timely questions about the melding of humanity and technology.
LONG LANKIN by Lindsey Barraclough
In an exquisitely chilling debut novel, four children unravel the mystery of a family curse — and a ghostly creature known in folklore as Long Lankin.When Cora and her younger sister, Mimi, are sent to stay with their elderly aunt in the isolated village of Byers Guerdon, they receive a less-than-warm welcome. Auntie Ida is eccentric and rigid, and the girls are desperate to go back to London. But what they don’t know is that their aunt’s life was devastated the last time two young sisters were at Guerdon Hall, and she is determined to protect her nieces from an evil that has lain hidden for years. Along with Roger and Peter, two village boys, Cora must uncover the horrifying truth that has held Bryers Guerdon in its dark grip for centuries — before it’s too late for little Mimi. Riveting and intensely atmospheric, this stunning debut will hold readers in its spell long after the last page is turned.
THE LITTLE WOODS by McCormick Templeman
Are the woods behind St. Bede's Academy really haunted, or does bad stuff just happen there? When Calista Wood, a new student, arrives midway through her junior year, St. Bede's feels like a normal school . . . until she discovers that a girl had disappeared a couple of months earlier. Some kids think she ran away, others think she was murdered, but it's only when Cally starts digging around that she finds the startling truth.Watch as Cally enters a world of privilege, weekend-long parties, high school romances, and . . . well-kept secrets. This page-turner will appeal to teens looking for a fast-paced thriller. Written in a voice at once gripping and crystal clear, debut novelist, McCormick Templeman, will take readers on a twisting and turning journey as only a "new girl" can experience.
QUARANTINE: THE LONERS by Lex Thomas
It was just another ordinary day at McKinley High—until a massive explosion devastated the school. When loner David Thorpe tried to help his English teacher to safety, the teacher convulsed and died right in front of him. And that was just the beginning.A year later, McKinley has descended into chaos. All the students are infected with a virus that makes them deadly to adults. The school is under military quarantine. The teachers are gone. Violent gangs have formed based on high school social cliques. Without a gang, you’re as good as dead. And David has no gang. It’s just him and his little brother, Will, against the whole school.
In this frighteningly dark and captivating novel, Lex Thomas locks readers inside a school where kids don’t fight to be popular, they fight to stay alive.
THE FORSAKEN by Lisa M. Stasse
A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy.As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.
The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THESE DEBUT RELEASES?
July 7, 2012
Guest Post: Happy Belated Birthday to DREAM SMASHERS by Angela Carlie
Dream Smashers celebrated her first birthday in March all alone. I'm a horrible book parent and didn't even throw her a party. To make up for it, I gave her a facelift. I hope she likes it. And I hope her readers like it, too.
Take a look. Isn't she pretty?
Dream Smashers has needed a new cover for a while now. It's an important story, but often gets overlooked. The original cover, which I love, wasn't sitting well with the readers. It even was nominated for a most ugly cover list over on Goodreads. The second cover was an experiment, something I whipped up myself, and not very professional. I believe this new cover captures the emotion of the story, but also has appeal for the readers. I adore it!
About Dream Smashers:
Letting go is hard to do, but sometimes, it's all you can do.
Sixteen-year-old Autumn is a human heartache. Everywhere she turns people are stomping on her hopes and dreams. Her mom's a tweaker. She's lived with her chain-smoking grandmother for as long as she can remember. Even her best friend has issues. Autumn seems to be the only responsible person she knows and she's sick of putting up with it all.
When she meets Evan, a hot guy without a worry in the world, she can only wonder if he's for real or just another Dream Smasher.
A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them. Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it's about letting go.
Thanks to my good friend, Megg Jensen, for inspiring me to get 'er done, and Rashelle Workman who referred Megg who then referred me to the cover artisan Steven Novak. Go check him out. He's awesome.
Dream Smashers is available on Amazon Kindle and wherever else eBooks are sold. It may take a day or two for the new version to be available.
So tell me, do you like it?
Take a look. Isn't she pretty?
Dream Smashers has needed a new cover for a while now. It's an important story, but often gets overlooked. The original cover, which I love, wasn't sitting well with the readers. It even was nominated for a most ugly cover list over on Goodreads. The second cover was an experiment, something I whipped up myself, and not very professional. I believe this new cover captures the emotion of the story, but also has appeal for the readers. I adore it!
About Dream Smashers:
Letting go is hard to do, but sometimes, it's all you can do.
Sixteen-year-old Autumn is a human heartache. Everywhere she turns people are stomping on her hopes and dreams. Her mom's a tweaker. She's lived with her chain-smoking grandmother for as long as she can remember. Even her best friend has issues. Autumn seems to be the only responsible person she knows and she's sick of putting up with it all.
When she meets Evan, a hot guy without a worry in the world, she can only wonder if he's for real or just another Dream Smasher.
A girl who no longer wants to care and a boy who cares enough for the both of them. Dream Smashers is a love story, but most of all, it's about letting go.
Thanks to my good friend, Megg Jensen, for inspiring me to get 'er done, and Rashelle Workman who referred Megg who then referred me to the cover artisan Steven Novak. Go check him out. He's awesome.
Dream Smashers is available on Amazon Kindle and wherever else eBooks are sold. It may take a day or two for the new version to be available.
So tell me, do you like it?
July 2, 2012
INDIEpendence DAY with Chelsea Fine (+ giveaway)
The Indelibles are kicking off the 4th of July a little early with INDIEpendence Day. Each participant in this blog tour is going to spotlight an Indie author (no Indelibles - this is a pay-it-forward event!) and hope that you find a new, awesome author to love.
For my part, I bring you Chelsea Fine, who is about a nice as can be and wrote a story I just adore! So without further ado, I present my interview of Chelsea.
1. First, can you tell us a little about the Archers of Avalon series and where you got your inspiration for the story.
I first got the idea for my Archers of Avalon series after a conversation I had with my sister about epic love triangles. We were talking about how super tragic it is when two brothers love the same girl, because there's no true "hate" in the triangle (the girl loves both boys, the boys care about each other because they're brothers, etc...) and I thought, "That's what I want to write about: An impossible, heartbreaking love triangle." So, that's what I did. Except I threw a few curses in there, as well as a hunt for the fountain of youth. :)
2. In addition to that series, you first published a contemporary novel, Sophie & Carter. How was writing a contemporary novel different from your series with super natural elements?
For me, contemporary writing is easier. I don't have to think through things like, "If I was cursed by a wicked witch, what kind of attitude would I have at school?" (I have yet to be cursed by a witch, wicked or not.) For my contemporary writing, I think about things like, "What does it feel like to have my heart completely broken?" Now THIS I understand (thanks to my high school boyfriend, haha). Contemporary stories allow me to draw on my personal life experience, so I find that I write faster and with more honesty.
But...contemporary stories are also more emotionally draining to write. I wrote Sophie & Carter while sitting at a Barnes & Noble and I just cried and cried, haha. Snot was running down my face while I was typing a million miles a minute and I didn't care, because I was writing something raw and honest. But it was emotionally taxing to finish. My Archers of Avalon series, however, is just plain FUN to write. :)3. I know you're busy writing away. What's next on your plate?
Ohmygoodness, so many books! I have a Sophie & Carter sequel I'm working on, the last book in my Archers of Avalon series, a Christmas love story, another YA contemporary romance, and a super secret project my agent and I are working on together. *wags eyebrows*
4. Tell us your favorite thing about being an Indie author.
The readers!!!! OMG, readers are the BEST! I love hearing from them and reading their reviews and skyping with them....*big sigh* I freakin' LOVE that there are people out there who actually read my stories and care enough to contact me and let me know what they thought about them. It's AH-MAZING! Seriously. I could chat with readers all day long. (And sometimes I do :)
5. As fun as being Indie can be, I know you recently signed with agent, Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffee Literary. How's it been like working with Suzie?
Incredible. Suzie has turned my writing career upside down--in a GOOD way. :) She encourages me...she teaches in me...and she believes in me. Which is priceless.
6. Just for fun ~flats or heels? Flats. I wobble on heels.dresses or jeans? Dresses. Okay, I know this doesn't match my previous response, but dresses are just so comfortable and you can twirl in them and everything.chocolate or sugary? Uh, chocolate. Hands down.coffee or soda? COFFEE. I don't care if I'm addicted. I don't care. I don't care.do you have any tattoos of your own??? No. BUT..I loooove tattoos! I love to design them for my friends and I love how they look, but I know myself well enough to know that if I ever DID get a tattoo, I wouldn't be able to stop. I'd just keep getting more and more until my body was completely covered in ink. And, while that wouldn't be a bad thing, I think I would get to a point where I’d be like, "Wait a minute...I don't have any more skin left to tattoo. Dang it! I need more skin!" and then I'd be all depressed. So, yeah. No tattoos for me.
See, I told you Chelsea is awesome! For more about Chelsea and her novels, check out her website, follow her on twitter, like her on Facebook, and of course, you can BUY HER BOOKS ~ Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Now, you can win e-book copies of both Anew and Awry simply by following Chelsea on twitter or Facebook. Leave a comment below with how you're following, your user name & e-mail address to be entered. And then be sure to continue on to the rest of the stops on the INDIEpendence Day blog tour. You won't want to miss it!
June 27, 2012
#MMBlogTour What's Your Supernatural Pet? (Giveaway + Blog Tour)
This giveaway is open internationally! So let’s tell the blogging world!Hi everyone, I’m Sherry Soule—waving from Castro Valley, California, where it gets foggy even during the summer months. But even with the fog burning off by afternoon, I’m relaxing on the sofa and blabbering on Twitter about my life-long obsession with books.It’s a real honor to be a guest today as part of my Moonlight Mayhem Blog Tour this summer and meet all these awesome booklovers.My tour has a great response and it is nice seeing the familiar names in the comments box at each stop. For those of you who haven’t heard of my epic Moonlight Mayhem blog tour it’s not too late to join the fun!
To celebrate the release of author, Sherry Soule’s newest paranormal novel, MOONLIGHT MAYHEM, the second book in the epic Spellbound Series, take this super fun quiz to discover which paranormal pet you’re fated to own, and score a Kindle or Nook version of the first book in this unforgettable YA series, BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN! Most heroes need a sidekick, and if fate smiles upon you, then you’ll have a paranormal pet watching your back. But which one best suits YOU?Take this quiz and be sure to check the bottom of the post for the details regarding this random giveaway. What size pet would you prefer?SmallMediumLargeGiganticDo you mind a pet that might shed?Loose fur? I’m cool with thatRough scales are acceptable Transparent coat? No biggieShedding pelt—ain’t a problem How would you like your pet to greet people at the door?Rub their ankles and purrSpitting and growlingBark and sniff handSnarling and howlingHow much protection would you like to have?Minimum – docile and fluffyModerate – Vicious yet cuddlyExtreme - Invisible but deadlyTremendous - Bite anyone who messes with meWhat would you like to feed your new pet?Tuna and bowl of milkHuman emotions—fear, anger, lust, vengeanceNothingChew on skeleton bones—they make a tasty snackWhere will your pet sleep?On my lap Hiding in the shadowsNever sleepsCurled up in a cozy caveWhat type of toys would your pet like most?Mice and squeaky toysStuffed dinosaurs or dragonsChase balls and fetch newspapersNone. Does not play well with others
If you answered...
Mostly a's: Your pet is a cat! Witches have used familiars for years to help increase the power of their spells. Cute and helpful!
Mostly b's: Your pet would be a Shade! These affectionate creatures are a cross between a puppy and a dragon. Small but fierce!
Mostly c's: Your supernatural pet is a ghost dog! These creatures are often dubbed hellhounds, too, and they are vicious animals. Muscular and opaque!
Mostly d's: Your pet is a ferocious lycan! These were-creatures make impressive guard dogs. Clever and scary!
MOONLIGHT MAYHEM Synopsis:Otherworldly Creatures. Dazzling Magic. Fiery Romance.Shiloh Ravenwolf thought she was getting used to the strange events in Whispering Pines, until the full moon brings another surge of supernatural threats to her coastal town. Ferocious wolves, deadly necromancers, and shambling zombies have descended upon the neighborhood, so Shiloh needs to gain control of her magical abilities—fast! It sucks that she has a crippling fear of the dark, which for a demon hunter can be an epic problem.When her classmates are attacked by a mysterious creature and her father is murdered, Shiloh vows vengeance. Forcing her phobias aside, she forms an unlikely coven of supernaturally gifted teens to help her eradicate this menace. Except that's not all Shiloh has to worry about. She’s battling a different monster within herself and struggling not to become the very thing she fights: evil. But with demon blood inside her—anything can happen…
Moonlight Mayhem is the second novel in the unforgettably epic Spellbound series
By Sherry SouleWhere you can find author, Sherry Soule online:Official Blog: http://www.sherrysoule.blogspot.comOfficial Spellbound Series Universe: http://thespellboundseries.blogspot.comTwitter @WriterSherry: http://twitter.com/writersherryAwesome Book Trailers/YouTube: http://youtu.be/5uqVXKygvUs and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o44sW-gFtvAgoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11634793-beautifully-brokenRandom winner will be picked on INSERT DATE and be posted at the top of this quiz, please check back on that day to find out if you’re the lucky winner. Giveaway details for a Kindle or Nook edition of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN: 1.) You must comment with your quiz results2.) Be a follower of Sherry’s blog3.) Be a follower of this blog4.) Follow us both on TwitterGood luck!
June 26, 2012
Debut YA Book Birthday
So, I skipped last week to bring you a fantastic cover reveal, and it turns out last week brought an impressive array of cover reveals. I mean did you see these?
But those books won't be out for awhile (or in the case of Shatter Me, is already out), and this week we have some debut YA book birthdays that are here RIGHT NOW! Hold onto your hats, because here are the birthday books:
Secret Letters by Leah Scheier
Inquisitive and observant, Dora dreams of escaping her aristocratic country life to solve mysteries alongside Sherlock Holmes. So when she learns that the legendary detective might be her biological father, Dora jumps on the opportunity to travel to London and enlist his help in solving the mystery of her cousin’s ransomed love letters. But Dora arrives in London to devastating news: Sherlock Holmes is dead. Her dreams dashed, Dora is left to rely on her wits—and the assistance of an attractive yet enigmatic young detective—to save her cousin’s reputation and help rescue a kidnapped heiress along the way.
Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this gripping novel heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice in young adult literature.
Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price
A girl's letters to her best friend reveal two lives derailed by anorexia in this haunting debut that's Wintergirls meets The Sixth Sense
It's not a hospital, a spa, or an institution. That's what they told me--that's what the brochures promised.
But no matter what the brochures promised, Zoe finds that Twin Birch is a place for girls with a penchant for harming themselves. Through journal entries and letters to her best friend, Elise, she tries to understand why she was brought there, and how she could possibly belong in a place like this. But Zoe's letters to Elise remain unanswered. She wonders why her best friend would cut her off without a word, reliving memory after memory of their beautiful, rocky, inescapable friendship. But everyone has secrets--including Zoe--and as her own fragile mental state hangs in the balance, she must finally learn to come to terms with what happened to Elise before she's able to let go.
Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Girl, Interrupted will race through this hauntingly emotional debut novel with the pacing of a psychological thriller.
Between the Lines by Samantha Van Leer and Jodi Picoult
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter present their first-ever novel for teens, filled with romance, adventure, and humor.
What happens when happily ever after…isn’t? Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah. And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.
Well, not quite so many coming out this week, but these all sound interesting. Any you can't wait to get your hands on?
But those books won't be out for awhile (or in the case of Shatter Me, is already out), and this week we have some debut YA book birthdays that are here RIGHT NOW! Hold onto your hats, because here are the birthday books:
Secret Letters by Leah Scheier
Inquisitive and observant, Dora dreams of escaping her aristocratic country life to solve mysteries alongside Sherlock Holmes. So when she learns that the legendary detective might be her biological father, Dora jumps on the opportunity to travel to London and enlist his help in solving the mystery of her cousin’s ransomed love letters. But Dora arrives in London to devastating news: Sherlock Holmes is dead. Her dreams dashed, Dora is left to rely on her wits—and the assistance of an attractive yet enigmatic young detective—to save her cousin’s reputation and help rescue a kidnapped heiress along the way. Steeped in Victorian atmosphere and intrigue, this gripping novel heralds the arrival of a fresh new voice in young adult literature.
Zoe Letting Go by Nora Price
A girl's letters to her best friend reveal two lives derailed by anorexia in this haunting debut that's Wintergirls meets The Sixth SenseIt's not a hospital, a spa, or an institution. That's what they told me--that's what the brochures promised.
But no matter what the brochures promised, Zoe finds that Twin Birch is a place for girls with a penchant for harming themselves. Through journal entries and letters to her best friend, Elise, she tries to understand why she was brought there, and how she could possibly belong in a place like this. But Zoe's letters to Elise remain unanswered. She wonders why her best friend would cut her off without a word, reliving memory after memory of their beautiful, rocky, inescapable friendship. But everyone has secrets--including Zoe--and as her own fragile mental state hangs in the balance, she must finally learn to come to terms with what happened to Elise before she's able to let go.
Fans of Laurie Halse Anderson and Girl, Interrupted will race through this hauntingly emotional debut novel with the pacing of a psychological thriller.
Between the Lines by Samantha Van Leer and Jodi Picoult
New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult and her teenage daughter present their first-ever novel for teens, filled with romance, adventure, and humor.What happens when happily ever after…isn’t? Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah. And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom. Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.
Well, not quite so many coming out this week, but these all sound interesting. Any you can't wait to get your hands on?
June 22, 2012
Melissa Luznicky Garrett in the Indie Author Spotlight
Hi everyone! I’m very excited to be shining the Indie Author Spotlight on Melissa Luznicky Garrett, who has penned both YA and adult fiction.
So tell us, Melissa, your YA novels appear very diverse -- is there a common theme among them?
There are no overt commonalities among any of my novels, with the exception that all but one takes place in upstate, New York. I love the little college town I live in and enjoy weaving real-life places with fictional for my characters to visit. Most of my YA characters also attend the same fictional high school. Maybe one of these days I'll write a book in which they all meet and share one big adventure!
With regard to common themes, I suppose you could say each of my books focus around a central character at a crossroads in her life, the point where choosing this path over that one will have a major impact on her life.
Your first novel, Precipice, is for adults. What made you decide to switch over to YA? Are you planning to write more adult novels too?
Precipice was my very first novel-length manuscript from many years ago that sat untouched in a desk drawer. I published it (without really editing it!) at the insistence of a friend who loved the story and characters and wanted a print version. I honestly did not expect to sell many, if any, copies. Incidentally, it will be getting a complete cover and content makeover in the near future. I've learned a lot about writing since then and now can't look at that book without cringing a little (okay, a lot). My next adult novel, which I plan to start writing by the end of the year, will be a spin-off of Precipice and focus on Julia's sister, Kim. I'd love to write a romantic comedy, too!
When I first started writing, I hadn't read any novels specifically marketed for the YA crowd. But then I heard about this little book called Twilight, and it was all downhill from there. I was hooked! I quickly followed that up with the House of Night series, then the Wicked Lovely and Wolves of Mercy Falls series . . . anything YA I could get my hands on.
Your first YA novel, Turning Point, sounds like a blend of contemporary and thriller. How do you categorize it?
Turning Point was a difficult one for me to categorize because it definitely is a blend of the two. I tell people it's a YA thriller. Turning Point is unlike anything I would ever normally read or write, but I had this little scenario stuck in my head and just ran with it. The first version was quite wicked and had to be toned down for the YA crowd. Even now, it's one I recommend for a more mature audience. Jenna and Dominic remain two of my favorite characters.
Your cover for The Spirit Keeper is amazing and I’ve already loaded it onto my Kindle because it sounds fabulous. Did you have to do a lot of research into Native American folklore to write the novel? [yes - I’m cheating and trying to get more insight into the novel.]
Thank you! Damon Xeda, the artist who designed the covers for The Spirit Keeper and Blood Type, is brilliant. You can view a sampling of other covers he's designed at http://www.Damonza.com.
When I first had it in my mind that I wanted to write a novel with a Native American main character, I began researching the Iroquois Nation. It seemed only natural, given that the book is set in upstate New York and the Iroquois once had a strong presence in this area. But then I began writing the story in such a way that it portrayed that particular group of people in a very negative light. In my gut, I didn't like what I was doing or where my story was going. I toyed with the idea of making Sarah Caucasian, but I knew the story would never work if I did. So I did what any other author would do; I made up my own tribe! The Katori people, to my knowledge, are completely fictional. Readers will learn more about them in The Seventh Tribe, which is due out in the spring of 2013.
I’m secretly still in love with all things vampire so Blood Type looks great to me, but were you afraid of writing in an area that publishers say has been overdone post-Twilight? [editorial note: Blood Type is coming this fall.]
I love vampires. LOVE THEM! The great thing about being a self-published author is that I get to write what appeals to me. I've always joked that I was going to write a vampire novel at some point in my life, and then it just sort of happened. The idea for the book grew from a creative writing prompt. In fact, the entire first chapter is a polished version of my original submission. And Blood Type is nothing like Twilight, trust me. About the only similarity is that the main characters happen to be teenagers.
What’s scarier: an angry spirit or a vampire at night?
A vampire at night, definitely. I remember reading Salem's Lot when I was eleven or so, and then watching the movie and having nightmares because of it. But what's even scarier are the vampires you meet during the day . . . I'm convinced The Commons in downtown Ithaca is a hot-spot for them (hint, hint). You’re probably getting used to doing interviews by now -- what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to be asked but no one ever does? (I want to hear the answer too!)
Does your spouse read your books? I always want to know that about writers, but they never talk about it. The short answer to that question is NO, and I really hope this guilts my husband in to reading my work! In all seriousness, my husband did read the final version of Turning Point, which he enjoyed. However, he's not big on YA paranormal. Given that he's a 46-year-old male, I can't hardly blame him.
Speed Round:Thriller or paranormal romance?
paranormal romanceFood you couldn’t live without?
This would probably change from day to day depending what I'm craving. Right now it's my husband's homemade chili and cornbread.
Favorite musician/band?The Killers
Pets?
Eight of them! My black lab puppy, Chloe; the cats - Louie, Joey, and Ernie; the guinea pigs - Jeffrey, Mikey, Buddy, and Dobby
Favorite smell?
Crabtree and Evelyn's Rosewater perfume. It reminds me of my grandma.
And there we have it, folks. Now you know a little more about Melissa and her novels. If you’d like to learn more, you can find Melissa here:
http://www.MLGarrett.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/MLGarrettwrites
And to buy, check her out on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
So tell us, Melissa, your YA novels appear very diverse -- is there a common theme among them?
There are no overt commonalities among any of my novels, with the exception that all but one takes place in upstate, New York. I love the little college town I live in and enjoy weaving real-life places with fictional for my characters to visit. Most of my YA characters also attend the same fictional high school. Maybe one of these days I'll write a book in which they all meet and share one big adventure!
With regard to common themes, I suppose you could say each of my books focus around a central character at a crossroads in her life, the point where choosing this path over that one will have a major impact on her life.
Your first novel, Precipice, is for adults. What made you decide to switch over to YA? Are you planning to write more adult novels too?
Precipice was my very first novel-length manuscript from many years ago that sat untouched in a desk drawer. I published it (without really editing it!) at the insistence of a friend who loved the story and characters and wanted a print version. I honestly did not expect to sell many, if any, copies. Incidentally, it will be getting a complete cover and content makeover in the near future. I've learned a lot about writing since then and now can't look at that book without cringing a little (okay, a lot). My next adult novel, which I plan to start writing by the end of the year, will be a spin-off of Precipice and focus on Julia's sister, Kim. I'd love to write a romantic comedy, too!When I first started writing, I hadn't read any novels specifically marketed for the YA crowd. But then I heard about this little book called Twilight, and it was all downhill from there. I was hooked! I quickly followed that up with the House of Night series, then the Wicked Lovely and Wolves of Mercy Falls series . . . anything YA I could get my hands on.
Your first YA novel, Turning Point, sounds like a blend of contemporary and thriller. How do you categorize it?
Turning Point was a difficult one for me to categorize because it definitely is a blend of the two. I tell people it's a YA thriller. Turning Point is unlike anything I would ever normally read or write, but I had this little scenario stuck in my head and just ran with it. The first version was quite wicked and had to be toned down for the YA crowd. Even now, it's one I recommend for a more mature audience. Jenna and Dominic remain two of my favorite characters. Your cover for The Spirit Keeper is amazing and I’ve already loaded it onto my Kindle because it sounds fabulous. Did you have to do a lot of research into Native American folklore to write the novel? [yes - I’m cheating and trying to get more insight into the novel.]
Thank you! Damon Xeda, the artist who designed the covers for The Spirit Keeper and Blood Type, is brilliant. You can view a sampling of other covers he's designed at http://www.Damonza.com. When I first had it in my mind that I wanted to write a novel with a Native American main character, I began researching the Iroquois Nation. It seemed only natural, given that the book is set in upstate New York and the Iroquois once had a strong presence in this area. But then I began writing the story in such a way that it portrayed that particular group of people in a very negative light. In my gut, I didn't like what I was doing or where my story was going. I toyed with the idea of making Sarah Caucasian, but I knew the story would never work if I did. So I did what any other author would do; I made up my own tribe! The Katori people, to my knowledge, are completely fictional. Readers will learn more about them in The Seventh Tribe, which is due out in the spring of 2013.
I’m secretly still in love with all things vampire so Blood Type looks great to me, but were you afraid of writing in an area that publishers say has been overdone post-Twilight? [editorial note: Blood Type is coming this fall.]
I love vampires. LOVE THEM! The great thing about being a self-published author is that I get to write what appeals to me. I've always joked that I was going to write a vampire novel at some point in my life, and then it just sort of happened. The idea for the book grew from a creative writing prompt. In fact, the entire first chapter is a polished version of my original submission. And Blood Type is nothing like Twilight, trust me. About the only similarity is that the main characters happen to be teenagers. What’s scarier: an angry spirit or a vampire at night?
A vampire at night, definitely. I remember reading Salem's Lot when I was eleven or so, and then watching the movie and having nightmares because of it. But what's even scarier are the vampires you meet during the day . . . I'm convinced The Commons in downtown Ithaca is a hot-spot for them (hint, hint). You’re probably getting used to doing interviews by now -- what’s the one thing you’ve always wanted to be asked but no one ever does? (I want to hear the answer too!)
Does your spouse read your books? I always want to know that about writers, but they never talk about it. The short answer to that question is NO, and I really hope this guilts my husband in to reading my work! In all seriousness, my husband did read the final version of Turning Point, which he enjoyed. However, he's not big on YA paranormal. Given that he's a 46-year-old male, I can't hardly blame him.
Speed Round:Thriller or paranormal romance?
paranormal romanceFood you couldn’t live without?
This would probably change from day to day depending what I'm craving. Right now it's my husband's homemade chili and cornbread.
Favorite musician/band?The Killers
Pets?
Eight of them! My black lab puppy, Chloe; the cats - Louie, Joey, and Ernie; the guinea pigs - Jeffrey, Mikey, Buddy, and Dobby
Favorite smell?
Crabtree and Evelyn's Rosewater perfume. It reminds me of my grandma.
And there we have it, folks. Now you know a little more about Melissa and her novels. If you’d like to learn more, you can find Melissa here:
http://www.MLGarrett.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/MLGarrettwrites
And to buy, check her out on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
June 20, 2012
How Artist & Author Alicia Kat Dillman creates stunning covers (+ contest)!
Behind the Cover: A Peek Through the Mists
How I breathe life into the stories in my head, or in other words, how I convey a whole story within a single image.
First I decide what story I’m trying to tell; what I’m trying to get across in the image. Then I hit the books, analyzing what’s out there. Trying to design something that’s true to the story while at the same time something that will stand out from the pack of other new releases.
Daemons in the Mist is very atmospheric, almost like the environment is a real breathing creature itself, and my characters embody their environments. I wanted to convey this on the cover, so I chose one main character and one location that reflected a part of the city and the character at the same time.For this first book I wanted Nualla, one of Daemons in the Mist’s main characters, to look like she was standing across the street from you, her hair caught up in the gust of wind from a passing car. Placing her firmly in our world but at the same time pulling you into something hidden; something extraordinary. She is as much inviting you, the reader, into her world as she invites Patrick into her life in the story.
And I wanted a bridge, in this case the Bay Bridge. Why did I chose the Bay Bridge instead of the Golden Gate Bridge for the cover of Daemons in the Mist? Because really the Golden Gate Bridge is for tourists, most of the locals, the commuters and students, use the Bay Bridge to come into the city. The story is about people who live in the city each day and most of the books are set there so I wanted the readers to get a taste of the city the way I see it. But why a bridge in the first place? In the story, Patrick makes a journey from the human world into the world of daemons, much like a bridge carries us into a new place. Parts of the bridge are obscured by fog conveying to the viewer that not everything is what it seems.
Once I have the story I’m trying to convey firmly in my mind, I start the actual process of creating a cover. For the base ofDaemons in the Mist’s cover, stock photography was used as part of a newer art form called enhanced photo-imagery. I head on over to the stock photography sites and browse for what I need. I then download their mock images and jump into InDesign to start mocking up a cover based on the template generated by the book printers. Because Daemons in the Mist is part of a trilogy, all 3 books were mocked up at the same time. When I get the cover design the way I like it, I purchase the chosen images and head on over to Painter.
I then use my custom designed brushes and go to town. I tend to use what they call “illustrative color” and even though my process with this cover was a departure from my norm, my signature style and use of vibrant color and dramatic lighting is still present. Once the painting is complete, I head back over to InDesign and import the final art before exporting the file and sending it off to the printer.
And that’s how my covers are born.
About Alicia Kat Dillman
Indie author & illustrator Alicia Kat Dillman is a lifelong resident of the San Francisco Bay Area. Kat illustrates and designs book covers & computer game art by day and writes teen fiction by night. The owner of two very crazy studio cats and nine overfull bookcases, Kat can usually be found performing, watching anime or hanging out in twitter chats when not playing in the imaginary worlds within her head.
Daemons in the Mist
Seventeen year old Patrick Connolly has been hopelessly infatuated with Nualla for years but he is all but invisible to her. Until, that is, he rescues her from a confrontation with her ex. Little does Patrick know he’s just set off a dangerous chain reaction that will thrust him into a world of life altering secrets and things that shouldn’t exist, because the fog and mist of San Francisco is concealing more than just buildings.
Website Link: http://www.katgirlstudio.com/
Book Link: http://www.katgirlstudio.com/book/daemons-in-the-mist-book/
Want to win your own copy of Daemons in the Mist? (Yes, you do! Trust me!) Enter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 19, 2012
Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop
Hi! Welcome to my stop on the Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop, hosted by I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Uniquely Moi Books.Up for grabs on this hop is $12 worth of YA books from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo or Book Depository. You get more if you pick e-books, but that choice is yours. (**Free money for books is a perfect time to take a chance on that Indie writer you've been dying to check out. Hint, hint.**)
Rules:
* book choices must be YA (young adult)
* 13 or older or have your parent's permission to enter
* open internationally wherever Book Depository ships (or wherever you can get e-books)
* winner must respond to e-mail within 48 hours, or I'll pick someone else
a Rafflecopter giveaway
