Jessie Harrell's Blog, page 20

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

I'm on spring break, how about you? I say this, but it's barely spring and I'm not taking much of a break, but oh well. I'm still ready to celebrate some debut YA book birthdays.

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina
Sonia's entire village believes she has a gift, but it's only in leaving home that she finds out who she truly is. A compelling tale from a rich new voice in young adult fiction.

Sixteen-year-old Sonia Ocampo was born on the night of the worst storm Tres Montes had ever seen. And when the winds mercifully stopped, an unshakable belief in the girl's protective powers began. All her life, Sonia has been asked to pray for sick mothers or missing sons, as worried parents and friends press silver milagros in her hands. Sonia knows she has no special powers, but how can she disappoint those who look to her for solace? Still, her conscience is heavy, so when she gets a chance to travel to the city and work in the home of a wealthy woman, she seizes it. At first, Sonia feels freedom in being treated like all the other girls. But when news arrives that her beloved brother has disappeared while looking for work, she learns to her sorrow that she can never truly leave the past or her family behind. With deeply realized characters, a keen sense of place, a hint of magical realism, and a flush of young romance, Meg Medina tells the tale of a strongwilled, warmhearted girl who dares to face life's harsh truths as she finds her real power.


Cross My Heart by Sasha Guild
Venice, 1585.
When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.

Starters by Lissa Price
In the future, teens rent their bodies to seniors who want to be young again. One girl discovers her renter plans to do more than party--her body will commit murder, if her mind can't stop it. Sixteen-year-old Callie lost her parents when the genocide spore wiped out everyone except those who were vaccinated first--the very young and very old. With no grandparents to claim Callie and her little brother, they go on the run, living as squatters, and fighting off unclaimed renegades who would kill for a cookie. Hope comes via Prime Destinations, run by a mysterious figure known only as The Old Man. He hires teens to rent their bodies to seniors, known as enders, who get to be young again. Callie's neurochip malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her rich renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, even dating Blake, the grandson of a senator. It's a fairy-tale new life . . . until she uncovers the Body Bank's horrible plan. . . .

Kami Garcia, coauthor of the New York Times bestselling Beautiful Creatures novels said "Fans of The Hunger Games will love it."


Dark Eyes by WIlliam Richter (March 15th)
Wally was adopted from a Russian orphanage as a child and grew up in a wealthy New York City family. At fifteen, her obsessive need to rebel led her to life on the streets.

Now the sixteen-year-old is beautiful and hardened, and she's just stumbled across the possibility of discovering who she really is. She'll stop at nothing to find her birth mother before Klesko - her darkeyed father - finds her. Because Klesko will stop at nothing to reclaim the fortune Wally's mother stole from him long ago. Even if that means murdering his own blood. But Wally's had her own killer training, and she's hungry for justice.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for teens, this debut thriller introduces our next big series heroine!


What do you think???

COVER REVEAL ~ My Super Sweet 16th Century by Rachel Harris

Come check out the cover reveal for Rachel Harris' MY SUPER SWEET 16th CENTURY.  I'm super-excited about this one because of all the special people involved, not the least of which are the author and her agent, both of whom are #yalitchat friends of mine.  So, without further ado, I give you the cover:

And here's a tantalizing excerpt to make you curse and wish it were September already:


Alessandra jerks back like I just suggested she prance around the square naked or something. "No! I believe I understand your meaning, and Lorenzo is certainly not my suitor. He is like a brother to me—the three of us grew up together." She resumes walking and I fall in step beside her, understanding there has to be more to the story. And as we near the end of the row, I finally ask, "If you're not into the guy, then what's the problem?"At that same moment, a rich, deep chuckle hits my ears. My stomach involuntarily clenches and my gaze sharpens on the back of this mysterious Lorenzo. Alessandra sighs. "That is the problem." She places her hand on my arm and solemnly looks me in the eyes. "You must be careful. Lorenzo is beautiful, and it is not uncommon for a girl to walk away from meeting him with a piece of her heart left behind. But he is just eighteen, and not yet ready for marriage."I roll my eyes and laugh, then realize she's serious. "Yeah, I assure you, there's no danger on my end. I'm not exactly looking for marriage myself." Because that would be crazy-town.Alessandra wrinkles her nose as if she doesn't believe me, but she removes her hand. We close the distance and Cipriano flashes me an open, honest to goodness, lighthearted smile. "Lorenzo, this is the cousin I was telling you about."Slowly the guy turns and I fall head first into the richest chocolate-brown eyes I've ever seen. He blinks and long, luscious lashes feather across his bronzed cheeks. I can feel myself gawking, but I physically can't drag my eyes away. Lorenzo doesn't smirk or act all conceited, either. He simply stares back, his eyes casually skimming over me, causing my skin to warm and break out in a whole body tingle.Time seems to stop, and the sounds of the market mute. Alessandra was right. This boy is beautiful. And he's looking at me.
My Super Sweet 16th Century, by Rachel Harris is available for pre-order on: Amazon | Barnes & Noble Be sure to add it to your TBR pile on Goodreads! 



You can also connect with Rachel at:
www.RachelHarrisWrites.com
www.twitter.com/@RachelHarrisYA
www.facebook.com/RachelHarrisYA
www.goodreads.com/RachelHarris

Heather McCorckle ~ Channeler's Choice

Today, I have the pleasure of welcoming the lovely Heather McCorckle to the blog.  She's the author of The Secret of Spruce Knoll, and the just-released sequel, Channeler's Choice. 

With her parents' murderer's dead, Eren can finally concentrate on fitting in at Spruce Knoll High, not to mention figuring out what it means to be a channeler. If only it were that easy. It turns out she isn't normal even among channelers - she may be a legendary warrior meant to protect the earth in a last great battle.

But Mayan prophecies are the least of her worries as she involuntarily starts to gather her own Society, another girl moves in on Aiden, her powers rage out of control, and worst of all, someone is stalking her. To top it all off, Eren discovers she doesn't have to be a channeler after all - she has a choice.

As an old threat closes in and she risks ending up like her parents, she is forced to decide. Be a normal teenager and leave the legendary warrior stuff to someone else, or embrace a dark destiny?

Click here to add it to your Goodreads to-read list.The first thing I want to know is: was the second book easier to write than the first or did you have performance anxiety? Yes and no. I wanted to make sure it delivered and kept readers wanting to read the series. Performance anxiety, oh yeah. Loads!
What was the hardest part of writing this novel? The hardest part of writing this novel was all the intricacies that tie it to the first and third one. I keep a notebook filled with info that helped a lot though!
Is there more to this series? What are you plans? Yes, there are three books. The third is scheduled to release in the fall of this year. And there is a surprise, a historical that's tied to the series that will be releasing in May.
Where did the idea for Channelers come from?  Was the idea tied to your obvious concern for nature and the environment? I've always been fascinated by the idea of energy being a physical force. It seemed so plausible to me. My idea is tied to my concern for nature, for sure. The inspiration for the first novel in the series hit me when I was watching a show on the declining habitat for polar bears. 
Random Question ~ If you could save any endangered species from extinction, which one would you pick? Tigers, because they are one of the species that is closest to extinction in the wild right now. They're numbers are plummeting and in only a few short years, they'll be gone. 
What do you want readers to know about you or your novels that you never get asked? One of my deepest inspirations is our children. They have inspired me so much. More than ever, the next generations of kids and teens are aware that the world needs fixing and they're doing something about it. That is beautiful and powerful.
To score your own copy of Channeler's Choice, visit Heather's website.

Happy Debut YA Book Birthday

If Tuesday = Book Birthdays, then I just want to know: where's my cake? Oh well, guess I'm willing to go without to read some great new titles.  This week the line-up includes:

Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1) by Aimee Agresti

Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything changes when she is
awarded a prestigious internship at a posh Chicago hotel under the watchful eyes of a
group of gorgeous strangers: the powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her
second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of
glamazons called The Outfit.
As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are
not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers the evil
agenda of Aurelia and company: they're in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed
in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to
thwart this devilish set's plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the
hotel?

Where it Began by Ann Radiach Stampler  
A teen's world comes crashing down in this compulsively readable YA debut that's as literary as it is commercial.
Gabby Gardiner wakes up in a hospital bed looking like a cautionary ad for drunk driving—and without a single memory of the accident that landed her there. But what she can recall, in frank and sardonic detail, is the year leading up to the crash.As Gabby describes her transformation from Invisible Girl to Trendy Girl Who Dates Billy Nash (aka Most Desirable Boy Ever), she is left wondering: Why is Billy suddenly distancing himself from her? What do her classmates know that Gabby does not? Who exactly was in the car that night? And why has Gabby been left to take the fall?As she peels back the layers of her life, Gabby begins to realize that her climb up the status ladder has been as intoxicating as it has been morally complex...and that nothing about her life is what she has imagined it to be.

Katana by Cole Gibsen (March 8th)
Kill Bill meets Buffy in this supernatural samurai tale 
Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline gave her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of fifteenth century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings. While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.
Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.


Any of these going to be instant adds to your TBR list?

Dead Radiance by T.G. Ayer ~ Music List

Today author T.G. Ayer joins us to tell us about her debut YA novel, DEAD RADIANCE, and to give us a glimpse into some of the music that inspired her writing.  But first, here's a tad about the book...
DEAD RADIANCE - Book 1 in the Valkyrie Novels  For as long as she can recall Bryn Halbrook has seen a golden aura around certain people, and it is only when her new best friend Joshua dies that she understands the glow means death. Bryn struggles to adapt to a new town and a new foster home while trying to deal with the guilt of being unable to save her friend. Until mysterious biker-boy, Aidan Lee arrives.When Aidan unexpectedly takes off he leaves behind a shattered heart, a tonne of unanswered questions and a mysterious book that suggests Bryn is a Valkyrie. Bryn is faced with questions about Aidan's real identity, the real reason he came to Craven, and that Odin, Freya and Valhalla just might be real.As if accepting her new wings, new life and new home in Asgard isn't difficult enough, Bryn is forced to find and return the precious necklace of the Goddess Freya. The only problem is – if she fails, Aidan will die.The mystery of a Mythology is easy to enjoy. The reality is much harder to accept.
DEAD RADIANCE excerpt:"My fingers uncurled their desperate grip on the rose and it fell, tilting, to drop head first onto the casket, twirling as it descended into the eerie depths. It hit the lid and shattered. Petals flew in all directions and everywhere yellow scraps of the dismembered flower reflected Joshua's iridescent light."
 Guest Post:Many storytellers use music to inspire their creativity, to support character development through the writing process, to set the mood of a scene allowing the right words to flow. On the other side of the coin are the readers who love to put music to the books they read, to imagine which song would be best for each heartbreak and each triumph their favourite characters experience. I love to write to music. And I hate to write to music. It pretty much depends on the scene and my mood and probably even the moon - who knows! I use music when I feel the scene or the character needs a bit of backup. I only ever NEED music when I'm in dire need of drowning out the usual household cacophony - that's when LP at full volume works wonders.
So, here it is: The PLAYLIST for DEAD RADIANCE 1. Iridescent - Linkin Park2. Bring Me To Life - Evanescence ft Linkin Park3. Open up your eyes - Daughtry4. Just a Kiss - Lady Antebellum5. No ones listening - The Feelers6. Hometown Glory- Adele7. My immortal - Evanescence8. Weak and the wounded - The Feelers9. No more sorrow - Linkin Park10. Burning in the skies - Linkin Park11. Trying to get by - The FeelersThese are the songs and lyrics that inspired scenes from Dead Radiance. Often I'd find the words don't penetrate the writing haze, but just sometimes, when they do, it impacts on the scene in a very profound way. And I don't necessarily need to listen to melancholy music for my sad scenes, not do I need the full on rock for the action. All the songs have a reason and together they create the musical backdrop for Bryn and Aidans struggles.If you want to pick up your copy of Dead Radiance, check it out on Amazon. Or, you can follow T.G. around to her blog.
Author Bio: I have been a writer from the time I was old enough to recognise that reading was a doorway into my imagination. Poetry was my first foray into the art of the written word. Books were my best friends, my escape, my haven. I am essentially a recluse but this part of my personality is impossible to practise given I have two teenage daughters, who are actually my friends, my tea-makers, my confidantes… I am blessed with a husband who has left me for golf. It's a fair trade as I have left him for writing. We are both passionate supporters of each others loves – it works wonderfully…
My heart is currently broken in two. One half resides in South Africa where my old roots still remain, and my heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. My love for Ma Afrika will never fade. The other half of me has been transplanted to the Land of the Long White Cloud. The land of the Taniwha, beautiful Maraes, and volcanoes. The land of green, pure beauty that truly inspires. And because I am so torn between these two lands – I shall forever remain crosseyed.

Indie Author Spotlight with Michelle Muto

Today I'm welcoming Michelle Muto to the blog.  Michelle is a fellow Indelible author and the very first guinea pig for my Indie Author Spotlight feature.
Michelle has written the haunting novel, Don't Fear the Reaper, and has graciously offered to share a teaser from the first chapter. But first, you probably want to know what the story is about, eh?
Grief-stricken by the murder of her twin, Keely Morrison is convinced suicide is her ticket to eternal peace and a chance to reunite with her sister. When Keely succeeds in taking her own life, she discovers death isn't at all what she expected. Instead, she's trapped in a netherworld on Earth and her only hope for reconnecting with her sister and navigating the afterlife is a bounty-hunting reaper and a sardonic, possibly unscrupulous, demon. But when the demon offers Keely her greatest temptation—revenge on her sister's murderer—she must uncover his motives and determine who she can trust. Because, as Keely soon learns, both reaper and demon are keeping secrets and she fears the worst is true—that her every decision will change how, and with whom, she spends eternity.First Chapter Teaser: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for they are with me. I repeated my version of the psalm as I watched the ribbon of blood drift from my wrist. I'd hoped it would be a distraction—something to stop me from wondering what my sister's dying thoughts had been. Exhaling slowly, I let the emptiness consume me. Jordan had kept my secrets and I had kept hers. In the end, it came down to just one secret between us that took her life. Now, it would take mine. I should have said something, but nothing I said or did now could bring her back or make anyone understand what she meant to me.Are you here, Jordan? Are you with me? Tell me about heaven...I told myself Jordan was gone, never coming back, but her memories continued to haunt me. I had no idea if there even was an afterlife. If God existed, I was convinced he had given up on me. Not once did I sense he'd heard a single one of my prayers. I wasn't asking for the world—I only wanted to know if my sister was safe and at peace. What was so hard about that? She should still be here. It wasn't fair. I'd been the difficult one—much more than Jordan. For a while, I'd even gotten into drugs. Mom and Dad had worried I'd get Jordan into drugs, too. But I wouldn't. Not ever. Besides, that part of my life had been over long before Jordan's death. A small gargoyle tattoo on my left shoulder was all that remained of my previous lifestyle.Mom and Dad started treating me differently after Jordan's funeral two months ago. She and I were twins, so I understood how hard it was for them to look at me and not see her. Sometimes, they wouldn't look at me at all. Mom went to the psychiatrist, but no one asked if I needed to talk to someone about what happened. No one asked if I needed sleeping pills or antidepressants. Yeah, sure. Don't give the former addict pills of any sort. Not one person saw the all-consuming suffering that gnawed at my soul. Why couldn't anyone see? Jordan had been more than my sister—she'd been my Samson, my strength. I would have done anything for her, and yet, I'd failed her. I wasn't the one who'd killed her, but I might as well have been. How could I ever live with that? My heart had a stillness to it since her death. I shall fear no evil.I couldn't very well recite the first part of Psalm 23 because it said I shall not want, and I did want. I wanted to go back in time. I wanted my sister back. Clearly, goodness and mercy were never going to be part of my life ever again. In my mind, I saw myself walking through the iron gates of hell with demons cackling gleefully all around.I didn't want to die. Not really. I was just tired and didn't know of another way to stop the pain. Doctors removed a bad appendix. Dentists pulled rotten teeth. What was I supposed to do when my very essence hurt, when the cancer I'd come to call depression made every decent memory agonizingly unbearable? Before I'd gotten down to cutting my wrist (I managed to only cut one), I'd taken a few swigs of Dad's tequila—the good kind he kept in the basement freezer. I'd used another swig or two to chase down the remainder of Mom's sleeping pills in the event I failed to hit an artery or vein. Then I'd set the bottle on the ledge of the tub in case I needed further liquid encouragement. Instead of using a knife or a razor, I attached a cutting blade to my Dad's Dremel. The Dremel was faster, I reasoned. More efficient. It would have been easier to OD, I suppose. But I felt closer to my sister this way, to suffer as she'd suffered.I recited the line from Psalms 23 again. It had become my personal mantra. The words resonated in my parents' oversized bathroom. I'd chosen theirs because the Jacuzzi tub was larger than the tub in the hall bathroom. Jordan and I used to take bubble baths together in this same tub when we were little.Innocence felt like a lifetime ago. I searched the bathroom for bubble bath but came up short. Soap might have made the laceration hurt more so it was probably just as well. Besides, the crimson streaming from my wrist like watercolor on silk was oddly mesmerizing. The loneliness inside proved unrelenting, and the line from the psalms made me feel better. I prayed for the agony inside me to stop. I argued with God. Pleaded. But after all was said and done, I just wanted the darkness to call me home.I tried not to think of who would find my body or who'd read the note I'd left. I blamed myself not only for failing Jordan, but for failing my parents, too. My lifeline to this existence continued to bleed out into the warm water. Killing myself had been harder than I'd imagined. I hadn't anticipated the searing fire racing through my veins. I reached for the tequila with my good arm but couldn't quite manage. Tears welled in my eyes. Part of me foolishly felt Jordan was here. The other part feared she wasn't.Give me a sign, Sis. Just one.I imagined seeing my parents at my funeral—their gaunt faces, red-eyed and sleepless. How could I do this to them? Wasn't the devastation of losing one child enough? No. Stop. A voice in my head screamed. Don't do this. Don't. Please...I shifted my body, attempted to get my uncooperative legs under me. I could see the phone on my parents' nightstand. I could make it that far. Had to. The voice was right. I didn't want to do this. I felt disorientated, dizzy. Darkness crept along the edges of my vision. Focusing became difficult. A sweeping shadow of black caught my attention. Someone stood in the bathroom—not my sister. A man. Had I managed to call 911? I couldn't remember getting out of the tub. And why'd I get back in? Did I use a towel? Mom is going to be pissed when she sees the blood I've tracked all over the bedroom carpet. "I'm sorry," I told the man in black. "It's okay, Keely. Don't be afraid." Not my father's voice. It was softer, with a hint of sorrow. Distant. Fleeting. Later, I'd feel embarrassed about this, but for now I was safe from the nothing I'd almost become. My teeth clattered from the chill. My eyelids fluttered in time with my breaths. The tub water had turned the color of port wine. The ribbons, the pretty, red watercolor ribbons were gone.Dull gray clouded my sight.A voice whispered to me, and my consciousness floated to the surface again. "—okay, Keely."Cold. So cold."I'm right here."There was no fear in me as the man bent forward, his face inches from mine. He was my father's age, and yet strangely older. His eyes were so...blue, almost iridescent. The irises were rimmed in a fine line of black, and the creases etched at the corners reminded me of sunbeams as he gave me a weak smile. The oddly. Dressed. Paramedic. A warm hand reached into the water and cradled mine. My fingers clutched his. I sighed, feeling myself floating, drifting. Light—high and intense exploded before me. No! Too much. Too much! I shuddered and labored to catch my breath, but it wouldn't come. Finally, the comfort of darkness rose to greet me.Thank you so much, Michelle, for sharing this chilling teaser.  If you want to pick up your own copy of Don't Fear the Reaper, you can find it at these vendors: Amazon USAmazon UKBarnes & NobleiTunesSmashwordsCreatespaceAnd to connect with Michelle, you can find her here:BlogFBTwitter

Leap Into Books Giveaway Hop

I couldn't resist the frog emblem, so here I am, giving away more books. Well, e-books, to be precise.  (So International entries are welcome!)  Thanks to I am a Reader, Not a Writer and Jinky is Reading for organizing this event.
Here's what's up for grabs ~ for slow readers like me, this is a month's worth of books!
Anew by Chelsea FineDestined by *me*Forbidden (The Guardian Chronicles) by Megan CurdThe Willows: Haven by Hope Collier


I will gift these books to you through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Smashwords.  Just fill out the form below and enter to win.  Then, hop on to the next blog for more great chances.  Thanks for coming by.  ((HUGS))


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Happy Debut YA Book Birthdaybu

So, well, I goofed last week and it turns out that When the Sea is Rising Red, Shooting Stars, and Oppression by Jessica Theiron actually didn't release until this week. Oh well... you should check the out again, if you haven't already.  They look awesome - especially Oppression.

There's also: Freshman Year and Other Natural Disasters by Meredith Zeilin
Laugh-out-loud funny high school drama - perfect for fans of Lauren Myracle and Meg Cabot

Let's say you're fourteen and live in New York City. You'd think your life would be like a glamorous TV show, right? And yet . . . You don't have a checking account, much less a personal Black American Express card. You've never been to a club, and the only couture in your closet is a Halloween costume your mom made from an old laundry bag.

In other words? You're Kelsey Finkelstein - fourteen and frustrated. Every time she tries to live up to her awesome potential, her plans are foiled. Kelsey wants to rebrand herself for high school to make the kind of mark she knows is her destiny. But just because Kelsey has a plan for greatness . . . it doesn't mean the rest of the world is in on it.

Kelsey's hilarious commentary and sardonic narration of her freshman year will have readers laughing out loud - while being thankful that they're not in her shoes, of course.

Repeat from last week that actually debuts this week ~
Elyse knows what it means to keep a secret. She's been keeping secrets her whole life. Two, actually. First, that she ages five times slower than average people, so that while she looks eighteen years old, she's closer to eighty. Second, that her blood has a mysterious power to heal. For Elyse, these things don't make her special. They make life dangerous. After the death of her parents, she's been careful to keep her secret as closely guarded as possible. Now, only one other person in the world knows about her age and ability. Or so she thinks. Elyse is not the only one keeping secrets. There are others like her all over the world, descendants of the very people the Greeks considered gods. She is one of them, and they have been waiting for her for a long time. Some are waiting for her to put an end to centuries of traditions that have oppressed their people under the guise of safeguarding them. Others are determined to keep her from doing just that. But for Elyse, the game is just beginning - and she's not entirely willing to play by their rules.

Amy Lignor Guest Posts on Until Next Time

Today, I'm welcoming Amy Lignor, whose debut YA novel, Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, debuted on February 1st. Amy's going to talk to us about who she envisions playing her characters on the silver screen. But before that, it'd probably help to know what the book is about, huh?

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul? 

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache. 

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans. 

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

The 'Angels' in Lights!When I think about seeing Matt and Emily up on the big screen I always make sure to look into my dog's eyes so he can roll them and bring me back to reality , although that is a killer dream.I have to say this is the most difficult question thus far that I've been asked because I actually want the girl who is on the cover of Until Next Time.  But unless one of the graphic artists at the publishing company also moonlights as Dr. Frankenstein, I suppose that's out.  There are many out there who automatically would shout out that Taylor Lautner should be Matt, my warrior.  Problem is, I need his muscles, Shia Labeouf's sense of humor, the startlingly blue eyes that Daniel Radcliffe owns, and dirty-blond hair.  And they do have to be the right age.  I just can't have a twenty-four-year-old play a seventeen-year-old.  As things stand in the industry right now, Callan McAuliffe would be my choice for Matt.  I say this because of his acting ability as well as the long, lean form he has.  I've seen him look into the camera and laugh, tear up, stay strong, get angry - so he most definitely has the acting chops to carry Matt off. And he has that innocent face still that looks unharmed by the rest of the world.  I'm looking forward to his turn as young Gatsby in the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby that's coming in our future.  This, I believe, will really show his range.  He's truly a face to watch, and being from Australia he adds that little added-extra kick of the 'unknown foreigner' factor.
The female is even more difficult; I wish that Emma Stone could be ten years younger.  I need Emily to be able to come across with so many emotions.  She needs that anger (without a pout, preferably), and she needs to be able to roll her eyes and fall very hard in love, almost at the same time.  The actresses in the age range are lean.  I like Nina Dobrev and Abigail Breslin, but I would have to go with India Eisley.  (The Secret Life of the American Teenager).
She will need those emerald green contacts, but she has the innocent face - like McAuliffe - that would really show the viewer she's having a very hard time with all these human emotions, but still seem believable and strong to her soul mate.  And now that India has experienced the Underworld, she should be allowed to come from somewhere a little higher up .For the older readers, I have to add this one thing.  Mike and Gabe are the teachers, the fire starters, friends, fathers, mentors, etc., so I have to say that Keifer Sutherland and Johnny Depp get those jobs hand down.  Certain types of 'cool' do NOT go out of style!

And there is a love interest in this one that Dan Radcliffe would be perfect for!  I hope I'll see all of you at the movie!Until Next Time, Everybody.Amy
So, now that you're dying to get your hands on a copy, here are the links to buy, follow and generally stalk Amy and her novel.
The Angel Chronicles web site:
http://www.the-angel-chronicles.com

The Angel Chronicles Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Angel-Chronicles/168932393209654

Until Next Time GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13319888-until-next-time

Amy Lignor's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alignor

Amy Lignor's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/HelloWritersAmy

Amy Lignor's Website:
http://www.thewritecompanion.com/

Amy Lignor's Blog:
http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/

Amy Lignor's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068
Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Interview with Elle Strauss, Author of Clockwise and It's a Little Haywire

Today, I have the honor of hosting Elle Strauss on my blog. Elle is the author of the recently-released YA novel, Clockwise, and the just-released MG novel, It's a Little Haywire. She's going to be spending a little time answering with us answering questions about Haywire. But first, you need to know what this book is about!
Owen True is eleven and eleven twelfths and has been "exiled" to the small crazy town of Hayward, WA, aka Haywire, while his mother is on her honeymoon. All he has to whittle away the time is the company of Gramps, his black lab Daisy, and his Haywire friends, Mason and Mikala Sweet. They don't look so hot this year, in fact the whole town has gone to pot since the mill shut down.

Owen has his first encounter with a real life homeless man who ends up needing Owen's help in more ways than one. But how does a rich city kid help the small town's suffering citizens?

And what is Owen to make of the fog train and its scary, otherworldy occupants that appears out of thin air on the old tracks behind Gramps' house? Do they have the answer Owen is looking for?
Now ... on to the interview!I love the concept here -- a rich kid getting some real world perspective meets paranormal.  What made you want to tell this story in particular?
I think we all get caught up in our own worlds. It's easy to miss or overlook what's going on around us and in the world, especially when you're a kid. This story collides the main character's reality, a well to do life style, with those who are struggling to get by on far less. It also collides his material world with the spiritual.

What was the coolest part about writing this book for you?
This book is by far the most personal book. The voice of the main character, Owen True, was inspired by letters I found recently that were written to my parents by my eldest son when he was ten. When I listen to Owen True speak, I hear my son Joel. Like Gramps in It's a Little Haywire, my father has a song for every moment. He was the one who helped me to collect the songs for Charlie True's playlist. My daughter Tasia drew the illustrations and I love this opportunity to collaborate on a project with her.

Did you do the illustrations for the book?  If not, who?  Oh, I answered this in the last question. My seventeen year old daughter did them. And no, it wasn't slave labor. She owed me money. We bartered :)
Do you think books "with more" will become the new standard in publishing? And by that I mean, books that have illustrations or a playlist or some other bonus material like you've done here?
I definitely do. I only touched the tip of the iceberg here. Once reading devices like Kindle Fire and the ipad become used widely, readers will grow accustomed to books including media that those types of devices can operate, like music, videos and interactive apps.

Do you have a song in particular that you think best catches the mood or personality of It's a Little Haywire?
There's a whole playlist included at the end of the book with hyperlinks to youtube so that kids who've never heard songs like, There's a Lonely Little Robin, or Sugar in the Morning, can have a listen. I'd say the one that represents It's a Little Haywire the most is Catch a Falling Star.

What can your reads expect next from you? We'd love some juicy insight into what you've got cooking up next.
I actually have quite a lot coming down the pike. The sequel to my time travel YA Clockwise called Clockwiser will be out in Apr/May, a companion book called Like Clockwork is set for June. I want to have my merfolk book called Seaweed out this summer and a historical drama about a boy who grows up in Hitler Youth called Playing with Matches out by the end of summer as well.

 And there you have it -- go forth and get Haywire. It's normally $2.99, but it will be FREE for Feb 22 and 23 only.  After after you've done that, be sure to follow Elle around on the interwebs.  :)
[image error] www.ellestraussbookscom
Twitter: @elle_strauss
Facebook : Elle Strauss - Author
Goodreads: Elle Strauss Goodreads Author 
Google : Elle Strauss 
Wattpad: Elle Strauss