Meradeth Houston's Blog, page 91

Colors Like Memories Blog Tour: Day 3

So my book is officially on sale. It's a pretty trippy thing to realize that people I don't know are able to read it (and also, people I do know--for some reason, this might even be stranger, though I don't know why). Anyhow, it was quite an awesome experience to have people tell me yesterday that they purchased my book. Very, very cool. Also cool? My blog tour! I am loving all the fun comments people are leaving, and getting to wander around to different parts of the web. Today, I have two posts, an interview and a guest post, both of which are lots of fun!


-Over on Miranda Hardy's blog, I'm talking about what comes first when a story idea hits.&-Daisy Carter is also interviewing me--she has some really fresh questions, too!
Stop on by, see what's up, and leave a comment there to earn a chance at winning a gift card! 
While you all go do that, I'll be running the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure with my mom and sister. Well, considering how out of shape I am, I'm not sure I'll be *running* it, but I will be participating and enjoying the swarm of pink, along with the amusing team names.

Colors Like Memories Blog Tour: Day 2

THE DAY IS HERE!!! (why, yes, I am excited, can you tell?) My book is officially on sale. Yay! Anyhow, I only have one link to share where you can buy my book in any ebook format (because Amazon is slow...). Anyhow, please, if you're looking to check out Colors Like Memories, go here and check it out! I will post the other links just as soon as I get them.


Also, because my blog tour is continuing, Rachel Morgan has a fun interview up over on her site today! The first few paragraphs are posted as a nice little teaser to whet your appetite for why you should go, ya know, buy my book :) Seriously, go check out Rachel's awesome blog, and while you're at it, her Creepy Hollow series is fabulous! Don't forget to drop a comment and gain an entry into my $25 giftcard giveaway. All details for this are posted in the main tour post (easily accessible with the link on the sidebar).


And, just in case you are wondering what CLM is about:




Julia is a Sary, the soul of a child who died before taking her first breath. Without this 'breath of life,' she and others like her must help those on the verge of suicide. It's a job Julia enjoyed, until the accident that claimed her boyfriend’s life—an accident she knows was her fault. If living with the guilt weren't enough, she's now assigned to help a girl dealing with the loss of her mother, something Julia is not exactly the best role model for. If she can't figure out a way to help her, Julia will lose her position in the Sary, something she swore to her boyfriend would never happen.


Now, I'm going to go get a pedicure, go shopping with my mom & sister, and have a nice girls day to celebrate :) And check my email on my phone obsessively.

Colors Like Memories Blog Tour: Day 1

Tomorrow, people, TOMORROW, Colors Like Memories goes on sale!!! I am both incredibly excited, and so freaked out I totally can't sleep (okay, this might have something to do with being completely jet-lagged, but I'm going to stick with the excited/scared explanation). Anyhow, I'm super excited to kick things off today with TWO awesome blog entries for you to enjoy:


-Charlie Volnek (my cover artist) is interviewing me.
&
-I'm visiting Jessica's blog to talk a little about winged beings in different cultures.
Stop by either of these places to drop a comment and gain an entry into my $25 giftcard giveaway! All details for this are posted in the main tour post (easily accessible with the link on the sidebar).

Colors Like Memories Blog Tour Schedule!

It's time for the COLORS LIKE MEMORIES blog tour extravaganza! Okay, so extravaganza might be over-doing it, but I'm excited, so that's what I'm using :) Anyhow, there are lots of awesome blogs participating in the launch of my book, and I'm so excited to share with you a little more about my book, writing, and even a little about me!

First, a word about the contest I have running throughout my tour: for all the participating blogs, I will be putting together a master list of people who comment between my blog tour dates--that's May 10th-25th (I'll leave things open for a few extra days at the end, so qualifying comments will be open until the 28th). All of these people are entered in a drawing for a $25 gift-card to either Amazon or Barnes & Nobel, as well as two additional winners will earn copies of my book. Please make it easy for me to contact you if you win. You can enter multiple times by commenting on each of the different guest blog posts. It will be international, too. Questions? Shout out in the comments!

Now, on to the incredibly awesome people who will be hosting me in this fun journey:

Kicking things off on May 10th:
-Charlie Volnek (my cover artist) is interviewing me.
-I'm visiting Jessica's blog to talk a little about winged beings in different cultures.

May 11th:
-Rachel's interviewing me and has a little excerpt from CLM.

May 12th:
-Over on Miranda Hardy's blog, I'm talking about what comes first when a story idea hits.
-Daisy Carter is also interviewing me--she has some really fresh questions, too!

May 14th:
-Over on Christie's Book Reviews, I'm talking about my favorite times I'd like to visit in the past.

May 15th:
-On The View from Fairview, I'm talking about sources of inspiration.

May 16th:
-Want to see which movie actor's I'd cast for CLM? Check out Lady Gwen's blog!
-I have some fun with magnetic poetry on Katie's blog :)
-Reading and Writing Urban Fantasy is also hosting me!

May 17th:
-I'm talking about Pinterest as a social media outlet on Lynda's blog.

May 18th:
-Over on Mark Koopman's blog, I'm talking a little about world building.
-I also have a teaser post with an excerpt from CLM on The Daily Harrell.

May 19th:
-I'm talking about Why I Write over on Michell's blog.

May 21st:
-On Pages From My Thoughts, I'm talking about the ideas behind CLM.
-Myra's Secret Bookcase is hosting my thoughts on the themes in CLM.

May 22nd:
-At Forever Rewriting, I'm talking about the fun that is revisions.
-At Ttoria, I'm talking about Carpe Diem and the writing life.
-I'll also be participating in a Book Blast on this day, through I'm A Reader Not A Writer :)

May 23rd:
-Over on Hanging On To Wonder (home of my awesome critique partner), I'm talking me in high school. Prepare to be frightened!
-Like opening lines? I'm talking about them over at Aine's Realm.

May 24th:
-Getting a little serious with a talk about teen depression on Barbara Ehrentreu's blog.

May 25th:
-On Sophia The Writer's blog, I'm talking about my writing journey (so far!).
-A little interview with my main character, Julia, over on Offbeat Vagabond!

There have also been some amazing people that have offered to read and review my book. I'm leaving these dates a little more open because of the galley-issues and will move them to the corresponding dates later!:

-The Bo0ki
-Melanie Fowler
-Rebecca Ryals Russell

MORE INFORMATION ON COLORS LIKE MEMORIES:

www.MeradethHouston.commeradethhouston.blogspot.comhttps://twitter.com/#!/MeradethHoustonwww.goodreads.com/book/show/13030422-colors-like-memorieshttp://www.facebook.com/ColorsLikeMemorieshttp://pinterest.com/merbear95695/http://youtu.be/HFRNJ-Yn7So(teaser trailer)http://youtu.be/7lUpK68bYFI(book trailer)

After Reading: Night Sky

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By Jolene Perry

[image error] After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honestly somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.


I was happy to be able to host another one of Tribute Book's fabulous titles, and I'm incredibly happy to be able to talk about Night Sky here today. I really, really loved this one. It's so refreshing to read from a guy's point of view, especially one that is so distinct and fun as Jameson. Honestly, by the end, I was totally crushing on the guy. Sure, he has his flaws, but he's a good person, a good guy, and has his head screwed on tighter than a lot of guys that age (or any age, really, haha!). Sky was an intriguing and interesting character in and of herself, and the dynamic between the two felt authentic and exciting. Emphasis on the exciting. Wow, steamy scenes :) Haha, loved it! Honestly, go check this one out!!



Kindle buy link
Nook buy link
Smashwords buy link
PDF buy link


Night Sky web site

Night Sky GoodReads page

A bit about the Author:

Jolene grew up in Wasilla, Alaska. She graduated from Southern Utah University with a degree in political science and French, which she used to teach math to middle schoolers.

After living in Washington, Utah and Las Vegas, she now resides in Alaska with her husband, and two children. Aside from writing, Jolene sews, plays the guitar, sings when forced, and spends as much time outside as possible.

She is also the author of The Next Door Boys and the upcoming Knee Deep.

Jolene Perry's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002038196677

Jolene Perry's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/JoleneBPerry

Jolene Perry's Website:
http://www.jolenebperry.com/

Jolene Perry's Blog:
http://www.jolenesbeenwriting.blogspot.com/

Jolene Perry's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4944599.Jolene_B_Perry

Giveaway Winners!

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway! I loved everyone's answers--they were so unique and fun! If I had to chose a particular event/person to go back and see, I have to say I've always wanted to meet and speak with Gregor Mendel. You know, the guy with the pea plants :) Yes, I am a genetics lab nerd, but he has always struck me as a really interesting person, and I would love to sit down and tell him all the amazing things we have learned from his pioneering research on until today. I think he'd get a kick out of it!

Okay, okay, I know you're all just here to see who won, right? Well a big, huge congrats to:

REBECCA RYALS RUSSELL who won the copy of City of Lost Souls or giftcard&ANNA LY who won a copy of Colors Like Memories
I will be emailing you both shortly!

For those who didn't win, City of Lost Souls is now on sale, and my book will be up for grabs on Friday!

After Reading: Die For Me

By Amy Plum

In the City of Lights, two star-crossed lovers battle a fate that is destined to tear them apart again and again for eternity.

When Kate Mercier's parents die in a tragic car accident, she leaves her life--and memories--behind to live with her grandparents in Paris. For Kate, the only way to survive her pain is escaping into the world of books and Parisian art. Until she meets Vincent.

Mysterious, charming, and devastatingly handsome, Vincent threatens to melt the ice around Kate's guarded heart with just his smile. As she begins to fall in love with Vincent, Kate discovers that he's a revenant--an undead being whose fate forces him to sacrifice himself over and over again to save the lives of others. Vincent and those like him are bound in a centuries-old war against a group of evil revenants who exist only to murder and betray. Kate soon realizes that if she follows her heart, she may never be safe again.


I just finished reading this on my loooong flight from Tokyo to Vancouver and I had to post about it. Why? Because if you like this book, you will totally love Colors Like Memories :) No, they are not totally similar, but they definitely have some similar elements (people saving humans, immortality, love stories, star-crossed lovers, you know, that kind of fun stuff). Anyhow, needless to say, I rather liked reading this. I liked Kate's thoughts, her strength, and her dealing with some really horrible things that happened to her. I think her reactions were really true-to-life (especially with the death of her parents), and I liked that. My only quibble was it took too long to get to the action and introduction of the bad guy. I liked the build-up and never felt like the story was lacking for not having the nemesis present, but once he showed up I was left going "um, he should have been here from the start!" At any rate, a fun read, and I'm looking forward to grabbing the sequel soon!


Has anyone else read this one? 


Also, just a few hours left to go on my GIVEAWAY! Go enter if you get a second :)

Sunday if for Photos x14 (I think)

This has been one of those weeks where I am still not sure if this is really MY life. Okay, I know it's my life (duh) but it's been really good, in a kind of pinch-me sort of way :) I do hope I'm not boring you all with my pictures, but if I am, well, go enter my contest instead! Easy to enter, and fun prizes to be had!


A good friend of ours, who studies traditional kimono, invited us over to her house and showed us how to dress in kimono. Holy moley is it an involved process! She then dressed me up in one of her kimono. This is me with her, and her mom (who plied us with sweets from her family's sweet shop downstairs--sooo good!), getting dressed.
The two of us all dressed up! This shrine is on the lake and so pretty. The coolest part about this day, and the one I feel so utterly blessed by, is that they gave me this kimono. I am so grateful I don't even know where to begin! It's beautiful, and I look forward to displaying it at home.

This is the bamboo forest in Kyoto. Very cool to explore.
Close-up of the bamboo.
The river valley near the bamboo forest. We took a steam-engine train ride up this valley, which offered some spectacular views!
Tokyo at night, as viewed from the Tokyo Tower. Can you see Mt. Fugi in the distance?
Super moon! Not quite full yet, but still pretty!
These koy are hung in honor of the boy's festival that was this week. There have been schools of them everywhere. I may have taken a lot of photos...
Do you know this dog? Bonus to you if you do!
Dorky pic of me with all our luggage about to board the shinkansen from Kyoto to Tokyo. 4 bags, too many gifts, and I am still not sure how we've managed to survive this trip!

Hope you enjoyed! :)

One Week Until Colors Like Memories Enters The World!

*Gulp* One week people. One. I'll admit, I'm really trying to keep the freaking out to a minimum. The blog tour is set up. The posts have been written. Galleys have finally been sent out. And I soooo don't feel prepared. I attempt to be frank on this blog, so I'll share that I can't quite shake the worry that everyone is going to hate my book. I am probably not too abnormal thinking this, but it still haunts me! Deep breath. I'll be fine. Really. You should just ignore all that and go enter my giveaway! Super simple to enter, and lots of ways to earn extra entries!

Giveaway: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare or a Gift Certificate!

Guess who finally got her galleys? ME! Woot! And because I'm a seriously happy author right now, I think it's time to do another giveaway here. Sound good to you? Because Colors Like Memories is coming out on May 11th, I thought it might be fun to get some thoughts on history. Julia, the main character, has lived for a long time and seen some pretty crazy stuff. I love writing scenes set in the past because I'm always imagining what it would be like to live in certain eras and places (this might have something to do with why I became an archaeologist and spend a lot of time studying ancient populations...). Anyhow, the question for you all today is: what historical figure or event do you most wish you could go back and see? I'll be posting my answer later in the week :)


Would you want to see the pyramids being built? Paul Revere's ride? Meet Einstein? The possibilities are endless! Let me know in the comments!

Of course, the real question is, what can you WIN? Well, here's what I'm thinking: THE CITY OF LOST SOULS is coming out on May 8th. This contest ends the 9th. I will use 2-day shipping for those in the US and have this much anticipated book in your hands very soon. Living internationally? I'll get you an e-copy even faster :). Now, some of you may have never gotten into The Mortal Instruments series (in which case, this should be remedied post haste), but I do understand. I'll happily donate a $10 Amazon or Barnes & Nobel giftcard to this person to use on a purchase of their choice.

Annnd, because I am celebrating my book, I will also be giving the main winner an e-copy of my book, along with one additional winner. Sound good?

In sum:
-2 winners
-City of Lost Souls (or $10 giftcard) + Colors Like Memories for 1 lucky person
-Colors Like Memories for another lucky person
-Open internationally for e-books only
-Dates: 5/3/12 until 5/9/12
-Answer the question: what historical person or even would you most like to go back and see?

Easy, yes? If you have any questions, sing out in the comments! Rafflecopter is offering many, many ways to win this!