Kristi Helvig's Blog, page 5
April 8, 2014
BURN OUT LAUNCHES TODAY!
My baby, er book, is out in the world today! Huge thanks to Jen McConell at the YA Valentines for her lovely launch post about BURN OUT. If you’d like to grab a copy of BURN OUT (you do, you really, really do), then go here. I’m giving away free, signed bookmarks to everyone who orders this week, so shoot me an email by the weekend if you want one. If you’re in the area, stop by Tattered Cover in Highlands Ranch tonight for cupcakes, gift card giveaway, and fun people. I’m not saying I’m fun, but luckily, I know a lot of fun people. 
April 3, 2014
Welcome to the Spring 2014 YA Scavenger Hunt
Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This tri-annual event was first organized by author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one signed book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!
Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the BLUE TEAM–but there is also a red team if you want a chance for a chance to win a whole different set of signed books!
If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the YA Scavenger Hunt homepage.
SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE
Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).
Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.
Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, April 6th at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.
Today, I am so excited to be hosting author P.J. Hoover for the YA Scavenger Hunt!
BIO:
P. J. Hoover first fell in love with Greek mythology in sixth grade thanks to the book Mythology by Edith Hamilton. After a fifteen year bout as an electrical engineer designing computer chips for a living, P. J. decided to take her own stab at mythology and started writing books for kids and teens. When not writing, P. J. spends time with her husband and two kids and enjoys practicing kung fu, solving Rubik’s cubes, and watching Star Trek. Her first novel for teens, Solstice (Tor Teen, June 2013), takes place in a global warming future and explores the parallel world of mythology beside our own. Her middle grade novel, Tut (Tor Children’s, 2014), tells the story of a young immortal King Tut, who’s been stuck in middle school for over 3,000 years and must defeat an ancient enemy with the help of a dorky kid from school, a mysterious Egyptian princess, and a one-eyed cat. P. J. is also a member of THE TEXAS SWEETHEARTS & SCOUNDRELS. For more information about P. J. (Tricia) Hoover, please visit her website www.pjhoover.com.
Find out more about P.J. on her website or buy the book here.
Book Description:
Piper’s world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.
Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT
For her exclusive content, P.J. shared her top four dystopian inspirations for Solstice.
My Top Four Dystopian Inspirations for Solstice:
1) Summer 2011 in Austin
The summer of 2011 in Austin was like no other. It didn’t rain for the entire summer and was over one hundred degrees most of the days. It got to the point where you had to just accept the heat and let it bake into your body to not go crazy. This is how Piper is with the heat. She loves it and lets it become a part of her. And this is the image I wanted to get across in Solstice.
[image error] So hot! So dry!
2) A Hatred for Sunscreen
If you’re like me, dread fills you when it’s time to head to the pool with your kids because you know you have to slather them all up with sunscreen lest they get burned to a crisp. It’s hard to get off your hands and overall a pain in the butt. Enter Sunscreen tablets. I have a fantasy where all you have to do is take a (safe and organic) sunscreen tablet and you will not get burned by the sun. Maybe it even tastes like chocolate or peppermint or something equally delicious
[image error]
So messy! So many choices!
3) Food Love
I admit that I love certain foods. Like barbeque. And chocolate. And red wine. And fruit. My love for these foods totally carries over to my main character, Piper. And as I wrote Solstice, I went through horrible scenarios. What if I could never have chocolate again? What if wine was so expensive that only the very rich could afford it? What if some (or all) of these delicious foods and drinks were nearly impossible to get? How much more would I appreciate them then? That is the world of global warming and Solstice.
[image error]
My favorites! Esther Price in Dayton, Ohio!
4) Catholic Mass
Piper attends a funeral, and it happens to be at a Catholic church. I’ve been Catholic my entire life, and though yes, there is a ton of standing and sitting and kneeling, I lose myself in the tradition of the ceremony. The rituals lull me into a place of comfort, and this is the mood I wanted to get across for the funeral Piper attends. In addition, Piper lights a candle in church much like I often do. And she makes a special intention.
[image error]
What would your special intention be?
Okay, so there you have it. Four dystopian story inspirations for Solstice. Thank you for reading!
Now don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 11. Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on the blue team and you’ll have all the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
CONTINUE THE HUNT
To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author on the hunt, the sweet and fabulous Sara B. Larson!
EXTRA GIVEAWAY
I’m doing an extra giveaway and you can enter to win a signed hardcover of my debut sci-fi novel BURN OUT and a signed bookmark!
Enter the Rafflecopter below and earn an extra entry by leaving a comment below and tell me if you had to choose, would you choose extreme cold or extreme heat:
April 2, 2014
BURN OUT Launch Tour from Rockstar Book Tours
The amazing ladies, Jaime and Rachel, over at Rockstar Book Tours are hosting a blog tour for the launch of BURN OUT. They also designed this amazing launch banner for the tour!
Check out the dates and blogs here, or check below, and enter to win for a prize pack that includes a signed hardcover of BURN OUT!
Week One:
3/31/2014- Library of a Book Witch- Interview
4/1/2014- Shortie Says- Review
4/1/2014- Literary Meanderings- Guest Post
4/2/2014- Ketch’s Book Nook- Review
4/3/2014- A Book and a Latte- Interview
4/4/2014- Such a Novel Idea- Review
4/4/2014- Fantasy Book Addict- Guest Post
Week Two:
4/7/2014- Reading with ABC- Review
4/7/2014- Refracted Light Reviews- Interview
4/8/2014- Imagine a World- Review
4/8/2014- Ticket to Anywhere- Guest Post
4/9/2014- The Demon Librarian- Review
4/10/2014- Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post
4/11/2014- Working for the Mandroid- Review
4/11/2014- Parajunkee’s View- Interview
March 21, 2014
Cover Reveal for MY TETHERED SOUL by Dorothy Dreyer
I’m happy to help the amazingly sweet Dorothy Dreyer in her cover reveal for MY TETHERED SOUL (from the My Sister’s Reaper series). Check out the cover and synopsis below, then add this immediately to your Goodreads list!
Synopsis
It’s been months since Zadie faced her sister’s Reaper, months during which she’s been under her mentor’s magical protection. But now that she’s turning seventeen, that protection is about to run out.
When dark forces lure Zadie to wander at night, she’s manipulated into committing unspeakable acts. With her friends and family at risk, Zadie must try to use her powers to break free from the Reaper’s grasp, or surrender to the Reaper’s Rite, which can only lead to death.
Author Bio
Dorothy Dreyer has always believed in magic. Born in Angeles City, Philippines, to a Filipino mother and American Father, Dorothy grew up a military brat, living in Massachusetts, South Dakota, Guam, New Jersey, and New York. She now lives in Frankfurt, Germany, with her husband, two teens, and two Siberian huskies. Dorothy not only writes books with some element of magic in them, but has a fondness for reading those kinds of books as well. She also enjoys movies, chocolate, take-out, and spending time with family and friends. She’s known to make a pretty sweet cupcake when she has the time. She also tends to sing sometimes, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.
My Tethered Soul on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20703626-my-tethered-soul
Dorothy’s Website: http://dorothydreyer.com
Dorothy’s Twitter: http://twitter.com
Dorothy’s Facebook Fanpage: http://facebook.com/AuthorDorothyDreyer
March 15, 2014
Son of Set Cover Reveal from Kelsey Ketch
I’m so excited to help with the cover reveal for Kelsey Ketch’s Son of Set, the sequel to her Daughter of Isis debut. I loved the first book and thought it was a fun, engaging read so I can’t wait for this next installment!
Son of Set (Descendants
of Isis #2)
by Kelsey Ketch
Release Date: 05/02/14
Summary from Goodreads:
“. . . the Sons would
never just let him go—alive.”
Seth O’Keefe has broken the laws of his god. He never thought he would
sacrifice his own future to protect a Daughter of Isis. But when the Sons of
Set discovered Natti is the Secret Keeper, he had no choice. Now, Seth and
Natti are on the run from his father, who wants nothing more than to see Seth
dead. With no allies, Seth turns to the Daughters of Isis for help, hoping they
would protect Natti. But when they meet the Daughters, he discovers a secret
that puts both their lives in more danger. Low on options, Seth sees only one
possibility for survival. He must help Natti solve an ancient puzzle and find
the secret name of Ra.
Natara “Natti” Stone is having a hard time swallowing the truth. She can’t
believe what she has learned in the past twenty-four hours: Seth is a Son of
Set blessed with charm; she is a Daughter of Isis blessed with a sliver of Ma
‘at; the locket her grandmother gave her holds an ancient Egyptian secret
linking to Osiris and Isis. That along with being tortured and brutalized by
the Sons of Set, she can hardly hold herself together. Thank God for Seth’s
touch! That warm, tingling sensation that drowns it all out. Yet her heart
struggles to stay focused. She must quickly embrace her destiny before the
secret name of Ra falls into the wrong hands.
*Note: Content for Upper YA*
Book One:
(cover linked from Goodreads)
Available from:
Available from:
About the Author
During her high school years, Kelsey Ketch could always be found tucked away in a little corner of the hall or classroom, writing her fantasy worlds and creating illustrations and maps. Today is no different, except now she’s writing in the break room at her office building or at the tables of the Barnes and Noble Café in Cary, North Carolina. She is also an avid reader, a part-time book blogger at Ketch’s Book Nook, and lives with her two orange tabbies and awesome and humorous flat-mate.Daughter of Isis is her debut novel.
For more information, please visit her site at kelseyketch.com.
***Author Links***
GIVEAWAY
Two prize packs, each
containing a silver ankh pendant with seven knot anklet, Son of Set e-reader
bling, 3 bookmarks, 2 temporary tattoos, 2 character collectable
cards, and 2 wristbands (INT).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Cover Reveal Organized by:
March 1, 2014
Pot of Gold Giveaway
Welcome to the Pot of Gold Giveaway
hosted by Darkly Delicious YA and Book Nerd Tours .
Three winners will receive
AMAZON GIFT CARDS!
But in addition….
One Very Lucky Leprechaun
will receive a
KINDLE FIRE HD
pre-loaded
with great YA & NA books!
Click on the covers to get to know the authors
that are participating in the giveaway
and learn more about their books!
The Rafflecopter is a wee long, but worth it!
May the Luck of the Irish be with you!
A
big thank you goes out to all the authors and bloggers who helped make
this event possible! The authors at Darkly Delicious YA couldn’t have
pulled this off without our amazing co-host, Book Nerd Tours, and
everyone’s wonderful support.
“LUCK MAITH” to you all!
February 23, 2014
WHEN THE KIRKUS GODS SMILE UPON YOU
I’ll admit it. Kirkus scares me. Even though I’ve gotten amazing emails from people who read ARCs of my book and went out of their way to tell me how much they loved it, I was so nervous about what was coming my way from Kirkus. Knowing that they are notoriously tough, I’d prepared myself for the worst. And then I saw the review. I’m still pinching myself over their assessment of BURN OUT. Every author gets some bad reviews—it’s just part of the game—but to start out with a review like this on my debut novel feels pretty amazing. I think there are so many ups and downs to being a debut author, and it’s important to celebrate the good rather than focus on the negative. Today, I’m celebrating the good. And congrats to Shelly Hammond who won the BURN OUT “I Heart Swag Giveaway” prize pack! Don’t forget there’s still time to win the last ARC of BURN OUT on Goodreads!
February 18, 2014
Cover Reveal for Challenging Destiny by Cherie Colyer
I’m so happy to help out my fellow Darkly Delicious YA author, Cherie Colyer, present her cover reveal for CHALLENGING DESTINY, coming Spring 2014 from Wild Rose Press:
About Challenging Destiny:
Being Chosen is a terrible thing when there’s no one you can trust.
Logan Ragsdale and his younger sister, Ariana, have been marked, chosen to be unwilling participants in a war between angels and demons. Logan can sense something’s not quite right. Like an unexpected chill on a summer’s day, he can feel the unseen closing in. He’s had these feelings before and, each time, someone close to him died. He’s afraid this time it might just be Ariana. Logan’s fears are soon confirmed when he discovers their new friends aren’t human, but rather representatives from Heaven and Hell sent to Earth to ensure he and Ariana accept their roles in an ancient prophecy. Demons want Logan to open the gates of Hell. Ariana has the power to stop them, but if she chooses to side with Heaven to spare the lives of thousands of innocent people, she’ll damn her brother for eternity. Together, they must derail the biblical event if they hope to save themselves and the future of mankind…but what price are they willing to pay to keep the other safe?
More news on this exciting new title coming soon!
About the author:
Cherie Colyer is the author of YA paranormal thriller/romance, EMBRACE and HOLD TIGHT from Omnific Publishing. Her latest novel, CHALLENGING DESTINY will be available this spring from The Wild Rose Press, Black Rose Imprint. Check out her website and blog for news on her books and bonus material. Follow Cherie on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and/or Goodreads to get the latest updates on her books.
February 13, 2014
ARC of BURN OUT on Goodreads
The first and only Goodreads giveaway of BURN OUT is going on now! Head over for your chance to win it. I took my first ever selfie for the Readergirlz site with my ARC and it will probably be the last-lol-but here you go:
Also, there’s still time to enter all the awesome giveaways in the I *Heart* Swag Giveaway Hop. I’m giving away a survival swag pack from my MC, Tora. Happy Friday and I’ll post my launch news next week!
February 9, 2014
I *Heart* Swag Giveaway Hop
I’m so happy to be part of the I *Heart* Swag Giveaway Hop hosted by the awesome Kelsey Ketch over at Ketch’s Book Nook. I’m giving away a swag pack for my debut sci-fi BURN OUT that releases on April 8th, 2014 from Egmont USA.
Most people want to save the world; seventeen-year-old Tora Reynolds just wants to get the hell off of it. One of the last survivors in Earth’s final years, Tora yearns to escape the wasteland her planet has become after the sun turns “red giant,” but discovers her fellow survivors are even deadlier than the hostile environment.
To celebrate, I’m giving away a BURN OUT swag pack including signed bookmarks, a sun necklace, and other goodies that would help you survive in Tora’s world.
Rules:
Here are the Rules:
You must be 13 years or older to participate. This giveaway is open to US/Canada only.
Use the Rafflecopter below to enter.
The I 12:01 AM, February 23th
Good luck! Also, make sure to add BURN OUT on Goodreads because I’m giving away an ARC over there within the next week! Then CONTINUE THE HOP! Don’t forget to check out the other awesome authors participating in the giveaway and enter to win more great swag!
Kelsey Ketch (INT)
Jennifer Lane
Kate Evangelista (INT)
Susan Kaye Quinn
Cherie Colyer (US)
Kristi Helvig (US/CA)
Kelly Hashway/Ashelyn Drake
Julia Crane (INT)
Mary Ting/M. Clarke
Nikki Godwin
Fabio Bueno
Juliana Haygert
Lea Nolan
Nicki Elson
Charlotte Abel
Stacey Marie Browb
A.J. Bennett (INT)
Kristina Renee
Jen McConnel
Beth Pond
Stephanie Thomas
C. Marie Mosley
Rachel Harris
~Kym Brunner
