Melissa C. Walker's Blog, page 45

Cover Stories: Stealing Death by Janet Lee Carey

[image error] Janet Lee Carey's Stealing Death is newly out in paperback! In a starred review, School Library Journal called the book "fantasy at its best--original, beautiful, amazing, and deeply moving."Here's Janet to talk about the two different covers:"I had some ideas for the STEALING DEATH hardback (left); Kipp standing in front of his burning house with his arms out to prevent the Death Catcher from taking his family, or just a hand stealing a black sack (the Death Catcher's soul sack). I'm glad no...

Photo Friday: NY Times Styles

[image error] I forgot to post this when it ran a few weeks ago, but it was super-exciting. Bill Cunningham is a legendary New York Times photographer--he's in his 80s now--and he shoots for the Styles section, among other venues. I always thought his party photos were all socialites, but now we have proof that they're not! I'm sitting in the top-right corner with my friend Natalie (and my friend white wine). Mr. Cunningham approached us at a party and we wrote down our names "in all capital letters" on hi...

Win-It Wednesday: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June by Robin Benway

[image error] Last week's winner of The DUFF galley is... Raelena! Email me with your address, R.This week, Robin Benway is giving away a signed galley copy of her newest release, The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May & June. Robin shared her Cover Story with me last week, and she sent along some photos she had that matched the characters in her mind. Do you guys do that? Dream up characters in your head? I want to hear about the best covers-matching-characters that you've seen. I actually think the pape...

The Contemps!

I've teamed up with a group of 21 YA authors who have contemporary fiction releasing in 2011: The Contemps!Readers who read 18 of our 21 releases over the year are eligible for a prize package full of great stuff. Check it out: Can I just show the list of the company I'm in (which makes me swoon)? * April Henry * Brent Crawford * Courtney Summers * Daisy Whitney * Denise Jaden * Elizabeth Scott * Emily Wing Smith * Hannah Harrington * Jo Knowles * Kirsten Hubbard ...

Cover Stories: Fat Vampire by Adam Rex

Adam Rex's Fat Vampire cover appealed to me immediately. Plus, the tagline, "A never coming of age story," made me laugh out loud. I had to have Adam stop by to tell its tale. Here's Adam:"I had a lot of ideas for this book cover. I have a sketchbook filled with them. I'm an illustrator as well as an author, so I'm in the happy position of always assuming I'll have a lot of input regarding the cover image. Even in the case of Fat Vampire, which is my first book which contains no illustrations...

Photo Friday: The Book That's Following Me

I'm reading The Girl that Kicked the Hornet's Nest, which is rare for me since it's marketed to adults, which I tend not to be. This trilogy has been my summer delight (along with, ahem, The Hunger Games). I'm reading it at the country house with peach pie: [image error] And while Dave and Swayze play with a shoestring: Next, I'll be so ready for Mockingjay (a box arrived at Seventeen this week, and we all screamed and fought over t-shirts and stickers and bookmarks). Twitpic here.Happy Friday! What are you ...

Cover Stories: The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June

[image error] Robin Benway shared her Audrey, Wait! Cover Story on Monday, and she's back to tell the tale of her newest release's gorgeous art. Here's Robin!"I thought that after having gone through cover anxiety with Audrey, that April, May & June would be a breeze. So wrong! So very very wrong! It's so nervewracking to get the image of your book cover emailed to you!"I had originally always had this idea in my head of three linked paper dolls again a navy blue background with the words 'April May June' ...

Win-It Wednesday: The DUFF by Kody Keplinger

Thanks for the secrets last week! The winner of Holly Cupala's Tell Me a Secret is... Tatyanne W! Send me your address, T. [image error] This week, I'm giving away an ARC (advanced reader copy) of The DUFF by Kody Keplinger. Kody is hilarious and awesome, and this book reflects all of that. It's a really open look at one girl's relationship with her own sexuality (and her friends, her parents, guys...). I barreled through this one in four subway rides -- it keeps you reading.To enter to win, tell me if you ...

Lovestruck Summer Cover Art

I found this cover, created by artist Laura Hughes, and I have to gush... HOW CUTE IS THIS? I adore it too much for words.

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There are hearts, sun, converse, and the whole thing is surrounded by music and perfectly colored in pink and black (which is sooo Quinn). Perfection! Made my week!

PS-The original Cover Story is here, in case you're interested.

Cover Stories: Audrey, Wait! by Robin Benway

[image error] The super-fun Robin Benway has two Cover Stories for your enjoyment this week. We'll start with her awesome debut, Audrey, Wait! , and you'll get the tale behind her new cover (for The Extraordinary Secrets of April, May and June ) later this week. Here's Robin!"In my first book, Audrey, Wait! , Audrey is a character who loves music, so I always had an image of a girl's wrist covered in wristbands. Not bracelets, but the sort of wristbands you get when you have to queue up in line for a concert ...