In My Mailbox (22)

IMM is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

For review:

Darklight by Lesley Livingston
The New Brighton Archeological Society by Mark Andrew Smith
Titus and Atreus by Meridi Myers
Going Bovine by Libba Bray

Won:

Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda (Signed to my name!)

What did you get in your mailbox?

Business Card Giveaway

I have another giveaway sponsored by Uprinting! Thanks to UPrinting.com, I now have 500 business cards to giveaway to one (1) lucky winner! UPrinting is a leading online printing company that provides high quality printing at the most affordable prices. So, to get a chance of getting free business cards printed online, join this giveaway.

Specs:

• Size(s): 2 x 3.5”, 2 x 3”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.5 x 3.5” (skinny card)
• Paper: 14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
• Printing: Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing

Details:

• Fill out the form below to enter.
  
• Open to U.S. residents only. FREE UPS ground shipping.
• February 8, 2010 is the deadline.
• Optional for entrants: comment on how you would use these business cards!
  
• Good luck!
  

Check my contest policy.

~CONTEST CLOSED~

Author Interview: Dia Reeves

Today, I have the author of Bleeding Violet, Dia Reeves. Bleeding Violet is Dia's first book, making it a debut novel! It was recently released on January 5, 2010!

What made you write young adult?

I have all this leftover teen angst that I never got to use, but I have to do something with it because I can't let it stay inside creeping and bubbling. So I let it spew out into books. Problem solved.

How are you and Hanna alike? How are you different?

I don't think I'm anything like her. She's very sexy and manipulative. My thing is more about adorable passive-aggression. And she's much more social than I am, much more needy.

The setting in Bleeding Violet is in Portero, Texas. How did you come up with the setting?

People always associate Texas with plains and cattle and hot, dusty wide spaces. But Texas is a lot more diverse than that geographically. East Texas for example is heavily forested and rainy and swampy. So I wanted to set the story there and give people a different perspective of what Texas is like. But Portero isn't a real town, in case you're wondering. I needed to invent a place that had its own very specific spooky culture.

If you were to pick a song for Bleeding Violet, what would it be and why?

"Gloomy Sunday" by Billie Holiday is the official theme song for Bleeding Violet. It's about a woman who decides to kill herself after her man dies, and that's just the kind of thing Hanna would do. She's has some serious suicidal inclinations.

But since Hanna is manic-depressive, I'm gonna throw in "I Know What Boys Like" by The Waitresses which is a happy, yeah-I'm-a-tease-so-what song, and that's the kind of girl Hanna is too. She is very complicated. ;)

What is your favorite thing about being an author?

Being creative. Getting paid to be weird. Meeting other people who are as weird as I am.

Do you have any must-have's while writing?

I must have music and warm feet. I can't write when it's cold and quiet.

If you were brought to a deserted island, which 3 books would you bring?

The Gunslinger by Stephen King

The Shadow and the Star by Laura Kinsale

How to Escape a Deserted Island for Dummies :)

Lastly, is there anything else you'd like to add?

Nope.

Thanks Dia! That was a great interview! Be sure to check out Bleeding Violet! =)

Contact

You can fill out this form to contact me or you can e-mail me at:

bookreviewsya@yahoo.com

In My Mailbox (21)

IMM is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

For review:

The Life Of Glass by Jillian Cantor
Siren (ARC) by Tricia Rayburn

Won:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Bookmooch:

All Rivers Flow To The Sea by Alison McGhee

Bought:

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins- I know, I have two copies, I'm using one as a birthday present for my friend. =)

I had a great week book-wise! I can't wait to get started on all of them. I've heard nothing but good things about Catching Fire.

I just wanted to apologize to all of you for my lack of posts this week! I took a break from my blog for a week since I needed to focus on school more. School has been really hard. I also have to get winners for some of my contests already, I'm so behind! I'll make it up to you guys soon, I promise!

What did you get in your mailbox? Leave me a link below!

The Naughty List by Suzanne Young

Title: The Naughty List
Author: Suzanne Young
Publisher: Razorbill (February 4, 2010)
Pages: 272
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Publisher

As if being a purrfect cheerleader isn’t enough responsibility!

Tessa Crimson’s the sweet and spunky leader of the SOS (Society of Smitten Kittens), a cheer squad–turned–spy society dedicated to bringing dastardly boyfriends to justice, one cheater at a time. Boyfriend-busting wouldn’t be so bad . . . except that so far, every suspect on the Naughty List has been proven 100% guilty!

When Tessa’s own boyfriend shows up on the List, she turns her sleuthing skills on him. Is Aiden just as naughty as all the rest, or will Tessa’s sneaky ways end in catastrophe?

The Naughty List. Is your boyfriend on it?

The Naughty List is a debut novel that will totally sweep you of your feet! It's fun, cheerful, and fabulous!

I was completely charmed by the main character, Tess because of her spunk, determination, and up-beat attitude. The fact that there was the mystery revolving around SOS, was just an added bonus! When I read The Naughty List, I couldn't help but fall for Aiden a little bit too! He was basically the perfect boyfriend any girl would ever want.

The only thing that bothered me a little was his weird obsession with Tess's feet. It creeped me out a bit at first, but then I got used to it and figured that that was Aiden's way of being unique. The actual high-school atmosphere of The Naughty List was the normal cliche-ish backdrop, but Suzanne Young achieved in making it her own, different world.

Overall, The Naughty List will keep everyone cheering for the sequel! I know I'll be cheering! GOOOOOO S-E-X K-I-T-T-E-N-S!!!....ummm I mean S-M-I-T-T-E-N K-I-T-T-E-N-S!

Cover: .5

Ending::

Characters:

Writing:

Overall:

Author Interview: Lisa Schroeder

Today, I have the one and only, Lisa Schroeder! Her most recent YA title, Chasing Brooklyn, was released on January 5! I've read I Heart You, You Haunt Me and it was amazing!


Did you always want to become an author?
I think so. My grandma saved a little book I made her, complete with illustrations, at the age of 8 and gave it to me awhile back. I couldn't believe she kept it all this time! So I certainly loved books and dreamt about writing books for a very long time. I didn't start writing seriously for kids and teens until about nine years ago or so. Everywhere I turned, people talked about how competitive it is and how hard it is to get published, but I kept trying, because I really wanted it to happen.

What inspired you to write I Heart You, You Haunt Me?
I had a dream about a girl whose boyfriend died and he loved her so much, he didn't want to leave her, and so he came back as a ghost. I got up the very next morning and started writing. The first pages of the book are very much the same as those first pages I wrote that day.

What about Far From You?
I have a journal where I write down words, phrases, things I like, etc. Many of my books come about from a few seeds of ideas and Far From You is one of those books. I'd always wanted to do something with Alice in Wonderland elements. I'd always wanted to do something where the main character is a singer/songwriter and actually writes a couple of songs for the book. And I had thought that a story taking place in the snow, in a blizzard, would work really well in verse. So, I combined those three things, and Far From You was born.
Who are your favorite authors?
I'm a huge fan of Laurie Halse Anderson. I think she is such a great writer. I also love Suzanne Collins, John Green, Sarah Dessen, Mary Pearson, Christine Fletcher, Tracie Zimmer, and Jennifer Donnelly.

What are some of your favorite books?
Definitely The Hunger Games series. Some books I was able to read early on from writing friends that aren't out yet - Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan and Princess For Hire by Lindsey Leavitt. The Miles Between by Mary Pearson. The Floating Circus by Tracie Zimmer, as well as her novel in verse, Reaching For Sun. I could go on and on, but I'll stop there.

Are there any characters from the books you wrote have a similar personality with you? How?
Ava is probably a little like me in that when I was in high school, I had a group of girlfriends that were really special to me. Her and her friends remind me of us back then. I also love baking cookies and giving them to people, which Ava likes to do.

Do you have any upcoming books?
Yes, in January I'll have another YA novel coming out, another ghost story, called Chasing Brooklyn. I hope people who liked I Heart You, You Haunt Me will enjoy this one as well. In March, I have a mid-grade novel coming out for younger readers called It's Raining Cupcakes.

Thanks so much for having me here, it's been a real pleasure!!
-
Thanks Lisa! Everyone, be sure to check out Lisa's books! =)

In My Mailbox (20)

IMM is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

For review:

Demon Princess: Reign Check (ARC) by Michelle Rowen
The Book Of Samuel by Erik Raschke
Pretty Little Devils by Nancy Holder
Possessions by Nancy Holder
Resurrection by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Legacy & Spellbound by Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie

*Nancy Holder sent me 2 copies of each book, one set to giveaway! Watch out for that soon! They are all signed. Same goes for The Book Of Samuel.*

Trade:

The Lonely Hearts Club (ARC) by Elizabeth Eulberg- from Katie through my sister.

Won:

The Cinderella Society (ARC) by Kay Cassidy
Goth Girl & Fanboy (Signed) by Barry Lyga
The Body Finder SWAG (bookmarks, stickers)- the picture was taken from Sasha

Because Joelle is too nice:

(picture taken from Joelle)

• 2 Signed Restoring Harmony tote bags - They are awesome!
  
• 2 Signed Restoring Harmony magnets- awesome as well!
  

Well, I had a great week! I mostly can't wait to read Demon Princess: Reign Check! I'm so happy because I didn't buy any books, I went to the bookstore but I survived not buying any, HOORAY! =)

What did you get in your mailbox? Leave me a link below!

Postcard Giveaway!

I have an awesome giveaway sponsored by Uprinting! It's for postcards! (1) winner will receive 100 postcards.

Size, Paper, Printing Info:

• Size: 4x6
  
• Paper: 14pt Cardstock Gloss
• Printing: Full color both sides

You can use these postcards for your baby shower announcement, invitations, note cards, thank you cards and a lot more!

Details:

• leave a comment on how you would use these postcards!
• get an extra entry for tweeting, please put @uprinting.
  
• January 24, 2010 is the deadline.
  
• Only open to U.S. residents. Winner pays for shipping.
  
• You will be contacted directly from Uprinting. You email address will have to be provided to Uprinting.com.
  

Check my contest policy. Good luck and please spread the word! =)

~CONTEST CLOSED~

Author Interview: Rosalind Wiseman

Today, I have the talented, Rosalind Wiseman! Her adult book Queen Bee's and Wannabe's is a New York Time bestseller! Mean Girls was based on this movie! Her YA debut novel, Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials (which I'm totally in LOVE with) is coming out TOMORROW! All of you guys should definitely check it out, it's a great book for teenagers! You can read my review here. =)


Describe yourself in one word.
Impatient

What are you strengths and weaknesses in writing?
I'm think I'm really good at writing realistic dialogue and have a really hard time describing the environment in the appropriate amount of detail. I feel like I am always either including too much or too little in my descriptions of a setting in the first few drafts--but I guess that is what editors are for!

Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials is your first young adult novel, what made you write young adult?
I decided to do it because I knew it would be a big challenge. I tell my students to take risks and be uncomfortable all the time, but when I was asked to write this novel I realized it was an opportunity for me to practice what I preach. I have been terrified of failing throughout the whole process, but I pushed through and did it anyway.

How are you and Charlie alike? How are you different?
Charlie and I are alike in that we can both be pretty self-conscious at times. We are different in that I think she is more independent-thinking than I was when I was a teenager. She knows herself better than I did, and she isn’t as focused on impressing people as I was. But I think that as a writer you often want your main character to be the things you couldn't be. You want them to be real, but push them to do the thing you couldn't have done yourself.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing BGOHM?
All of it. :-)

Is there anything you would like readers to take from BGOHM?
Yes, I’ve been thinking a lot about that. I wrote a story that is in some ways very typical of a young adult novel, but I tried to weave in a lot of subtle, quiet injustices that kids see every day but never talk about. I am pushing and challenging the reader to see things that are totally normal and dissect them. I want them to be able that even though something is normal, it doesn't make it right.

Do you have any "must-have's" while writing?
Music. It was absolutely critical to the process. I listened to a lot of the stuff that I loved when I was a teenager because it really brought me back to some of those more emotional places. So for me that was a lot of Depeche Mode and The Smiths. But I also love a lot of contemporary stuff and listened to a lot of Rihanna and Three Doors Down and Lily Allen.

Lastly, is there anything else you'd like to add?
I'm not trying to suck up to you, but teen bloggers honestly ask the best, most fun, thought-provoking questions. I'd rather talk to a teen blogger than a famous journalist any day of the week. Keep it up!

Thanks Rosalind for that fun interview! Remember that Boys, Girls, and Other Hazardous Materials comes out tomorrow!

In My Mailbox (19)

IMM is hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren!

For review:

Princess For Hire (ARC) by Lindsey Leavitt
Gringolandia by Lyn Miller-Lachmann

Gift (thank you to my wonderful fairy!):

Intertwined (ARC) by Gena Showalter
The After (ARC) by Amy Huntley- The original/final title is The Everafter but the ARC says "The After."

What did you get in your mailbox? Leave me a link below!