Monday, April 30, 2012

The Little Engine That Could - Books That Made Me Love Reading

The Little Engine That Could
by Watty Piper

The story of a train filled with toys and gifts for little boys and girls that breaks down before reaching the children. After asking several passing trains for help over the hill, a little blue train agrees to help the stranded toys. Even though she is small, the blue train tries her best to bring the toys to the children on the other side of the hill.

My short but sweet "re-review"
I loved this book when I was little, and I still love this book. This is just a timeless classic. It has the sweetest little train as the main character, and it is such a beautiful story of perseverance and determination. This is an excellent way for children to learn to believe in themselves and to work hard for what they want to accomplish. This book quite possibly contributed to my stubborn steak as a child, but maybe that is a story for another day. 

"I think I can. I think I can." Excellent motto to live by.

*Read for The Books That Made Me Love Reading Challenge*

Giveaway: The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

This giveaway is part of the Spring Fling Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Eve's Fan Garden. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too.

While you are here, please check out my other giveaways. They can be located in the right sidebar.


My Giveaway:
One winner will receive a print copy of THE PECULIARS by Maureen Doyle McQuerry!

The Peculiars  
by Maureen Doyle McQuerry
May 1, 2012 by Amulet Books

This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears. 

How to enter:
Be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries:
+1 Follow Maureen Doyle McQuerry on Twitter.
+1 Add Maureen as a friend on Facebook. Update: Maureen now has a Facebook author page. Please like her page for the additional entry.
+1 "Fan" Maureen Doyle McQuerry on Goodreads.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open US ONLY. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on May 7th. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Lindsay C.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Whisper by Alyson Noel - Review

Whisper by Alyson Noël
Riley Bloom series, #4
Published: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Square Fish

This time, Riley might really have bitten off more than she’s ready for. After practically begging the Council for a more challenging Soul Catch, she is assigned an actual Roman gladiator—Theocoles, the Pillar of Doom. How is Riley, a skinny twelve-year-old, supposed to get through to him? Then she meets the beautiful Messalina, who convinces her that her only chance is to become part of this world. To accomplish this, Messalina helps Riley through a dramatic, mystical makeover, transforming her into the beautiful and mature teen she’s always wanted to be. Finally, Riley can experience her first boyfriend and her first kiss. With a dream this enchanting, will she ever want to leave?

My Review:
Riley Bloom is a soul catcher, and her latest assignment is her most challenging one. How is 12 year old Riley supposed to be any match for Theocoles, who is a Roman gladiator referred to as the Pillar of Doom. Many soul catchers have went before her and not found their way out. Riley soon meets Messalina, who says that she is going to help Riley find a way to get Theocoles. But is Messalina really helping? She does make Riley's innermost wishes come true. Riley gets to experience what it would be like to be a teenager and have a boyfriend. Riley is soon caught up in their world and is so happy living her dreams.

Whisper is such a sweet novel. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. This is the first Riley Bloom novel that I have read even though it is the 4th one in the series. I did have some questions about things which may be explained more in the previous books in the series, but I do not think they are necessary to read to enjoy Whisper. Riley is such a likeable character and easy to relate to, and Alyson's writing style is engaging and easy to read. I have only read one other novel by Alyson Noel (I really didn't read much YA or MG before starting the blog), and I must say that it was not my favorite (but that's just me). Whisper has restored my faith in Alyson Noel, so to speak, and I will not have to think twice about picking up another novel by her. In fact, I would love to read the rest of the Riley Bloom series. Some parts were a little heavy on the blood and gore (this is gladiators, after all), so that may be something to think about for younger readers. However, I would recommend this as a great read for upper MG, lower YA, or for anyone who enjoys reading MG/YA.

A copy was provided by the publisher for review.

About the author:
Alyson Noël is the #1 New York Times best selling, award-winning, author of FAKING 19, ART GEEKS AND PROM QUEENS, LAGUNA COVE, FLY ME TO THE MOON, KISS & BLOG, SAVING ZOË, CRUEL SUMMER, FOREVER SUMMER (a LAGUNA COVE/CRUEL SUMMER 2-in-1), the IMMORTALS series including: EVERMORE, BLUE MOON, SHADOWLAND, DARK FLAME, NIGHT STAR, and EVERLASTING, the IMMORTALS spin-off, RILEY BLOOM series including RADIANCE, SHIMMER, DREAMLAND, & WHISPER (04.26.12), with short stories appearing in the anthologies FIRST KISS (THEN TELL), KISSES FROM HELL, & DEAR BULLY. She is currently working on a new series for teens, SOUL SEEKERS, including: FATED, ECHO, MYSTIC, & HORIZON. Book 1, FATED, is set to debut in May 2012.

You can find out more about Alyson Noël on her website.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Clear As Day by Babette James - Guest Post & Giveaway

Clear As Day by Babette James
Published: April 4, 2012
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Genre: Contemporary Romance

What's a girl to do when her summer lover wants forever? 

Haunted by dark memories of her parents' volatile marriage, artist Kay Browning keeps her heart locked behind a free-spirit facade and contents herself with the comfortable affair she has every summer with easygoing photographer Nate Quinn. 

The only trouble with her plan? This summer Nate's come to Lake Mohave to claim the lover he can't let go. He's done with the endless traveling and settling for temporary homes and temporary loves. Kay's always been more than just a vacation fling, and now he must convince this woman, who sees love as a course to certain heartbreak, to take that leap of faith and learn how safe love with the right man can be.

Guest Post by Babette James:
Thanks so much for letting me visit here today and share a little about my debut novel, Clear As Day, a sweetly scorching contemporary romance about two friends with benefits facing the fears and uncertainties of their changing relationship.

Clear As Day began as a short story years back when I was in college, an exercise featuring the desert setting of Lake Mohave, a reservoir downstream from the Hoover Dam formed out of stretch of the Colorado River by the Davis Dam. I grew up in Southern California and I’ve always had a love of the deserts of the Southwest, particularly the areas of Lake Havasu and Lake Mohave, and even took a college class on desert biology. I loved the juxtaposition of the stark, hot landscape with the cool waters and wanted to play with that particular setting. I’m delighted with my cover and how it shares some of the area’s unique beauty.

But a story needs more than a setting, and my artist character Kay appeared in her lakeside campsite as the sole first person point of view, already independent, reserved, and commitment-shy. Then the man who would become easy-going, globetrotting photographer Nate showed up to disrupt her careful, comfortable rut in life. I never quite found a place for Clear As Day in its short story form, but never gave up on it, and two years ago took on the experiment of expanding the little original story first into a novella.

The expansion was an interesting experience. The simple friends-with-benefits relationship proved not so simple and from there exploded the beginnings of their conflict, love story, and their tight-knit group of friends. I had fun with the story, adding in bits of my family’s trips to the river, other camping and fishing experiences, and my own enjoyment of watercolors, music, photography, and the desert. Kay’s viewpoint changed from first person to third. The biggest change and challenge was adding in Nate’s viewpoint, and once I did that, the story just bloomed into the full novel length it is now. I had to explore the whys of all the characters and asking one question led to another and more.

Clear As Day was no longer a just scenic location and simple moment in time between two occasional lovers, but a full story world with a crowd of interesting secondary characters, and all the characters’ lives intersecting and affecting one another. Not only did I have to ask what has happened in just Kay’s and Nate’s backstories to bring them to the story’s point in time, I needed to explore their friends’ lives, and additionally, ask what happened next to all of them, after Kay and Nate reached their point of happily ever after. I found that the story of Kay and Nate and their friends had not ended, but had more still to tell. I’m currently hard at work on the sequel and other friends will be joining Kay and Nate in falling in love at the river.

I loved writing Clear As Day, it’s been a story of my heart in many ways, so seeing this story published is a dream come true. Receiving the 4 1/2 star scorcher review from Romantic Times and being able to hold my book in my hands have been truly thrilling moments. I hope you enjoy Nate and Kay’s journey to love as much as I have.

What’s your favorite summertime or vacation location? Babette will be giving away an eBook copy of Clear As Day to one lucky commenter. Please leave your e-mail address with your comment.

About the author:
Babette James writes contemporary and fantasy romance and loves reading nail-biting tales with a satisfying happily ever after. When not dreaming up stories, she enjoys playing with new bread recipes and dabbling with paints. Babette is a member of New Jersey Romance Writers, where she has served on the Board. She is also a Pro member of Romance Writers of America, and the Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal, Celtic Hearts, and ESPAN Chapters of RWA, Liberty States Fiction Writers, and Romance Divas. As a teacher, she loves encouraging new readers and writers as they discover their growing abilities. Her class cheers when it’s time for their spelling test! Born in New Jersey and raised in Southern California, she’s had a life-long love of the desert and going down the shore. Babette now lives in New Jersey with her wonderfully patient husband and three extremely spoiled cats.

You can find out more about Babette James and how to connect with her on her website.


Giveaway:
One winner will receive an eBook of Clear As A Day by Babette James.

How to enter:
Leave a comment answering the question posted above by Babette.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway will be open until midnight EST on May 18th. Winner will be chosen using random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to show the winner. Winner has three days to respond or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Pragya 

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Giveaway & Fun Facts: Splintered by A.G. Howard

This giveaway is part of the Fairy Tale Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and vvb32reads. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too.

While you are here, please check out my other giveaways. They can be located in the right sidebar.



The Splintering of Wonderland
 (With visual aids)
Guest Post by A.G. Howard

1. SPLINTERED’s main character, Alyssa Gardner, has been blessed (or cursed) with the power to talk to bugs and hear their whispers, the very thing that sent her mother to an asylum. So to keep herself from going crazy, Alyssa does the only thing she can to silence them: capture and smother them in bug traps. But, being a frugal and artistic gal, she doesn't waste the corpses ... she preserves them and uses them in her mosaics. The girl's not squeamish, which is a good thing, considering some of the creatures she encounters in Wonderland. 


2. Alyssa’s best friend/secret crush, Jebediah Holt, is a bit of a bad boy due to his scarred childhood. He rides a souped-up Honda CT70, wears a lip labret, and is fiercely protective of Alyssa and his younger sister, which sometimes triggers glimpses of his white-hot temper. But like Alyssa, he relies on his art for therapy, curbing his violent side through sketching and painting. His favorite subject? Gothic faeries with veined-wings—black tears pouring from their eyes as they stand over withered human corpses in haunting depictions of misery and loss.


3. Alyssa’s sexy-but-enigmatic guide through Wonderland’s warped landscape is Morpheus, a fae-like creature who may have dark motives all his own. His characterization, wardrobe, and smug sneer were heavily influenced by two of my favorite anti-heroes in fantasy movies from my teen years: Jareth from The Labyrinth, and the Crow from, you guessed it … The Crow.


4. Both Alyssa and Jeb skateboard, proof that an author’s passions sometimes bleed into their books. Although I never actually learned to skateboard, I can rollerblade with the best of them. In fact, when I get stuck on a story and need inspiration, I go to a neighborhood park and roller-blade several times around. It opens up my mind to new ideas and directions I might never have come up with while sitting boxed inside four walls.


5. Throughout SPLINTERED, Alyssa often turns to her mother’s copy of Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece to help her solve riddles. I’m hoping this will set my book apart from the other Alice in Wonderland young adult spinoffs being released in the near future. From what I’ve seen, SPLINTERED is the only one that is actually a tribute to the original Lewis Carroll tales, with creepy counterparts of the characters from both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.


About the author:
A.G. Howard is most at home when weaving the melancholy and macabre into settings and scenes, twisting the expected into the unexpected. She was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working as a library clerk at a local middle school. It is her first young adult novel. A.G.’s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

You can find out more about A.G. Howard and how to connect with her on her website.


My Giveaway:
One winner will receive an ARC of SPLINTERED by A.G. Howard! (ARC will be mailed in May just as soon as they are available.)

Splintered by A.G. Howard
Expected publication: January 1, 2013
Publisher: Amulet Books

For sixteen years, Alyssa Gardner has lived with the stigma of being descended from Alice Liddell -- the real life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's famed novel, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. But cruel jokes about dormice and tea parties can’t compare to the fact that Alyssa hears the whispers of bugs and flowers ... the same quirk which sent her mother to a mental institution years before.

When her mother takes a turn for the worse and the whispers grow too strong for Alyssa to bear, she seeks the origins of their family curse. A set of heirlooms and a moth tied to an unusual website lead Alyssa and her gorgeous best friend / secret crush, Jeb, down the rabbit hole into the real Wonderland, a place more twisted and eerie than Lewis Carroll ever let on.

There, creepy counterparts of the original fairytale crew reveal the purpose for Alyssa’s journey, and unless she fixes the things her great-great-great grandmother Alice put wrong, Wonderland will have her head.


How to enter:
Be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional Optional Entries:
+1 Follow A.G. Howard on Twitter or "fan" her author page on Goodreads.
+1 Leave a blog post comment about the 5 Frabjous Facts about Splintered or about why you would like to win this ARC.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. (ARC will be mailed just as soon as the author receives them.) This giveaway will run until midnight EST on May 1st. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

 Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Stephanie V. 

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig - Book Blast - Win 50 Dollars to Amazon

Pretty Crooked by Elisa Ludwig
Published: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Book Summary: 
Willa's secret plan seems all too simple: take from the rich kids at valley prep and give to the poor ones.

Yet Willa's turn as Robin Hood at her new high school is anything but. Bilking her "friends"—known to everyone as the Glitterati—without them suspecting a thing is far from easy. Learning how to break into lockers and Beemers is as hard as she'd thought it would be. Delivering care packages to the scholarship girls, who are bullied just for being different, is more fun than she'd expected.

The complication Willa didn't expect, though, is Aidan Murphy, VP's most notorious ace-degenerate. His mere existence is distracting Willa from what matters most to her—evening the social playing field between the haves and have-nots. There's no time for flirting, especially with conceited trust-funders like Aidan.

But when the cops start investigating the string of thefts at Valley Prep and the Glitterati begin to seek revenge, could Aidan wind up being the person that Willa trusts most?

Elisa Ludwig's Pretty Crooked is the first book in an adventurous teen caper series filled with mystery, humor, and heart.

Praise for Pretty Crooked:
“This should be an easy sell to fans of Sara Shepard’s Pretty Little Liars books.”
—Booklist
“This debut keeps readers zooming along as a formerly poor girl plays Robin Hood when she strikes it rich…. A solid debut.”
—Kirkus
“Packed with romance, humor, and adventure, PRETTY CROOKED will steal your heart.”
Sarah Mlynowskiauthor of Ten Things We Did (But Probably Shouldn’t Have)
“Intriguing characters, high adventure, good-hearted heists, and plenty of romance. PRETTY CROOKED has me pining for Willa’s next adventure!”
Jennifer Echolsauthor of Forget You andThe One that I Want



About the Author:
Elisa Ludwig's debut young adult novel PRETTY CROOKED (Katherine Tegen/HarperCollins) was released in March 2012. Even though she had to extensively research pickpocketing techniques, she is a law-abiding citizen. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband Jesse. She is a proud member of The Apocalypsies, a group of children's book authors debuting in 2012. 

You can find Elisa Ludwig on her website, Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest
  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, April 22, 2012

The List by Siobhan Vivian - Review

The List by Siobhan Vivian
Published: April 1, 2012 by Push

An intense look at the rules of high school attraction -- and the price that's paid for them. It happens every year. A list is posted, and one girl from each grade is chosen as the prettiest, and another is chosen as the ugliest. Nobody knows who makes the list. It almost doesn't matter. The damage is done the minute it goes up.This is the story of eight girls, freshman to senior, "pretty" and "ugly." And it's also the story of how we see ourselves, and how other people see us, and the tangled connection of the two.

My Review:
Every year a list is posted that names the prettiest girl and the ugliest girl from each grade. It is a tradition steeped in secrecy; no one knows who creates the list each year, and the school staff seems to simply ignore it, for the most part. The List follows the 8 girls added to the list from the time it is posted until homecoming one week later. Initially, it may seem like the pretty girls are going to have an easy week, but that isn't the case. Each girl, regardless of which side of the list they are on, has to reevaluate the way they see themselves, and each girl begins to be treated differently by others.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed The List. Siobhan Vivian created some magnificent characters, even if they were stereotypical. I think this emphasis on stereotypes was a bit necessary to portray the full impact of the story and the emotions. You can relate to each of the girls and empathize with them, even though you may never have experienced their situation. There was the disturbing issue of how the school faculty let this "tradition" continue, and no one seemed to have a problem with it until the new principal steps in. However, as much as we wish they didn't, things like this do go on in high schools every day. Maybe not this much of a blatant display, but it does still occur with some teachers and even principals doing nothing even when they know. There were many other issues, such as an eating disorder, which wasn't really resolved, but this story is just meant to be a snippet of their lives; we are only getting to see the initial impact of being placed on the list.

I thought this story was powerful and realistic. My daughter, who is in high school, read this book as well and also commented about how realistic it is. She thinks the creator of the list was a little predictable, but I was guessing all the way up to the reveal. Siobhan Vivian is an author that is new to me, but I am looking forward to reading more of her books. The List is one of the best YA contemporary novels I have read. I would definitely recommend it to others.

I read this almost 2 months ago as part of a SBB traveling ARC tour.

About the author:
Siobhan Vivian was born in New York City on January 12, 1979 . . . which might sound like a long time ago, but really isn’t. She grew up in Rutherford, NJ, where she got into trouble for such things as constantly talking out of turn, bringing a stray dog into school in a stolen shopping cart, passing notes to her friends, telling jokes, sneaking out, and not doing her homework.

Siobhan attended The University of the Arts, where she graduated with a degree in Writing for Film and Television. She received her MFA in Creative Writing: Children’s Literature from The New School University.

Siobhan has worked as an editor of several New York Times best-selling novels at Alloy Entertainment, a scriptwriter for The Disney Channel, and she currently teaches Writing Youth Literature at the University of Pittsburgh.

You can find Siobhan on her website and Twitter.     

The Land of Tears by Amber Riley - Kindred Blood Trilogy - Excerpt

The Land of Tears by Amber Riley
Kindred Blood Trilogy, Book #3
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy YA

Spain is the one place Kaden never planned to see again. Years after he escaped the master vampire, he has never looked back—until now. As he stands before enemy vampires and werewolves, he knows that determination is the only thing that can save Lyn from her captives. Everything Kaden has worked so hard for has to be forgotten. He must become a ruthless killer once again.

After everything Kaden has done to remain free, he has purposely walked back into his old life, leaving his friends behind in order to protect them. Now, in the midst of a bad game of hide and seek with Phoenix, Kaden must fool everyone into thinking he has returned for all the right reasons. But Phoenix is not easily swayed. He still resents Kaden for leaving and letting Tobias out of his tomb. Kaden is running out of time. If his plan fails, there will never be another opportunity.

In the third tale of the Kindred Blood series, a young life depends on whether Kaden can convince Phoenix and his fellow vampires to trust him. One way or another, things are about to end where they all began."

Excerpt:
The headlights of a Volkswagen blinked at me once. I approached the car and bent to the driver’s side window. “Hey, Max.”

“Hello,” he replied slowly. He turned in his seat to look behind him. “Gabriel, are you sure about this?”

“We talked it through last night,” he said softly. “It will be fine.”

Max sighed. “Just remember what they said.” When Gabriel didn’t answer, he continued on. “Your brother has been filled in, like you asked. But please stick to the plan. I don’t want to make that phone call.”

Gabriel’s pale hand reached for the handle. I quickly opened the car door and helped him onto the street. “I am perfectly clear on what is going to happen.”

Max said a few lines in Italian. Gabriel smiled and replied. I didn’t know what they said, but it seemed important. The look Max gave me before driving away was unreadable, but it was clear that our relationship hinged on how the night ended. 

About the author:
Amber Riley has enjoyed writing short stories since childhood and is happiest with a cat in her lap. Born and raised in Central New York, she is currently living in Germany with her new son and husband, a Seabee with the US Navy.

You can find out more about Amber Riley and how to connect with her on her website.
 Click here to see the rest of the tour stops.
Krazy Book Lady featured all three books in the trilogy! Check out The Flash of a Firefly for a GIVEAWAY and The Well of Truth.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Get Your Book Done by Patti Larsen

Get Your Book Done
Guest Post by Patti Larsen

I love writing books. It’s my absolute passion. I’ve dabbled in short stories, have fun with screen and teleplays, even do a little song writing on occasion. But there is nothing, nothing like creating a full-length novel. 

With my background in journalism and independent filmmaking, when I dove into writing books again after a decade’s hiatus, I realized I had some really fabulous tools at my disposal. The experience I’d gained in all of those genres had coalesced into a method I now use to teach other writers. Not how to write, per se. That in itself is a life long obsession. We always strive to be better, do better, write better. But when it comes to understanding the structure of books, how stories go together, the nitty-gritty of the process outside stringing words together, I had an ah-ha moment. 

Not everyone writes like I do. I know there are those who love to just dive into an idea without a path or a plan. And that’s fantastic, if it works. But more often than not, as I share my method with more and more people, I learn that those who think being organized and structured is crippling to their creativity are the ones who get stuck and never finish. 

Again, I know it’s not everyone. But there are enough writers out there who run into roadblocks that I chose to start sharing my process in my Get Your Book Done program.

It’s not a hard process. But it does involve organization, plotting, having a goal. Knowing the ending, the middle, the beginning. Think of it this way: you have a project for work. You pitch the basic idea to your boss who loves it and sets you loose. You have no idea where to go with it, no end goal, no place to really start, but you’re expected to finish it and do it well. Your initial enthusiasm drives you forward, but when you start running into road blocks, gaps in knowledge, realize the path you’re on isn’t working, you’ve reached a point where you are so frustrated and stressed you have to tell your boss you can’t do it after all. 

Now, think about it this way: You have a goal in mind, a fantastic end result, with a few ideas of how you might structure it. Your boss gives you the go ahead. You carefully develop the path of the project, figure out the best ways to implement it, who to talk to, gather all the information you need first, then dive in and go for it. You’re in a much more confident and comfortable process. And while you still might encounter bumps, they’ll be easy to clear or integrate. Not only will you complete the project in record time, you’ll feel fantastic about your work and earn the respect of your boss.

If you want to get from A to B in the fastest and easiest possible time, you need a map showing your start point, path and end point. Is it less creative? I say no. I have so much fun developing my books, have all my edits done before I even start the writing, when I do sit down to let it out, it flows naturally and happily, without stress or pressure. 

So how about you? Have you always wanted to write a book? I hear it so often it amazes me. And makes me very happy. That being said, would you like to not only write your book, but finish it? 

Trust me, the latter is so much more rewarding. 

About the Author: 
Patti Larsen has a serious passion for YA paranormal and thrillers. Now with multiple series in happy publication, she lives on the East Coast of Canada with her patient husband and four massive cats.

Patti is the author of 15 novels, with more on the way.

You can find Patti on her website, Facebook, and Twitter

Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander - Fun Facts

The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander
Published: February 29, 2012

When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.

Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor’s eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.

Eleanor can’t resist Dorian’s honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people’s love can’t protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love.

The Cracked Slipper is a book club friendly fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dash of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, The Cracked Slipper brings a magical twist to women’s fiction.

Fun Facts About The Cracked Slipper:

Stephanie Alexander got the idea for The Cracked Slipper while driving ballet carpool and listening to an audiobook of Cinderella. At the point of "happily ever after" she found myself thinking: "Yeah, right. She probably died in childbirth." The entire story flowed from that one thought.

Eleanor Brice has one blue eye and one brown eye. This could be a magical sign...or a curse from HighGod.

She's tall...probably about 5'10", and very thin. In this day and age that would be a bonus, but in a society that values a Botticelli figure over a Giselle Bundchen one, the supermodel look is NOT where it's at. She feels gawky and awkward...and wishes for a little more cleavage. :)

Eleanor is a scholar...a feminist historian in petticoats. She also has a lot of opinions and likes to share them...regardless of her audience...gets her into trouble at times. Well, most of the time.

Her best friends are a gossipy parrot and a philosophical unicorn.

Eleanor's stepmother cannot decide if she loves her or hates her.

When Eleanor gets nervous she starts to sweat.

Most people in her country cannot understand unicorn speech, but to Eleanor the language makes perfect sense.

Eleanor is the first female member of the royal family to see a dragon up close and personal.

Eleanor's country, Cartheigh, is known for its sophistication and great stores of academic knowledge...and the hedonistic court life at Eclatant Palace. 

Eleanor keeps the cracked slipper in her mother's music box.

She has a habit of ignoring the obvious...from her husband's questionable temperament to her growing obsession with his best friend. Like most women...she just wants a happy ending.

The Cracked Slipper is intended to fill an unique niche...it's a book club friendly fantasy novel.

Fun Facts About Stephanie Alexander:

She has three kids...two girls and a boy. They are awesomely awesome.

She's an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the College of Charleston, SC.

When she was four years old her mother took her to the pediatrician. The reason? Little Stephy thought she was a horse. When people said hello to her she would neigh. Diagnosis: Wild imagination.

Stephanie plots out her stories while running or taking spinning classes.

She cannot stop biting her fingernails, but she has perfect teeth and has never had a cavity.

She is addicted to chocolate covered almonds and hates mayonnaise with a passion.

Her favorite writers are Stephen King, Jane Austen, and Frank McCourt. 

She is a beach person. Mountains are nice...but water is necessary.


About the author:
Stephanie Alexander grew up in the suburbs of Washington, DC, the oldest of three children. Drawing, writing stories, and harassing her parents for a pony consumed much of her childhood. After graduating from high school in 1995 she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She returned to Washington, DC, where she followed a long-time fascination with sociopolitical structures and women’s issues to a Master of Arts in Sociology from the American University. She spent several years as a Policy Associate at the International Center for Research on Women, a think-tank focused on women’s health and economic advancement. Stephanie has three children, and she's an Adjunct Professor of Sociology at the College of Charleston, SC. 

The Cracked Slipper is her debut novel.

You can find out more about Stephanie Alexander and how to connect with her on her website.

Giveaway: The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander

This giveaway is part of the Showers of Books Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and One A Day YA. There are a lot of great blogs participating in this hop. After you enter here, hop over and enter their giveaways too.

While you are here, please check out my other giveaways. They can be located in the right sidebar.

My Giveaway:
One winner will receive a print copy of The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander. (This giveaway is open for US only.)

Due to the positive response to this giveaway, Stephanie will be giving a copy to 3 winners!

The Cracked Slipper by Stephanie Alexander
When Eleanor Brice unexpectedly wins the heart of Gregory Desmarais, Crown Prince of Cartheigh, she's sure she's found her happily-ever-after. Unfortunately, Prince Charming has a loose grip on his temper, a looser grip on his marriage vows, and a tight grip on the bottle.

Eight years of mistreatment, isolation and clandestine book learning hardly prepare Eleanor for life at Eclatant Palace, where women are seen, not heard. According to Eleanor’s eavesdropping parrot, no one at court appreciates her unladylike tendency to voice her opinion. To make matter worse, her royal fiancé spends his last night of bachelorhood on a drunken whoring spree. Before the ink dries on her marriage proclamation Eleanor realizes that she loves her husband's best friend, former soldier Dorian Finley.

Eleanor can’t resist Dorian’s honesty, or his unusual admiration for her intelligence, and soon both are caught in a dangerous obsession. She drowns her confusion in charitable endeavors, but the people’s love can’t protect her from her feelings. When a magical crime endangers the bond between unicorns, dragons, and the royal family, a falsely accused Eleanor must clear her own name to save her life. The road toward vindication will force a choice between hard-won security and an impossible love.

The Cracked Slipper is a book club friendly fairytale retelling in the vein of Gregory Maguire, with a dash of romance. Set in a pseudo-renaissance, corset-and-petticoats enchanted kingdom, The Cracked Slipper brings a magical twist to women’s fiction.

How to enter:
Be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional Optional Entries:
+1 Follow Stephanie Alexander on Twitter.
+1 Like The Cracked Slipper on Facebook.
+1 Add The Cracked Slipper to your "to-read" list on Goodreads.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open US ONLY. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on April 25. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is over.  

Winners: Irene M, Jen H, & Elizabeth H.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein - Interview & Giveaway

Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein
Expected publication: May 15, 2012 
Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Interview with Lisa Burstein:
1. What was your favorite book when you were younger?

I loved Nancy Drew books. I would stay up all night reading them. My grandmother had a huge collection of hardcovers and gave me all of them. I really loved the way the books kept my interest. I am a sucker for a good mystery to this day.

2. Who are your favorite authors?

Margaret Atwood is my ultimate favorite. I also like Courtney Summers, Sara Zarr, John Green and Deb Caletti.

3. If you could have a signed copy of any novel what would it be and why?

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. It is my favorite book and I would argue one of the best dystopian novels ever written.

4. What is one book you wish you had written?

Youth In Revolt by C.D. Payne. This is one of the funniest, most addictive books I've ever read. I love Nick Twisp!

5. Tell us your most rewarding experience since being published.

Probably seeing my book. Seeing my name on the cover and then on every other page was incredible! Like the day I got married, the first time someone told me I was a talented writer, the first time a boy told me I was pretty and the stomach flu all wrapped into one. Oh and surreal… completely crazy that something I wrote was in my hands and will be available for others to read.

6. How did you celebrate the sale of Pretty Amy?

As soon as I got off the phone with my agent, I called my mom and drank a glass of wine. Not very glamorous! :)

7. In one sentence only, please tell us why we should read your book.

PRETTY AMY is the book I wished I had when I was in high school.

About the author:
Lisa Burstein is a tea seller by day and a writer by night. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Inland Northwest Center for Writers at Eastern Washington University and is glad to finally have it be worth more than the paper it was printed on. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her very patient husband, a neurotic dog and two cats. Pretty Amy is her first novel. She never went to her senior prom.

She wrote her first story when she was in second grade. It was a Thanksgiving tale from the point of view of the turkey from freezer to oven to plate. It was scandalous.

She was a lot like Amy when she was in high school.

She is still a lot like Amy.

You can find out more about Lisa Burstein on her website.

Giveaway:
One winner will receive an eBook of Pretty Amy by Lisa Burstein.

How to enter:
Just be a follower of Krazy Book Lady in whatever way you choose. Then fill out the form below.

Additional optional entries:
+1 Follow Lisa Burstein on Twitter.
+1 Like Lisa Burstein on Facebook.
+1 Like Entangled Publishing on Twitter or like on Facebook.

Giveaway details:
Giveaway is open internationally. This giveaway will run until midnight EST on May 7. Must be 13 or older to enter. Winner will be chosen using Random.org. Winner will be emailed, and this blog post will be updated to include the name of the winner. Winner has 3 days to contact me, or a new winner will be selected.

Sorry! This giveaway is now over.

Winner: Tayte H.

Support Team Abnegation & Win 100 Dollars to Amazon

Title: Divergent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Book #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins
Release Date: May 3, 2011

Book Summary:
In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves… or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

COMING SOON!

Title: Insurgent
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Book #2
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books/ HarperCollins
Release Date: May 1, 2012

ONE CHOICE
A CHOICE BECOMES A SACRIFICE
A SACRIFICE BECOMES A LOSS
A LOSS BECOMES BECOMES A BURDEN
A BURDEN BECOMES A BATTLE
WILL YOU SURVIVE OR WILL IT DESTROY YOU?



To celebrate the release of Insurgent, Harper Collins is sponsoring a click through challenge. 50 Blogs have been selected to promote the release of Insurgent by driving traffic to specific links.

Team Abnegation's goal is to get the most clicks to these links:
Faction News Site: http://bit.ly/abnegationfaction
HarperTeen Insurent Page: http://bit.ly/choose_abnegation



To help Team Abnegation reach their goal I Am A Reader, Not A Writer has organized this giveaway for a $100 Amazon Gift Code.

This giveaway runs from April 18th to 30th. You can enter daily to increase your odds of winning.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis - Review

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
Published: April 17, 2012
Publisher: Harper Collins

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?


When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marshall and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

My Review:
In the beginning of Glimmer, we meet two characters who wake up naked in a bed together with no memory of who they are or how they got there. The story alternates being told from the point of view of both of them, who are at first simply referred to as "Her" and "Him" until they learn their names. They are suspicious of each other at first, but they quickly realize that they need each other to discover what is going on around them. We follow along with them as they remember their past and figure out what is going on in their town. 

I was very intrigued by the concept in Glimmer - two people who have no knowledge of their past, and an entire town of people who do not retain any bad memories. I must admit that this plot went in a direction that I was not expecting, and it did lose me a little at the end. However, I was quickly pulled into the lives of Elyse and Marshall and wanted to keep reading to find out more about them, and there were enough surprises along the way to keep me hooked. Overall, Phoebe Kitanidis has an engaging writing style and created some interesting, complex characters. It is difficult to say much more than that without giving any spoilers, so I will just end with saying that I would recommend Glimmer if you are a fan of YA paranormal fantasy.

Reviewed as part of a SBB Traveling ARC Tour.

About the author:
Phoebe Kitanidis is a Greek-American writer, author of the YA novel Whisper. Phoebe grew up in a variety of places, including Athens, Greece; the American Midwest; and the San Francisco Bay Area. She attended five elementary schools and has moved more than twenty times. After her graduation from U.C. Berkeley, she taught Language Arts, then worked in a few high-tech corporate offices. In 2004, she earned her M.A. in Communication from San Jose State University. That year, she also traded the Bay Area sunshine for cloudy Seattle, where she began her writing career.   

You can find out more about Phoebe Kitanidis and how to connect with her on her website. 

Glimmer is her second novel. 

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