Monday, May 9, 2011

Shift Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Lea: Today's my stop for the official SHIFT Blog Tour, hosted by For What It's Worth. I'm a huge fan of SHADE (the first book), and SHIFT did not disappoint. For my stop, I got the chance to interview Jeri once again....So welcome, Jeri!

Jeri: Thanks to Lea for hosting me today on the SHIFT blog tour! After the post, check out your chance to win books and a special prize.

***
Quick! Describe SHIFT in 7 words or less!
Ghosts, secret agents, most awkward prom ever.

In comparison to the first novel, was it an easier or more difficult experience writing SHIFT?
Much harder. Second books in a series, in my experience, are the hardest to write. It's enough to make me want to write stand-alone novels for the rest of my life! Third books, for some reason, are a little easier.

The first chapters of sequels are particularly difficult, because you have to get the story moving while reminding readers of (or introducing new readers to) your world and the characters, AND what happened in the first book. I rewrote SHIFT's chapter one several times before I got it right. But once I found its true form, I was really happy with it.

But because SHIFT was harder to write, it makes it even happier that most readers (who've contacted me, at least) feel that it's an even better book than SHADE. I very much want my latest book to be the best one I've ever written.

What was your favorite part to write in SHIFT? Can you share a little excerpt of it?
My favorite sequence was probably the prom, because it was fun to write the characters just as regular teens, apart from The Big Mystery and all the paranormal stuff. I've already shared the Zachary-in-a-kilt bit in an earlier tour stop, so I'll give you this (hopefully non-spoilery) teaser. It takes place toward the end of the night, a few minutes after the Prom King and Queen (not Zachary and Aura, obviously) have been announced. They are no each other's dates.
Zachary angled his body toward the center of the floor. "Will you dance with me?"

My face flared hot. "I think this dance is supposed to be for them."

Principal Hirsch spoke into the microphone. "Everyone is now welcome to join the royal couples on the floor."

Zachary reached for my hand. "Please."

I struggled to breathe. "What's the point?"

He dropped his hand, but stepped close so his mouth was at my ear. "The point is that we want to."
Do you have something unique in common with any of your characters (an unusual quirk/habit/talent)? If so, what is it?
Early in SHADE, Aura's eyes are too puffy from crying over Logan's death for her to wear her contacts, so when she and Zachary go to visit their advisor, she wears her glasses. But it's sunny, so she puts on a pair of sunglasses in front of her regular glasses, so that she's wearing two pairs simultaneously. I do that, too (too cheap to buy prescription sunglasses), and feel like a "gold-medal dork" just like she does.

Who is your absolute favorite ghost (I'm personally partial to Casper - he's so darn cute!)?
I love Riley from Alyson Noel's IMMORTALS series. I was so excited when she got her own series, and I can't wait to read them!
_________________________________________________________

Giveaway: Leave a comment or a question for Jeri below to enter today's drawing. (She's away from home most of Monday—on a research expedition for SHINE—but will return this evening to answer questions if there are any). There will be two winners.

The Prizes:
  • Winner #1 gets a signed copy of SHIFT, plus a Keeley Brothers button (autographed on the back by Jeri)
  • Winner #2 gets an unsigned copy of SHIFT, courtesy of Jeri's publisher
Additionally, all commenters will be entered into a draw to win the Grand Prize - annotated copies of SHADE and SHIFT, an early copy of SHINE (book three of the series, of which there will be no other ARCS) and an iPod Shuffle!

Open to international entries! Winners will be drawn after 24 hours.


CONTEST IS NOW OVER
_________________________________________________________

Author Bio: Jeri Smith-Ready's latest release is SHIFT (May 3), the second in the YA ghost trilogy that began last year with SHADE (now out in paperback). She loves to hear from readers, so please visit her at www.jerismithready.com, or better yet, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jerismithready) or Twitter (@jsmithready), where she spends far too much time.

75 comments:

  1. Great interview! I LOVE Shade and can't wait to get my hands on Shift!

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  2. Awesome interview and giveaway!

    Were the SH- titles (Shade, Shift, Shine) planned from the beginning or were they some kind of happy accident? I personally love connected titles like that!

    Thanks! ^_^

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  3. Great excerpt. I will be reading this book next.
    kr_moreau at doglover dot com

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  4. I loved Shade! I can't wait to read what happens next in the series :)
    And I've never done the double glasses thing... I rarely wear sunglasses anyway :P

    Thanks for the interview!

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  5. Sounds great :) Can't wait to read it!

    quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  6. Haven't read either of the books as yet but the reviews have been encouraging so I would oike to try them both.

    Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  7. Loved the interview. I really enjoy the european influence in the series.

    What were some rejected Titles for the upcoming last novel?

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

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  8. I always love the 7 words! Great interview!

    thegirlonfire27 at gmail dot com

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  9. For Jeri what made you pursue writing?

    email: fallendream03(at)gmail(d0t)com

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  10. thanks so much for the interview - I really enjoyed reading it, but haven't had the chance to read the books yet.
    wish you all the best, Ina

    inale87 at gmx dot at

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  11. I can't wait to read Shift! Thank you so much for hosting this contest!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

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  12. Thanks so much for the giveaway, I cant wait to read this.
    natcleary(at)gmail(dot)com

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  13. Thanks for the giveaway. I really want to read this series. It sounds very good. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

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  14. Thanks for the giveaway!

    crazypplrok at gmail dot com

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  15. Ah, prom. I wish I had been able to go with a boy in a kilt! That would have been so cool!

    ThankS!
    Katie
    bigferret at email dot com

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  16. Good luck w/ all the books. Sound interesting.

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  17. thanks for the chance to win and for making the giveaway international, also I really love the blog-header <3

    eveningreen AT gmail DOT com

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  18. I haven't read both books but I would very much love to! Thanks for the chance and lovely interview!!

    sauvadeavelle @ yahoo dot com

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  19. Great interview! Thank you so much for the great giveaway.

    artgiote at gmail dot com

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  20. Thanks cant wait to read this one!!

    ashtreygonesmokeya@yahoo.com

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  21. Great interview and thank you for this giveaway. I really want to read these books, I have it on my TBR pile.

    Syki
    sykorova.p@gmail.com

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  22. I loved Shade and can't wait to read Shift! Thanks for the giveaway!

    daniellesaunders1984(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  23. Awesome! Can't wait to read the book. I'm intrigued by the prom scene.
    probablyreading(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Awesome giveaway! Thanks for the chance to enter!

    arallison at gmail dot com

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  25. I like your 7 words to describe Shift, and can't wait to read it! :D

    Thank you for the interview and giveaway!

    Giada M.

    fabgiada (at) gmail (dot) com

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  26. I can't wait to read Shift! Especially for the prom! Thank you for a great giveaway!!!

    shygrumpychica1@hotmail.com

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  27. Great interview and totally understand the glasses bit and being a dork.

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  28. Great interview!

    I thought the limo ride after the prom was ... interesting.

    losnthestacks(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  29. LOL! I can totally relate to both you and Aura about the sunglasses. I just did that yesterday and my kids thought it was so nerdy:D

    My question: Do you have any other YA series in mind after you finish Shine?

    patriciamendoza@gmail.com

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  30. I'm french reader and i love Aspect of Crow series. Do you know if Shade will publish in France ?

    Good bye

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  31. Thanks for the interview and a chance to win!

    spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

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  32. Great interview. Thanks for the chance to win.

    sgiden at verizon.net

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  33. Great interview! I can't wait to read Shift. Thanks for the giveaway!

    minas_1989(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  34. Great interview! For Jeri - do you have a routine when you are writing at your computer? Say, you get set up with a favorite snack, drink, inspiration inducing mantra.... :P

    clderwee at gmail dot com

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  35. Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
    This is an awesome blog tour, so many cool prizes.


    Jessica
    Jessicaarb@live.com

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  36. My daughter and I both loved Shade and waited not so patiently for Shift. She is devouring it now and will "let" me read it when she's done. I'm looking forward to it!

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  37. Great interview.Thanks for the chance to win this.
    elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

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  38. great interview :)I'm really looking forward to reading Shade and Shift. thx for this opportunity :))
    michaela_cini(AT)rocketmail(DOT)com

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  39. I loved 'Shade' but I have to agree that 'Shift' is even better. It's going to be agony waiting for Shine!! ;)

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  40. I really enjoyed Shade and I've been waiting for Shift for awhile now. And I'm thrilled to hear that there'll be a third book!

    BrigidsBlest @ yahoo dot com

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  41. "They are not each other's dates"
    ?!?! O.O ?!?!
    I don't think I can resist grabbing Shift any longer, overwhelming TBR shelf be damned! lol

    cegluna(at)Gmail(dot)com

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  42. Oh,please enter me!!!Can't wait to read Shift =)

    julianapiovani@hotmail.com

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  43. Great interview. I'm just wondering if you listen to music when you write and if so what type of music?

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

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  44. Ooooo, I love the excerpt. I really want to know what Aura means by "What's the point?". Great interview!

    safaripoet@live.com

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  45. I am a fan of the books I have not read shift yet. I enjoyed reading the interview it was great.

    kimberly(dot)brasher(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I'm dying to read Shade and Shift, I heard anything but good reviews about the series! So a huge thank you for the chance to win!

    pisisbook[at]hotmail[dot]fr

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  47. I love the excerpt! Most awkward prom? I want to read!

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  48. Riley is a great character and she totally rocks in her own series.

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

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  49. Wonderful interview,Jeri is always awesome! Shade is on my To Get list, would love to win either! Thank you for having this contest!
    Sharon K

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  50. Great interview! Jeri is awesome :D I can't wait for Shine!

    arnoldjaime13@yahoo.com

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  51. Awesome interview! I love the excerpt,

    twilightteph019@yahoo.com

    -Teph

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  52. Great interview! I can't wait to read this serious. It is definitely on my must read pile.

    spicedice45@gmail.com

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  53. Loved the interview!!! HA, the prom scene was HILARIOUS!

    thanks so much

    alexis0407@yahoo.com

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  54. I am seeing this book everywhere and everyone says it is wonderful, so I can't wait to read it! I've got Shade reserved at the library now, so I would be just ready to read Shift when it arrived if I won it (big hint, hint!). Thanks for a great giveaway :)

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  55. Can't wait to read the whole prom scene! Thank you for this interview, I'm really enjoying the whole tour :)

    judittten at gmail dot com

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  56. Shift sounds great. Thank you for the giveaway.

    nicoleashley2288 @ yahoo.ca

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  57. I used to do the sunglasses over glasses thing...glad to know I'm not the only nerdy one who did that! :-P

    whatinabox at gmail dot com

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  58. Oh I just met Jeri in LA about two months ago. She is great and I really do need to read Shade!
    Thanks for the giveaway
    apk1princess(at)live(dot)com

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  59. OMG! Doesn't EVERYONE wear sunglasses over their prescription glasses? :)

    Sweet giveaway!


    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

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  60. oh, the prom scene.... so.awkward. HAHA! but i loved it anyway! can i describe SHIFT in 7 words or less?? well i'm gunna: BEST.BOOK.EVER!

    I loved, loved, loved it!!! Jeri is amazing as always! CanNOT wait for SHINE! :)

    *blurts out* TEAM LOGAN!

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  61. Thanks for a nice interview! I like the dedication! She really does research for her books!

    eadd: aloveforbooks at gmail dot com

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  62. Thanks for the awesome interview!!!

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  63. I liked Shift a lot, and i'm really looking forward to reading "Shine". I'm gonna miss Logan a lot though, I was very sad to see him gone.
    alpha_lycan@msn.com

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  64. thanks!!

    americangirlie1991 AT yahoo DOT com

    GFC follower! =]

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  65. Wow, I can't believe all these wonderful comments! Thanks, Lea, for hosting today's stop, and thanks to everyone who stopped by. :)

    Shalena: Were the SH- titles (Shade, Shift, Shine) planned from the beginning or were they some kind of happy accident?

    My original title for the series/first book was GENERATION GHOST, but I was asked to change it, so I came up with SHADE and SHIFT. When I started writing SHIFT, I came up with the Shine phenomenon, and voila! There was the third title. (I only sold the first two books on the first contract, then two more books--SHINE and another to-be-determined-but-not-a-SHADE-book YA--on another contract earlier this year.

    Vivien asked:What were some rejected Titles for the upcoming last novel?

    SHARK, SHAFT, SHANK, and SHEEP. Also, SHEHEREZADE.

    Just kidding (obviously, right?). Everyone loved SHINE from the moment I suggested it, so there were no rejected titles.

    TheJay2XA:what made you pursue writing?

    I loved doing it! That's the only reason to start writing. Obviously I started it as a side thing while I worked my day jobs and went to school. But I always had as a goal being a professional writer (i.e., feeding myself and paying the rent/mortgage with it).

    Patricia M:Do you have any other YA series in mind after you finish Shine?

    I have one more book in my contract after SHINE, so I'm brainstorming a couple of stand-alone novel ideas. I'm very excited to do a stand-alone again after writing three series in a row.

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  66. Awesome interview!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    booksoverboys(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  67. Great Interview! Thanks for the awesome giveaway! locketstories(at)gmail(dot)com

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  68. Aube:Do you know if Shade will publish in France ?

    We haven't sold the French language rights to the SHADE series yet, but my adult vampire series will be published in French within the next two years.

    Christinabean:do you have a routine when you are writing at your computer? Say, you get set up with a favorite snack, drink, inspiration inducing mantra

    Typically I find five or six CDs that work really well for that book, and I play them all in the same order each time I sit down to write. I often start with one game of Spider Solitaire to settle myself down and let my brain soak in the music. (Yes, I can play just one game--it's not fun enough that I have to play over and over and over again. ;-)

    Kryskat:I'm just wondering if you listen to music when you write and if so what type of music?

    Yes, all the time! I typically listen to indie/alternative music, but if I'm having a hard time focusing, there's nothing like an action-movie score to get my mind in the right place.

    Thanks for all the great comments and questions! I'll check back in the morning to see if there are any more to answer. Good night, all!

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  69. Hi :)
    Thank you to Jeri for the interview & for taking the time to answer the questions in the comments! I was intrigued by Jeri's research expedition for SHINE...
    Thank you again Jeri!
    All the best,
    Rob
    PS- I would love to read a stand-alone novel by you, HOWEVER, your characters are so good that I am positive READER & PUBLISHER DEMAND will want more of whoever you let loose upon us...
    :)
    xoxo

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  70. Great interview!

    Jeri I saw you at Romance Times - your reading was awesome! What's your favorite place to visit/do readings?

    snarklish@gmail.com

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  71. What a great giveaway an interview! I can't way to read these books!

    Theburstingbookshelf(at)gmail(dot)com

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  72. I actually have yet to read Shade, but it is definitely on my to buy list. I've heard so many great things.

    Thanks for the giveaway.

    coffeebooksandlaundry(at)gmail.com

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  73. I'm commenter #2 up there and just realized I didn't leave my email. So here. ^_^

    writerquirk@live.com

    And thank you Jeri for your answer! It is cool to see how things like titles are different from the beginning of the process to the end.

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  74. I'd love to play please.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  75. Great interview! I also loved Riley!

    elainareads AT aol DOT com

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