WoW (108): DROP DEAD DEMONS and THE LOST

DROP DEAD DEMONS by A and E Kirk

Releases July 2013

(YA Novel)

"Seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey has figured out why everyone is trying to kill her...now she just needs to figure out how to stop them.

Between all the hell-hired assassins and secret society traitors hunting her down, Aurora didn’t think life as the Divinicus Nex could get worse.

Sure, she's discovered some lethal powers of her own. Plus, six sexy, super-charged, demon-hunting Hex Boys are watching her back. And yes, Aurora doesn't mind running into the muscled arms of the hottest one—and he’s not complaining either.

But when a seductive stranger with questionable motives delivers a deadly ultimatum, Aurora and the Hex Boys plunge into a do-or-die hunt for a legendary treasure that will either finally shift power in their favor or unleash hell on earth.

Pursued by demons of mythical proportions, Aurora and the Hex Boys race deeper into a shadowy world of a centuries old mystery and brutal conspiracy, where no one and nothing is what it seems. Where love and betrayal go hand-in-hand, and trusting the wrong person not only breaks your heart, but can get you killed.

Hiding her Divinicus Nex status from those chasing her, lying to her pretend-wish-he-were-real boyfriend, dodging demons, breaking into tombs, hunting her blackmailer, and passing Physics...Aurora could do that in her sleep.

Or more likely, die trying."

I highly enjoyed the first book, so I'm excited to see what happens next in the sequel!

THE LOST by Sarah Beth Durst

Releases October 29th, 2013

(Adult Novel)

"Lost your way? Your dreams?

Yourself?

Welcome to Lost.

It was supposed to be a small escape. A few hours driving before turning around and heading home. But once you arrive in Lost...well, it's a place you really can't leave. Not until you're Found. Only the Missing Man can send you home. And he took one look at Lauren Chase and disappeared.

So Lauren is now trapped in the town where all lost things go-luggage, keys, dreams, lives-where nothing is permanent, where the locals go feral and where the only people who don't want to kill her are a handsome wild man called the Finder and a knife-wielding six-year-old girl. The only road out of town is engulfed by an impassable dust storm, and escape is impossible....

Until Lauren decides nothing-and no one-is going to keep her here anymore."

I'm a SBD fan, so I was instantly interested in this story. But, I became even more curious after learning about the lost things aspect - I'm quite intrigued by stories involving lost things (which is probably why I adore the second Halloweentown movie, even if it wasn't as great as the first one). I'm loving the cover, too!

What are you waiting on this week? 

WOW is hosted by Breaking the Spine

Blog Tour Interview and Giveaway with A & E Kirk

Today is the fourth stop on the Demons at Deadnight Blog Tour, and I have two lovely ladies, A & E Kirk, here to answer some questions!

Quick! Describe Demons at Deadnight in 7 words or less! 

Seven words or less? Already we have to edit. *sigh* Okay: Hunks, heroine, hellions, humor, thriller, action, romance!

 

Darn it! We were trying to do it completely with alliteration. Can anyone come up with “h” words for thriller, action, and romance? If so, you officially earn Bomb-Shiggity status!

 

What was the experience like writing Demons at Deadnight together?

(A) Fun! We break the book up into scenes and each take sequential sections.  The best part for me was that I got to be surprised by Aurora’s story. Mom got an idea for a scene in her head, would giggle, run with it, and I got to be the reader instead of the writer.

 

(E) I wasn’t alone! With Alyssa I have someone who knows my imaginary world and characters as well I, someone with the same passion and excitement about them. It’s a blast brainstorming together! 

 

Fill in the blank: "I could not have written Demons at Deadnight without ___________"

(A) My brothers. (Jake is making me type this and he now demands I say “loving and supportive brothers,” and adds that I need to throw “strippers” into an answer. Why? I don’t know.)

 

Truthfully, they consulted. Told us when the boys were acting like guys and when the boys were acting like girls masquerading as guys. They helped inspire the humor throughout the book. A lot of the jokes or funny stunts the Hex Boys pull are derived from actual things my brothers have done. Scary, I know.

 

(E) Sleepless nights and strippers. (Had to get that in for Jake.) And Alyssa, of course!

 

Any favorite quotes from Demons at Deadnight that you can share? 

Oh boy, there are a lot of those. But so many only make sense in the context of the scene. However, here are a couple you might enjoy.

 

Eileen’s Fave:

 BLAKE: “While I was in the shower, my clothes mysteriously disappeared from my locker. Know anything about that Ayden?”

 

AYDEN: “The less I know about you in the shower, the better.”

 

Alyssa’s Fave Quote:

Aurora’s talking first: “…Do you always go around knocking strange girls off their feet and then hammering them with a barrage of personal questions?” I finished with a cocky smirk.

 

Mr. Exotic leveled me a steady stare, a sly smile gaining momentum. “Do you always end up straddling the guys who do?”

 

What one item – that's usually considered normal and a non-weapon – would you want to have if you were about to engage in a fight with a demon? 

Since there are two of us, we each get one thing, right? (That can’t cheating.) Alyssa chooses a salt shaker, Eileen chooses a folding lawn chair. Wonder twins unite! (points if you get this old superhero reference)

 

Scenario time: The two of you are out for a walk one lovely evening when a demon stumbles across your path (what are the odds, right?). Luckily, you both happen to have your one item from the previous question, so you’re both completely prepared for whatever comes next (well, hopefully). The demon turns his gaze to the two of you, and he slowly begins to draw closer. This demon is out for blood....What do you do next?

 

Yummy! This one’s fun! Alyssa’s cat Van Helsing (yes, he’s real, not Alyssa’s imaginary friend) always stalks us on our walks, so he’s there too. Aaaaand, ACTION!

 

Eileen flips open lawn chair. Alyssa rips off top of shaker. We dump salt all over Helsing. Chair becomes catapult and we launch Helsing into the demons gaping mouth of menace. *Gasp!*

 

But fear not! The salt acts as Helsing’s cloak of safety. It eats away like acid on the hellion from the inside out. Helsing claws and bites with his own vicious internal attack. Moments later—Kaboom! Demon explodes back to Hell. Helsing lands on his feet—a little slobbery and peeved with Alyssa—gives us a haughty hiss, and saunters back home to his favorite chair. (See before and after photos)

Lea, thank you so much for allowing us to visit YA Book Queen, where there are never any lowlights because you are always the highlight of our day! And thank you both for the wonderful interview, even when I threw you both to the demons :)_____________________________________________

International Swag Giveaway!One winner will receive Bubbles (an adorable stuffed Platypus), a Celtic Cross, and a Hex Boy Heaven poster!

______________________________________________And, You Could Win A Kindle Fire!! 

To enter to win the Kindle Fire you need to know the secret phrase given out one word at a time by each blog tour host. Put the words together in sequential order and you'll eventually have the secret phrase! Right now you can Tweet and Follow on the AE KIRK Blog Tour Page to get points but starting March 9 (at the end of the tour) you can enter the complete phrase on the AE KIRK Blog Tour Page and earn BIG entry points! Your Kindle Fire will also include your choice of a DEMONS AT DEADNIGHT Skin. Either from the cover, or a Hex Boy group shot or individual "Team" skin of your favorite Hex Hunk!

The word you need from my blog is: "AND"  Check out A & E Kirk's website to see the other stops on the tour!
 

In My Mailbox (68)

IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren

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Purchased + FreebiesA Million Suns by Beth Revis (signed & personalized)ATU poster (a little beat up, but cool) Koi and Lotus print (so pretty!) ATU rubber braceletATU bookmarksATU pin
Purchased - Kindle BooksBecome by Ali CrossCatching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally Demons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk (2nd copy)
Thanks to Fireside Bookstore + Beth Revis for the opportunity to buy a signed and personalized copy of A Million Suns (and for mailing it so quickly!), as well as for all of the amazing swag. 
What did you get this week?

In My Mailbox (67)

IMM is hosted by Kristi of The Story Siren

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PurchasedBittersweet by Sarah OcklerBlackbringer by Laini TaylorPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenDelirium by Lauren Oliver (2nd copy)The Key to the Golden Firebird by Maureen Johnson

For ReviewDemons at Deadnight by A & E Kirk (signed!)A very awesome swag package (I'd share some pictures, but I don't want to ruin the surprise for everyone else who might be receiving one)
Many thanks to Alyssa & Eileen! :)
So, what did you get this week? Feel free to leave a link!

Release Day and 3 eBooks Giveaway: Demons at Deadnight

For seventeen-year-old Aurora Lahey, survival is a lifestyle. 
DEMONIC DESTINY Aurora has the crappiest superpower on the planet. And it’s just unleashed a hit squad from hell. Demons are on the hunt, salivating to carve her carcass into confetti. 
CHARISMATIC KILLERS The Hex Boys—mysterious, hunky, and notorious for their trails of destruction—have the answers Aurora needs to survive. But their overload of deadly secrets and suspicious motives makes trusting them a potentially fatal move. 
LETHAL ALLIES The battle to save her family, herself, and stop demonic domination may cost Aurora everything worth living for, and force her to reveal her own dark secrets. But no worries. She needs the Hex Boys to pull this off, and, chances are, teaming up with these guys will get her killed anyway.

Congrats to Alyssa (Teens Read and Write) and Eileen!
I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to read this one a couple days early, and it was amazing! It's so funny and extremely exciting – this is a book to add to your TBR lists :)
And now, let's have a Kindle ebook giveaway to celebrate!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I'll gift 3 winners a Kindle ebook of Demons at Deadnight. 
Winner #1 is Alex BennettWinner #2 is ShelbyWinner #3 is Julie
Contest is now over
Contest policy US entrants only*Fill out the form below------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Author Linkswww.aekirk.com/ Alyssa's TwitterEileen's TwitterA & E Kirk's Facebook Page
More Chances to WinThe authors are holding their own international giveaway for a very cool swag package + a paperback copy of Demons at Deadnight, with a second place winner who can have either an eBook or a paperback. 
Jake and Gregory, awesome bloggers at Teens Read and Write, are also hosting an international giveaway for a swag package + a paperback copy of Demons at Deadnight, plus two runners up can get their pick of an eBook or a paperback.



* Sorry! I've had issues gifting Kindle books internationally - sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, so this one's US only. 

In the Blogosphere

*  Alyssa Kirk, of Teens Read and Write, shared amazing news yesterday! Alyssa and her co-author, Eileen Kirk, have a novel called Demons at Deadnight releasing on January 7th, 2012! 

Want more info on the story plus a sneak peak? Go to their website, aekirk.com, because they have the summary + first chapter up, along with an awesome trailer.

*  HarperCollins has 10 YA ebooks on sale for only .99 cents. Yes. $0.99. There are even more incredible deals, too. Go check out The Book Pixie and Tynga's Reviews for some of the best deals.

*  Author Cheryl Rainfield is holding a huge contest in honor of the release of Hunted, with prizes like signed books, gift cards, and a Kindle Touch as the grand prize. Open to US, UK, & Canada. Ends on January 2nd. Check out her post for more details.

*  And just for fun, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey trailer...

* Have you filled out my blog survey? If not, I would greatly appreciate it if you took a moment to answer some questions for me! :)

Have a great holiday and a happy new year, everyone!