Library of Souls #StayPeculiar Tour Sweepstakes + Enter to win a Tote & Book!

Ransom Riggs, the author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and Hollow City, is going on tour for his upcoming novel, Library of Souls. And, Quirk Books is hosting a #StayPeculiar Tour Sweepstakes, where one lucky reader will win a VIP trip for two to meet Ransom! Visit Quirk Books to find out how you can enter this fantastic sweepstakes, and to check out more information on the tour dates / locations.

BUT BEFORE YOU LEAVE, one lucky reader will win a cool #StayPeculiar tote here on YA Book Queen (thanks to the lovely Nicole from Quirk Books)!

  

And, because the paperback versions of the first two novels are so cheap, I'll add to this awesome giveaway by throwing in a paperback copy of either Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children OR Hollow City (winner's choice).

So, to sum things up, one winner will receive a tote from Quirk Books and a book from me!

This Giveaway is US ONLY

Contest Policy

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Giveaway! THIS LULLABY + One Surprise ARC

To celebrate the Summer of Sarah Dessen, one lucky reader will win a paperback copy of THIS LULLABY (thanks to Penguin Teen)! This book is truly the perfect summer read. Read a summary below: 

She's got it all figured out.

Or does she? When it comes to relationships, Remy's got a whole set of rules.

Never get too serious. Never let him break your heart. And never, ever date a musician.

But then Remy meets Dexter, and the rules don't seem to apply anymore.

Could it be that she's starting to understand what all those love songs are about?

ALSO, I'll throw in a surprise winter 2015/2016 ARC. So, the winner will receive the surprise ARC + a copy of This Lullaby!

To enter, use the rafflecopter below

US ONLY 

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Blog Tour Q&A with Marie Rutkoski + Giveaway

Q&A with Marie Rutkoski

Does your career as a professor and the works you teach ever help to inspire your own writing? 

All the time. There’s a sentence in The Winner’s Crime inspired by a line from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. It seemed like a throwaway line in the play, a metaphor that was so interesting to me, but I could almost feel Shakespeare’s disinterest, like he wrote it and thought, “Well, that’s serviceable,” and moved on. It’s not like him to let an idea he loves lie. I don’t think he loved this line. But the metaphor was great, so I tried to see what I could do with it. 

Do you ever write any calling cards (a signature characteristic, such as a style of writing, a reoccurring theme / joke / name / idea / symbol, etc) into your stories? If so, any hints as to what readers should look for? 

I like to invent myths for my cultures. Each of the books in the trilogy has at least one small story that is told as a story. In Curse, it’s the one Enai tells Kestrel about the seamstress. In Crime, it’s the story of Jadis. In The Winner’s Kiss, well…you’ll see.

If you could write one famous literary / TV or film character (hero, villain, supporting character) into  The Winner’s Crime, who would you choose? 

Maybe Veronica Mars. She and Kestrel would be close friends, and I think Veronica could help Kestrel see that you can be strong but also let yourself be vulnerable with people you trust. Also, Kestrel could see how Veronica is with her dad and realize, “So that’s what a healthy, loving father-daughter relationship looks like.”

If only Veronica could be a part of this trilogy! That would be amazing. 

What two songs do you believe capture the essence of  The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime? 

For Curse, I think maybe “Sigh No More” by Mumford and Sons.

For Crime: U2’s “With or Without You.”

For The Winner’s Kiss (the third book): Florence and the Machine’s cover of Drake’s “Take Care.”

(Very) Random Question: If you were a font, what type would you be? 

Maybe Henry Morgan Hand.

Marie Rutkoski is the author of The Winner's Curse, The Shadow Society, and the Kronos Chronicles, which includes The Cabinet of Wonders. She is a professor at Brooklyn College and lives in New York City.

Connect with Marie Rutkoski: 

Website | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

About THE WINNER'S CRIME

Following your heart can be a crime

A royal wedding is what most girls dream about. It means one celebration after another: balls, fireworks, and revelry until dawn. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement: that she agreed to marry the crown prince in exchange for Arin's freedom. But can Kestrel trust Arin? Can she even trust herself? For Kestrel is becoming very good at deception. She's working as a spy in the court. If caught, she'll be exposed as a traitor to her country. Yet she can't help searching for a way to change her ruthless　world . . . and she is close to uncovering a shocking secret.　

This dazzling follow-up to The Winner's Curse reveals the high price of dangerous lies and untrustworthy alliances. The truth will come out, and when it does, Kestrel and Arin will learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Giveaway

Thank you so much to Gina at Macmillan and Marie Rutkoski for the wonderful interview and the chance to have a stop on The Winner's Crime blog tour.

 

Macmillan is generously giving away either one The Winner’s Curse paperback OR The Winner’s Crime hardcover - winner's choice (and both are excellent)!

US Only

Ends March 7th

Contest Policy

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GIVEAWAY: 7 Reasons to read ATLANTIA by Ally Condie

ATLANTIA by Ally Condie
October 28th, 2014 from Dutton Juvenile

Can you hear Atlantia breathing? 

For as long as she can remember, Rio has dreamed of the sand and sky Above—of life beyond her underwater city of Atlantia. But in a single moment, all Rio’s hopes for the future are shattered when her twin sister, Bay, makes an unexpected choice, stranding Rio Below. Alone, ripped away from the last person who knew Rio’s true self—and the powerful siren voice she has long silenced—she has nothing left to lose.

Guided by a dangerous and unlikely mentor, Rio formulates a plan that leads to increasingly treacherous questions about her mother’s death, her own destiny, and the corrupted system constructed to govern the Divide between land and sea. Her life and her city depend on Rio to listen to the voices of the past and to speak long-hidden truths.

7 REASONS TO READ ATLANTIA

1. FAMILY / SISTERHOOD

So many YA novels get caught up in romance, but this novel focuses on sisterhood and family. Rio spends her time trying to get Above, so she can reunite with her sister. But in the meantime, she slowly comes to know her siren aunt, Maire, and learning more about her mother's mysterious death. 

2. CHARACTERS

Rio is a siren, and an excellent narrator - fierce, determined, but cautious. Her attempts to keep her voice bland and boring do make her seem a bit off-putting, the further along the story goes, the easier it is to adore her character and realize just how much she loves her sister. True, meanwhile, is a great support system for her, and watching the slow friendship between him and Rio develop is fun to see. But Bay, Nevio, and Justus are all intriguing characters, too. 

3. WORLDBUILDING

My attempt to draw a metallic tree (without leaves)

An underwater city, metallic trees and leaves, True's mechanical fish and eels. Even the deepmarket, where people sell jars of dirt and flavored air is a fascinating place. The decorative aspects, like the gargoyles and representations of the gods of Atlantia's religious figures, are also wonderfully written. I could go on and on, because this is a fully fleshed out world, where everything is so easy to visualize.

4. SECRETS

I'd say more, but then I'd ruin all the fun. But trust me when I say there are plenty of secrets in Atlantia, and they are all intriguing and surprising.

5. PLOT TWISTS

Again, I'll keep quiet, but there are a few surprises! 

6. WRITING STYLE

Condie's writing flows with ease, and is magnificently descriptive. She has a talent for building worlds, characters, and creating memorable lines. Her writing style is slow, evocative, and captivating. 

7. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SET IT ASIDE

This book? It needs to be on your TBR list. Once you get into ATLANTIA, it's incredibly difficult to stop reading. 

Want a copy of your own? Enter my giveaway at the bottom of this post to win an ARC of ATLANTIA. Plus, the winner will also receive one ATLANTIA necklace!

OPEN INTERNATIONALLY
(please have your parent's permission if you're under 18)

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Follow the #AtlantiaBelow Blog Tour

for more reviews, interviews, guest posts and giveaways!

September 28 – Katie (Mundie Moms) – Long Q&A

September 30 – Jen (I Read Banned Books) – Guest post

October 2 – Katie (Katie’s Book Blog) – Short Q&A

October 4 – Lea (YA Book Queen) – Review

October 6 – Taschima (Bloody Bookaholic) – Fancasting

October 8 – Jeremy (Novel Thoughts Blog) – Guest post

October 10 – Erin/ Flo (Fangirlish) – Review

October 12 – Nancy (Ravenous Reader) – Review

October 14 – Sara (Novel Novice) – Playlist

October 16 – Jess (Gone with the Words) – Short Q&A

October 18 – Rachel (Paper Cuts) – Guest post

October 20 – Georgia (Eve’s Fan Garden) – Playlist

October 22 – Gabby (Queen Ella Bee Reads) – Long Q&A

October 24 – Andrea (Reading Lark) – Review

October 26 – Tirzah (The Compulsive Reader) – Playlist

Many thanks to Penguin Teen for the ARC and the necklace + the necklace images! 

Giveaway & Interview: Kiersten White

Thanks to Rosanne at HarperCollins, I had the opportunity to ask Kiersten White some questions (and receive some very wonderfully amusing answers) about herself and her latest novel, ILLUSIONS OF FATE! 

QUICK! Describe ILLUSIONS OF FATE in 7 words or less!

Rectangular! Containing paper and ink! Book! Wait, no, I did this wrong, didn’t I. How about: Magic! Romance! Tea! Birds!

I kind of love both answers! Both are accurate....Do you have any favorite teaser lines from ILLUSIONS OF FATE that you can share?

“Clearly he does not know me if he thinks I am ever in a condition where arguing is not possible.”

What makes Jessamin unique from the main characters of your previous novels? What do you admire most about her?

I always like exploring what it means to be an outsider and how we find ourselves. With most of my main characters, their big arc is discovering themselves. Jessamin, however, knows exactly who she is--and values herself. The society around her tries to tell her what she is (lesser), but she fights against it. I love this about her. It would be very hard to hold onto that sense of self-worth when everything around you tells you not to. Fortunately, Jessamin is very stubborn.

What steps did you take to build the world and setting of ILLUSIONS OF FATE?

Since I was dealing with magic and fantasy, I wanted to layer it onto a very familiar world setting. I based Albion on late Victorian/Edwardian England, and Jessamin’s home on the Polynesian islands. I think it was Laini Taylor who said the more you ground your story in the familiar, the more liberties you can take with the fantastical, and I think that’s very true. Everything I needed was already in place: post-colonialism, a strict and archaic gentry system, and magic, because everyone knows England is just a bit magic already.

If you could spend 24 hours in any fictional world (book, film, TV), where would you go and which two people (real or not real) would you take with you?

Iceland, because everyone knows Iceland is too magical to be real. I would go with Stephanie Perkins and my husband, both of whom are too delightful to be real, and we would watch the Northern Lights, which are too beautiful to be real.

Do you ever leave any calling cards or Easter eggs (literary references or signature characteristics, such as reoccurring themes, symbols, names, style, etc.) in your books?

Oh, so many. As far as reoccurring themes, someday I will write a literary analysis of my books and tell you exactly the ideas I seem to fixate on (identity, the nature of mortality, responsibility to self versus responsibility to others are just a few). Eleanor’s last name, which I think is maybe never even mentioned in the book, is Wynne, after Diana Wynne Jones, author of Howl’s Moving Castle. And she lives on Fitzwilliam Lane, after a certain Fitzwilliam Darcy. Other than that, I like to think my work is subversively dark beneath the humor and magic. Much like myself.

What type of story are you working on next?

I’m working on an epic historical fiction series about Vlad the Impaler, a brutal Romanian prince whom I am turning into Lada the Impaler, a brutal Romanian princess, her brother, Radu the Handsome, and their contemporary, the brilliant young Ottoman Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror.

Thanks to Rosanne from HarperCollins and Kiersten for the interview!

ILLUSIONS OF FATE

ILLUSIONS OF FATE
Available Now

Downton Abbey meets Cassandra Clare in this lush, romantic fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Kiersten White.

“I did my best to keep you from crossing paths with this world. And I shall do my best to protect you now that you have.”

Jessamin has been an outcast since she moved from her island home of Melei to the dreary country of Albion. Everything changes when she meets Finn, a gorgeous, enigmatic young lord who introduces her to the secret world of Albion’s nobility, a world that has everything Jessamin doesn’t—power, money, status…and magic. But Finn has secrets of his own, dangerous secrets that the vicious Lord Downpike will do anything to possess. Unless Jessamin, armed only with her wits and her determination, can stop him.

GIVEAWAY

I received a finished copy of ILLUSIONS OF FATE from HarperCollins, and I want to pass it along to one of my readers! US only (sorry!), enter using the rafflecopter below. 


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CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN WHITE

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK

ROOMIES 'Win One for You and Your Reader Campaign' + My Roomie Story + ROOMIES Giveaway!

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers is hosting a wonderfully fun campaign where bloggers and readers share their roomie stories (and there's even a chance to win some fabulous prizes)! But first, let's check out some info on ROOMIES!

ROOMIES by Sara Zarr and Tara Altebrando

"It's time to meet your new roomie.

When East Coast native Elizabeth receives her freshman-year roommate assignment, she shoots off an e-mail to coordinate the basics: television, microwave, mini-fridge. That first note to San Franciscan Lauren sparks a series of e-mails that alters the landscape of each girl's summer -- and raises questions about how two girls who are so different will ever share a dorm room.

As the countdown to college begins, life at home becomes increasingly complex. With family relationships and childhood friendships strained by change, it suddenly seems that the only people Elizabeth and Lauren can rely on are the complicated new boys in their lives . . . and each other. Even though they've never met.

National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr and acclaimed author Tara Altebrando join forces for a novel about growing up, leaving home, and getting that one fateful e-mail that assigns your college roommate."

MY (VERY BORING) ROOMIE STORY:

Somehow, I've managed to only have one roomie story so far (since I'm staying at my parents place for free while in college, I missed out on the opportunity to have college roomies), and that is rooming with my big brother when we were kids. I cannot remember how old we were, but since he was the oldest, he always took charge of everything - the small TV we shared, the toys, or whatever else it could possibly be, he was in charge. He got the top of the bunk bed, I got the bottom (which might have been a good idea, because I did fall off the top one time). We would argue and fight, as little kids do.

But, for all of our little bickering moments, we also had a lot of fun together as roomies. Whenever we became extremely bored, we'd find all of the big blankets and create a massive, in-room fort that would include our tiny TV, a normal lamp, a lava lamp (because a lava lamp is a priority item, apparently), and whatever else we could fit inside. Our small shared bedroom would transform into another place, and our imaginations made it all the more exciting.

Eventually, we received our own rooms. I even somehow managed to get the bigger one (thank you bookshelf, for taking up so much space and making it a requirement that I get the bigger room). I doubt my brother and I would make decent roomies now, but we are good friends.

SARA AND TARA'S TOUR DATES: 

January 12, 2014 – New York, NY: McNally Jackson
January 15, 2014 – Salt Lake City, UT: The King's English
January 16, 2014 – Provo, UT: Provo Library
February 4, 2014 – San Francisco, CA: Books Inc, Opera Plaza
February 5, 2015 – Petaluma, CA: Copperfield's Books

I may be able to attend the last tour stop, but I'm not sure at the moment. *crosses fingers*

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION:

The Grand Prize: Little, Brown BYR will be giving away a Roomie survival kit/gift pack including earplugs, home spa essentials, a signed copy of the book, a special note from the authors, and other fun things—all packed in a shower caddy (this prize will go to a participating blogger and one of the blogger's readers). Winner announced on January 20th.

Win on YA Book Queen: Thanks to Little, Brown BYR, I am giving away a copy of ROOMIES (US street addresses only). Enter using the rafflecopter below! And trust me, you'll want this book - it's great!


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Roomies Tour image from NOVL

Four-Year Blogoversary & Giveaway

It's July 15th, 2013, so that means YA BOOK QUEEN is 4-years-old! Woohoo! Before I get to the giveaway, I wanted to take a moment and say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that has supported me and this blog. 

Thank you to all the readers that regularly visit and leave comments, to my ninja readers (the ones that hover silently in the background and pop in when I least expect them), and to the readers who email me randomly to talk about / fangirl over awesome books. Thank you for not yelling at me whenever I take yet another blogging break.

Thank you to the bloggers who have ever given me advice or help when I asked for it, linked to a blog post, RT'd my tweets, or were just genuinely awesome or kind to me. I'm always amazed by how sweet and friendly most people are in the Blogosphere.

Thank you to the authors who were kind enough to grant me their time for an interview, especially when I've probably acted like a total fangirl with some of you. Thank you to the authors who asked me to review their books, to the authors who commented on my reviews of their books (seriously, that's always awesome), and the ones who randomly email and say something sweet.

Thank you to the publishers that give me the opportunity to review incredible novels! I'm always grateful for each and every story you send my way. And a huge thanks to the incredible and outstanding publicists I've had the pleasure of working with so far as a book blogger!

Book blogging is one of the best hobbies that I have because of the absolutely wonderful people that are present in the blogosphere. All of you - readers, bloggers, writers, authors, publicists, publishers, and everyone else - make blogging fun and worthwhile. Every comment, email, tweet (and so on) that I receive makes me light up and grin. I enjoy every second of blogging, thanks to everyone in the blogosphere. I can hardly believe it's been four years! Hopefully there will be many more years of blogging to come! :)

I wish I could host an amazing giveaway as a thank you to my readers, but I'm pretty much broke after purchasing books for my next semester in college. Instead, I can only offer one book of the winner's choice - so long as it's under $15. INTERNATIONAL (as long as the The Book Depository ships to you)!

*dances* 

*throws confetti everywhere*

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Giveaway: YA Pre-Order Book of Choice

Is there an upcoming YA novel that you have your eye on? 

I know there's a few that I'm eager to read! There are so many awesome YA novels to look forward to. Enter below for your chance to win a pre-order of any upcoming YA novel!

International 

Ends on May 23rd, 2013

Please read my Contest Policy

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Good luck!

Giveaway: YA Paperback Book of Choice

What better way to start spring & summer than with a new book? 

I may be a fan of hardcover novels, but I adore paperbacks too.  They're light & perfect for a trip to the beach. So, I thought I'd show some paperback love and give one away to my readers. 

International 

Ends on May 17th, 2013

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GIVEAWAY: NOTES FROM GHOST TOWN + THE BUTTERFLY CLUES

Thanks to Media Masters Publicity, I have the opportunity to host a wonderful giveaway for one lucky reader to win a copy of both NOTES FROM GHOST TOWN and THE BUTTERFLY CLUES by Kate Ellison! Check out the summaries below to learn a bit more about both books!

NOTES FROM GHOST TOWN

Goodreads / Amazon / B & N

"They say first love never dies...

When sixteen-year-old artist Olivia Tithe is visited by the ghost of her first love, Lucas Stern, it's only through scattered images and notes left behind that she can unravel the mystery of his death.

There's a catch: Olivia has gone colorblind, and there's a good chance she's losing her mind completely--just like her mother did. How else to explain seeing (and falling in love all over again with) someone who isn't really there?

With the murder trial looming just nine days away, Olivia must follow her heart to the truth, no matter how painful. It's the only way she can save herself."

THE BUTTERFLY CLUES

Goodreads / Amazon / B & N

"Seventeen-year-old Penelope "Lo" Marin has always collected beautiful things. Since her brother's untimely death, her collection has become an obsession. When she finds an antique butterfly necklace that belonged to a murdered girl at a flea market, she impulsively steals it and becomes fixated. As Lo delves deeper into the life of this girl she feels an otherworldly connection to, she finds herself in the middle of a violent underworld of crime, drugs and sex. But the more questions she asks, the more danger she is in. Can Lo uncover the killer's identity, or will she become the next victim?"

(US and CANADA only)

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About the author: Kate Ellison is the critically acclaimed author of The Butterfly Clues. She spent a lot of time as a child, in Baltimore, pretending to be things she wasn't: a twin, a telekinetic, a benevolent witch with a box full of magical stones, a spy, a soccer player. She trained as an actor in Chicago and has walked across the entire country of Spain. She is a painter and jewelry-maker, and has at least one artist friend who really does keep his true name a secret from the world. He told her, but don't ask her to tell you—she's not gonna do it. Kate lives in Brooklyn, New York. Visit her online at www.kateellison.com.

Images and info from Media Masters Publicity

Giveaway: EASY by Tammara Webber

EASY by Tammara Webber

New Adult / Mature YA

Rescued by a stranger. Haunted by a secret. Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

"He always saw her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love."

This summary is a bit vague, but you can click here to read the old (but more detailed) summary on Goodreads for EASY if you're curious about the story.

EASY spent nine weeks on the New York Times Bestseller List and sold more than 150,000 copies of the self-published ebook. Now, it's being re-released as a Berkley trade paperback! And, thanks Penguin Group USA, I have one copy of EASY to give away to one lucky reader.

Please Read My Contest Policy

One Winner (US ONLY) will receive a brand new copy of the Berkley trade paperback version of EASY by Tammara Webber.

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Uncontrollable Blog Tour: Guest Post & Giveaway

SR Johannes is taking over the blog today for The Official Uncontrollable Blog Tour with a guest post on how she keeps the suspense and excitement fresh while writing a story. Be sure to check below for a giveaway! 

"There are many different ways to keep tension in a book and hook your readers. To me, if I can’t put down a book, I’m hooked. But as a writer, I can’t maintain suspense on every page or the reader will get exhausted. I have to include down time in the novel but it doesn’t mean I can’t keep the tension.

Here are a few techniques I use to keep the tension in between action sequences…

1) Vary your writing style. Short fast sentences tend to speed up the reading and tension; whereas, long sentences that are more narrative and descriptive will slow down the pace.

2) Watch how you cut your chapters. This is important when doing a thriller because it can make the book continue to feel like a page-turner even if the reader is in a slower scene. I always cut in the middle of a scene – at the climax - so you have to turn the page to finish. This could be in dialogue, when Grace is about to uncover a clue, or in the middle of action. It is in our nature to keep going until there is a break.

3) Use the setting. Since the woods are scary to me anyway, I try and use the setting to create tension even if nothing is happening. Sometimes our surroundings can play into the fear. The sounds. The isolation. Not knowing what is around can be scary enough if I play it right.

4) Play up the dialogue. Most people interrupt each other when they are talking. If my characters are bantering and cutting each other off, the dialogue can create a faster pace. If someone is listening while the other is telling a long story, this will slow the pace down.

5)  Spread out your clues. I always go into a book with the main story but I try to create at least 2-3 different twists. I usually chose the way most would not think. Or I try to. I spread out my clues so they build a story throughout the book. I think this gives the reader the impression they are solving the mystery right alongside the main character.

Hopefully this process of creating tension hooks the reader and creates a page-turner they can’t put down – or better yet – don’t want to."

"S.R. Johannes is the author of Amazon bestselling Untraceable (a teen wilderness thriller) and new tween paranormal, On The Bright Side. She has published short novelettes as well as a teen romance anthology with 16 other authors titled, In His Eyes.  Uncontrollable, the sequel to Untraceable, is scheduled for Fall 2012.

She lives in Atlanta Georgia with her dog, British-accented husband, and the huge imaginations of their little prince and princess, which she hopes- someday- will change the world. After earning an MBA and working in corporate america, S.R. Johannes traded in her expensive suits, high heels, and corporate lingo for a family, flip-flops, and her love of writing."

You can find SR on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Goodreads!

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International Giveaway for WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen

Tracy Bilen has kindly offered to sponsor an international giveaway for her debut novel, WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND.  

Curious about the story? Read the summary below: 

WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen

“Don’t even think of leaving… I will find you,” he whispered. “Guaranteed.”

Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara’s abusive father. But when her mom doesn’t show up as expected, Sara’s terrified. Her father says that she’s on a business trip, but Sara knows he’s lying. Her mom is missing—and her dad had something to do with it.

With each day that passes, Sara’s more on edge. Her friends know that something’s wrong, but she won’t endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it’s too late…for them both.

One winner will receive an autographed finished copy of  WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen. 
International.

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Cover Reveal for THE HOLDERS + Celtic Necklace Giveaway

The cover for Julianna Scott's debut novel THE HOLDERS, which releases on March 2013 from Strange Chemistry, was revealed yesterday (posted below with summary)! Also, thanks to Julianna Scott, readers of this blog can enter to win a Celtic style necklace in celebration of the cover reveal!

17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.

What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.

Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?

One winner will receive a Celtic style necklace! 

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Interview and Giveaway: Sarah Beth Durst discussing VESSEL

Today I have an interview with the lovely Sarah Beth Durst, the author of fantastic novels such as DRINK SLAY LOVE, ENCHANTED IVY, ICE, and more. Today, we are discussing Sarah's upcoming novel, VESSEL, which releases tomorrow on September 11th. 

Quick! Describe VESSEL in 7 words or less! 

Epic fantasy in a harsh desert land

Ooh, that's a good answer....What was the experience like writing VESSEL in comparison to your previous novels?

In my previous novels, I injected magic into the real world (a magic polar bear in the Arctic, talking gargoyles at Princeton, vampires and were-unicorns in the suburbs, fairy tale characters in a sleepy New England town...), but VESSEL is my first novel set entirely in a fantasy world.  It takes place in a desert filled with wolves made of sand and sky serpents made of unbreakable glass and monstrous worms and gods and goddesses.  Writing it was intensely immersive.  I'd sink into that world while I wrote.  In a way, writing this novel felt a lot like reading!

From reading the VESSEL excerpt posted on your website, I noticed that the world in VESSEL seemed very developed and rich in culture…what steps did you take to achieve this? Did you draw inspiration from other cultures?

I love mythology, and I really wanted to create a world that felt steeped in ancient mythology.  I didn't draw from any particular mythology for my world, but I tried to create the feel of an oral storytelling tradition with rich, archetypal tales.

VESSEL has a first line that really grabs your attention: “On the day she was to die, Liyana walked out of her family's tent to see the dawn.”-- What are your thoughts on first lines? 

I love writing first lines.  I agonize over them, as if they're some magic spell for unlocking the rest of the novel.  Once I have the first line, then I'm free to write. 

Scenario: You are a vessel, destined to give your body to a goddess. What you would do on your last day, and what type of goddess (of any mythology) would you hope to have inhabit your body? 

I'd spend it with my family.  And I'd write for a while.  And eat a lot of chocolate-covered strawberries.  As to what goddess... I think I'd pick an earth goddess so she could save the rain forests and so forth.

What are you working on right now?

I am currently working on a YA paranormal thriller called SWEET NOTHINGS (coming fall 2013 from Bloomsbury/Walker).  It's about a girl in the paranormal witness protection program.  I'm also working on my first trilogy for adults (from Luna) called THE LOST, THE MISSING, and THE FOUND.  I'm really, really excited about both projects!

Thanks so much for interviewing me!

It is always a pleasure to interview you, so thank you for agreeing to answer some questions!

VESSEL by Sarah Beth Durst

September 11th, 2012

Margaret K. McElderry 

"In a desert world of sandstorms and sand-wolves, a teen girl must defy the gods to save her tribe in this mystical, atmospheric tale from the author of Drink, Slay, Love.

Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana’s body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But Liyana’s goddess never comes. Abandoned by her angry tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her.

Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. For the desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god’s help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god’s tale.

The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice: She must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate—or a human girl can muster some magic of her own."

Because I'm a Sarah Beth Durst fan and I think VESSEL sounds beyond incredible, I'm going to give one copy away:

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