MIRAGE book tour: On Writing a Series by Kristi Cook (guest post)

Today, I get to be part of the tour for MIRAGE by Kristi Cook which is hosted by Books Complete Me. Not only am I excited because I love Kristi--I'm also excited because MIRAGE was a really enjoyable read where the characters are stretched further and developed more and I love spending time with them. On the tour today, Kristi has a guest post for us about what it's like writing a series. So without further adeiu, here's Kristi!

Now that MIRAGE, the second book in the Winterhaven Series, has hit the shelves, it’s time for me to focus on finishing the third and last book in the series (alas, still untitled). And let me tell you….there are so many emotions involved in writing the final book in a series!

Let’s see: I’m excited to share the last piece of Violet’s story with readers, and to finally answer the question, “Will Aidan find his cure in time?” I’m nervous about wrapping up all the loose ends I’ve left open, and about giving readers who’ve stuck with me a satisfying ending. I’m sad about the prospect of saying goodbye to the cast of characters I’ve come to love, and even sadder about the prospect of writing a certain scene, that’s…well, going to break my heart to write.

Writing this book is hard. Really hard. I mean, I knew it would be, but I didn’t quite expect all these conflicting emotions hitting me at once. To paraphrase Violet in HAVEN (book #1), “You’ve got all that going on in your head at one time?” And the answer is yes. Yes, I do.

And the Winterhaven Series is just a three book series. I can only imagine what must have been going through J.K. Rowling’s head as she wrote the seventh Harry Potter book! As a reader, I could barely come to terms with the idea of saying goodbye to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. What must it have been like for Rowling?! (no, really—I don’t want to know!)

So, I can say with 100% certainty that the Winterhaven Series is just a trilogy. The third book will be the last. Oh, I understand how easy it is to get seduced by the idea of writing a much longer series, one that stretches on for years and years. After all, in some ways (not every way, mind you—trust me on this!), it’s easier. The world is already built, the characters fleshed out. It’s easy to slip back into Violet’s head—into her voice—and continue her story. Diving back into the Winterhaven world, for me, is like slipping into my favorite pair of pajamas, all comfy and warm and familiar. Ahhhh……

But I know that the more time I spend with Violet, Aidan, and their friends, the harder it will be to let them go. I know I need to make a clean break. Move on. Let some new characters take up residence in my head.

But hey, I’m not there yet. It’s not time. I’ve still got chapters to write, people to kill, loose ends to tie
up! Seriously, folks, I’m loving every second I’m spending in the Winterhaven world, and I hope you are, too!

I know I am! Thanks so much Kristi for letting be part of the celebration for MIRAGE.  To check out the other stops on the tour, just go here. 

Find Kristi and The Winterhaven Series online: Amazon / Barnes & Noble /Goodreads / Author Website / Twitter 

We're also having a giveaway! You can win: 1 signed ARC of MIRAGE, 1 signed finished copy of MIRAGE, and 1 signed poster of MIRAGE.  All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter info below. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour: All These Lives by Sarah Wylie

Today I get to be part of the book tour for ALL THESE LIVES by Sarah Wylie, which is hosted by Books Complete Me. Here's a little about the book, which drops on June 5th.

Sixteen-year-old Dani is convinced she has nine lives. As a child she twice walked away from situations where she should have died. But Dani’s twin, Jena, isn’t so lucky.  She has cancer and might not even be able to keep her one life. Dani’s father is in denial. Her mother is trying to hold it together and prove everything’s normal.  And Jena is wasting away.  


To cope, Dani sets out to rid herself of all her extra lives.  Maybe they’ll be released into the universe and someone who wants to live more than she does will get one.  Someone like Jena.  But just when Dani finds herself at the breaking point, she’s faced with a startling realization.  Maybe she doesn’t have nine lives after all.  Maybe she really only ever had one.

Since Dani believes she has nine lives, each blog on the tour will talk about one of nine things that you will love about this book. I'm very pleased to feature number three of the Nine Things You'll Love about All These Lives....and number three is Jack Penner.

In the book, Dani has a friend named Jack Penner. Even his name is pretty hot right? hehe. Here are nine things you'll love about Jack. (Because everyone loves a hot boy.)

1. Jack Penner is surprising. Contrary to how "quarterback" his name sounds, he does not play football. He is not popular. He is not anything except himself.  I like that. 
2. Jack says great lines like "A bag of chips? Really? Of all the things to come between us..." which make me chuckle to myself. And fangirl a little.
3. Jack's mom irons his jeans, which are just a little too short for him. 
4. Jack is miserable at video games. BUT you would totally want to be lost in the woods with him, because he doesn't need matches to start a fire. hehehe
5. He knows Spanish (at least, when he's not writing notes to Dani in the margin of his notebook!) And he's a great partner to have for a math project when you just don't feel like doing it. 
6. He wears Star Wars socks. Which, I completely LOVE about him. This is when he stole my heart. 
7. He thinks flirting is when Dani calls him "hot stuff" and "sweet thang" and Dani does it to make him uncomfortable. It's adorable too. 
8. He saves girls who make bad decisions so they don't make worse ones.
9. He likes libraries. :) *winkwink*

There's more to love about Jack Penner and All These Lives!! Check out some of the other things to love about this book by going to these blogs!

5/21 – Books Complete Me

5/22 – A Good Addiction

5/23 – Reading Lark

5/24 – Frenzy of Noise (You are here now!)

5/25 – I Am a Reader Not a Writer

5/28 – The Story Siren

5/29 – Once Upon a Twilight

5/30 – Books With Bite

5/31 – Supernatural Snark

6/1 – Portrait of a Book

And there's an awesome giveaway where you can win a signed copy of ALL THESE LIVES, 3 bookmarks for ATL and your choice of ANY 3 Apocalypsies books! That's awesome. All you need to do to enter is fill out the info over on SARAH'S BLOG. Giveaway ends at 11:00 pm EST on June 8, 2012. Good luck.

Go discover what to love about All These Lives. And don't miss adorable Jack Penner!

Blog Tour: The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

About the book: 

         A captivating novel about the woman who chaperoned an irreverent Louise Brooks to New York City in 1922, and the summer that would change them both. 
        Only a few years before becoming a famous actress and an icon for her generation, a fifteen-year-old Louise Brooks leaves Wichita to make it big in New York. Much to her annoyance, she is accompanied by a thirty-six-year-old chaperone who is neither mother nor friend. Cora Carlisle is a complicated but traditional woman with her own reasons for making the trip. She has no idea what she's in for: Young Louise, already stunningly beautiful and sporting her famous blunt bangs and black bob, is known for her arrogance and her lack of respect for convention. Ultimately, the five weeks they spend together will change their lives forever. 
        For Cora, New York holds the promise of discovery that might prove an answer to the question at the center of her being, and even as she does her best to watch over Louise in a strange and bustling city, she embarks on her own mission. And while what she finds isn't what she anticipated, it liberates her in a way she could not have imagined. Over the course of the summer, Cora's eyes are opened to the promise of the twentieth century and a new understanding of the possibilities for being fully alive.

My Review: 

I don't read a lot of adult fiction, but I found The Chaperone to be an enjoyable story with a great time period and characters. We got to see the 1920s as they were developing--with turmoil and questions and secret societies. As someone who really enjoys the time period, The Chaperone presents and builds a great glimpse into the time period. Every detail felt perfect and helped to build a picture in my head. 

The book takes the real story of actress Louise Brooks--but before she was an actress. Here, Louise Brooks is a fifteen year old girl about to start her journey to eventual stardom in the big city. Already Louise is outspoken, changed by the culture with short hair and short dresses. So when Cora is chosen to escort the girl to the city, both characters are thrown in the new life around them and the budding society that's overtaking the women of the 1920s. But each girl has another reason for going to New York.

It's because of these girls that the story comes to life. Not only was the insight into Louise Brooks' lively and inventive, she was also very connectable as a lost and lonely girl. (So much like the celebrities we sometimes see today.) But even more, Louise was challenging to Cora. 

And, although the story seems to be about the young Louise, it's really Cora's story.  For it's Cora who has a history and a secret. And Cora who never really got to be the child. She's strong and insightful, yet very much lost in her own way and even more, searching for answers. Cora goes against the grain of society; she wants to be something more than she is allowed or supposed to be. I love that in a story. The characters really jump off the pages and find a special spot in your heart. The journey we see these characters go on together--and separately--really make the story come alive. 

 I think anyone who likes historical fiction or stories filled with well-developed characters and a time period will enjoy The Chaperone. I don't think this novel should be classified by adult or young adult--for that's one that every woman searching for something else, whether in the past, present or future. I think it's something everyone can relate to.

About the author:

About Laura Laura Moriarty earned a degree in social work before returning for her M.A. in Creative Writing at the University of Kansas. She was the recipient of the George Bennett Fellowship for Creative Writing at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and is now a professor of Creative Writing at the University of Kansas. She lives in Lawrence, Kansas, and is at work on her next novel.

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty

Published by Riverhead Books, ISBN 978-1594487019

Hardcover, 384 pages

Publication date: June 5, 2012

This blog tour was hosted by TLC book tours. All comments here are of my own opinion. 

If you want to check out more of the stops on the tour, click here. 

Multi-character Interview: Bittersweet from Sarah Ockler

Sarah Ockler has a new book coming out TODAY. I'm a fan of Sarah's work and enjoyed her first two books (check out my review for Fixing Delilah from earlier this year). Her new novel is called Bittersweet and I can't wait to read it. Check out this description from Sarah's website:

Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life, and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances… a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. 

So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life…and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. 

It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last….

What's not to love? I mean, it's got hot hockey boys...and cupcakes! Anyway, I got to ask some questions to her characters--and a bunch of them took turns answering them.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three things would you want to make sure you had with you?    

Dani, Hudson’s BFF, says: 

1) My best friend Hudson, for sure. Ah, assuming I can tear her away from her hot little hockey boys. 2) My Nikon, just in case Hudson decides to bring any of her hot little hockey boys on our desert island adventure. 3) An unlimited supply of Trick’s corned beef hash. Party? I think so!

What's your favorite kind of cupcake?   

Earl, the Hurley’s diner regular says: 

Cupcakes? What’s the point of cupcakes? Can’t dunk ‘em in my coffee. Can’t eat ‘em straight ‘cause they stick to my dentures. But that Hudson sure looks like she knows her way around a frosting gun, so try a few yourself and let me know what you think.

How do you take your coffee---black and bitter or sugary sweet?  

Hudson says:

I like my coffee like I like my hockey boys. Hot, strong, and just a little sweet. ;-)

Do you remember the first time you were on the ice? Can you tell us about it? 

Octogenarian and Olympic Gold medaling figure skating coach Lola Capriani says: 

Hey greenblades, did you drag my ass outta bed this morning to jaw-jack, or do you wanna learn something over here? Stop flappin’ those gums and start movin’ those skates! Show me that triple flip, or I’ll give you somethin’ to cry about!

What's one thing you've always wanted to do and why? Do you think you ever will?  

Mr. Napkins the hamster says: 

I’ve always wanted to try Match.com. Don’t get me wrong… me and Bug? We got a pretty good thing goin’ over here. But sometimes I can’t help but daydream about special hamster lady, settling down, having a few hundred kids. But… sigh. Match.com is a pipe dream. My arms aren’t long enough to reach the keyboard. Genetics. What can you do? Hey, you gonna eat that bacon?

What are you most afraid of?  

Shelvis, the female Elvis impersonator who has somehow achieved “soul mate” status with Hudson’s father, says: 

Wardrobe malfunction at the Flamingo. These babies don’t stay tucked in on their own, know what I mean? Uh, thank you. Thank you very much.

Describe your perfect day.  

Bug, Hudson’s little brother, says: 

First I’d invent a time machine. Then, I go back to the 1800s to observe the Civil War, skipping around to catch all the battles, and I’d take lots of pictures and videos and stuff, from all the best angles. Then I’d come back to Watonka. Eat some breakfast with Mrs. Ferris. Change out Mr. Napkins’ water bottle. Sneak one of my sister’s leftover cupcakes. Then I’d review my notes and finish my Civil War model, and it will be the best model ever, because I was totally there. Then I destroy the time machine so no one finds out how I got the war stuff to look so authentic. Then my sister would come home from work and she’d be so amazed that she’d let me stay up late with her and eat even more cupcakes and we wouldn’t tell my mom. Holy cannoli, you guys. That would be the best day ever!

Anything else you want to tell us about you?  

Trick, the Hurley’s diner cook, says: 

Dani’s a smart girl, and I do make a pretty mean corned beef hash.

BITTERSWEET comes out today!! Get it online at Amazon or B&N or stop by your local indie store and pick up a copy.

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes Blog Tour

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Date: October 1, 2011
ISBN:  978-1402255441
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages
Source: for review

 

I don't review a lot of picture books. In fact, this is my first one ever! But I love reading them. As an ex-nanny, ex-children's bookseller, big sister and a life-long babysitter, I've got this soft spot for picture books. I love them. I even have favorites. There's something about creating a world for a child that I've always loved. These simple principles and thoughts presented in fun, imaginative ways. 

When I was asked to review THE GIRL WHO NEVER MADE MISTAKES, I said yes immediately. As a girl who never makes mistakes (kidding! I make tons but I hate them!) I was intrigued. The book is a cute concept of a girl who learns that mistakes are part of life and when you make them--even though it's terrifying not to be perfect--things are more enjoyable.

You should check out this book. I also have a treat for you. Co-author Gary Rubinstein has offered up this lovely guest post about co-authoring a picture book. It's really interesting stuff. I know about the process of a YA book, but a picture book brings other challenges--especially when you are co-authoring.

Mark and I met in 2000 at a Teach For America reunion. At the time he was writing a comic strip called Mr. Lowe, about a teachers, and I had just had my first book Reluctant Disciplinarian (about my first year of teaching) published. We became friends and soon found ourselves sending each other drafts of our new projects for one another to evaluate.

Ten years later, around the time that both of our daughters had turned one, Mark and I talked about finally working together on a project. We each came up with about five ideas and over Skype we agreed to work on one of Mark's ideas about what life might be like for a girl who never made any mistakes. When I wrote the first draft, I thought it reminded me a bit of a Twilight Zone episode where a world exists with an unusual character with an unusual ability, yet people are accepting of this reality.

Throughout the next four months, we went back and forth writing drafts until we had about fifteen. Then we evaluated what were the best parts about each draft and assembled them together. Mark drew rough sketches for the book, which we learned needed to be exactly 32 pages. This limitation was a challenge since it meant that certain scenes we had wanted to have needed to be completely changed or deleted so the ending wouldn't be rushed.

We sent the illustrated draft to several agents, and heard back from Kerry Sparks at the Levine Greenberg agency that she wanted to represent us. Within two months, we had an offer from a great publisher called Sourcebooks. The next year was a lot more work than we had anticipated. There were a lot of issues that our editor pointed out to us about certain word choices and other things which we needed to fix. It was tough, sometimes, trying to get all three of us to agree, but the final product, I think, is that much better for the process.

When the final text was approved, Mark got to work on the huge task of producing 32 watercolor paintings. As the co-writer, my job was to 'annoy' Mark (at his request) by asking him how it was going every few days. Finally, after more than two years the book is a reality.

I'm glad that Mark and I both already had internalized the message of the book--that you can't be paralyzed by the fear of making mistakes. Getting a children's book published is hard and had we really thought about the likelihood that it would never go anywhere, we may not have worked so hard on it.

Luckily, they didn't think it through and now this cute book is in the world!! Thanks so much Gary for stopping by.

 Get more info/pre-order:
Goodreads ||| Amazon ||| IndieBound ||| Book Depository |||| Barnes & Noble

The author on the web:
Mark Pett |||| Gary Rubinstein

The Apocalypse Gene Blog Tour

The Apocalypse Gene tour is hosted by Unputdownable Books. We have an interview with the authors, Suki Michelle and Carlyle Clark. But before we jump into that, here's a little about the book!

Summary:

With Pandemic ravaging the globe, Olivya's psychic Sight compels her to see auras riddled with the colors of despair and now her mother is infected. Olivya’s only hope is the mysterious Mikah, a powerful Empath who claims the Pandemic is linked to his clan, the Kindred, and their brooding, monstrous, Immortal Lord.  

But how can she trust a boy who can manipulate her very emotions?

With Mikah's aid, Olivya races to unearth Kindred secrets, desperate to find a cure, only to discover the Pandemic is far, far more than a mere disease.

About the authors:

Suki Michelle is a life-long Chicagoan with one daughter, a German Shephard, a calico and a turtle. 

Carlyle Clark is a burly dude from San Diego. He can look menacing at a glance, but as soon as he opens his mouth – pure GEEK! 

On the outside...Suki and Carlyle are totally disparate. On the inside...they are the REAL Neo-Twins. You’ll have to read The Apocalypse Gene to find out who the Neo-Twins are, but here’s a hint: They are twisted devils with mirror-melded auras.

If you could be an item on a Mexican restaurant menu, what would the other person be and why? Suki: Carlyle would be a plate of refried beans, rice, and some meat-cheese thing all mashed together into a single gray indefinable blob (hold the lettuce).

Carlyle: Suki would be neatly stacked nachos with the toppings evenly distributed on every chip with the perfect mathematical ratio of cheese to salsa to sour cream.

What are four words that describe the other person?
Suki: Carlyle is brilliant, quirky, kind, and insane.

Carlyle: Suki is enigmatic, obvious, genius, and gentle.


Tell us about your novel in six words or less!
Psychic kids, dying world, unique immortals.

Where did the inspiration for The Apocalypse Gene come from?
Suki: It came from a long boring day typing medical reports (day job - medical transcriptionist) and playing the what-if game. What if there was a pandemic and the cure was far beyond the reach of science and in the hands of mystics? How did the two of you start writing together?

Carlyle: We met at an online writing workshop where w critiqued each other’s work. Mutual respect for each other’s skills developed into a cyber-friendship and escalated to cyber-love. Suki: Yeah, and then I got divorced after a long and tedious marriage. Carlyle drove, sight unseen, from San Diego to Chicago. We’ve been together ever since, going on five years.


Your blog says the two of you have complementary skill sets in writing. How do you make this work?
Carlyle: When Suki came up with the idea for The Apocalypse Gene, she asked me for help with plotting, and we decided to write it together.

Suki: He’s great at laying down story lines choreographing battles.

Carlyle: Suki uses her poetic roots to craft the prose.

Suki: Carlyle is a complex thinker and I’m simple-minded.   

Carlyle: The result is a story with many twists and turns (my influence) laid out in an easily understood fashion (Suki’s influence).


Thanks so much Suki and Carlyle!!

You can follow the tour from the very beginning by going here. Make sure you check out all the stops on the tour for chances to win copies of Apocalypse Gene and to win the Launch Party Grand Prize Giveaway---a Kindle!! (Plus some other goodies!)


The next stop on the tour is at Bittersweet Enchantment

Get more info:
Goodreads ||| Website ||| Trailer |||Facebook
 
The authors on the web:
Twitter 

Read an excerpt here!

Mara Madness Blog Tour

Welcome to today's stop on the MARA Madness Blog Tour hosted all month by Books Complete Me. This is stop number 10 and to see all the other ones, click on that banner below! I love The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and I'm excited to be part of the tour!

Today, you get to meet Daniel. Who's he? Well, he is Mara's amazing brother. I think you'll get to know a lot about him in this interview. He's loyal and he's always looking out for his family. There's something really intriguing about Daniel, and he's one of my favorite characters in the novel. He's smart, friendly, and a little geeky sometimes. A great combination! Before you meet him in the book, meet him here.

What do you do for fun?
I read—Don DeLillo and Franz Kafka are my favorite authors. I also write music—Chopin and Rachmaninoff are my favorite composers.

What is your earliest memory?
When I was five, my parents took me and Mara on a cruise to Alaska. They had this talent show set up for the kids and my parents wanted me and Mara to participate so they could get a break and relax. Mara wanted to sing a song and I wanted to play piano, but then she decided she wanted to do something together. So we practiced Chopsticks for weeks, keeping it a secret from our parents, until the day of the talent show. The crew took us to a big stage and there was a piano all set up in the middle, and when we went out there, we saw virtually every single person on the cruise ship in the audience—there must have been hundreds of people. I remember being really nervous and I froze, but Mara didn’t miss a beat. She just walked right up to the piano and sat down, then turned and waited for me. I followed, and we played, and everyone gave us a standing ovation. That’s my earliest memory.

Who has had the most influence on you?
Franz Kafka.

Who is the most important person in your life, and why?
My mom. She’s been through more than most people know about, but she hasn’t let anything weaken her. She loves her kids ferociously and would do anything for us.

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far?
When the delivery people showed up at our old house with the piano. I don’t remember ever saying that I wanted to play, but I think my mom knew that I did. It was an old Steinway and must have been expensive, but without it, I wouldn’t have discovered how much I love music.

What was it like when you heard about the accident your sister was in?
I don’t think I’ve ever been so scared. At the time, we didn’t know if she would wake up. But our father told us more than once how dangerous it is to do what she did—she wasn’t the first teenager to try it. So I was also angry at her. It was truly the most horrible moment of my life.

What's your biggest secret?
I have Bieber Fever. 

---
That's Daniel!! You'll get to know him more in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and he's an amazing brother/character.

As part of the Mara Madness Blog Tour, you get to solve a puzzle! Each blog has one letter assigned to them. Each stop on the tour (21 stops total) will be posting a letter and the chance to enter ends the last day of the tour, 9/30 at midnight. When you put the puzzle together, it spells out an important line from the book! Even if you haven't read the book yet, you'll still be able to piece it together. You can submit your answer here when you know it. Make sure to check out Books Complete Me on Monday the October 3rd to see if you were right!

The prize: 2 people will win a signed, finished copy of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer!

The letter for this blog:

Make sure you check out Books with Bite on Monday (and all the other stops!) to gather the clues.
 

Skyship Academy #1 Blog Tour

I have the immense honor of hosting the blog tour for The Pearl Wars (Skyship Academy #1) by  Nick James.

A devastated Earth’s last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space, and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers—political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth’s stratosphere—and the corrupt Surface government.

Jesse Fisher, a Skyship brat, and Cassius Stevenson, a young Surface operative, cross paths when they both venture into forbidden territory in pursuit of Pearls. Their chance encounter triggers an unexpected reaction, endowing each boy with remarkable—and dangerous—abilities that their respective governments would stop at nothing to possess. Enemies thrust together with a common goal, Jesse and Cassius make their way to the ruins of Seattle to uncover the truth about their new powers, the past they didn’t know they shared, and a shocking secret about the Pearls.


This is really great book---full of suspense, great world building, humor, enjoyable characters and a secret that involves the most precious item in the world. Plus, Nick James is an amazing guy I had the pleasure of meeting at BEA. I'm excited to help him put this together. We have some awesome things in store for you.

Check out the list of bloggers involved, and get ready---it all starts on September 1.

Intrisical by Lani Woodland

Publisher: Pendrell Publishing

Date: August 20, 2010

Series or Standalone: Series

ISBN: 978-0982729700

Format: Hardcover, 315 pages

Source: Book Tour

Get more info/order: Amazon   Goodreads    The Book Webpage

The author on the web:  Twitter   Website   

First Line: My shadow stretched out in front of me, making my small build and slight frame seem almost tall—willowy even.

 Intrisical has been on my list since the Spooktacular last year. And finally---finally---thanks to a book tour from Extreme Reader Book Reviews I got to read it.

In this story, Yara is a Waker--one who can communicate with ghosts. Her whole family has the ability to see them. She was relieved when she was the only one who was spared, who got the chance to be normal. When she starts at a new boarding school, she hears the legends of a curse that takes the life of a student every two years. As another life is taken, Yara learns she too has the power of her family--but she doesn't realize it until she's knee deep in a mystery. Now the one thing about herself that she always hated, ends up being the only thing that can save her.

Yea...sounds good? It is! Not only is the story well-developed, brimming with mythology and fun storylines, but the characters are also great. Yara and Brent (the hot love interest) are so full of banter and romantic tension it makes my heart happy.

ALL the characters are real. You get to see their relationships develop, which I like a lot. Her secondary characters (Cherie and Steve) are really important to the story, too. You get to know them, get to understand them and without them the story wouldn't work as well.

It was a truly creepy book. I grew up reading Goosebumps and watching Are You Afraid of the Dark, so I don't say that very often. It takes a lot to get under my skin and Intrisical did that completely. It was a wonderful blend of a unique story and mythology, great snarky and smart characters and paranormal. (And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that by the end, after all the creepy was over, I was left a pile of gush. *sigh*)

The idea of the curse, seeing how it has effected all the years of the school and Yara's family, was a great twist to the story. I don't want to say the wrong thing and ruin it BUT there's a thing that happens to Yara that gives me chills. While some parts of the book were a little slow, they would be followed up by these really intense, fact-paced scenes. It didn't bother me much. Between the characters, the ghosts and the mystery, I couldn't stop reading. I'll definitely be checking out the second one!

Shades Of Atlantis Blog Tour

Today I join some great blogger friends to host a stop on the SHADES OF ATLANTIS blog tour. Before I get to my portion of the tour, here's all the tour info and book info.

 Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn't quite fit in...in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona'...m

Win some lovely things! There are four giveaways going on:  1) Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar, and SoA mug. 2) Signed copy of Shades of Atlantis, a lined spiral notebook with SoA cover, bookmark, keyring, SoA 2011 calendar 3) TWO e-book copy of SoA

All you have to do to win: Leave a comment on each blog stop. The winners WILL be checked and chosen by Random.org  from the final blog April 19. You do not need to be a follower of ANY blog. Open internationally.

Blog Tour Stops:

April 1: Mundie Moms
April 2: Once Upon A Twilight 

April 3: Good Choice Reading: 
April 4: (ME!)
April 5: Girls Just Reading
April 6: Books, Movies, Reviews. Oh my
April 7: CSI:Librarian
April 8: YA Bound
April 9: YA Booklover Blog
April 10: The Reading Fever
April 11: Home Between Pages
April 12: Books and Shtuff
April 13: Bookworm Lisa
April 14: Moonlight Book Reviews
April 15: One Book Shy of a Full Shelf
April 16: Diva's Bookcase
April 17: Ticket To Anywhere
April 18: The Crazy Bookworm
April 19: A Trail of Books Left Behind and A Tale of Many Reviews (Final stop)

Since the death of their parents, Triona Pryor and her brother, Ben, have lived with their aunt and uncle in Camden, Maine. Now in her senior year of high school, Triona loves her family and friends, but she has always felt that she didn't quite fit in...in Camden, or anywhere else.

Enter Caleb Wallace, the devilishly handsome man who has recently moved to Triona's small town. While their attraction to each other is instantaneous, it also proves to be dangerous...and deadly.

When tragedy strikes, Triona flees to London for solace and to start her life anew. It's there she discovers from an unlikely source that her family has been keeping secrets from her - secrets about not only her birthright, but her ultimate destiny as well. Armed with this knowledge, Triona finds herself thrown into a whole new world and into a battle to save the lives of everyone she loves.

I have for you today a character interview. It was a hard decision because the book is full of great characters. But I picked my two favorite characters: Ben and Amanda. Ben is Triona's little brother and Amanda is her best friend. They were awesome characters, especially Ben. I found him very, very lovable. Enjoy the interview!

BEN:

What are you feelings toward Caleb?
Complicated. I still feel Caleb was spineless back when he and Triona got together, but Triona loves him so I make an effort. At least he admitted that he messed up. Triona thinks everything is cool between us now, but I think it’s safe to say Caleb and I have some unresolved issues.

How did you feel when you found out about not being human?
My first reaction was excitement. I wasn’t shocked about the physical change. It came kind of natural to me. It’s difficult to explain. You know when someone asks a question and the answer is on the tip of your tongue? Well, it was like remembering the answer. It was something there all along. It took a few weeks to get my head around the birth right stuff.

When did you fall in love with Amanda?
Aww, you had to go there. Haha. I think I should probably put a disclaimer here — Guardians recognize their soul-mate by scent. It’s love at first sight for all of us.

I was five and Amanda was six when we met. I used to tease her just so I could see her cheeks burn and she always had a smile for me. Then when we got older… this is going to sound creepy, there were nights I would lie awake knowing she was in the next room with Triona having a sleepover. I could hear them giggling through the walls. It was just like awakening as a Guardian, I just knew Amanda was the missing piece of me right from the start.

What's your biggest fear?
Loosing Amanda or Triona. I’m pretty strong these days but that’s my Achilles’ heel.

What is something you want us to know about you?
I’m a big softy, but you really don’t want to get on my bad side. I don’t forgive easily.
Since you're pretty much immortal, what are some things you would like do with that?

What are some things you want to do with your longer life?
I’m not immortal and I don’t have a death wish, so I tend not to act as if I am. We live a lot longer than humans and are hard to kill but not impossible. Put it this way, you won’t find me jumping out of airplanes without a parachute anytime soon.

Our future is still a little unsettled. Caleb and Samuel began unraveling our history almost straight away but there is still a lot about who we are and what we are meant to do that we don’t know.  Eventually I would like to travel. I would really like to do something with all this money we have now. We can’t spend it all. Right now I’m not thinking further than being with Amanda.

What's the best memory you have with Triona? The worst?
The best is probably going to sound like the worst but it really isn’t. After our parents died and we moved in with Carmel and Lewis, I went through a phase where I couldn’t fall asleep alone in a room without waking up screaming. For six months Triona sat by my bed and held my hand until I dozed off.

The worst was the day she convinced me to take the boat out after the fire. I should never have agreed to it. She thought she had me fooled but she didn’t. I knew she wasn’t okay.

Some would call you a sidekick, what would you say to that?
Sidekick? Ha! Who are these people? Kick ass maybe but not a sidekick. Of course coming from Triona’s point of view it might look that way. When I tell my story you will see a whole other side to me.

Anything else you want us to know?
Yeah, I haven’t forgotten what Zeal did.

AMANDA:

What did you think when Triona and Caleb got together?
I was really happy for Triona when they finally got together. It was great to see Triona so happy with him and it was obvious Caleb adored her. I felt bad for telling Ben everything that happened with Caleb when he first got to town. I think it colored his opinion of Caleb negatively. I wanted it all to work out for Triona so badly. I guess Ben is a better judge of character than I am. Do not tell him I said that.
What is something you want us to know about you?
I make the best cookies. I’m a lot more ambitious than people give me credit for and the idea of living for 400 years is scary. On one hands I’m excited to see how the world changes, on the other hand I can’t envisage the future at all. I’m still trying to get used to the idea.
When did you fall in love with Ben?
It’s hard to know. We were friends for a long time and I fought him all the way on taking it further. I couldn’t make sense of my feeling for him. I hated being away from him and it was weird because Triona is my best friend. Ben was her little brother. I used to get so angry when all the pretty girls at school followed him around like love sick puppies.

One night, when I was sixteen, I went out with this guy, Jack, from school. Ben was hiding behind the hedge outside my house. He wasn’t exactly stealth about it. The date only proved I had no interest in Jack or anyone else for that matter. When I got home Ben was still waiting. I went right up to him and kissed him for the first time. I think I loved him all along. He really didn’t need the Guardian stuff to win me over. He’s thoughtful, funny, smart, incredibly loyal and he loves his family. I know I doubted him a few times over the years but Ben has proved he will never let me down.

How was living it in London?
I loved living in London but I hated being away from Ben. At home, I’m the baby of the family. I have two older sisters. My mom cooked and cleaned. My parents paid the utilities. I think I found my independence in London. I got a job, I loved the classes I went to, and I made some friends. Triona paid for the apartment but I paid toward food and bills.

It was rough being away from Ben especially during the time we didn’t speak and seeing Triona spend so much time with John. John is a great guy.

I don’t have any bad memories of London, but after everything that happened I wanted to go home. My only regret about London is that I didn’t see more of it. We’ve been back since and I still didn’t get to do the tourist thing. Maybe next time.

What's the best memory you have with Triona? The worst?
The best memories with Triona are with Jennifer too. We used to have sleepovers and sit around in our PJs laughing and eating junk all night. We actually had one recently to cheer Jen up. She’s been having a tough time lately.

After the fire, that was bad.

What are you most looking forward to in life?
I’m looking forward to building a life, no more secrets. There are a lot of possibilities now.

What's your role as Triona's best friend?
I’m not sure I have a role, I’m mean it’s not like I’m playing a part. I’ve never thought about it like that. I guess I will keep doing what I’ve always done. Point out when she messes up with my passive aggressive behavior, haha, and be there for the good stuff, and the bad stuff. It’s a big relief knowing everything is out in the open between us now.

Anything else you want us to know?
I meant it when I said Caleb will have to deal with me if he messes up again.

Now you want to the read the book, right? Good thing we're doing some giveaways!  Good luck with the entries and have fun visiting all the blogs!

"Half Moon" Cover Reveal Book Tour

A couple weeks ago I had the pleasure of interviewing Jordan Deen, the author of The Crescent. And now, I'm happy to host her cover reveal for the sequel, Half Moon, which is released on January 13, 2011.

It is likely that you are doing the cover scavenger hunt right now and you should have come here to me from www.MyOverstuffedBookshelf.blogspot.com. If not, see the list below to figure out how you messed up. If you have no idea what's happening, keep reading. I promise it will make sense! If you are in the right spot and the right time then congratulations. AND you are almost done. (Take a moment to celebrate with a little dancing...Really. It is said dancing will increase your luck and luck will help you win a prize. Prizes are fun.)

Speaking of prizes...Do you want to win all these great prizes? Because you can...

• Half Moon Swag
• $25 B&N Gift Card
• Journal
• Jewelry Box
• USB Camera/Video recorder

You think they are fun and you want them? I thought so. Those are some pretty awesome prizes. How do you win this? Well, let me remind you (or tell you, if you are just tuning in to this scavenger hunt...)

1. You must follow this blog and Jordan's to participate.
2. You must comment this blog post and Jordan's.
3. You must retrieve the one word from the Half Moon post on this page in the order of the words from the blogs.
4. When you finish here, go to the next site until you finish. This hunt started and will end on Jordan's site so it's never too late for you to start!
5. Once you are done, email the secret phrase to Jordan. (email: info@JordanDeen.com)

That's all! Once you have commented, followed everyone, and emailed Jordan--you are done. You get to wait until the hunt ends and see if you are the lucky winner. (I hoped you danced.) If you want extra entries you can tweet this contest, add it to your blog roll, or share it on facebook. You will need to provide the links for in your email to Jordan. The contest starts today and ends at midnight on September 9 (California time).

Finally. We're at the fun part. Here's some more of chapter two of Half Moon--and it's a super fun piece. (You can read chapter one by visiting Jordan's website here and clicking on the Half Moon link to the left.) 

The word is... “I need time.” With his hand in mine, I squeezed tightly, wanting him to look down at me. Instead, he turned my hand over and examined my now almost completely faded mark. “I don’t know what we are. When I came here with you, I knew I had to come. I wanted to be with you. You made things so much better. But now I’m here, we’re never allowed to be alone, everyone walks on eggshells around me, and I’m treated like an outsider. If we haven’t fully bonded and I haven’t transformed, then maybe I’m not the one. Maybe I don’t carry the gene and I’m not meant to transform after all? Maybe this is wrong." Did you find

the word is? Brandon straightened from the tree to tower over me with his jaw locked and his teeth grinding. “Even though you don’t feel it, I do. That’s the difference. You consume every inch of my body—thoughts of you, your touch, your smell, everything. You are everything to me. It’s not about whether I live or die. That’s what you are missing. You are missing that need for me—the want. You don’t understand the pain that I felt watching you, everyday, falling further in love with Alex. I’m risking everything for you. You don’t truly understand the danger I put myself in to protect you and be near you. I’d do it all over again if that’s what it will take.” Again, the word was is. :)

Did you spot the word you need to collect? I made it extra tricky for you. I hope you figured it out.

The next blogger you will visit is Jami over at YAaddict. Stay a minute and browse around. I love that blog. Happy touring you bunch of scavengers!

*** If you would like to enter this contest then FEEL FREE!!! Just start at Jordan Deen's website (www.jordandeen.com) and then go to the #1 blog:  www.NarrativelySpeaking.com  (1 of 14)

Here is the full line up of blogs (in order--just in case you get lost) participating in this AMAZING contest

P.S. Might I add... FOLLOW all of the blogs, they are very current and informative. I know, because I borrowed the idea for this section  from #4. :)

  1)  Lynsey N. (www.NarrativelySpeaking.com) Twitter: @LynseyNewton
  2)  Jessica E. (www.TotalBookaHolic.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @Totalbookaholic
  3)  Heather (www.FireandIcePhoto.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @FireandIcePhoto
  4)  Amy (www.ReadingTeen.net) Twitter: @ReadingTeen2
  5)  Sherry S. (www.flippingpagesforallages.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @Ssalach21
  6)  Monica S. (www.bibliophilicbookblog.com)  Twitter: @Bibliophilicboo
  7)  Courtney Rae (www.Courtney-Reads.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @CourtneyyRae
  8)  Alex B (www.AlexReadsBooks.blogspot.com) Twitter: @ABennettBooks
  9)  Amy Stewart (www.SimpleLoveOfReading.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @AmysSimpleLove
10)  Amy Jacobs (www.MyOverstuffedBookshelf.blogspot.com)   Twitter: @StuffdBookshelf
11)  Danielle B. (www.FrenzyofNoise.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @daniellebunner
12)  Jami (www.YAAddict.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @YAAddict
13)  Audrey S. (www.desertlioness.blogspot.com)  Twitter: @DesertLioness91
14)  Jessica S. (www.JASouders.blogspot.com)