Beautiful Dead: Arizona by Eden Maguire - Review

Title: Beautiful Dead: Arizona
Author: Eden Maguire
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: October 2010
Source: Publisher

Plot (Goodreads):

The second gripping mystery in this stunning series that will leave you restless. A must for all fans of paranormal romance.Something strange is happening at Ellerton High. Jonas, Arizona, Summer, Phoenix: all dead within a year. And then they appear before Darina, Phoenix-s grief-stricken girlfriend - beautiful and sub-human. They are the Beautiful Dead, souls in limbo, and they need Darina-s help to right the wrong linked to their deaths, and finally set them free -After helping Jonas, it-s time for Darina to unscramble Arizona-s mysterious death. It's been ten months since Arizona drowned in Hartmann Lake. Suicide, it would seem. But something doesn't add up. Drowning herself in a hidden-away lake does not sound like strong, confident, Arizona: Ellerton High School's high-maintenance drama queen. Darina needs to help Arizona the way she helped Jonas. But the Beautiful Dead are in danger, and time is running out ...

My Thoughts:

I enjoyed this novel so much more than the first book. Arizona's story hooked me in so much more than Jonas's for some reason, plus the love story of Darina and Phoenix Really cranked up a notch. This series just builds and I can't wait to get my hands on Beautiful Dead: Phonenix.

The Aristobrats by Jennifer Solow - Review

Title: The Aristobrats 

Author: Jennifer Solow

Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Release date: September 1, 2010

Source: Publisher

 

Plot (Goodreads): 

 

 It’s all about the Attitude

Parker Bell knows the secret to beauty is pretty simple–wearing the right clothes isn’t as important as how you feel in them. Popularity is like that too. It’s all about attitude. You have to picture who you want to be and then just imagine that’s who you already are.

This year Parker and her three best friends have made their way to the top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy. And they’re ready to use their Aristobrat status to help spread positive vibes throughout the school. But when the girls are assigned to produce the seriously lame school webcast, their popularity plummets! Will this tragedy destroy the girls' status? Or their friendship? Or both?

My Thoughts:

This novel puts me in the mindset of the wildly popular 'Clique' series. It was seriously cute. There was so much girl power and talk of besties you couldn't help to fall in love with the four friends in this novel. It was a refreshing read, taking back to the side of YA for younger readers (I recommend ages 10-14 for this one), because the focus was on the the struggle of popularity and true friends.

This is a cute series. Read book one of the Aristobrats series if you're into Clique and Babysitters Club type novels.

Ways To Get ARCs (Advanced Reader Copies)

I've gotten a few emails from readers asking how to get ARCs, so I was thinking I should write up a blog post about it. There are probably different ways to obtain advanced novels, but this is a simple check list of how I got mine.

1. Read A LOT of novels in the genre you most enjoy. I'm a Young Adult writer, because I absolutely LOVE that genre. I've been pretty much a strict YA reader since 2008.

2. Blog about every book you read. This means start a blog if you don't already have one. You can do that free using Blogger, like me. Soon the number of your reviews will add up. Even if you don't get a ton of comments, they're getting read.

3. Touching a little on number one again, read all SUB GENRES in your genre. What I mean is, don't just read YA paranormal, add some contemporary in the mix. Publishers notice, believe me.

Now, I know what you're thinking: That's it? My answer is a simple yes. I started out just blogging about every book I read, which meant all these books were already out. After I got around fifty books under my belt, I joined ARC tours.

Dark Faerie Tales
Around The World ARC Tours
Star Book Tours
We Love YA Tours

Most of these require at least 30 reviews posted on your blog for acceptance. You also have to be able to read a novel in less than a week, because you have seven days before you have to mail it on to the next person. The danger here is signing up for a ton of tours and getting stuck with more than one book to read in a week, but it is doable. Also there is the mailing cost, which currently sits around three bucks plus 80 cents for a delivery conformation, per book.

Joining these tours increased my blog traffic though, and got me more invitations via email from publishers to read ARCs for them. I also get a lot of publicists contacting me now offering up books for reviews.

A lot of publishers are offering up digital ARCs now. Simon & Schuster (Galley Grab) is one I read for. I got an invitation to read for them and ran out and got an ereader just to download novels. LOL

Speaking of digital downloads, here are a couple of places that offer up ARCs. But you have to be approved here too:

NETGALLEY 
Early Reviewers/Library Thing

If all else fails and you don't get ARC offers after all this, contact the publishers directly. Here's a couple to get you started.

Penguin
Simon & Schuster

So now you have some ideas to get you started on a path of ARC readership. Go forth and conquer!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand - Review

Title: Unearthly
Author: Cynthia Hand
Paperback, 432 pages

Expected publication: January 1st 2011 by HarperCollins Australia
Series: Unearthly #1
CharactersClara Gardner, Jeffrey Gardner, Christian Prescott, Wendy Avery, Tucker Avery, Kay Patterson, Angela Zerbino, Samjeeza (Sam)
Setting: Mountain View, California (United States) and Jackson Hole, Wyoming



Cover Currently Out



My Favorite Verison of the Cover

PLOT:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees. . .


Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what it is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place--and out of place, at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make--between honesty and deciet, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

My Thoughts:

Ah, where to start. I devoured this novel in one day. I just couldn't get enough of it. The beginning started off a tad slow, just because you're just kind of thrown into the story. It took me a minute to get the hang of things, and how her world worked, but once I got the idea...I was hooked.

For me, the story took off when Clara and her family get settled into their new home in Jackson Hole. The snow covered setting and the clear division of the Haves and Have-Nots was a nice change of pace from most YA novels. Clara wasn't the instant most popular girl at her new school like we see a lot in YA, and the bad hair dye job of bright orange hair didn't help her much in that department. Clara was a fun MC to read, and Ms. Hand's writing style really brought her to life.

My most favorite character in the novel was Tucker Avery. He leaps off the page and has more personality than you can shake a stick at. His cowboy charm is infectious, and I loved every minute of it. He made the novel for me. Now, I can't wait for the second novel in this series just to get my Tucker fix.

So read this one if you are into ANGELS, underdog MCs, and lovable cowboys!

Through Her Eyes by Jennifer Archer - Review

Title: Through Her Eyes
Author: Jennifer Archer
Hardcover, 240 pages

Expected publication: April 5th 2011 by HarperTeen
Special Note: ARC Review

Plot:

Sixteen-year-old Tansy Piper moves with her grandfather and her mother, a horror writer, to the setting of her mother's next book--a secluded house outside of a tiny, desolate West Texas town. Lonely and upset over the move, Tansy escapes into her photography and the dark, seductive poems she finds hidden in the cellar, both of which lure her into the mind and world of a mysterious, troubled young man who died sixty years earlier.

From the Author's website:

Every ghost has a story to tell


The last place Tansy Piper wants to be is stuck in Cedar Canyon, Texas, in the middle of nowhere, with a bunch of small-town kids. But when her mother decides to move to the desolate West Texas town, Tansy has no choice but to go along. Once there, Tansy is immediately drawn to the turret of their rickety old house, a place she soon learns has a disturbing history. But its the strange artifacts she finds in the cellar--a pocket watch, a journal of poetry, and a tiny crystal--that have the most chilling impact on her.

Tansy soon finds that through the lens of her camera, she can become part of a surreal black-and-white world where her life is intertwined with that of mysterious, troubled Henry, who lived in the same house and died decades earlier. It seems their lives are linked by fate and the artifacts she found, but as Tansy begins spending more and more time in the past, her present world starts to fade away. Tansy must untangle herself from Henry's dangerous reality-- before she loses touch with her own life forever.

Watch the Trailer Here!!!
My Thoughts:

This was one deliciously creepy read. I seriously love a good ghost story and this one delivers. It's been a while since I've read a true young adult (YA) haunting story, so it's a rare thing in YA. The main character, Tansy, did get a little whiny at times, but it wasn't enough to super annoy me or anything, and I would say that was really the only flaw I found when reading this one. The plot was on point. It kept me engaged the entire time and I just had to know what happened to Henry (the ghost) and how their fates where intertwined as described on the summary on the back of the book.

The ending was AWESOME! It totally expands things and I really can't say much more because I'll slip up and give it away. I will say that I am sad that this is a stand alone novel, so you definitely will get all your details at the end. No lingering cliff hangers like most YA novels that turn into series with this one.

Add this one to your to-be-read list ASAP! :)

My Ereader Won't Let Me Cheat

About a month and a half ago I bought myself an early Christmas present. Yep, that's right I bought an ereader. To be honest, when I bought it I wasn't sure how much I'd actually use it. I figured I'd miss the physical book in my hand and didn't know if I was ready to jump on the whole ereader train. But, I was getting so many invitations to some big publishing companies to read digital ARCs I had to find a way to carry those digital books around with me.

The first book was a little rough getting through because I'm a book cheater. I had to learn to adjust. I know I'm not the only person in the world who flips through the book to know what I'm getting into. I like to know who the LI is, or if the book is dragging to see if it changes pace somewhere along the line. The ereader, however makes that kind of difficult. It forces me to read the entire novel without being able to flip through the remaining pages. Therefore, I can't cheat. I have to read the book page by page to discover all the answers, which also makes it hard for me to flip back and reread sections if I overlooked something.

So, I guess my point is, I love the convenience of being able to carry my digital downloads around with me, but I still miss the physical book. I'm interested to hear your guys thoughts on ereaders. Do you have one? Are you going to get one? What impact do you think these little gadgets will have on the publishing industry?

Shout out and share your opinions.

I Am Number Four Movie!!

OMG you guys! Did you know the YA novel I AM NUMBER FOUR is going to be a movie?!?! I haven't gotten around to reading this one yet, but if the book is as action packed as this trailer...SIGN ME UP! LOL



Plus they have this guy playing the hawt MC:

PLOT:

In the beginning they were a group of nine. Nine aliens who left their home planet of Lorien when it fell under attack by the evil Mogadorian. Nine aliens who scattered on Earth. Nine aliens who look like ordinary teenagers living ordinary lives, but who have extraordinary, paranormal skills. Nine aliens who might be sitting next to you now.




The Nine had to separate and go into hiding. The Mogadorian caught Number One in Malaysia, Number Two in England, and Number Three in Kenya. All of them were killed. John Smith, of Paradise, Ohio, is Number Four. He knows that he is next.



I AM NUMBER FOUR is the thrilling launch of a series about an exceptional group of teens as they struggle to outrun their past, discover their future—and live a normal life on Earth.



I AM NUMBER FOUR.

I AM NEXT.

Where I Belong by Gwendolyn Heasley --Review

Title: Where I Belong
Author: Gwendolyn Heasley
Paperback, 304 pages

Publication: February 1st 2011 by HarperTeen
Special Note: ARC review

Where I Belong

PLOT:

Corrinne Corcoran’s upscale Manhattan life is perfectly on track—until her father announces he’s been laid off and she’s shipped off to Broken Spoke, Texas, to live with her grandparents. All alone in a big public school and forced to take a job shoveling manure, Corrinne is determined to get back to the glamorous life she’s supposed to be living. But as she grudgingly adjusts—making new friends and finding romance along the way—this city girl begins to realize that life without credit cards and shopping sprees may not be as bad as it seems....




In this sparkling debut that flawlessly balances romance and humor, readers will grow to love sharp and sassy Corrinne as she goes on her totally reluctant but completely irresistible journey of self-discovery.

My Thoughts:

Corrinne is very snarky in the first quarter of the book, which I love, and then as she leans that maybe things aren't so bad in Broken Spoke, Texas she changes. For the better. Her character becomes more down to earth and less snobbish. The side of her that actually loves and cares for the people in the small town she's now living in becomes apparent when her BFF from New York comes to visit her.

I love how Corrinne doesn't revert back to her snobbish big city ways. She actually stands up to her friend when she starts making fun of, or complaining about everything in Broken Spoke.

The last paragraph of the plot listed above describes this novel so well. The cover leads you to believe that this novel is a romance, but it isn't really. I mean, yeah, there is a little sprinkle of it, but it's not what the books about. It's about acceptance and self discovery. And the main character's journey to learn that.


3 out of 5 stars from me.

Read this one if you like YA contemporary books that center more around learning about yourself and figuring out who you are.

Songs of a Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson --Review

Doing a little something different here guys. I have a guest reviewer, Krista Ashe,  posting this review. Krista is represented by super agent Fonda Snyder and has some stuff out on submission as we speak, so I look forward to posting reviews of her novels very soon, too! Check Krista out on her blog, Musings of A Steal Magnolia & Writer.

Title: Songs For A Teenage Nomad
Author: Kim Culbertson
Published: September 2010 By Sourcebooks Fire
Page Count: 242

Plot:

After living in twelve places in eight years with her drifting mother, fourteen-year-old Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Fearful of putting down roots anywhere, but armed with her song journal, she moves to her own sound track through a world that bounces her between the school drama crowd, a mysterious loner, and an unlikely boy who will become her first love. But it's the troubling truth she uncovers about her father that forces Calle to face the toughest choice of her young life. 

Guest Review By Krista Ashe:

What's not to love about a book that starts off with a quote from Bob Dylan? As someone who loves to use songs for everything from mood music while writiting to using song lyrics to teach figurative language in classroom, I have never really read a book that used music as such a part of the setting to where it's almost another character. The closest would be Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, I suppose. And I really did feel that music became a character as well as a setting sometimes. Many songs and artists were not only referenced, but the chapter openings might have song lyrics posted.


You have the character of Calle who has criss-crossed through the state of California with her mom. They've never lived in one place long, and her mom is also one who has had several boyfriends and several husbands for them to move away from. But in their latest town, Calle actually hooks up with a group of theater friends: Eli, Alexa, and Drew. And for the first time, she's happy and likes it in a place. She's also intrigued by Sam, a football player, who shows signs of being anything but the typical jock. And in those moments when he can get away from his A-crowd friends, he opens up to Calle. In the midst of all this, Calle comes across a picture of her father--the one that was supposed to have left her and her mom when she was just a baby. A desire burns in her to find out about him.

I would give 4 1/2 Stars to Songs of a Teenage Nomad. I loved Calle's voice and perspective. Her honesty, insecurity, and strength were commendable. I was rooting for her throughout the book. I look forward to reading more books by Kim Culbertson.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton -- Review

Title: Angelfire

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton

Hardcover, 464 pages

Published February 15th 2011 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Series Angelfire #1

Characters: Nathaniel, Kate, Ivar, Lauren, Bastian, Will, Geir, Ragnuk, Cadan, Ellie Monroe

Setting: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Speical Note: ARC/Galley Review 

Plot:

This debut, the first novel in a trilogy, is achingly romantic, terrifying, and filled with blistering action.

When seventeen-year-old Ellie starts seeing reapers - monstrous creatures who devour humans and send their souls to Hell - she finds herself on the front lines of a supernatural war between archangels and the Fallen and faced with the possible destruction of her soul.

A mysterious boy named Will reveals she is the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, the only one capable of wielding swords of angelfire to fight the reapers, and he is an immortal sworn to protect her in battle. Now that Ellie's powers have been awakened, a powerful reaper called Bastian has come forward to challenge her. He has employed a fierce assassin to eliminate her - an assassin who has already killed her once.

While balancing her dwindling social life and reaper-hunting duties, she and Will discover Bastian is searching for a dormant creature believed to be a true soul reaper. Bastian plans to use this weapon to ignite the End of Days and to destroy Ellie's soul, ending her rebirth cycle forever. Now, she must face an army of Bastian's most frightening reapers, prevent the soul reaper from consuming her soul, and uncover the secrets of her past lives - including truths that may be too frightening to remember.

My Thoughts:

OMG is Ellie a bad ass! She helps define strong female YA protagonist. I can't tell you how many books I've read lately with a supposedly "strong" female character. but she only turns out being snarky. Not the sword wielding, reaper slaying chick that Ellie is. She will decapitate a reaper in a minute, just saying. LOL

Now, let's talk about Will. *Sigh* He's awesome. Stoic. Strong. Most importantly HAWT. He comes on the scene like most of our typical YA fantasy/paranormal make love interests--all mysterious like, but there are a few things that distinguish him from the pack. Number one, like Rose and Demetri in Vampire Academy, Will is Ellie's trainer AND he's older, which adds a little forbidden tension in it's self. Two: he's tatted. The only YA guy I can think of off hand--that I love--is seth from the Wicked Lovely series. And he might have only been human, but he was a very swoon worthy one. Will is definitely a guy I want to read more about.

The relationship between Ellie and Will is intense. There where so many times I could just feel how much they wanted to kiss each other and didn't, which is a huge part of the reason I finished this one in two days. I wanted them to admit their feelings for each other. Also, I was hooked by the mystery of where they lovers in one of Ellie's past lives or maybe even all of them. I won't give away what happens there, because that might ruin for those of you that hate spoilers. LOL

The only issue I had with novel was Ellie went from normal teen girl, worrying about designer clothes and cars, to an angelfire sword swinging reaper death machine pretty quick. But I guess, in her defense, if I had reapers, which are basically demonic beasts, trying to kill me I'd let instinct take over, too. Her memory comes back in flashes, so there are a TON of flashbacks. Flashbacks help back up why is is suddenly able to remember her power--other than Will just touching her forehead and bringing a little back at a time--but there where so many. Sometimes they pulled me away from the current story. Seems like they may be important for upcoming novels though.

Over all I gave this one 5 stars on Goodreads. I just had too. Any book that makes me negate sleep earns that one. So read this one if you like older love interests, TONS of action, and a little forbidden romance!! I personally can't wait for book 2!! Kudos on an awesome book Courtney!!

Afterlife by Claudia Gray --Review

Title: Afterlife
Author: Claudia Gray
Hardcover, 368 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by HarperTeen (first published March 3rd 2011)
http://www.claudiagray.com/books.htm
Series: Evernight #4
Characters: Bianca Oliver, Lucas Ross, Bathazar

Synopsis:

The fourth book in this electrifying vampire series has all the romance, suspense, and page-turning drama that have made Claudia Gray’s Evernight books runaway successes.




Having become what they feared most, Bianca and Lucas face a terrifying new reality. They must return to Evernight Academy, Lucas as a vampire and Bianca as a wraith. But Lucas is haunted by demons, both personal and supernatural. Bianca must help him fight the evil inside him, combat the forces determined to drive them apart—and find the power to claim her destiny at last.



Readers have fallen in love with Bianca and Lucas, and they will be thrilled to read this exciting conclusion to their romantic adventure.

My Thoughts:

Hmmm, where to begin. This book was a toughie for me because I have been a huge supporter of this series ever since I fell in love with EVERNIGHT. AFTERLIFE wasn't as exciting as the first three books, but I think that had a lot to do with the fact that Bianca had made her choice to be with Lucus forever. Also, the fact that she became a wraith and Lucus a vampire right at the end of the third book cut out a lot of excitement from the series plot line.

Balthazar is sitll in this book and Bianca is still likes having him around. He was my favorite character in the entire series and part of me wanted Bianca to be with Balthazar in the end, but Lucus was her "true love."

Mrs. Bethany is still an evil, bad ass in this book, but we finally get a glimpse into her background. Her death and transition into the vampire life was one of the most fascinating parts of the whole book. Her motives were finally revealed and it was an awesome plot twist.

So here's my thoughts, if you love the series, read it of course, but just don't expect it to be as amazing as the first three books.  

She Fought Alone: This Is A Great YA Contempt Story!

So I was loading up my netflix que, and this movie SHE FOUGHT ALONE popped up. I remembered when this came out on TV, mainly because of Brian Austin Green, but also for it's great story. I wanted to share this with you, my fellow YA writers, because we all find inspiration in different places. ENJOY!!

Movie Synopsis:

She cried rape. But no one would listen.
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen (Fastlane, Beverly Hills 90210, Saved by the Bell) and Brian Austin Green star in this disturbing true-to-life story directed by My Life and Times' Christopher Leitch. Thiessen stars as Caitlin Rose, a teenager who joins the coolest group in high school, boosting her popularity and giving her a chance to get closer to Ethan (Green). But Caitlin's happiness is destroyed when she is raped by star football player Jace, Ethan's best friend. When she reports the crime, Jace vehemently denies what happened. Suspected of lying, Caitlin becomes an outcast. With no one else to turn to, Caitlin takes a chance and confides in Ethan. Will he turn against her too or help her prove the truth? The crime shattered her life. But what followed was even worse.

 

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick -- Review

Title: Crescendo
Author: Becca Fitzpatrick
Hardcover, 427 pages

Published October 19th 2010 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing (first published October 14th 2010)
SeriesHush, Hush #2
Characters: Nora Grey, Patch Cipriano, Vee Sky, Marcie Millar, Rixon
Setting: Coldwater, Maine (United States)

Synopsis:

Feisty teen Nora Grey somehow survived the crises of Hush, Hush!, but dangers just as frightening loom in this standalone sequel. Patch, her guardian angel and love interest, appears to have a dark side and a wandering eye. Worse yet, he seems intent on obstructing Nora as she hunts for the truth behind her father's mysterious death. Even better than the first.

My Thoughts:

I thought Crescendo did wonders for Patch. He showed the romantic side I knew he had buried deep down. I won't lie, Chapter two made me want to gouge his eyes out over Marcie Miller, but his character grew so much I still wanted him and Nora together. *Sigh* And OMG, the ending of this book reminds me of a good movie. You know, when the last lines spoken and you look at your friend like OMG whens the next one. Yeah, it's like that.

The sexual tension in this book is HAWT! Patch has now made it on my literary crush list.

Kudos to Ms. Fitzpatrick for writing a kick-ass sequel. Can't wait for book three!

Read this one if you like naughty bad-boy angels!

Torment by Lauren Kate --Review

Title: Torment
Author: Lauren Kate
Hardcover, 452 pages

Published September 28th 2010 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
http://www.laurenkatebooks.net/
Series: Fallen #2
Characters: Lucinda Price, Daniel Grigori

Synopsis:
Hell on earth. That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students -Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.




At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else? The second novel in the addictive FALLEN series . . . where love never dies.

My Thoughts:

Torment was so much better than the first book, Fallen. Luce grew as a character, she finally stopped being a "Bella Swan" type in this novel. There were new characters introduced as well as some old favorites brought back. One thing I didn't like about this novel was there wasn't much CAM, only like ten pages. To me, Cam is a much hotter love interest than Daniel. Cam is so dark and rockerish, which I have a soft spot.

The beginning of this novel started a little slow for me, and seemed like a repeat of book 1, FALLEN, just a new setting. The last part of the book really took off with action, so I'm curious to see if book 3 helps the series to grow.

Read this if you've read FALLEN.

Debut Author Challenge 2011

Just doing my part to spread the word about the DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE 2011 presented by the Story Siren. GO HERE to sign up.

Welcome to the third annual DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE!




I'm extremely excited to be hosting the 2011 Debut Author Challenge! I've worked out a few kinks throughout the years and I'm hoping that this year will be even better than the last! This is a post where you can find out a little bit more about the challenge if you are unfamiliar with it and decide if you'd like to join up this year.



2011 Debut Author Challenge participant information:





•The objective of the DAC is to read at least twelve novels from Young Adult or Middle Grade Authors. While twelve is the minimum there is no maximum limit! I encourage readers who can read more than twelve to do so!

•Anyone can join. You don't have to be a blogger, and you don't have to live in the United States.

•You do not have to have an blog written in English to participate.

•You can join at anytime. The challenge runs from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.



Qualifying books:





•Books must be a Young Adult or Middle Grade novel.

•This must be the authors debut with a release date in 2011.

•If an author has a previous novel published under adult fiction/nonfiction or children's fiction/nonfiction, they can still qualify for the challenge if they are releasing their YA or MG debut.



I've tried to compose a list of 2011 Debut Authors, you can find a spreadsheet below. If you now of a debut title that I've missed, please fill out this form so that I can submit it to my spreadsheet. Please note this is a list of US debuts only. I am in the process of getting a list of UK debuts and hoping to possibly get an AUS debut list as well.

Breakup Letters: Because Breaking Up Is Hard to Do

So we've all been there. We've all been heartbroken at some point or another. Even our main characters (MCs) go through this. In YA we see so many female MCs first fall for the "bad boy" and then only break up with him a few chapters later. Guess that just makes for a good read.

Anyway, I wanted to start a post where we, as authors, can write a letter to one of our favorite or hated love interests and break up with them. Tell them about all their faults. You can write it from the female counterpart of the story or write it directly from you. Thought this might be a fun way to get some NANO creative juices flowing!! I'll share my lame attempt first and you can play along from your blog and post here to share!

Dear William Compton,


I hate how you came into my life and promised to love me forever only to find out later it was all a ploy to sell me out later. You completely betrayed my trust, and for that I will never forgive you. That's why I have to end this. You're no good for me. All you do is drag me down and get me into trouble. Even the first night I met you, you nearly got me killed tangling with the Ratrays. I should've realized then, dating you would only break my heart or worse off, get me dead. I wish I would've never met you Bill.


Well, I take that back. If I hadn't met you, I would not have met my true soul mate, Eric Northman. He's twice the man vampire you'll ever be.


In the future I hope you learn not to decieve the person you love, even if it's 'just part of your job', only because you really only care about yourself.


Love, 


Sookie Stackhouse 

Red Riding Hood by Director Cathrine Hardwick

OMG you guys! Have you seen this trailer yet? This trailer looked amazing last night when it played right before Harry Potter and I'm stoked that Cathrine Hardwick directed it. She was the director of the first Twilight movie and I think she grasps romantic concepts well.

So anyway, here it is. Check it out and let me know if you're excited to see this one when it hits theaters March 2011.

Double Take Covers: Falling Under by Gwen Hayes

I won't lie. I put this one on my to be read list because of the cover, but once I read the synopsis I was, well, EXCITED! Can't wait for this one on March 1, 2011. Sounds spicy! LOL

Synopsis:

In her dreams he’s irresistible—seductive, charming, and undoubtedly dangerous. But when he appears to her when she’s awake—and captivates her just the same—she’s not sure which way is up and which is down.




Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life, not allowed the same freedoms as the rest of the teenagers in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, she feels every urge she’s ever denied burning through her at the slightest glance from Haden Black. Theia knows she’s seen Haden before—not around town, but in her dreams.



Theia doesn’t understand how she dreamed of Haden before they ever met, but every night has them joined in a haunting world of eerie fantasy. And as the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her forward one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear. And as she slowly discovers what Haden truly is, Theia’s not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Double Take Covers: Forsaken (Demon Trappers #1) by Jana Oliver

This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2011!!! FORSAKEN (Demon Trappers #1) hits shelves Jan 07, 2011!

SYNOPSIS:

Riley has always wanted to be a Demon Trapper like her father, and she's already following in his footsteps as one of the best. But it's tough being the only girl in an all-guy world, especially when three of those guys start making her life more complicated: Simon, the angelic apprentice who has heaven on his side; Beck, the tough trapper who thinks he's God's gift, and Ori, the strikingly sexy stranger who keeps turning up to save her ass. One thing's for sure - if she doesn't keep her wits about her there'll be hell to pay...

Double Take Covers: Demon Glass (Hex Hall #2) by Rachel Hawkins

LOVED Hex Hall and I've been counting down the days until Feb. 15, 2011 when DEMON GLASS is released! The Cover rawks!

Synopsis:

That was the whole reason she was sent to Hex Hall, a reform school for delinquent Prodigium (aka witches, shapeshifters, and fairies). But that was before she discovered the family secret, and that her hot crush, Archer Cross, is an agent for The Eye, a group bent on wiping Prodigium off the face of the earth.




Turns out, Sophie’s a demon, one of only two in the world—the other being her father. What’s worse, she has powers that threaten the lives of everyone she loves. Which is precisely why Sophie decides she must go to London for the Removal, a dangerous procedure that will destroy her powers.



But once Sophie arrives she makes a shocking discovery. Her new friends? They’re demons too. Meaning someone is raising them in secret with creepy plans to use their powers, and probably not for good. Meanwhile, The Eye is set on hunting Sophie down, and they’re using Archer to do it. But it’s not like she has feelings for him anymore. Does she?

Double Take Covers: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

WOLFSBANE hits shelves July 12, 2011 and I CAN'T wait!!! Here's the cover guys!! Meep!

Synopsis:

(This is all that's out so far!)

Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive?

Double Take Covers: Luminous by Dawn Metcalf

Dawn Metcalf's novel LUMINOUS hits shelves July 7, 2011. This cover is stunning and the synopsis sounds awesome! Just bumped this one up on my to-read list.

Synopsis:

When sixteen-year-old Consuela discovers she can remove her skin, revealing a lustrous mother-of-pearl skeleton, she slips into a parallel world known as the Flow, a place inhabited by archetypal teens with extraordinary abilities. Crafting skins out of anything – air, water, feathers, fire – she is compelled to save ordinary people from dying before their time. Yet now someone is murdering them, one by one, and Consuela finds herself the focus of an intricate plot to end the Flow forever when all she really wants is to get back home, alive.

Double Take Covers: Die For Me by Amy Plum

DIE FORME hits shelves May 10, 2011 and I just added this to my to read list on Goodreads. The Cover alone looks pretty great. Can't wait for this one!

Synopsis:

DIE FOR ME is the first of three books about Kate, a sixteen-year-old American who moves to Paris after the death of her parents. She finds herself falling for Vincent, who she discovers is not the typical French teenager he appears: he is something else entirely.




DIE FOR ME presents a new supernatural mythology presented in a city where dreams are sometimes the same as reality.

Double Take Covers: Born at Midnight by C.C. Hunter

The cover for the upcoming YA novel BORN AT MIDNIGHT intrigued me the minute I saw it. This novel by C.C. Hunter hits shelves March 29, 2011.

SYNOPSIS:

Kylie Galen has had a lot of crap tossed in her lap. Her parents are getting a divorce. Her boyfriend broke up with her because she wouldn’t put out. Her grandmother died and now Kylie’s acquired a stalker. Unfortunately, she’s the only one who seems to be able to see the stalker. And that gets her sent to a psychologist’s sofa.

The kooky psychologist gets Kylie sent to Shadow Falls Camp. Kylie and her parents think it’s a camp for troubled teens.



They thought wrong.



It’s a camp of supernaturals: vampires, werewolves, fairies, witches and shape shifters. And if she believes the camp leader, Kylie is one of them, too.



Just because she’s seeing ghosts, just because she was born at midnight, does that really mean she’s not human? And if so, what is she? Not even the other supernaturals can tell her.



As Kylie attempts to cope with the realization that these creatures actually exist, and that she might even be one of them, the ever present stalker/ghost appears to have secrets that could unravel the mystery of Kylie’s identity and her destiny.



But getting a ghost to open up is as hard as getting a guy to talk about his feelings.



As Kylie struggles to find answers, two hot guys, a werewolf and a half-fairy vie for her attention. However, Kylie’s determined that before she lets her heart discover a new love, she needs to solve her identity crisis and unearth the truth of her destiny.

On Writing Without Eyeglasses…Guest Post by Holly Schindler

Okay, guys. Today I have a very special guest poster, Holly Schindler, who has been kind enough to stop by and give us some pointers about self-editing. This is couldn't come at a better time, being NaNo month and all. Be sure to check out Holly's debut novel A BLUE SO DARK that's out now and her forthcoming novel PLAYING HURT. Now without further ado, take it away Holly.

On Writing Without Eyeglasses…

I graduated with my master’s degree in the spring of 2001, and decided to nix the idea of a full-time job in order to pursue a writing career—my lifelong dream. This was possible, of course, only because of the incredible—INCREDIBLE—financial support I received from my family. I know—very ROOM OF ONE’S OWN. That support allowed me the freedom to spend my time drafting enough manuscripts to form a pile that stretches from the floor to the ceiling in my office! A mere (ahem) seven and a half years after grad school, I snagged my first publishing deal…A BLUE SO DARK, my debut novel, was released in May 2010.

…After all that time spent writing project after project, if I could give writers just one piece of drafting advice? Take off your glasses.


Yup, take ‘em off completely…


I drafted the entirety of A BLUE SO DARK in late 2006…only took about two months. The reason I was able to write at such an incredible pace was because I took my glasses off as I wrote—I’m so nearsighted, the print COMPLETELY disappeared from my screen. The beautiful part was, if I couldn’t SEE what I’d just written, I couldn’t second-guess it. So my internal editor was silenced. Completely. And it really didn’t take any effort to silence her. She was just…gone.


Sure, the book was revised globally about four different times in the next two years. But revising for me is always far easier than drafting. I’d much prefer to be reworking something that’s already down in draft form than trying to come up with something from scratch.


…And one thing I’ve heard repeatedly from bloggers about BLUE is that it’s honest… But I think the reason I GOT that honesty is because of the blind first draft. That stark truthfulness was there from the get-go.  

So, all you drafters out there (even those of you currently in the midst of NaNoWriMo), put those glasses down—or turn off or cover your screen…Remove the temptation to read that last sentence. Not only will your internal editor fade away, but you’ll actually forget about the potential audience, too…It’ll just be you and your words flowing as naturally as the thoughts in your own head…Which will make YOUR book brutally honest, and your main character seem flesh-and-blood real!

--Holly Schindler

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Thanks to Holly for giving us all some helpful writing tips. I think I just might give this a try myself. For more helpful hints follow Holly on Twitter. Don't forget to put PLAYING HURT on your to be read (TBR) list! It hits shelves March 1,  2011!

Plot:
Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.




That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

Author Slamming During A Book Review

A while back my post on Got YA, SHOWING LOVE TO YOUR FELLOW WRITERS, touched on the same topic one of my favorite new YA authors, Lisa Desrochers posted on HER BLOG today. I couldn't agree with Ms. Desrochers more. The YA community is tight nit. We all pretty much know each other. With that being said, I don't think belittling an author if you don't like their book is a wise move if you are an aspiring writer. I just wanted to mention this because it's something I feel pretty strongly about because I've read some pretty harsh reviews that I thought crossed the line or came very close to it.

What are your guy's thoughts about book reviews that cross the line?

NANO Time!!

Okay, so I wasn't gonna do NANO, but today is November 1st and I just can't help myself. Ahhhhhh KILL ME!

So far I have come up with my title, a rough plot and a one sentence pitch.

Only 30 More days to go to reach a goal of 50,000 words. Is it doable??? I'm not sure, but I'm gonna definitely give it the old college try.

My Question is: Are you guys doing Nano?????

HELLCATS...My New Guilty Pleasure Show

Okay so I must say I'm hooked on the CW's new TV show HELLCATS that's on on Wednesdays. Have you watched this one yet? Here's the synopsis:

Marti Perkins has it all -- looks, smarts, talent, and a scholarship to Lancer University to study pre-law. Her world is turned complete upside down when she loses her scholarship and must use her skills as a gymnast to join the legendary cheerleading team. Marti manages to make the team, but she is devastated when she enters a "world of camaraderie, backstabbing and the intersection of sports, backroom academia and big money."

Fun Facts about the show, it's based on a book:

Hellcats is an American cheerleading comedy-drama series[3] for The CW starring Alyson Michalka, Ashley Tisdale, Robbie Jones, and Matt Barr. Based on the book Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders by journalist Kate Torgovnick[4] and described as "Election meets Bring It On" by critics,[5][6] the series follows the life of Marti Perkins, a pre-law college student who has to join the cheerleading team, the Hellcats, in order to maintain her scholarship.

Okay so I love this show for a couple reasons: One. It's not that far of a stretch from the Young Adult stories that I love. Matter of fact this could be considered New Adult, you know that new category with writing industry is trying to create for college aged protagonist. I would love to read more of that, by the way. Two. There are some HAWT love triangles in this show (3 to be exact!), and I know all you YA lovers are with me in likin' some saucy love triangles.

 Three: There are interracial relationships. Why isn't there more of this out there? In both the literary world and in Hollywood?



*SIGH* Just watching that little clip reminds me of why I heart this show! LOL If you haven't watched this one...YOU.MUST.GOOGLE.NOW and watch!!

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare --Review

Title: Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Hardcover, 479 pages

Published August 31st 2010 by Margaret K. McElderry
http://theinfernaldevices.com/index3.htm
SeriesThe Infernal Devices #1
Characters:Tessa Gray, Magnus Bane, Will Herondale, Jem Carstairs, Jessamine Lovelace, Jessamine Lovelace, Henry Branwell, Charlotte Branwell, Nathaniel Gray

Plot:

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.




When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.



Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.



Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Thoughts:
 
Okay, okay so you've caught me. I have never read The Immortal Instruments series, but decided to read this one anyway because I say that Ms. Clare said you didn't have to read it before reading CLOCKWORK ANGEL to be able to follow along. With that being said, I can't say if this novel, being a prequel and all, is better or worse that the original series, but I will tell you I loved this novel. It was fast paced and the characters were witty, especially Will. TEAM WILL here all the way! Tessa had her moments when I didn't connect with her, but she somehow found a way to redeem herself and draw me back in.
 
PLUS I love when characters have a quest to go along with learning about their supernatural powers. That always makes for an awesome read.
 
The only thing that keeps this from being a 5 star read for me is it is written in 3rd person. But, that's a personal nitpick I have because I'm a 3rd person snob. Very few books written in 3rd get an "I love this book" from me. This one was pretty dang close, though.
 
Read this if you like supernatural creatures set in a different time period on a great quest!

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel --Review

Title: Infinite Days
Author: Rebecca Maizel
Paperback, 310 pages

Published August 3rd 2010 by St. Martin's Griffin
SeriesVampire Queen #1 .

Plot:

Lenah Beaudonte is, in many ways, your average teen: the new girl at Wickham Boarding School, she struggles to fit in enough to survive and stand out enough to catch the eye of the golden-boy lacrosse captain. But Lenah also just happens to be a recovering five-hundred-year-old vampire queen. After centuries of terrorizing Europe, Lenah is able to realize the dream all vampires have -- to be human again. After performing a dangerous ritual to restore her humanity, Lenah entered a century-long hibernation, leaving behind the wicked coven she ruled over and the eternal love who has helped grant her deep-seated wish.




Until, that is, Lenah draws her first natural breath in centuries at Wickham and rediscovers a human life that bears little resemblance to the one she had known. As if suddenly becoming a teenager weren’t stressful enough, each passing hour brings Lenah closer to the moment when her abandoned coven will open the crypt where she should be sleeping and find her gone. As her borrowed days slip by, Lenah resolves to live her newfound life as fully as she can. But, to do so, she must answer ominous questions: Can an ex-vampire survive in an alien time and place? What can Lenah do to protect her new friends from the bloodthirsty menace about to descend upon them? And how is she ever going to pass her biology midterm?

My Thoughts:

I am a paranormal junkie, but even I have gotten a little burnt out on the vampire craze lately. So, when I got INFINITE DAYS as an ARC to review my expectations weren't that high. I am happy to report that I was surprised by this novel. There are some AMAZING flash back scenes that show just how vicious our vampire queen main character was. I would really love a prequel to this novel for more of those scenes!! You would think a 500 year old vampire wouldn't be able to pull off being a teenager in todays world, but Ms. Maizel created Lenah to be a bratty vampire, therefore she never matured during her 500 years of as a vampire. Don't let that statement lead you to believe she wasn't a likable character, though because she totally was.

The only thing I really didn't like is how Lenah's human love interest, Justin dropped his human girlfriend for Lenah. Maybe if he was single before hand, or if his girlfriend was a complete bitch, it might have worked. I just had a little hard getting past that, but it could've been I was just Team Rhode from the beginning...

All in all, a great read. I really enjoyed this one. All you vampire fans give this one a shot.

YA Novel Discovery Contest: No query? No pitch? No problem!

The Serendipity Literary Agency has contacted me and asked me to pass along this contest, so all you aspiring authors listen up!

YA Novel Discovery Contest

Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with

ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!

No query? No pitch? No problem!

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a reading of your manuscript from one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, Scholastic, Candlewick,  Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. The first 100 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary. These five winners will also receive a free ONE YEAR subscription to The Writer magazine. ONE Grand Prize Winner will win a full manuscript reading and editorial consultation from Regina Brooks and free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at WritingClasses.com/YAPitch. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET), November 30th

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo

In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org)—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So enter now! http://bit.ly/YAContest

GREAT PRIZES
The Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to submit an entire manuscript to YA literary agent Regina Brooks AND receive a free, 10-week writing course, courtesy of Gotham Writers' Workshop.

The Top Five Entrants (including the Grand Prize winner) will receive a 15-minute, one-on-one pitch session with Regina Brooks, one of New York’s premier literary agents for young adult books. They will also receive commentary on their submissions by editors at HarperCollins, Penguin, Harlequin, Random House, and Sourcebooks. In addition, they will receive a year’s subscription to The Writer magazine!

The Top 20 Entrants will receive autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks.

JUDGING

YA literary agent Regina Brooks and her team , will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Nancy Mercado, Executive Editor at Roaring Brook Press(Macmillan); Nicole Raymond, Editor at Candlewick; Cheryl Klein, Senior Editor at Arthur Levine Books (Scholastic); Leila Sales, Editor Viking (Penguin) Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin and Leah Hultenschmidt, Executive Editor at Sourcebooks. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to five, and each of the five winners will be provided commentary on their submissions

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer --Review

Title: Nightshade
Author: Andrea Cremer
Hardcover, 464 pages

Published October 19th 2010 by Philomel
http://www.nightshadebook.com/ .
Series: Nightshade #1
Characters: Calla Tor, Renier Laroche, Seamus Doran (Shay)
Setting:Vail, Colorado (United States)
Special Note: Recieved as apart of an ARC tour

Plot:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My Thoughts:

The opening of this novel is fast paced and will hook you in right away. The forbidden romance aspect of the novel really keeps suspense high all through the book. There's just something about two people coming together that shouldn't that hooks me every time. It happened with Twilight, and I got that same feeling here between Calla and Shay. This book has an interesting love triangle dynamic. Ren, the alpha male wolf she is already promised to and Shay, the guy she likes by choice. I really like Shay, but Ren totally controls the scene when he's around, making him my pick between the two.

I had a really interesting discussion with one of my good friends about this book. And she pointed out how sexist the whole wolf system is in this novel, which is true, and even Shay spells this out to Calla in several scenes of the book, but it kind of reminds me of periods in history. Times when women were subservient to men and we not treated equally. To me this story represents Calla's choice to break free from her expected role within her own society and make her own choices. Calla's growth throughout the novel was evident, I just hope she continues on the path of standing up for herself against her pack and leaders in her world.

Read this one if you love paranormal/urban fantasy romance in YA!!



Check out this video about Shay I found on Goodreads! LOL