A Question for You!

I want to read if you have any Halloween traditions that are related to books?

For me, I like to buy my 2-year old daughter a holiday themed book each holiday. I like to go to my local bookstore and peruse their titles. So many of them I know and love from my childhood, or there are great new ones that she would love!

I also like trying to read a Halloweeny book myself, but I haven't had a chance to do that this year. I have been SO busy!

So now on to you, what is your favorite book to read this time of year? Or what have you read lately that would be a good Halloween read?

Review: THE DUFF

THE DUFF
by Kody Kelpinger

Hardcover, 288 pages

Published September 7th 2010 by Little Brown/Poppy

Placement: Reaching New Heights (but be warned about content)

Summary:
Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper is cynical and loyal, and she doesn't think she's the prettiest of her friends by a long shot. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush. In fact, Bianca hates him. And when he nicknames her "Duffy," she throws her Coke in his face.

But things aren't so great at home right now. Desperate for a distraction, Bianca ends up kissing Wesley. And likes it. Eager for escape, she throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with Wesley.

Review:
I've heard a lot of buzz about this book, written by a teenager (Kody Keplinger). I couldn't wait to read it based on what I'd heard.

I wasn't disappointed.

This is a rough book in many ways, the content it pretty up there and usually this would turn me off to the book. There is hard language, sex, you name it. However, despite all that, I really enjoyed this book. The writing was honest, the subject matter was interesting and you really grew to care about these flawed characters. Kody's characters aren't shiny and nearly perfect. They are deeply messed up from the get go, but you root for them and yearn with them and grow with them.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed THE DUFF, but again, be warned about the content. That was really the only thing that kept me from giving it our top rating.

In My Mailbox (22)

Thanks to The Story Siren for hosting IMM each week! Did you know you can go over there and click on all of the links to see everyone's IMM posts? It's a great way to know what books are out there and up and coming!

It has been a while since I have posted, so some of these were aquired over the last few weeks.

From Publisher
Hardcover, 440 pages
Published February 1st 2011 by HarperTeen

Summary: Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -the deliria- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the governments demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.

Books I Bought

I didn't think these needed much info since I have reviewed them all here on the blog (except one, that I think you all know about anyway)

Book Signing: Julie Berry and Jessica Day George!

I had the FABULOUS opportunity to go to a book signing with not just ONE great author but TWO last night! Julie Berry - author of SECONDHAND CHARM, SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS series, and THE AMARANTH ENCHANTMENT! And the wonderful Jessica Day George! Author of THE DRAGON SLIPPERS series, SUN MOON ICE and SNOW, and her princess books PRINCESS OF THE MIDNIGHT BALL and PRINCESS OF GLASS!

First Jessica was up to talk about her books and journey becoming an author. I have seen Jessica at MANY events, so I am sure you have all heard about her books and journey from me before. But some of the stuff she said was just great! So here is the list of paraphrased info!



How do I come up with ideas? I ask myself a question. Something that I am wondering about. And since I can't find the answers anywhere else I write a book about it. Ex. What if you met a dragon and they didn't want to eat you, what then? Wouldn't your feet hurt REALLY badly if you were forced to dance all night long until your shoes wore out? Wouldn't it really hurt to dance in glass slippers?

For the dragon series, one of the themes in it is that dragons collect things. If you were hundreds of years old, what would you do for fun? What would you collect. One of them collects shoes. So you could say she has a shoe fetish - since most of her books involve shoes.

And lastly she said: I write books because I felt like there were no fun books when I was a kid. Our options were Narnia, Babysitters Club and Nancy Drew. Narnia was great but you can only read that so many times. And I hate babysitting. So I never liked any books that were preachy about being responsible and babysitting to earn money.

Jessica is always a hoot and so fun to chat with!

Then it was Julie's turn, and to be honest I was VERY VERY VERY excited to see her! I just love this lady! We had only met once before but we have kept in touch. She is possibly the MOST genuine person I have ever met in my entire life. Massachusetts is VERY lucky to have her!

Julie just had several books come out that I have reviewed on the blog recently: SPLURCH ACADEMY FOR DISRUPTIVE BOYS series (the first two books were released together) and SECONDHAND CHARM her second YA fairy-tale-esque story that was just beautifully written and so so good!

Here are some of my favorite Julie moments.

As Jessica has a shoe fetish, I seem to have a jewelry fetish in my writing.


I was thinking about good luck charms, and what would happen if someone had some innate ability that if they put on a charm and everything went out of hand, that it was super potent in their hands. Like a luck charm and all of a sudden your chicken was laying golden eggs, etc. Then I thought what about a love charm? What about a young lady that seemingly has been fairly ignored by the boys in her village suddenly got a love charm that was very powerful, and everyone was noticing her!

Julie said she also gave her character a goal that had nothing to do with the romantic aspects of the book. She wants girls to know that their entire lives aren't just boys. (Which might I add, I love about her characters they are strong women, but still willing to love. I think sometimes it is one or the other and with Julie you get both!)

Then these two lovely red heads took questions together. (Notice Jessica is knitting! I have never seen her at any event without something to knit!)

Q: What are you working on now?

Julie: I have two new ideas. One is sort of a Dickensian London story, and the other is set in the future in space.

Jessica: So a really great crossover idea.

Julie: Deffinitely.

Jessica: I am working on a new books series called TUESDAYS AT THE CASTLE probably for even younger readers than Dragon Slippers (which by the way I wrote Dragon Slippers for me, and then when they said it was for ages 10 and up I thought "I'm not 10!"). In this new book the Castle Glower is alive - if it likes you you get great things like a nice room and a garden to walk through, if it doesn't like you you might get thrown down a trap door into the dung heap. They should be out next September.

(*note: I think these all sound awesome and I can't wait to get my hands on them!)

(another side note: a great reason to go to indie bookstore signings is you often good refreshments!)

Q: How did you meet? Why did you decide to sign together?

Jessica: Red heads are in a secret club.

Julie: That and we have the same publisher, so they got us together over the internet to review each other's books and we have been e-mailing ever since.

Jessica: We actually just met for the first time 2 hours ago at the Starbucks next door.

Q: When you're working do you collabroate with others?

Julie: No, I don't like other people.

Jessica: Agreed.

(Which I might add was so so funny. Because these two ladies are SO much fun to be around. Obviously they were talking about their creative process being more individual than say, and author who has a writing group.)


A young girl in the audience asked a question that made me laugh, but these ladies handled it very well!

Q: How old were you when you started writing your books?

Jessica: I decided to be a writer when I was 11. I wrote my first short story when I was 14 and got an A++ on it. For years I was a short story author and won lots of contests and things in school. I wrote short stories exclusively until I was bout 21. Then I decided I would write my opus, my novel and it would be the best thing ever. Of course 188 rejections and several novels later I realized it would be work. But it is very rewarding!

Julie: I was late in the game. I didn't start writing seriously until I was 31 or 32. My whole life I wrote in a journal, and I always wanted to write fiction. I was really scared to write fiction because I really wanted to be good at it. I knew everything I had tried to do was rubbish, so I just didn't try anymore. I was scared to try.

Then I was lucky enough to get a job writing a humor column in a local newspaper and the great responses I got really gave me the confidence to try writing fiction, to go for my dream.

Then after the signing and everything my friends and I went to Cheesecake Factory with Julie and had a WONDERFUL time catching up. Talking books, writing, life. Here is me, upcoming author Sara Larson, and our good friend Jena with Julie of course.

I had so much fun catching up with Julie again! And Jessica as always was so fun as well. She had to get home to her kids, can you believe it! :) It was such a wonderful, wonderful night! I will never forget it and I am SO grateful that I can call Julie my friend.

Please check out these two amazing women and their books the next time you are at your local bookstore or searching books online! I know there is SOMEONE in your life that would love their books!

A Few Fun Things!

Hey all!

I am sure by now you have all heard of a little book called MATCHED by Ally Condie that I love and adore (and will be reviewing soon!!!) I think the trailer is great! But of course I understand what's going on. Tell me what you think after watching it here: http://io9.com/5668369/watch-the-book-trailer-for-the-next-dystopian-ya-sensation-matched (sorry I can't embed it yet)

Also, tonight I will be at The King's English bookstore to see Julie Berry and Jessica Day George! I hope to see lots of you there! It is an adorable indie bookstore and two of my favorite authors! It's a win-win!

WaHooo!!!!!!!

What are you excited about today? I am excited about the release of CRESCENDO!!!



Patch here I come!!!!!!!!

Book Signing: James Dashner!

On Tuesday night I was lucky enough to go to my favorite local Indie bookstore The King's English for the Launch Party for THE SCORCH TRIALS by James Dashner! It is always fun to be among local book lovers! And James is a HILARIOUS speaker.

So here is some stuff that James told us (paraphrased from my notes:

• THE SCORCH TRIALS starts a few hours after MAZE ends
• I promise you that by the end of the third book you will know everything. It's not like LOST.
• The ultimate ending will surprise you.
• In THE SCORCH TRIALS lots of bad things happen to the main characters. So, those of you who are sick and twisted will like it.
• I shouldn't use the word "fart" in front of small children.
  

• right now he is editing the 3rd book in MAZE and starting a new series
• The new series is set in the future, and involves simulated reality. So the characters deal with what is real and what is not

Then James took Q&A, here were some of my favorites

Q: How do you keep your mind straight working on all of this at the same time?

A: Ideally I am not working on too many things at the same time. But right now I am really tight on deadlines and working on all 3 of his different series'. Sometimes I'll use the wrong name or think that one character from one series can help out in a different book. Really it comes down to taking a break to get my mind straight.


Q: How much research went into your real world scenario for THE SCORCH TRIALS?

A: Research....I did some. I actually looked at a map once, does that count? I had to look up viruses and how they could affect the brain, that was like a 10 minute online search. Had to use some quantum physics but kindof had already done research on that for THE THIRTEENTH REALITY series.

Q: How was it hitting the NY Times best seller list.

A: I had wanted to be an author my whole life and that is a title you hear and dream of. I got very emotional. I called my mommy!


Q: Do you ever feel constrained by what you wrote in earlier books?

A: I thought book three was perfect when I wrote it, but my editor had a different idea. The problem with writing a series is that in book one, you can pretty much write whatever you want, create any reality you want. Book two you have to kind of stick to the world, but anything that comes up that doesn't fit perfectly you can just say "it's alright, I'll explain that in book three". But then with the third book everything needs to be tied up and correctly. It is harder.

There was lots more, many laughs and it was good fun! Keep your eyes out for your favorite author's touring schedules! There is nothing better than meeting them and getting a signed book!

Which came first?

Okay, so I know the old addage "which came first, the chicken or the egg?" doesn't quite fit this scenario, but it is what I think of when I see the thing this post IS about.

Sometimes there are books where the cover displays the author's name larger, bigger, and before the book title.

You have all seen them. It is common with books by Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Dan Brown to name a few. It is not unheard of. But in the YA world it is very uncommon.

Now, authors and potential authors reading this: know I love you, I adore you, I herald the work and time and years and years of effort each book entails. I obviously know that you came before the egg, or novel as it may be. The novel would not exist without you.

I guess my issue is just a matter of the cover look. I am not a fan of the author's name being more prominent than the title of the book I am buying, and I have seen it happen more and more often. It is a matter of opinion, but I wonder, what do you think about it?