Myth Week Day 5- Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Don't forget to enter my contest to win an ARC of Starcrossed! Go here to enter. Today I am happy to review Starcrossed and interview Josephine Angelini

Pub Date: May 31st/11.
Publisher: HarperTeen

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads:

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

My Review:

A compelling and unique twist on one of the oldest myths and love stories...

Helen was a complex character for me- I wasn't sure at first if I truly wanted to root for her, because I was just as conflicted as Helen was with herself. Helen couldn't begin to understand her unusual emotional and physical reactions to Lucas and his family. This proves what a great writer Angelini is, to be able to write such a complex character that can trigger such thoughtful emotions from her readers. On a side note I was rooting for Helen by about a third of the way through the book. :)

Lucas, o my, Lucas where can I even start. This is a great hero in the making. He's strong and brave, but gentle and understanding where Helen is concerned. I wouldn't mind if he wanted to take for a "ride" one night.

The romance between these two was electrifying. A pair of Starcrossed lovers you'll want to root for. The build between these two was perfect in the sense that they start out literally wanting to kill each other, but in the end, are unable to deny themselves each other. Readers beware the ending will of this novel will only leave you wanting more- So please, read at your own risk! :)

I'm happy to say the Josephine has taken the time to come visit the blog today to answer some questions on her newest release. I would like to add that I have had the pleasure of conversing with Josie over email, twitter and such, and she is one of the kindest, most appreciative, down-to-earth authors I've ever had the please to email :) Don't be afraid to tweet or leave a comment on her blog cause she is right on it and always responds! 

Now please join me in welcoming Josie to the blog today!

1. Was it hard for you to get Starcrossed published?

I know this is an annoying thing to say, but no.  It all happened so fast I was still patting myself on the back for landing a manager and agent.  I was thinking to myself, great!  If nothing else comes of this, at least I’ve taken that first major step and gotten representation.  Then, like, a week later my agent, Mollie Glick, had a preemptive offer from Harper Collins lined up, and a few days after that the team at the Foundry was getting preemptive deal overseas as well.  The thing that I kept thinking was, “how the heck did they all read it that fast?” 

I got unbelievably lucky, and I am so thankful for that.

2. You've spun so many unique twists on the myth of Helen of Troy, what
inspired your version?

Homer, Shakespeare, and John Hughes.  Haha!  Seriously, I saw a copy of Romeo and Juliet sitting next to my mom’s ancient version of The Iliad and a light bulb went off in my head.  I couldn’t think of anyone doing a modern day take of the Helen of Troy story (probably because in Homer’s version she isn’t very likable) and I wanted to try it. 

3. If you could fly away with Lucas anywhere, where would you go and what
would you do? (Let's keep this PG13 haha)

I’d ask him to take me to Cadiz, Spain.  I’d want to see where he’d lived for the last six years.  I bet he has a ton of stories he’d like to tell me about it.  Mostly, I’d like to go there with him because I bet he misses his old home. 

4. You kept some characters from the original story (Helen, Hector) why did
you decide to leave Paris out?

Did I leave Paris out?  You sure?  I didn’t leave anyone from the Iliad out.  That’s why the cast is so large, and why in the next few books it gets larger.

5. If you could be one God/Goddess, and have their abilities, who would you
be? Why?

Oh-la-la!  I thought you said you wanted to keep this PG 13? 

6. Why do you think Greek Mythology is having such a strong emergence in the
YA genre recently?

Zeitgeist.  It’s a funny thing.  When I started outlining Starcrossed the only Greek book out there that I knew of was the Percy Jackson series.  I took a different tack—instead of utilizing a mix of the Greek myths like Riordan did I focused on the Iliad, confident that my take was entirely different from his.  It was even aimed at a different age group.  But while I was writing about Greeks, so were others.  I guess we all caught the same bug at the same time, and in a way I’m glad we did.  It’s nice to know that readers will be familiar with the Greek themes and maybe get more out of my story that way. 

7. How far do you plan to take your Starcrossed series?

Three books, and that’s final.  For now.

8. Without getting too spoilery, what can readers expect from Starcrossed
#2?

The second book, Dreamless, is darker, and has more action than the first book.  Helen goes into the Underworld and grows even more as heroine as she learns to claim even more of her power.  There is a lot more danger, and a new character named Orion, who I hope everyone loves as much as I do.

9. Will Lucas and Helen make it the full mile? (I know you can't really
reveal this but it's worth a shot haha)

Actually, I don’t mind revealing this.  They both live through the trilogy.  But are they together at the end?  *sigh* 

10. Do you have any advice for those starting out in the publishing
industry?

I’m just starting out in the publishing industry!  I should be asking you for advice!  J

Myth Week Day 4- Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Hello all, today I will be discussing Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Pub Date: May 10th
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
It's a free novella guys- go here to download your own copy.

Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:
For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty. 

According to her mother, that’s a good thing. 

But as every descendent of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill. 

The daimons have found her.


My Review:


Alex is kick a$$! I loved her sarcastic demeanour and the fact that she can take care of herself. She is a strong female character that doesn't let ANYONE push her around.


There has been much online buzz over Armentrout's Covenant series, and after reading Daimon I can honestly say that she deserves all the praise she has received. Her writing is so fluid- and the world she builds around Alex is so conceivable and enjoyable- I wanted to join Alex on her journey.


Alex not only faces physical road blocks, but emotional ones as well. I enjoyed the relationship between Alex and her mother. The bond these two share is realistic and heartwarming. 


The action in this novella was non-stop and this combined with Armentrout's dialogue, makes for a quick and intense read. Once you've finished this story you will dying for more- I know I am!

The free download comes with an excerpt from Armentrout's upcoming release Half-blood the first full-length novel in the Covenant series. And can I just say Aiden = Yum- MORE PLEASE JENNIFER!

Jennifer is holding a giveaway of an ARC of Half-blood on her blog to enter go here









Jennifer has been kind enough to stop by and answer some burning questions about her upcoming and latest release. Please join me in welcoming Jennifer to the blog today!

Have you read Daimon yet? Are you planning to? Leave a comment and earn extra entry points in the Starcrossed ARC contest. Haven't entered yet? Enter here.


Happy Reading Everyone!

1. Was it hard to get Half-blood published?

Breaking into the publishing business is not easy, and I think every writer has a different experience. I actually started writing Half-Blood (under a different title) in 2008 and i thought it was great. It was actually really lame, like most first drafts of novels are. But I didn't know any better. It took about 60 rejections to realize I needed to do an overhaul. Many rejections and requests later, I finally got THAT call. Everything pretty much moved fast after that. The funny thing is that I had shelf'd Half-Blood when I got the call, so it almost never made it.

2. Daimon was an AMAZING novella! Did you originally write Daimon before or after Half-blood?

Thank you! I actually wrote Daimon at the beginning of this year. I always had in mind what happened leading up to the situation Alex found herself in at the beginning of Half-Blood so it was really easy to write. I pitched the idea of a free novella to the publisher and they loved it. 

3. What is your favourite Greek Myth?

Oh my, there are so many. I always loved the one with Cupid and Psyche. Then there is Hades and Persephone (Aimee!!), and all the poor mortals that Apollo got turned into trees or flowers. The actual myth of Medusa is also very interesting, and very little people know the actual story behind how she turned into a gorgon. 

4. If you could be one God/Goddess and have their powers, which would you be? Why?

Artemis. Mainly because she was a kick ass hunter. No one messes with Artemis. 

5. What can readers expect from Half-blood? 

Adventure, a twist on the demigod myth, romance (been told it's sizzling), humor and a few people have cried. You can expect a stratified society, modeled after Ancient Greek and the gods in Half-Blood do not bring the warm and fuzzies. I think one thing that has surprised people about Half-Blood is the plot twists and the recreation of two major myths. I can't really give anymore details than that, 'tis spoilery. 

6. What inspired the character, Alexandria?

I love snarky heroines that are flawed. And Alex has one heck of a snarky internal dialogue going on, which was really fun to write. But as far as to what inspired her? I really don't know. She is polar opposites from my very first draft of Half-Blood, but if I had to pick any fictional character, I'd go with Buffy. 

7. If you could cast one actor to play Aiden, who would it be? Why?

Oh Geez, I've asked myself that question and really can't pick one. Aiden is such a complicated character who can come off as standoffish but has a really sweet personality and a sense of humor once you get to know him. The actor would have to be able to pull that off. I always picture a young Ian Somerhalder in my head. It's the eyes. 

8. Why do you think that Greek Mythology has had such a strong emergent the Young Adult genre?

I think it's something new to readers right now, especially after all the vamp, werewolves, and angel books. But everything is a cycle. What's popular two years ago will be popular again in another two years. I personally love the vamp and angel books. I also think there is so much you can do with the Greek Mythology, from retelling old myths to creating new ones. There's a lot of versatility there. 

9. Do you have any advice for those starting out in the industry?

Don't give up. Prepare yourself for rejection at every level of the game, but if you don't give up, you'll make it. Read. I cannot stress that enough. Reading can teach you how to write.

Thank you so much Jennifer for stopping by the blog, I can't wait to devour Half-blood.

Thank you for having me!!

Myth Week Day 3- Wildfire by Karsten Knight

I still have two author interviews and books reviews left to post, but those will come tomorrow and Friday so please stay tuned... but for now let me tell you some exciting news I got yesterday- A NEW GALLEY!

I received a galley yesterday for another book centered around the theme of Gods and Goddesses. Simon and Schuster sent it to me and when I read the synopsis for it I KNEW it was something I would have to mention during MYTH WEEK- I'm so sorry I can't review here in this post (but I only just got it :))

Ok here it is:

Wildfire By Karsten Knight

Pub Date: July 26th/11

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Synopsis curtesy of Amazon:

Every flame begins with a spark...

           Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. 

           When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. 

            Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

What do you guys think? I can't wait to start devouring this one! Be sure to leave a comment to earn points for the Starcrossed ARC giveaway. Haven't entered yet? Click here to enter.

Day 2 of Myth Week- The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

In honour of MYTH WEEK I have chosen to do a review of Carter's The Goddess Test - A Re-telling of the Greek Myth of Persephone and Hades


Book Review The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Pub Date April 19th/11.

Book Synopsis Curtesy of Goodreads:

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

My Review:

A quiet and subtle romance...

Wow, just wow. If you think you know how this book is going to end, think again! I was blind-sighted by this book half a dozen times. Each chapter left me saying "No way." I actually freaked McCoy (my dog) out from my loud gasps of surprise. It was very dramatic- like watching an episode of Y&R with two major differences: 

1. This book does not drag on like most soap operas- it has a very steady pace with many climatic build ups.

2. The writing isn't completely cheesy and doesn't suck at all- You can tell from reading this story that Aimee is familiar with the many different Greek figures of Mythology. One of the things I absolutely loved about this book, was that it was informative. I learnt many mythical facts about Persephone that I never would have known (and I took Greek Mythology in University!) I like to think that I now have some great cocktail party chitchat (now I just need to find a cocktail party haha).

Moving on to our Narrator and Heroine, Kate, I liked Kate- She's a strong character that's faced many challenges in her teenage life, but she doesn't let that stop her from fighting to live (in every sense of the word). I think what I liked best about Kate was her natural kindness/goodness, even when she's been tricked/cheated by others, she still faces her greatest fears to save those who have wronged her. Kate's a character I rooted for and will continue to root for!

Now on to my favourite part of any book- The Romance. This was an achingly beautiful romance. The relationship between Kate and Henry is so fragile. Henry/Hades is notoriously known for his actions against Persephone, but what many don't realize is, that Henry is heartbroken over the loss of his beloved Persephone. He is devastated over the loss of his beloved and my heart bled for him. He's so gentle and protective over Kate but at the same time he keeps his distance in an effort to protect both their hearts. Will Henry be able to open himself up to Kate- to a new Persephone? Well you'll just have to read the book to find out!

I recommend this book to all romantics, and Greek Myth enthusiasts.

and now I am pleased to report that Aimee has stopped by the blog today to answer some Greek Myth-related questions. Please join me in welcoming Ms. Carter!

1. Was it hard for you to get The Goddess Test published? 

I think getting any book published is always an uphill battle. I had a surprisingly easy time getting an agent, but to put that in perspective, I have nearly two dozen terrible, awful, never-going-to-see-the-light-of-day manuscripts tucked away on my computer, and they were all written before I wrote The Goddess Test. So in that sense, yes, it was extremely difficult and took many, many years. But I did sign with my wonderful agent less than a month after I originally queried her, so I had it easy there.

Finding a publisher, however, was extremely hard, to the point where I was convinced it would never sell. I was already deep into edits on the book that I thought would be my debut (Masked, which will also be released from Harlequin Teen in 2013 or so) when I got word that Harlequin Teen was interested in buying The Goddess Test, so that was beyond exciting. Almost like getting a second chance.

2. You had me guessing through the entire book, did you have an idea of how you wanted Goddess Test to end beforehand? 

I had everything very carefully outlined, but a lot of things changed from draft to draft. Overall, I'd have to say there is very, very little about the final product that wasn't ripped apart and rewritten at one point. Especially the ending - I rewrote that final scene many, many times, and it never felt quite right until very late in the edits. But as for the twists and turns and the climactic scene? They stayed consistent throughout the story.

3. How long did it take you to write The Goddess Test? 

 I've had the idea for many, many years, ever since I heard of the myth of Hades and Persephone. Later, when I started to write seriously, I outlined it, but set it aside because it just didn't feel right. Then, in 2007, the idea of Kate's mother dying and the tests being the only way she could save her came to me, and everything clicked from there. I spent a very long time outlining again and again, since it's much easier to change things about a story in an outline rather than rewrite thousands upon thousands of words. The first draft only took me about two months, maybe less, but I did extensive edits on it both before and after I signed with my agent.

4. Are you a huge Greek mythology fan? What's your favourite story? Second favourite? 

 I'm a HUGE mythology fan. I've been reading about it ever since I can remember, and one of my favorite books growing up was D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths. My favorite myth...I have a hard time picking favorites, but of course I love the myth of Hades and Persephone. I also adore the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as Castor and Pollux.

5. How far do you plan to take the Goddess Test series? 

Right now I'm contracted for three books, though I have ideas for at least two spin-off novels in the same world featuring some of the same characters. Kate's story will be mostly complete in the third book though. It's possible I might come up with something else for her, but by the end of the third book, she'll have gone through a lot. If she survives, she'll deserve a break.

6. Will we see a love triangle in future books? 

You'll actually see multiple love triangles that factor heavily into the plot, one for the second book and one for the third, but definitely not the kind you're expecting. :)

7. If you could be a God/Goddess which one would you be? Why? - I think I'd be either Athena or Hades. Athena because she's intelligent, independent, and gorgeous, and what more could you ask for? And Hades because I'd be able to communicate with the dead, and I would love the opportunity to speak to my dead loved ones.

8. What do you love most about writing YA fiction? 

The freedom to explore so many different kinds of stories while remaining within the genre, and the need to write the absolute best story possible. I don't think it's any kind of coincidence that middle grade and YA produce writers like JK Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Rick Riordan, and Suzanne Collins, who have massive crossover appeal. YA audiences demand great stories, and great stories are enjoyable no matter how old you are. At the end of the day, what I want to do as a writer is create a great story that people will enjoy reading. And if I've managed to entertain the reader, I consider it a success.

9. If you could pick one actor to describe Henry which one would you pick? 

Ben Barnes. Originally Henry was older, so he's not who I really pictured while writing the first draft, but now that he's younger, he's absolutely who I picture. Long dark hair, piercing eyes - darker than Henry's, but that's okay. And he's drop dead gorgeous. I've heard readers talk about Henry Cavill (I adore him to pieces!), and if he grew his hair out, he'd be terrific. And Thomas McDonell, who stars in Prom, also fits my mental image of Henry. 

POTENTIAL HENRYS 

                                            

  

                           

10. Do you have any advice for young writers trying to get published? 

- Keep trying and don't give up, and make sure to learn from your mistakes. And don't fool yourself; you will make mistakes at every stage. We all do.
- Read agent blogs, writer blogs, advice books, whatever you can get your hands on. Absorb the information around you, but don't let any one person's 'rules' define you. Figure out what works best for you and the story you want to write.
- Don't query before you're ready. It's so easy to jump the gun these days, with how accessible agents and editors are, but the best chance you have at getting published is to take a deep breath and really look at your work critically before submitting it. You'll only get one chance per agent per book.
- Get opinions from people who won't be afraid to tell you the honest truth, and bonus if they know a thing or two about publishing as well.
- Don't brush off critiques just because they tell you something you don't want to hear. They may not always be right, but more often than not, there's probably something that isn't working in the section they highlighted, and ignoring their concerns gets you nowhere. And the last thing you want to be is stuck in a rut.
- Don't be afraid of editing. Editing is your friend, believe it or not, because it gives you the chance to fix the mistakes you made the first (or second, or third) time around. And fixing those mistakes gets you that much closer to the opportunity to see your book in print one day.
- But most of all, never give up.

Thank you so much Aimee for visiting and for you awesome answers!

Thanks so much for this opportunity, Hayley!

Be sure to leave a comment on this blog post to earn extra points in the Starcrossed ARC Giveaway! Haven't entered yet go here to enter.

Abandon by Meg Cabot

I had the absolute pleasure, of meeting bestseller, Meg Cabot last Friday. She came into our office and did a powerpoint presentation and a book signing (I was lucky enough to get my copy of Abandon signed!).

(I actually took pictures of this event but my digital camera isn't working with me at the moment so I will be sure to post them on the blog sometime during Myth Week)

Meg was incredibly down to earth, and quite corky! She discussed her newest release Abandon and the inspiration behind the book:

Book Synopsis curtesy of Goodreads:

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most.

But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld. (I haven't read this book yet so I can't give it a review yet)

This is one of many Greek Myth books, that have recently emerged in the Young Adult genre. We saw a strong intrigue and reception with Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series which is geared towards the younger pre-teen readers. However, teens now have the chance to celebrate and rejoice in the strong literary passion and world-building of Greek Mythology. 

That's what this Myth Week is all about! Celebrating and discussing the recent emergence of Greek Mythology in Young Adult fiction, and it's influence on it's audience.

Tell me, what Young Adult books have you read or plan to read, that involve Greek Mythology? 

Be sure to enter my ARC giveaway for Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini. Click here to enter.

ARC GIVEAWAY!!!

I'M GIVING AWAY AN ARC OF STRARCROSSED BY JOSEPHINE ANGELINI!

Edit: CONGRATULATIONS TO THE RELENTLESS SpadesHigh! - You have won the ARC!!!

EDIT: Hi guys, so there have been some problems with the blog recently and as a result some were unable to enter the contest, therefore, I've decided to extend the closing date to Thursday May 26th midnight- I'll announce the winner on the blog Friday May 27th. I realize that there are a few who have been very proactive with this contest, so to be fair, I'm going to give an extra 2 points to everyone who has entered by Sunday, May 22nd. Good luck to you all and keep up the awesome work!! :)

Hi guys,

I have an extra ARC of Josephine Angelini's Starcrossed, that I will be giving away here on my blog! I have a special MYTH WEEK planned for the blog this week that will include works from Meg Cabot and interviews with debut authors: Josephine Angelini, Aimee Carter, and Jennifer Armentrout. I've decided to kickoff the ARC contest early to give more people a chance to enter. This is how the rules for this giveaway are going to work:
In order to enter you MUST be a follower of this blog and leave a comment on this post.
To earn extra entry points you can
+2 follow me on twitter (@HayleyAG)
+1 (1 point for each tweet- be sure to tweet @HayleyAG)
+1 for facebook this contest
+1 for blogging this contest
+5 for commenting on each Myth Week review and interview this coming week (Starting tomorrow)

Please leave your links in the comment box so I can record each of your entries!
This contest is open to Canada/U.S. residents only (however, if you don't live in these two countries but are willing to cover the shipping costs please feel free to enter)
This contest will run from May 15 to Monday, May 23 (Victoria Day!) at midnight

Good luck to you all!

Word On the Street, According to Kelley

Word On the Street, According to Kelley

Hi guys,

It's up! It's finally up! I'm very happy to report that my Kelley Armstrong profile is now up over at OntheDanforth.ca. Please check it out guys and leave a comment if you wish. Spread the word and love about Kelley! :)

Good Choice Reading: Giveaway: Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Good Choice Reading: Giveaway: Vanish by Sophie Jordan: "Yup! I am sharing my copy of Vanish with one lucky person! I need to spread the love LOL I will keep this simple... Rules: This ..."

OMG SOOOOOOOO EXCITING GO ENTER NOW!

And the Winner of Round 2 is.....

Thanks to all who entered round 2 of the contest, the winner of round 2 is none other than

Lieder Madchen 


Congratulations Lieder!


I apologize for this late post but I was actually at a wedding this weekend which was beautiful- THANKS MICHELLE AND MIKE AND BEST OF LUCK- but back to Round 3 of this contest, well I have decided to hold off on round 3 until I've reach 100 followers- Once I've reached a hundred I will have something very special planned for Round 3- so please stay tuned for more (but just to let you know I have been receiving many new books that will be up for grabs in the Hayley Depository- That doesn't sound as good as I though it might haha).


That's all for now happy reading everyone!

Shift Blog Tour and Giveaways

Shift (Shade #2)- Aura's Heart is torn in two.....
Pub Date: May 3/11

Summary curtesy of Goodreads:

Aura’s life is anything but easy. Her boyfriend, Logan, died, and his slides between ghost and shade have left her reeling. Aura knows he needs her now more than ever. She loves Logan, but she can’t deny her connection with the totally supportive, totally gorgeous Zachary. And she’s not sure that she wants to.

Logan and Zachary will fight to be the one by her side, but Aura needs them both to uncover the mystery of her past—the mystery of the Shift.

As Aura’s search uncovers new truths, she must decide whom to trust with her secrets…and her heart.

SHIFT BLOG TOUR POST-RELEASE!

Ok guys I would just like to say how excited I am to be participating in a 2ND blog tour this week! My first two tours EVER in one week- how cool is that?! So we are now in the Post-Shifters phase of the blog tour and there is still time to leave comments on the participating blogs' pages (when you comment on a blog-tour-post you're entered to win one of TWO Copies of SHIFT!)
Please be aware that each contest is only 24 hours long so be sure to enter right away so you don't miss an opportunity! As well, once you've left a comment on one or more blogs, you're automatically entered in the BIG PRIZE at the end of the tour. This prize includes a SIGNED GALLEY of the third Shade book- there will NOT be any ARCs of this book, so this is a huge deal to win peeps.
Here's the list of remaining blogs left on the tour- Each one will be holding there own contest

Wednesday, May 4: Mundie Moms – Interview with Jeri
Thursday, May 5: Postmortem (Jackie Morse Kessler) – Death Interviews Logan
Friday, May 6: Books, Sweets and Other Treats – Group Interview with Zachary by the "Fab 4": Books, Sweets and Other Treats, Bookworms Haven, Booking it with Hayley G, and BrookeWorm
Sunday, May 8: Just Another Book Blog – SHIFT Review
Monday, May 9: YA Book Queen – Interview with Jeri
Tuesday, May 10: The Book Junkies – Guest post: SHIFT playlist and Writing with Music
Wednesday, May 11: For What It's Worth - Wrapup and grand prize giveaway



Hurry and enter guys- enter each day if you want! It'll only increase your chances of winning.


Please note: You're free to leave a comment here, as always, but any comments left on this post will not be counted toward any of Shift giveaways or the MAJOR giveaway. Comments left on the underlined or blue highlighted blogs above, will only be counted for these prizes.


Good luck all and happy commenting!http://jackiemorsekessler.com/blog/

Hard Bitten Blog Stop and GIVEAWAY!

CONGRATULATIONS TO minhchieu ACCORDING TO RADOM.ORG YOU HAVE WON THE HARD BITTEN SWAG PACK! I WILL EMAIL CHLOE TO NOTIFY HER.



Today, Booking It With Hayley G is the blog stop on the Hard Bitten Blog Tour this is my first time participating in a blog tour, so I would like to give a HUGE thank you to Chloe Neill for the opportunity!

O and please take note: 2 DAYS TIL HARD BITTEN IS RELEASED (proceed to squeal now haha)

Everyone please join me in welcoming Chloe to the blog today!

How long did it take you to get Some Girls Bite published? Was it hard? Easy?

I was very lucky in that finding a publisher for SGB was very easy. I finished the manuscript, spent about 6 months
editing, and sent it to one editor--Penguin. They eventually called me up! But I can't stress the "6 months editing" bit
enough. Especially if you don't write professionally or haven't had your work critiqued by a professional before, the
editing is crucial.

What inspired your story and the character Merit?

I was really interested in writing a vampire story from a girl's perspective--with a female vampire in the lead. Once I had
a sense of who Ethan was, I knew who I wanted Merit to be, because she's his foil in a number of ways.

Ethan is completely drool worthy- do you have a favourite hero from another author's series that you consider so
sinfully bad, that he must be good?

Adam Black from Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series is one of my favorite bad boy characters. He is so deliciously
bad. :)  Algiarept from Kim Harrison's Hollows series is another favorite bad boy (who might be a hero?).

How far do you plan to take the Chicago Vampire series?

There are currently 7 books under contract, but I'll keep writing them as long as people keep reading them.

Do you have any favourite authors you like to read or, perhaps, have inspired your writing?

Kim Harrison is a favorite, as is Diana Gabaldon. I read a lot of nonfiction right now, especially travel books. I love
learning about new places.

How different is it to write YA fiction as oppose to adult? Is it harder? More exciting?

YA fiction is harder because more rules apply. The kids have to be in school, they're too young to drive (mine are,
anyway), and I can't swear as much. :)

If you were a Chicago vampire, which master's house would you choose to pledge allegiance to?

Definitely Cadogan, although I definitely have respect for Scott Grey, as well. Morgan, not so much. Maybe when he's
older. ;)

Do you have any advice for young writers trying to make it in the industry?

Keep reading. Keep writing. Don't try to "be published." Try to write a great story.

Thanks for your time Chloe and keep on writing so I can continue reading! Haha

Thanks for having me!

Book summary from Goodreads:

Times are hard for newly minted vampire Merit. Ever since shapeshifters announced their presence to the world, humans have been rallying against supernaturals--and they're camping outside of Cadogan House with protest signs that could turn to pitchforks at any moment. Inside its doors, things between Merit and her Master, green-eyed heartbreaker Ethan Sullivan are ... tense. But then the mayor of Chicago calls Merit and Ethan to a clandestine meeting and tells them about a violent vamp attack that has left three women missing. His message is simple: get your House in order. Or else.

Merit needs to get to the bottom of this crime, but it doesn't help that she can't tell who's on her side. So she secretly calls in a favor from someone who's tall, dark, and part of underground vamp group that may have some deep intel on the attack. Merit soon finds herself in the heady, dark heart of Chicago's supernatural society--a world full of vampires who seem too ready to fulfill the protesting human's worst fears, and a place where she'll learn that you can't be a vampire without getting a little blood on your hands..

*Note Hard Bitten is the fourth instalment in the Chicago Vampires series the first three are available in paperback and e-book format

The fun doesn't end here folks! Chloe has generously donated a fun Hard Bitten gift pack that will go to one lucky winner on this blog!

In order to enter you must be a follower and leave a comment on this post. If you want to earn extra points feel free to tweet about the contest (but be sure to @chloeneill and @HayleyAG)

This contest will run until Wednesday, May 4th midnight- I'll announce the winner Thursday May 5th after 12pm.

Please allow 2-4 weeks for your prize to be delivered to you. This contest is open to US/Canada followers. Good luck everyone!

And big thanks to Chloe again!

Happy Reading all!