SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP!

 

Welcome to the Summer Giveaway Hop! 

This hop is hosted by I Am a Reader, Not a Writer (HERE) and BookHounds! (you are here).

There are hundreds of blogs participating and each has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one.  This hop starts August 1st and runs through August 7th, midnight.  

HERE IS WHAT I HAVE FOR ONE LUCKY WINNER!

PLEASE NOTE:  THESE ARE ALL ARCs

WANT TO WIN THESE BOOKS?

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address

Contest ends on 8.7.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.8.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen

This giveaway is sponsored by ME for ONE winner FOR THREE OF THE ABOVE BOOKS
PLEASE NOTE:  If postage is extremely expensive for me to mail these books, I may opt to give the winner a $15 credit at The Book Depository.

Complete the below form
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SUMMER GIVEAWAY HOP Complete List of Participating Blogs

SNEAK PEAK - Dark Swan Storm Born #1 Graphic Novel by Richelle Mead

Description

Eugenie Markham never asked for any of this. Until now, she''s been content with her job as a freelance shaman, battling and banishing Otherworldly creatures. When a prophecy suddenly makes her the Otherworld''s most popular bachelorette, Eugenie finds herself fighting off unwanted supernatural suitors, as well as the evils that begin emerging from her past...

Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Sea Lion Books (October 4, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982818645
• ISBN-13: 978-0982818640

I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak at the first 30 pages of the new graphic novel of Dark Swan by Richelle Mead.  This is one of my favorite series and the images in my brain of Eugenie match the illustrations perfectly!  The story follows Eugenie and introduces her, so if you haven't read Storm Born (and why not?) then you won't be left out.  I can't wait for the whole thing!  This one is best suited for older teens.

I will have more covers and art work to post over the next few weeks!

Waiting on Wednesday: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Description

Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.

About the Author

Gemma Halliday is the author of the High Heels Mysteries, as well as the Hollywood Headlines Mysteries series. Gemma’s books have received numerous awards, including a Golden Heart, a National Reader’s Choice award and three RITA nominations. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area where she is hard at work on several new projects. 

 

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (October 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062003313
• ISBN-13: 978-0062003317

---

REVIEW: Supernaturally by Kiersten White

Description

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again. Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.
But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.
So much for normal.

About the Author

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of Paranormalcy.She has one tall husband and two small children. She lives near the ocean in San Diego, where her days are perfectly normal. This abundance of normal led her to a fascination with all things paranormal, including but not limited to faeries, vampires, and pop culture.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (July 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061985864
• ISBN-13: 978-0061985867

SOURCE:  AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Evie has what she always wanted:  a locker and a regular life.  She is happy working her shifts at the diner, seeing her boyfriend, Lend and learning how to be normal.  Normal becomes boring and when her ex-boyfriend, Reth, shows up along with some other disguised paranormals, things get weird quickly.  Evie finds herself in the middle of a power struggle between the good and bad fairies, but finds when it comes to fairies, the are only shades of evil.  Lend has gone to college and Evie has set her goal to get into to the same school so they can be together.  Evie meets up again with Raquel and her new assistant, Jack, when she decides to help the IPCA again.

I really enjoyed Evie spunky nature and snarky comments, but there is a bit lacking with Lend not always in the picture.  Her vampire room mate does pick up some of the slack and the introduction of Jack, who at first is super annoying and becomes gallactically annoying by the end of the book.  Jack (a human who grew up in Fairy) does provide some relief and makes Evie more human by forcing her to actually have a bit of fun and act like a child, things that she missed growing up at IPCA.  There is a major twist and Evie finds out even more about her past.  I thought this one was nicely done and left open a bunch of questions and paths for Evie to explore in another book.

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Description

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

About the Author

Laini Taylor is the author of the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch, as well as the novels Blackbringer, which Kirkus said "belongs at the top of everyone's fantasy must-read list," and Silksinger. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine.

---

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316134023
• ISBN-13: 978-0316134026

AND THE WINNER IS: Twisted by Sara Shepard

Courtney

Be sure to visit FUZZY COFFEE BOOKS here 

An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks to all who entered.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

GIVEAWAY & REVIEW: Paradise Rules by Jimmy Gleacher

Description

TRUE OR F A L S E ?  
It’s only a week into summer break and already seventeen-year-old Gates has . . .
a) Hustled millionaires on the golf course
b) Tried to stop his mother from having a(nother) nervous breakdown
c) Promised to lose his virginity with his girlfriend, Mel . . . which would be great if he hadn’t already lost it to his forty-year-old godmother
d) Almost killed a man
Yeah, Gates has a lot of secrets, but he’s determined to keep his heart true. When he’s not swinging golf clubs like a pro, he reads pulp fiction to old folks at the retirement home. And despite his occasional slip-ups—drinking before noon and sneaking glimpses through his sexy godmother’s open negligees—Gates only has eyes for Mel. But she knows he’s hiding something, and she’s beginning to lose her patience.
Just as Gates is about to spill his shameful secrets, he gets tangled up in a golf club scandal that jeopardizes his dreams of a normal life. He’s never been a fighter, but this time he finally pushes back at the world—which could have been a breakthrough but turns into an epic fail. Probably because Gates fights back dirty. Now his life is on the verge of ruin, and he’s got no one to turn to for help.
Or so he thinks. Because what Gates is about to discover might hit him with the most amazing shock of his life.

Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Gallery; Original edition (July 12, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451608454
• ISBN-13: 978-1451608458

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
LOVED IT

Gates loves his girlfriend Mel, he earns extra money by hustling golf players at a country club as a caddy, his mother is just about to have a breakdown and he stumbles on something that may just change his "normal" life.  Mel knows something is wrong but just can't put her finger on it and when Gates finally decides to open up, he has what can only be described as an "epic fail".  Just when he thinks he can no longer deal, he finds a strength that was there all along.

This book has everything to make me happy!  I loved the tone and humor that really worked with the very believable characters.  Gates' friend Timmy,an OCD afflicted teen that must repeat the last word he says three times and thus becomes Timmy, Timmy, Timmy or 3T,  quickly became my favorite.  Lu, Gates' boss at the golf club, has more misguided plans that you can imagine and when he wants to make a point, he spouts Confucius like statements and his Amazing Adventure which is really quite far from reality in a bid to save his house.  The story reminded me a bit of Christopher Buckley, so if you like off the wall humor, you will love this as much as I did.  I recommend this one for older teens since there are sexual situations and alcohol/drugs mentioned.

GO HERE TO WIN COPIES OF JIMMY'S OTHER BOOKS!

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address

Contest ends on 8.5.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.6.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is sponsored by Gallery Book and ONE copy is available.
There is another copy over at BookHounds HERE

Complete the below form
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+1 Leave a comment!
Extra Entries for Jimmy Gleacher
+1 Visit the author site and leave me a comment about an interesting fact
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GIVEAWAY & 10 Questions with JIMMY GLEACHER author of Paradise Rules

About the Author

Jimmy Gleacher is the author of "It's How You Play the Game" and the screenwriter of "He's Such a Girl," and lives in Boulder, Colorado. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from the trippy and groovy Naropa Institute, where he was awarded the Jack Kerouac Scholarship. His short stories have appeared in The Sun, 2wice, The Lullwater Review, Damaged Goods, and other lit journals no one has ever heard of.

I would like to thank Jimmy for stopping by BookHounds today and answering my silly questions. 
Check out his other books at the end and enter to win copies of both his previous releases!

1.     

1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Bookmarks

2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
Off

3. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
Old Yeller

4. What are you reading right now?
IMPERIAL BEDROOMS by Bret Easton Ellis

5. Do you have a favorite author?
Tim O’Brien

6. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
AMERICAN PSYCHO

7. Do you have a favorite place to write?
Boulder, Colorado

8. How does your garden grow?
Definitely not with cockle shells.

9. What is the last thing you Googled?
Old Yeller

10. What makes you cringe?
All the mistakes I have made. 

Description

Liza Davis is looking for something. Looking for hope, for meaning. For her sister, or her best friend. Maybe she's even looking for herself. In Silly Little Rich Girl, Jimmy Gleacher introduces a fascinating and contradictory heroine. Privileged, famous, beautiful...Liza seems destined for a successful career on Wall Street until a series of events loosens her grip on reality and sends her on a cross-country quest. From New York to Florida to Seattle, she visits the fringes of the underworld, gets an hour's worth of fifteen minutes of fame, falls in love for the first time, and believes her obsession with finding her sibling is sisterly love. Liza's journey is a classic road trip with a postmodern spin. Through Liza, Gleacher takes on American popular culture, from the sacred to the profane. Reality television, politicians, and evangelical Christians are just a few of Gleacher's targets in this incisive sophomore novel.

Description

With a cinematic wit and some emotional insight (rare from the male perspective), Jimmy Gleacher delivers his debut novel, a clever and heartfelt tale of a twentysomething guy's trip through love and relationships.
Jack Wilson's got a few problems. First, there's his ex-girlfriend, Breach -- their relationship was too perfect for any twentysomething guy in his right mind. Unable to commit, he quickly ran the other way. Since then, the dating games have spun out of control.
Now there's his new girlfriend, Hope -- she's gorgeous, exciting, smart, and quite possibly crazy. Hope's rich friends? Even crazier. Jack's life is suddenly cluttered with young, beautiful people who have a strange definition of love. Relying on fate, Jack decides to ride the situation out with little or no regard for the consequences.
A no-good gambling father, the new girlfriend's psychotic mother, and a seductive older woman aren't making things any easier. Jack's getting plenty of advice, though. If he isn't seeking the counsel of the local Mafioso deli owner, then his mom and her "Friday Night Drinking Club" are more than willing to butt in. Through it all, Jack learns that finding love and living with it depends on a set of rules, a few good moves, and a dose of luck.

WANT TO WIN A SET OF THESE TWO BOOKS?

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address

Contest ends on 8.5.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 8.6.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is sponsored by the authorand ONE SET is available.


Complete the below form
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+1 Be my friend on Goodreads HERE

+1 for social networking  this giveaway and leave me a link (blog, twitter, facebook, etc) once daily
+1 Leave a comment!
Extra Entries for Jimmy Gleacher
+1 Visit the author site and leave me a comment about an interesting fact
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Waiting on Wednesday: If I Die by Rachel Vincent

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

 Description
 
No one wants to be this teacher’s pet . . .

Everyone else is talking about Eastlake High’s gorgeous new math teacher, Mr. Beck, but Kaylee Cavanaugh has bigger things on her mind. Kaylee’s a banshee—her scream is a portent of death.

But the next scream might hit too close to home. Kaylee’s borrowed lifeline has almost run out.

Yeah—it’s a shock to her, too. So to distract herself from her own problems, Kaylee is determined to defend her school against the latest supernatural threat. That hot new teacher is really an incubus, who feeds from the desire of unsuspecting students. The only girls immune to his lure are Kaylee and Sabine, her boyfriend’s delinquent ex-girlfriend. Now the unlikely allies have to get rid of Mr. Beck…before he discovers they aren’t quite human either.

But Kaylee’s running out of time, and those who love her will do anything to save her life.

Anything.

Soul Screamers: The last thing you hear before you die.

 

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin; Original edition (September 27, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373210329
• ISBN-13: 978-0373210329

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY: Author Lauren DeStefano discusses Goodreads

AND THE WINNER IS: BlogFest 2011

Zee - A Voracious Readeriwitt33

An email has been sent to the lucky people named above (first part of their email address in case my note ends up in spam).  The winner(s)  has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Thanks to all who entered.

PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM FOR THE EMAIL FROM BOOKHOUNDS @ HOTMAIL REQUESTING YOUR MAILING ADDRESS!

GIVEAWAY! The Ghost and The Goth & Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

 (new hardback)

Description

After a close encounter with the front end of a school bus, Alona Dare goes from Homecoming Queen to Queen of the Dead. Now she’s stuck as a spirit in the land of the living with no sign of the big, bright light to take her away. To make matters worse, the only person who might be able to help her is Will Killian, a total loser outcast. He alone can see and hear (turns out he’s been “blessed” with the ability to communicate with the dead), but he wants nothing to do with the former mean girl of Groundsboro High.

Alona has never needed anyone for anything, and now she’s supposed to expose her deepest, darkest secrets to this pseudo-goth boy? Right. She’s not telling anyone what really happened the day she died, not even to save her eternal soul. And Will’s not filling out any volunteer forms to help her cross to the other side. He only has a few more weeks until his graduation, when he can strike out on his own and find a place with less spiritual interference. But he has to survive and stay out of the psych ward until then. Can they get over their mutual distrust—and the weird attraction between them—to work together before Alona vanishes for good and Will is locked up for seeing things that don’t exist? 

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 10, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423124871
• ISBN-13: 978-1423124870

(ARC paperback)

Description

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423134672
• ISBN-13: 978-1423134671

 About the Author

Stacey Kade is an award-winning corporate copywriter. The Ghost and the Goth is her first YA novel. You can find her on Facebook and Twitter as well as at her Web site. She lives in the Chicago suburbs.

WANT TO WIN A COPY OF THIS BOOK?

Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a reliable mailing address
(International & PO Boxes OK!)

Contest ends on 7.29.11 Winner will be chosen by Random.org on 7.30.11

Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher and ME.

Complete the below form
Follow Me

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+1 Be my friend on Goodreads HERE

+1 for social networking  this giveaway and leave me a link (blog, twitter, facebook, etc) once daily
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REVIEW: Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Description

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.

Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.

Packed with romance, lovable characters, and a killer cliffhanger, Queen of the Dead is the out-of-this-world sequel to The Ghost and the Goth.

Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (May 31, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1423134672
• ISBN-13: 978-1423134671

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

**slight spoilers**

The story picks right up where The Ghost and the Goth left off.  Told in alternating viewpoints between Alona and Will, the story takes us through Will's search to learn more about his mysterious father, his unusual gift of seeing dead people and his relationship with Alona, a girl who wouldn't normally give him the time of day in real life.  Alona has figured out a few things about being dead now, she knows she must help people and remain positive to earn karma points and possibly move on to a new level of death. That is if she doesn't become too overly attached to Will and when Mina shows up while they are helping a spirit cross over, Alona's jealously flares!  Mina is a member of the secret, ghost-busting Order and starts to shed light on Will's father. While Alona tries to distract Will from Mina and contact him through his best friend Lily (who is really dead and moved into the light, but her body still works) and winds up in possession of her body.  This is when the fun really starts!  And where I need to stop giving away plot points. 

Stacey Kade is going straight to my list of authors I force people to read.  Her fun style of writing mixed with a healthy dose of snark is just the perfect thing to get anyone out of a reading slump.  Reluctant readers will find the plot easy to follow and with enough twists to keep their attention.  The characters are truly believable and even the ghostly situations don't seem at all far fetched.  Alona is straight out of a teenage dream and to watch her grow and change is a pleasure.  Will is very complicated and it is wonderful to see him come out of his shell.  It will be interesting to see where the story goes next.  If you like Marley Gibson, Marlene Perez or Kelly McClymer, you are going to love this series.

10 Questions with Queen of the Dead author STACEY KADE

About the Author

As an award-winning corporate copywriter, Stacey Kade has written about everything from backhoe loaders to breast pumps. But she prefers to make things up instead.
From her first childhood scribbles about a magical necklace that would turn people into cats, Stacey has long been fascinated with what happens when the “ordinary” bumps up against “out of this world.” What if aliens landed on Earth? What if the afterlife is really just another dimension?
She lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, Greg, and their three retired racing greyhounds, Joezooka (Joe), Tall Walker (Walker) and SheWearsThePants (Pansy). When she’s not reading or writing, you’ll likely find her parked in front of the television with her Roswell DVDs, staring rapturously at Jason Behr.

Books:

 

And now 10 Questions with Stacey Kade 

 
1. Bookmarks or dog ears?
Bookmarks. Or, I use the front flap of the dust jacket to hold my place.

2. Dust jacket on or off when reading a hard back?
On.

3. What is the first book you remember reading by yourself as a child?
I don’t know—isn’t that terrible? I don’t actually remember learning how to read. It’s just always been part of my life. 

4. What are you reading right now?
Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin (loved the HBO series, so I wanted to try the book!)

5. Do you have a favorite author?
Oh, too many to count. My auto-buy list is enormous. Off the top of my head, I’m a huge fan of Meg Cabot, Jennifer Echols, Suzanne Collins, and Jane Austen.

6. Was there a book that inspired you to write?
I was always writing little stories when I was a kid, and the first one I remember finishing was directly inspired by the Trixie Belden series (sort of a younger version of Nancy Drew). And by “directly inspired,” I actually mean, “shameless imitation.”  Hey, I was nine and just learning! 

7. Do you have a favorite place to write?
I end up writing in bookstores, libraries and coffee shops a lot, but my very favorite place (other than my office) is the airport. Yeah, I know it’s weird! 

8. How does your garden grow?
Ha! Not very well, which is why I let my husband take care of all the plants. 

9. What is the last thing you Googled?
Lake Michigan sea monster (nope, not kidding)

10. What makes you cringe?
This is an odd thing that I’ve inherited from my mother—neither of us can stand to watch characters in movies or TV shows stuck in embarrassing or humiliating situations, particularly if the characters themselves are responsible for creating said humiliating situation. My mom will leave the room (and then come back in a minute to ask what happened). I prefer to fast forward, when that’s possible!  I saw Bridesmaids a couple weekends ago and while it is possibly one of the funniest movies I’ve ever seen, there were several moments (like the competing speeches part) where I would have bolted if my husband had not been there. If I’d left, he NEVER would have let me live that down! So, instead, I just squirmed in my seat and covered my eyes!


Thank you so much for stopping by BookHounds YA today!

You can visit Stacey
Webiste:   http://www.staceykade.com/
Blog: http://www.staceykade.com/journal/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/staceykade
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/staceykade

Don't forget to enter HERE to win a copy of both books!

GUEST POST! Setting Writing Goals by Michael Young author of The Last Archangel

Setting Writing Goals

Writing any book is a huge undertaking. Staring at an empty screen can feel as daunting as standing at the foot of the Himalayas, knowing that the only way to go is up.

I believe that this feeling of helplessness keeps many would-be writers from attempting to write altogether. Most people don't feel like they can fit it into their lives, or that once they make the effort that it will be in vain because they won't be able to get into print.

This is where setting goals comes in. In order to take the terror out of taking on a huge writing project, you need to break up your big goal into many smaller ones. You don't tackle the mountain, but the step right in front of you.

Figure out about how many words you would like your project to be. This doesn't have to be precise number, but just something to shoot at. You can always adjust later as the project progresses. Middle Grade and Young Adult are generally between 60 and 100 thousand words, but each genre has its own standards, such as fantasy, which is generally a little bit longer.

Decide when you want to complete your project. In this stage, remember that the later you want to get done, the less you will have to do each day and vice versa. Think about how much time you can actually devote to writing each day when making this decision.

Figure out how much you need to do each day by dividing the word count by the number of days until your goal. This will give you an estimate about much you need to write each day.

Find some way to keep track of your progress. Make a chart, post it on your computer monitor, whatever motivates you. Tell other people about your goals so that they can be your cheerleaders.

For example, I like to finish the first draft of a novel about every three months. I have set the goal of writing about 1,000 words every day so that if I stick to that, I will have a 90,000 word novel every three months. If you miss a day, don't despair. Life happens, and you haven't lost unless you stop writing. The best thing to do if you miss a day is just to write a little more the next day.

It's hard, but it can be done. I wrote “The Canticle Kingdom” in a year while I was going to school full time and working a full-time job on top of that. It was slow and steady that one this one, not sporadic bursts of intense writing.

In short, don't worry about the mountain. Worry about the next step every day, and if you do that long enough, you'll look up and realize that you've reached the peak.

Xandir has been exiled to earth until the end of time. But when his cherub trainee disappears, Xandir makes a deal with rogue angels and giants that could restore life to the mortal woman he loves and end his assignment as a destroying angel in exchange for helping them bring about the end of the world and all of mankind.

You can ready more about “The Last Archangel” at: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com



 
About The Author:



Michael is a graduate of Brigham Young University with a degree in German Teaching and a minor in Music. He puts his German to good use by working to build online German courses for High School students. Though he grew up traveling the world with his military father, he now lives in Utah with his wife, Jen, and his two sons. Michael enjoys acting in community theater, playing and writing music and spending time with his family. He played for several years with the handbell choir Bells on Temple Square and is now a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

His first book, "The Canticle Kingdom", was released in Feb 2010 through Bonneville Books. He is also the author of the inspirational pamphlet "Portrait of a Mother". He has also had work featured in various online and print magazines such as Mindflights, The New Era, Allegory, and Ensign.

You can learn more about Michael and his writing at his blog: http://www.writermike.com

You can read more about The Last Archangel at the official site: http://thelastarchangel.weebly.com or http://thelastarchangelbook.com You can purchase The Last Archangel by clicking here.