Please Welcome, ROCK STAR AUTHOR:
JERI SMITH-READY!
Jeri is one of my favorite authors. I first discovered her from the WVMP series about vamps, weres and others running a radio station, I was in LOVE. She blends her love of music with wonderful characters that are unique and believable. So when she started a young adult series, starring a kid in a band and mentions all of my favorite artists, well, you know this is a must read for me! Check out her website HERE. Her books always have a message of hope for no matter how rough life becomes, music can always get you through it.
Special shout outs to Two Chicks on Books and Fiktshun for organizing this special event. These girls put together an awe inspiring tour for young adult authors and I am honored to be participating.
Now, on to the good stuff....
Please welcome the SHADE BOYS:
ZACHARY
LOGAN
MARTIN
Zachary: Cheers for asking all three of us SHADEboys to do a
joint interview! We chat a lot on Twitter with readers and with one another, and
we’ve even interviewed people ourselves. But we’re pure chuffed to yatter on
endlessly in an official capacity.
Logan: Translation: that means we’re psyched to be talking on
an actual blog. In fact, I’m SO stoked, I’ll even use the Shift key, which I
normally don’t do on Twitter or on the SHADEboys tumblr. I either go ALL CAPS
or all lower case, cuz I’m not a halfway sorta guy. Also, it’s kind of a thing.
Martin: Are we recording yet? When do I have to stop saying
****?
Zachary: Thirty seconds ago.
Martin: Oh. Sorry.
Zachary: Anyway, a brief introduction for those who don’t
know us. I’m Zachary Moore, one of the main characters in the SHADE trilogy by
The Woman Upstairs, aka Jeri Smith-Ready. I’m from Glasgow, Scotland; I love
astronomy and real football; and I have a massive weakness for chocolate.
Like the main character and love of my life, Aura, I’m 16 at
the start of the series and 18 at the end. I was the last person born before
the Shift, which means everyone younger than I (starting with Aura) can see
ghosts. But I can’t, except when…well, that’s a secret.
Logan: Logan Keeley here. I’m forever 17, since I died,
like, an hour after my birthday. That’s not really a spoiler, since it happens
at the beginning of the first book, which totally sucked (my dying, not the
book). I’m from Baltimore, I love music and REAL-real football (i.e., not
soccer). Most of all I like attention. Which makes being a ghost really hard,
but makes being on Twitter awesome.
Martin: I’m Martin Connelly, Zachary’s best mate. I’m only
in SHINE, the last book in the trilogy, which means one day I’ll get my own spinoff
series!
Logan: Dream on, dude. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a short
story like I did.
Martin: But Zachary’s getting a novella. So that means each
SHADEboy gets a bigger spotlight than the last. Be nice and I’ll let you write
the soundtrack for my action-film franchise.
Logan: Now THAT would be cool. So…are we supposed to get
asked stuff?
Zachary: It would probably help if we stopped talking for a second
or two.
Mary: First I have a question for all three of you. What
makes you cringe?
Zachary: When people find out I’m Scottish and immediately
make a sheep joke.
Martin: Y’know, I’ve not seen a sheep up close in years.
Zachary: Probably cos they always see you first.
Martin: Nice one. A’right, my turn. I’m dead tired of being
either ridiculed or swooned over cos I’m a ginger. It’s just a hair colour, not
a marker of moral degradation. Not that I don’t have moral degradation as a
weekly goal.
Zachary: Logan, how about you—what makes you cringe?
Logan: Nickelback.
Mary: On that note, can you still discover new music in the
afterlife?
Logan: Totally. Funny thing about the afterlife—it’s not as
after-y as you’d think.
Zachary: And that’s all you can say without spoilers.
Logan: But I CAN say I’m super excited about the new Mumford
& Sons coming out September 25.
Zachary: I’ll give that a listen, but only after the new
Frightened Rabbit EP (not to brag, but both release the day before here in the
UK).
Mary: Zachary, how did you cope with having to compete with
a ghost for Aura’s affections?
Zachary: I coped the usual way lads cope with constant
frustration and disappointment.
Logan: Dude, you’re not talking about—
Zachary: Sport. Mostly football. Why, what did you think I
was going to say?
Martin: Well, there is the honourary nickname Niall and I
have for you, which somehow made it past the editors of SHINE.
Zachary: I’ve no idea what you’re talking about. Isn’t it
your turn to answer a question?
Mary: Martin, what drives you crazy about Zach?
Martin: Ach, where to begin? Let’s take a journey through a
typical day with Zachary Moore. He’s pure crabbit in the morning until after
his fourth cup of tea, as likely to bite yer heid off as say “Hiya.”
Zachary: I’m not a morning person, it’s true.
Martin: And he’ll never ask for help when he needs it. Or
admit when he’s wrong.
Zachary: I did admit it, that one time I actually was wrong.
Martin: But the most infuriating thing about Zachary is that
even after all the hell he’s been through, he’s still a good guy. It’s inhuman.
Also, there are some weeks when he only sleeps an hour or two a night, but he’s
still by far the best-looking lad in Glasgow. I should know—I’ve ranked them
all.
Zachary: You’re too kind.
Martin: There’s no such thing as too kind—you’ve taught me
that, ya wee bastard.
Logan: Guys, get a room, OK? Oh wait, you already did,
literally. Which Aura is incredibly understanding about, I might add.
Zachary: Thanks. There’s no way THAT could be
misinterpreted.
Mary: So Logan, what most do you miss about the physical
world?
Logan: It’s a tie between kissing Aura and playing guitar. But
over time the guitar probably wins.
Zachary: How’s that possible?
Logan: It’s hard to let go of someone you love, but being
dead is pretty much the definition of “no future.” So hanging on to Aura is
just cruel to both of us.
Zachary: Sorry, mate.
Logan: (shrugs)
I also miss pizza.
Mary: Zachary, where in the world would you take Aura to
stargaze?
Zachary: They say the mountains of Chile have the world’s
clearest skies, and I’ve always wanted to see the southern hemisphere
constellations. (gives Logan a guilty look) But honestly, I’d take her to
Hawaii.
Logan: So you could see her in a bikini, right?
Zachary: Naw, Hawaii has an amazing set of observatories on
Mauna Kea. It also has beautiful scenery and volcanoes, plus plants and animals
found nowhere else, and…aye, the bikini kinda wins it.
Martin: Well, this is pure awkward.
Mary: Martin, you’re a bartender. What’s your favorite pub
drink?
Martin: In winter I fancy a hot toddy (whisky, sugar, lemon
juice and hot water—some people use tea, but I don’t). Generally, though, my
tastes are simple: Tennent’s Lager or Crabbie’s Ginger Beer. And Irn Bru for
hangovers.
Zachary: I should mention for our American audiences that
the drinking age here in Scotland is 18.
Martin: Aye, so when Zach and I tweet about our weekend
trips to the pubs and clubs, we’re not being scandalous. Not about the drink,
anyway.
Zachary: (checks transcript) I think four pages counts as a
marathon blether, so let’s wrap up. Thanks very much to Mary for having us on her
blog, and to Jaime at Two Chicks on Books for inviting us in the first place. We
love youse!
Logan: And if we haven’t totally weirded y’all out, come follow
us on Twitter or visit our tumblr for blog posts on music, television, and
random stuff that pops into our heads. We like to talk with readers A LOT about
pretty much ANYTHING.
Hmm, I’m ALL CAPSing again, so it’s probably time to go. SEE
YA!
Martin: Bye, everyone! Be sure to look for me in the next
generation of Bourne films. (“There were never just two.”)
Thanks to Jeri -- she is offering up something special!
WIN YOUR CHOICE OF SHIFT, SHINE OR SHADE
Complete the below form
Contest is open to anyone over 13 years old with a US mailing address
(Sorry, NO PO Boxes ) Void where prohibited.
Contest ends on 9.12.12 Winner will be chosen by Random.org
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to email or a new winner will be chosen.
One winner per household. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
This giveaway is sponsored by JERI SMITH-READY and ONE copy of your choice is available.
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