Giveaway Review SAVAGE DRIFT (Monument 14) by EMMY LAYBOURNE @EmmyLaybourne @FierceReads

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

In Monument 14: Savage Drift, the stunningly fierce conclusion to the Monument 14 trilogy, author Emmy Laybourne ups the stakes even higher for a group of kids who have continually survived the unthinkable. Can they do so one last time?

It's over. 
Dean, Alex, and the other survivors of the Monument 14 have escaped the disaster zone and made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Some of the kids have been reunited with their families, and everyone is making tentative plans for the future. And then, Niko learns that his lost love, Josie, has survived!

Or is it? For Josie, separated from the group and presumed dead, life has gone from bad to worse. Trapped in a terrible prison camp with other exposed O's and traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue. Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid--along with her two protectors, Dean and Jake--joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with Josie.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne, author of the Monument 14 trilogy, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at emmylaybourne.com.

Website * Facebook * Twitter  * Goodreads 

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS:  ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT


Dean, Alex and the younger kids have been safe at the camp near Vancouver, but they still want to find Josie after Niko discovers that she is still alive.  Astrid is experiencing difficulties in her pregnancy but fears going to the doctor there since she has heard rumors of pregnant girls just disappearing.  To save Astrid from medical experimentation, the boys devise a plan and with the help of the twins' father, the escape the camp and venture back into the states.  

I love that the story alternates between the different points of view of each character and Josie, in her exile as a type O monster, shows that her compassion goes beyond being a prisoner in a sea of monsters.  The chemicals have morphed into a dust cloud that drifts into areas that weren't previously effected.  As Jake, Astrid and Dean travel south to reach safety for the baby, Niko sets off on his own to find Josie.  This part of the story becomes extremely exciting as you wonder if the group will survive the chemicals and circumstances to save Josie.  

Rarely do I get an ending that I wanted but still was a bit surprised at how it ended.  That is exactly what happened to me in this conclusion of the Monument 14 series.  The whole cast of characters are so accessible and it is heartening that these teens try to do what is right. Fans of dystopian stories are going to enjoy this one immensely.  You do need to read the first two books in the series since each builds on the other.  Parents:  There is some violence, alcohol abuse and minor sexual situations.  

WANT TO WIN THIS  ARC BOOK?

Ends 5/13/14 


Open to anyone with a US mailing address

Open only to those who can legally enter

Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary.

You must be 13 or older to enter .

The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified.

The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning.

Giveaway was organized by BookHounds and sponsored by me.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

EMMY LAYBOURNE and the TRUTHS AND MYTHS OF MULTI-AUTHOR BOOK TOURS @EmmyLaybourne @FierceReads

Truths and Myths About Multi-Author Book Tours

  

Hello! What a delight to be here on BookHounds YA 

I'll be out on tour in June with Fierce Reads. I love going on tour and multi-author tours are a big thing now. Publishers are finding that grouping debut authors with experienced authors both makes for a really exciting event and helps spread awareness of the new talent to the (excellent! delightful!) devoted readers that love books so much they show up!

As fun as touring is, there are some misconceptions about what happens on the road. I'm here to shed my perspective on what goes down behind-the-scenes.

Here are some questions I've crowd-sourced about life on a multi-author book tour:

Q: Do you stay at nice hotels or do you have to BYO Sheets at fleabag motels?

This was the biggest question I had myself when I arrived in Los Angeles for the first night of the first Fierce Reads tour in June 2012. I literally had no idea if we'd be staying at mom and pop roadside joints or at fancy schmancy hotels with concierges and mini-bars. Turns out it's SCHMANCY! We've stayed at the most beautiful hotels on tour - luxurious, starry places with world-class restaurants. Macmillan really knows how to treat their authors! Also - they encourage us to have room service! Encourage!

Q: Do the authors feel super-competitive with each other?

Hmmm. That's a tricky one. My answer is: not for long. You can't brave the ups and downs of a tour without doing some serious bonding.

If I feel any little spikes of envy for the success of my tour-mates, they quickly melt away when I remember how thankful I am to get to be a novelist in the first place. I get to do what I love every day – all the rest is gravy.

Q: Do authors hate taking pictures with fans?

Gosh NO! Well, I don't. It's actually my favorite part of an event. I like to do one straight photo and then do one silly photo - like, we'll pretend a black swirling cloud of destruction is coming over the horizon or I'll pick up a book off the shelves and me and the fan will pretend to be having a meaningful discussion about it. Fun!

Q: What's it like to fly every day for two weeks?

Blecch. It's hard. It's the flying that makes touring difficult. It's the security lines! Every day, security lines. But at least the airlines are giving out free peanuts again. And I rack up the miles.

Q: What makes the difference between a good event and a bad event?

Do you already know the answer? It's the readers. It's the energy in the room. We've had some events where we rocked the roof off the joint. I'm thinking of Miami, 2013. Provo, 2012. Houston, 2013 - we almost burned the joint down with our collective mind power.

Q: What advice would you give to an author going on his/her first tour?

Hard to give just one piece of advice, so here's my 5 top tips:

1.  Pack sweatpants and super comfortable, slip-on shoes to wear as you travel.

2.  Go to some author events like the ones you will be participating in so you can study how to give a good summary of your book, how to be funny, and how to be brief and to the point. I know that middle one's hard.

3.  Practice your book pitch before you go. Get it short and really good. DO it for your friends and get their feedback.

4.  If you have enough lead time, try to engage with local schools or libraries close to your events. There's nothing better than having a bunch of teens show up who've read your book (this is particularly important for debut authors, but still helpful for all).

5.  Eat and drink responsibly! I know that sounds school-marmish, but you need to eat three meals with protein every day. I like to eat dinner at 4 pm when I'm on tour. There, I said it. Why? Because we usually leave for the events at 5, do a blog interview at 6, then the event at 7 and you don't get to a restaurant until 10! I can't do a good gig on an empty stomach and I sure as heck can't wait until 10 to eat dinner. Not when I have to be up at 6 the next day to make a flight to Petoski! I eat like an athlete when on tour.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR STOPPING BY BOOKHOUNDS ya!

and check back later for my review and a giveaway of SAVAGE DRIFT

(omg - awesome!) 

Book Description

Publication Date: May 6, 2014

In Monument 14: Savage Drift, the stunningly fierce conclusion to the Monument 14 trilogy, author Emmy Laybourne ups the stakes even higher for a group of kids who have continually survived the unthinkable. Can they do so one last time?

Pre-order SAVAGE DRIFT and send your proof of purchase to: savagedriftbonus@gmail.com to receive exclusive bonus content!

It's over. 
Dean, Alex, and the other survivors of the Monument 14 have escaped the disaster zone and made it to the safety of a Canadian refugee camp. Some of the kids have been reunited with their families, and everyone is making tentative plans for the future. And then, Niko learns that his lost love, Josie, has survived!

Or is it? For Josie, separated from the group and presumed dead, life has gone from bad to worse. Trapped in a terrible prison camp with other exposed O's and traumatized by her experiences, she has given up all hope of rescue. Meanwhile, scared by the government's unusual interest in her pregnancy, Astrid--along with her two protectors, Dean and Jake--joins Niko on his desperate quest to be reunited with Josie.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne, author of the Monument 14 trilogy, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at emmylaybourne.com.

Website * Facebook * Twitter  * Goodreads 

Review SKY ON FIRE by EMMY LAYBOURNE @FierceReads @EmmyLaybourne

Book Description

Release date: May 28, 2013  Series: Monument 14

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .


About the Author

EMMY LAYBOURNE, author of Monument 14, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

The group has survived intact so far with only minor injuries and have figured out how to counteract the chemical spill as well as fight off a few interlopers who would like to take over the superstore.  Alex and Niko decide that they can't sit around in the store forever and repair the bus to get to Denver International Airport where evacuations are taking place.  So with them, Batiste, Josie, Sahalia and Brayden who has been shot, all set off to get help in the bus.  As they travel through the interstate, the true horror of the catastrophe is even more than they could have imagined.  They are met by a group of marauding militia that tell them the airport is nothing more than a death sentence.  Still the group plods on.

Back at the store, Astrid and Dean try to keep the three youngest children happy and comfortable and they  think that they are safe, another refuge tries to break in and Jake reappears to save them.   As Jake describes the devastation outside, they start to gather supplies to make their own trek to the airport.  The air quality is deteriorating and they feel they have no other choice since everything seems to be getting worse.

The story again is full of action and perfect descriptions which make for a quick read.  The characters are more developed and I needed a book that wasn't a tortured romance -- although there is a bit of that between Astrid and Dean.  The ending left me hanging a bit and you do find out the fate of a few of them.  I am not going to ruin the outcome of this one since I know you will want to pick this one up.  Parents:  There is a bit of language and some kissing in this one, as well as some violence but it was nothing like the first one.  

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 28, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569041
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569044
• 
  

Review SKY ON FIRE by EMMY LAYBOURNE @FierceReads @EmmyLaybourne

Book Description

Release date: May 28, 2013  Series: Monument 14

Trapped in a superstore by a series of escalating disasters, including a monster hailstorm and terrifying chemical weapons spill, brothers Dean and Alex learned how to survive and worked together with twelve other kids to build a refuge from the chaos. But then strangers appeared, destroying their fragile peace, and bringing both fresh disaster and a glimmer of hope.

Knowing that the chemical weapons saturating the air outside will turn him into a bloodthirsty rage monster, Dean decides to stay in the safety of the store with Astrid and some of the younger kids. But their sanctuary has already been breached once. . . .

Meanwhile, Alex, determined to find their parents, heads out into the darkness and devastation with Niko and some others in a recently repaired school bus. If they can get to Denver International Airport, they might be evacuated to safety. But the outside world is even worse than they expected. . . .


About the Author

EMMY LAYBOURNE, author of Monument 14, is a writer and actress. She has appeared in movies like Superstar and The In-Laws, and has performed original comedy on Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, and with UCB and Chicago City Limits. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband and their two children. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

SOURCE: AROUND THE WORLD ARC TOURS

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

The group has survived intact so far with only minor injuries and have figured out how to counteract the chemical spill as well as fight off a few interlopers who would like to take over the superstore.  Alex and Niko decide that they can't sit around in the store forever and repair the bus to get to Denver International Airport where evacuations are taking place.  So with them, Batiste, Josie, Sahalia and Brayden who has been shot, all set off to get help in the bus.  As they travel through the interstate, the true horror of the catastrophe is even more than they could have imagined.  They are met by a group of marauding militia that tell them the airport is nothing more than a death sentence.  Still the group plod on.

Back at the store, Astrid and Dean try to keep the three youngest children happy and comfortable and they  think that they are safe, another refuge tries to break in and Jake reappears to save them.   As Jake describes the devastation outside, they start to gather supplies to make their own trek to the airport.  The air quality is deteriorating and they feel they have no other choice since everything seems to be getting worse.

The story again is full of action and perfect descriptions which make for a quick read. I admit I was a bit sad that it wasn't longer but I did get a lot of satisfaction for such a fast read.  The characters are more developed and I needed a book that wasn't a tortured romance -- although there is a bit of that between Astrid and Dean.  The ending left me hanging a bit and you do find out the fate of a few of them.  I am not going to ruin the outcome of this one since I know you will want to pick this one up.  Parents:  There is a bit of language and some kissing in this one, as well as some violence but it was nothing like the first one.  

 Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (May 28, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569041
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569044
• 
  

REVIEW: Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne @mackkidsbooks @EmmyLaybourne

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong. 

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne is a screenwriter, lyricist, and actress. She has acted in movies, television, and improv groups including Chicago City Limits. She lives in Chestnut Ridge, New York, with her husband and their two children. Monument 14 marks her fiction debut. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

SOURCE:  PUBLISHER

MY THOUGHTS

ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT


At the end of the world, most experts agree that the safest place to hole up in case of an attack would be a big box or warehouse store since it can be secured and there are plenty of supplies.  Well, when massive natural disasters strike the world, fourteen kids are stuck inside one of these stores with no adults or communication to the outside world.  So when a group of kids ranging from kindergarten to high school end up inside a super store after their bus crashes during a freak hailstorm, it is only the beginning of an adventure in survival.  Oh, and a weapons spill only creates more danger for the group when their effects become known and the chemicals cause rage and hallucinations in certain blood types.  


The story centers around Dean and his tech-brilliant brother, Alex and how they try to make the best of a bad situation to keep the group cohesive and alive.  Two jocks, Jake and Brayden only want to drink alchohol and fool around, doing little to help the group survive, so it is no big surprise that they cause a lot of problems for the group.  Josie, has been injured initially but when she finally comes around, she shows her leadership skills and make a home for the younger kids.  Astrid, the high school hottie and Sahalia, who wants to be older than her thirteen, pretty much temp the guys and without even realizing it bring upon some unwanted attention when two outsiders show up.  


So much happens in this story but it all devolves into a sort of Lord of the Flies scenario between the older boys until one of them dies.  Everything in the plot is very fast paced and the descriptions are perfectly phrased so that everyone gets their full due without being overly wrought out.  Even the younger kids are memorable but I don't have enough space to go into full detail about them.  The kids do have a bit of contact with the outside world through an old television set but when that is damaged, they must figure things out on their own.  There is a good opening for a follow up to another which I have learned will be out in 2013.  I would recommend this for teens and there are mentions of alcohol, drugs, sexual situations, some violence and language.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569033
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569037

BOOK TRAILER TUESDAY Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne @mackidsbooks

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong. 

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne is a screenwriter, lyricist, and actress. She has acted in movies, television, and improv groups including Chicago City Limits. She lives in Chestnut Ridge, New York, with her husband and their two children. Monument 14 marks her fiction debut. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569033
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569037

WAITING ON WEDNESDAY Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne @MacKidsBooks

"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:

Book Description

Publication Date: June 5, 2012

Your mother hollers that you’re going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don’t stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don’t thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not—you hurdle down the stairs and make a run for the corner.Only, if it’s the last time you’ll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you’d stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong. 

In Emmy Laybourne’s action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world—as they know it—apart.

About the Author

Emmy Laybourne is a screenwriter, lyricist, and actress. She has acted in movies, television, and improv groups including Chicago City Limits. She lives in Chestnut Ridge, New York, with her husband and their two children. Monument 14 marks her fiction debut. Visit her online at www.emmylaybourne.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends (June 5, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312569033
• ISBN-13: 978-0312569037