Wednesday, March 31, 2010

"Waiting on" Wednesday - March 31, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly. One of the things I love to see in books is character development, I think this one has that and more going for it!



Release Date: May 25, 2010

Publisher: Henry Holt

Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

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What are you waiting on?

Monday, March 29, 2010

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - March 29, 2010


It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the picture above. Thanks Sheila for hosting!

Last week:
I read The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting. (review pending)

This week:

I'm reading Hourglass by Claudia Gray. (I just started this morning on the way into work but the action starts on page 1, it's great so far!)

I need to write up my reviews for A Spy In The House (The Agency #1) by Y.S. Lee and The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting.

I reviewed Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton (click for review) and I finally got my Heist Society by Ally Carter up (click for review). I loved, loved, loved this one :)

What are you reading this week?

Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter


  • Publisher: Hyperion 

  • Released: Feb 16 2010

  • Hardcover: 304 pages
  • ISBN-13: 978-1423116394


Teaser Quote: 
"So," Hale said with a slow, easy grin, "did you miss me?"
A good thief is always a great liar. It's part of the skill set, the tools, the craft. And at that moment, Kat thought it was probably a very good thing she'd walked away from the life, because when she said, "No," Hale just smiled wider.

My Rating: 5/5

My Thoughts:

The plot - loved it! Kat attempts to leave the family 'business' of art theft only to be dragged back into it when her father is falsely accused of stealing from the 'wrong' guy . Arturo Taccone (aka the really bad dude) meets up with Kat to give her father a 'message', he wants his paintings back...but there is a time limit of two weeks. Kat, along with the help of her 'family', decide the only way to save her Dad is to right the wrong by stealing the paintings themselves & returning them. Non-stop action entails as they fly all over the world in search of clues as to where the paintings could be - yep, not only did they have to steal them, they had to figure out where they were to begin with! As I was reading, I couldn't help but think this must have been fun book research! 

The characters - Kat and Hale were superbly written. I loved the way they complimented eachother, the angst, the humor! Hale is in love with Kat but Ally does the best job in making him hot and mysterious, not just some cute, weak guy falling for the strong MC. Gabrielle, Kat's cousin who is super hot and uses it to her advantage, was the perfect addition. You have to love what she gets away with and as much as you want to hate her, you just can't.

As the dust jacket says, think even more turns then Ocean Eleven - I'd add The Italian Job & a pinch of Gossip Girl! Oh my, I loved this book. I feel almost bad saying this, and mean no disrespect to the book, but it was such a fun, easy read, I'd call this the perfect beach (or anywhere) read. It is one of those few books you read each year that when you finish the last page and close the book, you take a deep breath feeling satisfied. 

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Review: Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton




Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 


Released: March 1, 2010



My rating:  4/5

Goodreads synopsis:
Among the towering trees of magical Avalon, where humans dare not tread, lives Niviene, daughter of the Lady of the Lake and apprentice to Merlin the mage. Her people, the Fey, are folk of the wood and avoid the violence and avarice of man. But the strife of King Arthur's realm threatens even Avalon's peace, and Merlin needs his apprentice to thwart the chaos devouring Camelot. And so Niviene must use her special talents to help save a kingdom and discover the treachery of men and the beauty of love. A mystical love story, now back in print, sure to become a modern teen classic.

My Thoughts:
This was a tough review as I enjoyed the book when reading it but couldn't figure out WHY I liked it and then after I finished I kept seeing not-so-hot reviews.  I thought, well darn I better come up with something to defend this book! Sadly you will see my argument is fairly weak. I can see some of the arguments against  (time lapses made it a tad confusing in parts, slow moving) but I wonder if the reason maybe has to do with people having/not having an Arthurian background? I had to 'consult' my BFF, Jackie, on a few things to see what was added, altered or kept true to Arthur's story and there were parts of story I felt went undeveloped, but overall, I don't see my time was wasted reading this book and perhaps will even re-read it another day.  I came into this book expecting an Arthurian story (which fascinate me) and saw the Fey aspect as a bonus, plus I love variations on stories which is why I think I liked it. If this is also your cup of tea, then I think you too will like this one! (Though I must add Helen Hollick's Arthurian trilogy was amazing, so if you are looking for a purely Arthurian story, check her out!)

Friday, March 26, 2010

1st Rate Fridays #4


A weekly meme to share favorite posts you've come across recently. Although it's impossible to follow every book blogger, this is a great opportunity to highlight exceptional posts you find. Hopefully along the way you'll find some great new-to-you blogs as well. Let's spread the love and support those awesome posts out there!

This was inspired by Cindy at Tynga's Reviews, Jennifer at Reading With Tequila, Lisa at The Little Reader...and me!

Let the fun begin!

I read for fun, try to pick books I think I'll like and so far have had good luck in that the majority of unsolicited books I've been sent are coming from publicists that know what I like too. I sympathsize with the following two posts. I also like that it is a reminder that many of us are blogging as it's something we like to do, we love books, but we also have school/paid jobs/family - heck I'm sure if this was my 'real' job I'd be way more critical, as that is what my job would be, but -sigh- it's not.
 Kristi from http://www.thestorysiren.com/ talks Blog criticism & positive reviews   and  S.F. Robertson is sticking up for bloggers.

Thanks to a tweet from April at goodbooksandgoodwine.com, I found this intersting post by Meg at inwhichagirl.blogspot.com on Why YA Romance needs to change.

What gems did you find?

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

"Waiting on" Wednesday - March 24, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read Shade by Jeri Smith- Ready


Release Date: May 4, 2010

Publisher: Simon Pulse

When her boyfriend dies a most untimely death, Aura--who can see ghosts--is forced to reconsider her relationship with the living and dead in SHADE.


Shade is a paranormal love story featuring a world of spirits only the young can see. How cool is that! And Shift, the sequel, will follow in 2011 :)

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What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Teaser Tuesday - March 23, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

A Spy in the House (The Agency, #1)by Y.S. Lee


"We do not discuss our operatives with our clients. They are attracted by our reputation, but we disclose to them very little beyond the information they seek. We find that to be in the best interests of all involved." (pg 21 of ARC)
(I cheated & added a 3rd line, but it was too good to leave out!)

Monday, March 22, 2010

It's Monday! What are you reading? March 22, 2010


It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the picture above. Thanks Sheila for hosting!

Last week:

I reviewed Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr and Possessed by Kate Cann.

I finished Heist Society by Ally Carter & loved it (review up later this week)

This week:

I'm reading A Spy In The House (The Agency #1) by Y.S. Lee & will be gathering questions for an interview at Book Lovers Inc

I need to review Heist Socitey & Merlin's Harp.

I think next up to read is The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting


What are you reading this week?

Friday, March 19, 2010

1st Rate Fridays #3


A weekly meme to share favorite posts you've come across recently. Although it's impossible to follow every book blogger, this is a great opportunity to highlight exceptional posts you find. Hopefully along the way you'll find some great new-to-you blogs as well. Let's spread the love and support those awesome posts out there!

This was inspired by Cindy at Tynga's Reviews, Jennifer at Reading With Tequila, Lisa at The Little Reader...and me!

Let the fun begin!

Jen at Devourer of Books wrote a post asking how one decides what books to accept for review, what if they are outside your comfort zone? I often wonder about this. In 2010 I decided to focus on YA but there are times when I see 'adult' books that catch my eye too..plus I haven't totally given up reading them.

I came across what looks like a fun game at Fantasy Literature called Rename That Cover

...and because I'm super excited for this release, here's some info about Cassie Clare's next book! (I saw this on many blogs so decided to go to the source instead of name them all LOL)

Off on March break with the kiddies = very little blog time this week :(

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Review: Possessed by Kate Cann



  • Publisher: Point 

  • Released: February 1, 2010



My rating: 3.5/5

My thoughts:
Rayne  needed a change of scenery. She was living at home with her mom  & little brother (whom she had to look after often) and the feelings towards her somewhat controlling boyfriend were changing. It was summer & time she finally did something for herself. She replied to a help wanted ad and landed a job at Morton's Keep. Little did she know this old place had a past the owner was trying to keep buried.

There are a number of characters in this book & Kate does a great job of making you think about which ones to trust. The problem: I never really connected with any of the characters as I was too busy questioning their motives. What I did love was that you know something is wrong, you just can't put your finger on it & want to see how it all plays out. This is the story of Rayne, an outsider,  in a town struggling to keep their gruesome past from repeating itself. Not a big part of the story, but the description of what happened in the house is stomach turning. Although I expected something bad, I found myself fixated on this part, meaning the nervous, on the edge of my seat feeling I was enjoying while reading was gone :( Maybe I'm a wimp but I'd have to say I really enjoyed this book...up to a point.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Review: Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr




Publisher: Leap Books

Released: December 15, 2009

Reading level: Ages 9-12

Paperback: 280 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1616030025




Teaser quote:
Sit in a boat? Wait for mom? Impossible. Kenzie had to do something.
Heart pounding, legs pumping, she propelled her bike with ninth-inning intensity. A runner screaming home in a tie game. Pedal, pump. Pedal, pump. (pg 59)


My rating: 4.5/5

My thoughts:

Kenzie and her mom have just moved from New York to the Florida Keys. Out exploring around her new place, Kenzie hears splashing in the canal nearby & finds what she thinks in a dog struggling in the water. Her first instinct is to save the animal, so she looks around for something to help, eventually falling in herself. Angelo, a local kid her age, comes to the rescue & not only saves Kenzie but also the endangered Key Deer. This is what sets the ball in motion for  Kenzie's mission to save the deer on the island. As she befriends Angelo they take it upon themselves, with help from some family & friends, to stop the poaching of these endangered deer!

Want to feel empowered? This book does the trick. Kenzie is a smart, resourceful & determined girl...albeit young, innocent, naive & stubborn too. It was great to see such a strong female character. I thought Bonnie did an amazing job of balancing the fine line of Kenzie being too adventurous & stubborn without making it seem too far fetched. This was a great adventure to follow with a bit of mystery, action, humor, friendship and a subtle message along the way of respecting your environment. A fun and truly hear-warming story that shows how anyone, with a little passion & devotion, can truly make a difference.

Monday, March 15, 2010

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - March 15, 2010


It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the photo/pic/button above. Thanks Sheila for hosting!

Last week:

I finished  Possessed by Kate Cann  & Island Sting by Bonnie Doerr and will have my reviews up shortly.

This week:

I have a few pages left in Merlin's Harp by Anne Crompton.

Next up is Heist Society by Ally Carter which looks so fun! I'm not sure if I can get more in as I'm off for March break with my kiddos.

What are you reading this week?

Sunday, March 14, 2010

In My Mailbox - March 14, 2010



In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

My goodies this week:

only one package but I was so excited for it to arrive :) Anastasia Hopcus had a contest on her blog & I won: First Chapter of Shadow Hills, 2 signed bookmarks and 3 unsigned bookmarks, 1 Shadow Hills magnet, and 4 Shadow Hills pins! I'm dying to read Shadow Hills which doesn't come out until July 13th!

What goodies did you get?

Friday, March 12, 2010

Just for "You"

I had read somewhere (Judith's blog maybe?) that she liked to write songs about her characters..how cool is this!!! (note: you may need to turn up the volume & I have included the lyrics below).



Lyrics:

YOU

G C Am C
You said I was something else - well, it made me nervous

Lackluster lifetimes I have danced around this circus

You were hoping I would stay so I made my escape

Rattled off a few trite words and ya put it down to fate

CHORUS:

You made me high / You, you made me high / You….you….


I guess we’ll have no more weekend warrior adventures
Not in this sorrow till I get myself together
You were hoping I’d come clean, I’d admit to nothing
Rather bite off my own tongue than eat my heart out when you’re gone


CHORUS

F G
Well it’s on and on and on we go
Well it’s on and on and on we go
Well it’s on and on and on…we….go….

You said I was something else, well, it made me nervous
What if your hands can do more than scratch beneath my surface…

CHORUS
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Thanks to everyone who entered the contest...and asked a question :)  Sorry we couldn't get to all the questions, but this month Judith has a blog tour going on as well! Judith was such a sport and answered  many more questions asked by you guys - here are her answers...

  • The Skinned series is made up of 3 books. UMS, Second Skin and Skin of My Teeth. I have other projects in the works – some with paranormal creatures and some without.
  • I didn’t actually dedicate the book to any one person (there are many important people in my life and I didn’t want to choose between them). I thanked my family and friends and all the folks who worked hard to bring UMS to life. Thanks guys!
  • When I found out UMS was going to get published I celebrated for about five minutes, then I started on edits.
  • Kids at my school know that I have a book coming out. They’re elementary students though and most of them probably won’t be reading UMS. But I do pop into classes and talk about the writing process or editing or story beginnings, etc. That’s always a blast for me.
  • How much influence did Willow have? HA! If she had her way, UMS would be one line from start to finish and I’d never write again. We’d spend all day swimming at the lake, or fetching sticks or hiking in the woods, or sleeping by the fireplace...hmm…maybe she’s got the right idea.
  • What do I get up to at lunch time at school? Lol…..I think I know who asked that question. I write, of course! I usually hide in the back of the staff room with my laptop and iPod – the rest of the world does not exist.
  • How does it feel to be a debut author? Like I ate too many of those little cinnamon donuts at the Fair and then went ten rounds on the Tilt-A-Whirl. A pukefest is imminent.
  • What is the one comment I’d like to hear after someone has read UMS? “When’s book 2 coming out?”
  • Writer’s block. I don’t believe in it – I do however, admit there are times when writing is the last thing I feel like doing. Like when I have edits for example – and I’m not in that “first draft / first love” excitement faze. The writing is actually work. To get out of this slump, I have one main technique (besides eating chocolate – which threatens my skinny jeans love, and leads to extra treadmill time – AKA…not really worth it). I either watch a great movie or read a great book. That’s all I need to get inspired and get my ass back in the chair.
  • Love that I got kicked out of book clubs, do ya? Lol…yeah, I get myself in trouble sometimes. ;) UMS started with a “What if?”. What if paranormal creatures converged on a small town? What if there was this girl stuck in the middle of it all? What if the girl wasn’t quite human? What if yadda, yadda, yadda…..  For me, my stories come from “What if? or And then what happened?
....AND THE WINNER OF THE PRIZE PACK IS Elaine Gauthier

Thanks to everyone who participated, I hope you had a fun week with Judith & Under My Skin!

1st Rate Fridays #2


This is a new weekly meme to share the best posts you've come across this week. Let's spread the love and support those awesome posts out there! It's impossible to follow every book blogger so hopefully this will also help in finding amazing new blogs as well.

This was inspired by Cindy at Tynga's Reviews, Jennifer at Reading With Tequila, Lisa at The Little Reader...and me!

Let the fun begin!

  • A great article on YA and it's wide range of readership here.

  • Not a post, but on twitter Jenn asked : Where is the best places to post your reviews, amazon, goodreads where else?  I've always been curious about this. I tend to post on my blog & goodreads.com, the odd time on chapters.ca  as I'm Canadian. If you are looking into a book, where is your go to place? I'd say GR is mine. Do people update their books, post reviews etc on both GR and Librarything?

  • This one kinda shocked me, Katiebabs talks about respect between authors & readers.


Have a favorite post this week? Fill in the linky box and create a meme post on your blog. Remember the goal is to pass along your best post, no spamming your own please :)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Under My Skin - Mini Guide to Beasties

Judith sure loves her beasties.. the poor town of Redgrave is overcome with them! I thought it would be fun to have her give you a little taste of what you'll find in Under My Skin....

Redgrave’s Beasties

As you’ve mentioned, Mel, Under My Skin (UMS) features a smorgasbord of paranormal beasties converging on one small northern Alberta town, Redgrave. Here’s the quick and dirty lowdown on the key creatures that roam the pages of my little gothic tale.



Wolven


In UMS, my main character, Eryn is a shapeshifter, part-wolven/part-human. They are born, not made. Wolven is a term I created for her species, but it’s basically the same as lycan, which is more familiar – humans shifting to wolf form. The difference between wolven and lycan is pretty great. Most wolven (with the exception of those like Eryn’s mother – those who feel more human than wolf) live the majority of their lives as wolves. That has huge impact on their human interactions; it affects their motivations and lifestyles.

I wanted to emphasise this fact, so wolven they became.

Eryn doesn’t know much about wolven strengths/weaknesses and therefore neither does the reader. But Eryn’s learning fast. ;)

Werewolves

Werewolves are very different from wolven. In the Skinned world, they are forged with dark magicks and ruled by their creator (usually a demon, vampire, or other strong supernatural being). They’re hell hounds, creatures without thought – acting on command and ruled by both their master and lunar cycles. When not killing, they rest in stasis, hiding in underground dens until the next full moon. At that time they awaken and serve the violent needs of their masters. They are filled with bloodlust. Bites do not themselves cause a human to turn. This can only be accomplished if the human is marked according to paranorm law, and then bitten. Without the mark, the bite only wounds or kills – it doesn’t spark the change.

And poor Redgrave is overrun with these nasty creatures. Yikes!


Vampires

No paranormal story is complete without a resident vamp, and Redgrave has a few in high places. Logan Gervais, the town’s chief of police, and his progeny, Wade, are taking the town, and Eryn, by storm. In the Redgrave world, vampires have the same rules as most vamp lore – they can’t be in direct sunlight, they drink human blood, and they can influence people with mind control.

Witches

There are several key witch characters in UMS. They work positive magic; their power isn’t used to harm. There are no warlocks – a witch is a witch – either male or female. However, witches rarely birth sons and when they do…look out – those boys have more than their share of power. Witches and wolven don’t get along (some pesky servitude thing from way back), so sparks are sure to fly if they’re left alone together. Maybe that’s why Wade and Eryn have such chemistry.

However, Wade is an oddity as far as vamps go. He’s the male child of a witch, and he inherited her power after he was turned. He has special abilities. He can walk in the sun, and Logan exploits this to his advantage. He thinks he has Wade under his black-nailed thumb. Humph. Too bad Wade’s developing a mind of his own.

Windigo

This creature of aboriginal lore is a shapeshifting, man-eating giant that lives in the North because its heart is made of ice. Legend has it that windigo were once human hunters who became lost in the snow and resorted to cannibalism to survive. Once they’d had a taste of human flesh, they became ravenous beasts. The more humans they eat, the bigger they get.

Luckily Alec Delacroix comes from a long line of shamans and hunters. He and his brother, Matt, manage to take down the windigo who killed their father. But will Alec be able to trust Eryn – to accept her ability to shapeshift like these crazed beasts?

Wolves

While not paranormal in any way, I did research wolf behaviour to incorporate their traits into Eryn’s character. There are many reasons my girl’s got attitude, hates authority figures, is competitive, etc. It’s in her genes, man!

Luckily, my husband’s cousin, Joe, is a Ranger working in Jasper National Park. He took this pic of a wolf he encountered while on a hike in the mountains.


 Joe was also kind enough to provide me with some stats on wolves in Alberta:
  •  Wolves in Canada, particularly in Alberta, have it pretty good compared to wolves in the U.S. They don’t have to live in sanctuaries. We have plenty of wilderness for our wolves to explore.
  •  The largest wolves are found in the northwest (Yukon, Northern British Columbia, and Alberta). Historic range is/was all of Canada and most of North America.
  •  Average weight is about 45kg but can get up to 80kg.
  •  They’re believed to mate for life and have an average of 6 young.
  •  It’s believed that the species does not have an inborn tendency to kill but rather is born with certain behaviour patterns that allow it to learn to kill (i.e. they learn to kill from their parents.)
  •  They hunt for prey through direct scent, chance encounter, and tracking. They are quite coordinated in their attack. I recall watching a pack hunt elk. One wolf acted as a decoy and essentially chased a bunch of elk into an ambush. Others were waiting in a series of thickets.


So there you have it. A bit of “real” info on wolves and some lore behind UMS. I hope this intro into the creatures of the Skinned series was of interest. NOTE: There are still lots of creatures to make themselves known.
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Now that you've had a glimpse into her world, what do you think?

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Interview Time with Judith Graves



Tell us a bit about The Skinned series. Where did the idea come from?

Skinned was a long time brewing. Between working full time as a library technician, playing in a folk-rock band, and life in general – I’d write scenes, picking away at this idea of different mythological beasties converging on one small town. After reading about a Cree creature, the Windigo, things began to fall into place, and I decided my main character would be a shapeshifter. From there – Eryn pretty much took over. ;)

There are three books: Under My Skin (UMS), Second Skin and Skin of My Teeth.

Eryn is such a unique spelling, how do you come up with your character names?

Ah….the “y” in her name…lol…there’s actually a story to that. In an early draft of UMS, I had her name as “Erin”. She had this snarky line about how writers add “y”s to words to make them gothic – like “vampyre” for example. The line got nixed along the way, but the spelling of Eryn’s name is ever an inside joke to keep me from thinking too much of my writing. ;)

Have you ever experienced anything supernatural in your life?

If you go to the Class of 2k10 blog (http://www.classof2k10.com/) during my book launch, you’ll hear all about a wicked little incident with a doll my aunt gave me once. Nuf said.

Did you find any characters taking on a life of their own & deviating from your outline?

Yes! You sound like you have experience with this yourself. Tell me, Mel – how the hell do you keep your characters in line? Got any tips to share? While I do find out all kinds of nifty things about the Redgrave crew as I’m writing, it would be nice if my characters would at least pretend I’m the boss.

Who was you favorite character & why?

Most of my favourite characters in the Skinned series are ones that haven’t even taken the stage yet – Sebastian / Nikko / you only get a taste of Logan in UMS. Too bad, really. But in UMS, Kate is one of my go-to girls. She’s a witch who can control time. She’s very Zen and funky. I luvs her. ;)

What were your favorite authors growing up & how have they influenced your writing?

K – I know this is a Canadian cliché, but L. M. Montgomery was my fav author when I was a teen. Anne of Green Gables – the whole Anne series – was a major obsession. When we were planning our wedding, I told my husband he had two choices – either we have a Star Trek wedding (did I mention I’m a Super Nerd?!) or an Anne theme. We got hitched in Fort Edmonton Park (dressed in period costumes, rode in a horse and buggy, etc). Now that’s love. (Although I still wonder what our pictures would have looked like if we’d boldly gone…ya know?)

You worked with the amazing illustrator,Val Cox. Can you tell us a bit about the process.

Hanging out with Val was the best. Okay, we didn’t hang – I’ve still yet to physically meet her, but we talked on the phone, emailed a ton, and formed this cool collaborative vibe. Basically I searched through UMS for visual scenes and with my 10 illo limit, I targeted areas where Val’s gothic images would best used. Then we chatted about style/character personalities/physical descriptions, etc. Together we created the finished “Eryn.” Val’s idea of the funky ponytails beat my original (and clichéd) wavy auburn locks - hands down. I ended up changing the manuscript to match. Val = so damn cool. Check out her website: www.valcox.ca

This is your debut, how many books have you written?

UMS was the first.

How long did UMS take to write?

I started jotting down ideas for UMS in 2004. Sold the book in 2008, and here it is getting published in 2010.

What your first ever book was about & do you still have it?

Since UMS was my first book, I do still have my original (handwritten) notes. I also have about 7 different version of the story saved on various disks and flash drives. Just for fun, here’s the original opening (notice it’s in third person – yup, somewhere along the line I switched the story to 1st): 

            Erin McCain stood at the bedroom window. Not that there was much to see. She’d lived in the mountains her whole life. She expected the prairies to be flat.
            But this was flat-flat.

Meh. I think the final draft has a much hookier intro.


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Thanks Judith! The thought of a Star Trek wedding cracks me up!!!

Thanks for all the extra questions for those who have entered the contest. A few were answered above as I had asked them too, but the others have been passed along to Judith and her answers will be posted Friday, along with a really fun surprise and the winner of the prize pack!

There's still time to enter the contest for an Under My Skin Prize Pack - open internationally & closes Friday.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Under My Skin - The Prequel and Pics!

I love the opportunity to read bits not written into the book. In this scene, you'll get a glimpse of the main character, Eryn. She is such a fun, sarcastic character and the ending of the prequel really captures this.

Judith worked with the amazing illustrator and graphic designer, Val Cox. Below I've included her stunning pictures - meet Eryn, Alec and Wade!



The Prequel....

Mom and I stood in the clearing, a fine mist of fog hovered a foot off the ground, snaking through the tall grasses. The damp ground smelled fresh and inviting. A gentle breeze brought the savoury scents of the forest to us. One scent stood out above the others. In synchronism we turned our heads. A deer pranced at the edge of the woods.

Shooting me a mischievous glance, Mom raised her arms, embracing the change. Her elegant form shimmered before me. Her hair whipped around in a wind of paranorm making. Energy crackled in the air. An instant later a sleek black wolf stood in my mother’s place.

The change took me then too.

Together we charged through the grass. Black wolf and grey wolf. Mother and daughter. Wolven.

The deer bolted.

We separated, flanking the panicked creature. In wolf form the complications of my human life slipped away. No more questions, just the thrill of the hunt. I was strong.

Invincible.

A different scent lit the air. Ignoring the black wolf’s sharp cry, I darted after the more intense lure.

A snarl. A lunge. A bite.

I feasted as if I’d never had a fresh kill before.

“Eryn, what have you done?” Mom, returned to her human form, stared down at me, horrified. Her beautiful porcelain skin paled to a chalky white, her delicate features twisted into a grimace. The revulsion in her eyes gutted me as if she’d swiped a claw across my belly.

I glanced down at the earth. At the bloodstained shoe that remained. A human. I had attacked a human. My stomach rolled.

“Help me!” I tried to scream, but in wolf form I couldn’t sound out the words.

Mom backed away, shaking her head.

I ran to her, not fast enough to reach her side.

She slipped into the mist.

Leaving me and the beast that had slipped over me like a second skin.


I woke on a strangled sob. My teeth throbbed in my mouth. The coppery taste of blood lingered. The hum of an old-fashioned slide projector brought me back to the present.

Someone had flicked on the lights.

“That was must have been some daydream,” Mrs. Stantial said over the snickers of the entire art history class. “Are you alright, Eryn?”

I stared blankly into her concerned, I-bet-this-kid-needs-therapy eyes and let out a jerky breath.

“Oh, I’m just peachy.”



Don't forget to enter the contest for an Under My Skin Prize Pack - open internationally & closes Friday.

Teaser Tuesday - March 9, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Merlin's Harp by Anne Eliot Crompton

Merlin paused to ask, "Are they gone?" I remembered, then, that his eye's were only half Fey; he could barely see in the darkness. "Going," I told him. I sang to the last few, "One bite of us will poison you" (pg 128 of ARC)

Monday, March 8, 2010

Welcome to Redgrave! A chance to win a great prize pack

I am excited to host a week of Under My Skin by Judith Graves. I've had so much fun working with Judith on this and am so excited for her and her debut which is released later this month, March 27th. I hope you enjoy what we have planned.


About the book: 

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

The town of Redgrave had had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets and missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Regrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But Eryn can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding, human Alec. And then it all goes bad.

A normal life? That's the real fairytale.


Book Trailer:



About the author:


Judith reads as much as she writes, devouring at least two books a week. She loves heated debates over character motives...she's been kicked out of several book clubs for just this reason. With her faithful sidekick at her feet--that'd be, Willow, a yellow lab--Judith remains unfazed by book club drama and is furiously writing more paranormal stories. Which hopefully, you'll read.

Working in a school library, Judith is surrounded by children's and young adult literature (there's no escape!). She fosters the joy of reading in students and staff at her school. She helps out with the school choir and drama club. If it has to do with words or music, Judith is around. A singer/songwriter for more than 10 years, Judith often writes songs about her characters--since they are beasties of the night, this makes for interesting listening.

www.judithgraves.com/

And now for the fun part. Thanks to the great people at Leap Books and Judith, one winner has the chance to win a cool prize pack:


  • an ARC of Under My Skin
  • a bookmark
  • a set of character cards
  • necklace 




Sunday, March 7, 2010

In My Mailbox - March 7, 2010



In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by The Story Siren

My goodies this week:

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough

From Goodreads:
Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.


(there is a long story behind this but want to thank Carolyn for going out of way to get this one to me!)


What goodies did you get?

Friday, March 5, 2010

1st Rate Fridays - #1


This is a new weekly meme to share the best posts you've come across this week. Let's spread the love and support those awesome posts out there! It's impossible to follow every book blogger so hopefully this will also help in finding amazing new blogs as well.

Let the fun begin!

This was inspired by Cindy at Tynga's Reviews, Jennifer at Reading With Tequila, Lisa at The Little Reader...and me!

I'll start this off. I found this via a retweet by Scholastic (@ScholasticCDA) and although not posted this week, it stands out as my favorite blog read.

Steph Su Read's 1st page analysis of The Hunger Games. I loved how she broke this down into bits. This was such a unique post, I hope to read a bunch more in this 'Think Like A Writer' series.

What was your favorite post this week? Leave a comment below OR fill in the linky box and create a meme post on your blog. Remember the goal is to pass along your best post, no spamming please :)

Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

Publisher: HarperCollins

Released: March 2, 2010



Hardcover: 480 pages



(special thanks to the B&N's First Look program)



My rating: 5 / 5

My thoughts:
One night Samantha Kingston was a typical teenager, out with friends. She was part of the 'in' crowd and everyone was headed to a house party. But on the way home, something jumped in front of their car, they swerved off the road and Sam is killed. Sam is given a gift...she has the opportunity to relive her last day, fixing some wrongs as she see's things in a whole new light.

This debut by Lauren is simply striking. A great novel has the ability to suck you in, and this one goes that step further and makes you question yourself. The plot and character development are top notch, it really felt you were back in high school again. Each character is unique: some you love, some you hate and some you just plain feel sorry for. What I loved about reliving the day over and over again was seeing why each character acted the way they did. One of Sam's best friends, Lindsay, was shallow, snobby and just plain mean to others below her and yet by the end you realize why she's built herself up by putting others down. I loved seeing the vulnerable side of her. The progress Sam makes as she relives the same day  is also amazing to see. It's too bad she's realizing things after her death, but better late then never. I  wonder if the book offers something different for teen vs adult readers? As an adult reader myself, high school for me was portrayed perfectly in the book. Looking back I see how easily someone can go from being popular to an outcast just by one rumor and how people sold their souls just to try and fit in, even hurting those around them to get there. That's not to say what happens is right, just that it is what it is.

The book is a great take on the butterfly effect...what if you could go back in time and set things right.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Blog Tour: Under My Skin by Judith Graves

It is my pleasure today to be the 1st stop on Judith's Under My Skin blog tour (click here for more details). You can find my review of this an action packed, monster filled story at the bottom of the post.
  
Synopsis:

All her parents wanted was for Eryn to live a normal life...

Redgrave had its share of monsters before Eryn moved to town. Mauled pets, missing children. The Delacroix family is taking the blame, but Eryn knows the truth. Something stalks the night. Wade, the police chief's son and Redgrave High's resident hottie, warns her the Delacroix are dangerous. But then so is Eryn--in fact, she's lethal.

But she can't help falling for one of the Delacroix boys, dark, brooding--human Alec. And then her world falls apart.

A normal life? Now that's the real fairytale.

Interview with Judith:


Mel: Tell us a bit about The Skinned series. Where did the idea come from?

Judith: Skinned was a long time brewing. Between working full time as a library technician, playing in a folk-rock band, and life in general – I’d write scenes, picking away at this idea of different mythological beasties converging on one small town. After reading about a Cree creature, the Windigo, things began to fall into place, and I decided my main character would be a shapeshifter. From there – Eryn pretty much took over. ;)

M: How many books are planned for the series?

J: There are three books: Under My Skin (UMS), Second Skin, and Skin of My Teeth.

M: How do you come up with your character names (Eryn is such a unique spelling)?

J: Ah….the “y” in her name…lol…there’s actually a story to that. In an early draft of UMS, I had her name as “Erin”. She had this snarky line about how writers add “y”s to words to make them gothic – like “vampyre” for example. The line got nixed along the way, but the spelling of Eryn’s name is ever an inside joke to keep me from thinking too much of my writing. ;)

M: Have you ever experienced anything supernatural in your life?

J: If you go to the Class of 2k10 blog (www.classof2k10.com) during my book launch, you’ll hear all about a wicked little incident with a doll my aunt gave me once. Nuf said.


Excerpt from Under My Skin by Judith Graves

For the second time that day, I stared into the werewolf’s red eyes, bright with human intelligence though a wildness flickered in their depths. The stuff of nightmares stared back at me, through me, and called to the beast that lurked within. Finding me out. My body tightened against the urge to flee. To hide.

I waved my dagger to remind the beast, and myself, that I was the one in control. Or at least, I hoped I was. The security lights glimmered off the sharp silver blade, making my point for me.

Flinching, the werewolf turned his massive head away. Thank God, I didn’t have to bluff this time. Now I was all about the follow through. My doubts faded on a mind-blowing rush of power at the beast’s show of fear.

I took a bold step forward.

The beast stumbled backwards, knocked into the bunny cage, and sent the trapped creatures into spastic scuttles.

I had him. We both knew it.

Then I slipped in the bunny blood. I cried out, flailing my hands in the air, trying to regain my balance, but my feet shot out from under me. I crashed to the floor. My head cracked against the linoleum.

I landed in a sprawl under the werewolf’s stinking jowls. His foul breath filled my nostrils as stars spun in front of my eyes. My athame flew from my hand, scraped across the floor, and came to rest a few feet away.

I twisted onto my stomach and reached frantically for the hilt. Oh, this was so wrong! My nails dug into the linoleum floor. I inched closer. My breath escaped in a ragged sob. My splayed fingers trembled. An inch. One inch more. So close. But not close enough.

My Rating: 4 / 5

My thoughts:

When Eryn's parents go missing, the Council decides it's best that she live with her Aunt & Uncle in Redgrave. On the outskirts to nowhere, they suggest a paranorm-free place like Redgrave would keep her safe as they search for clues to find what happened to her parents. When animals & kids go missing, someone needs to take the blame - the Delacroix family. Eryn struggles as she discovers there's more to this sleepy town then meets the eye!

Wow, this debut by Judith is action packed! If you love paranorm, this is one you need to check out. From vampires to werewolves to witches (well there's more but I don't want to spoil it for you), there's no holding back on beasties. Eryn is part wolven (shapeshifter) and part human. Her human father had created concoctions to suppress the wolf inside of her BUT with him gone, so were the meds. Hands down, she was my favorite character in the book, with her kick ass, sarcastic attitude. Her cousin, Paige, is one you love to hate, you can't help but laugh at what she does & sometimes just want to slap her! Of course, there's a hot guy, actually two, but ones a part vampire and we aren't really sure about him. There is a downfall to adding so many characters with so many beastly abilities and unfortunately this means that the plot sorta takes a  backseat for a big chunk of the book. Along the way questions are answered, but there were times when I wasn't sure exactly what the conflict in the story was all about. I think however, the very powerful ending more then makes up for this and I'm dying to see where book two takes us!

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Book Lovers Inc and Guest Post with Swati Avasthi

Have you guys been over to the amazing  Book Lovers Inc blog yet? You'll find at least one post a day (well, maybe not on weekends) and lots of fun stuff like interviews, guest posts & giveaways from author from EVERY genre.

I feel honored to be in charge of entertaining readers with the Wednesday YA posts. For those that have vistited, thanks & I hope you're enjoying it! For those of you who have yet to check us out, what are you waiting for? LOL




Today's post is an interview with author, Swati Avasthi. Her debut book, Split, is released on Tuesday, March 9th. Come by, say HI and leave a comment supporting Swati :) Click here for interview!

The premise of Split seems despressing, making me hesitant to read BUT after reading her guest post I so want to read this. I am a a huge happily ever after fan so the dometic violence aspect will be a hard pill to swallow. Books that make you think however intrigue me and I beleive this could surprise me in a good way.

"Waiting on" Wednesday - March 3, 2010

This weekly event is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

I can't wait to read by Sea by  Heidi Kling. This looks like an amazing story and I've seen many rave reviews already...and that cover totally sucks me in too ;)


Release Date: June 10th 2010

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

About the book (from Goodreads):

Haunted by recurring nightmares since her mother’s disappearance over the Indian ocean three years before, fifteen-year old California girl Sienna Jones reluctantly travels with her psychiatrist father’s volunteer team to six-months post-tsunami Indonesia where she meets the scarred and soulful orphaned boy, Deni, who is more like Sea than anyone she has ever met.


She knows they can’t be together, so why can’t she stay away from him? And what about her old best friend-turned-suddenly-hot Spider who may or may not be waiting for her back home? And why won’t her dad tell her the truth about her mother’s plane crash? The farther she gets from home, the closer she comes to finding answers.

And Sea’s real adventure begins.

---------------------------------------
What are you waiting on?

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Teaser Tuesday - March 2, 2010

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:


  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



"She lay with the cold duvet pulled up to her eyes and scanned the room in terror. The table barricading the door, the red curtains stirring and trembling, the great reaching claw of the antlers - it was horrible. If I turn out the light, she told herself, desperately, if it's just black, I'll stop watching everything, and I'll get to sleep..." (pg 46 of ARC)
I was going to read this last night but chickend out, sure it's a YA ghost story, but still, I would have been wide awake all night if I read that LOL

Monday, March 1, 2010

Review: The Mark by Jen Nadol

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Released: January 19, 2010

Hardcover: 240 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1599904313


Teaser quote:
We finished our tea, neither of us answering my question with the obvious response that it could be anything. Anything would be more likely than what I'd told her. It wasn't until we put our mugs down that Nan broke the silence.
"So, what now?" (pg 22)

My rating: 4 / 5

My thoughts:


Cassie has lived with her Nan since she was two, after her parents passed away. She has seen a glow around people ever since she can remember but never really paid too much attention. Now at age 16, she thinks she's figured out what it means and follows a man on the street. Sadly her theory is proven correct...those with the glow die that day. After Nan dies, she is sent to live with an Aunt she has never known. It is here that she starts to question her gift.

The premise of this book caught my attention...what would you do if you knew someone was about to die? Would you warn them? Would you do what you could to try and stop it? I love how Jen seamlessly incorporated the philosophical aspect into the book, having Cassie explore the moral aspects through attend college philosophy classes and through the  relationship with her TA, Lucas.

Cassie was a likeable character, very mature for her age and handles her gift way better then I think would at *cough* twice her age. Although the gift seems depressing by predicting death, the story is anything but. It's the story of a girl, trying to understand her past, and deciding what to do with the cards she's been dealt.

Now the ending, well it left a lot open but I was happy to see on Jen's blog that there is a sequel in the works :) I hope to see more of Jack, the friend back home who seems to really 'get' her. An amazing debut that I would highly recommend everyone check out.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? March 1, 2010


It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly event to celebrate what we are reading for the week as well as books completed the previous week. Feel free to join in this weekly event if you'd like as well as use the photo/pic/button above. Thanks Sheila for hosting!

Last week:

I finished Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver  & Under My Skin by Judith Graves

This week:

I started  Possessed by Kate Cann this morning and hope to get another one in this week, not quite sure yet though.

This morning I just posted my review of The Mark by Jen Nadol (click for review)

On Wednesday, over at Book Lovers Inc I'm posting an interview with Swati Avasthi, author of Split, her debut which releases March 9th!

On Thursday, I'm proud to be the 1st stop on Judith's Under My Skin blog tour

What are you reading this week?