Blog Hop and Follow Friday

Q. What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Check out this great fan made book trailer...

A. I don't know who I would pick for the roles in the movie, but Nevermore would be awesome. The combination of Poe, fantasy and modern world real teen fiction had me captivated from page one. I loved the characters, the unpredictable plot lines and the overall presentation. The only thing I want to know is...when is book two? I would like to see Tim Burton in on the creepiness factor and Eban Schletter to do the soundtrack. If you haven't heard his work on the remake of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, then

you need to check it out. 

http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/09/book-blogger-hop-930-103.html

This topic is one that is near and dear to my heart. Everyone should be able to read what they want to. It may even save your life.

“In honor of Banned Books Week, what is your favorite “banned or frequently challenged book”?”

http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2011banned.pdf

When Melinda Sordino's friends discover she called the police to quiet a party, they ostracize her, turning her into an outcast -- even among kids she barely knows. But even worse than the harsh conformity of high-school cliques is a secret that you have to hide.


Goodreads

Anderson, Laurie Halse 

Speak

Farrar, Straus, and Giroux 

Challenged in the Republic, Mo. schools (2010) 

because it is “soft-pornography” and “glorifies 

drinking, cursing, and premarital sex.” 

Source: Nov. 2010, pp. 243–44.

If you watch the video clip and listen to the poem written by Laurie Halse Anderson, you will understand the importance of this book. It will make your heart hurt for the kids this has happened to and spark your own feelings and memories of things that you wished you could forget. This book should NEVER be censored. Kids need to know that the party they thought was so safe, with people they think they know, can turn bad in a millisecond when drugs and drinking or guys with bad intentions are around. You have to be aware. Be in control of yourself and your surroundings. It may save your life someday.




Thanks for joining me here for the Hop. On a lighter note, please make sure you mark your calendar for the Zombie Girl Shambling and On the Broomstick 10 Days of Halloween giveaway fun!

September 28th Only: Huge Special- Envy 50% Off

Murder is such a dirty word…

New York Times bestselling adult true crime author Gregg Olsen makes his YA debut with EMPTY COFFIN, a gripping new fiction series for teens based on ripped-from-the-headlines stories…with a paranormal touch.

Crime lives--and dies--in the deceptively picture-perfect town of Port Gamble (aka “Empty Coffin”), Washington. Evil lurks and strange things happen--and 15-year-olds Hayley and Taylor Ryan secretly use their wits and their telepathic “twin-sense” to uncover the truth about the town's victims and culprits.

Envy, the series debut, involves the mysterious death of the twins' old friend, Katelyn. Was it murder? Suicide? An accident? Hayley and Taylor are determined to find out--and as they investigate, they stumble upon a dark truth that is far more disturbing than they ever could have imagined.

Based on the shocking true crime about cyber-bullying, Envy will take you to the edge--and push you right over.

Goodreads

Today only (September 28, 2011) for one day only, get Envy for 50% off the list price. 

Click on the link to go to the coupon:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/email/Print_nav.asp?PID=39676




This book is on my TBR pile and I can't wait to get started reading. Check out this great deal so you can too!

All These Things I've Done Winner!

We have a winner!

Congrats 

Pabkins!

Book Blogger Hop

“As a book blogger, how do you introduce yourself in your profile?”

This is a really good question. If I just had one blog, I could probably get specific about one thing, but because I try my best to keep up with seven blogs of varying subject matter, I cover the spectrum. I explain what subjects I cover and have a blurb on the blog that lets authors and publishers know how to reach me. I have my blog linked to my Google Account, which has my email, twitter and the rest.


Thanks for stopping in for the hop! Be sure to check out the giveaway going on for Dreamland and get ready to don your witch hats for the Practical Magic Blog Party on my sister site On the Broomstick! It is set for the 24th of September, so make sure you mark your calendar.

Dreamland Giveaway!

Riley’s finding that the afterlife can be a lonely place when all you do is focus on work. So she goes to the place where dreams happen, hoping to find a way to contact her sister, Ever. She meets the director, who tells her about the two ways to send dreams. As a Dream Jumper, a person can jump into a dreamer’s dream, share a message, and participate. As a Dreamweaver, an entire dream can be created in a studio and sent to the dreamer. But Dreamweaving was outlawed decades ago, and the studio was boarded up.

 Thinking it’s her only way to reach out to her sister, Riley goes in search of the old studio. There she finds a ghost boy, who’s been creating and sending nightmares to people for years. In order to stop him and reach out to Ever, Riley is going to have to confront and overcome her own fears.

Goodreads

For more cool info:

http://us.macmillan.com/author/alysonnoel

Become a Facebook fan:

http://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlysonNoel

Website:

http://www.alysonnoel.com/

 

Now for the Giveaway!

Rules:

*You must be 13 to enter.

*Only one entry per person.

*The contest will be open from September 16-September 24, 2011.

*The winner will be notified by email and have one day to respond.

*The prize will be sent by the publisher and I am not responsible for a prize not reaching the winner.

*The giveaway is US/Canada only.

Hades Giveaway Winner!

Congrats Athena!

You are the winner of the Hades Giveaway!!

On My Nightstand: Lips Touch Three Times by Laini Taylor

Three tales of supernatural love, each pivoting on a kiss that is no mere kiss, but an action with profound consequences for the kissers' souls:

Goblin Fruit: In Victorian times, goblin men had only to offer young girls sumptuous fruits to tempt them to sell their souls. But what does it take to tempt today's savvy girls?

Spicy Little Curses: A demon and the ambassador to Hell tussle over the soul of a beautiful English girl in India. Matters become complicated when she falls in love and decides to test her curse.

Hatchling: Six days before Esme's fourteenth birthday, her left eye turns from brown to blue. She little suspects what the change heralds, but her small safe life begins to unravel at once. What does the beautiful, fanged man want with her, and how is her fate connected to a mysterious race of demons?

Goodreads

This one looks good.

I Loved You First Giveaway

Giveaway Rules:

*There are two ways to win and two seperate contests.
*You can enter by the form for the swag contest and for the book,  follow the link to the kickoff post.
*You must be over 13 to enter.
*To win a copy of the book, click the link and enter the author's kick off.

*The prize  for this form will be a signed rack card, stickers, signed postcard and mini-bookmark.

*The author is providing the prizes.

*The swag contest is from September 9-October 7th.

*The additional link to enter for the book on the author site is:
http://reenajacobs.com/blog/for-readers/i-loved-you-first-blog-tour-august-15-september-15-2011/

Follow Friday

Welcome to another awesome Follow Friday with Dana's YA Bookpile. This week we have giveaways galore, so make sure to scroll down.

On my sister site, we are getting ready for The Practical Magic Blog Party, so if you like a little bit of witchy fun, check out the link for the party at: http://onthebroomstick.blogspot.com/

Now for the Follow Friday Fun...

Q. Have you ever wanted a villain to win at the end of a story? If so, which one??

A. I just finished reading The Witch's Guide to Cooking With Children. Yep. I was voting for the witch.

http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/09/book-blogger-hop-99-912.html

“Many of us primarily read one genre of books, with others sprinkled in. If authors stopped writing that genre, what genre would you start reading? Or would you give up reading completely if you couldn’t read that genre anymore?”

Answer:
My favorite genre is YA. There just will never be a time when that isn't available. I love that over the past few years, more and more books are flooding into the teen realm. I also love zombie, witch, vampire, mysteries, women's fiction and cookbooks. Oh, and crochet/knitting books. With my diverse habits, I don't think I will ever lack for anything to keep me occupied.

On My Wishlist: Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

Goodreads

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin: The Giveaway

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. (Goodreads)

Looks like an exciting read! I can't wait to get my copy.












http://us.macmillan.com/allthethingsivedone

Http://www.memoirsofa.com/

Contest rules and facts:

*You must be 13 to enter.
*US and Canada residents only, please.
*One entry per person.
*The publisher will be mailing one copy of the book to the winner.
*The winner will be notified by email and have one day to respond.
*The contest will be up from September 7- September 17, 2011.
*I am not responsible for any prizes that do not make it to the recipient.
*You must fill out the form to enter. Additional tweets and links in the comment fields post entry are able to be added for extra points later.

Okay...the form.

I Loved You First-The Blog Tour

My best friend was more than just a best friend to me. Three words summed it up: I heart him. I’d never tell him though. I wasn’t stupid. Besides, what he’d told no one, but me, was a little something I wished I could forget… or ignore. He was gay. I guess gay wouldn’t be bad if I wasn’t so in love with him. Now it was just cruel.

Stereotypes run amok in this college love story: Parties, alcohol, hookups, and breakups. Alexandria Carmichael may find it a bit much as she deals with the unreturned love from the boy who completes her. When all is revealed, not only does she risk losing her best friend forever, but also herself. Without her childhood companion for support, Alexandria takes a journey of self-discovery but fears what she’ll find at the end.

Goodreads






This book grabbed me from the first page. Complete with snark and some very real heartbreaks of a girl who is in love with her best friend, who happens to be gay. Both characters became people I cared about and wanted to see happy. In the blog tour, I wanted to ask Reena some questions about her captivating novel. Here we go...


1. I was drawn deeply into Alex's story. Where did you get your inspiration?



I Loved You First was inspired by the College Rock station from the Sims 2: University. I fell in love with the songs and wanted to write a story loosely based on them. Somewhere along the line, the story took on a mind of its own and deviated from the initial storyline and the songs.



2. Seth tried to hide his true self with endless superficial dating. Do you find that is the case with your research and experience?



Seth isn't based off any particular person, research, case study, or experience. He's purely fictional. In fact, Seth started out as a straight guy whose main concern was living life to the max. His original character didn't understand why everyone wasn't taking the world for all it had, like he was. It wasn't until I decided to come at the story from Alex's perspective that Seth went through "conversion therapy."



3. Reading your information at the end of the book, you were raised in a Christian household, but hold no animosity for the gay community. Can you explain your point of view?



Tough question. I thought about it for quite some time. And the only thing I could come up with was: Why should I hold animosity toward the gay community?

I just don't see the point of targeting or hating people because of their sexual orientation. Maybe someone can explain to me what hating the gay community does for them, their family, their community.



4. Seth tries to commit suicide because of perceived peer pressure, the lack of a future in sports and being terrified of what his family will say. In your research, do you find this is common with teens struggling with their identity? ***SPOILER***



I'd like to pretend I'm an expert on this subject, but I'm really not. Still, I don't think suicide attempts are common. I also don't think the concept of struggling with one's identity is the issue. Discovering oneself is a part of life. Seth knew who he was. Fear kept him from letting other see him.

I think the increased rate of suicide attempts amongst teens in the LGBTQ community goes beyond coming to terms with sexual orientation. It's tough living in a world where "normal" is not you, where who you are is not acceptable, to know at any time someone might hurt you, not because you've hurt someone else, but simply because you don't meet an expectation.
Gay, straight, queer - I think any teen who is bullied or lives in constant fear of ostracism might see the future as bleak and consider extreme methods of handling the situation.



5. Alex stayed in the shadow of Seth for a long time, willing to be with him even as a sidekick, even though it cost her herself. Have you ever known anyone like that in real life?



I can't say I have, but I think a lot of teens are like that in some ways. It's difficult trying to fit in, make the right moves, say the right things. Sometimes it's easier to go with the flow than rock the boat and be an individual. Others might not be to Alex's extreme, but I believe it's common to make surface changes to be a part of the crowd. Too many changes, and one can lose themselves in a new identity.



6. What support groups are out there for teens and young adults who are scared of coming out and what that will mean for their family and future?



I can't predict the future, but I do have a list of support organizations I came across during my research:



PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)


Youth Guardian Services


Time Out Youth



7. What is your writing day like? How many hours do you spend working on your craft?




I have my ups and downs, but a normal day might include 4-8 hours of writing, editing, revising, or polishing. Right now, my brain is semi-recovering from this release, so I've been taking it pretty easy and focusing mainly on the blog tour.



8. How do you plot your novels? Loose and freeflowing or using a dedicated plot line of events so you don't deviate from the plan?



I started as a pantser but determined last November, I really enjoyed plotting. These days, I create a rough outline with main points then flesh out the plot with scenes. I'm not a stickler though. My original outline for I Loved You First barely resembles the end results.



9. What is one thing you would want a reader to get from your Seth and Alex's story?



Be yourself today, because eventually, you'll have to stand on your own two feet.



10. Where can people find your books and what other writing projects do you have planned for the near future?




Right now, I'm working on three items. The sequel to the Striped Ones series, a follow up story to Control Freak, and a flash fiction collection called Injustice Is Served. I'm getting pretty excited about NaNoWriMo this year and have been diligently plotting an 8-9 book series, the first which I intend to write during NaNo.



My works are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords. The list goes on, but pretty much wherever books are sold. :)



Reena Jacobs - Author of Lots of Words
www.reenajacobs.com
www.reenajacobs.com/blog
http://twitter.com/ReenaJacobs






Many thanks to Reena Jacobs for sending me a copy of I Loved You First and asking me to be a part of the blog tour. I found the book to be an exciting read with deep emotional connections that brought you into Alex's situation. Is there anyone out there who hasn't had a crush or fallen for someone out of reach and unattainable? It is one of the hardest things ever. The only thing harder is maybe coming out from the other side of it intact.

We Have A Winner! Lockdown Giveaway!

The winner is:

Lindsaywrites!

Congrats!

Winner: Hooked Giveaway!

The winner is:

Kim Cuasay!

Congrats!!!

Supernaturally by Kiersten White: The Review

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.

Goodreads

This book was a full on adventure from the first page. Evie is a character I have grown attatched to. At first, her taser jokes got on my nerves, but after awhile, I grew to find them endearing. The news that the first book has been talked about for a movie had me grinning like an idiot. Who wouldn't want to see Lend in action, right? (For those of you who haven't read Paranormalcy he is the hunky hero.)

Well, in Evie's newest adventure, she  is trying to find her way as a "normal" high school girl. She soon discovers there is nothing even remotely normal about high school. When she gets abducted by a new supernatural and placed into a situation where she has to choose between "normal" and paranormal, all heck breaks loose. Yay! Rock on Evie!

A great read. I am not even going to bother with the likes and dislikes this time. It was a page turner and kept me up into the night. A fun must read. Many thanks to the wonderful folks at Harperteen for sending me a review copy.

Fall-ow Friday!

Happy Fall-ow Friday! Welcome back to the Bookpile, and for any new friends dropping in, a big hug and hello! Check out the three (yes, three)giveaways going on right now. Two of them only have a couple more days to go, so enter now while you still can!

Q. If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to what?

A. I hate to say it, but Mockingjay is my answer for this one. I absolutely did not like the ending. It was just too wrapped up and tidy. There was such a build in the other two books and then an utter let down at the end. I would make the conflict build to an even greater degree and have some kind of greater confrontation between the boys. Katniss just ends up being a mom and waltzes into the future. The kind of world that has been created doesn't lend itself to that kind of ending.