Thursday, June 30, 2011

Author Interview: Matt Blackstone, author of A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE

Today I'm celebrating the launch of a fellow Bookanista's book launch! Matt Blackstone's novel, A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE will be released in just a few days, so be sure to check it out!

YOU
We can read all about your life from your bio in the jacket flap of your book. So, what's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?

I’m bad at following directions, I run marathons, I have a stuffed animal named Flopsy, I coach my school’s tennis team, I find the smell of Australian Gold sunblock to be glorious and intoxicating, I rode elephants in Thailand (and learned that elephants’ breath smells the opposite of glorious and intoxicating); I planned on skydiving until watching an introductory video that said six times, “We are not responsible if you die”; my favorite color was red, then green, then blue, then black and now whichever color my wife tells me to wear; I am not related to magician Harry Blackstone, the investors at the Blackstone Group, the hotelier at the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel, or the founders of Blackstone Wine; I caught my first foul ball at a game two years ago and I still get made fun of for my celebratory dance; I dance with my hands balled up fists, except when I do The Worm; I have a younger brother who unfortunately is bigger and stronger than I am; I hate grape jelly and love crunchy peanut butter; my Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor says I have a deviated septum; I am a proud member of the Lake Owego Polar Bear Club; I can hold my breath underwater for 16 minutes less than David Blaine; my favorite baseball player is Matt Stairs, he is 43 years old; I find it hilarious that as kids we used whoopee cushions and now we have a Big Fart Button on our phone.

Oh, you wanted one random fact? Told you I’m bad at following directions.

As a kid, what was your favorite book? Have your tastes changed since growing up?

At age 5, my favorite was definitely Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. Alexander is such a whiner, but you gotta feel for him: gum in his hair, getting smushed in the back of the car . . . life in Australia probably would be better.

Honorable Mentions:
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and Sam Who Never Forgets by Eve Rice. I now realize that my four favorite children’s books are about screw-ups. Alexander and Sam are forgetful, and Max is a troublemaker. I’m not sure if I’d categorize my kid-self as a forgetful troublemaker, but I sure loved reading about them.

My tastes haven’t changed all that much, as I’m now immersed in YA novels that feature a host of loopy, loony characters who like to stir the pot. And plot.

You're also a high school English teacher. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages to writing while teaching?

Advantages

  • My 9th grade students inspire my characters with delightfully awkward goofiness
  • I can test out my writing with the target audience.
  • I can leave by 4 pm, except during tennis season.


Disadvantages

  • I need to wake up at 6 am to get to school on time. If I want to write, I’m up by 4.
  • Editing essays, in addition to editing my own work, gets tedious.
  • I’m a very patient man, which is why I got into this profession in the first place, but 12 hours each day with teenagers (9 hours of teaching and then coaching them, 3 hours of writing about them) is a lot of time. (No, I’m not a parent of teenagers yet. Those of you who are deserve to be knighted.)


YOUR BOOK

It's the inevitable question: what inspired A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE?
Teachers often say that loud, disruptive students are thorns in their sides but most would admit that the truly dangerous ones—dangerous, at least, to themselves—are the quiet, aloof ones who fly under the radar because they nod politely at their teachers. They play the game well, well enough to get promoted, but they are anything but well.

A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE is the result of seeing a growing number of my students isolate themselves. Rene’s rituals and magical thinking exemplify what it means to be mentally ill, or at least socially inept, in a high school setting that demands academic prowess and social fluency. I wrote this book to offer hope to wild card teenagers (what teen isn’t a wild card these days?) or those who begrudge their parents (sometimes deservedly so), question conformity, and feel so desperate and alone that the only safe place is inside their heads. But what if even that place isn’t safe?

One of the great things about A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE is that the main character suffers from OCD. Can you tell us about why you gave this affliction to your hero, Rene?
Because it’s so scary and dangerous and serious, yet so accessible and universal. Unless you’re Ryan Seacrest, you’ve panicked at some point in your life, uncontrollably so, sweating through your shirt. And we all have our quirks, our “things,” our obsessions that we cling to for comfort, especially when we’re stressed. So we all can relate to Rene on some level. Except for Ryan Seacrest. (With his oceanic name, his suave hair, and a job that makes other people panic, I can’t imagine him ever freaking out. I don’t think he’s human. But I can’t prove it. Yet.)

Can you tell us a little bit about the process--particularly the timeline--of writing A SCARY SCENE IN A SCARY MOVIE?
The first draft was surprisingly quick—about six weeks. I started it on a train ride and couldn’t type fast enough. Then next day, I took it with me on a family vacation to Mexico, where I typed at the beach, at the pool, on local sweaty bumpy buses to and from Chichen Itza, on the plane ride home, and then every morning and night until I finished. I spent two months revising it before I sent it off, mumbling a prayer at the mailbox. Editing was slower than I’d imagined, but I enjoyed every step of the process.

If your reader could only take away one emotion, theme, or idea from ASSIASM, what would you want it to be?
Hope. Things are never as bad as things may seem. Except when they are.

But even then, you’ve gotta hope.


YOUR WRITING
What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a writer?
How long it takes for a book to be published. And how often I get to the keyboard and think, “Holy crap, my powers are gone! What happened to my ability to write complete sentences?”

Beyond the typical--never give up, believe in yourself--what would be the single best advice you'd like to give another writer?
Momentum is everything. Write every day. I find that if I take days off in the middle of a project, I lose the voices of my characters and am less motivated to push through.

What do you think are your strongest and weakest points in writing?
Strength: creativity, especially in my characters.

Weakness: There’s isn’t enough room on the internet galaxy for this list.


Thank you for stopping by, Matt! To find out what the other Bookanistas are posting about, check here:

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

IT'S HERE!

In case you checked earlier and didn't see it...the cover's online now! Just click here to see it!!!

Ah!! I hope you love it as much as I do!!

And don't forget to enter below so we can celebrate together with astronaut ice cream! :D

Cover Reveal!

I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT TODAY.

You know why?

Because today you get to see the new cover for the paperback of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE! The cover is being revealed exclusively at the official Facebook page--and to entice you to go over and check it out, I would like to bribe you with....ICE CREAM!


That's right...ASTRONAUT ICE CREAM!!! I've got five packs of astronaut ice cream, and I'll be sending them out to five winners. And one winner will also get a little something extra, inspired straight from ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.

When Amy first starts living on the ship Godspeed, I wanted to show how different it was. In an early scene, Amy goes to the shower, which isn't entirely like our showers:
It takes me a moment to figure out the shower. There are buttons, not knobs, and more steam than water pours from small mesh squares embedded in the walls of the shower stall. Two bars of soap line a tiny shelf near the top of the shower. There are no shampoo or conditioner bottles, but the round bar of soap lathers in my hair when I test it.
The shampoo bar is something that exists now, not in the far-distant future. I first heard about them from the store Lush, but quickly found my way over to Etsy, where I found a fantastic seller who makes the best shampoo bars I've ever had. If you've never tried solid shampoo, it's so amazing--it cleans much better than bottled liquid shampoo.

And I'm giving away a bar to one of the winners of today's giveaway so the winner can try it out for him (or her) self! And it's scented lemon-lavender, the same scent that Amy uses!

To enter: visit the Facebook page and check out the new cover! (And let Razorbill know what you think of it!) Then fill out the form below :)

Additional contest information:
  • Open internationally
  • Entrants must be 13 years old or older
  • Only one entry per person
  • Contest closes on July 11, 2011

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Bookanista Feature: Jodi Meadow's INCARNATE

The bad news: we have a long way to wait until we get to read Jodi Meadows's INCARNATE.

The good news: I've already read it hahahaha! 

The good news: We have a beeeeeeeeeee-yoooooooo-tiful cover to stare at until INCARNATE is released in early 2012! And Jodi is giving away hand-knitted mitts as prizes until then! 



I mean, just check out that cover. So pretty. The colors are amazing--and butterfly, a very symbolic image in the book, looks perfect here.

Go ahead. Stare.

Want to find out what the other Bookanistas are loving this week? 

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

You Know You're Curious!

Sorry I've been a tad MIA on the blog lately. It's for two very good reasons:

  1. I have tons of cool things I'm dying to tell you about! But...I can't. So I'm just sitting here, keeping my mouth shut.
  2. I'm, you know, working. On stuff.
In the mean time: if you have any love at all for Harry Potter, you know you're curious about this. Whatcha think it is?! We'll find out tomorrow!!

Monday, June 20, 2011

Testing...& Author Visits

So, I've been getting lots of requests for visits lately! Yay! But...as some of these visits would be something that I would pay for myself, I want to make sure I'm going somewhere where I can have maximum impact. After a bit of research (and thanks to someone on Twitter--I've lost the tweet, but thank you!) I found a website called Eventful that makes widgets where you can demand an event in your area! I thought I'd give it a spin here--so if you'd like to see me in your city, bookstore, or school, please let me know here! Likewise, if this widget doesn't work for you or something, please also let me know and I'll come up with a different way to do this...

SOLSTICE Celebration!

PJ Hoover is celebrating the release of SOLSTICE with an epic book tour! Check more out on Twitter by tweeting the hashtag #Solstice. 


You can check out the stops of the tour here, or you can read a free sample of the book (which is only $2.99) by clicking here.

Book description:
Where Mythology and Dystopia meet...

Piper’s world is dying. Global warming kills every living thing on Earth, and each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles which threaten to destroy humanity. Amid this Global Heating Crisis, Piper lives with her mother who suffocates her more than the chaotic climate. When her mother is called away to meet the father Piper has been running from her entire life, Piper seizes an opportunity for freedom.

But when Piper discovers a world of mythology she never knew existed, she realizes her world is not the only one in crisis. While Gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper's life spirals into turmoil, and she struggles to find answers to secrets kept from her since birth. And though she’s drawn to her classmate Shayne, he may be more than he claims. Piper has to choose whom she can trust and how she can save the people she loves even if it means the end of everything she’s ever known.


SOLSTICE is available as a $2.99 ebook (paperbacks should be available in the next week or two) from:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Solstice-ebook/dp/B004ZF804E/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304621416&sr=1-5&tag=wwwpjhooverco-20
Barnes & Noble: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Solstice/PJ-Hoover/e/2940012467874
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/57682

Sunday, June 19, 2011

CRACK the CODE Winner!


A loud click sounds within the door. Heart drumming, you pull on the handle and the monstrous round door swings open.

76 - 11 - 13

Congrats goes to Miranda Hannah who successfully CRACKED the CODE at The Bookshelf Muse, winning a signed copy of my book, Across the Universe. Please contact me as soon as possible so I can get your prize to you! Thanks everyone for playing along & helping to celebrate a great writing community. :)

Edited to add: Well, I was an idiot! Sorry about forgetting to put the winner's name in the post!!! I thought I'd scheduled it before leaving for Father's Day, but apparently now. I've changed it now!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Winner of HOURGLASS

The winner of the signed copy of HOURGLASS by Myra McEntire is...

Nicole!

Thanks everyone for playing, and thanks Myra for donating the prize!

Friday, June 17, 2011

A Few Notes...

This post will be a random assortment of things I've been meaning to tell you...

My Mailing Address
Things that it is okay to send me in the mail:
  • A self-addressed, stamped envelope with a note telling me you'd like a signed bookplate (please let me know how much you want) and/or bookmarks (please specify how many, and if you'd like them signed or not) for your copy of ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
  • Fan mail (squee!)
  • Anything else, please email me first and see if I'd like it. For example, if you want me to read your published book, then just email me and see if I'm interested or have time. I'd hate for you to waste postage on something that I can't really read right now.
Please be advised: I don't check the PO Box every day--it may take me a month or so to get stuff back to you. Sorry!

Things that it is NOT okay to send to me in the mail:
  • A book that you wrote. I'm sorry, but if you're looking for a critique, I honestly don't have time to give you one. And if you're looking for a blurb, you need to send it through my agent or publisher.
  • A book that I wrote. Please PLEASE do not send me copies of my book, requesting me to sign and return to you. (a) it may get lost in the mail, (b) it's a pain for me to handle--keeping up with what book goes where, (c) inevitably something goes wrong--you didn't add enough postage, or the book gets ripped or rained on--and I will be blamed.
  • Hate mail. It will make me sad.
  • Anything edible. By the time it gets to me, it will no longer be edible.
  • An elephant. He wouldn't fit in the PO Box anyway.
So! If you'd like me to send you bookmarks or bookplate or if you want to write me a letter, feel free to send it to:
PO Box 27
Union Mills,
NC 28167 USA

Upcoming events
There are a few events that I've been remiss in telling you about! Oh noes! 

Smart Chick Kick It Tour:
I am so honored to be a part of this tour! I'll be at two stops:
I'm not 100% sure where I'll be at each event, but I will be at both! I'll let you know more details when I know more details. The event is the first weekend in September.

Super Secret Tour!
It won't be super secret for much longer! If you live in Western NC, Northern SC, or Eastern TN, then you especially might be very interested in something that I've been working on with some fellow authors! More details SOON, I promise!

Upcoming contest!
I'm working on something...something big. To get a sneak peek at it, go here.

This video is awesome
And you should watch it now.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

HOURGLASS Book Tour


So, let's just go ahead and get this out of the way: I FREAKING LOVE HOURGLASS.
So, yeah. Safe to say: I effing love this book.

Which is why, when Mundie Moms were like, "Yo. Want in on this blog tour?" I was like, "Heckyeah!"  (Please note: Not direct quotes)

Just in case you don't know Myra, you can check her out here. And in case you don't know HOURGLASS, you can check it out here. Long story short: HOURGLASS has a cool heroine, a hot hero, a sassy friend, time travel, and MORE.

 And now, without futher ado, here's Myra on herself, her book, and her writing:

YOU
We can read all about your fascinating life from your bio in the jacket flap of your book. So, what's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?

I can't go underwater without holding my nose. I think that I should've tried to come up with something that made me look cool, but nose holding it is.

As a kid, what was your favorite book? Have your tastes changed since growing up?

I ADORED The Wizard of Oz. It explains a lot, I think. And no, I still love fantastical stories with heart.

There may or may not be (but definitely is) a reference to DOCTOR WHO in HOURGLASS. So, here's the definitive question: which doctor is the best, and why? Give a detailed analysis of the dreaminess of David Tennant's eyes in your answer.

You didn't really give me a choice, there, did you? When it comes to The Doctor, I am Switzerland. I'll watch you and Rachel Hawkins cage match over ten and eleven ANYTIME, though.

In HOURGLASS, Em slips through time. If you could slip through time to meet anyone or do anything, what/when/who would you visit? Give a detailed analysis as to why you're not going to be popping up in David Tennant's shower RIGHT NOW.

I won't be popping up in David Tennant's shower RIGHT NOW because I don't want to go to jail before my book releases. And ... I'd definitely try to meet Lord Byron. I'd pop up in HIS shower. Because back then there were no phones, and I could possibly run away before the authorities were summoned.

YOUR BOOK
It's the inevitable question: what inspired HOURGLASS. (Was it David Tennant's perfectly sculpted biceps? I think it probably was.)

Beth. Beth. Beth. David Tennant doesn't HAVE biceps. And LOTS of things inspired HOURGLASS. I think I'm going to start a Tumblr to post all my research.

One of the great things about HOURGLASS is that it deals with time travel--one of my all-time favorite themes. There are hints, such as with Em's best friend and Kaleb's empathy, that there is more to HOURGLASS and the world you've created than just time travel. Can you divulge anything else about this?

I can divulge that anyone involved with the Hourglass has an ability that is related to time. EVERYONE. You might not see the connections, but they're there.

Speaking of, why not just go ahead and tell us as much as possible about Book 2? Or, even better, send me a copy of it RIGHT NOW?

Book two is all about Em and Michael in the Mesozoic era. They discover the origins of the Barbie doll and the true story behind unicorns. Also, they run into REAL The Doctor. He looks remarkably like David Tennant.

OK, OK, I'm backing off (FOR NOW). Can you tell us a little bit about the process--particularly the timeline--of writing HOURGLASS?

Before I signed with my agent, Holly Root, I rewrote the second half three times. When I signed with Holly, I rewrote the second half again. When I sold to Egmont and got my editing letter, I rewrote the second half ONE MORE TIME. The good news is, I think what I've got now is probably going to stick.

If your reader could only take away one emotion, theme, or idea from HOURGLASS, what would you want it to be?

HOPE, and that broken can be beautiful. That was two. You'll get over it.

YOUR WRITING
What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a writer?

You never stop telling stories. Ever. When it grabs your soul, you just can't stop.

Beyond the typical--never give up, believe in yourself--what would be the single best advice you'd like to give another writer?

Treat it like a job. Be a professional. If you even THINK you might write someday, do unto others as you'd have them do to you. Not because you want something, but because it's the right thing to do.

What do you think are your strongest and weakest points in writing?

Strongest - plot and voice. Weakest - beautiful language. I tell stories plainly, and if I get any gorgeous, lyrical sentences, it's because it was an accident or I worked really, really hard for them. Like BLED and stuff.

And finally...if you could write an ode for David Tennant, would you write an epic ballad, a sonnet, or a limerick?

Oh, Beth. I wouldn't take it upon myself to do a job that was clearly meant for you. (And I'm pretty sure you'd write a limerlick. Ick. Limerick. Not lick. Noooooo.)

*creepy grin* "Liiiiiick."




To check out the rest of the HOURGLASS book tour, click here! Here's the schedule of events:



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Don't forget: to enter to win a signed copy of HOURGLASS, click here!
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To find out what the other Bookanistas are reading this week:

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

HOURGLASS Love: Review + Contest

In case you missed it, yesterday I posted about how awesome I think HOURGLASS is, how it got my very first blurb I ever did for a book, and how you can win a signed copy. A link to that is at the bottom of this post. Tomorrow, I get to interview Myra herself, so don't forget to look for that!

But meanwhile, I'd like to share a few more detailed thoughts about HOURGLASS. It's been awhile since I've done a real review, and I'm so excited about this book that I'm a bit worried about whether or not I'll be able to adequately express how much I love it...

First: That cover. So beautiful. Soooooo beautiful. Go ahead and drool a little in its general direction.

Second: Emerson. Em is the narrating character of the novel, and she has the best voice. If you're a writer, you've no doubt heard about how important "voice" is. Some agents claim it's the number 1 most important thing to selling a book. Now, if you're still a little flummoxed about what exactly voice is, then you need to read HOURGLASS. Em is the definition of voice.

Third: Something new. There are a lot of books out there that are a little alike. And don't get me wrong--I love a good paranormal romance as much as the next girl. But...HOURGLASS is something new. Something different. Something totally different. There's romance--but there's also tragedy, and there's time travel, and there's secrets, and there's a hidden society, and there's SO. MUCH. MORE.

Fourth: Interesting side characters. There are background characters in every novel...but rarely do they come alive. The Harry Potter books do a good job at creating realistic background characters--I think I know Neville almost as well as I know Harry. HOURGLASS is another novel that does background characters well. Each person truly feel unique, from Em's brother to best friend to the "ghosts" she sees...

Fifth: Time. Travel. Do I really need more than those two words?

Sixth: No, seriously: Time. Travel.


Seventh: Doctor Who. There's a reference to him. And the TARDIS. I'm sold.

Eighth: Love, True Love....maybe. I can't say much about this one. But...I'll say this: the romance is realistic. And the reason why the love doesn't work out perfectly is very realistic...

Enticed yet? Go get a copy! And enter for a copy here:


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Don't forget: to enter to win a signed copy of HOURGLASS, click here!
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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

HOURGLASS Launch! Celebrate and Win!

Are you guys getting sick of giveaways? I hope not, because today, I am excited to tell you about one of the best books to be released this year:


I was lucky enough to get a chance to read an early copy of this book--and after I did, I realized that this book is simply amazing.

And so I blurbed it.

Which is really kind of weird to me. Because, well, I'm me. No one important. But they wanted my blurb (my very FIRST! blurb!) and there it is on the cover!

"Pulls your heart in every direction.
A brand new twist on time travel with an 
explosively delicious romance."

Yup. That little pull quote encapsulates about a tiny fraction of my love for HOURGLASS. I cannot wait until I get my copy in the mail so I can re-read the novel. 

I'll be doing a more complete review tomorrow, but in the meantime, I want to show you the brand-spanking-new book trailer:


And if you want more info on the book (BRILLIANT!) and/or Myra (AWESOME!), you can click here:
And--did I mention Myra was awesome?--because she's donating a SIGNED copy of HOURGLASS for you! Unfortunately, this is open to US addresses only. To enter, all I ask is that you check out one of the pages linked above or watch the book trailer. We'll work on the honor system--I'll trust that you do it :)

Just fill out the form below, and you're entered for a drawing for a signed copy of Myra McEntire's HOURGLASS!

And since Myra's generously donating a copy for you to win, why not tell her in the comments how much you like the book, the book trailer, or how much you want to read this. Show her some love for donating the prize!

Additional contest information:
  • Open to US addresses only (sorry!)
  • Entrants must be 13 years old or older
  • Only one entry per person
  • Contest closes on June 17th

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Contest & Prizes

The Bookshelf Muse is celebrating over 2000 Followers and almost 1/2 million hits and they wants to know...CAN YOU CRACK THE CODE?

Let me break it down for you:

  • 12 generous writers.
  • A formidable steel vault packed with prizes.
  • A time locked sensor.
  • And you...with a code.


Will The Bookshelf Muse's Prize Vault open for you? Stop by and find out!



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And Announcing the winners of the Spread the Word on POSSESSION prize pack...

I hope you guys had as much fun with the POSSESSION launch as I did! It was great going across all the blog and talking about it on Twitter :D

Now for the winners of the "Spread the Word" contest...




Winners, Shannon will be emailing you shortly to get your address for the prize!

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Possession Tour, Day Six!


Don't forget, this is day six of the Elana Johnson POSSESSION Launch Festival of Awesome! Today, go to Christine Fonseca's site and comment to enter to win a signed copy of POSSESSION and learn the secret time that you need to use the Twitter hashtag #taggedPOSSESSION to win another signed copy of POSSESSION!


We're giving away 15 signed copies of POSSESSION throughout this week's blog tour--be sure to visit and enter to win! Tomorrow, final winners will be announced!

Friday, June 10, 2011

Which Faction Are You?

Yesterday we posted our Bookanista celebration video for Veronica Roth in which the Bookanistas all posted which faction they think they belong in. By and far, most of my fellow Bookanistas are Dauntless (brave)...but I definitely don't think I qualify for that. I'm more likely to be Candor (truthful).

If you've not read DIVERGENT yet (and honestly, why not?) there are, essentially, faction which encompass certain human qualities. The main character, Tris, is a divergent--she is strong in two or more factions.

If you've read DIVERGENT, which faction do you think you belong to? If you've not read DIVERGENT (and, actually, even if you have) you can play this interactive game to determine which faction you're most likely to be in. 

So let me know: what's your strongest faction?

  • Abnegation (selflessness)
  • Dauntless (bravery)
  • Erudite (intelligence)
  • Amity (peacefulness)
  • Candor (honesty)

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Don't forget, this is day one of the Elana Johnson POSSESSION Launch Festival of Awesome! Today, go to Christine Fonseca's site and comment to enter to win a signed copy of POSSESSION and learn the secret time that you need to use the Twitter hashtag #taggedPOSSESSION to win another signed copy of POSSESSION!


We're giving away 15 signed copies of POSSESSION throughout this week's blog tour--be sure to visit and enter to win! Tomorrow's giveaway will be hosted at Ali Cross's blog!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Bookanista Celebration! Veronica Roth's NYTimes Debut!

We here at the Bookanistas love to celebrate books--and it's even more fun when one of our own gives us a reason to party! When Veronica Roth's novel, DIVERGENT, debuted on the NY Times Bestseller List, we all got together to figure out which faction we belonged to. Watch the video below to see where yours truly would be!



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Don't forget, this is day one of the Elana Johnson POSSESSION Launch Festival of Awesome! Today, go to Jamie Harrington's site and comment to enter to win a signed copy of POSSESSION and learn the secret time that you need to use the Twitter hashtag #taggedPOSSESSION to win another signed copy of POSSESSION!


We're giving away 15 signed copies of POSSESSION throughout this week's blog tour--be sure to visit and enter to win! Tomorrow's giveaway will be hosted at Christine Fonseca's blog!

Bookanista Feature: Tessa Gratton's BLOOD MAGIC

BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton is a hard book to describe. It's beautiful--but also disturbing. It's like goblin fruit, if that makes sense. There's magic and blood and kissing and a dark history and doubtful future. So, basically, you should read it.

I actually really love the way the book's described in GoodReads: "Tessa Gratton's intoxicating first novel will keep pulses racing, minds reeling, and pages turning right up to the very last drop of blood."

Of course, I had to ask Tessa for an interview. I was lucky enough to meet Tessa earlier this year at the Branson retreat and, well, she's effing awesome and way cooler than me.

Need proof? Read her interview:


YOU


We can read all about your life from your bio in the jacket flap of your book. So, what's a completely random fact about you that most people don't know?

My dentist told me I am genetically superior to most humans because I have no wisdom teeth. This fact did nothing to help my ego remain modest.


As a kid, what was your favorite book? Have your tastes changed since growing up?

BEAUTY by Robin McKinley, definitely, with JURASSIC PARK as a close runner-up. And… Beauty is still one of my favorites of all time, and I adore most fairy tale retellings, especially when they’re done do delicately and simply. I don’t reread Jurassic Park, but I am still somewhat obsessed with dinosaurs.


You're one-third of the awesome that is The Merry Sisters of Fate. Can you tell us a little bit about how the group formed? 

Maggie and I met online, and about 6 months later we were critiquing each other’s work. One day she said “Tessa, this is Brenna, and the two of you will be friends!” TA DA! We started Merry Fates in May of 2008, in an effort to quickly improve our writing with the challenge of writing a short story every week.




YOUR BOOK


It's the inevitable question: what inspired BLOOD MAGIC?

Originally, a vision of a brother and sister who could switch bodies, and the body-snatching witch who stalked them… but Maggie and Brenna told me it needed to be more monstrous… more “Tessa.” Then came the copious amounts of blood.


One of the great things about BLOOD MAGIC is that magic has a very real and present cost: blood. Can you tell us a little bit about why you chose to use blood in your magic?

I wanted the magic to have an immediate, physical consequence, something to represent the energetic sacrifice necessary for power. AND blood is such a strong piece of so many religions and mythology. It has power in just about every culture – magical power to grant everlasting life. Plus, I like red.


Can you tell us a little bit about the process--particularly the timeline--of writing BLOOD MAGIC?

I wrote the first (boring, bloodless) draft in 6 weeks, then spent 4 months rewriting it into something I actually thought was awesome. Signed with my agent, rewrote again, and then a second time after editorial feedback… and almost a year exactly after beginning that very first draft, it sold to Random House. I had 6 drafts total, because when I rewrite, I tend to TOTALLY rewrite.

If your reader could only take away one emotion, theme, or idea from BLOOD MAGIC, what would you want it to be?

Killing bunnies is good for the soul. (Ok, seriously, I guess the most important theme is that we have to choose who we want to be.)


YOUR WRITING

What's the most surprising thing you've learned since becoming a writer?

How long you have to wait for everything.

Beyond the typical--never give up, believe in yourself--what would be the single best advice you'd like to give another writer?

HAVE ADVENTURES!

What do you think are your strongest and weakest points in writing?

Strongest: world-building and kissing scenes (yeah, I went there.) Weakest: occasionally I forget to pay attention and write on auto-pilot.





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