Lea Nolan talks about her book CONJURE & the upcoming Olde City, New Blood convention! Plus a Giveaway!

Hey guys! Today I've got Lea Nolan on the blog talking a little about her experience as a debut author, her upcoming novel CONJURE, and the Olde City, New Blood Convention! The convention is happening in February, in St. Augustine, and Lea is one of many authors I can't wait to meet there! Are you guys going?!?

In case some of you have been hiding under a rock, I'll give you a little infor about CONJURE, being published by Entangled Teen on October 23rd!

Emma Guthrie expects this summer to be like any other in the South Carolina Lowcountry--hot and steamy with plenty of beach time alongside her best friend and secret crush, Cooper Beaumont, and Emma’s ever-present twin brother, Jack. But then a mysterious eighteenth-century message in a bottle surfaces, revealing a hidden pirate bounty. Lured by the adventure, the trio discovers the treasure and unwittingly unleashes an ancient Gullah curse that attacks Jack with the wicked flesh-eating Creep and promises to steal Cooper’s soul on his approaching sixteenth birthday.

When a strange girl appears, bent on revenge; demon dogs become a threat; and Jack turns into a walking skeleton; Emma has no choice but to learn hoodoo magic to undo the hex, all before summer—and her friends--are lost forever.

What has the debut author experience been like for you? Having gone through it once, now, do you think the publishing experience will be easier for the next book?

It sounds cliché, but it’s a dream come true. I worked very hard to learn to write fiction, and my husband and kids put up with a lot of late nights and weekends without Mommy, all because I had a dream. And now it’s become a reality. I’ll never forget the night I got the call that Entangled was interested in buying CONJURE. It was last Halloween and I’d just come back from trick-or-treating with my kids. My agent called and I literally leapt around my dining room, but since we were still on the phone, I had to swallow my ecstatic yelps lest I deafen her. That moment was pure euphoria and it made all that hard work worth it.

Luckily, the process of bringing CONJURE to print has been equally wonderful. I have the great fortune of working with Liz Pelletier, a fantastic editor who pushed me to make the story even stronger. And by some cosmic stroke of colossal luck, I got a magnificent cover created by Alexandra Shostak. Never mind the old adage about not judging a book by its cover. Covers matter. And the one Alexandra created for me is so beautiful, it sometimes makes me want to cry. For real.

Yes, definitely this experience will help make my next publishing experience easier. Now I know what to expect, what to worry about, and what I can let slide. Plus I’ve got a great team of publicists who’ve helped walk me through all that needs to be done to launch a book, and they’ve put up with my newbie questions and ignorance. The next book will have its own journey but thankfully, the road’s already been paved.

CONJURE is about to be unleashed on the world! What is it like knowing that people all over will be picking up and reading your words?

Humbling. Thrilling. Surreal! I’m so thankful that people are excited to read it and that many have really enjoyed it thus far. I love this story and the characters so much and I’m so happy that other people will get to know them. Already I’ve heard from international readers who’ve read advanced review copies and now they’re spreading the word to their friends. It’s amazing. I’ll be doing my first signings soon and I can’t wait to meet readers in person.

St. Augustine is a place rich with history, but it’s also well known for being haunted. Are you planning to go on any of the ghost tours while you are here for the convention?

Absolutely! I’ll be joining the Saturday night walking tour. I can’t wait. A few years ago, I went on a ghost tour in Gettysburg, PA and was lucky enough to do it with other writers, one of whom is an eerily accurate psychic medium. She shared her impressions of what had happened in some of the historic buildings, especially a poor house for children whose fathers were killed during the Civil War. Let’s just say that according to her, the children weren’t cared for very well. It was fascinating. And super, duper spooky. I’m hoping the St. Augustine is just as freaky!

Alright, guys! Lea was generous enough to offer up some awesome swag to one lucky commenter! One of the panels at the convention is where the authors get to ask their readers questions, so Lea is asking us one of her burning questions! To be entered into the giveaway, all you have to do is answer her below question in the comments (and be sure to leave a way to contact you)!! Winner chosen one week from today on 10/18/12. US/CA Only.

Oh gosh, this is a tough one. I’ve been asking myself the same question ever since I read the conference schedule. I think I’d like readers to tell us what they think is hot in the paranormal/urban fantasy genre. We hear so often what agents and editors are looking for, but we hardly ever get to hear what readers want to see. Sure they pick their favorites from among the publishers’ offerings, but do they want more ghost love stories? More or less shape shifters, zombies, vampires, weres, etc.? What boundaries do they want to see pushed and is there a line they’re not comfortable with writers crossing?

Go On!! Get to answering, I'm actually pretty curious about this one, myself! And don't be afraid to go up and say hi to all of us at the convention!

Lea Nolan writes the kinds of stories she sought as a teen—smart paranormals with bright heroines, crazy-hot heroes, diabolical plot twists, plus a dose of magic, a draft of romance, and a sprinkle of history. She’s holds degrees in history and women’s studies concentrating in public policy and spent fifteen years as a health policy analyst and researcher. She lives in Maryland with her heroically supportive husband and three clever children. Her debut YA novel, CONJURE, book one in The Hoodoo Apprentice Series is a new release from Entangled Publishing under the Entangled Teen imprint. You can learn more about Lea on her website, on Facebook, Twitter and on Goodreads. CONJURE is available at both Barnes and Noble and Amazon.

Waiting on Wednesday - Bruised by Sarah Skilton

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event hosted over at Breaking the Spine, that showcases our most wanted upcoming releases.

 

 

 

Release Date: March 2013

Publisher: Amulet

 

 

16-year-old Imogen Malley has spent most of her life in the shadow of her popular older brother, but there is one area in which she excels: martial arts.

As the youngest black belt at her dojang, Imogen loves assistant-teaching more than anything in the world, and she plans to open her own martial arts studio one day. Per the Tae Kwon Do student creed, she's come to think of herself as a potential hero, a defender of the weak, and a champion of justice.

Her confidence disappears when she freezes up at an armed robbery that leaves someone dead. Guilt-stricken and numb, Imogen is left to wonder if martial arts failed her, or she failed it. Estranged from her family and friends, who don't understand why she's still beating herself up for failing to act, she struggles to get by on her own, and decides to prove herself by teaching another student how to fight –- no holds barred, no protective gear, no rules.

When the image you have of yourself is shattered, how do you make it whole again?

 

While the fact that the author and I have the same first name, is not the reason I am so excited for this book, it certainly doesn't hurt. Hehe. Seriously, though, I love that the main character of this one is a girl who is a martial arts expert! How kick butt is that? I'm also really intrigued by stories that have a main character whose actions are fueled by guilt, whether it's justified or not. Those stories always end up being such powerful reads for me and this one promises to be right up there with others I've read. And isn't that cover just so awesome? Basically, I am just going to be pining away until a copy of this book rests happily in my hands :0)

 

What are you guys waiting on this week?

Home Run Blog Tour: Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally

Hey guys! Today I'm posting as part of the Home Run Blog Tour for STEALING PARKER and Sourcebooks! We've got an awesome post today, where Miranda talks about where she gets her ideas and inspirations! And below, I've got my review for STEALING PARKER and all of the ways you can stalk...er, contact Miranda to tell her how much you love her books! Enjoy and Happy Reading :0)

 

Peanut Gallery:  Where does Miranda get her inspiration?  Find out as Miranda speaks about her idea origins. As a bonus, Miranda shares the best advice that she ever got about being a writer.

 

Geez, this is a pretty hard question. I get my inspiration from all over the place. From conversations I have with friends and people at work. From inside jokes with my husband. I read lots of books, and see how my favorite authors write plot arcs and characterization, and then I set out to do that too, but with my own edge. I often look through my junior and high school yearbooks to remind myself of how I felt when I was younger. I also like to read my old diaries. One time I got a book idea from a true fact under a Snapple lid. Another time I got a book idea because somebody had broken into my car!

 

I got the idea for the “Jerry Rice fake baby home ec” project in Catching Jordan because I remembered this time I was out on the football field in junior high, and a football player was pushing another player around in a stroller.

 

The best advice I ever got as a writer?

- An editor told me my strongest skill as an author is writing groups of teens goofing off and talking about nothing, so now I try to have my characters bantering while doing lots of wild and wacky things while trying to move the plot forward. And I have a great time doing it! I try to write silly scenes that I hope people will enjoy reading.

 

 

Here are my tips for new writers:

 

1)      Do not give up. With the first book I ever wrote, I sent out over 100 queries and only received 4 requests from agents. With my second book, I sent out 17 queries, got 9 requests from agents, and 4 offers of representation.

2)      Don’t use fancy words. Use words you hear in everyday life.

3)      Read tons of books in the genre you want to write in.

4)      Make sure your prose has a rhythm. Read your work out loud before showing it to anybody.

5)      Find lots of beta readers who read in your genre. It’s important to have a well-balanced book, and to get that, you need lots of opinions.

6)      Listen to all feedback – negative and positive. Without constructive criticism, I’d be nowhere. I can’t grow as a writer (or as a person, for that matter) if I don’t know where I’m missing the mark.

7)      Trust your first instinct. My 7th grade science teacher once told me, “Miranda, a human being’s first instinct is correct 90% of the time. If you’re going to deviate from your first instinct, you’d better have a good reason why you should.”  When I send out a first draft (or portions of a first draft) to beta readers, I’m always open-minded when comments start coming back to me, but before I consider implementing any suggested changes – I have to remind myself to think about why I wrote what I did in the first place.  It’s very normal to feel silly or dumb after hearing comments, and immediately feel like you need to rush to do exactly what that person says — But you’ve also got to remember that you’re smart, too, and you wrote what you did for a reason.

8)      Make sure your characters aren’t black and white. Let them make mistakes. Nobody wants to read about perfect characters.

9)      Your truth isn’t everybody else’s truth. When building a world, it’s important to make sure that you adequately frame a person’s situation and beliefs. I mean, how could people be so evil as to make a little boy live in a cupboard under the stairs? Readers “buy” it because Mr. Dursley’s been painted as a man who abhors anything unordinary.

10)  DO NOT QUERY right after you finish writing your first draft. Let your book sit for a few weeks before trying to get an agent. You might need to revise before anyone else reads it. Sometimes I can write a first draft in less than a month, but then I’ll spend 7-8 months editing it!

 

 

Release Date: October 2nd, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Format: eGalley

Genre: Contemporary

After a scandal rocks their conservative small town, 17-year-old Parker Shelton goes overboard trying to prove that she won't turn out like her mother: a lesbian. The all-star third-baseman quits the softball team, drops 20 pounds and starts making out with guys--a lot. But hitting on the hot new assistant baseball coach might be taking it a step too far...especially when he starts flirting back.

Parker's story is very different from Jordan's story, but it is still an excellent read. Parker is a girl who is trying desperately seperate herself from her mother's lifestyle and the rumors it sprouted about her. She's also trying to come to terms with her faith and dealing with a highly inappropriate crush on the new baseball coach. We get to see Parker's internal struggle with God and her need to know why things have happened to her and her family. I'm not a religious person and I don't typically read things that have religion incorporated, but it was done so well here and it never became preachy. It really helped the story, by showing the battle that was going on inside of Parker and even gave some insight into why she's made some of the choices she is now dealing with.

I know it's totally cliche to jump right to talking about the guys, but I can't help myself. Firstly, Brian gave me creepy feelings the whole time I was reading and those didn't get any better when he proved to be a huge jerk. I felt for Parker because at her age, the kind of attention she was getting from him, would be so easy to make into something bigger. I could see the ending that Parker couldn't, and I just wanted to shake her and tell her to stop letting this guy take advantage of you. Will, on the other hand, is so many kinds of adorable. I love this boy to pieces and I really liked how their friendship evolved throughout the whole story. They've known each other for years, but they had always just kind of been on the outskirts of each other's lives, and that all changes when Parker starts managing the baseball team.

I don't know what it is about Miranda's writing, but I love the sports stuff that is incorporated into her stories, even though I don't actually like sports. It doesn't take over the story, but it's definitely a big part of the characters lives and it helps everything kind of gel together. This one was a one sitting read for me and it will definitely be on my re-read shelf. I honestly believe you can't go wrong with a book by Miranda Kenneally. She writes excellent female protagonists and totally swoonworthy boys! Definitely one to add to your shelves :0)

Where to find Miranda:

Her Website: http://mirandakenneally.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MirandaKennealy
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miranda.kenneally

Double Trailer Reveal: LUMINOSITY by Stephanie Thomas and GRAVITY by Melissa West

Hi Guys! It's Thursday, which usually just ends up being the ho-hum day before Friday, when the weekend can truly begin. To ease the boredom and make your wait for the weekend a lot more exciting, I've got something pretty awesome for you! A double trailer reveal for two awesome, upcoming YA titles from Entangled Teen!! You're excited now, aren't you?!?

First up we've got LUMINOSITY by Stephanie Thomas! This bad boy releases on November 6th and is the first book in The Raven Chronicles. Here's a little more about it:

My name is Beatrice. When I was born, I was blessed with the Sight. I was immediately removed from my parents and enrolled in the Institution. At the age of twelve, I had my first true vision, earning my raven’s wings. And when I turned seventeen, one of my visions came true. Things haven’t been the same since.

The Institution depends on me to keep the City safe from our enemy, the Dreamcatchers, but I’m finding it harder to do while keeping a secret from everyone, including my best friend Gabe. It is a secret that could put us all in danger. A secret that could kill me and everyone close to me.

But the enemy has been coming to me in my dreams, and I think I’m falling in love with him. He says they’re coming. He says they’re angry. And I think I’ve already helped them win.

Sounds awesome, right? Take a look at the awesome trailer next, then peek below to add it to your Goodreads and pre-order it from your bookstore of choice!




Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13425149-luminosity

Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Luminosity-Stephanie-Thomas/dp/1620611279/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1349120932&sr=8-1&keywords=Stephanie+Thomas
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/luminosity-stephanie-thomas/1108930419?ean=9781620611272
The Book Depository- http://www.bookdepository.com/Luminosity-Stephanie-Thomas/9781620611272

 

About Stephanie:

Stephanie Thomas has been writing ever since she could put letters together to form words. When she was a small child, she would present her mother and father with self-made newspapers filled up with make believe stories and pictures. Her love for writing followed her all throughout her schooling, where she entered and won writing contests of all sorts. Stephanie decided to become an English teacher and completed her B.A. at The Pennsylvania State University. While teaching, she later went on to get her Master’s in writing from The Johns Hopkins University. She completed her very first manuscript during her graduate studies, and by the end of the program, she had completed two more. Stephanie is quick to tell anyone that she’s a born and raised Philadelphian, and her heart will always belong there. She moved to Baltimore with her husband, and they’ve been living there for the last five years with their doggie, Sailor, and their rabbit, Buns (aka “T Sizzle).

Where you can find Stephanie-

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads
The Raven Chronicles Facebook

Next up we've got GRAVITY by Melissa West! We're getting this one the day before Halloween, and I for one, cannot wait to have my hot little hands on it! Here's what it's all about:



In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.


SO good! Give the trailer below a gander, then go ahead and add this one to your shelves, you know you want to!



Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12844575-gravity
Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Gravity-Taking-Melissa-West/dp/1620610914/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1349120955&sr=1-1&keywords=Melissa+West
Barnes & Noble- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/gravity-melissa-west/1108785658?ean=9781620610916
The Book Depository- http://www.bookdepository.com/Gravity-Melissa-West/9781620610916

About Melissa:

Melissa lives in a tiny suburb of Atlanta, GA with her husband and daughter. She pretends to like yoga, actually likes shoes, and could not live without coffee. Her writing heroes include greats like Jane Austen and Madeleine L'Engle.

She holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Graphic Communication, both from Clemson University. Yeah, her blood runs orange.
GRAVITY is her first book.

Where you can find Melissa-

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

 

And to make an awesome day even better, how about a giveaway! Entangled Teen is giving away 4 eARCs! All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below. What are you waiting for?!?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If the Rafflecopter isn't working, you can go to http://www.entangledteen.com/ and fill out the giveaway form there!

 

Meant to Be by Lauren Morrill

 

Release Date: November 13th, 2012

Publisher: Delacorte

Format: eARC

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question.

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

 

This book is so much fun! Julia is obsessed with finding her MTB and is pretty much willing to go to any lengths possible to be with that person. Julia is a part of a school trip to London for spring break and ends up going against her normal behavior by attending a party. This is where the fun really begins. All the chapters are titled with text messages between Julia and the mystery person texting her, between Julia and her best friend, and from a popular girl in class who doesn't really like her all that much. I thought this was a really fun way to get into the story and it was cool to try and guess what the more cryptic texts were really hinting at.

 

I liked Julia as a main character. I thought her straight-laced attitude and constant need to follow the rules was particularly amusing, especially when she would slip up and break a rule. Most of these instances happened when she was with Jason, whom I absolutely adore. He was so funny and constantly giving Julia a hard time. He was also, so obviously, into her. Of course, she was oblivious, which made it all the more fun for me as a reader. I also really liked the foreign setting. I love a stories ability to take you into a new worl, and I especially like it when that new world happens to also be in another country. You get to be a bit of a tourist, without ever getting up from your chair.

 

This was a fun, light, and hilarious romantic story. Yes, it was definitely predictable and I wasn't ever really surprised, but that didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying it. If you are looking for an awesome contemp, I definitely recommend picking this one up when it comes out. Lauren Morrill has given us an excellent story to add to our shelves :0)

Olde City, New Blood Mini-Convention Giveaway!! I want to see YOU there :0)

 

Authors and book lovers are coming together in historic, St. Augustine, Florida this February! The Olde City, New Blood Mini-Convention has got a slew of great Adult and Young Adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy authors to get excited about and today I'm featuring a way for you to win FREE REGISTRATION for the convention events! This is an awesome prize, guys, and trust me when I say you want to come to this event!

Go to the official website for the full list of Featured Authors and Featured Bloggers. There you will also find the main contest post that has links for all of the authors and bloggers participating in the contest!

The prize is one of 3 FREE REGISTRATIONS to the convention in St. Augustine, Florida, from Feb 8th-10, 2013. There are going to be panels, meet and greets, signings, ghost tours, and we're all going to watch a bad sci-fi movie together! Winners will have to cover their own hotel and travel arrangements, but your convention registration fee will be taken care of! That's more money to spend on books once you get here :0)

The contest runs from September 30th - October 6th, and the 3 winners will be announced on October 7th. Proceed to the Rafflecopter below to enter! Then run along to all of the other posts, to meet the authors and bloggers involved, and get more chances to win! Good Luck and I hope to meet you guys there in February :0)

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway