Thursday, December 09, 2010

Going Dark


I'm going dark for the rest of this month
to catch up on work and to
hang out with my family.

Have a warm and safe December.
See you in 2012 with new blog features
and a couple of sekrit projects to tell you about...

Until then,

Happy Holidays!




Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Winner and What's Up This Week

The winner of the Miniature Tigers FORTRESS CD is:

Kathleen Brown

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (dot) com and we'll get that mailed out to you.

What's up this week?

I'll be at the Scholastic Book Fair at Karrer this afternoon, signing TRANCE and the DEATH BY books. If you're in Dublin, stop by! We'll be in the library.

YA Rocks! (Galley Cat) Book sales for children's and YA up 14% in October.

So many good books (PW) Today's YA scene

Happy release week to: Lena Roy (EDGES), Sara Shepard (THE LYING GAME) , Melvin Burgess (NICHOLAS DANE), and Michele Jaffe (ROSEBUSH)!

This week's video link:


Friday, December 03, 2010

FF - FORTRESS by Miniature Tigers

Welcome to a special musical edition of Freebie Friday. We're going indie rock today with the phenomenal band Miniature Tigers. I'm extra excited to introduce them to you because the band (including my nephew Alex) is on their way to Columbus even as I write and I get to see them tonight.

(Anyone in the Columbus area, they will be at the Basement on Neil Avenue tonight with Freelance Whales. Doors open at 8.)

Im
age Credit: Jason Kempin/WireImage for Entertainment Weekly >>>>>

The Band:

Miniature Tigers started out in Phoenix around 2006, and now is based out of Brooklyn, New York. Their sound is indie rock with elements of indie pop. The members of the band are frontman-guitarist Charlie Brand, Rick Schaier on drums and vocals, Algernon Quashie on guitar, keyboard and vocals, and my good-looking and talented nephew Alex Gerber on bass and vocals. (Can I say that without embarrassing you, Alex?)

In the past four years, they've been steadily picking up momentum and earning spots on many festival to-watch lists. In 2006, Rolling Stone listed the group as "one of the 25 best bands on Myspace. Spin magazine listed Miniature Tigers in their picks of "The 9 Hottest New Bands Playing CMJ 2008." Their video for "Cannibal Queen" has been featured on mtvU and MTV2's Subterranean.

More recently, they've been expanding their visibility and drawing even larger crowds. This year they fit Lollapalooza into their touring schedule. The video for Bullfighter Jacket from FORTRESS has been nominated for video of the year AND they've been nominated for Best Artist of 2010 by BestNewBands.com. (Pssst... You can vote for Miniature Tigers on both by following the links...)

Miniature Tigers is signed to Modern Art Records.

The Interview:

How did the band come together?
The band started in Charlie's bedroom. He made demos and put the songs online and soon acquired a bit of a fan-base. Through a mutual music collective he found Rick who had a band of his own called Alvin Band. They became friends and shared songs with one another. Rick was in Southern California and Charlie in Arizona, so the relationship was that of a pen-pal friendship. Charlie eventually moved to LA where he and Rick brought the band to reality, finding bassists and guitarists to fill the slots while they played shows an developed as live musicians. One thing lead to another and the Tigers had a record deal with the newly-formed, Phoenix-based Modern Art Records. After that they made a record together called Tell it to the Volcano. They toured for all of '08 in support of it, building their ever-growing fan-base. They swapped guitarists and bassists, looking for the right fit, until they found Algernon and me. We've both been in the band since April of '09.

What's a typical day like when you're on the road?
A typical day on the road consists of sleeping in until the very last minute, driving an inhuman number of hours, arriving and setting up at the venue, sound-checking, waiting til performance time (usually filled with dinner), performance, breaking gear down, load out, hotel, lather, rinse, repeat.

How about when you're rehearsing and/or recording?
Rehearsals are rather uneventful, unfortunately. We just get the rust off. We have a good idea of what we do live, so it's just practice, really. Recording, however, is an amazing experience. We're all blessed with a touch of somethin extra when we record. Amazingly, we all nail our parts with a few takes or sometimes one. Magic, music and good vibes make up our studio time.

What prompted the move to Brooklyn?
The band operations moved to Brooklyn, aka the land of opportunity. The move has done wonders for us; opened doors we didn't know existed. It's all thanks to our managers Ben and Jeff who work tirelessly to get us more gigs and opportunities.

What's the weirdest/funniest experience you've had as a group?
The funniest thing to happen to us happens every day. Something hilarious happens every day, which I'm so thankful for. It's hard to pick just one instance, but thankfully we all love humor. It inspires us to do what we do. Without it, I don't think we could tour. Those dudes are beyond funny. And witty to boot!

How did recording at Dreamland Studios shape your latest CD, Fortress?

Dreamland was an amazing space. The natural reverb and overall vibe of it was captured on the recording, hopefully. It was really quiet and cold, which is kind of the theme to the album. Fortress refers to the emotional walls people put up, and Dreamland helped us get in that mood. Most of the songs might be sunny and warm, but I think that represents where Charlie wants to go when in his or another's fortress.

For Charlie - how do you tap into your muse? What inspires your music?

For me, it comes when I'm not thinking too much about it. I'll usually put on some tv in the background and strum chords on a guitar until something catches me. I draw random inspirations from other artists, by reading a book or just interacting with people.

The Freebie:

Up for grabs this week is Miniature Tiger's latest CD, FORTRESS. To be entered to win, leave a comment below telling us your favorite indie band (bonus points if Miniature Tigers becomes one of your favorites!) This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, December 8.

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Winner!

And the winner of WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE by Caridad Ferrer is:

Tabitha Michelle

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that sent out to you. Everyone, please come on back tomorrow for a special, musical Freebie Friday with hot indie band Miniature Tigers and your chance to win their new CD, FORTRESS.

What's up this week?

It's December! Happy Hanukkah!

It's also deadline weekend! Gaaaah! (Which means the rest of this post will be cut short.)

I will leave you with a teaser for tomorrow, though. This week's video link :



Saturday, November 27, 2010

FF- WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE by Caridad Ferrer

You would think I'd have learned my lesson by now. Yesterday I was wildly shopping with my daughter and trusting that the scheduled post option on blogger had worked. It had not. But the freebie's still on, as well as our GCC interview with Caridad Ferrer!

The Author:

Caridad Ferrer is a first generation, bilingual Cuban-American, whose young adult debut, Adiós to My Old Life won the Romance Writers of America’s 2007 RITA® for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance as well as being named to the 2009 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults list, awarded by the ALA. Her second novel, It’s Not About the Accent was released in 2007 with Publisher’s Weekly stating, “…this twisting book amply rewards readers.”

She has also contributed to the anthology, Fifteen Candles: 15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and Other Quinceañera Stories. Her newest young adult novel, When the Stars Go Blue, is a contemporary retelling of Bizet’s Carmen, and will be released by Thomas Dunne Books in November 2010. Booklist calls it, “Beautifully written, with contemporary characters and an engaging story line.”


The Book:

A dancer driven to succeed.



A musical prodigy attempting to escape his past.



The summer they share.



And the moment it all goes wrong.



Dance is Soledad Reyes’s life. About to graduate from Miami’s Biscayne High School for the Performing Arts, she plans on spending her last summer at home teaching in a dance studio, saving money, and eventually auditioning for dance companies. That is, until fate intervenes in the form of fellow student Jonathan Crandall who has what sounds like an outrageous proposition: Forget teaching. Why not spend the summer performing in the intense environment of the competitive drum and bugle corps? The corps is going to be performing Carmen, and the opportunity to portray the character of the sultry gypsy proves too tempting for Soledad to pass up, as well as the opportunity to spend more time with Jonathan, who intrigues her in a way no boy ever has before.

But in an uncanny echo of the story they perform every evening, an unexpected competitor for Soledad's affections appears: Taz, a member of an all-star Spanish soccer team. One explosive encounter later Soledad finds not only her relationship with Jonathan threatened, but her entire future as a professional dancer.


The Interview:

Have you ever (done something your main character does in your book)?

For three years, I was a member of the Florida Wave Drum & Bugle corps, plus I spent an additional nine years in high school and college marching band, so I know the marching world VERY well.


If you could hang out with any literary character, who would you choose and why?

Sebastian St. Cyr, from C.S. Harris' Regency mystery series. He's a fascinating character in that he's well-read, interested in the arts, very independent, intellectual, and curious, yet very tough, having served as an Intelligence Officer in the British Army. He just strikes me such a multi-faceted character with so many stories to tell.


Have you ever had your numbers done? Did they reveal anything about you?

I have and found it fascinating, because it really pinpoints all of the contradictions in my personality-- the combination of cool and analytical with painfully shy and sensitive was especially interesting, since so many personality profiles or horoscopes don't tend to allow for both aspects.


Do you have any special writing rituals or totems to connect with your muse?

I have to have music-- I create soundtracks for each of my books, sometimes multiple soundtracks, and in creating them, it's as if I'm creating the world I'm going to be inhabiting for the foreseeable future.


What songs would make the playlist for WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE?

Well, the song from which I took the title, of course, WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE, the gorgeous Ryan Adams composition, but as performed by The Coors with Bono. Other songs (among many, many, MANY):

Dreaming With a Broken Heart- John Mayer

Gravity- Sara Bareilles

Since I've Been Loving You- Corinne Bailey Rae

Little Wing- The Corrs feat. Ronny Wood

My Heart Was Home Again- Josh Groban

A Beautiful Mess- Jason Mraz


If WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of Soledad? Jonathan and Taz?

Well, for Soledad, I can easily see Naya Rivera who plays Santana on GLEE in the role of Soledad. I think she could portray the right combination of strength and vulnerability. Jonathan is really tough to cast, because it has to be someone who's physically very attractive, almost pretty-- sensitive, yet can turn on a dime, emotion-wise. I've loved Jackson Rathbone ever since I saw him in an episode of Criminal Minds, and he's certainly very pretty, but he's not quite as physically imposing as I see Jonathan in my mind's eye. Taz is maybe the easiest for me, in that I think Spanish actor Javier Beltrán would be absolutely perfect.


What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Dark, dark chocolate with an intense flavor yet is extremely rich and smooth. Boy that makes me sound egotistical, doesn't it? But it's more that really dark chocolate of that nature is not for everyone and I've come to the conclusion that's how I am. People either like me or they don't and that's okay. There are all kinds of chocolate for all kinds of palates. :)


The Freebie: To be entered to win a signed copy of WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE, leave a comment below, telling us - Have you ever seen Carmen performed? What did you think? OR Who is your favorite Drum/Bugle Corps and/or marching band?

(I'll go first - I have seen Carmen on stage and I adore the music, which is one reason why I can't wait to tear into this book - I've got the score running through my head whenever I think of it. AND favorite marching band... well, of course, Ohio State has the "best damn band in the land!" GO BUCKS! I'm also partial to Dublin Coffman HS Marching Band because they are phenomenal, and because my daughter spent three years in the flag corps with them.)

OK, your turn. Because this posted a day late, this drawing will remain open until Thursday, December 2.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Winner and What's Up This Week

And the winner of the $20 Amazon gift certificate is:

Shauna

Please send me a note at gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that sent out to you electronically - just in time for Black Friday!

Everyone else, please take a break from shopping to come on back for a special GCC interview and a chance to win WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE by Caridad Ferrer.

What's up this week?

For my US readers, Happy Thanksgiving!

Meg Cabot talks film (figment) What's it like when YA books are made into movies

Wimpy Kid is flying high (USA Today) Beats out President's memoir and floats in the Macy's Parade

If Dante Only Knew (Nathan Bransford) A laugh for my writing friends: Nine Circles of Writing Hell

Dogs get anxiety too (Hyperbole and a Half) A laugh for my dog loving friends

Freshman girls get the guys (Slate) Really? They had to study this? What high school girl doesn't already see this pattern?

Happy Release Week to: Jenny Davidson (INVISIBLE THINGS), Orson Scott Card (PATHFINDER), Caridad Ferrer (WHEN THE STARS GO BLUE), Esther Friesner (THREADS AND FLAMES), Travis Hunter (AT THE CROSSROADS), and Allyson Condie (MATCHED)!

This week's video link for HUNGER GAMES fans (have tissue ready):



Friday, November 19, 2010

FF - Cheesecake!

In keeping with my goal-setting (thanks again, everyone, for your suggestions), this week's post will have to be brief. For my US readers and me, next week is Thanksgiving. You wouldn't know it by looking at the stores - retail seems to jump straight from Halloween to Christmas. I always feel bad that Thanksgiving gets glossed over. Especially now, when it's so important to take the time out to remember all we have (even if it doesn't seem like much) and to give thanks.

We do the traditional Thanksgiving celebrating at my house, but with a few twists. For instance, we prefer Thanksgiving dinner in leftover format. I'd much rather set out the turkey and trimmings and pick at it all afternoon than to sit down to a "feast" and stuff myself. I've also never learned to like pumpkin pie (I love the smell of it and the flavor of it, but the texture creeps me out) so at our house, we have pumpkin cheesecake for dessert instead. For fun, I'm posting the recipe below.

Pumpkin Cheesecake:

Crust:
  • 1 cup graham cracker crumbs
  • 1/2 c. finely-chopped pecans
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon each: ginger, cinnamon
  • 6 tablespoons melted butter
Mix together and press into a 9" spring form pan. (Should cover bottom and a couple inches up the sides.) Bake at 350 degrees for five minutes. Cool.

Filling:

  • 3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon cloves
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
Blend together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add eggs, pumpkin, and spices and mix until creamy. Pour onto prepared crust in spring form pan and bake at 350 for one hour, or until the top of the cheesecake turns golden. Cool for about an hour and then wrap tightly and chill. Serve garnished with real whipped cream topped with a sprinkle of chopped pecans.


For this week's freebie, we have a $20 gift certificate to Amazon.com up for grabs. To be entered to win, leave a comment below with your favorite holiday tradition or recipe. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, November 24.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Winner and What's Up

And the winner of a signed copy of TRANCE and some yummy buckeyes to enjoy it with is...

Shauna

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that sent out to you. Everyone, thanks for your goal-setting advice. You'll be happy to know I'm pushing forward, with lists in hand and deadlines set, and renewed determination to accomplish everything I've set out to do. Rah! Rah!

What's up this week?

Nathan Bransford moves on. (galleycat) One of my favorite blogging agents will no longer be agenting. He's leaving Curtis Brown to join CNET, but assures his faithful followers that the blog and forums will continue. Wishing you the best of success, Nathan!

E-books are gaining ground. (mediabistro) (mediabistro) Sales for both paperbacks and hardcovers are down from this time last year. Panic! But wait, e-book sales are up. Way up. Up so much that the New York Times is now including a category on the bestsellers listing to include e-books. Maybe it's time I broke down and got an e-reader... Recommendations?

Crescendo rules!! (PW) Yay, Becca! Check it out - Crescendo is #2 on the best-seller list.
Woot! Woot!

Happy release week to: Elizabeth Chandler - THE BACK DOOR OF MIDNIGHT: DARK SECRETS,
David-Matthew Barnes -
MESMERIZED, Alyson Noel - NIGHT STAR: THE IMMORTALS, Jessica Burkhart -
SCANDALS, RUMORS, LIES: CANTERWOOD CREST, Robin Palmer - SEALED WITH A KISS: YOURS TRULY, LUCY B. PARKER, and Ann Rinaldi
THE LAST FULL MEASURE.

This week's video link for those of you racing through NaNoWriMo:



Friday, November 12, 2010

Winner and Freebie Friday

OK, so I lied. The extra day turned into two. I'm learning that this month is all about consolidation if I'm going to get everything I need to done.

So, finally, here is the winner of THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney:

April

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that sent out to you!

Meanwhile, with so much on my plate, I've been fairly obsessed with goals this month. I'm great at setting them. I'm not so great about meeting them. I haven't completely figured out the misfire between the two yet, but I think I'm getting close. My most obvious downfall is that the rest of my life doesn't always want to step out of the way to let me reach my goals easily and without obstacles. When I hit a roadblock, I tend to get fatalistic and I lose motivation because I'm convinced I can't reach my goals, given my setbacks.

And then I saw this video this week. It made me smile... and think:



Now here's a kid with an entire defensive line of obstacles, but he didn't let that stop him from reaching the goal line. He just had to think outside the norm and come up with an alternate way to get around them... and then didn't let anything stop him.

I think that might be the key.

Swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh says there's "nothing as powerful as the made-up mind." Maybe it's as simple as deciding that I'm going to meet my goals, visualizing me meeting them, and then doing whatever it takes to get there.

For this week's freebie, I am offering a signed copy of TRANCE and a box of peanut butter and chocolate Buckeyes (go Bucks!) to enjoy while reading. To be entered to win, leave a comment below, sharing some of your secrets for setting and meeting goals.

This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, November 17. You can count on it. This week, my mind's made up about that!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Extra Day!

I'm out to door for a school visit this morning and didn't have time to post beforehand, which means you get an extra day before the winner is drawn. See you tomorrow!

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

FF: THE MOCKINGBIRDS by Daisy Whitney

It's Friday!

Today I'm happy to welcome GCC sister Daisy Whitney, celebrating the release of her new book, THE MOCKINGBIRDS.

The author:

By day, Daisy Whitney is a producer, on-air correspondent, podcaster and expert in the new media business. At night, she writes novels for teens. When Daisy’s not inventing fictional high school worlds, she reports for Beet.TV, produces conferences for iMedia and provides strategy consulting to businesses on online video.

The book:

Some schools have honor codes.
Others have handbooks.
Themis Academy has the Mockingbirds.

Themis Academy is a quiet boarding school with an exceptional student body that the administration trusts to always behave the honorable way--the Themis Way. So when Alex is date raped during her junior year, she has two options: stay silent and hope someone helps her, or enlist the Mockingbirds--a secret society of students dedicated to righting the wrongs of their fellow peers.

The interview:

What inspired you to write THE MOCKINGBIRDS?

I’ve always been intrigued by boarding school and also by the potential teens have to take a stand for what’s important. THE MOCKINGBIRDS - an underground student-run justice system - was born from those twin thoughts as a way to look at what it takes to stand up for yourself and for others.

Have you ever had to speak up for yourself, even when it wasn't easy?

Yes. When I was date raped my freshman year of college I pressed charges at my university and that’s a big reason why I believe in the power of speaking up to heal.

If you could hang out with any literary character, who would you choose and why?

My fictional idol is Frankie Landau Banks in THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANK because she is a total kick-ass smart girl who challenges the system.

What songs would make the playlist for THE MOCKINGBIRDS?

The Ninth Symphony by Beethoven, Wake Up by Arcade Fire and Stop, Hey What’s That Sound by Buffalo Springfield.

What's one thing most people don't know about you?

Despite writing about fairly serious topics, I am a very happy go lucky person!

What's your favorite quote?

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit." -Aristotle

If THE MOCKINGBIRDS were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of ALEX?

I adore Emma Stone and think she has what it takes to play my main character!

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Dark chocolate with orange peels and earl grey flavoring.

The freebie:

To be entered to win a copy of THE MOCKINGBIRDS, leave a comment below telling us about the last time you had to stand up for yourself (or wish that you had!) This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, November 10.

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

The Agony and the Irony

... or how not to start National Novel Writing Month.

I've attempted to win at NaNoWriMo twice before, with the same sad results. I always start out with the best of intentions. I do all the prep work. I get excited. And then life happens and my word count suffers.

This year, I decided it was going to be different. Yes, I have book events and school visits scheduled. Yes, my dear husband has the travel schedule from Hell this month. But I figured out on paper that it was still possible to do this, so I sat my family down and explained we were headed into No Nonsense November (because, yanno, alliteration made it sound more serious.) Everyone had to pull their own weight. No messes would be tolerated. I would be unavailable for anything but the most dire emergencies.

And then.

The edit notes for the first two books in my middle grade series arrived. OK. Fine. No reason to dump the writing goals completely. I decided I could make this a sort of NaNoEdMo, and if I finished the edits quickly enough, I could dive into my new super sekrit project.

Just in time for the prep weekend, when my goal was to have all housework and laundry caught up so I could get lost in the intense writing on Monday, I strained my wrist at the gym lifting weights. I now sport a super-stylish wrist brace and I have to take frequent breaks from the computer when my wrist starts to ache. No biggie. I have pen and paper. When I can't type, I can write longhand.

Not satisfied with my continued drive, the Fates conspired, and this afternoon, whilst preparing my favorite gotta-have-it-when-I'm-writing drink (Diet Coke in a cup of crushed ice with a splash of Cherry Coke Zero and a squeeze of lime), I sliced my finger open. The irony is that I was just thinking as I pressed the blade to the skin of the lime that the knife was getting dull and I should probably sharpen in. I pressed harder. The knife slipped. It is not dull.

So I'm typing mostly one-handed now. The good thing is that the bleeding stopped before I passed out. (I hate the sight of my own blood.) Plus - bonus - my throbbing finger now distracts from my aching wrist.

It's all about the silver linings...

Happy goal-reaching this month, everyone!

P.S. If you haven't already - get out and vote!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Winner and What's Up

The winner of Denise Jaden's LOSING FAITH is:

*drumroll*

Amanda

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com.

This post is, unfortunately, cut short by a quick (non-life-threatening) emergency... but before I run...

Nanowrimo starts on Monday. Anyone here participating?

And for Halloween - this week's Video link: ( Go, Arty!)

Friday, October 22, 2010

FF - LOSING FAITH by Denise Jaden

I'm happy to welcome new GCC sister, Denise Jaden to the blog!

The author:
Denise lives just outside Vancouver, Canada. When she’ s not writing, she can often be found homeschooling her son or dancing with her Polynesian dance troupe. LOSING FAITH is her first novel.

The book:
When Brie's sister, Faith, dies suddenly, Brie's world falls apart. As she goes through the bizarre and devastating process of mourning the sister she never understood and barely even liked, everything in her life seems to spiral farther and farther off course. Her parents are a mess, her friends don't know how to treat her, and her perfect boyfriend suddenly seems anything but.

As Brie settles into her new normal, she encounters more questions than closure: Certain facts about the way Faith died just don't line up. Brie soon uncovers a dark and twisted secret about Faith's final night...a secret that puts her own life in danger.

VOYA calls LOSING FAITH "Strong in its characterization…satisfying…a thoughtful read.”

Check out her book trailer:


The interview:

What inspired you to write Losing Faith?
At first, I just knew I wanted to write a sister story. From there, I figured out that one of the sisters had a secret, and the secret would only be discovered after she died. I lost a close friend of mine when I was sixteen, and I've always felt there was a lot to explore with a teen experiencing such a big and devastating event

Are you afraid of heights like your main character, Brie?
Yes! Though not to the degree she is. At one point I had trained myself to almost get past that fear, but I'm afraid I haven't forced myself past my fear in a long time now, so it's back in full force!

Have you ever had a premonition? What happened?
Actually, just before I lost my friend when I was sixteen (who inspired Losing Faith), I had a strong feeling that something was wrong. Nothing happened as a result of the premonition, except perhaps I had emotionally prepared myself a little.

If you could hang out with any literary character, who would you choose and why?
I'd hang out with Wes from Sarah Dessen's THE TRUTH ABOUT FOREVER. Why? Um, because he's hot. And sweet. And introspective. I like those things in a guy!

Do you have any special writing rituals or totems to connect with your muse?
I don't know if this connects me with my muse, but I generally drink green tea and eat sugar snap peas when I write. I love to have something crunchy around when I'm in deep thought.

What's your favorite quote?
Fear ends where faith begins.

What are you working on now?
I'm working on another YA novel called Appetite For Beauty. It's about a cheeky and forthright girl who discovers a dangerous, self-destructive side in her sister, and has to decide between helping her sister and a powerful and unfamiliar desire to become appealing to a mysterious boy.

What kind of chocolate best describes you?
I think one of those layered bars would describe me. White, milk, dark - layers of all mixed together.

The Freebie:

For your chance to win a copy of LOSING FAITH, leave a comment below, telling us anything that includes the word FAITH in it (PG-13, please.) Because this book will be coming from the publisher, we must limit this drawing to US residents only. Winner will be drawn Wednesday, October 27.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Winners!

This will have to be quick because I'm on my way to the airport to fly back to Ohio today.

The winners of the signed TRANCE and name numbers reading are:

Meg
Lasha
Llehn

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com

What else is up this week?

Please check out Leave a Mark this week where TRANCE is the featured auction book. You could bid for a marked copy of TRANCE, and help Leave a Mark and firstbook.org supply books for kids in need.

The signing at Changing Hands bookstore was phenomenal. Thanks everyone for coming. Kari, it was great to meet you. Lisa McMann read from her upcoming book, CRYER'S CROSS (*shivers*) and gave us a sneak preview of her upcoming mid-grade series, THE UNWANTEDS (*more shivers*), Aprilynne Pike read from SPELLS and told us about the next book she just turned in, and I got to meet Tom Leveen, who attended the event, and grab his new book, PARTY.

Aaand... I'd list more, but I need to take off, so I'll just leave you with this week's video link, which isn't exactly new, but I can't get it out of my head!

Friday, October 15, 2010

FF - TRANCE

Happy day-after-TRANCE-release day!

Lots of celebrating still happening on this end.

Here's what's going on:

* Yay! TRANCE is now available at a bookstore near you!

***

* Yay! DEATH BY BIKINI and DEATH BY LATTE have just been nominated for the 2011 ALA Popular Paperback list.

***

* Yay! My niece Katie is getting married tomorrow. I'm in Arizona with family, getting ready for her reception noir.

***

* Yay! I'll be signing TRANCE at a book event in Tempe on Monday with Lisa McMann and Aprilynne Pike! (If you're in the area, please come! I'd love to meet you. It will be at Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S McClintock Drive, Tempe from 7-9 p.m.)

***

I'm so psyched, I feel like giving stuff away. Up for grabs this week are three signed copies of TRANCE, and your own, personal name numbers reading.

To enter:

* Leave a message below, telling me something you can celebrate this weekend.
* Check out your local bookstore and take a picture of TRANCE on the shelves. Send it to me.
* Invite your friends to participate in this drawing (make sure they tell me who sent them.)

You may earn one entry for each of the above. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, October 20.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

TRANCE is here! Winners!!!

TRANCE hits the shelves today!

Thanks, everyone, for helping me count down. Now let's celebrate by announcing the winners of the countdown contest:

The winner of a signed copy of NEED by Carrie Jones is:

Amanda

The winner of the Japanese yukata is:

Anette

The winner of the supernatural book basket is:

Brenda Jean


The winner of the coveted Penguin Five collector box is:

Kristen


The winner of the Check it out - Vivavox USA Fun with Photos kit is :

Karen S Scott


And the winner of the Sony Cybershot Camera is:

ChelleyReads

Congratulations to the winners! Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (@) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get those sent out to you.

Everyone else, check back tomorrow... Three readers will win a signed copy of TRANCE and their own name numbers reading.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Party with Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Our final party girl is Jen Lynn Barnes

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

The low down on her latest book, RAISED BY WOLVES:

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it. That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two.

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian'
s basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

Her numbers:

Your compound value numbers are 11, 14, 18 and 16.

Eleven, is a master number. It is associated with wisdom, and exists on the highest plane of intellect and spirituality. Elevens are altruistic, sensitive, artistic, visionary, idealistic, have a sense of community. Eleven can also be a warning of hidden dangers, treachery from others, or a person who has a great deal to contend with.

Fourteen holds a strong element of risk attached to it, usually caused by the actions and foolhardiness of others.

Sixteen gives warning of danger of accidents and defeat of one's plans. It should be carefully noted and plans made in advance to avert its fatalistic tendency. Sixteens should trust their intuition to avoid hardship.

Eighteen is an ambiguous number. It can be a warning of materialism striving to destroy the spiritual side of nature, but it can also indicate counsel and the promise of being led in the right direction if one listens to the guidance they are given.

The number seven indicates someone who is intuitive and introspective, philosophical and spiritual. They will seek answers about their existence and things unseen. Sevens are happiest near water. They can be witty and composed in front of large groups. They often have terrific imaginations and make good entertainers, actors and writers

And her response:

Wow! According to this, my future sounds pretty dicey--full of risk, danger, defeat, and warning. I'm *hoping* that side of things isn't true (it certainly doesn't bode well for the book I have due in three weeks!), but the other descriptions sound pretty accurate--I'd say that idealistic and sensitive (11) are a pretty good fit, and my favorite place in the world is a lake near my parents house, so it's also fair to say I'm pretty happy around water (7). And coming off of tour, I can also say that I am comfortable performing in front of large crowds (I find mingling infinitely more terrifying than standing up on a stage talking).

That said, there's a lot of my personality that didn't show up in my numbers! I'm as much of a scientist as I am an artist and tend to think of things (even creative ones) in really analytical ways--I think I rely on facts more often than intuition!

Today's daily giveaway is a signed copy of NEED. Reminder - comment on any of the party posts to earn an entry toward the grand prizes to be announced TOMORROW. RELEASE DAY!!! Yay!

Party with Marsha Skrypuch

Welcome Marsha Skrypuch to the party!

Marsha has been a friend and mentor for over a decade. She's actually the one who gave me the lead that led to my first book. Marsha is the award-winning author of a dozen books for children and young adults. She has a passion for writing about the bits of history that have been shoved under the carpet. As of 2009, she has written five novels set during the Armenian genocide -- more than any other author in the English speaking world. She also wrote Enough, the first commercially published children's book set during the Holodomor (Stalin-induced famine in Ukraine). Enough had been turned down by many publishers who considered the topic too "controversial" for children, but it was published in 2000 by Fitzhenry & Whiteside and is still popular nine years later. When it came out, Marsha received hate mail and death threats. In May 2008, President Victor Yuschchenko of Ukraine bestowed upon Marsha the Order of Princess Olha for her championing of the Holodomor. Her latest book, STOLEN CHILD, looks at the Nazi era and World War II.

Here's the lowdown on STOLEN CHILD:

They call her the “Hitler Girl” . . .

Stolen from her family by the Nazis, Nadia is a young girl who tries to make sense of her confusing memories and haunting dreams. Bit by bit she starts to uncover the truth — that the German family she grew up with, the woman who calls herself Nadia’s mother, are not who they say they are. Beyond her privileged German childhood, Nadia unearths memories of a woman singing her a lullaby, while the taste of gingersnap cookies brings her back to a strangely familiar, yet unknown, past. Piece by piece, Nadia comes to realize who her real family was. But where are they now? What became of them? And what is her real name? This story of a Lebensborn girl — a child kidnapped for her “Aryan looks” by the Nazis in their frenzy to build a master race — reveals one child’s fierce determination
to uncover her past against incredible odds.

Marsha's Numbers and her Response:

Your compound number values are sixteen, thirty, and ten.

Ten is a number of honor, of faith and of self-confidence. Ten is a fortunate number that indicates that one’s plans are likely to be carried out – however, it is symbolized by the wheel of fortune, whi

ch can signal a rise and fall in success.

Honor, faith? Sure. Self-confidence? Not so much. And that wheel of fortune I sure do agree with. The ups and downs of being an author are completely unpredictable.

Sixteen is a warning to guard against the defeat of one's plans. It should be carefully noted and plans made in advance to avert its fatalistic tendency. Sixteens should trust their intuition to avoid hardship.

This fits well. I write about those bits of history that many would rather stay shoved under the carpet. Being the genocide queen of YA lit means getting my share of hate mail and death threats.

Thirty is a number of thoughtful deduction, incisive thinking, retrospection, and mental superiority. A person with this vibration often chooses to put all material things to the side. It can be a powerful or indifferent vibration, depending on the mental outlook of the person it represents.


If this means that I am entirely oblivious to the material world when I'm plunged in the midst of writing, it fits.

Your name number vibration is one

The number one indicates someone who is creative, independent, original, individual. Ones are good self-starters and natural leaders. Ones show interest in the arts, such as singing, acting, writing, painting, and love to curl up with a good book.


That sounds great! (except for the singing)

Today's daily giveaway is a signed copy of NEED by Carrie Jones.

Winner and Party with Carrie Jones!

The lucky winner of IMPOSSIBLE by Nancy Werlin is...

Mrs. DeRaps

Please send your mailing instructions to gerb (a) lindagerber (.) com and we'll get that sent out to you.

Meanwhile, welcome party girl and GCC sister Carrie Jones to the blog!

Carrie is the award-winning author of fabulous YA books. She loves skinny cow fudgsicles, although she can't spell fudgsicle, and cowboy hats, although she doesn't own one. She graduated from Vermont College’s MFA program for writing. She has edited newspapers and poetry journals and has recently won awards from the Maine Press Association and also been awarded the Martin Dibner Fellowship as well as a Maine Literary Award. These are only a few of the reasons why Carrie is made of awesome. Her best-known work so far is the NEED series, which so far includes NEED, CAPTIVATE, and ENTICE in December.

Here's the story of NEED:

Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

Carrie's Numbers:

Your compound vibration numbers are fourteen and twenty-one.

Fourteen is associated with movement, creativity, and changes. It holds a strong element of risk attached to it, usually caused by the actions and foolhardiness of others.

Twenty-one is a number of ad­vancement, honors, and general success, but victory generally comes after long initiation and tests of determination.

Your name number vibration is eight, which indicates someone with good judgment. Eight is an eternal number that indicates divine balance, although eights may have relationship issues because what they show on the outside doesn't always match what's inside.

And her response:

It's actually kind of weird, Linda, because I always get 22. Hm..... Cool.

Well, as a writer I get VERY bored, VERY easily, so 14 and its emphasis on change is pretty appropriate. I wrote NEED as an experiment because I wanted to see if there was a change I could make in my writing and become more plot-oriented. And since that's become pretty successful, I'm happy about change. This time I think it was my own foolhardiness though. ;)

21 sounds nice, except for that longggggg initiation. I hope it's almost over. ;)

8 is such a lovely number. And it is absolutely true about me. I'm not quite as giddy-happy as I appear!


Today's daily giveaway is a signed copy of NEED!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Party with Jeri Smith-Ready

Welcome party girl Jeri Smith-Ready to the blog!

I first met Jeri at the Teen Author Carnival in May, where we sat on a panel together. She's as beautiful in person as she looks online. She an award-winning author, and lives in Maryland with her husband, two cats, and the world’s goofiest greyhound. Jeri's plans to save the earth were ruined when she realized she was more of a “problem maker” than a problem solver. To stay out of trouble, she keeps her Drama Drive strictly fictional. Her friends and family appreciate that. When not writing, Jeri she can usually be found—well, thinking about writing, or on Twitter. Like her characters, she loves music, movies, and staying up very, very late.

Here's the lowdown on SHADE:

Love ties them together.

Death can't tear them apart.

Best. Birthday. Ever. At least, it was supposed to be. With Logan's band playing a critical gig and Aura's plans for an intimate after-party, Aura knows it will be the most memorable night of her boyfriend's life. She never thought it would be his last.

Logan's sudden death leaves Aura devastated. He's gone.

Well, sort of.

Like everyone born after the Shift, Aura can see and hear ghosts. This mysterious ability has always been annoying, and Aura had wanted nothing more than to figure out why the Shift happened so she can undo it. But not with Logan’s violet-hued spirit still hanging around. Because dead Logan is almost as real as ever. Almost.

It doesn't help that Aura’s new friend Zachary is so understanding—and so very alive. His support means more to Aura than she cares to admit.

As Aura's relationships with the dead and the living grow ever complicated, so do her feelings for Logan and Zachary. Each holds a piece of Aura's heart…and clues to the secret of the Shift.


Jeri's number reading and response:

Your compound vibration numbers are 17, 13 and 21.

*Thirteen* is a number indicating change of plans, direction or place.
It is a warning of the unexpected or the unknown, although the changes
can very well be positive. Some ancient writings claim, "He who
understands the number 13 will be given power and dominion".
Individuals with this vibration should take care, however – wrongly
used, the power can cause destruction to oneself.

Thirteen! I love that number, because I'm anti-superstitious (I also love black cats). When I hear "unexpected change and unknown," I get very excited. Fingers crossed it means a trip to Europe. ;-)

*Seventeen* is known as the Star of the Magi. It is a highly spiritual

number and indicates that the person it represents will rise with
superior spirit to the challenge of trials and difficulties early in
life. Seventeen is also considered the number of immortality and
indicates that the persons name will live after her.

Hmm, I don't remember huge trials and difficulties early on (I had a very happy childhood, although I did have a serious illness when I was 3). As for immortality, I would love it if people were still reading my books long after I've left this world. Or, you know, next year.

*Twenty-one* can be a number of ad­vancement, honors, and general

success, but victory generally comes after long initiation and tests
of determination.

Haha! Well, I've had eight books published over the course of ten years, and had many rejections along the way, so I think that counts as a long initiation. What do I win?

The number *three* indicates someone who is artistic, social,
friendly, and in some cases, wasteful. Threes tend to be creative,
sensitive, ambitious and intuitive.

Artistic? Check. Social? Check (anyone who follows me on Twitter knows). Friendly? Check.

Wasteful? Umm, okay, who's been looking in the vegetable drawer of my fridge?

You can read more about Jeri at jerismithready.com

Today's daily giveaway is a signed copy of NEED by Carrie Jones.