SMALL TOWN SINNERS winner & More Links!

Thanks to everyone who shared their struggles in the comments. I don't know about anyone else, but for me it helps to know I'm not the only one who gets her boat rocked from time to time. SMALL TOWN SINNERS is especially for us! But, alas, only one winner, so here we go...

*drumroll* The winner is.... *drumroll*

Tiff

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

Meanwhile, I promised more links to go with this week's Tip with Jennifer Echols. To make it easier for everyone to follow them, I have edited yesterday's post to add the links here.

Have a great Wednesday!

FF - Possession by Elana Johnson

Just in time for your Independence Day weekend - Freebie Friday returns with Elana Johnson and her newly-released YA dystopian, POSSESSION.

Elana is a GCC sister with a unique vision of the perfect world. (In her world, Oreos and bacon would be the only food groups. Everyone would drive 10 over the speed limit. Winter would be eliminated as a season. She would have the ability to experience her first kiss again, tell the mean girl where to shove it, and have cool superpowers like mind reading and controlling fire.) She lives and writes in central Utah with her husband and two kids.

You can find her online on her website, on facebook, by following her on twitter, reading her blog, and catching her on the league of extraordinary writers.

Here's the official blurb for POSSESSION:

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don’t walk with boys, and they never even think about kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn…and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi’s future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself. But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they’re set on convincing Vi to become one of them….starting by brainwashed Zenn. Vi can’t leave Zenn in the Thinkers’ hands, but she’s wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous: everything Zenn’s not. Vi can’t quite trust Jag and can’t quite resist him, but she also can’t give up on Zenn. This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

What people are saying about POSSESSION:

"...countless moments of 'Wow.'" --James Dashner, bestselling author of The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials "...very nice balance between badass action and romantic tension for readers who like a good mix of the two." --MTV.com “... a dark twist ending that maintains the faintest glimmer of hope.” --Publisher's Weekly "This debut dystopian succeeds at suspense and tension.... Revelations come hard and fast." --Kirkus “... heroic adventure turns into a tragic love story.” –School Library Journal "...intriguing distopia." --Booklist

The Interview:

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

I attended four universities/colleges before I graduated from Southern Utah University with a BS in Elementary Education and a minor in Mathematics. Doesn’t sound like what a writer would do, does it?

What's your favorite quote?

“Never give up! Never surrender!” ~Galaxy Quest

What is an interesting writing quirk of yours?

I don’t write in order, and I don’t outline. I simply open a document and start pouring words into it.

If POSSESSION were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of Vi? Jag?

Well, Vi is harder, because she’s got a particular look in my head. But Jag could easily be played by David Henrie from Wizards of Waverly Place.

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Semi-sweet. I’m the best of both worlds, baby. Ha!

What are you working on now?

I’m currently stewing over a contemporary novel that takes place in an industrial sized elevator. It’s giving me fits, but I’ll figure it out.

The Freebie:

* a $10 Amazon gift certificate, perfect for ordering your copy of POSSESSION, or downloading the e-book.

* POSSESSION swag, bookmarks, stickers, etc.

To be entered to win, leave a comment below, telling us one feature of your perfect world. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, July 6.

Freebie Friday - Spring Break Edition

Before we talk about this week's freebie, I want to give a shout out to some of my writer friends along with some well-deserved congratulations:

To Sarah Bennett-Wealer: Her book RIVAL was listed in the April/May issue of Girl's Life magazine as a "must read". Yay, Sarah!

You can read about Sarah, her writing journey, process, characters, etc. on Sara Zarr's blog this week--and even enter to win a copy of RIVAL!--HERE.

To Lenore Appelhans: She just made her first sale!!! YAY!!! Her YA novel, LEVEL TWO just sold to Simon and Schuster and CBS Films at the same time! You can read the official announcement HERE.

Lenore is a book blogger extraordinaire and one of the sincerely nicest people around. Huge congratulations to Lenore!

To Nancy Herriman: Another first sale! Her inspirational, THE IRISH HEALER, will come out spring, 2012!! Nancy's a local writing pal and a beautiful songstress. Congratulations, Nancy!!!

Oh... more good news!

Edited to add:

To Simone Elkeles: Her book, RULES OF ATTRACTION is a finalist for the RWA RITA award in the Best YA Romance category. Yay, Simone! (I love any excuse to post this awesome cover again.)

ALSO

DEAR BULLY is up in the Harper Collins catalog. Here's the final cover art. I'm so honored to be a part of this anthology and I'll be talking a lot more about it, and about bullying, as we get closer to the August release date.

And now, for your spring break reading pleasure... it's Spring Cleaning Time at my house, which means I have to part with some of my favorite books to make room for my TBR pile. This week's choices are:

CRYER'S CROSS by Lisa McMann

Here's the official blurb:

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer¹s Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind.

But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico.

Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried....

UNEARTHLY by Cynthia Hand

The offical blurb:

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.

Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

As Clara tries to find her way in a world she no longer understands, she encounters unseen dangers and choices she never thought she'd have to make—between honesty and deceit, love and duty, good and evil. When the fire from her vision finally ignites, will Clara be ready to face her destiny?

UNEARTHLY is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

THE IRON DAUGHTER by Julie Kagawa

Official Blurb:

Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.

Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

To be entered to win, leave a message below, telling me about your spring break plans. Be sure to include which book you would like to win and why. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, March 30.

FF - RIVAL by Sara Bennett Wealer

The Author:

Sara Bennett Wealer grew up in Manhattan, Kansas (the “Little Apple”), where she sang with the choir and wrote for her high school newspaper. She majored in vocal performance at the University of Kansas before deciding she had no business trying to make a career as an opera singer. She transferred to journalism school, where nobody cares if you can hit a high C or convincingly portray a Valkyrie.

Sara now lives in Cincinnati with her husband and daughters, and she still sings when her schedule allows—most recently with the May Festival Chorus, the official choir of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

You can find Sara online at her website, on her blog, on facebook, or on twitter.

The Book:

What if your worst enemy turned out to be the best friend you ever had?

Meet Brooke: Popular, powerful and hating every minute of it, she’s the “It” girl at Douglas High in Lake Champion, Minnesota. Her real ambition? Using her operatic mezzo as a ticket back to NYC, where her family lived before her dad ran off with an up and coming male movie star.

Now meet Kathryn: An overachieving soprano with an underachieving savings account, she’s been a leper ever since Brooke punched her at a party junior year. For Kath, music is the key to a much-needed college scholarship.

The stage is set for a high-stakes duet between the two seniors as they prepare for the prestigious Blackmore competition. Brooke and Kathryn work toward the Blackmore with eyes not just on first prize but on one another, each still stinging from a past that started with friendship and ended in betrayal. With competition day nearing, Brooke dreams of escaping the in-crowd for life as a professional singer, but her scheming BFF Chloe has other plans. And when Kathryn gets an unlikely invitation to Homecoming, she suspects Brooke of trying to sabotage her with one last public humiliation.

As pressures mount, Brooke starts to sense that the person she hates most might just be the best friend she ever had. But Kathryn has a decision to make. Can she forgive? Or are some rivalries for life?

Kirkus calls RIVAL "Glee, only with chamber music."

The Interview:

Have you ever been in a fierce musical rivalry?

Sure! I feel like I've been in a few over the years. The arts can be competitive, even at a school or amateur level, so you're always looking sideways at someone. Even if you don't have an all-out "enemy" rival, you're keeping tabs on how everybody else is doing and hoping they don't show you up. It's not *always* like that, but it took me years of singing actively before I could just relax and appreciate someone else's gifts without comparing to my own By that point I was just singing for fun.

What excites you?

Right now, it's having time to myself - time to write, time to sleep, time to shop and read. I'm a working mom with a busy husband, so time away is precious. At the moment, peace and quiet really excite me!

What turns you off?

Unnecessary drama. I figure life will create enough crazy business without people dragging me into theirs. I'm a big fan of "saving the drama for your mama."

What is an average writing day like for you?

Do day job, take care of family, put children in bed, sit down at computer and write or edit until midnight. Lather, rinse, repeat.

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

Nope. My muse only visits when she knows I'm doing the gruntwork. She doesn't like rituals or incantations or scented candles, she just wants to see sweat on my brow.

If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?

I have a list of favorite people I'd like to hang out with. They include Steve Martin, Dolly Parton, Edith Wharton, Tori Amos and Julie Andrews. Wouldn't that be an interesting retreat?

What songs would make the playlist for RIVAL?

I've got a playlist for RIVAL right here! http://www.sarabennettwealer.com/rival_playlist.shtml

If RIVAL were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of Brooke? Catherine? Chloe?

That's hard, because I would want to see actresses who could really sing. I don't like when movies cast a superstar then get a double to do the singing/dancing/etc. I don't know any big names right now who sing opera, so maybe they could do a talent search for Brooke and Kathryn. As for Chloe, there's a Disney Channel actress named Bridgit Mendler who I find kind of interesting. I'd love to see what she'd do with the part.

What are you working on now?

My new project is a blend of contemporary and supernatural - hard to describe in just a few words, but if you saw it, you'd get it. Unfortunately, it's way too early to share! :-(

The Freebie:

To be entered to win a signed copy of RIVAL, leave a comment below, telling us about your greatest rivalry. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, February 23.

FF - More Leading Men

For bookish valentines... we continue celebrating the best of YA's leading men. Today's freebie will be your choice of one of the following books:

VAMPIRE ACADEMY, book 1 by Richelle Mead
Favorite leading man - Dimitri Belikov. What's not to love about his Russian accent and love of western novels?



HUSH HUSH, by Becca Fitzpatrick
Favorite leading man - Patch Cipriano. Patch is a fallen angel who could become human by offering Nora as a sacrifice - which would be so much easier if he wasn't falling in love with her.



SHIVER by Maggie Stiefvater
Favorite leading man - Sam Roth. Sam reads poetry and writes songs and loves Grace with all his heart. Sigh. Sadly he is also a wolf.



To be entered to win, leave a comment below telling me which book and leading man you love best, and why. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, February 16.

FF- Leading Men Double Header

In honor of Valentine's month... leading men!

The Guys:

Seth Mulo (represented here by Tyler Posey), leading man in THE DEATH BY BIKINI MYSTERIES, was a regular high school student in his former life. He played football and served on the student council. Now he and his family are on the run.

Jake Anderson (represented here by Darren Criss), leading man in TRANCE, works at a boring music store in the mall, but he'd rather be out riding his classic Indian motorcycle or playing his guitar.

The Books:

THE DEATH BY BIKINI MYSTERIES

Aphra Connolly was living a quiet, teenaged life. But that was before devastatingly handsome Seth Mulo turned up at her family's island resort. And that was before a girl-the strings of her bikini top tight around her neck-was discovered dead on the beach. Without warning, Aphra is plunged into a vast conspiracy that takes her from Seattle to Paris to Italy. And, in the end, Aphra and Seth will be lucky to escape with their lives-and hearts-intact.

DEATH BY BIKINI was selected as an ALA 2011 Popular Paperback. Booklist calls DEATH BY BIKINI "Heart-pounding" filled with "taut suspense."

TRANCE

Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what’s to come -a trance. She’s pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she’s never been able to stop it-not even when the vision was of her mother’s fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn’s life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it’s up to her to save Jake from near-certain death.

TRANCE has been named a Junior Library Guild Selection. Booklist calls TRANCE a "well-written" paranormal thriller.

The Interviews:

How did you first meet your leading lady?

Seth: The first time I saw Aphra was in the Plantation House at her dad's private resort. I didn't officially meet her, though, until later on the beach when I dove into the surf to save her from drowning. And then she ended up saving me.

Jake: I first met Ashlyn at the mall where we both worked. She looked like she was having a rough night - she was pretty spaced out for a while, and I saw her outside crying when I left the mall, so I stopped to see if there was anything I could do to help.

Are you superstitious in any way?

Seth: Not really. I figure my real life demons are bad enough without inventing new ones.

Jake: I wasn't superstitious either, until all the weird stuff that went down with Ashlyn and the numbers and her trances. Now I'm not so sure.

Describe your idea of the perfect date:

Seth: Swimming at the beach in the moonlight. Just Aphra and me, like the day we first met - only now there wouldn't be any secrets between us.

Jake: Already happened the day Ashlyn met me at the park. We played on the swings like little kids, shot hoops for a while, and then I played my guitar for her as the sun set.

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

Seth: I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.

Jake: There's a reason why people don't the thing they don't know, so I'm not going to spill it here.

If you could invite one person to hang out with you on a deserted island, who would it be?

Seth: Aphra. Duh.

Jake: Ashlyn, of course.

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Seth: Who makes up these questions? What's with the chocolate?

Jake: It's a girl thing. Just say dark. They like that.

Seth: Dark? Why?

Jake: It's a metaphor. Just go with it.


The freebie:

To be entered to win a signed copy of THE DEATH BY BIKINI MYSTERIES and a signed copy of TRANCE, leave a message below, describing your idea of the perfect date. This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, February 9.

FF - HEAD GAMES by Keri Mikulski

The Author:

Keri Mikulski writes about female athletes from an insider's perspective. She was a three-sport athlete in high school and two-sport athlete in college. Her experience brings authenticity to her YA novels, including her latest release, HEAD GAMES, a PRETTY TOUGH novel. Besides writing books, Keri teaches middle school, high school, and college level creative writing courses and workshops. She lives at the Jersey Shore with her family.
You can find Keri online at her website, on facebook, or by following her on twitter.

The Book:

Taylor Thomas is a total all-star on the court. Off-court, not so much. She may be model-tall, gorgeous and quite a catch, but try telling her that. With a showcase game and playoffs fast approaching, Taylor’s basketball career is totally on the line. She doesn’t know which way to turn first when her BFF ropes her into a fashion show and she finds herself torn between Zach, the super-tall, super-off limits basketball star and Matt, the super-sweet guy from her English class. Can Taylor stop her head from spinning long enough to strike a pose, land the boy of her dreams, and win the game?

Check out the book trailer here.


The Interview:

What inspired you to write HEAD GAMES?

About three years ago, a local high school basketball player was tearing up the courts and receiving a ton of praise with regards to both her attitude and athletic ability. She was the inspiration to create the main character, Taylor Thomas.

How is Taylor's character like you? How is she not like you?

I’m definitely somewhat of a people pleaser like Taylor. But, Taylor takes it to the extreme. Also, I played basketball in high school, but Taylor is way better than I ever was.

Have you ever had a premonition? What happened?

Actually, I’ve had a ton of premonitions over the years. One that sticks out in my mind is one that I had when I was pregnant with my daughter. Exactly a week before she was born, I was hit with this overwhelming feeling while scraping my plate after dinner that she would be in my arms in exactly one week. I was right. Weird.

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

Hmm… Tough question. Probably Jessica Darling from Megan McCafferty’s series. She’s hilarious, fun, and unpredictable. Plus, she lives in New Jersey. I wouldn’t have to travel far.

What's your favorite sport to play? Watch? Read about? Write about?

Favorite Sport to Play – soccer
Favorite Sport to Watch – baseball and softball
Favorite Sport to Read About – wrestling

Favorite Sport to Write About - softball

Are you superstitious in any way?

I’m extremely superstitious. At one point during my athletic career, I used the same softball glove for twelve years because I believed it was lucky.

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

Nope. My brain is always swirling.

What songs would make the playlist for HEAD GAMES?

1. Taylor Swift’s You Belong With Me

2. LMAFO’s Shot

3. Katy Perry’s Hot and Cold

4. Taylor Swift’s Fifteen

5. Queen’s We Are the Champions

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

I’ve always been weirdly attracted to wrestlers and MMA fighters. In fact, I’ve only dated wrestlers and I married an ex-wrestler, who is now a wrestling coach.

What's your favorite quote?

Just Do it – Nike

What are you working on now?

I’m reading and researching to prepare for the next book in the series.

What is an interesting writing quirk of yours?

Before I sit down to write, I have to eat a piece of dark chocolate.

If HEAD GAMES were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of Taylor? Hannah? How about Zach? Matt?

Taylor – Miranda Cosgrove or Taylor Swift (with brown hair)

Hannah – Aly Michalka

Zach – Chase Crawford

Matt – Taylor Lautner

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Hmm… I guess a hug.. I like hugs.

The Freebie:

To be entered to win a signed copy of HEAD GAMES, leave a comment telling us about your favorite sport. This drawing will be open until Wednesday, February 2.

FF - JIMMY STONE'S GHOST TOWN by Scott Neumyer

The Author:

Debut MG author Scott Neumyer lives in New Jersey with his wife and daughter. He's not only a writer, but also a publicist and a photographer. He also worked as a Media Buyer for a major national film distributor. Scott has appeared in Wanted Undead or Alive: Vampire Hunters and Other Kick-Ass Enemies of Evil (Citadel Press August 2010), and has been published online and in print in such magazines such as McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Pindeldyboz, and Hobart Pulp.
You can read more about Scott on his website, on the Jimmy Stone website, on twitter, and on facebook.

The Book:

For Jimmy Stone, life in "Boredsylvania" has been pretty tough. His mom's died, his dad's completely checked out, and he spends his days running from the Coogan Boys, the local bullies. It isn't long, however, before "Boredsylvania" gets a lot more exciting. With his new friend, David and his dog, Trex, by his side, Jimmy discovers that the woods beyond his backyard hold the key to a world he could never even imagine. Soon, he ends up in Ghost Town, where he’s greeted by his ghost guide, Gasp, and receives an ominous prophecy.

“Seven things you must find.
One thing for each day.
Seven things you must find.
Or else they all will pay!"

Suddenly Ghost Town becomes as scary as it sounds, and Jimmy Stone realizes that he's in way over his head.

“Ghost towns are fraught with danger, but Neumyer makes them irresistibly appealing."—Lara Zielin, author of DONUT DAYS and THE IMPLOSION OF AGGIE WINCHESTER

The Interview:

What inspired you to write Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town?

I've told this story before, but I think it's a really good so I'll tell it again. Jimmy Stone’s Ghost Town really grew out of my desire to write something that I would have wanted to read as a young boy in 5th or 6th grade. I wanted to write a story that Jimmy himself would dig. I was inspired by so many of the books that I read and loved at that age. Things like Hatchet, My Side of the Mountain, The Never Ending Story, and How To Eat Fried Worms. I haven’t found a lot of stories like that for young boys and girls in the past few years, so I set out to maybe write something that could appeal to that group. When it really comes down to it, I wanted the book to be a fun, quick adventure with some actual emotion. I hope that’s what I’ve created anyway.

Have you ever been targeted by bullies?

I think we all have at some point, right? Maybe not by a group of bullies like The Coogan Boys (in the book), but at least by one or two individuals at various times in your youth. I was lucky, though. I had a great experience in school and I really enjoyed it. Sure, there were a few times where I was bullied and I got in a few fights but it was all your typical grade-school stuff. I was pretty popular and well-liked so it wasn't too bad. I think we can all agree, however, that bullies suck. Do you hear me bullies? Cut it out! Grow up! :)

Are you superstitious in any way?

Oh, definitely! I'm not sure if it's more superstition or OCD though. I am about as OCD as they come. I have to put on my shoes in a certain order. I have to put on my coat over a specific arm first. In college, I actually remember drawing lines on my desk around my keyboard so I would know exactly where it goes if it got moved. In high school, playing sports, I had all kinds of superstitions that involved haircuts and hats and all different weird things. Thankfully, my wife has done a pretty good job of breaking me of my major OCD habits, but I'm still hanging onto a few.

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

I think it changes for just about every writing project, but for Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town it was very specific. When I wasn't sneaking in some moments writing in my notebook with a pen, it was always writing at night with a hot mug of Organic Rooibos Tea. I know there were plenty of times I literally fell asleep with the laptop on my lap. That's why we must all revise. Ha!

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

Most people might know that not only am I a writer, but I'm also a photographer and publicist! I've been doing photography forever (I have the first camera my father ever gave me tattooed on my right wrist), and my day job is in online publicity. I'm a Publicist at Click Communications and it's just about the best job you could ever ask for. People always ask me "if you make it big will you quit your day job?" And I always say "Nooooo! I love my day job!"

What are you working on now?

The first question I usually get when people get the end of Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town is "when do I get to read the next one?" so, of course, I'm hard at work on the next Jimmy Stone book. I'm also working on a YA that I've had percolating for ages. Oh, and chasing my two-year-old around everywhere is pretty much another full time job.

If Jimmy Stone's Ghost Town were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the role of Jimmy? David? How about Gasp?

Great question! I think, for Jimmy, I'd love to see Zachary Gordon from the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie play the part. I assume you mean current actors. In my head though, I really see Jimmy as a young Wil Wheaton. Think Stand By Me. David would be played by Freddie Highmore. Mostly because I love his work in The Spiderwick Chronicles adaptation and he could play slightly older and more confident than Jimmy. Gasp is a tough one, but I think it would be cool to see a motion-capture version of the character (think Zemeckis style animation like in The Polar Express and A Christmas Carol) with the voice acted by Peter Coyote (only with a little more youth in it). Haha!

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

Well, I'd say White Chocolate because I love it, but apparently that's not even real chocolate. So I'm going to say good old Milk Chocolate. I mean, who doesn't love milk chocolate?

The Freebie:

To be entered to win an e-copy of JIMMY STONE'S GHOST TOWN, leave a message below, telling us... do you believe in ghosts? Why or why not? This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, January 26th.

FF - DEADLY LITTLE GAMES by Laurie Stolarz

The Author:

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, DEADLY LITTLE LIES, DEADLY LITTLE GAMES, and the upcoming DEADLY LITTLE VOICES, as well as PROJECT 17, BLEED, and the bestselling BLUE IS FOR NIGHTMARES series. Laurie was born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, attended Merrimack College, and received an MFA in creative writing from Emerson College in Boston. She loves Indian food, vegetarian cooking, aromatherapy, and The Black Eyed Peas.
You can read more about Laurie on her website, on her blog, or by following her on facebook and twitter.

The Book:

High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia’s gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn’t yet comprehend. Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben’s past, is drawn into a puzzle he can’t solve. . . and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games, who can be trusted?

TeenReads calls Laurie "a master creator of suspense and romance." TeenReadsToo agrees, and says the books are a "must-read for fans of romance, suspense, and mystery." Kirkus Reviews called DEADLY LITTLE LIES's romance and suspense "a winning combination." The books have been honored with several awards and selections such as the ALA 2010 and 2011 Reluctant Reader Quick Pick nominee, CBC 2010 Teen Choice Book of the Year nominee, and Teen Reads Too Gold Star Award winner.

The Interview:

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

Yes, they were done by the fabulous and talented Linda Gerber and it was fascinating and eerily accurate.

Are you superstitious in any way?

Yes, people have to leave my house the same way they came in, i.e. through the same doorway or entryway. If not, it takes the luck out of the house. I grew up with this superstition. I was also taught that birds in the house – either real or fake (including pictures of them) – is considered bad luck.

What inspired you to write THE TOUCH SERIES?

I wanted to write a story where the main character has to struggle with the idea of falling in love with someone who could potentially be dangerous. I tinkered with this concept in the first three books of my Blue is for Nightmares Series [(Blue is for Nightmares (Llewellyn 2003), White is for Magic (Llewellyn 2004), and Silver is for Secrets (Llewellyn 2005), as well as in Bleed (Hyperion 2006)]. In Bleed, in particular, there’s a young male character who was convicted for the murder of his girlfriend. His next relationship consists of pen pal letters he exchanges with a young girl while he’s in prison. Without giving too much away, the relationship is briefly pursued once he is released, but I wanted to bring this concept to another level.

Additionally, I wanted to continue experimenting with the supernatural (which I also use in my Blue is for Nightmares Series as well as in Project 17), showing how we all have our own inner senses and intuition, and how with work we can tap into those senses and make them stronger.

I started researching different types of supernatural powers and discovered the power of psychometry (the ability to sense things through touch). The concept fascinated me, and so I wanted to bring it out in a character, showing how sometimes even the most extraordinary powers can also be a curse.

Lastly, I wanted to apply these concepts to be part of a series. I love the idea of growing a main character over the course of several books.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?

No, though sometimes I’ll steal a character quirk from people I’ve known. For example, in the Blue is for Nightmares series, Amber carries around a pair of chopsticks for whenever she’s eating out. I once knew someone who did that.

What excites you?

Feeling like I’ve made a difference. Seeing people happy. Hearing success stories and stories of triumph.

What turns you off?

Narrow-mindedness, intolerance, ignorance, cruelty.

If you could invite anyone you wanted - living or dead - to hang out with you at a weekend retreat, who would you invite and why?

Gary Zukav. I find his insights and perspective on life fascinating.

What's your favorite quote?

Perseverance is key.

The Freebie:

To be entered to win a copy of DEADLY LITTLE LIES, leave a comment below, telling us - if you could have one supernatural power, what would you want it to be? This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, January 19.

FF - The Education of Hailey Kendrick by Eileen Cook

The Author:

I'm pleased to welcome back GCC Sister, Eileen Cook to the blog. Eileen is a multi-published author with her novels appearing in six different languages. She spent most of her teen years wishing she were someone else or somewhere else, which is great training for a writer.

You can read more about Eileen, her books, and the things that strike her as funny at www.eileencook.com. Eileen lives in Vancouver with her husband and two dogs and no longer wishes to be anyone or anywhere else .

The Book:

Hailey Kendrick always does exactly what's expected of her. She has the right friends, dates the perfect boy, gets good grades, and follows all the rules. But one night, Hailey risks everything by breaking a very big rule in a very public way...and with a very unexpected partner in crime. Hailey gets caught, but her accomplice does not, and Hailey takes the fall for both of them.

Suddenly, Hailey's perfect life--and her reputation--are blowing up in her face. Her friends are all avoiding her. Her teachers don't trust her. Her boyfriend won't even speak to her for long enough to tell her that she's been dumped.

They say honesty is the best policy--but some secrets are worth keeping, no matter the cost. Or are they?

The Praise:

"Hailey may be an A student headed to the Ivy League, but when it comes to taking a chance on life, she’s clueless. She’s also enormously appealing and great company throughout this breezy read. Yes, it’s chick lit, but of the highest quality—like a

gourmet truffle. Cook has whipped up a real treat.” --Kirkus starred review

"Cook effectively builds both Hailey's (justified) feelings of rebellion and the social

dynamics of her ostracism, especially in her growing friendship with a challenging

townie, Drew, who supervises her punishment working with the janitorial

staff....Cook coaxes considerable empathy for the otherwise privileged Hailey as she

abandons the achievement treadmill to explore her independence." --Publishers

Weekly

The Interview:

What inspired you to write The Education of Hailey Kendrick?

The inspiration came in part from coming across a copy of The Scarlett Letter. I’m very interested in how the process of what everyone thinks of us shapes how we view ourselves. If your identity was suddenly taken away- how would you respond?

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

While in school I pulled a prank involving a school mascot. I can’t give details because I secretly fear the police will come for me. I would look very bad in a prison orange jumpsuit

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

I like to play movie soundtrack music when I write. The music often doesn’t have words so I don’t find myself singing along, and it’s designed to invoke emotions so it works well when I need that extra boost.

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

People are often surprised to discover I’m an introvert. When I need to be I can be quite outgoing and I do a lot of public speaking. However, I am way more comfortable in my yoga pants on the sofa with my dogs. Being social takes energy for me. I’m socially awkward by nature. If you are really lucky sometime you can hear my snorty laugh that happens when I’m nervous.

What's your favorite quote?

I’m a total quote junkie too! I can think of zillions of favorites, but my current is “Well behaved women rarely make history.” Eleanor Roosevelt. It reminds me that playing it safe all the time doesn’t get you very far.

What are you working on now?

I have a middle grade series coming out for young readers (ages 8-10) in the Spring called The Fourth Grade Fairy. I’m also hard at work on my new YA novel. I’m working on a gothic story with the working title of Haunting Isobel. It has a creepy old house, a family mystery, a brooding handsome man and a possible ghost. It’s been a tremendous amount of fun to write so far.

What is an interesting writing quirk of yours?

If I can’t tell if a scene is working I need to read it out loud. I’m not sure why my bad acting makes a difference, but it does.

What kind of chocolate best describes you?

I’m not sure if it describes me- but dark chocolate is my favorite by a mile. I can actually pass up milk chocolate. This never happens with dark.

The Freebie:

Since Eileen doesn't have her author copies of TEOHK yet (sadly, this happens more often than you would think), she is generously offering a signed copy of her phenomenal GETTING REVENGE ON LAUREN WOOD to this week's winner.

To be entered to win, leave a comment below, telling us the most rebellious thing you've ever done (as long as you can tell us and still keep it PG-13.) This drawing will remain open until Wednesday, January 12.

Please note: As always, please be sure to check back. Winners must respond within two weeks or their prize may end up back in the pot for another winner - and you wouldn't want that to happen, would you??

ALSO: Don't forget the DEATH BY BIKINI MYSTERIES freebie, going on right now. You can find it here. (Or... scroll down to the post below...)