FF - GONE by Lisa McMann

Today's Freebie Friday format will be a little different.

We're celebrating Lisa McMann today. Lisa's a friend I met through the Backspace writers' hangout. She's as funny, genuine and real in person as she is online. And she's a New York Times best selling author. All the books have hit the NYT, USA Today and Amazon bestseller lists and her WAKE series is sitting pretty at #10 on the NYT series list (huge! Yay, Lisa!)

Besides admiring her writing and really liking her as a person, here's another reason why I think Lisa rocks. (Remember I said I'd tell you later?) At the risk of being really presumptuous, I asked Lisa - as she was gearing up to go on tour with GONE, no less - if she could read TRANCE and possibly give me a blurb for the cover. I have to tell you, I was really hesitant about asking her because she has sooo much going on. But Lisa was very gracious about it (as always. I've never known her to not be completely supportive and generous with her time). So here's the blurb as she wrote it:

A fast-paced, heartwrenching paranormal thriller co-starring
a sexy motorcycle-riding guy who plays piano?
This is seriously my kind of book. TRANCE is addictive.

Woot! She liked it! Now as these things go, the publiser condensed the blurb a little for the front cover. So this is what you'll see:

BUT - this post isn't about TRANCE. Back to GONE!
Here's the official blurb:

Things should be great for Janie--she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she's totally in love with. But deep down she's panicking about how she's going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people's dreams is really starting to take its toll. Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time--and he's in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

Seriously, this book is sooo good.

AND, you're going to want to pay attention to Lisa in the coming year because her next book - a standalone called CRYER'S CROSS - sounds like it's going to be filled with shivery goodness, too. You won't want to miss it.

And, all you MG fans, watch for her MG series (2011) called THE UNWANTEDS. It's one of those fabulous concepts that, when she was telling us about it, I was like, man! I wish I'd thought of that!

In short, Lisa is brilliant.

Okay, now for the interview: Instead of the regular format, I'll share some of the questions/answers from the signing on Tuesday:

What's up with the timestamps in the books?
Although it isn't spelled out in the books, this is because when Janie is sucked into a dream, she would be very aware of the time she was "out" and as such, checking the time. (Which is exactly what Ashlyn does in TRANCE! But again, this post is not about my book...)

Why did you decide to write about dreams?
The books actually grew from a dream Lisa had one night where she was inside her husband's dream. She woke up and thought it would be an interesting concept for a story and wrote it down on the little notepad she keeps on her bedside table.

Are any of your characters based on people you know?
Captain and Sir in particular as based on people Lisa knows. She also said that there's parts of her in both Janie and Cabe and that her son was a big inspiration for Cabe.

Why did you choose that social class for Janie and Cabe?
Lisa covered this in depth on Holly Cupala's 'story secrets' a little while ago. Basically, she loves to root for the underdog so she gave them underdog challenges.

What books are you reading now/ what books to you recommend?
HOW TO SAY GOODBYE IN ROBOT by Natalie Standiford
FAT CAT by Robin Brande
JUMPING OFF SWINGS by Jo Knowles
20 BOY SUMMER by Sarah Ockler
THE MARK by Jen Nadol

Up for grabs this week: a signed copy of GONE! To be entered to win, leave a comment below telling me either 1.) why you love Lisa McMann or 2.) how much you want to read GONE. This contest will remain open until Wednesday, March 10.

Spoobin!

We interrupt this contest for a little fun - today I had the chance to run down to West Chester for lunch with my friend Jenny AND to drop in on the fabulous Lisa McMann at her book signing with the amazing Cassandra Clare. They both captivated the mob of fans crowded into the signing area by reading from their latest releases (Lisa's WAKE and Cassie's CITY OF GLASS) and answering questions.

I got some books signed by each and even got to touch Lisa's mystical, magic spoon, Spoobin. (Lisa looks like she's up to something there, doesn't she... hmmm... I feel a caption contest coming on... Stay tuned.) For now it's back to work (if I can concentrate with those books calling to me from the B&N bag...) May some of the magic have rubbed off on me!

Don't forget to grovel in the post below, if you haven't already, for your chance to win an ARC of DEATH BY DENIM!

FREEBIE FRIDAY with Lisa McMann!

Welcome to a special edition* of Freebie Friday.

Today I'm pleased to bring you an interview with the fabulous Lisa McMann, way cool NYT bestselling author of the made-of-awesome YA novels WAKE and FADE. (The third and final book in the series, GONE will be out in February 2010.)

If you haven't yet acquainted yourself with Janie and Cabel, I'm telling you - you're missing out. WAKE starts the trilogy off by introducing such a cool premise that it just makes you go, Aaaahhh!

Here's the official blurb so you can see what I mean:

Not all dreams are sweet.

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does -- they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant....

*shivers* right??? I really loved this book, and Lisa's spare, to-the-point writing. (I have not yet read FADE, although it's waiting for me like a carrot on a stick as soon as I get this current project turned in...)

Now for the interview:

What was your inspiration for writing FADE?
When I finished writing WAKE, I couldn't stop writing about Janie and Cabe. So I kept going.

Are any of your characters based on real people that you know?
Nope! They have characteristics of real people, but mostly just small stuff.

What excites you?
Today? It's my new toothbrush. It's the kind with the ridges and when I brush, it feels like a mini massage in my mouth.

What turns you off?
Mean people.

What's the best dream you've ever had?
When I was a kid, I dreamed we had a candy store in our garage. It was so real that I even went out to the garage when I woke up. But no candy. I loved that dream.

What's the scariest dream you've ever had?
The dream that Carrie has in WAKE, about the boy in the river -- that was a recurring nightmare of mine when I was a kid. I would wake up crying. (Note from Linda: Ooh. I hope not for the same reason's Carrie had her dream!)

Have either of those dreams come close to coming true? For the first, sadly no, though I did buy a bunch of candy at K-Mart when it was on a 10 for $1 bluelight special (yeah, I'm old) and I tried to sell it to my brothers. They just stole it instead. For the second, thankfully no. (whew!)

What's your favorite quote?
“Teen books are like adult books, without all the bullshit.”
H. Jack Martin, assistant coordinator of young adult services at New York Public Library

What's your next project?
I'm in the editing stages with GONE, the third book in the WAKE trilogy (due out Feb 2010). After that, well, I've got a few ideas, but nothing I can announce yet.

Milk Chocolate or Dark?
Milk!


You can read more about the series here, check out the cool trailer here, read Lisa's blog here, and follow her on twitter here!

Lisa has generously offered a signed copy of FADE for this week's freebie. (Or WAKE, if the winner hasn't read it yet.) And this is where the *special edition comes in.

Friday, February 27 just happens to be Lisa McMann's birthday!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISA!

To be entered to win your very own signed copy of FADE or WAKE, leave a message below with your Ode to Lisa, wishing her a happy birthday. This week, the winner will be selected by a mini-panel of judges, based on originality and creativity, so be sure to leave a truly fabulous birthday wish!

Let the ode-writing begin!!!

*P.S. I'll be out of town on a school visit trip tomorrow (which is why I'm posting early), so I won't be able to peek in, but I'm going to trust you to party nice and keep it PG. Thanks!

FREEBIE FRIDAY Ramblings

Happy Friday!

News today... Who watched the VP debate last night? I watched through Current TV's Hack the Debate (well, kind of watched. I was doing other things, too. I'm too easily distracted from and annoyed by politics to have paid complete attention.) Hack the Debate was a more interesting format than straight TV, though (viewers' live comments via Twitter appeared on the screen throughout the debate.)

In more entertaining news, Stephenie Meyer posted the first song from the TWILIGHT soundtrack on her blog yesterday. Anyone else planning a November 21 movie party?

And speaking of movies, Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist opens today. Anyone planning on seeing it? I've been looking forward to it, but disappointed to see some not-so-great reviews. Don't know about you, but (although I love them) I only have so much time/money to spend on movies. Is this one worth making a theater trip, or will it be better to catch on DVD in a few months? If you go see it, let me know what you think!

Meanwhile, it's cold, gray and blah in Ohio today. I have errands to run but no motivation to venture outside. I think I would rather curl up in my overstuffed chair with a book and a cup of hot chocolate.

In fact... for today's Freebie Friday, I think I'll offer that combination. To be entered to win a packet of gourmet hot chocolate mix and your choice of Sarah Dessen's KEEPING THE MOON or Lisa McMann's WAKE (both good curling-up-on-a-cold-day books) leave a comment below telling me what you're going to do with your first October weekend.

Have a good one!!!

Freebie Friday, a little early

I know, I know. It's Wednesday. But the next couple of weeks are going to be a little crazy so the freebies might bounce around a little bit. This morning (as soon as I get done posting this, as a matter of fact,) I head up to girls' camp until Saturday. No Internet access. (Gaaaaaah!)

(Want a little insider information? I was actually up at the camp Monday but had to come home yesterday so I could send in my edits on DEATH BY DENIM. I am excited about this episode of Aphra and Seth's adventure! Oh, and the kissing. I like the kissing...)

ANYWAY, next week will be relatively normal, except for the anticipation of waiting for the next TWILIGHT installment, BREAKING DAWN ! How many of you are going to a bookstore event to pick up the book at midnight?

And exactly two weeks from today, I'll be in New York City, reading and signing with Melissa Walker (VIOLET IN PRIVATE) and Lisa McMann (WAKE)!!! We'll be at Books of Wonder August 6th from 7 p.m. Any of you in the New York area, come visit!!! If you tell me you read about it on the blog, I'll have something special for you...

Following the signing, I'll be at the Backspace Writers' Conference, where I will be moderating an agents panel.

And then... well, it just gets crazier from there with back to school and the upcoming promotion for the next DEATH BY book, DEATH BY LATTE... but this is enough for one blog post!

So... to get to the point... for this week's FREEBIE FRIDAY, I offer to you a choice. I have three Sarah Dessen books up for grabs, THIS LULLABY, KEEPING THE MOON or DREAMLAND. To win one of these books, leave me a post telling me how the second half of your summer is shaping up and why I should choose you as this week's winner. Hint: sucking up is fun.

The contest will remain open until Monday, July 28.

Have a great week, everyone!!!