Tuesday, March 24, 2009

New polls and such

Instead of sending a mass email I will post here. The next due date is April first. Please submit asap.

New polls:
Best gossip book:
The A list
The Clique
Gossip Girl


The Great debate:
Harry Potter
Twilight
Eragon

Also: What are you reading?

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Winner!

Sorry about this - it IS a bit late, but I am going to announce the winner of the BLOG OF THE MONTH CONTEST!!!

This Month's featured blog is Bites, a book blog. You can visit it at litbites.blogspot.com!

Our Scavenger blog of the month is Lucid Conspiracy, a book blog that you can visit at http://lucidconspiracy.blogspot.com/!

Check them out, and if you like them, show the authors a bit o' love and follow their blog!

Please note that it is not too late to sign up for this contest at http://yablognews.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest.html!

Join today...

Thanks,
BC101

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

New Deadline:

I'm extending the deadline of when I need things by until tomorrow at 8 am. Please get things into me as this newsletter just isnt shaping up :(

Dont forget to tell me what your reading and your favorite Twilight book.

xo, Ashley

p.s. I'm sending emails to those who have not got stuff in.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Updates....

Hey everyone! Ashley here! I really need peopleto do there job. The due date is this Wednesday (tomorrow) and not many peopl have done it. The first 5 people get a reward. So rewar only there have. So get your things in to me!

Also I need to know... What are you reading?

Lastly.... Favorite Twilight book you've read? Thats the poll question. Let me know asap

Monday, March 16, 2009

Publisher Spotlight: St. Martin's Press

I run a YA book blog at Mrs. Magoo Reads. I conducted an interview with Jessica Zimmerman in order to do a publisher spotlight on St. Martin's Press for this newsletter. I hope you like it!

What type of books do you primarily publish?

St Martin’s Press is part of Macmillan and specializes in adult trade fiction and non-fiction. We wear many hats here publishing edgy memoirs such as Augusten Borough’s Running with Scissors to conservative classics like Pat Buchanan’s State of Emergency to the amazing Emily Giffin and her beautiful novels, her latest being Love the One You’re With.

Can you name some titles that will be released soon?

We have a few YA titles coming out this spring/summer and I’m very excited about them! Post Grad by Emily Cassel is coming out this June and is based off the motion picture Post Grad Survival Guide staring Alexis Bledel that’s opening August 14, 2009. This is a book for all recent graduates or fans of Legally Blonde.

Alyson Noël’s first novel in her new IMMORTALS series Evermore became an instant hit when it came out earlier this month, debuting at number 3 on the New York Times children’s bestseller list and quickly becoming number one. The second book in the series, Blue Moon, is coming out in July. For more information, check out Alyson’s website at http://alysonnoel.com/IMMORTALS. We’re so excited about this series and all the amazing feedback we’ve been hearing from readers everywhere.

How do you market your novels?

That really depends on the type of book and the author. For out YA books, we like to use the internet to reach out to our readers and fans in the most effective way. Our HOUSE OF NIGHT series has become such a huge success that the authors PC and Kristin Cast are going on their first national tour for Hunted, the fifth book in the series and the first hardcover. Hunted just came out last week, March 10, and they begin their tour today, March 16! We believe so strongly in this series that we’re hoping to introduce even more fans to this addictive series. PC and Kristin have a host of great events coming up this week—if you’d like to check them out, you can do so at http://www.houseofnightseries.com/ or http://us.macmillan.com/Tour.aspx?id=315.

How are you unique from other publishing companies?

I think we are unique in how vast and varied our list is. As I mentioned before, we really do it all here: political nonfiction, memoir, chick-lit, physiological thrillers, YA, cookbooks, how-to’s, you name it, we got it! We are dedicated to giving voice to as many authors as possible by publishing many books a season with the occasional blockbuster.

Newsletter 3- Part 3

Blog Tips:
•Colored fonts on a colored background usually look annoying. If I have to squint to read your blog lets just say I won’t read it.
•Don’t rip other bloggers off. We work hard to develop our features so don’t change the name and try to make it your own with out talking to us and giving us credit. For example we see the in my mail box all over now. Make sure you at least credit Kristi or Alea the first time with a link to their blog. Changing the name does not hide the fact that it was someone other than yours first. I have seen this sadly.
•Don’t butter up your reviews to get free books. If I read a review that says, “This was the most amazing, inspirational, funny, cute and charming book I have ever read,” it makes me want to throw up. You sound as fake as Barbie’s dimensions.

Carols Blog Spotlight:
1. Why did you start blogging?
I started blogging because I wanted a place to post my opinions of the books that I've read. Plus, I have a huge ego that can only be pleased with loads of comments on my posts. :D (j/k)
2. Why did you choose YA as your main focus? (I know you talked about this on your blog the other day but...I still think it's a good question for future Blogger Spotlights :)
I'm a teen so it's reasonable that I will start a YA blog and read YA books. I love reading YA books, all that angst, romance, cattiness...it's like my high school but in a book and I get to "live" as the main character. :)
3. What's your favorite thing about blogging?
The comments that I get from my readers, the fact that I get to chat with authors or interview them, and that I get to read some really good books months before they come out. Oh, and that I get to chat with a lot of cool bloggers! :)
4. How did you gain more traffic to your site?
Umm...I asked other bloggers to add me to their link list (politely); I had contests (I still do!); and I sometimes send out bulletins in Myspace.
5. What are some advice you can give to fellow Bloggers?
Not to bite off more than they can chew. Basically don't request a ton of books because then reading and reviewing won't be fun because whenever you look at your TBR pile, you'll be very stressed. I'm not a good advice giver so I suggest looking at Kristi's blogging tips.

Geek Fest:
http://ya-bookaholic.blogspot.com/2009/02/100-posts-contest.html is where Geek Fest will be located.
Who’s coming?
• Zoe Marriot
• Justina Chen Headley
• Susan Juby
• Laurie Faria Stolarz
• Lisa Manchev
• Jody Gehrman
• Eileen Cook
• Jillian Cantor
• Tina Ferraro
• Lisa Ann Sandell
• Maria V Snyder
• Lauren Henderson
• Adele of Persnickity Snark
• Sarah of Sarah's Random Musings
• Hope of Hope's Bookshelf
• Cassandra Clare
• Nancy Werlin
• Deb Caletti

What can you win?
• Daughter of the Flames by Zoe Marriott
• The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott
• What Would Emma Do? by Eileen Cook
• How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro
• Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell
• A Map of the Known World (ARC) by Lisa Ann Sandell

Quotes about Geek Fest:
“It's all about geeks. I've always loved the intellectual camaraderie I've felt with other self-proclaimed geeks. It's a pretty amazing feeling, and I'd like to share it through Geek Fest."
"Geek Fest will be a celebration for all the self-proclaimed geeks out there, hosted by the reviewers at The Not So Closet Geeks."

Spotlighted Books:
Are you looking for the perfect book to read, but can’t seem to find one? Then you are at the right spot! I have scrounged up a list of 5 different wonderful young adult books for you to enjoy!

“The Season” by Sarah MacLean
“The Season” is a fabulous novel about coming of age, mystery, and falling love. I loved it, and suggest it to everyone who has an interest in Regenery England time and is a teen girl!

“Zombie Queen of Newbury High” by Amanda Ashby
This is a book that is all about zombies, love, and a teen girl’s life! It is a fun, fast, book that makes you feel happy!

“The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” by Anne Brasheres
If you haven’t already read this series, now is the time to start! They are all about 4 best friends who share a pair of pants, which help keep them together during the summer when they are apart. Throughout reading the books, you grow attached to the characters and want to read more!

“Bog Child” by Sioban Dowd
In this book, a boy finds a dead girl in the bog. Throughout the story, the mystery of her death unfolds and a budding relationship forms with him and Cora. This was a neat book, and different!

“The Spring of Candy Apples” by Debbie Vigue
This is the 4th in the Sweet Season Novels. These are books about Candance, who works at a theme park called “The Zone.” She always seems to find herself in the center of attention and seems to always have some type of problem while working there! Sweet Season books are fun, light, and satisfying Christian reads.

Newsletter Stats:
We have 42 people working.
We have 81 subscribers.

In newsletter one only 2 people didn’t do their job! That means 95% did! Way to go guys!!!!

In newsletter two 8 people were unable to do their job. 2 of those were excused so we wont count them. That means 86% did their job. Not bad but I know we can do better

Book Sites:
• http://onlinebookclub.org/
• http://www.readingrants.org/?page_id=517
• http://www.booktalk.org/

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Important:

If you have not been invited to the new site email me!

That is where poll questions and disscusions will occur.

Newsletter 3 part 2

Reviews
•Purge will be reviewed at booksaremylove.blogspot.com
•Killing Britney will be reviewed at booksaremylove.blogspot.com
•Giving up the V will be reviewed at booksaremylove.blogspot.com

UK Books

Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning
Some girls are born to be bad...Isabel is one of them. Her friends are terrified of her, her teachers can't get through to her...her family doesn't understand her. And that's just the way she likes it. See, when no one can get near you, no one will know what keeps you awake at night, what you're afraid of, what has broken your heart...But then Isabel meets the enigmatic Smith, who can see right through her act. Bit by bit he chips away at her armour, and though she fights hard to keep hold of her cool, and her secrets, Isabel's falling for him, and coming apart at the seams when she does...A poignant, sometimes dark, and utterly heart-breaking novel, told with all the author's trademark wit and sharp observation...
Here's another brilliant UK author that everyone should read! I think of Sarra Manning as the British version of Sarah Dessen, because her books are very realistic and character driven. I read Let's Get Lost in one sitting, as it was really difficult to put down. I'd also recommend Sarra Manning's Diary of a Crush trilogy, which is amazing!

New & Noteworthy UK Releases:
The Ant Colony by Jenny Valentine (Harper Collins, March 5th)
House of Night: Chosen by P.C. & Kristin Cast (Atom, March 5th)
I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells (Headline, March 5th)
Also, if you're in the UK, make sure to pick up Jenny Valentine's short World Book Day book, Ten Stations, which is set in the Finding Violet Park world and is only £1!


We're reading:
•Ashley is reading P.S. I Loathe You by Lisi Harrison
•Prophecy Girl is reading Zombie Queen of Newbury High.
•RM is reading Wake.
•Sarah L. is reading Envy.
•Shooting Star is currently reading Graphic Classics: Oscar Wilde
•Jessica is reading Invitation Only
•Katie is reading Going to Far
•Paper Movies has a whole list of books going
•Katie is reading Absolutely Maybe
•Maggie is reading Beautiful Americans
•Sarah is reading Anything but Typical
•Polo Pony is reading Wake
•Stephanie is reading Popular Vote
•Laina is reading Invisible Touch

Releases
march 1:
The Season by Sarah McLean
This is What I Want to Tell You by Heather Duffy Stone
My Life in Pink & Green by Lisa Greenwald
Secrets of My Hollywood Life: Paparazzi Princess by Jen Calonita
The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor (cantor means male singer in spanish)
Dead Girl Dancing by Linda Joy Singleton (sequel to Dead Girl Walking)
In Mike We Trust by Patrick Ryan
Everything is Fine by Ann Dee Ellis
Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan
Step To This by Nikki Carter
Freaked by J.T Dutton
Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco Stork
Same Difference by Siobhan Vivian
A Little Friendly Advice by Siobhan Vivian
Elly: My True Story of the Holocaust by Elly Bercovits Gross
Wish You Were Here by Catherine Clark
Serendipity Market by Penny Bluebaugh
The Boyfriend Game by Stephanie Davis (paperback)
The Amaranth Enchantment- Julie Berry (March 3rd)
Dark Guardian No. 1: Moonlight- Rachel Hawthorne (March 3rd)
Lifting the Sky by Mackie d'Arge
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison (March 5th)
The Forest of Hands and Teeth- Carrie Ryan Zombie Queen of Newbury High by Amanda Ashby
Taken by Storm by Angela Morrison (March 10th)
Hunted- PC Cast (March 10th)
Brutal by Michael Harmon (March 10th)
Fate by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (March 10th)
Going too Far- Jennifer Echols (March 17th)
Winter Girls by Laurie Halse Anderson (March 19th)

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Blog of the Week

Please note that it is NOT too late to sign up at http://yablognews.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest.html

The first winner is a blog which is made to review books. The rating system works as follows:

I don't give books star ratings; I give them bite ratings. This is a bite. A book can get up to five of these endangered Scrats, including half bites.

You can attribute your own wording to the ratings. Five's the best, three's decent, one and under isn't worth the gas to go to the library. I'll leave it to you to fill in the blanks.

This has been taken word for word from the web page.

That info is under a title.

It is located at _________.blogspot.com

The title of the rating system has all of the missing letters in the URL except for ONE.

The first person who posts a comment with the letter that is in the URL but not in the title and the name of what website they want to advertise will get a free ad on Wednesday.

Please note that the author of the blog is not allowed to post the comment. Also remember that people could be wrong, so if someone already commented, you aren't necessarily out of the running YET!

You CAN win the scavenger hunt contest more than once, unlike the BLOG OF THE WEEK contest. This blog is the BLOG OF THE WEEK. You will find out what the blog of the week, along with the who the scavenger hunt winner is on Wednesday, the 18th.

Good Luck!

Thoughts....

Wow two posts today. I guess I just had some important stuff to say. First off, note this is just my thoughts and does not represent all YA Blog News writers.

I have recently seen some fighting between bloggers that I believe should be addressed. Tell me it's none of my business, I don't care. As bloggers it's important to support each other. Not everyone feels safe telling their friends what they do in their spare time. We all may have differnt ideas as to what is good and what sucks but they should be handled respecrfully.

When I hear that a certain blogger who shall remain unnamed is receiving hate mail for her opinions I get a little ticked. Adults who do not know teens personally should not tell them they need to respect adults. I can see where that might be said if someone went off on a "fu** the adults" rampage, but one opinion on how adults may be wrong about teens favorite books... thats crazy.

I saw no problem with a comment that was made by an adult on the original post, I do however have an issue with adults butting in where they are unneeded. DO NOT tell people they are being disrespectful when they are in fact stating a freakin oppinion.

Okay I'm done... Calming down. :P

Newsletter 3 Part 1

Who's who:
•Ashley and Erica are putting this together.
•People told us what they are reading.
•Jenny Told us what’s new in the UK.
•Stephanie interviewed Carol
•Hope gave us contest links
•Bella told us about Geek Fest
•RM told us what to read


contests
• What: Win an ARC of The King's Rose from Lauren (Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf).
Link: http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-arc-of-kings-rose-by-alisa.html
Ends: March 3rd
• What: Win Inivisible Touch by Kelly Para from the Bradford Blog Bash.
Link: http://bradfordnovels.blogspot.com/2009/02/awesome-authors-kelly-parra.html
Ends: ? ... didn't say.
• http://ya-bookaholic.blogspot.com/2009/02/100-posts-contest.html is giving away 13 Reasons Why
• What: Win one of twenty copies of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson from Lenore and Steph.
Link: http://presentinglenore.blogspot.com/2009/02/lets-talk-about-winning-speak-contest.html
Ends: March 12.
• What: An ARC of Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon.
Link: http://alex-moore.blogspot.com/2009/02/interview-with-new-ya-fantasy-author.html
Ends: ?
• What: The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor.
Link: http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-setember-sisters-by-jillian.html
Ends: March 13.
• What: One copy of The Luxe, one copy of How To Be Popular, and one copy of Perfect You.
Link: http://ashley-thecompulsivereader.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest.html
Ends: March 7th.
• What: An ARC of The King's Rose by Alisa Libby
Link: http://laurenscrammedbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest-for-arc-of-kings-rose-by-alisa.html
Ends: March 3rd.
• Lisa McMann if having a Fund You Dreams Contest ends March 6.
• Sarah MacLean is giving away a The Season Wordle Journal ends March 6
• Robin Titan is giving away an ARC of Geek Charming by Robin Palmer ends March 11.
• Reviewer X and Lenore are giving away MULTIPLE copies of Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson ends March 12.
• YA Book Realm is giving away a copy of The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor ends March 13.
• Lauren is giving away a copy of The September Sisters by Jillian Canto ends March 13
• Steph Su is giving away a LOT of ARC's of How To Ditch Your Fairy by Justine Larbalestier ends March 15
• TruBlu is giving away a copy of The Season by Sarah MacLean ends March 15 < http://trublu93.blogspot.com/2009/03/21-questions-starring-sarah-maclean.html >
• The Book Sniffer is giving away a copy of Airhead by Meg Cabot ends March 20
• Brooke Reviews is giving away a total of THREE books ends March 20
• Korianne is having a Twilight DVD Release Contest. ends March 21.
• Lauren and a BUNCH of other Bloggers are having a huge Willow Contest ends April 30

New blogs
http://books-are-life-reviews.blogspot.com/

http://purdypirate.blogspot.com/

http://theravenousreader-kate.blogspot.com/

http://www.krystenslibrary.blogspot.com/

authors
• Hope's bookshelf http://www.princess2293.blogspot.com/ is having:
March 2: Sarah MacLean (author of The Season)
March 10: Neesha S. Meminger (author of Shine, Coconut Moon)
March 19: Cheryl Renee Herbsman (author of Breathing)
March 24: Carrie Ryan (author of The Forest of Hands and Teeth)
• Juicilicouss Reviews http://www.juiciliciousssreviews.blogspot.com/ is having: An interview posted with Sarah MacLean, author of The Season March 2.

Friday, March 6, 2009

And The Winner is....

Picture number two!!!!!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Contest- revisited...

There are 4 days left to join the contest at this blog...

Check it out at http://yablognews.blogspot.com/2009/02/contest.html...

Ads are hard to come by, so check it out...

Thanks,
Book Critic 101

--__--
I got tired of reading romance reviews - romance here, romance there - so I started a blog that wasn't as ROMANTIC. It has reviews of books that aren't as blogged about and it usually doesn't have chicklit - but it still reviews good books.

Check it out at thesundaybookreport.blogspot.com!

Thanks for visiting!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Vote

Okay so I need some ideas... Newsletter 4 is in the works and 3 is being released friday. I thought We'd swicth up the pic or I'd give everyone the chance to pic the new picture. There are 5 options and you will each have the chance to get 1 chance of having your picked.

+1 chance if you post telling me which one
+1 If you subscribe to this blog
+1 if you are a subscriber of booksaremylove.blogspot.com
+2 If you get the newsletter via email.
Tell me how many points you get out of 5 :)






Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Newsletter 2 part 3

UK Book
This book sounds really interesting. Jenny sent me the info on it and either she is great at knowing how to make a book sound good or it really is. Black Rabbit Summer by Kevin Brooks.

Pete Boland was busy doing nothing that summer. Long, stiflingly hot, lazy days stretched ahead of him. Then she called. "Listen, Pete . . . you know that funfair, up at the recreation ground . . . I thought we could all meet up . . . You know, for old times' sake." But, where there are old times, there are old tensions. And as secrets, bitterness and jealousies resurface, five old friends are plunged into the worst night of their lives . . .

“Once I started this book, it was impossible for me to put down. It's one of the most suspenseful books I've ever read, and keeps you guessing until the very end. It also has a brilliant cover, which relates to the story in every way possible.”
“Kevin Brooks is amongst my favourite UK authors, as he writes gritty, realistic thrillers that stay in your head for days after finishing them.”

The Read Carpet
We successful launched our second episode after technical issues plaguing production. Our second episode tackled the all important subject of love as Valentine's Day occurred. Zombies may not fit into that topic but they do love flesh!

We have been lucky to have several authors comment, link and mention our podcast in the past few weeks. That has been beyond thrilling as has the great response from the YA community.

The third episode, to be released at the end of the month will see the return of the first group of contributors for their second segment. We would love to have some other voices in the show, so please consider calling into our voicemail or emailing in!

We want to hear your new finds; the authors that inspire you, a character that can make you melt, etc. How you think Adele's The List was a complete load of tripe! Share what you are passionate about in the YA-verse.

We're Reading...
Ashley and Katie are reading Sophomore Switch.
Lisette is reading The Elite, In Too Deep, Shadowed Summer, An Abundance of Katherines, and The Girl She Used to Be.
Hope is reading Wintergirls.
Laina is reading Vamps by Nancy Collins.
http://carriesyabookshelf.blogspot.com/ is reading Evermore.
Lisa May is reading Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee. McKenzie.
Just Listen is reading Somebody’s Crying by Maureen McCarthy.
Erika Lynn is reading Sloppy Firsts.
Steph is reading Luxe, Mrs. Perfect, and Diary of a Chav.
Renee is reading Worldweavers and thinking its hard to get through.
Shooting Stars is reading The ABC’s of Kissing Boys.
Prophecy Girl is reading Numbers by Rachel Ward.
Travis is reading Look Both Ways by Jacquelyn.
Jenny is reading The Knife of Never Letting Go.
Polo Pony is reading Cracked up to Be.
Megan is reading I heart You, You Haunt Me.
Gabrielle is reading The Boyfriend List, Lord of Misrule and The Time Travelers Wife.
Sarah is reading Envy: A Luxe Novel.
Tru Blu is reading The Center of the Universe.
Jill is Reading Just Like That.
Paper Movies is reading Tweak, The Hunger Games and The Book Thief.

releases
The Anatomy of Wings by Karen Foxlee (feb 10)
Eternal by Cynthia Leitich Smith (feb 10)
Fade by Lisa McMann (feb 10)
Dope Sick by Walter Dean Myers (feb 10)
Miss Match by Wendy Toliver (feb 10)
Raven by Allison Van Diepen (feb 10)
Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell (feb 10)
Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman (feb 10)
In Mike We Trust by P.E Ryan (feb 17)
It's A Green Thing (Diary of a Teenage Girl) book 2 by Melody Carlson (feb 17)
Alis by Naomi Rich (feb 19)
Great Call of China by Cynthea Liu (feb 19)
Response by Paul Volponi (feb 19)
The Season by Sarah Maclean (March 2nd)
The Amaranth Enchantment- Julie Berry (March 3rd)
Dark Guardian No. 1: Moonlight- Rachel Hawthorne (March 3rd)
Just One Wish by Janette Rallison (March 5th)
Hunted- PC Cast (March 10th)
Brutal by Michael Harmon (March 10th)

Blog Tips
Music on your blog is cool but please none of that bang your head junk. You want me to read your full review and comment? Then don’t give me a headache.
Don’t comment someone’s blog advertising your own. If you just reviewed the same book go ahead and tell me but don’t leave me a link to your blog. Maybe I’m just picky but I feel like its downgrading someone’s work.
Not every other word needs to be bad. I get your point if you say you hate a book. No need to throw in 8 Fu**s and 6 Cra*s. (Sorry to be so blunt but I noticed this recently :( )
Sidebar etiquette is important. If your sidebars are a mile long things just look messy. No need to have 5 new release tickers, a million links and pages worth of information. Keep things clean.


Past Week
Visit The Story Siren to learn how you can win free ARCs of Lisa Mantchev's Eyes Like Stars
Win The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor at YA Book Realm
Enter to win a signed copy of Zoë Marriott's new book, Daughter of the Flames, at The Magic of Ink
Bookworm Chrysalis reviewed Kristin Cashore's Graceling "It was a solidly good book, but as I said above about the villain, it seemed like it lacked a level of complexity I would have liked - though I can't pinpoint what exactly I felt was missing."
Read an advance-review of Severed Ties by Kevin Krohn at Just Blinded Book Reviews "Severed Ties was so unique to me--the plot, the characters, and the writing were so original! Even though it was short-less than two hundred pages-it was filled to the brim with everything a much larger book could hold."
The Book Girl reviewed Laura Faria Stolaz's Deadly Little Secret "So this book was simply amazing. I can't believe I haven't read any of Laurie's books before this, despite the fact that I own each one."
The Book Obsession enjoyed Beastly by Alex Flinn "This novel was absolutely outstanding! One of the best novels I have read in a long time. I was so into the book I would read a hundred pages and it would seem as if only a second went by. This is the first I have read from Alex Flinn and it will not be the last. Her writing style is absolutely enchanting."
prophecygirl at Wondrous Reads reviewed Gayle Forman's If I Stay "I have a feeling that If I Stay may be one of those books that sells millions of copies, wins numerous awards, and inspires people to pick up a pen and tell a story of their own."

Monday, March 2, 2009

Newsletter 2 Part 2

*for some reason this is looking weird. I will be unable to change colors or center this all. Sorry :( *

Remember if you wanna see how cool the newsletter really is you must subscribe. Email me at princessashley9@gmail.com so I can sign you up :)

Authors
http://koriannespeaks.blogspot.com/ is planning to have Siobhan Vivian
http://www.princess2293.blogspot.com/ has Madison Scott on the 19th
http://www.princess2293.blogspot.com/ has Jillian Canter on the 24th
Adele Walsh at http://persnicketysnark.blogspot.com is having Karen Tayleur (Chasing Boys) as her author spotlight this week, which includes a reader's snapshot, an interview and a guest blog.
Reyna at http://booksforteensreviews.blogspot.com/ is having Shelley Adina (author of the young adult "All about Us" novels) for a visit.
Reyna at http://booksforteensreviews.blogspot.com/ is having Sarah MacLean, author of "The Season",
Lauren at http://shootingstarsmag.blogspot.com/ had one with Janni Lee Simner, who wrote Bones of Faerie.
2/11 - Melissa de la Cruz at My Favorite Author
2/18 - Richelle Mead at My Favorite Author
2/25 - Claudia Gray at My Favorite Author


Author Spotlight
Lisa and shooting star Interviewed Jennifer Banash for us. Here is what she had to say!

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
When I was around 2, my father gave me a typewriter as a birthday present. I don't think I realized that I was going to be a writer right then and there (umm . . . I could barely drink from a sippy cup without making a mess), but I think the seed was definitely planted.

What inspired you to write the Elite books?
My own high school experience. I went to high school with a lot of wealthy kid that were supposed to have it all--but were actually deeply troubled, and had less than perfect home lives. While I've always been attracted to glamor, and really wanted to write an escapist series for teens, also wanted to temper it with a bit of reality in terms of the characters home lives.

What do you think makes a good story?
I think drama, romance, and intrigue make a good story! Writing what you know doesn't hurt either :)

How long did it take you to write each book?
I wrote all three books in about 9 months. Yes, I was tired afterwards!

Do you hear from your readers much? What kinds of things do they say?
I'm kind of Facebook obsessed, so I hear from readers a good deal. Mostly they just tell me that they love the books, or ask for tips on getting published themselves. I love hearing from readers--it's the best part of the job!

Who is your favorite character you've created?
My favorite character I've created is Madison Macallister. Yes, she's a drama queen, diva-bitch, but she's just so much FUN to write! I literally giggle in my chair like a maniac when I'm writing her story arc.

What book are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading I KNOW IT'S OVER, by CK Kelly Martin. It's fantastic.

What's your all time favorite book?
Arrrrgh . . . I hate this question! I'm indecisive and could never choose just ONE. Some of my favorites are: A TREE GROWS IN BROOKLYN, LESS THAN ZERO, TO THE LIGHTHOUSE, and I love anything that Carole Maso writes--not many people read her--but they should. As far as strictly YA goes, SISTERS OF MISERY by Megan Kelley Hall is the best book I've read in a LONG time--hands down.

And finally, what's your opinion of book bloggers? :)
I love book bloggers--so much so that I thanked them profusely on the acknowledgments page of IN TOO DEEP! I think bloggers do an excellent job of raising the visibility of YA--a genre that doesn't really get many print reviews in general. If any bloggers out there still haven't reviewed the first two ELITE book, let me know! I'll be glad to get you copies.

If you had to live in the shoes of one of your characters in the Elite series for a whole year, who would you pick and why?
I would pick Madison, because even though she's a complete bitch, it would be really liberating to tell everyone exactly what I thought of them 24/7 without holding back. I'm the type of person who always wants to please EVERYONE--often at the expense of my own sanity, so to spend a year as Madison, doing and saying exactly what I wanted, would be very liberating for me.

Have you ever had an idea for a character to include but ultimately left them out? If so, can you tell us anything about these "cut-out" characters?
Hmmm . . . I had an idea for a character in THE ELITE that was physically abused by her parents, but at the end of the day her story arc was just too realistic and TOO much of a downer for the series itself. I'm all for realism, but she just didn't fit. I definitely want to write a book about child abuse at some point, but this just wasn't the right series to include it--As it was, I had to fight my editor tooth and nail to include Sophie's problem with cutting.

Since you have Drew in the series, do you feel that boys could read your books as well as girls and get something out of it?
Definitely. In fact, guys write me all the time on MySpace or Facebook and tell me that they love the series, and that they can really relate to Drew as a character. I'm especially proud in those moments because writing from a guy's perspective is incredibly difficult for me, and thus, those kinds of comments are incredibly gratifying to me as a writer.

The Blog to check out
Nineteen Teen (http://www.nineteen.blogspot.com)

YA authors Marissa Doyle and Regina Scott talk about the lives, loves, and interests of teens in nineteenth century England. With pictures from the time period, quizzes and guessing games, themed giveaways, posts by characters from YA novels about the nineteenth century, and interviews with other authors, this is the place to be if you like your skirts long and your men dashing. They’re in the middle of a series of posts on English Country dancing, including how to flirt while dancing. Over 1,300 visitors a month can’t be wrong! Come join the fun.
Thanks to Regina for sharing that info with us!


Reviews
•Ashley is reviewing New Moon at booksaremylove.blogspot.com
•Booksaremylove.blogspot.com will review Frenimies.
•Booksaremylove.blogspot.com will review sophomore Switch.
•Booksaremylove.blogspot.com will review In Too Deep
•Booksaremylove.blogspot.com will review Bloom.
•My Favorite Author is reviewing The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova