Nightshade Blog Tour: Interview with Andrea Cremer!

Photo by Gina Monroe

Today I'd like to welcome Andrea Cremer, author of (the amazingly epic) Nightshade to Pirate Penguin's Reads! She's stopping by today to answer some of my questions I had about the cover for Nightshade. This interview today is part of a blog tour over at Teen {Book}Scene and if you're interested in learning more about Nightshade and its author, check out the complete scheduele here.

Clickables: Andrea's website, Andrea's Twitter, Andrea's blog

Nightshade has a gorgeous cover-what was the very first thought running through your mind when you were finally able to see it?

Wow. It was such captivating image. I think I held my breath for a while when I was first looking at it. I didn’t know what to expect and it’s so lovely. I was, and still am, ecstatic about the cover.

Were there various trial runs for the book cover or did the designing team nail it on the first try?
Very few tweaks were made. Originally the blood drop was longer and we spent some time getting Calla’s eye the perfect shade of gold. For those readers who have ARCs you’ll notice a difference between the eye on that cover and the eye on the official jacket.

Suza Scalora, the photographer for the book's cover, is pretty amazing! Were you acquainted with her work before?

I knew about her faerie books, which are wonderful, and I knew she’d also done book covers for Francesca Lia Block – a fantastic author – and I was thrilled Penguin had asked Suza to shoot Nightshade’s cover. I also had the chance to meet Suza! She came to Minneapolis on her tour for Evidence of Angels the week after the shoot. It was so much fun to talk with her. She is a beautiful and gracious human being.

Will the cover model for the next two books in the trilogy be the same girl from the cover of Nightshade?
Same model for WOLFSBANE, I’ve seen photos from the shoot but not the final cover yet. I can’t wait to see it, all I know is that the model looks fabulous and the cover will be green (my favorite color – yay!) I don’t know what the cover of BLOODROSE will be yet, so I can’t say for sure.

What would Calla say if she saw the book cover chosen for her personal story?
She would say: Why am I wearing make up?
I would say: It’s an artistic rendering. And it’s exquisite. Deal with it.
She would growl at me. Then say: There’s blood on the lilies.
I would nod.
She would say: Nice.

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Reading level: Young Adult
Publisher: Philomel
Release Date: October 19, 2010
Source: BEA 2010
Language: English

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything--including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

Nightshade was so astonishingly well-written, so well-crafted that I'm wondering how could this possibly be Andrea Cremer's debut? Every single detail about this novel, from the fantastically awesome main character to its world building and beyond, was flawlessly executed; there is never a lull in the story, never any moment where I, as a reader, wanted to take a break and stop reading--I was, simply put, addicted to this story.

Calla, as I mentioned before, is an awesome main character; she is fierce, intelligent and extremely loyal to her family and friends. As a reader, I appreciated her strength but I really admired her devotion to her family and pack. As the alpha, she has a lot of responsibility placed on her and she never takes this lightly: she has a no-nonsense attitude which was very commendable. The hierarchy of Calla's world was fascinating to read about--there was a political vibe to it which really caught my attention and as the story progressed, the menacing undertone, coupled with Calla's increasing fear for her situation, really helped moved the story along. Cremer also wove mythology and philosophy into the book which really added to the mystery (and the promise of more danger to come).  

Oh, and how can I forget the romance? Cremer knows how to write a good love triangle: The two boys she presents are so deliciously sexy that even I'm torn as to which one is better suited for Calla. Ren and Shay both stand a good chance of winning Calla and since there's no definete idea (so far) of what's going to happen to these three, I'm even more anxious to get my hands on the sequel.

Addictive and sizzling with power, Nightshade was a stellar debut. Cremer has tremendous potential as a writer; I sense that her new take will be a welcome change among all of the usual werewolf stories. Fans of Blood & Chocolate should pick this up without fear of being disappointed; Nightshade truly delivers.

Rating: 5.0

2011: Top Five Books That I Sooooo Want.

Princess Bookie is starting her Contest Craze tomorrow but for fun, you can this mini-challenge (and be entered for an arc prize pack!) where you pick your top five wanted books for 2011! There are so many books coming out this year and narrowing it down was very difficult but here are my Top Five Picks:

1) Queen of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Queen of Glass is a fairy-tale retelling where Cinderella is an infamous assassin. Cinderella doesn't sound so passive in this story, does she? There's no cover currently available but the summary has me SO excited.

2) Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
No cover available for this one either but I am burning with curiousity for this book. A contemporary novel about drug addiction, love, musical prodegies and overbearing mothers..... and there are violins! I'll admit that what piqued my interest in this book was the main character's ability to play the violin (and the competition she's in). I'm a violinist myself so it'll be fun to read about one too!

3) Clarity by Kim Harrington

Ah, here's a book with a cover! Isn't it lovely? Clarity's premise is unique and I'm looking forward to seeing how Harrington doles it out. A murder mystery with two hot boys? Yes, please!

4) Across The Universe by Beth Revis

The cover for this one was absolutely stunning. I gaped at it when I saw it for the first time...it seems more like a movie poster than a book cover! But besides the cover being a visual FEAST for the eyes, it sounds like an epic dystopian story. I read the first chapter (which is available online) and I was so annoyed when I finished! I can't wait for this to come out!

5) A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

I didn't realize that most of the books on this list don't have covers yet--that was completely by accident! Anyways, I have high hopes for Young's A Need So Beautiful because someone (whose taste in books I highly trust) has told me wonders about this book! And I'm ready for something different from this author (not that I didn't like The Naughty List-it was cute but I want to see her darker stuff :K)

Mini-reviews: The Awakening & The Reckoning

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: May 1st, 2009
Obtained: From my public library

If you had met me a few weeks ago, you probably would have described me as an average teenage girl—someone normal. Now my life has changed forever and I'm as far away from normal as it gets. A living science experiment—not only can I see ghosts, but I was genetically altered by a sinister organization called the Edison Group. What does that mean? For starters, I'm a teenage necromancer whose powers are out of control; I raise the dead without even trying. Trust me, that is not a power you want to have. Ever.

Now I'm running for my life with three of my supernatural friends—a charming sorcerer, a cynical werewolf, and a disgruntled witch—and we have to find someone who can help us before the Edison Group finds us first. Or die trying.

I loved The Summoning and I couldn't wait to get to the sequel. I can happily say that The Awakening is even better than its predecessor. The action, the drama, the romantic tension between Derek and Chloe (and yes, Simon) are all heightened and I zipped through this book in a matter of hours. NOTHING could have ripped me away from this book. Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: April 6th, 2010
Obtained: From 1 ARC Tours

Only two weeks ago, life was all too predictable. But that was before I saw my first ghost. Now, along with my supernatural friends Tori, Derek, and Simon, I’m on the run from the Edison Group, which genetically altered us as part of their sinister experiment. We’re hiding in a safe house that might not be as safe as it seems. We’ll be gone soon anyway, back to rescue those we’d left behind and to take out the Edison Group . . . or so we hope

Moments after finishing The Reckoning, I slowly closed the book, feeling a mixture of sadness, happiness and mostly disappointment. I noticed the amount of pages that the book had and was hoping that Armstrong would somehow magically resolve everything but unfortunately there were some plot points that never get touched upon or are mentioned and then ignored. Armstrong did throw some MAJOR curve balls in this last installment and I loved them but as I mentioned, they are never properly fleshed out. One thing I did immensely enjoy about The Reckoning was that there's FINALLY some action between Chloe and Derek. FINALLY. I got my sexy scenes! Woot! And Chloe finally grows a backbone in this last book (not that she wasn't brave before but she was very quiet. She's more vocal this time around). Rating: 3 stars

Final Verdict: After falling in love with the first two books, I was expecting an EPIC ending to one of my  favorite series. Alas, The Reckoning left me wrestling emotionally because while I was happy with how certain things wrapped up, Armstrong unleashed some new more plot lines that won't be properly answered since the series is over. My only hope is that those plot lines will be mentioned in her companion series; I hope Chloe and her crew make cameos :)

Clickables: Kelley's website, Kelley's Twitter, Kelley's Goodreads, Kelley's Amazon page

The new winner of Scars...

Unfortunately the first winner never responded so I was forced to choose a new winner...

The new winner of the Scars givaway is #15 Meadow

Meadow, I've already emailed you and you have 48 hours to claim your prize!

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan

Reading level: Young Adult
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Release Date: June 1, 2010
Source: BookSparks PR

Here Comes the Bride — If She Can Pass Chemistry.

Eighteen-year-old Bronwen Oliver has a secret: She's really Phoebe, the lost daughter of the loving Lilywhite family. That's the only way to explain her image-obsessed mother; a kind but distant stepfather; and a brother with a small personality complex. Bronwen knows she must have been switched at birth, and she can't wait to get away from her "family" for good. Then she meets Jared Sondervan. He's sweet, funny, everything she wants — and he has the family Bronwen has always wanted too. She falls head over heels in love, and when he proposes marriage, she joyfully accepts. But is Jared truly what she needs? And if he's not, she has to ask: What would Phoebe Lilywhite do?

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else, to any reader's eye, seems like the type of book you can quickly gobble up because it seems like a light, uncomplicated story--what takes the reader by surprise, however, is the more serious, underlying element that makes Erin McCahan's debut more than just a fluffy escapist read. Bronwen Oliver had a humerous, quirky voice that pulls the reader into her story and her feelings of alienation within her family feel justifiable as the story goes on: her mother, who seems to love to point out how different her daughter is from the family, will undoubtedly give the reader a lot of sympathy for Bronwen's plight.

But Bronwen's life turns for the better when Jared Sondervan finds his way back into town; sweet, intelligent and with a loving family that Bronwen immediately feels normal with, Jared seems like the perfect dream. I definetely loved Jared-he was very good to Bronwen and the best thing about their relationship was how they gradually fell in love with each other-their relationship wasn't a case of insta-love (which I was extremely thankful of); they slowly became a part of each other's lives and the way their families were included was wonderful to read about. It seemed very natural and not at all forced.

But I Now Pronounce You Someone Else isn't just a love story--if anyone were to think that's all this book was about, they would miss the subtle message that McCahan has placed within the pages. I Now Pronounce You Someone Else is the story of a girl finally finding herself, of coming to the realization that her identity is all her own and that particularly poignant message is what this story so much more than the typical romantic set-up of boy-meets-girl. This novel has layers to peel through and what you'll find is an honest, charming and memorable story that anyone can identify with.

Rating: 4.5

A huge thanks to Christelle for providing me a copy of this book and for giving me the chance to work with BookSparksPR!

Winner of Scars is...

The winner of a signed hardcover copy of Cheryl Rainfield's Scars is

#34 Vivian!
Update: Sadly, the winner never responded. A new winner has been chosen and announced!

I've already emailed you--please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize! And thank you to everyone that entered. I still have that giveaway for Low Red Moon running so if you haven't entered that already, get on it! That ends on September 30th. The link is located on the sidebar under "Contests."

Waiting on Wednesday 38

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

A love out of time. A spaceship built of secrets and murder.

Seventeen-year-old Amy joins her parents as frozen cargo aboard the vast spaceship Godspeed and expects to awaken on a new planet, three hundred years in the future. Never could she have known that her frozen slumber would come to an end fifty years too soon and that she would be thrust into the brave new world of a spaceship that lives by its own rules.

Amy quickly realizes that her awakening was no mere computer malfunction. Someone-one of the few thousand inhabitants of the spaceship-tried to kill her. And if Amy doesn't do something soon, her parents will be next.

Now Amy must race to unlock Godspeed's hidden secrets. But out of her list of murder suspects, there's only one who matters: Elder, the future leader of the ship and the love she could never have seen coming.

Have you heard of Beth Revis' Across The Universe? No? Then you clearly live under a rock. If you haven't already,  you need to read the first chapter. It's got me hooked!

Cupcakes and Writing

I've been noticing that some of the blogs that I visit daily kept mentioning this event called WriteOnCon. I had no clue what it was until I checked it out and it blew me away: WriteOnCon is a free online conference for aspiring writers that offers so much valuable information about the industry, writing, etc. I found this video where Lisa Schroeder discusses romance in YA and she does a great job of explaining the do's and don'ts of writing romantic plots (and subplots) in your work. She also used cupcakes (which was so cute and imaginative!) Take a look :)

Any aspiring writers out there? I'd love to hear from you!

Mini-reviews: Going Too Far & Forget You

Publisher: MTV
Release Date: March 17th 2009
Obtained: From my public library ♥

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

How I wish I had read this sooner! Going Too Far was an electric story from start to finish: Meg and John After were like thunder and lightning-their personalities worked so well together but when one of them would anger the other person? Sparks literally flew off the pages! Meg challenged John's views of the world and John stirred something in Meg that she thought was buried forever. But there's more to GTF than the romace; Echols really gave depth to these characters--she used the stereotypical bad girl meets good cop story and wrote a fantastic story about love, loss and new beginnings. Seriously, read this! Rating: 4.5 Stars

Publisher: MTV
Release Date: July 20th, 2010
Obtained: A friend lent me her copy (Thank you, Kari!)

WHY CAN’T YOU CHOOSE WHAT YOU FORGET . . . AND WHAT YOU REMEMBER?Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug—of all people— suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them? Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her. Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life—a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. (Complete summary on Goodreads)

I did enjoy Forget You but I had an issue with Zoey's character; she annoyed me whenever she mentioned Brandon, her supposed "boyfriend."  Her constant affirmations that they were together grated on my nerves but I understood why she kept repeating herself. She's lost a huge chunk of memories, she's dealing with her mother's breakdown, her father publicly SHAMED the family (seriously, her father is a dirtbag!)... it's expected that she try to exert whatever control she has left of her life. Still, the constant "Brandon is my boyfriend" thing got a little old. But I will say that the scenes between her and Doug were HAWT. (hotter than the ones in GTF!) It's interesting, I found that Doug had more sex appeal than John After but I liked Meg much more than Zoey. Anyways... Forget You was very good although Zoey irked me sometimes.  Rating: 4 stars

Final Verdict: If you haven't familiarized yourself with Jennifer Echols, you should do so immediately. She has that rare ability of enveloping you into her stories and her characters are so layered and realistic; I also greatly admire how her romantic scenes are so tastefully done--they capture the intense love and lust that all teens feel. I will no doubt continue to read her novels in the future. Miss Echols, you have a new fan! :D

Clickables: Jennifer's website, Jennifer's Twitter, Jennifer's Amazon page, Jennifer's Goodreads

Interview with Ivy Devlin+Giveaway!

Stopping by to answer some of my questions today is Ivy Devlin, author of the recently released Low Red Moon! Read on and stick around for the end! (there's a giveaway waiting for you!)

Clickables: Ivy's website, Goodreads, Amazon

If there was someone thinking about buying your novel and you’re next to them-what would you say to convince them to buy it? (Of course, you can’t say you’re the author-that’d be cheating!)

I think I'd be so startled that they were looking at my book that I wouldn't be able to say anything at all! But if I could, say, put up a little card for it, I'd write: "Grief, loss, love...and a murder that must be solved no matter what the cost."

You’ve said that you wrote Low Red Moon because of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. What is it about that fable that you love?
Everything! It's just such an odd and interesting story--it's very dark, which most fairy tales are, but it's one of the few that's stayed dark, you know?

Through her flashbacks, you can tell that Avery’s parents were very loving and always involved in her life. Was your relationship with your parents similar to Avery’s?
My parents and I are close, but no, they aren't anything like Avery's parents! I can imagine them living in the house that Avery's parents do, for instance!

I really loved the connection Avery had to the forest and her appreciation for nature; did you grow up with an admiration for nature as well?
I grew up with nature everywhere and I didn't really appreciate it until I was older. (I wanted to live near a mall! Or other people, at least!)

Is there a planned sequel for Low Red Moon? Or is there another project in the works?
I've got a couple of ideas floating around... (I'm hoping for a sequel!)

Want to know more about Avery? Fill out the form here for a chance to win Ivy Devlin's paranormal debut! (Although greatly appreciated, you do not have to be a follower to enter!) This giveaway will run until September 30th. Open to US addresses only! Good luck to those that enter! This giveaway is now closed!

Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Release Date: September 14, 2010
Source: BEA 2010
Language: English

Synopsis: Avery Hood is reeling from the loss of her parents--and the fact that she can't remember what happened to them even though she was there. She's struggling to adjust to life without them, and to living with her grandmother, when she meets Ben, who isn't like any guy she's ever met before. It turns out there's a reason why, and Ben's secret may hold the key to Avery finding out what happened to her parents... But what if that secret changes everything she knows about--and feels for--Ben?

With a summary that promises a story of part dangerous romance and part murder mystery, Low Red Moon unfortunately managed to deliver only half of what I was expecting. I'll start with what Ivy Devlin did right: Avery was a likeable character and her emotions over losing her parents and the frustration over not being able to remember who killed them felt real. There were flashbacks of Avery's parents and her home life that were interspered throughout the story and I especially enjoyed reading them since parents are many times overlooked in YA; it was great to read about a character who had a realistic and loving relationship with her parents. Avery also felt a strong connection to the forest (which had been her home until her parents were brutally murdered) and as the reader I was able to understand how precious it was to her. Avery's character is where Devlin succeeded in capturing my interest: I truly cared for Avery and what was happening to her. The mystery in the novel was slightly predictable but Devlin made it intriguing enough so that the reader will be pulled into the story and be curious enough to see how everything plays out.

However, there was one detail that bothered me with Low Red Moon. I had trouble believing in Ben and Avery's romance since it was very sudden and it felt like they had fallen more into lust than love. Ben, while sweet, was a static character and it would've been more nice to see his character develop more. He was too perfect and that didn't work for me. But despite this minor drawback, Low Red Moon was a quick read that readers will appreciate more for its mystery than for its romance.

Rating: 3.0

Mini reviews-yay or nay?

There are some books I haven't reviewed yet and I was considering doing mini, bite-sized reviews for them. I usually try to give each book I read a thorough review (I hate how I keep saying "review"! Is there no other word to replace it with?) but now with college exams coming up, I have to manage my time wisely. So I'd like to know what you all think! I'd greatly appreciate your thoughts.

And did you see this trailer for Courtney Summers' Fall For Anything?

It's sufficiently creepy yet alluring at the same time....

I'm hosting a contest over at Squeaky Books!

Enna Isilee of Squeaky Books has asked me to host one of her awesome contests in honor of her Birthday Bash! Here's some info of what this fun event offers... and you'll find out what contest I'm hosting! I know you guys will like this one!

The info: From August 23rd until September 22nd Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books is having a HUGE bash to celebrate her birthday! There are twelve contests, tons of author interviews, and guest posts from over a dozen different YA book bloggers! All winners will be announced on Enna Isilee's birthday (September 22nd) on Enna Isilee's blog (Squeaky Books).

The details: I get to give away a pre-order of Matched by Ally Condie! This highly-acclaimed book will be released November 30th, 2010. You have until September 21st at 11:59 MST to enter. And today, Ennalee featured Ally at Squeaky Books. (Here's the scheduele of all the contests, author interviews and guest posts so you don't miss anything!)

Fill out this form to enter. Contest open to US & Canada only. Good luck!! This contest is now closed!

Waiting on Wednesday 37

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine.

When Eddie Reeves’s father commits suicide her life is consumed by the nagging question of why? Why when he was a legendary photographer and a brilliant teacher? Why when he had a daughter who loved him more than anyone else in the world? When she meets Culler Evans, a former student of her father’s and a photographer himself, an instant and dangerous attraction begins. He seems to know more about her father than she does and could possibly hold the key to the mystery surrounding his death. But Eddie’s vulnerability has weakened her and Culler Evans is getting too close. Her need for the truth keeps her hanging on… but some questions should be left unanswered. Release Date: December 21, 2010

I haven't read Courtney Summers' other two books yet (I'm planning on getting both her books the next time I go to my library!) but Fall For Anything really captures my attention. I assume most people noticed the model of the cover first but I actually focused on the string of pictures above her head... there's just something about this cover that literally commands my attention. o_o

Blog Tour: Interview with Cheryl Rainfield+Giveaway!

Today I'd like to welcome a wonderful author and a truly inspiring person to my blog. Cheryl Rainfield, the author of Scars, has stopped by to answer some of my questions about her novel, her personal reasons for writing it and what she's working on next. Fellow readers, please give a warm welcome for the amazing Cheryl Rainfield!

Links to click: Website, Blog, Twitter 

The cover of Scars is actually a photo of your arms. What does it mean  for you personally to have that image for the cover of your book?
It means a lot to me. It means not hiding my arm or my scars any more, and not being ashamed of them. I spent a lot of years wearing long sleeves. Not hiding my scars, and actually having them be on the cover of Scars is a kind of speaking out, and of saying—this is my history, this is a part of me. I don’t like hiding my scars any more; I refuse to—I think because, being an abuse survivor, I don’t like secrets and shame. Having my own arms on the cover with my scars visible is also a kind of reaching out to others who’ve used self-harm, letting them know they are not alone. I have rarely ever seen anyone else with their self-harm scars visible—maybe twice in my life. To think you’re the only one can feel very lonely, and increase the pain. I want others to know that they’re not alone. I love that WestSide made such a tasteful cover. I was scared that a publisher would make the cover sensationalist, but WestSide was incredibly respectful, and, I think, brave. I think the cover will help reach more people than it would have otherwise; I love that it doesn’t hide the subject, just as my writing doesn’t. It’s breaking silence, and, I hope, encouraging healing.

What has been the most rewarding moment so far since you've gotten this story out there?
The reader letters I keep getting make me feel so good. To hear that a reader who’s been abused and/or used self-harm to cope finds my book real, that she or he deeply identifies with my main character, that she or he wants to share my book with friends so they can understand about self-harm—that is just incredible for me. That is the kind of thing I was hoping for! And then, to hear from other readers who have not been abused or used self-harm to cope, that they couldn’t understand why anyone would use self-harm before they read Scars, but now they “get” it—I was also really hoping for that. I also met two parents whose kids had used self-harm, who both cried when they saw Scars, and I think got some hope. That felt good. Getting blurbs from writers I admire, glowing reviews, and seeing that Scars is selling and really reaching people—all those things have also felt wonderful.

You're not only an author but also a well-known book blogger. :) What's the most recent novel (fictional or non-fictional) that you've really loved?
I’ve been listening to audiobooks the last month and a half instead of reading by sight, since I have a concussion, so that’s been limiting me a bit—but I enjoyed the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and the sequels (though I wish I’d known how much violence and things reminiscent of ritual abuse there were in the books before I started). The last YA novel I read that stands out to me, that I absolutely loved, was Tanya Egan Gibson’s How to Buy a Love of Reading. It had so much depth and richness, a fantastic story, and such beautiful writing.

I'm always inspired by quotes so I was wondering if you had any particular favorites that you'd like to share?
I love quotes, too. (smiling) Here are some of my favourites:

“We read to know we are not alone.”-CS Lewis

“I will not take a young reader through a story and in the end abandon him. That is, I will not write a book that closes in despair. I cannot, will not, withhold from my young readers the harsh realities of human hunger and suffering and loss, but neither will I neglect to plant that stubborn seed of hope that has enabled our race to outlast wars and famines and the destruction of death.”
- Katherine Paterson , A Sense of Wonder: On Reading and Writing Books for Children

“Write what you want to read. The person you know best in this world is you. Listen to yourself. If you are excited by what you are writing, you have a much better chance of putting that excitement over to a reader.”
- Robin McKinley, author of Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast

“The rule of the writer is not to say what we can all say but what we are unable to say.” - Anais Nin.

“You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection." -The Buddha

“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to
see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.” -Anonymous

Are you working on any other projects currently?
Yes. I’m working on two different YA novels (and have others in the works). One is a paranormal fantasy about a teen with telepathy in a society where she can be enslaved for that, so she’s often on the run for her life. The other is an edgy realistic novel about a girl with a port-wine stain who is abducted, and has to face her abductor and free herself, while working through some body issues. All of my manuscripts have bits of abuse in them—pieces of things I’ve been through myself, and woven into fiction. I try to put small pieces of my experience into my fiction so that there’s truth that resonates but hopefully it’s not overwhelming, the way I think it would be if I put everything into one book. I think it’s important for books to have emotional truth in them, as well as to entertain.

I love those quotes! And the sound of those YA novels! Thank you Cheryl for taking the time to answer my questions and I hope everyone was inspired to pick up a copy of Scars. It is such a great book! And thanks to Teen {Book} Scene, one of you will be able to get a signed copy!

 To enter this giveaway, please fill out the form. (While greatly appreciated, you do not have to be a follower to enter this giveaway!) This giveaway will run for two weeks and ends on the 21st. Open to the U.S. only. This giveaway is now closed.

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In My Mailbox 34

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme where you get to show off all the cool books you receive! This meme was inspired by Alea and memefied by Kristi.

The days keep flying by! This is what I've gotten in the past two weeks.

Bought from B&N:

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (This shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. I think everyone on the PLANET bought this book the day it came out--I managed to find a signing and met Suzanne Collins for 10.5 seconds. The moment was so brief and yet so inspiring. I did a post about it if you want to see.)

For blog tours:

I Now Pronounce You Someone Else by Erin McCahan (thanks to Christelle and BookSparks PR for providing me with a finished copy!)

Split by Swati Avasthi (I've got two copies--one for me and one for a lucky winner. Kudos to Teen {Book} Scene for being so awesome!)

From the publisher:
The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (I have been waiting MONTHS for this book-I am in love with the cover and the story sounds lovely. I can't wait to start this! A million thanks to Melanie and Zondervan for providing me with a gorgeous finished copy! ♥)