Friday, June 28, 2013

Currently Reading - July 2013

After much deliberation, THESE are the books that are getting an all expenses paid vacation to Key West. There they will enjoy a gorgeous view of the Atlantic Ocean, sand between their pages, and sunblock smears across their covers.


  • Sarah Dessen's LOCK & KEY
  • Deb Caletti's THE STORY OF US
  • Trish Doller's WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE (yes, I already read it and it's *that* good that I want a second read already)
  • Veronica Roth's DIVERGENT
  • Sara Zarr's THE LUCY VARIATIONS
Happy July Reading!

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Writers Like Us - Tera Lynn Childs

Continuing with my mermaid book binge, I'm so happy to have Tera Lynn Childs here! Tera is the author of FORGIVE MY FINS, one of the cutest and funniest mermaid books in my collection. I loved the humor and romance and light fantasy in her story. If you want a really fun mermaid read with just enough adventure, you want this one!

Her answers are below in bold. Let us know what makes Tera like you in the comments.

Tera on Writing

  • I've written 13 books, and 9 have seen the light of day.
  • My favorite type of scene/character/setting to write is:
    • scene: action, lots of butt-kicking
    • character: the mean girl... with a heart of gold
    • setting: exotic and fun
  • No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with procrastination.
  • A typical comment from my critique partner is "What happened to [insert name of character who disappeared halfway through book]?"
  • The book I wished I wrote is, at the moment, Premeditated by Josin McQuein.

Tera on Getting Published

  • If my agent really knew how crazy I was, she would find out... nothing surprising. She knows. Oh, she knows.
  • When I was querying, I felt determined.
  • The biggest mistake I ever made querying was sending a simultaneous submission to an agency that doesn't "accept" them (but I don't regret it one bit).
  • The craziest thought I've ever had while being published is "If I could just get to the next rung on the ladder, everything will be easier." Applies to all of the above.
  • When I got "The Call," my first thought was "Don't crash the car."
  • When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I cried. And I am not a "happy tears" girl.

Tera on Life Outside Writing

  • If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a web designer.
  • Secretly, I'm terrified of the apocalypse.
  • My secret girlfriend/boyfriend is Newark mayor Cory Booker.
  • Sometimes, when no one is around, I reorganize things by color. Like books. And clothes. And iPhone apps.

      Monday, June 24, 2013

      For Your TBR Pile - Where The Stars Still Shine

      WHERE THE STARS STILL SHINE by Trish Doller

      When it will be published: September 24, 2013

      From GoodReadsStolen as a child from her large and loving family, and on the run with her mom for more than ten years, Callie has only the barest idea of what normal life might be like. She's never had a home, never gone to school, and has gotten most of her meals from laundromat vending machines. Her dreams are haunted by memories she’d like to forget completely. But when Callie’s mom is finally arrested for kidnapping her, and Callie’s real dad whisks her back to what would have been her life, in a small town in Florida, Callie must find a way to leave the past behind. She must learn to be part of a family. And she must believe that love--even with someone who seems an improbable choice--is more than just a possibility.

      What I liked most: The real reason I love Trish's work is her ability to hit all the right notes to tell the perfect story. She masters at pulling the reader right in from the first page, and carrying that story through to the end while blending just enough suspense, heartbreak, and romance. I love how she writes setting. The town of Tarpon Springs was rich and alive. While I've never been there, I can only imagine, with as much detail as Trish put in her writing, I would find it exactly as she described it.

      What I love most about Trish's work is that it's familiar and real. Her stories aren't full of characters I wish I could be--they are people I know already and feel for before I ever turn a page. They are my friend who joined the army right after high school and left to tour Iraq for four years, who returned forever changed. And they are that girl who was lost only to be found in ways she never thought she wanted to be. Trish's books focus on the stories that maybe hurt a little too much to read, but are the stories that need to be told. They are the stories I wish I could tell, if I weren't so scared. It's this kind of fearless writing that makes her my absolute favorite author and a woman I admire to the moon and back.

      Why you should have it in your TBR pile: This is Trish's sophomore novel, and now the second book I've had a hard time getting over and moving on to other books. I stayed up until 3 AM to finish this one. I had one hell of a reading hangover the next morning, and it was worth every moment!

      The one scene I'm dying for you to read: There are quite a few scenes between Callie and her father that are just heart-wrenchingly beautiful. I couldn't imagine reuniting with a parent who I was taken from and then reunited with. It's even harder to imagine how that parent would try to parent me and establish guidelines and rules. The fumblings between these two were incredible to read, and unforgettable after I put the book down.

      Thursday, June 20, 2013

      Clan MacLeod Gets Wreckless

      When our agency sister, Bria Quinlan, first told us that she was publishing her YA contemporary WRECKLESS, we all were thrilled. Then we got the book and let's just say things took a turn for the worse...

      Clan MacLeod got WRECKLESS.


      Hélène Boudreau 


      Mónica B. W.


      Robert Lettrick


      Valerie Cole


      Holly Bodger


      Jodi Meadows


      Lizzie Friend


      **New Addition: Sashi Kaufman**


      Slushpuppy AKA Lushpuppy


      We love you, Bria!!! <3

      And don't forget, you can nab your own copy and get a little wreckless:


      Wreckless…Where obsession and rebellion collide. Bridget Larson's never met a rule she didn’t like. Drawing inside the lines isn’t just a way of life – it’s the only way she can make it through the day. And through it all her BFF Leah has stood inside those lines and weathered the unspeakable with her. Then Bridget catches her boyfriend with Leah--and the last thing on her mind is staying safe.

      Salvation… A bad boy and his jacked up pickup. Jake Moore was everything she needed and nothing he claimed to be. With one night of freedom and a spontaneously scribbled Rebellion List, Jake leads Bridget down every path she thought was forbidden... And into the one place she'd thought was lost to her forever.

      Tuesday, June 18, 2013

      Writers Like Us - Leigh Ann Kopans

      When writer friend and YA author Leigh Ann Kopans released her YA superhero debut last week, I knew I wanted her to do Writers Like Us...just with ONE big twist.


      Her answers are below in bold. Let us know what makes Leigh Ann like you in the comments.


      Leigh Ann on Writing

      • The FIRST story I ever wrote was not too long ago! I started in January 2011. It was a YA time-travel romance. I'm planning to rewrite it this year. :D 
      • My ONE favorite type of scene to write is scenes with emotional, soul-baring conversations.
      • When I FIRST started writing, I thought there was only one way to write, and only one way to be published. Now I know that there are as many paths as there are writers.
      • My FIRST critique partner taught me where punctuation goes in relationship to quotation marks. (Sorry, Gina!) But most of all, how to deliver tough critique with friendliness and grace. Love you, girl. 
      • No matter how long I've written, the ONE thing I still struggle with is PACING! I can't seem to shake that damn slow start for the life of me, even when I beat sheet and outline.


      Leigh Ann on Self Publishing

      • The ONE thing I wish people knew about self publishing is that it's not a last-ditch effort - it's REAL publishing, and it can be lucrative and LOTS of fun.
      • The FIRST person I told when I decided to self publish is my right-hand CP and bestie Jamie Grey. She's been amazing since day ONE. 
      • My ONE biggest challenge with self publishing is focusing on more than one project at a time. I currently have three or four on my plate, all in different stages of production, because the time between releases is much shorter in the self-published world. I had to get into an entirely different head just to answer these interview questions. :D
      • The ONE thing I love the most about self published authors is how humble and helpful they are. Each one of us is doing the work of several publishing professionals, but you wouldn't know it from talking to them. And because they are such treasure-troves of business knowledge, they're an amazing resource and very generous with lending a hand. 


      Leigh Ann on Life Outside of Writing

      • The ONE thing that scares me is that everyone secretly hates me, even my best friends and husband. I have serious social anxiety. 
      • My ONE secret girlfriend/boyfriend is Zachary Levy from Chuck and "Tangled." He's not buff, and he's not cool, but OMG do I love him. 
      • My ONE secret power is writing FAST. NaNoWriMo is like no biggie. Seriously.
      • But if I had a SECOND, it would be never having to sleep. Think of all the books I could write!

      Tuesday, June 11, 2013

      Writers Like Us - CJ Redwine

      If you really need a reason to love CJ Redwine, let me point you to her blog. Specifically this post or this one or even this one. If you need another reason, how about because she wrote DEFIANCE. What about a third reason? Oh, because she's doing Writers Like Us this week!


      Her answers are below in bold. Let us know what makes CJ like you in the comments.

      CJ on Writing

      • I've written 6 books, and 2 have seen the light of day.
      • My favorite type of scene/character/setting to write is damaged characters trying to save the day.
      • No matter how long I've been writing, I still have issues with knowing exactly where to begin the story.
      • A typical comment from my critique partner is "are you sure you started in the right place?"
      • The book I wished I wrote is The Girl of Fire & Thorns by Rae Carson.


      CJ on Getting Published

      • If my agent or editor really knew how crazy I was, she would find out well ... since I post my craziest stunts on my blog on a regular basis, I think both my agent & my editor know exactly how crazy I really am. :) Also, in my first conversation with my fabulous editor, the first thing out of my mouth was "Last night I had a dream that I showed up at Harper Collins dressed as a llama! I mean ... hi."
      • When I was querying, I felt determined. I just kept writing the next project while querying my current one because the best way to succeed in this business is to keep writing.
      • The biggest mistake I ever made querying was querying too early. Most first books aren't the one you should query!
      • The craziest thought I've ever had while being published is "Why did I agree to write a trilogy? Maybe I should just kill everyone off in book two."
      • When I got "The Call," my first thought was relief and disbelief. I just laid my head down and cried. I'd been with my agent for two years. This was the third book we'd subbed, and I fully expected it not to sell either.
      • When I saw my book sale in Publishers Marketplace, I screen capped it and tried to believe that this was really happening.


      CJ on Life Outside Writing

      • If I weren't a writer, I'd probably be a professional book reviewer. Or a ninja. Or BOTH.
      • Secretly, I'm terrified of moths! Gah! Fluttery little agents of Satan.
      • My secret girlfriend/boyfriend is Benedict Cumberbatch. I mean ... have you HEARD him speak? Yes.
      • Sometimes, when no one is around, I crank up Shinedown and sing at the top of my lungs.

      Monday, June 10, 2013

      For Your TBR Pile - Wreckless

      WRECKLESS by Bria Quinlan

      When it will be published: June 13, 2013

      From GoodReadsWreckless…Where obsession and rebellion collide. Bridget Larson's never met a rule she didn’t like. Drawing inside the lines isn’t just a way of life – it’s the only way she can make it through the day. And through it all her BFF Leah has stood inside those lines and weathered the unspeakable with her. Then Bridget catches her boyfriend with Leah--and the last thing on her mind is staying safe.

      Salvation… A bad boy and his jacked up pickup. Jake Moore was everything she needed and nothing he claimed to be. With one night of freedom and a spontaneously scribbled Rebellion List, Jake leads Bridget down every path she thought was forbidden... And into the one place she'd thought was lost to her forever.


      What I liked most: Not only is Bria my agency sister, but I like to also call her my writer soul mate. Her stories can easily be described as teen romantic comedies that pack a whole lotta heart. What I liked most about WRECKLESS was the story was fun and sweeps the reader up in all the excitement of the Rebellion List...until you realize just what's at stake for Bridget.

      Why you should have it in your TBR pile: Because WRECKLESS is the perfect read to kick your summer off right. Throw a little Luke Bryan on your playlist and get ready to go to the country fair, drive around with a cute boy in his jacked up pickup truck, and cause some trouble.

      PLUS THAT COVER! GORGEOUS!

      The one scene I'm dying for you to read: The party scene for sure. Let's just say a boy's truck is threatened and there's fire mentioned. Quite a few times. You'll just have to read and see if arson makes Bridget's list.
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