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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Author Interview with Jill Hathaway and Signed Bookmarks Giveaway


BIO: Jill Hathaway lives in the Des Moines area with her husband and young daughter. Having earned her BA in English Education from the University of Northern Iowa and her MA in Literature from Iowa State University, she teaches high school English and dual credit courses for Des Moines Area Community College.
Contact Jill: Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

 Slide (Slide, #1)
Vee Bell is certain of one irrefutable truth—her sister’s friend Sophie didn’t kill herself. She was murdered. 

Vee knows this because she was there. Everyone believes Vee is narcoleptic, but she doesn’t actually fall asleep during these episodes: When she passes out, she slides into somebody else’s mind and experiences the world through that person’s eyes. She’s slid into her sister as she cheated on a math test, into a teacher sneaking a drink before class. She learned the worst about a supposed “friend” when she slid into her during a school dance. But nothing could have prepared Vee for what happens one October night when she slides into the mind of someone holding a bloody knife, standing over Sophie’s slashed body. 

Vee desperately wishes she could share her secret, but who would believe her? It sounds so crazy that she can’t bring herself to tell her best friend, Rollins, let alone the police. Even if she could confide in Rollins, he has been acting off lately, more distant, especially now that she’s been spending more time with Zane. 
Enmeshed in a terrifying web of secrets, lies, and danger and with no one to turn to, Vee must find a way to unmask the killer before he or she strikes again.

***
Hey guys. Today is author, Jill Hathaway's release day for her debut novel SLIDE. Yay! 
I have a little Q&A with Jill and then a giveaway for some super shiny *signed bookmarks! 

Let's get to know a little more about Jill..

1.      Can you tell us what inspired you to become a writer?

J.H.  I don't know that anything really INSPIRED me to do it. I just like writing and making up stories. Things just pop into my head, and one day I started writing them down!

 2.      How long did it take you to write SLIDE? During that time did you come across any blocks/times that you couldn’t write?

 J.H.  It only took me 4-6 weeks to write the rough draft, but dude, it was ROUGH. I had to completely rewrite it the summer after I signed with Sarah Davies. Then I rewrote it several more times for my editor, Donna Bray. I didn't really experience writer's block during that time.

3.      What inspired you to write SLIDE?

J.H.  I wanted a really great hook, and I thought it would be neat if the main character found herself standing over a dead body with no idea of what happened. The sliding evolved from that seed idea.

 4.      What is it that you’re exploring in this book?

J.H.  In Publishers Weekly's review of SLIDE, they mention the theme of empathy. Because Vee is able to literally walk in other people's shoes, she gets to know their lives in a really intimate way. This greatly affects her world view.

 5.      Who is your favorite character in this book, and why?

J.H.  Probably Rollins, but I won't say why. You'll have to read and find out! :)

6.      Do you have a favorite story to tell about being interviewed about your book?

J.H.  Nope, sorry!

 7.      What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

J.H.  I wish people asked me what my favorite cartoon as a child was. (Jem)

 8.      Which authors have been most influential to your own writing?

J.H.  Someone once compared my writing to R.L. Stine or Christopher Pike, and I thought that was cool. 

 9.      If you weren't writing, what would you want to be doing for a living? What are some of your other passions in life?

J.H. I'm a high school teacher during the school year. It pretty much rocks. I also like to paint pictures of shrubberies and rock out to A Perfect Circle.

 10.   If you could have written one book in history, what book would that be?

J.H. The Shining

 11.   Tell us about the biggest challenges you face in your writing process.

J.H. Right now, it's writing another book that will live up to the concept of SLIDE. It's killing me a little.

12.   Please list seven random likes; then do the same for dislikes, go way random.

J.H.  Likes:   wiggly french fries, Jared Leto, the smell of early spring, going to the movies by myself, rainbow sprinkles, school supplies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer

J.H. Dislikes:  candy corn, working out, the smell of old dictionaries, boy bands, death, public speaking, the word probletunity

13.   Is there anything that you’re working on that we need to be looking out for?

J.H. SLIDE's sequel, IMPOSTOR!!!

Thank you so much, Jill. Congratulations on your big day!

Thanks for having me!! <3 <3 <3

***
HAPPY SLIDE DAY!

Wanna read the first few chapters? Go for it. Right --> HERE!    

Now for the goods. I have a few of signed bookmarks to giveaway. 
Standard procedure guys. Everyone is welcome to participate.

 Deets:
1. One entry per person.
2. You must be 13 or older.
3. Giveaway is International.
4. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 7th.

Enter Giveaway --> HERE! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!
Happy Reading & Arrivederci

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Exclusive Cover Reveal - PASSENGER (The Marbury Lens, #2) by Andrew Smith

Jack and Conner have a plan. 

They think it's the only reasonable way to deal with the Marbury lens. 

But the four boys - Jack, Conner, Ben, and Griffin - end up scattered in different places at different times. Jack is lost in a Marbury that isn't Marbury, a Glenbrook that isn't Glenbrook, pursued through every crumbling not-world by an uncaring cop trying to solve the mystery of Freddie Horvath's murder, and a deceitful kid named Quinn Cahill who believes he is the King of Marbury. Jack's universe is collapsing in on itself. He finds his friends. He finds his home. 

There's always just one thing, and Jack knows it. 

This can't be it.

***

Thanks to Andrew Smith for allowing me to be one of the four blogs to reveal this spectacular cover. PASSENGER is the highly anticipated sequel to THE MARBURY LENS and will be released Fall 2012. 

Also, stay tuned for the event coming up to celebrate the release. For now we're calling it: Smith Saturdays. The event will kick off in June on my blog. The other blogs are:

Friday, March 23, 2012

#PitchDarkDays Event Wrap-Up w/ Interview & Giveaway @harperteen @Pitchdarkbooks


So, if you know me very well at all, you know how much I dig going to author events and how excited about this particular event I have been, because not only were there going to be multiple authors,( Lauren Oliver,  Dan Wells and Claudia Gray!) there were going to be tons of bloggers attending as well. Yay! So, during the weeks before, I had arranged for a bunch of us bloggers to go to dinner after the event. What everyone didn't know is that I also asked the authors if they wanted to join us as well. (When they were through with the signing.) Yay again!

The event went pretty standard. It took place at my local Barnes and Noble Bookstore . 
(Thank goodness I didn't have to drive forever like some of the other bloggers, yes they came from all surrounding states! That's right, Southern Bookbloggers! Huzzah.)  
B&N was simply packed. I arrived super early, got seats and met up with a few blogger friends. I already had my books tabbed and ready to be signed so I could interview the authors before the event.

***

Let's get to know a little more about Dan, Lauren and Claudia. Shall we...

Amy: How long does it take you to write your books?

Dan: This is the first year I haven't had two books coming out. I only have one book out this year: Partials, which took me about three months to write and three months to revise. I try to write about half the work day. I treat it like a full-time job, but half my time is spent...you know, doing other things. If I actually tried to sit down and write an eight-hour shift, I’d probably kill someone. But when I revise...revision can really be all-night, double-shift, whatever it takes to get the book done. 


Lauren: Typically, it takes me about eight months to a year to get a solid first draft, and a few months to revise with my editor.

Claudia: I'm still kind of figuring that out. Earlier in my career, when I had a job and was writing on the side, it took me a little longer. Now that I'm writing full-time it's a little quicker, but it really depends. When I was working on the Evernight series, I was supposed to be publishing a book every six months. Somehow, I managed to write Stargazer in five months—that was probably the quickest. But my first book took me a year and a half.

Amy: Do you like to have the book finished before submitting it for publication?

Lauren: I’ve sold all my books on proposal, which means I’ve written about 20,000 words and outlined the rest.

Dan: In the case of Partials, it worked a little differently for me. Harper actually came to my agent, Sarah Crowe; they were looking for one of her clients to write some post-apocalyptic fiction. They pitched me some ideas, and I liked some of them, but I pitched my own idea back and that’s the one we ran with. My other books have all been “finish it first, then submit it.”

Claudia: I really like to have the book written and sell it that way, but my first experience was somewhat like Dan’s, even though I’d already started on Evernight. This was back in the dawn of time, as you’ll see—back when there were pterodactyls in the sky, because Harper called my agent and asked whether she had any clients writing teen paranormal. They couldn’t find any!

Dan: Imagine a time before teen paranormal.

Claudia: Yeah, right. And at the time I was packing to move, and my agent told me to drop everything and write as much of Evernight as I could. It was one of the fastest writing surges ever, because I had the choice between writing or backbreaking labor. So, each time I was contemplating the boxes, I wrote instead.

Amy: Is all of your work published at the same house?

Lauren: Yup. I actually threatened to get a “Property of Harper” tattoo!

Dan: My YA is with Harper, with Balzer and Bray, and my adult series is with Tor Books.

Claudia: Mostly HarperTeen. I mean, I did some work-for-hire for Disney, fairy books, totally different stuff.

Dan: Like the Pixie Hollow books? My daughter loves those.

Claudia: Yeah. That was actually more challenging than you’d think, because you can’t include any interpersonal conflict but there must still be a plot.


Amy: Any favorite stories about being interviewed?

Claudia: I was on a live morning show in Colombia, and the studio audience was up with me on the stage—which is fairly typical, but for some reason that day it was all school children and nuns. I had a translator with me, because I don’t speak Spanish. The questions started out typical, what you’d expect, but over the course of the interview they started veering increasingly off topic. And then, suddenly, the translator turns to me and says: “The interviewer would like to know what your feelings are about Batman?” I had no idea how we’d gotten to that point in the conversation.

Lauren: An Italian journalist once told me I was not as stupid as most Americans. Or women.


Amy: Have any authors been particularly influential?

DanAA Milne. When I was a kid I had big bookshelf full of stuff, because my parents were awesome. And I had Winnie The Pooh, which was okay, but next to it was The Christopher Robin Poems. I’ve worn out two different copies of that book, and I’m working on my third. Reading that book as a kid is what convinced me to be an author, because AA Milne was having so much fun. He wasn’t just writing, he was playing with words.

Claudia: If you’re a really avid reader, that question is a little like: what's best oxygen you’ve ever breathed? You know, all of it. But the book I've probably learned the most from—it’s not my favorite, but it’s the book that taught me the most about how to structure a popular novel--is Gone with The Wind. That book is 1100 pages, spans twelve years, and it never slows down. I once counted, and there are one hundred characters with some kind of plot arc, and that doesn’t even count the ancillary characters. And it’s full of these incredibly memorable scenes, like the burning of Atlanta. Any author would be glad to have one scene like that in the book, and this has dozens. She just does a really great job with wrangling an incredibly complex plot.

Amy: Have you written any poetry?

Dan: I was a poet for a long time, although I haven’t written poetry since I started trying to make it as a novelist. 

AmyWhat’s the biggest challenge you face as an author?

Dan: I have five kids and I work at home. I've started working at the library.

Claudia: Learning to tell your good ideas from your bad ones. Knowing which ideas to pursue and which ideas you can just, you know, think about in the shower for a few days.

Lauren: Plotting. I know that’s a pretty big one, but it’s true.

Dan: The hardest part of writing is writing.        

Amy: Has an editor ever asked you to scrap what you have and start over?

Lauren: No. However, I do have to go back and edit.

Dan: Editing means killing my darlings but the end is always better for it.

Claudia: No, but I will take suggestions from my editor.

***
Okay! So, very groovy right? I also learned that Lauren pretty much uses her Blackberry to write everything in. Yeah, like all of her notes and drafts for her books. Crazy, right? And Claudia doesn't write any notes down at all. Wow. The wonders of being a novelist!
All three authors have upcoming novels and tons of ideas brewing so be on the look-out!

To end the special afternoon a bunch of us went to dinner with Dan, Claudia and Lauren. 

 
How cool is that?

From left to right.

Claudia, Lauren and me!

Alli, Kelsey and me.

From left to right

It was an amazing day. And that's all I have to say about that.

Now for the goods. I have a couple of signed books to giveaway. 
One signed copy of Partials and one signed copy of Delirium - Special Edition (new cover).
I will also pick a 3rd winner randomly to receive a swag pack with signed bookplates from all 3 authors.

Standard procedure guys. Everyone is welcome to participate. 

The Deets:
1. One entry per person.
2. You must be 13 or older.
3. Giveaway is International.
4. Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m. on April 7th.

Enter Giveaway --> HERE! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Reading & Arrivederci

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Earthquake Machine by Mary Pauline Lowry got a makeover. Check it.

The Earthquake Machine

The book every girl should read;
and every girl’s parents hope she’ll never read.


The Earthquake Machine tells the story of 14 year-old Rhonda. On the outside, everything looks perfect in Rhonda’s world, but at home Rhonda has to deal with a manipulative father who keeps her mentally ill mother hooked on pharmaceuticals. The only reliable person in Rhonda’s life is her family’s Mexican yardman, Jesús. But when the INS deports Jesús back to his home state of Oaxaca, Rhonda is left alone with her increasingly painful family situation.

Determined to find her friend Jésus, Rhonda seizes an opportunity to run away during a camping trip with friends to Big Bend National Park. She swims to the Mexican side of the Rio Grande and makes her way to the border town of Milagros, Mexico. There a peyote- addled bartender convinces her she won’t be safe traveling alone into the country’s interior. So with the bartender’s help, Rhonda cuts her hair and assumes the identity of a Mexican boy named Angel. She then sets off on a burro across the desert to look for Jesús. Thus begins a wild adventure that fulfills the longing of readers eager for a brave and brazen female protagonist.



Mary Pauline Lowry has worked as a forest firefighter, screenwriter, open water lifeguard, construction worker, and advocate in the movement to end violence against women. Due to no fault of her sweet parents, at 15 she ran away from home and made it all the way to Matamoros, Mexico. She believes women and girls should make art, have adventures, and read books that show them the way. 

More info (and a glimpse of the original cover) can be found at:
marypaulinelowry.com
Copies of The Earthquake Machine with the new cover will be available in a few weeks.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

TLoLM Spring Break Blog Tour - Author Interview & goodies w/ Becky Banks!


Hey guys! Welcome back to The Legend of Lady MacLaoch Spring Break 2012 Blog Tour.
I have some juicy info for you.. Check out my super-spicy interview the Awesome Becky Banks.



Thank you Amy for having me, and for donating a puck of your very coveted flamingo pink surfboard wax to the tour giveaway!

1. What is it that you're exploring in The Legend of Lady MacLaoch?

BBThis is such a great question. I feel like every book at the 10,000-foot view level has an underlying question that it is exploring. The Legend of Lady MacLaoch is the discovery of love, of course it has action and adventure, but in its boiled-down stripped-of-everything state, it is that.  The way I write is purely by the seat of my pants so many of these insights have come in the last year, like the creative, you don’t know where it comes from, only when it moves you, you must respond. This story however once it was complete made me realize several things. Love is timeless, it is ancient and it is powerful – all of which is shown in the curse then in  subtleties between the two main characters as they discover love. 


2. How long did it take you to write The Legend of Lady MacLaoch? During that time did you experience any blocks/times that you weren't able to write?

BB. It took me approximately three weeks to write The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, then a year to edit it into the final version that you've read. The writing of it was fast and furious, when I couldn't write, it was usually from mental exhaustion, because at the time I was working a full time job and writing the book before work, at my lunch then before I went to bed. On the weekends, I wrote all day. Needless to say after publication I had a little meltdown – sort of like a marathon runner who collapses at the finish line! LOL!

I feel I should add though, that before Legend of Lady MacLaoch I wrote two separate manuscripts and have yet to finish them. I gave up because I put too many constraints on myself – I expected that I should be able to write a book in its final version the first time through. The critic was so loud in my mind with those two that I got permanent writers block. Then with The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, I was so full of piss n’ vinegar that I wrote straight to the end without pausing to think about what I was doing. Only after I completed it, did I then allow the critic within to come out. 


3. Please list seven random likes; then do the same for dislikes, go way random.


BB. Okay, this is gonna be fun!!

Likes: Sunshine, Pugs, Ocean, Scotland, Fast cars, Good food, Funny people

Dislikes: Assholes, Micro-managersPeople telling me what to do (are we seeing a theme here?) Gum/gum chewing, Pinching my fingers, Eating under ripe bananas, The ants that are cruising across my counter right now, like they own the place.


4. What question are you never asked in interviews but wish you were?

BB. What bra size are you? 32 G!?


5. If you could have written one book in history, what book would that be?


BB. The Bible. JUST KIDDING.  You know, I’m not sure that I wish I could have written any other book than the ones I do. Simply because I adore reading other people’s work, but if I had to choose one book it’d have to be Habibi. Habibi is an intricately drawn graphic novel and if I had an ounce of that graphic skill I’d take over the world, with my pen.  


6. Is there anything that you’re working on that we need to be looking out for?

BB. Yes!! And no it’s not the sequel to The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, sorry ladies! My newest work is titled Forged. Its debut is later this year but as it gets ready to head out to the editors this month I’ll be doing a reveal this Sunday at the blog.

The story is about one man’s violent past and the loss of his first and only love. It’s a gritty, dark, fast and redeeming “love story” that explores the question of first loves: What if your life moved in a way that brought you back together with the person you first gave your heart to?
For those that liked the vividness of The Legend of Lady MacLaoch, you can expect the same from Forged. Vivid, fast, gritty and emotionally involving. 


7. Do you have a favorite story to tell about being interviewed about your book?


BB. I do, it was for Good E Reader – in the practice run I was like a smooth operator then when it came to go time, I sat there with my mouth hanging open. Here, check it out, me speechless – my mother would say: finally!

8. Tell us about the biggest challenges you face in your writing process.

BB. The most difficult thing about my writing process is trying to figure out what in the world I’m doing halfway through. Because I’m a pantser, I write by the seat of my pants to the climax then I have to draw out an outline for the finish. Creating that outline is the most difficult because I have to memorize every detail from page one to that point and make sure that all loose ends/conversations/etc. are all in line.  But as I say, waaaaay easier than my statistics course in college!
  
9. Which authors have been most influential to your own writing?


BB. Well, I have to say two books influenced me the most. The Bernstein Bears and Madeline L. Lingle’s a Wrinkle in Time. I wasn’t a huge fan of reading as a kid so these stuck with me because I can remember, still, reading them for the first time. Though I have to say that it wasn’t necessarily books or authors that influenced me the most, it was cinema. One of my most beloved past times was watching movies with my father. We seldom had extended time with him so when he would bring home movies we (my brother and I) would just go nuts. The action adventures with strong female leads are the ones that resonate deepest with me. One in particular that is a wonderfully fierce and funny movie called The Long Kiss Goodnight. I still love this movie; it’s right up there with Top Gun. Ha-ha!




10. What inspired you to write this particular book? Is there a story about the writing of this novel that begs to be told?

BB. The idea more or less began during the infamous trip to Scotland in 2009. It was an amazing trip and while I had started the manuscript prior to going, the story evolved while there and solidified on my return. The overarching lessons to be taken away from the novel are unique to each reader; much like other forms of art I've discovered that each person has a different take on the novel. While I’d love to say that I want women to see the strength in Cole and impart some of that sass into their lives, I know that the book will resonate differently with every reader. What each reader (and a handful of them are men) take away will be unique, and as long as there is enjoyment and happiness with it? I’m content.


11. Can you tell us what inspired you to become a writer?

BB. It wasn’t until I was solidly in my career in environmental sciences (not as a writer mind you) that I realized I wanted to write a novel. It came about more as a personal challenge - after having read a book I thought I could do better than (who will remain unnamed!) - And I began writing my first manuscript. I’d go on to start and start two others before I began and finished The Legend of Lady MacLaoch.



12. Who is your favorite character in this book, and why?

BB. Well, it’d be Rowan. The main character is one of my favorites for obvious reasons – the major one being that he’s HOT. :0) However, if we dig deeper into his persona, he’s an honorable, quiet and mischievous character. All my characters come to me through representations of people I know then I mold them into what I consider ideal. I come from a family of sweet talking men - seriously my grandfather once talked his way out of a mandatory airline fee - so taking those qualities mixed with deep honor then blending him with the Scottish bartender that I met on my trip to Scotland, whallah! Rowan was born. And I have to say with his dark past, rich emotion and power he holds, it made him the funnest to write.

13. If you weren't writing, what would you want to be doing for a living? What are some of your other passions in life?

BB. This is always an interesting question for me because I came late to the realization that I was a writer, as in, I realized I wanted to be a writer about five years ago. But as I've learned over these past few years you don’t just wake up and be a writer, you've probably been writing for years not realizing that writing is your craft. I’m one of those people; I've been doing personal creative writing since I was a child. Diary entries, bad poetry, emotional diatribes things like that. It wasn't until the college fiction writing course I mentioned above that I realized I had any knack for it.

Because I’ve just arrived onto the writing scene there is little else I want to do besides write right now. Though I do fill my days when I’m not writing, with working part time at my old career in the environmental field, gardening, bossing my dogs and husband around, and generally being a nuisance to people I know. It’s quite fulfilling! :0)
      


The Goods:

1. The Legend of Lady MacLaoch 2012 Blog Tour Flamingo Bag
1. Pink Fuzzy Flamingo Drink Koozie
1. Puck of Pink Surfboard (MR. ZOGS) SEX WAX
                          1. Fabuloso Autographed Pb of The Legend of Lady MacLaoch


*Spring Break Giveaway is Available to US participants Only
*International participants will receive an ebook & email high-five

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

TLoLM Spring Break Blog Tour - Review & Goodies - The Legend of Lady MachLaoch by Becky Banks

  

Welcome to The Legend of Lady MachLaoch Spring Break Tour! Take a look at my thoughts on this breathtaking novel and make sure you enter the raffle. We have epic prizes to giveaway.

The Legend of Lady Maclaoch
Title & Author:
The Legend of Lady MachLaoch by Becky Banks
Publisher: 
Ha'iku Press
Publication Date:
May 27, 2011
Pages:
260
Source:
Author

A legendary love, an unforgiving curse, and the discovery of a lifetime ... 
Centuries ago a vengeful curse buried itself deep into the history of the MacLaoch clan and become a legendary tale told by all those not cursed by its words. 
In present-day Scotland, the laird and chieftain of the MacLaoch clan is an ex-Royal Air Force fighter pilot who has been past the gates of hell and returned a changed man. Rowan MacLaoch does battle with wartime memories and a family curse that threaten to consume him—unaware that his life and that of the history of the clan will be changed forever by the arrival of an American woman. 
Cole Baker, a feisty recent graduate of a master’s program, stumbles upon the ancient curse while researching her bloodlines. Moved by the history of the MacLaoch clan and the mystery of its chief, she digs into the legend that had been anything but quiet for centuries. 
On their quest for answers, Cole and Rowan travel to places they have never before been and become witnesses to things they have never before fathomed. The legend—one started with blood—will end with more shed as its creator finally exacts her justice.

My Thoughts:

I want to go to Scotland and fall in love with someone exactly like Rowan! 

Okay. Okay. I know, I'm not into cheesy romance novels. AT. ALL. However, this is not your ordinary cheesy novel. Becky Banks has conjured up a story so real and true that it's almost tangible. I can taste the Whisky in my mouth and feel the cool rain as it dances from the sky. 
Banks has given us characters that jump right into our imagination. I've seen them, spent the day with them and even went with them exploring down the side of a mountain. After reading this book I can say that I feel as if I've met them. 


We have a charming yet powerful tale about the legendary Scottish curse of Lady MacLaoch, written full of charm and humor. Banks will enchant you with every word and leave you breathless .

In this story you will meet various folks. All which whom, I think you will adore. You will go on journey after journey unimaginable - until you are in Scotland for awhile and you will meet the lovely people there that make the days go by. 
Our main character, Cole, takes you on these journeys with her and you will feel as if you are there with her. Cole is a stubborn American and will argue and fight for what she believes is true. 
Then we meet Rowan, our native Scotsman. He is rugged and handsome. And oh, the accent! Banks writes Rowan's POV in full Scottish dialect. How fantastic reading this. Stunning, really. I think Rowan's character came alive more and more after every sentence I read. 
Now, Cole and Rowan together. Wow! It is like magic. The fighting, stubbornness and heat that arises from the two of them is intoxicating. To watch the relationship with them grow scene by scene is absolutely sexy. I am left breathless.
 While Cole and Rowan take you on this trip so full of danger, romance and magic; you will believe it is a real life adventure. On this journey you will discover more about the legendary Curse of Lady MachLaoch and the full history behind it. 
Becky Banks has given us so much passion and excitement that I read the book in one sitting. 
In my opinion, The Legend of Lady MachLaoch is a must read!

                 Giveaway Deets:

1. The Legend of Lady MacLaoch 2012 Blog Tour Flamingo Bag

1. Pink Fuzzy Flamingo Drink Koozie

1. Puck of Pink Surfboard MR. ZOGS SEX WAX

1. Fabuloso Autographed Pb of The Legend of Lady MachLaoch
                                                  
   
*Spring Break Giveaway is Available to US participants Only


*International participants will receive an ebook & email high-five

Don't forget to enter the giveaway and be sure to check out the stop tomorrow on the tour at:
I will also be sharing a fantastic one-0n-one with the Ms. Becky Banks herself on Thursday! Make sure you come back by for that. 
Happy Reading!
Arrivederci.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Skid Out Music Madness Giveaway Blog Tour

A novella prequel to the Heavy Influence Trilogy about young, reckless love between a rising rock star and his younger muse. Follow their journey through temptation, deception & forbidden love.

17 year old high school senior, Jake Masters, front man of a rising rock band, finds new interest in his younger freshman next door neighbor Alyssa Montgomery. Their relationship breaks hearts; stirs jealousy and band infighting. When they’re brought to new found awareness of body and soul, will rightful boundaries be crossed? Will the right decisions and choices, which are detrimental to the band and its future, be made through the haze of infatuation? Will Jake’s absences on the road lead to another filling his shoes? Jake and Alyssa’s lifelong friendships are strained and tested; secrets are kept, admitted and shared. Family bonds are broken, as others grow stronger. Who knew a first love could cause so many problems? Then again, in their eyes, there are no problems as long as they’re together. In the end, will his new found muse bring down everything he’s worked so hard to achieve or will she inspire positive creative change; that will carry him and his band to stardom. 

***
Check out the straight-up funky fresh tunes that were custom made for this novella by clicking here --> Transpose by Bad Suns 

My Thoughts on this badass novella:

Okay. So, we have the perfect mix here. Music, high school, California, hot guys -- (bad boys?) hot girls. (good girls?) What else could we ask for? 

In this brilliant novella we get a taste of teens loving music; maybe even getting the big break in the music industry that they have been waiting for. And all the while could there be romance blooming? Right next door. Alyssa is such a young girl for Jake's older eyes. Yet that isn't stopping his mind from thinking about her or his eyes from wanting to constantly look at her. Is this right? Both Jake and Alyssa ask themselves this question. Although, now that the seed has been planted, it certainly can't be dug up and tossed aside. 

Frohoff sets this trilogy up just right with this groovy novella. It's edgy enough for teens to love, mix in music and a possible love triangle in the California heat and who wouldn't want to check it out. On the plus side Frohoff is putting together a soundtrack that goes with each book in the series. Huzzah!

In my opinion this trilogy is going to be a fun ride with a sassy set of alternative punk tunes to go along with it. I can't wait for the next trip in Jake and Alyssa's adventure. 
If you haven't read SKID OUT.. you are definitely missing out.

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Welcome to the SKID OUT Music Madness Giveaway Blog Tour! 

This is the 1st stop on the tour - I hope you're having fun so far and you're as excited as I am about Annie's new book! Also, if you haven't read SKID OUT yet, the price has been dropped to .99 during the entire month of March. So, I say: DUDE! What are you waiting for? Check out Amazon and BUY IT! 

Let's check out the goodies in the prize packs shall we?

1. SKID OUT (e-copy)
2. MP3 download of Transpose by Bad Suns (featured in SKID OUT)
3. Bonus CD from Lights Revolve OR Dead Country
4. $25 Gift Card (Payable to: Amazon, B&N or iTunes)

Annie is also giving away a KINDLE FIRE --> HERE! 

 Enter this epic giveaway --> HERE! 

Make sure you drop by the next blog in the tour, Buried in Books. Yes, you can enter for the prize pack there as well. WIN! And Heather rocks socks! 

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week! 
Happy Reading & Arrivederci