Sunday, October 31, 2010

The Crossroads giveaway!


If you've been keeping up with the Crossroads posts, you'll know I said I'd pick winners from commenters.

I have tons of swag &  Zombie Queen of Newbury High to give away.
2 people will be chosen from Days 1 through 8 to win swag.
2 people who commented on days 9 through 16 will also win swag.
I will chose 1 person from all the comments to win Amanda Ashby's signed book.

Go comment (real comments please.) & then come over here & leave me your contact info (or just watch the blog for the winner.)

I'll choose a winner in 1 week. The giveaway is open internationally.

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 16


What was it about Anastasia Romanov’s story that made you want to write your own story about it?

I have always been drawn to the Romanov story because it’s just so darn tragic. Anastasia was so filled with promise – young and pretty and smart and funny and snarky and witty. And she was murdered before she had an opportunity to reach her adult potential – which I’m sure would have been amazing. She died because of politics, because of people who wanted to get rid of her parents. (obviously that’s an over-simplification, but it’s part of the truth) And it’s just so horribly sad. I totally understand why so many people over the years just couldn’t believe that she was really dead. And I wanted to pay homage to her here – even though I’ve created some definite fictions inside the historically accurate parts. If anyone could survive being held captive in a witch’s hut, I think Anastasia could definitely do it!

What are 3 of your favorite books or series? 

I am a voracious reader. I can’t get through a day without reading something. So I really do have more than three favorites. But if I can be so bold as to alter your question a bit, three of my current favorite books have been Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games series (because it is total awesomeness in plotting, character development and romance); Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver and Linger (because the werewolf nooky is beyond compare and they are deeply romantic books); and my friend Lauren Strasnick’s Nothing Like You -which is out in paperback now and which has the funniest book trailer I’ve ever seen except maybe Libba Bray’s book trailer for Going Bovine where she dresses up the cow costume, which is hysterical – ( because Nothing Like You’s ending makes me cry every time I read it. Beyond those, if I was absolutely pressed, my favorite piece of American lit is F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby, which just blows me away at how it manages to stay fresh and contemporary in its view of the corruption of the American Dream.


Thanks for stopping by & taking part in The Crossroads!
Make sure you stop by Joy's blog & Twitter!

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 15


If you could live in any one of your books, which would it be & why?

SHAMROCKED, the 2nd book in the STRANGE ENCOUNTERS midgrade trilogy. It takes place in Mt. Shasta – a city I love to visit – but adds magic of a secret world underneath the mountain with fantastic rooms where anything you imagine becomes real and shadowy storytellers come out of the walls to tell real stories. The other two books (OH, NO! UFO and SEA SWITCH) in this series have some magical fun, too, like alien pets and mermaids.

Where is one of your favorite places to go camping? 

Near Bodega Bay, CA, at a campgrounds with no electricity or hookups, but it’s by the beach and dunes and I love the salty breezes and overcast ocean sky. My family went there a few weeks ago and we walked along the surf with the dogs, had campfires at night and I found a sand dollar.


I hope you've been checking out all of the authors' blogs & twitters!
Don't forget to check out Linda's blog & Twitter too!

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 14



What kind of cat is Fat Cat? (Do you have a picture you could share?)
Sad, sad news my fat cat of 15 years died of old age. (Four months ago.) She was a 15 yr old brown and butterscotch tabby and I miss her. :( I won’t be getting another cat for awhile I still have Jensen


This is Jensen, he’s two.

You love writing & reading, but you set some of Freaksville in a theater, do you also have a love of acting?
Ah you caught me! I was a theater minor before I changed my major. I did some acting, spent many years in theater working on sets hanging lights etc. And yes every theater IS haunted. It’s weird maybe the energy that’s form there from all the human emotions used on stage.


Make sure you follow Kitty on Twitter & then check out her blog!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 13



What were the last 5 books you read?

Hi Catie, thank you so much for hosting the Crossroads Tour! We are thrilled to be with you.
Karma Bites, Crescendo, The Ghost and the Goth, Girl Vs. Boy, and Jekle love Hyde (do you see a theme in those?)

Your motto is “Life is about the journey, not the destination.” Have you always lived life this way or did something make you realize it?

No, I wish I could say that had always been my motto, however, it hasn’t been. And I’ve never been asked this question! So, I’m going out on a limb here because I’ve been (surprisingly) caught off guard. Yes, something happened in my life. I lost my closest sibling to a long battle with a serious illness. It was a very emotional, painful and heartbreaking experience- one that I was unprepared for and left my whole life upside down. After he was gone, I realized I couldn’t wallow in the misery and pretty much started to chase every dream I’ve ever had. The experience made me realize that everything molds us into the people we become. I know my brother is looking down on me, proud of the things I’ve accomplished since he’s been gone.

So, not bring everyone down, I assure you there have been a lot of positives that have come out of this experience and there are many characters that share my brother’s charm, wit and sarcasm. He lives on through my writing and I’m glad I get the chance to share him with the world.


Make sure you check out Jordan's blog, & follow her on Twitter!
I hope you're all commenting on all the posts for a chance to win books & swag!

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 12



Did you ever expect your cell phone novel to become a series?

Not at all. It certainly was a pleasant surprise. Of course, I also never expected that my first published novel would include werewolves.

What’s one of your favorite places to travel to?

I love Europe and would especially like to return to Spain and Germany and expand my travels to include Eastern Europe as well (and, of course, return to the UK on my way home to the States).


If you want to learn more about Shannon or her books, stop by her blog & add her on Twitter!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 11


What more can you tell us about Witch’s Shadow?
Witch’s Shadow is a novel within the Origins series I’m co-writing with Kitty Keswick. We are each writing separate novels, set in the same town – with crossover characters. Talk about a plotting challenge! We’re still writing these babies, but I can share some info with you and the prologue (just for fun).

The plot for WS in a nutshell: When a vengeful spirit threatens the uneasy truce between Norms and Paranorms in the pseudo-Salem town of Origins, it’s up to a fledgling witch to keep everyone alive.

Witch’s Shadow: Prologue
Origins 1672

Vengeance, cried the wind skimming over long midday shadows. High on a hilltop stood a lone Arbutus tree, its knotted, twisted copper trunk in stark relief against the sunlight. Bare of leaves, the skeletal branches rattled together like bones. A murder of ravens settled in the tree, ready to dine.

“No!” a boy yelled down at the ground from his perch upon a mare’s back, a ring of rope across his neck, his hands bound. “Choose this path and choose your ruination.” He spit his oath as if at the fiery depths of the earth.

The magistrate slapped his cane on the mare’s trembling flank. She bolted, and the boy slipped from her back. Rope taut, his neck broke with a crisp snap.

“Where’s your magic now, eh, boy?” The black-robed magistrate jabbed his cane at the lean body suspended in the air, sending it into a slow spiral. “Where are your unholy fires?” On the dust beneath their feet, the boy’s shadow widened, then narrowed with each turn.

Gathered to witness the death of Jonah Cale, the small crowd exchanged uneasy glances as the magistrate continued to prod the corpse. Young Cale had been accused of witchcraft, and his final words lingered in their murdering ears.

“You see, brethren,” the magistrate said, “even the devils he served fear our wrath and abandoned the boy to his fate. We have done goodly work here this day. Our families will be much relieved.” The magistrate led the villagers down the hill, leaving the boy to swing.

And he did.

His wind-tossed hair, black as pitch, his blue eyes bulging in their sockets, vacant. Dead.

All was silent save for the wind’s mournful howl and the branch that creaked with the boy’s swaying weight. For long minutes his shadow diligently shifted on the earth. Then with a subtle ripple as if suddenly under knee-deep water, the shadow detached from the boy and drifted across the land.

Vengeance.


Your blog proclaims you to be a writer, musician & geek. What are some things that show your musician & geek sides?

Oh, there are lots of ways I show my band-geeky sides. ;) Just check out my website and vlog page – nuf said. www.judithgraves.com/vlogs


As always, make sure to check out Judith's blog & follow her on Twitter.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 10


You have quite a diverse work history, what made you want to write books?

I think of myself as a storyteller – no matter the format. If there’s a story I want to tell, I pick which format would best suit the story. I did write ghostgirl as a script first, which was optioned by Robert DeNiro’s company, but eventually found that there was more to the story, something I just couldn’t give up on, and so I made it into a book series. 


Did you get the idea for Ghost Girl from personal experience, outside influence, or something else altogether?

Both.


As an FYI, most of my questions seem random, but they are in fact not entirely random. I looked at each author's website. I recommend you do the same. You might be surprised what you didn't know about some of your favorite authors.
Check out Tonya's blog here & her Twitter here.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 9



You must have your hands full with being a literary agent, writer, & journeyman jeweler. Do you have a favorite?


It depends on the day. When that shiny new idea is calling to me, still full of possibilities and not giving me any grief whatsoever, I adore being a writer. Or when that awesome review comes in. When I’m struggling with a scene or a character just won’t behave…well, writing is the toughest job you’ll ever love. The only thing I love as much as my characters (and, of course, my family) is my authors. Working with the brilliant, creative people I represent is as much a dream come true as publication. My authors blow me away on a daily basis with their talent, determination and originality. Their triumphs feel like mine, and it’s a privilege to be part of all that. Journeyman jeweler… I enjoy making the jewelry, but that’s more of a hobby which has had to fall by the wayside to make time for everything else. Publishing is my obsession.

What made you want to write about vampires?

The funny thing is that I didn’t want to write about vampires. I wanted to write about Gina. That’s how it all starts for me – with character. Gina started talking in my head, a teen fashionista who wakes up to her own personal hell when she rises from the grave, totally ruining her manicure, to find that she’s become one of the undead, with no way to fix her hair and make-up. It was the concept of this high-maintenance mama having to cope with having her life…afterlife?...turned upside down that really appealed to me in Vamped. The best way to mess with Gina was to vamp her out.

I think that you never really know what a person is made of when things are going well. It’s when life (or death) comes at you that a person finds her inner strength or a table to hide under. Gina, as it turns out, is a kick-butt kinda gal, a natural born leader, who cares far more about other people than she’d like to admit, particularly Bobby, her hot geek boyfriend. In Revamped I had the chance to mess with her again. [Spoiler alert to book 1!] At the end of Vamped, the Feds have discovered Gina and her gang and made them an offer they couldn’t refuse. So Revamped sees my hero and heroine going undercover on their first assignment. Gina is forced go goth…no color palette to speak of, more chains than a bike rack, and don’t even get her started on the shoes. Among other things, like exactly what wickedness is stirring in the sleepy town of Wappingers Falls, NY, she learns that goths are people too. Only now she has to face the fear that her new-found friends know more about the insanity than they should.


If you haven't already, make sure to stop by Lucienne's blog & then follow her on Twitter.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 8



Your 2nd novel is tentatively titled String Theories, what can we expect? 

It’s a contemporary YA about a 14 y.o. girl who gets in over her head, a stream, the physics of relationships, and getting even.


Are there going to sequels, or companion novels to Forget-Her-Nots?

I hope so! I’d love to write a companion novel with a more international flair. :)

Thanks for having me, Catie!


Hey everyone! Don't forget that the prize pack winners will be drawn from the commenters!
Also, make sure you go visit Amy's blog & follow her on Twitter!

Friday, October 22, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 7



Do you have a favorite time period you’d like to research? 

I have researched many time periods, but the one that eludes me is the American Revolution. I know a little bit, but would love to take the time and learn more.


Which end of writing do you like better, writing or editing?

Oh most definitely the editing part of it. First drafts are torturous for me. I like having a finished draft in front of me and then being able to hack away and polish it up.


Make sure to visit Angie's blog & follow her on Twitter!

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 6


If you went back to working in theatre, what would you want to do?

I love acting. I love creating a characters and playing a role, telling a story, trying to make the audience connect with the character and root for her. I get to do the same thing as writer, but I don’t get to dress up in a costume. On the flip side, however, I don’t have to stay on a diet.

Does music influence your writing? If so, how?

I listen to either classical music or movie soundtracks while I work. I lot of people can write to music with lyrics, but I have a hard time ignoring voices. Instrumental, though, sort of blends into the background and drowns out other distractions. Usually I’ll have one or two CDs or playlists that I’ll keep on repeat--they’re different for every book. It sets the mood, but it also seems to be a subliminal cue to my brain that it’s time to work. If I’m having trouble focusing, one of my familiar mixes will put me right into the zone.


I hope you're all having fun! Don't forget to check out Rosemary's Blog & follow her Twitter!
Don't forget to comment for a chance to win!

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 5


Do you have a favorite season or episode of Roswell?

Oh yes, my two favorite episodes are The Pilot (Max saves Liz!) in season one and The End of the World (Future Max, SO GORGEOUS and heartbreaking) in season two.

How much difference is there between writing The Ghost & The Goth and the sequels?

I haven’t started the third book just yet, but I will be shortly. The second one was harder, I think, because I had to maintain consistency with the first book and yet make it different enough that it didn’t seem repetitive. I also had to make sure that I didn’t go too far or reveal too much, which would have messed up plans for the third book. Quite the balancing act! :)


Don't forget to stop by the other Crossroads posts & make sure to visit Stacey's blog & follow her on Twitter!

I hope you're all enjoying my random questions. Make sure to keep coming back throughout the tour! Comments will be used to pick winners for swag!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 4


What made you want to write about anorexia & famine?

I wanted to write a book that tackled eating disorders to help people understand that the ED mindset isn’t something you turn on and off; it’s a disease. (I’ve had body image issues for as long as I can remember; for a while, I was bulimic.) Eating disorders suck. That’s why I’m donating a portion of proceeds to the National Eating Disorders Association.
I’ve had the idea for HUNGER for about 10 years, but I didn’t think anyone would want to read about it. I told my agent, “Eating disorders aren’t sexy; no one will care.” And she told me I was crazy, and that I should write the book. Thankfully, I listened to her.

Do you still draw any comics just for fun?

Sadly, no. But I had the opportunity to script two short comics for Dark Horse. Set in the Buffyverse, “Carpe Noctem” Pt. 1 and Pt. 2 is a Tales of the Vampires story about two vampires, one of whom is unhappy with the new world order while the other one is thriving. I had a lot of fun! (And dude: THE BUFFYVERSE.)

I hoped you all enjoyed Jackie's stop & are planning on going out & buying HUNGER today since it was just released! Lets make release day fantastic!
Check out Jackie's blog & Twitter too!

Teaser Tuesday - Nightshade

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:



Grab your current read
Open to a random page
Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week's Teaser comes from Nightshade.



"Calla. That is not a spider," he moaned. "Spiders do not get that big."
Pg 293

Monday, October 18, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 3



What is the main difference in how you write between your Adult & YA books?

I think the main difference is that in my YA books the plot is more streamlined, with fewer tangents. But I’m not sure if that’s because it’s YA or because it’s a different story, with a different editor.


What can you tell us about any of your upcoming projects?

In November, I’ll have a short story in a YA vampire anthology called ETERNAL: MORE LOVE STORIES WITH BITE. Then SHADE’s sequel SHIFT comes out in May. My fourth vampire book for adults, LET IT BLEED, comes out in August. In the fall, Logan Keeley from SHADE and SHIFT gets to tell his story in an anthology called ENTHRALLED, which is a collection of stories by the authors on this year’s Smart Chicks Kick It Tour.

Don't forget to visit Jeri's blog & follow her Twitter!

Make sure to visit all the other bolgs to find the clues!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 2


What is one of your places in the forest to go?

Deep into the trees, where the sunlight trickles down through a gap in the canopy, and the scent of ruffled leaf litter and rain-soaked moss rises in the heat of the day… I like to run between the trees and bound over logs, then sit with my back against the bark of a tree. Comes in handy when I write one of my pooka or werewolf scenes later.

Why did you pick a serial killer?

I wanted the threat to the Others in the story to be deadly, mysterious, and something that would strike again without warning… also, since the police look the other way, it forces Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. If I chose a different sort of antagonist—like a violent group, or a known threat—then the plot would likely not allow Gwen to do much sleuthing on her own.


Thanks for stopping by Karen!

Make sure to visit Karen's blog & Twitter!
Don't forget to visit the other blogs & gather the clues, not to mention that each blog has prizes to give out as well.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour - Day 1

Welcome to the 1st day of the Meet Us At The Crossroads Blog Tour!
I'd bet you're wondering what exactly we're up to.
If you want to find more info on this wonderful blog tour click here for all the details. (Including prizes!)


Today Amanda Ashby stops by to answer a couple of questions!

What are some things you do to help you write?
I annoy my critique partners and husband ALL the time about whatever I’m working on. Especially if I’m having problems. It probably drives them crazy but I’m such a sharer that if my writing is going badly, then I want everyone to know!!!!!! Apart from that I make sure that I have lots of Diet Coke in the house and I try and limit my Internet access (which I normally fail to do!!!!!!)

If you could sit down for lunch with any 5 people, who would they be & why would you pick them?
Trent Vanegas who runs Pinkisthenewblog.com because I love reading his blog and he makes my day so much happier!
David Boreanaz because he’s so gorgeous!
Steven Gerrard the captain of Liverpool Football Club, because he’s awesome!
David Bowie because I think he is an amazing song writer
Richelle Mead so I could find out what’s going to happen in Last Sacrifice


Visit Amanda's blog & add her on Twitter.
Don't forget to check out all the other stops on the Crossroads tour today!

Sunday, October 3, 2010

In My Mailbox (29)

IMM is brought to you by Kristi at The Story Siren & inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Aren't sure which books to include in your IMM? Here's Kristi's explanation.


The Clockwork Three by Matt Kirby (signed!)
Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr

From the awesome Lena:
Firelight by Sophie Jordan (signed!)

Did you get anything exciting this week?