The Lovely Reckless Blog Tour: Interview with Cover Designer Natalie C. Sousa

Welcome to my stop on The Lovely Reckless Blog Tour! Author Kami Garcia was so nice as to ask all participating bloggers what type of content they'd most like to feature, and since cover design is such a point of interest for me (and I know so many of you as well), I asked if it would be possible to ask the designer a few questions. To my delight, Natalie C. Sousa, Creative Director at Imprint (Macmillan) and the cover designer for The Lovely Reckless, agreed to an interview and let me pick her brain about her overall process. I hope you guys enjoy!

How does a cover design typically start for you? Do you begin with sketches? Idea boards?

Natalie Sousa: I start by sketching concepts as thumbnails, and take it in stages. Usually I begin just after reading a summary. This puts me in the same mental space a consumer might approach the book from. I sketch some more ideas half way through reading the manuscript, and again once I've processed the ending. There have been times where the ending really changed the way I felt about a story, and I like to capture all of those reactions.

With The Lovely Reckless, did you have a specific concept or concepts going in? And if so, how did those change as you started designing?

Natalie: Erin Stein, the publisher of Imprint started the process with Kami before I was hired. They knew exactly the energy and style they wanted to convey from the very beginning. I love when designs work out to follow someone's original vision. When I started at Imprint this cover was in its sketch stage. From there we were playing with the chemistry between the couple and deciding what, if any, other elements would help to tell more about the book.

What stage of the design process is typically the most challenging for you (deciding on a design direction, image or font selection, first comps, revisions, etc.)?

Natalie: It used to be deciding on a direction, because what I visualize, or an editor envisions, or an author wishes, and a sales team needs for a cover are usually different. Erin and I have developed a close working relationship, and we're always talking about our books. That kind of dialogue helps me have very clear direction.

If you could tweak any one of your already published covers, which would you most like to get your hands on one more time?

Natalie: Recently I got to chat with Brenna Yovanoff and told her how I'd love to go back and place a hand rising from the baby carriage on her book, The Replacements. Although that cover is probably creepy enough as is!

Can you share a couple early versions of The Lovely Reckless and tell us what about them worked or didn’t work?

Natalie: Here is an early sketch from Loui Jover, the artist. We were missing some chemistry in this earlier sketch. Showing the characters full length helped because the body language said a lot more.

This is an early cover comp from Liz Casal, an incredibly talented designer. She had a clever solution to indicating the car by lighting the brick wall with “headlights”. That element was dropped because it didn’t quite work with the final color palette and title design.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

Favorite font?

Font you wish you’d never have to see again?

Favorite cover you’ve done?

It does not exist yet.

All-time favorite cover?

A Wrinkle In Time

Cover designer who inspires you?

There are many, but Kristin Smith, an Art Director at Penguin, inspires me with her designs and her friendship! Back in our shared Penguin days we used to make elaborate costumes for Halloween and Coney Island's Mermaid Parade together. Kristin always inspired me to get into the details of a costume. Her book design for Danielle Vega's The Merciless is also one of my all time favorite book designs! I cannot resist a hot pink bible.

Favorite color?

My preference often changes, so I’ll say it’s the rainbow.

Must have when designing (food, music, etc.)?

Definitely music! I like to create playlists inspired by the stories I'm designing for. My favorite so far has been for Marcie Colleen's Super Happy Party Bears. Kami Garcia's next book is already inspiring a playlist; first couple songs on there have been Special by Garbage and Bulletproof by La Roux.

If you weren’t a designer you would be . . .?

Here’s my "card".

Number of projects you’re currently working on?

More than I have fingers and toes.

Next cover of yours you’re most excited to reveal?

Blind Item by Kevin Dickson and Jack Ketsoyan. Kevin and Jack are two Hollywood insiders writing a fictional tale with real-life scandals! It’s a super fun read. I got a really strong reaction to the cover from the Macmillan team and I'm curious to see how the public responds. 

Thank you so much Natalie! 

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THE LOVELY RECKLESS

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia, a contemporary romance full of loss, love and redemption…

Seventeen year-old Frankie Devereux would do anything to forget the past. Haunted by the memory of her boyfriend’s death, she lives her life by one dangerous rule: nothing matters. At least, that’s what Frankie tells herself after a reckless mistake forces her to leave her privileged life in the Heights to move in with her dad―an undercover cop. She transfers to public school in the Downs, where fistfights in the halls don’t faze anyone and illegal street racing is more popular than football.

Marco Leone is the fastest street racer in the Downs. Tough, sexy, and hypnotic, he makes it impossible for Frankie to ignore him . . . and how he makes her feel. But the risks Marco takes for his family could have devastating consequences for them both. When Frankie discovers his secret, she has to make a choice. Will she let the pain of the past determine her future? Or will she risk what little she has left to follow her heart?

Your own heart will race with each page turn of this heart-stopping star-crossed love story.

Buy The Lovely Reckless 

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KAMI GARCIA

Photo Credit: Vania Stoyanva

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times, USA Today & international bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures and Dangerous Creatures novels. Kami’s solo series, The Legion, includes the instant New York Times bestseller UNBREAKABLE, and the sequel UNMARKED. Her forthcoming YA contemporary romance THE LOVELY RECKLESS releases on October 4, 2016, followed by THE X-FILESORIGINS: AGENT OF CHAOS, a novel about a teenage Fox Mulder, in January 2017, both from Imprint (Macmillan).

Kami was a teacher for seventeen years before co-authoring her first novel on a dare from seven of her students. If she isn’t busy watching Supernatural, Kami can teach you how to escape from a pair of handcuffs or bake a Coca-Cola cake. She lives in Maryland with her family, and their dogs Spike and Oz (named after characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Visit Kami at www.KamiGarcia.com and on Twitter and Instagram @kamigarcia.

Kami's Website 

This Adventure Ends Blog Tour: This Adventure Creates

Happy Friday Everyone!

It's been a tour kind of week this week, and I'm wrapping things up today with a very special tour for This Adventure Ends, the upcoming YA release from Emma Mills. A tour that involves Crayola markers and a teeny tiny canvas.

As part of the tour, a handful of us were asked to pick a verb to pair with "this adventure" and then create an artistic masterpiece (or not, as the case would be with me) that represents the theme we've chosen. Since I spend my days designing book covers, I went with "This Adventure Creates" as it so perfectly fits the job I love so very much.

As it turns out however, washable markers and canvas are not my medium, and my "masterpiece" turned out a little bit wonky. You see, I can't draw anything without sketching it out in pencil first, and when I went to color everything in, I quickly discovered that washable markers and pencil lines are not the best of friends. I had to stick with darker colors to try and hide the pencil otherwise I got a muddy mess, but oh well, I had fun with it anyway!

Behold the glory that is my "This Adventure Creates"!

Apparently my wand of creativity spews a bunch of upside down commas, who knew? O.o I hope you guys got a kick out of my piece and add This Adventure Ends to your must-have lists!

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THIS ADVENTURE ENDS

Releases October 4th from Henry Holt & Co.

Sloane isn't expecting to fall in with a group of friends when she moves from New York to Florida—especially not a group of friends so intense, so in love, so all-consuming. Yet that's exactly what happens.

Sloane becomes closest to Vera, a social-media star who lights up any room, and Gabe, Vera's twin brother and the most serious person Sloane's ever met. When a beloved painting by the twins' late mother goes missing, Sloane takes on the responsibility of tracking it down, a journey that takes her across state lines—and ever deeper into the twins' lives.

Filled with intense and important friendships, a wonderful warts-and-all family, shiveringly good romantic developments, and sharp, witty dialogue, this story is about finding the people you never knew you needed.

Goodreads • Amazon • B&N

The Winner's Kiss Blog Tour: The Winning Kiss

Today is a very exciting day everyone! Not only do I get to be a part of the promotional tour for The Winner's Kiss, the final book in Mariet Rutkoski's outstanding young adult series, but I also get to swoon and gush and wax poetic about fictional kisses and the couples who share them. *happy dance*

The enormously creative team at Fierce Reads has asked each participating blog on this tour to share the book in which our favorite literary kiss occurs along with a little explanation as to why that particular kiss is so special. KISSING FOR THE WIN! As all of you probably know by now, I'm a romance lover at heart and it's not often that I pick up a book, YA or adult, that doesn't have some kind of romantic relationship in it, so this is my kind of tour.

Okay, let's get to the good stuff! Juicy questions and answers coming right up:)

WHAT BOOK IS YOUR FAVORITE LITERARY KISS IN?

I think you can all probably guess that this was a very hard question for me to answer. Very. Hard. I decided to go with not necessarily my all time favorite kiss, but rather the kiss that kickstarted my love of romance. We'll call it the Kiss That Launched An Obsession, and it took place in a little book called Frostbite by Richelle Mead, the second book in her monstrously popular Vampire Academy series.

WHO IS KISSING?

Rose and Dimitri. Of course! Instead of telling you all about it though, I thought I'd just let Ms. Mead do my talking for me and share a brief excerpt of the Kiss That Launched An Obsession:

The hand I'd hoped would touch my hair suddenly reached out and grabbed my pointing hand. He pinned it to the wall, and I was surprised to see a flare of emotion in his eyes. It wasn't exactly anger...but it was frustration of another kind.

"Don't tell me what I'm feeling," he growled.

...

I could see his labored breathing and knew his heart was beating as quickly as mine. And he wasn't pulling away. I knew this was wrong–knew all the logical reasons for us staying apart. But right then, I didn't care. I didn't want to control myself. I didn't want to be good.

Before he realized what was happening, I kissed him. Our lips met, and when I felt him kiss me back, I knew I was right. He pressed himself closer, trapping me between him and the wall. He kept holding my hand, but his other one snaked behind my head, sliding into my hair. The kiss was filled with so much intensity; it held anger, passion, release...

He was the one who broke it. He jerked away from me and took several steps back, looking shaken.

"Do not do that again, " he said stiffly.

WHY IS IT YOUR FAVORITE?

I think what I love so much about this scene is that it shows a tiny crack in Dimitri's emotional armor. After the events of the first book it became clear to both Rose and Dimitri that a relationship between them posed so many challenges as to make it nearly impossible to be together, so in the build up to this moment they've both been angry and hurt, wanting what they can't have and taking that frustration out on one another. Dimitri is the more buttoned up of the two, holding his feelings close to his vest and hiding them so well that he makes not only Rose doubt his attraction to her, but us as well. This brief interaction is the perfect swoony reminder that despite all his strength and his legendary control, Dimitri is still flesh and blood. And struggling just as much as Rose to keep distance between them:)

WHAT KISS DO YOU HOPE WILL OCCUR IN THE WINNER'S KISS?

If Kestrel and Arin aren't madly in love and together at the end of this book I will curl into the fetal position and start sobbing. I say this with absolutely no exaggeration:)

I'd love to know what book has your favorite kiss or couple, so please share in the comments! There's no such thing as too many romantic recommendations:)

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THE WINNER'S KISS

Releases March 29th

War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

Amazon • B&N • Goodreads

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MARIE RUTKOSKI

Marie Rutkoski is the author of The Kronos Chronicles, including The Cabinet of Wonders and The Celestial Globe. The Cabinet of Wonders, her debut novel, was named an Indie Next Kids’ List Great Read and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year, among other honors. Rutkoski grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois (a suburb of Chicago), as the oldest of four children. She attended the University of Iowa, where she took Writers’ Workshop classes and studied with Pulitzer Prize-winner James Alan McPherson. After graduating, she lived in Moscow and Prague. Upon receiving her Ph.D. from Harvard University, she held dual appointments as a lecturer there in both English and American Literature and Language, and History and Literature. Rutkoski is currently a professor at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance Drama, children’s literature and creative writing. She lives in New York City with her husband and cat.

Website • Pinterest • Twitter

Don't forget to check out the full list of participating blogs for more winning kisses!

Join The Resistance: A Lunar Chronicles Giveaway

YOU GUYS!!!!! Do you know what tomorrow is? It's the release day for a little book called Winter, the fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer. *fangirl flail* I have been obsessing over this book from the moment I met Winter in Cress, and now, after waiting 133 years (okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration, it just felt that long), it's finally time.

In order to celebrate Winter's release, the amazing team at Fierce Reads is letting me give away a prize pack of AWESOME including a copy of Cinder (for those of you who need to start at the beginning!) and fun Lunar Chronicles metallic tattoos. It's possible I've been sporting shiny gold wrist cuffs for a few weeks, forcing my husband to ask the question he should really know better than to ask by now: Why? I told him I'd joined the resistance because Winter was coming. He just nodded and walked away, probably because that's not even in the top 10 weirdest book-related things I've said to him. He's super glad he married me, obviously ;-)

Before I get to the giveaway, here's a little bit about Winter just in case not all of you have stalked this series as closely as I have:)

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won't approve of her feelings for her childhood friend--the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn't as weak as Levana believes her to be and she's been undermining her stepmother's wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that's been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters? Fans will not want to miss this thrilling conclusion to Marissa Meyer's national bestselling Lunar Chronicles series.

Amazon • B&N • Goodreads

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GIVEAWAY

To enter, please fill out the rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

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First & Then Book Superlative Blog Tour: A Pair of Love Letters

Today I'm beyond thrilled to be a part of a very unique blog tour for First & Then, a contemporary young adult debut from Emma Mills (LOVED IT!). Since this novel deals with life in high school, the amazingly creative team at Fierce Reads decided to put together a superlative-themed blog tour, one where each blogger is assigned a yearbook-style superlative to address along with Emma. What superlative was I given you ask? Well, I'll tell you:

BOOK MOST LIKELY TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Instead of simply listing a few reasons as to how our book of choice impacted our lives, I thought it might be fun to write love letters to the character(s) of those books instead. I asked Emma to let protagonist Devon take the reins though, so she's here to share a love letter to one Mr. Sam-I-Am. Take it away Devon!

Dear Sam-I-Am (Mr. Am?),

Thank you for so faithfully shepherding the events of Green Eggs and Ham, which is the first book I remember reading all by myself. I’m a pretty serious reader now— Jane Austen books are my favorite, but I like YA and mysteries and fantasy as well—and you, Sam, kicked it all off with your culinary adventures and your rhymes. Thanks for paving the way for me to read everything else that I enjoy. I couldn’t delight in Sense and Sensibility had I not hashed out that reading thing way back in the day with the help of your unapologetically green breakfast.

Fondest regards,
Devon Tennyson

Like Devon, I wanted to write to one of my firsts as well, so here I go baring my fictional soul:

Dear Cast of Twilight,

There are many who would read this letter and scoff at my choice of book for this particular superlative, but I've never been one to be embarrassed or ashamed of my reading preferences, so it seems silly to have any hesitation in writing this letter now. You all have been mocked mercilessly over the years, your character flaws dissected and posted for ridicule on every corner of the internet, and while you are undoubtedly imperfect and your poor movie adaptation laughable at best, you are single-handedly responsible for both this blog and my current employment.

Before you came along reading for me was a chore. You see, I was traumatized in high school by a pair of classics by the name of Moby Dick and Crime and Punishment. These books were painful for me. My soul died a little with each page I forced myself to flip (I DON'T WANT TO CALL YOU ISHMAEL DAMMIT!), but I persevered because in the end I would be tested. I would have to recall names. Quotes. I would have to wax poetic on symbolism, metaphor and character motivation. And though I read both cover to cover, I met with near failure in the from of a D grade on both tests. Those grades haunt the overachiever in me still.

In the aftermath of that academic tragedy I could not be persuaded to pick up a piece of fiction for any other reason than it was required of me for class, but then, years after college, a friend told me of you. Read this, she said. Fangirl with me, she said. And so I did. What followed was me seeking out every paranormal young adult story I could get my hands on, and I became a proud stalker of the YA shelves at my local bookstore. I started a blog to share my newfound love of reading. And, as of this moment five plus years later, I have a new career designing book covers, something that would never have been possible without you.

So, while some may snort at the idea of you having a profound impact on anyone's life, please know that you forever changed mine for the better. As I wrap up this letter to go work on a new cover, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Warmly,

Jenny

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FIRST & THEN

(releases October 13th from Henry Holt & Co)

Devon Tennyson wouldn't change a thing. She's happy watching Friday night games from the bleachers, silently crushing on best friend Cas, and blissfully ignoring the future after high school. But the universe has other plans. It delivers Devon's cousin Foster, an unrepentant social outlier with a surprising talent for football, and the obnoxiously superior and maddeningly attractive star running back, Ezra, right where she doesn't want them first into her P.E. class and then into every other aspect of her life.

Pride and Prejudice meets Friday Night Lights in this contemporary novel about falling in love with the unexpected boy, with a new brother, and with yourself.

Amazon • B&N • Goodreads

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BOOK SUPERLATIVE TOUR

Don't miss out on all the amazing stops on this tour as each has its own special superlative. I also hope you guys add this one to your lists as I absolutely adored it (full review to come next week!)

 
 

Tonight The Streets Are Ours: Interviews + Giveaway

I'm super excited today to be a part of the promotional tour for Tonight the Streets Are Ours, the latest release from Leila Sales. This blog tour (as is the case with all of Macmillan's fantastic tours!) is fun and different, and instead of the participating bloggers simply interviewing Leila, she's interviewing all of us as well. Woo hoo! You'll find my interview below Leila's, and be sure and check the bottom of the post for all the details on a giveaway as well as the full list of participating blogs. Welcome Leila!

LEILA'S INTERVIEW

If you were to create a personal blog that included thoughts, musings and a few small details about your life as Peter’s does, what would the name of that blog be?

I might call it “Tonight the Streets Are Ours”—obviously I like that name, or I wouldn’t have chosen it for Peter’s blog! Or I’d call mine “Pretty to Think,” which is from the last line of The Sun Also Rises.

If you only had a single night to spend in NYC, what’s the one thing you’d make sure you to visit/experience?

That is a hard question! There are so many things in NYC that I love to do. Let’s see… I would definitely want to get ice cream at Ample Hills. If there were an outdoor concert for a band I even remotely liked, I’d go to that. I’d go out dancing somewhere. And if there were a good warehouse party going on, like the Jigsaw Manor party that Arden goes to in the book, I’d want to hit up that. And then I would sleep the entire next day.

What one word would Arden use to describe Peter before she met him? After?

Beforehand, something like “charming” or “wounded.” After? Still charming and woinded, but maybe “lonely.”

If tomorrow you woke up and decided to take a road trip, what are the top three cities you’d make a point to swing through? Why?

L.A. and San Francisco, because I have a lot of friends in both cities whom I’d love to visit, and you get to drive along the Pacific Coast to get from one to the other, which is beautiful. And then maybe Seattle, because I’ve never been there and I think a truly great trip should always involve something new.

Road trips aren’t road trips without an epic playlist to accompany them. What’s the first song on Arden’s Find Peter In NYC Road Trip Playlist?

“Let’s Get Out of This Country,” by Camera Obscura. It’s a lovely song about just leaving behind whatever you came from and heading out into the world unknown.

MY INTERVIEW

TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS is not only the title of my novel; it's also the name of Peter's blog in the book. He got it from a Richard Hawley song. How did you choose the name for your blog?

I’ve always gravitated toward paranormal books over any other genre, so the "supernatural" part of my blog title was a pretty easy pick. I also really like alliteration (nerd, party of one!) so I knew I wanted another “s” word to accompany “supernatural”, and since my sense of humor veers into sarcastic territory, I went with “snark”.

What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone thinking of starting their own blog?

Get a Post-It note, write the words HAVE FUN on it in all caps and stick it to your computer screen so every time you go to blog you see it. It seems like an obvious piece of advice, but I see bloggers time and again get overwhelmed by review schedules and statistics, and eventually the entire reason we all started blogging gets buried underneath the pressure of consistency. Having that visual reminder helps me refocus when I start to get lost in the day-to-day minutiae of running a blog.

What's one thing you wish all your readers knew?

About me? Yikes. I don’t have a good answer for this! I love chocolate. And fictional men. And reading about fictional men whilst eating chocolate. I feel like if you know that, you know me in a nutshell ;-)

What's the hardest part about being a blogger?

Keeping up with everything! Like I said above, trying to post 5-6 times a week, even if those posts aren’t all reviews, is a lot for me. I have it easier than most since I work from home and have some flexibility during the work day, but I still spend hours commenting and promoting the posts each day, in addition to actually reading and reviewing the books ;-) It’s more than worth it though, I’ve met such extraordinary people because of this blog!

In TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS Peter purposefully keeps his blog a secret from his friends and family so he can write whatever he wants about them. What do your friends and family think about your blog? Do they read it and comment on it?

This blog has turned into a family hobby over the years, with my mom, mother-in-law and sister-in-law all contributing reviews on occasion. The three of them have also accompanied me to numerous bookish events, including BEA for the past 5 years. Their involvement has been amazing, and it makes me absurdly happy that we've all been able to share in this sometimes-overwhelming-but-always-awesome adventure together :-)

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Leila, and for giving me the chance to answer some in return!

• • • • • • • • • • • 

TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS

Seventeen-year-old Arden Huntley is recklessly loyal. Taking care of her loved ones is what gives Arden purpose in her life and makes her feel like she matters. But she's tired of being loyal to people who don't appreciate her—including her needy best friend and her absent mom.

Arden finds comfort in a blog she stumbles upon called "Tonight the Streets Are Ours," the musings of a young New York City writer named Peter. When Peter is dumped by the girlfriend he blogs about, Arden decides to take a road trip to see him.

During one crazy night out in NYC filled with parties, dancing, and music—the type of night when anything can happen, and nearly everything does—Arden discovers that Peter isn't exactly who she thought he was. And maybe she isn't exactly who she thought she was, either.

Goodreads • Amazon • B&N 

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LEILA SALES

Leila Sales was born in 1984 and grew up outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in psychology in 2006. Now she lives in Brooklyn, New York, and works in the mostly glamorous world of children's book publishing. Leila spends most of her time thinking about sleeping, kittens, dance parties, and stories that she wants to write.

Website • Facebook • Twitter 

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SEPTEMBER 19th CHALLENGE

On Saturday, September 19, starting at sundown and going as late as you want, do something fun, make a record of it, and share it with the world. Using the hashtag #TonightTheStreetsAreOurs, instagram or tweet whatever happens in your night. If you're going to a party, aimlessly driving around with friends, or watching a movie alone in your PJs, we want to hear about it.
 

Here's why: We're celebrating the launch of Leila Sales's novel TONIGHT THE STREETS ARE OURS, the story of a 17-year-old girl who goes on an epic all-night road trip to NYC with her best friend in pursuit of her favorite blogger. It's the sort of night where anything can happen, and almost everything does.

Now it's your turn. Whatever you're doing with your night, wherever you live, however old you are: you're invited. Leila will be livestreaming her own nighttime adventures so you can join her remotely HERE. Or just do your own thing and post it online. We are all in this together. #TonightTheStreetsAreOurs. 

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the generosity of the Fierce Reads team, I have one copy of Tonight the Streets Are Ours to give away on the blog today! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

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September 1- Reader of Fictions

September 2- Forever Young Adult

September 3- Ticket to Anywhere

September 4- Alexa Loves Books

September 5- The Book Cellar

September 6- The Irish Banana

September 7- Adventures of a Book Junkie

September 8-Supernatural Snark

September 9- The Compulsive Reader

September 10- Miss Print

September 11- Book Rock Betty

September 12-Reading Teen

September 13- Ageless Pages Reviews

September 14-Perpetual Page Turner

September 15- Books and Whimsy

September 16- Fierce Reads (formerly known as Mac Teen Books!)

What's Your Winner's Curse? Blog Tour + Giveaway

Today I'm hugely excited (and a little intimidated, Macmillan is really making me work! ;-) to be a part of the promotional tour for The Winner's Crime, the second book in Marie Rutkoski's amazing Winner's Trilogy. I couldn't have loved last year's The Winner's Curse more if I tried, so I may have begged and pleaded with the fantastic team at Macmillan to let me be a part of the pre-release festivities.

This tour is a little different from your standard interview and guest post-type tour in that the participating blogs have been asked to answer a not-so simple question:

The ‘Winner’s Curse’ is an economics term that means you’ve gotten what you wanted – but at too high a price.  What would you pay too much for?

Whew. See what I said about work? This is not an easy question to answer, and I feel like I should probably take the more deep and profound route by choosing something like world peace or the health and happiness of all my loved ones, but as those of you who know me have probably realized, I'm rarely deep and profound. While the tone of this series is decidedly darker in nature and likely warrants a suitably serious answer from me, because I've been struggling in the aftermath of losing one of my dogs, I could really use a few more posts that make me smile and therefore want to keep things a little lighter here on the blog. Let's put off tears and seriousness for another day, who's with me?

I've decided to create for you a fantasy list full of whimsy and romance wherein I detail for you the top three things for which I would absolutely pay far too much (monetarily that is, I'm not talking any kind of Faustian bargain). In no particular order:

1. A day (or a week? or several weeks?) on the set of Outlander.

You guys. OUTLANDER! I would pay ridiculous amounts of money (if I had it that is) to fly to Scotland and hang out with the oh-so good looking kilted cast of this show. I feel as though I would make a mean tavern wench given staring longingly at Jamie would take very little acting on my part. Also? I can ride a horse, so I'd fit right in. No training necessary. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! *waits patiently for the HBO folks to call*

2. A date with Chris Hemsworth. Or Liam. I'm not picky.

What? This is a FANTASY list everyone, and Chris Hemsworth is fantasy-worthy to be sure. I think my husband would even be fine with it because he recognizes that I have good taste ;-)

3. All my very favorite books made into movies. And to have a say in the casting ;-)

This seems like it could actually happen given how many outstanding books are finding their way to the big screen of late, but I'm talking about the books I love that will likely never make it there. Books like J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood, Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress series or Nalini Singh's Guild Hunter books. Historical romances and urban fantasies; stories that will likely have a much harder time finding a market in film form than they do in book form. I long to see some of my most beloved characters (and book boyfriends) come to life, and I dream of a day where Netflix will be overrun with movies for every book in the Kate Daniels, Mercy Thompson or Elemental Assassin series. I would definitely drain a good chunk of my bank account for that ;-)

I'd love to know how you guys would answer this question, seriously or more light-hearted as I did, so please share your thoughts in the comments!

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THE WINNER'S CURSE

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions. One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction.

Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin. But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. 

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THE WINNER'S CRIME

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

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MARIE RUTKOSKI

Marie Rutkoski is the author of several novels for children and young adults, including The Winner’s Curse (March 2014). She grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois as the oldest of four children and decided early on that she was Someone Who Loved Books.

After attending the University of Iowa and living in Moscow and Prague, she studied Shakespeare at Harvard University, where she honed her skill in referring to herself in the third person.

Marie is now a professor of English literature at Brooklyn College, where she teaches Renaissance drama, children’s literature, and fiction writing. New York City is her home, and she thinks there must be birds of prey living in Washington Square Park; she can see large, wheeling wings from the window where she sits and writes. Marie has two small sons who try very hard to make friends with the family cat, only to be snubbed for the dark quiet of a closet. Marie can tie a double figure-eight knot with her eyes closed. She’s learning how to play the violin. She’s a sucker for fancy tea, and her favorite dessert is crème brulée. Or maybe sticky toffee pudding. Tough call.

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GIVEAWAY

Thanks to the enormously generous team at Macmillan, I have a copy of either The Winner's Curse or The Winner's Crime (winner's choice) to give away on the blog today. Please fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out all the stops on this tour to see what everyone would pay too much for! You can find the full list of participating blogs here.

Sekret Street Team: List of Favorites

Happy Friday Everyone! For those of you who don't know, this week I've been promoting Lindsay Smith's paranormal historical novel Sekret as a member of her street team. The fabulous folks at Fierce Reads have put several teams together to celebrate their recent and upcoming releases, assigning all of us fun challenges to complete over the course of a week.

Earlier in the week I posted a visual introduction to Russia as well as character profiles of main characters Yulia and Valentin, and today I'm going to share with you my list of Sekret favorites. First up: Favorite Scene.

The challenge actually asked for both a favorite scene and a favorite quote, but mine are pretty much one and the same so I've combined them. My favorite aspect of the story, aside from the Russian setting, is Yulia's relationship with her brother Zhenya. It's a very, very small element overall, but for me it's one of the more powerful ones because I can feel how much love there is between them. Zhenya is the type of person very much locked up inside his own head and who needs the comfort of routine to get through the day, but he has a gorgeous mind and thanks to Yulia's ability to see things through touch, she's able to relate to him on a different level than most people.

Below is my very favorite quote in artwork form, with a snippet of the full scene underneath to give you more context.

 I laugh bitterly to myself. He does remember me. "I promise this won't hurt. But will you let me see what you're thinking?"

My heart shatters in my chest when he answers. "I wish you always would."

Oh, Zhenya. I wish I only knew how to decipher your thoughts. I twist my fingers in his, and with a jolt, a fractured landscape unfolds. His thoughts are alive and vibrant, like a Kandinsky painting, with great slashes of color and heavy strokes of disparate thoughts. I find myself wanting to reach out and reorder the jumbled-up brush strokes, make sense of the chaos.

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Though there are a number of villains to choose from in this story, the most terrifying to me is General Rostov with his ability to punch through anyone's mental defenses and seize complete control of their minds. Other individuals in Sekret can see or hear thoughts, but Rostov doesn't simply listen in or observe, he makes his presence known in the most painful way possible and I can't help but shudder when I think about what that would feel like.

"You should be happy. You are helping the State. And you are paying your debt." Rostov reaches for my chin, and his touch is glass shattering inside my brain. Deeper, deeper–an icepick lobotomy, every note of my musical shield splitting apart like atoms."

• • • • • • • • • • 

Though there are two boys vying for Yulia's affection, there is only one clear choice for me personally, and in my opinion, one choice for Yulia as well. Sergei makes his interest known, but Yulia never seems overly connected to him (at least in my mind), and thus I don't feel he is a true romantic threat to Valentin. Valentin and Yulia have some really stunning moments, my favorite of which is this one:

He kisses like the dawn. My hands stroke his stomach, his arms, and he sets me on fire; he claims my hair for his own as his lips explore my neck. The music dripping off him like fervent sweat mingles with my own and we are protected, sealed, locked forever in this symphony, in the sounds of Yulia and Valentin.

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The final piece of the challenge was to write our predictions for Skandal. I don't have any predictions per se, more things I'm hoping to see in the sequel :)

• More Zhenya please! As you all saw above, he is my favorite part of the story but his role is minor, much to my dismay. He still obviously made quite the impression on me even with his short page time though, and I've got my fingers crossed he'll be a bigger player in book two.

• I would like to see Yulia's ability put to use in a wider variety of situations. We get a taste of so many different gifts in Sekret that Yulia's doesn't stand out quite as much, so I would love for her to get a few more chances to really shine.

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SEKRET

An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Find Lindsay:

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Sekret Street Team: Meet the Characters

Yesterday I announced my role as a proud member of the Sekret Street Team, one of many teams the amazingly creative group at Fierce Reads has put together to help promote both their recent and upcoming releases. Each team was issued a set of challenges to be completed over the course of a week, and today I get to give those of you who have yet to read the book a quick introduction to main characters Yulia and Valentin. I'm also going to share a few pieces of Sekret-related artwork that feature quotes from the book, so I hope you all enjoy!

On Friday I'll be sharing my list of Sekret favorites: Favorite scene, favorite quote, favorite villain, etc., so be sure to check back for more Sekret fun!

CHARACTER PROFILE: YULIA

Name: Yulia Andreevna Chernina
Age: 17
Mother: Antonina
Father: Andre
Brother: Zhenya
Phsyical Traits: Dark hair and olive skin

Special Ability:

"Me, I've found how to focus thoughts and memories through touch, like steadying a radio antenna with your fingertips, the static sloughing off until a clear melody remains."

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CHARACTER PROFILE: VALENTIN

Name: Valentin or Valya
Physical Traits: Black curly hair, glasses, leanly muscled
Loves: Music; particularly The Beatles

"Music is very important to you," I say. Stupidly, I know. Music is his soul, and all those afternoons I basked in his piano playing–he shared more of himself with me then than he could ever speak.

He nods. "It's a language for things we can't put into words."

Special Ability: Can easily slip inside the minds of others and alter their memories or create new ones.

• • • • • • • • • • •

"An empty mind is a safe mind" is a phrase Yulia's father repeated to her over and over again before she even knew of her own ability, and it becomes one she wraps around her like a warm blanket when she suddenly finds herself surrounded by those who can see or hear her every thought. Though this book is more serious in nature, there are a few lighter moments, particularly in the beginning when Yulia realizes just how tricky thoughts can be when you're suddenly aware they're no longer solely yours.

Below is one of the cuter moments when Yulia's thoughts get away from her:

But the more I look at Sergei, the more I'm compelled to think everything about him that I wouldn't want him to hear me think. Horrible things that I wouldn't think otherwise, if I weren't worried about him overhearing–

"It's all right." He smiles at me, and it feels like the sun's rays slipping around dense clouds. The sun? I'm comparing some smug boy's grin to the sun? Bozhe moi, Yulia. "The less you want to think of something, the harder it becomes to think of anything else."

"Wonderful," I mutter.

• • • • • • • • • • • 

SEKRET

An empty mind is a safe mind.

Yulia's father always taught her to hide her thoughts and control her emotions to survive the harsh realities of Soviet Russia. But when she's captured by the KGB and forced to work as a psychic spy with a mission to undermine the U.S. space program, she's thrust into a world of suspicion, deceit, and horrifying power. Yulia quickly realizes she can trust no one--not her KGB superiors or the other operatives vying for her attention--and must rely on her own wits and skills to survive in this world where no SEKRET can stay hidden for long.

Find Lindsay:

Website • Tumblr • Twitter • Goodreads • Amazon