Frazzled Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

I'm crazy excited today to be a part of the promotional tour for Frazzled, the Middle Grade debut from Booki Vivat. Booki is an amazing artist, and her doodles have been blowing me away on Twitter for years, so I knew I needed this book in my hands the minute I learned of its existence. Booki was so nice as to answer a few questions for me about creative inspiration, fictional best friends, and of course her protagonist Abbie Wu, so I hope you guys all enjoy the interview!

If you could introduce yourself to readers in doodle-form only, what doodle might best sum you up as an author?

I think this pretty much sums me up—after all, my book is called Frazzled.

What’s one aspect of Abbie’s character that you absolutely share with her? One that’s nothing like you at all?

Honestly, I can’t think of anything significantly different between Abbie and I! So much of Abbie’s character is based on who I was when I was a kid and who I am now. I guess, getting down to the details, Abbie is a middle child, but growing up, I was technically the oldest!

I think anyone who has seen my doodles or knows me in real life gets the sense that Abbie and I are very similar. Beyond our shared resentment towards piñata birthday parties and insatiable love of pastries, Abbie and I can both be a little… dramatic. In fact, the inspiration for Frazzled came from an especially dramatic doodle I had drawn in a moment of crisis. It said, “I live my life in a constant state of impending doom.”
Spoiler alert: Abbie feels the same. 



Inspiration can strike at the oddest and most inconvenient times. Where’s the strangest place you’ve ever felt the need to make a few quick doodles or jot down ideas to save them for later? The strangest medium you’ve ever used when paper wasn’t available?

The strangest place I’ve ever felt the need to doodle was this one time I went out dancing with a group of (relative) strangers. It was such a strange scene and there were so many hilariously awkward and interesting interactions happening around me. I got caught up observing the social dynamics within the space and I had this itching need to document it somehow. That night, I went home and drew a series of doodles about the culture of “going out.”

I usually just stick to pen and paper which isn’t unusual at all, though where I get that paper can range anywhere from receipts to candy wrappers to toilet paper. Contrary to what “toilet paper” implies, I have never doodled on the toilet. 



If Abbie were to write a story about you, what title might she give it?

She would probably title it something verbose and cheeky like, (Still) Frazzled: The Constant Confusion and Unavoidable Uncertainty of Adulthood. Something like that. 



Every once in a while I come across a character whom I know would be my best friend (obviously) if they were real. What one other fictional character might Abbie find a best friend in?

Abbie is the kind of kid who could probably spend all her time in her own head and drive herself crazy, so she really needs friends who can coax her out of that. I think someone like Harriet M. Welsch from Louise Fitzhugh’s Harriet the Spy would make a fantastic best friend. They might have a rocky start to their friendship and it might take a while for them to warm up to each other. Harriet is a bit purposefully mischievous, whereas Abbie is more accidentally rebellious. But ultimately, Harriet’s sense of curiosity and unapologetic honesty is exactly what Abbie needs in a friend.

Thank you so much Booki!

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FRAZZLED

Meet Abbie Wu! She’s about to start middle school and she’s totally in crisis.

Abbie Wu is in crisis—and not just because she’s stuck in a family that doesn’t quite get her or because the lunch ladies at school are totally corrupt or because everyone seems to have a “Thing” except her. Abbie Wu is in crisis always.

Heavily illustrated and embarrassingly honest, Frazzled dives right into the mind of this hilariously neurotic middle school girl as she tries to figure out who she is, where she belongs, and how to survive the everyday disasters of growing up. With Abbie’s flair for the dramatic and natural tendency to freak out, middle school has never seemed so nerve-racking!

Packed with hilarious black-and-white illustrations and doodles throughout, Frazzled takes readers through Abbie Wu’s hysterical middle school adventures.

Amazon | B&N 

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BOOKI VIVAT

Booki Vivat has been doodling somewhat seriously since 2011 and not-so-seriously since childhood. She grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, San Diego. She currently works in publishing and lives in Brooklyn, New York. This is her first novel. Follow her on Twitter @thebookiv and on Instagram @bookibookibooki.

Website | Twitter | Instagram

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WEEK ONE:

9/19: Swoony Boys Podcast - Review

9/20: Such A Novel Idea - Guest Post

9/21: What Sarah Read - Review

9/22: Supernatural Snark - Q&A

9/23: Mundie Kids - Review

WEEK TWO:

9/26: The Irish Banana Review - Q&A

9/27: Fiction Fare - Review

9/28: Jenuine Cupcakes - Guest Post

9/29: Wiritng my Own Fairytale - Review

9/30: Reads all the Books - Review

Metaltown Blog Tour: Guest Post + Giveaway

Today I have the very special honor of welcoming an author I get to call friend to the blog to celebrate the release of her newest YA book, Metaltown. I couldn't be more excited for this book or for Kristen as she is one of the most adorable people you'll ever meet, and I hope you guys all have this book on your lists! Since the world of Metaltown and its factories is a brutal one where the days are long and so very hard, I asked Kristen to help us put on protagonist Ty's shoes for a few minutes and walk her mile. 

Be sure and check out the bottom of the post for a complete list of the participating blogs so you can follow along, as well as all the details on a fantastic giveaway!

WHAT ARE 5 THINGS TY WOULD WANT US TO KNOW ABOUT LIVING LIFE AS A FACTORY WORKER?

1. Don’t be a baby. You think your life’s tough? Try waking up before dawn every morning to get a bowl of mash at St. Mary’s, or working a double in a hot factory just to not get paid. First rule of factory life? Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. You want a free ride you can go cross the beltway to Bakerstown.

2. Find someone who’s got your back. You look out for them, they look out for you. It’s that simple.

3. Don’t eat anything that hasn’t been tested. What are you, crazy? The stuff they sell on the streets in the factory district is flat out deadly. If you want the corn flu, by all means, give it a shot. Otherwise, stick to stuff you know is clean.

4. Don’t fight someone smaller than you. Don’t steal from your own people. I share my food with you, tomorrow you share yours with me. Those are street rules, got it?

5. Colin’s mine. Keep your hands off.

Noted, Ty. ;-)

Thanks so much Kristen!

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METALTOWN

Metaltown, where factories rule, food is scarce, and hope is in short supply.

The rules of Metaltown are simple: Work hard, keep your head down, and watch your back. You look out for number one, and no one knows that better than Ty. She’s been surviving on the factory line as long as she can remember. But now Ty has Colin. She’s no longer alone; it’s the two of them against the world. That’s something even a town this brutal can’t take away from her. Until it does.

Lena’s future depends on her family’s factory, a beast that demands a ruthless master, and Lena is prepared to be as ruthless as it takes if it means finally proving herself to her father. But when a chance encounter with Colin, a dreamer despite his circumstances, exposes Lena to the consequences of her actions, she’ll risk everything to do what’s right.

In Lena, Ty sees an heiress with a chip on her shoulder. Colin sees something more. In a world of disease and war, tragedy and betrayal, allies and enemies, all three of them must learn that challenging what they thought was true can change all the rules.

An enthralling story of friendship and rebellion, Metaltown will have you believing in the power of hope.

Amazon | B&N 

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KRISTEN SIMMONS

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and the upcoming METALTOWN (Tor Teen). She loves her family, Jazzercise, and chocolate cupcakes. She currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WEEK ONE

9/12: Mundie Moms - Q&A

9/13: Fiction Fare - Review

9/14: Eater of Books - Review

9/15: Two Chicks on Books - Q&A

9/16: Krista's Dust Jacket - Review

WEEK TWO

9/19: No BS Book Reviews - Makeup Inspirations

9/20: Quite the Novel Idea - Review

9/21: Supernatural Snark - Guest Post

9/22: The Petite Book Blogger - Review

9/23: The Irish Banana Review - Top 10

Reliquary Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Happy Friday Everyone! Today I'm thrilled to welcome author Sarah Fine back to the blog to answer a few questions about her newest release, Reliquary. As you guys already know, I'm obsessed with everything Sarah writes so I couldn't be more excited for this new book! I hope you guys enjoy the interview and be sure to check the bottom of the post for all the details on a fun giveaway as well as the full list of blogs participating in Sarah's tour. 

The magic in this world has a darker edge, working like a drug and addicting those who use it. If you were able to take a group of readers and cross from our reality into this world, what are three things you would make sure they knew about magic before going in?

1. Ekstazo (pleasure) magic can be as dangerous as Knedas (manipulation) magic. Don't make the mistake of thinking it's harmless.

2. Pain can be your friend. Especially if you encounter a Knedas in a dark alley.

3. If you are carrying the slightest whiff of magic on you, Asa will know.

If Mattie could describe brothers Ben and Asa using only one word, what word would she pick for each of them, and would they agree with what she's chosen?

For Ben: Perfect
Ben's response: Of course I'm not perfect! I'm perfectly imperfect.

For Asa: COMPLICATED
Asa's response: *smirk* Shut the fuck up. 



If Mattie's world hadn't suddenly changed with Ben's disappearance, what part of planning her wedding would have been her favorite?

Wedding favors! Mattie loves the idea of planning a gift for her guests that both makes them happy AND represents how intensely ideal her life with Ben is and will be. 



I have a sneaking suspicion that Asa might make his way onto more than a few book boyfriend lists. Who would top Mattie's list of book boyfriends?

What she will tell you: Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Edward from Twilight.
Who she's intrigued, frightened, and turned on by all at once (but will never admit it out loud): Jericho Barrons.

*Jenny excited flails at the mention of Barrons. MINE MATTIE*

Looking forward to book two, as a fun little teaser, what color would you say most accurately represents the events that take place?

Probably red. There is so much turmoil, upheaval, and pain for Mattie in Splinter, and so much ferocity and intensity from Asa, but also something very fundamental and necessary happening for both of them ... I think red might capture it. All that said, Splinter is one of the more humorous books I've ever written!

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions Sarah!

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RELIQUARY

Mattie Carver’s engagement party should have marked the start of her own personal fairy tale. But when her fiancé, Ben, is violently abducted the next morning, her desperate quest to find him rips her away from small-town life and reveals a shattering truth: magic is real—and Ben is hooked. It’s not the stuff of storybooks. It’s wildly addictive, capable of producing everything from hellish anguish to sensual ecstasy almost beyond human endurance.

Determined to find out who took Ben and why, Mattie immerses herself in a shadowy underworld and comes face-to-face with the darkly alluring Asa Ward, a rogue magic dealer, infamous hustler…and her missing fiancé’s estranged brother. Asa has the power to sense magic, and he realizes Mattie is a reliquary, someone with the rare ability to carry magic within her own body, undetected. Asa agrees to help find Ben on one condition: Mattie must use her uncommon talent to assist his smuggling operations. Now, from magic-laced Vegas casinos to the netherworld clubs of Bangkok, Mattie is on a rescue mission. With Asa by her side, she’ll face not only the supernatural forces arrayed against her but the all-too-human temptation that she fears she can’t resist.

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

 

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SARAH FINE

Sarah Fine is a clinical psychologist and the author of the Servants of Fate and Guards of the Shadowlands series. She was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr 

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GIVEAWAY

Three lucky winners will each receive a finished copy of Reliquary! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

 

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TOUR SCHEDULE:

7/17: Polished Page-Turners - Spotlight

7/18: The Eater of Books - Excerpt

7/19: Behind Closed Covers - Spotlight

7/20: Gone with the Words - Excerpt

7/21: Reading is Better with Cupcakes - Excerpt

7/22: Supernatural Snark - Q&A

7/23: Quite the Novel Idea - Spotlight

7/24: The Book Cellar - Review

7/25: Fiction Fare - Q&A

7/26: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

7/26: Emily Reads Everything - Review

7/27: Stuck in Books - Excerpt

7/27: Reads All the Books - Review

7/28: Ex Libris - Review

7/28: BCS Reviews - Review

7/29: kimberlyfaye reads - Review

7/29: Wandering Bark Books - Review

7/30: Lost in Lit - Review

7/30: Bookish Lifetsyle - Review

7/31: Don't Fold the Page - Review

7/31: Miranda's Book Blog - Review

The Shadow Hour Blog Tour: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm thrilled to be back action after vacation, welcoming author Melissa Grey to the blog once again as part of the promotional tour for The Shadow Hour, the sequel to last year's The Girl at Midnight. I absolutely loved The Girl at Midnight and have been counting the days until this book released, so I jumped at (or begged for, whichever) the opportunity to ask Melissa a few questions. Be sure and check the bottom of the post as well for all the details on a fantastic giveaway!

Echo is facing innumerable changes in her life now that she's the firebird. If she could return to a simpler time with plenty of hours in the day to read, what are 3 books we might find on her shelves?

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis (the omnibus edition so I can count this as one book)

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien (another omnibus edition so I can continue cheating and count this as one book)

Winds of Fate by Mercedes Lackey

If Echo could turn to any YA heroine for advice in dealing with the total upheaval of her life, who do you think she would most want to talk to?

Blue from The Raven Cycle by Maggie Stiefvater would probably be a good person for Echo to talk to. Blue is exceptionally practical and sometimes, Echo needs someone to pull her back down to earth with a little real talk. 

While dragons and firebirds are pretty spectacular paranormal creatures, what's one other supernatural being you would love to write a story around?

I’ve always been fascinated by the kitsune of Japanese folklore. Foxes are great. Shapeshifting foxes are even better.

There's little better for me than finding a new book boyfriend, especially when said boyfriend just happens to be a dragon prince. What are a few of the characteristics in a book boyfriend that really make you swoon?

I like the strong silent types. A little brooding goes a long way.

Other than the fact that she's the firebird, what is one fundamental way Echo would say she's changed from the girl we met in The Girl at Midnight?

I think she’s a little more cautious these days. At least, she likes to tell herself she’s a little more cautious and looks before she leaps now, but I suppose time will tell on that one.

Thanks so much for stopping by Melissa!

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THE SHADOW HOUR

Everything in Echo's life changed in a blinding flash when she learned the startling truth: she is the firebird, the creature of light that is said to bring peace.

The firebird has come into the world, but it has not come alone. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and Echo can feel a great and terrible darkness rising in the distance. Cosmic forces threaten to tear the world apart.

Echo has already lost her home, her family, and her boyfriend. Now, as the firebird, her path is filled with even greater dangers than the ones she's already overcome.

She knows the Dragon Prince will not fall without a fight.

Echo must decide: can she wield the power of her true nature--or will it prove too strong for her, and burn what's left of her world to the ground?

Welcome to the shadow hour.

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

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MELISSA GREY

Melissa Grey penned her first short story at the age of twelve and hasn't stopped writing since. As an undergrad at Yale, she learned how ride a horse and shoot a bow and arrow at the same time, but hasn't had much use for that skill since graduating in 2008.

Her debut novel, THE GIRL AT MIDNIGHT (Delacorte/Random House), is out now. The second book in the trilogy, THE SHADOW HOUR, will be published July 2016. The third and final book of the series will come out summer 2017.

Website | Twitter |Instagram

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GIVEAWAY

Two lucky winners will each receive copies of both The Girl at Midnight and The Shadow Hour, so fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter! Giveaway is open to US/Canada only.

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WEEK ONE:

7/4: Reading Teen - Best Snarky Girls

7/5: Fiction Fare - Q&A

7/6: Paperback Princess - Dual Review

7/7: Novel Heartbeat - Review

7/8: Lovin' Los Libros - Review

WEEK TWO:

7/11: What Sarah Read - Review

7/12: Supernatural Snark - Q&A

7/13: Wandering Bark Books - Review

7/14: Bookish Broads - Q&A

7/15: Mundie Moms - Review

Queen of Hearts Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway!

QUEEN OF HEARTS
Queen of Hearts #1
Colleen Oakes
Young Adult/Fantasy
320 pages
Harper Teen
Available May 3rd
Source: eARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
As Princess of Wonderland Palace and the future Queen of Hearts, Dinah’s days are an endless monotony of tea, tarts, and a stream of vicious humiliations at the hands of her father, the King of Hearts. The only highlight of her days is visiting Wardley, her childhood best friend, the future Knave of Hearts — and the love of her life.

When an enchanting stranger arrives at the Palace, Dinah watches as everything she’s ever wanted threatens to crumble. As her coronation date approaches, a series of suspicious and bloody events suggests that something sinister stirs in the whimsical halls of Wonderland. It’s up to Dinah to unravel the mysteries that lurk both inside and under the Palace before she loses her own head to a clever and faceless foe.

Part epic fantasy, part twisted fairy tale, this dazzling saga will have readers shivering as Dinahs furious nature sweeps Wonderland up in the maelstrom of her wrath.

Familiar characters such as Cheshire, the White Rabbit, and the Mad Hatter make their appearance, enchanting readers with this new, dark take on Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

QUEEN OF HEARTS

Queen of Hearts is a retelling that takes a little time to build, our time with Dinah in the opening chapters staying very much on the surface as she navigates the unexpected arrival of a new half sister and the deterioration of her already poor relationship with her father. The writing too seems very straightforward and simplistic in the beginning, telling us how Dinah feels about all that's happening without truly sucking us into her tale, but before too long this story starts to shift, shadows creeping in from all directions until they swallow us whole and force us far, far below the surface we'd previously been tiptoeing along.

At first glance, Dinah appears to be a young woman with a single layer to her character, that of a girl desperate for approval that's never going to come from an uncaring father, becoming increasingly bitter the more he shuns her in favor of her half sister. With time however, Dinah becomes far more intriguing than that first glance suggests, her volatile relationship with her father escalating to the point that we can't wait for the moment she might unleash her vengeance upon him and all those in her court who have mercilessly mocked her despite her royal status. While her father becomes increasingly cruel, Dinah manages to keep her cool, biding her time and working behind the scenes to uncover the dark secrets of Wonderland, and once she sets forth with this new purpose, her tale becomes impossible to put down.

One of the most interesting aspects of a retelling (for me personally) is seeing in what ways the author stays true to the original story and in what ways he or she deviates, and Queen of Hearts is no different. It's hard not to root for Dinah in this first installment given all the derision she faces from those who should love and respect her, but in the back of our minds we can't help but wonder if Dinah is already becoming the villain of the original and we just can't see it yet since we only have her perspective of various events. Either way though, she's a young woman with whom we desperately want more time once we close the back cover, and the wait for the second installment is sure to be long and painful in the best possible way.

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

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COLLEEN OAKES

Colleen Oakes is the author of books for both teens and adults, including The Elly in Bloom Series, The Queen of Hearts Saga (Harper Collins 2016) and The Wendy Darling Saga. She lives in North Denver with her husband and son and surrounds herself with the most lovely family and friends imaginable. When not writing or plotting new books, Colleen can be found swimming, traveling and totally immersing herself in nerdy pop culture. She currently at work on another YA fantasy series and a stand-alone YA novel.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

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GIVEAWAY

Three lucky winners will each recieve a finished copy of Queen of Hearts! WOO HOO! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

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WEEK ONE:

5/2: Supernatural Snark - Review

5/3: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

5/4: The Irish Banana Review - Review

5/5: A Backwards Story - A Twist in Our Tale

5/6: In Wonderland - Review

WEEK TWO:

5/9: Two Chicks on Books - Guest Post

5/10: Bookish Antics - Review

5/11: Adventures of a Book Junkie - Q&A

5/12: Chapter by Chapter - Review

5/13: Brooke Reports - Top 10

Traitor Angels Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway!

TRAITOR ANGELS
Anne Blankman
Young Adult/Historical
400 pages
Balzer + Bray
Available May 3rd
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
Six years have passed since England’s King Charles II returned from exile to reclaim the throne, ushering in a new era of stability for his subjects.

Except for Elizabeth Milton. The daughter of notorious poet John Milton, Elizabeth has never known her place in this shifting world—except by her father’s side. By day she helps transcribe his latest masterpiece, the epic poem Paradise Lost, and by night she learns languages and sword fighting. Although she does not dare object, she suspects that he’s training her for a mission whose purpose she cannot fathom.

Until one night the reason becomes clear: the king’s man arrive at her family’s country home to arrest her father. Determined to save him, Elizabeth follows his one cryptic clue and journeys to Oxford, accompanied by her father’s mysterious young houseguest, Antonio Vivani, a darkly handsome Italian scientist who surprises her at every turn. Funny, brilliant, and passionate, Antonio seems just as determined to protect her father as she is—but can she trust him with her heart?

When the two discover that Milton has planted an explosive secret in the half-finished Paradise Lost—a secret the king and his aristocratic supporters are desperate to conceal—Elizabeth is faced with a devastating choice: cling to the shelter of her old life or risk cracking the code, unleashing a secret that could save her father…and tear apart the very fabric of society.

MY THOUGHTS
Traitor Angels is a fast-paced, enthralling read, sending us on a merry chase alongside heroine Elizabeth as we follow the clues–key pieces of information that could topple monarchies and religions alike–her brilliant father left tucked in the pages of Paradise Lost.

Elizabeth is a young woman ahead of her time thanks to her father largely raising her as a boy, teaching her foreign languages and sword-fighting in addition to reading and writing, and cherry-picking her as one of a pair of individuals tasked with protecting a secret uncovered decades ago. She's incredibly intelligent and fiercely loyal to her father, but she thankfully doesn't have blinders on when it comes to him, and as events unfold, allows her opinion on various things to change instead of clinging stubbornly to all she thought was true. She does on occasion get defeated when she and Antonio hit a roadblock in the Paradise Lost treasure hunt, despairing of her failure to save her father, but she only wallows for brief moments before she snaps herself out of it and restores her resolve.

Her romance with Antonio, while secondary to the epic search for a world-altering secret, is prominent enough to give us butterflies in between action sequences, bringing a smile to our faces before we're plunged once again into danger. The two of them together are a formidable couple, playing off each other's strengths to uncover the complex series of clues left by Mr. Milton, and we can do nothing but flip the pages with unprecedented speed to see what awaits them in the next chapter.

Overall, Traitor Angels will delight lovers of adventure, history and romance, guaranteeing its spot on many a shelf of favorites.

Rating: 4/5

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

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ANNE BLANKMAN

Anne Blankman may have been meant to be a writer because her parents named her for Anne of Green Gables. She grew up in an old house with gables (gray, unfortunately) in upstate New York. When she wasn't writing or reading, she was rowing on the crew team, taking ballet lessons, fencing and swimming. She graduated from Union College with degrees in English and history, which comes in handy when she writes historical fiction.

After earning a master's degree in information science, Anne began working as a youth services librarian. Currently, she lives in southeastern Virginia with her family. When she's not writing young adult fiction, she's playing with her daughter, training for races with her husband, working at her amazing library branch, learning to knit (badly), and reading.

Website | Twitter | Facebook 

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GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs today are 3 finished copies of Traitor Angels! To enter, please fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway is open to US addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

WEEK ONE

4/25: Love At First Page - Guest Post

4/26: Paperback Princess - Review

4/27: Live Love Read - Playlist

4/28: Supernatural Snark - Review

4/29: No BS Book Reviews - Q&A

WEEK TWO

5/2: The Irish Banana Review - Top 10

5/3: Lisa Loves Lit - Review

5/4: Alexa Loves Books - Q&A

5/5: The Petite Book Blogger - Review

5/6: A Book & A Latte - How I Write

The Trouble With Destiny: Interview + Giveaway

Today I'm excited to have author Lauren Morrill stopping by the blog as part of the promotional tour for her newest release, The Trouble With Destiny. Lauren was nice enough to answer a few questions for me about music, chocolate and her protagonist Liza, so I hope you guys enjoy the interview! Be sure and check the bottom of the post too for all the details on a fantastic giveaway:)

If Liza’s band was to accompany you on a promotional tour for The Trouble with Destiny, what song would they play as your introduction at each stop?

“Friends in Low Places” by Garth Brooks, which has a moment in Destiny. And because it makes me think of my own high school experience growing up in east Tennessee (where Liza and her friends are from as well!).

It’s midnight chocolate buffet time on the Destiny. What are the three delicious goodies you go for first?

Brownies, chocolate chip cookies, and a chocolate croissant.

Liza is an extremely organized young woman. If she were to see the bits and pieces of your current work in progress (notes, outlines, etc.), would she nod in approval or suddenly develop a nervous tic and want to show you all the ways she could help you?

She would LOSE. HER. MIND. Right now I’m basically drafting by opening up the document and dropping in a paragraph in chapter 3 or a sentence in chapter 9. One of my chapters is just called “last few chapters,” while another is called “somewhere in the middle.” I’m not a linear writer!

If you could book a cruise tomorrow, where would that boat be headed?

I want to take one of those European river cruises, where you stop in different countries. As much as I enjoy reading a book on a beach, I’d love to do some awesome historical tours of castles and museums.

Let’s play Two Truths and a Lie, Destiny-style. Please share two crazy, fun, or embarrassing things that actually happened while on board and one tall tale. (We’ll just have to read to find out which is which ;-))

—One character kisses Liza, and immediately after, another character punches him in the face.
—Demi and the Athenas are performing a medley of boy-band hits when a pipe bursts overhead and douses the stage and the performers, who never stop singing.
—An accidental mixture of Dramamine and Benadryl has Liza passing out in her nemesis’s closet.

Thanks so much Lauren!

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THE TROUBLE WITH DESTINY

It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey...

With her trusty baton and six insanely organized clipboards, drum major Liza Sanders is about to take Destiny by storm—the boat, that is. When Liza discovered that her beloved band was losing funding, she found Destiny, a luxury cruise ship complete with pools, midnight chocolate buffets, and a $25,000 spring break talent show prize.

Liza can’t imagine senior year without the band, and nothing will distract her from achieving victory. She’s therefore not interested when her old camp crush, Lenny, shows up on board, looking shockingly hipster-hot. And she’s especially not interested in Russ, the probably-as-dumb-as-he-is-cute prankster jock whose ex, Demi, happens be Liza’s ex–best friend and leader of the Athenas, a show choir that’s the band’s greatest competition.

But it’s not going to be smooth sailing. After the Destiny breaks down, all of Liza’s best-laid plans start to go awry. Liza likes to think of herself as an expert at almost everything, but when it comes to love, she’s about to find herself lost at sea.

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LAUREN MORRILL

Lauren Elizabeth Morrill is many things, including, but not limited to, a writer, an educator, a badass roller derby skater, a former band nerd, an aggressive driver, and a die-hard Mac person. She also watches a lot of TV, eats a lot of junk food, and drinks a lot of Coke. It's a wonder her brain and teeth haven't rotted out of her head.

Lauren is the author of Meant to Be, Being Sloane Jacobs, The Trouble With Destiny, and the forthcoming My Unscripted Life (October 2016), all from Random House.

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