Books! Books! And More Books!

As you all know, I'm a proud member of the Class of 2k12.  We are a group of debut authors of young adult and middle grade books who came together as a marketing collective and through the course of the year became friends, confidantes, and - I hope - a lifelong support network.  These authors are great people.  And now you all get the chance to find out what great authors they are, too.  There is something for everyone here - middle grade verse, deep dark YA mayhem, faeries, astral projection, history, legend, elephants, war... Need I go on?

The Class is hosting a huge end-of-the-year giveaway on the class blog, and I'm doing my bit by spreading the news and giving you the chance to win here, too!  The giveaway closes on the 12th of December!  I regret to say, it's open to US and Canada only - our coffers can't spread to sending 21 books abroad.

Check out the Rafflecopter to find out which books will be coming your way if you win, and then enter!  You want these books....


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bonus!  I'm also posting over at the Corsets, Cutlasses and Candlesticks blog today - hop over and find out what a Tudor feast was like - and be thankful you don't have to cook (or eat) one yourself!

Friday Five -- Lynne Kelly

Lynne Kelly is a Class of 2k12 sibling, an active member of the Apocalypsies, an unstoppable Twitter-phile, an advocate of writers, published and pre-published everywhere.  And a darn good writer herself.  Her middle grade novel, CHAINED, came out in May and it stunned me with its vivid setting and fully-realized characters.  Not only that, but she's also just a lovely all-round person.  I'm delighted to introduce her to you.


THE FIVE:

1.  What do you love most about your main character?

That he does the right thing, even when he's afraid.

2.  What would your super power be?

Invisibility. Then I could listen to other people's conversations without looking creepy. Come to think of it, that answer is probably creepy.

3.  What single thing would improve the quality of your life?

I suppose “winning lottery ticket” would be too easy. But I did just discover the Post-It Note desk, which would make life much better.  And it would be in my own writing office, of course. 

4.  What song would you have played at your funeral?

I'd love for my funeral to turn out like the “All You Need Is Love” wedding scene from Love Actually.

5.  If you knew you would be stranded on a desert island, which book, piece of music, and snack food would you take with you?

Hmm, is it cheating to say a giant 7-volume book that includes the whole Harry Potter series? If so, then I guess I'd have to pick Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, and then lie in the sand and replay the rest of the series in my head. For music I'd take “Under Pressure,” because it's one of the best songs ever and I never get tired of hearing it, and for snack food I'd take chocolate-covered strawberries, 'cause they're chocolate, of course, with the added bonus of scurvy protection.

ABOUT CHAINED:

After ten-year-old Hastin’s family borrows money to pay for his sister’s hospital bill, he leaves his village in northern India to take a job as an elephant keeper and work off the debt. He thinks it will be an adventure, but he isn’t prepared for the cruel circus owner. The crowds that come to the circus see a lively animal who plays soccer and balances on milk bottles, but Hastin sees Nandita, a sweet elephant and his best friend, who is chained when she’s not performing and punished until she learns tricks perfectly. Hastin protects Nandita as best as he can, knowing that the only way they will both survive is if he can find a way for them to escape.

You can order CHAINED here!

ABOUT LYNNE:

You can find Lynne on her website.

On Facebook.

And on Twitter.  You definitely want to follow her on Twitter.

Friday Five -- Suzanne Lazear

This week's author is another 2k12 Classmate, and I'm thrilled to get the chance to talk a little about her novel, INNOCENT DARKNESS, which was published by Flux on August 8.  Suzanne is an avid Steampunker, runs with bustles, invents cupcake cannons and lights up Twitter when she gets going on a topic.


THE FIVE:

1.  What would your super power be?

I’d want to be telekinetic. Or Fly. Yeah, flying would be awesome.

2.  What is the worst thing anyone has said to you?

I had a teacher tell me I’d never be an author.

3.  What is your guiltiest pleasure? 

Chocolate! I especially love the dark chocolate pistachio toffee from Trader Joes.

4.  What is the worst job you’ve done?

In Grad School I spend an entire summer stuffing envelopes while standing up for a reputable organization.  I was promised a stipend for the summer and never paid.  I actually did additional work for them in the fall because they told me if I did they could make sure I was paid.  I still was never paid. When I finally worked up the nerve to approach someone they called me a liar and sent their lawyer after me. It was awful.

5.  What keeps you awake at night?

Odd things – like did Werewolves live in the Wild West? What if only half the world died – would it still be an apocalypse?  Half the time these odd thoughts become stories.

ABOUT INNOCENT DARKNESS:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from her home. The school slowly tries to strip Noli of everything that makes her who she is. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. The mysterious Kevighn Silver from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

ABOUT SUZANNE:

You can find Suzanne on her website.
On Twitter.
And on Facebook.

Friday Five -- Joanne Levy

Joanne Levy is the author of SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE (quite possibly the best title of the year for a middle grade novel) and a Class of 2k12 sibling.  I have the great pleasure of being able to hear her wisdom and humor almost daily through 2k12 e-mails and I'm delighted to be able to share her here.

THE FIVE:

1.  What is your guiltiest pleasure? 

I have two – one reading and one food. Let’s start with the reading: J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood books. They are SUCH a guilty pleasure because they’re kind of cheesy (hello, laughable character names, gratuitous product placements and really bad urban-speak) but they are very, very addictive. Seriously. They are like Crahck (if you’ve read them, you get that spelling joke) and I’ve read them more times than I care to admit. But they are my go-to comfort reads when I’m tired and worn out and just want to go to a happy place.  And now, my food guilty pleasure. Um, it is SO GROSS, that I am embarrassed to tell you, but I will, because I really like you and you deserve an honest answer. Okay, here goes: when my mom (a bona fide Jewish Grandmother, who is an AMAZING cook) makes soup, she always throws in some soup bones to make for a richer broth. When we were kids, our favorite thing was to get the bones from the cooked soup and scoop out the bone marrow and spread it onto bread like butter. OMG, it’s so good, but truly one of those disgusting things that you’re kind of ashamed of as a grown-up. But would still do, given the opportunity *calling Mom right now to beg her to make soup*.

2.  Who would play you in the film of your life?

Amy Adams - I think we even have the same nose and the red hair is a no brainer. And how cute is she, right?

3.  If you could edit your past, what would you change?

Probably nothing—every experience, even the stupid mistakes I’ve made or the times when it seemed like the universe was pooping on me, have made me who I am today, and I’m pretty okay with that.

4.  What one word do you think describes you best?

Funny. I hope. Oh, man, now I’m not sure. Can I change my answer? If so, please change it to ‘self-assured’. Thanks!

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?

Just Do It. Get your butt in the chair and start writing, because you can’t edit a blank page.

ABOUT SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE:

From Goodreads: After she’s hit by lightning at a wedding, twelve-year-old Lilah Bloom develops a new talent: she can hear dead people. Among them, there’s her overopinionated Bubby Dora; a prissy fashion designer; and an approval-seeking clown who livens up a séance. With Bubby Dora leading the way, these and other sweetly imperfect ghosts haunt Lilah through seventh grade, and help her face her one big fear: talking to—and possibly going to the seventh-grade dance with—her crush, Andrew Finkel.

You can pre-order SMALL MEDIUM AT LARGE here.

ABOUT JOANNE:

You can find Joanne at her website.
On Twitter.
On Facebook.
And on Goodreads.

Friday Five -- Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Lynda Mullaly Hunt is another Class of 2k12 sibling, and one that I'm absolutely delighted to have on the blog today.  Her middle grade novel, ONE FOR THE MURPHYS hit stores yesterday.  I was very lucky to get an advanced reading copy from Penguin (what, me? beg?) and spent an entire day crying while I read Carley's story.  


THE FIVE:

1.  If you could go back in time, where/when would you go?  

I’d go back to when my mum was alive and healthy. We’d have tea with milk and talk and laugh and I’d assure her that the Red Sox actually *are* going to win the World Series in 2004. And she’d tell me that I’ve always had a wonderful imagination.

2.  What keeps you awake at night?

Ha! These days, nothing keeps me awake for long!

3.  What is your most treasured possession?

I’d have to say pictures and videos of my kids growing up. Also, an afghan that my grandmother made me as a wedding gift—but gave to me six years before I got married. And my wedding band. And, I have to admit, my ARC of One for the Murphys is pretty cool. Oh, I was supposed to pick one???

4.  What one word do you think describes you best?

Indescribable. :)

5.  Who are your real-life heroes?

Well, I’d have to say that my brother, Rick, and his wife, Jill, are my heroes. There are few people in the world with hearts like theirs. They’ve shown that again and again for as long as I’ve had a memory.

ABOUT ONE FOR THE MURPHYS:


In the wake of heart-breaking betrayal, Carley Connors is thrust into foster care and left on the steps of the Murphys, a happy, bustling family. 


Carley has thick walls and isn’t rattled easily, but this is a world she just doesn’t understand. A world that frightens her. So, she resists this side of life she’d believed did not exist with dinners around a table and a “zip your jacket, here’s your lunch” kind of mom. 


However, with the help of her Broadway-obsessed and unpredictable friend, Toni, the Murphys do the impossible in showing Carley what it feels like to belong somewhere. But, when her mother wants her back, will she lose the only family that she has ever known? (From Lynda's website)

Order One for the Murphys here.

ABOUT LYNDA:

You can find Lynda on her website.
On Twitter.

Friday Five -- Kimberly Sabatini

My guest today is Kimberly Sabatini, author of TOUCHING THE SURFACE, which will be published by Simon Pulse on October 30.  Kim is a fearless cheerleader for books and authors, a treasured Class of 2k12 sibling and an all-around good person.  I'm very happy to be able to introduce her to you.

THE FIVE:

1.  What would your super power be?

My super power, without a doubt, would be to fly. If you’ve ever had a flying dream, it’s about as big of a tease as you can get—it feels so real. When I was a kid I was convinced that if I just concentrated hard enough I’d be able to lift off the ground. I’d spend hours practicing my take offs. And if that wasn’t enough--I’m fascinated with birds—so this is the perfect super power for me!

2.  What is your most unappealing habit?

Hmmm most unappealing habit? I talk fast and have the horrible tendency of trying to finish other people’s sentences. I work hard to be a good listener, but sometimes that mouth gets a’ flappin and I just can’t help myself. * head thunk *

3.  What is the worst job you’ve done? 

When I was a cashier at a local grocery store in high school, they sent me into the back to hand sort a ROOM full of dirty recycled cans and bottles. It was pretty darn nasty. There were things in that pile that I didn’t know existed. * shudders *

Second runner up…I’ve delivered a lot of Denny’s Grand Slams. A lot.

4.  What keeps you awake at night?

Quite a lot of things IF I don’t read in bed. If I just try to lie down and doze off by myself, my mind goes in a thousand different directions. But, if I read a book, I forget my own “stuff” and focus on someone else’s. This frees me up so nod off as I’m reading. Every once in awhile this backfires and I’m up till 2am—unable to put down a crazy good book. But it’s a risk I’m happy to take.

5.  What living person do you most admire and why?

I admire the quiet givers, the small town folks who change and save the lives of their friends and neighbors without anyone really knowing what they do and how much it means. They have good hearts and I admire them more than anyone.

ABOUT TOUCHING THE SURFACE:


Life-altering mistakes are meant to alter lives.

At seventeen, Elliot Turner feels like she’s a failure in life and in the afterlife. She’s died for the third time and until she can remember her past and figure out the growth plan for her soul, she’s stuck at the Obmil Center for Progression. Elliot’s not surprised that her third stay in limbo guarantees her a rocky road to enlightenment, but she never expected her best friend, Julia to be mad at her. Things get even worse when Elliot meets Oliver and Trevor. One guy is as radiant as the sun and the other is dark and snarky and hates her for no reason at all. It doesn’t take long for Elliot to realize that the deeper she delves into her past, the more complicated it gets--she’s only touched the surface.

You can pre-order TOUCHING THE SURFACE here.

ABOUT KIMBERLY:

You can find Kimberly at her website.

On Twitter.

On Facebook.

And on Goodreads.

Friday Five -- Robin Bridges

Robin Bridges is another 2k12 Classmate (such a fantastic group of people!) and author of THE GATHERING STORM, an historical novel set in Tsarist Russia.  I'm delighted to have her here today to answer...


THE FIVE:

1.  What is the most surprising thing you’ve learned since becoming a writer?  

You can read every author/ agent/ editor blog, attend conferences, lurk on message boards and just when you think you have the publishing industry figured out, something changes.  You can’t chase the best-seller list hoping to get in on the “next big thing”.  Just write the best book that only you can write.

2.  Who are your writing heroes?  

Laura Ingalls Wilder was my earliest writing hero.  The fact that she wrote books about her life and sold them was the coolest thing to my nine-year-old mind.

3.  What other profession would you like to learn?

I’d love to be an archeologist or an astronomer.  Or a dolphin trainer!

4.  What profession would you never, ever want to have? 

Accounting.  I hate balancing my own checkbook.

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?

“Just keep swimming-  I mean… Just keep writing, writing, writing- what do we do? We write, write…”

ABOUT THE GATHERING STORM:

From Goodreads:
St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?

Order THE GATHERING STORM here.

ABOUT ROBIN BRIDGES:

You can find Robin at her website.
On Facebook.
On Twitter.

Friday Five -- J. Anderson Coats

Today's Friday Five are being asked of author J. Anderson Coats whose THE WICKED AND THE JUST will debut on Tuesday from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.  Jillian is an essential member of the Class of 2k12, an excellent resource and sports a whip-quick wit.  Plus she loves history.  Win.


THE FIVE:

1.  What would your super power be?

I would be able to manipulate time, either adding hours to the day or stopping time completely.  That way words could get written, the kitchen cleaned, the day job done and chess played with the kid without anything falling by the wayside.

2.  What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Real Simple magazine.  I’m in awe of living-room makeovers and subtle eyeshadow and one-skillet dinners that involve fennel.  My “décor” involves big piles of books and a relentless, futile attempt to keep the dinner table clear enough to eat on.

3.  If you could edit your past, what would you change?

I would be born with the ability to know what to say in any situation and make people feel at ease.  Being able to walk into any roomful of strangers and not feel awkward would make me a happier person.

4.  What other profession would you like to learn?

Cake-decorating.  First you make something breathtaking, then you eat it because it’s also delicious.

5.  What profession would you never, ever want to have?

Commission sales.  It does not align with my personality and worldview in any way, shape, or form.

ABOUT THE WICKED AND THE JUST:

From Coats's website: 

1293.  North Wales.  Ten years into English rule.

Cecily would give anything to leave Caernarvon and go home.  Gwenhwyfar would give anything to see all the English leave.

Neither one is going to get her wish.

Behind the city walls, English burgesses govern with impunity.  Outside the walls, the Welsh are confined by custom and bear the burden of taxation, and the burgesses plan to keep it that way.
Cecily can’t be bothered with boring things like the steep new tax or the military draft that requires Welshmen to serve in the king’s army overseas.  She has her hands full trying to fit in with the town’s privileged elite, and they don’t want company.

Gwenhwyfar can’t avoid these things.  She counts herself lucky to get through one more day, and service in Cecily’s house is just salt in the wound.

But the Welsh are not as conquered as they seem, and the suffering in the countryside is rapidly turning to discontent.  The murmurs of revolt may be Gwenhwyfar’s only hope for survival – and the last thing Cecily ever hears.

You can buy THE WICKED AND THE JUST here.

ABOUT JILLIAN:

You can find her on her website.
On Twitter.
On Facebook.
And on Goodreads.

Friday Five -- Caroline Starr Rose

 It is my pleasure this week to bring you Caroline Starr Rose, author of MAY B., an historical middle grade novel in verse.  I consider myself very fortunate to be part of the Class of 2k12, which Caroline co-chairs with author Megan Bostic.  She is a fearless leader and an amazing author.


THE FIVE:

1.  What is your favorite word?
Alpargatas -- Spanish for espadrille shoes. Way too fun to say.

2.  What word do you like the least?
weevil

3.  What other profession would you like to learn?
I've always thought being an ethnologist would be really interesting. Studying another culture and knowing its people intimately fascinates me.

4.  What profession would you never, ever want to have?
Surgeon. The world is fortunate I was not required to work on the human body.

5.  What is your favorite writing motto/mantra?
E.L. Doctorow's quote on drafting has gotten me through many a story:  It's like driving a car at night. You never see further than your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.

ABOUT MAY B.:

From Goodreads:

I've known it since last night:
It's been too long to expect them to return. 
Something's happened.

May is helping out on a neighbor's Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it's hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May's memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she's determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose's fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

Order MAY B. here.

ABOUT CAROLINE:

You can find Caroline at her website.
On Goodreads.
And on Facebook.