A website dedicated to books in the Young Adult genre, featuring book reviews, author interviews contests and much more!


Friday, November 6, 2009

Guest Post with Suzanne Selfors, Author of Coffeehouse Angel & Contest!

Today I'd like to welcome young adult and middle grade author, Suzanne Selfors. Born in Munich, Germany in 1963, Suzanne attended Bennington College and graduated with honors from Occidental College in Documentary Film Production. She received an MA in Communications from the University of Washington. She lives with her husband on an island in Washington state where they are raising two children, a dog, a cat, and a flock of messy chickens.

Suzanne is the author of Saving Juliet, To Catch a Mermaid, Fortune's Magic Farm. Her latest novel, Coffeehouse Angel is about a girl who gives a homeless man a cup of coffee, not realizing he is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. Suzanne stopped by to talk about the rising popularity of angels and the inspiration behind Malcolm in Coffeehouse Angel.

MAKE WAY FOR ANGELS?

by Suzanne Selfors

A recent newspaper article asked the question, “Are clouds replacing coffins?” The article referred to the fact that a whole bunch of angel-themed books have been released this year, mine included, and more are on the way. So all those bookstore shelves and tables that have been crowded with vampire books had better make some room. We’re taking over.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve never been a vampire fan. My daughter is. She goes to sleep every night with Edward staring at her from her bedroom wall. I tend to get stuck in the gory details of having a vampire boyfriend. Like the fact that he’s UNDEAD. Kissing ice-cold lips and cuddling next to someone who feels like a Popsicle just doesn’t appeal to me. I guess I’m weird that way. And then there’s the whole drinking blood thing. How can you have a nice Thanksgiving dinner when your boyfriend’s staring at your neck and drooling?

But angels are different. They are very much alive. If it’s the dead of winter and you suffer from Seasonal Depression, like most people in my northern climate tend to do, then an angel is handy to have around because he’ll keep the house warm and bright—like a heat lamp. I’m not sure if angels need to eat—that’s up to the author to decide—but I do know that you don’t have to open a vein to enjoy a meal in his company.

In my book, Coffeehouse Angel, my angel’s name is Malcolm. Though I don’t belong to a particular religion, I have spent a great deal of time studying religion. The world’s religions are some of the best sources for story. They provide great inspiration. And when I started my research on angels, I was amazed to find that all religions have them, in one form or other. So when I went to create my angel, I drew from many different traditions. For instance, the Old Testament tells us that the angel is a messenger, sent from God to deliver a message. These angels are radiant, otherworldly beautiful but in an androgynous, non-sexual way. Some of this I could use but I was writing a teen novel and so I needed my angel to be, well, sexy. So I went to an early messenger, Hermes, the Greek Messenger God. From Hermes I took the mischievous personality, the kilt, satchel and winged sandals. And viola! I’ve got a messenger angel who’s cute, stylish and way too curious about the human world.

Once our angel books have taken over, the question arises—what will be next? What nonhuman boyfriend will arrive in the next wave of paranormal romance? Fairies have been well represented, as have werewolves and wizards. So, I’m thinking leprechauns. Hmmm. Maybe not. What do you think?


From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop. When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

You can purchase Coffeehouse Angel HERE.

To learn more about Suzanne, visit her Official Website.

****CONTEST****

Suzanne has graciously offered to give away one copy Coffeehouse Angel.

TO ENTER:
Comment on Suzanne's post with your thoughts

BONUS ENTRY:
Link/Post to any social network of your choice

END DATE:
November 27th 2009 (US Only Please)


75 comments:

Natalie said...

I'm excited to see that the latest topic in YA is angels. Angel mythology has always piqued my interest. I'm excited to see what authors are going to turn out!

+1 Sidebar Link

Natalie @ Mindful Musings
n_monzyk_27@yahoo.com

Amy1225 said...

I love anything with angels. I think that it is nice to have a change of pace in the book world.

amyturci(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Alicia0385 said...

I am so excited to see so many angel books coming out. Its nice to have our children reading something on the heavenly side of life for a change. Now I'm not saying that I dont enjoy the next vampire, werewolf, demon book as well but its nice to see the softer side or literature.

aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

Cecelia said...

I'm ready for a wave of angel fiction! It's not only washing over YA lit - one of my favorite romances this year was an angel paranormal/sci-fi. Great stuff. Please enter me for the book!

celialarsen(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

DO NOT ENTER ME IN CONTEST!
I just wanted to thank Suzanne for the great guest post.
Thank you for sharing!
All the best,
RKCharron
xoxo

cait045 said...

This book sounds perfect. I love the cover its too cute. Also, I would love to read a book with leprechauns if that is your next book.

usignolc(at)yahooDOTcom

Ellz said...

What a cute idea for a story. I guess you can never tell who someone is at first glance. Funny comment about vampires at the Thanksgiving table.

zenfoxflowerATyahooDOTcom
Elie (Ellz Readz)

Stacey Brucale said...

This book looks good, please enter me!

squiggles87(at)aol(Dot)com

jpetroroy said...

This sounds like such a sweet book

jpetroroy (at) gmail (dot) com

+1 Tweeted at https://twitter.com/jpetroroy/status/5479643766

Donna Gambale said...

I'd definitely pick angels over vamps! Thanks for the guest post and contest!

+1 - sidebar link at First Novels Club blog

firstnovelsclub [at] gmail [dot] com

tetewa said...

I'd like to be included, sounds good! tWarner419@aol.com

Jessy said...

I like how she compares vampires and angels. It made me laugh so hard!

Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Emma015/statuses/5481907094

findjessyhere at gmail dot com

Miss Haley said...

I think the appeal of vampires (and i think i read this in some intro to a book) is that vampires have eternal life. and deep down inside us all, we all know that we will live eternally in some way shape or form. (personally i know where i'll be.) and vampires have that--eternal life. it's what we all want: to know.

I'd love to be entered to win!
haleymathiot at yahoo dot com

+1 posted at twitter.com/haleymathiot

Jax said...

Definetly count me in

jomullane at bluemarble dot net

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

I love the premise of this book, Suzanne.

No need to enter me, though. I'm dropping in to say thanks for the e-mail. I've got this posted at Win a Book.

aprilnichole said...

I'm a big vamp fan but I do think they should move over and make some room for the angels. :) It will be good to see Angels start interacting with people and be smart and sexy and whatever else authors come up with.

I tweeted too. http://twitter.com/theaprilnichole

ape2306@yahoo.com

pepsivanilla said...

Leprechauns would definitely be different! The whole vampire thing is very annoying now, which is unfortunate.

pepsivanilla14(at)hotmail(dot)com

Emma said...

Coffeehouse Angel sounds wonderful.Please enter me in the giveaway.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Thank you.

kalynnick said...

I never read any books with angel characters so this should be good.


kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com

Unknown said...

So far I'm really enjoying all the books I've read about angels.
Please enter me :)

McKenzie
mac.attack17(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I've always loved and believed in angels. I do think they're all around, protecting us.

bgcchs(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mozi Esme said...

This looks like a fun read! I love random acts of kindness, and this one seems well rewarded!

janemaritz at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Vampires are so last year...HELLO angels! I think that heavenly! (haha!)

-bookmac13@gmail.com

Andrea said...

I've had this book on my WL and would love to read it!

+1 And I blogged about the contest here.

belle2211(at)yahoo(dot)com

throuthehaze said...

I have heard this is a good book and I would love to read it!

Raelena
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I've seen this book around, but this is the first time I've heard straight from the author. Very interesting to hear about her research on angels. And it is amazing that we see them in all religions. Thanks for having her guest post!

foltzsfantasticbooks at gmail.com

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I love Angels! Would love to read this also!!

DanceAlert AT Aol Dot Com

Martha Lawson said...

I love to read about angels. I think this would be a great read.

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Raspberry said...

This is a huge 'want to read' book on my list! It just looks like a great idea, plus there's something about angels that's so wonderful - not too fantasyish enough to be real, does that make sense?
rae_sunshine4(at)yahoo.com

Lizzy said...

I can't wait to read this one! It's been on my list for quite some time.

Enter me, please!

-Lizzy
Cornucopiaofreviews@gmail.com

Gwendolyn B. said...

I'm not a vampire fan, but I think this angel sounds cute and fun. I'd love to read his story. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Gwendolyn B. said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/ASeaOfBooks/status/5511139227

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Marie said...

I think it's great that there have been more books focused on angels -- I love that!

marielay@gmail.com

Emily Brown said...

I would love to read a book on angels!

emilyb3342@bellsouth.net

mrsshukra said...

What an inspiring story by Suzanne! We need more stories with angels!

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

Ashley said...

Awh I loved this post! And I've been really wanting to read this book. I love what it's about. Angels!

+1 Posted on my sidebar at http://booksobsession.blogspot.com

booksobsession(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks!

Reading said...

I love the angel theme. Great post.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

mabelilly28 said...

Thanks to my mom I, too, am obsessed with angels and what they represent. Thank you for writing another novel with an angelic theme!

mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com

avalonne83 said...

Please enter me in the contest. Thanks.

avalonne83 [at] yahoo [dot] it

brizmus said...

hee hee! I'm excited about clouds replacing coffins. I love vampire books and all, but I've been feeling sort of overwhelmed lately.
I guess next it will have to be shapeshifters or something like that.

Please enter me!
zedster.tbb(at)gmail(DOT)com

DarcyO said...

I think Suzanne should stick with the sexy angel and forget about the leprechaun.

dlodden at frontiernet dot net

Eleni said...

Great post Kim, please enter me, I really wanna read this book :)

Thanks
-Eleni
lafemmereaders@yahoo.com

Staci said...

This book sounds GREAT! I would love to read it!

Gwendolyn B. said...

I blogged about this giveaway here:
http://aseaofbooks.blogspot.com/2009/11/not-my-giveaways.html

geebee.reads AT gmail DOT com

Kristen said...

I've heard some amazing things about this book and would love to get my hands on it. I thought it was interesting how she had such a religious studies background. Definitely would add to some of the main information about angels.

dragonzgoil at gmail dot com

Charleydog said...

Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks.
pboylecharley AT hotmail DOT com

Anonymous said...

we need more angel stories...please add my name to this wonderful giveaway.

karen k
kmkuka(at)yahoo(dot)com

Brittany said...

I just read Hush, Hush and loved it so I am really excited to read this, and how the YA fantasy genre is heading down this road.

+1 sidebar link
thelifeofateenlibrarian.blogspot.com

teensatthelibrary[at]yahoo[dot]com

Warren Farrell said...

you can get nice and more knowledge

Staysi said...

This book sounds like a great read! I love the fact that she helps a homeless person in the alleyway and it turns out to be this radiant, sexy messenger angel- that's so original!

+1 Linked to sidebar

http://lostininkreviews.blogspot.com/

-Staysi
staysil7 [at] yahoo [dot] com

Melissa (Books R Us) said...

I love anything to do with angels and fantasy

please enter me.

I have your blog button on my blog

www.melissa-gingerhigh.blogspot.com




melissa@gingerhigh.com

Sarah said...

Haha, I like her comparing angels to heat lamps. I'd love to see for the angels to have a total takeover in the YA book sphere.

+1 Linked this to my sidebar

Thanks for the contest!
Sarah
two_of_hearts_101 at yahoo dot com

Lilixtreme said...

I so did not notice the Angel invasion take over, could be because I haven't been to a bookstore in a while. However, I do love vampires and their mysterious aura, but I do agree with the background and naturalness of the angels. Put in simpler terms, if I were to every right a novel it would have to be about something you could really cuddle up with at night.

linked to my sidebar: http://lilibethramos.blogspot.com
tweeted about contest: http://twitter.com/Lilixtreme/statuses/5700518997

chicareader@gmail.com

Erica said...

I love angels - so much better than vampires!

:) Erica
thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

Anonymous said...

Don't know about angels but I'm tired of vampires and blood. (MMM.....a vintage O positive, 1947....excellent year.....)

What do chocolate coffee beans do to an angel?

K. Gold kjgpinelake@yahoo.com

BiFemPagan said...

Suzanne-

I love all the buzz that Hot Shots java and Liberty Bay Books are giving the book! I'm looking forward to reading it! I'd love to be entered in the contest!

blackrose78@gmail.com

Twittered from http://www.twitter.com/his_darkness

SerieslyReady said...

She needed her angel to be sexy. First time I've heard that one. Suzanne, I've been trying to win this book for like, forever. Okay, huge exaggeration, but I have entered at least three contests to win it. Hopefully, the fourth is the charm.


tbutterful(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

Suzanne, that was funny about the Thanksgiving thing! And yeah, vampires are kinda like popsicles, but when they fall in love with a mortal, it's kind of sad and sweet because it's forbidden and all. Angels are cute too. I wonder if they'll be the next BIG thing. Haha, vampys watch out ;)

Well, the name's Veronica, by the way, and here is my email ~ theveronicaproject[at]gmail[dot]com

Nikki @ Bookizzle said...

Angels are definitely a nice change of pace from the world of vampires and werewolves. This book sounds great! :)

nikkinizzle@gmail.com

Andrea [Buried In Books] said...

So interesting to see she used both different religions and Greek mythology when writing. I'd like to see more books about angels, though I'm a vamp and werewolf fan too :D

+1 Sidebar: http://ireadd.blogspot.com

Thanks for letting me enter!
andrearobbins10@yahoo.com

Aik said...

I love reading stories about angels! Would love to read Coffeehouse Angel!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Missmagic188 said...

I actually think angels are better than vampires. Ever since Twilight came out that had been a wave (I mean WAVE) of books about vampire which in turn destroys the whole definity about vampires.
I don't know. For some reason angles remind me of purity. And isn't that what teens are supposed to be?

Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/zina188/status/5906723489

vananhdo@ymail.com

Allison T said...

Great Contest!
hyperallison@gmail.com

Anita Yancey said...

Sounds like a good read. Please enter me. Thanks!

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Anonymous said...

Seems like a really entertaining book!

BONUS ENTRY: Promoted at http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/245683-coffeehouse-angel-giveaway

Jackie said...

I just have to say, this book looks amazing. My library doesn't have it yet, but I will read it eventually! Good contest and interview!
jackie_love35@msn.com

I posted a link in the sidebar of my blog: www.teenbookguide.blogspot.com

and I also tweeted.

http://twitter.com/teenbookguide/status/6053818752

melissanh74 said...

I have been looking at this book for a while at the bookstore, but I have a list of books that I have been dying to read. I did end up putting this book on my list of 'must haves', but it would be great to win the book!! :-)

LOVE THE BLOG!!!

mabelilly28 said...

I definitely agree that we need more angelic influence on fiction!

mabelilly28 at yahoo dot com

Euphoria13 said...

Wow, after reading the interview, i really want to read this book! I agree about the whole Angel theme. I prefer them then vampires. I myslef never got into the whole vampire, Twilight frenzy. I just didn't find myself interested about someone who wants to drink your blood.

I tweeted about this!

www.twitter.com/Mevurah

I also posted a blog post about this!

http://theheartofdreams.blogspot.com/2009/11/enter-to-win-copy-of-coffeehouse-angel.html

Anonymous said...

I completely agree: why vampires? It doesn't make sense to me. This book sounds so cute--with angels! I've been wanting to read Suzanne Selfors's other novels.

+1 Tweet: http://twitter.com/bookbutterfly/status/6129587581
+1 Link: http://bookbutterflyangel.wordpress.com/contests/

Thanks for the contest!! :D

~Jacqueline (bookbutterfly, aka "The Nerdette")
lady.dashti(at)gmail(dot)com

Nancye said...

I LOVE angels so this is the perfect book for me! Thanks for the chance!!

+1 Tweet! Tweet!

http://twitter.com/NancyeDavis/status/6132839114

nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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