Interview with Cyn Balog, Author of Fairy Tale

Cyn Balog is a normal, everyday Jersey Girl who always believed magical things can happen to us when we least expect them. She’s also the Race & Event Manager for several national fitness magazines. She lives outside Allentown, Pennsylvania with her husband and young daughter. Both are 100% human, or so she thinks. FAIRY TALE is her first novel.

Today I'd like to welcome Cyn Balog, author of the magical debut novel Fairy Tale, which was released in June. We talked about the book as well as her upcoming novel, Sleepless which is scheduled to be released July 13th 2010.

In a market saturated with fairy stories, your debut novel Fairy Tale is unique. Instead of having the main character as a young girl who evolves into a fairy, you chose to write about a boy named Cam instead. What inspired you to take this fresh approach in your writing and how did the idea evolve from a tiny spark to publication?

Well, I don’t think any idea out there is truly unique, so I always laugh when someone says, “I have a great idea for a story but I’m not going to tell anyone because they might steal it.” Any idea can be done a million different ways, simply by tweaking one little piece of it. I knew I’d wanted to write a fairy story but I thought the idea of a girl learning she is a fairy was overdone. I realized I hadn’t seen anything about a guy learning he is the fairy—and to me, that journey would be far more interesting! After all, how would he explain that to his friends? So I started writing and it just flowed; it was done within 3 months, and sold six weeks after that.

In many interviews, you’ve been asked the question about what your favorite fairy tale is, to which you’ve given the answer of Cinderella. But what I’m wondering is if there’s anything in the plot line or character development that you’d alter if given the opportunity to rewrite the story?

I’d give Cinderella some more backbone to be like, “Hey, stepmom, you’re treating me like crap. I’m outta here.” And then she’d go off to the city and start her own business and really show her step-family up. And then later she could meet her true love, the prince, once she was self-sufficient. I hate that most fairy tales are all about the guy saving the girl, which is why I like that Morgan conspires to save Cam.

Do you remember writing the first words of Fairy Tale and are they still in the novel today? Is there a certain line, scene or passage from the book that is a particular favorite of yours as well?

Yep, I think the first words are the same as I wrote them. I didn’t do much revising of the book, honestly. My favorite scene is probably the one with the fortune cookie, which is pretty obvious because part of that scene is on the back of the book.

If you could go back and give your teen self one bit of advice, what would it be?

Don’t give up! I’d wanted to be a writer since I was a kid and I kept listening to everyone who told me it is impossible. Nothing is impossible, unless you believe that it is.

Being a debut novelist, can you share with us the moments that have been both the most exciting and also the most nerve wracking in the road to publication for Fairy Tale?

Most nerve-wracking—getting reviews. I wish everyone in the world would just read and love my book, or if they hated it, just go on their merry way. But no book is loved by everyone, and it took me awhile to realize that even the most celebrated books have their haters. The most exciting moments so far have been seeing the cover for the first time, and seeing FAIRY TALE at a bookstore for the first time.

Your next novel, Sleepless, is about a “Sandman” from another world named Eron DeMarchelle who falls in love with a mortal girl. Can you discuss the inspiration behind this unique idea and perhaps tantalize us with a teaser for Sleepless?

Every morning I wipe the sleep out of my daughter’s eyes, and I’d say, “Oh, the Sandman visited you last night!” and then I realized that was a pretty interesting idea. A guy who would visit a girl to lull her to sleep, but accidentally falls in love with her.

He shook his head, rubbed one temple with his free hand, checked the seat beside him again. Nothing but his baseball glove and a grease-stained fast-food bag. I definitely need more sleep, he thought, as he sped out of the neighborhood. He was halfway down Peasant when he felt a slow, warm caress run up his neck, down his chest —twinge— his whole body lurched forward. It was almost like he skipped forward a few moments in time. He must have driven right through that stop sign on Peasant, because he couldn’t remember coming up to it. Instead he found himself at an amber light on Main Street, which normally he would speed through, but, sensing something was off, he slowed. Suddenly—twinge—he blinked and it was green again, without ever having turned red.

“What the . . .” He gripped the wheel tighter.

He thought about turning back, but only for a second. Griffin Colburn didn’t have the reputation for spinelessness.

Just a few more minutes. Just a few more minutes and I’ll be in bed. He pressed down on the accelerator, thinking of home.

He blinked again. Twinge.

And she was there.

This time, clearer.

Beckoning to him.

Do you have any other upcoming projects we can look forward to? Anything else you’d like to say to readers?

Oh, yes, I am working on several projects right now, all of them paranormals. GIMME FEVER, I’m hoping will be my next one, and it’s complicated, but based on the ancient belief that the flu was due to the influence of the stars. I have so many ideas right now… I’m going to be very busy for the next few years writing them!


Thanks for taking the time to stop Cyn!

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

Witty, original and unexpectedly touching, FAIRY TALE will captivate fans of TWILIGHT and WICKED LOVELY.

To learn more stop by Cyn Balog's official website or blog.

What is so Tantalizing about a Tuesday? Here at the Book Butterfly, every Tuesday will be your day to glimpse greatness! How so you ask? Well, each week I will be featuring an exciting novel that I want to entice you into dreaming about! Still not convinced? How about if I give you great author interviews, guest posts, book reviews or maybe even a contest or two? Sounds intriguing right? So drop by and visit every Tuesday -you never know, you may even be TANTALIZED!

And be sure to stop by Fantastic Book Review blog each Monday for a little Monday Madness!

An Interview with Jessica Packwood of Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side & CONTEST!

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Today I had the pleasure of interviewing the character of Jessica Packwood from Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (courtesy of the imagination of author Beth Fantaskey). We talked about Lucius, vampires and her exciting wedding nuptials. Let's get started!

Jessica, when you first met Lucius, you didn’t care much for him- what event would you say marked the biggest turning point in your feelings for him and also, what was your biggest misconception about him?

My feelings for Lucius changed gradually – probably starting that day in the cafeteria when he wanted so badly to stand up for me against bully Frank Dormand. At that point, I didn’t realize – or want to realize – how I was starting to feel, though. It wasn’t until Lucius was so terribly injured by his horse that I admitted to myself how much I felt for him. And that was scary, too, in its own way.

The funny thing is, I don’t think I had too many misconceptions about Lucius. I thought he was arrogant, and dangerous, and powerful – and he is definitely all of those things. But I came to love those qualities, because they are Lucius. I just needed time to see how he could also be very caring and tender and thoughtful, too. If anything, that was an initial misconception – to think that he didn’t have a gentler side. However, he kept it pretty well hidden!

Lucius has really changed since you first met him. What would you say is the most startling transformation you’ve seen in him? In addition, what is the most frustrating aspect of his personality?

When I first met Lucius, he was completely emotionally autonomous. He didn’t want, or expect, love from anyone. His primary motivation for everything he did was duty to family and his own hunger for the power he’d been raised to wield when he came of age. But as we grew closer, he became someone capable of deep love - which he feels and expresses in the same profound way that he once adhered only to obligation. The night that my parents cared for him, and he allowed my mom to hold him like he was a true son… that definitely opened up a part of him, too. He’s certainly still not a “soft” individual, but a select few people are allowed to see a more vulnerable side of him now.

The most frustrating part of his personality is also one of his most endearing qualities. Lucius has never lost that instinct to protect me at all costs. (Maybe that impulse has gotten even stronger since we’ve fallen in love.) It’s hard for him to see me even at risk of being hurt. When that happens, he wants to immediately step in, even in situations where I feel like I can handle things. Maybe as I grow into my role as princess, he’ll learn to step back a little.

Since Lucius has come into your life, what is the most important lesson you’ve learned about yourself?

I’ve learned that I have huge reserves of courage that I’d never even tapped before. I went from being afraid to compete in a small horse show to volunteering to sacrifice my life for a clan of vampires I’d only just met. It’s almost hard for me to recall the girl that I was before Lucius. I look back at how I used to get bullied by Frank, for example, and wonder, “Why was I ever afraid to stand up to that?”

How different of a person do you think you would’ve been if you had grown up in Romania with your birthparents?

That’s hard to say, but I think I would have discovered my inner “royalty” a lot sooner. I probably would have been groomed for leadership, like Lucius. I understand that my birth parents weren’t brutal, like Lucius’s uncles were, but I am sure that, had I been raised from birth to lead a vampire nation, I would have been tested early and often. Life would never have been “safe.”

At times your parents embarrass you with the way they march to the beat of their own drum, but what do you think the best thing about growing up with the Packwoods has been?

In their own way, Mom and Dad did prepare me for the life I’ve chosen with Lucius. They couldn’t – and wouldn’t! – ever re-create the harsh vampire world, but they taught me to think for myself, and test my limits within our relatively secure, rural American community. And they certainly did their best to make sure I grew up with an open mind that could embrace the truth about who I am by birth. Although I tried to resist anything that didn’t seem rational, Mom and Dad – in their quiet way – kept pushing me to keep myself open to new possibilities. They are amazing parents.

Jessica, your birth mother was a strong, beautiful woman, yet we know so little about your birth father-can you shed some light on anything you’ve uncovered about him?

My birth father, Ladislau Dragomir, remains a bit of a mystery even to me. By all accounts, he was a quiet, thoughtful man who allowed my mother to have the spotlight and wield the power. I don’t think he really wanted to be a leader. He was happy that Mihaela stepped up to be the public face of the Dragomirs.

I do hear one story about him repeated, though. According to my Dragomir relatives, my father was such a private person, and his face so little known among the people of Romania, that he could have escaped destruction if he’d abandoned my mother and fled to exile. But he refused to leave her side, standing by her to the end. I think that speaks to his character – and to his love for my mother.

What do you think the best and worst things about being a vampire would be?

The worst part is definitely the danger of destruction. Vampires live by a different code, different laws, than humans, and my existence as a vampire princess will always be at risk. That’s pretty scary – especially given what happened to my birth parents and to Lucius’s parents.

The best part: Lucius. He’s worth all the risks, to me.

What do you hope the future brings for the Vladescu and Dragomir clans?

I hope that Lucius and I really can unite the clans, as the pact intended. I’d love to see the day where there’s no threat of war. But I wouldn’t say that day is here yet…

Can you discuss your highly anticipated upcoming wedding nuptials and how you are sharing the planning with all of us?

Lucius and I will get married this September, and I’m in the middle of the planning the wedding. It’s a pretty overwhelming task – especially since I’m still adjusting to life in Romania – so I’m asking everyone to help me select the location, my dress, the music, and some aspects of the ceremony. The wedding is going to be a big event, starting on September 20 and lasting for several days. (We need to make it worthwhile for some of our friends and family to travel from the United States.) The invitation is open to everyone who wants to check it out!

BETH FANTASKEY lives in Pennslyvania with her husband and two daughters. Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side is her first book. Her second novel, Jekel Loves Hyde is due out 2010.

In celebration of "Jessica's" wonderful interview, I am giving away -

ONE COPY OF

JESSICA'S GUIDE TO DATING ON THE DARK SIDE & T-SHIRT!

To ENTER--

COMMENT ON THE INTERVIEW OR BOOK

US Entrants only PLEASE. Contest ends Sept. 16th
NOTE: THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Book Review: Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Ballads of Suburbia by Stephanie Kuehnert

Kara hasn't been back to Oak Park since the end of junior year, when a heroin overdose nearly killed her and sirens heralded her exit. Four years later, she returns to face the music. Her life changed forever back in high school: her family disintegrated, she ran around with a whole new crowd of friends, she partied a little too hard, and she fell in love with gorgeous bad-boy Adrian, who left her to die that day in Scoville Park....

Amid the music, the booze, the drugs, and the drama, her friends filled a notebook with heartbreakingly honest confessions of the moments that defined and shattered their young lives. Now, finally, Kara is ready to write her own.

Review

Ballads of Suburbia is a novel not for the faint of heart. It’s upsetting, haunting but also incredibly beautiful. Before I started this novel, I admit I was a little leery of it. I was afraid I’d begin reading and feel judgmental toward the characters and turned off by the drug use. While this was not an easy novel to dive into and at times really choked me up, I never felt like I didn’t want to continue reading. The end, while sad, was also uplifting and inspirational. Any writer who can take a black and white issue and open you up to another way of thinking is someone to really look out for.

The different “ballads” were the best aspect for me. I loved how they linked seamlessly together to tell a story not only about a group of teenagers but also for a generation. Kara was at the center of this novel and as her world started crashing down around her, I was more and more drawn into her life and her struggle. The people around her were so well drawn that I literally could see them walking right out of the pages of the book and down the halls of my old high school. They were of the same generation as me, and the music they listened to really transported me back in time. I may not identify with their experiences, but I can still recognize their journey and empathize with their situations.

Stephanie Kuehnert has an amazing voice and talent. I'll definitely be looking forward to her next novel. My hope is that teens who may be going through similar circumstances can find hope and inspiration from Kuehnert's novel. I also want to mention that at the end there are contacts for various outreach groups, something that was so fitting to be included.

Reading level: Young Adult
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: MTV (July 21, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1439102821
ISBN-13: 978-1439102824
Buy at Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, etc


Stephanie Kuehnert got her start writing bad poetry about unrequited love and razor blades in eighth grade. In high school, she discovered punk rock and produced several D.I.Y. feminist ‘zines. She received her MFA in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago and lives in Forest Park, Illinois. Her first novel, I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, was released by MTV Books in July of 2008. BALLADS OF SUBURBIA, also published by MTV Books, is her latest release.


Visit Stephanie at her Official Website

Visit Stephanie at her Blog

Friday Finds: Friday, August 28th 2009

Friday Finds was formed over at Should Be Reading -

"The idea is to share, every Friday, about books that you’ve recently discovered (never heard of before) that sound really good!"

Dear Julia by Amy Bronwen Zemser
Publication Date: October 14th 2008 (Greenwillow Books)

Elaine Hamilton has never wanted to be the center of attention. She'd like nothing more than to cook quietly in her kitchen, mastering French cooking with the recipes of the great Julia Child.

So how did she end up with cameras zooming in on her and a crowd cheering her on?

Well, it involves . . .

an eccentric best friend named after a font,

five lively brothers constantly asking, “What's for dinner?”

a rotten fig and a weakness, a feminist congresswoman mother,

a yoga-practicing father,

a chest full of unsent letters,

and many, many roast ducks.

Shadowed Summer by Saundra Mitchell
Publication Date: February 10th 2009

Nothing ever happened in Ondine, Louisiana, not even the summer Elijah Landry disappeared.

His mother knew he ascended to heaven, the police believed he ran away, and his girlfriend thought he was murdered.

Decades later, certain she saw his ghost in the town cemetery, fourteen-year-old Iris Rhame is determined to find out the truth behind "The Incident With the Landry Boy."

Enlisting the help of her best friend Collette, and forced to endure the company of Collette's latest crush, Ben, Iris spends a summer digging into the past and stirring old ghosts, in search of a boy she never knew.

What she doesn't realize is that in a town as small as Ondine, every secret is a family secret.

Skin and Bones by Dawn Metcalf
Publication Date: Spring 2010

SKIN & BONES: When sixteen-year old Consuela Bones discovers that she can remove her skin, revealing a lustrous mother-of-pearl skeleton, she slips into a parallel world known as the Flow; a place inhabited by archetypical teens with extraordinary abilities. Crafting skins out of anything – air, water, feathers, fire – she is compelled to save ordinary people from dying before their time. Yet now someone is murdering her new friends, one by one, and Consuela finds herself the focus of an intricate plot to end the Flow forever when all she really wants is to get back home, alive.

The Summer I Got a Life by Mark Fink
Publication Date: November 20th 2009 by WestSide Books

Andy Crenshaw’s summer just went into the toilet. His father got a new job and cancelled their dream vacation to Hawaii. Andy and his older brother, Brad, are shipped off to a farm in Wisconsin to stay with an Aunt and Uncle they hardly know. Brad has little use for Andy, except to torment him. What begins as a minor disaster turns into a life-changing experience. Andy discovers a whole new world and has his first blush with love in the person of Laura, a piano prodigy and town celebrity. Laura is a remarkable girl, who, despite having to deal with a major life trauma, is funny, resilient, full of life, and to Andy’s delight, just a little crazy. Andy’s adventure includes chasing a pig through a mall, surviving a near-death driving lesson, and coming face to face with his first dead guy. He also has a side excursion with his brother that will redefine their relationship forever.

The Returners by Gemma Malley

Publication Date: March 2nd 2010 (Bloomsbury USA Children's Books)

Will Hodge's life is a mess! His mother is dead, he has no friends and he thinks he is being followed by a strange group of people who tell him they know him. But Will can't remember them ...at first. And when he does he doesn't like what he can remember. While Will is struggling with unsettling memories, he learns that his past is a lot deeper than many people's, and he has to find out if he is strong enough to break links with the powerful hold that history has on him. This compelling novel, set in alternate future, challenges readers to consider the role we all have to play in making our society, and asks how much we are prepared to stand up for what's right.

Ruby Unscripted
by Cindy Martinusen-Coloma
Publication Date: May 5th 2009

Sometimes the best moments in a girl's life are the unscripted ones.

Ruby Madden moves to an affluent town in Marin County, California, believing her dreams are coming true, but her hometown life is drawing her back. Her not-so-secret crush finally likes her. Her older brother decides to stay behind with their newly remarried father. And her best friend gets a boyfriend who's all wrong for her.

And Ruby's new life isn't as easy as she envisioned. Marin High School is a place for the rich and famous with their BMWs, chic clothes, and liberal beliefs-a place where she clearly doesn't belong. Even with her new job at the Underground Coffeehouse & Cinema, she is unsure of how to act and feels insecure about who she is.

When she tries out for an amateur film group, the puzzle pieces finally begin to fit. And who is this mysterious guy who's messing with her heart?

Tombstone Tea by Joanne Dahme
Publication Date: August 24th 2009

In order to be accepted by the “in crowd” at her new high school, Jamie accepts a dare to spend one night in a local cemetery collecting rubbings from ten gravestones. Once inside the gate of the dark and frightening burial ground, Jamie meets Paul, a handsome boy who works as a caretaker at the cemetery. Paul explains to Jamie about Tombstone Tea: a fund-raising performance in which actors impersonate the people buried in the cemetery. The actors are supposedly rehearsing on this particular evening, but Jamie quickly discovers that they aren’t actors at all but the ghosts of men and women buried in the cemetery. When one woman decides to adopt Jamie to replace her lost daughter, our heroine fears she may never escape the cemetery.

Full of rich history and filled with a cast of ghostly characters, the third eerily descriptive novel from Joanne Dahme is just as creepy as her first novel Creepers.


Savannah Grey by Cliff McNash
2010 by Orion Children's Books

15 year old Savannah Grey has never felt she's belonged. She keeps her distance, so she's surprised by her attraction to the new boy Reece. Then strange things begin to happen: nature, it seems, is exerting an overpowering force on the world. Birds behave strangely; gusts of wind blow leaves so fiercely they seem to lure people away. And Savannah learns she has supernatural powers. Nature has a purpose for Savannah and her friends. For they are on course to meet the vile and evil Orcrassa, who wants to destroy the world by corrupting nature. And it wants Savannah Grey to help realise its savage intent

Win a T-shirt from The Hollow

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Jessica Verday has been so kind as to offer one lucky winner a t-shirt for The Hollow! If you'd like to win, please leave me a comment with your email address.

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Contest Ends September 11th 2009 (US Entrants Only)

Interview with Jessica Verday, Author of The Hollow

Today I'd like to welcome debut author Jessica Verday, who stopped by to talk about her highly anticipated novel The Hollow, which releases September 1st 2009.

Jessica Verday wrote the first draft of The Hollow by hand, using thirteen spiral-bound notebooks and fifteen black pens. She likes: things that smell nice, rainy nights, old books, cemeteries, Johnny Cash, zombie movies, L.J. Smith books, abandoned buildings, trains, and snow. She is currently hand-writing her second novel, the continuation of Abbey and Caspian’s story, from her home in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Washington Irving’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow inspired many aspects of your book. What do you think Irving would say about The Hollow if he were to read it today?

Ahh, good question! I think (hope) he would like the bits and pieces of the original legend that I wove into the story. And I think he’d like what I did with Nikolas. Just a hunch...

Did you base the characters of The Hollow on anyone you know and do their names have any special significance?

None of the characters are based on one specific person, but more so have bits and pieces of lots of different people in them. Sometimes I give a character a personality trait I have, sometimes I give them a personality trait I wish I had...sometimes its even something as simple as eavesdropping on conversations and giving my characters personality traits based on things I’ve heard. As far as names go, each name does have a special significance, but I only have so much time in this interview. Maybe I’ll add a special section on my website to address this!

The covers for The Hollow are both eye catching and hauntingly beautiful. How much input did you have in the cover art? Also - can you offer us any insight into the significance of the necklaces on both of the US and UK covers?

The necklace is an important object between Abbey and Caspian in THE HOLLOW, and because of this it was chosen to be one of the cover centerpieces. I was asked if I had a sample of the necklace I described in the book (I didn’t yet, only pictures), so I sent those along to my editor. I also sent along some pictures of a certain actress I had in mind to be my perfect “Abbey.” That was the extent of my involvement with the US cover art. The UK cover was created without my input at all, but the artist did an excellent job on their own because their version of the necklace is actually a bit closer to what I describe in the book.

The heroine of The Hollow is a young girl named Abbey who has the interesting hobby of making her own perfumes. Have you ever tried making perfume yourself? What is your favorite perfume?

Although I have not tried my hand at making perfume yet, I have made my own soap. I did a lot of research on perfume making though, throughout the writing of book one and two, and I think it’s a terribly fascinating hobby. A proper perfume is made up of three parts – a top note, middle note, and base note- and it’s such a delicate balance to blend all three and still have a product that smells good in the end. So what’s my favorite perfume? I like solid perfumes – in vanilla bean, or pumpkin. And body spray perfumes in honeysuckle, or pomegranate.

Have you always had the entire storyline of The Hollow plotted out from the beginning, or are you creating it as you write the trilogy?

The only thing I’ve known from the beginning, is the ending. In fact, halfway through the writing of book two, I had a major, major revelation that pretty much turned everything I *thought* I knew about certain characters upside down. I’m very excited by it though. I think it made book two a much better book than it would have been.

If you were to attach a musical score to The Hollow, what music do you picture playing during prominent scenes?

Hmmm, I can’t answer this question yet because my playlist for THE HOLLOW is going to be released exclusively elsewhere. Although, I can say that all in all the one song that sums up the book in its entirety is the theme song: MY FAULT by Metisse.

Do you have any habits or little quirks that you implement as part of your writing process?

I write by hand, in spiral bound wide ruled notebooks. I always flip past the first page and start there. I have to use black rollerball pens, NO GEL! And I can’t listen to music while I write.

You’ve said you were a mime in England for two weeks. What was that experience like for you?

It was one I’ll never forget. Great in a lot of ways, because really? How many people will ever get to do that? Although my personal beliefs are different now than they were when I had that experience, I’m happy that I’ll always have those memories. (Plus, the people in England are very kind to mimes!)

What are the best and worst things about being an author?

The best, hands down, is getting an email from someone telling me how much they loved the book. As an author, you know you can’t please every reader out there, and some of them can be very vocal about their displeasure. So to hear the flip side of that is very balancing. And good for the soul. The worst thing about being an author? I think for me, it’s the frustration of hearing one person LOVE this or that about the book, and then someone else absolutely HATE that same thing. It baffles me to see/hear/read about two opposite reactions. It all goes back to the ‘You can’t please everyone’ line, but my brain likes to work out the logical side of things. And that’s an emotional reaction, not a logical one. Which just sends my brain running in circles trying to figure it out.

You have two more books planned for release in the Hollow series. Can you tell us a little more about them as well as any non-related Hollow projects you might have down the road?

Book two is done and will be in my editor’s hands soon. It is very much my favorite book in the whole wide world right now. It was a blast to write and I feel like I really grew as a writer during the process. I’ll be starting book three around Christmas time and I have a whole lot of ground to cover since it will be the last book for this series. I’m looking forward to the challenge though. As far as what’s next... depends on a couple of things. I have several proposals to write and then will sit down to look through them and see which one calls to me the most. One involves magic and robots, another involves demons and cotton candy. And then the third is a spin off book from THE HOLLOW. Definitely enough to keep me busy.

Is there anything else you would like to add for readers?

The main thing I like to remind people is that THE HOLLOW is a trilogy. I like to think of it as, Book 1: Questions, Book 2: Answers, Book 3: Choices.

Will you come back and visit us again down the road? We’d love to have you!

Anytime! Thanks for having me!

Thank you Jessica for taking the time to stop by!

When Abbey’s best friend, Kristen, vanishes at the bridge near Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, everyone else is all too quick to accept that Kristen is dead…and rumors fly that her death was no accident. Abbey has never felt so desperately alone. Then she meets Caspian, the gorgeous and mysterious boy who shows up out of nowhere at Kristen’s funeral, and keeps reappearing in Abbey’s life. Caspian clearly has secrets of his own, but he’s the only person who makes Abbey feel normal again…but also special.

Just when Abbey starts to feel that she might survive all this, she learns a secret that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her best friend. How could Kristen have kept silent about so much? And could this secret have led to her death? As Abbey struggles to understand Kristen’s betrayal, she uncovers a frightening truth that nearly unravels her—one that will challenge her emerging love for Caspian, as well as her own sanity.

The Hollow is book 1 of THE HOLLOW TRILOGY and releases September 1st 2009.

Order the Hollow at Amazon.com

To learn more about The Hollow, Visit jessicaverday.com
Read the First Chapter of The Hollow HERE.

Trailer for Hush, Hush!

Check out the new trailer for Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick!!



For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along. With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.

For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.
Release Date: October 13th 2009

Waiting on Wednesday: Other by Karen Kincy

This week's pre-publication, can't-wait-to-read is:

Other by Karen Kincy

Publication Date: July 1st 2010 (Flux)

I can’t last much longer. It’s been one week, three days, and I forget how many hours.

My belly cramps, and I curl on my bed, staring out at the stars. A delicious breeze glides through my window and cools my sweaty forehead. The air smells of summer–mowed grass, recent rain, lingering barbecue–and tempts me more than I want to admit. Shards of moonlight and shadow shift on the wall. I clench my teeth and toes and try to ride out the pain. My bedroom drifts counterclockwise, and I shut my eyes.

It can’t be good for me, not shapeshifting.

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.

When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

On Karen's website she says-

My debut, a young adult urban fantasy novel titled Other, will be published by Flux on July 1, 2010. You can look forward to a half-pooka shapeshifter girl with plenty of snark, a sexy fox-spirit boy, and a serial killer on the loose. With werepuppies thrown in for good measure. The sequel, Bloodborn, features werewolves, unrequited love, and hidden little towns of the Northwest, where the really weird paranormal people hide out.

What is a pooka?
Also known as, “What the bleep is a pooka?”, which may be the reaction of certain people. Anyway. A pooka is, in a nutshell, a shapeshifting spirit of the faerie family from Wales or Ireland. Most commonly, they appear in the form of a shaggy black horse with sulfurous yellow eyes. A pooka’s yellow eyes always give it away, even in human form. Gwen, being half-pooka, can pass her eyes off as hazel, though they glow when she gets excited. Pookas are tricksters who love waylaying innocents, according to lore, though that may just be human propoganda. Pookas also go by the name puca, phouka, pwca, and many other spelling variants.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event to spotlight upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. It's hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

Interview with Mandy Hubbard, Author of Prada & Prejudice

Today I'm excited to be interviewing author Mandy Hubbard about her debut novel Prada and Prejudice!

Mandy grew up on a dairy farm outside Seattle, where she refused to wear high heels until homecoming and hated them so much she didn’t wear another pair for five years. A cowgirl at heart, she enjoys riding horses and quads and singing horribly to the latest country tune. She’s currently living happily ever after with her husband (who, sadly, is not a Duke) and her daughter (who is most definitely a princess). Prada and Prejudice is her first novel.

Let's get started!

In Prada & Prejudice, fifteen year old Callie takes a tumble in her new Prada heels and comes to in 1815 Regency England. If that was to happen to you, what would be the best aspect about being dropped into the past, and conversely, what would be the most horrifying?

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’m kind of a snob about chivalry. If a guy walks into a building in front of me and lets the door slam in my face, I’m totally annoyed. Conversely, if a guy is standing a ways from the front door and actually moves to go open it for me—even though he’s not even going inside- I’m inordinately pleased. So I think I would love to see what a true gentleman is like—guys back then would never talk crass in front of a girl, would stand up at the table if she did, etc. That would rock!

On the other hand, the food, ICK. Growing up I didn’t even eat lunch half the time because I hated what the cafeteria was serving. Mashed potatoes and gravy? GROSS. Meatloaf? YUCK. So I can’t even imagine what I’d eat there!

Do you remember writing the very first line of Prada & Prejudice and is it still in the novel today? Also, is there a certain line, scene or passage from the book that is a particular favorite of yours?

Oh, it’s definitely not in the book anymore. The very first version of Prada & Prejudice featured a spoiled eighteen year old college freshman. The first few chapters were her on campus, getting an invitation to a costume ball and finding the perfect costume—a regency dress. The whole cast of Twenty-First century characters don’t even exist anymore!

My favorite scene of the current book is toward the end. I can’t say what happens as it would be a spoiler, but it involves the front lawn at Harksbury (You know which one I’m talking about if you’ve read it!). When I got my revisions from my editor, she had written ELEVEN pages, much of which went chapter by chapter and talked about ways to ratchet up the tension. EVERY SINGLE CHAPTER was discussed. But when she got to that one, all she said was, “this is pretty much perfect as is.”

That’s the only scene in that book that is almost untouched from the way it was originally written.

In Prada & Prejudice, Callie is a clumsy, lovable teen who buys a pair of Prada to impress the cool crowd but ends up back in 1815 before she knows it. What were you like as a teenager? Did you draw from your own experiences or the people in your life when constructing the characters in the novel?

I was, to put it simply, a dork. I had plenty of quirky characteristics, but like all teens, I wanted to hide them instead of enjoy them. For instance, I was 5’10, and no way would you have been able to convince me to wear heels to school. If I went into Seattle—the largest city outside my cowtown of Enumclaw—I felt like Crocodile Dundee or something. It took me until the last few years to start enjoying what makes me unique. Now I love to make fun of myself for being a country girl instead of trying to hide it, and I wear heels all the time. If I am taller than the guys around me, I tease them for the fact that I’m taller than them—in a goofy, self-deprecating way, of course.

I did draw from that, while writing. I think wanting to fit in is a universal goal for teens.

If Prada & Prejudice were to be made into a movie, do you have any actors you envision playing the roles of Callie and Alex, or do you think unknowns would be better suited for the parts?

Callie is the easy one for me—I picture Taylor Momsen, the actress who plays Jenny Humphrey in Gossip Girl. (Though she’d be more season 1, less of the rocker girl she is now…) . Alex is harder. The actor needs to be insanely hot and pull off an English accent. I’d be cool with an uknown or, yanno, Robert Pattinson, because he’s got the accent, the charm, and the cult-like following.

Since your book features Prada, I obviously have to ask—do you own any Prada or designer shoes? If not, do you have your eye on a special pair right now of any type of Prada or style in particular?

Sadly, no, but I held a pair once. Does that count? I’m not eyeing any particular pair of Pradas, but I’d be thrilled to have shoes that look like the ones on the cover—any ‘ol brand would do.

In your opinion, why do you think that readers just can’t get enough of Jane Austen and the Regency period in particular?

Not a clue. I think it involves magic dust though. Kidding. I think Jane just had the unrivaled ability to create believable people, and to throw in some wit and humor while doing it. My greatest fear is that people are going to think I went in trying to rip her off or ride her coattails, and that was not my intention. The first draft wasn’t even called Prada and Prejudice and had little to do with it. It was through the guidance of revision letters that it came to slightly resemble Pride & Prejudice.

For fans who didn’t want the story of Alex and Callie to end, is it possible there ever might be any type of sequel to Prada & Prejudice? Also- is it true you wrote an alternate ending to the book as well?

I do have a super duper seekret idea for a spin-off/sequel, but I’m not sure I’ll ever get the chance to write it. We’ll see!

Also, the very first ending of Prada and Prejudice was very, very different. I thought about sharing it, but it wouldn’t really make sense—the character in that version is a spoiled 18 year old with an entirely different set of goals and desires.

At this point, are you able to tease us with anything new about “You Wish”, the romantic comedy scheduled for release in the Summer of 2010? What other upcoming projects can we look forward to?

Man, I’m dying to talk more about YOU WISH, but my publisher has sworn me to secrecy! All I can say at this point is that it contains the requisite romance and humor, and possibly a life-sized My Little Pony. I’m working hard at writing it and they’re working hard at creating a kick-butt cover. I am hoping after I turn it in on Oct 1 they’ll be comfortable announcing the details.

Thank you Mandy for taking the time to stop by!

To impress the popular girls on a high school trip to London, klutzy Callie buys real Prada heels. But trying them on, she trips…conks her head…and wakes up in the year 1815!

There Callie meets Emily, who takes her in, mistaking her for a long-lost friend. As she spends time with Emily’s family, Callie warms to them—particularly to Emily’s cousin Alex, a hottie and a duke, if a tad arrogant.

But can Callie save Emily from a dire engagement, and win Alex’s heart, before her time in the past is up?
More Cabot than Ibbotson, Prada and Prejudice is a high-concept romantic comedy about finding friendship and love in the past in order to have happiness in the present.

To learn more about Mandy and her writing, visit her at her Official Website & Blog!

Prada & Prejudice is available for sale now. You can order from Amazon HERE!

Book Review: The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER

by Leanna Renee Hieber

Synopsis-

What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death….

Review -

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker was an exquisite start to what surely will be an engaging series. Leanna Renee Hieber has created an enticing novel by blending together a combination of historical characters, potent paranormal elements and a sweet, satisfying romance. Add a dash of mythology to the mix and you’re ready to serve up a captivating gothic fantasy that should appeal to both adult readers and a mature teen audience.

The six members of The Guard (Alexi, Josephine, Jane, Rebecca, Michael, Elijah) were all summoned as teens by an otherworldy spirit. Their talents were indispensable in exterminating unruly ghosts and ridding the world of the forces of Hell. When Percy Parker came along, they were in desperate need of finding their Seventh, as was foretold by the Prophecy. Battling evil within the city was taking a great toll on The Guard, especially with The Ripper at bay. But could shy, meek Percy really be the one destined to fufill the Prophecy?

As the leader of The Guard, Alexi Rychman was quite caustic and imposing, but I was intrigued by the confidence and leadership qualities he asserted within this novel. I could understand why Percy would be attracted to him. At times, however, Percy seemed so meek to me that I did feel somewhat frustrated with her, and often wondered what exactly Alexi saw in her. With that being said, I must point out that Percy's loneliness was so palpable, that I could still sympathize with her charcter. It would've been so difficult for a young woman such as herself trying to navigate throughout Victorian London. When you add in the fact that she saw ghosts and had to constantly worry about being labeled as "mad", it was no wonder she had such shaky self esteem.

Leanna Renee Hieber has said this novel was nine years in the making, and all her efforts researching and perfecting the book become real apparent upon examining the quality of her writing. The old fashioned formality of the language contrasted perfectly against the gothic atmosphere of Victorian London. I really felt like I was being lured into the novel to wander around Athens Academy with Percy and Alexi, witness to the strange paranormal happenings and the slow, sweet awakening of their budding romance.

It was not surprising to learn that Hieber comes from a theatre background either, something which in my opinion, really assisted her in being able to bring this novel to life so vividly. I kept picturing the scenes as if they were being staged in a play-- dark, spooky creatures battling against the Guard on cobblestone streets with Percy at the epicenter- a pale light shining through the darkness. Unrequited love and differentiating interpretations of the Prophecy added some great tension to the novel as well, and kept my heart pounding. I will definitely be anxious to read the second installment in this series.

For another perspective on the novel, check out this review done over at Book Reviews by Jess. Jess' review was how I discovered this great book--thanks Jess!

4.5 butterflies

Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Leisure Books (August 25, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0843962968
ISBN-13: 978-0843962963
Buy at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-a-Million, etc


Award-Winning author Leanna Renee Hieber grew up in rural Ohio where childhood memories were full of inventing elaborate ghost stories. Graduating with a BFA in Theatre from Miami University, a focus in the Victorian Era and a scholarship to study in London helped set the course for her books.

While performing in the regional theatre circuit, her short plays such as Favorite Lady, were published, produced, won awards and continue to be produced in colleges and festivals around the country. She has adapted works of Victorian literature for the professional stage.

She hit the fantasy fiction scene with her novella Dark Nest, winning the 2009 Prism Award for excellence in Futuristic, Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER is the first in her Strangely Beautiful series of Gothic Victorian Fantasy novels published by Leisure Books/Dorchester Publishing.

Visit the author at her Official Website and Blog
Read Four Excerpts HERE

In My Mailbox: Week August 17th-August 22nd

The following books made their way to my house over this past week--

For Review-
Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken
Publication Date: March 23rd 2010 (Egmont USA)

Sydelle Mirabil is living proof that, with a single drop of rain, a life can be changed forever. Tucked away in the farthest reaches of the kingdom, her dusty village has suffered under the weight of a strangely persistent drought. That is, of course, until a wizard wanders into town and brings the rain with him.

In return for this gift, Wayland North is offered any reward he desires—and no one is more surprised than Sydelle when, without any explanation, he chooses her. Taken from her home, Sydelle hardly needs encouragement to find reasons to dislike North. He drinks too much and bathes too little, and if that isn’t enough to drive her to madness, North rarely even uses the magic he takes such pride in possessing. Yet, it’s not long before she realizes there’s something strange about the wizard, who is as fiercely protective of her as he is secretive about a curse that turns his limbs a sinister shade of black and leaves him breathless with agony. Unfortunately, there is never a chance for her to seek answers. Along with the strangely powerful quakes and storms that trace their path across the kingdom, other wizards begin to take an inexplicable interest in her as well, resulting in a series of deadly duels. Against a backdrop of war and uncertainty, Sydelle is faced with the growing awareness that these events aren’t as random as she had believed—that no curse, not even that of Wayland North, is quite as terrible as the one she herself may carry.

Wish You Were Dead by Todd Strasser

Publication Date: September 22nd 2009 (Egmont USA)
Str-S-d:I’ll begin with Lucy. She is definitely first on the list. You can’t believe how it feels to be in the cafeteria and turn around and there she is staring at me like I’m some disgusting bug or vermin. Does she really think I WANT to be this way? I hate you, Lucy. I really hate you. You are my #1 pick. I wish you were dead.The day after anonymous blogger Str-S-d wishes the popular girl would die, Lucy vanishes. The students of Soundview High are scared and worried. Especially frightened and wracked with guilt is Madison Archer, Lucy’s friend and the last person to see her the night she disappeared.As days pass with no sign of the missing girl, even the attention of Tyler, an attractive new student, is not enough to distract Madison from her growing sense of foreboding. When two more popular students disappear after their names are mentioned on Str-S-d’s blog, the residents of Soundview panic. Meanwhile, Madison receives anonymous notes warning that she could be next. Desperate to solve the mystery before anyone else disappears, Madison turns to Tyler, but can she trust him when it becomes clear that he knows more than he’s sharing?The clock is ticking. Madison must uncover the truth behind the mysterious disappearances . . . before her name appears in Str-S-d’s blog.

In the spirit of stories like I Know What You Did Last Summer, Todd Strasser updates the teen thriller for the techno age with Wish You Were Dead, the first installment in a new “thrill”-ogy.

Stealing Death by Janet Lee Carey
Publication Date: September 8th 2009 (Egmont USA)

“I want that soul sack,” he said suddenly. "

What?” the witch asked around the scrap of meat she was chewing.

“I want it so no one I love will ever, ever, ever have to go inside again.”

“It’s not for mortal hands to have.” The witch spat out a bit of bone.

"You know magic. Give me the power to steal the sack.”

When fire steals his family from him, Kipp is left with only his little sister to protect as best he can, and he’s determined that death will not come to her–or to the girl he loves but can never approach. But who would dare to master death? As Kipp finds out, it’s complicated, and possession of the soul sack is no guarantee of success. Dragon’s Keep author Janet Lee Carey has crafted a stirring and original fantasy set in a harsh and beautiful desert landscape, in which a young man who has lost everything finds the strength within himself to care for those he loves–and to allow those he cannot keep close to him to take a path he cannot follow.

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain
Publication Date: December 22nd 2009 (Egmont USA)

A prodigal son
A dangerous love
A deadly secret . . .

I stood back and watched his movements. Daniel had that way about him that could shut me down in an instant. . . . I kicked the gravel a couple of times and worked up my courage again. “Tell me . . . I mean . . . why did you come back? Why now, after all this time?”

Grace Divine, daughter of the local pastor, always knew something terrible happened the night Daniel Kalbi disappeared—the night she found her brother Jude collapsed on the porch, covered in blood. But she has no idea what a truly monstrous secret that night really held. And when Daniel returns three years later, Grace can no longer deny her attraction to him, despite promising Jude she’ll stay away.

As Grace gets closer to Daniel, her actions stir the ancient evil Daniel unleashed that horrific night. Grace must discover the truth behind Jude and Daniel's dark secret . . . and the cure that can save the ones she loves. But she may have to lay down the ultimate sacrifice to do it—her soul.

The Strangely Beautiful Tale of Miss Percy Parker by Leanna Renee Hieber

Publication Date: August 25th 2009
What fortune awaited sweet, timid Percy Parker at Athens Academy? Considering how few of Queen Victoria’s Londoners knew of it, the great Romanesque fortress was dreadfully imposing, and little could Percy guess what lay inside. She had never met the powerful and mysterious Professor Alexi Rychman, knew nothing of the growing shadow, the Ripper and other supernatural terrors against which his coterie stood guard. She knew simply that she was different, haunted, with her snow-white hair, pearlescent skin and uncanny gifts. But this arched stone doorway offered a portal to a new life, an education far from the convent—and an invitation to an intimate yet dangerous dance at the threshold of life and death…

Ash by Malinda Lo
Publication Date: September 1st 2009 (Little, Brown Young Readers)

In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Soulstice by Simon Holt
Publication Date: September 1st 2009 (Little, Brown Young Readers)

The terrifying, nail-biting, and grossly intriguing sequel toThe Devouring.

It's been six months since Reggie first discovered and fought against the Vours, malicious and demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on the eve of the Winter Solstice.

The Vours still haunt Reggie, but only in her dreams-until one night, when an unexpected visitor turns her nightmares into reality.

The battle against evil continues in Soulstice, the second book in the thrilling The Devouring series, which School Library Journal called, "Comparable to books by R. L. Stine and Stephen King....A must-have for horror fans."


Thank you to the wonderful people at Egmont and Little Brown for my books this week! I'll be busy reading!

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren, where we talk about what books we got over the past week (store purchases/mailbox deliveries/library, etc)