Interview with Lauren McLaughlin (Cycler+ReCycler)

Ok, guys, time for some serious book love! hehe Lauren McLaughlin in the author of two of my favorite books; Cycler and Re-Cycler! You can read about my mad love for Cycler here, and you WILL be able to read all about my love of Re-Cycler in my review tomorrow! In the meantime, check out this exclusive interview with Lauren! Enjoy!

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How are you finding New York during this wonderful winter-y season?

I love this time of year because I tend to divide my time between New York, which is often frigid but bright; London, which is a bit warmer but also gray; and Florida, which is full of sunshine. It gets confusing, but I like the variety. And I make sure to listen to plenty of Bing Crosby to remind myself that, wherever I am, it's still Christmas.

Did you ask for any books this Christmas? If so, which ones?

I always ask for books for Christmas and books are what I give people too. This year I've asked for The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan and Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan. I'm both frightened and excited by both of them and have heard lots of great things about them. I'm in the mood for a good scare.


What were some of your favorite books of '09?

I've read some really great ones. The ones that stand out, however, are Liar by Justine Larbalestier, Skinned by Robin Wasserman, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz. All quite different and all compulsively readable. I love books that teach me something and keep me guessing. These three books all did that, plus they played with morality in fascinating ways. I love that. I like to be challenged.

Any we should look out for in 2010? Maybe a little book about a
certain boy/girl that we all adore? *___* (For serious-- Jack and Jill
need one of those couple names that gives them one name! Jackill?
Jillack? Something!)

I have no doubt that 2010 will be full of fantastic books. Sadly, they will not be sharing space with any new Jill/Jack adventures, however. I'm putting the McTeague twins on ice for now. I think they need some breathing room. I do have another book coming out, however, called Steal the Future. It's about ubiquitous surveillance combined with high stakes testing and will introduce readers to a tasty new romantic couple.

How long do you envision the series going?

For now, I only envision Cycler and (Re)Cycler but I won't rule out another one. I just had this other book burbling away inside my brain and I had to write it.

What was the sparking idea that got you on the path to writing about
body snatching? (Not really the right word but you know what I mean.
xD I hope! e_e;;)

I think body snatching is a great term for it. I've always been intrigued by the idea of body snatching and mind control. The scariest movies I can remember as a kid were Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Stepford Wives. Both involve some kind of mind/body swap. It's possible that seeing those films as a teenager planted a seed somehow. Of course, I'm not consciously aware of the precise spark that gave rise to Cycler. Like most stories, it burbled away for a while until it was so big I had to do something about it. At that point, Jack basically sprang from my head fully formed and it was on.

Was Cycler the first story you'd written?

Cycler is actually the third novel I've written. I've also written about a dozen short stories and several screenplays. Sometimes things get published out of order. Truth be told, it took me two novels to learn how to write a novel properly because I had to unlearn all of my habits as a screenwriter.

What's the writing process like for you -- writing a series that you
stick to for a long period of time and delving more and more into the
world you've created with every book?

When I wrote Cycler, I envisioned it as a stand-alone novel. The characters got richer and more nuanced with every draft, but I didn't feel as if I'd finished with them by the end. The story felt complete, but the characters were only beginning to flex their muscles and come out of their shells. Writing a sequel was a wonderful opportunity to let them breathe. But in some ways it was more difficult. I couldn't revise their personalities to suit the plot because their deep characters had already been established. That put a lot of restrictions on what I could do but also it forced me to go deeper. I loved that.

Do you have any advice for aspiring/ beginning writers?

There's so much I've learned over the years that it would be difficult to boil it down. I think the most important thing for a writer, however, is dogged commitment. If you're not insanely passionate about telling your story, you'll never have the stamina to get through the rough patches. It's all rough patches. It never goes smoothly. Not for anyone. It's a slog, a battle, a creep through the underbrush, an out of control freight train, and many other metaphors. Only those writers with a blind, stupid determination to see it through, no matter what, succeed.

What's your one gottahaveit present for '09?

A new piano. I'm treating myself. I've wanted it for a long time and this year I'm finally going for it.

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Thanks so much Lauren, it was so great chatting with you!

You can find out more about Lauren via her blog/website here!

Look out for Re-Cycler review tomorrow!

xoxoxo

RG's Best Picks of '09: An Intro to the Month of Awesomeness

Hello everyone! Oh, how I've missed you all!

November was a crazy month, mostly filled with school, school, and oh yeah a little bit more school. Then some NEW MOON(!), and Thanksgiving, and being the moral support to people who actually finished Nanowrimo.... T_T But all and all a great month! 8D And suddenly, December is upon us! Which means right back into blogging for me--and what better time then right now as we're gearing up for a season of snuggling up by the fire with a cup of peppermint hot chocolate and an amazing read?

This month is all about my favorite books of the year; of course there's so many, that it's very hard narrow it down, but I've managed to to decide on my top four favorites and I can't wait to share them with you. The others will still get reviewed (Probably this month or in the near future), as books I'd definitely recomend, along with some reviews of my favorite books of all time that I want to recomend to you for the holidays.

But that's not all!

On Tuesday I'll be announcing a special project that I'd love to have you all be a part of, as well as announcing the prizes in a HUGE christmas giveaway!

More on that then! For now...

xoxoxo

(WWDay4) Moonlight by Rachel Hawthorne Review!

Product Description From Amazon:

I see him and know what this turmoil inside of me means: He's the one. My forever.

Kayla is the nature lover, the all-American beauty who can't understand why she's so drawn to distant, brooding Lucas. Adopted as a young child, she has no way of knowing that she's inherited a terrifying—and thrilling—gene that will change her life forever.

Lucas is dangerous, gorgeous . . . and a werewolf. As leader of the Dark Guardians, shape-shifters who gather deep within the state park, he has sworn to protect his pack. But when Lucas finds his true soul mate, his love could put them all in harm's way.

As Lucas and Kayla struggle with their feelings for each other, a greater danger lurks: Humans have discovered the Dark Guardians and are planning their destruction. Kayla must choose between the life she knows and the love she feels certain is her destiny.

My Review:

Moonlight was a great read! I stayed up many a night to finish this one because I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next! I was totally captivated by Lucas (Uh, HOT! 8D) and I loved Kayla—I loved watching their relationship develop and mostly I just loved reading about all the mystery behind the guides and Lucas. It was a really great read! Very much my kind of book!

I do wish the author had taken Lucas and Kayla’s relationship into another story, but I think it’s cool that she followed up with the other characters in her other books too. I definitely want to read them as well. The story flowed really nicely, and it was well written too. Rachel Hawthorne is definitely one to watch!

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This is your LAST DAY to enter the Blood and Chocolate contest, so be sure to ENTER HERE by tonight!

xoxoxo

(WWDay2) Interview with Heather Davis-- Author of Never Cry Werewolf

What's your best Halloween memory?
Halloween was always very popular around my house because my dad is a joker by nature. I guess my favorite Halloween memory is from when I was about eleven. I built an amazing costume in our basement -- a chocolate chip cookie. It was like a "sandwich board" with two flat sides of the cardboard cookie on my front and back side and I wore a piece of my dad's old brown courduroy pants leg on my head tied like a chip. It was so huge and flat I couldn't sit down.

Anyway, I totally should have won the costume contest at the party I went to, but instead a girl whose mother had sewn her Merlin costume took the prize. So unfair! My dad sent me a Halloween card a few years ago, mentioning that cookie costume -- even he remembered it as pretty great.

Does Halloween inspire you to write more supernatural YA?

Not really. I'm always in the mood for a story beyond the ordinary.

How true do you think those werewolf stories are...?

True. Throughout history people have always been cast out of regular society because of genetic problems or deformities. It's so not right. I think that many of the legends we hear about today - vampires, werewolves -- are all about people who lived differently or had physical challenges or oddities.

What inspired you to write a story about werewolves?

I've always loved the duality of werewolves - the "normal" side you show to the world and your "wolf" that you keep hidden. Also, I used to live in a mountain town filled with deep, dark woods -- that really inspired me to say "what if?"

I adored Never Cry Werewolf! What's next for you?

Thanks! The Clearing is coming out in April 2010 - it's the story of a modern girl who moves to the country to her great aunt's farm to reclaim her life after an abusive relationship. There in the misty clearing at the back of the property she meets a boy stuck in a time loop -- it's always the summer of 1944 for him. They form a unique bond that teaches each of them that letting go and moving on is some times the best thing you can do. It's a serious, romantic YA that is quite different from Werewolf, but I think that readers will connect to the emotional heart of the story. After that... who knows?

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Thanks SO much to Heather for the awesome interview; it was a joy to have her. :) Keep an eye out for a review of Never Cry Werewolf later this week!

(FW Day (4)) Review of Fary Tale by Cyn Balog

Well, we've reached the end of our "Week of Fey", but it was fun times for all right?! I really enjoyed interviewing Cyn Balog, and I hope you all like the reviews! This week I also got sick so stuff was a little light for a few days there, but whatcha gonna do; cold and flu season right?! Anywho, next week is Were-Week, and I'm I'm super excited about it, but more on that tomorrow! For now, here's my review of Fairy Tale! :)

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Product Description From Amazon:

A captivating and witty dark fantasy that will have girls lusting after it.

Morgan Sparks has always known that she and her boyfriend, Cam, are made for each other. But when Cam’s cousin Pip comes to stay with the family, Cam seems depressed. Finally Cam confesses to Morgan what’s going on: Cam is a fairy. The night he was born, fairies came down and switched him with a healthy human boy. Nobody expected Cam to live, and nobody expected his biological brother, heir to the fairy throne, to die. But both things happened, and now the fairies want Cam back to take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Even as Cam physically changes, becoming more miserable each day, he and Morgan pledge to fool the fairies and stay together forever. But by the time Cam has to decide once and for all what to do, Morgan’s no longer sure what’s best for everyone, or whether her and Cam’s love can weather an uncertain future.

My Review:

I actually love a good love triangle (It makes things more interesting!), so I liked that aspect of Fairy Tale, and I ended up being kind of happy about who Morgan ended up with which I was glad about! Morgan’s voice throughout the story is very honest and from the beginning you feel for her and her situation and you also feel for the male characters as well. Pip tugs on your heartstrings and Cam sounds like such a great boyfriend that you’re just as heartbroken as Morgan when he gets caught up in his blood ties.

All in all book was a cute, light, read that was very enjoyable. Though the basic plot of the story was more serious, I thought Cyn did a good job of keeping things light and entertaining.

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Now, I DO have the winner of this contest, but like I said before I'm going to keep all the winners names under lock and key until the last day of our Halloweeny feature! Luckily, it's creeping up on us so it'll be here in no time, but keep checking back for more contests, reviews, and author interviews!

Were-Week starts tomorrow! EEP!

xoxoxo

Interview with Cyn Balog/ Cirque Du Freak Winners!

So I was supposed to do a review of Cyn's book, Fairy Tale, YESTERDAY but I'm sick with an awful cold and now everything's backed up! :( But rest assured I'll be posting it sometime this weekend when I'm hopefully feeling better. Until then, here's an interview with Cyn!

OH! Also, as it is Friday, the winners of the Cirque Du Freak books are....
Kate and Kristen!
Congrats guys, I'll email you too, but remember to get me your address before Monday or I have to give the prize to the next runner up. =/

NOW, Cyn Balog! :)

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What are you doing for Halloween this year?

I am going to be going to Disney World!!! We have tickets to Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, which I have always wanted to go to. I am a huge Disney freak. I actually may end up not coming back home this time, I love Disney so much.


What is your favorite Halloween memory?

Last year, I took my daughter trick-or-treating for the first time (she was 2). She couldn't believe that she could actually just go up to a house and people would give her candy! The first house we went to, she was dressed like Little Red Riding Hood, and when the opened the door she tried to go inside. And then of course she wanted to keep going and going and going to every house in the neighborhood. And then she wanted to do it again on November 1, too.

What was you're best ever Halloween costume?

My mom made me a really cool Reeses Peanut Butter cup costume when I was a kid. I just loved that costume, and it was really special because I watched my mom make it and she put a lot of time and effort into it.

Witches, Ghosts, Zombies, Vampires, Werewolves, Jinn, or Fey?

I should be saying Fey, right? But I really have no alliance to them. Personally, I have always loved Zombies. All the Romero movies are my absolute favorites. And 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later?? The best!!!!

We all loved Fairy Tale, but what's next for you? When can we expect a new book?

SLEEPLESS is coming out July 13, 2010. It's about a Sandman who falls in love with a mortal girl whose sleep he controls.

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Thanks so much to Cyn for the interview, and don't forget to enter to win a hardcover copy of Fairy Tale here!

xoxoxo

(FW Day 3) Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Product Description from Amazon:
Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.

Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.

Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.

But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything

My Review:

Wicked Lovely is one of those books were the moment that you pick it up you instantly feel like you’re a part of the story; you’re swept up into a world you’ve never experienced, and yet somehow it feels all too familiar.

You realize that you must have always known Aislinn and that you’re the closest of friends; that you’ve always thought Seth was a hotty, though you’d never mention that to Aislinn since you knew how crazy he was about her. You feel like you too have felt the fey watching you at some point in your life, and are curious and afraid by the idea that they may not be figments of your imagination after all.

It’s these kind of stories that I love.

When you can write a book with characters that feel like old friends, a setting that feels like home, and an adventure that I’ve only ever dreamed I could be a part of, you’ve got me hooked. Wicked Lovely was one of these books.

I bonded with Aislinn from the beginning and loved her fierce tenacity throughout the story. She was completely kick ass, and amazing, and I loved going through this chapter of her life with her. Seth stole my heart many a months after I finished the book, and still has it through Fragile Eternity… The fey sounded startlingly beautiful and frightening, and I was completely sucked into their history.

The novel on the whole was very beautifully written, I loved Seth, I loved Aislinn, and I’d definitely recommend this book to lovers of the fey.

xoxoxo

Hush, Hush And Fat Cat out today!!!

Just wanna take a quick break from faries to give a shoutout to two lovely authors whom I love whose books hit the shelves TODAY!

I can't stop saying how much I loved Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and you can read about how much I loved Robin Brande's last book, Evolution, Me, and Other Freaks of Nature HERE, so I can't wait to read her next book, Fat Cat!

Go check out the shelves today and please consider picking up one of these fabulous new YA titles. :)

xoxoxo

RG

In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox was originally started by Kristi, The Story Siren, and she was inspired to create it by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Basically it's just a fun way to let everyone who wants to know what you've been reading (*coughcough* Hoarding...*cough/gag*), what you plan to read (look at, ponder reading, eventually return to the library due to due date restrictions), and what you ARE reading.

Thanks To Kristi for starting this, and don't forget that you can make your VERY OWN In My Mailbox post and add it to the IMM blogger links list attached at the end of all of Kristi's IMM posts! ^^

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Well this week I've mostly been busy reading City of Bones, and just plain busy with LIFE >_< But I did get a few good books since my last IMM post!

Stop In The Name Of Pants by Louise Rennison (I panicked because the new one is coming out SOOOON and I still have to finish this one! Eep! But these books are sooo cute, I love them, so I was happy when I saw it at the library since they've been asking for it back every time I get it. X_x)

Ash by Malinda Lo (*screamsingiddyexcitment* I've been wanting to read this for so long! *grabbyhands* I can't wait to start it!)

Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan (David has a really unique way of writing so I'm really excited to read this one. :))

The a bunch of books about traveling to Europe; it sounds so awesome there, I wanna go! xP

ANYWHO! Kind of a light week, but I'm super excited about all the books I got, and can't wait to get started reading!.... right after I finish a few other books.... e.e;;

P.S. Don't forget to vote on your favorite Cirque Du Freak T-shirt saying (at the bottom of the page), and enter to win the Cirque Du Freak books here!

xoxoxo

Cirque Du Freak Promotion! Win Books!

What better way to start off our Halloween themed month then with something truly horrifying; freak shows!


What better way to start off our Halloween themed month then with something truly horrifying; freak shows!

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, is the first book of Darren Shan's wildly popular series of books for the YA genre, and also the book that the new movie is based on(In theaters October 23rd)! If you don't know much about the books or the movie, you can click here to find out more!

The new movie edition (The Vampire's Assistant and Other Tales from the Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan) features the first three books in the series--Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant, and Tunnels of Blood-- all in one book!

Here's a quick blurb about it:

Do you love to be scared? Then don't miss the terrifying adventure that begins when Darren and his best friend, Steve, get tickets to the CIRQUE DU FREAK, a wonderfully bizarre and creepy freak show. Brace yourself for thrills and chills as the boys witness a parade of grotesque creatures and face their deepest fears by entering the darkest world of the vampire. In the blood-curdling tradition of Anne Rice and Stephen King, CIRQUE DU FREAK will have you shrieking for the next horror show!

Now, on to the prizes!

Two lucky winners will receive...

A Cirque Du Freak book Set (3 titles in one book)

And a...

Cirque Du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant Locker Mirror Woo! Free stuff! 8D Here's what you can do to win:

1 Entry: Comment telling me one interesting fact about freak shows, or Darren Shan.

And for an extra entry, follow the blog, or follow me on twitter! (But only if you really want too! ;)

You can only enter one time for this one (Unless you're letting me know about a second entry or just want to say, "Hey!" ;P) Because last time I was WAY overloaded with entry which was an awesome thing, but still, it was alot! xD

ALSO! Don't forget to vote for your favorite Cirque Du Freak Movie T-shirt saying at the BOTTEM of the page! Lots of blogs are doing these promotions and the one with the most votes gets an ipod touch and a copy of the soundtrack which I would of course giveaway to one of you in thanks for voting! 8D (Cause I really need a new pod, mine is shot! T_T)

VOTE, VOTE, VOTE! And ENTER, ENTER, ENTER!!! (hehe)

xoxoxo