Waiting On Wednesday - August 31st

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. It is a chance to share books that have us readers counting down to release day.

This week I’m waiting on,

The Other Life

by Susanne Winnacker

Releases: February 2012

Synopsis via Goodreads

Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.

Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.

While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.

Why I’m “waiting on” The Other Life? I’m a sucker for any dystopian/post-apocalyptic tale especially if there are zombie like creatures roaming the earth. This one sounds super cool! 

What are you waiting on this week?

Trailer & Giveaway: Hades by Alexandra Adornetto

The sequel to Alexandra Adornetto’s Halo is available today. In celebration of its release, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group has released a new trailer!

More about Hades:

"Heaven Help Her. 

Bethany Church is an angel sent to Earth to keep dark forces at bay. Falling in love was never part of her mission, but the bond between Beth and her mortal boyfriend, Xavier Woods, is undeniably strong. But even Xavier’s love, and the care of her archangel siblings, Gabriel and Ivy, can’t keep Beth from being tricked into a motorcycle ride that ends up in Hell. There, the demon Jake Thorn bargains for Beth’s release back to Earth. But what he asks of her will destroy her, and quite possibly, her loved ones, as well."

The story that Alexandra Adornetto built in her bestselling debut, Halo, comes alive in action-packed and unexpected ways, as angels battle demons, and the power of love is put to the test.

Check out the trailer:

See Alexandra Adornetto on tour this Fall: http://www.facebook.com/penfataletour

Visit her Facebook Fan Page

Giveaway Details:

1 copy of Hades is up for grabs!

Open to residents of the US & Canada

Leave a comment with a way to contact you to enter (email/twitter/etc)

Ends September 7th!

Tens List with Scott Tracey - Witch Eyes Blog Tour

Top 10 excuses I used to get out of doing homework while I was in school (and reasons why my parents were never surprised I decided to become a writer).

10. My parents left town and I've been staying at home by myself, so there was no one to check my homework (so I didn't bother doing it).

9. I prayed to Saint Jude, the patron saint of lost causes, but I still don't know where my homework went.  I swear I had it a minute ago.

8. This isn't my book bag.  I think someone else grabbed my book bag off the bus by mistake.  (Hint, I walked to school).

7. We're in the process of moving (we weren't).  And I haven't moved my schoolbooks yet.

6. I accidentally turned my Science book in at the library, instead of my library books.  That's why I couldn't take notes on Mars.

5. I'm allergic to glue.

4. I didn't like your attitude when you were giving me that homework assignment.

3. There was a criminal investigation going on on my street last night, with police cars and fire trucks and everything.  I couldn't concentrate. 

2.  I went to a Stephen King book signing and Stephen King said HE never had to do homework, and I want to be a writer, so I think that's a valid reason, don't you?

1.  (this one was in college) See, I have a daughter, and there's no one to babysit her right now, so that's why I had to skip the last ten days of class.  I'm really sorry.


What a fun list, Scott! Thanks for sharing it with us. Scott’s YA novel, Witch Eyes, releases on September 8th. Add it on Goodreads or order it from Amazon, Witch Eyes.

Scott on the web:

Website | Twitter

Character Interview: Hatta from Hatter by Daniel Coleman

I’m excited to welcome Hatta, from Daniel Coleman’s Hatter, to the blog today!

How old were you when you discovered you could communicate with animals?

Might I first commend you for saying 'communicate' instead of 'talk'.  As you've no doubt realized, anyone can talk to animals.  It would be communicating with them that many people find difficult. Rather than when I first realized I could do it, I think a better question would be how old was I when I realized other people couldn't.  Or didn't.  But I can't say, as I never have known my age.

           

Do you remember the first animal you ever communicated with?

A cat was most likely the first to communicate with me.  They are still the most expressive animal I know of.  It's as easy to read a cat as it is to smell breakfast or hear crunching leaves.  I would think that anyone who can't tell what a cat is thinking simply has never seen a cat.

You have a great fascination with color. What do you consider your favorite color?

If there is anything more wonderful than colors I haven't met it, but I could never choose just one favorite.  The obvious answer which I won't say is rainbow.  Some colors I do care deeply for are: sunset, glimmer beetle, autumn, and the sky behind lightning.  I think lava would be my favorite color I've never seen.  It sounds quite powerful.

 At what age did you start dressing in such colorful clothing?

I don't seem to remember when I started remembering anything, but I remember dyeing my clothes at that age.  Grass made consistent greens.  I found a lichen that made red.  And rust always worked for rust color.

Was learning to make mirrors while in Shey’s Orchard difficult?

I haven't found many things difficult in my life.  Interacting with unfriendly people. Recalling names.  Large gatherings of people.  Oh, and of course, mules.   

What is the most delicious thing you have ever eaten?

My most memorable meals have been delicious for reasons one might not think.  On the road from T'lai to Frenala, a traveler shared some dried apples with me.  The kindness was perfectly scrumptious.  Another day, the Cheshire Cat led me to some winterberries.  The companionship was delectable.   I don't remember how the meal tasted that I shared with (EDITED FOR SPOILERS), but it was likely the most enjoyable I've ever eaten.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I'll gladly share whatever you might need.  Coins?  Provisions?  My roof?  Hmm, those may be difficult considering the distance.  Might I share some words about kind words?  --A kind word may be duller than a sword, but it lasts much longer--   

Thanks for stopping by, Hatta! It was a pleasure getting to know you better. You can read my review of Hatter here.

Review: Hatter by Daniel Coleman (Blog Tour)

Title: Hatter
Author: Daniel Coleman  
Author Website
Available: Now
Reading Level: YA
Genre: Fantasy














Description from Goodreads:


There's nothing wrong with a touch of madness. - Cheshire Cat

In a kingdom that doesn't need saving, a young man ignorant of social norms is the unlikeliest of heroes. And despite his extreme dislike of confrontation, Hatta knows his destiny is to mend a rift that doesn't exist.

On the other end of the spectrum is Chism, a young Elite soldier who thrives on conflict. How will this rash, obsessive soldier aid the child-like Hatta in his journey?

Throw in the Cheshire Cat, Queen of Hearts and other familiar characters as they emerge to fill their eminent roles in the tangled ascent into madness of literature's most lovable lunatic. 


My thoughts:


Hatter is a companion novel to Daniel Coleman’s Jabberwocky which I haven’t had the chance to read. Hatter can be read without reading Jabberwocky first. There are references to events and characters from Jabberwocky over the course of Hatter, but it didn’t cause any confusion for me. If anything it made me want to read Jabberwocky so I could learn more about this very cool world.


As a huge fan of all things Wonderland, I was curious to see how the author would portray its well known inhabitants. As the title suggests we get to know The Mad Hatter better in Hatter. The narration alternates between the voice of Hatta and Chism. The two couldn’t be more different. I’m not usually a fan of books told from the POV of more than one character, but in the case of Hatter it worked well.  I enjoyed the multiple story lines and was anticipating how the author would bring them all together. He did an amazing job with the conclusion, and I was thrilled to see no questions left unanswered. 


The world the author created was really stellar. I especially loved when a Wonderland character would show up on the scene. I enjoyed experiencing how the author portrayed each one, as well as the backstory he created for them. Some were exactly how I’d imagined and others definitely were not. It was fun to see them through the eyes of both Hatta and Chism. With the two characters being so very different, it was interesting to see how their opinions of the secondary characters would vary. Hatta almost always saw the best in people. His kind and forgiving nature never ceased to amaze me. Chism was much more jaded and this caused him to see others in a much different light than the eccentric Hatta. The differing perspectives really helped to keep Hatta interesting, and I thought the entire plot flowed at a perfect pace. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone who loves Alice’s world as much as I do.

My Rating:

Follow the Hatter Blog Tour:

Stop by tomorrow to read my interview with Hatta!

Character Interview: Eve from Eden by Keary Taylor

I’m so very excited to have the chance to interview Eve from Eden by Keary Taylor today. Hi Eve and welcome! 

Can you provide a brief summary of the events that caused survivors to join and create the safe haven known as Eden. 

After the technology that later became known as the infection took over, people realized they had to get away from the cities.  A lot of people were on the run and eventually they started finding each other.  Gabriel and his family found Avian, Sarah, and Tye, other's found them.  As the infected started pushing further and further out, the people had to push further into the country.  


You have no memories of your life before the Fall. Do you feel this gave you an advantage over others living in Eden? Or do you feel your lack of memories were a disadvantage? 


It made me feel like an outsider, that's for sure.  But I think it was nice to not have any experience before the world fell apart.  It was easier for me, not to have to miss electricity and telephones and whatnot.    


When the other members of Eden reminisced about life before the Fall is there anything they mentioned that you wish you could have experienced firsthand? 


Others have talked about music players and how there was thousands and thousands of songs. There's something about music that gets to me like nothing else does.  It's a rare occasion for me to get to experience it.  Regular hot showers would be nice to...  


I imagine living with so many people can be difficult at times. Where do you go when you need time alone? 


I'm alone most of the time while I'm on scouting duty.  The balance is good.  Being around others makes me feel normal, but when the pressure of not being like others gets to be too much the trees don't seem to care about that.  


What is your favorite part about living in Eden? 


The members of Eden are my family.  They have been for as long as I can remember and they always will be.  We share a bond that people didn't use to have before all of this happened.  


What is your most prized possession? 


Most valued would have to be my pack.  Everything I need to survive is in that thing.  Most valued though... that would have to be the necklace Avain gave me for my eighteenth birthday.    


What is your favorite food? 


Not long after I was found outside of Eden, Gabriel gave me this thing he called a Snickers.  He said it was one of only two he had left and he shared it with me.  Pure heaven.  


Is there anything else you would like to share with us? 


Never take advantage of the things you have.  Your roof over your head, a safe place to live, the ones you have around you.  And careful what you let doctors put into your body...  Who knows how things could evolve...  

Thanks for the chance to get to know you and your world better, Eve!  

Read my review of Eden.

Keary Taylor on the web:

Website | Blog

Buy Eden:

Paperback: Eden

Or for Kindle: Eden

Waiting On Wednesday - August 24th

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. It is a chance to share books that have us readers counting down to release day.

This week I’m waiting on,
The Catastrophic History of You & Me
by Jess Rothenberg
Available: January 2012
Synopsis via Goodreads

BRIE'S LIFE ENDS AT SIXTEEN: Her boyfriend tells her he doesn't love her, and the news breaks her heart—literally.

 

But now that she's D&G (dead and gone), Brie is about to discover that love is way more complicated than she ever imagined. Back in Half Moon Bay, her family has begun to unravel. Her best friend has been keeping a secret about Jacob, the boy she loved and lost—and the truth behind his shattering betrayal. And then there's Patrick, Brie's mysterious new guide and resident Lost Soul . . . who just might hold the key to her forever after.

With Patrick's help, Brie will have to pass through the five stages of grief before she's ready to move on. But how do you begin again, when your heart is still in pieces? 

Why I’m “waiting on” this? Fab title & the synopsis sounds fun & refreshing.

What are you waiting on this week?

Guest Post & Giveaway with Aubrie Dionne

Please welcome Paradise 21 author, Aubrie Dionne, to the blog today!

Paradise 21: the twenty first planet capable of sustaining life.

A lot of people have come up to me and asked: Why title your book Paradise 21?

When choosing a title, I thought about how I wanted to write a series, and how each book could be about a different colony ship flying to a different paradise planet. Granted, I didn’t want to write 21 books! But I thought about how vast our universe is, and what would happen if astronomers found a bunch of planets suitable for life. They’d probably name them and number them as such. So, Paradise 21 was born.

Aries doesn’t like her life aboard her colony ship, or her computer designated lifemate, so she escapes to a planet called Sahara 354. Not suitable for a major colonization effort, Sahara 354 is still capable of sustaining a single woman. So she plans ahead, packing lots of water bottles, and crash lands on the three hundred and fifty fourth desert-like planet found. I figured they’d be many more desert planets and ice worlds than perfect paradises. Of course!

What Aries doesn’t count on is expecting another human to be there: a handsome renegade space pirate.

Read Paradise 21 to find out what happens!

My question to you is: If you found a planet, what would you name it? 

Aubrie Dionne on the web:

Website | Blog

About the author:

Aubrie is an author and flutist in New England. Her stories have appeared in Mindflights, Niteblade, Silver Blade, A Fly in Amber, and several print anthologies including Skulls and Crossbones by Minddancer Press, Rise of the Necromancers, by Pill Hill Press, Nightbird Singing in the Dead of Night by Nightbird Publishing, Dragontales and Mertales by Wyvern Publications, A Yuletide Wish by Nightwolf Publications, and Aurora Rising by Aurora Wolf Publications. Her epic fantasy is published with Wyvern Publications, and several of her ebooks are published with Lyrical Press and Gypsy Shadow Publishing. When she’s not writing, she plays in orchestras and teaches flute at Plymouth State University and a community music school.

About Paradise 21 via Entangled Publishing:

Aries has lived her entire life aboard mankind’s last hope, the New Dawn, a spaceship traveling toward a planet where humanity can begin anew—a planet that won’t be reached in Aries’ lifetime. As one of the last genetically desirable women in the universe, she must marry her designated genetic match and produce the next generation for this centuries-long voyage.But Aries has other plans.

When her desperate escape from the New Dawn strands her on a desert planet, Aries discovers the rumors about pirates—humans who escaped Earth before its demise—are true. Handsome, genetically imperfect Striker possesses the freedom Aries envies, and the two connect on a level she never thought possible. But pursued by her match from above and hunted by the planet’s native inhabitants, Aries quickly learns her freedom will come at a hefty price.

The life of the man she loves.

Add Paradise 21 on Goodreads

Watch the trailer:

Giveaway Details:

Up for grabs is a signed postcard and winners choice of eBook from Aubrie’s previous work. 

You can find out more about these titles here

Open Internationally!

Leave a comment with a way to contact you to enter (email/Twitter/etc.)

Ends 8/26

& that’s not all!

Follow the blog tour & comment on each stop to be entered in the Grand Prize Giveaway on August 30th. Commenting once at each tour stop will give you 15 entries!

You could win three necklaces made by Aubrie herself.

Follow the Paradise 21 Blog Tour:

Monday, August 8th - Cinnamon, A Journey of Books / Guest Post, Where Aubrie got the idea for Paradise 21

Tuesday,  August 9th -Tishia, Paranormal Opinion / Guest Post, Paradise 21: Space Pirates with a Chip on Their Shoulder

Wednesday, August 10th - Jules, The Great, The Good and The Bad / Guest Post, Sci fi terminology in Paradise 21

Thursday, August 11th- Bree, The Magic Attic / Character Interview, Striker

Friday, August 12th - We Fancy Books / Guest Post, The baddies in Paradise 21

Monday, August 15th - Kristin, My Bookish Ways / Author Interview

Tuesday, August 16th - Cindy, Oodles of Books / Guest Post, Luggage in Space

Wednesday, August 17th- Rie, Mission To Read / Guest Post, Creating your own world: Positives and Negatives

Thursday, August 18th - Grace, Books Like Breathing / Character Interview, Aries

Friday, August 19th - Ambur, Burning.x.Impossibly.x.Bright / Guest Post, Character Building: Challenges and Rewards

Tuesday, August 23th - Christie, The Fiction Enthusiast / Guest Post, Paradise 21: the twenty first planet capable of sustaining life

Wednesday, August 24th - Pushy, Bewitched Bookworms / Author Interview

Thursday, August 25th - Farrah, The Book Faery Reviews / Guest Post, What Makes Space Opera So Awesome?

Friday, August 26th- Mandy, The Well-Read Wife / Guest Post, Pirate names: learn the crew of the Morphic Marauder