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<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942</id><updated>2024-04-19T17:15:38.134+08:00</updated><category term="YA"/><category term="review"/><category term="giveaway"/><category term="interview"/><category term="romance"/><category term="paranormal"/><category term="contemporary"/><category term="waiting on wednesday"/><category term="fantasy"/><category term="#CelebratingDebutantes2016"/><category term="dystopian"/><category term="guest post"/><category term="spotted"/><category term="blog tour"/><category term="in my mailbox"/><category term="fast forward 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mccaffrey"/><category term="kerri maniscalco"/><category term="kingdom of ash and briars"/><category term="launch"/><category term="laura shovan"/><category term="lauren oliver"/><category term="laurie devore"/><category term="love and gelato"/><category term="lydia sharp"/><category term="maggie ann martin"/><category term="margot harrison"/><category term="mentorship project"/><category term="mortal instruments"/><category term="nic stone"/><category term="noah cant even"/><category term="novella"/><category term="patrick moody"/><category term="personal"/><category term="peternelle van arsdale"/><category term="pixies"/><category term="psychological suspense"/><category term="rani patel in full effect"/><category term="realistic"/><category term="revenants week blog tour"/><category term="samantha mabry"/><category term="sand runner"/><category term="sarah glenn marsh"/><category term="saving jazz"/><category term="simon james green"/><category term="siren"/><category term="skin deep blog tour"/><category term="sonia patel"/><category term="stalking jack the ripper"/><category term="standalone"/><category term="starfish"/><category term="supernatural"/><category term="tangled tides blog tour"/><category term="tara sim"/><category term="tell me three things"/><category term="the beast is an animal"/><category term="the big f"/><category term="the cat king of havana"/><category term="the crowns game"/><category term="the dragons ring"/><category term="the good byline"/><category term="the gravedigger's son"/><category term="the hundred lies of lizzie lovett"/><category term="the international kissing club tour"/><category term="the killer in me"/><category term="the last fifth grade of emerson elementary"/><category term="the rampart guards"/><category term="the way i used to be"/><category term="the wishing heart"/><category term="timekeeper"/><category term="tobie easton"/><category term="tokens and omens"/><category term="tom crosshill"/><category term="tracy abrey"/><category term="trance"/><category term="travel"/><category term="twitter chat"/><category term="vera brook"/><category term="victoria aveyard"/><category term="wendy terrien"/><category term="whenever i'm with you"/><category term="witch song blog tour"/><title type='text'>Fragments of Life</title><subtitle type='html'>Young Adult + New Adult + Middle Grade

Reviews + Features + Events
</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default?redirect=false'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><link rel='next' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default?start-index=26&max-results=25&redirect=false'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>948</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6609664826363962075</id><published>2018-05-14T19:11:00.003+08:00</published><updated>2018-05-14T19:11:43.384+08:00</updated><title type='text'>Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black</title><content type='html'><blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPg-iGzEkCDqdYxKNTnP8bXFs5alDXOQtiGkqnxWiihCymfCYau17oraB6" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="313" height="320" src="https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSPg-iGzEkCDqdYxKNTnP8bXFs5alDXOQtiGkqnxWiihCymfCYau17oraB6" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever. 
 
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe. 
 
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. 
 
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. 
 
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself. 
</div></blockquote> 
Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover 
 
Source: Purchased 
 
My Thoughts: 
 
I fell in love with the brutality of the prologue. It told of the time before Jude and her sisters were whisked off to Faerieland. It was enough of a peek into the characters lives and personality during distressing and life-threatening times. As the story unraveled, the surface level that was shown in the prologue morphed into a deep sea of secrets. The characters had so much layers to them. It was a joy to peel them off one by one and witness what’s underneath.
 
Jude was mortal, born to die like all humans, in Faerieland. She was numb of panic and danger, to the point that she became bold. Her skill with a blade was something that I truly admired. But there was more to Jude than just being the mortal daughter of the redcap general’s deceased wife. Her mortality and the fact that she was prone to the various perils of Faerieland gave her reason to fight even harder and to beat the Gentry around her. Her dedication and grit was admirable. On top of that, she was a fast learner and clever. Although she was human, she had a drop of Madoc’s thirst for violence.
 
Taryn was Jude’s more feminine twin. She was the innocent girl that painters have long dreamt to paint. She was the one who insisted Jude to follow the rules - the one who held Jude back. However, I didn’t find her likable from the start. There was something about the lack of action, the lack of urgency and the lack of dedication in her character that bothered me. Taryn always wanted to be on the safe side. 
 
Madoc’s character was so incredibly well-developed and well-written. The redcap general, who had the blood of Jude’s parents in his hands, has captivated me. He was bloodthirsty, as a redcap naturally was, however he also had a great sense of responsibility and honor. He took Jude and her sisters back to his estate in Faerieland and raised them. He personally tutored them on bladesmanship, fought for their right to be educated as the Gentry children were and provided for them. I saw his softer, more vulnerable side, when Jude came home almost naked after a bullying incident. He was so powerless because his adopted daughter was powerless. She was human and vulnerable to such pranks from her Gentry classmates. He was the strongest general of the High King, have defeated thousands of foes and captured kingdoms for the crown, and yet he couldn’t save his daughter from this pain and humiliation. It made my heart melt. His talent was true cunning, always plotting and always one step ahead.
 
Cardan was complex. He was not an easy character to like. There was too much cruelty around his persona. Although his character had portions to it: considerate, evil, annoying, vulnerable. It was hard to know who he really was and what he really wanted even with his exposed layers. I wish we could have known more about him in the first book. I’m looking forward to knowing more about Cardan and perhaps, finally understanding him, in the sequel. 
 
Politics in fantasy was always a welcome detail for me. The story was dripping with it. There were so much attacks and counterattacks, hidden meaning and codes, secrets brushed under rugs and shadows lurking. I sat at the edge of my seat sometimes, holding my breath as I waited for good luck or bad luck to befall the characters. Everyone was plotting in the hopes of getting the upper hand. It was like watching a violent game of chess, pawns coming forward only to be terminated. Just like in chess, even the king and queen were not safe. Each chapter enticed and teased the readers before reaching a crescendo and exploding into action. However, I felt like there was more to be explored in the characters and lives of the princes, to better understand the unfolding of the story.
 
Overall, I loved the family dynamics that the story tackled. It was thick with tension, complexity, misunderstandings, pain and history. It was such a problematic setup and yet, I still got the sense of family in the story. It wasn’t the best scenario but they were trying. The writing itself was fluid and enjoyable. It was easy to fall prey to its hypnotic quality. 
 
The Cruel Prince was a heart-stopping fantasy filled with action, cunning and adrenaline. It was beautiful and dark, filled with feels and quotes. I highly recommend this to avid readers of fantasy and readers looking for fey stories, particularly the darker ones. 
 
 
Rating: 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG31hnKR-RIEa5RcqfFpS3I9YYwLIexs4J1aQV_DMN7Xecvb7B93L2WoCgXRKfeaxAZ3UCTsjf_lrIff5DE5g6s6Okh16b55wlhK1YewEI80HglbyycFnCGMH_8AD32pY0BPXG9nYsvIc/s1600/4.5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="89" data-original-width="364" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG31hnKR-RIEa5RcqfFpS3I9YYwLIexs4J1aQV_DMN7Xecvb7B93L2WoCgXRKfeaxAZ3UCTsjf_lrIff5DE5g6s6Okh16b55wlhK1YewEI80HglbyycFnCGMH_8AD32pY0BPXG9nYsvIc/s400/4.5.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">4.5 Cupids = Obsessive book love.
I strongly recommend this! 
</div> 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6609664826363962075/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-cruel-prince-by-holly-black.html#comment-form' title='14 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6609664826363962075'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6609664826363962075'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2018/05/review-cruel-prince-by-holly-black.html' title='Review: The Cruel Prince by Holly Black'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG31hnKR-RIEa5RcqfFpS3I9YYwLIexs4J1aQV_DMN7Xecvb7B93L2WoCgXRKfeaxAZ3UCTsjf_lrIff5DE5g6s6Okh16b55wlhK1YewEI80HglbyycFnCGMH_8AD32pY0BPXG9nYsvIc/s72-c/4.5.jpeg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>14</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-3956866900557538036</id><published>2018-03-05T18:40:00.004+08:00</published><updated>2018-03-05T18:40:47.958+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="a court of mist and fury"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="faeries"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="review"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="sarah j maas"/><title type='text'>Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas</title><content type='html'><blockquote>
<div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl1BWXlEWNc3tTA0CWrjkg0MLnP2SShdSr2np9gb7zb9mqYwjuSW8JDz0Cq9N3Fr5bij8o06Lcwt2IvyOd6rVWs2bL6fMSpF3K1t23_X4AL8a8AcZAMfMk_F5v_v5ppuic5VuwVkTHUY/s1600/26073150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl1BWXlEWNc3tTA0CWrjkg0MLnP2SShdSr2np9gb7zb9mqYwjuSW8JDz0Cq9N3Fr5bij8o06Lcwt2IvyOd6rVWs2bL6fMSpF3K1t23_X4AL8a8AcZAMfMk_F5v_v5ppuic5VuwVkTHUY/s320/26073150.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
Book Description: 
 
Hardcover, 1st, 624 pages 
Published May 3rd 2016 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens 
 
Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people. 
 
Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world torn apart.</div>
</blockquote>
 
Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover 
 
Source: Purchased 
 
My Thoughts: 
 
Warning:&nbsp;Might contain spoilers for people who have not read A Court of Thorns and Roses. 
 
A Court of Mist and Fury broke my heart to pieces in ways that I never imagined, and put it back together again. After reading the ending of A Court of Thorns and Roses, I couldn't wait to get my next dose of Rhysand. 
 
Feyre was back in Tamlin's arms after the disastrous and painful time under the mountain. Despite the relief of having Tamlin back, there was something troubling Feyre. In the process of saving the cursed immortal boy that she loved, she broke herself beyond repair. In the sequel, we witness a different kind of Feyre - floating and broken. It was life-changing to see her slowly healing from the tragedy and trauma she experienced. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger. This was true in Feyre's case. She came back stronger as High Fae.
 
I fell in love with the Persophone-esque twist to the story, when Rhysand would whisk Feyre away to the Night Court. I found the Night Court filled with life, brilliance and entertainment, so different from what everyone in the novel imagined it to be: a dark, dire place with torture. Rhysand's court thrived in magic, art and wonders. The sounds and smells, tastes and sights of every corner of Velaris gave me life. The artists' quarters was vibrant. It was the perfect hangout that I would very much like to visit.
 
Rhysand was the dream boy of every fangirl alive. In A Court of Thorns and Roses, I found more reasons to fall in love with his character. He was such a giving, considerate and sweet character. He gave space when there was only confinement, chance when there was a dead end, and strength when Feyre only had weakness. Rhysand and Feyre's banter was entertaining. There was much to analyze in their conversations. The tension between them was so electrifying that you could feel it on the pages.
 
Rhysand's inner circle is my new favorite team. Azriel and Cassian thoroughly brought on the entertainment and humor. Eventhough Azriel didn't really have that much lines in the book. His actions and gestures spoke volumes for him. I loved his shadowy personality. Cassian and Mor made me laugh several times throughout the story. Amren intrigued me with her old world history and otherworldly vibes. Rhysand and Feyre, together with the inner circle, made the Night Court a worthwhile place to stay in.
 
The writing was beautiful, woven from one line to another in strategic plotting. I loved reviewing the breadcrumbs that Maas left in A Court of Thorns and Roses, and connecting it to A Court of Mist and Fury. Maas was a master plotter. I loved every bit of the foreshadowing that was involved in the series. I kept reading back and forth. There was a different kind of magic in unraveling the connections between the installments.
 
A Court of Mist and Fury was the perfect, wild blend of romance, action, adrenaline and humor. It was action-packed, emotionally-charged and humor-injected. I highly recommend this series to all fantasy fans! 
 
Rating: 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
5 Cupids = Eternal book love. 
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!</div>
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/3956866900557538036/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-a-court-of-mist-and-fury-by-sarah-j-maas.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/3956866900557538036'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/3956866900557538036'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2018/03/review-a-court-of-mist-and-fury-by-sarah-j-maas.html' title='Review: A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCl1BWXlEWNc3tTA0CWrjkg0MLnP2SShdSr2np9gb7zb9mqYwjuSW8JDz0Cq9N3Fr5bij8o06Lcwt2IvyOd6rVWs2bL6fMSpF3K1t23_X4AL8a8AcZAMfMk_F5v_v5ppuic5VuwVkTHUY/s72-c/26073150.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-7838217441223600600</id><published>2017-08-07T00:01:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2017-08-07T00:01:08.459+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="chelsea sedoti"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="mystery"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the hundred lies of lizzie lovett"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! I'm featuring another playlist on Fragments of Life for #CelebratingDebutantes2017. Chelsea will share about her playlist for The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett, which was released January of this year! Stick around for a special giveaway at the end! 
 
Hawthorn wasn't trying to insert herself into a missing person's investigation. Or maybe she was. But that's only because Lizzie Lovett's disappearance is the one fascinating mystery their sleepy town has ever had. Bad things don't happen to popular girls like Lizzie Lovett, and Hawthorn is convinced she'll turn up at any moment-which means the time for speculation is now.
 
So Hawthorn comes up with her own theory for Lizzie's disappearance. A theory way too absurd to take seriously...at first. The more Hawthorn talks, the more she believes. And what better way to collect evidence than to immerse herself in Lizzie's life? Like getting a job at the diner where Lizzie worked and hanging out with Lizzie's boyfriend. After all, it's not as if he killed her-or did he? 
 
Told with a unique voice that is both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Hawthorn's quest for proof may uncover the greatest truth is within herself. 
 
1. Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie by Belle &amp; Sebastian 
 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NyaJtnUvzqU" width="560"></iframe></center> 
The main character of the HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT is Hawthorn Creely, a book nerd who sees herself as an awkward social outcast. This being the case, Le Pastie de la Bourgeoisie could be her theme song. 
 
2. Bad Moon Rising by Creedence Clearwater Revival 
 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5BmEGm-mraE" width="560"></iframe></center> 
The book begins with popular, beautiful Lizzie Lovett disappearing—during a full moon. Soon enough, Hawthorn finds herself oddly obsessed with the missing persons case. Not only does Bad Moon Rising make me think of the night Lizzie disappears, it’s also an omen for the trouble Hawthorn is about to find herself in. 
 
3. Psycho Killer by Talking Heads 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O52jAYa4Pm8" width="560"></iframe></center> 
After Lizzie goes missing, rumors begin to circulate that she was murdered by her boyfriend, Enzo. When Hawthorn meets and befriends Enzo, people are aghast—after all, he’s most likely a serial killer. 
 
4. Love Will Tear Us Apart by Joy Division 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zuuObGsB0No" width="560"></iframe></center> 
Hawthorn never believes Enzo is a killer, though. She’s convinced he’s nothing but a sad guy who misses his girlfriend—the kind of person who makes art while listening to angsty music (like Love Will Tear Us Apart, which is playing at his apartment one evening) not the kind of person who murders women in the woods. 
 
5. You're Nobody til Somebody Loves You by Dean Martin 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DIAEAVKcKrs" width="560"></iframe></center> 
Hawthorn remarks at one point that old music sounds haunted to her. This song would fit the bill. Added bonus: the fictional town where THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT takes place is based on the real life hometown of Dean Martin, Steubenville, Ohio. 
 
6. I'd Love to Change the World by Ten Years After 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J7-8sCLWwLk" width="560"></iframe></center> 
Though Hawthorn is obsessed with Lizzie Lovett’s disappearance, there are other things concerning her. Such as the hippie caravan that’s taken up residence in her backyard. The leader of the caravan, Sundog, spent his youth listening to quintessential hippie songs like I'd Love to Change the World. (Maybe not much has changed—Hawthorn would love to change the world too.) 
 
7. People are Strange by The Doors 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GJY8jJkDoMY" width="560"></iframe></center> 
From hippies to potential killers, Hawthorn meets a lot of strange people on her journey to solve Lizzie’s disappearance. Though, in all honesty, Hawthorn might just be the strangest of them all. 
 
8. Personality Crisis by New York Dolls 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E1I4A5yazr4" width="560"></iframe></center> 
Throughout THE HUNDRED LIES OF LIZZIE LOVETT, Hawthorn grapples with who she is and what her path in life should be. Eventually, she begins to think she’s not the only one who’s had these thoughts. Lizzie, the beautiful girl who looks so perfect from the outside, might be battling demons of her own. Hawthorn wonders if perhaps no one is as perfect as they seem, if maybe we all struggle in one way or another. 
 
9. That’s How People Grow Up by Morrissey 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vPij63mSH30" width="560"></iframe></center> 
Growing up sometimes means facing harsh truths about yourself and the world around you. As she gets deeper and deeper into the mystery surrounding Lizzie’s disappearance, Hawthorn discovers more about herself and the people around her—and not all of it is easy to accept. 
 
10. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by The Animals 
 
<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPwsJVFQ494" width="560"></iframe></center> 
As the song goes, Hawthorn’s intentions are good. But even the best intentions can get misconstrued, or end up hurting people. Though her interest in Lizzie’s disappearance begins innocently enough, as Hawthorn gets deeper and deeper involved, her actions have unintended consequences. Though Hawthorn has always felt like an outsider, she’s about to be more misunderstood than ever before. 
 
 
Thank you, Chelsea! 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQD2cw30ZAvpdw_48r8SFXFT_IHM4f6WgtHGpVta21sr55jESmjLwzVjsJ2AxnqmbZEhm06TYgvsRD8T4NIV1yDvXkaKYrOnMK9vGLnQxasBW2XVvHMH6P3AGNA5K3gFyd_hBdjDDFZw/s1600/13990575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="178" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBQD2cw30ZAvpdw_48r8SFXFT_IHM4f6WgtHGpVta21sr55jESmjLwzVjsJ2AxnqmbZEhm06TYgvsRD8T4NIV1yDvXkaKYrOnMK9vGLnQxasBW2XVvHMH6P3AGNA5K3gFyd_hBdjDDFZw/s200/13990575.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>About the Author:
 
Chelsea Sedoti fell in love with writing at a young age after discovering that making up stories was more fun than doing her school work (her teachers didn’t always appreciate this.) In an effort to avoid getting a “real” job, Chelsea explored careers as a balloon twister, filmmaker, and paranormal investigator. Eventually she realized that her true passion is writing about flawed teenagers who are also afraid of growing up. When she’s not at the computer, Chelsea spends her time exploring abandoned buildings, eating junk food at roadside diners, and trying to befriend every animal in the world. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada where she avoids casinos, but loves roaming the Mojave Desert.
 
Find Chelsea: <a href="http://www.chelseasedoti.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/chelseasedoti">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13990575.Chelsea_Sedoti">Goodreads</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajDeM9CEpVpasm_gBs3rjHS9N3Ek9AL5sNWTf3x3RUDvMmC22XI8qL9_PstkzS7ha1A7ZS2vtZr-xkB9NmSWQNKPkOHPHc2297TD4Y68595YuYWQQkniT9yWBc7DqI3HPQLH8YDhTH14/s1600/25546710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajDeM9CEpVpasm_gBs3rjHS9N3Ek9AL5sNWTf3x3RUDvMmC22XI8qL9_PstkzS7ha1A7ZS2vtZr-xkB9NmSWQNKPkOHPHc2297TD4Y68595YuYWQQkniT9yWBc7DqI3HPQLH8YDhTH14/s320/25546710.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
398 pages 
Published January 3rd 2017 by Sourcebooks 
 
A teenage misfit named Hawthorn Creely inserts herself in the investigation of missing person Lizzie Lovett, who disappeared mysteriously while camping with her boyfriend. Hawthorn doesn't mean to interfere, but she has a pretty crazy theory about what happened to Lizzie. In order to prove it, she decides to immerse herself in Lizzie's life. That includes taking her job... and her boyfriend. It's a huge risk — but it's just what Hawthorn needs to find her own place in the world.</div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Chelsea for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Signed copy of The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett 
Scope: US + CA 
 
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="58156c86212" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86212/" id="rcwidget_dkpzvia0" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script> 
 
 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/7838217441223600600/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/08/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-hundred-lies-of-lizzie-lovett-by-chelsea-sedoti.html#comment-form' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7838217441223600600'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7838217441223600600'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/08/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-hundred-lies-of-lizzie-lovett-by-chelsea-sedoti.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6234571773143039360</id><published>2017-08-05T12:07:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-08-05T12:12:28.684+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="maggie ann martin"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the big f"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin (Playlist + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hello, guys! For #CelebratingDebutantes2017 today, we are featuring a playlist made and explained by Maggie Ann Martin for her debut, The Big F! She will take over the blog in a little while. 
I hope you guys stick around for the music, the background and the international giveaway at the end! 
 
<center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/user/123002303/playlist/3iHvFWX0shVW97KjzRQ20M" width="300"></iframe></center> 
The Music Behind THE BIG F 
 
Music, for me, is my biggest source of inspiration while I’m writing. I like to find a song that fits a certain scene, and listen to it on repeat until I’m finished writing that scene. Songs set the tone for me while I’m drafting and editing, and I’m always on the hunt for my next inspirational song. 
My playlist for THE BIG F (out August 29!) is one that I’ve had for many years. I’ve added to it since my first draft I wrote in 2012 to editing it in 2016. Though it’s grown over the years, there are some key songs that have pushed me through the writing process for this book. 
 
 SONG HIGHLIGHTS: 
 
 The Deep End by Hannah Georgas I call this the song that started it all. I found this song through the MTV show Awkward and slowly became obsessed. The lyrics “who’s gonna hold your breath when you’re diving off the deep end?” really resonated with me and remind me of Danielle, who is essentially diving off the deep end into this uncharted territory, and she has to do it on her own. 
 
 Clean by The Japanese House I’m pretty sure I completely edited THE BIG F to the tune of this song. It’s mellow, calming, but has an emotional edge that guided me through some of the more serious parts of the book. 
 
 The Way to the Future by Katie Herzig If THE BIG F had a theme song, I’m pretty sure this song would be it. Danielle is so unsure about her future at the beginning of the book, and by the end, she’s charging head first at a future that she believes in. This song completely sums that up. 
 
Even if It Kills Me by Motion City Soundtrack One of my all-time favorite songs by one of my all-time favorite bands. I think this song could apply to both Danielle and Porter, especially the line “For the first time in a long time, I can say that I’m gonna try, to be better and overcome each moment in my own way.” They are each trying to live a better, happier life and letting the people around them lift them up, rather than pull them down. Plus, I had to sneak a little Motion City Soundtrack on here.
 
All of the other songs on this playlist were either listened to on repeat when I was writing a particular scene, or I felt like applied to any one of the characters in THE BIG F. Let me know in the comments if you can guess which other songs might correspond with a certain scene or character! 
 
Thank you, Maggie! 
 
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpxcEbBfUW7HeWn6tN_8QQjkn5lRxdROgR1e2lZIqhS58C3mH2-m8i2EYcQgiEUzFr33lia2ZL8Aq4Ru8jCepWOxUHMLGCSNKuuX9ct_o7Lm1gP7VluWgS-K7HobM4ADFDJ8Dbo5xYJQ/s1600/MaggieAnnMartin2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpxcEbBfUW7HeWn6tN_8QQjkn5lRxdROgR1e2lZIqhS58C3mH2-m8i2EYcQgiEUzFr33lia2ZL8Aq4Ru8jCepWOxUHMLGCSNKuuX9ct_o7Lm1gP7VluWgS-K7HobM4ADFDJ8Dbo5xYJQ/s200/MaggieAnnMartin2.jpg" width="133" /></a>About the Author:
 
Maggie Ann Martin hails from Iowa City, Iowa but moonlights as a New Yorker. She has a shiny new BA in English and Journalism from the University of Iowa, the most welcoming literary community in the world. When she is not writing, you can find her binge watching TV shows or passionately fangirling over fictional characters on the Internet. The Big F is her debut novel. 
 
Find Maggie: <a href="http://maggieannmartin.com/">Website</a> | <a href="http://twitter.com/maggersann">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/maggieannmartinwrites">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15217298.Maggie_Ann_Martin">Goodreads</a> 
 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDKZ8pKuIKbpWH1-7QV4aJbxsOxVUc4H3hE5R4JrFg2ZhUKFcQbTm1GDizX0jr40HFpN9yiKdrhufUkgnmnSDU0l6DZ5Q780gMN3UJxRLXubT_C3DVlJrs6Fvec5cWlM3WclHpym8NAo/s1600/TheBigFColor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDKZ8pKuIKbpWH1-7QV4aJbxsOxVUc4H3hE5R4JrFg2ZhUKFcQbTm1GDizX0jr40HFpN9yiKdrhufUkgnmnSDU0l6DZ5Q780gMN3UJxRLXubT_C3DVlJrs6Fvec5cWlM3WclHpym8NAo/s320/TheBigFColor.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
THE BIG F 
Paperback, 304 pages 
Published August 29 2017 by Swoon Reads 
Danielle effed up. Big time. 
 
Danielle's plans for the future were pretty easy to figure out... until she failed senior English and her single college application was denied. Suddenly she's in hot water with very few options, because honestly who applies to a safety school when their mom is a semi-famous "college psychic"?! 
 
Determined to get her life back on track, Danielle enrolls in her hometown community college with a plan: pass her English class and get back into Ohio State and her mother's good graces. Romance isn't on her radar... until she reconnects with her childhood crush and golden-boy-next-door, Luke. 
 
Between family drama, first love and finding her own way, Danielle can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. Thankfully she has her friendship with the snarky and frustratingly attractive Porter, her coworker at the campus bookstore, to push her to experience new things and help keep her afloat. 
 
One thing's for sure: This time, failure's not an option.</div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Maggie for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Pre-order of The Big F from the Book Depository! BookDepo needs to ship to your country. 
Scope: International 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6234571773143039360/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/08/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-big-f-by-maggie-ann-martin.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6234571773143039360'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6234571773143039360'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/08/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-big-f-by-maggie-ann-martin.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin (Playlist + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6072587985830331446</id><published>2017-07-26T13:02:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-07-26T22:21:58.620+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="akemi dawn bowman"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="starfish"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (Author Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hello guys! Today, I'm featuring a YA contemporary starring a half-Japanese, half-American heroine! It's an engrossing read that tackles various themes. Readers who like character growth and family dynamics would enjoy this. I'm interviewing Akemi Dawn, whose name is so gorgeous, all about her writing and Starfish. Stick around for a giveaway at the end!
 
How does your background in the social sciences and in the US Navy contribute to your writing? 
I don’t feel like they play a role in the stories I write, but I do think they’ve had an effect on my work ethic. I’m really good with deadlines—they keep me focused and I tend to work faster when I’m on a time-limit. There was also a saying in the military that went, “Hurry up and wait.” And patience is one of the most important things you can learn in the publishing industry! 
 
How would you best describe your writing style? 
Lately everything I write seems to be moody and emotional, and I don’t know why that is. A few years ago, I wanted to write stories that entertained people. Now I have a bizarre need to make everyone cry! 
 
How is your writing process? Could you share it with us? 
I’ve got a three-year-old and a one-year-old, and my husband works off-shore. When he’s away, I usually only get to write in the evenings after the kids are in bed. But when he’s home, I write every free moment I can. So it’s less of a process, and more of a desperate attempt to get all the words down immediately. I also start with very minimal notes—I write down character names, and a rough idea of where the story is headed. And then I get to know my characters as I write, and let their personalities shape the scenes.
 
What or who inspired you to write Starfish? 
My inspiration behind Starfish was basically my desire to write the book I needed most as a teen. 
 
How did you craft Kiko's voice? What are the defining points and limitations in establishing her voice? 
Kiko is more like me than any other character I’ve ever written, and probably ever will write. So a lot of her voice was remembering how I would’ve reacted at seventeen, and what I was feeling. But she’s also so much stronger than I was too. She spends so much of the book trying to navigate these feelings of being “not good enough,” while also having big hopes and dreams and wanting to heal. She goes through such a major journey, so as much as I could establish her voice at the beginning, I also had to let her grow.
 
Which was the hardest scene to write, if any? 
The scene where Kiko is in the car on her way to California. I find travelling scenes so difficult to write. Maybe because I hate travelling in real life! I find them slow, and kind of a necessary evil. If I could, I’d just teleport all my characters from one place to the next. The driving could be all over in a sentence! 
 
What is your favorite line from the book? 
Almost every chapter ends in a line that describes what Kiko is drawing or painting. And I love so many of these, that it’s almost impossible for me to choose. But the one I think reflects the book the most reads, “I draw a very small fish swimming in the ocean and realizing it’s filled with planets and stars.” This is also in the same chapter where the reader will learn what a “starfish” is, so I think it’s really fitting for the book (and cover!). 
 
If you could write something out of the YA contemporary genre, what genre would it be and what would it be about? 
I’m actually working on a YA fantasy right now! But I don’t like to talk about projects this early in the drafting stage. I’m always a bit worried that the more I say, the more likely I am to feel burned out on a story. But I’m having a lot of fun with it, and will hopefully get to talk about it more in the future! 
 
What's next for Akemi? 
Book 2 was officially announced last week. It’s called SUMMER BIRD BLUE, and will be out in Fall 2018 with Simon Pulse. It’s about a teen songwriter who loses her sister in a tragic accident and is sent to live with her aunt in Hawaii while her mom deals with her own grief. It’s about loss, and family, and learning how to say goodbye to someone who is already gone. And one of the best parts is that I get to work with my incredible editor, Jen, for a second time. I’m thrilled, and can’t wait to share more soon!
 
Thank you, Akemi! 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE6ZVdboN970g5YOpEJdYjHB-nRPKN1_cpKdAXo0l-PJOToCJQwBkQ646ecdtXgp-LCMtKLB65mKIweosDJYtcLxooB4sgr-wyoT6izO_1JuFB9xjz8SHEy4bQTgtXgbzXUolWZ0o_-s/s1600/15068129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUE6ZVdboN970g5YOpEJdYjHB-nRPKN1_cpKdAXo0l-PJOToCJQwBkQ646ecdtXgp-LCMtKLB65mKIweosDJYtcLxooB4sgr-wyoT6izO_1JuFB9xjz8SHEy4bQTgtXgbzXUolWZ0o_-s/s200/15068129.jpg" width="160" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by&nbsp;<a href="http://rorylewisphotography.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #1fbbba; font-family: &quot;Crimson Text&quot;; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Rory Lewis Photography</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>About the Author: 
 
Akemi Dawn Bowman is the author of Starfish. She’s a proud Ravenclaw and Star Wars enthusiast, who served in the US Navy for five years and has a BA in social sciences from UNLV. Originally from Las Vegas, she currently lives in England with her husband, two children, and their Pekingese mix. Starfish will be published later this year (9/26/17, Simon Pulse/Simon &amp; Schuster), with a second YA contemporary to follow in Fall 2018. She is represented by Penny Moore of Empire Literary.
 
Find Akemi: <a href="http://akemidawnbowman.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/akemidawn">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AkemiDawnBowman/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15068129.Akemi_Dawn_Bowman">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/akemidawnbowman">Instagram</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpJOTKJrgmvogQTdN412_jRWvwqONLuMBmgPHLFCXZShfp3JZ3P0c6c0s1UF2k7ZApsEGfFdodxpoyh95nuf8A02DKZsyRkSmCZkEQuvGCnsQ3JPSUUmizMKga_s4HIgjtIkAN3shlGw/s1600/29456598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpJOTKJrgmvogQTdN412_jRWvwqONLuMBmgPHLFCXZShfp3JZ3P0c6c0s1UF2k7ZApsEGfFdodxpoyh95nuf8A02DKZsyRkSmCZkEQuvGCnsQ3JPSUUmizMKga_s4HIgjtIkAN3shlGw/s320/29456598.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 320 pages 
Expected publication: September 26th 2017 by Simon Pulse 
 
Kiko Himura has always had a hard time saying exactly what she’s thinking. With a mother who makes her feel unremarkable and a half-Japanese heritage she doesn’t quite understand, Kiko prefers to keep her head down, certain that once she makes it into her dream art school, Prism, her real life will begin. 
 
But then Kiko doesn’t get into Prism, at the same time her abusive uncle moves back in with her family. So when she receives an invitation from her childhood friend to leave her small town and tour art schools on the west coast, Kiko jumps at the opportunity in spite of the anxieties and fears that attempt to hold her back. And now that she is finally free to be her own person outside the constricting walls of her home life, Kiko learns life-changing truths about herself, her past, and how to be brave.
 
From debut author Akemi Dawn Bowman comes a luminous, heartbreaking story of identity, family, and the beauty that emerges when we embrace our true selves. 
</div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Akemi for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Pre-order of Starfish 
Scope: International 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-kick-off.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="581" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC0vxXMzvHL8eGSQV1M3ZaPpaZ0ZmvcbU-vYuF4DGpj7XPDvdFw7fMGKq3naoNx6MxOoszXotiriHXXBsZpXHzCnkUXceIZHWjD7CBh5Lbb9bm9aZX6taL0elNJ70eK1dgLhflZSvlBc/s200/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017+Button.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6072587985830331446/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-starfish-by-akemi-dawn-bowman.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6072587985830331446'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6072587985830331446'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-starfish-by-akemi-dawn-bowman.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman (Author Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6281920137319054642</id><published>2017-07-22T11:30:00.003+08:00</published><updated>2017-07-22T11:30:24.899+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="dear martin"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="nic stone"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Playlist + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! Sorry for the silence - I've been swallowed up by work - but I'm now back full force! Today I'm featuring one of the most anticipated debuts for 2017 - Dear Martin by Nic Stone! Nic is going to share with us her playlist for her debut. Stick around for the music and the giveaway! 
 
<center><iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://embed.spotify.com/?uri=spotify%3Auser%3Aloslivingstones%3Aplaylist%3A2syFgMYrnqmhDziKB038Wb" width="300"></iframe></center> 
For seventeen year old Justyce McAllister—and many of the real life African American young men (and ladies) like him—life isn’t always easy. This playlist includes everything from songs that would get him and his best friend Manny feeling good about themselves (see: Classic Man and The Man) to heavier songs that highlight the need for change (Everything Must Change; Fight the Power) to songs that convey hope for a better future (A Change is Gonna Come; Glory) to even a couple of unexpected tracks you’d likely hear on one of Manny’s random playlists (Somethin Bad; A World Alone). Taken together, they represent the message of DEAR MARTIN to a tee: life and people are complex, and it’s perfectly fine to feel, but at the end of the day, it’s up to us to offer the world our very best.
 
 
Thank you, Nic! 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG9k1KLk-TnBZs9zgdnC7oOMGkBNbOAWhZEFDo3S0gpLMXAHvK3fnBetjW3nYZbEL_sARQ0uII-v_xhADBFdWwra_cRlEHgn2xxmW53C7zu2a6ZNsCAAVTpuQxYFbGOy67Ie8IoLbgRU/s1600/13525503.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsG9k1KLk-TnBZs9zgdnC7oOMGkBNbOAWhZEFDo3S0gpLMXAHvK3fnBetjW3nYZbEL_sARQ0uII-v_xhADBFdWwra_cRlEHgn2xxmW53C7zu2a6ZNsCAAVTpuQxYFbGOy67Ie8IoLbgRU/s200/13525503.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>About the Author:
 
Nic Stone was born and raised in a suburb of Atlanta, GA, and the only thing she loves more than an adventure is a good story about one. After graduating from Spelman College, she worked extensively in teen mentoring and lived in Israel for a few years before returning to the US to write full-time. Growing up with a wide range of cultures, religions, and backgrounds, Stone strives to bring these diverse voices and stories to her work. 
 
Stone lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram at @getnicced or on her website nicstone.info. 
 
Find Nic: <a href="http://www.nicstone.info/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/getnicced">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/getnicced">Instagram</a>| <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13525503.Nic_Stone">Goodreads</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1jULnEIGToRbql1wrkU5c8Mxn83ghB84Q505erf-BSwZ2akgb4uSxU919ZPQEogSfFSIUn3aAdmwIvDWs5xpH0S2ZKRgA2stMvG7SDdJOUaG-piynWljw0P60B3epjRzW-n5AUR8wec/s1600/IMG_1834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="476" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq1jULnEIGToRbql1wrkU5c8Mxn83ghB84Q505erf-BSwZ2akgb4uSxU919ZPQEogSfFSIUn3aAdmwIvDWs5xpH0S2ZKRgA2stMvG7SDdJOUaG-piynWljw0P60B3epjRzW-n5AUR8wec/s320/IMG_1834.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 224 pages 
Expected publication: October 17th 2017 by Crown Books for Young Readers 
 
Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.
 
Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure. 
 
Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget. </div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Nic for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Signed Personalized Hardcover and bookmark 
Scope: US only 
 
<a class="rcptr" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86209/" rel="nofollow" data-raflid="58156c86209" data-theme="classic" data-template="" id="rcwidget_s2vmuj5z">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script> 
 
 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-kick-off.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="581" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC0vxXMzvHL8eGSQV1M3ZaPpaZ0ZmvcbU-vYuF4DGpj7XPDvdFw7fMGKq3naoNx6MxOoszXotiriHXXBsZpXHzCnkUXceIZHWjD7CBh5Lbb9bm9aZX6taL0elNJ70eK1dgLhflZSvlBc/s200/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017+Button.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.
</div> 
 
 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6281920137319054642/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-dear-martin-by-nic-stone.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6281920137319054642'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6281920137319054642'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-dear-martin-by-nic-stone.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Dear Martin by Nic Stone (Playlist + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-8572589829375044549</id><published>2017-07-02T23:43:00.001+08:00</published><updated>2017-07-02T23:43:21.928+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="character interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="humor"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="noah cant even"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="simon james green"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Noah Can't Even by Simon James Green (Character Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
 
Hi guys! We're finally entering the second month of #CelebratingDebutantes2017! Thanks to everyone who participated and helped us in coming up with these features, as well as to our readers who continue participating and supporting the event. 
 
Today, I'm have a special treat for you guys. Scholastic is sponsoring the giveaway for our featured novel: Noah Can't Even by Simon James Green. 
It's going to be open internationally! So stick around for that. 
 
In the meantime, Noah is on the hot seat for an interview. Let's start with that, shall we? 
 
Hello, Noah! Introduce yourself, please. 
Noah Grimes. I am nearly 16, and am the star of so-called ‘novel’ Noah Can’t Even. It’s a monumentally terrible piece of writing, full of lies about my life, and I wouldn’t recommend you bother reading it. I am a boy, and live in a small town called Little Fobbing, situated in the county of Lincolnshire, England. My favourite things are Agatha Christie novels, Murder She Wrote and Skittles. Not bragging, but I’m probably going to be made a Prefect next year. 
 
If you could change something about your story or your story world, what would it be? Why? 
Well, for a start, I would be the wealthy son of an aristocrat because it is perfectly obvious to me, and most people who meet me, that I must have been accidentally swapped at birth, and should in fact be royalty or something. I have to suffer the daily indignity of my mother having no money and refusing to cook restaurant-quality food – but if I was rich, there would be staff to do this. Also, I would have more muscles and not be so skinny. Finally, I would never have to take part in a PE lesson ever again, thus removing a major source of humiliation for me.
 
If you could invite the author of your story, Simon, what would you two do together? 
I am still very angry with Simon for writing this book, so this is unlikely to happen – unless we go for a cliff top walk and I ‘accidentally’ push him over the edge… 
 
Harry or Sophie? Why? 
Sophie for advice, Harry for cuddles. 
 
What is your favorite Beyonce song, since your mom is a dedicated fan? 
I am actually not a fan of popular music and it is especially hard for me to like Beyoncé when my mother has ruined most of her songs. My gran is a big fan of 80’s music, so sometimes I listen to those with her. 
 
If you could attend Pride Parade, would you go? What would be your outfit and what would you do? 
Yes, I always enjoy any sort of parade or carnival – especially if I am taking part. I recently enjoyed huge success and acclaim when I dressed up as a Pikachu for the town’s summer carnival parade. Many people pointed and laughed, so I would probably go to a Pride parade as that and hand out free Skittles as they are both rainbow coloured and my favourite type of confectionary. 
 
What is the hardest problem you have faced in life? How did you deal with it? 
It was pretty tough when I was overlooked for Dinner Monitor in Year 8. I was pretty confident they were going to elect me as Dinner Monitor, so it came as a blow when it didn’t happen. To deal with this, I mounted a smear campaign against two of the successful candidates, highlighting the fact I saw them fail to wash their hands properly after going to the bathroom. They were forced to resign and I took my rightful position. 
 
What is your deepest, darkest secret? 
I have a copy of Nancy Drew – The Clue of the Dancing Puppet, which belongs to the school library and is overdue by two years. I am too embarrassed to return it and anyway, the fine would be huge. I am devising a way to hack the school library computer system and remove all trace of my ever taking it out. But all this is obviously secret. 
 
If you could read a book now, what would it be and why? 
I am very interested in a book called ‘How to Win Friends and Influence People’ by Dale Carnegie. The book promises to increase my popularity, help win people to my way of thinking and increase my influence and prestige. How fabulous! With this book, I feel I will be unstoppable and will definitely be elected Head Boy in the Sixth Form. 
 
Is there something you would like to tell the audience/readers? 
I would be delighted if you would follow me on Twitter, where I talk about important things - @noahgrimes12 
 
 
Thank you, Noah and Simon for making this happen! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
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Simon is an author and screenwriter and he sometimes does a bit of directing too. He actually did a Law degree at Cambridge University, but decided he loved writing and directing too much to go and be a lawyer. He has worked on lots of West End shows including The Rocky Horror Show, Rent and West Side Story and he has also directed Hollyoaks for Lime Pictures / C4. He writes screenplays with his good friend Sarah Counsell, including Rules of Love, a feature-length musical rom-com for the BBC, which has since sold around the world. Noah Can’t Even was selected for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators ‘Undiscovered Voices’ competition in 2016 and it’s his first novel.
 
Find Simon: <a href="http://www.simonjamesgreen.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/simonjamesgreen">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Simon-James-Green-391013301241591">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16341016.Simon_James_Green">Goodreads</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/simonjamesgreen">Instagram</a>
 
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Book Description:
 
Paperback, 365 pages 
Published May 4th 2017 by Scholastic 
 
Poor Noah Grimes! His father disappeared years ago, his mother's Beyonce tribute act is an unacceptable embarrassment, and his beloved gran is no longer herself. He only has one friend, Harry, and school is...Well, it's pure HELL. Why can't Noah be normal, like everyone else at school? Maybe if he struck up a romantic relationship with someone - maybe Sophie, who is perfect and lovely - he'd be seen in a different light? But Noah's plans are derailed when Harry kisses him at a party. That's when things go from bad to utter chaos.
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</blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Big thanks to Scholastic for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Finished Copy of Noah Can't Even by Simon James Green! 
Scope: International 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/8572589829375044549/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-noah-cant-even-by-simon-james-green.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/8572589829375044549'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/8572589829375044549'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-noah-cant-even-by-simon-james-green.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Noah Can't Even by Simon James Green (Character Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-7347061349410605046</id><published>2017-07-01T01:43:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2017-07-01T01:43:01.523+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="jc welker"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="lgbt"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the wishing heart"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Wishing Heart by JC Welker (Playlist + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! I'm featuring another playlist for #CelebratingDebutantes2017. At this rate, I would have hundreds of songs to download before the event is over. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end - open internationally! 
 
Jennifer is going to share her playlist for the Wishing Heart, a YA fantasy with LGBT theme. I hope you guys enjoy the music! Jennifer you can take it from here. :) 
 
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="380" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed?uri=spotify:user:jcwelker:playlist:2EcdSeiwNX1TmCCbj5CQcg" width="300"></iframe></center>
 
Music is like a seed, it heavily influences my writing, planting seeds for me to grow a rich, tangled world. It can transport me into the mind of the character and the vision of the scene I'm creating. And in writing The Wishing Heart music created many seeds in reflecting a girl looking for love through stories and magic. 
 
While some songs on the playlist dramatically evoke feelings and hit to the heart of each character, others reflect the world that Rebel becomes immersed in and the dark things crawling within it. You’ll notice the songs fluctuate with the books chapters, starting from the hopeless world Rebel lives in, leading into the magical, the whimsical, and the macabre, and back again until you feel like a storm is building. 
 
If I had to pick one song for the theme of TWH it would be TRUE COLORS by Zedd/Kesha because it hits to the core of both Rebel and Anjeline coming to truly see each other for who they are, and their hearts. At one point the last song on the playlist ‘Hero’ made me cry every time I listened to it, because it’s the song I played continually when I wrote the last few chapters of the book-of Rebel’s character Arc. 
 
And I hope you’ll see why. 
 
Thank you, Jennifer for sharing! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
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J.C. Welker is an author who's been, among other things, a fashion designer, a filmmaker and a kickboxer (seriously). Her short documentaries, which focused on homeless Iraq veterans and lgbtq+ issues in the military have been featured on CURRENT TV, and her debut novel won first place in the paranormal category of the 2016 YARWA Rosemary Awards. She continues to work towards giving a voice to stories that are needed, while facing magic and monsters along the way.
 
Find Jennifer: <a href="http://www.jcwelker.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jcwelker">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/officialjcwelker">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jcwelker">Instagram</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
Paperback 
Published May 1st 2017 by Entangled Teen 
 
Winner of the 2016 YARWA Rosemary Awards for paranormal fiction that Mia Siegert (JERKBAIT) calls, “An exhilarating read.” 
 
With a book in her bag and a switchblade in her pocket, Rebel's been thieving her way through life while hoping for a cure to fix her ailing heart. 
 
But when the bejeweled vase she just tried to hawk turns out to be a jinni's vessel, Rebel gets lost to her world and dragged within another. Now every magical being in the city wants the vase for himself. 
 
Thrust into a game of cat and mouse in a world she never knew existed, Rebel must use her uncanny skills to find a way to free Anjeline the Wishmaker. 
 
But wishes have consequences. And contracts. Anjeline's freedom could unravel a love like Rebel has never known, or it could come at the cost of Rebel's heart... 
 
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wishing-Heart-J-C-Welker-ebook/dp/B06Y5WFY1C">Amazon</a> | <a href="http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wishing-heart-jc-welker/1126186821?ean=9781633759398">B&amp;N</a> | <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-wishing-heart/id1225391034">iBooks</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-wishing-heart">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://entangledpublishing.com/the-wishing-heart.html">Entangled</a>
</div>
</blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks, Jennifer, for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: The Wishing Heart (finished copy) from the Book depository! 
Scope: International 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/7347061349410605046/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-wishing-heart-by-jc-welker.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7347061349410605046'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7347061349410605046'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-wishing-heart-by-jc-welker.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Wishing Heart by JC Welker (Playlist + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-2199501118311947642</id><published>2017-06-28T23:54:00.001+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-28T23:54:47.354+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="a court of thorns and roses"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="acotar"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="faeries"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="NA"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="New Adult"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="retelling"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="review"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="romance"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="sarah j maas"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas</title><content type='html'><blockquote>
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Book Description: 
 
Hardcover, 416 pages 
Published May 5th 2015 by Bloomsbury Children's 
 
A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Times bestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore. 
 
When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world. 
 
As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever. 
 
Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!</div>
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Reviewer's Copy: Hardcover 
 
Source:&nbsp;Purchased&nbsp; 
 
My Thoughts: 
 
A Court of Thorns and Roses surpassed my expectations. It was as amazing as I thought it would be and more. I was immediately lost within its charm and riveting tale. The fey winked at me and like a willing victim, I went with them. 
 
The story world was all the sounds and sights that I have imagined and more. Prythian was a sprawling land of surprises, magic and danger. The writing was beautiful, captivating and flawless. There was no fault that I could find. It was the first thing that drew me in. The words wrapped around me like a comfortable blanket that I could not let go of, before drifting into a magical dream.
 
Feyre was an artist, sensitive and observant when it came down to color and texture. However, for the most part of the book, I saw her as a hunter who had the skills to survive. She was fierce and brave, going against all odds to bring food to the table, when no one else would. Living in Prythian was life-changing for Feyre. Her heart held such loneliness and I wanted to see something good happen to her. However, instead of walking into happiness, Feyre walked into a cage of pain and trials. I was constantly at the edge of my seat with the life-threatening situations and suspense that Feyre faced.
 
Rhysand was the one who caught my attention and held it in his night-kissed hands. He was the High Lord of the Night Court. He was perfection in my eyes. His moon-white skin, inky black hair and violet eyes were bullets against my armor. Throughout the story, I saw the good and bad sides of him. He was magnetic, devastatingly attractive and brilliant. His mind was a beautiful thing to observe and behold - always one step ahead of the game. His charm was like the stars in the sky - constant and forever. He seemed like the bad guy at times, however, behind his actions, I could see kernels of goodness. He was constantly masking his good deeds and intentions underneath smirks and threats. He has taken my heart for himself and I cannot get it back. I have fallen in love with his character right from the beginning, in Calanmai. I am looking forward to knowing him more thoroughly in the next installments.
 
Tamlin, the 'Beast' of the story, was good and noble. He was the High Lord of the Spring Court. Upon bursting violently through Feyre's front door, he had my eyebrow raised. He was a gentleman in his own right, however he had a layer of temper lingering underneath his skin. He tended to be overprotective and perhaps unwilling to value other's capacity to take control of themselves and be in control of a situation over his loss of control. It made me sad and a bit put off how he dealt with some things in his life.
 
The minor characters were brilliant and alive as well. Lucien, the Emissary of the Spring Court, was an intriguing character. He had a dark past, a quick mind and charm. It was endearing how he and Feyre slowly began to turn into friends despite their bad beginning. Alis, one of the household helps, was also a joy to read. She had a heart for a human. Her concern and compassion spoke volumes.
 
The action and suspense made my blood flow a little faster and my heart beat a little louder. It brought me back to the days when I read The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa. The twists and turns kept things interesting. I was constantly picking up breadcrumbs left by Maas throughout the pages, following any trail and any pattern that I could find. I was forming and testing theories in my head all throughout the novel. It was fun and stimulating to read something so well-planned and well-written. The ending was a promise of better and exciting things to come. I was satisfied with it, considering that it dealt with my favorite characters.
 
A Court of Thorns and Roses is heart-pounding and unforgettable with its burst of colors, wonders and twists. Cloaked with magic and layers of secrets, it is relentless in delivering entertainment. I highly recommend this to readers of faeries/fey, readers of fantasy and readers who delight in stories inspired by fairytales. You need this series in your life!
 
Rating: 
 
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5 Cupids = Eternal book love. 
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this! 
</div>
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/2199501118311947642/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/2199501118311947642'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/2199501118311947642'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-court-of-thorns-and-roses-by-sarah-j-maas.html' title='Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoHtuiYaDo9a-ciFA7SpMFoIzP3ZUB-jQI-u1v6gdwEw9crbblQsysorkkKgirDNU5GK3A_e344yTsu4e2lxXJvNdNR4mUqhYcNmYENUEJ-FZd5ziWCz4crVk7qbiFhYoRvPZ8AV2yJM/s72-c/16096824.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-7501471493800656049</id><published>2017-06-28T01:17:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-28T01:17:03.925+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="how to break a boy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="laurie devore"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore (Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! #CelebratingDebutantes2017 continues with an interview with Laurie Devore about her writing and How to Break a Boy, her debut. It has been a while since I read a good contemporary. I've been on a fantasy roll for months now! Laurie's debut deals with pranks, teen social hierarchy and power. Are you interested? If yes, stick around for the giveaway - a signed Hardcover. Let's start the interview!
 
What was it like writing a story with a generally unlikeable character? How did it affect your writing? 
I think the interesting thing for me is that I never really find the character unlikeable when I’m writing. I’ve always found myself drawn to characters others find difficult, trying to take them apart, see what makes them tick. Once I’m in a character’s head, the process becomes much more of trying to figure out how a specific type of person would react in a situation versus me as an author making any kind of moral judgement on their actions. I find that’s what it takes to build empathy with characters others find unlikeable.
 
Which part was the hardest to write? Why did you struggle with it? 
I found with both How to Break a Boy and my upcoming novel, Winner Take All, that nailing down characters’ parents and family history is so difficult. Especially as teenagers, each character’s family and upbringing affects so much of their lives and sometimes it can be difficult working backwards. Essentially, I have to look at the character I’ve created and understand what kind of familial circumstances would’ve built them into this person. It’s definitely a challenge but I also find it deeply interesting.
 
What is your favourite scene and why? 
In How to Break a Boy, there’s a scene with Olivia and Whit – who has been posing as Olivia’s boyfriend and whose relationship with Olivia has gotten quite complicated – right after Olivia is brought to arguably her lowest point in the book by her ex-best friend Adrienne. For both Olivia and the reader, the scene is destructive and cathartic but ultimately, draining. I love Olivia’s anger in the scene because it’s as much at herself as Adrienne, and also ties into her conflicting feelings about Whit and not wanting to let him go. I love the depth of Olivia’s pain in that scene and then her desperation to hold onto one last good thing. I still remember writing that scene which might be why I love it so much!
 
Which element of toxic friendships did you enjoy tackling the most? Building up the symbiotic relationship between Olivia and Adrienne was probably the most interesting part of writing this book for me. I definitely wanted the book to have this pervasive idea that while their friendship was deeply problematic, they really felt like they had needed each other up to this point in their lives, which is how their relationship became so tangled and all those layers are what make untangling it so difficult for the two of them.
 
If you could pull a prank on someone, who would you do it to and how would you do it? 
I like really elaborate (but harmless!) pranks. I think it’d be really fun to replace all the family pictures in my mom’s house with pictures of dogs or something like that, though she would probably find it less amusing. 
 
It seems that your next book, Winner Take All, is about love and toxic competition. I can see that you like tackling relationship issues. Is there a reason behind this? 
I like thinking about morally complicated people a lot. People go out into the world every day and do terrible things! Things that seem objectively terrible, but there has to be some reason why. So I think most of my interest in these relationships stems from that. How relationships can change a person, really set them on a path. Mostly I like deconstructing stereotypes we have of different people and, excuse the cover-related reference, seeing the fireworks that go off when they collide.
 
Thank you, Laurie! 
 
Guys, you have to check out Laurie's upcoming book. Here's a little teaser about Winner Take All: 
 
 
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About the Author: 
 
 
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Laurie Devore was born and raised in small town South Carolina and graduated from Clemson University. She now lives and works in Chicago, where she misses the charms and contradictions of the south every day. In her spare time, she reluctantly runs marathons, watches too much TV, and works a “y’all” into every conversation. How to Break a Boy is her first novel.
 
Find Laurie: <a href="http://www.lauriedevore.com/">Website</a> | <a href="http://lauriedevore.wordpress.com/">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/laurie_devore">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/laurie_devore">Instagram</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 342 pages 
Published January 31st 2017 by Imprint 
 
Keep your enemies close, but your friends closer. 
 
Olivia Clayton has mastered the art of tearing others down to stay on top. She and her best friend, Adrienne, rule their small southern town like all good mean girls do--through intimidation and manipulation. 
 
After Olivia suffers a family tragedy and catches Adrienne sleeping with her boyfriend, Olivia is over it. She decides to make a change--but it's impossible to resist taking Adrienne down one last time. Up to her old tricks, Olivia convinces golden boy Whit DuRant to be her SAT tutor and her fake boyfriend. But when it starts to feel real, Whit gets caught up in Olivia and Adrienne's war. 
 
Olivia may ruin everything she touches, but this time she won't go down without a fight--not if it means losing Whit. 
 
And definitely not if it means losing what's left of herself. 
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Laurie for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Signed Hardcover of How to Break a Boy 
Scope: US 
 
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="58156c86206" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86206/" id="rcwidget_1vi6if3v" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script> 
 
 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/7501471493800656049/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-how-to-break-a-boy-by-laurie-devore.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7501471493800656049'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7501471493800656049'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-how-to-break-a-boy-by-laurie-devore.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore (Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6277906532110449194</id><published>2017-06-26T16:50:00.005+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-28T00:14:10.614+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#famous"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="character interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="famous"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="jilly gagnon"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="romance"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: #Famous by Jilly Gagnon (Character Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! Today you're in for a special treat. Jilly did her magic and made this fun character interview possible - with Rachel and Kyle from #Famous! I love Instagram and I can totally see myself loving this book to bits. Hope you like it! Stick around for a special giveaway at the end. 
 
For additional points, you could answer this question: If you could post a photo on Instagram that you wouldn't have otherwise posted on a normal day, what would it be and why? 
 
Tomorrow, head over to Blackplume for the next feature! 
 
Precious: mic test, mic test. Is this thing working? 
*Staff scrambles to fix the sound system* 
Precious: Perfeeect. Hello, Rachel and Kyle! *winks* Let's start with the interview. 
 
Describe your happiest moment to us. 
Rachel: I'm not sure what I'd even pick. 
Kyle: It's when you first laid eyes on me, obviously. 
Rachel: You're cute and all, but that's ridiculous. 
Kyle: That's mine but for you. 
Rachel: And you're a total liar. 
Kyle: But it sounds good, right? 
Rachel: It sounds sappy. If I put that in a play Mo would cross it out and write "cliche" in red pen all over the page. And my face. And your face. 
Kyle: Alright, fair. Don't tell her I said it. Mo kinda terrifies me. 
 
What is love, for you? 
Rachel: Do you even know that at our age? I feel like I'm still finding that out, honestly. 
Kyle: I think love is when you'd rather make someone else happy than yourself. 
Rachel: Now I feel like a jerk. What he said. Or...I dunno, puppies. 
Kyle: Love is puppies? 
Rachel: It's a metaphor. Or...whatever, Kyle wins this question. 
Kyle: [fist pumps] 
 
What is your ideal "happy ending?" 
Kyle: I'm pretty sure whatever I say you're gonna tell me it's a cliche again, right? 
Rachel: Not if you said "and then I finally accepted that my girlfriend is, and always will be, a better bowler than I am." 
Kyle: She said ending. That's not over. 
Rachel: Keep telling yourself that, Kyle. 
 
What is your biggest mistake? 
Kyle: Oh man, these are seriously intense questions. 
Rachel: I mean, on one level the picture was a mistake... 
Kyle: Oh c'mon, you don't mean that. 
Rachel: Let me finish! I was going to say that on another level, it turned out pretty alright in the end. 
Kyle: [indignant, gestures to self] Pretty alright? This is way better than pretty alright. I'm at least... 
Rachel: A good consolation prize? 
Kyle: Exactly. 
 
What is your favorite quote? Have you used it on each other? 
Rachel: Wow...can I just say "all of Mrs. Dalloway?" 
Kyle: There's no way you can say that. 
Rachel: Fine. I guess...I like this one Thoreau quote, "the world is but a canvas to our imagination." Sometimes it helps me when I have serious writer's block. 
[pause] 
Kyle: Umm...put up or shut up? 
Rachel: That's not even a quote. 
Kyle: Sure it is. Ollie says it all the time. 
Rachel: Your favorite quote is by Ollie. 
Kyle: My favorite quote is...something you've written. That I'll remember later. 
Rachel: Nice save. And for the record, he has totally used that on me. 
 
If you could post a photo on Instagram right now, what would it be and what would be the caption? 
Rachel: Seriously, anything but a picture of this one. I get it, every other girl on earth is into him. 
Kyle: Are you jealous? I'd post a picture of you. With the caption "The most beautiful girl in the world and somehow she fell for a doofus like me." 
Rachel: You are a total suck-up. 
Kyle: But, like, it works, right? 
Rachel rolls her eyes but can't repress a grin 
 
Is there something you can't do now that you could do before the incident? What is it? Why? 
Kyle: I can't really work at Burger Barn any more. 
Rachel: That's totally a perk. 
Kyle: For sure. I'm not complaining. 
Rachel: Sometimes I get recognized which is utterly bizarre. But it's not like I can't go out in public or anything. Unless I straighten my hair. But I could never really do that effectively in the first place. 
 
Is there anything you would like to change in your life? 
Kyle: Honestly? Not even a little. I feel like I won the lottery or something. 
Rachel: I'd like to be a Tony-winning playwright. 
Kyle: Oh, fine. If we're playing that way, I want, like...a yacht? 
Rachel: I'd go with castle. 
Kyle: Why choose? 
Rachel: Good point. So the Tony, and the yacht and the castle. Otherwise I'm content. 
 
Thank you, Jilly! 
 
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About the Author: 
 
 
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<a href="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f66bf2_e99be0012da74987b0586b4e300640bb.jpg/v1/fill/w_305,h_335,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/f66bf2_e99be0012da74987b0586b4e300640bb.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="305" height="200" src="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/f66bf2_e99be0012da74987b0586b4e300640bb.jpg/v1/fill/w_305,h_335,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01/f66bf2_e99be0012da74987b0586b4e300640bb.webp" width="181" /></a></div>
Jilly Gagnon is currently based in Chicago, but is originally from Minnesota, a fact she'll likely inform you of within minutes of meeting you. Her humor writing, personal essays, and op-eds have appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, Boston Magazine, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, The Toast, and The Hairpin, among others. 
 
She writes both humor and young adult fiction. She's represented by Dawn Frederick of Red Sofa Literary (for humor) and Taylor Haggerty of Waxman Leavell (for young adult writing). 
 
She's an especially good conversation partner if you love amazing cocktails, terrible television, or talking to your cats. 
 
Find Jily: <a href="https://www.jillygagnon.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jillygagnon">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JillyGagnonWriter">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://instagram.com/jillygagnon/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13615246.Jilly_Gagnon">Goodreads</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 384 pages 
Published February 14th 2017 by Katherine Tegen Books 
 
In this modern-day love story, Girl likes Boy, Girl takes photo of Boy and posts it online, Boy becomes accidentally insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent joke spirals into a whirlwind adventure that could change both their lives—and their hearts—forever. But are fame and love worth the price? 
 
Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone. 
</div>
</blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Jilly for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Signed ARC of #Famous 
Scope: US 
*If you have a mailing address in US or someone to send it to, you may join 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6277906532110449194/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-famous-by-jilly-gagnon.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6277906532110449194'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6277906532110449194'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-famous-by-jilly-gagnon.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: #Famous by Jilly Gagnon (Character Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-7516418296497781783</id><published>2017-06-24T23:17:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-24T23:27:26.687+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="jill orr"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="mystery"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the good byline"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Good Byline by Jill Orr (Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! I hope you're having a good weekend so far! For today, we are featuring an intriguing debut about a library assistant who enjoys reading obituaries. It is quirky and so fresh. I'm interviewing Jill about The Good Byline! Stick around for the special giveaway at the end. :) 
 
For an extra point, you could answer any of these questions: Have you ever tried reading the obituary section before? Have you read anything interesting in it? 
 
What do you feel about scoring a three-book deal? 
I was thrilled of course! I had the deal for THE GOOD BYLINE first, but my agent had told my editor that the book was planned as a series. Then a couple of months before BYLINE came out, Prospect Park Books made an offer on the next two in the series! It was such a great vote of confidence! 
 
Since you have three books, are all the stories aligned and planned at this point? How do you outline for a three-book story? 
I have a general plan for each book before I start writing and an overarching series plan. So in each book there will be a "stand alone murder" but the main character, Riley, will also be working toward solving the mysterious death of her grandfather. This mystery will unfold bit by bit in each book. For better or worse, I'm not a big planner, but I do at least know a few things going into the writing process. 
 
From your first draft, was Riley always a library assistant? Did her character change throughout various revisions and drafts? 
She was always a library assistant, but she definitely changed in other ways as I got to know her better. Because my original spark for her character was someone who was obsessed with obituaries, I thought she was going to be this dark, snarky, melancholy young woman. But as I learned more about real life "obituary enthusiasts" (yes, the exist!) I realized the reading the obits is one of the most life-affirming pursuits out there. People who read obits of people they've never met do so in order to see what made a person's life worth living and what they can learn from someone else's life story. It's pretty sweet, really. So Riley ended up becoming far more optimistic, hopeful, and romantic as I wrote her - which surprised me!
 
While reading and researching about people enthusiastic and interested about obituaries, did you encounter something interesting? 
Oh yes! The most interesting thing about this subculture of people are into obituaries, is that they have their own chat rooms and even their own conferences! There's a book I've read and re-read as research for my own writing called LIFE ON THE DEATH BEAT: LOST SOULS AND LUCKY STIFFS by Marilyn Johnson and it's filled with stories about obituaries and the people who love them. It's fantastic, quirky little book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in this subject.
 
Did you encounter problems while writing the first book, The Good Byline? What are these and why? 
Oh I think there are always "problems." Like every other writer on the planet, I have those days where I am certain everything I've written is complete crap and I should just give up and go live in a cave. I also wrote THE GOOD BYLINE before I had an agent or a publisher, so I had no idea if anyone would ever read it, like it, buy it, etc. But those things are all par for the course. I think it's part of the process, albeit not such a fun part, it's also what helps make it so fun when you fight through all of that and make it to the other side.
 
What is your favorite line from the book? Why did you choose this? 
"It was the kind of night that made everything sparkle with possibility... even me." I chose this line because I think this is when we see a glimmer of Riley's emotional growth begin peek through. She's pretty hard on herself and has been in something of a slump when the book opens, so here when we get to see her open herself up to the idea that maybe, just maybe, it's all going to be okay - well, I like that! 
 
Thank you, Jill! 
 
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://jillorrauthor.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/orrjill-bio-pic1.jpg?w=156&amp;h=148" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="147" data-original-width="156" src="https://jillorrauthor.files.wordpress.com/2016/07/orrjill-bio-pic1.jpg?w=156&amp;h=148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Stephanie Atkinson Photography</td></tr>
</tbody></table>About the Author: 
 
Jill Orr lives in Columbia, Missouri, with her husband and two children. She writes humor essays about parenting on her blog, An Exercise in Narcissism. The Good Byline is her first novel in the Riley Ellison mysteries series and was released in April 2017 from Prospect Park Books. Book two (title TBD) will be out Spring 2018! 
 
Find Jill: <a href="https://jillorrauthor.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/@jillsorr/">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jill.r.orr/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jillsorr/">Instagram</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcl8vT_w2miuDPyXBwinHbGDawV_hqELSoYhank0BAjfhyqyGhS8AnhBAHApoj9txR0jM7wL4uuhMX8IpNgT8hUxpSWAbPn5vhA0qEDlz46w4KXBljyAbn0UXddJoTFGEO1kE9QS-OTQ/s1600/31944808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlcl8vT_w2miuDPyXBwinHbGDawV_hqELSoYhank0BAjfhyqyGhS8AnhBAHApoj9txR0jM7wL4uuhMX8IpNgT8hUxpSWAbPn5vhA0qEDlz46w4KXBljyAbn0UXddJoTFGEO1kE9QS-OTQ/s320/31944808.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Paperback, 280 pages 
Published April 11th 2017 by Prospect Park Books 
 
"Who knew obituaries could be this much fun?" 
— Gretchen Archer, USA TODAY–bestselling author of the Davis Way Crime Capers 
 
Meet Riley Ellison, a quirky young library assistant who has become known in her hometown of Tuttle Corner, Virginia, as Riley Bless-Her-Heart. Riley’s odd habit of living vicariously through people she reads about in the obituary pages hits a little too close to home when she is asked to write one for her childhood best friend, Jordan James. Jordan's unexpected suicide has left Riley desperate to understand why a young woman with so much to live for would suddenly opt out, so she steps out of her comfort zone and into the role of obituary writer.
 
Things get messy, however, when Jordan’s co-worker, a paranoid reporter with a penchant for conspiracy theories, convinces Riley that Jordan’s death was no suicide. He leads her down a dangerous path toward organized crime, secret lovers, and suspicious taco trucks. Eventually, Riley’s serpentine hunt for the truth leads to a discovery that puts everything she holds dear—her job, the people she loves, and even her life—in danger. Will writing this obituary be the death of her?
</div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Jill for sponsoring this giveaway! 
Copy of The Good Byline 
Scope: US and CA 
*If you have a mailing address in US and CA, you may join. 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-kick-off.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="581" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvC0vxXMzvHL8eGSQV1M3ZaPpaZ0ZmvcbU-vYuF4DGpj7XPDvdFw7fMGKq3naoNx6MxOoszXotiriHXXBsZpXHzCnkUXceIZHWjD7CBh5Lbb9bm9aZX6taL0elNJ70eK1dgLhflZSvlBc/s200/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017+Button.png" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Get your daily dose of YA and MG debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">Click the button above to be redirected to the main page where you can browse the list of novels and authors that we are featuring.
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/7516418296497781783/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-good-byline-by-jill-orr.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7516418296497781783'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7516418296497781783'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-good-byline-by-jill-orr.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Good Byline by Jill Orr (Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-4839603731469722002</id><published>2017-06-22T21:53:00.001+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-22T21:53:43.255+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="peternelle van arsdale"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the beast is an animal"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Beast is An Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale (Author Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hello everyone! Today we're featuring one of the early releases of 2017 - The Beast is an Animal. The book was released and published early on this year. Some of you might have already read it. Initially, upon seeing the word 'beast' in the title, I thought that it might be related to Beauty and the Beast. However, it is not like that. The story itself is not based on a single classic fairytale. I interviewed Peternelle to find out more info about the Beast is an Animal. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end!
 
In reviews that I have read, it was mentioned that your story has a fairytale vibe. By any chance, is there a fairytale that inspired you to write The Beast is an Animal? 
No single fairytale inspired the novel, but I was inspired generally by all the classic fairy tales I read when I was growing up, particularly those by the Brothers Grimm. In those fairy tales the characters often behave very badly, and rarely is anyone allowed to be completely innocent. If you think of “Hansel and Gretel,” for example, Gretel is forced to kill in order to save herself and her brother. At the end, they return home to their father, which is supposed to be a happy conclusion to the story, but he’s also the one who led them out into the forest to starve in the first place. So the idea of no one being purely good was very interesting to me.
 
What kind of research did you delve into for this novel? 
Since my novel is entirely a fantasy, including the setting, I didn’t have to do a lot of research. The landscape was roughly inspired by Wales, so I did a little research into sheep herding there and a few other practical things such as clothing, but not a lot—which is a good thing, because for me a little research goes a long way. 
 
How different was the original version of the story from the last version? What changed? 
Very different. In fact I originally wrote the prologue for a different novel—a contemporary fantasy. Then my agent asked me if I could write an entire novel in the style of the prologue, which I was delighted to do, because I realized while writing it that dark fairy tales were my first love for a reason. Still, the novel evolved and evolved over time. At one point I began the action later in my protagonist’s life, but then I went back and started the story much earlier. And there were many other changes along the way.
 
What is your favorite line from the book? Why? 
Hm, I hadn’t thought about that. I love the nursery rhymes that I wrote for the novel. So perhaps my favorite line is from the first nursery rhyme that I wrote: The Beast is an animal, It has a pointy chin, It eats you while you sleep at night, leaves nothing but your skin... 
 
Can you give us a background about the cover art? What is the concept behind it? Does it refer to a specific scene? 
I entirely credit my publisher, Margaret K. McElderry Books, and the cover designer, Sonia Chaghatzbanian, and the photographer Sarah Ann Loreth, for that gorgeous cover. They didn’t ask me in advance what I wanted, and I’m glad they didn’t, because I never could have suggested something so perfect for the novel. I don’t want to give anything away about the novel, but the sense of “is that a tree, or a woman, or both?” is very appropriate. I love the way the two blend together and you’re not quite sure what you’re seeing.
 
Can you tell us something about your next book, which is a dark fairytale? 
I really don’t want to give much away about it at this stage, but I will say that I love the prologue, and I think it will appeal to those who love THE BEAST IS AN ANIMAL. It also has a strong yet conflicted female protagonist, because that’s always important to me, as well as a very powerful sibling relationship, which was fun for me to write. 
 
Thank you, Peternelle! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
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Peternelle van Arsdale is a book editor who never thought she’d write a book, until one day she had a glimmer of an idea that became The Beast Is an Animal. She lives in New York City, where she is at work on her second novel. 
 
Find Peternelle: <a href="http://www.peternellevanarsdale.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/peternelleva">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PeternellevanArsdaleauthor/">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/peternellevanarsdale">Instagram</a> 
 
 
 
 
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Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 352 pages 
Published February 28th 2017 by Margaret K. McElderry Books 
 
Alys was seven the first time she saw the soul eaters. Twin sisters, they radiated an energy that excited Alys. Through them she felt the wildness of the forest, and The Beast within it. Too late, she learned of their power to destroy. 
 
By the time she is fifteen, Alys knows too much about both the lure and the danger of the soul eaters. She lives in a world of adults who are terrified of their power, and who cower behind high walls and grim rules. Fear of the soul eaters—and of The Beast—rules their lives. Even more, they fear the ways in which The Beast may lurk among them—and within a girl like Alys. 
 
For Alys has a connection to the soul eaters, and The Beast. And she hides a truth about herself that she can reveal to no one, for fear she will be called a witch. As the threat posed by the soul eaters grows, Alys must undertake a journey through the wild danger of the fforest. But the greatest danger is not outside her. Alys’s secret about who—and what—she is terrifies her most of all. And in order to save her world, she must also risk losing herself.</div>
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Peternelle and Simon &amp; Schuster for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Finished Copy of The Beast is an Animal 
Scope: US 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/4839603731469722002/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-beast-is-an-animal-by-peternelle-van-arsdale.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4839603731469722002'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4839603731469722002'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-beast-is-an-animal-by-peternelle-van-arsdale.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Beast is An Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale (Author Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-1185847828002956276</id><published>2017-06-20T22:30:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-20T22:30:23.655+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="flight risk"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="jennifer fenn"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn (Playlist + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! Are you interested in reading a story about antiheroes, stealing planes and flying? Then this debut is for you. It is reviewed and described as unique, original and surprisingly unexpected. 
 
Today, we are featuring your next best read: Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn! Jennifer will be talking about her playlist and how each note is related to her writing and the story. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end! ;) Jennifer will take it from here. 
 
 
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I always listen to music while I write. I usually create soundtracks to match my ideas very early in the writing process, to capture a particular mood or voice. For “Flight Risk,” I listened to these songs and many more to create Robert Jackson Kelly’s world as he surfs, steals and runs from the law. 
 
“Immortal” Kid Cudi 
The lyrics of this song could have been pulled straight from my protagonist Robert Jackson Kelly’s thoughts. I listened to it constantly while writing “Flight Risk.” The humming at the beginning even reminds me of the sound of a plane taking off. 
“I’m living my life as if I’ve got powers/And tonight I feel immortal.” 
 
“King of the Beach” Waaves 
In the story’s first half, Robert receives a used surfboard for his birthday and starts spending his days at the beach, practicing his surf technique. He’s determined to learn how to catch a wave and the beach provides an escape from his less-than-ideal home life. This song perfectly captures the mood of those scenes! 
“Never gonna stop me/You’re never gonna stop me/King of the beach!” 
 
“Mama Told Me Not to Come” Three Dog Night 
Yannatok’s Sheriff Holt is a classic-rock fan. I imagine this song playing in his cruiser as he drives around the island hunting for Robert. The lyrics also allude to Robert’s complicated relationship with his mother. 
“Mama told me not to come/She said, that ain’t the way to have fun, son!” 
 
“Frontier Psychiatrist” Avalanches 
I played this song often when I wrote the scenes I consider Robert’s ‘origin story,’ or the events that led up to him actually stealing a plane and becoming a notorious outlaw or hero, depending on your point of view. 
“That boy needs therapy!” 
 
“The Trees” Richard Cheese 
Here’s a fun cover of a song originally performed by Rush. My brother discovered this song and included it on one of several “Flight Risk” mixes he made for me. Many scenes in “Flight Risk” depict “unrest in the forest”: plane crashes, bears, police chases . . . . 
 
“There is unrest in the forest!” 
 
“Everybody Get Dangerous!” Weezer 
I love this song’s fun mood. Robert’s plane thefts are definitely dangerous, but he’s also having the adventure of his life when he takes to the sky. 
 
“Everybody get dangerous!” 
 
“Who Wrote Holden Caulfield?” Green Day 
These lyrics seemed to describe Robert’s school situation and struggle with ADHD perfectly. 
“There’s a body who fogs his world and now he’s getting lazy/There’s no motivation and frustration makes him crazy/He makes a plan to stand but always ends up sitting/Someone help him up or he’s gonna end up quitting.” 
 
“Bad Moon Rising” Lagwagon 
This song is actually featured in the book; Robert’s father is singing it when the reader first encounters him. Robert Senior is in and out of his son’s life, and a secret from his past is revealed in the second half of “Flight Risk.” I like the sense of foreboding in this song’s lyrics, and this sped-up cover version is a fun update on a classic song. 
“Don’t go out tonight/It’s bound to take your life/There’s a bad moon on the rise” 
 
“I Believe I Can Fly” Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees 
 
Of course, R Kelly wasn’t singing about actual flight in the original version of this song, but I can’t help but think that the lyrics mirror Robert’s obsession with planes. 
 
“I believe I can fly/I believe I can touch the sky/I think about it every night and day’Spread my wings and fly away” 
 
“Police on My Back” The Clash 
Once Robert steals his first plane, he’s on the run, trying to escape Sheriff Holt, the media, and everyone else’s expectations of him. 
“Well, I'm running/Police on my back/I've been hiding/Police on my back” 
 
“Lollipop” Ben Kweller 
The candy found at the scene of Robert’s first plane crash lead the media to portray him as a criminal mastermind intentionally taunting the police. He’s even nicknamed “The Lollipop Kid.” 
“Lollipop, lollipop/Oh, lolly lollipop!” 
 
“My Old Man Had a Pistol” The New Amsterdams 
This song’s lyrics seem to be about trying to escape a troubled family history, which is one of the issues at the heart of “Flight Risk.” 
“I pray take me far away/From everything that I am” 
 
 
Thank you, Jennifer, for sharing your playlist! 
 
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About the Author: 
 
 
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Young adult author Jennifer Fenn has been filling notebooks since she was in elementary school. She’s never without a book! Fenn is terrified of corn fields but has jumped out of a plane, eats her cereal without milk, and has run a marathon. 
 
She is a graduate of Lycoming College and Rosemont College’s MFA program. Jennifer lives with her husband, daughter and Scottish terrier in Downingtown, PA. 
 
Find Jennifer: <a href="http://www.jenniferfenn.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jennifer_fenn">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/writerjennfenn">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15016250.Jennifer_Fenn">Goodreads</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 256 pages 
Expected publication: July 18th 2017 by Roaring Brook Press 
 
A debut novel inspired by true events, about a teenage boy who has stolen―and crashed―not one, but three airplanes. And each time he’s walked away unscathed. 
 
Who is Robert Jackson Kelly? Is he a juvenile delinquent? A criminal mastermind? A folk hero? One thing is clear: Robert always defies what people think of him. And now, the kid who failed at school, relationships, and almost everything in life, is determined to successfully steal and land a plane. 
 
Told as an investigation into Robert’s psyche, the narrative includes multiple points of view as well as documentary elements like emails, official records, and interviews with people who knew Robert. Ultimately, Flight Risk is a thrilling story about one teenager who is determined to find a moment of transcendence after everyone else has written him off as lost. 
 
"Teens will love the documentary-style narrative and will root for underdog antihero Robert." --Donald Peebles, School Library Journal 
 
"Fenn's ambitious debut novel is part oral history, part tall tale, and part suspense story . . . Inspired by real events (the life of Colton Harris-Moore, aka the Barefoot Bandit), Fenn has penned an original, thrilling tale with wide appeal, including for older reluctant readers." 
 
-- Caitlin Kling, Booklist 
 
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Jennifer for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: ARC of Flight Risk 
Scope: US/CA 
*If you have a mailing address in US/CA, you may also join 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/1185847828002956276/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-flight-risk-by-jennifer-fenn.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/1185847828002956276'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/1185847828002956276'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-flight-risk-by-jennifer-fenn.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn (Playlist + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-318111691022996198</id><published>2017-06-18T21:10:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-18T21:10:26.441+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="gravedigger's son"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="MG"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="paranormal"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="patrick moody"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the gravedigger's son"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Gravedigger's Son by Patrick Moody</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! I hope you're enjoying Father's Day so far - to the ones with countries celebrating it this Sunday, at least. So when I first started blogging, my genre was paranormal. I read everything paranormal - vampires, werewolves, ghosts, etc. Currently, I am swimming in a fantasy ocean. It is refreshing to encounter an MG paranormal book that is rooted in the traditional act of burying the dead and creating this story.
Before we start with that, I'd like to remind you that we have several giveaways on going both in Fragments of Life and in Blackplume. Please click the event button on the right sidebar and you'll be directed to the list of features and giveaways! 
 
Today, Patrick is going to show you his playlist for The Gravedigger's Son and briefly explain each song and how it is related to the book. Hope you enjoy the music! I like Deep in the Woods! 
 
 
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLvb1rIAeV4qRTWCLA7eH60KL-TE2iXdE7" width="560"></iframe></center>
 
 The Bats-"Boogeyman": This song is basically the theme to the entire story. Playful, poppy, and insightful, with just a hint of spookiness. The boogeyman is coming for you...or is it all in your head? 
 
 Calamine-"Horse and Carriage": Perfectly sums up the relationship between Ian, the MC, and Fiona, his best friend. They understand one another's personal struggles, and both try to push the other to achieve their dreams. 
 
 Mac Demarco-"Blue Boy": While Calamine's "Horse and Carriage" is an uplifting, hopeful song, Demarco's "Blue Boy" is a more accurate portrayal of Ian's personality. Unsure of himself and more than a little blue. But what eleven year old Gravedigger in training isn't? 
 
Men at Work-"Overkill": "Ghosts appear and fade away." I feel like Men at Work captured a very specific emotion, here: the anxiety we all feel fretting about the future, while constantly replaying events from our past. It's a strange middle ground that stops us from enjoying the present. For Ian, this is all too common...constantly worrying about his path in life, trying to break ancient tradition and carve out his own future. Every choice is difficult. The weight of our own history can be a crippling thing.
 
 My Morning Jacket-"Only Memories Remain": This haunting, melancholy tune about love and loss is a perfect fit for Ian's father, Isaac. The current Gravedigger of House Fossor is trapped in the past, forever brooding and mourning the loss of his wife, taken too soon by an evil magic. 
 
 Tennis-"Deep in the Woods": Something is lurking in the woods bordering the cemetery. Ian reluctantly enters. What will he and Fiona find? Rumor has it, a coven of dark-magic witches live somewhere in the depths of the forest, waiting for someone to enter... 
 
 
 Thank you, Patrick! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
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Patrick Moody is a middle school custodian who draws inspiration from the spooky night-time halls. He lives in Connecticut. The Gravedigger's Son is his first novel. 
 
Find Patrick: <a href="https://www.patrick-moody.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/PatMoody2">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Patrick-Moody-Author-140316559831816/">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14739467.Patrick_Moody">Goodreads</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 304 pages 
Expected publication: August 1st 2017 by Sky Pony Press 
 
“A Digger must not refuse a request from the Dead." —Rule Five of the Gravedigger’s Code 
 
Ian Fossor is last in a long line of Gravediggers. It’s his family’s job to bury the dead and then, when Called by the dearly departed, to help settle the worries that linger beyond the grave so spirits can find peace in the Beyond. 
 
But Ian doesn’t want to help the dead—he wants to be a Healer and help the living. Such a wish is, of course, selfish and impossible. Fossors are Gravediggers. So he reluctantly continues his training under the careful watch of his undead mentor, hoping every day that he’s never Called and carefully avoiding the path that leads into the forbidden woods bordering the cemetery. 
 
Just as Ian’s friend, Fiona, convinces him to talk to his father, they’re lured into the woods by a risen corpse that doesn’t want to play by the rules. There, the two are captured by a coven of Weavers, dark magic witches who want only two thing—to escape the murky woods where they’ve been banished, and to raise the dead and shift the balance of power back to themselves. 
 
Only Ian can stop them. With a little help from his friends. And his long-dead ancestors. 
 
Equal parts spooky and melancholy, funny and heartfelt, The Gravedigger’s Son is a gorgeous debut that will long sit beside Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book and Jonathan Auxier's The Night Gardener. 
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Patrick for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Signed ARC of The Gravedigger's Son 
Scope: International 
 
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="58156c86201" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86201/" id="rcwidget_n3sgpjvt" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/318111691022996198/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-gravediggers-son-by-patrick-moody.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/318111691022996198'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/318111691022996198'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-gravediggers-son-by-patrick-moody.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: The Gravedigger's Son by Patrick Moody'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-7044600580741795910</id><published>2017-06-15T18:00:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-16T04:33:37.806+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="blog tour"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="jhing bautista"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="karmic hearts"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="romance"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Playlist: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpCmT6Yod9XD7KOHIHjVQQO6Ka5GzV5S1CjthSPcxPkEcgkTk8g0u-pt1TvJZrA1js-8D0H7bgGwSwRa2t_2GpKzQh5AGNsbjpUcXLqLdpMyHgzNA84nYtPgRXvT0u2xnMt4c1ZJ6YBM/s1600/Karmic+Hearts+tour+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="1280" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpCmT6Yod9XD7KOHIHjVQQO6Ka5GzV5S1CjthSPcxPkEcgkTk8g0u-pt1TvJZrA1js-8D0H7bgGwSwRa2t_2GpKzQh5AGNsbjpUcXLqLdpMyHgzNA84nYtPgRXvT0u2xnMt4c1ZJ6YBM/s320/Karmic+Hearts+tour+banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! Today I'm featuring a playlist for Karmic Hearts! Bautista chose the songs well and handpicked some of my favorite songs, such as Down from the Vampire Diaries OST. 
 
Maricar from <a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/15/blog-tour-karmic-hearts/">Blackplume</a> described Karmic Hearts as " a light read that is perfect for those who love cute romance. It is delightful, romantic and heartwarming. Something every romance lovers will surely enjoy reading." 
 
Here is a quote from the book that I like: “If everything is unfair in this world, then doesn’t that make it fair?” 
 
I think that it makes perfect sense. :) Are you ready to experience Karmic Hearts? 
 
Matchmaker by AJ Rafael 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ksIr6x5W_YA" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Heaven Can Wait by We The Kings 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/e4dwCmx_34Q" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Down by Jason Walker 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VvGYYg40Ijw" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Her Love Is My Religion by The Cab 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Aoo2QL8VcQs" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Ever Enough by A Rocket To The Moon 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8Yu7gUyHfok" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Stupid Love Letter by The Friday Night Boys 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ct3WzfBh6Kg" width="560"></iframe> 
 
I Should Go by Levi Kreis 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5moX0iBLi44" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Beautiful Excuses by Rixton 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ciVEALCcj1w" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Scars by James Bay 
 
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oVslvM30EWI" width="560"></iframe> 
 
 
 
 
 
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<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjq7x3RTOBHTOoExjWKvZAf7gCt8WCRTmcP__4yswIRmw4KciLCBSapSzJQ5nyV7wGJbNlcP_JmZKCtbmlUGqX1WTG_fwS05hylF7fw9gO5qgLRiflGBXrm2hNKLMZXzCr1XvnkRn_ks/s1600/35392947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="304" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicjq7x3RTOBHTOoExjWKvZAf7gCt8WCRTmcP__4yswIRmw4KciLCBSapSzJQ5nyV7wGJbNlcP_JmZKCtbmlUGqX1WTG_fwS05hylF7fw9gO5qgLRiflGBXrm2hNKLMZXzCr1XvnkRn_ks/s320/35392947.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Paperback, 241 pages 
Published 2017 by Summit Books, Pop Fiction 
 
Love. Magic. Fate. Best-selling romance novel author Karmina Joan writes about these things. She believes that every person has a purpose, that every soul has a destiny to fulfill. She thought hers was simply sharing her stories. 
 
Her story unfolds with Cupid, the Angel of Love himself. He brings with him a mysterious vessel and a message from on high. It turns out Karmina has a bigger purpose after all—a mission that will make or break humanity as we know it. 
 
As Cupid teaches her the tricks of his trade, Karmina unknowingly gives him something unexpected in return— something the angel of love will find oddly familiar. This may become the one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan that destiny had in store for them. 
 
Does love truly conquer all or are there limits to what humanity can do in the name of love? Witness as Karmina struggles to find the answers before time runs out on true love. 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div> </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/7044600580741795910/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/playlist-karmic-hearts-by-jhing-bautista.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7044600580741795910'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/7044600580741795910'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/playlist-karmic-hearts-by-jhing-bautista.html' title='Playlist: Karmic Hearts by Jhing Bautista'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpCmT6Yod9XD7KOHIHjVQQO6Ka5GzV5S1CjthSPcxPkEcgkTk8g0u-pt1TvJZrA1js-8D0H7bgGwSwRa2t_2GpKzQh5AGNsbjpUcXLqLdpMyHgzNA84nYtPgRXvT0u2xnMt4c1ZJ6YBM/s72-c/Karmic+Hearts+tour+banner.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-4742882991469472368</id><published>2017-06-14T00:01:00.000+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-14T00:01:13.801+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="deleted scene"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="excerpt"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="lydia sharp"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="review"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="romance"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="whenever i'm with you"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! Today, we're featuring a YA romance novel on&nbsp;#CelebratingDebutantes2017. Whenever I'm With You is written by Lydia Sharp, who also happens to be an editor at Entangled Pub! The book is set in Alaska, so readers looking for a little bit of nature in their books would enjoy this. Aside from the fun interview, Lydia is also presenting an exclusive deleted scene from Whenever I'm With You that has never been shared before in other platforms! I hope you guys enjoy this. :)
 
What or who inspired you to write Whenever I'm with You? 
 
The story of Chris McCandless was a huge inspiration for this story. If you haven’t read Into the Wild by John Krakaur yet, I highly recommend it. I’ve been fascinated with Chris’s story since I first heard of it—what made him do what he did? Then I took that question and asked it of a fictional character who does something similar, takes a journey into dangerous territory on his own without telling anyone. Kai’s story and Chris’s story are NOT the same, but Chris was a big inspiration for the story idea that led to this book, and you’ll find a lot of nods to him throughout.
 
What was the hardest scene or part to write? 
 
The ending chapters, hands down. Not the very last chapter, which wraps everything up, but the cluster of chapters right before it that make up the finale and climax. From first draft to finished book, I rewrote the finale at least three times. And I mean *complete* rewrites—totally different things happened in each version. I also went back and forth a few times on whether the twins would find their dad alive or dead at the end of the journey. My editor and I discussed that particular point at length before we agreed on what would work best.
 
I can’t go into more detail without giving away spoilers for those who haven’t read it yet, but I can say the original finale included a scene where Hunter and Gabi jump out of a helicopter in flight. I really liked that part, so I found a way to have Gabi and Kai do something similar in the final version. You’ll have to read the book to see what it is. :) 
 
Was it easy or difficult to distinguish Kai from Hunter and vice versa? While you were writing how did you choose which twin would be the one to disappear and stay with Gabi? 
 
The decision was made in the idea stage of the book, before the story was written. I developed the twins’ personalities *after* I knew which would leave and which would accompany Gabi on her journey to find the other. 
 
Knowing that ahead of time helped me figure out who they were as individuals. Since Kai is the one who takes off on his own, I thought about what kind of person would do what he did, and went from there. He is energetic and impulsive, goal-driven, likes a challenge, doesn’t always make the right decision but has good intentions. He also prefers to solve things on his own, without help. And when I thought about how Hunter might react to his disappearance, I realized he was much more levelheaded than Kai. He thinks long and hard before making a decision, weighs all the options, does what’s best for everyone, not just himself. He also has a very protective spirit and often takes on the role of caregiver.
 
So their personalities complement each other but also cause friction between them sometimes because they have differing views. Once I figured that out, it was easy to keep them as separate people in my head. They aren’t physically identical, either, so that helped, too. 
 
Could you share your favorite line from the book? How did you come up with this line? 
 
My favorite line was actually *so much* my favorite—and my editor’s—that we put it at the beginning of the book, on its own page, before the story starts. 
 
“Wherever you go, let your heart lead your feet.” 
 
I honestly don’t remember how I came up with that! But it’s been a life motto for me ever since. :) 
 
Did you draw from personal experiences while writing this story? 
 
Yes, several. :) But I’ll just mention a couple. I sometimes work as an extra in movies, which Gabi also did when she lived in SoCal. There is a part in the book where she relays one of her experiences on set with her mom, and much of what she says was drawn from what I learned as an extra. Working in movies can be fun, but I don’t think most people realize that when you’re not playing a big role, the majority of your day is spent just waiting around to be called in for a scene. Always bring a book!
 
Another thing I drew from personal experience was Gabi’s position as a child of divorced parents. The views she has mirror how I felt when my parents divorced, and I didn’t want to hold back from showing the ugly side of that situation. Her dad falls into a terrible depression. Gabi and her mother are not on speaking terms. And Gabi doesn’t always think rationally when the topic comes up, because she’s still too emotional about what happened. If your parents were married your whole life, coming to terms with their divorce when you’re a teen is extremely difficult. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, but for those who have gone through it or who are going through it now, I wanted them to know they aren’t alone and what they feel is perfectly valid—even the dark stuff.
 
Could you share with us a deleted scene from Whenever I'm with You? 
Sure! I’ve never shared this one anywhere yet, so you’re getting an exclusive. :) 
 
<div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After dinner, I go to bed early. In my state of half-asleep, half-awake, I hear Kai talking to Vicki in the other room. Hunter’s voice never joins them, and I can’t understand what they’re saying. The world fades in and out a few times, then I hear Kai tending the fire in our room, and he tosses another blanket over me. Over us. He huddles up in bed next to me. The tip of his nose touches my cheek, and he whispers, “If you can hear me, Gabi, I love you.”</div>
He loves me. He’s never said that before. Does he expect me to say it back? I feel more strongly for him than anyone else I’ve been with. I’m incredibly concerned for his welfare. I care for him, a lot. But is that love? I’m not sure. The lengths we’ve gone to for each other on this trip might qualify as some kind of love, but I don’t think that’s what he meant. I think he meant love love. The biggest kind. The kind of expression that shouldn’t be met with silence, and like a dummy that’s all I’m giving him.
 
 Unfazed by my lack of response, he fingers my hair, brushes a thumb over my cheek. He kisses me lightly on the lips and curls an arm around me, pulling me close. “We’ll be all right now. All of us. Everything’s going to be okay.” 
 
 “Promise?” I whisper. 
 
 “That and more,” he says. “I’d promise you the sun, moon, and stars if I could, make them shine just for you.” 
 
 “I don’t want all that, Kai. I just want you.” Even so, I still can’t get myself to say those three little words that flowed so easily from his lips a moment ago. He doesn’t seem to care, though, as he uses those same lips to show me how much he meant every syllable, over and over and over again. 
 
—end of excerpt—</div> 
Thank you so much for having me here! 
 
Thank you, Lydia! 
 
About the Author: 
 
Lydia Sharp worked a number of different jobs, everything from retail management to veterinary medicine, before turning their passion for stories into a career. They are now an editor for Entangled Publishing and write young adult novels with lots of kissing and adventures. Lydia lives in Ohio with their husband, son, and an ever-growing collection of owls. When not completely immersed in a book, Lydia binges on Netflix, pines for Fall, and hosts mad tea parties in Wonderland. Follow on Twitter @lydia_sharp for writing updates and other shenanigans. Life is an adventure—turn the page.
 
Find Lydia:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lydiasharpbooks.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/lydia_sharp">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://facebook.com/lydia.sharp.376">Facebook</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/lydiasharpauthor">Instagram</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qf4BRNFlByFiexopH9M66oYR8iro1IOEMCUcaSOV4Xat4K4vP-kwCwf9LD3YyHCyjGPL2VXcBKPtse07qm_wCWRNermV4Z0rhzGnFYOCUisrXfs0OU9CKlzMCImv3sy85VJxUt0v9XA/s1600/WIWY_cvr_new1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Qf4BRNFlByFiexopH9M66oYR8iro1IOEMCUcaSOV4Xat4K4vP-kwCwf9LD3YyHCyjGPL2VXcBKPtse07qm_wCWRNermV4Z0rhzGnFYOCUisrXfs0OU9CKlzMCImv3sy85VJxUt0v9XA/s320/WIWY_cvr_new1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 304 pages 
January 3, 2017, Scholastic Press 
 
A missing boy. 
 
A road trip into the Alaskan wilderness. 
 
A week that will change everything… 
 
After Gabi’s parents’ divorce, she moves to Alaska with her dad. At first, it feels like banishment—until she meets Kai. He welcomes her into his life, sharing his family, his friends, and his warmth. Until suddenly, Kai pulls away for seemingly no reason at all. He’s quiet, withdrawn. Then one day, he disappears. 
 
Kai’s twin, Hunter, believes Kai’s retracing their missing father’s steps in the wilderness north of Anchorage. When they learn there’s a blizzard on the way, Gabi’s hurt at Kai’s coldness swiftly turns to serious concern. He’s alone out there. This is the boy who saved her from the dark. She can’t lose him to it. 
 
So Gabi convinces Hunter to join her on a wild journey north—a trip that will challenge them physically and emotionally, as they try to convince the boy they love to return home. 
</div></blockquote>
 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Lydia for sponsoring this giveaway! 
 
What's up for grabs: 
 
For US residents: A signed hardcover of Whenever I'm With You 
For International readers: A hardcover of Whenever I'm With You shipped from the Book Depository 
 
 Scope: International 
 
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="58156c86198" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86198/" id="rcwidget_bv0x3kzp" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
<script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script> 
 
 
 
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/4742882991469472368/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-whenever-im-with-you-by-lydia-sharp.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4742882991469472368'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4742882991469472368'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-whenever-im-with-you-by-lydia-sharp.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Whenever I'm With You by Lydia Sharp'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6659831245632667961</id><published>2017-06-13T16:29:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-13T16:29:18.502+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="art"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="contemporary"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="review"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Review: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia</title><content type='html'><blockquote>
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Book Description: 
 
Hardcover, 400 pages 
Published May 30, 2017, HarperCollins 
 
Eighteen-year-old Eliza Mirk is the anonymous creator of Monstrous Sea, a wildly popular webcomic, but when a new boy at school tempts her to live a life offline, everything she’s worked for begins to crumble. 
 
Scott Westerfeld’s Afterworlds meets Nimona in this novel about art, fandom, and finding the courage to be yourself. Features illustrations by the author throughout. Perfect for readers of Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl, this is the second novel by the acclaimed author of Made You Up. 
 
In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, smart, and friendless. Online, Eliza is LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of a popular webcomic called Monstrous Sea. With millions of followers and fans throughout the world, Eliza’s persona is popular. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves her digital community. Then Wallace Warland transfers to her school, and Eliza begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart. With pages from Eliza’s webcomic, as well as screenshots from Eliza’s online forums, this uniquely formatted book will appeal to fans of Noelle Stevenson’s Nimona and Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl.
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</blockquote>
 
Reviewer's Copy: ARC 
 
Source: Harper Collins(Thank you!) 
 
My Thoughts: 
 
First of all, I would like to highlight that Zappia is an amazing writer. Her lines pull readers into the story, wrapping around their hearts and tugging them completely into the pages. Her talent for writing and drawing merges together to form a masterpiece. In Eliza and Her Monsters, readers are served with two parallel stories: Eliza's life in the real world and her webcomic, Monstrous Sea. The reading experience was reminiscent of that of Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, but only with more interactive, more insistent and more intense because of the graphics and discussion of quotes, backstory and character arcs.
 
Eliza was an introvert and a lover of art and its creative manifestations - drawing, writing, creating stories. She was two people at the same time: Eliza Mirk, the invisible girl no one talked to, and LadyConstellation, the mother of a fandom and the creator of the popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza was brilliant in ways that other people weren't. However she didn't excel in social skills, and preferred to connect to the outside world online through her computer and her phone. She was invisible at her school, on the outskirts of the social hierarchy of high school. She spent her days mostly alone and mostly tuning out the outside world. All of her energy went to her masterpiece, Monstrous Sea. Her art was her life. As the story progressed, I saw how she interacted with her fandom and how her schedule was in sync with her online activities: the preparation for the weekly upload of webcomic pages, the actual uploading of the pages and the Dog Days showing on Fridays and the commentaries of LadyConstellation. She was her true self in a sense when she was online. She could shed her insecurities to be who she really wanted to be.
 
Monstrous Sea captured all of my attention upon first mention. I lived for the drawings spread throughout the novel. The story of Monstrous Sea was so strong and well made that it practically jumped off the pages. Amity, Damien and Dallas were such interesting characters and I wanted to know them better. Sometimes, I wanted to know them more than I wanted to know Eliza and Wallace. The story had a beautiful setting and the magic that was distinctly of Monstrous Sea. I would love for Zappia to publish her work, Monstrous Sea, so people could read the full, glorious story.
 
Wallace was harder to understand for me. His not talking aloud in public was harder to understand for me. Although I understood the reason behind it, it seemed too drastic for me. Nevertheless, I adored his character. He was a mix of both worlds and plausibly an ideal book boyfriend, except for the part when he would scribble on paper or text to you instead of answering you orally in public. He had some great lines in the novel, reflecting his personality and the way he saw the world. He also had a great appreciation for written and illustrated work, which was amazing. He had some darkness inside him and secrets lurking beneath the surface. I struggled to fully understand him towards the latter part of the book. I felt like I needed more of his backstory to be able to capture and digest his mindset, his opinion and his feelings.
 
The relationship of Eliza and Wallace was not instantaneous. They were two comets circling a planet, aware of each other's presence but not really engaging. Until they both opened up and realized how similar they were. In Eliza's case, she realized how committed Wallace was to her work, Monstrous Sea. It was the first time that she met a fan in real life and was a bit puzzled on how to relate to him. Eliza and Wallace meeting was the equivalent of you meeting someone with the same interests as you. When they discovered that they both liked Monstrous Sea, their worlds collided. They became inseparable. But how inseparable could two people be when there was a wall of secrets between them? Their relationship was mostly sweet and smile-inducing.
 
Family dynamics was also tackled in the novel. It was great to see how Wallace and Eliza's families interacted with them. Sully and Church, Eliza's brothers, were the ones who drew my attention the most. As an only child, I never had siblings and never experienced the ups and downs of having a brother. It was refreshing to see how Eliza's brother understood her beyond her expectation. They understood her art and its importance and impact in her life. 
 
Eliza and Her Monsters was engrossing, vivid and ripe with imagination, creative possibilities and love. The novel had me hooked from page one, holding onto my heart with two hands - one from each story: Eliza's story and Monstrous Sea. Even though, I encountered a bump in the road while reading this book, I didn't let that stop me from loving the story. Eliza and Her Monsters was a unique read that I will treasure. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy dual stories, readers looking for art-related books, and readers of contemporary and fantasy. If you liked Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, particularly its format, then you might enjoy this as well.
 
Rating: 
 
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5 Cupids = Eternal book love. 
I will never, ever, ever forget this book. I highly recommend this!</div>
 
Giveaway: 
 
Win one of two ARCs of Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia! 
Open to PH residents (sorry, international friends!) 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/6659831245632667961/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-eliza-and-her-monsters-by-francesca-zappia.html#comment-form' title='4 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6659831245632667961'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/6659831245632667961'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/review-eliza-and-her-monsters-by-francesca-zappia.html' title='Review: Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDhCX84rk5RX5p0hY8CguOTHjYZvP6AC0iFAheVd2yulAcQnPR5A7ghFq9VmW0NM6fBoi6Hgy-kKIvN0VyZ7US9uzX2VVs1KFCMVSVdj-Vdc1bpBRCysYHtBdqcvu0H0c7VEzPIb-3ZY/s72-c/Eliza_Monters+CVR.JPG" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>4</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-2602455952961198504</id><published>2017-06-11T09:09:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-11T09:09:43.155+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Meg Eden"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="playlist"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Post-High School Reality Quest"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! I'm featuring the first playlist on Fragments of Life for #CelebratingDebutantes2017. Post High School Reality Quest is one of a kind. It is one of the most original debuts for 2017, based on what I've heard and read so far. So it's an honor to present this unique book to you guys, today. Stick around for a special giveaway at the end.
 
Meg is going to explain to us how the songs in her playlist is related to Post-High School Reality Quest. I hope you guys enjoy the music! Meg, you can take it from here. :) 
 
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/videoseries?list=PLwYIqHb94rNe2hSNCb3j7R7Xs8XAWM9m7" width="560"></iframe></center>
 
Avicii vs Nicky Romero - I Could Be The One – When I first heard this song, I totally thought about Buffy’s crush on Tristan—it totally captures her thoughts for him, and even sounds like her voice! 
 
 Cazzette: Eject – I always listened to this album while writing and editing, so it’s forever linked to PHSRQ to me. Every time I hear the song “On the Road” now my body’s conditioned for writing and for Buffy’s surreal text adventure college world. 
 
 Italobrothers - Love is on fire (Rob &amp; Chris Radio Edit) - This is another song that I feel like perfectly captures Buffy’s crush on Tristan. I listened to this song a lot early on to start imagining what Buffy would look like and how to develop her. 
 
 Italobrothers - Summer Air (Original Mix) - There’s definitely a nostalgic air to this song, and the lyrics: “Why don’t we just go back” makes me think of Buffy going back in time to old save slots, and when she’s in her relationship with Tristan. 
 
 Lady GaGa - Alejandro (Bimbo Jones Club Mix) - The energy in this song definitely helped me in writing tense scenes, so I listen to this and think about the emotional conflict between Buffy and Merrill, Merrill and Tristan, and Tristan and Buffy. 
 
 Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 'Thunderstruck' [Windmill Hut] by Big Giant Circles – If PHSRQ was condensed into an AMV, this is probably the song that would be playing the background. 
 
 Tetris (GB) 'Thirty-Plus Mix' [B-Type] by R3FORGED – The fast pace of this song gets me thinking about Buffy’s state of mind and anxiety. 
 
 Final Fantasy X 'Endless Skies' [Auron's Theme] by PrototypeRaptor – This song makes me think of “What ifs,” of which there are a lot in PHSRQ. I mainly think about what Buffy and Merrill might have had if things had been different—an idea that never really interested me until the last couple drafts of the novel. 
 
 Star Fox 'Barrel Roll' [BGM (CORNERIA)] by PrototypeRaptor – When I was sick with strep/writing a lot of PHSRQ, I played a bit of StarFox 64 on an emulator on my computer. I added this detail in for Buffy as well. When I listen to this, I like to imagine Buffy in her dorm room, flying the Arwing between classes. 
 
 Dj CUTMAN - Powerglove ft. Ben Briggs (Shane Mesa Remix) – For some reason, I totally think of Sephora whenever I play this song. But I see her very clearly every time I listen to this. 
 
 Power-Pill - Pacman (Power-Pill Mix) - I'd listen to this song to think about/develop the group of friends and invoke that basement man cave gaming den feeling. Every time I listen to this, I feel that nostalgic thrill of playing Pacman on an arcade cabinet. 
 
Thank you, Meg! 
 
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About the Author: 
 
Meg Eden's work has been published in various magazines, including Rattle, Drunken Boat, Poet Lore, and Gargoyle. She teaches at the University of Maryland. She has four poetry chapbooks, and her novel "Post-High School Reality Quest" is forthcoming from California Coldblood, an imprint of Rare Bird Lit. 
 
Find Meg: <a href="http://www.megedenbooks.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/ConfusedNarwhal">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/megedenwritespoems">Facebook</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7869658.Meg_Eden">Goodreads</a> 
 
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Book Description:
 
320 pages 
Published by California Coldblood 
 
Buffy is playing a game. However, the game is her life, and there are no instructions or cheat codes on how to win. 
 
After graduating high school, a voice called “the text parser” emerges in Buffy’s head, narrating her life as a classic text adventure game. Buffy figures this is just a manifestation of her shy, awkward, nerdy nature—until the voice doesn’t go away, and instead begins to dominate her thoughts, telling her how to live her life. Though Buffy tries to beat the game, crash it, and even restart it, it becomes clear that this game is not something she can simply “shut off” or beat without the text parser’s help.
 
While the text parser tries to give Buffy advice on how “to win the game,” Buffy decides to pursue her own game-plan: start over, make new friends, and win her long-time crush Tristan’s heart. But even when Buffy gets the guy of her dreams, the game doesn’t stop. In fact, it gets worse than she could’ve ever imagined: her crumbling group of friends fall apart, her roommate turns against her, and Buffy finds herself trying to survive in a game built off her greatest nightmares.
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Meg for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Ebook of Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden and Post-High School Reality Quest narwhal tote 
Scope: International 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/2602455952961198504/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-post-high-school-reality-quest-by-meg-eden.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/2602455952961198504'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/2602455952961198504'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-post-high-school-reality-quest-by-meg-eden.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-2538133067997399454</id><published>2017-06-04T10:56:00.005+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-05T10:20:55.343+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="dystopian"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="sand runner"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="vera brook"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Sand Runner by Vera Brook (Author Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi guys! For our third feature, we have Sand Runner by Vera Brook. If you are a fan of Maze Runner and Hunger Games, you would enjoy Sand Runner. I know that a lot of you guys are looking for an adrenaline-charged tale that is seeped in danger at every turn. This might be your next read. Today, I'm interviewing neuroscientist turned writer, Vera. :)
 
How does your being a neuroscientist contribute to your writing? 
 
I love that question! I think my neuroscience training influences my writing in a lot of ways. I write science fiction, so there is usually some science and technology as the background for the story. 
 
In SAND RUNNER, one such technology is bionic prosthetics, or the new generation of prosthetic limbs that are directly linked to and controlled by the person’s nervous system. Such prosthetic limbs already exist and people use them every day, and they will get better and better, and make a huge difference to thousands of people. But it’s amazing to think about how much knowledge about the human nervous system went into designing such prostheses. So both the science and the applications are fascinating and a great source of story ideas.
 
But there is more. There are similarities between science and writing. In both cases, you start with curiosity, you start with a question. Maybe it was something you noticed, something that stuck with you, and you want to know more, you want to figure it out. So you investigate. In science, we design experiments and then collect and analyze the data and that’s how we get our answer. In writing, we create characters and outline stories, and then the process of writing is the process of discovery. In science, the results can often surprise you. But you have to listen to your data. And when you’re writing, you have to listen to your characters and try to be true to them, so the final story is almost never what you set out to write.
 
One last similarity is the importance of resilience. In science and in writing, there are times when things don’t work out. Your experiment fails and you have to repeat it, your story goes nowhere and you move on to something else. But you can’t quit, you can’t get discouraged. You pick yourself up and try again. So if any of you are thinking of a science career, I’d say: Go for it! Even if you don’t work in your field, you’ll have a ton of skills that will help you in whatever career you choose.
 
Okay. This was a very long answer. But it was a great question! 
 
What or who inspired you to change your career and start writing? 
 
I never really switched. I do both: I have my “day job” and I have my writing. One thing about science training is that you can apply these skills in a lot of different fields, so I am still exploring. I enjoyed doing research in a laboratory, but I think I like working with data in higher education even more. And maybe one day I can be a full-time author, and only read about neuroscience research and big data for fun and for inspiration. Everything is possible. 
 
In terms of inspiration, there was one book that really blew me away and made me want to write professionally. And that was THE HUNGER GAMES by Suzanne Collins. I know it’s not very original of me to cite that book as my main inspiration. But it was. I love and admire everything about it: the concept, the characters, the world-building, the impossible moral choices that Katniss and the other characters have to make, and, of course, the writing. I have two copies of the whole series and go back to them often.
 
I've noticed a trend in YA dystopian novels, in which survival games are the platform of the stories. What is your take on this? What makes it interesting to write about? 
 
That’s a really interesting thought, and I think there is something special about survival games serving as a kind of scaffolding for dystopian novels. First of all, such games already come with high stakes, often literally life-and-death. High stakes produce drama, and drama is what moves the story forward. Survival games also work really well if you want to challenge your characters and force them to make difficult choices, so we can find out who they really are and what they are made of. It’s like a trial by fire. All lies and pretenses fall away. So I absolutely agree that, as a structure in a dystopian novel, a survival game can be very powerful.
 
Your question also made me think about THE LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding. If you haven’t read it yet, I highly recommend it. It’s about a group of boys who get stranded on an island after a plane crash, and in their struggle for survival, they basically recreate a society and all its conflicts, with tragic consequences. It’s a great book, mostly because it’s brutally honest. It forces us to think carefully about what choices we would make if put in the same place. The writing is also amazing. I am not usually a fan of long descriptions, but in that book, they make you feel like you’re actually there, on the island, running through the burning jungle. Another great book that I keep returning to again and again!
 
Could you share with us a quote from Sand Runner that is close to your heart? 
 
Here is an excerpt from early in the novel. Without giving too much away, it’s the scene where Emily recruits Kai for the Race. 
 
The girl’s—Emily’s—gaze was so direct, so intense, that Kai found it difficult to focus. Who did she say she worked for? And then the name caught up with him, and a jolt went through him. 
Optimex! 
Was she kidding? Of course he’d heard of them. Everyone on the planet had heard of them. They were one of the highest profile athletic management firms in the world. Another jolt, as the meaning of this exchange hit him. 
“You recruit runners for the No Limits Race.” 
Sounds of excitement from his friends cut through Kai’s tunnel-like concentration—shuffling feet, slapped thighs, a sharp whistle. 
A hint of a smile crossed Emily’s face. “That’s right. But we do more than recruit them. We manage their training and their… careers.” Was there a hesitation there? Kai couldn’t be sure. He was suddenly fascinated with every nuance of her expression and tone of voice. “Think about it this way—we find the best runners, and we make them even better. We make them into legends.” 
“I’m in.” 
 
What is the hardest part/scene to write in Sand Runner? 
 
All of it! I went through several drafts, and worked with a professional editor to polish the final version. I wanted the story to move quickly, and to keep that momentum all the way until the climax at the end. So it was challenging to balance that fast pace with slower, more emotional scenes where we get to know and care about the characters. The training sessions and the actual Race sequences were also a challenge because I didn’t want to repeat any ideas. 
 
For all the budding writers out there, I can also share a strategy that saves me each time: I write out of order. I jump all over the place. If I get stuck in one part of the story, I move to another and add to that. I also add layers. Details, foreshadowing, cause-and-effect links. They only come to me after I’ve been working on the story for a while. 
 
But the writing out of order really helps. In fact, when I start a new book, I just take copious notes, until I have a complete draft that spans from the beginning to the end of the story. I call it draft 0 and no one ever sees it but me. But it makes it possible for me to finish a draft and then go back and revise it. 
 
What is next for Vera Brook? 
 
I am writing book 2 and outlining the final book 3 in the SAND RUNNER series. I am also working on two other YA dystopian series, and on a middle-grade series in the vein of magical realism. And I keep notes with ideas for projects after that. I can come up with a lot of idea. The challenge is to stick to a project and finish it. 
 
Also, now that I network with readers and writers a lot, my to-read pile is just exploding. I was a reader before I was a writer, and that’s something I will always struggle with: having to choose between reading and writing each day when I love both. There are just so many good books to read, and never enough time. But I’m not complaining. I love books. That’s why I’m a writer. 
 
Thank you, Vera! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
 
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Vera Brook is a neuroscientist turned fiction writer. 
 
She writes fantasy and science fiction. Or speculative fiction, as it’s sometimes called. In other words, the type of stories where she can change something about the world and get away with it. 
 
After studying several fields – including literature, philosophy, genetics, and neuroscience – She has decided that SHE IS INTERESTED IN EVERYTHING. 
 
Which sounds great. But it’s actually a bit of a problem if you’re trying to be a serious, focused, responsible adult with serious, focused responsibilities. 
 
She is with it, though. In fact, her list of interests keeps growing. (Physics. Cover design. 3D printing. GOOD BOOKS OLD AND NEW!) 
 
Find Vera Brook: <a href="http://www.verabrook.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/Vera_Brook">Goodreads</a> |&nbsp;<a href="http://www.twitter.com/VeraBrook1" verabook="" www.instagram.com="">Twitter</a>&nbsp;| <a href="https://www.instagram.com/verabrook/">Instagram</a> 
 
 
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Book Description: 
 
Paperback, 316 pages 
Published June 2nd 2017 by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform 
 
Welcome to the No Limits Race. 
 
In the near future, 16-year-old Kaiden Reed makes a bold and dangerous decision to enter the most brutal sports competition on the planet. One in which he will undergo a radical upgrade and become a new kind of athlete and a new kind of hero. 
 
Part human. Part machine. 
 
All Kai wants is a shot at a better life and to impress the girl of his dreams. But the stakes in the Race are higher, and the choices tougher, than Kai ever imagined. The physical challenges are just the beginning. 
 
Ten days. Ten contenders. One winner. 
 
Does Kai have what it takes to compete? How far will he go to win? And should he trust the person who recruited him in the first place - or is she using him to carry out a bold and dangerous agenda of her own? 
 
Sand Runner is available on <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1212161666">Apple iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XF6LD1R/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_x_HpgVybKBEEWXS">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.kobo.com/ebook/sand-runner-1">Kobo</a> and <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sand-runner-vera-brook/1125895634?ean=2940154350874">Barnes &amp; Noble</a>. It is available in Paperback and ebook.
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Vera for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Paperback Copy of Sand Runner 
Scope: US and Canada 
 
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Hi guys! For the first feature of Celebrating Debutantes 2017, we have Siren Sisters by Dana Langer! I have always enjoyed reading about mermaids and sirens. It is such a delight to see this flowing into MG stories. I am a firm believer that each age group should have their own "representative" book of a specific topic.
 
Today I am interviewing Dana about her debut. Stick around until the end to get a chance to win a finished copy of Siren Sisters! 
 
Could you tell us who or what inspired Siren Sisters? 
 
Hello! Thank you so much for having me. SIREN SISTERS was inspired by a combination of things, mainly me growing up with my sister and female cousins and also teaching The Odyssey to high school students and wanting to hear more from the monsters and female characters. 
 
 Could you tell us about the Sirens in your book? Did they deviate from the typical siren mythology in any way? Did you make alterations? 
My favorite aspect of siren mythology has always been that they generally appear in a group. I thought that idea lent itself nicely to a story about sisterhood and sacrifice, and I kept that consistent in my book. I added the detail about their changing hair color and scales growing in when they turn thirteen because I wanted their magical transformation to mirror some of the more mundane transformations that kids go through at that age. 
 
 Could you tell us more about Lolly's sisters Lula, Lara, and Lily? 
I think of Lara as being very motherly, strong, and protective, someone who gives a lot of herself without thinking twice about it; I see Lily as being very angry, secretly quite sensitive, and a little immature; and I see Lula as being more impulsive and less of a worrier than all the others. I think they're all very loyal and loving, and I like to think they'd all grow up and do good things in the world. 
 
 In a review that I read, it was mentioned that the sea witch didn't like to be in the water. Why is this? Could you give us a bit of background on this? 
I think of the sea witch as being a sea witch because her soul is hidden in the sea and because she can control storms. Historically though, one of the ways they used to test people to see if they were witches was by throwing them in the water and seeing whether or not they drowned (it was believed that witches would float). Also, she has a lot of negative associations with boats, drowning, and the shipping industry in general, so I just felt that she would not be a fan of being in the water.
 
 What was the hardest part or scene to write? 
The ending was difficult in terms of deciding how much to state explicitly versus how much to leave for the reader to infer. I've heard it described as a "cliffhanger" before, but, without giving away too much, in my mind the outcome is clear given the fact that Lolly is narrating the story. 
 
Thank you, Dana! 
 
About the Author: 
 
 
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Dana Langer is a New York based high school teacher. She holds a BA in creative writing and an MA in teaching from Brandeis University where she received the Dafna Zamarripa-Gesundheit Fiction Prize. SIREN SISTERS (Simon&amp;Schuster/Aladdin, 2017) is her debut novel.
 
Find Dana: <a href="https://twitter.com/danicalanger">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://instagram.com/danalanger/">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/danicalanger/">Pinterest</a> | <a href="http://www.dana-langer.com/">Website</a> 
 
 
 
 
 
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Book Description: 
 
"Purposeful messages for inclusion and against stereotyping are scattered throughout. Touching on family relationships, grieving, growing up, first romance, and Norse mythology, this is an exciting fantasy with a heart-stopping ending by an author to watch." -Kirkus 
 
When they're not in school or running their small town's diner, the four Salt sisters are secretly luring ships to their doom from the cliffs of Starbridge Cove, Maine. With alluring voices that twelve-year-old Lolly has yet to grow into (not that she wants to anyway) the girls do the work mandated by the Sea Witch, a glamorous figure determined to keep them under her control. With their mother dead after a mysterious car accident, and their father, a once famous folk singer, drowning in grief, the sisters have only each other to rely on, carrying on with their lives and duties until a local sea captain gets suspicious about the shipwrecks.
 
On the day before her birthday, Lolly watches in helpless horror as her sisters are lured themselves by curse-reversing fishermen--and suddenly it's up to her and her best friend Jason to rescue the sirens of Starbridge Cove.</div>
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 Giveaway 
 
Thanks to Dana for sponsoring this giveaway! 
What's up for grabs: Finished Copy of Siren Sisters 
Scope: US 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/9201646088213622981/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-siren-sisters-by-dana-langer.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/9201646088213622981'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/9201646088213622981'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-siren-sisters-by-dana-langer.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Siren Sisters by Dana Langer (Author Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-1942393224283769475</id><published>2017-06-01T14:44:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2017-06-25T15:06:18.458+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2017"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="MG"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="YA"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Kick-off!</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="937" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s320/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" width="320" /></a></div>
 
Hi everyone! I'm back online after some months of rest. We are back with the third wave of Celebrating Debutantes. 
 
But first, before we officially start, I would just like to mention that this is the biggest event we have tried to put up together so far. We have nearly 90 authors on board and counting. We are still accepting participants and are happy to welcome more debut authors. The annual event has become a search to find fresh reads. We are always on the look out for something new - something interesting. We have found that in a lot of the stories that we encountered while searching for debuts.
 
So please join me us in the event kick-off for #CelebratingDebutantes2017! 
 
The Basics: 
 
What is Celebrating Debutantes 2017? It's a blog event in which we would be featuring debut authors from NA, YA and MG that would have their books published in 2017. This feature was originally hosted by <a href="http://michelletheescapist.blogspot.com/2016/02/celebrating-debutantes-2016.html">Michelle from The Escapist</a>, however, she has left the blogosphere to focus on more important things in her life - work and ministry. So she passed on the crown to me.
 
What happens now? Maricar and I are going to host #CelebratingDebutantes2017 for three months nonstop. Yes, you read that right. Nonstop. 
 
Who are hosting this event? Yours truly, from Fragments of Life + Maricar from <a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/">Blackplume</a>. 
 
Duration of the event?&nbsp;June 1 to September 1, 2017 
 
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Be prepared to discover your next favorite book. Get your daily dose of debut goodness in #CelebratingDebutantes2017! Here is the list of novels and authors we are featuring: 
 
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Celebrating Debutantes 2017 Participant List: 
<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-siren-sisters-by-dana-langer.html">Siren Sisters by Dana Langer - Finished Copy of Siren Sisters</a></center>
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<a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/03/celebrating-debutantes-2017-a-list-of-cages-by-robin-roe/">A List of Cages by Robin Roe - Finished Copy of A List of Cages (BookDepo)</a></center>
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<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-sand-runner-by-vera-brook.html">Sand Runner by Vera Brook - Paperback of Sand Runner</a></center>
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<a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/05/celebrating-debutantes-2017-rules-for-thieves-by-alexandra-ott/">Rules for Thieves by Alexandra Ott - Signed Hardcover of Rules for Thieves</a></center>
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<a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/07/celebrating-debutantes-2017-poison-kiss-by-breeana-shields/">Poison Kiss by Breeana Shields - Signed Hardcover of Poison Kiss</a></center>
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<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-post-high-school-reality-quest-by-meg-eden.html">Post-High School Reality Quest by Meg Eden</a></center>
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<a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/09/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-wingsnatchers-by-sarah-jean-horwitz/">The Wingsnatchers by Sarah Jean Horwitz</a> 
<a href="https://blackplume.wordpress.com/2017/06/11/celebrating-debutantes-2017-juniper-lemons-happiness-index-by-julie-israel/">Juniper Lemon’s Happiness Index by Julie Israel</a> <a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-flight-risk-by-jennifer-fenn.html">Flight Risk by Jennifer Fenn</a>
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<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-beast-is-an-animal-by-peternelle-van-arsdale.html">The Beast is an Animal by Peternelle van Arsdale</a></center>
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<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-gravediggers-son-by-patrick-moody.html" style="font-family: &quot;times new roman&quot;, serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Gravedigger's Son by Patrick Moody</a></center>
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<a href="http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-the-good-byline-by-jill-orr.html">The Good Byline by Jill Orr</a></center>
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Whenever I’m With You by Lydia Sharp</center>
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Frostblood by Elly Blake 
A Psalm for Lost Girls by Katie Bayerl 
The Someday Birds by Sally J Pla 
Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant 
It Started With Goodbye by Christina June 
Soulmated by Shaila Patel 
Under Locker and Key by Allison K. Hymas 
The Takedown by Corrie Wang 
Aftercare Instructions by Bonnie Pipkin 
Wait for Me by Caroline Leech 
Blood Rose Rebellion by Rosalyn Eves 
Girl Out Of Water by Laura Silverman 
Wing Jones by Katherine Webber 
The Disappearances by Emily Bain Murphy 
Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller 
The Goldfish Boy by Lisa Thompson 
Midnight Without A Moon by Linda Williams Jackson 
How To Stage A Catastrophe by Rebecca Donnelly 
The Castaways by Jessika Fleck 
Garden of Thorns by Amber Mitchelle 
Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar 
The Gallery of Unfinished Girls by Lauren Karcz 
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus 
Daughter of the Burning City by Amanda Food 
In 27 Days by Alison Gervais 
If Birds Fly Back by Carlie Sorosiak 
The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski 
Just Friends by Tiffany Pitcock 
Devils Within by S.F. Henson 
The Thing with Feathers by McCall Hoyle 
Lemons by Melissa savage 
Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson 
Lost Boys by Darcey Rosenblatt 
Even the Darkest Stars by Heather Fawcett 
You Don’t Know Me But I Know You 
Kat Greene Comes Clean by Melissa Roske 
The Girl with the Red Balloon by Katherine Locke 
The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser 
The Last Namsara by Kristen Ciccarelli 
The Tiger’s Daughter (Their Bright Ascendency #1) by K. Arsenault Rivera 
Dare Mighty Things by Heather Kaczynski 
Now Is Everything by Amy Giles 
Kat and Meg Conquer the World by Anna Priemaza 
The Love Letters of Abelard and Lily by Laura Creedle 
The Good Byline by Jill Orr 
The Tragically True Adventures of Kit Donovan by Patricia Bailey 
The Temptation of Adam by Dave Connis 
Dear Martin by Nic Stone 
How to Break a Boy by Laurie Devore 
#Famous by Jilly Gagnon 
Sketchy Tacos by Megan Gonzalez 
Golden by Katie Robinson 
The Traitor’s Kiss by Erin Beaty 
Gray Wolf Island by Tracey Neithercott 
When Planets Fall by Abby Reed 
League of American Traitors by Matthew Landis 
The Big F by Maggie Ann Martin 
Being Fishkill by Ruth Lehrer 
Love for Starfish by Akemi Dawn Bowman 
To Catch a Killer by Sheryl Scarborough 
Speak Easy, Speak Love by Mckelle George 
Sad Perfect by Stephanie Elliot 
Red Stars by Gwen Katz 
Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan 
The Wishing Heart by Jennifer Welker 
The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City by Jodi Kendall 
Vilonia Beebe Takes Charge by Kristin Gray 
The Last to Die by Kelly Garrett 
The Gravedigger’s Son by Patrick Moody 
The Hundred Lies of Lizzie Lovett by Chelsea Sedoti Noah Can’t Even by Simon James Green 
Seven Days of You by Cecilia Vinesse 
Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen by Debbi Michiko Florence 
Muddy Waters by Sara O. Thompson 
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We have a blog event button! Please feel free to grab it and use it anywhere - especially when sharing about this event. ;)&nbsp; 
 
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4tRNGMPJo1WISswm9PdAHIadR22latlmt3wJpEn3-JeAg6AhW070o5bHEK-2pZFeHhQkfcuu_m8WpE79KjIGKf2dUrnU6i53-ag92FOr9dQFXOU6RhBCy4YthMi8clb8_r-aAAwoM2M/s1600/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017+Button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="581" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd4tRNGMPJo1WISswm9PdAHIadR22latlmt3wJpEn3-JeAg6AhW070o5bHEK-2pZFeHhQkfcuu_m8WpE79KjIGKf2dUrnU6i53-ag92FOr9dQFXOU6RhBCy4YthMi8clb8_r-aAAwoM2M/s200/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017+Button.png" width="200" /></a></div>
 
Giveaway 
 
What's up for grabs: 
 For international readers: A Pre-order of any of the debut novels featured in #CelebratingDebutantes2017 
 For Filipino residents: A Surprise Prize Pack 
 
Rules: 
 
INTL peeps - this will be ordered and shipped via the Book Depository (check if BookDepo ships to your country) 
PH readers - we will send the surprise prize pack via local courier 
We are not responsible for items lost in transit. 
Winners will be contacted via email and needs to response within 48 hours, otherwise a new winner will be drawn. 
Ends on June 30, 2017 
 
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9487c9b281/" style="background-color: #ea9999;">Click here to enter the giveaway</a>!</div>
 
Let's do this! 
 
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div>
</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/1942393224283769475/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-kick-off.html#comment-form' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/1942393224283769475'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/1942393224283769475'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2017/06/celebrating-debutantes-2017-kick-off.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2017: Kick-off!'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCrqGHQRow5VeCWGez0_mcIB-T8YHRCuLn8E9WYrnheWRp2IPj6bEmGRoUYwCuvP41NH0z5EI_LvJFkdauN5oSD9Gy0MYw1g_k8HrzrW7pUc5rxKXguo1ix54SERXXB8T5aWnMZyExBK0/s72-c/Celebrating+Debutantes+2017.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-4924951511485950186</id><published>2016-12-12T15:55:00.001+08:00</published><updated>2016-12-12T16:17:05.058+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fragmented musings"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="inspiration"/><title type='text'>Fragmented Musings: Inspired and uninspired to write?</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4e8_DymutFqo-5Z4puzQMFq1jnlJA0rTVJA08haImfgnkD9Dia3hcJwiZXk0ihSRJp_uuSHS8bSQpEggxvUatYkE5k9TaHoycooPRTDg5I4Q2wpOmVCUVQWIYOhP7xthshnCK5TKM0kU/s1600/IMG_20150105_181930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4e8_DymutFqo-5Z4puzQMFq1jnlJA0rTVJA08haImfgnkD9Dia3hcJwiZXk0ihSRJp_uuSHS8bSQpEggxvUatYkE5k9TaHoycooPRTDg5I4Q2wpOmVCUVQWIYOhP7xthshnCK5TKM0kU/s640/IMG_20150105_181930.jpg" width="360" height="640" /></a></div>
How can one feel so inspired and yet uninspired at the same time? I'm sorry for not saying goodbye even though it already feels like I'm about to say it. The truth is that I have not lost the need to read. I still browse reviews every now and then. My only problem is this: I cannot seem to write reviews these past two months. This is the reason why it has been silent these past two months. It's good to have a little break. I'm back on the game. :)
 
What's up with Precious: Just a little update guys. I just turned 25 last November. I'm now officially a quarter of a century! (To be honest, I sort of felt a little sad towards my birthday. I felt like time was passing too fast and I wanted to take a hold of the reins and stop it, slow it down a little but. But you and me know that it's not possible.) Work is good. I'm still in the same company, dealing exports and imports for Central America. The difference is that I'm taking a lot more tasks now. Here's another factor: I've been writing - working on two WIPs/novels in progress. All my energy and inspiration shifted to this type of work.
 
Also? My phone broke. So my primary means of connecting to social media sites and the blog, is gone forever. I will be replacing this week or next week! 
 
Then there were times when I would have the laptop opened, a new post page opened. The screen is infinitely white and black, just waiting for me to fill them. My fingers would be poised over the keyboard. When I'm lucky, I would start typing a few words and even make it to a paragraph. But on most days, I felt like I didn't have anything good to give you guys, or this blog. I felt empty, which is weird because I normally have a lot of things to say. Back then, my reviews would be 10-paragraph long and I would spend an hour cutting it down to five so it doesn't become too wordy. I mean, where have the words gone? Have they left me, entirely? That's a chilling thought for me - that I couldn't write anymore. Reviews should be easier to write than a fiction story. You are basing everything on fact, your opinion. But then, how did it become so difficult to finish a review draft? I browsed the review drafts that I have on the blog. I have around 50, some dating back to 2011. So I closed this laptop. I closed it and walked away.
 
And then, one day, after sleeping for 12 hours straight, I woke up. I left the house and sat around greenery and towering trees over me. It was my university, where I took my bachelor's degree and where I would be taking my masters a few months from now. It was where I started blogging. I would spend hours propped against a tree, scribbling down notes for a dozen reviews. I realized that I didn't want to stop. I have been doing this - blogging - for six years. And I wouldn't stop so easily. Blogging is a part of me now. How could I continue to be me, while leaving a part of myself floating in the universe?
 
So I went home and wrote this. 
 
What happens now? I will be posting some reviews until the year ends and I will also participate in year-end blog activities. Giveaway for Christmas, anyone? Expect that in a week or so. Also, I will be more active on Twitter, now. If you're interested, here's my account: <a href="https://twitter.com/precious_shusky"> @precious_shusky </a>
 
Plans for 2017? Okay, plans. I'm more of a planning kind of girl. Here are some things coming this 2017: More interviews with authors from specific genres that I'm currently interested in. Celebrating Debutantes 2017 - just one big wave for you guys - so expect this around mid 2017. Features on book-related merch and items that I spot in malls and online shopping platforms. A steady flow of reviews (I have accumulated a lot of books during my hiatus. I have not read the majority of this TBR pile and more are coming as we speak.)
 
Here's a little something to inspire you: 
 
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmaTGCJJ8xiOUqmXipwQAfD8vaUvlK5hJBo4x2_N-gVnmpcCHogQB71OH8qHuq12sy-Fm7Jh4kXiP9Z4nrq21Q2Ue3WSkb9Q0D-MGNFZjWu3vaSGiGxL_z0xhvMyQqExxwnVWoApMGsI/s1600/tumblr_o70s3nNXyT1vqign8o1_400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmaTGCJJ8xiOUqmXipwQAfD8vaUvlK5hJBo4x2_N-gVnmpcCHogQB71OH8qHuq12sy-Fm7Jh4kXiP9Z4nrq21Q2Ue3WSkb9Q0D-MGNFZjWu3vaSGiGxL_z0xhvMyQqExxwnVWoApMGsI/s640/tumblr_o70s3nNXyT1vqign8o1_400.jpg" width="414" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: <a href="http://lensar.deviantart.com/art/Make-love-not-war-435878497" target="_blank">Deviantart</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table> 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s1600/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuS3avRp6jkwqkDG7v34zjfMHK3-189Eutq8zgLmG2bSIpOLEfVMpff87ALzNZHObBs3fw3VoVOXPHf-Z_uPnV6E5_n4J9vi8uZigpiTN9coB0MwHdSc5eIWIl8_RSE_2bW9Q0yfvaBZY/s320/16A099B0F796D12B07EF63264F1CDE2A.png" /></a></div></content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/4924951511485950186/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2016/12/fragmented-musings-inspired-and-uninspired-to-write.html#comment-form' title='2 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4924951511485950186'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4924951511485950186'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2016/12/fragmented-musings-inspired-and-uninspired-to-write.html' title='Fragmented Musings: Inspired and uninspired to write?'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4e8_DymutFqo-5Z4puzQMFq1jnlJA0rTVJA08haImfgnkD9Dia3hcJwiZXk0ihSRJp_uuSHS8bSQpEggxvUatYkE5k9TaHoycooPRTDg5I4Q2wpOmVCUVQWIYOhP7xthshnCK5TKM0kU/s72-c/IMG_20150105_181930.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>2</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5885997474763937942.post-6905188810532872563</id><published>2016-10-03T16:51:00.002+08:00</published><updated>2016-10-06T13:48:20.801+08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="#CelebratingDebutantes2016"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Celebrating Debutantes 2016"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="fantasy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="giveaway"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="interview"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="MG"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="the rampart guards"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="wendy terrien"/><title type='text'>Celebrating Debutantes 2016: The Rampart Guards by Wendy Terrien (Author Interview + Giveaway)</title><content type='html'><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslrniN1ynYyugqt8U3eeLFk4nSuJPlrdHwtOrHHVEM574tG_CysOPyAVWuchKKpdCjvTvMEHPHvkbnp6Yl54fO4dRWENFJDPpp2uDVc60bAXVrLOEW3eSJzZQUGT_zipeSjT7hVIP56M/s1600/Cdbutton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslrniN1ynYyugqt8U3eeLFk4nSuJPlrdHwtOrHHVEM574tG_CysOPyAVWuchKKpdCjvTvMEHPHvkbnp6Yl54fO4dRWENFJDPpp2uDVc60bAXVrLOEW3eSJzZQUGT_zipeSjT7hVIP56M/s320/Cdbutton.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hi guys! #CelebratingDebutantes2016 is coming to an end. We still have a lot of giveaways ongoing so don't miss out! Today I'm interviewing Wendy about her debut, The Rampart Guards. Stick around for the giveaway! 
 
 
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</center>Could you tell us about the fantastical creatures in the book? What was the process and guidelines for selecting them? 
W: I love talking about cryptids — creatures that may or may not exist, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. Everyone’s heard of those two. But when I heard the word “chupacabra” on a television show (Bones), I didn’t know what that was and I had to investigate. With the power of Google I learned about the chupacabra, and the world of cryptids — and there are tons of creatures out there that qualify as cryptids. I loved the whole “what if they do exist” idea, and my story was born from there.
 
I wanted to use cryptids in my novel that were different than those we’re familiar with, so I dug deeper into my research. I searched websites, read summaries and personal accounts by people who’d experienced sightings, and I read books by cryptid experts, or cryptozoologists. I studied the characters of different cryptids, and I looked for particular qualities that I wanted for the roles they’d play in the book. Plus I wanted fun, and for me Skyfish are a lot of fun. Skyfish experts tell us they are flying around us all the time, even through us. They aren’t usually seen by the human eye, but can be caught on film, and you can see videos online of what are claimed to Skyfish. And hey — maybe they really do exist? The giant squid used to be classified as a cryptid, as did the mountain gorilla…
 
 In a review, it was mentioned that you brought the world of cryptozoology into your novel. What kind of research did you do for your novel, up to what extent? 
W: In addition to the research I mentioned above, I spent time reading about some of the leading cryptozoologists and reviewed their work. I wanted to understand how they approached their investigations, what kinds of tools they used or skills they needed, and how they were viewed by the rest of the scientific world. I also asked a friend of mine to beta read my novel. He’s a writer, an entomologist, and a cryptozoologist, so I knew he’d be able to give me both a fresh and authentic perspective on the story.
 
 How did you find the balance between adventure, mystery and fantasy? 
W: Honestly, I didn’t think about that piece too much. The story is character-driven, and I focused on that aspect. I think the adventure, mystery, and fantasy pieces naturally fell into place around it. 
 
 What was the most difficult part or scene to write? Why? 
W: The first chapter. I mean, it’s the first chapter and that alone brings the challenge of grabbing your reader from the start and keeping them interested. Add on the fact that you’re introducing fantasy elements and having to do some world building without it getting too lecture-y, and the challenge is amplified. I discarded numerous “chapter ones” before the actual chapter one showed up for me. And even after I did get it in place, I rewrote that chapter more than any other part of the book. Which is saying something because I revised and revised and revised.
 
 Did you encounter any difficulties with writing Middle Grade? How did you deal with it? 
W: I was uncertain about what you can have characters say and do in Middle Grade. There’s plenty of guidance out there, with lists like “things you should never do in MG novels,” but you can also find articles and information that counter most of that “never” advice. It was frustrating. I finally decided on this as my guiding mantra: If kids do it in real life, I’m putting it in the book. Using swear words is an example of that. Kids use swear words. They might not say them in front of adults, but many kids do say them. Kids around the age of my protagonist and his friends (14) tend to use more of the “PG-rated” swear words, so I stayed within those boundaries.
 
The other challenge I had was how to qualify The Rampart Guards. Yes, if you follow some of those rules about what makes a book Middle Grade, like the age of the protagonist, my book qualifies as Middle Grade (he’s 13 when the book starts, turns 14 shortly thereafter). But there are some elements of the book that are a bit tougher, maybe a bit darker than would otherwise be in a Middle Grade novel. Because of that, I say The Rampart Guards is recommended for upper Middle Grade, and I officially categorized it Young Adult. It sits right on that line between the two.
 
Thank you for sharing, Wendy! 
 
About the Author: 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Cn4qr3deWvK5-RpXXH4ec_iIlL7MYsEdNgzZDmQ-ZYMzVMmgjRdzvtSMDU7m5AbZoaEePP0ZVjIW9EDqCX-9QhjUmaoPYpuLtIi6Dr0Xg-0mLWOKPta0UakEC76phlYO1ZEZLUYICY/s1600/Wendy02-rob.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY_Cn4qr3deWvK5-RpXXH4ec_iIlL7MYsEdNgzZDmQ-ZYMzVMmgjRdzvtSMDU7m5AbZoaEePP0ZVjIW9EDqCX-9QhjUmaoPYpuLtIi6Dr0Xg-0mLWOKPta0UakEC76phlYO1ZEZLUYICY/s1600/Wendy02-rob.jpeg" /></a></div>Wendy Terrien received her first library card at age two, and a few years later started writing her own stories. Her debut novel The Rampart Guards (February 2016) is a #1 regional best seller and was a Kirkus Indie Book of the Month in April 2016. The novel is the first in her intriguing urban fantasy series.
 
Inspired by an episode of Bones that suspected a killer to be a fabled chupacabra, Wendy was fascinated and dove into research about cryptozoology--the study of animals that may or may not exist, or cryptids. Pouring over stories, videos and photographs of creatures others had seen all over the world, Wendy developed her own story to share with middle grade, young adult and grown-up readers. 
 
Wendy graduated from the University of Utah and transplanted to Colorado where she completed her MBA at the University of Denver. Having applied her marketing expertise to the financial and network security industries, it wasn’t until a career coach stepped in that she fully immersed herself in her passion for writing. Wendy began attending writers conferences, workshops and retreats. 
 
She regularly participates in two critique groups, and is the Secretary of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and a member of Pikes Peak Writers. In 2014, she was a finalist in the San Francisco Writer’s Contest, and is a founding member of Wicked Ink Books. Wendy released a novella in the award-winning Wicked Ink Books anthology, Tick Tock: Seven Tales of Time. 
 
Wendy lives in Colorado with her husband, Kevin, and their three dogs: Maggie, Shea, and Boon. All three of her dogs are rescues, and Wendy is passionate about promoting shelter adoptions. If you’re in Colorado, you may even be able to spot her by her “Adopt a Shelter Pet” license plates. 
 
Find Wendy: <a href="https://twitter.com/wbterrien">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14727263.Wendy_Terrien">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.wendyterrien.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wendyterrien">Facebook</a> 
 
<blockquote><div style="background-color: #ffcccc; padding: 5px 8px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAZfZBYlv1t5Xl35he04TtFhG9BOOUKt40JV5VeTaRSIMwNS1Irwwkf6jZi8KM4IwFO7vP4w2ZISZmZ3Ain435ygGajFFTw2YPMRj3cusa9w_zFnl2SQ_3mjPPrarmu4sNF19I674eN0/s1600/28055255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCAZfZBYlv1t5Xl35he04TtFhG9BOOUKt40JV5VeTaRSIMwNS1Irwwkf6jZi8KM4IwFO7vP4w2ZISZmZ3Ain435ygGajFFTw2YPMRj3cusa9w_zFnl2SQ_3mjPPrarmu4sNF19I674eN0/s320/28055255.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Book Description:
 
Hardcover, 270 pages 
Published February 29th 2016 by Camashea Press 
 
After his mom disappears, Jason Lex and his family move to a small town where he has no friends, no fun, no life. Things get worse when he’s chased by weird flying creatures that only he can see---Jason thinks he’s losing it. 
 
But when Jason discovers new information about his family, he’s stunned to learn that creatures like Skyfish, Kappa, and the Mongolian Death Worm aren’t just stories on the Internet---they’re real and they live unseen alongside the human race. Many of these creatures naturally emit energy capable of incinerating humans. An invisible shield keeps these creatures hidden and protects the human race from their threatening force, but someone, or some thing, is trying to destroy it. 
 
Unsure who he can trust, Jason is drawn into the fight to save the people closest to him, and he finds help in surprising places. Confronted with loss, uncertainty, and a devastating betrayal, Jason must make a gut-wrenching decision: 
 
Who lives, and who dies.</div></blockquote> 
Giveaway 
 
 What's up for grabs: Copy of The Rampart Guards 
Scope: US and CA 
 
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="58156c86192" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/58156c86192/" id="rcwidget_viyf8btp" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a> 
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Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts! 
 
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Hi guys! #CelebratingDebutantes2016 is coming to an end. We still have a lot of giveaways ongoing so don't miss out! Today I'm interviewing Tara about her steampunk debut, Timekeeper. Stick around for the international giveaway! 
 
 
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Could you explain the concept behind the clock towers controlling the flow of time? I was looking for a new story idea when I got inspired by clock towers; specifically, my Big Ben keychain. I love magic and fantasy, so I wondered how I could make something like clock towers magical. Naturally, time magic came from that. I then had to figure out how that time magic would work, and realized that every city, town, and village would need its own clock tower in order to run. Each tower controls a certain amount of land, and if something ever happens to the tower, something would then happen to the time connected to it—and the land it controls. That’s why there are clock mechanics around to keep these towers, and therefore time, functional.
 
What was your process for the world building? It was a surprisingly long process, actually. When I wrote the first draft, I only had a kernel of the world. Then, over multiple drafts, I added more and more layers from various sources. I had my Victorian layers (the historical aspect) and the fantasy/steampunk layers (the clock towers/Mechanics Union), as well as mythology for the time magic origins. I figured out more and more with every draft, so it was like slowly unwrapping something and finding the finished product underneath.
 
What was your favorite scene from the book? My favorite scene is kind of a spoiler, oops. But I will say it’s the scene where Danny finds out something surprising regarding his new, strange apprentice. 
 
The book seems to be studded with quotable quotes that are beautiful and poetic. Could you tell us about your writing style? Thank you! When I first wrote Timekeeper, I actually had quite a different style than what I have now—which makes sense, considering this was three years ago. So in the later drafts, I tried to incorporate more of my current style into the words. People usually describe books as being either “commercial” or “literary,” and while Timekeeper is definitely more commercial, I try to hit that middle spot between the two. Just enough pretty description to balance out the action.
 
Was the story steampunk right from the start? What are the differences between the original and final version of the story? The story was steampunk from the start, since I knew the clock towers and Victorian era created a certain aesthetic that matched steampunk quite well. I would argue, though, that it’s more fantasy than it is steampunk, but I did purposefully use that aesthetic in Timekeeper and built the world around it. The differences between the original and final version are...well, just about everything, to be honest! The only things that have really stayed the same are the original concept of the towers, the setting, and the ending. Everything else has been molded and tempered and shaped in new ways.
 
Thank you for sharing, Tara! 
 
About the Author: 
 
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Tara Sim is the author of Timekeeper (Sky Pony Press, November 2016) and can typically be found wandering the wilds of the Bay Area, California. When she’s not chasing cats or lurking in bookstores, she writes books about magic, clocks, and explosives. Follow her on Twitter at @EachStarAWorld, and check out her website at tarasim.com. 
 
Find Tara: <a href="https://twitter.com/EachStarAWorld">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14118411.Tara_Sim">Goodreads</a> | <a href="http://www.tarasim.com/">Website</a> | <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/tssim53">Pinterest</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TaraSimAuthor">Facebook</a> 
 
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Book Description: 
 
Hardcover, 368 pages 
Expected publication: November 1st 2016 by Sky Pony Press 
 
Two o’clock was missing. 
 
In an alternate Victorian world controlled by clock towers, a damaged clock can fracture time—and a destroyed one can stop it completely. 
 
It’s a truth that seventeen-year-old clock mechanic Danny Hart knows all too well; his father has been trapped in a Stopped town east of London for three years. Though Danny is a prodigy who can repair not only clockwork, but the very fabric of time, his fixation with staging a rescue is quickly becoming a concern to his superiors. 
 
And so they assign him to Enfield, a town where the tower seems to be forever plagued with problems. Danny’s new apprentice both annoys and intrigues him, and though the boy is eager to work, he maintains a secretive distance. Danny soon discovers why: he is the tower’s clock spirit, a mythical being that oversees Enfield’s time. Though the boys are drawn together by their loneliness, Danny knows falling in love with a clock spirit is forbidden, and means risking everything he’s fought to achieve.
 
But when a series of bombings at nearby towers threaten to Stop more cities, Danny must race to prevent Enfield from becoming the next target or he’ll not only lose his father, but the boy he loves, forever. 
 
The stunning first novel in a new trilogy by debut author Tara Sim, Timekeeper is perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Victoria Schwab.</div>
</blockquote>
 
Giveaway 
 
 What's up for grabs: Pre-order of Timekeeper 
Scope: International! 
 
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Treat yourself to a complete #CelebratingDebutantes2016 experience. Click the image below for the full schedule and links to the posts! 
 
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</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/feeds/4212174006201512960/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2016/10/celebrating-debutantes-2016-timekeeper-by-tara-sim.html#comment-form' title='6 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4212174006201512960'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/5885997474763937942/posts/default/4212174006201512960'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://shusky20.blogspot.com/2016/10/celebrating-debutantes-2016-timekeeper-by-tara-sim.html' title='Celebrating Debutantes 2016: Timekeeper by Tara Sim (Author Interview + Giveaway)'/><author><name>Precious</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/16010073497121681701</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='32' src='//blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmx5h3qXu46sT-fA3x5EnSQOb2xtI6ZSD5xkYmj5zCFTdxKUsfF5HYOAkEm3OCBX2JXI-9DlVEY-6tIaly2ewuT_MLDjC2df-xCqoLSjaqi8aFcdSAbYguLXT5hqx72w/s220/12373268_10201163944377786_4207619026826237051_n.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjslrniN1ynYyugqt8U3eeLFk4nSuJPlrdHwtOrHHVEM574tG_CysOPyAVWuchKKpdCjvTvMEHPHvkbnp6Yl54fO4dRWENFJDPpp2uDVc60bAXVrLOEW3eSJzZQUGT_zipeSjT7hVIP56M/s72-c/Cdbutton.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>6</thr:total></entry></feed>

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