29 October 2015

'Tis the Season... for Book Signings!

I am loathe to start thinking about the holidays before Halloween (or Thanksgiving for that matter). Ugh. But if you have book-lovers on your list this year, then it's a great time to start checking for author events in your area. Because...

Signed-by-the-author first editions make great gifts!

Can't make the actual event? Most bookstores ask authors to sign whatever stock is not sold at the event for customers to purchase later. If you want the author to personalize it to a particular recipient, call ahead to pre-order and leave a note for whom it should be signed.

If you live in the Philadelphia area, here are two upcoming events where I will be signing with several other debut YA authors. Something for everyone here!

Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
1041 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr PA 19096
Young Adult Extravaganza featuring: Cordelia Jensen, Skyscraping; I.W. Gregorio, None of the Above; Marcy Beller Paul, Underneath Everything; Randy Ribay, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes; and Sharon Huss Roat, Between the Notes.

Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015
THE DOYLESTOWN BOOKSHOP
1:30 p.m.
16 S. Main St., Doylestown PA 18901
YA Author Panel featuring: Cordelia Jensen, Skyscraping; I.W. Gregorio, None of the Above; Marcy Beller Paul, Underneath Everything; Randy Ribay, An Infinite Number of Parallel Universes; and Sharon Huss Roat, Between the Notes!

06 October 2015

The Not-So-Fearless Fifteeners—coming soon to a bookstore near you (DC, VA)!

On Saturday, October 24, I'm joining four other Fearless Fifteeners (2015 Debut Authors) for a little pre-Halloween Fun at HOORAY FOR BOOKS! in Alexandra, VA, from 5-7 p.m. 


We'll be talking about writing fear in all its forms, from the dead-floating-body-and-creepy-cornfield variety to the fear of losing someone, the fear of being found out, the fear of facing our fears! (We'll probably touch on the scary world of publishing, too!)

Come see us! Hooray for Books is located at 1555 King ST., Alexandria, VA 22314.

Featured authors include: Marci Lyn Curtis, The One Thing; Lauren Gibaldi, The Night We Said Yes; Cordelia Jensen, Skyscraping; Kim Liggitt, Blood and Salt; and Sharon Huss Roat, Between the Notes.

01 October 2015

YA Scavenger Hunt! (And bonus giveaway)

UPDATED Oct. 4th, 3 pm EST: The YA Scavenger Hunt is officially over, but my bonus giveaway continues until midnight! Scroll down to enter to win a signed copy of Between the Notes plus a set of temporary tattoos inspired by the book!

Welcome to YA Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was first organized by New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck as a way to give readers access to exclusive material from their favorite authors and a chance to win some awesome prizes! Each participating author offers a clue (a favorite number) along the way. Add them up and you can enter to win our prize—one signed book from each author in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!

Go to the YA Scavenger Hunt page to learn about the hunt. There are EIGHT contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all. I am a part of the BLUE TEAM, but there are also red, gold, green, orange, teal, purple, and pink teams, each with 20 authors and a chance to win a whole different set of signed books.



SCAVENGER HUNT PUZZLE

Directions: Below, you'll notice that I've listed my favorite number. Collect the favorite numbers of all the authors on the blue team, and then add them up (don't worry, you can use a calculator!). 

Entry Form: Once you've added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.

Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian's permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by Sunday, October 4, at noon Pacific Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.

SCAVENGER HUNT POST


Woo hoo! Let the hunt begin!

Today, I am delighted to host Megan Crewe. Like many authors, Megan finds writing about herself much more difficult than making things up. A few definite facts: she lives with her husband, son, and three cats in Toronto, Canada (and does on occasion say "eh"), she tutors children and teens with special needs, and she can't look at the night sky without speculating about who else might be out there.

You can visit her website to learn more, and buy A SKY UNBROKEN here

Her book:


The rebels have been disbanded, their plans in ruins. Captured by the Enforcers, Skylar and a small group of Earthlings find themselves herded into the Kemyates' living museum: basically, a human zoo. Skylar's companions are bewildered, terrified, and ignorant of their true situation, and Skylar is afraid to tell them more. Their lives hang on the Kemyates' whim. Those Skylar trusted most have betrayed her. Any move she makes could result in the extinction of her people... but giving in means giving up any hope of regaining their freedom.

Returned home, Win has kept his life only by playing along with the story his former leader has spun to protect the rebels from sanction, but he can't stand knowing Skylar is imprisoned or watching his fellow Kemyates swallow the Council's lies about Earth. Win resolves to bring the truth to the Kemyate public and see the Earthlings finally freed... though to do so he'll have to set aside caution and openly challenge those who rule his world.

But neither Skylar nor Win are prepared when they uncover an even deeper conspiracy of betrayals and deceit--one that could push the uncertain future they're fighting for completely out of reach.


EXCLUSIVE CONTENT


Megan has offered the following excerpt from A SKY UNBROKEN, which comes out October 13. In this scene, Skylar has been imprisoned without any knowledge of what's happening in the outside world. When a stealthily conveyed message tells her to expect a visit, she has no idea who will meet her.

Excerpt:
I walk to the clothes rack and back again. And then the shutter drops on the window. An electric light gleams on overhead as a low hum sounds from behind the counter. I spin around.
For a second I can only stare at the figure ducking through the space that’s opened in the wall, my heart thumping. Win draws himself upright, brushing his jagged black hair from his deep blue eyes, which soften in relief when they meet mine. His mouth curves into that wondrously familiar crooked smile.
“You got our message,” he says with his usual British lilt, and my vision goes watery. Hes alive and unharmed and here.
I don't think about moving, it just happens. I'm standing there staring, and then as he skirts the edge of the counter I’m rushing to meet him. His arms pull me in as I wrap mine around him. I press my head against his shoulder, absorbing the warm realness of his body against mine. My throats choked up. I didnt realize how alone I felt even with my parents and Angela, until this moment when I don't anymore.
Id wonder if I should be embarrassed by the way Im clinging to him, but he’s holding on to me just as tightly. He swallows audibly. “I'm sorry it took me so long,” he says, and I almost laugh. It’s a miracle he’s here at all. 

So intriguing! Don't forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Megan Crewe, and more! To enter, you need to know that my favorite number is 22


CONTINUE THE HUNT

To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author: 


BUT WAIT! Enter my BONUS GIVEAWAY before you go! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As part of my giveaway, I've asked readers to name their favorite bookstore. What's yours?