"Your midnight YA snack. (If you ate authors.)"
HAPPY RELEASE DAY:
• Enclave by Ann Aguirre {my review} -- 4.5 stars. Awesome book! As for the trailer, I like it, but that's really not how I imagined Fade, who I envisioned lankier and with much darker hair. But the Freaks are delightfully freaky-looking, and I don't know if I'm the only one here, but I had a Gollum from LOTR moment at 0:45. :o
• The Gathering by Kelley Armstrong -- it sounds cliche, but I've heard awesome things about it... so I just may have to buy myself a copy. And the trailer is very nicely done.
• In the Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap {guest post} • {contest} -- review coming soon• My Unfair Godmother by Janette Rallison -- I read and reviewed one of her other YA books, Just One Wish, back in 2009, and she has such an affinity for cuteness! Check out the quirky cover.
• What Comes After by Steve Watkins
• Insight by Diana Greenwood
CONTESTS:
• This week is Kimberly Derting's iClue. Bring yourself up-to-speed on her iClue page, and participate for a chance to win an iPod Touch. (Confused or intimidated by iClue? Lisa and Laura post 4 simple steps.)
• To countdown to the May 3rd release of her debut novel Moonglass, Jessi Kirby is holding weekly giveaways on her blog, with unique prizes that correspond to her various sources of inspiration. This week's contest is for a snazzy Lifeguard Prize Pack, complete with a Crystal Cove T-shirt, aviators, and more!
• Jennifer Laurens is giving away a Heaven Ab-so-lute-ly T-shirt, along with one of her books of your choice. Ends this Friday.
• Kody Keplinger is holding a contest for Leah Clifford's A Touch in Mortal. Just head over there, spread the word, and comment with the craziest/coolest thing you've done with/to your hair! Mine is highlighting it purple in ninth grade. ;)• Lisa DesRochers, author of Personal Demons, is offering a chance to win a signed ARC of Original Sins (the sequel to PD) and a signed copy of Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins. Open internationally, and enter by April 15th, noon PST.
BOOKISH NEWS:
• On April 8th, Kat Zhang posted about her 3-book deal from HarperCollins for Hybrid, which I'm hoping will make for another amazing dystopian read in the future:
HYBRID is YA novel about a girl battling for her right to survive in a world where two souls are born into each body and one is doomed to disappear.
• Not exactly YA, but Simon & Schuster has confirmed that they will be publishing Steve Job's biography iSteve: A Book of Jobs in early 2012, aka -insert witty title-. More info here.
POSTS OF AWESOME:
• To celebrate the 90 days until release, Maggie Stiefvater posted a video of her playing a little teaser to Forever -- in music form! I'll spare you my wild guesses as to what happens, but Maggie plays piano beautifully and makes adorable faces. And, gosh, she has a STEINWAY. *jealousy*
• Karston Knight, author of Wildefire (releases July 26th from S&S), never fails to amuse me, and his recent post Woodpeckers, Mullets, and Woodpeckers with Mullets continues to trend. Can I say Karston Knight would make a great conspiracy theorist?
• Paranormalcy author Kierston White reveals the secret to writing a bestseller. Collective gasp, anyone?
• Carrie Harris, upcoming debut author of Bad Taste in Boys, briefly mentions the importance of having one or two memorable, physical details to a character. Her anecdote brought a quick smile to my face. :)
balloons make me think spring // source unknown
