Let Me Be Your Book Fairy

I'm in Benton, KS right now and I'm surrounded by packages.  One box included lots of these:

Isn't it exciting?

To celebrate, I want to make you an offer. How about I fill up a medium flat rate box -  including a copy of CHASING BEFORE as well as ARCs of some of 2014's hottest books* -  and send it to YOU? Or even better how about I do that for two of you?

This has gotta go down before I go back to Germany, so fill out this form by Tuesday night and I'll send the books out on Wednesday.

Good luck!!

*NOTE: This giveaway is US only, but I will be doing an international CHASING BEFORE giveaway later on. If you need a copy of THE MEMORY OF AFTER too, let me know that on the form. Medium flat rate boxes can fit approximately 10 books. Some ARCs may be from 2013. Most or all will be YA.

Shift book and bracelet giveaway

At the beginning of May, I reviewed SHIFT, the second book in Jeri-Smith Ready's YA series that began with SHADE.  It's such a fun series - so I'm thrilled to be able to offer one lucky reader in the US a copy of SHIFT and a ghost bead bracelet.

Find out more about the series at the official website and the author's website.

Enter the giveaway via this form by June 16th.  Good luck!

Stop #10 on the Ten Things You Might Like To Know About Where She Went tour + Giveaway

Of all the YA novels I've read over the past 3 years, IF I STAY is in my top 10.  (Read my gushing review). 

That's why I was super excited to hear there is a sequel told from Adam's POV. If you haven’t read IF I STAY, the mere existence of a sequel is sort of a spoiler, so you really should not pay attention to this teaser tour and should go read IF I STAY first (and you should check the end of the post for a GIVEAWAY). But for the rest of you, who felt the book left you hanging and wondered what would happen after that squeeze of the hand, the wait is almost over:  WHERE SHE WENT comes out April 2011. Still, a long time, I know, but right now Gayle Forman is doing a teaser tour to give IF I STAY fans the scoop on what they can expect from Mia and Adam’s new chapter.

Teaser Number 10:


10. Remember how by page 17 in IF I STAY, Mia’s parents were killed and Mia herself was like a ghost? Well, guess what? Nobody dies in WHERE SHE WENT.


But…I wouldn’t suggest you put away your box of Kleenex just yet. You might still need them.

See the first 9 stops on the tour. (Totally worth it!)

Watch the IF I STAY paperback trailer:

Preorder your copy of WHERE SHE WENT!

So, I have one signed copy of IF I STAY to give away to one lucky reader in the US.  To enter, just tell me in the comments which novel you think needs a sequel that drops in on the characters 3 years later.  Contest closes in one week (Sept 7th 11:59 CST), so spread the word fast.  Hope you love it as much as I do!

Mockingjay 13 District Blog Tour: District 10!

Welcome to District 10!  Even though Katniss didn't think much of our tributes dressed up as cows with flaming belts (she called them pathetic), we're still 100% behind Katniss, our symbol of hope.

Now if you know livestock farmers at all, you know that we all really enjoy putting together playlists. We love the Hunger Games Survival Mix Forever Young Adult put together for Katniss to prepare for the games. Yep, Another One Bites the Dust by Queen never fails to get us pumped up.  It makes a nice change to the cacophony of cowbells and rooster crowing.

In any case, I wanted to take it one step further and make individual playlists for each of the Hunger Games triology main characters.  These are songs that I either thought of when reading particular scenes featuring the character or that I think describes the character well.

As the symbol of the revolution, it is fitting that Katniss get some 'protest' songs.

1. Tori Amos "Iieee" 
We scream in cathedrals, why can't that be beautiful? Why does there gotta be a sacrifice?
This is a line that always goes through my head when I think of Katniss taking Prim's place.

2. Bat for Lashes "Glass"
Sew a cape of red and gold, Stifle up the beam, With the perfect armor, With the perfect dream, When two suns are shining, The battle becomes blinding.
Makes me think of Cinna dressing Katniss for the games.

3. Rage Against the Machine "Darkness"
We’ll strike a match and it’ll catch, And spread the insight we need, A tiny fire burning bright, Shedding light on the darkness of greed.
This is what Katniss is to our revolution - a tiny fire burning bright.

4. Muse "Unnatural Selection"
They'll laugh as they watch us fall, The lucky don't care at all, I'm hungry for some unrest, I want to push this beyond a peaceful protest, I wanna speak in a language that they'll understand.
Self explanatory, I think!

5. Hard-Fi "Stronger"
You dish it out, I'll take it in, I can only grow from the lies you spin, If you're not scared then you should be, Nothin' in the world will keep you from me.
All I can say is that President Snow better watch his back.

6. Placebo "Every You, Every Me"
Pucker up for heaven’s sake. There's never been so much at stake.
This is what I imagine Haymitch yelling at Katniss before the broth/cave scene in book 1.
 
Listen to Katniss' playlist

So Peeta, he's a particular favorite of mine, and a lot of how we know him is in his relationship with Katniss. And of course we know he's a great painter and bakes beautiful, tasty cakes.
 
1. Tori Amos "Baker, Baker"
Baker Baker baking a cake, Make me a day, Make me whole again, And I wonder what's in a day, What's in your cake this time?
This is probably something Katniss sings to Peeta often.

2. The Rentals "Sweetness & Tenderness"
I need to figure this out, And find where my place is, I don't mean to threaten anyone, No need to get so defensive, You say you're with me, I know you don't care.
Something Peeta probably sings to Katniss often.

3. Stars "Take Me to the Riot"
Let's do that, just feed me, I hate when I have to get to sleep, You despise me and I love you, It's not much but it's just enough to keep.
Yes, the broth/cave scene again, this time from Peeta's point of view.

4. Coldplay "Spies"
I awake to see that no one is free. We're all fugitives - look at the way we live. Down here, I cannot sleep from fear. no.
Peeta and his nightmares.  Yes, The Capitol is indeed spying on you.

5. Placebo "The Bitter End"
Reminds me that it's killing time, On this fateful day. See you at the bitter end.
Something Peeta might say to Katniss before going into the arena.

6. No Doubt "Running"
Running, running as fast as we can. I really hope we make it. Do you think we’ll make it? We’re running, keep holding my hand, so we don’t get separated.
Towards the end of the first games, this one was going through my head.
 
Listen to Peeta's playlist!

And then we've got Gale, Katniss' best friend, and the one she might have married had Prim not been chosen at the reaping. You'll probably notice by my song choice that I am not #teamgale.
 
1. Tori Amos "Toast"
Lately you've been on my mind,You showed me the ropes, Ropes to climb, Over mountains, And to pull myself, Out of a landslide.
Something Katniss might sing to Gale. After all, he's her rock - the one who helped teach her how to survive.

2. Bjork "Hunter"
I'm going hunting, I'm the hunter, I'm the hunter, I'm going hunting.
Couldn't resist!
 
3. Rilo Kiley "Dreamworld"
See, I'm a man with a plan to use my hands. I'm touching yours, you're the girl who wanted more.
Probably what Gale was thinking before *that kiss* and going off to his job at the coal mine.

4. The Cure "Letter for Elise"
It doesn't matter what you say, I just can't stay here every yesterday, like keep on acting out the same, the way we act out, every way to smile, forget, and make-believe we never needed, any more than this.
Gale's letter to Katniss.

5. The Decemberists "Crane Wife 1+2"
I am a poor man, I haven't wealth nor fame, I have my two hands, And a house to my name, And the winter's so, And the winter's so long.
Describes Gale well, I think.

6. Sea Wolf "Orion & Dog"
Orion said I’m just a humble hunter, the dog the only company I keep.
How I picture Gale's future. ;)

Listen to Gale's playlist

When I think of Haymitch, I can't help but think of a lot of drinking songs...Margaritaville, Whisky in the Jar, Red, Red Wine, and I'm sure a ton of country songs (but I don't listen to country when I can help it). But he's also quite sly...

1. Tori Amos "Concertina"
I know the truth lies in between the 1st and the 40th drink.
We're never quite sure what Haymitch is really up to.

2. The Doors "Whisky Bar"
Show me the way to the next whisky bar. Oh, don’t ask why. Oh, don’t ask why.
Anyone else think Haymitch is drinking to forget?

3. Weezer "Say It Ain't So"
Say it ain’t so, Your drug is a heart-breaker, Say it aint so, My love is a life-taker.
The classic alcoholic regret.

4. Bush "Machinehead"
Blood is like wine, Unconscious all the time, If I had it all again, I'd change it all.
Feeling a bit guilty about what happened to Maysilee at the 50th Hunger Games?

5. Morrisey "Our Frank"
The world may be ending, But look, I'm only human, So, give us a drink, And make it quick.
Ever the practical one, that Haymitch.

6. The Police "Wrapped Around Your Finger"
I will turn your face to alabaster, When you will find your servant is your master.
You tell 'em Haymitch!  This is such a song for the end of Catching Fire.

Listen to Haymitch's playlist

Yes, The Capitol gets a playlist too.  And by The Capitol, I mean more the general population of The Capitol.

1. Tori Amos "Yes, Anastasia"
We’ll see how brave you are, We’ll see how fast you’ll be running.
I always picture the people singing this to the tributes as they enter the arena every year. (And why yes, it does look like I found a way to work a Tori Amos song onto every playlist!)

2. The Killers "Human"
Are we human? Or are we dancer?
Seriously! How can you all sit back and enjoy watching kids battle to the death?!


3. Iggy Pop "TV Screen"
No one wants to give a damn, Or even hear a thought, They rush from one fad to the next, You talk and it has no effect.
Sounds like a good description of those frivolous capitol citizens.

4. Aqua "Barbie Girl"
I'm a barbie girl, in the barbie world, Life in plastic, it's fantastic! You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere, Imagination, life is your creation. Come on Barbie, let's go party!
Which brings me to the most frivolous, bubblehead song I can think of, for people whose biggest regret is having feathered costumes at their birthday party.

5. Bow Wow Wow "I Want Candy"
I want candy. I want candy.
This is the song that's running through my head during the banquet scenes, mainly because of the scene in the movie Marie Antoinette.

6. Company of Thieves "Oscar Wilde"
Porcelain teacups decorate, Tables and the conversation, Beauty pageants, all the time, Is running out, the time is running out.
I think the frivolous times of the capitol are about to come to an end.  What about you?

Listen to The Capitol's playlist

We're going to find out soon, y'all, because tomorrow is Mockingjay release day (FINALLY!)

I know a lot of you are going to release parties tonight (envious!), but please remember, DO NOT post spoilers until we all have a chance to read it. Since I'm in Germany at the moment, I don't know when I'll be able to get my hands on a copy. But, oh, if you happen to be in Berlin, Germany on the 28th, there's a special Mockingjay party from 12-2 pm at Storytime Books.

But now on to my epic giveaway.  You do need a place to play all these playlists I've prepared for you, and that's where this 8 GB iPod touch engraved with a Mockingjay logo comes in. That will be one lucky winner!

To enter to win this amazing prize (US only - provided by a publicity company on behalf of Scholastic), you must fill out this HUNGER GAMES iPOD TOUCH GIVEAWAY ENTRY FORM.


And if you want to read more things Hunger Games, be sure to check out the official Facebook page, and head over to the District 11 stop at Mundie Moms on Wednesday.  Also, if you love dystopian fiction, I am currently smack in the middle of a whole theme month celebrating dystopias. Check it out and join in the fun!

Special thanks go to Daniel Jennewein (for designing my graphics),  Steph Su (who will have more playlists on her blog this week), Kristen M, and Michelle F. for song suggestions, and Michelle Erin for the playlist links.


 Go ahead! Tell me in the comments which character specific songs you'd put on your Hunger Games playlist.  Got a song for President Snow? Or for Cinna? How about Rue?

Book Review and Giveaway: Matched by Ally Condie

Cassia lives in a society that decides everything for its citizens for the greatest good of them all – even who you marry. When Cassia is matched with her best friend Xander, she is thrilled. But when viewing her matching card, another face flashes on the screen – that of mysterious classmate Ky. This seeming glitch awakens an awareness of forbidden desires within Cassia, and for the first time she begins to question a society where the individual has no right to choose.


MATCHED is without a doubt a well constructed novel, hitting all the expected beats of a YA dystopian novel. And while there may be few surprises for avid readers of the genre, there are some genuine discussion-worthy developments.

The society is set up to look to its citizens like a utopia. Strict regulations nearly guarantee you’ll live the prescribed number of years until your “final banquet”. Everyone is given the exact number of calories needed to maintain a perfect, healthy weight. The culture has been pared down to the hundred “best” of everything (poems, songs, stories, paintings, etc) so that everyone can appreciate them to their fullest instead of being overwhelmed with too much. It’s a society that rewards perfect order, but that also banishes any sort of individuality or aberration.

Cassia has always been a dutiful citizen, but she also likes to be a little different. She’s proud that she was the only one who chose the green dress for her match banquet. She thrills to the fact that her grandfather entrusts her with a forbidden poem (Dylan Thomas’ “Do not go gentle into that good night”) before his own “good night”. And when she learns she could never marry Ky because he’s not in the match pool, that makes her more determined to find moments to spend alone with him. But could it be that even Cassia’s small rebellions are orchestrated by her society? Is there a more sinister purpose behind their interest in Cassia?

I loved the world building here (which is why I just spent two paragraphs of my review on it). It’s logical, well-thought out, chilling and thought provoking. However, the rigid society setup does have its’ downside in that I never got to fully connect to Cassia emotionally, and I was never convinced she had genuine feelings for either Xander or Ky. I felt very much like I was being TOLD how to feel, instead of actually feeling it (which, you might argue, based on the ending, is exactly what Condie was going for…but I digress).

I enjoyed this installment, but really hope that the emotional impact quotient is raised in book two.

My rating? My head gives this 4 Zombie Chickens, but my heart gives it only 3. And in that battle, when it comes to reading, my heart always wins.

Still, I can highly recommend it as kind of a must-read. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but there you go! And because I want you to read it, and because it doesn’t come out until November 30, 2010, I am giving away my extra ARC to one lucky reader anywhere in the world. Just leave a comment telling me what poem you’d make sure got into the Hundred Poems if you were a creator of this society (or if you can’t think of a poem, you can also suggest a painting or a song). This contest will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 CST and is open internationally.

Find out more about the book on the author’s website.

See index of all dystopian reviews on Presenting Lenore.

Author Interview and Giveaway: Cameron Stracher discusses The Water Wars

Earlier, I reviewed THE WATER WARS, a book I really enjoyed reading (my review). I am excited to welcome Author Cameron Stracher to Dystopian August today!

Reading THE WATER WARS made me constantly want to drink water. What’s the thirstiest you’ve ever been in your life?
I run a lot, so I'm often very thirsty. If I'm in the suburbs, I'll look for people who are watering their lawns, and stop to drink from their sprinklers. The last couple weeks, however, it's been incredibly hot in New York, and there are water restrictions, and most people don't water their lawn at the time I go running. I ran 8 miles the other day when it was 103 degrees and humid. I don't know if it was the thirstiest I've ever been, but it was close. I must have drunk about two gallons of water when I finally got home.

A war over water isn’t so farfetched, especially when you look at what is going on in North/East Africa right now with Egypt having rights to 90% of the water from the Nile even though the sources are in other countries that really need it too. If a water war were to break out in North America, where would the best place be to live? Should we all be moving to Canada now?
I'll tell you where we shouldn't live: California. Las Vegas, New Mexico, Florida, are close seconds. Most of our fastest growing cities have very little fresh water, and have to import it through upstream reservoirs and aqueducts. It's a bad way to live because those places are imperiled if there are water shortages, and it's destructive of the environment to transport water from long distances. Rather than moving somewhere else, however, I think we should all be conscious of the way we live, our use of water, and how we can be better at conserving. If we live in a desert climate like Nevada or New Mexico, we shouldn't be building golf courses.

The story is told in first person by teenage girl Vera. Was it difficult for you to find the voice of a teen girl? Was it always meant to be told from her perspective?
Actually, it wasn't. I don't know why. I always saw the book as Vera's narrative. I think I was influenced by To Kill a Mockingbird, which is told from Scout's perspective. In an earlier draft, Vera was a couple years younger, but my editor suggested she should be older, and I think that works better.

What is some of your favorite dystopian lit? Would you say any of it influenced your writing at all?
Two books inspired me to write The Water Wars. One was Feed, by MT Anderson, and the other was The Golden Compass, by Philip Pullman, which is not really dystopian lit. But both books showed me the range of imagination and literary skill that was possible in this genre. Once I started writing, I read a lot more dystopian lit, and my favorites are The Hunger Games (of course), The Pretties/Uglies, and The Road. I've also always been a big fan of dystopian movies like Blade Runner, The Matrix, Mad Max, etc.

You work as a lawyer specializing in First Amendment litigation. Do you have any interesting anecdotes to share?
I represent publications like Star magazine and television shows like Dog the Bounty Hunter. I'd love to tell you some stories, but my clients would kill me, and then I couldn't write a sequel. :)

Thanks Cameron!  Nice to hear there's a possible sequel in the works.
 
Since I know it's going to be hard for everyone to wait for January 2011 to read this fun adventure story, I am happy to report that Sourcebooks Fire is sponsoring a giveaway of 2 ARCs!  Just tell me about a time when you were really thristy in the comments and you're entered.  This one is open internationally and will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 pm CST.
 
 

 
Find out more about Sourcebooks Fire at the Teen Fire ning.
 
Photo credit for author photo: Simon Stracher

Author Interview and Giveaway: Paolo Bacigalupi discusses Ship Breaker

I reviewed SHIP BREAKER earlier today, and now I'd like to introduce Author Paolo Bacigalupi and welcome him to Presenting Lenore for a Dystopian August interview.

On the surface, SHIP BREAKER is a kick-a$$ adventure story, but there are a lot of weighty topics explored as well – the importance of loyalty, corporate responsibility and breaking the cycle of violence. Which came to you first – the ideas you wanted to explore or the storyline/characters?

With this book, the ideas came first, but not the ones you name, actually. I was initially interested in writing about the environment and cool sustainable technologies. That was the real seed for the story. But as I crafted Bright Sands Beach and the world of the ship breakers, another set of themes emerged--the need to rely on one another for survival, the vast differences between the wealthy winners of the future and the losers; and as Richard Lopez came on stage, with his addictions and violence, the theme of family and what we owe our parents ended up taking over the narrative. So the world-building and story-telling ended up creating their own driving rules. I started with a map and a plan, and then took a sharp turn and went off-roading, instead.

I was really fascinated with the half-men, especially as they related to the theme of loyalty – they are essentially as loyal as you get in SHIP BREAKER’s world. Can you tell us a bit about their development? Will we ever find out how Tool was able to be his own patron?

Yes. You'll definitely see Tool again. I've always been interested in bio-engineered characters, and anyone with the blood of tiger, dog and hyena running through his veins is too interesting to leave alone. When Tool first arrived onstage for me, he was almost fully formed, and he turned out to be a good metaphor for questions not only of loyalty, but also a stark example to illustrate questions of nature vs. nurture that Nailer finds himself wrestling with. Tool has the blood of dogs running through him, and he's expected to obey his patron at all times. To be the well-trained animal. Which, come to think of it, is pretty much what we expect of our kids, as well.

I’m totally psyched for SHIP BREAKER II – THE DROWNED CITIES. When is it coming out and what can we expect?

Not sure when SHIP BREAKER II will come out. I've got a bunch of revisions to do, so I'm sort of delaying the process more than I'd like. Hopefully sometime next year, though. You can expect to see Tool again, and Nailer's life is far from secure. To say more would sort of spoil the surprises that I'm lining up, but you can expect to see more of the world fleshed out, and to get a better sense of parts of its history, as well.

Do you read a lot of dystopian/post-apocalyptic literature? Any influences? Any recommendations?

Actually, I don't read that much of it. My influences all come from environmental journalism. I look at current trends and then try to extrapolate on what might come next. If oil is getting scarce, then what might the world look like? If we're destroying ecosystems, what does that mean? Mostly, what I like to do is turn up the volume on a trendline that already exist and is already playing out. I think of my stories as thought experiments, and to the extent that other people call the results dystopian or post-apocalyptic, I think that reflects how ugly some of our current trends are.

If I was going to suggest something to read, I'd say most of the writings of Michelle Nijhuis are interesting, she's an environmental journalist and a friend of mine, and I'm always stealing from what she writes about. Elizabeth Kolbert of the New Yorker is doing a great job of sketching out the broad lines of the future based on what's happening today, and it's scary as hell. David Quammen's book Song of the Dodo is a fabulous look into the science evolution and extinction, and what it has to tell us about our present. Journalists like these ones are mining the present for the stories that are telling us what tomorrow will look like. I turn to them again and again so that I can understand our own narrative arc.

As far as fiction that I've read and liked, and that used the tools of dystopia particularly well, I'd recommend MT Anderson's FEED. It's about as smart as it gets.

The dystopian genre has really exploded in terms of popularity in the past year. Do you think it’s been played out? Or are readers insatiably hungry for these types of stories?

I didn't really understand that there was a dystopian genre until SHIP BREAKER was labeled that way. I've always thought of myself as writing extrapolations, and really (let's whisper it), science fiction. There's a long tradition in science fiction of writing speculations that ask the question "If x goes on, what does the future look like?" I think of myself as being pretty firmly embedded in that tradition.

Regarding the current taste for devastation, I suppose that to the extent that it has something relevant to say, it always will have a place.1984 still survives because of its continued relevance. Books like LITTLE BROTHER by Cory Doctorow continue in that tradition, and I think that relevance doesn't get played out. If dystopian literature has something worthwhile to say, it will survive; if it's a shtick, it will die in favor of some new shtick.

Thanks Paolo! 

Visit Paolo at his website to find out more about SHIP BREAKER and his other novels.  You can also read the first 30 pages of SHIP BREAKER via Hachette's open book app.

Thanks to Little, Brown, I have three copies of SHIP BREAKER to give away today to readers with US mailing addresses (no PO boxes please).  To enter, just leave a comment about some aspect of today's interview.  Contest will remain open until August 31st at 11:59 CST.

Buffalo in the Wild + A Contest for a Signed Copy of IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN?

As you discover in the new children's picture book, IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? by Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Daniel Jennewein, the goofy and sweet titular Buffalo is certainly ready for kindergarten. But is he ready to face the world?

Let's see:

His first foray into the wild was to visit his birthplace. Here is Buffalo outside the HarperCollins offices in New York City.


While he was in New York, he made sure to check out The Empire State Building (I think he may have knocked over a hot dog stand and eaten all the hot dogs that rolled his way).




Then he went to Brussels, Belgium and just had to see Europe's most famous child statue Mannikin Pis. He told him, politely, that it's not polite to pee in public in kindergarten.



He also went to Barcelona, Spain to see Gaudi's Sagrada Familia Church. It's been under construction since 1882 and work is still going on. Buffalo thinks if they'd just hire a team of hard working Buffaloes, they'd be done long before the expected completion date of 2026.

.

And then he jumped back into his book so he could entertain kids all over the world. Here's a little friend of mine. She didn't want to let go of Buffalo even when she was sleeping.

Yep - I think Buffalo's ready to tour the world!

This is where YOU come in! Maybe you want to take a picture of Buffalo enjoying your corner of the globe? You might see the book in your local bookstore or library and snap a photo. Or you could download the Buffalo coloring activity sheet (opens a PDF), make Buffalo look spiffy and then photograph him having an adventure.

Anyone who sends a photo with the Buffalo to lenoreva at hotmail dot com by July 16th will be entered into a drawing for a copy of the book signed by Daniel + a $20 gift certificate to Amazon (US) or Book Despository (International). I'll also post some of my favorite photos here on the blog (with your permission of course) when I annouce the winner. (NOTE: Winner will be chosen in a random drawing).

Thanks for helping us celebrate Buffalo's launch week! Now back to my regular blog programming :)

Book Review and Series Giveaway: Airhead by Meg Cabot

Confession: This is my first Meg Cabot novel. I know. I can’t believe it either. I always meant to read one, but I just never did. Until AIRHEAD came along with its irresistible premise: 16 year old brainiac Emerson Watts is involved in an accident in the presence of teen modeling sensation Nikki Howard, and when she wakes up, she wakes up in Nikki’s body. Now Em can get any guy she wants, except the one she wants: her best friend and video game buddy Christopher.

AIRHEAD is just the kind of light, fun read I needed after reading Ellen Hopkins’ TRICKS. Meg’s voice on her blog has always seemed effortless to me – like chatting with a really witty, laid back friend – and that effortlessness is clearly on display here. Even with all the high-tech trappings, the story and prose just flow, never seeming at all forced.

I mean, ok, the build-up to the reveal of why exactly Em is now in Nikki’s body is agonizingly slow, and there’s no real resolution of any of the conflicts presented (Em vs the Stark Media empire for example) in this installment – because this book is set-up for the next two in the series, BEING NIKKI (out in paperback now) and RUNAWAY (coming in hardcover April 20th). But I was so charmed by the writing and the characters that I have no problem coming back for more. (In fact, I will be reading those other two novels this month).



I really liked getting inside Em’s head and experiencing her reactions to the sudden changes in her life. Still, the standout character for me was Lulu Collins, the BFF of the model formerly living in Nikki’s body. Lulu may be hilariously clueless about a lot of things, but she’s also sweet, well-meaning and full of wisdom in areas where Em is in way over her head.

So, if you’re not yet acquainted with this series, you’re in luck! I have two AIRHEAD prize packs to give away today to readers in the US. The prize pack includes paperback copies of both AIRHEAD and BEING NIKKI to prepare you for the RUNAWAY release. To enter, just tell me this in the comments: If you HAD to wake up in the body of any celebrity, whose life would you prefer? Would you keep on living as them as if nothing happened? Or would you make some changes? I’ll keep the giveaway open until Monday April 19th at 11:59 pm CST.

Oh and find out more about the series at the official Airhead series website!

6 Things I learned in Bologna + 2 Book Giveaway

Last week I went to Bologna, Italy to attend the SCBWI pre-Bologna symposium and the Children’s Book Fair. Here are a few things l learned:

1. Lauren Oliver (author of BEFORE I FALL) should sing on Broadway

I am beginning to suspect that Lauren is the Meryl Streep of publishing. You know, the type that can do everything (including walking in 6 inch heels), and do it enviously well? As we walked the streets of Bologna, Lauren broke into a rousing rendition of the The Little Mermaid’s Part of Your World and we sang Part of Your World (Reprise) together. Then we sat in her hotel lobby and drank French tea (packaged in cashmere sachets) while Daniel regaled us with stories of his childhood chasing rats (don’t ask).

Another day, Daniel, Ann and I met Lauren for dinner together with her agents Stephen Barbara (a rock star of publishing) and Hannah Gordon Brown. It was excellent food and conversation (see Lauren’s recap) if not a tiny bit frustrating to be sitting at a table with 2 of the 3 people in the whole world (besides Lauren) who have read Lauren’s forthcoming dystopia DELIRIUM and listen to them rave about it when I won’t get to read it for such a loooooong time. She did share some tidbits on her WIP (a middle grade fantasy) and it sounds amazing (of course)!

Lauren Oliver, me and Stephen Barbara

2. Some 12 year olds are not as innocent and sheltered as we would hope

Author Ellen Hopkins spoke at the SCBWI symposium and shared letters from her readers that would break your heart. She advised us not to write down to teens. Don’t sanitize your stories. YA is a hungry market, and what they hunger for is authenticity.

Ellen shared a startling statistic that she became aware of while researching TRICKS – the average age of a prostitute in the US is 12 years old. Not every 12 year old comes from a happy family, and even those who do may feel empty inside, and yearn for someone to understand what they are going through.

Ellen’s not afraid to court controversy in order to give her readers what they want. She talked about how Karin the Librarian won an author visit with her for her school in Norman, Oklahoma and how a parent forced the school to cancel the event on the eve of banned books week (the venue was changed). The story was picked up by the national news media, and sales of Ellen’s books soared.

Me and Ellen Hopkins

3. Richard Peck can do a hell of a “mean teacher” face

Author Richard Peck also spoke to us at the SCBWI symposium, and told us the reason he got into writing fiction at the age of 37 was because he realized he wasn’t reaching students the way he wanted to by being a teacher. Was it because his students were terrified of him? His “mean teacher” face does rival the famous author photo of Shel Silverstein…so it’s possible!

Here are a few nuggets of his wisdom:

- Stories should move in a straight line with hope at the end.

- Make your character jump in the deep end…you can protect or create a character, not both.

- Dialogue is best written standing up – it improves the pace. Get up and act out every one of your scenes.

- No one ever grows up in a group.

Richard’s new book, coming in October 2010, is called THREE QUARTERS DEAD. It is paranormal horror, a deadly serious story about those two inter-reacting killers: distracted driving and peer-group allegiance, a story about a girl with a cell phone in one hand and the steering wheel in the other.

4. You never know who you’ll see walking around the Bologna fair

Two years ago, Scott Westerfeld was the author-to-spot. This year, I saw Cassie Clare and Kristin Cashore. Though I didn’t get to chat with Cassie, Ann and I spent a few minutes with Kristin at her Italian publisher’s stand. When I gave her my card, she said she knew my blog (*squee*) and she tucked in into this fab photo album she had with her FULL of pictures of her new nieces.

5. If you want books, you better stay until the last day

Reps at the Bologna fair are so busy, they actually have appointments on the last day (unlike in Frankfurt). I saw beautiful copies of AS King’s PLEASE IGNORE VERA DIETZ, Linda Gerber’s TRANCE, and Lesley Hauge’s NOMANSLAND, and I had to walk away from them. I did, however, get a copy of Mary Hooper’s new one FALLEN GRACE and Maggie Stiefvater’s LINGER.

6. Even though Italy & Germany are both part of the EU, you still need a passport to fly by plane between them

Well, not that Germany cares, since I managed to fly to Italy with no problem whatsoever. But when Ann took the earlier flight on Thursday, she called to tell me that they had checked her passport 3 times, and that Lufthansa reps told her one could absolutely NOT fly without a passport. So, I spent my last day in Italy on a train to Florence to visit the US consulate. I got to pay $100 to get an emergency passport with 3 months of validity (which of course means more headache later, when I have to get a whole new passport and German residence permit). The kicker? I was not asked even ONCE for my passport at the airport and boarded my flight without incident. Next time? I’ll bring my passport no matter what.

And guess what I have for you?!

I have a signed hardcover of Lauren Oliver's BEFORE I FALL and a signed hardcover of Ellen Hopkins TRICKS for one lucky reader anywhere in the world!

This contest will remain open until April 3o, 2010 at 11:59 PM CST. To enter, just leave a comment on this post that lets me know you've read at least some of it. "Filler" comments (i.e. "I want to win") will not be accepted as a contest entry. I'd also appreciate it if you'd tweet a link or post this contest in your blog sidebar. Thanks for spreading the word, and good luck!

Book Review and Giveaway: Wherever Nina Lies by Lynn Weingarten

16 year old Ellie’s older sister Nina disappeared two years ago without a word. Ellie occasionally thinks she’s found a clue that will lead her to the truth of Nina’s whereabouts, but the clues never pan out. Until one day, one does. Ellie hops in the car with a cute guy she’s just met and embarks on a cross-country adventure to track Nina down. But will she like what she discovers?

So, I was really intrigued with this concept, and always thought that the cover was giving some sort of clue that Nina was kidnapped. I expected the novel to have more of a thriller feel, so was initially disappointed when it started out like a typical teen novel with Ellie bantering with her super cool gay co-worker at the coffee shop she works at.

Then there was this scene where Ellie and her best friend Amanda go to this party to follow up on a lead and the house they are in catches fire and burns down. And this is no big deal! It’s also not TOO big of a deal that Ellie decides to leave town for a few days with a total stranger. You see, Ellie has the sort of absentee mother prevalent in teen lit who doesn’t seem to give a damn where her kids are. OK, not my experience certainly, but OK.

And the road trip. Yeah, it’s something I might have done in college, but at 16? Whatever… go with it! I got the feeling the author was going for a sexy, devil-may-care vibe but was getting more a cheesy, creepy vibe and just when I couldn’t take it anymore, BAM!! The narrative takes a turn for the dark and brilliant. And by the end, I could see the first half in a whole new, much more appreciate light.

So…yeah. If you’re the patient type, you’ll be richly rewarded with this very clever, very twisted tale.

WHEREVER NINA LIES is available in paperback now. Find out more about it at the publisher’s website.

I also have 3 copies to give away to my readers. First 3 (US residents) to claim a copy in the comments, get a copy. ETA: All copies have been claimed. See sidebar for a ton of other contests you can enter!

Dystopian February Survey & 3 Mega Prize Packs!

Dystopian February (see wrap-up post) is going out with a bang!

I have 3 prize packs on offer, and all you have to do to enter is fill out my short survey/contest form below.

Prize Pack #1 Penguin Dystopia Prize Pack (provided by publisher, open US and Canada Only)

Includes:
Restoring Harmony by Joelle Anthony (ARC, read preview)
The Line by Teri Hall (Hardcover, read my review)
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher (Hardcover, read my review)
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman (Paperback, read my review)


Prize Pack #2 Dystopian Sampler Prize Pack (Open internationally)

Includes:

Genesis by Bernard Beckett (ARC, read my joint review)

Exodus by Julie Bertanga (Paperback, read my review)

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde (ARC, read my review)

Prize Pack #3 Choose Your Own Dystopia Prize Pack (Open wherever The Book Depository ships)


If I have under 950 followers by end of contest, 2 books (from the genre) of winner's choice from The Book Depository (or other online store)

If I have between 950-999 follwers by end of contest, 3 books (from the genre) of winner's choice from The Book Depository (or other online store)

If I have over 1000 followers by end of contest, 4 books (from the genre) of winner's choice from The Book Depository (or other online store)

See Index of All Dystopian Reviews on Presenting Lenore

And now for the survey/contest entry form (you may choose multiple prize packs. Contest open until 11:59 PM CST on March 31st, 2010):

NOTE ON FILLING OUT FORM: If you are entering from my blog and cannot see the submit button on the bottom of the form, scroll down within the form until you do.

Author Interview and European Giveaway: Kat Falls discusses Dark Life

I reviewed DARK LIFE today, and now I'm very pleased to welcome Author Kat Falls to Dystopian February.

Hi Kat! So what are some of your favorite dystopian/post-apocalyptic novels, if any? Did they influence you at all in the writing of Dark Life?
I love sci-fi, so anything even vaguely dystopian or post-apocalyptic will always catch my attention whether a book or film. I think the first novel I read that falls into the niche was Stephen King’s The Stand, followed by Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend (because in an interview King mentioned that it was his favorite book.) Both kept my imagination buzzing long after I’d finished them. Others that I’ve loved since then: Enders Game, The Handmaiden’s Tale, Feed, The House of the Scorpion, the Uglies series, and of course, The Hunger Games & Catching Fire.

They didn't consciously influence me. However, I’ve been an avid fan of dystopian films since childhood – Planet of the Apes, Logan’s Run, Blade Runner, The Road Warrior, 12 Monkeys, 28 Days Later, Children of Men, Sunshine… just to name a few favorites. So I know those images seep into my writing. But the funny thing is I never thought of Dark Life as a dystopia while I was working on it. My conscious influence was the Western. I was trying to capture the courage and vitality of the old west pioneers and the feelings of wonder and fear that they must have experienced, living in the wilderness. One of the recurring themes in Dark Life is that the survival of the group depends on their willingness to accept one another and work together. It’s a theme straight out of Stagecoach.

Dark Life is planned as a series. Why did you choose this format over a standalone novel? And what can we expect from the rest of the series?
Actually the premise for Dark Life came to me during a writing exercise – as a stand-alone book. I’d set myself the task of combining three things that my son loved to read about into one story – pioneers, the ocean and the X-men. But once I started designing the world, I kept coming up other adventures for my characters. I realized it was going to take more than one book to explore all the fun and freaky things that could happen to subsea pioneers.

As in the first book, the maturation of the territory will continue to parallel Ty’s personal growth as both try to achieve some measure of independence.

Let’s say climate change does cause the catastrophic conditions described in Dark Life. What would you personally miss the most? Is there anything at all you’d actually like better about that world?
Ugh, I’d hate living on the Topside in Dark Life. The loss of the forests and wildlife would devastate me. But, if governments and corporations worldwide were intensely committed to funding the research and development of clean energy alternatives – I’d see that as an improvement over our situation today.

Congrats on Dark Life being optioned for film. Have you had any fantasy casting sessions? Who would make an ideal Ty and Gemma?
Thanks! Honestly, I haven’t. Though my 10 y.o. daughter would like the producer to put the project on hold until she’s old enough to play Gemma.

Why do you think dystopian fiction has such a following these days? What’s the attraction?
It does seem to be gathering momentum, doesn’t it? But then, I’ll bet that’s true of speculative fiction across the board.

My humble theory -- our technology changes so fast these days and many people (especially young adults) are adept at learning how to incorporate those changes. Therefore there isn’t much market resistance when a new version of something comes out, especially if it seems like an improvement. I think the interest in dystopian fiction might stem from people’s desire to consider how new technologies and trends could play out in worst-case scenarios. Dystopian stories usually come embedded with a warning, which is why the best are so chilling. For example, it never even occurred to me that the Internet might bring on the apocalypse and then I read M.T. Anderson’s Feed…

Thank you Kat! Find out more about Kat Falls at the publisher's website.

Thanks to the UK publisher, I have 2 copies of DARK LIFE to give away to residents of Europe. Just tell me in your comment what most appeals to you about DARK LIFE and you're entered! I'd appreciate it too if you'd tweet a link or post a link in your sidebar, thanks! This contest will remain open for 2 weeks, until March 10th at 11:59 PM CST.

Latest Contest Winners

Here are the winners of all contests from Nov/Dec/Jan:

The winner of a signed copy of Lauren Bjorkman's MY INVENTED LIFE is Donna G. of The First Novels Club.

The two winners of my 700 follower contest are Dani of YA All the Way who chose the 5 books + 1 extra I threw in for good measure (they've already arrived) and Karinlibrarian who got the giftcard.

Kaila won the 3 books in my YA Vampire Series Contest.

Laura of Laura's Review Bookshelf won the advanced copy of IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? - Daniel's first children's picture being published in June 2010.

The winners of My 2009 Favorite Reads contest are Anna of Diary of an Eccentric who chose THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett and Natalie of Mindful Musings who chose LIPS TOUCH by Laini Taylor.

The winner of a signed copy of Jennie Shortridge's WHEN SHE FLEW is Amanda of A Bookshelf Monstrosity (who has a very lovely color-coded bookshelf I see).

And finally, the winner of Beatles Rock Band for Wii is Serena of Savvy Verse & Wit.

Congrats to all! If you haven't received an e-mail from me yet, please send your mailing address to lenoreva at hotmail dot com.

24 Hour Vampire Series 3 Book Contest!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Today I have 3 vampire series books I want to give away to someone who reads them (or is interested in reading them). I got them for review (unsolicted), but since vampire fiction isn't really my thing, I thought I'd pass them on.

HEARTS AT STAKE by Alyxandra Harvey, Book 1 of The Drake Chronicles

Solange Drake's sixteen birthday is finally here, but in her family, htthis day triggers the transformation from human to vampire. Her seven older brothers each made it throught the potentially deadly passage, but since she's the first female-born vampire in almost 800 yeaars, and since her birth was foretold in a prophecy that predicts she will united all the vampire clans as their queen, this birthday isn't looking quite so sweet. Solange could be killed by the transformation itself, or by one of the existing queen's followers who are after the bounty on her head.

Luckily her protective older brothers and her very kick-butt best firned, Lucy, have her well being at heart. And it will take all of them- plus the help of their nemesis, Kiernan Black- to make sure Solange survives. By the stroke of midnight, her fate will be sealed, one way or another.

BAD BLOOD by Mari Mancusi, Book 4 of the Blood Coven series

Sunny McDonald is in the ultimate forbidden relationship. Her boyfriend Magnus is a vampire, and the leader of the Blood Coven. Their differences have never been an issue, until now…

When the Blood Coven decides that Magnus needs a mate to be his co-ruler, Sunny’s humanity puts her out of the running. The Coven’s chosen candidate is Jane Johnson, a magna cum laude graduate of Oxford University who just happens to look like a vampiric celebutante. Sunny is suspicious of a Rhodes Scholar who can’t answer the most basic poly-sci questions, but Magnus brushes it off as petty jealousy. Still, when the Blood Coven goes to Las Vegas for a vampire convention—where Magnus and Jane’s bonding ceremony will be the main event—Sunny and her sister Rayne secretly tag along. And Sunny’s not going home before she learns the truth about Jane. Because not everything stays in Vegas—especially bad blood…

FADE OUT by Rachel Caine, Book 7 of The Morganville Vampires

The resident vampires have made major concessions to the human population. With their newfound freedoms, Claire Danvers and her friends are almost starting to feel comfortable again...

Now Claire can actually concentrate on her studies, and her friend Eve joins the local theatre company. But when one of Eve's castmates goes missing after starting work on a short documentary, Eve suspects the worst. Claire and Eve soon realize that this film project, whose subject is the vampires themselves, is a whole lot bigger-and way more dangerous-than anyone suspected.

Contest is open internationally until noon CST Dec 27th. Just comment telling me what your fave vampire series is to be entered! One winner gets all three books.

Author Interview and Giveaway: Lauren Bjorkman discusses My Invented Life

Today I have a very fun interview with Lauren Bjorkman,
the debut author of MY INVENTED LIFE which I reviewed recently. Don't miss the last question - it had both Daniel and me ROTFL.

If a drama teacher were to pick another play to put on that showcased sisters Roz and Eva’s talent in equal measure, what do you think she’d pick?
WICKED. Roz would do anything to play Elphaba, the girl who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. And Eva would enjoy playing Glinda.

Who are those cute fun girls on the cover?
I think of them as the sisters in my story. A few people have told me they thought the cover was racy, so I'm guessing they think the girls are lesbians. One guy asked me if the girls on the cover would be at my launch party! That made me laugh.

In other interviews you’ve mentioned that Eyeliner Andie is your favorite character in My Invented Life and that you’d like to write a novel with her as a main character. Pitch me an Eyeliner Andie dystopian novel.
Cautions and warnings:

Before I start, let it be known that I suck at pitches. More than suck. My nine year-old son can pitch better than me, and I’m not talking about baseball. Also, as someone who wrote a so-called gaytopian novel, dystopian might be a bit outside of my range.

Okay, you’ve been warned.

Eyeliner Andie’s parents die in mall shooting, so she’s sent away to live with her grandparents in Laramie Wyoming. Andie goes androgynous and tries to put on a production of the Laramie Project, a play about a true life event where two homophobic teens tied a gay college student to a fence, beat him, and left him to die. Unbeknownst to Andie, the son of one of the original perpetrators goes to her school.

(Told you so.)

Hmmm...well that might be more in the thriller category, but we'll take it! So, you’re very well travelled, so well that you’ve even been to my dream destination of Bhutan. Can you tell us a travel anecdote from your trip and try not to make me too envious?
So cool that you want to go to Bhutan. Some people think it’s a new scent for men by Christian Dior instead of a small Himalayan kingdom.

When we arrived in the capital of Bhutan, we tried to hitch hike to the village where our friends worked. After sitting by the side of the road for an hour, we discovered there were no private cars in Bhutan. So we rented one. It turned out that it was cheaper to rent a car with a driver than without one. That’s how we met the charismatic Karma Dorje, twenty-four, fluent in eight languages, charming, an excellent guide, and gifted alcoholic. Every night he insisted that we go to a bar together and drink heinous home-brewed alcoholic beverages in unnatural colors. We were his “table friends,” he said. And every night I went to bed with a hideous headache.

Oh, and there was the time when we were at someone’s house that Karma knew, and I had to drink fermented yak butter tea with a dead fly floating on top to be polite.

Still jealous? You should be. I loved every minute of my trip there minus the fly incident and the headaches.

Your cats invite my cats to dinner. What do they serve?
Zorro and Rabbit would usually prepare wounded mole as an appetizer, followed by un-stuffed wild bird in feather sauce for the main course. But after I showed them a picture of Emmy, they changed the menu to meet her obviously refined sensibilities—salmon sashimi with a sesame wasabi glaze, followed by warm goat’s milk sweetened with attar of roses.

LOL! You have Emmy totally pegged :) Thanks Lauren!

Find out more about Lauren and MY INVENTED LIFE at her website.

Lauren is also offering one lucky reader a signed copy of MY INVENTED LIFE. To enter, just leave a comment about the interview or tell me what your cats would serve my cats for dinner (if you have cats). As always, 1 extra entry will be given for posting the link to the contest on your blog (sidebar is fine) or social media site. Just leave your link in an extra comment for it to count.

This contest is open INTERNATIONALLY and will run until November 27th at 11:59 PM CST.

Guest Post by Daniel at Work in Progress + Contest

Many of you know that my husband Daniel is an illustrator and that his first illustrated picture book IS YOUR BUFFALO READY FOR KINDERGARTEN? is coming out with HarperCollins' Balzer and Bray in Summer 2010.

Today he guests over at my friend Shailia's blog about his career change and living his dream. Shailia also recently switched careers and is now business coaching and training and her blog is very inspiring. Be sure to check out Work In Progress' other posts too!

Anyone worldwide who comments on Daniel's guest post over on Work in Progress has a chance to win one of Daniel's hot-off-the-press F&Gs (an ARC for picture books). You know you want one!! (Contest ends Nov 22nd, 2009)

Fire and Ash Winners!

Sorry this is a bit delayed! I was in Berlin for the past few days, visiting a friend and attending yet another Tori Amos concert (finally got Northern Lad - YAY). Since I'd done most of the tourist sites on my previous visits to Berlin, we went out to Postdam and walked around Sanssouci park - gorgeous!

Anyway, on to the winners.

The winner of the signed copy of Fire is: Mrs. F-B’s Book Blog

The winner of the copy of Ash is: Michelle

Congrats you two!

More Contest Winners

Just a quick note to congratulate Bonnie for winning TIME OF MY LIFE by Allison Winn Scotch and to jpetroroy and Rhiannon Hart for winning signed copies of THINGS ARE GONNA GET UGLY by Hillary Homzie.

To claim your prize, just send me an e-mail with your mailing addresses (lenoreva at hotmail dot com). Thanks!

To those who didn't win, there are still two open contests (see my sidebar) for a copy of ASH by Malinda Lo and a signed hardcover of FIRE by Kristin Cashore.

Book Review, Blog Tour and Giveaway: Fire by Kristin Cashore

This blog tour is all about getting to know the characters of FIRE. Click on the graphic above to follow the entire tour.

FIRE comes out October 5th and as a companion novel to GRACELING (which I haven't read yet), it is getting a ton a great buzz. And I'm happy to report that the buzz is well deserved.

FIRE is about a "monster" human teen girl named Fire who is trying to live down her father's cruel reputation while trying to help the king avoid a disasterous war in their country with her special powers which include mind reading and persuasion. And I have to tell you, I loved spending time with Fire. Despite being the most powerful being in her world, she has a vulnerability and a fierce sense of loyalty that make her relatable and appealing.

The narrative itself is full of startling revelations, political intrigue and a very realistic and sweet romance. Cashore's writing and plotting is so addictive, it definitely makes me want to pick up my copy of GRACELING soon. But it is the various well-drawn characters that make the novel really come alive, and this is what Cashore has to say about one of them:

"Queen Roen was wife to that loser, Nax, but she doesn’t waste time on regrets. Today, from her fortress in the northern Dells, she dispatches aid to any and all who wish for peace. She has two sons; she has a lot of enemies; she has a cool white streak in the middle of her hair; and… hmm. She has some secrets…"

Does she ever!!

Intrigued? How about reading the sampler?

Fire by Kristin Cashore

And if that doesn't get you, how about a signed hardcover copy of FIRE sent to your US or Canada address?

To enter to win, all you have to do is a leave a comment telling me about a character in a book recently that you loved and wish you could spend more time with.

Extra entries will be awarded for:

+1 twittering a link to this contest and including the hashtag #firetour (please tell me you did so in an extra comment for it to count)
+1 embedding the FIRE eBook sampler on your blog with a link to this contest (please tell me you did so in an extra comment for it to count)

Contest is open until October 3rd at 11:59 PM. Good Luck! And I hope you enjoy FIRE as much as I did.