Reading Wishes Turns 4 & Giveaway

Hello friends! Today, four years ago, I put out my first post, but little did I know all that blogging would bring…

If you haven’t been following for a while, you might not realise that I haven't truly celebrated my blogoversary before. For one reason or another, there was always something going on that prevented me from having the celebration I wanted to throw. Last year I was in Germany, then in 2013 I was on holiday in England, and in 2012, I was busy organising the Author Appreciation August event. If you’ve been here for all of that, I congratulate you. You’re a trooper. Considering today marks my fourth year of blogging, I knew I couldn’t let today slip by. Thankfully, I finally made it and with GIF's to spare!

Firstly, whether you’re a new or old follower, thank you for reading. I appreciate it. I really do.

I know I've never been the most consistent blogger, and for a long time I felt guilty about that, but after nearly calling it quits early last year, it’s just a wonder that I’m still here after all this time. Close friends have come and gone, slumps have been an unfortunate constant from time to time, personal crap has certainly gotten in the way, blogging mojo has been lost - and yet I still have posts to write and things to say and books to push - have you read Jellicoe Road yet? Friday Brown? The Last Leaves Falling You should. And if not, have I not been doing my job right? More on that later… I don’t how long I’ll be blogging for, but today marks 4 year - FOUR YEARS, PEOPLE - and I’m damn proud of that. It’s been bumpy, wonderful years and I’ve got a lot of great memories and had amazing experiences that without this blog, I never would’ve had. …gosh damn I’m getting nostalgic!

From my first post, to my first comment, to my first follower. Looking forward to a comment, having it brighten my day, interacting with gorgeous like-minded readers and becoming friends, regardless of where they live in the world. To an author reaching out, thanking me for my review. Or that author I struck up a special friendship with, after emailing them to say how excited I was for their book to release; never did I know how many emails we’d send back and fourth, talking books and writing. Holding my first blog event and all the work that went into it, but how worth it all was. The book events and signings I’ve attended, along with the Perth bloggers I’ve gotten to know and catch up with in real life. And that’s just the half of it, I’m sure.

To thank you for sticking around, here’s a giveaway to win some of my very favourite books. Win or not, I hope you check them out because I have fantastic taste in books and these are the best. So go forth! And Aussies: don't forget to enter the other giveaway on Twitter to win a signed book of Friday Brown! You want this book, OK?!

Lastly, I'd love if you shared a blogging memory with me. Maybe you have a story of how you first stumbled upon my blog or when we met or an interaction. What's been your favourite moment here at Reading Wishes? Indulge me, I'm feeling nostalgic, OK? Plus, don't forget who's giving away the free books now. Buahaha! 

Or if you've already read all of these - hooray, for you! - you can choose another book from my list of favourites.

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Getting to Know You Blog Hop & Giveaway

When I first heard about this blog hop hosted by fabulous Cuddlebuggery, I wasn't blogging and was away on a hiatus of sorts. But when I heard about it the second time, I knew I couldn't not join in and quickly signed up. I haven't always been the most love to hear from you, whoever who are. As long as you're not a weirdo. Oh gosh, please don't be a weirdo. *runs away*

For those that don't know me, I'm Rebecca and I started blogging in July 2011. I've been a reader all my life, I'm open to most genres, but my favourite genre is contemporary and I love books. A lot. *waves* Read on if you dare...

I reached out to Twitter the other night, asking if you guys had any questions for me. Turns out you did. And here they are...

Do you like cheese? I do! I had the best cheese last week. It was delicious. Damn Kat, now I want cheese!

Where do you get them snazzy headbands? Why, thank you! The answer: here and there. I'm always on the hunt for pretty headbands and for those in Australia, so far I've found my finds at  Colette, Sportgirl and my most recent addition, from Asos.
What's in your cupboards? Food. Shocker, right? Who'd have guessed?
Favourite music genre? Indie Rock and Alternative.
How does ink come out of pens? You press down and KABOOM, ink.
How do you feel about cupcakes? I love cupcakes. Cupcakes are delicious. My sister makes a mean red velvet.

6 things off my bucket list:
See the Northern Lights.
Go stargazing.
Write a book. One day.
Go horseback riding.
Own a Buffy t-shirt.
Do good; start a movement or campaign for something I believe in, charity work and such.

As for movies, TV and music? I'm a big fan of all three and am always on the hunt for recommendations, especially new tunes and artists. You should my to-watch lists for TV and movies - it is long. Here's a few of my favourites:

TV shows: 
Buffy. As we speak, I'm currently re-watching an episode. I only discovered this show in 2012, but it's kind of changed my life. I love it so.

A newer series I started this year that's another fave of mine? An Aussie show, called Offspring. It's absolutely amazing. I only have good things to say about this one. Watch it! (And hey, if you wan't to hear more about my TV habits, let me know. I'm thinking a post might be in order!)

Movies: 
Dirty Dancing, The Breakfast Club, Death at a Funerall, Forrest Gump

Music: 
Two of my favourites, Ed Sheeran (LOVED his new album) and The Lumineers (please release a new album already!). Also a fan of Birdie, Sam Smith, Lorde, some 80's, Fleetwood Mac. I also love dance'y, fun music, but not so much Top 40 pop stuff. One of my all time fave songs: Dog Days Are Over - Florence and the Machine <3

If you have rec's, PLEASE send them my way; new or old. I need some new tunes to listen to. Basically, I'll give anything a listen and I'm pretty open with genres.

A book special to me...
I have many books I hold dear to my heart. But today, I'd like to chat about one of favourites, which is deserving of way more attention than it's so far received; a book not nearly enough people know about or have read. That book? Friday Brown by Vikki Wakefield (aka Friday Never Leaving in the US).

Found on Young Adult Anonymous
P.S. You'll win the UK edition. (right)

It's an Aussie YA contemporary, raw and beautiful, and it will do things to your heart. And because I think this book deserves so much more attention and love, I'm giving you the chance to win a copy. Winner or not, I hope you'll give this book a shot and that maybe I've convinced you to go read it. And if you do, I'd love to know what you think. As long as Book Depository ship to you, you can enter! Thanks for stopping by! a Rafflecopter giveaway

Debut Delirium: Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe (& giveaway!)

I haven't been around much lately, but I'm back today and not with any ordinary post, but a Debut Delirium spotlight! Presenting one of my most anticipated debuts of the year (and hopefully yours!), Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe.

Theo is better now.

She's eating again, dating guys who are almost appropriate, and well on her way to becoming an elite ballet dancer. But when her oldest friend, Donovan, returns home after spending four long years with his kidnapper, Theo starts reliving memories about his abduction—and his abductor.

Donovan isn't talking about what happened, and even though Theo knows she didn't do anything wrong, telling the truth would put everything she's been living for at risk. But keeping quiet might be worse.

Facts about me and my debut novel, POINTE:

1. The book was originally titled A POINT SO DELICATE, which served as a placeholder until final edits were complete. I spent about a week brainstorming with my editor and agent for new titles (admittedly, not my strong suit), but my brilliant editor is the one who came up with POINTE. I love it, and can't imagine the book with any other title now.

2. The characters of Donovan and Sara-Kate had appeared in several versions of books I never completed, completely unrelated to POINTE. Surprisingly, they didn't change much at the core, but it was fun to watch them take shape and become complete characters during edits.

3. Tap dancing is my true love when it comes to dance. I took lessons for many years when I was growing up, and still try to go to classes when I can. I've taken plenty of ballet lessons, but mostly as an adult. And though ballet has never come as naturally to me as tap, I truly loved writing about it.

4. I wrote the first draft of POINTE while I was still living in Chicago, which is the version that got me an agent and sold to Penguin. I was in the process of moving back to L.A. as the deal was being finalized (I was driving cross-country and would stop for food or to fill up my gas tank and check my phone to see if there were new emails from my agent), but was surprised at how well the city stuck with me after I'd moved away. I wasn't very good at living in Chicago—which I realized only after I'd spent four years there—but I find it very much inspires me as a setting.

5. I use names of people I know in real life quite freely for minor supporting characters in my work, but I can't use them for anyone who's mentioned more than once or twice. It's too difficult for me to separate the real-life person from the fictional, in most cases! (Also: I spend a very, very long time deciding on character names in any project I'm working on. Like, an embarrassingly long time.)

Brandy Colbert was born and raised in the Missouri Ozarks, has a bachelor's degree in Journalism, and has worked as an editor for several national magazines. She lives and writes in Los Angeles. Her first novel, POINTE, will be published by Penguin on April 10, 2014.

I love the finished title and I love dance, dancing, dance shows, books, the works, but I've never taken ballet. As for naming characters, I feel Brandy's pain. It takes me forever to come up with names and even longer trying to decide on one. Do you ever experience this?

Also: You're going to want to click below. Trust me!

Now that your reading buds have been tantalized and because Brandy is that cool, a giveaway - and yes, you can start happy dancing because it's open internationally!

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Debut Delirium: Lynne Matson, author of NIL (& Giveaway)

Today's Debut Delirium post features an upcoming book I'm really looking forward to reading and hopefully you are too! It recently received a whole new look (I like it even more than the first. Look at those shades of blue!) and releases shortly next month. Until then, Lynne has stopped by to share fun facts about Nil, picspiration taken on the trip that started it all and a giveaway - enjoy!

On the mysterious island of Nil, the rules are set. You have one year. Exactly 365 days--to escape, or you die.

Seventeen-year-old Charley doesn’t know the rules. She doesn’t even know where she is. The last thing she remembers is blacking out, and when she wakes up, she’s lying naked in an empty rock field.

Lost and alone, Charley finds no sign of other people until she meets Thad, the gorgeous leader of a clan of teenage refugees. Soon Charley learns that leaving the island is harder than she thought . . . and so is falling in love. With Thad’s time running out, Charley realizes that to save their future, Charley must first save him. And on an island rife with dangers, their greatest threat is time.

TEN BEHIND-THE-BOOK FACTS ABOUT NIL

10. The original title of NIL was DAYWATCH, because the kids are watching the days, but the more I wrote, the less that title fit. Plus, DAYWATCH sounds a lot like BAYWATCH, which is SO not what I was going for.;) lol

9.  When I started writing, I knew the fate of both main characters from word one.:) The ending (and beginning!) never changed.

8. NIL was born in Hawaii, on the big island. It was our first real getaway from our four boys, EVER. As we left the airport after landing, we drove through miles of ancient lava fields. Broken red rock stretched endlessly on each side, gorgeous and desolate. No roads, no buildings, no people–just the eerie sound of wind blowing over the barren rocks. I remember thinking how much it all looked like an alien planet, and thinking how creepy it would be to wake up there, alone. And I remember thinking how scary it would be as a teenager, to wake up by yourself, not having a clue where you were or how you how got there, and what if–because isn’t this every person’s worst nightmare?!–you woke up naked? NIL was born in that moment. That barren-red-rock visual locked in my head, and that's what Charley sees when she first wakes up in Nil.

7. The red lava was chunky and brittle, making the black lava fields smooth by comparison. But walking on the black rock was tricky, especially in flip-flops. (Um, yeah. Flip-flops. Ridiculous, I know. It was a bit of an unplanned hike but so worth it). As we hiked, the black rock reminded me of either (1) giant piles of baked elephant poop (not that I've actually seen baked elephant poop but it's what I imagine piles of it would look like) or (2) asphalt that had been poured, over and over, but never smoothed. Or both.:) Here, you decide what you think it looks like:

6. I love the idea of a deadly paradise, where beneath the beauty lies danger. It's a cool contrast to play with, because for those characters, they can never relax, not completely, even though their surroundings may look like the perfect island retreat. On Nil, the characters' clocks are always ticking, making each day a race against death . . . even when the characters are running on a gorgeous white sand beach.

5. Black sand beaches epitomize deadly beauty for me. :) Sand as black as coal, touching water the color of pale aquamarine and as clear as glass. Because after all, the black sand comes from old lava flows…and volcanoes are the ultimate in deadly beauty, right?:) Here's a glimpse of the black sand beach that inspired Black Bay in NIL, where Charley's spends her opening days:

*Picture taken at twilight. One of my faves of the trip.:)

4. NIL is told from a dual POV, and the timeline is continuous with one exception: the scene where Charley and Thad first see each other. That one moment is seen through both character's eyes.

3. As I kid, I watched a LOT of Gilligan's Island, where a three-hour-tour went oh-so-wrong. I was obsessed with all their island craftiness (not to mention Ginger's perfect hair!). Who knew there were so many uses for coconuts?! And of course Survivor, LOST, and the Twilight Zone were all big influences too. I love stories that ask "what if" and have a touch of the supernatural. Oh--and anything involving an island.:)

2. Characters in NIL come from all over the globe, which I felt was important to the core of the story.

(RW: and if you weren't already intrigued...)

1. Not every character escapes… *runs away before I spill ALL THE SEKRITS* :)

Lynne is a former attorney who thinks writing books for teens is much more fun. :) Her debut novel, NIL, a YA thriller with a SF twist, will be published by Macmillan/Henry Holt on March 4, 2014.

When she's not writing or reading, you'll find her hanging out with her husband and their 4 boys, usually at the beach. Cookies are her kryptonite, especially thin mints.

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*the 'Tweet about the Giveaway' entry is acting up so for the time being I've removed it but feel free to spread the word! Just include @readingwishes when Tweeting and I'll manually add entries!*

Blog Tour: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer (& Giveaway!)

Secret (Elemental #4) by Brigid Kemmerer
January 28th, 2014 · Allen & Unwin
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 375

EARTH. FIRE. AIR. WATER.

Nick Merrick is stretched to breaking point. He's trying to keep his grades sky-high or he won't get in to college. He's trying to keep his brother's business afloat or the Merricks will be out on the street. He's trying to keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his twin brother Gabriel - or he fears he'll lose his family. And he's trying to keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who is his 'girlfriend's' partner.

And then Quinn takes to hanging around his sworn enemy, and an Elemental Guide is counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers. Storms are brewing. On all sides.

SECRETS IN THE WIND. DANGER IN THE AIR.

Our awesome Aussie edition included the Breathless novella in the front of the book and what a smart idea that was. I hadn't yet read the novella so it was the perfect way to get ready for Secret and gave me the chance to meet Adam. It isn’t necessary but if you plan on reading this instalment, I highly recommend you read the novella first because it really sets the story and puts everything in motion.

I know there's been some backlash when it came out that Nick was gay but when I heard my reaction was a positive one. 1) It was a complete surprise and something I hadn’t seen coming and 2) I was looking forward to seeing how Brigid would handle the LGBT aspect when it came to writing Nick’s novel. As the latter (and as expected), she wrote it with grace, authenticity and I think any fan of LGBT lit (or the Elemental series, for that matter) will be pleased with the honest portrayal.

As for the Elemental storyline, I feel it wasn't as present, like I found Spark to be, but this time I had no complaints. (Maybe because Nick's my favourite of the twins, not to mention him and Michael are currently battling it out for 'the favourite brother' title. Sorry, Chris, you were just a fling.) I'm actually glad Nick's story and the LGBT aspect took precedence because it was the driving point of the story - but that doesn't mean it was any less explosive.

Having only just met Adam when I read Breathless, I am happy to report back that I really liked him as a character. I ship him and Nick so much, I’ll even go as far to say that they are my favourite couple from the whole series. Quinn also played a significant role in the book, with her and Nick’s POV switching between chapters. She’s never been my favourite character and while I probably would have preferred a whole book just on Nick, I feel like I understand her a lot better now after getting to know her, her background and just who Quinn really is.

As for the ending, Kemmerer is the master for tying up loose ends, but leaving the reader wanting more, without making it a big, dreaded 'don't-leave-me-hanging' cliff-hanger. Sacrifice, I'm ready for you. *ponders title* I think?

4/5

Thanks to the wonderful team at Allen & Unwin, you have the chance to win a copy of Secret! This specific giveaway is open to Australian residents only but if you're from the US, you can enter the current Debut Delirium giveaway. Good luck and as always, happy reading!

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Debut Delirium: Christina Farley, author of Gilded (& giveaway!)

Welcome to another Debut Delirium and this time the spotlight is on Christina Farley, author of GILDED. If you're a fantasy fan, love all things debut or enjoy vlog's, this post is for you! Whether you heard about this upcoming debut last month when it's cover was revealed (I can just imagine the level of badass this cover will look IRL) or maybe this is the first time you're hearing about it - either way, read on to learn some secrets about the upcoming book...

Sixteen-year-old Jae Hwa Lee is a Korean-American girl with a black belt, a deadly proclivity with steel-tipped arrows, and a chip on her shoulder the size of Korea itself. When her widowed dad uproots her to Seoul from her home in L.A., Jae thinks her biggest challenges will be fitting in to a new school and dealing with her dismissive Korean grandfather. Then she discovers that a Korean demi-god, Haemosu, has been stealing the soul of the oldest daughter of each generation in her family for centuries. And she's next.

But that’s not Jae’s only problem.

There's also Marc. Irresistible and charming, Marc threatens to break the barriers around Jae's heart. As the two grow closer, Jae must decide if she can trust him. But Marc has a secret of his own—one that could help Jae overturn the curse on her family for good. It turns out that Jae's been wrong about a lot of things: her grandfather is her greatest ally, even the tough girl can fall in love, and Korea might just be the home she's always been looking for.

After teaching and traveling internationally for ten years, Christina started writing about her adventures, tossing in a little fiction for fun. This inspired her to write GILDED, a YA based on Korean mythology about a Korean-American girl who takes her destiny into her own hands.

Besides writing, Christina loves traveling, running, driving too fast, and eating dark chocolate.

Christina writes fantasy for teens. Her debut YA, GILDED, will be published by Skyscape/Amazon Children’s, spring 2014. She is represented by Jeff Ourvan of the Jennifer Lyons Literary, LLC.

Learn more about Christina by visiting her at www.christinafarley.com or by chatting with her on Twitter @christinafarley.

I hope you enjoyed the post and are now even more excited for Gilded. Christina has kindly offered up a swag bag for one lucky winner! This giveaway is only open to US residents - the rest of you, keep your eyes peeled for more giveaways coming soon!

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Debut Delirium: Gabrielle Tozer, author of The Intern (& giveaway!)

Hello and welcome to the first ever Debut Delirium author spotlight! Today we have an upcoming Australian author joining us and you know what they say about Aussie writers... It's like they have superhuman writing abilities! And the cool thing about this upcoming book? IT HAS TWO COVERS - see! Please welcome, Gabrielle Tozer and her debut, The Intern! 

Josie Browning dreams of having it all.

A stellar academic record, an amazing career in journalism - and for her current crush to realise she actually exists. The only problem? Josie can’t get through twenty-four hours without embarrassing her sister Kat or her best friend Angel, let alone herself.

Josie’s luck changes though when she lands an internship at the glossy fashion magazine Sash. A coveted columnist job is up for grabs, but Josie’s got some tough competition in the form of two other interns. Battle lines are drawn and Josie quickly learns that the magazine industry is far from easy, especially under the reign of powerful editor, Rae Swanson.

From the lows of coffee-fetching and working 10-hour days, to the highs of mingling with celebrities, scoring endless free beauty products (plus falling for her cousin’s seriously gorgeous flatmate James) this is one year Josie will never forget.

Totally fresh and funny, this debut novel from industry insider Gabrielle Tozer reveals just what is behind the seeming glamour and sparkle of the magazine industry.

10 things you didn’t know about…

Gabrielle Tozer, author of The Intern

1. I’m mad for Hawaiian pizza, just like The Intern’s main character Josie Browning. Apologies if that offends the ‘pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza’ squad but the heart (and tastebuds) want what they want! I chomped many slices of ham-and-pineapple pizza while writing The Intern.

2. I wake up at 5.30am most mornings to write (except Sundays). Yep, that wasn’t a typo: I am an early bird and I’ve discovered it’s the only time I can squeeze in writing around my fulltime work as a senior editor and copywriter. Needless to say I go to sleep at a nanna-like time each night, too.

3. When I was a wee lass, I used to write Baby-Sitters Club fan fiction. Shout out to the author Ann M. Martin for her epic series (and a special mention goes to Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High, too – my teen days wouldn’t have been the same without those books).

4. I don’t own a hairbrush. Sad but true. I comb my fringe but the rest of my lion’s mane is left to fend for itself. I figure the less time I have to spend styling my hair in the morning, the more time I have for writing. (Thank god for the fancy hair and make-up artists who pampered me for my author headshots!)

5. I have a bit of a crush on one of the main characters, James (sorry, Josie). He’s cute, kind and funny, has dimples, makes a mean cup of tea and rides a scooter… what’s not to love? Hopefully you guys like him just as much I liked writing him into Josie’s world!

6. I want to help everyone get their big break. I’ve recently founded The Bottom Rung, an online hub on gabrielletozer.com which contains career advice from experts in industries like magazines, TV, fashion, beauty, design and more. I’ve had so many people mentor me over the years, so hopefully The Bottom Rung’s little nuggets of wisdom help others work towards their dream jobs too.

7. I can’t do handstands, cartwheels or forward-rolls (but I’ve skydived!). I don’t know how to explain this quirk but I would rather skydive than try to do a handstand – yes, I was that girl making every excuse possible to get out of PE, unless it was partner dancing…

8. I totally fan-girled when I met John Marsden. Wouldn’t you? I adore him and just finished re-reading the Tomorrow series for the zillionth time.

9. I had a reality-TV-worthy reaction to my book-deal news. When my publisher rang to tell me HarperCollins wanted to print THE INTERN and a sequel, I held it together – just – on the phone. But the moment I hung up, I burst into tears and slid onto the carpet in a scene that wouldn’t have been out of place on a Z-grade reality show. Melodramatic, who me?

10. My little sister dressed me for my first big job interview at DOLLY magazine. Yep, just like Josie, I have a little sister who is 110% cooler than me who decided I needed fashion help with a capital H. Luckily, she took me on a shopping spree the day before the interview so I didn’t embarrass myself! The only problem was, I scored a second interview and didn’t have anything to wear to that so one of my best friends from school Nina (House Party’s Nina Las Vegas) loaned me a flowy top and a pair of wedges. I swear I know how to dress myself now – well, most of the time, anyway!

DEBUT DELIRIUM BONUS QUESTION! How has your background in publishing and you being a journalist influenced your debut, The Intern, and are you anything like Josie Browning?

A: THE INTERN is fiction but, thanks to my decade working in the media, there are snippets of truth peppered throughout it (but the majority is exaggerated or made up – I couldn’t let my imagination off that easily).

On a practical note, my background as a journalist and sub-editor set me up for the discipline it takes to write a novel. From meeting tight deadlines to self-editing 80,000 words, journalism is a wonderful training ground for those wanting to pursue novel-writing.


As for whether I’m like Josie Browning? We have a few crossovers – both nerdy high-school students, bit awkward with guys, adore Hawaiian pizza – but she lives a far more exciting life than I do! After all, while I’ve met plenty of celebrities, I can’t say I’ve been caught in a public social-media scandal with one of them!

Gabrielle Tozer is an author, journalist and copywriter from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. Since moving to Sydney almost a decade ago, she has worked as a managing editor, deputy editor, chief subeditor, senior features writer and freelancer for publications including DOLLY, Girlfriend, Cosmopolitan, Bride to Be, DisneyGiRL, Disney Adventures, The Canberra Times and Mamamia. Say hello at gabrielletozer.com, facebook.com/hellogabrielletozer, twitter.com/gabrielletozer and #theinternau.

Now for a giveaway! Thanks to HarperCollins Australia you can win 1 of 5 copies of The Intern which releases early next month. Rules: Open to Australian and New Zealand residents (sorry international folks). The color of the cover will be luck of the draw - fun!

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For Being Awesome: Giveaway

I know I’ve been an absent blogger a lot the past year but I’m back and for good this time. To say thanks for sticking around, following, being awesome, leaving comments that brighten my day and an early Merry Christmas, I bring you a giveaway!

The prize:

One (1) winner will receive their YA book of choice from The Book Depository. It can be new or old, already released or a pre-order (if you can wait) to the value of $15. (If the price is slightly above that, I might consider it.) Just make sure The Book Depository ships to you first before you enter!

Plus, the winner will also receive a magnet or bookmark & a sticker of their choice from the etsy bookish shop, The BookFiend. Trust me, it’s a cute shop. (If this doesn't interest you though, you’re welcome to get another book from TBD to the value of $10 and same with the bookish awesome) (Below: All pictures are taken from BookFiend on etsy and are just ideas of what you could win)

Good luck! (And yes, this giveaway is International!)

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Author Interview with Huntley Fitzpatrick (plus a giveaway!)

Here on the blog today we have Huntley Fitzpatrick! Not only is she a fantastic up and coming debut author but over the last couple of months I’ve gotten to know her and she is just lovely! Read on to learn more about My Life Next Door, Huntley’s favourite authors and fictional crushes and much, much more! And without further ado, the interview!

What was your reaction when you heard My Life Next Door was going to be published?

I was speechless. I was still pinching myself about actually having an agent, and when she called to say there was an offer I actually thought I’d misheard her and asked her to repeat it.

What inspired you to write My Life Next Door?
A series of things that suddenly clicked in my mind. My lifelong fondness for and fascination with big families, one of my older daughters reading Romeo and Juliet, reading A Secret Garden to my younger children (I always had a soft spot for Dickon, the charming guy with his love for animals).

Where and when can you be found writing?
I write any chance I get. I do a lot of it late at night. I actually carry my laptop from room to room. Another book I loved growing up was I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith. The heroine of that writes a journal and always says she finds inspiration from working in different places. If I remember correctly she even writes sitting in the kitchen sink at one point. I have not gone that far, but moving about seems to work for me.

How do you decide what to name your characters?
One of my daughters named the heroine—I described her and she thought for a little while and came up with ‘Samantha Reed’. Jase just sort of hit me the right way. For some reason it’s usually easier for me to get the hero’s name than the heroine’s.

Apart from reading and writing what occupies your time?

Family and spending time outdoors as much as possible. And trying to come up with new ways to spend as little time as possible doing laundry.

Who are your favourite authors and what is it that strikes you about their work?

I might have too many favourite authors to name. I adore John Green, Stephanie Perkins, Deb Caletti, Jennifer Echols, E. Lockhart, Kristan Higgins, okay, stop me!

Favourite fictional crush?

Again—so many. Etienne St. Clair, Augustus Waters. I still carry a torch for Rhett Butler from Gone With the Wind, which I remember reading late into the night by flashlight when I was eleven, under the impression that it was an extremely racy book I should not be caught reading.

A perfect day would consist of…
Getting up early, writing a few scenes I knew were good, then going to the beach with my family. Ice cream should also be involved.

If you were given a chance to travel back in time – to any destination in the world at any time– where and when would you go?
I have this weird compulsion to want to solve historical mysteries, so I think I’d want to investigate questions like “Did Emily Bronte really burn her second book?” and “What happened to the Princes in the Tower”. I’m not sure if that makes me curious or just nerdy!

Giveaway Time!
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Illuminate Swag Giveaway!

It was my birthday yesterday and since I didn’t save you any cake (sorry!) here’s a fun Illuminate swag giveaway to make up for it! What can you win? How about some bookmarks and adorable little plastic cards that look like hotel key cards with the ILLUMINATE cover on them! Interested? I bet you are! Enter away! :)

Rules:
- International
- Ends 21st of March
- The winner will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

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Birthday Fun: Pretty Crooked Character Interview and Giveaway

Pretty Crooked (Pretty Crooked #1) by Elisa Ludwig
Releases: March 13th, 2012
High school sophomore Willa and her artist mother move to Arizona where Willa starts attending an elite prep school after her mother finally sells some paintings, and Willa attempts to even things out by stealing from the rich students and giving to the poor ones.
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When does your birthday fall?
It's in May. That makes me a Taurus: Mess with the bull you get the horns!

Top 5 party essentials?

- Cake (see below)

- Great music

- A supercute dress (like this one on the left:

- Party attitude

- Party people

How do you choose to celebrate your special day?

I usually just do something with my mom (we were moving so much I never had a chance to make too many friends), but this year, I'm hoping to have Aidan, Cherise and Tre around. I don't know if I'm up for a big party, considering all that has happened to me, but I would love to be surrounded by the people I care about, for a nice dinner or something.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?
The fab fuzzy seat for my bicycle. Thanks, mom!

What about the worst present you’ve ever gotten?
I don't think I've ever gotten a bad gift. Usually my mom seems to know exactly what I want/need.

It’s cake time! What are we stuffing our faces with?
Oooh. Let's say (in honor of Aidan) chocolate cake with salted caramel icing! Yumz.

You can invite ANY 3 people (alive, dead, celebrity, your secret crush, ect!) to your birthday bash, who are your selected picks?
Well, I mentioned the real people above so here goes my fantasy list (in addition to the others, of course!):
- Emma Stone (love her fashion sense)
- Robin Hood (maybe he could give me some tips)
- Thoreau (he could help me with my Comp homework)

Thanks so much for sharing your birthday with me, Rebecca! I hope it's an extra-special day!

And now onto the giveaway!!!

Giveaway: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

Daisy Brooks’s senior year is not off to a great start. Her first assembly as school captain is slightly ruined by her new bright orange hairdo – thanks to her father’s inability to choose correct permanent hair dye. The local Blonde Brigade is already giving her a hard time (and affectionately dubbed her ‘ranga’) and her teachers have done the unthinkable and handed out assignments on the first day back.

The one bright spot in Daisy’s first day back is the appearance of a private school boy hottie. Oh, and her best friend and vice-captain, Roman, who she can count on to hold her temper and have her back.

But the winds of change are sweeping through Daisy’s small town of Twin Rocks. Turns out the private school hottie is new in town and fast friends with her brothers. His name is Nate and he turns Daisy’s legs to jelly. But her totally platonic best friend, always reliable Roman, is starting to act strange.

This is Daisy’s senior year. She’ll learn hard truths and lose small battles on the path to adulthood...but, hey, nobody said it was going to be easy.

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Last month I reviewed, Friendship on Fire by Perth author, Danielle Weiler. You can read my review here.

Danielle has kindly offered to give away two copies of her book - one paperback copy available to those who live in Australia and one PDF version for international readers!

Giveaway runs from now until the 29^th February 2012.

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Road Trip Week Round Up

I can’t believe that Road Trip Week has finished, the times gone by so fast! I hope that you’ve had a blast, enjoyed the posts, added a few new books to your wish list and entered the fab giveaways!

Please do leave me a comment on how you enjoyed Road Trip Week - I’d love to know your thoughts!

Below I’ve listed the posts, so if you haven’t already, go read up and get entering to win some amazing prizes!

Also, thanks SO much to the authors who participated! I didn’t think it was possible but after Road Trip Week, I’m now even more anxious to read all your books, and trust me when I say I was already excited!

J

Megan Bostic: Post + Win a Signed copy of Never Eighteen, plus Swag!

INT - Ends 2/20

Elissa Janine Hoole: Post + Win Jack Kerouac's Dharma Bums or On the Road (winner's choice), in print or digital versions!

INT - Ends 2/21

Jessi Kirby: Post + Win a Signed finished copy of In Honour!

INT - Ends 2/22

Nina LaCour: Post + Win a Signed Copy of The Disenchantments

US/Canada - Ends 2/23

Hilary Graham: Post + Win a Road Trip Mixed CD Inspired by Reunited!

INT - Ends 2/24

RTW - Day 5 with Hilary Graham Post and Giveaway

Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham

Releases: June 12th, 2012

 

1 Concert

2000 Miles

3 Ex-Best Friends

Alice, Summer, and Tiernan are ex-best friends.

Back in middle school, the three girls were inseparable. They were also the number one fans of the rock band Level3.

But when the band broke up, so did their friendship. Summer ran with the popular crowd, Tiernan was a rebellious wild-child, and Alice spent high school with her nose buried in books.

Now, just as the girls are about to graduate, Level3 announces a one-time-only reunion show.

Even though the concert’s 2000 miles away, Alice buys three tickets on impulse. And as it turns out, Summer and Tiernan have their own reasons for wanting to get out of town. Good thing Alice’s graduation gift (a pea-green 1976 VW camper van known as the Pea Pod) is just the vehicle to get them there.

But on the long drive cross-country, the girls hit more than a few bumps in the road. Will their friendship get an encore or is the show really over?

Author Bio: Hilary Weisman Graham is an award-winning filmmaker, screenwriter, and novelist. She lives in rural New Hampshire with her husband and son, roughly thirty minutes away from the nearest grocery store.

website - twitter - blog - facebook

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Based on Life: How to Write from Personal Experience While Staying Grounded in Your Fictional World

I’ve been on a lot of road trips in my life—backpacking through Portugal and Spain with my sister and a friend, shooting a documentary with friends while driving from Boston to Juarez, Mexico, and wandering around the Irish countryside with four of my best girlfriends in a very small rental car. Though thankfully, I’ve never been stuck in a van with any of my ex-best friends.

And while I was fortunate to be able to draw from my past adventures while writing REUNITED, there are also challenges to telling a story that covers such familiar ground. Sure, most writers inevitably mine their own lives for material. But fictionalizing one’s personal experience requires more than just changing the names of the innocent (or guilty, as the case may be).

While truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction, more often than not, our personal anecdotes lack the drama to make for compelling literature. Luckily, my job as a fiction writer not only frees me, but encourages me, to exaggerate.

But it’s not just about raising the stakes of your story. Even more important is the ability to detach from your feelings about the incident, thereby allowing your characters to experience it from their own perspective. In a way, it’s the same job we writers do when we’re crafting a story entirely of our own invention. The feelings we have certainly inform our characters’ inner lives, but in order to write well-developed characters, we must free them to see the world through their own emotional lens.

And what better place to let your characters find adventure, get lost, or veer wildly off-course than out on the open road. Not only is the road trip a great metaphor for our characters' personal journeys, it’s an environment rife with drama—from the conflicts that arise just from being trapped in an enclosed area with other human beings for an extended length of time, to the disagreements over where to stay, what music to listen to, or whether or not you should let a sketchy dude who thinks he’s Michael the Archangel lead you into the backwoods of West Virginia in an attempt to bring you to a naked swimming hole. (See REUNITED, Chapter 9). Then, of course, are the things you never plan for, like running over a squirrel, or getting your van stuck in the mud.

All of the incidents above happen to the girls in REUNITED, and luckily, never to me. But in the end, it’s not our anecdotes that matter, it’s the feelings we hang onto. Like the God help me moment I had (on my European backpacking trip) upon realizing I’d slept on the floor of the connecting hallway between two train cars on the overnight train from Lisbon to Madrid.

This scene wasn’t relevant to REUNITED, but the emotional reality of that moment is something each of the girls in the book experience their own version of at one time or another—that feeling being completely exhausted and disoriented, of wanting to snap your fingers and be miraculously transported back to your cozy familiar bed, of wanting to be anywhere but on this blasted trip!

In the end, every road trip is full of unexpected twists and turns—some of them good, some of them “character building.” But if we always knew where the road would take us, it wouldn’t be an adventure; which is the reason we take road trips in the first place, and also why we love reading books about them.

Question time:

If you could road trip with any 3 people (alive or dead) who would you choose and why?

If I could take a road trip with any 3 people in the world, alive or dead, it would definitely include my dad (who died when I was 16) and my husband and son.  I often wish I could get to know my father better, and I'd love for him to meet my family.

What a great post! I completely agree with, I love road trip stories for the fact they the story can go anywhere. Once you hit the open road the possibilities are endless, it’s a complete adventure. Of course, I could go on (a lot) more, of why I love road trips, but I’ll stop there… :D

And now onto the giveaway!!!