Monthly Cover Beauties: September 2012

It's the last Thursday of September!!!!

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lack of posting these weeks! School hit hard and I am just playing catch up with everything! Gah! But I still wanted to share these lovely covers with you! Enjoy! :D

I will be doing more stuff this October! It is pretty crazy! This October-November! Get ready!!!

o.O I think I'm gonna go crazy! ;D

Alice in Zombieland

Author: Gena Showalter

Release Date: September 25, 2012

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.
Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.
Her father was right. The monsters are real….
To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.I'd tell my sister no.I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.I'd tell them I love them.I wish... Yeah, I wish. {Goodreads}

Eep! Zombies! Re-telling! Gorgeous gothic, grungy, girly cover!! O my!!! ;D I really want to read this but have heard iffy things about it lately really great and ...not so great. Yupp! Smack dab in the middle! Grrr don't you hate that? Well one thing is for sure....there is no "iffy-in-the-middle" thing about this cover! It is absolutely fabulous and one of my favorites of this September releases! :D

 Silever

Author: Talia Vance

Release Date: September  8, 2012

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."
Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party where Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her she's been hiding even from herself.
Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.
But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.
Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love. {Goodreads}

Woah! Ya, I know...pretty freaking gorgeous hah? The color tone, the font and silver coloring of the title...Silver...The landscape...it makes it all...breathtaking! Love! Love! Love!!! This cover! Heard more steady positive things about this book! Gonna need to grab a copy ASAP!

Hidden
Author: Sophie Jordan
Release Date: September 11, 2012

Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted long before she fell in love with Will—a human and, worse, a hunter. When she ran away with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured. Weighed down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.
The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disguise, things quickly spiral out of her control. As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive. But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....
Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy. {Goodreads}

Woah! This book is already out!? The final book to the Firelight trilogy?? If I look solely on that fact...my mind is blown..the year went by too fast!! But man oh man! Her hair (I want that perfect hair peeps!) The font...the red...the scales...these covers never fail in the beauty department! Still wondering if/when to buy this book...too many books! too little money!! so little time!! Hmpphhh!!

So what'd ya think loves!?

Yes, no, HOLY FREAKING MOTHER OF PEARL I AM TOTALLY BLIND TO NOT SAY HELL YES!!!!? 

Ok! Ok! I get it! You are blown away! Quit the yelling and drooling! ;D

So three girly covers for one girly girl! I know..I just couldn't resist the beauty of these covers! 

They were too darn pretty! 

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did! Go grab a copy and drool some more

build a shrine....ya know! Admire these beauties! hahaha

Thanks for stopping by yo! ;D

Hope you have a great day! <3

~Jaiden

{Blog Tour} My Review of Send by Patty Blount

Send
Author: Patty Blount
Release Date: August 1, 2012
by, Sourcebooks Fire
Source: **a copy was provided for review purposes by Sourcebooks Fire**
Format: paperback
Pages: 304

It’s been five years since I clicked Send.Four years since I got out of juvie.Three months since I changed my name.Two minutes since I met Julie.A second to change my life.
All Dan wants for his senior year is to be invisible. This is his last chance at a semi-normal life. Nobody here knows who he is. Or what he’s done. But on his first day at school, instead of turning away like everyone else, Dan breaks up a fight. Because Dan knows what it’s like to be terrorized by a bully—he used to be one.
Now the whole school thinks he’s some kind of hero—except Julie. She looks at him like she knows he has a secret. Like she knows his name isn’t really Daniel... {Goodreads}

~Review:
  This book has a huge impact on its readers. Being my third "bully book" I never fail to be affected by the emotional tug-of-war these books have. But this one was different. This one wasn't from the victims point of view. No it was from the bully's. Well....ex-bully. And I felt for the dude. Dan has a big secret and its not just his real name. It's the reason he has a fake name. A secret so tragic....so terrible...that he has to keep moving because a vengeful father is out for blood...yes, Dan's blood.

  Dan isn't just a bully he is a hmmm.. "reborn" bully?? He did something terrible, he killed a kid. Well, not really he posted a picture of a boy in his most embarrassing pair of underwear on the internet resulting in the kid killing himself. And he feels terrible about it. The guilt haunts him day and night. While he is awake and while he is asleep. He's gotten his fair share of justice for sure. So here he is..round 3 in moving, this time with a new name. His goal: protect his family and secrets by starting over and staying under the radar. There is a reason it was a goal because on his first day he ends up having to stick up for a kid being brutally bullied and day one ends up getting a new enemy, a bruised face, a new friend to protect, and a girl he can't help but like...and hate.

  This book was all sorts of crazy twists and turns and a roller coaster of emotions. I loved Dan...all 6'4" of him (I think that was his height) ;D Being tall...psh!! I wish I could find a hotty like this even with the broken past. Any who...He is just a boy who made a mistake..a terrible mistake but a mistake he learned and paid for. And it paid off he is such a great guy. He has a heart of gold and loyalty so strong. There was nothing to not like about him. And I especially loved Kenny. Get this! So while he was in juvie getting beat up every day (resulting in a bunch of scars all over his body) he showed up. No not some savior..I mean he is a savior but...ya...hold on a sec. Kenny is Dan at 13 years old...the boy who pressed Send. And he helps Dan get through juvie and fight back.

  So during the whole story you have Dan and then Kenny talking to Dan and Dan responding (when no one is around or telepathically) Their relationship was such a love hate relationship. Dan hates Kenny but he can't live without him. Kenny is literally that voice inside your head who tells you your insecurities, who tells you right and wrong, who tells you that you are worth it, that helps you in your time of need. It was so incredibly unique and I think that's one reason I loved this book so much. Then there is the side characters and the message itself! I was going crazy with all the pressure wrapped on Dan and what his mistake costs him.

  Send is an incredible little (no HUGE) message wrapped in this bottle of a book. Perfectly unique, wonderfully heart-warming, and at the same time tragically heartbreaking. It will literally tear your heart out and then warm it back together. The message of bullying gets screamed loud and clear you can't help but stop and think. Patty is an incredible writer. She created a great book that all should read. Definitely worth reading several times and passing it on. Buy? Yes. You will love it! Why? Because it's not just about bullying it is a story about finding yourself and accepting that person, falling in love, making true friends, and the importance of family and loyalty. I really don't know how to put this book other than wonderful! I truly enjoyed this book! :)

~Rating:

4 of 5 wonderful stars!

This review was part of the "It Only Takes One Click" blog tour!


Thanks for stopping by!!
Don't forget to stop by next month when I interview Patty! :D
Have a great day!
~Jaiden

{Follow Friday} ....or Thursday?? #31

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

~This Week's Features:

Northern Plunder

&

The Authoress 

~This Week's Question:

What hyped up book was worth all of the fuss?

~My Answer:

Way too easy! So many books are worth their hypes! Some, unfortunately aren't like last week, but!!! Thankfully I have had a much better outcome for worth vs not worth the hype! Let's see....Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey, Divergent by Veronica Roth, Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins, Cindy by Marissa Meyer, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkins, Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel, Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins, Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins....And that's just a sliver.....I can go on!!!!!! Hahaha 

What about you?? Leave your link in the comments!

Happy Friday everyone! Have a great weekend! :D

~Jaiden

PS Did you see my promotional on Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole?? Stop by here and read an excerpt from Dante's Girl and enter to win a choice of one of Courtney Cole's books...Princess or Soul Bound (ebook) Ends 9/29)

{Excerpt and Giveaway} Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole

So I don't know about you but I like winning...then I like winning free stuff! ;D

Well that's what I am here for today!! 

I am here to let you guys enter to win your choice of two of Miss Courtney Cole's books as part of its promotional even hosted by AToMR!
AND!! To share an excerpt from her newest book, Dante's Girl!

So.....here's a quick run down of...

~The Author:

Find her at: Goodreads~Facebook~Twitter~Website~

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. 
She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. 
Every Last Kiss is her debut novel and she followed it with the rest of The Bloodstone Saga (Every Last Kiss, Fated, With My Last Breath and My Tattered Bonds). 
Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo. 

~The Book(s)

Her newest one being....

Dante's Girl

Series: The Paradise Diaries #1

Release Date: June 24, 2012

 I have spent every summer since I was ten years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring. Until this year. 
And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:
1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes. 2. If I hear the phrase, “You’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto,” even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of the Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise. 5. See number four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew of problems and I’ve learned something from every one of them.
Let’s start with the fact that Dante’s world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raised on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference? 
But hearts don’t care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante’s girl. 
My heart just might be crazy. {Goodreads}

More Books by Courtney:

Click Pics for Goodreads Page!!

~The Excerpt:

With my head down, I trudge back out into the congested halls of Schiphol airport.  Weary travelers bustle around me and I shift my bags so that I can pull the stubborn strap of my tank top back over my shoulder where it belongs.  As I do, I crash into someone with enough force that my bags go flying out of my hands and scatter onto the ground under people’s feet.

“Son of a –“ I blurt before I even think.

“Buck?” a male voice offers helpfully. 

Looking up, I stare into the most unique and beautiful shade of blue that a pair of eyes has ever possessed. Of that I am certain.  Blue just shouldn’t be that multi-faceted and twinkling.  There should be a law or something. 

Or at least a warning label: 

Caution, these eyes may cause female knees to tremble.

Before I can help it, I scan the rest of him.  Sweet Mary.  This guy had lucked out in the gene department.  Tall, slender, beautiful.  Honey colored hair that had natural highlights that could even catch the crappy airport light, broad shoulders, slim hips, long legs.  He is tan and golden with a bright, white smile. 

I am surely staring at Apollo, the god of the sun.  Probably with my mouth hanging open, which makes me realize that I must look like an idiot- the personification of what foreigners think Americans to be.  I snap my mouth closed.

“I’m sorry,” I say quickly, trying to still my racing heart.  “Did I run into you?”

“Only a bit,” Apollo says gentlemanly, with a shrug of his strong shoulders.  I can tell he is strong even through his shirt sleeves, which are snug across his toned biceps.  Sweet baby monkeys. 

“How can someone run into someone else only by a bit?” I ask with a nervous smile as I kneel to retrieve my stuff. 

~The  Giveaway!!

Quicky Rules:

*You must be 13 years or older to enter

*The winner will have 48 hours to respond, if they don't a new winner will be chosen

*One winner will get the choice between Princess or Soul Kissed by Courtney Cole
*This giveaway is International!!

*If the winner has residence in the US/CAN they will also be prized with a 4x6 Dante's Girl glossy.
*The winner will be able to choose the format (nook/kindle)

*Giveaway ends October 2.

Prizes:

Your choice between....

 or

Click pics for Goodreads pages!!

&

If you live in the US/CAN..you will also get a Dante's Girl glossy! (sorry my INT peeps!)

~The Rafflecopter:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!! Thanks for stopping by! :)

~Jaiden

The Weekly Throwback & Stacking the Shelves #5

~The Weekly Throwback:

Here's all that happened this week:

Sorry guys! Not much happened this week but my weekly memes.

I totally failed on reviews this week but next week should be better promise! :)

BUT!!! 

Enter to win a SIGNED copy of The Forsaken by Lisa M Stasse by checking out my interview with her here.

Giveaway ends 9/19 so hurry and enter now! :D

Don't miss out on this awesome book guys!! 

~Stacking the Shelves:

This is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Here's what I got this week....

hehehe I always have the most ridiculous faces on this! xD

Books Mentioned:

-For Review- 

*Dante's Girl by Courtney Cole (ebook)
Thanks to Netgalley!! :)

-Bought-
*Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama
*Throne of Glass by Sarah  J Maas
*Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols
*The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
Thanks to my paycheck ;D

Bloggers Mentioned:
*Giselle at Xpresso Reads

What about you? What'd you get this week?
Leave your link below! :)
Have a great weekend!!
~Jaiden

{Follow Friday} ....or Thursday?? #30

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

~This Week's Features:

Escapism
&
Readers Confession 

~This Week's Question:

What hyped up book do you think was not worth all the talk?

~My Answer:

Ooooo...Do I even want to say? Ok...just no tomato throwing and dissing kk?
So the book I totally did not like that everybody seemed to LOVE was....Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater.
Ya, ya, go ahead and booo or judge! I knoew its going to happen. The saddest part? I bought the whole series ready to jump in and love it and...wasted my money. It was boring, the love was weird, too fast and bordering on stalkerish. I just wasn't feeling it. The metaphors and similes and all those great things was....gross at one point and ...almost unnecessary at times. Idk I just didn't like it at all and I feel like a total black sheep but oh well. I just wish I could have gotten my money back from the other two books and buy something else. Sorry Shiver fans! 

What about you? 

Leave your link below! :)

Happy Friday and have a great weekend!!

~Jaiden

PS...have you seen my WOW pick for the week here?? What about my book hall for this last week over here?? My review of Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan here?? OH! And especially my interview with Lisa M Stasse, author of the new dystopian, The Forsaken!? Stick around till the end and enter to win a signed copy of her book! Giveaway ends 9/19 so get your entries in ASAP right here!! :D

{Waiting on Wednesday} Hysteria by Megan Miranda #31

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine.

This week I'm waiting on.....

Hysteria 
by, Megan Miranda
Release Date: February 5, 2013

Mallory's life is falling apart. Her boyfriend was stabbed. He bled to death in her kitchen. Mallory was the one who stabbed him. But she can't remember what happened that night. She only remembers the fear . . . 
When Mallory's parents send her away to a boarding school, she thinks she can escape the gossip and the threats. But someone, or something, has followed her. There's the hand that touches her shoulder when she's drifting off to sleep. A voice whispering her name. And everyone knows what happened. So when a pupil is found dead, Mallory's name is on their lips. Her past can be forgotten but it's never gone. Can Mallory live with that? {Goodreads}

How mind blowing does that sound ya'll?? It almost reminds me of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Almost. In the sense of the whole mind boggling. Dudes...Mara had my mind spinning so much it hurt! But I loved it! I loved how it was so mysterious and that I couldn't see what was coming. So if Hysteria is anything like that....I am already a huge fan! I love those kinds of books! And it has that creepy murder background that I am morbidly obsessed with ;D I'm not too sure I am a fan of the cover though. Idk it is kinda...sloppy?? The title seems just copy and pasted in and the person seems off centered..idk it just doesnt...doesn't flow. But you know what they say...never judge a book off its cover.

I have yet to read Miranda's first book Fractured but I have heard nothing but great things so I am truly! looking forward to this 2013 book!! :D

What about you? What are you waiting on this week?
Leave your link below and have a great day!! :)
~Jaiden

PS...Have you seen my review of Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan here?? Or my huge ebook hall on this week's Stacking the Shelves over here?? What about my interview with Lisa M Stasse, author of The Forsaken, here?? Stick around to the end of the interview and enter to win a signed copy of her debut book! Giveaway ends 9/19 so get your entries in ASAP!! :D

The Weekly Throwback & Stacking the Shelves #4

~The Weekly Throwback:

Here's all that happened this week...

So this week I've got one great event going on! Do you know??

Well! This week...I interviewed Lisa M Stasse, the author of the new dystopian, The Forsaken!

Yippee! A lot of fun went on there! Great answers...blue hair, how the wheel came to be and insight on the next book..The Uprising! And that's not all! Lisa was generous enough to allow me to give you guys a chance to win a signed copy of the wonderful book! And some awesome bookmarks! Ya, super fun! Check it out here. And then I showed you all the awesome trailer for Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff. Check it out here!

Reviews this week:

Click pic for review!

Btw!! The giveaway ends September 19 so get your entries in ASAP! :D

~Stacking the Shelves:

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews

Here's what I got this week....

For review:

1. Knee Deep by Jolene Perry (paperback)

**She even signed it!! :D***

Sorry it's sideways but oh wells!

Major thanks to Jolene! 

BTW I have an interview with her coming up! 

Look out for that!

2. Katya's World by Johnathon L Howard

3. Broken by A. E. Rought

Thanks to Netgalley

4. Emanare by Taryn Browning (ebook)

Thanks to Taryn!

5. Transcend by Christine Fonseca (ebook)

Thanks to SuperGirl Tours!

6.What Kills Me by Wynne Channing

Thanks to Wynne!

Bought:

1. Forever Mine by Elizabeth Reyes (ebook)

2. Any Other Night by Anne Pfeffer (ebook)

**both free on Amazon!!**

3. Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin (ebook)

4. Partials by Dan Wells (ebook)

5. Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (ebook)

**all only 2.99 on Amazon!** 

Swag:

Two very awesome Dante Walker (The Collector) bookmarks SIGNED by Victoria Scott!! :D

The pic is above but ya so stoked for those!! :)

 So...as you can see this was like a HUGE ebook hall! Those free books intrigued me so I bought them I mean HELLO! FREE!! Then Amazon also had those awesome 2.99 deal and ya, I soo couldn't resist!! I have been wanting to read those books for forever and I finally can and stuck to my budget this week!! :D Then! I got some awesome ebooks for tours and interviews!! AND!! Awesome bookmark swag from Victoria Scott! Now I got Damen in my current read!! Which were signed too! EPIC!

What about you!? Leave your link below!! :) 

Hope you had a great weekend! 

And a great start to your week tmro! :D

~Jaiden

{Review} Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan

Dark Kiss
Series: Nightwatchers #1
Author: Michelle Rowan
Release Date: March 29, 2012
by, Harlequin Teen
Source: NetGalley
Format: ebook
Pages: 348

I don't do dangerous,  Smart, ü ber-careful, ordinary Samantha-that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me...something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing-and I don't know if I can get it back. 
Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.... 
NIGHTWATCHERS 
When angels and demons must work together, something beyond evil is rising... {Goodreads}

~Review:
  This book was wishy washy for me. At times I was really loving it and at others...not so much. I never hated parts but some just kinda left me hanging. I felt that the beginning was a bit juvenile. I don't know what it was but something just hindered me from getting hooked. The main character, Sam/Samantha, might be that reason. She lacked charisma with me. She was childish and kinda annoying. Again I'm not sure what it was but...I..I don't know.

  Another thing as it was so predictable! Like seriously. I knew what was going to happen and the "big secrets" were too obvious! I know that in some books of course the reader is going to see it before the character. That's the way some books go and it flows. With this one...It was almost frustrating. I like my books with a bit of mystery to them. I don't want to be able to predict whats behind every bend ya know? the only times I was actually and honestly surprised was when it was Kraven and Bishop's secrets.

  These boys were awesome and I think the only thing that kept me reading for awhile. They kind of remind me of Stephen and Damon from The Vampire Diaries and I really love them soo I adored these boys too and like with VD I am #TeamDamon/#TeamKraven. I love Bishop but I got a thing for the not-so-bad-boy. Both boys have their secrets and their pasts and I want to know them. Kraven really surprised me in the end and well...so did Bishop! I mean woah!! That ending....ya. I am so excited whats in store for each boy in book 2! *wiggles eyebrows* ;D

  So...no I didn't hate this book. I actually really liked it! But it took the ending to be its salvation for me. I will end up reading book two because so much wasn't answered and so much was left unsaid ;D This book has awesome angel lore I mean...the grays?? awesome! A kiss that can steal your soul...HOT!! Would I recommend you buy it?? Mmmm not so much. But that is entirely up to you. I say check it out from the library or borrow it from a friend. But hopefully you'll have better luck with it than I did. Again, I liked the book! I just couldn't find myself loving it ya know? Worth the read?? Yes most definitely! :)

~Rating:

3 stars!! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Have a great day!! :D

~Jaiden

PS....Don't forget to enter for a chance to win a signed copy of Lisa M Stasse's debut novel, The Forsaken! All happening here! :D

{Interview} with Lisa M. Stasse

Hey everyone! So today I'm here with a very special guest! :D

Lisa M. Stasse is here today on the blog and we got some very special stuff to talk about!

She is the author of the debut novel, The Forsaken, recently published July 10, 2012.

This book was all sorts of amazing! -My Review- An amazing dystopian!
Blue hair, the story behind the Wheel, and crazy stunts...this is what we discussed:
(Btw...there is a giveaway near the end!! See what's up for grabs & enter!!!)

Find her on her....Website~Twitter~Goodreads~Amazon

Lisa M. Stasse was born in Syracuse, New York, and has since lived in Spain, Russia, Hawaii, and North Carolina.  She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Government and English literature, and is currently a digital librarian at UCLA.  Lisa loves watching science fiction movies, cooking Spanish food, and dancing around her house to 80's music (when no one is watching).  She lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband and their two-year-old daughter.  All three of them are learning how to surf.

Interview

 ~What inspired you to write The Forsaken?

The book all started when I had a crazy nightmare. In my dream I was being chased by men in robes, carrying knives. I climbed up this giant flight of stone steps, but there was nothing at the top. I was cornered. And I knew the men wanted to kill me. I was really relieved to wake up! Then a few days later, the younger sister of one of my best friends was stressing about taking the SAT. So we were all talking about how strange it is that tests like the SAT take on this gigantic importance in people's lives, but of course they ultimately mean nothing and are also pretty unfair. So I started to daydream about a dystopian future in which everyone was forced to take a personality test. If you passed, then you got to live a normal life. If you failed, then you were immediately banished to a harsh prison island and forced to fight it out with other kids who failed the test. And then, because no test is perfect, I started thinking about what would happen if normal kids sometimes got sent there. And that's how I came up with my protagonist Alenna Shawcross and her story.

 ~What is the craziest thing you have ever done?

Haha that's a great question! My parents are probably going to read this, so I have to keep that in mind when I answer! ;) But honestly, I was always pretty much a good girl. Well, most of the time. I was really studious and a total book geek (like most writers). And now I work as a librarian at UCLA. But one of the craziest things I ever did (my senior year in high school) was graffiti a huge billboard in my hometown along with some friends. It was actually my boyfriend at that time who was really into graffiti art and all that stuff, and he was kind of the ringleader, so I got caught up with all that. Of course, in hindsight, I have no idea what I was thinking, haha! But we stood on the back of a van, climbed up to the billboard's ladder, and all spraypainted our "art" on it. Then afterwards I was convinced I was going to get arrested and I had a total freakout about it. But in reality, someone just came and fixed the billboard about 2 days later and no one ever really noticed it. So I'm not even sure that counts as anything too crazy. But it was definitely out of character for me! 

 ~Why Gadya's blue hair? (Don't get me wrong..love it! :D)

It's a tribute to one of my best friends, Vikki, who always had crazy hairstyles growing up. I felt like Gadya would be the kind of character who would want to assert her individuality on the prison island (even if it meant using mashed-up berries to dye her hair). Her blue hair is kind of like her way of giving the finger to the establishment that exiled her to the island. And it's also a way for her to look fierce and unusual so that she can intimidate the people that she fights.

 ~How did The Wheel come to be?

A lot of it came out of research I did about prisons (and tropical islands too). Banishing rebellious prisoners to desolate islands is actually something that countries did a lot of in the past. So I figured they might start doing it again in a dystopian future (especially if they had a compelling reason). I'm also fascinated by the automation of so many prisons today, where the prisoners barely ever get to see other people all day long. It seems pretty inhumane. So I though that the wheel would probably have a lot of automation--and be controlled by machines rather than by human prison guards. Basically, the wheel is my idea of the world's scariest prison.

 ~What's your favorite book?

I go back and forth on this one a lot. I feel like I probably have about 5 different favorite books. So I'll just list all of them: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Lord of the Flies by William Golding, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles, and Beloved by Toni Morrison. There's probably some great stuff I'm forgetting. I also really love Stephen King's books, and The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan, and Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card too.

 ~What can we expect for book two?  (EEP!! So excited for it..even though its like a year away haha)

I know! I wish it could come out sooner! I should have some ARCs starting in the spring, hopefully. Anyway, Book 2, titled THE UPRISING, is already done! I actually finished it right as THE FORSAKEN was coming out. And I'm already writing Book 3 (which doesn't have a title yet). So Book 2 is even more epic than Book 1. In Book 2, Alenna and her friends continue their journey to try to take over the wheel, and battle for freedom. But there are also some huge twists and betrayals--Alenna gets tested in every way possible, and nothing works out like she planned. She ends up having to question her beliefs, and to fight even harder than in Book 1.

Major thanks Lisa!! I absolutely love all your answers and thoroughly enjoyed having you on the blog!! Looking forward to The Uprising!

The Forsaken

Series: The Forsaken #1

Release Date: July 10, 2012

by, Simon and Schuster

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy for fans of The Hunger Games.

As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up.

The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway. {Goodreads}

The Giveaway

 Hurah! To this amazing book and the awesome Lisa!! Here is a little something something courtesy of Lisa herself! Here is what you can win:

*1 signed copy of The Forsaken
&
*some cool The Forsaken bookmarks

This giveaway is US & CA only.
This giveaway will end on September 19, 2012.
You must be 13 years or older to enter!
Here is the Rafflecopter.....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you enjoyed!

~Jaiden

{Follow Friday} ...or Thursday?? #29

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

~This Week's Features:

Fantasy Book Chick
&
Books with Bite 

~This Week's Question:

What are you reading right now? How do you like it?.

~My Answer:

Uhhh...right now I'm reading two books. One is an ebook and one a physical copy. Send by Patty Blount (link on sidebar) is my physical copy and it is for an upcoming book tour and Dark Kiss is my ebook. Send is going great! I love it! But I am trying to finish Dark Kiss ASAP for a review for NetGalley and its...not as great. Idk it's wishy washy. Good then bad, then good, then bad. (Just finished like 2 hrs after I posted this....it redeems itself in the end....my review should be up on Saturday!) :D

What about you? Leave your link below!

Have a great Friday! And a wonderful weekend!! :D

~Jaiden

P.S....Have you read my review of Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins here?? What about my Waiting on Wednesday pick here?? OH! And go check out the interview between me and Lisa M Stasse, author of the new dystopian The Forsaken! Wait to the very end and enter for a chance to win a signed copy of her debut book here! :D