Author's Slambook: M.M. Vaughan + Giveaway

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

M.M.Vaughan (Monica Meira Vaughan) is the author of THE ABILITY (Simon & Schuster, Apr.2013), a middle-grade novel described by Publishers Weekly as "a fast-paced, superhero-tinged spy novel" and picked by TIME for Kids as one of its '12 Books For Summer'. Her second book, MINDSCAPE, will be on sale March 2014. Monica likes to start writing after midnight and it has been, until recently, her secret hobby. On the weekends, she dedicates her time to building cardboard cities for her three-year-old daughter and catching up on sleep. She lives in London, England. Learn more on her website.

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Bright blue.

2. Favorite food? Tortilla (spanish omelet). My mother would make this for me whenever I wasn't well, or to celebrate anything. Actually, she still does.

3. Favorite movie of all time? Wizard of Oz. I have to say that, because my three-year-old daughter wouldn't forgive me otherwise!

4. Favorite song? "Me and Bobby McGee", the version by Janis Joplin.

5. Favorite book of all time? I have about two hundred favorite books! I'm sure you don't want the full list here so I think I'll choose 'Brave New World' because of the profound effect it had on me when I first read it at the age of thirteen. I still take it out from time to time to reread.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originate?

Although I'd always been an avid reader, I only started writing when I left school and began my teaching degree. I wanted to get children inspired to read more and decided to try writing stories for my pupils. They weren't very good, but the children liked them!

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I try to write at least 1,000 words a day. It doesn't always work out that way; sometimes I write more, sometimes less, but having that target gives me something to work towards. When I'm writing, I try not to take any days off as I find it very difficult to get back into the story after a break.

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

Definitely with an outline. I always have a new notebook for every project and work everything out before I actually start writing the story. I start with a rough outline; a simple beginning, middle and end and build up from there. Once I have a sentence or so for each chapter, I start writing the story. The outline will always change as I progress with the story.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

As THE ABILITY was my first book, the hardest part was making the time to write when I had no idea if it would be published - everything else in my life took priority. The easiest, unexpectedly, was doing the first edit for my editor. Although it took up a lot of time, I was so excited by the prospect of my book actually going to print that I just didn't want to stop!

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I don't read when I'm writing, as I find myself getting too distracted. So, when I'm not writing, I'm reading.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is, ideally, not always obvious.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I can't pretend I know something.

3. I can write better when I set goals for myself.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to recharge. That's what I have to keep myself when I find I'm still working at 3am!

5. A room without a book is not a room in my house!

Books

Title: The Ability (The Ability #1)
Genre/s: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Publisher: Margaret McElderry
Released Date: April 23, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis:

Delve into the extraordinary abilities of the twelve-year-old mind in this thrilling start to a middle-grade series that expands the possibilities of power.

No one has any confidence in twelve-year-old Christopher Lane. His teachers discount him as a liar and a thief, and his mom doesn’t have the energy to deal with him. But a mysterious visit from the Ministry of Education indicates that Chris might have some potential after all: He is invited to attend the prestigious Myers Holt Academy.

When Christopher begins at his new school, he is astounded at what he can do. It seems that age twelve is a special time for the human brain, which is capable of remarkable feats—as also evidenced by Chris’s peers Ernest and Mortimer Genver, who, at the direction of their vengeful and manipulative mother, are testing the boundaries of the human mind.

But all this experimentation has consequences, and Chris soon finds himself forced to face them—or his new life will be over before it can begin.

Giveaway Time!!! 

Le Rules:

• Open to US only
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Winners will be notified via email
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours
• Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  I'm going to check the entries so please follow the directions correctly.
• Contest ends October 30, 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author's Slambook: Helen Keeble, author of Fang Girl and No Angel

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Helen is not, and never has been, a vampire, angel, or supernatural being of any kind. She has however been a teenager. Her novel Fang Girl, a YA paranormal comedy about a teenage vampire fan girl who unexpectedly becomes a real vampire, was published by HarperCollins last year. Her new novel No Angel is out in Oct 2013, and is another YA paranormal comedy, about a boy who discovers that being the only guy at an all-girls' school isn't exactly heaven on earth. Helen lives in West Sussex, England, with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Turquoise, though for some reason my wardrobe seems to be entirely purple at the moment. How did that happen?

2. Favorite food? Can't beat a big, rare T-bone steak… unless it's being cooked in the UK, in which case it is probably going to be like chewing boots. Brits seem to have a deep and terrible fear of cows, and cook them for hours to make sure they are entirely dead. (I am half-English and half-American, so I can be rude about both countries *grin*)

3. Favorite movie of all time? I don't watch a lot of movies, but I do love Galaxy Quest. I identify a bit too much with all the SF geeks in it, who really wish that their favourite show was real…

4. Favorite song? House by the Sea, by Iron & Wine

5. Favorite book of all time? The Last Unicorn, by Peter S Beagle

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originated?

As a kid, I wrote my own private stories because I wanted to combine all the best bits of my favourite books (Spock and Legolas having adventures riding dragons in Pern…). I never thought of writing for other people though until I went to university and joined a role-playing group. I started writing little stories about our characters for my friends… which turned into posting them online for other fans of that particular game (Legend of the Five Rings, for the curious). People seemed to enjoy them so I kept writing, and eventually joined a critique group for fanfic writers. Through that group I met some professional writers (like the SF writer Yoon Ha Lee) who encouraged me to start writing my own original stories. So I did, and started sending them to SF/F magazines… and many, MANY rejection letters later, I finally had a story accepted. After a few successes with short stories, I finally decided to try writing a novel. And so Fang Girl was born…

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I have a full-time job (I'm an industrial software engineer) and a two-year-old, so my schedule is rather hectic! I write in the evenings, after my daughter has gone to bed and my husband and I have had dinner. When I'm working on a book, I try to write something every day, though sometimes after a long day it's a struggle to force myself to sit at my computer and not just mess around on the internet! But when the writing is going well and I'm in my groove, I can easily start typing at 8pm and not even look up until 2am… good for the book, not so good for my day job or my husband!

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I used to just write. Nowadays I HAVE to outline, because editors tend to like to know that you have some vague plan and aren't going to kill all the characters in despair halfway through the book. *grin*

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

The hardest part is having the discipline to sit down and get the words out. I hate writing first drafts! On the other hand, I love editing and rewriting - taking that dreadful first draft and polishing it into something that's actually readable. I know a lot of authors who are exactly the opposite though!

In No Angel specifically, the hardest part was working out the metaphysics of the angels and demons - there were so many different, conflicting pieces of mythology to choose from, so I had a hard time picking between them! The easiest part was the dialogue, because all the characters had very distinctive personalities that naturally clashed with each other. I had particular fun writing the Headmistress, who gets all the best, most sarcastic lines!

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Read every book I can get my hands on. I also love games of all sorts -- in the past I've been into roleplaying games (both tabletop and computer), but at the moment I'm obsessed with board games. Unfortunately board games take up a lot more space than computer games… between them and the books, there's hardly enough space for people in my house!

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is smaller than people think.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I'm awake.

3. I can write better when all the characters are fighting with each other in my head.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to dream up the next book!

5. A room without a book is UNTHINKABLE *grin*

Books

Title: No Angel
Genre/s: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy
Publisher: HarperTeen
Expected Publication: October 8, 2013
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Pre - Order: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis:

Rafael Angelos just got handed the greatest gift any teenage boy could ever dream of. Upon arriving at his new boarding school for senior year, he discovered that he is the ONLY male student. But what should have been a godsend isn't exactly heaven on Earth.

Raffi's about to learn that St. Mary's is actually a hub for demons-and that he was summoned to the school by someone expecting him to save the day. Raffi knows he's no angel-but it's pretty hard to deny that there's some higher plan at work when he wakes up one morning to discover a glowing circle around his head.

Helen Keeble's debut novel, Fang Girl, has been praised for its pitch-perfect teen voice, and VOYA called it "refreshing and reminiscent of Louise Rennison's Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series." No Angel brings you angels and demons like you've never seen them-complete with the wry humor of Vladimir Tod, sinfully irreverent romance, and some hilariously demonic teenage dilemmas.

Stacking the Shelves #5 and GWIMM #20

Stacking the Shelves, hosted by Tynga's Reviews is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual.

I only get one this week but this one is something I'm super excited to read. And if you love zombies, I'm sure you would be excited about this too. So here it is!

Sick by Tom Leveen (ARC)
A HUGE THANKS to Tina and Abrams and Chronicles UK for this AWESOME book!
I already finished reading this so watch out for my review this week.

I also received signed bookmarks from Erin Bowman. (Thanks, Erin! *hugs*)

What did you get this week? Leave your links here! I'd love to see them too.

Author's Slambook: Shannon Delany, author of Weather Witch

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Shannon Delany has been writing since she could hold a pencil and string words together in some vague semblance of a sentence. She loves myths, legends, folklore, music, art and research, and when she isn't writing, revising or obsessing over a story she enjoys spending time with her family and taking trips with them. She maintains a small farm featuring heritage livestock, rescued dogs, and adopted cats. Her novels include: 13 to Life, Secrets and Shadows, Bargains and Betrayals, Destiny and Deception, Rivals and Retribution (the 13 to Life series through St. Martin's Press), and Weather Witch, Stormbringer (January 2014), and a 3rd upcoming novel in the Weather Witch series (also through St. Martin's Press, summer 2014). Her 13 to Life novels are available in translation in Brazil, Turkey, Germany, France, and Hungary. She has also contributed to three charity anthologies: Spirited: 13 Haunting Tales (Leap Books); Two and Twenty Dark Tales: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes (Month 9 Books); Very Superstitious (October 2013, Month 9 Books).

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? As a brown-eyed girl, I most love the blue of both my husband's eyes and my son's eyes.

2. Favorite food? Homemade pizza!

3. Favorite movie of all time? The Princess Bride--it's so witty and silly!

4. Favorite song? The Ballad of Love and Hate by the Avett Brothers

5. Favorite book of all time? Arrows of the Queen by Mercedes Lackey--it made me think about many things differently.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originate?

I had some great teachers early on and my parents were always supportive of my creative endeavors.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Crazy and obsessive. Hours and hours of writing, pacing, and making crockpot meals so my family eats. :)

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I started by writing 13 to Life online at Textnovel.com and won the first-ever cell phone novel contest in the western world because of that. But mainly I stay clear of the internet when I'm on a writing binge and I just type on my laptop like a crazy woman.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

All of my books are different... The hardest part is probably when I revise a book--I get very picky! The easiest is usually the actual writing of the rough draft--that usually comes rushing out of my fingertips.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I do some art, check out live music and museums, take online classes, and, most importantly I love spending time with my family.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is nearly non-existent some days

2. Research is what I'm doing when I'm starting to develop a book and when I'm filling in details in the book

3. I can write better when I'm properly caffeinated!

4. Sleep is an excellent way to keep my brain working for writing when I wake back up.

5. A room without a book is a room improperly designed and yet undecorated

Books

Title: Weather Witch
Genre/s: Young Adult, Paranormal Historical Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin Press
Date Published: June 25, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis:

In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

Author's Slambook: Laure Eve, author of Fearsome Dreamer

Author Bio:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Laure Eve is a French-British hybrid who grew up in Cornwall, a place saturated with myth and fantasy. Being a child of two cultures taught her everything she needed to know about trying to fit in at the same time as trying to stand out. She speaks English and French and can hold a vague conversation, usually about food, in Greek.

She has worked as a bookseller and, for one memorable summer, a costumed bear for children's parties. She now lives and works in London. Follow Laure at www.laureeve.co.uk or on Twitter: @LaureEve

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Probably burgundy.

2. Favorite food? Haagen Dazs cookie dough ice cream. Or possibly Roquefort on baguette. Or keftedes with lemon juice. Sometimes it's ratatouille. Moules mariniere. Cake. Any kind of cake. I really love food.

3. Favorite movie of all time? TOO. HARD. TO ANSWER. I don't have a favourite - they all do different things for me, depending on mood. Today I'll say Who Framed Roger Rabbit? just because I've seen it a trillion times and yet if it's on TV I still have to watch it.

4. Favorite song? As above! Today let's say Every Day is Exactly the Same by Nine Inch Nails. It's a dystopian pop song. Honestly.

5. Favorite book of all time? Man, you're killing me. For the moment we'll go with Stephen King's It. That book changed my life.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originated?

From the moment my mother read me fairytales as bedtime stories, I think. I've always wanted to write, really. Writing is so freeing. It's a way to escape, to become something more. We all want to become something more.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Sort of insane :) I have a full time job, so when I'm in the middle of a book I tend to work 11 or 12 hour days for weeks on end. And weekends. I wouldn't change it for the world, though.

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I start with a scene, one scene, that I can't get out of my head. I'll write that scene first. Then I'll let it sit for a while. Then I start to build a story around it, a world, and people, and relationships, and a very loose idea of plot. Often I won't know how something ends before I begin writing it. But that's half the fun.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

The hardest part is revisions. Going through your words again and again, combing, looking for mistakes, inconsistencies, plot holes, boring bits... after the tenth or eleventh readthrough it starts to drive you insane, and you begin to lose faith in what you have created. But you have to stick with it, and get through it. It's all worth it.

The easiest part is that first scene I write :)

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I'm a massive movie buff, so I love to have movie nights. I love yoga too - writing can be very sedentary, so I like taking classes just so I get to move around! And reading, of course. I don't often get time to do it, between work and writing, but nothing beats a fabulous book.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is a point of view.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I'm procrastinating.

3. I can write better when I'm on deadline.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to live other lives through dreams.

5. A room without a book is just a box.

Books

Title: Fearsome Dreamer (Fearsome Dreamer #1)
Genre/s: Young Adult, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Expected Publication: October 21, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis

There is a world where gods you’ve never heard of have wound themselves into hearts, and choice has led its history down a different path.

This is a world where France made a small, downtrodden island called England part of its vast and bloated empire.

There are people here who can cross a thousand miles with their minds. There are rarer people still who can move between continents in the blink of an eye.

These people are dangerous.

And wanted. Desperately wanted.

Apprentice hedgewitch Vela Rue knows that she is destined for more. She knows being whisked off from a dull country life to a city full of mystery and intrigue is meant to be. She knows she has something her government wants, a talent so rare and precious and new that they will do anything to train her in it.

But she doesn’t know that she is being lied to. She doesn’t know that the man teaching her about her talent is becoming obsessed by her, and considered by some to be the most dangerous man alive ...

Author's Slambook: Elizabeth May + Giveaway

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Elizabeth May currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland, with her fiancé, Mr May. THE FALCONER is her début novel. For more information, follow her on Twitter @_ElizabethMay or visit her website www.elizabethmaywrites.com

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Teal! Or, maybe, violet.

2. Favorite food? I probably enjoy anything put down on a plate in front of me, but cake makes me happiest.

3. Favorite movie of all time? Some Like it Hot makes me irrationally happy.

4.Favorite song? Right now it’s NIN’s “And All That Could Have Been”, but that could change as soon as next week.

5. Favorite book of all time? GOOD OMENS by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originate?

Mostly in an attempt to be an exceedingly clever and insolent child in grade school. What did I do on my summer vacation? Lounging on the couch isn’t an answer? Fine. I hunted for monsters. I found the Loch Ness Monster in the pool. Etcetera.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

It goes something like this:

2 cups of coffee in the morning, write for 2 hours.

Nap.

More coffee. Write for 2 more hours.

Consider napping, but write for another hour.

Nap.

Naps are very important, you see.

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I work with a general outline, but it’s nothing set in stone. I’m able to outline about 2/3 of the book to pretty detailed accuracy (with wiggle room for plot developments, but usually it works well enough that I don’t have to toss it in the bin), but the last act of the book is less clear until I begin writing. I always, always have the end game in mind, but I’m pretty foggy on how that plays out.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

The hardest part is writing the rough draft. I have Blank Screen Anxiety, which is where you look at the curser blinking in Word, the empty white page, and you realize you have to come up with all the words that are going to go on that page. And those words? Yeah, they’re not always pretty to read at first. In fact, they can be downright awful. So the entire rough draft process is a self-flagellating period where you say to yourself, “Your writing sucks. This book sucks. I hope you can make it better. Because it really sucks.”

Which leads to the easiest part for me, and that’s the editing. All the words have been written, the ideas are already there so you can focus on the words and the story and how to make them better.

I can’t remember where I heard it, but it’s something like: I may be a horrible writer, but I am a great editor.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to slink around the Scottish countryside and take pictures of pretty things.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is that I can personally fly in one, but have to use a plane in the other.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I don’t want to write, but I feel like I should.

3. I can write better when drinking copious amounts of coffee.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to experience the zombie apocalypse, because if you get bitten, at least it’s not permanent.

5. A room without a book is a cry for help. You should help by putting books in it.

Books

Title: The Falconers
Genre/s: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Steampunk
Publisher: Gollancz (UK)
Expected Publication: September 26, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis: 

Heiress. Debutant. Murderer. A new generation of heroines has arrived.

Edinburgh, Scotland, 1844

Lady Aileana Kameron, the only daughter of the Marquess of Douglas, was destined for a life carefully planned around Edinburgh’s social events – right up until a faery killed her mother.

Now it’s the 1844 winter season and Aileana slaughters faeries in secret, in between the endless round of parties, tea and balls. Armed with modified percussion pistols and explosives, she sheds her aristocratic facade every night to go hunting. She’s determined to track down the faery who murdered her mother, and to destroy any who prey on humans in the city’s many dark alleyways.

But the balance between high society and her private war is a delicate one, and as the fae infiltrate the ballroom and Aileana’s father returns home, she has decisions to make. How much is she willing to lose – and just how far will Aileana go for revenge?

Giveaway Time!!! 

Le Rules:

• Open to US, CAN, UK
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Winners will be notified via email
• A new winner will be chosen if a response is not received within 48 hours
• Use the Rafflecopter to enter.  I'm going to check the entries so please follow the directions correctly.
• Contest ends October 26, 2013

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author's Slambook: Erin Richards + Giveaway

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

After lamenting the lack of young adult books to read, Erin wrote her first novel at the age of eighteen hoping to shift the tide. Then everyday life took its toll on her writerly dreams until 2003 when she couldn’t ignore the writing bug any longer. By then, she had immersed herself in reading adult fantasy and romance novels. Writing paranormal & fantasy romance was a no brainer. Erin has published two adult romance novels: CHASING SHADOWS, a paranormal romantic suspense (EPPIE award finalist and Night Owl Romance 5-Star Top Pick) and WICKED PARADISE, a fantasy romance released in August 2012. Erin finally realizes her lifelong dream of publishing a young adult novel with the debut of VIGILANTE NIGHTS in July 2013. Erin Richards lives in Northern California. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, photography, and American muscle cars.

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? It’s all about the purple! (I just redesigned my website from blue to purple tones. Check it out!)

2. Favorite food? I LOVE Mexican food.

3. Favorite movie of all time? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

4. Favorite song? Comeback by Redlight King

5. Favorite book of all time? Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originate?

Because I was in love with books at an early age, I always had an active imagination and would create scenarios in my head of my favorite characters. I wanted to emulate my favorite books and eventually began writing my stories in a notepad. Then I wrote my first novel at eighteen, inspired by S.E. Hinton’s, The Outsiders, one of my all-time favorite novels. I read The Outsiders as a teen, years after it was published when there was little YA fiction on the shelves. Gritty, thrilling, and real, The Outsiders left me awestruck. I was also doubly impressed when I learned Ms. Hinton was only sixteen when she wrote it. I then decided if she could write a book at sixteen, then I could write one at eighteen! I had grand hopes to shift the tide and bring more young adult books to the shelves. It took a long time, but I finally realized that dream with my recent release of Vigilante Nights.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

Since I have a day job, I try to spend at least 2 hours a night writing, editing and doing promotions. My weekends are all mine and I’ll start my mornings off catching up on social media, handling promotional tasks, then get down to writing for a couple hours. Then I take a break to return to real life tasks, and I’m back to writing for another hour or so in the evenings. Of course, Facebook and Twitter sometimes hijack my writing time!

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I started out as a “panster” (winging it by the seat of my pants), until I learned about goal, motivation and conflict (GMC) charts. Now, I do a high level plot outline and a GMC chart for my main characters before I start my first draft. However, my muse isn’t a 100% sold on the outline process. “She” usually throws in subplots of subplots so I start to veer from my outline. I recently prepared a new YA book proposal for my agent, which included a summary (synopsis). This was the first time I’ve done a full synopsis for a book I haven’t totally written yet. It was a challenge, but it has become helpful to keep me on track as I continue writing the book.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

The biggest challenge was writing from a 17-year-old boy’s point-of-view, in first person, no less. Writing three romance novels with alternating female and male POVs helped greatly. I had already read a lot of novels with male POVs, and I took it a step further and read some “boy” books from popular YA authors to see how they handled POV. In fact, I didn’t know if I had actually accomplished it until an editorial director of a big NY publisher read & critiqued an early version of the first fifty pages and told me I had nailed it. Of course, I also wanted my book to appeal to females, and writing in a love interest was a natural progression since all my books have a romance element.

The easiest part was the editing. I think I’ve reached that point after writing six books that I’m comfortable editing, and my first drafts are not so bad anymore! People learn from doing, and I won’t say I’ve mastered editing, but I’m way better at it than when I started writing with publishing in mind.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Other than spending time at my day job, I love to read, watch TV, dabble in photography and my newest project is re-landscaping my backyard.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is a fine line. One toe in either direction and you just never know where you’ll end up.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I’m cruising the internet, even if I’m shopping at Amazon (it’s not just for books) or socializing on Facebook!

3. I can write better after my commute home from my day job. My long commute gives me time to create my next scenes in my head, or to solve plot problems and holes.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to recharge and bring clarity to my mind in order to put words on the page in a logical and exciting order.

5. A room without a book is like an empty dreary room without a view.

Books

Title: Vigilante Nights
Genre/s: Young Adult Contemporary, Supernatural
Publisher: Merit Press/F+W Media
Date Published: July 18, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Book Depo

Synopsis:

His beloved twin dead, his future destroyed, Lucas forms a vigilante posse to take revenge on the gang members responsible. Can his new love, and his sister’s voice from beyond death, stop Lucas from self-destruction?

After a hideous car wreck, Lucas wakes from a coma to find that his world is gutted. Not only is his beloved twin sister, Silver, gone forever, but Lucas is broken in body and spirit. He will never be a college athlete, and is robbed of what he now realizes was the most important bond of his life. Although they weren’t identical twins, Lucas and Silver shared a bond so fierce it defied reason, and was nearly supernatural.

After her death, that bond seems to endure when Lucas sees Silver everywhere he turns. Either he’s crazy, or Silver is trying to tell him something about the California gang initiation they stumbled into that cost Silver her life. Lucas is bent on revenge, turning on Raymond, Silver’s former boyfriend; the one Lucas never wanted her to date. He forms a posse of vigilantes to take out the gangsters responsible for Silver’s death, but he risks not only his own life, but the love of the new girl on his block, who knows more about Lucas and Silver that can be accounted for by mere chance.

Giveaway Time!!! 

Le Rules:

• Open to US and International
• Must be 13+ to enter
• Winners will be notified via email
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Author's Slambook: Natasha Ngan, author of The Elites

Author Bio:
Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Natasha Ngan was born in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and spent her childhood in both the UK and Malaysia, where the Chinese side of her family is from. She also spent it living in two other worlds - reality, and her imagination. As an only child, books were her best friends, and though she now has real, physical, human friends, books are still every bit as important to her.

Natasha has always (only) wanted to be an author. THE ELITES is her first novel, and she regularly blogs about her experiences of being a debut author. Outside of writing YA fiction, Natasha works as a freelance social media consultant and runs a fashion and photography blog with her boyfriend Callum (www.girlinthelens.com). Follow Natasha at: http://natashangan.com or on Twitter: @girlinthelens

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Red.

2. Favorite food? TOO MANY TO CHOOSE. The list includes - tempura prawns, bangers and mash, my mum's pork belly, chocolate, popcorn and blueberries.

3. Favorite movie of all time? Anything Baz Luhrmann.

4. Favorite song? At the moment I can't stop listening to Treasure by Bruno Mars.

5. Favorite book of all time? The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originated?

I've always loved books and stories. My mum still has some of my early writings - they were suspiciously similar to the books I was enjoying at the time. I have written fiction and non-fiction since young, and some of my jobs have been to do with writing, but it's really been the last few years where characters have just invaded my brain and refuse to leave until I get their stories out on paper.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

At the moment I have three jobs, one of which is writing, so it's a bit crazy trying to find the time to get it done! But I still aim to get each novel done in around 4-5 months. I think it's all about time management really, and forcing yourself to write even when it's the last thing you want to do. I usually get most of my writing done in the evenings, mainly because it's quiet and I feel like I've got enough of everything else done. I'm so easily distracted when I write, so I find it easier to write after I've done things, rather than before, when I can feel them hanging over me!

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

A little bit of both, but more of the just write. Most of my stories start with a core idea - a world, characters, a cool concept I want to explore. Or even just a scene that's flashed into my mind. Then I flesh them out a little, letting them develop in my mind while I'm working on other things, and a plot usually evolves in that time. When I come to write, I tend to just have a few scenes here and there, and then as I write the characters take over and start linking everything up for me. I don't like to outline too much as I like to keep it natural and more adaptable.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book? The easiest?

The hardest part to write in The Elites was all the linky stuff - the parts that kept both narratives in line (the book follows two teens from the Elites and two kids from the slums, and their stories intertwine). It came pretty naturally, but trying to make sure everything fit properly across both narratives was more of a structural job, and not as fun or quick to write. The easiest were the action scenes - they play out like a film in my mind, and I just write as quick as I can to get it all down.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Reading, thinking about my writing, running, eating, more eating, seeing friends, walking, exploring. Those sorts of things. I'm easily pleased. If I've got a book in my hands and food in my mouth, I'm one happy girl.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is reality has boring things like forms and taxes.

2. Research is what I'm doing when a story is developing in my mind, and I'm building the world around it.

3. I can write better when I stop worrying about what I'm going to write (which rarely happens).

4. Sleep is an excellent way to dream.

5. A room without a book is lonely -every single room in my house has at least one book in it.

Books

Title: The Elites
Genre/s: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Dystopia,
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Date Published: September 5, 2013
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository
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Synopsis:

‘There is a rumour that the Elites don’t bleed.’

Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures – and racial tension.

Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She’d never dream of leaving – but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly.

Packed full of adventure, romance, exoticism and the power of friendship, The Elites is a highly compelling and beautifully written novel from a supremely talented debut author.

Author's Slambook: Tellulah Darling, author of The Blooming Goddess Trilogy

Author Bio:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Tellulah Darling

noun

1. YA romantic comedy author because her first kiss sucked and she's compensating.

2. Alter ego of former screenwriter.

3. Sassy minx.

Geeks out over: cool tech. Squees for: great storytelling. Delights in: fabulous conversation. Writes about: where love meets comedy. Awkwardness ensues.

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Purple

2. Favorite food? Really good toasted bread with butter

3. Favorite movie of all time? I have a top ten. But I'll give you my favourite romantic comedy since that's what I write: When Harry Met Sally.

4. Favorite song? At the moment, it's Adele's cover of Lovesong by The Cure. It makes me yearn and swoon and I hope to one day write a book that makes others feel the way that song does for me.

5. Favorite book of all time? That is a cruel cruel question. Sigh ... Okay, I'll go with Franny and Zooey by J.D. Salinger

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originated?

I don't remember a time I wasn't making up stories, so there was no real starting point.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

It depends where in the process I am. If I'm trying to figure out my story, then I might not write at all. I just spend a lot of time thinking about characters and plot and theme. And scrawling notes on random bits of paper that I eventually turn into an outline. But once I'm writing the draft, I get more and more consumed with the story and my writing time increases until I'm resenting my family for wanting clean clothes and food because all I want to do is write.

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I always use an outline. Even if I toss it partway through the book. I like to have a loose journey laid out for me and understand my characters' start and end points.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book?

The outline is always the hardest. Because every action taken has to stem from character. There's no point trying to shove my characters into some plot direction because I think it might be cool. It won't ring true. So that means I need to really truly understand these people and how they would behave at every turn.

The easiest? Dialogue is really easy for me. That might be because of my screenwriting background or because I'm naturally wordy and mouthy.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Read. Such a cliché, I know, but it's true. Reading refuels me. I can whip through a book a day easily.

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is not always clear.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I'm shamelessly eavesdropping.

3. I can write better when I've put in the time to figure out my characters.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to end the day.

5. A room without a book is a room in someone else's house.

Books

Title: My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess #1)
Genre/s: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance
Publisher: Te Da Media
Date Published: April 1, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Nobles | Book Depo

Synopsis

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)

b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy teen yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book one of this teen fantasy romance series. Compared to Kai and Sophie, Romeo and Juliet had it easy.

Title: My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess #2)
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Mythology, Romance
Publisher: Te Da Media
Expected Publication: October 31, 2013
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Synopsis:

Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

Author's Slambook: L.M. Augustine, author of Click to Subscribe and Two Roads

Author Bio
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

L.M. Augustine is a YA romance author who is obsessed with writing about dorky teenagers, love, and happy endings. He currently lives in New England, where he spends far too much time reading books and screaming at his computer, and he believes that the solution to the world’s problems can be found in chocolate cake. Click To Subscribe is his first novel.

Favorites

1. What is your favorite color? Blue for sure.

2. Favorite food? I'm a big fan of mashed potatoes. They go with well everything, in my opinion.

3. Favorite movie of all time? Oh this is a tough one! I guess maybe The Godfather? I'm not a big movie watcher.

4. Favorite song? Gone Gone Gone by Phillip Phillips.

5. Favorite book of all time? I can't possibly choose just one! I have too many favorites. But I think The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, and Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver would be near the top.

All about Writing

1. How did your interest in writing originate?

I've always loved to read, so I think my love of writing just sprung up from there.

2. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

I write part-time, so I'm always working during the days and writing in the early hours of the morning. :-)

3. Do you work with outline or just write?

I just write. I usually have a vague idea of where I'm going, but I can't ever do a full outline.

4. What was the hardest part in writing your book?

The easiest? The easiest was the dialogue. I felt like Cat and West's banter flowed really easily and really well as I wrote. The hardest part was capturing his grief over his dead mom.

5. What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Reading! :)

Finish the sentence

1. The difference between fiction and reality is fiction is usually more honest.

2. Research is what I'm doing when I have a very complex book to write.

3. I can write better when I've had a lot of coffee to drink.

4. Sleep is an excellent way to waste precious writing time :P.

5. A room without a book is a room that has a problem.

Books

Title: Click to Subcribe
Genre/s: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: May 9, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis:

1,135,789. That’s how many subscribers sixteen-year-old West Ryder has on his web vlog series. But he only has eyes for one of them.

As one of the internet’s most prestigious video bloggers, West talks about high school relationships under the name “Sam Green.” As far as he knows, no one from school, not even his best friend, Cat, has seen his videos. But the highlight of the whole thing is Harper Knight, who comments every day at exactly 2:02 in the afternoon. He doesn’t know anything about her aside from the occasional deep philosophical messaging on why pizza tastes so delicious, but as stupid as it sounds, he might be falling for her. So when they finally agree to meet in real life, West’s hope for romance seems more and more in reach. But that all changes as soon as he arrives at their meeting spot and sees Cat walking toward him, wearing the same “I <3 nbsp="" span="" style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19px;">Sam Green” T-shirt Harper promised she'd have on.

To his alarm, West realizes he is falling in love with the best friend who has always been a sister to him.

Title: Two Roads
Genre/s: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published
Date Published: August 26, 2013
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Buy: Amazon | Barnes&Noble | Book Depo

Synopsis:

The only person poetry-loving Cali Monroe hates more than herself is Logan Waters, the geeky kid who lives in the dorm building next to hers.

Ever since Cali's parents told her she would amount to nothing, she has felt entirely inadequate. Friendless and alone, she takes on the mean girl role in hopes it will make her feel better--and Logan serves as the perfect target. He infuriates her with his obnoxiously long lashes, his all too perfect dimpled smile, and his complete lack of personality outside of his intelligence. It doesn't hurt that he's part of the reason her brother is dead, either. So Cali hates him, and he returns the favor. Thus, their prank-filled, insult-driven rivalry is born, and torturing Logan quickly becomes the highlight of her life.

But when Cali's parents set them up on a blind date, she begins to realize Logan might not be as boring as she always thought. He shares her love of poetry, takes a sadistic pleasure in making fun of crepes, and he makes her blush when he calls her smile pretty.

And hey, maybe those long lashes of his aren't that obnoxious after all…

Two Roads is New Adult Romance about finding love, standing out, and learning to embrace who you are. It contains some language and mild sexual content.