It is Saturday once again...Guess what that means, It means another Author Spotlight and this week we have the treat of having the Super Sweet and talented author Jennifer Murgia. And guess what else...she is gonna give away 2 Swag Packs.Jennifer was nice enough to take a quick picture for us
So 2 lucky winners will recieve this....
Now isnt that a nice array of Swag!
So as I said a little earlier, The wonderfully sweet and talented Jennifer Murgia is our guest this week
And I have to mention I love this picture, I have a thing for black and white and sepia photos.. they just make me happy.
And not to mention the wonderful cover of her book
Angel Star
1)What lead you to become a writer?
Growing up as an only child, my imagination stretched beyond its borders to keep me occupied. Neighbor kids and I would make up plays based on our favorite movies and I would always create the “screen play”. I also devoured books from an early age. My mother would read to me every night, and then the magical moment came when I fell in love with Judy Blume books, The Watcher in the Woods . . . stories became an obsession with me, especially when I realized how much fun it was to create my own.
2)What is the first book you ever wrote?
Angel Star is my first book. I’ve written a couple of children’s stories but never pursued them. Too embarrassing!
3)Do you have certain things that motivate you (i.e. photo, quote, item)
I usually like to listen to music to get me in the right frame of mind for writing, but then I like extreme quiet while I do the actual writing – which is why I only write when my kids are in school.
4)Who are some of your favorite writers?
Anne Rice, Milan Kundera, Libba Bray, Stephenie Meyer, Cate Tiernan. The more I read, the larger the list gets! There are so many talented authors out there, but these are a few of my very favorite.
5)What is your favorite genre to read?
YA
6)What is your favorite genre to write?
YA
7)Which book or series are you most proud of and why?
Angel Star is my first book and I’m elated it’s getting published! The entire process – the writing, editing and selling of the book – has been a rush for me. It’s a bit dreamlike. The story itself is so very special to me. Angel Star teeters on an emotional edge, as the story is not only about good angels vs. dark angels, it’s also about the light and dark in ourselves. It’s balanced out with every kind of obstacle a person can be hit with . . . love, death, bullying, temptation, and rising above it all as a stronger individual.
8)What tips would you give to aspiring writers?
If there’s a story inside you begging to be written, listen to it. Listen to what the characters are telling you, not simply what YOU want the characters to say. If you write for yourself without looking ahead to the prospect of “I’m going to sell this book”, then the story will be much stronger and more meaningful. After you’re satisfied, then try to pitch it to someone.
List of all books
ANGEL STAR debuts May 18, 2010 by Lands Atlantic Publishing, LLC
This Challenge is hosted by J-Kaye you can enter here
1. The goal is to read 100 or more books. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.
--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.
2. Audio, Re-reads, eBooks, YA, Manga, Graphic Novels, Library books, Novellas, Young Reader, Nonfiction – as long as the book has an ISBN or equivalent or can be purchased as such, the book counts.
What doesn't count: Individual short stories or individual books in the Bible.
3. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.
4. Crossovers from other reading challenges count.
5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010. Books started before the 1st do not count.
I am so happy to let everyone know I have hit 50 followers... and what better to do then have a giveaway right????
So here is the deal... I am gonna throw this contest until 1 of 2 things... I hit 100 followers or.. I hit more than 100 followers... and lets try doing this all before January 20th. Lets honestly see if we can do this... why???
Here is why... cause when I hit 100 or more followers by January 20th.. then 2 or more of you lucky followers will be winning books...what books? How about a January NEW release STRAIGHT from Book Depository to your door. How cool is that???? If you all can get me 100 followers you can win a new book.. and if you get me over 110 followers... I will be giving new books out to more than 1 person..... more than 2 people...3 People.. yes I said 3 will get brand new books of there choice.
So entries for this contest a lil different of course... Here are the rules.
Everyone gets a +1 entry
If you refer people, have them mention your name... and you get an extra entry
If you refer 5 people you get a +5 on top of each of the previous entries
and hmmm everyone to tell me which January release or previous release will get a +2
So the more followers you can get to me... the more entries you get...
Oh and of course you must be a follower
This contest is open to everyone
Be sure to leave me your email so i can contact you... lets get 100 followers Winner will be drawn January 20th.
Synopsis-Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn’t exactly glamorous, but it was Merit’s. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker—and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.
Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she’s traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan “Lord o’ the Manor” Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries’ worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude— and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan’s attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone’s still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago’s nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war—and there will be blood.
Now you are going to have to forgive me due to the fact that I never have really done a actual book review, so I may be horrible at it. Anyway, my opinion on this book is that it is completely different than I first expected. I had pretty much been swept away by this book only a few pages into this book, Chloe certainly has a way of describing each scene, emotion and the atmosphere, drawing you into the book further and further. Starting out with Merit the lead in this story waking up after attack. Making sure to let each and every reader know what Merit was thinking and feeling, emotionally drained and betrayed and confused all at once. There are wonderful twists and turns throughout this book, ones that you would not expect. Secret's that you think you have figured out only to find out that your wrong.
In my honest opinion I don't think that I could come up with negatives to this book (except ones on my end) which is not having read book 2 at this point- Friday Night Bites and then Book 3 Twice Bitten coming out later in 2010.
I would have to give this book my highest recommendation, 4 stars from StarShadow.
Just because, I am excited about my first giveaway and 2 have family coming tommorow. I have decided to close this giveaway a little earlier, So Guess what time to announce the winners for this great giveaway.
So as a reminder each of the winners will be getting an Autographed and Personalized copy of The Fidelity Files by Jessica Brody.
I used Random.org to pick the two winners.
Winner 1 is Natalie BookCrazy Jenn
Winner 2 is JustPeachy36
If you both could please send me an email (twolilstarz@gmail.com) of your shipping address and any special personalization you would like on your book, I will get these out to you. Thanks again and Congratulations.
I have received several responses to the response I wrote about Twilight ruining literature, my BF owner of the blog Bibliomaniac's Passion wanted his opinion to be known, because well hes a guy and his opinion matters LOL
Anyway we have spent quite a few of the past nights discussing this back and forth and here is his and pretty much my opinion on the matter, sorry hes goes on and on and on and on...he never shuts up LOL Oh and these two pics made us laugh.
For the last week Reagan and I have been talking about all the blogs relating to how Twilight is ruining books and all the responses about it. It's to the point that I felt the need to write a post about it. For those of you that don't know, there has been much buzz about the blog sphere about a couple of post that are claiming that the Twilight series is some how ruining books and reading. I don't know which blogs so I can't link to them.
First I'd like to state that I have never read any books from the Twilight series, nor am I ever likely to. It's not my type of book. With that disclaimer, let us continue. There is no book out there that can ruin all other books or reading. Not even the Twilight series or Harry Potter. To say such a thing show a real ignorance on how things really work. So, why would people say that at all? Well, the thing that I come up with is it's just a poor choice of words for what they are really trying to get across. What I think they are trying to say is that the Twilight series is ruining why people read, assuming that people read Twilight. I know that already several of you are shaking your heads and muttering to yourselves something about how you don't understand how wanting to read Twilight because you like it is ruining why you read. Isn't that the point of reading? Yes it is, but that's not what they really mean. You should read because you enjoy a book, but it's hard to tell if people read Twilight because they enjoy it or because it happens to be popular for now. Before I get a bunch of angry comments from people that really do like Twilight, the books, let me just say this. As long as you enjoy it then that's all that matters. The book has filled it's purpose and you ARE reading for the right reasons.
One thing that bothers me is everyone saying, 'if it gets teens to read more then how can it be bad?' It's not bad, if teens are really reading it. Something I think people haven't quite understood is that the only reason that Twilight is popular is because of the movies. From what I have read, the books aren't really all that well written. So, here's the deal. Teen goes see movie, teen thinks that Robert Pattinson is hot. All Teen's friends think he's hot. Teen must have everything to do with Twilight. Teen has no money (even if they have a job, they have more important things to buy besides books) so Teen pesters Mom and Dad to get books. Mom and Dad do. Teen gets about a chapter in then tosses book aside for new shiny cell phone or computer or something. Parents, thinking that Teen wants all things Twilight, get anything that has even a little connection to Twilight, like Wuthering Heights (because it's Bella's and Edward's favorite book). Parents buy. Teen starts reading then finds that Wuthering Heights has nothing to do with Twilight in even the smallest way. Of course I'm make some generalizations. I know there are some teens out there that really do love reading, but they are also less likely to be taken into the Twilight crazy. So what do we get in the end? A bunch of a mediocre book sold, being bought by adults and not Teens or Tweens, so that they can be used only to say that Teen has the books, not to really read because do you know how hard it is to text and read at the same time, I mean, my gawd! There are two other points that I would also like to make. One is that it seems that most of the Twilight fanatics are teenage girls. Kind of suspect if you ask me. The other is that unless the teen in question LOVES reading, it is very unlikely that many books will get read for pleasure just because of the fact that most teens have books to read for school as well.
Ok, back to the bloggers that hate Twilight. I think their biggest problem is that Twilight is popular because of the movies and not because of any literary merits. It makes them wonder why the Teens are reading. They also see books coming out like Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, which is clearly nothing more than a marketing ploy. Instead of an inspired rewrite such as The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein or Wicked, they are classics ruined for nothing more than profits. There has been a little talk about how some people are saying that a lot of the new young adult fiction titles are nothing more than books trying to ride the Twilight wave. It is true that most of the books coming out know were started long before Twilight hit it big, but I do think that it's not a coincidence that you see a lot of paranormal young adult books coming out now. Publishers. If you happen to have been working on a paranormal young adult book for the last year or two then your in luck. The publishers will pick it up and get it printed in double quick time, just so THEY can ride the wave. If you didn't write a paranormal book then you still might get picked up, but you may find the publishers are not going to go as fast.
Welcome to the first and hopefully not last Author Spotlight. Author Spotlight is a bit different from Book Reviews, It's more like and Author Review.. A few questions, information about them, books they have written and upcoming releases and some occasional special benefits.
So lets get started......
This Weeks Special Guest is:
Jessica Brody!
Thanks so much Jessica for agreeing to be our first Author Spotlight, I am really excited about this.
So lets start with a few Q&A's
1)What lead you to become a writer?
Well, many things really. But if I could pin it down to one thing, I would say my second grade teacher. She let us all “publish” our own books. We made the binding out of cardboard, rubber cement, wall paper samples and black electrical tape. It was probably the most memorable day of my life. I remember sifting through the book of wall paper samples, totally stressing out because I HAD to pick the perfect one. Anything less than that simply wouldn’t do for my masterpiece. From the minute I saw that first short story in “print”, I was hooked.
2)What is the first book you ever wrote?
“The Kitty and the Puppy.” I wrote it in second grade. And it was also the first one I ever published (see question 1). When I go back and read it now, I realize not only did it lack an inspired title, but also most of a plot. Although there were some good twists and turns throughout. Ones I’m sure the reader didn’t see coming!
3)Do you have certain things that motivate you (i.e. photo, quote, item)
Absolutely. I have a quote on my wall from Nora Roberts that says, “You can’t fix a blank page.” It’s there to encourage me to write every day, even if it seems like the only thing that’s coming out is absolute crap. Because sometimes you have to get the crap out before you get to the good stuff. And you can always edit it out later.
4)Who are some of your favorite writers?
Well, the first one that comes to mind is Helen Fielding because of her novel, Bridget Jones’s Diary. That book is the reason I even started writing novels in the first place. It was the first time I can ever remember laughing aloud while reading abook.
I’m also a huge fan of Sophie Kinsella. Her ability to make everyday situations funny is amazing and I aspire to entertain people the way shedoes.
Other favorites include Emily Giffin, Stephenie Meyer, Alyson Noël, Lisa Lutz, and Joanne Rendell.
5)What is your favorite genre to read?
I love commercial women’s fiction (aka “chick lit”) and I also love young adult fiction. I’m a sucker for those paranormal romances like Twilight. But I also love a novel that can make me laugh.
6)What is your favorite genre to write?
I write both adult and young adult fiction but I must say I really enjoy the young adult stuff. There’s something very refreshing and fun about writing for teens. I think it’s the fact that you get to revisit your own adolescence. Except now you’re armed with all the wisdom that you’ve acquired over the years…and you don’t have to worry as much about the acne.
7)Which book or series are you most proud of and why?
I just finished a book that will come out in Spring 2011 called MY LIFE UNDECIDED and I think it’s my strongest work yet. Here’s the quick pitch:
When notorious screw-up, Brooklyn Pierce finally realizes that her decision-making abilities are epically flawed, she enlists the help of the world’s blog-reading population, by posting every decision she comes across in an online poll, vowing to adhere to whatever the outcome might be.
It was extremely challenging to write. I tackled a lot of things I’ve never tackled before in my other books. Although I love all my main characters, Brooklyn is my favorite thus far. Probably because she’s the least like myself and she grows the most over the course of the novel. Every once in a while I’ll see something that she would like or dislike and think of her. It’s always nice to mentally check in on characters after you’ve finished their stories.
8)What tips would you give to aspiring writers?
Take criticism. Believe in your work and stand behind it, but don’t be afraid to make changes. Try to be as objective as possible when it comes to your writing (I know how impossible that sounds) but it will only help you in the long run. Use rejections to evolve yourself as a writer, not just to line your waste basket. When someone rejects your work and offers a reason, don’t just blow it off and claim that they “didn’t get it” or that they clearly didn’t read it closely enough, dissect it and try to figure out if what they’re saying makes sense and if it will inevitably help your work. There a lot of people in this industry—agents, editors, other writers, etc.—who know what they’re talking about and know what it takes to make a book work. After all, that’s what they get paid for! Listen to them with open ears and grateful hearts. There’s a fine balance between staying true to your art and being open for suggestions, try to stay somewhere in the middle. If they “didn’t get it,” chances are, readers won’t get it either. And you won’t be there to explain it to them in the middle of Barnes and Noble.
A beautiful L.A. woman goes undercover as a “fidelity inspector” to find out who’s faithful and who’s not in this dazzling commercial debut.
Working under the code name Ashlyn, Jennifer Hunter is hired by suspicious wives and girlfriends to conduct her infamous “fidelity inspection” on the men in their lives. Between bachelor parties and business trips, "Ashlyn" has successfully exposed hundreds of unfaithful men. Of course, she never actually sleeps with any of them; she tests for an intention to cheat only. But Jen's double life starts to take its toll and her friends suspect that the reason she hasn't had a date in two years is more complicated than the demands of her supposed “investment banking” career. And when a suspicious email surfaces with her picture on it warning men of her real motives, Jen fears that her secret identity is in danger of being uncovered. Plus, her best friend Sophie now plans to hire “Ashlyn” for an inspection of her own! Just when it seems like nothing is going her way, Jen meets sexy, sophisticated Jamie Richards. She knows there's no room for romance in her life, but she finds herself more and more drawn to him. It doesn’t take long to realize it’s time to retire Ashlyn for the sake of true love but not before taking on one last assignment--a job which will change everything. (commercial fiction, St. Martin’s Press, June 2008)
Can a former fidelity inspector tear herself away from her old calling for the sake of the perfect guy, or is the temptation to conduct love under cover just too strong?
Jennifer Hunter never saw herself as the relationship type. After all, she’d spent the last two years of her life as an undercover fidelity inspector, hired to test men’s faithfulness—not exactly the kind of job that lends itself to intimacy. But when Jamie Richards walked into her life, everything changed, and Jennifer vowed to trade in her undercover lifestyle for something more normal. That’s why she formed the Hawthorne Agency: five full-time fidelity inspectors, hired to carry out Jennifer’s mission while she manages the process from a safe (relationship-saving) distance. Jen's business is booming, and just when it seems like things can’t possibly get any better, Jamie proposes. Despite her lifelong issues with trust and commitment, Jen says yes. But can a woman who’s seen nothing but failed marriages ever come to terms with tying the knot herself? And when Jen receives a frantic phone call from one of her employees in trouble, she’s forced to make a choice. A choice that lands her in an all-too familiar place—a strange hotel room, kissing another man. And she knows that nothing will be the same. (commercial fiction, St. Martin’s Press, November 2009)
"Personally, I’m tired of waiting for the universe to get off its butt and start fixing stuff. I don’t want to wait around for Mason to get what’s coming to him. Or Heather Campbell, for that matter . . . I want to be there to see it happen."
Madison Kasparkova always thought she understood how Karma works. It’s that mysterious, powerful force that brings harmony to the universe. You know—do good things and you will be rewarded, do something bad and Karma will make sure you get what’s coming to you. A sort of cosmic balancing act.
But when Mason Brooks, Maddy’s boyfriend of two years, gets caught tongue-wrestling with Miss Perfect Body Heather Campbell, and absolutely nothing happens to either of them—except that they wind up the hot new couple of Colonial High School, it seems like Karma has officially left Maddy in the lurch. That’s why Maddy and her best friends, Angie and Jade, decide to start the Karma Club—a secret, members-only organization whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind. Whether they’re modifying Heather Campbell’s acne cream as part of “Operation Butterface,” or righting a few wrongs when it comes to Angie and Jade’s own slimy exes, they know they’re just doing what Karma should have done in the first place. They’re taking care of one another.
Sometimes, though, it isn’t wise to meddle with the universe. Because it turns out, when you mess with Karma, Karma messes back. Now Maddy must find a way to balance her life for good, even as everything around her seems to be toppling to the ground. (young adult fiction, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, April 2010)
My Life Undecided (young adult fiction, Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, Spring 2011) 52 Reasons to Hate My Father (young adult fiction, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Spring 2012)
***Now for something very cool....Jessica Brody has offered to supply us with a Giveaway of not just one but TWO copies of her book The Fidelity Files...AND even more she has so nicely agreed to SIGN and PERSONALIZE the copies to the two winners.
Book Blogger and at home mommy to my two crazy monkeys! Reviewing YA/NA books, Middle Grade, & Childrens Books Author Spotlights, Blog Tours, Giveaways, and more. Now Setting up Author Blog Tours, Contact me for more details.
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