Recap: Book Blogging 101 panel + Giveaway!

How long has been it since I last posted in this blog? Hi, dearest readers! *waves* Christmas is just around the corner, I hope you're all ready for the holidays!

Photo from Kate of The Bookaholic Blurbs!

Fellow book bloggers and friends Precious of Fragments of Life and Sab of Sab The Book Eater had a talk the previous week and it was our turn on November 28th. Together with Kate of The Bookaholic Blurbs, Hazel of Stay Bookish and Jesselle of The Lifelong Bookworm we were invited to be in a panel to discuss book blogging at Fully Booked Town Alabang.

We had some time to burn and there was a sale, so imagine us running around the place looking for books we'll most likely end up buying, bringing them to the table for the talk.

A photo posted by Kate M (@thebookaholicblurbs) on Nov 29, 2015 at 6:42am PST

I was surprised and impressed upon seeing a row of YA books placed on the table, all titles familiar and most I've read, that got me fired up and nervous at the same time. This isn't my first panel, but I'm not really a public speaker, so I never get used to having people look at me while I speak.

Photo from SISC Monarchs' Twitter page!

I don't remember much of what I said, we introduced ourselves, why we blog and why YA and it was a blur from then on. The panel is for those who are interested in setting up their own blogs, so we discussed these:

- What's in a name? (Thinking of a name for your blog)
- Your genre (other genres aside from YA, and it's not just YA blogs that are popular)
- The lifelong debate: Wordpress or Blogger?
- The importance of blog design (and establishing your own "brand")
- Writing good reviews (Review style, short or long reviews, DNF's and of course, SPOILERS.)
- Establishing your social media presence (Which one do we use? Instagram? Twitter? Why? How? For what?)
- How to manage your time (School/work and book blogging)
 - Lastly, connecting with publishers

If you're interested, here's the PDF version of the slides we used in the panel.

Some tweet worthy points from the talk (note that I don't have any, so I might not have said anything particularly helpful ^^, and yes I am kidding!):

"Choose a blog title that identifies you because your blog name is your brand" -@jessellev of The Lifelong Bookworm

— Southville (@SISCMonarchs) November 28, 2015

"Start with the books you think you can connect with not just because you wanted to start a blog" -Kate Manalo of The Bookaholic Blurbs

— Southville (@SISCMonarchs) November 28, 2015

"Blog design matters" -Hazel Ureta of Stay Bookish

— Southville (@SISCMonarchs) November 28, 2015

The best part of the whole thing and what really made me happy was when it was time for the attendees to ask questions. I was pretty sure we spent an hour answering questions about Twilight, Fifty Shades of Grey, what we put in a review to make it interesting, how many books we have, if we donate books and asking for book recommendations!

A photo posted by Kai A. (@amaterasureads) on Nov 27, 2015 at 8:59pm PST

Jesselle recommends The Start of Me and You
Kate recommended The Last Time We Say Goodbye (and Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone series!)
Hazel recommends Throne of Glass
I recommended The Raven Boys, The Beginning of Everything and We Were Liars!

I cannot thank Southville International School and Colleges enough for creating this event! We honestly need more of this, and I will definitely attend anytime not just to spread the word but to help encourage not just the younger generation but more people in general to not just blog but also read. A lot of teens can learn from this kind of talks and reading as well as blogging are really good ways to spend your time. To everyone who attended, thank you for spending your precious time with us and for asking great questions! I hope we were able to help you know more about book blogging and books in general!

A photo posted by Kai A. (@amaterasureads) on Nov 27, 2015 at 9:37pm PST

And I have a giveaway! Just because.

WIN 2 BOOKS + CARRY ON SWAG!
(PH ONLY)

I was supposed to give a book away during the talk but I completely forgot about it and the book ended up locked inside the car, which I didn't notice until I got home after the talk.

Just leave a comment and let me know what kind of bookish related panel you'd like to attend in the near future. (Who knows, maybe we can make it happen!) Not required to tweet but it'll be greatly appreciated if you can spread the word about this post and the giveaway!

Rules:

PH Only

Must be at least 13 years old

Ends December 15

GOOD LUCK!

The Goddess turns a year older: A Birthday Giveaway!

Bring out the balloons and confetti, I'm a year older today!

(But don't ask how old I am, please.)

So I scoured my shelves for some books I can give away, and viola! Here's what I'm giving away. Check it out, sit tight and see how you can win them!

If you're a follower of this blog, my Twitter account or my Facebook, you know that aside from books, I am a big fan of anime and manga. So I figured, why not try to give away books while satisfying my need for manga/anime?!

Here's what you need to do:

- Find the hottest picture of Akashi Seijuro that you can find and send the link to me. (If you don't know who he is, read here.) It can be a fanart, a manga cap (spoil me, I don't mind!) or a screenshot from the DS games or anime. He can be shirtless, or looking like an Angel like the photo below. It will totally depend on what picture you think is HOT. :)

- Or if you read fanfics, give me some recommendations. Akashi + Akashi or Akashi + MiraGen or Akashi + Momoi, I don't really care as long as it's Akashi.

I will be picking 3 winners!

Another note: If you're from the Philippines, please enter giveaways 1 and 2 only. The last giveaway is for International entrants only.

Here's what you can win:

PH ONLY

Ripper by Isabel Allende (ARC)
Dark Eden by Patrick Carman (Hardback)
Born of Illusion by Teri Brown
The Cabinet of Curiosities Sampler
Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A copy of Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins *

* I will be buying a finished copy of this book and I will ship it to one winner. Note that I won't get it until after release date, which is August 14th, so you'll have to wait a little while to get it.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

INTERNATIONAL

$5 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Woop woop! Go forth and join the giveaways!

The Galstanberry Blog Tour: G.S. Wolff Interview + Giveaway!

Hi everyone! Today we have G.S. Wolff, author of the middle grade novel, Galstanberry series, to share a few things about her books! Join us in welcoming Garen and The Galstanberry girls!

1) What is, The Girlz of Galstanberry, about?

The Girlz of Galstanberry is a YA series that focuses on 5 girls—Brandi, Lillian, Fei, Tabitha, and Nisha—from different cities, socio-economic backgrounds and ethnic backgrounds, that have been accepted into Galstanberry Girls Academy, a prestigious boarding school in Connecticut. Their varied personalities lead to inevitable drama and internal conflicts. However, with each triumph and tribulation, the girls grow, transforming themselves and the academy

 

2) Where did the name, ‘Galstanberry’, come from?

My imagination :-) I wanted the name to sound fancy BUT fun. The first part, "Gal" is pronounced with a long "a", like the exaggerated pronunciation of Ha-a-rvard. The second part of the word came from my sweet tooth. One of my favorite snacks is raspberries. So, when you put the two parts together, you get Galstanberry, pronounced, "Ga-a-lstanberry."

3) Book #1 vs. Book #2 

The Girlz of Galstanberry (Book #1)

 
The first book takes readers across the United States to meet the friends and family members of Lillian, Brandi, Fei, Tabitha and Nisha.  Infact, the first 5 chapters are dedicated to each girl. It was important to immerse readers in each of the girls’ lives in order to get a good perspective on their personalities. 

As readers progress through the series they will understand “why” and “how” the 5 main characters make particular decisions.

Galstanberry #2

In Galstanberry #2, readers will follow the girls as they navigate Galstanberry Girls Academy. Who rooms with whom? What traditions are followed? And most importantly, what are the reactions of each character to the culture of the academy? Do they ascribe to it, or challenge it?

4) Which character are you MOST like?

Honestly, I see myself in each of the girls. I definitely have the energy and spunkiness of Lillian, and, as my family and friends can attest, the determination of Brandi. On certain occasions (when I'm annoyed), I can be sassy like Tabitha, with clever comebacks like Nisha. When I need to speak at a book singing in front of tons of people, I muster all the confidence and strength of Fei :-)

5) Which ice cream flavor would describe the personality of each Galstanberry girl?

6) What message do readers come away with?

The Girlz of Galstanberry series encourages girls to embrace and celebrate their unique voices. What do I mean by "voice?" Girls' voices (aka personalities, opinions) are shaped by friends, family, cultural background and even homestate! Therefore, girls shouldn't feel confined to anyone's standard of beauty or "popular status." We are all different and should be celebrated for our uniqueness!

7) If you could travel back in time to deliver a message to the pre-teen you, what would you say?

Don’t permit the noise of naysers (haters) to drown out your voice, your dreams, and most importantly your passion for life. The world is your oyster and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!!!

Check out the book trailer for Book Two!




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GIVEAWAY TIME!

Throughout the tour (July 4-July 29), The Galstanberry team is providing a twitter contest for US residents. The Galstanberry Grand Gift prize includes:

1) Book #1
2) Book #2
3) Stickers
4) Bookmark

Participation isn't mandatory. But if you want to join, you must advertise the twitter contest! Please copy and paste the exact tweet below.

Follow @GalstanberryFan, and RT this for a chance to win the Galstanberry Grand Gift!http://t.co/vdVLz4v #giveaway #contest

Once someone tweets this above phrase, they will be automatically entered into the contest. People can tweet it as many times as they want.

The next stop for this tour:

July 20 (Wednesday): Eclectic Element 

www.theeclecticelement.blogspot.com

Jennifer Estep Guest Post + Touch of Frost Giveaway! (Intl)

Hi everyone! Today we are hosting Jennifer Estep, author of Touch of Frost on our blog where she'll be talking about the importance of world building in a book. Her YA novel comes out in a week! Please help us welcome Jennifer on our blog, and if you have any questions for her, please feel free to leave her a comment!

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How important is world building to a story?

JE: World building is always important in a story, no matter what genre you’re writing in. You always want to transport readers to another place, whether it’s a small town, an alien planet, or a medieval castle. You want to make folks feel like they are right there in the story with your characters, having a burger and fries at the local diner; or exploring a hot, muggy, tropical rainforest; or even feeling their toes go numb as they trudge through a mountain blizzard. You want people to connect with your characters, and bringing your world to life is one way to help do that.

However, I would say that world building is a little more important when you’re writing a fantasy/sci-fi book. Readers who enjoy those genres expect to see a lot of magic, sorcery, science, technology, etc. You have to create a world where those things are possible, and then make readers feel like they are in the middle of your world, whatever and wherever it is.

While you were writing Touch of Frost, did you already have an idea in mind for a setting/location for Mythos Academy or did you have to do some research for it?

JE: The great thing about writing fantasy is that you get to create your own world. I didn’t really do any research about the setting/location. I knew that I wanted Mythos Academy to be a private/boarding type of school with a Southern, mountainous setting, so I came up with Cypress Mountain, my fictional suburb that’s supposedly near Asheville, North Carolina.

After that, it was just a matter of deciding what sort of buildings the academy needed and how I could use the buildings and their descriptions to give the whole campus a dark, creepy, mythological feel.

Is Mythos Academy patterned or inspired by any building/structure you've visited or come across?

JE: No, the academy isn’t really patterned on any specific building. But several years ago, I visited the Parthenon in Nashville, Tennessee, which I thought had some really cool architecture. Visiting the Parthenon reminded me how much I’ve always liked mythology and made me think that it would be fun to write a mythology-based story someday. And now, I have.

How do you decide what to include in your description of Mythos Academy (buildings, etc)? Was it difficult to write Mythos Academy at all?

JE: It wasn’t too hard for me to dream up the academy. Since it’s a school setting, I knew that there needed to be some school-type buildings, so I designed an upper quad where students spend most of their time. The quad features five buildings – the Library of Antiquities, the dining hall, the gym, the math-science building, and the English-history building.

Basically, these buildings tie in with everything that students would normally do, as well as some things that only the Mythos kids do. These buildings give students a place to eat (the dining hall); a place to go to classes (English-history and math-science); a place to train with weapons (the gym); and a place to study and socialize after classes (the library). There are also student dorms on campus, along with some other outbuildings.

I decided to use these buildings because I thought I could stage a lot of different scenes in and around the various buildings – everything from Gwen weapons training with the other students in the gym to her wandering through the library to her walking across campus late at night.

Complete this: Mythos Academy would cease to exist if _____ is missing. (Can be a person, place, an object, etc.)

JE: The Library of Antiquities. The library is a seven-story tall building with towers, parapets, and balconies. Gwen says it looks like something out of an old, Gothic horror movie. The library is also covered with statues of mythological creatures like gryphons, gargoyles, dragons, chimeras, and more, which adds to the creepiness factor. Inside, the library features hundreds of thousands of books, along with glass cases that contain artifacts that have been used by various gods, goddesses, heroes, and more – things like armor, weapons, jewelry, etc. There are also marble statues of gods and goddesses on the second floor balcony of the library.

The Library of Antiquities definitely the centerpiece of the academy and where a lot of the action in all the books in the series takes place. It’s also a place where the kids can Hang Out and Be Seen, as Gwen puts it.

Any advice for writers on how to effectively build worlds for their books?

JE: I think you just have to think about your story, your characters, and go with your instincts. What do you want your setting to be? How will it impact your characters and the overall story? Where are the places that your characters are likely to interact? What can you do to make these places special, interesting, unique, and memorable? How can you give a house or restaurant or graveyard a distinct look, feel, and personality of its own and make it almost become another character in your story?

Those are some of the things that folks might think about when it comes to world building. Also, you don’t have to go overboard on the description of a house, restaurant, etc. Small, subtle touches here and there can really add up and give your world/book a lot of atmosphere and personality.

Happy reading, everyone! ;-)

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You can follow Jennifer via Facebook, Goodreads, and Twitter.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Jennifer is offering a copy of Touch of Frost which ONE lucky reader can win!

Must be a follower

Open WORLDWIDE!

Ends July 26th.
Fill out the FORM below.

[The Teen Book Scene Blog Tour] Legacy by Cayla Kluver Review + Giveaway!

I think the title was very appropriate, considering the length of this book. I felt like I was reading the legacy of Cayla Kluver, and I don't mean it as a bad thing. Legacy was long, but the length satisfied my hunger for more!

Title: Legacy by Cayla Kluver
Pages: 496
Release Date: June 21st 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Source: Publisher (Thanks, Tashya!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

I noticed his eyes. They were blue, sharp and intense. Despite the youthful glows of his suntanned face, his eyes were cold and unfriendly, suggesting he had great experience in the world and was now expecting the worst.

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.

When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.

In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Princess Alera of Hytanica's eighteenth's birthday is fast approaching, and as the Crown Princess, she has duty to fulfill as the future Queen, and that is to marry someone worthy to rule and defend the kingdom against Cokyri. Her father wants her to marry Steldor, the Captain of the Guard's son but Alera's heart is not with him. As Alera fights off his advances, a Cokyrian boy was captured, and Alera's life became a lot more complicated when their paths crossed and she fell in love. The Cokyrian boy, Narian, turns out to be a Hytanican, of noble blood, and as Narian discovers his true heritage, the Cokyrians want him back. Years before, fourty nine Hytanican infants were kidnapped. Fourty eight of them were returned dead. Narian was the fourthy ninth child, and the reason why he was kept alive was to fulfill a dangerous prophecy that will bring Hytanica's downfall.

Cayla Kluver has a great way with words. Hytanica and its surrounding kingdoms were easy to love because of her ability to describe them in detail. I can visualize the River, Koranis's summer mansion, the Royal palace and even the distant Cokyri, with Cayla's writing. She provides great imagery to readers, making it easier for us to feel Alera's world. What I enjoyed the most while reading Legacy was that I get to experience royal life through Alera's eyes, her responsibilities, her everyday life, which weren't so easy. Glamorous, maybe, but also tiring and requires dedication.

Alera, as a character, was confusing at first glance. I did not appreciate her character at all at the start as she comes off as a princess who is too carefree, too sheltered and too rash. Her childishness led her to do a lot of mistakes. But what I liked about its entirety is that Alera matured and eventually grew up, finally acknowledging and embracing the role she has to fulfill, even if it means sacrificing her happiness to do what is right. It's always nice to read about a person's transformation from a feeble princess to one who is ready to rule, who has a voice and continue to fight for what she thinks is right, and Alera, no matter what she has done has managed to do just that.

Narian is an enigma, a puzzle still yet unsolved, considering how long Legacy is. It felt like it was his story and was not at the same time. Though younger than Alera, Narian is wise beyond his years, headstrong, stubborn and fearless. Reserved, highly suspicious and deadly, who would have thought that the Crown Princess has what it takes to break down his defenses? To the end, I felt that Narian's story is very tragic. Taken from his home, his family, only to come back years later and have them afraid of him because of his life as a Cokyrian, which also earns him scorn from some people. The real tragedy is that despite knowing his true heritage, Narian feels alone. Receiving no love from his family, stuck between Cokyri and Hytanica, he's a pawn in an impending war.

The love story, though I appreciate so much, was so complicated. It felt like Alera and Narian's relationship was doomed from the start as there are a lot more at stake should they be together. A Hytanican noble, raised in Cokyri and a Crown Princess? There were a lot to consider, mostly politically and it was sad to think of how much they have to overcome. It was also frustrating, as I never liked it when the person I was rooting for do not get his happy ending.

Legacy has a wealth of vibrant supporting characters that breathes life to the story. London, for one, is a character I am most looking forward to reading more. I believe there's more to his youthful facade than he likes us to believe. Cannan, Tadark, Destari were great, faithful Royal Guards. Miranna and Semari were interesting characters as well. There were a lot of characters that pushes the story forward, and there was never a dull moment because of them.

Legacy is a wonderful addition to the ever growing historical Young Adult fiction genre. It has a mix of everything, romance, intrigue, politics, royalty, friendship and family, all  of which can be found in the  dazzling world of Hytanica. Cayla Kluver's easy writing, combined with great characters weaves a wonderful story that readers will easily fall in love with!

Content (plot, story flow, character):

.5

Shining: Worthy of a Goddess' Love!

Book Cover:
Alera is so gorgeous!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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GIVEAWAY!

This is the seventh tour stop of the Teen Book Scene Legacy Tour!

Follow along on the LEGACY Blog Tour for a chance to win an iPod Nano! 

For every one, legitimate comment made on the tour posts you will receive an extra entry in the giveaway. The final giveaway form will be posted on the last stop of the tour. Good luck!

http://theteenbookscene.weebly.com/legacy-tour-details.html

iPod nano 8GB (6th Gen.)

Color: Graphite

Remember to leave your comments to increase your chances of winning this lovely iPod nano with Legacy Skin!

Winners!!!! LOTS OF WINNERS!!!

I know I'm late in announcing winners of some of the contests, but here they are now. It's crazy sorting out entries because Intense Debate ate most of them (glad I made a back-up before and I got e-mails!) but finally! Here they are!

The winner of the FORGOTTEN ARC is:

Tricia!

(Triciagervacio at g...)

The winner of Solstice e-book + Trading cards is:
bookchilla
(bookchilla at gm...) 

DYSTOPIAN DOMINATION Winners:

The winner of the finished copy of DIVERGENT (US) is:

Jessica

(readinginspires at y...)

DIVERGENT (International):

isamlq / sassyreads 
(isa6357 at yah...) 

The winner of ASHES, ASHES by Jo Treggiari is:

Mia

(girlaboutbooks at gm...)

The winner of Restoring Harmony swag is:

Laura

(the.zealous.reader at gm...)

The winner of Inside Out by Maria Snyder is:

Smash Attack!

(ash at smashattack...) 

Miss Lauren

(lwilkerson21 at gm...)

The winner of the Simon & Schuster Prize Pack (Wither, Possession & Blood Red Road) is:
 Gaby
(magabygc at gm...) 

 I've sent an e-mail to all the winners and you guys have 48 hours to send me your mailing addresses, otherwise I have to pick new winners!

[Dystopian Domination] Day 14: Inside Out by Maria Snyder (Review + Giveaway!)

So today we are hosting Maria Snyder, author of the amazing book series, Insider, on our blog! There will be a feature interview posted in the upcoming days, but for now, we are featuring her two books, Inside Out / Outside In.

We'll also be posting a way to get MORE extra entries in a while, so watch out for that!

Title: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder
Pages: 315
Release Date: April 1st 2010
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

Keep Your Head Down.
Don't Get Noticed.
Or Else.

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

Title: Outside In by Maria V. Snyder
Pages: 336
Release Date: March 1st 2011
Published by: Harlequin Teen
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

We are giving 2 SIGNED, FINISHED COPIES OF INSIDE OUT!

Rules:

Must be a follower

Comment with your e-mail address
OPEN TO US and CANADA

ENDS June 15, 2011

Extra entries:

(not required)

+2 Comment on my review HERE.
+2 Follow Fragments of Life

+2 Spread the word: twitter, sidebar, tumblr, etc.

+3 blog about it

+3 post our Dystopian Domination button on your blog and link back

[Dystopian Domination] Day 12: Restoring Harmony by Joëlle Anthony Character Interview (Spill) + SWAG Giveaway!

Today we have another amazing author featured for our Dystopian Domination event, Joëlle Anthony! Her book, Restoring Harmony, was released last year, and right now we're interviewing the protagonist, Spill!

Don't know who he is? Then you better grab a copy of Restoring Harmony!

What do people think of your name?

Only Molly and her family know me as Spill, and I’m pretty sure it drives her crazy that I won’t tell her my real name. It’s for her own good, though. The less she knows about the real me, the better. Her grandparents have taken it in stride, and the kids don’t really care what they call me, either. I think it’s a fun name though because I borrowed it from one of The Borrowers. You know, those great books? Well, the character Spiller is a bit like me, but Spill sounds cooler, which is why I shortened it.

In a chaotic world, why did you decide to help Molly?

Because I’ve never met anyone who needed help more than she does. Okay, that’s not really fair. Molly’s actually very smart and resourceful. But she’s so naïve and I couldn’t forget her once we’d met. I’m always impressed by someone who can play a musical instrument too. Plus, Molly’s no damsel in distress. She works hard and lives passionately, which I admire. Also…well…she’s a babe. I’ll admit it. I like to think I’m special, but I’m not really different than any other guy…we’ll all help out a hot girl.

Published by Putnam, May 2010

Can you describe to us what Molly is like?

She likes to think she’s really tough, and in a way, she is. But more along the lines of being a hard worker and determined. She’d do anything for her family, and if you needed her, she’d be there for you. When you can really see who she is though is when she’s playing the fiddle. She closes her eyes and the fiddle just becomes part of her body, swaying with her, the music pouring out of both of them. This is my favorite time to check her out. It might sound stupid, but I feel like I can see her heart.

How will you describe your relationship with Molly?

Risky. I’m not really in a position to have a normal dating relationship, whatever that is these days. I have to be careful who I associate with, and also how much I let them know about me. Molly wants to know everything. She’s an open book herself, and can’t understand why I won’t tell her more about myself, but it’s too dangerous. It would be best if we stopped seeing each other altogether, but every time I try to put some distance between us (for her safety), something happens that draws us back together.

If you were given a chance to live in the year 2011, what would be the first three things you would do?

I would go to a movie in a big air conditioned theater. And it would be a new movie, one that was just made. All we get now are old ones. I think it would be really exciting to see a brand new movie. I’d also fly to Europe with a couple of friends and just travel around for a few months – go to the beaches, eat foreign food, like guys used to do after they graduated from college. And speaking of college, I would attend a university and live on campus. I’m not sure what I’d study, maybe business because I’m good at that, but probably something more arty. Like English Literature.

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Joëlle currently lives on a tiny island in British Columbia with her musician husband, Victor Anthony.

As for the future, their only plan is to avoid real jobs, write and play guitar in front of the wood stove, and live happily ever after. Look for her debut novel, Restoring Harmony, in May 2010 from Putnam.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

Joëlle is giving away SWAG (magnets and postcard! signed!) to one lucky winner!

Rules:

Must be a follower

Comment with your e-mail address
OPEN TO EVERYONE

ENDS June 9, 2011

Extra entries:

(not required)

+2 Follow Fragments of Life

+2 Spread the word: twitter, sidebar, tumblr, etc.

+3 blog about it

+3 post our Dystopian Domination button on your blog and link back

[Dystopian Domination] Day 10: Ashes Ashes by Jo Treggiari (Lucy's Interview + Giveaway!)

Hey everyone!

We're nearing the end of this GREAT event. I'm having so much fun posting and sharing with you some awesome books from awesome authors!

You think you've seen all there is to see? Nope! The 2nd wave of our Dystopian Domination even starts with a character interview with Lucy, the protagonist in Jo Treggiari's novel, Ashes, Ashes, to be released by Scholastic on June 1st.

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Hi Lucy, I'm not sure I should be asking this, but, how is it like living after the world has fallen apart? How is the world after the destruction? 

* It's a different world. Unrecognizable really. Sometimes I look out at the city scape and think it looks like a bunch of blocks some angry toddler has knocked down. And living is hard. There's danger everywhere: wild animals, the scavengers, the S'ans who are infected with the plague, and worst of all, the Sweepers- no one knows what they're doing but people disappear all the time. I try and stay away from people. I don't trust most of them anymore.

Chaos is everywhere, how did you manage to survive alone?

*Luck, mostly. Before this I never even went camping- too many mosquitoes and nature. Mosquitoes are the least of my worries now. I hide and try and stay aware of my surroundings. My home is built from living trees and almost invisible if you don't know where to look. One of my most valuable possessions is this old survival book I found. It taught me a lot about making shelter and what kinds of plants and animals I can eat. Before I found it, I was starving to death. Now at least I know that I can eat newts even if they are disgusting! Being alone is hard but it's better too. I don't have to worry about being robbed or kidnapped or worse. I only have to look out for me.

June 1st, 2011 by Scholastic

Has being part of a group somehow made life easier for you? You seem like a strong girl, so what made you decide to join Aidan and his band after being on your own?

*I wasn't going to stay with the scavengers to be honest but after my camp was destroyed--sorry, I still can't talk about that. And then the Sweepers came and I couldn't just stand there and not warn them. After that things got complicated. I had to stick around to try and make things right. Part of me though still wants to leave. It was easier when it was just me, and I could make the decisions that I needed to without thinking about a bunch of other people. I know that sounds selfish, but that's how it is now.

Any ideas why the Sweepers are after you? It must be hell having them tracking your every move.

*I have no idea. I mean, there's nothing special about me at all. They scare me though and there's nothing we can do to stop them. I'm starting to wonder if just by being here I'm making things even more dangerous for Aidan and the others. You know- if it's really me they're looking for.

What's the one sacrifice you'll make to stay alive?

*Sometimes I wonder if I would make decision to save my own skin even if it meant someone else was captured or died. I don't know. I hope I would be brave but lately everything is so unsettled and dangerous, I feel like I'm being watched, hunted.

I guess I would sacrifice being with other people to stay safe.

How is life with Aidan? He seems like a reliable, sweet guy, and guys like him are a keeper, but in the current state of the world, have you think of what the future will be, have you dared dream and think of what's in store for you then with him by your side?

*He's annoying and wonderful and irritating and stubborn as hell. Half the time I want to kiss him, the other half of the time I want to kill him. I'm still sort of mixed up about how I feel about him but then he'll smile that crooked smile and I just...

I just want us to be safe. If I try to think beyond the next day or two, I start to freak out. We spend so much time hunting, growing food, maintaining the camp, patrolling, we don't have the luxury to look too far into the future. I guess, I'm happy just to be able to spend time with him- at least when I'm not thinking about punching him in the face.

Thank you so much for the time. I wish you guys good luck, and I admire you all for the courage and the strength you have.

*Thank you. Be strong!

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Jo Treggiari was born in London, England but grew up in Canada, Roccasinibalda, Italy and California.

Her first book, a middle-grade fantasy THE CURIOUS MISADVENTURES OF FELTUS OVALTON, came out in 2006. Her post-apocalyptic adventure ASHES, ASHES will be published June 1, 2011 by Scholastic Press. She has just finished a punk rock YA - FIERCE and is working on an urban fantasy, BRINY DEEP.

GIVEAWAY TIME!

We are giving away a SIGNED, HARDCOVER of Jo's novel, ASHES ASHES to one lucky reader!

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ENDS June 7, 2011

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[Dystopian Domination] Day 8: Divergent by Veronica Roth Mini-review, trailer + Giveaway!

We're halfway through with the event and I am enjoying doing this so much! It's been fun sharing all of things dystopia with you all and today I am featuring one of the most anticipated and ONE OF THE BEST books this 2011!

I have reviewed Divergent a few weeks ago, and here's a snippet of my long review, where I basically just say I worship Veronica Roth over and over. :)

Title: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Pages: 487
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Published by: From publisher (Thanks, HarperTeen!)
Buy: Amazon | Book Depository

Summary (from Goodreads):

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

Debut author Veronica Roth bursts onto the literary scene with the first book in the Divergent series—dystopian thrillers filled with electrifying decisions, heartbreaking betrayals, stunning consequences, and unexpected romance.

"...all the good praises has been given and all the great things about this book has been said. And Divergent deserves all the praises, the raves, and the great reviews it has been getting.


Divergent is a story about choices and living up for every single one you make, because its what defines you in the end, the way you live, and everything else in your life. It is up to you how you will live it, and that it is you who control your destiny.


I fell in love with Veronica Roth's writing and her ability to put words together and turn them into this amazing, brilliant read that will enthrall readers and transport them to Tris' world. Divergent has great world building, very detailed, but it didn't hamper the story or any of the characters' development in any way, and just with that, DIVERGENT gets my vote as the best dystopian book I've read this year. I know I've mentioned a few books that I said were the best, but THIS is the best of the best, the cream of the crop, that one great book topping the rest..."

DIVERGENT TRAILER:

GIVEAWAY TIME!

We are giving away A FINISHED COPY OF DIVERGENT to ONE LUCKY WINNER (U.S. Only)!

But don't you worry international peeps, I am giving away my own personal copy of the DIVERGENT ARC I have received from HarperTeen a while ago. If you're okay with getting a book covered in plastic and in GREAT condition, you're in luck. :)

Rules:

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OPEN TO EVERYONE

ENDS June 5, 2011

Extra entries:

+2 Leave a MEANINGFUL comment on my Divergent review HERE

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(Also, please state if you are from the US or overseas, so I know which contest you're joining and which book you can win!)

[Dystopian Domination] Day 6: Jesse Karp Guest Post + Giveaway!

It's the sixth day of Dystopian Domination and the event is in full swing! Today, we have an Elevensies debut author on our blog, Jeff Hirsch, and talks about the rise of the dystopian genre.

Join me in welcoming Jesse on Amaterasu Reads!

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Was Star Trek the last optimistic view of the future that really captured the popular imagination? Certainly, it’s the only one that’s really still with us. I think that says something integral about our shift into the darker, more disturbing world of dystopian fiction.

Once upon a time, we as a culture tended to see the future as a great expansion out into space, growing ever upwards into a limitless expanse of stars that was a reflection of our potential. Our science and technology, our popular imagination was very much directed to the pursuit of space travel. That future we once saw for ourselves has, in fact, played out in almost exactly the opposite direction. Instead of expanding outwards, we have moved inwards, exploring the innerspace of computers and the Internet. We have gone from seeing what technology can do for us as an entire species (help us grow and survive) to what technology can do for us individually (propagate our personalities and opinions – much as I’m doing right now).

Published March 21, 2011 by Harcourt

It didn’t help that, as this technology was evolving, our faith in our leadership, and democracy itself, took a nosedive (thanks, Richard Nixon and Vietnam). As our view of the present became darker, how could our view of the future go a different way? I’m speaking from a very United States-centric point of view, but that’s where most of our dystopian fiction is coming from, after all. Among its many exports, the U.S. has always excelled most at propagating our own culture.

At any rate, this more internal view of the future lends itself to narratives that tend to focus on the cracks and seams in our society. Given that those cracks and seams are so much more apparent to us now then they ever have been before (thanks, ubiquitous media coverage), it becomes all the easier to imagine that we might be headed into trouble. That’s what I’ve been mulling over and that’s what I wrote about in Those That Wake.

On the bright side, something else you might have noticed about all this dystopian fiction is that the characters at the centers of the stories don’t tend to be bureaucrats or dictators or torturers. The protagonists are teens fighting these soul-crushing systems, looking for a way out of the seams and cracks. This points to something very promising in us that has always come out in our stories: no matter how bad things get, not matter how dark things look, we are always capable of using our hope to fight back.

Jesse Karp is the author of the YA novel Those That Wake and its forthcoming sequel. He is a school librarian at LREI in New York City, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

Please visit him at beyondwhereyoustand.com

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

Jesse has generously provided a FINISHED COPY of his book, THOSE THAT WAKE which a lucky follower/commenter will win! Check out my review if you are curious to know what I had to say about the book.

Rules:

Must be a follower

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OPEN TO EVERYONE

ENDS June 1, 2011

Extra entries:

+2 Follow Fragments of Life

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+3 blog about it

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[Dystopian Domination] Day 4: Sara Grant Guest Post + Giveaway!

We're on the fourth day of the Dystopian Domination event and we've had three great authors hosted on our blogs so far. Are you ready for another one? Yes? Yes!

Now, I present to you the author of one of my MOST anticipated dystopian reads this year, Sara Grant with her book, Dark Parties

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When I finished the first draft of DARK PARTIES in 2009, I had an agent tell me that she didn’t think dystopian novels would sell. How times and tastes have changed. I recently heard someone call ‘dystopia’ the new ‘paranormal romance’ of young adult fiction.

Since DARK PARTIES isn’t available until August, here’s a quick teaser:

Sixteen-year-old Neva was born and raised in an isolated nation ruled by fear, lies and xenophobia. Hundreds of years ago, her country constructed an electrified dome to protect itself from the outside world. What once might have protected now imprisons. Her country is decaying and its citizens are dying. Neva and her friends dream of freedom. A forbidden party leads to complications. Suddenly Neva’s falling for her best friend’s boyfriend, uncovering secrets that threaten to destroy her friends, her family and her country – and discovering the horrifying truth about what happens to The Missing...

I’ve watched with great interest the rise in popularity of dystopian fiction. I’ve counted at least seven dystopian young adult novels from debut authors in 2011. There’s definitely something in the zeitgeist. I’m sure someone out there with a Ph.D. can hypothesize about the current social and political climate that predisposes writers and readers to dystopian fiction. And maybe there’s another doctor-type who can explain something about a teenager’s brain chemistry that makes them particularly susceptible to dark, futuristic tales.

But the reason I write dystopian fiction for young adults is far less lofty and scientific. I love the freedom – not only the freedom to imagine the future and make the rules, but also the freedom that I can afford my teen protagonist. Teenagers can save the world with action and adventure.

Dystopian novels also allow readers and writers the freedom to explore themes in a way most contemporary teen fiction can’t. You can illuminate a particular aspect of society or human nature and whittle away the parts of the real world that don’t serve your story.

The idea for DARK PARTIES came shortly after I moved from Indianapolis, Indiana, to London, England. Debates on immigration were raging on both sides of the Atlantic – and still are. What does it mean to be American or British? How ‘open’ should countries’ borders be? I wanted to explore issues of national and personal identity so I created a country that had literally closed itself off from the rest of the world.

Another benefit of writing dystopian fiction is the ease with which it can cross borders and appeal to readers around the world. I intentionally didn’t identify the country in DARK PARTIES. In my mind, it’s a mixture of my two homelands – the US and UK, but it could also easily represent other countries. DARK PARTIES has sold to the US, UK, Germany, Poland and China.

Now I’m completely hooked on dystopian fiction. I not only read every dystopian novel I can get my hands on but I’m already neck deep in writing another dark futurist tale – which will be published in 2012. So stay tuned for HALF LIVES – a race against time and a battle to save future generations. It’s about the nature of faith and power of miscommunication – and above all the strength of the human spirit to adapt and survive.

-------------------

Sara Grant’s debut dystopian YA novel, titled DARK PARTIES, will be published by Little, Brown in August 2011. To find out more about Sara, visit her web site at www.sara-grant.com

Thank you, Sara for that wonderful post! I'm looking forward to reading Dark Parties and it's really great to know that her other book, Half Lives is just around the corner and will be published soon!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

Sara is giving away a Dark Parties LATTE MUG!

Rules:

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OPEN TO EVERYONE

ENDS May 29, 2011

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[Dystopian Domination] Day 2: Jeff Hirsch Guest Post + Eleventh Plague Giveaway!

Today is the 2nd day of Dystopian Domination and we have Jeff Hirsch, debut author of the upcoming novel The Eleventh Plague to share his story on how The Eleventh Plague came to be. Join me in welcome Jeff to our blog!

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The Eleventh Plague started with an image: Late at night on a hilltop overlooking the ruins of an old mall, a boy watches his father dig a grave and bury someone that's wrapped in a burlap shroud. The rest of the story was all about answering for myself who the boy was and what would happen to him next. Along the way other images popped to mind. A Mortal Kombat arcade game sitting, nearly pristine, in the middle of a forest. (That one is still in there) A boy and girl bonding over a Marx Brothers movie they watch using a jury-rigged film projector and the side of an old barn. (That one didn’t make it.)

Published September 1st, 2011 by Scholastic

So when I started out I didn’t have any big ideas about what the whole thing was about, either plotwise or thematically, I was just trying to have fun getting from one image to the next.

Eventually what The Eleventh Plague came to be about is that kid on the hilltop, Stephen Quinn, a 15 year old scavenger growing up in a time after what’s called the Collapse when war and plague have decimated the population and destroyed all we know of as civilization. Stephen’s life is fairly simple. He and his father travel a well worn path, scavenging what they need to survive. They keep to themselves. Stephen does what he’s told. Nothing ever changes.

But after an uncharacteristic act of heroism, Stephen stumbles across a slice of pre-Collapse America in a small town that’s somehow survived hidden out in the ruins. There, he meets Jenny Tan, the beautiful town outcast, and encounters a world comprised of suburban homes, baseball games and schoolhouses, and a kind of stability he’d never imagined before. Soon, he’s also presented with the darker aspects of civilization when he discovers there are some in the town who want to remake the America they once knew, no matter what it takes to get it.

Once the story came together I started to see it as a heightened version of what we all go through as teens. Being a teenager is about transitioning out of a time when you live in your parents’ house and follow your parents’ rules and into one where you have to make your own decisions about how best to confront a world you had no hand in creating. Do you live the life you’re expected to or do you strike out on your own and create something new?

It’s been great to be here. Thanks to Kai and Precious for inviting me to take part. Hope you all enjoy The Eleventh Plague!

Jeff is a writer of Young Adult Fiction living in Astoria, Queens. His first novel -The Eleventh Plague- will be published by Scholastic on September 1, 2011 with the second novel- Magisterium- hot on its heels.

The Eleventh Plague was edited by David Levithan and Cassandra Pelham and blurbed by no less than the bestselling author of The Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins:

“With its crumbling Starbucks and rusting theme parks, The Eleventh Plague hits disturbingly close to home, vividly depicting a world that has nose-dived into a futuristic nightmare. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn struggles to define his rules of survival in Jeff Hirsch’s excellent, taut debut novel.”

You can find more about Jeff Hirsch by visiting his website: http://www.jeff-hirsch.com

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GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

We are giving away a winner's choice of either A PRE-ORDER OF THE HARDCOVER VERSION OF THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE or THE ELEVENTH PLAGUE AUDIOBOOK.

Rules:

Must be a follower

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OPEN TO EVERYONE

ENDS May 28, 2011

Extra entries:

+2 Follow Fragments of Life

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+3 blog about it

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Catch the Day 1 of Dystopian Domination by heading over to Fragments of Life. You can win 2 ARCs of 20 YEARS LATER by E.J. Newman, and its open INTERNATIONALLY!