The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu - Blog Tour

Today I am participating in the blog tour for The Secret Side of Empty by Maria Andreu. Andreu's debut novel The Secret Side of Empty will be released in the Spring 2014 by Running Press. Maria has stopped by the blog to share the story behind the novel.

ABOUT The Secret Side of Empty

It's the story of a teen girl that is American in every way except for in one very important way: on paper. She was brought to the U.S. as a baby without proper documentation, so she's "illegal." As the end of the safe haven of her high school days draw near, she faces an uncertain future. Full of humor and frustration and love, The Secret Side of Empty speaks to the part in all of us that has felt excluded or has had a secret too scary to share. What M.T., the main character, finally discovers is the strength of the human spirit and the power that's unleashed when you finally live the truth.

The Story Behind the Novel

M.T., the main character in my debut novel, The Secret Side of Empty, has a secret.  She looks and sounds like a regular American teenager, but she’s not.  She was brought over as a baby by her parents, and they overstayed their visa, so she is undocumented.  

The book will be out Spring, 2014, but I’ve started to promote it now, because this book publishing journey is far better when shared.  I want people to get to know me and the book over time, and follow its progress every step of the way.  This story is deeply personal to me, as I was undocumented once too.  I also came over as a kid.  (I’m a citizen now thanks to an amnesty).  For many years, my story was something I kept hidden.  Finally, when I was inspired to write a novel, I knew I had to share what it’s like to grow up feeling like you have no future.  Without a social security number and no possibility of a “real” job, a driver’s license or a college education, it’s not a far-fetched thing to think.

The book is about a girl in this situation that’s being talked about a lot in the news, but it’s not at all political.  M.T. doesn’t care about the news: she just wants her life to make sense, she wants it to work out with her boyfriend and she wants to figure out what she’s going to do with her life after high school.  

Fun fact:  there is a car chase!  No police or anything like that, but the car chase is how she meets her boyfriend.  I think it’s one of the most fun scenes in the book.

Read more of my work at http://mariaeandreu.com

Preorder The Secret Side of Empty from Amazon

Author Bio

Maria’s writing has appeared in Newsweek, The Washington Post and the Star Ledger.  Her debut novel, The Secret Side of Empty, is the story of an “illegal” high school senior.  It was inspired by Maria’s own experiences as an undocumented teen.  Since becoming a citizen, Maria has run her own business and has become a soccer mom. She lives with her 13-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son in northern New Jersey.

  
Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

YALLFest Author Interview: Veronica Rossi

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Veronica Rossi, author of Under the Never Sky Series

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

Yeah, those. And all the ones in between!

Best writing tip you ever received?

$5. Just kidding. Um… tip… I think it’s probably to allow yourself to suck when writing early drafts. It takes away a lot of the fear of generating good material. It’s not easy to be creative when you’re judging your work.       

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1.       In the past year, I discovered a deep love of Brussel sprouts

2.       I talk to myself. Heck. Sometimes I argue with myself.

3.       I’m arguing with myself about including that last point at this very moment.

4.       My favorite animals are elephants.

5.       Dresses with pockets make me happy.

Where's your favorite place to write?

I usually work in my home office, but I love working in hotel rooms. No distractions!

What are you working on now?

Something I’m very excited about! Can’t divulge any details yet, but it’s an idea I’ve been mulling over for years.

 Visit Veronica Rossi's Website

 

YALLFest Author Interview: Ransom Riggs

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Ransom Riggs, author of Miss Peregrine's Home 

for Peculiar Children

 

 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?
Silence. My noise-cancelling headphones have become almost essential.


What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?
The first. I rewrite and rewrite it a million times. The last comes easy.


Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.
I’m six foot four. I lived on a working farm until I was five. I used to know how to cook Indian food but now I’ve forgotten. I love documentaries. One day I will conquer the moon.

What are you working on now?
A novel for Little, Brown the plot of which is SECRET! (Sort of, for now. But I’m really excited about it.)

 

 

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?
Oh, definitely YA to write in. I read everything, lots of YA, lots of adult, nonfiction of all sorts. I even read poetry when I’m feeling ambitious. I think it’s crucial to have lots of different influences. If you only read in the genre you write in, your writing will sound like everything else that’s already out there. 

 

Life, Love, and Lemons by Magan Vernon - Excerpt and Giveaway

Life, Love, and Lemons

by Magan Vernon
Publication date: August 20, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary

 Goodreads * Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

When life hands you lemons, sometimes you have to say screw the lemons and bail.

Seventeen-year-old Bentley Evans had it all. Then her Dad got laid off.

Now she has to move across town to a small apartment and leave her life of luxury for public school and a job at the local burger place. Just when her world seems like it's crumbling she finds solace in the unlikely punk boy next door, Kai Stone. But as their relationship blossoms, a jealous ex-girlfriend and a secret to tell that threatens to bring disaster back into Bentley’s life.

 Don't settle for just the synopsis. Read this teaser of an excerpt then 
enter for chance to win a sweet swag pack.

Excerpt

From Monday to Friday it was like everything had changed. Instead of walking through the halls alone with my head down, Kai was always by my side. This, of course, led to some very interesting stares and nicknames from people. I think my favorites were Bonnie and Hyde or Sid and Nancy Drew. Anything people could think of to come up with a couple name for the punk kid and the preppy girl. There were others, but the East High kids could get pretty raunchy when they came up with some of these nicknames.

“Do you still want to go watch Grant and Brody’s band play on Saturday?”

It was that lull after I had fourth period gym class and before lunch. I was leaning against my locker, and Kai pressed his palm against the other locker and faced me.

I still wasn’t sure what to think of Grant and Brody. They were nice and all, but I always felt like they were gawking at me like I was some sort of a zoo exhibit.

“I don’t know, maybe.”

The truth was that I already asked my parents about the concert. Mom just rolled her eyes and couldn’t believe that her daughter wanted to go to some crummy warehouse to sweat with a bunch of teenagers, but Dad was a little more interested. Just by asking about the concert hosted a whole slew of questions about the bands and who I was going with. I especially got nervous when he started asking questions about Kai.

“What do you mean maybe?” He asked as he ran his tongue over his lip ring. We still hadn’t kissed. I was pretty adamant about the whole not kissing until he was my boyfriend thing. But I couldn’t deny how much I thought about his lip ring.

“I mean, maybe I’m busy or something." I twirled a strand of hair around my fingertip.

“What? Are you going out with one of your other boyfriends or something that night?" He leaned in closer. A couple of jocks walked by and yelled some disgusting comment, but I pretended like I didn’t hear them.

“I don’t have any boyfriends at all, so I really wouldn’t be going out with any of them, now would I?" I batted my eyelashes.

“Why don’t you be my girlfriend then?” He traced his free hand down my arm, full-on putting on the charm.

“Maybe," I answered very quickly, almost too quickly, since he blinked really hard.

“What do you mean, maybe?” He tilted his head to the side and he reached down to grab my hand.

“Ew, get a room." A very tall girl with fiery red hair and cat’s eye glasses yelled and then walked over to us.

“Teegan, if you think that hand holding is bad, then you really need to get out more,” Kai quipped, quickly looking from me to Teegan.

“Oh, I saw plenty of that with you and Brynne. Remember I’m her band mate,” Teegan snarled and walked closer. “But when it’s with little Miss Sandra Dee, it’s kind of disgusting.” She giggled and headed over to a group of girls a few lockers away. Once I caught sight of the group I immediately saw Brynne’s big green eyes glaring in my direction.

“Do you really want to have to keep dealing with that every day? The weird vampire girls and jocks talking about us? Because that’s what you’re going to get,” I said, looking up at him. My cheeks were still hot after Teegan’s comment and I hoped I didn’t look too embarrassed.

He laced our fingers together. “I wouldn’t be still standing here if I didn’t want to be with you." He looked from our hands and back down to me. “Now what do you say, will you be my girlfriend?”

“Maybe." I smiled again.

He started to roll his eyes when I got up on my tippy toes placing my hands on the back of his neck. I slowly pulled him closer as our lips met for the first time. I couldn’t believe how warm and rough his lips were in contrast to the cold and smoothness of his lip ring. Nor could I believe all the people that were cheering as he pulled me closer to fully envelope himself in the kiss. I didn’t want it to end and swear I literally almost melted in his arms when I felt his tongue on my bottom lip.

A large hand thrusted between us, knocking our bodies apart. I got off of my tippy toes and quickly let go of Kai as I turned to see my gym teacher, Mr. Brown, with his large and quite furry hand placed firmly in the middle of me and Kai. He faced Kai with his spit-stained mustache.

“Handshake, Mr. Stone." He took Kai’s hand from mind and shook it senseless. “Handshake!”

AUTHOR BIO

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. She is in a very serious, fake relationship with Adam Lambert and constantly asks her husband to wear guyliner. He still refuses. She also believes her husband is secretly an alien, disguised as a southern gentleman.

Author Links:

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway:

Tour-wide Grand prize giveaway

 (open internationally)
Prize 

A Coach wristlet, lemon drop EOS lip balm, swag  (pictured below)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  This book tour is hosted by:

YALLFest Author Interview: Rainbow Rowell

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Rainbow Rowell, author of Eleanor and Park, Attachments, and Fangirl

 

 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

Lip balm.

Describe your book in 5 words.

FANGIRL

Earnest, snowy, swoony, minty, bookish.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

THE FIRST! The whole first page is a nightmare. I want people to just skip it. And I always end up rewriting it.

Best writing tip you ever received?

“Just finish your book.”

What one young adult novel do you wish you had when you were a teen? Why?

Homecoming by Cynthia Voigt. I think it would have made me feel less alone.

Where's your favorite place to write?

At coffeeshops. In giant overstuffed chairs.

What are you working on now?

I’m revising my adult novel, Landline, which comes out in spring 2014, and playing with a romantic/political/tragicomic fantasy.

What is your favorite genre to write in? To Read?

I write mostly contemporary. I read mostly fantasy.

At what point in the development of an idea do you know that it will become a full-length novel?

All of my ideas are full-length novels. I have a hard time narrowing my scope.

 

 

 Visit Rainbow Rowell's Website

YALLFest Author Interview: Sean Williams

On November 9th, 2013, the 3rd annual Young Adult Book Festival - YALLFest will take place in Charleston, SC. The festival will host 50 of the country’s top YA authors, including 25 New York Times bestsellers. Today I, along with other enthusiastic bloggers, are hosting a series of interviews of authors who will be at YALLFest. For all of the details about YALLFest, check out their website at www.yallfest.org

 

 

Featured today is Sean Williams, author of the Troubletwisters Series

 

 

 

What one thing do you need to have when you write?

The right music. And chocolate as a reward when I finish.

Describe your book in 5 words

Jump meets Uglies. But different.

What is the hardest line to write- the first or the last?

The first line is often the hardest to write, but I like a good challenge. The line I like writing the least is the last because it means I have a whole load of rewriting ahead of me.

Best writing tip you ever received?

Give up. If you can do that, you’ll be happier and probably better off as a result. If you can’t, then you know writing is exactly the right thing for you!

Tell us 5 random facts about yourself.

1) I live in Adelaide, South Australia, a place that’s home to about a million other people but somehow feels like a small town, which is why I love it.

2) I still think music from the 1980s is cool.

3) My stepson has situs invertus, which means his heart is on the wrong side of his body. That’s not really about me, but it is pretty random.

4) I’m a huge fan of Doctor Who.

5) I’m minding a pair of green tree frogs, Skipper and Jumpy, for a young friend while she’s overseas with her family. You can see pictures of them on my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/seanwilliamsauthor/.

Where's your favorite place to write?

In my study, a lovely upstairs nook containing all my favorite book-related things, but I’ve trained myself to write anywhere as long as I have my headphones and some music. I quite like writing in hotels, probably because someone else does all the household chores.

What are you working on now?

Crashland, the sequel to Twinmaker.

Visit Sean Williams's Website

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire - Review

Infinityglass 

by Myra McEntire
Publication date:  August 6, 2013
Published by Egmont USA
Pages: 304
Source: Finished copy provided by Media Masters Publicity and Egmont USA

 
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Purchase: Amazon * Indiebound

The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

My Thoughts 

The Hourglass series is one of many of this year’s trilogies that I was excited to finish. A sneak peek of chapter one of Infinityglass, the series finale, only heightened my anticipation and I couldn’t get a copy of it soon enough. I am a huge fan of Myra McEntire’s writing style and the humor that she interjects into her books.

Like Timepiece, the second book in the series, Infinityglass is told from the perspective of a different character, and it is told in alternating points of view from a entirely new character. I love this technique because I think that it keeps the story fresh. The Hourglass, the group not the book, is compiled of many people with special abilities and it is only fitting to read the adventures of the group through the eyes of the different characters because their roles differ from job to job.

I love the romance in the series especially that in Infinityglass. Dune and Hallie have some major chemistry, but Dune tries to remain the trustworthy bodyguard and keep his distance from Hallie. He’s on his first job alone and wants to do a good job, be honorable, and make an impression. Of course Hallie has other ideas. It was entertaining to read all of the back and forth moments and get to know what was going on inside of Dune’s mind as he resisted Hallie’s tempting kisses. Myra sure writes anticipation well.

One of my favorite scenes is when Hallie meets Kaleb, thinks some racy thoughts and quickly remembers that Kaleb can read minds. It was humorous when it could have been all kinds of awkward.

I willingly admit I am not a fan of time travel books. If I see those words in a book description or summary, I’ll pass it over, but I didn’t feel the need to do that with any of the books of the series. There were instances in the previous books when I didn’t grasp how the time traveling worked. What I mean to say is that I didn’t have a clear picture, but I didn’t have that experience while reading Infinityglass. It didn’t make me feel dumb, so that’s a plus.

One thing that I was afraid would happen (which can happen in a series) is that the plot line would veer off and take the story in a whole new direction that made the final book seem disconnected from the first two books. Thankfully it didn’t feel as though too much new information was introduced, but it is engaging enough that it is more than just an attempt to wrap up the plot lines. Ideas from previous books were included to remind me of what happened since there was a good amount of time in between reading book two and book three, but it made sense in the story and wasn’t an obvious recap.

I think that Infinityglass is a perfect ending to this series. It will definitely be a go to recommendation for fans of time-travel, romance, books in a series, and stories told from multiple perspectives. I loved it.

Disclaimer:   I received this book from Media Masters Publicity and EgmontUSA in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the book provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.