Hi boys and girls! I'm going to make this week's edition super short because I'm about to fall on my head. And really, there is only one thing to discuss and that is:
SAM AND HOW I FREAKING KNEW IT!!
Sam is like a mountain I'd love to climb...just sayin'
Okay, so maybe I didn't know exactly what was wrong with Sammy. After he let Dean get changed by a vampire, I was hoping that Lucifer wasn't wearing him as a meat suit because that idea would just drag and drag out the storyline. When my Angel Food Cake (he really needs to get back to being half human again) declared he was not in fact Lucifer, but obviously something was up I knew it could only be one other thing. Sammy Boy has no soul.
Of course he doesn't have a soul! It makes perfect sense. The boy was in HELL! He had SATAN UP IN HIS BODY! Sure Dean went to Hell. Papa Winchester went to Hell. (By the way, when is that hot papa coming back?!) But Sam though...man, has he had the toughest ride ever. First demon blood, having a chick in him, Hell and back, Yellow Eyed Demon Boy, Hell and back, Demon Blood Junkie - sheesh, it's a wonder his soul didn't go MIA a few seasons ago.
And that ending! OH MY GOSH THAT ENDING! I was taken aback by Dean beating the living hell out of baby brother. I don't blame him. Even though Sammy doesn't have a soul and really can't feel a thing, that whole vampire thing really screwed up Dean's chances of having a family. I know that Dean admitted he's better at slicing throats then being a family man, but this is Dean. No matter how much he knows what he is, we know the dream of a normal life will never fade away for him. The phone call between him and Lisa was...wowzers. A part of me wonders if Lisa wasn't under the curse, would she would have been so harsh? I really think so. She's all about her son and seeing Dean push him definitely drew the line for her and this life.
So what's next for the brothers? Well obviously finding Sam's soul and getting that boy fixed. Besides finding out the truth this episode, I liked how it's feeling more and more like old times. Dean checking out that girl's boobs was such a classic Dean move. And Bobby - oh Bobby how I loved you in this episode! Poor Dean will be scarred for life because of that man's confessions!
So what did you guys think? Think Dean went too far with Sam? Have any thoughts on where Sam's soul might be? And anything else you can think of - leave a comment and let's discuss!
I decided to end all the giveaways a couple hours early due to me gearing up for NaNoWriMo tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who commented on reviews, interviews, and guest posts this month! I cannot believe today is Halloween and October is officially over :(
I didn't do anything big for Halloween. Usually I go with my sister and take my niece trick or treating, but this year there was a dance at the YMCA so she wanted to go to that instead of trick or treating so I came over and did her make up. What was she? Well a witch of course! Because there is no cooler costume than a witch!
Speaking of being a witch - one of the bonus entires in the One Witch of a Giveaway was to send in pictures of yourself as a witch. I only got a couple entries, but decided to throw in one of myself too:
Me circa 1995
Kristina from Frazzled Book Nommer
Ally from Pix n Flix n Stix
Kristin from Wocker Mom
I hope everyone had a safe and wonderful Halloween! (Yes, I know it's still going on but my town did Halloween last night.) I plan on snuggling up on my couch, watching a little bit of A Nightmare Before Christmas, and eating some left over candy. Before I do that, I have winners! winners! and some more winners!
The winner of a Readable Classics is....
PinkStuff28!!
- I have your address, but I need you to email me what book you would like from this list by Tuesday night
The winner of I Now Pronouce You Someone Else is....
Ong!!
- Already have your address
The winner of Crusade by Nancy Holder is....
Kristen from Illinois!
- Already have your address
For the One Witch of a Giveaway, the winner is....
Katie from Katie's Book Blog!!
- Katie, please email me your mailing address by Tuesday night :)
The winner of the Immortals Series by Alyson Noel is.....
Yllektra! -Please email me your address by Tuesday night :)
Today we said goodbye to the Crossroads Tour and the two swag winners are....
JuJu at Tales of Whismy.com!! (already have your address) Heather from Buried In Books!! (please email me your address)
Congratulations to all the winners!!
I hope you all enjoyed this month's festivities. Check back tomorrow to see what's going on for November!
We're going to play another round of catch up because I'm such a slacker on this thing. I'm thinking of maybe just jumping the gun and doing a vlog someday. What are your thoughts? Do you guys like seeing vlogs?
What were you doing when your first idea of The Ghost and the Goth came to you? Honestly, I don’t remember, but a good guess would be that I was at work or driving there.
Do you base any of you characters on people you know? Nope. Though, all of them are based on observations of real people. If Alona is a fairly accurate example of a “mean girl,” it’s because I knew plenty of them in high school and paid attention.
I read on your website this will be a trilogy. Any hints to what we can expect in the second book?
More trouble for Alona and Will, more kissing, more bickering…but there’s also someone new in town who is causing trouble between them.
Do you make playlists when you write? If so, can you share a few songs? I do, usually. With Ghost and the Goth, I picked one artist, Tegan and Sara. My favorites on that list are: “Where Does the Good Go?” “I Know, I Know, I Know” and “You Wouldn’t Like Me.”
If we lived in a world where books and writing didn’t exist (I know, scary thought) what would you be doing?
Telling stories in whatever way was legally allowed! I’d be a bard, perhaps? :-)
Thanks for stopping by, Stacey!
Okay girls and boys - that's it! No more Crossroads Tour after today. I hope you all have enjoyed the tour and a HUGE thanks to Judith Graves for putting this together.
Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
I asked Jackie if she were sucked into one of her books, which book would it be, and what kind of reaction or hopes she would have.
Let’s Talk About Death
By Jackie Morse Kessler
Growing up, I read comic books. Not Archies, either; superhero comic books. Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Captain America…you name it, I probably read it. When I was a kid, maybe 10 years old, I read a graphic novel (which back then meant a deluxe edition trade paperback comic book) called The Death Of Captain Marvel. It was all about, you guessed it, how Mar-Vell, the Kree warrior whom humans called Captain Marvel, died…of cancer. At one point, all the superheroes have gathered, waiting for the end, and Spider-Man—who is perhaps the most human of all the Marvel Universe superheroes—breaks down. He laments that this isn’t how superheroes are supposed to die. They die in battle; they die saving the world; they die doing the right thing; they’re not supposed to succumb to cancer.
That haunted me. I actually crawled into my closet and sat there, rocking in the dark, thinking about how unfair it was for a superhero to die from something so mundane. Death didn’t care about things like Good and Evil. Death is a constant. All living things die, period.
My God, that’s terrifying.
It wasn’t until I read Neil Gaiman’s Sandman that I saw another side of Death: a friendly, charming side. Oh, Death still does her job; if anything, she’s incredibly dedicated. But she also appreciates life. That stayed with me, too, just like the death of Captain Marvel.
And then, there’s Piers Anthony’s Death, from On a Pale Horse. That’s just some guy who gets the job. Death…as a regular person? Uncanny. That, too, left its impression, as did Terry Pratchett’s Death, who speaks in small caps and without quote marks.
The character of Death in my book HUNGER definitely has its roots in all of these previous incarnations. For some reason I still don’t know, Death in my world looks and sounds exactly like Kurt Cobain. (I wasn’t even a Nirvana fan when I wrote HUNGER.) He’s got a wicked sense of humor and can be rather terrifying at times, but he’s also a bit of a dreamer (and the other Horsemen have actually called him a slacker; in his point of view, everyone comes to him in time, so what’s the rush?).
And currently, he can play the guitar and has a haunting singing voice.
Would Death have appeared in HUNGER, even if I’d never read The Death of Captain Marvel? Of course. But it would have been a very different sort of Death, quite possibly one that didn’t hint at very frightening things, the things that make us retreat to our closets and rock in the dark.
Happily, I’ll never know.
I don't really want to pick favorites, but Jackie's post is definitely a favorite of mine throughout this tour. Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
You guys have no idea how psyched I am to have Jeri Smith-Ready stopping by the blog today. Her YA book, Shade, became an instant favorite of mine and I'm really excited to see where she plans to take the series!
You’ve scored a golden ticket to see any band from any decade. The only fallback is that you have to take one of your characters with you. Who are you taking and who are you two going to go see?
Ooh, I would take Logan to see the original Pogues, or maybe the Sex Pistols or the Clash. It would be epic!
When I know an author is a huge music fan like myself I love asking them to suggest a few songs for my readers. In this case, what are five songs that Logan would want us to listen to?
Logan is a huge fan of Irish music, everything from traditional to rock to punk. Earlier this year on St. Patrick’s Day he put together a great playlist, which can be found on the SHADE music page below the SHADE “soundtrack.”Here are five of them:
1. “Black Friday Rule” by Flogging Molly
2. “Siobhan” by the Tossers (as a jab at his sister)
3. “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ya” as covered by the Dropkick Murphys
4. “Sally McLannan” by the Pogues
5. “The Wind That Shakes the Barley” by the Chieftains
What do readers have to look forward to in Shift? In SHIFT, we’ll find out the answers to a lot of Aura’s questions about her parents and their connection to the Shift. But of course those answers will lead to more questions, as answers often do. On the personal side, the love triangle will be settled, but not until after it gets much more complicated (a love pentagon?).
Thanks for stopping by, Jeri!
Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
I asked Karen, if her book was ever turned into a movie - who would she cast and why?
Other: The Movie. Coming to a theatre near you. (I wish!)
Rachelle Lefevre would make a good Gwen with her red curly hair and all, and I’ve always liked Takeshi Kaneshiro as a Tavian inspiration. I’m not so sure about Zack, Chloe, Randall, etc. However… both of these actors are too old! I’m afraid I would run up against this problem with most of my characters. What does everybody else think? Who would you suggest as good actors for the movie Other?
Also, I hope they would film Other: The Movie in the forests of western Washington, where Klikamuks (the fictional town where Gwen lives) is supposed to be. There’s some really gloomy, creepy forest that would work great for the werewolf and dead body scenes, as well as the perfect big-leaf maple trees for Chloe, the dryad who’s best friends with Gwen, to sleep in. Plus that means I could easily swing by while they film the movie, since I’m a native Washingtonian.
Thanks for stopping by, Karen! Here's hopes that one day it will turn into a movie! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
For Amanda Ashby, I asked her why she loved the supernatural so much. Here's what she had to say.
I blame Buffy Summers, I really do! I just loved that show so much, not just because of the vampires (though hello Angel) but because Joss Whedon showed the world that you can use the supernatural to really show what it’s like to be a teenager. I also love a bit of action and if I wasn’t writing about supernatural things I would probably be doing mysteries because I love when external things come along and set off a landmine of problems.
I'm a HUGE Buffy fan, too! While Angel was always nice to look at, we cannot forget about Spike. *sighs* Thanks for stopping by, Amanda!
Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
When you were working on Dreaming Anastasia was there ever a scene or a plot line that had to be cut that you wanted to keep? Or maybe an idea that came to you after the book was already out on shelves?
Well, actually there were a set of scenes that took place at the Art Institute in Chicago. But that’s all I’m going to say. You never know when I might need them! I keep an “orphans” file for all my books. That’s where I store scenes/lines, etc that I cut but might want to go back to in future drafts or books. And oh yes, there was also a wonderful scene in an earlier version of the novel where Anne and Ethan kiss while waiting for the El train. But my editor at the time was insistent that these two needed to wait longer to finally kiss. So I had to cut it. That one was hard to get rid of for me!
If you could choose one person’s dreams to slip into whose would you choose?
I already have such vivid and often disturbing dreams that this is a tough question. But you know, now that you ask, I’d say Lady Gaga. Cause I’d really love to know what’s going on in her creative imagination!
Name three events in history you would have liked to have either witnessed or been apart of.
I would LOVE to have witnessed the signing of the Declaration of Independence. After that, I think it would have been amazing to watch the Wright Brothers’ first flight. And I’d have loved to have been with the Apollo astronauts when they walked on the moon!
Is there a subject or genre you know you’ll never write?
I will probably never write a Harlequin romance. Not that I dislike the genre, just that I tend to create these angsty characters who struggle with happy endings. So I’m probably not a great fit. Other than that, I’m pretty wide open!
Out of all the supernatural powers out there, what’s one you WOULDN’T want?
I would NOT want to read people’s thoughts. Imagine what you’d have to listen to! I definitely wouldn’t want to know what most people are actually thinking.
Well...there are a few peoples' minds I wouldn't mind taking a listen to. Thanks for stopping by, Joy!
Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
What first pulled you into wanting to write paranormal/supernatural books? I have always found psychics interesting, and reading about them led me to other supernatural topics like ghosts. I’m not a fan of monster-lit (although I did enjoy Twilight) but I do love mysteries, and the mysteries about what is on the “Otherside” fascinate me. After reading psychic biographies and meeting with psychics, I based Sabine on real psychics, so that the abilities she has are more spiritual than supernatural. Of course, in my DEAD GIRL series, it’s all creative fun with Dark-Lifers stealing bodies and my heroine Amber accidentally jumping into other bodies. There’s romance, too, which adds to the fun.
Have you ever had a supernatural encounter? I wish I could tell you I’d seen a ghost or something spooky. But the most I can say is that I get really strong feelings sometimes, warning me not to go somewhere or to avoid people, and I’ve learned to listen, believing there’s a good chance it’s a spirit guide trying to protect me. I have had some dreams which felt real and where I’d see my grandmother (who died 30 years ago) and when I hugged her in the dream it felt real, so I’d wake up and wonder if it was.
Thanks for stopping by, Linda! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
I have three winners to announce, but just to remind everyone there are still many giveaways going on. Just check the sidebar to enter!
2 winners for this week's Crossroads surprise swag packs...........
*drumroll*
ferretvamp14
&
NickolasHatesYou
Next winner up get a signed copy of Freefall by Mindi Scott and 2 CDs. It was a lot of fun reading everyone's 'pick me up' songs. Mine is Six Gun Quota by Seether...at least for today.
The winner is........
*drumroll*
Adam Russell Stephens New Winner: Sab H!
Congrats guys! I need you all to email me your mailing addresses no later than Tuesday night. On Wednesday, if I have not received your address I pick another winner. Email me at: justyourtyipcalbookblog(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh what's this? Supernatural Sunday? You mean that thing I was supposed to be posting weekly, but somehow managed to miss two weeks of it? Yeah, I suck. I do apologize.
Raise your hand if you weren't spilling over in laughter at the introduction of this week's episode. *waits a minute* Yep, I'm sure you were all cracking up. I mean, just look at the title:
Live Free or Twihard
Taking a jab at Twilight isn't exactly something new. You all might remember Dean's lovely line last season: Suck it, Twilight! But this time the show really went all out. It opens up with a human girl named Kristen and vampire boy named Robert. Between their long drawn pauses and that cheesy dialogue, I was just waiting for a half naked werewolf to come along. (And for the record, I do like Twilight. I even have a Jasper fangirl shirt, but I have no problem poking fun at it either.) After Kristen is lured to Robert's little lair, we find out that he's not the sparkling protective vampire like all the books say he should be. Instead he's a crazy blood sucking killer. Who would have thought!
Her disappearance along with five other girls puts the case right on the boys' radar. Before they take off, we get to see a cute little phone call between Dean and Lisa. She's growing on me more and more which just means she's either going to die, turn evil, or tell Dean to stay out of her life. Because that's what ALWAYS happens when I start liking a girl on Supernatural.
The boys step into vampire fangirl world when they got to Kristen's room. I could write paragraphs on all the great lines this scene held. Here's just a couple that come from Dean's mouth:
"These aren't vampires. These are douche bags." "Look at this. He's watching her sleep. How is that not raping?"
Even though this episode opened up in a joking matter, things started getting serious. After a blood bank van gets robbed, Gramps calls up Sam telling him it is for sure vamps and the boys need to find the nest. The boys head to the bar, staking out the place, trying to find their vamps. When Dean spots a vamp who shall forever be called Bieber, he follows him out while Sam follows another guy. Except Sam's instincts were right. He gets lured into a room where a vampire tries to attack but Sam turns around, slices the guy's throat like it ain't not thang.
Dean on the other hand catches just some random glitter wearing douche. Before Dean tells him to mmbop his way out of there and use a condom - he picks up a tip: Wearing glitter can get you laid. If Dean wears glitter in a future episode, I will die! While walking back to the bar, Dean meets very curly haired vamp, the ring leader so to say of the nest who kicks his can right to the trash. And here is where things start getting juicy.
Sam comes up in the alley, sees Curly about to change Dean. It's clear to EVERYONE HE'S LOOKING RIGHT AT HIM! And instead of rushing to save his brother before Curly can make Dean drink his blood. He does this:
WHAT THE HECK SAM?! I had my suspicions - who didn't? But I was really hoping that maybe Hell had just made him cold. But obviously something completely different is going on with Sam to let his brother turn into a mother truckin' vampire!
Dean's sense go haywire. He can hear the clock ticking, the lights are blinding, and can hear Sam's heartbeat. Sam's very slow heartbeat because he isn't freaking out that his brother is now a vampire. Which we all know why but poor Dean has no idea he was set up by his brother. For some reason Sam think he can keep things under control, but Dean skips out the bathroom and heads over to see Lisa and Ben.
While trying to say a goodbye to the wifey and kid, Dean can't help the urge of wanting to rip out Lisa's throat to get her blood. Thankfully that didn't happen, but still things got a little violet especially when Dean shoved Ben against a wall so he wouldn't be near him. Dean rushes out the house before anything else can happen. Meanwhile, Gramps shows up with some answers. He doesn't have to kill Dean, he can save him with a little cure from his own grandpa's journal. I love how they all keep journals in this hunting family. I hope there's more of this family history stuff going on in future episodes.
The kicker is that Dean has to get Curly's blood to turn back so while he sets up Gramps delivers a line that makes me go WHAT THE HELL SAMMY?! Sam apparently knew about the cure. He might have tried to act all shocked when Gramps first mentioned it but we all remember that smirk. It seems that Sam might have baited his brother just so he could find out who the Alpha Vampire is. The warning bells start going off because we all know Gramps is on the hunt for lots of Alphas. Don't think I haven't forgotten there is obviously something up with the old man too.
Dean heads off to Curly's place pretending that he has drank. He learns quickly that Curly isn't the Alpha but he's running a recruiting place. Yep. All these vamps are using social networking and other things to lure people into their world. What for? Some kind of vampire take over? Where only they rule the world? Probably. It is Supernatural and the bad guys are always trying to make evil rule.
When Curly finds out Dean is there to kill instead of join, he goes all kick butt on him. Then suddenly him and the minions start to fall down (*sings* like tooyy soilders - sorry.) Then Dean joins them and some really weird creepy crap happens. Flashes of images and pulsing and two really creepy girls fly into his mind. WHY OH WHY DO THEY USE KIDS?!
I hate creepy children! Obviously after all that happened, we'll see more vampires in the future. When Dean wakes, Curly sicks everyone on him and Dean starts slicing and dicing those blood suckers one by one. In the end, Sam and Gramps find him with Curly's chopped off head under his foot.
Once again Sam raises suspicions demanding to know what Dean found out while in there right before Dean drank the cure. Unfortunately for Sammy, his blood was so freaking loud, Dean couldn't hear what he had asked. After drinking the cure, Dean flings back and the most disgusting stuff starts to happen as he turns back into a human. Seriously people, I almost puked.
Before Dean was a full fledge human again, he started having flashes of everything that went down in the past 24 hours (or however long he was all vamp like). And one thing that didn't slip his mind was: That damn smirk.
Oh Sammy, you've got some explain' ta do! But in a very Dean like manner, he doesn't call him out on it. I had a feeling he might not. Sure Dean has been known to bring up the crap between the two, he's also a plotter. He's going to find out what's going on with Sammy before he pounces on him. But he does tell Gramps and Sam that he thinks the Alpha sends him some psychic messages to build an army. And the worst of all, hunters no longer scare them. That is never a good thing.
In closing, I laughed, I hurled, wanted to punch Sam in the face, and then give Dean a massive teddy bear hug. It seems like his family might be broken up with Lisa not picking up his phone call which can't really blame a girl. And judging by next week's episode, we might be getting some answers on Sam. Here's my only thing I'm really, really hoping they don't drag this on forever. I want the boys back together again. No more Good Dean vs. Evil Sammy. Since Angel Food Cake is in next week's episode along with Bobby, here's hoping that'll happen!
For today's post I asked Kitty Keswick to tell us moments where she felt like a freak in high school:
Who hasn’t felt a little freaky, like they don’t belong. I was really involved in clubs and such in school. I also competed in Debate; I once fell on my butt in front of a large group of people and then had to go up and speak...it rattled me. I felt stupid and awkward.
Yeah, falling on the bum is always a bit mortifying. And here, have a random list of Kitty's Top 10 Favorite Halloween Movies:
- American Werewolf in London
- Underworld
- Halloween
- Friday the 13th
- The Ring
- From Dusk ‘til Dawn
- Nightmare on Elm street
- The Ring
- The Grudge
- Dracula
Thanks for stopping by, Kitty!
Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
What was the first thing that sparked your idea to write The Crescent? Hi Amber, thank you so much for hosting this interview! ‘The Crescent’ came to me late one night when I was home alone and my german shepherd wouldn’t let me into the house. It was horrible and I let my overactive imagination get to me. I imagined a robber was waiting in my house for me. Ultimately, I let the dogs in to inspect every inch of the house before I could settle down.
Are there any other supernatural things you’d like to explore in writing? I’m a sucker for a good paranormal character. I love the depth that urban fantasy novels have. I’m not a huge fan of high fantasy, so getting the real world with a bit of oddity thrown in always draws me in. I’m currently working on a witch novel, a shape shifter novel, and a healer novel. I always have a full plate of ideas waiting in the wings as well.
You really do have a full plate, but I so admire that with writers. You’re favorite part of writing your novel? Great question! My favourite part by far is letting the characters play out their story, the way they intend it. I eat, sleep, and live my characters; there isn’t a day that goes by that I’m not thinking of the characters, thinking of their story and watching their life like a movie in my head. When you connect with a character so much that they tell you their story—that is magic.
So true! You’re not so favorite part of writing? This is such an easy question. EDITING. Yup, that word is a curse word amongst writers. Ask anyone.
Do you make play lists while writing? If so can you share a few songs with us? Yes. For ‘The Crescent’ I listened to a lot of ‘Pull the Pin”, “Framing Hanley” and “Linkin Park”. For “Half Moon” I had a lot of “Disturbed” “Lady Gaga” and “Breaking Benjamin”. The current novel I’m working on, I’ve played “Love the way you lie” and “Airplanes”. I have to feel the words of the song and connect it to the characters, otherwise, it really throws off my groove.
I asked Shannon for her stop if she's ever had a run in with the supernatural, and here's what she had to say:
I once had a well-reputed psychic kick me out of her house and utterly refuse to do a reading for me. She claimed that something very dark was following me and she was very nervous even having me in her house briefly. I tried to convince her to do some sort of reading, but she refused and told me the best thing I could do was get some training myself and examine my past lives. According to her it was all connected, the dark thing following me from one lifetime to another. And that’s only one little oddity during the course of my *cough* young life. People who know me understand that writing paranormal stories *is* my normal in some odd ways. ;-)
Whoa. If that was me, I'd be freaking out! Thanks for stopping by, Shannon!
While the paranormal is a very hot genre there are still some readers who are hesitant. What are five reasons you would tell someone why they should give the unknown and the unexplained a spin?
1. If an author is offering an explanation for the unexplained….why not take a chance and be entertained by the ideas?
2. If you like horror movies, or fun houses, or those mini cinnamon donuts at the fair – you might enjoy a thrill ride of the paranormal fiction kind. They’re sweetly dangerous.
3.Don’t look behind you! (If that line made you uneasy or gave you a laugh….imagine what a whole paranormal book could do.)
4.What is paranormal fiction but the modern fairytale?
5.Because I said so. ;)
Thanks for stopping by, Judith! And of course thank you for putting together this tour :) Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize!
What is a ghost story or dream that still haunts you?
“Johnny on the first step” or “Hook for a hand.”
The personal one that still haunts me is when Lisa and Cookie Ficara, our friends, were watching my twin sister and I. We walked past an old stone wall and there were cement balls on the top. They told us that the heads of little kids were trapped inside of the balls. I still cringe when I visit back home and see the wall. It’s still there and I still think there are heads in there.
I could see that really freaking someone out! It kind of reminds me of Killer Klowns from Outer Space and how I was scared of fun ball balloons for years because of it! If you turned into a ghost, what places or people would you haunt? My twin sister. I love to see her terrified for some odd reason.
I'd totally haunt my sister, too! Thanks for stopping by, Tonya!
What made you want to write about vampires? I’ve always adored vampires. Always. Growing up, I was a severe asthmatic. The way it was treated back then was with stimulants and steroids...meaning I never slept. My parents gave up trying to keep up with me and monitor my late-night viewing, so midnight would frequently see me bundled up in a blanket with an old Christopher Lee vampire movie, scaring the bejeebers out of myself. Then I’d go from can’t sleep with my meds to can’t sleep without my bejeebers.
I never thought I’d actually write about vampires, because I couldn’t imagine what new I had to say. I’m still not sure...my heroine Gina doesn’t let me get a word in edgewise.
Do you and Gina share any similarities? We’re both bossy . We both love a hot geek. (Bobby in Gina’s case, my husband in mine.) If you’d asked me in high school, I’d have said, “Nothing but the big hair.” Back then, I was as close to being a fashionista as, well, any of the guys from The Big Bang Theory.
If there was a show down between Buffy and Gina, who do you think would win? I think they’d start out fighting and end bonding over their “stylish yet affordable boots.” If we could get Buffy and Gina together on a shopping spree (maybe with Cordelia thrown in for good measure), we could turn this recession right around.
If you weren’t writing, what would you be doing? Mourning.
Any hints of what is going to go down in the sequel? In Vamped, Gina and her minions defeated a vampire vixen, a psycho-psychic and the vampire council of Mozulla, Ohio. Gina was all ready to expose vampires to the world in all their fanged fabulosity…until the Feds arrived to sweep everything under the rug and make them an offer they couldn’t refuse.
In ReVamped, Gina and her boyfriend Bobby are sent undercover to infiltrate a New York high school where some seriously weird stuff is going down. Worse than that, Gina’s new super-secret identity is as goth-girl Geneva Belfry. No color palette to speak of. More chains than a bike rack. And don't even get her started on the shoes. At least she won’t be too worried about blood spatter when kicking the butt of her newest nemesis, who’s decided that the high school makes a perfect playground.
In Fangtastic (forthcoming), the real vamps and the lifestylers meet, issues between the Feds and the fangs come to a head, and Gina and Bobby have to decide which side they’re on.
Thanks for stopping by Lucienne! Don't forget to swing by the Crossroads to see the question for the day. You need all 16 answers to enter for the grand prize! ♥amber
If your book was turned into a movie who would you cast and why? I would want Laurel to be a complete unknown, because she has to be unaffected and a little overwhelmed by it all. For Ms. Suarez, I’d love to have someone like Salma Hayek, just maybe a little older. And for Spinster Spenser, you’d need a classical type actress. I’m not very good at this ….
What are some monsters or legends that scared you as a kid? The flying monkeys from The Wizard of Oz were pretty freaky. UFO’s were big when I was growing up. The idea of people being abducted and carried off was scary too.
The flying monkeys freaked me out too! What does magic mean to you? I definitely believe in flower magic. If flowers didn’t add something special and magical to our lives, why would we include them at nearly all celebrations?! It’s fascinating to me. Scientific studies have shown that having flowers in your life can lift your mood for days! That’s a kind of magic, isn’t it?!
Scarlet poppies for your Halloween, Amber!!
Aww thanks, Amy! *whispers* I hope that's something good.
The very first idea for Everlasting came from just wanting to write something purely adventurous and romantic. I’d just graduated from college and had been on a writing hiatus for four years. It was time to get back to creative writing, and I settled on a historical adventure.
If you could travel back to any time period, what year would you be in and where would you be? Given my recent fascination with Regency England, I think I would choose to time travel there. Then after a short visit, I’d zip a few decades into the future and across the Atlantic and check out the Civil War era!
Given the time period in Everlasting, how much research did you have to do?
The research was endless. I think that if I went page by page in the book I would be able to find something I needed to do research for, or something I added into the book as a result of research. Thankfully, I like research.
When did you start writing?
Whatever age I was when I learned how to write. Seven or eight, perhaps. There was nothing more exciting to me than a blank page of lined paper and a sharpened pencil.
Is there a subject or genre you’ll never write?
Certain subjects are difficult for me to read—like violence against children—but I hope to be the kind of writer that can attempt to tackle any idea that catches on in my imagination.
Why do you think people enjoy reading paranormal books?I think it’s fun to visit a world that’s completely different from ours. Especially when every time we turn on the news it’s full of problems we can’t really do anything about. Speaking for myself, I find it very satisfying to read a story where the big bad is REALLY big and bad but defeat-able with enough gumption and a wooden stake or two!
Is there a ghost story or dream that still haunts you? When I was a kid, I would dream about being chased by skeleton monsters. Which is funny, because I was never scared of skeletons when I was awake. But in my dreams they were terrifying! And I could never get away from them, no matter how much I ran. *shudder*
Eek! My sister used to tell me that ghosts and things flew over my bed at night while I slept. Totally ruined me for years! Thanks for stopping by, Rosemary!
As part of the Crossroads Tour, I am able to give away one of Rosemary's titles. The title is still to be announced so if you haven't read any of her books then this is a great one to enter!
- Contest is open international!
- Ends October 31st at 11:59 PM central time
- Must be 13 years old to enter
- Fill out this form
Today is the first day of the Crossroads Blog Tour created by author, Judith Graves. So what is it exactly? Well it's a tour of 16 awesome authors on 16 blogs for the next 16 days. There will be guest posts, interviews, and YOU CAN WILL SOME STUFF!!
HOW THE TOUR WORKS:
Each day of The Crossroads Tour, a new research question will be revealed here on The Crossroad Blog Tour main pageand each day the answer to that question will be found within one of the 16 different blog posts by Crossroads Tour authors. Your job is to get the question, read the blog posts, and collect all 16 answers by the end of the tour, on Halloween.
Send your answers to judithgraves at ymail dot com by midnight on October 31st to win a fab grand prize consisting of:
signed copy of Under My Skin by Judith Graves
copy of Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble
copy of Freaksville by Kitty Keswick
gothic stickers
funky Halloween decorations
a DVD featuring Classic Horror Films
a $10 gift certificate for Leap Books
a Leap Books T-shirt
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! Judith collected some lovely swag from all 16 authors and has sent them out to us. So for the next 2 weeks I will be giving away 4 surprise swag packs! What's going to be included? Well just some of this:
A bit of that
And a pinch of this!
*These pictures were taken by Judith - it's all she has collected from authors and sent out 16 packages to bloggers.
Rules for Surprise Swag Packs:
- US ONLY! Sorry guys, I will have a book that will be international up today, but I'm shipping these out and I cannot afford to ship overseas.
- Must be over the age of 13 to enter
- 1st week will run from 16th-23rd. 2nd week will run from the 24th-31st.
- Winners will be chosen by leaving comments on all the posts involving the Crossroads Tour. So basically if you comment on 5 posts, you are entered 5 times!
- I'll announce 2 winners on the 23rd and the other 2 winners of the 31st!
Make sure to check out Judith Graves' website to see the other 15 bloggers and keep checking them out so you can have the chance to win the grand prize!
How does it feeling being a debut author?I cannot wrap my head around it still. In truth, I feel distinctly detached from all the buzz and the book signings and the author visits. I’m grateful for it. I’m happy going to events, but it’s strange. I can’t explain it any other way than that it feels, for now, as if it’s happening to someone else – no pun intended, but I’m going to work this into a pun someday – and I’m standing nearby watching.
What was the first idea that sparked I Now Pronounce You Someone Else?
The spark came from the collision of three separate ideas:
1. my own alias, Phoebe Lilywhite
2. my shameless fascination with weddings
3. my step-dad, who died before I got a chance to tell him how much I
loved him.
I was working on a story about a girl and her step-dad, but it stalled after just a couple chapters. Once I blended it with weddings and Phoebe Lilywhite, it became a novel.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing stories since third grade. I began writing with an eye towards publication when I was 22. And only eighteen short years later . . .
But it wasn’t a steady eighteen years of writing and rejection. In total, it was probably more like nine.
Are you anything like the characters in your book? Or did you base them on anyone you know?
No, I was nothing like Bronwen when I was her age. I was so pathologically shy that I rarely spoke in public, and when I did, no one could hear me, and I was pretty much in a constant state of blushing from the ages of 13 to 20.
And I don’t think I could ever write characters faithfully if they were based on actual people. I’d be writing the real person rather than allowing the character I’d created to develop on his or her own. That’s what I mean about faithfully writing a fictitious character.
You're walking down the street - what song is following you?
This is such a fun question. Can I swipe it for my Facebook page? I wish it were the James Bond theme. Running up to the grocery store would be so exciting, then. I’m glad it is not the theme to the Pink Panther, which I’m certain would, in time, make me start walking funny. It’s probably either Come Sail Away or Schoolhouse Rock’s The Preamble.
You sure can! What's one genre you doubt you'd ever write for? Erotica. Vampire erotica. Vampire dystopian erotica. YA vampire dystopian erotica. And westerns.
Have you experienced any 'rock star' writing moments? No rock star moments yet, but I ran up to my local Borders last week, looking for a copy of my book – I keep giving all mine away – and after the saleswoman said they were out of stock, she said, “I’ve got to order more because we can’t keep these on the shelf.” And that’s probably from me buying copies. Then she looked at me and said, “You know the author lives in Dublin.” (nearby suburb) And I just smiled and said, “No, I didn’t know that.” I actually don’t live in Dublin, but it was nice that she knew that I’m local.
What's next for you? Dinner! Put the James Bond theme on; I’m headed to Kroger!
Thanks for stopping by, Erin! If you would like to read my thoughts on Erin's book, check out my review. I'm also giving away one copy of I Now Pronounce You Someone Else.Giveaway is for US ONLY and will end October 31st at 11:59 pm central standard time.
Released: June 2010 Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books Genre:Young Adult - Contemporary - Romance Pages:272 Source: Publisher
Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5
Seventeen-year-old Bronwen Oliver doesn't just want a family. She has one of those, and there's nothing terribly wrong with them apart from bickering grandparents, an image-obsessed mother and a brother she describes simply as Jesus. But there's no natural sense of connection between Bronwen and her family, leaving her with the belief -- and the hope -- that she was switched at birth, that she was never supposed to be Bronwen Oliver but someone else entirely.
When she begins dating college senior Jared Sondervan, she finds herself thoroughly embraced by the loving family she has always wanted and does not hesitate to say yes when Jared proposes on her 18th birhday. Plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her junior year of college become plans for the Perfect Beach Wedding before her freshman year of college. And a wedding so soon isn't exactly what Bronwen wants. But Jared is. And his family is. Or so she thinks.
Before Bronwen can determine what she truly wants, she must first determine who she truly is, and the answer, she discovers, is only partially what she thought it was. She wasn't switched at birth, but she's also not Bronwen Oliver and hasn't been for a very long time.
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If you're looking for a fun charming read then I've found it for you. Meet Phoebe Lilywhite. A daughter to a wonderful family that doesn't mind her big teeth or want her to keep dying her hair blonde. At least, that's what seventeen year old Bronwen Oliver likes to sometimes dream she is. Being switched at birth is the only explanation of why her and her mother have nothing in common.
Bronwen's voice really made this book. It was catchy, up beat and full of witty moments. The way she viewed her family had me cracking up. I think we can all relate to a moment where we thought we were adopted. (Or you could be like me, and have a lovely older sister who made you believe you in fact were!) A real family life is something Bronwen never really thought she have since her father's death. Then Jared and his fun-loving family comes along and Bronwen finally finds the life she's been so desperately seeking.
Or has she?
While slightly predictable, you go on the journey with Bronwen through this very cute romance that her and Jared hold. During their relationship you get to know Bronwen outside of the sarcastic front she shows off to everyone. I love how she made mistakes and knew when she had. I loved how she kept questioning her actions and wondering if she should get married to Jared. McCahan did a wonderful job on creating such a well rounded character that I think many teens and non-teens will be able to relate to.
My only compliant is that I thought the ending was a bit rushed. I wish it would have been developed more, but none the less I really enjoyed this read and suggest you get yourself a copy!
Readable Classics – Making Literature Less Frustrating
Last year, when my 10th grade son was assigned The Scarlet Letter in English, he moaned and groaned and went online to SparkNotes. That took me back to my own high school days, when I did the same thing to avoid reading Moby Dick, and got a C on the exam.
That gave me an idea. I gently edited The Scarlet Letter to flow more smoothly and make it less frustrating. It still felt like the original because, essentially, it still was the original—I just made it more readable.
My son read my version alongside the original, chapter by chapter, and was able to understand and appreciate it. He got an A on the exam. I published the book.
I was on a roll. I had a score to settle with my past. So I rewrote Moby Dick. With the brooding obsession of Captain Ahab, I conquered my nemesis, the White Whale.
Then I rewrote Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and The Odyssey. I’m now working on The Red Badge of Courage. The reviews on Amazon are glowing--even the literary purists like them. And students are ecstatic.
I also recently published a mashup, Emma and the Vampires, with the intent of introducing a gently-edited Jane Austen to young adult readers in a friendly way, laced with Twilight-type vampires.
My work is challenging, enjoyable and satisfying. The classics have opened up a whole new world to me. I finally understand why these books have been continuously published for two hundred years--they have something important to say.
Jane Eyre was the first novel in English literature where a woman was the hero. Pride and Prejudice was the first novel to challenge the ridiculous notion that women were second-class citizens.
But the best part of writing Readable Classics? Students and adults have told me that my books have helped them overcome their fear of great literature. And that is the most rewarding part of all.
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Wayne has offered to give away one of his readable classics. The winner gets to choose 1 book from his site. Here are the list of books:
The Scarlet Letter
Jane Eyre
Pride and Prejudice
Moby Dick
The Odyssey--will be released this month
The Red Badge of Courage—coming in November
Emma and the Vampires
You can swing by his website to check out the first chapter of each book if you're having trouble deciding. This giveaway is OPEN TO EVERYONE! It will end on October 26th at 11:59 pm central standard time.
Released: March 2010 Publisher: HaperCollins Genre: Young Adult - Paranormal - Thriller Pages: 336 Source: Bought
Rating: ♥♥♥♥.5
Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.
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This is the perfect read for those who are starting to shy away from paranormal and for those that are in the mood for an absolute page-turner. Kimberly Derting weaves a thrilling mystery of one girl's gift that could quite possibly end her life.
Violet has a great support team when it comes to her gift. Her immediate family knows of her gift along with her best friend, Jay. The relationship between the two was one of the best I've read in a while. They've been best friends since childhood and I think anyone teenager or adult can relate to at some point in your life you've fallen for your best friend. Jay is another male character who I was crushing on. I loved how protective he was when it came to Violet and making sure she was safe.
I've always wanted a supernatural type of power. I think Violet's power is one I'd pass on. The ability to sense the dead around you really creeped me out. Add that with the fact that this story is written in third person which allows us to get into the killer's mind - well, I was a bit scared to walk in the dark. None the less, this book kept me on my toes as Violet was trying to track down the person responsible for ending the lives of many girls in the area she lives in.
Kimberly Derting has written a thriller of a debut novel which I'm sure will ground her a great fan base and have many people anticipating the sequel, Desires of the Dead, coming out next year.
For the past two years, Jenn has lived and trained at Spain's Sacred Heart Academy Against the Cursed Ones. She is among the few who have pledged to defend humanity or die trying. But the vampires are gaining power, and the battle has only just begun.
Forced to return home after death takes a member of her family, Jenn discovers that San Francisco is now a vampire strong-hold. As a lone hunter apart from her team, Jenn is isolated—and at risk. She craves the company of her fighting partner, Antonio: his protection, his reassurance, his touch. But a relationship with Antonio comes with its own dangers, and the more they share of themselves, the more Jenn stands to lose.
Then Jenn is betrayed by one who was once bound to protect her, causing her to doubt all she had held as true. To survive, Jenn must find the courage to trust herself—and her heart.
Sound goods, right? 1 lucky winner will get a copy of Crusade along with a signed bookplate by the authors. BIG thanks to Nancy and Debbie for donating this!
- Giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL
- Will end October 31st at 11:59 pm
Sorry I'm a bit late on announcing the winner, but today I finally got around to punching in everyone's comments and bonus entries.
The Top 10 Commenters were:
Llhen
The Cold One
Prophecygirl
Ally
Polkadots1121
Kaila Sage
Girlsinstacks.com
Sab H.
LuxeCotorue
Alitareads
And the winner of 2 books of their choice from this list chosen by random.org is:
*drum roll*
PROPHECYGIRL!!!
Jen, just shoot me an email with your two book choices from the list link and I'll send them your way! Thanks to everyone who commented. Remember, this month there isn't a Top Commenter but check out the sidebar for all other giveaways going on this month.
