Voyagers Series Giveaway

Samples and prizing are provided by Random House Children’s Books

#VoyagersHQ - check out the site!
All right science fiction fans, there's a new series that already has two books out for you!

Part sci-fi, part eco-mystery, all action-adventure.

As the young heroes in VOYAGERS journey into outer space to save planet Earth, you are invited to become part of the story by joining the crew through the multi-platform, VOYAGERS HQ. 

The HQ extends the adventure beyond the page, unlocking games and activities on your device!

Each book has clues and codes that lead to world extensions to be explored, played, and shared. Your online profile tracks your progress through the VOYAGERS universe, and gives you rewards, ranking and virtual currency for each product code redeemed.

You can create your own custom VOYAGERS character, follow the team and experience this space adventure through the eyes of your own virtual droid.

Book 1 - Project Alpha by  DJ MacHale

Synopsis
Earth is in danger! Without a renewable source of clean energy, our planet will be toast in less than a year. There are 6 essential elements that, when properly combined, create a new power source. But the elements are scattered throughout the galaxy. And only a spaceship piloted by children can reach it and return to Earth safely. First the ideal team of four 12-year-olds must be chosen, and then the first element must be retrieved. There is not a mistake to be made, or a moment to lose. The source is out there. Voyagers is blasting off in 3, 2,1!

Credit: Gayle Goodrich

About the Author
D.J. MacHale is the author of the bestselling book series Pendragon, Morpheus Road, the SYLO Chronicles. He has written, directed and produced numerous award-winning television series and movies for young people including Are You Afraid of the Dark?; Flight 29 Down and Tower of Terror. D.J. lives with his family in Southern California.

Website: DJ MacHale Books
Twitter: @DJMacHale
Facebook:  Author DJ MacHale

Book 2 - Game of Flames by Robin Wasserman

Synopsis
The Alpha team has been chosen and they've already snagged the first element on planet J-16. The second is hidden on Meta-Prime, a planet filled with metal mazes, catapults of fire, and warring alien robots. But what our Voyagers don't know is that there is another ship, the Omega team, following hot on their trail...

About the Author

Credit: Sonya Sones

Robin Wasserman is the author of several acclaimed books for children and young adults, including The Waking Dark, The Book of Blood and Shadow, Hacking Harvard, the Cold Awakening Trilogy, and the Chasing Yesterday Trilogy. A former children's book editor, she lives and writes (and frequently procrastinates) in Brooklyn, New York.

Website: Robin Wasserman
Twitter: @RobinWasserman
Facebook: Robin Wasserman

The Giveaway

Get both books in the series AND a special prize pack: A branded iphone 6 case with a home GadgetGrip button! Open to US addresses only. Giveaway closes Wednesday November 18, 2015, 11:59 pm.

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown - Review and Giveaway

Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown (website | twitter)
Publisher: Delacorte Press/Random House (book page)
Source: publisher
Genre: fantasy (killer mermaids)
Rating:  5/5
Buy it: Amazon | Indiebound

 Merpeople are serious grudge holders. When Calder White was a wee merman his mom was killed waiting for Tom Hancock to fulfill his promise to her. The Whites have never forgiven the Hancock family. They've finally located Jason Hancock, one of Toms's descendants, and have a chance to pay the family back.  By killing one of them! A life for a life. Calder's job is to use his earthly charms to get close to the Hancock family so he and his sisters can take them down.

These are killer mermaids! Not only do they want to get revenge but they also prey on humans. They feed off emotions. The happier the human, the more satiated the merperson! Creepy!

Calder tries his best to separate himself from his three evil mermaid stepsisters. He migrates at least a plane ride away from them every winter. But as soon as things start to warm-up, he can't resist his older sister Maris pulling him back to her side. Really, they are all linked and can see what the other person is thinking. His only way free is to get Maris to sever the connection.

Wait, did I mention that Jason Hancock has two daughters? One Calder's age? Can you see where this is going? Lies Beneath has the same premise as many other "I want to be with you but I will probably kill you. No hard feelings. It's just my nature" type of books but Greenwood Brown kept it from being cliched. Her engaging writing style and the relentless forward motion of the plot made it hard to put the book down. So I didn't. You won't want to either!

Hang on, do not be deceived by this cover, as georgous as it is. Lies Beneath is narrated by Calder White, a boy mermaid, er, merman.  So, I'm guessing that's Lily on the cover. Deceptive even in it's beauty. Kinda like the merpeople. Well played, Anne Greenwood Brown, well played.

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Giveaway

Complete the form!

The giveaway is open from June 27, 2012 - July 4, 2012 at 11:59 pm.  

Winners will be chosen randomly.

Giveaway is open to US only! 

 Only one entry per person!

Thanks to PS for the opportunity to read and giveaway this book!
I'm an Amazon Associate. Links may redirect to Amazon.
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The Letter Q - Review and Giveaway - Part 4

The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves
edited by Sarah Moon
Arthur A Levine Books
978-0-545-39932-6
$17.99

We've all heard of the "It Gets Better" or the "Dear Bully" campaigns. Scholastic took those projects a step further and gathered over 60 authors to write letters to their younger LGBTQ selves. What a great way to reach those teens who may be struggling to hang on.

Monday - Friday, I will highlight a different young adult author, as well as Arthur Levine himself, and give you an excerpt. (UPDATE: HAD TO SKIP ONE DAY SO WILL RUN TO SATURDAY, JUNE 2)


Brian Selznick
As a fan of Andrew Clements, I've always loved Selznick's work.  When he stopped illustrating for Clements, I was heartbroken. Then he wrote The Invention of Hugo Cabret and my heart stopped hurting from pain and exploded with joy. And then he wrote Wonderstruck. And I didn't know I could feel so much.  Visit him at  - Brian Selznick.


Selznick responds to a letter he wrote to his future self when he was thirteen.

Did I marry someone? Is she nice? Well...this is the question that surprised me, because I'm the only person who knows what you were really thinking at thirteen when you wrote it...So, to answer your question: No, I didn't get married to a woman, but I did fall in love...and we've been together for almost fourteen years now.

Giveaway

Open to US Residents only. 

Enter by completing the form below. 

Be sure to leave your email address so that we can contact you.

The giveaway is open from
May 28, 2012 - June 1, 2012 11:59pm EXTENDED TO JUNE 2, 11:59PM!

You may enter once per day. 
2 copies will be given away.

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The Letter Q - Review and Giveaway - Part 3

The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves
edited by Sarah Moon
Arthur A Levine Books
978-0-545-39932-6
$17.99

We've all heard of the "It Gets Better" or the "Dear Bully" campaigns. Scholastic took those projects a step further and gathered over 60 authors to write letters to their younger LGBTQ selves. What a great way to reach those teens who may be struggling to hang on.

Monday - Friday, I will highlight a different young adult author, as well as Arthur Levine himself, and give you an excerpt of their story.

Julie Anne Peters
Peters has written many books including By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead, Luna, Keeping You a Secret, and Define Normal. Check out her website - Julie Anne Peters.


Peters comforts her younger self after a devastating breakup.

I wish there was a time machine because I would've jumped aboard and set the controls to that park. I'd have held you tight and told you that it wasn't you; that in a few short years you'd meet the love of your life...  ...wasn't until college that you came out to yourself. You didn't even have a word for it. Lesbian. Even now it makes you cringe a little. You prefer gay. It makes you happy, that word, and all you ever wanted was to be happy.

Giveaway

Open to US Residents only. 

Enter by completing the form below. 

Be sure to leave your email address so that we can contact you.

The giveaway is open from
May 28, 2012 - June 1, 2012 11:59pm

You may enter once per day. 
2 copies will be given away.

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The Letter Q - Review and Giveaway - Part 2

The Letter Q: Queer Writers' Notes To Their Younger Selves
edited by Sarah Moon
Arthur A Levine Books
978-0-545-39932-6
$17.99

We've all heard of the "It Gets Better" or the "Dear Bully" campaigns. Scholastic took those projects a step further and gathered over 60 authors to write letters to their younger LGBTQ selves. What a great way to reach those teens who may be struggling to hang on.

Monday - Friday, I will highlight a different young adult author, as well as Arthur Levine himself, and give you an excerpt of their story.

David Levithan
Levithan has co-authored several of my favorite books: Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, Noami and Eli's No-Kiss List, Dash and Lily's Book of Dares and Will Grayson, Will Grayson.  He also has many novels of his own, including Boy Meets Boy, Wide Awake, and Every You, Every Me. Check him out online - David Levithan.


Levithan chastises his younger self for bullying a teacher.

I know many gay people now who honed their caustic wit s a defense mechanism - this particular rapier was the best thing in their own arsenals, so they made sure it was sharp as possible, and sometimes they went in for the kill. Hell, sometimes they still do.  Don't fall into this trap. It doesn't make you safe. It only makes you mean.

Giveaway

Open to US Residents only. 

Enter by completing the form below. 

Be sure to leave your email address so that we can contact you.

The giveaway is open from
May 28, 2012 - June 1, 2012 11:59pm

You may enter once per day. 
2 copies will be given away.

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The Sunday Salon - Dropping The Ball and Banning The Buying - September 13, 2009

Happy Sunday! I hope you are having a great day. Two huge things I want to talk about today - Me dropping the ball on some things and be NOT buying any books for a while!

Dropping The Ball
Three places I've dropped the ball in my life and I intend to rectify them starting now:

1. Health - My doctor says over the past 2 1/2 years my blood pressure and resting heart rate have steadily increased. And she is concerned. Now, I'm concerned. Even though I'm still down 4 of the 8 lbs. I lost during The Game-On Diet Challenge, my weight is still over where it should be. So, diet and exercise must be more consistent. She gave me one month to make some changes before she put the hammer down...

2. House - over the past 2 1/2 years, I've neglected things around my house while I went back to school and worked my new job. I would show you some pictures of my un-landscaped, weedy, boring outside and inside house but that would require me to make an effort.

3. Giveaway Winners (I know, it doesn't start with an "h") - I have SEVEN packages sitting on my desk that contain books that need to be sent out! I owe so many apologies to these readers. They prolly don't read anymore but I am sorry anyway! I can't afford to mail them all at once, and yes, I have more giveaways going! I will try to send out 1 old package and 1 new package every other week until all packages are sent. That's the only way to do this. Old packages will go first class while all new stuff will go media mail.

So, as you can see, I've got some changes to make and part of that means LESS computer time. My daughter's extremely happy about this. So am I.

Book Buying Ban
My house is overflowing with books. Literally. Also, the newer ones are covering up older ones so that I forget that I bought them and wanted to read those particular ones. I've been reading some posts that have convinced me that my past efforts lacked a plan and that's why they failed. So, the plan is now in place. This current ban will go until year's end, when it will be revisited.

Ban Plan

• Need - book must be needed for something specific where it would be too late by the time I get it from the library.
• Budget - it's within my monthly budget. This includes shipping/handling costs.
• Room - I must get rid of one book for every new book that comes into the house - including blog tours and requested review books.
• Borrow - look for bloggers who want to trade or are hosting a giveaway for the book I want.
  
• Top 25 - it should be one of the top 25 books I want to read. I don't own 6 of my top 25. Which means I do own 19 of them!
  

So, that's my plan to keep me from the poor house!

Reading
I had a pretty slow reading week. I'm finding myself reading more newspapers and less books. Here's where I'm at:

Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation - finished this one. Review and ARC giveaway. (blog tour)

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi - review.

Those are the only two I finished and I'm working on the following:

The Magicians by Lev Grossman - 1/2 done. Took an unexpected turn. I still like it.
Dreaming Anastasia by Joy Preble - 1/4 way through. (blog tour)
The Magician's Elephant by Kate DiCamillo - 1/4 way through. (Mock Newbery)
Best Friends Forever by Jennifer Weiner - 1/4 way through.
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale - 1/2 done.

Will have to put a couple of those aside while I do some blog tour reading for this and next week. I usually give those books away so look for them!

Have a great week!

Contest Monday Roundup

Contests I May Have - Subject to Change!
As of June 15, 2009




June 8 - Signed ARC of The Awakening by Kelley Armstrong - winner Linna
June 15 - The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl - winner Sharon
June 22 - Signed Hardcover of Once Dead, Twice Shy by Kim Harrison - winner Lauren
June 29 - Ghostgirl and Ghostgirl:Homecoming by Tonya Hurley - 2 winners - Nan and Andrea

Giveaway - June 25 The Vanishing Sculptor by Donita K. Paul - winner - Carlene

July 13 - ARC of Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev - winner - Tashi
July 20 - The Castaways by Elin Hildebrand - winner
July 27- ARC of Hollywood is Like High School with Money by Zoey Dean - winner

Giveaway - July 7 - Historical Fiction from Waterbrook - winners

August 3 - ARC of Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink - winner
August 10 - ARC of Undiscovered Gyrl by Allison Burnett

August 17 - ARC of Everything Sucks: Losing My Mind and Finding Myself in a High School Quest for Cool by Hannah Friedman - winner

ARC of Damas, Dramas, and Ana Ruiz by Belinda Acosta

August 24 - Are You There God, It's Me Margaret by Judy Blume - book that changed life post - winner -
August 31 - ARC of Never Slow Dance with a Zombie by E. Van Lowe - 2 winners

Giveaway - Aug 1 - ARC of Fade to Blue by Sean Beaudoin - winner

September
ARC of Ash by Malinda Lo
ARC of Hate List by Jennifer Brown
ARC of Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiana
ARC of School of Fear by Gitty Daneshvari
ARC of Bran Hambric: The Farfield Curse by Kaleb Nation (9/9/09)!

ARC of Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
ARC of Intertwined by Gena Showalter
Sliding on the Edge by C. Lee McKenzie (may move to November)

October
ARC of The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima
ARC of The Bystander by James Preller

20 Boy Summer by Sharon Ockler

Silver Phoenix by Cindy Pon

ARC of Fire by Kristin Cashore

November
Struts and Frets by Jon Skovron
Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

December
Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
ARC of Flightsend by Linda Newbery

Note to self: July - Lisa Mantchev

August - Michelle Zink (school starts - will be busy)

September - Malinda Lo, C. Lee Mckenzie

October - Sharon Ockler, Cindy Pon

November - Jon Skovron, Cyn Balog

December - Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl