Book Trailer Thursday: Finn Finnegan

The next book in my "to be read" stack is Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut. I haven't started it yet but it looks like it will be a good read. This is a middle grades YA and I'm looking forward to fighting some monsters with Finn! To help get me in the mind set for Finn Finnegan today I have the book trailer! Hope you all enjoy and add this one to your TBR stack too!

Goodreads Info

Title: Finn Finnegan

Author: Darby Karchut

ISBN: 978-1937053321

Expected publication: March 12th 2013 by Spencer Hill Press

Review: Shades of Earth

Title: Shades of Earth

Series: Across the Universe

Author: Beth Revis

Genre: YA 

Source: Purchased

Fave Quote: 

"Don't you see? Those monsters you've been so worried about. Not aliens. People. The monsters have always been people."

More info on Shades of Earth on Goodreads.

Shades of Earth is the third book in Beth Revis' Across the Universe series. I read the first two books, Across the Universe and A Million Suns, before I started blogging but I REALLY loved them. Which surprised me because before that I'd never thought I'd like a "space book" so much. (Yay for getting out of my reading comfort zone and finding books I really dig!)  The thing about the books in this series that is so awesome to me is not the space element but the relationships and the exploration of what it really means to be human.

I absolutely devoured Shades of Earth. I been wanting to read it since I finished A Million Suns over a year ago. So while I might have wanted to pace myself, I just had to know what was going to happen. Oh. My. Gosh. My first thought upon finishing Shades of Earth was I loved it, hated it and then loved it again. There was just so much going on in this one. I really don't know how I can talk about without being spoilery but y'all...this is a must read series.

The whole series and especially Shade of Earth has this murder, mystery, romance, sci-fi space thing going on. I mean really, it's something for everyone. The mystery will keep you turning the pages and the seemingly ill-fated romance will pull at your heartstrings. Just know that it seems Beth takes pleasure in torturing her characters and readers. Be ready for an amazingly wonderful emotional roller coaster!

I gave Shades of Earth 5 out of 5 stars. You really do need to read the first two books first and they are all so worth it. Shades of Earth ended the way a book and a series should. I still care about the characters but there is an actual ending, there is enough left open that you wonder where the characters now or 10 years from now. But I really appreciate that there is a resolution.

Also, if you haven't read Across the Universe yet, then don't forget to enter this Alli's World giveaway for a signed paperback copy! (Just a few hours left to enter!)

Lastly, just for fun, here's a pic of my nails and shoes that I wore to the Breathless Reads event! (See above link for the giveaway.) By the way,  Beth loved my shoes! :)

Galaxy Shoe Inspiration

Galaxy Nail Inspiration

Teaser Tuesday (Feb 26)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 

Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Probes were sent to the planet -- many of them before Godspeed even arrived -- and they all said Centauri-Earth was habitable. But there's a big difference between habitable and home.

Shades of Earth 
by
Beth Reivs

Don't forget to enter this Alli's World giveaway for the first book in this series, Across the Universe, it's signed by the author Beth Revis!!

Teaser Tuesday (Feb 19)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 

Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“Kaz lifted his hand to brush to brush a snowflake from her eyelashes. She said, ‘Touch me and you’ll get this coffee in your face.’”

Daughter of Smoke & Bone 

by Laini Taylor

Also, be sure to check out this giveaway right here in Alli's World!

Bloggers Wanted: Snow Bound Book Blast

This is from my blogger buddy Girl Who Reads:

Want to tell your readers about a great new adult urban fantasy novel and offer them an awesome prize? Join Snow Bound's Book Blast on March 7 (click to sign up).

About the Book:

After learning how to use magic and fighting vampires, anyone would be bored going back to normal college life. As if that wasn’t enough, Jen didn’t realize how hard it would be to tiptoe around her non-magic family and friends. She can’t even talk to her familiar, Rak, without making sure no one else is around! Worst of all, Jen misses the friends she made over the summer. Aside from Rak, they’re the only other magics she knows and she hasn’t seen them in almost five months!

Jen is all too happy to accept an invitation to go skiing with the gang. She gears up for two weeks of snow, magic, and fun. Just when everything seems to be going great, an uninvited guest turns up. Soon the skiers aren’t the only things going downhill. Jen thought that vampires were just about the most dangerous thing the magical world could throw at her. Unfortunately, she’s about to learn that people with no magic at all can be just as deadly.

About the Giveaway:

Author Elizabeth Kirke is sponsoring a prize pack worth $50. It includes:

$20 Amazon Gift Card

signed paperback of Semester Abroad

Limited Edition More than Magic calendar 

2 signed bookmarks

Alli's Note:

So sounds like Snow Bound is a good book and there's a sweet giveaway! What's not to like? Working with Girl Who Reads is always a pleasure. Won't you join me in signing up for this book blast? :)

Playing the Genetic Lottery

Caitlin Kane knows more about the impact of schizophrenia than most people could imagine. Both her parents were afflicted with the devastating mental illness, a disease that tends to run in families, and Caitlin and her brother grew up trying to navigate the chaos of living with two schizophrenics. Her tumultuous childhood left Caitlin determined to forge a peaceful and serene life for herself. Now 32, she is living her dream. Married to her best friend, she and her husband are raising two bright young children in the suburbs of Seattle. While her unusual upbringing has left Caitlin with emotional scars, she enjoys the love and support of her extended family and her challenging career as a pediatric nurse. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't shake the obsessive fear that the family illness will strike again, robbing her of her mind or stealing away the sanity of one or both of her children.

Here is a sneak peak inside!!

"Every morning when I first wake up I wonder and I worry. Before getting out of bed, before registering my full, aching bladder, before remembering what day it is and what responsibilities await -- I assess myself for signs of the disease."

Keep reading at the other blogs on the tour!



Monday Feb. 18
Java John Z's Giveaways and Reviews 
izz "pingle" bookish place 
Bubbles. Deux. 

Tuesday Feb. 19
Library Girl Reads & Reviews 
Recent Read 
Lidnsay and Jane's Views and Reviews 
Brooke Blogs  

Wednesday Feb. 20
Mary's Cup of Tea 
Books R Us 
Girl Who Reads 

Thursday Feb. 21
Ali's Bookshelf 
Tyrneathem 

Friday Feb. 22
Alberta Ross 
Uttley's Take

Buy it Now on Amazon!

Author Bio:

Terri Morgan is a book junkie and freelance writer from Soquel California. She reads at least 3 books a week, and gets nervous if she doesn't have new reading material available. When not reading, she is often found writing. Over the past three decades, her work has appeared in hundreds of different magazines, newspapers, newsletters and on websites. The author of 4 non-fiction books for young adults, and the co-author of four additional non-fiction volumes, Terri released her first novel, Playing the Genetic Lottery, as an e-book in late 2011. Now, Playing the Genetic Lottery is also available in paperback.

Find Terri Morgan here:

Website

Facebook

Twitter

***The Playing the Genetic Lottery ebook is FREE at Amazon Feb. 20, 21, and 22!***

Breathless Recap + Giveaway

Last Tuesday the Mister and me attended the Breathless Reads stop in Greenville, South Carolina. We had a great time! We both took off work and just spent the day hanging out together. 

~~~~

"Maybe this should be called the Death and Kissing Tour!" 

~Fiona Paul~

~~~~

We got to the event location, Fiction Addiction, early; we got our VIP tickets and books. Hubs and I were very impressed with this great indie bookstore. Then we enjoyed Greenville a little bit before heading back to the store for the BIG event!

Our view from our front row VIP seats!

Left to right:

Fiona Paul--Venom, 

Elizabeth Richards--Black City,

Fran Bullington (moderator), 

Jessica Spotswood--Born Wicked,

Beth Revis--Across the Universe, A Million Suns, Shades of Earth; 

Morgan Rhodes--Falling Kingdoms

Morgan Rhodes, author of Falling Kingdoms

Why YA? 

(paraphrasing from my horrible shorthand notes from the event)

Elizabeth Richards--It's an interesting time in life, all the firsts such as love and kisses, etc. And it's great for drama.

Fiona Paul--First, write what you love to read. Second, anything can happen {in YA}.

Jessica Spotswood--Loves YA and how it can be a mix of genres.

Beth Revis--YA is the beating heart of literature. (*Alli's note: L.O.V.E. this!)

Morgan Rhodes--Writing YA for was not conscious, some stories just fit YA better. Also, adult fiction is so jaded.

Beth Revis, author of: 

Across the Universe, A Million Suns, & Shades of Earth

What were the authors reading/writing as a teen?

Jessica Spotswood--Gone With the Wind, citing how awful and selfish Scarlett is but also pointing out she was smart and not valued because she was a woman.

Beth Revis--Hated Gone With the Wind! She did like Little Women, though she had only read the annotated children's version. Revis told us about the time she passionately disagreed with her professor over the ending.

Morgan Rhodes--recalled writing a book report on Lucky by Jackie Collins in ninth grade which got her into some trouble!

Fiona Paul--likes fun reads! She was into books like Sweet Valley High!

Elizabeth Richards--didn't read much when she was younger. She did write some bad romance where the geeky, Gothic girl who magically gets the guy. (*Alli's note: Love that!)

Jessica Spotswood--Born Wicked

Do's and don'ts: advice for aspiring writers.

Fiona Paul--Do read...everything! Find out what works and what doesn't work. Don't get discouraged by criticism. Some people just have bad taste! (Alli's note: Love that too!)

Elizabeth Richards--Get a good critical partner and accept the critique. Don't invite your agent/editor to a bachelor party by mistake. ;)

Jessica Spotswood--Write the book ONLY YOU can write! Don't RUSH to get published.

Beth Revis--Don't give up!

Morgan Rhodes--Write the book of your heart. Don't give up; it can be a hard road.

Elizabeth Richards--Black City

What are the author's odd writing habits?

Jessica Spotswood--Is a night owl; she writes very late. She also drinks tea while writing.

Beth Revis--Is also a night owl. She'll stay up all night and then sleep to noon.

Morgan Rhodes--Needs silence to get in the zone. She used to need ginger ale and chocolate. ;)

Fiona Paul--Had to employ a rewards system for herself. If she writes 500 words she can check Twitter. If she writes 500 more she can check her email. This is her way to self motivate.

Elizabeth Richards--Has to put her phone away. She stays caffeinated with a Pepsi Max and keeps a band on her wrist to "ping" herself when she gets off topic.

Fiona Paul--Venom

How do these Breathless authors deal with writers block?

Morgan Rhodes--Thinks writers block is a wrong step in the book. She is an outliner and that helps her avoid block. But sometimes she gets writers block just creatively drained.

Jessica Spotswood--Gets writers block when the "fear of suck" takes over. She just has to get out of her head at that point. She and Morgan both employ programs like "Write or Die" to help fight the block.

Beth Revis--Either kills, blows up or deletes all to unstuck.

Elizabeth Richards--Get your mind on something else. She often does this by, doing the dishes or taking a shower. (Beth said she has NEVER been stuck enough to do dishes! :)

Fiona Paul--Works on two stories at a time. So if one gives her trouble she switches to the other for a while.

Signing time! 

Jessica getting a star "inked" on her arm by Beth!

Morgan Rhodes, me and Mister

Us with Fiona Paul and Elizabeth Richards

Us with Jessica Spotswood and Beth Revis

BOOK HAUL:

The paperback copy of Born Wicked, I had previously won from Ex Libris Kate. (Whoo hoo, thanks!)

The stack on the left are the ones we bought.

The stack on the right were the VIP prizes from Fiction Addition, including ARCs of Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards and Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood! Thanks Fiction Addition!

Also, one of the fun things about being a book lover is the community. Anytime you go to an event, you have an opportunity to make a bookish connection. I meet a couple bloggers at the Breathless event. So shout outs to my old friend, Kate from Froze8's Blog and new blogger buddy, Deitre from Once Upon a Twilight. Be sure to check out the official event blogger, Bending the Spine's post, complete with video interview! Plus Rebecca and husband, Richard, from Bending the Spine were super sweet in person!

Finally the Giveaways!

Breathless Tour poster signed by the East Coast authors!

And I have 2 of those to give away at this time!

I bought one paperback copy of Beth Revis' first book Across the Universe and had it signed by Beth to giveaway to one lucky Alli's World reader!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

US shipping only this time guys. Sorry.

Valentines Day: Beautiful Creatures

I know not everyone LOVES Valentine's Day. I know it's all commercial and all that jazz. But at this juncture in my life, after many years where Valentine's Day felt like singles awareness day, I happy for any excuse (not that we need one!) to spend time with my loving, lovable husband! So as we speak, I am supposed to be getting ready for our Valentine's date. 

We are going to see Beautiful Creatures!! The movie is based off the book of the same name by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia. I'm super stoked! I'll have a review of the book and the movie up in the next day or two. 

Meanwhile, I hope you all have a fabulous Valentine's with who love you! (Remember: Valentine's is not just significant others...my mom just dropped off the sweetest card for us! So it's about all those you love!) 

I'm leaving you with this trailer for the Beautiful Creatures movie! Enjoy! Let me know if you saw it too or plan on seeing and what you thought!

Guest Post: Ally Malinenko

I have a treat for you guys today! A guest post from Ally Malinenko! She's going to impart some wisdom and advice for those struggling writers out there!

Hope you enjoy the post and feel free to leave us some of your favorite writing advice in the comments! And THANK YOU to Ally for stopping by today!

~alli

Top Five Pieces of Advice for 

Aspiring Writers

(Not from me)

That’s a weird title. I mean what constitutes “aspiring” and not. As soon as you write something are you no longer aspiring? Or is it publication? Does that mean you are officially a writer? Which came first the chicken or the egg? Here’s what I think  - all writers are still aspiring because becoming better at what you love to do makes for a full life….(“full” mind you, not necessarily happy).

So here are my top five bits of writing advice from some really great writers all of whom have written YA or MG books cause that’s what I write. And because I needed some sort of format otherwise this would go on for days. 

5. Garret Freyman-Weir – Author of My Heartbeat, Stay With Me, When I was Older and The Kings are Already Here. 

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

Read. Really, I cannot begin to describe all the times I’ve met people who tell me that they would love to write, if only they could find the time (as if writing were a hobby, although given the quality of much of what is published, I sometimes think it is!), but if I talk to them at length it quickly becomes clear they do not read. That’s like wanting to run a marathon, but not wanting to run. Reading is the only way to learn how to write. It can’t be taught, exactly. It has to be absorbed.

4. Rebecca Stead – Author of When You Reach Me and Liar and Spy

What tips or advice can you share with young students who hope to start writing?

First: Read. It’s been said over and over, but reading is the most important thing an aspiring writer can do. Read what you love. Read something you think you won’t like at all. Experiment with your reading, but don’t stop reading.

Second: Don’t be discouraged by your first draft. For many writers, the first draft is a pretty terrible translation of what might be a terrific idea. Don’t stop and think, “this is awful.” It doesn’t help. Revision is just as much a part of the job as the first draft. If you aren’t willing to revise, you can’t be a writer.

3. Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) – Author of The Series of Unfortunate Events, When We Broke Up and All The Wrong Questions Series.

What’s the greatest or most memorable piece of advice on writing that you have ever received?

“Read everything out loud.”

2. Laini Taylor – Author of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight

“Be an unstoppable force. Write with an imaginary machete strapped to your thigh. This is not wishy-washy, polite, drinking-tea-with-your-pinkie-sticking-out stuff. It’s who you want to be, your most powerful self. Write your books. Finish them, then make them better. Find the way. No one will make this dream come true for you but you.”

1.Neil Gaiman – Author of (tons of other stuff but also) Coraline, The Sandman Series, The Graveyard Book

Be wise
Make amazing mistakes
Break rules
Leave the world a more interesting place, and
Make good art

And he said it all quite well here in a now pretty famous commencement speech. 

So there you guy. Easy right? Read. Write. Believe. Don’t give up. Read more. Write more. Believe more. Don’t give up more. 

I don’t think there’s much that I could add to this. I mean, let’s be honest – these are all big fish writers and I’m a bottom feeder – happily and joyfully – but still a bottom feeder. But I will say this: 
When you do start writing don’t give up. Just write. Keep writing. When it’s good keep writing. When it’s bad keep writing. When someone tells you it’s terrible and you should stop, keep writing. When someone tells you it’s perfect don’t change it, keep writing. You know in your heart what you are striving for. One day you’ll wake up and you’ll have found your voice. But it takes work. Be ready to do the work.

Ally Malinenko is the author of Lizzy Speare and the Cursed Tomb

Find out more about Ally Malinenko!

Website

Goodreads

Amazon

Twitter

Facebook

Teaser Tuesday: A Game of Thrones

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of 

Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

This week's Teaser Tuesday comes from MrCaptKirk.  The following comes from A Game of Thrones which is the first installment in George R. R. Martin's 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series.  I have been reading this book for a while, several months in fact.  It's not that the book is bad, it's that I just haven't had that much time to sit down and read.

You can find more information about 'A Game of Thrones' and the A Song of Fire and Ice series on Goodreads.

"She opened her arms to the fire, embraced it, let it swallow her whole, let it cleanse her and temper her and scour her clean.  She could feel her flesh sear and blacken and slough away, could feel her blood boil and turn to steam, and yet there was no pain.  She felt strong and new and fierce"

~From Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin~

#PitchDarkDays Recap

On February 5, the Mr. and me took a little field trip to the big city to attend the Pitch Dark Days Tour at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, Georgia! Four FAB authors in one place was just too much, I HAD to go! 

I'm so glad we did! Not only did we see the authors we went for, but we also got to see some of the wonderful Atlanta area bloggers and book enthusiasts. We also talked to a couple of other authors who were there supporting the authors on tour. And we got to visit one of our favorite bookstores! All in all it was a good night!

I'm sharing some photos we took and some of the notes and quotes I took down during the discussion. I wasn't recording or trying to conduct an interview or anything like that, these are just tidbits from what they were saying. 

Bird's eye view of the Little Shop! This is one of my happy places!

The Panel: (left to right) in the background is moderator Ali, then Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Tahereh Mafi, Veronica Rossi 

Me & Brodi Ashton

Who said she writes YA because you FEEL so much {as a teen} and everything is so life or death, just ask her about the time her grandma got her clown pants!

In regards to her switching formats from book one to book two, Brodi said that was the way it came to her and she was excited to go on a quest in the second book!

Me & Cynthia Hand

Who fell in love with YA because the pacing and stories. And she is jealous of today's teens who have this genre. She described reading YA like "coming home." Some of her favorite YA novels include Wicked Lovely, Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth and  Richelle Mead's works.

Cynthia also said in her own writing she is more a "panster" than a plotter. She has a vague idea of the ending but the visions change as she goes.

Signing away (left to right):

Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand, Tahereh Mafi 

& Veronica Rossi

Veronica Rossi, Tahereh Mafi, Me & Mr

Veronica says YA because that's where she's at mentally and that it's so rich for writers with lots of first and carving of identities.

She also spoke about how she writes male characters, citing the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, having two brothers and now raising two sons. She's says she has always been a running with the boys type. Her writing helps her get out all the testosterone (so she doesn't grow facial hair!) 

She's got a sense of humor too boot!   

Tahereh said that she had always been a reader but wasn't a writer until after college! (Editorial note: Does that mean there is still hope for me!?! Maybe! :) She said she wrote five crappy manuscripts before she wrote Shatter Me (encouragement!) Tahereh allowed the character to dictate where she went and the first few pages of Shatter Me are the same as her first draft! 

As far as a "love triangle" in her books, she doesn't see it but then again she knows what's going to happen. And for a spoiler, if you haven't seen her videos, Tahereh says, "Chapter 62, Stuff Happens!"

Me with our BOOK HAUL!!

I can tell you all the authors were very kind and generous and if you ever get a chance to meet them... you totally should!

What a marvelously bookish good time!

Book Blast: Wildflowers

Summary:

Have you ever feared what may be hiding deep within you?

Darkness often skulks in the blood of unsuspecting victims, but Aster McGrath is acutely aware of the violence coursing through his veins. After all, he is the son of a murderer, and everyone in the town of Bayville, Mississippi says he will end up just like his father.

When Susan Blackman moves into town, Aster has already embraced his brutal nature, but her gentle spirit draws him in and slowly melts the icy exterior of his heart. Taming his savagery, she professes her love, but will the good within him be able to overcome the evil lurking deep inside? Or will the fiend break free of its fetters and seek blood?

~~~~~~

About the Author: Schledia Benefield

Schledia Benefield is the author of Plain Jane, Pretty Boy, and her soon to be released novel, Wildflowers. She attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College but chose to be a stay-at-home mom for many years. She devoted eight years of her life to working with youth as a youth minister and has been invited to speak in a rehab to hurting and wounded women, giving them hope for a better future. She was the Keynote Speaker for Division 14 of the Key Club International’s divisional rally.

Born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Schledia holds a sense of pride in her southern heritage. She presently lives in Big Point, Mississippi with her husband and four of her five children. On top of writing novels, she writes youth and children’s church curriculum, and she works as a substitute teacher at East Central Middle School. In her spare time, she reads, sews, and spends time with her family.

Connecting with Schledia:

Blog

Twitter