Monday Muse: Call Atlantis -- Past Regrets, Future Threats

I hope this is good. I'm winging it because I'm having troubles with YouTube, LOL. Sorry guys. :P

Feature Friday...Wait, what? LOL

Is it cheesy to feature myself?  I think so, but today's Feature Friday fell through.  So, instead of doing nothing or just doing a book feature with no giveaway, I figured I'd at least try and give you something exciting.  And nothing is more exciting to me now than my own book!  (Plus the opportunity to have even more books!)  There are THREE giveaways going on right now, so look for all of them!

For Your Heart:  Experience THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN like you’ve never read it before…

It has been seven years since Jeanette Sauderheim followed her best friend into Carver Hall Park...and came out alone. Jeanette has never gotten over his mysterious disappearance nor has she gone back into the park. While that traumatic night still haunts her, Jeanette distracts herself by balancing her time between trying to pass Spanish, hanging out with her friends, and reading the latest manga.

But, when a promise to a friend drives her back into the park, she's forced to re-live the memories of that night. Lost and confused, Jeanette crosses paths with Tamrin, whose violent reaction to her provides yet another reason to avoid the park.

Tamrin, a knight of the Summer Court, has been sent to Earth to guard a garden of roses that hold special meaning to the queen of the Summer faeries. When his distraction at meeting Jeanette leads to her picking one of the Summer Queen’s roses, Tamrin vows to right his failure to do his duty.

However, the equivalent of one of the queen’s roses is a human heart and Tamrin’s reluctance to readily exact the sum from Jeanette sets in motion a spiral of love, betrayal, and magic that could mean damnation for them both.

*This is an Upper YA paranormal romance novel with NA and contemporary fantasy appeal.

Giveaway 1 (International):
I'm doing a count-down to debut giveaway of FOR YOUR HEART.  You can enter to win up until the day it debuts (October 31, 2013 -- HALLOWEEN).

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 
Giveaway 2 (US only):
I'm doing a big "follow my promotional tour" giveaway of a gift card, FHY swag, and a mystery YA book pack.  You can enter to win starting today and continue entering until the end of the tour (December 12, 2013).  All the tour links are HERE.  I've been working really hard answering interviews and writing up interesting new guest blog posts, so check in every day and it increases your chance of winning!

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Giveaway 3 (US and Canada only):
I'm giving away five copies of FOR YOUR HEART through Goodreads.  Ends October 31, 2013!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

For Your Heart

by A.L. Davroe

Giveaway ends October 31, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win

 Good Luck Everyone!

Monday Muse: Lorde - Royals

Can't get it out of my head!

Count Down FOR YOUR HEART Giveaway

What's better than candy on Halloween?   A new book.
FOR YOUR HEART debuts October 31 (Halloween).

That's a pretty sweet treat if you ask me.  And if you want this treat, don't miss all the excellent opportunities to win a copy!  I'm hosting this count down to debut giveaway, giving away books on Goodreads, and hosting a promotional tour giveaway, so keep your eyes peeled!

For Your Heart:  Experience THE BALLAD OF TAM LIN like you’ve never read it before…

It has been seven years since Jeanette Sauderheim followed her best friend into Carver Hall Park...and came out alone. Jeanette has never gotten over his mysterious disappearance nor has she gone back into the park. While that traumatic night still haunts her, Jeanette distracts herself by balancing her time between trying to pass Spanish, hanging out with her friends, and reading the latest manga.

But, when a promise to a friend drives her back into the park, she's forced to re-live the memories of that night. Lost and confused, Jeanette crosses paths with Tamrin, whose violent reaction to her provides yet another reason to avoid the park.

Tamrin, a knight of the Summer Court, has been sent to Earth to guard a garden of roses that hold special meaning to the queen of the Summer faeries. When his distraction at meeting Jeanette leads to her picking one of the Summer Queen’s roses, Tamrin vows to right his failure to do his duty.

However, the equivalent of one of the queen’s roses is a human heart and Tamrin’s reluctance to readily exact the sum from Jeanette sets in motion a spiral of love, betrayal, and magic that could mean damnation for them both.

*This is an Upper YA paranormal romance novel with NA and contemporary fantasy appeal.

Read Goodreads Reviews.
Enter the Goodreads Book Giveaway.
**Buy links will activate October 31, 2013.

How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to International Entrants.

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Feature Friday: Sonia Gensler

Sonia Gensler is the author of The Revenant (Knopf ‘11) and The Dark Between (Knopf '13). She grew up in a small Tennessee town and spent her early adulthood collecting impractical degrees from various Midwestern universities. A former high school English teacher, Sonia now writes full time in Oklahoma and spends her summers in England.

Interview:
A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

Sonia:
It seems so simple, but my best advice is to read widely and voraciously. Once you decide on the genre for your story, read all the best novels in that same genre because you need to understand the market in order to find your place within it. Once you've read until your eyes are nearly bleeding (ha!), ask yourself if there's a story you'd love to read that you haven't yet found on a shelf. That's the story you need to write.

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

Sonia:
If I had to pick just one, I'd say Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, simply because it has so profoundly influenced my fascination with the 19th century, with governesses and other early female educators, and with anything remotely Gothic.

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for The Dark Between?

Sonia:
I can pinpoint the inspiration to Deborah Blum's Ghost Hunters: William James and the Search for Scientific Proof of Life After Death, the true story of a group of 19th century scholars who attempted to study paranormal phenomena in an unbiased, scientific manner. From the first chapter I was hooked on the turbulence they experienced during their quest for truth, and I knew their lives would have made great fodder for a film or cable series. As you might imagine, however, my writer brain was more interested in what life might have been like for their teenaged children, especially if one of these teens was hiding a paranormal ability of her own. So I took a few liberties with the timeline, created my own teen protagonists, and voila! THE DARK BETWEEN was born.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing The Dark Between?  What were they and how did you fix them?

Sonia:
I hit a snag with a certain plotline, initially because I envisioned an edgy twist that wasn't really organic to the overall story arc. I tried a different approach, and that bombed out even worse. When I finally thought of a viable alternative, I made an 8 page, single-spaced outline of the changes and sent that to my editor. I didn't want to waste any more time! She had a few questions and suggestions, but ultimately that option worked out quite well.

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in The Dark Between is your favorite and why?

Sonia:
I love Kate's fiesty independence and Asher's mix of arrogance and vulnerability, but Elsie is closest to my heart. Her desperate need for a boy's love reminds me of myself as a teen. I wish she would focus more on her creative passions. 

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

Sonia:
I've wanted to be an author since I was little, but I lost my courage in early adulthood. I thought a decent critical essay was about the best I could manage. Teaching changed that. I encountered passionate writers in my classroom -- kids so brave that they taught me to conquer my fear and work harder for my dream. I finished my first novel while I was teaching. That book was a great learning experience, but it wasn't publishable. So I decided to take a couple of years off from teaching to write the book that would sell. My second book got me an agent, but we couldn't get a deal for it. It was my third book -- the one I wrote with passion and desperation -- that sold to Knopf. The Revenant came out in June 2011, about 5 years after I left teaching.

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

Sonia:
I'm working on a contemporary story featuring younger characters. It's a tale of friendship, creativity, and betrayal. (And there just might be some spookiness thrown in for good measure.) I also would love to write more about Kate, Asher, and Elsie -- they certainly have more adventures ahead of them -- but it remains to be seen whether or not this will happen.

A.L.:
What draws you to the dark, ghostly, and gothic?

Sonia:
It started back in college when I took a Gothic literature course. I fell in love with the themes and iconography of Gothic—crumbling castles, dark forests, brooding heroes (& villains) with dark secrets, maidens in distress, etc. Ghosts came later . . . probably when I saw The Others and realized their amazing story potential. To me, ghosts are all about loss and longing. I love the idea of an emotion or intention so strong that it survives bodily death, lingering as a residue and perhaps even interacting with the living.

A.L.:
What is your favorite story from your high school-soap operas with friends days?

Sonia:
I think it might be when my friends and I were sharing a particularly boisterous round of stories in the library--laughing until we were about to pee our pants--and our mean old math teacher came in to check on our "independent work." We immediately hushed up and tried to look busy and studious. When the teacher asked my friend D a serious question (she was in a "no nonsense" mood and we were quaking in our seats), D opened her mouth to answer but exploded with laughter instead. She laughed right in Mrs. B's face! It was so shocking that the teacher stalked out without really chastising us. I'll never forget that. It was as if the joy of our stories had triumphed over her grumpy nature.

A.L.:
What's your favorite place to visit in England?

Sonia:
I can't pick one place! I love my summer home base of Oxford. I adore Cambridge, the setting of The Dark Between. But Wales, London, the Cotswolds, and the Peak District also rank high on my list of favorite places.

The Giveaway:
Sonia is giving away a signed finished copy of THE DARK BETWEEN + swag (bookmarks, postcards, Dark Between tote bag, etc.)

The Dark Between:  A supernatural romance about the powers that lie in the shadows of the mind, perfect for fans of Sarah Rees Brennan, Alyxandra Harvey, and Libba Bray.

At the turn of the twentieth century, Spiritualism and séances are all the rage—even in the scholarly town of Cambridge, England. While mediums dupe the grief-stricken, a group of local fringe scientists seeks to bridge the gap to the spirit world by investigating the dark corners of the human mind.

Each running from a shadowed past, Kate, Asher, and Elsie take refuge within the walls of Summerfield College. But their peace is soon shattered by the discovery of a dead body nearby. Is this the work of a flesh-and-blood villain, or is something otherworldly at play? This unlikely trio must illuminate what the scientists have not, and open a window to secrets taken to the grave—or risk joining the spirit world themselves.


Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble. 

How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to US entrants only. 

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Whats' Up Wednesday: Margo Bond Collins

Hi, everyone! First I want to thank A.L. Davroe for hosting today’s stop on my pre-release teaser tour. I’m discussing my new paranormal mystery Waking Up Dead. It’s forthcoming from Solstice Publishing and available via Amazon on October 8, and I’m pretty excited!

Be sure to add Waking Up Dead to your Goodreads bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18428064-waking-up-dead

When Dallas resident Callie Taylor died young, she expected to go to Heaven, or maybe Hell. Instead, she met her fate early thanks to a creep with a knife and a mommy complex. Now she's witnessed another murder, and she's not about to let this one go. She's determined to help solve it before an innocent man goes to prison. And to answer the biggest question of all: why the hell did she wake up in Alabama?

_____________________________________________

Excerpt

Someone called the manager, and pretty soon there was a small crowd around her. She woke up blearily, looking around at all of the faces surrounding her.

“What happened?” the manager asked her as he helped her to her feet.

“There was this woman,” she began, shaking her head. Then she saw me, leaning in over all the other people around her--easy enough to do if you can float up three or four feet off the ground.

“That one,” she said frantically, pointing at me. The people between us stared around at one another.

“Which one?” asked the manager. “What did she do?”

The woman pointed at me again. “That one. The white woman. In the black jacket.”

Again, everyone looked around expectantly.

Finally, the manager placed his hand on her back and leaned in close to her. “Honey, there’s no white woman in a black jacket here. Are you sure you’re okay?”

The woman looked from him to me and back again. “You don’t see her standing there.”

He shook his head. “No. I don’t. Is there anyone you want me to call for you?”

She stepped away from him. “No. No, thanks. I’ll be fine.” She pulled her purse out of her basket and moved away, never taking her eyes off me or turning her back on me.

She hit the parking lot at a run. I moved right beside her, talking the whole time.

“Look,” I said. “I’m not going to hurt you. I didn’t mean to scare you. I just need help.”

The woman was muttering under her breath, and after a minute, I realized that she was praying.

This was awful.

_____________________________________________

About the Author

Margo Bond Collins lives in Texas with her husband, their daughter, several spoiled cats, and a ridiculous turtle. She teaches college-level English courses online, though writing fiction is her first love. She enjoys reading urban fantasy and paranormal fiction of any genre and spends most of her free time daydreaming about vampires, ghosts, zombies, werewolves, and other monsters. Waking Up Dead is her first published novel. Her second novel, Legally Undead, is an urban fantasy, forthcoming in 2014 from World Weaver Press.

_____________________________________________

Connect with Margo

Email: MargoBondCollins@gmail.com

Website: http://www.MargoBondCollins.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MargoBondCollin  @MargoBondCollin

Google+: https://plus.google.com/116484555448104519902

Goodreads Author Page: http://www.goodreads.com/vampirarchy

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MargoBondCollins

Facebook Novel Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Waking-Up-Dead/502076076537575

Tumblr: http://vampirarchybooks.tumblr.com/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mbondcollins/

_____________________________________________

Book Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j_TmvpxxBw

_____________________________________________

Giveaway

Enter to Win

Monday Muse: Jeni - Wildfire

THIS.

Feature Friday: C.J. Redwine

C.J. Redwine loves fairy tales, lemon bars, and any movie starring Johnny Depp. She is the author of the Defiance trilogy, a post-apocalyptic fantasy from Balzer + Bray/Harper Collins. C.J. lives in Nashville with her husband, four kids, two cats, and one long-suffering dog. To learn more about C.J., visit her website at http://cjredwine.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjredwine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CJ-Redwine-Author/214211451945062

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/cjredwine/

Tumblr: http://cjredwine.tumblr.com/

Interview: 

A.L.:
What piece of advice would you give to a budding author?

C.J.:
Write fearlessly. Your skills won't be up to par with your taste yet, but the only way to close that gap is to write without restraint. Don't worry about trends or the market or what you think you should be doing. Write to discover YOUR voice and to hone that into something good enough to be published.

Also, don't be in a hurry to be published. Pay your dues. Work hard until you've come to the point where your craft is good enough to make others in the field sit up and take notice.

A.L.:
What's your favorite book and why?

C.J.:
Just one??? Ack! I don't think I can pick just one. I have many favorites from various points in my life. For example, in elementary school my favorite books were the Chronicles of Narnia. They simply transported me to places that no other books could do. It was like C.S. Lewis reached down into my imagination and blew the doors clean off of it.

In middle school and high school, I loved anything by Terry Brooks or J.R.R. Tolkien. Again, it was their ability to completely lift me out of my world and set me down somewhere else. I really wanted to believe in magic and in the ability of flawed but good-intentioned characters to save the day against almost overwhelming odds.

As an adult, the series I keep going back to is Harry Potter. (though my favorites shelf also includes books by Rae Carson, Emily Murdoch, Myra McEntire, Jodi Meadows, Katie McGarry, and Barry Lyga) Not to beat a dead theme, or anything, but again HP just completely captivated my imagination. I could sink into Rowling's world and be fully encompassed. I still re-read the series ever few years, and I'm one of the fans who watches the movies every time ABC Family does an HP weekend even though I own 2 copies of each movie. (One regular, one extended cut with commentary. Yeah, baby.)

A.L.:
Where did you get the idea for Deception?

C.J.:
Deception is the next phase in the saga of Rachel and Logan. I realized about halfway through writing Defiance that there was no way I could fit all of the plot into one book. I kept discovering layers upon layers. I sat down to write a synopsis and realized that instead of writing a stand alone, I was writing a trilogy. Deception is a story of how the survivors of Baalboden's destruction survive against all that is levied against them, but it's also the story of how the seeds of treason, corruption, and greed planted years ago have given birth to something terrible.

A.L.:
Did you hit any snags while writing Deception?  What were they and how did you fix them?

C.J.:
Yes. So many snags. It took me 5 1/2 drafts to get Deception right. The plot itself didn't change, but the arrangement did as did the pacing. It was exhausting and frustrating to keep rewriting only to miss the mark, but I just put my head down and did the work. I'm grateful I have an editor who knows how to push me to get the best work out of me.

A.L.:
Which one of the characters in Deception is your favorite and why?

C.J.:
I don't have one single favorite, and of course I love both Rachel and Logan, but the secondary characters of Quinn, Willow, Ian, and Sylph really grabbed my heart for various reasons. Mostly because this time around, I got to spend more time with my secondary characters, letting their voices into my head and learning their stories. I have to say that of all of them, Willow is my scene stealer. That girl outshines everyone when she enters a scene. Even a scene with twenty other characters. There's just something about her outspoken honesty and slightly aggressive attitude (okay, more than slightly aggressive!) that just swings the spotlight onto her.

A.L.:
Can you tell us a little bit about your journey as an author?

C.J.:
I've been writing for most of my life, but I didn't start seriously pursuing publication until I turned thirty. I signed with my agent in 2009 but it took me two more years (and two more completed manuscripts) to sell a book. Sometimes I felt like the poster child for the girl who couldn't sell a book to save her life, but I did what I always do: I put my head down and kept working.

A.L.:
What are you working on now?  Sequel?  Something new?

C.J.:
I'm beginning work on two new series. One is high fantasy loosely based on fairy tales (and inspired by how incredibly disappointed I was with Snow White and the Huntsman. Don't even get me started.). The other is a contemporary urban fantasy that can best be described as Percy Jackson meets Supernatural. I'm not sure which one will sell, but as soon as one of them does, I'll put all of my attention on it.

A.L.:
What's your favorite of Johnny Depp's movies?

C.J.:
Ooh, good question! I love so many of them (Benny & Joon and The Secret Window being top faves) but I have to say the movie that I can watch over and over again without ever tiring of it is Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl. Johnny hadn't done much that was super commercial before then, and I wasn't sure what to expect, but Captain Jack Sparrow stole my heart.

A.L.:
Can we see your favorite pair of stilettos? 

C.J.:
Sure! Here's the pair I purchased as a present to myself when I sold Defiance: http://www.angryyoungandpoor.com/store/pc/catalog/products/shoes/ifl0767us.jpg

A.L.:
Why did you choose to write YA fantasy instead of another YA genre?

C.J.:
As soon as I learned how to read, I would visit the library and check out piles of Grimm's fairy tale books. I made occasional detours into Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden, and Black Stallion, but most of my reading time was spent on fairy tales and then later on Narnia and Middle Earth. I don't watch chick flicks. I watch sci fi, fantasy, and comic book movies. I cosplayed Harry Potter premieres. I swear allegiance to shows like Supernatural and Fringe. My imagination isn't satisfied unless I'm creating new worlds or pushing hard at the boundaries of this one. I want magic and shiny new technology and wizards and for the love of Aslan, I want a wardrobe that will let me into another world. I actually tried to write non-fantasy once. I was miserable. Every single idea that comes into my head includes monsters and magic and worlds that look nothing like the one outside my window.

The Giveaway:
C.J. is willing to offer the entrant's choice of a paperback of Defiance or hardback of Deception anywhere in the US or Canada.

Defiance:  Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city’s brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While other girls sew dresses, host dinner parties, and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father’s apprentice, Logan—the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same boy who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but fierce belief in her father’s survival, Rachel decides to escape and find him herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city’s top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor’s impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can’t be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.

Deception:  Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.


In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

Read Goodreads reviews.
Buy on Amazon.
Buy on Barnes and Noble.


How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to US and Canadian entrants only.

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Monday Muse: Avicii - Wake Me Up

Fun new song!

Banned Book Giveaway/Hop

September 22 marks the first day in banned books week and in honor of this splendiferous week, I'm doing a giveaway/hop of banned and challenged books!

The Giveaway:
One lucky winner gets to pick one of these banned/challenged books!

What My Mother Doesn't Know:  My name is Sophie.
This book is about me.
It tells
the heart-stoppingly riveting story
of my first love.
And also of my second.
And, okay, my third love, too.

It's not that I'm boy crazy.
It's just that even though
I'm almost fifteen
it's like
my mind
and my body
and my heart
just don't seem to be able to agree
on anything.

The Earth, My Butt, And Other Big Round Things:  "The heroine’s transformation into someone who finds her own style and speaks her own mind is believable — and worthy of applause." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Fifteen-year-old Virginia Shreves has a larger-than-average body and a plus-size inferiority complex, especially when she compares herself to her slim, brilliant, picture-perfect family. But that’s before a shocking phone call — and a horrifying allegation — about her rugby-star brother changes everything. With irreverent humor and surprising gravity, Carolyn Mackler creates an endearingly blunt heroine who speaks to every teen who struggles with family expectations, and proves that the most impressive achievement is to be true to yourself.

Crank:  In Crank, Ellen Hopkins chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the "monster," the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or "crank." Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne'er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: "there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree." Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won't, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower:  Charlie is a freshman.

And while he's not the biggest geek in the school, he is by no means popular. Shy, introspective, intelligent beyond his years yet socially awkward, he is a wallflower, caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it.

Charlie is attempting to navigate his way through uncharted territory: the world of first dates and mix tapes, family dramas and new friends; the world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite. But he can't stay on the sideline forever. Standing on the fringes of life offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a deeply affecting coming-of-age story that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller-coaster days known as growing up.

The Hunger Games:  Katniss, 16, takes her sister's place in the televised annual Hunger Games, competing against Peeta, the boy who gave them bread to survive after their father died. The cruel Capitol forces each of 12 districts to submit a boy and girl 12-18, to fight to the death. Only one can survive and be rewarded. President Snow manipulates behind the scenes.

Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone:  Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He's never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry's room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn't had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that's been waiting for him... if Harry can survive the encounter.

The Golden Compass:  Here lives an orphaned ward named Lyra Belacqua, whose carefree life among the scholars at Oxford's Jordan College is shattered by the arrival of two powerful visitors. First, her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, appears with evidence of mystery and danger in the far North, including photographs of a mysterious celestial phenomenon called Dust and the dim outline of a city suspended in the Aurora Borealis that he suspects is part of an alternate universe. He leaves Lyra in the care of Mrs. Coulter, an enigmatic scholar and explorer who offers to give Lyra the attention her uncle has long refused her. In this multilayered narrative, however, nothing is as it seems. Lyra sets out for the top of the world in search of her kidnapped playmate, Roger, bearing a rare truth-telling instrument, the compass of the title. All around her children are disappearing—victims of so-called "Gobblers"—and being used as subjects in terrible experiments that separate humans from their daemons, creatures that reflect each person's inner being. And somehow, both Lord Asriel and Mrs. Coulter are involved.

Go Ask Alice:   January 24th

After you've had it, there isn't even life without drugs....

It started when she was served a soft drink laced with LSD in a dangerous party game. Within months, she was hooked, trapped in a downward spiral that took her from her comfortable home and loving family to the mean streets of an unforgiving city. It was a journey that would rob her of her innocence, her youth -- and ultimately her life.

Read her diary.

Enter her world.

You will never forget her.

For thirty-five years, the acclaimed, bestselling first-person account of a teenage girl's harrowing decent into the nightmarish world of drugs has left an indelible mark on generations of teen readers. As powerful -- and as timely -- today as ever, Go Ask Alice remains the definitive book on the horrors of addiction.     


How to Enter:
Enter the giveaway using Rafflecopter. Hit the arrow buttons, follow the prompts, and hit the enter buttons when you're done. (You may have to log in using Facebook to do this). There will be one winner (selected by Rafflecopter). I will contact the winner via email. This contest is open to national entrants only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

http://maryinhb.blogspot.com/2013/09/banned-book-giveaway-hop.html
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