Returning to Blogger Celebration & Giveaway!!

So, I have some news! News that makes me extremely happy… and should, hopefully, result in some perks for my blog readers as well!

Why I’m celebrating…

I used blogger.com to host The Hiding Spot from 2007 until November/December of 2013. I always really liked using blogger (I’m not very tech savvy and blogger was super easy for me!), but then my RSS feed stopped working. And, try as I might, I could not fix it. Well, last night after an epic hours long Skype session with one of my besties, Sabrina from I Heart YA Fiction, in which I complained quite a bit about my frustration with WordPress and how much I missed Blogger, we decided to try to fix my Blogger RSS feed. When we finally gave up at 4am, we thought we’d failed. But, this morning, we discovered things were working! I’m not exactly sure what we did that worked, but, in all honesty, I don’t even care. I’m just happy my blogger blog is up and running again because I am, admittedly, extremely attached my original blog!

What happens next…

Well, I’m moving back over to Blogger. I’m hoping that those of you who have become recent followers of The Hiding Spot, those of you who found me once I switched over to WordPress, will stick with me and follow me over at my original blog. If you follow me here, you’ll have to resubscribe over at the blogger site, but I have quick links in the sidebar to follow via Bloglovin’, Email, and Networked blogs.

Why you should follow me back to blogger (aka BRIBES)…

Even though I’m extremely happy to be moving back to Blogger, I was really sad to be leaving some of you behind. I’ve met some really great bloggers during my short time using WordPress and I don’t want to lose you all! So, to sweeten the pot, I’m hosting a giveaway for some really great upcoming books from a variety of publishers:

How to win…

Head over to my original blog HERE and fill out the rafflecopter form. The main requirement is that you subscribe to The Hiding Spot using one of the methods over at the other site. There are, as always, options to gain additional entries! There will be 4 winners total. The first winner will pick two books, the the second winner will be contacted and pick two from the remaining 6 books, etc.

Review & Giveaway: The Glass Casket by McCormick Templeman

Title: The Glass Casket

Author: McCormick Templeman

Publisher: Random House

Pub. Date: February 11, 2014

Genre: Young Adult

Rec. Age Level: 14+

Add to Goodreads

____________________________________

Life in Nag’s End is steady and predictable for Rowan Rose and her best friend Tom Parstle, until the day five riders thunder through town bound for Begger’s Drift, a place rumored forsaken by the Goddess. The arrival and subsequent sinister disappearance of the riders mark both the arrival of beautiful and mysterious Fiona Eira and the beginning of evil’s descent upon the superstitious village of Nag’s End. Rowan’s gentle scholarly father grows suddenly cold and distant, distracted by something he keeps closely guarded in his study, and forbids Rowan from speaking to Fiona, who she discovers is her estranged cousin. When Tom first sees Fiona, he falls suddenly and irrevocably in love with the dark-haired, scarlet-lipped beauty and begs Rowan to break her father’s commandment and convince Fiona to meet with him. As the youth of Nag’s End experience first love, unexpected pain, and dream of happy endings, a dark and violent force creeps into locked rooms, leaving nightmarish scenes and death in its wake. When tragedy strikes, madness and fear reach a fever pitch among the town’s inhabitants as they seek to unmask the evil in their midst. With THE GLASS CASKET, McCormick Templeman gives readers an ominous and horrific fairy tale filled with the darkest, bloodiest bits of their nightmares.

I have very mixed feelings about McCormick Templeman’s THE GLASS CASKET. On one hand, I found it impossible to put down. I felt compelled to unravel the mystery surrounding the disturbing deaths plaguing the people of Nag’s End; the horror and mystery aspects of the novel are remarkably well done. As Templeman demonstrated with her debut novel, THE LITTLE WOODS, and proved once again with this sophomore offering, her writing is sumptuous and richly detailed. I found it easy to imagine the setting and characters of THE GLASS CASKET as I read, an aspect that made the horror elements of the novel especially frightening.

My disappointment with the novel stems from the characters. I found it impossible to connect with any of them. I, quite honestly, loathed them all… On multiple occasions, I was so frustrated that I nearly gave up on the novel. It sometimes felt that Templeman was employing character idiocy and horrible communication to further suspend the mystery, which might be fine if this tactic didn’t make the characters so unbearable. In retrospect, I realize that the characters are very much products of their upbringing within the village. They’re quick to judge, with those judgments, more often than not, grounded in superstitions and first impressions rather than careful observations and rational thought. But Rowan, the girl who dreams of escaping Nag’s End and who claims to be above this superstitious upbringing, is the worst of the lot! I might have been able to handle the others, but Rowan’s ridiculous reactions and shortsighted judgments proved too much for my patience.

Though I was extremely put off by the characters within THE GLASS CASKET, there were many elements that I appreciated, so I’m happy I read this one. I’ll definitely read Templeman’s next book, but with my fingers-crossed for characters that live nowhere near Nag’s End.

_____________________________________

Win It!

Open to US & Canadian mailing addresses only. Giveaway will close Friday, March 7th, 2014.

Moving back to Blogger! Enter this giveaway here!

Giveaway: Real Mermaids Don’t Sell Seashells

Win a copy of Helene Boudreau’s Real Mermaids Don’t Sell Seashells, the 4th Real Mermaids book! A copy of this book has been generously supplied by the publisher, Sourcebooks Jabberwocky! See below for more information about the book and how to enter!

About the book

Sun, surf and tropical breezes are no ‘day at the beach’ because being a teenage mermaid never takes a vacation.

With all the mers in Jade’s life now safe, happy and legit (with passports to prove it) and the underwater mer-world off the coast of Port Toulouse on the road to democracy, it’s time to relax and plan for the future. Jade can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with a tropical wedding in the Bahamas with Mom and Dad to finally make their family ‘official’.

Soon, Jade is enjoying the tropical sunshine, all-you-can-eat buffet, and island day trips. But when Jade gets lost in the island’s famous waterfront Straw Market, something doesn’t feel quite right. A body splashes into the water as a cruise ship enters the harbor and a teen boy selling conches from his boat behind the market knows more than he’s willing to admit.

With no body, no leads, and no other witnesses, though, the local police don’t seem too concerned. Maybe Jade’s imagination has been acting up on her, just like Cori said, considering everything she’s been through in the past few months.

But with Mom and Dad off on a honeymoon excursion it wouldn’t hurt to check things out, would it? Little do Jade and Cori realize, they are about to uncover more secrets about the splashing body, dangerous cruise ship cargo, and more questions than answers lurking in the nearby Caribbean waters.

Add it on Goodreads

Win it!

To enter to win a copy of this book, simply leave a comment on this post by February 25, 2014!

Gain 1 additional entry by subscribing to The Hiding Spot. Mention how you subscribe (via email, Bloglovin’, Networked Blogs, WordPress, etc) in the comments!

This giveaway is open to those with US mailing addresses only, as specified by the publisher.

Happy Release Day, Alienated + Win a Nook Simple Touch!

Today is an awesome day for two reasons: 1. Alienated by Melissa Landers hits stores today (!!) and 2. To celebrate, Melissa is giving away a Nook Simple Touch to one lucky winner! Below you’ll find an announcement from Melissa, in which she discusses her book and the generous giveaway!

_______________________

About the Author

Melissa Landers is a former teacher who left the classroom to pursue other worlds. A proud sci-fi geek, she isn’t afraid to wear her Princess Leia costume in public—just ask her husband and three kids. She lives outside Cincinnati in the small town of Loveland, “Sweetheart of Ohio.” For more information, or just to say hello, visit www.melissa-landers.com.

_________________________

Hey, fiction lovers.

I’m author Melissa Landers, and I’m thrilled to announce that my debut YA sci-fi romance, Alienated, is finally available from Disney-Hyperion! Cue the dancers and toss the confetti, because it’s been a long wait!

In a nutshell, Alienated is the story of valedictorian Cara Sweeney, who gets more than she bargained for when she agrees to host the nation’s first intergalactic exchange student, the gorgeous but emotionally-stilted Aelyx (pronounced A-licks) from planet L’eihr. The tone is light and humorous, but I explore some deeper themes as well.

What do reviewers have to say?

 “The storyline is out of this world and character development paired with authentic voice is superb. Filled with intrigue and suspense, this book will appeal to both sci-fi and contemporary YA fiction fans.” –VOYA

“Interstellar relations heat up in this start to a new romantic science fiction series. Landers [explores] larger social, ecological, and ethical issues in this tense, fast-paced read.” –Booklist

“The perfect blend of sizzling romance, action, and suspense.” –#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout

“Smart, funny, and epic. I am now awaiting contact from planet L’eihr.” Julie Cross, bestselling author of Tempest.

“Intergalactic exchange students? Yes, please! I fell in love with this story and couldn’t put it down.” Jodi Meadows, author of Incarnate.

If you like hot, swoony science fiction as much as I do, I hope you’ll give Alienated a try. It’s now available in stores and online.

Indie Bound

 Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Book Depo

(free international shipping at Book Depo)

__________________________

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m offering one lucky winner a Nook Simple Touch. I’ll even throw in a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble so you can fill your new e-reader with whatever you want!

Now for the fine print: This giveaway is open to US residents only. (Sorry, international friends, but you need a US billing address to buy digital content on the Nook.) Due to sweepstakes laws, entrants must be 18 years or older to participate.

Best of luck, and happy reading!

To enter to win a Nook Simple Touch, go here to enter!

Guest Post & Giveaway: Lucy Christopher, The Killing Woods

Today I’m happy to welcome author Lucy Christopher to The Hiding Spot for THE KILLING WOODS blog tour.  Below, you’ll find a guest post from Lucy, in which she introduces readers to Jon, one of the main characters from her newest novel, including his relation to the victim, Ashlee Parker, and his possible motive for killing her. Tomorrow, you can meet another character from THE KILLING WOODS at the blog The Reading Date! Don’t forget to read my review here.

__________________________________

“I think about the words the army psychiatrist wrote — distinct possibility . . . act out the flashbacks. Mum believes Dad’s done it all again, exactly all again. Dad’s killed another girl.”

Jon Shepherd is a discharged combat soldier and the dad of Emily. He fought in Afghanistan, where he accidentally shot a civilian. Because of the incident, he developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, experiencing terrible flashbacks of the shooting. He was no longer psychologically equipped to serve in the army and was sent home — where he spent most of his time in the seclusion of an old military bunker. The night of Ashlee’s death, he walked out of the woods carrying her dead body. Believing he had killed another civilian while in the grips of a flashback, Jon pleads guilty to manslaughter. Although he says that he doesn’t remember if he saw Ashlee before the night she died, many people in the community think he planned to murder her all along; they think the flashback story is a cover-up.

______________________________________

THE KILLING WOODS is a intense, often psychologically thrilling read that you don’t want to miss. Find out more about the book below, including the book trailer. Then enter the giveaway to win your own signed copy of brand new mystery from Lucy Christopher.

Book Trailer:

The Killing Woods website

__________________________________________

Win it!

Want to read THE KILLING WOODS? Check out the details below to win a signed, hardcover copy!

A winner will be chosen using a random number generator on January 29th, 2014. This contest is open to those with US mailing addresses only. The prize will be provided and shipped by Scholastic.

Giveaway: The Diviners by Libba Bray

One lucky entrant at The Hiding Spot will win a paperback copy of Libba Bray’s The Diviners! More information about the book and entering to win can be found below!

_______________________________

About the book:

Do you believe there are ghosts and demons and Diviners among us?
Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City–and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfurled in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened….
Printz Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Libba Bray opens a brand-new historical series with The Diviners, where the glittering surface of the Roaring Twenties hides a mystical horror creeping across the country.

______________________________

The Giveaway:

You must comment on this post to be eligible to win. Leave your email address as contact.

+1 extra entry if you follow The Hiding Spot via Networked Blogs, BlogLovin, WordPress, Email, etc. Tell me how you subscribe in the comments!

+1 extra entry for following me on Twitter (@thehidingspot) Leave your @name in the comments.

+1 extra entry for tweeting about this giveaway. Leave a link to the tweet in the comments.

+1 extra entry for following me on Goodreads. Leave you username in the comments.

+1 extra entry for liking The Hiding Spot on Facebook. Leave your username in the comments.

That’s a total of 6 possible entries per person!

Each winner will be chosen using a random number generator on January 1st, 2014.

Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to those with US mailing addresses.

Giveaway: The Real Boy by Anne Ursu

Once again, Anne Ursu, author of the absolutely wonderful Breadcrumbs, enchants readers with the story of Oscar, an often overlooked young orphan and shop boy to a powerful magician. I adore Ursu’s novels; lush and gorgeous writing paired with loveable characters makes Ursu a writer that should be on librarian and parent watch lists. The Real Boy is a must read for middle grade readers and older. 

__________________________________

More about the book:

On an island on the edge of an immense sea there is a city, a forest, and a boy. The city is called Asteri, a perfect city that was saved by the magic woven into its walls from a devastating plague that swept through the world over a hundred years before. The forest is called the Barrow, a vast wood of ancient trees that encircles the city and feeds the earth with magic. And the boy is called Oscar, a shop boy for the most powerful magician in the Barrow. Oscar spends his days in a small room in the dark cellar of his master’s shop, grinding herbs and dreaming of the wizards who once lived on the island generations ago. Oscar’s world is small, but he likes it that way. The real world is vast, strange, and unpredictable. And Oscar does not quite fit in it.

But it’s been a long time since anyone who could call himself a wizard walked the world, and now that world is changing. Children in the city are falling ill, and something sinister lurks in the forest. Oscar has long been content to stay in his small room in the cellar, comforted in the knowledge that the magic that flows from the trees will keep his island safe. Now, even magic may not be enough to save it.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway: Little Fish: A Different Kind of Memoir by Ramsey Beyer

The fabulous team at Zest Books is offering a great Little Fish prize pack for one lucky winner here at The Hiding Spot! I truly adored Ramsey Beyer’s memoir and will definitely be looking for more from her in the future. I also think that Little Fish is a must-read for girls like me who are heading off to college and away from home for the first time… And, by a girl “like me” I mean girls who might be a big fish in a small pond… girls who grew up in a small town (Midwestern or otherwise) but are venturing out to somewhere bigger, more diverse, and entirely new. In other words, most girls. Maybe even, in one way or another, all girls. 

More about LITTLE FISH

Ramsey Beyer’s debut autobiographical graphic novel, Little Fish: A Memoir from A Different Kind of Year, is the coming-of-age story of a small-town high schooler’s transformation into an independent city-dwelling college freshman. Told through a blend of journal entries and lists plus comic-style artwork and collages, the book touches on challenges every student meets when facing the world for the first time on their own, and the unease – as well as excitement – that comes along with those challenges. Everyone can relate to Ramsey’s journey from childhood to independence – from adjusting to being away from home to navigating new friendships and finding the right path.

 More about Ramsey Beyer

Ramsey Beyer grew up on a farm in Paw Paw, Michigan, before escaping to city life in Baltimore, where she earned a BFA in experimental animation. She currently lives in Philadelphia and Little Fish is her first (traditionally) published book. 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview & Giveaway: Caela Carter, author of Me, Him, Them & It

Author Caela Carter, who debuted her first novel back at the beginning of 2013, joins us at The Hiding Spot for this final day of the Fall Festival! I loved Caela’s debut, Me, Him, Them & It. It’s definitely my go-to recommendation for YA fiction that deals with teen pregnancy, but it’s also just one of my favorite realistic fiction novels. Check out my review, here, find out more about Caela and her writing below (I loved this interview!), and enter to win your own copy of this great title!

___________________

The Interview

Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write?

Man, the whole thing felt hard to write. It felt like taking a chisel to my chest and ripping it until the hole was large enough for Evelyn to escape onto the page. I don’t remember the drafting of the novel that clearly except for it being incredibly draining and exhilierating at the same time. I remember being wrapped in blankets in a freezing apartment and that the chair I sat in dug into the back of my thighs. And the sound. I remember the sound of my old computer clicking under my fingers.

But I can’t remember if there were any characters or scenes that I fought with while drafting.

I do remember the scenes I had to write over and over and over again. In particular, there’s a scene about a third of the way into the book where Evelyn’s parents give her their plan. It changed about a thousand times before anyone even read it, and then it felt like all of my betas and my agent and editors had a different reaction to it, so it kept changing after that. I still think about that scene all the time. Maybe it’s just a disturbing one.

Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication?

The title changed completely. At first I resisted titling it at all. I had always heard that the author has no say in the title. My father is a newspaper reporter and as a child I was fascinated by the fact that he didn’t write his own headlines. I didn’t want to title it as I wrote it because I didn’t know what it was yet. But, I started writing what eventually became ME, HIM, THEM AND IT as a class assignment for my MFA program and my teacher, Hettie Jones, wanted us to title our work so we could talk about it in class. I had only about twenty pages written when I slapped the first title I thought of onto the manuscript. And it was a bad one: BABY STEPS.

I ended up calling it BABY STEPS the entire time I was drafting and I even queried using that title. But, I didn’t like it. I thought it was cutesy and sweet and it did not match Evelyn or her manuscript at all.

It was dumb of me to query with a title I didn’t like. But, that’s how it happened.

Before I signed with Kate McKean we were already talking about a new title. I think she was a little nervous to tell me that she thought we should change the title before submitting but I said, “Oh, absolutely.” Together we came up with a list of titles and eventually chose ME, HIM, THEM, AND IT. During that process, I remember trying to shave down the layers of the manuscript and asking myself a lot “What is this book? What’s it really about?”

One of my writerly friends said “It’s not about pregnancy, it’s about her” and that helped me think about a way to focus the title.

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general?

Oh, jeez! There are so many.

I had a hard time learning how to read as a child, but since then I’ve always been a voracious reader. My love of Karen from the Baby Sitter’s Little Sister series helped me make that transition. So, in general life, I’d say Ann M. Martin was my biggest influence. Her books were the first I remember reading for fun. And, I honestly don’t know who I’d be if I hadn’t spent my childhood buried in books, so I’d say that’s pretty significant.

I read my way through most of my hometown library in middle school, but I’ll never forget the first time I read Cynthia Voigt. The first was called COME A STRANGER and it’s one of the lesser known volumes in the Tillerman cycle. At the time I didn’t know it was related to any other books. I only knew I was hooked. It wasn’t just entertaining, it was beautiful: the nuanced characters, the layers of story, the ribbons of sentences. I wanted to write like that.

I still do.

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing?

Oh yes. I was a teacher for six years. Somehow it took me six years of their almost-constant company to realize that I was writing for teenagers.

I was working at a school that was dedicated to helping young people use their education to better their lives. My students were fearless, compassionate, and determined and the admiration I have for 12 to 15 year-olds definitely effects my writing of characters those ages.

Also, my students taught me so much about how to love. And, ultimately, I write because I love.

 If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why?

Hi.

Because anything could come next.

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?

Well, books, of course. Well-crafted television. Really, any kind of story. Documentaries, conversations, talk radio. I’m into story-telling in general.

And if all else fails, a hug from my husband makes any crappy day better.

Find out more about Caela and her books here! 

_________________

More about Me, Him, Them & It

ME is Evelyn Jones, 16, a valedictorian hopeful who’s been playing bad girl to piss off THEM, her cold, distant parents. HIM is Todd, Evelyn’s secret un-boyfriend, who she thought she was just using for sex – until she accidentally fell in love with him. But before Evelyn gets a chance to tell Todd how she feels, something much more important comes up. IT. IT is a fetus. Evelyn is pregnant – and when Todd turns his back on her, Evelyn has no idea who to turn to. Can a cheating father, a stiff, cold mother, a pissed-off BFF, and a (thankfully!) loving aunt with adopted girls of her own help Evelyn make the heart-wrenching decisions that follow?

Earn extra entries by following the Fall Festival blogs listed here!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Interview & Giveaway: Leila Sales, author of This Song Will Save Your Life

Leila Sales is here at the blog today chatting about The Song Will Save Your Life, her new book, which released this week! I’ve loved every one of Leila’s books, but I think this one was my favorite! I really identified with the main character, loved the music elements, and felt that it sent a really great message about individuality and overcoming bullying. Check out my review, here, read my review with Leila, and, of course, enter to win my copy of This Song Will Save Your Life and the playlist that accompanies the book!

___________________

The Interview

Did you have trouble writing any of your characters or specific scenes within the novel? Or, were any characters or scenes particularly easy to write?

The ending was particularly challenging. By “the ending,” I mean the last 50 or 60 pages. And especially the last paragraph—I must have rewritten that twenty times before my editor and I were both satisfied with it.

Has the title changed or stayed relatively the same as your novel journeyed towards publication?

I sold it with the title The Last of the Famous International Party Girls, which is a take-off of a Morrissey song that I like. My editor didn’t love that title and so she announced it as My Suicide Playlist. Then we decided that was too dark, did a lot of brainstorming, and finally came to This Song Will Save Your Life.

What book or author has most influenced you as a writer or in general?

Dave Barry. He is my favorite humor writer, and much of what I know about comedic timing, I learned from him.

What jobs did you have on your way to becoming a writer/published author? Is there a certain work experience that has shaped your writing?

Camp counselor, historical re-enactor, bookseller, babysitter… but most of my adult life I have worked as a children’s book editor, which I love. It’s good for my writing because it places me firmly in the world of stories every day.

 If you had to pick a favorite word, what would it be and why?

I’m going to give you a favorite phrase instead: “a lingering penumbra.” I get really excited when there’s a penumbra around the moon because then I get to talk about how lingering it is.

My blog is dedicated to my personal hiding spot, books. Who, what, or where can be credited as your personal escape from reality?

Going out dancing, or going for a long bike ride or walk, probably. It’s a period of time where I have to be enjoying the present because I’m physically unable to get any work done!

Find out more about Leila and her books here! 

_________________

More about This Song Will Save Your Life:

Making friends has never been Elise Dembowski’s strong suit. All throughout her life, she’s been the butt of every joke and the outsider in every conversation. When a final attempt at popularity fails, Elise nearly gives up. Then she stumbles upon a warehouse party where she meets Vicky, a girl in a band who accepts her; Char, a cute, yet mysterious disc jockey; Pippa, a carefree spirit from England; and most importantly, a love for DJing.

Told in a refreshingly genuine and laugh-out-loud funny voice, THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE is an exuberant novel about identity, friendship, and the power of music to bring people together.

Earn extra entries by following the Fall Festival blogs listed here!

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway