What Hooks You to Buy a New Author?

Okay, I'm what you call a loyal reader to my favorite authors. If they've hooked me with some awesome characters or an adventurous series, you got me for life! haha. If the author starts writing in a new genre--I'm picking him/her up.  But I'm one of those picky people when it comes to finding authors I've never read before. I'm not a one genre reader girl. I do go through phases and read one or two particular genres for a while, but basically I've read it all.

I guess what I'd like to know from readers: what makes you try a new author?  Let's not count word of mouth because I think book buzz intrigues many of us.  Let's say, you are browsing on-line and you're looking for a new author.  Do you consider... 

Let's take a poll!

I listed these options because I really go through an entire research method before I buy a new author. LOL. But like I said, if you hook me, I'm faithful! If you consider something else, let us know in the comments. So what do you think?

My Summer Reads

Since Tina shared her summer YA reads, I thought I'd share my catch-up from this summer.

I started off with Sarah Dessen's Along for the Ride. Always a pleasure to read a summer Dessen novel, with down to earth characters who seem to jump off the page, and family drama that pulls you right in.

Then I moved on to a couple of my favorite paranormal series, such as Rachel Caine's Ghost Town. Once again awesome suspense and danger with the Glass House clan and those ancient, creepy Morganville vampires (minus Michael Glass, of course!)

And next was Cassandra Clare's City of Fallen Angels. Can you say intense? Clare creates a brilliant fantasy world of angels, demons and creatures that I love to explore in her Mortal Instruments series!

These reads are all highly recommended as fantastic YA reads!

In my Mailbox

Now Tina is off to Orlando for the Romance Writers of America conference--where she is up for a RITA for Best YA Romance for The ABC's of Kissing Boys!! Good luck, Tina!!

So I've been crazy with a recent move, haven't had a lot of time for reading. However, I received a juicy paranormal read in my mailbox that has sparked my interest!

Check it out--

Mary expected her seventeenth birthday to be a blowout to remember, courtesy of her best friends, fellow New York City prepsters Amy and Joon, and her doting boyfriend, Trick.

Instead, the day starts badly and gets worse. After waking up in a mortifying place with a massive, unexplainable hangover, Mary soon discovers that nobody at school is even aware that it's her birthday. As evening approaches, paranoia sets in. Mary just can't shake the feeling that someone is out to get her—and, as it turns out, she's right. Before the night is over, she's been killed in cold blood.

But murder is just the beginning of Mary's ordeal. Her soul gets trapped in a strange limbo, and she must relive the day of her death through the eyes of seven people—each of whom, she finds, had plenty of reasons to hate her. As Mary explores the mysteries of her world, discovering secrets that were hidden in plain sight while she was alive, she clings desperately to the hope that she can solve her own murder, change the past, and—just maybe—save her own life.

With its blend of suspense, horror, fantasy, and realism, 7 Souls is an adrenaline rush of a thriller.

Sounds pretty intense! This is a co-authored book by Barnabas Mille and Jordan Orlando. Looking forward to diving into this one!

Barnabas Miller haswritten many books for children and young adults. He also composes and produces music for film and network television. He lives in New York City with his wife, Heidi; their cat, Ted; and their dog, Zooey.

Jordan Orlando sold his first novel before his twenty-first birthday. Besides writing, he creates Web sites and works in graphic design and digital cinema. He lives in New York City. You can visit him at www.jordanorlando.com.

A Cool New Book!

Hello YA Freshers!

I just wanted to give a shout out to Jennifer Lynn Barnes for her latest release Raised By Wolves!! Have you heard about it? Here's the blurb:

At the age of four, Bryn watched a rogue werewolf brutally murder her parents. Alone in the world, she was rescued and taken in by the mysterious Callum, the alpha of the local werewolf pack. Now fifteen, Bryn's been raised as a human among werewolves, adhering to pack rule (mostly). Little fazes her.

But the pack's been keeping a secret, and when Bryn ges exploring against Callum's direct orders, she finds Chase, a newly turned teen WEre locked in a cage. Terrifying memories of the attack on her mom and dad come flooding back. Bryn needs answers, and she needs Chase to get them. Suddenly, all allegiances to the pack no longer matter. It's Bryn and Chase against the werewolf world, whatever the consequences.

An exciting new paranormal adventure with a heroine who rivals Buffy, Raised By Wolves will leave you howling for more.

Sounds like my kind of book! Raised by Wolves is on bookshelves now. I'm excited to check it out!

Jennifer Lynn Barnes (who mostly goes by Jen) was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been, in turn, a competitive cheerleader, a volleyball player, a dancer, a debutante, a primate cognition researcher, a teen model, a comic book geek, and a lemur aficionado. She's been writing for as long as she can remember, finished her first full book (which she now refers to as a "practice book" and which none of you will ever see) when she was still in high school, and then wrote Golden the summer after her freshman year in college, when she was nineteen.

Jen graduated high school in 2002, and from Yale University with a degree in cognitive science (the study of the brain and thought) in May of 2006. She'll be spending the 2006-2007 school year abroad, doing autism research at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Visit Jennifer's website www.jenniferlynnbarnes.com.

Kiss of Death

And I continue my adventures with Rachel Caine’s Morganville series with Kiss of Death!

For those of you who are not familiar with the series, a group of teens: Clare, Shane, Michael, and Eve are friends who live in the same founder home called the Glass House, trying to survive while living in Morganville, a town filled with Vampires and their terrifying politics. The team is caught up in vamp conflicts and end up fighting for their lives, with Clare being such a kid genius using her smarts to save the day.

In Kiss of Death the four teens are allowed to leave Morganville for their roommate Michael to record a music demo with interested producers. But of course, they are given a Vampire escort and on their way out of town, they make a detour into an unwelcoming town for Vampire business that turns into “The road trip from hell.”

The kids face what could possibly be one of the worst situations they’ve ever been up against—diseased and monstrous vamps out for blood and a town that doesn’t trust them.

As they fight to survive, with sweet, romantic stolen moments between Clare and Shane, the wildcard Shane wonders why do they have to return to Morganville? Why can’t they keep going and never look back?

And the answer?

You’ll have to read the book to find out!

Rachel Caine never fails to give Morganville series readers entertaining suspense, adventure, romance and danger!

The Gift of Series Books!

Hey YA Freshers!

I thought I'd make a list of recommended YA series books that you might consider giving for a gift this Holiday season or even trying out yourself during the holiday, maybe? Here are the first books in these awesome series.

Glass House - The Morganville Vampire Series. That's right, Morganville, Texas where Vampires really exist along with humans, and four teen best friends are just trying to keep each other out of danger.

I'd Tell You I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You - Spy Girl Series by Ally Carter! These are exceptional teen girls from Gallagher Academy who know how to take care of business.

Wake - by Lisa McMann. A girl who hops dreams like she hops classrooms. Fast-paced and suspenseful.

Deadly Little Secret - A Touch novel series by Laurie Faria Stolarz with mystery, suspense, and danger.

The Hunger Games - Set in a postapocalyptic world where kids have to fight for their lives. Intense and gripping.

Okay, these are my gift giving recommendations...do you have any other series suggestions for me?

;)

What are you reading??

The temperatures are dropping, the holidays are approaching...

It's time to settle down with some good books. *rubbing hands together*

Right now, I'm reading Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater!

I'm in the mood for a romantic read and couldn't be happier settling into this tale of forbidden love and werewolves!

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Tell me, what fresh Young adult book are you reading right now?

Comfort Reads!

We all know about comfort foods (and don’t get me started on scalloped potatoes and warm chocolate pudding). But recently I came upon a copy of Astrid Lindgren’s Pippi Longstocking, and the mere sight of it sent some of those same warm, wonderful comfort feelings rushing through me (without, I might add, the fat and calories).


I remembered how I got my copy from the Scholastic Book Club at school, and how I’d moved it to the top of the pile, so excited to read it. And how I’d lost myself in it from page one. That time, and again and again over the next few years, when I'd turn to Pippi when bored or a little sad.

I’m pretty sure there were some sequels, but they didn’t “do” for me what the original did, and so why mess with success?

Two more favorites from that time--also from the Scholastic Book Club--that rarely left my night table: Baby Island by Carol Ryrie Brink and The Cabin Faced West by Jean Fritz.


Years later, I was so excited to share these books with my daughter, and to my delight, she loved them, too.

Do you have books from your childhood that you turned to again and again? Books that to this day can make you smile? Dish 'em out (again calorie-free) in our comments!

The August Multicultural Book Spotlight on YAF

There's a cool challenge going on @ Read Into This!

With the cover controversy that's been happening with Justine Larbalestier's Liar, multicultural books have taken the spotlight. It's sad that this issue has to come about for multicultural books to receive extra notice. A couple of weeks ago there was an excellent post on books of color on Chasing Ray, and the lack of MC books published.

So it's time to shine some more positive light! Here's RIT's challenge:

This is a 30-day challenge that ends on August 30th. [...] I've compiled a list of some multicultural books that I have either read, plan to read, or were recommended to me. If you have any other suggestions, make a comment and I will take a look and add it to the list. :)

- The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
- American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang
- Bang! by Sharon Flake
- Broken China by Lori Aurelia Williams
- Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Does My Head Look Big in This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah
- Down to the Bone by Mayra Lazara Dole
- First Daughter: An Extreme American Makeover by Mitali Perkins
- First Part Last by Angela Johnson
- Fly on the Wall by E. Lockhart
- Graffiti Girl by Kelly Parra
- Hush by Jacqueline Woodson
- If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko
- The Kayla Chronicles by Sherri Winston
- My Life as a Rhombus by Varian Johnson
- Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
- Played by Dana Davidson
- Romiette and Julio by Sharon M. Draper
- Secret Keeper by Mitali Perkins
- The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
- Shine, Coconut Moon by Neesha Meminger
- Sold by Patricia McCormick
- What I Meant... by Marie Lamba

Here is another great compiled list of suggested MC books that readers may want to check out.

Now for YA Fresh's spin on the challenge... I'm going to participate too, but I can't read all of these books in one month. What I can do is post quick spotlights all through August on MC books. On some days there will be double posts because we'll have other YAF posts to share. Sounds like a big challenge even for me! haha. :) But I know it will be fun!

Happy reading!

Excitement for Summer Reads!

School is out...and it's all about summer--vacation, sports, having fun, and yes, summer reading!

I can't believe all the great books that are coming out this summer, especially in June. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to read them all, but I've been reading like a mad YA Fresher! Here are just a few of the titles that have me all a-flutter this month.

Carpe Corpus by Rachel Caine| The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan | Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter | Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

I've tackled Carpe Corpus (loved it!) and now I'm moving down the list. Yeeeepee! Good reading for the rest of the month!

How about you? Which new releases are you looking forward this summer?

Brutal is not just a word...

I confess I hadn't read a novel by Michael Harmon author of Skate and The Last Exit Normal before. But when I opened up his novel Brutal, I was captivated by his character Poe Holly's voice. There was no doubt that Poe had attitude and wasn't happy staying with a father she couldn't even remember in a speck of town called Bender's Hallow because her goody mom doctor was off in South America doing good deeds.

First off, I love Poe's name. Second, as I read Poe debate and debate on topics she believed in, I couldn't help admiring her intelligence.

Quickly, she becomes friends' with the town's outcasts, her neighbor Velveeta, who is teased endlessly and the mayor's sarcastic son, Theo. Everything is too boring in this town compared to Los Angeles, until she realizes the golden child and football star of the town Colby makes it his hobby to ridicule and tease Velveeta just because he's not like him. Just because he's different.

And when Poe witnesses two brutal attacks against Velveeta, no one is willing to step forward and point the finger at this golden boy so Poe makes it her plan to stand up this brutal bully once and for all before someone gets more than just hurt.

This is a story of teens taking a stand because its right and even when the adults won't listen, some times you have to make them listen.

The September Sisters by Jillian Cantor & a Giveaway!

Meet Abby and Becky, sisters two years apart, and birthdays one day apart in September, thus their mother calls them The September Sisters. Only problem? They despise one another. They fight constantly, crave their parents' attention and want everything the other has. They are young siblings, after all.

Sadly, one night shatters the tight family of four when one of the September Sisters, Becky, the youngest has vanished. Abby goes through the following two years dealing with the destruction of their family and the questions of what may have happened to a little girl in the middle of the night in a quiet neighborhood, as well as experiencing the ups and downs of first love.

I could not stop reading Abby's story. Jillian Cantor's voice flows and everything scene urges you on. Abby deals with uncertainty, then fear, endless questions, anger, and hope all through a young girl's eyes. This story is a memorable debut novel by Jillian Cantor that is incredibly moving, and a novel to certainly make you feel.

It just so happens I have 3 fabulous hardcover copies of The September Sisters up for grabs. So comment between now and Sunday and I'll announce 3 lucky winners Monday morning!

Good luck!

The Great Scavenger Hunt!

Are you ready for a scavenger hunt of the YA/MG variety??

If the answer is yes, then you are so in luck! Author Kay Cassidy has brainstormed the The Great Scavenger Hunt -- a new outreach program for teen and youth librarians in the U.S. and Canada -- with over 120 YA/MG authors participating, including me and Tina!! :) :)

Here are the deets from Kay's website:

If you’ve been looking for a way to get kids reading a variety of books, look no further. You’ll find nearly every kind of book you can imagine: fantasies, historicals, mysteries, romantic comedies, sweeping literary novels… you name it. The Great Scavenger Hunt Contest authors include many New York Times bestselling authors and winners or finalists of the Newbery Medal, Printz Award, National Book Award and Edgar Award. There truly is something for every reader.

To participate, readers (called hunters) simply read a scavenger hunt book, complete the scavenger hunt, and turn it in to you. If they get 8 out of 10 answers correct, you get to enter them in the monthly contest. Easy, right?

Every month, I’ll (Kay) choose one lucky hunter as the winner. The winning hunter will receive a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card (good in stores or online) to use for whatever their heart desires. Even better, when they win, YOU win too… a library prize tote filled with more terrific scavenger hunt books for your library collection.

Hey Librarians, get your library involved by following the steps here!

Big hugs and kudos to Kay for creating such an awesome reading (and hunting) contest and for all the authors for joining in!!

:)

Take the Reins Giveaway!

I’m happy to announce a giveaway of Jessica Burkhart’s novel, Take The Reins, the first in her Canterwood Crest middle grade series.

All you have to do is leave a comment telling us YOUR favorite lip gloss flavor (real or imaginary).

And why lip gloss flavor, you ask? Because the main character of Take The Reins, Sasha Silver, is delightfully lip-glossed obsessed, and with all our recent talk here on YA FRESH about lipsticks and glosses, it’s just the thing to do!


I pre-ordered this book, especially excited to read it because my daughter was a horse-obsessed tween reader not so long ago, devouring The Saddle Club books, and wanting more/more/more about horseback riders. Occasionally, I’d picked one up, too, so I knew it would be fun to feed my own tween horseback riding fix!

Accordingly, I found that I read this book as a reader, a mother and a writer, pausing to appreciate elements like the pure love that Sasha feels for her horse, Charm, and the thorough details of his grooming, training and showing. I smiled at the little touches like aforementioned lip gloss collection, Sasha’s roommate’s love of cooking, and the occasional, heart-pounding appearances of a Zac Efron look-alike cutie.

Overall, I felt the theme of this book was about the value of friendship--making the right ones, and learning to deal with the wrong ones--which is something most every tween reader has either gone through or will go through.

So if there’s a tween reader in your life who likes horses and lip gloss and chocolate chip pancakes and cute boys, this book is for her! But it’s by no means “restricted” to that demographic...I mean, we’re all just tweens who got a little older, right?

So go ahead and leave a comment! I’ll choose a random winner, to be announced after the contest closes at 7:00 pm PST on Sunday.

A Captivating New Series...

I had the pleasure of reading the ARC earlier this year, and now that it has hit book stores on December 23rd, I'm thrilled to shout praises about Laurie Faria Stolarz's DEADLY LITTLE SECRET, the first book in the new "Touch" series.

The characters in this novel are real and unique. The writing smooth and the storytelling mysterious and intense. I can only hope I'll get to read the next book in the series before it hits stores again!

Camelia lives a normal high school life, but she doesn't know she's being watched until the weird phone calls and packages begin and now everywhere she turns she senses fear. The new boy with the dangerous past and dark secrets says he can help. Her friends are urging her away from him. Yes, Camelia needs help. She just doesn't know if he can be trusted. Or if anyone can be for that matter.

A boy to admire from afar, a girl you want to befriend, a novel to keep you turning the pages because you won't know who to trust. Laurie Faria Stolarz's DEADLY LITTLE SECRET is a blend of mystery, chills, and forbidden touches--one captivating story you have to experience!

Laurie Faria Stolarz is the author of Project 17 and Bleed, as well as the highly popular young adult novels Blue Is for Nightmares, White Is for Magic, Silver Is for Secrets, and Red Is for Remembrance. Born and raised in Salem, Massachusetts, Stolarz attended Merrimack College and received an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College in Boston. For more information, please visit her website at www.lauriestolarz.com.

Let It Snow (Three Holiday Romances)

Some months ago, I read about an upcoming trilogy of holiday romances by three esteemed authors, John Green. Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle. Here is the blurb:

Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks.

While the blurb interested me, it wasn’t until I got to the final line--telling me that the tales were interconnected--that I added it to my book list. I loved the idea that same characters and storylines would pop in and out of each author’s story (in each author’s voice).

So I bought the book, and moved it ahead of my massive reading pile for my December reading. And am I glad I did.

Let It Snow is more than just a holiday book or collection of stories. The writing is sharp, the characters leap off the page, you laugh, you choke up, you shiver in the cold, you warm by the fire...and you fall in the love with the characters. Some of whom do travel all the way through the book, along with clever little themes and phrases.

In fact, one of the characters creates his own swear word, and it appears enough times throughout the book that it stuck in my head. So when a driver cut in front of me this week, guess what came out of my mouth? (No, I'm not going to write it here...you'll have to find it out for yourself!)

I am presently passing my copy of Let It Snow around to my friends...and encourage our YA FRESH readers to check it out, too. And then come back and let is know what you think.

Book Review: The Day I Killed James

Catherine Ryan Hyde and I have been Myspace friends for a while, a fact I find very cool since I am a fan of her novel, Pay It Forward, and its feature film version, starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment.

And while Kelly is primarily the book reviewer here at YA Fresh, I approached Catherine about reviewing her May 2008 release, The Day I Killed James, and was very pleased when she not only responded enthusiastically, but had her publicist mail me a copy.

Here is the press release blurb:

Everything seems ideal in Theresa’s life--she’s beautiful, popular, and she’s dating the “perfect” guy. So when her fickle boyfriend decides he’s not sure what he wants, it’s only harmless jealousy and a little self-pride that makes Theresa bring her cute older neighbor, James, to a party. And even though James loves Theresa, it’s only for the night, so it’s risk-free, right? But when everything goes horribly wrong, and James commits suicide, it becomes anything but a “harmless” night. To cope with the pain, Theresa runs away, shaves her head, and vows never to let anyone close enough to love her again. But the more Theresa runs, the more she must face herself.


I really enjoyed this book. It kept me thinking, kept me feeling, and kept me rooting for the main character to find her way to self-forgiveness.

Theresa reveals her pain in journal form, first person and third, in short chapters, but the writing is so heartfelt and powerful that the book has a bigger, meatier feel that only 200+ pages.

Take, for instance, the following passage. When musing about how Theresa suddenly started missing James, she says:

“No, that’s not right to say I started. I didn’t start. I just kind of joined it in progress, zero to a hundred percent while I wasn’t even paying attention. It wasn’t there, then it was.”

I stopped short after reading that paragraph, marveling over how many times in my life I have suddenly found myself in mid-emotion, not knowing when it started or how I’d gotten so far into its throes. And thinking about how she’d not only identified that feeling, but how perfectly she’d described it.

Catherine Hyde Ryan weaves a tender and beautiful story in The Day I Killed James. I expect it to hear much about it in the days to come, on Favorites and Best lists...and who knows, maybe it’ll make to the big screen, as well?

First copies of INVISIBLE TOUCH have arrived!!!

I just wanted to take a moment to share on YA Fresh...

I can't believe it is finally here. My second book. Ahh, basking in the glow of my vibrant cover. Basking...basking... *snicker* Yep, sometimes authors are silly like that over their books. :) :)

In case you didn't know there was a change of the release date for INVISIBLE TOUCH. Some booksellers may be receiving their books early due to the old release date. Some may keep them in back until October 14th, like in the case of my first book, some booksellers may put them out earlier.

So we must be on the lookout for INVISIBLE TOUCH from now until October 14th, because you just never know!!

~kelly

Friday Fresh: One More Time!

I got the nicest compliment this week. A young woman who had interviewed me for a newspaper told me that her sister liked my books so much she was reading them a second time...

It reminded me how, back when I was a teenager, I used to re-read favorites, sometimes finding something new and different, sometimes just enjoying being in that familiar world again--and knowing everything would turn out fine.

How wonderful that someone feels the same about the books I’ve written!

These days, my read time is precious and short. When I do read, I am often catching up on friends’ releases or reviewing here for YA FRESH. I usually have 40 or 50 other books in my To Be Read Pile.

But earlier this year, I found and re-read a book I loved as a teenager, MR. AND MRS. BO JO JONES, about two teens “forced” to drop out of high school and marry before their baby was born. It held up amazingly well in my eyes, even though the attitudes were pretty dated, and I was now viewing it as an adult, rather than a teen.


How about you? Have you had the chance to re-read a favorite book lately? Or wish you could? Share it with us!

Win a Copy of How to Be Bad!

Okay, so I was driving down the street the other day, passing a local independent bookstore, when I caught sight of some very familiar names on sidewalk signs:

E. LOCKHART

LAUREN MYRACLE

SARAH MLYNOWSKI

followed by the words, TODAY AT 3:30.

I braked. “Hey, I know those young adult authors. From writing loops. From Ya Fresh. From MySpace.” So after a quick check-in at home, in I went. To find them in a lively roundtable chat with a group of readers, discussing their new and collaborative release, HOW TO BE BAD, as well as asking and answering questions.


(Shown: Lauren, Emily & Sarah.)

I’ll admit I missed a lot of the conversation due to my seat outside the circle, but my favorite line was Emily explaining that after returning from a signing tour, she had been known to respond to her friends’ and family’s questions with fifteen minute answers. Ah, the occupational hazards of being a public speaker!

The very funny Lisa Yee sat at the end of the table with the YA department manager, Catherine Linka, who was kind enough to introduce me (and my book titles) to the crowd as well.


So...in honor of a spontaneous good time, I bought a copy of HOW TO BE BAD and got the authors to sign it. Leave a comment here on our blog about surprises or spontaneity or praise for any of the above listed authors and you will be entered to win the book. The contest closes at 6:00 pm EST on Sunday, June 1. Check back for the winner's name.


And hey, Emily, Lauren and Sarah...nice meeting you and hope you enjoy the rest of your tour!