Trance is here!

Look out paranormal fans, here comes a new story from Death by series author, Linda Gerber!

Almost everyone has wished that they could take a glimpse into the future—but what if such visions came unbidden, and they only foretold danger? Linda Gerber weaves this idea into a chilling and satisfying young adult novel with TRANCE (Speak; 9780142414156; October 14, 2010; Ages 12 up; $7.99). Perfect for fans of Wake, Gerber’s latest paranormal thriller is a dark but addictive tale of one girl’s curse to unwillingly foresee future tragedies, and the debilitating toll that it takes on her present life—until she realizes that her unwanted power may be more of a gift than a curse.

Ashlyn Greenfield has always known when bad things are going to happen. Each time that familiar tingling at the back of her neck begins, she knows what’s to come—a trance. She’s pulled in, blindsided, an unwilling witness to a horrible upcoming event. But she’s never been able to stop the event from actually occurring—not even when the vision was of her mother’s fatal car accident. When soulful Jake enters Ashlyn’s life, she begins having trances about another car accident. And as her trances escalate, one thing becomes clear: it’s up to her to save Jake from a near-certain death.

Combining romance and suspense, Linda Gerber delivers a paranormal thriller that is unique in its ability to appeal to sci-fi and chick lit fans alike.

Sounds like my kind of book! In stores now and ready for fresh reading!

Linda Gerber (www.lindagerber.com) is the author of the popular Death by Bikini, Death by Latte, and Death by Denim as well as two books in the S.A.S.S. series. She lives with her family in Dublin, Ohio.

Whats Fresh with Linda Gerber's Death by Denim!

Linda Gerber's continuing her mysterious Aphra Connolly series with Death by Denim!

Aphra Connolly is being chased by some very dangerous people. She knows her survival depends upon staying far away from love interest Seth, and listening to her mom's lectures on the finer points of anonymity and survival. But how is a girl supposed to live under the radar and not think about her boyfriend when she's in Paris—the most romantic city in the world? When her mom's contact in Paris is found floating in the Seine with a deadly message stuffed in his mouth, Aphra realizes that she will never be able to stop running unless she confronts the situation head-on. Sneaking away from her mom, Aphra tracks down the criminal mastermind in Italy, only to unwittingly reveal Seth's location. And her mistake has just put them both in mortal danger...

Hi Linda, thanks for stopping in to chat about Death by Denim! What should we expect with the latest book in the series?

Linda: DEATH BY DENIM hits the shelves on May 14 – less than three weeks away! Both Aphra and Seth have to up their game in this one. Lots of action, drama, and some long-awaited smooching.

Yay! haha! What's up next? Do you have another project in the works? If so, please tell us about it.

Linda: I’m switching gears a little bit on the next project – going paranormal. We haven’t found a title we love yet, but the book is about trance-writing sisters who have to learn to trust their gift – and each other. It will be released in 2010.

Awesome! Best of luck, Linda! And I hope everyone marks thier calenders for Linda's cyber launch party on May 14, 15 and 16 on her blog: http://lindagerber.blogspot.com!

Linda Gerber recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE and the YA mysteries DEATH BY BIKINI, DEATH BY LATTE and DEATH BY DENIM. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, kids, and one very naughty puppy. Visit Linda's website, www.LindaGerber.com.

What's Fresh with Linda Gerber's Death by Latte

Hello Linda, great to have you back to chat. Please tell us about your latest novel DEATH BY LATTE.

Linda: DEATH BY LATTE, Puffin Books (September 18, 2008)

Aphra Connolly had been living a quiet existence on her father's secluded island resort, until Seth Mulo turns up and steals her heart… and provides information that leads her to find her mom in Seattle. But the reunion isn't quite what she expected. Aphra's mom, Natalie, doesn't seem happy to see Aphra, and Natalie's boyfriend, Joe, insists that Aphra go home. Even worse, Seth shows up, only to ask her to return the ring he had given her that summer. At least Natalie's good-looking neighbor is sympathetic. But when Joe is found dead at a nearby coffee shop, Aphra discovers her whole trip to Seattle has been based on a lie. And now someone just might be trying to kill her. . . .

Could you share a bit about the main characters of your book and what makes him/her unique?

Linda: Aphra Connolly has been living on a private island with her dad for the past four years. She's a quick thinker, which is a good thing since she keeps getting mixed up in dangerous situations.

Seth Mulo and his family defected from a sleeper cell so he has lived most of his life undercover. Under his false identity, he was in his senior year of high school, playing football and generally enjoying life - until his family was found and had to run again.

How did the idea for this novel come about?

Linda: A few years back, I had written a short story as an exercise for a writers' forum. I had so much fun with it that I decided to develop it a little more until eventually it grew to book length, though it was never intended for anyone's eyes but my own. Meanwhile, I had sold a couple of books to Puffin and - in a moment of utter insanity - I decided to take a chance and show my for-fun book to my editor. She liked it. DEATH BY LATTE is book two in a three-book contract I earned from that moment of insanity.

Great! What do you hope readers will gain from reading this novel?

Linda: A pleasant escape, a glimpse at mother/daughter relationships and an awww feeling from the romance.

Thanks for sharing, Linda! I wish the best with the series. Would you like to close with a novel you highly recommend and why?

Linda: There are so many great books out there that I could go on for pages recommending them! I'll stick with a recent read - the Gemma Doyle trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels and A Sweet, Far Thing) by Libba Bray. I loved the tone, the setting, the characters, the mystery. It's definitely on my recommended reads list.

Linda recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, four kids, and one very naughty puppy. Visit her website, www.LindaGerber.com.

What's Fresh with Linda Gerber's Death By Bikini

Aphra Behn Connolly has the type of life most teenage girls envy. She lives on a remote tropical island and spends most of her time eavesdropping on the rich and famous. The problem is that her family's resort allows few opportunities for her to make friends - much less to meet cute boys. So when a smoldering Seth Mulo arrives with his parents, she's immediately drawn to him. Sure, he's a little bit guarded, and sure his parents are rather cold, and okay he won't say a word about his past, but their chemistry is undeniable. Then a famous rock star's girlfriend turns up dead on the beach - strangled by her own bikini top - and alarm bells sound. Is it too great a coincidence that Seth's family turned up just one day before a murder? As the plot thickens, Aphra finds that danger lurks behind even the most unexpected of faces . . . .

Hello Linda, thanks for chatting with us! Could you please tell us a little about your writing background and how you made your first sale?

Linda: For as long as I can remember, I've loved to write, but it wasn't until I found encouragement from an online forum that I really got serious about it. As for the first sale, I had written two complete novels (neither published) and was messing around with a third when an author friend of mine from the forum alerted me to a call for submissions for the Students Across the Seven Seas series. The timing couldn't have been better. I was living in Tokyo at the time and I quickly submitted a proposal for a book set in Japan. Within just a few weeks, it sold. The result was SASS: NOW AND ZEN, Puffin 2006.

Readers and writers often like to get a behind the scenes peek of an author's writing routine. It would be great if you could please share your typical writing day schedule.

Linda: I'm a mom, so my schedule has to be flexible. During the school year, I start early and work until it's time to pack lunches and get kids on buses. After walking the dog and other mom chores, I shut myself in the office and write until about 3:30 when the kids are home again.

This routine changes during the summer (I write wherever and whenever I can between pool runs and sports camps!) and when I'm facing a deadline (the office door stays closed and the kids have learned to order takeout!)

LOL! I know Mountain Mike's number by heart! Please tell us about your latest novel, Death by Bikini, and what we can expect from your characters.

Linda: In May, the first of my new YA mystery/romantic suspense series, DEATH BY BIKINI, hit the shelves, also with Puffin. Aphra Connolly's life at her dad's exclusive island resort takes an unexpected turn when a cute guy and his family check in – just before another guest is found dead on the beach. Aphra's determination to find the killer may just make her the next target…

I love mysteries! What's up next? Do you have another project in the works? If so, please tell us about it.

Linda: The second in the series, DEATH BY LATTE will be released in September, followed by DEATH BY DENIM in February. Meanwhile, I'm working on a stand-alone 2009 release about reluctant psychic sisters (CHARLATANS), and contributing to an anthology about Scott Westerfield's UGLIES series, as well as plotting more DEATH BY books.

Great, Linda! Thanks again for sharing with us. I wish you the best with all your projects. Would you like to close with a writing tip?

Linda: Read, read, read! Write every day. Don't let anything (or anyone) stop you!

Linda recently returned to life in the Midwest after four years in Japan, where she served as the Regional Advisor for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Her books include SASS: NOW AND ZEN, SASS: THE FINNISH LINE, DEATH BY BIKINI and the upcoming books DEATH BY LATTE, DEATH BY DENIM and CHARLATANS. She currently lives and writes in Dublin, OH, blissfully ignoring her husband, four kids, and one very naughty puppy. Visit her website, www.LindaGerber.com