EARTHBOUND AND UNTHINKABLE GIVEAWAY AND ASK THE EXPERT INTERVIEW

Hi Everyone! Hope you're having a great Monday. I'm off today so it's a great day.

First I have winners to announce.

The winner of THE POWER OF TWO is Mary Preston!

The winner of LET THE SKY FALL is Steph!

The winner of  EXILE is Brenda!

Congrats! E-mail me your address so I can send you your books. Please e-mail me by the end of Wednesday or I'll have to pick another winner.

Today I’m excited to have Magnolia here for an ASK THE EXPERT interview. Magnolia is a 7th grader who likes to read a lot. Her mother was my critique partner until she moved. Sob. Sob.

Hi Magnolia. Thanks so much for joining us.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself, your school, and what you like to read. Does your mom influence what you read?

Hi, my name is Magnolia Mugele. I am in 7th grade and I go to Westlane Middle School in Indianapolis Indiana. I am a huge reader! I read all types of genres but I have to say I normally go for YA books. I think my mom definitely influences this because her shelves are filled with these types of books. So when I'm looking for something to read, this is the biggest selection I have.

2. Yeah, I bet your mom has some great choices for you. She used to suggest books to me too when she lived here. How do you find out about the books you read? What about new books coming out?

My biggest book news resource is my mom. Being a writer she always know what is good and what isn't. She also know my taste in books very well so she knows what to suggest to me.

3. Awesome how your mom is a great resource. I tell Anna Li about books too. What are you reading now? What books are you waiting to be released?

Right now I am reading Legend by Marie Lu. I like this book a lot. I am currently waiting for the tenth book in the Night World series to come out (this is my favorite series). Once I read one book in a series I have to buy read them all.

4. So cool you’re reading Legend. I can’t wait to read Champion, the last book in her series. Do you buy most of your book or get them at the library? How often do go to a bookstore?

I'd have to say I get my books from the library. At my school reading is a required class, so I am always going down to the library to pick up new book. but we do go to the bookstore at least once a month, and every time I try to buy something.

5. I love the library! It’s a great place to find great books. Do you read any teen book blogs, author blogs, or author or publisher websites? Become a fan of an author on Facebook? Why?

I visit my favorite author's (l.J. Smith) website often. I like to check up on when she comes out with new books.

6. That’s cool you visit your favorite author’s website. Has your teacher recommended any blogs or websites to your class or to you?

My reading teacher loves the author Gary Paulsen and is always recommending anything by him or showing us contests he has.

7. That’s a great idea for teachers to share their favorite author websites with their students. Are there things your favorite authors could do that would make you more likely to visit their website, their blog, or become a fan on Facebook?

Well the main reason I visit an author’s website is to check up on books. When I read a book in a series and I know another one will come out I love to know where it's at, whether being released soon or being put off for a while.

8. That’s nice that you care enough to keep on top of their book releases. Have any authors visited your school? Who? Is there anything you’d recommend that an author do to make their presentation more interesting to you and other kids at your school?

Not that I can remember. But if an author ever did come to my school I would probably be very excited. The thing that I think would most interest kids in an author is if they were very easy to relate to. If a character in their books had the same problems as a 7th grader did, it would more interesting to read.

Hope an author comes to your school one of these days. Thanks for sharing all your advice, Magnolia.

Now onto my giveaways. These are two great ARCs I received from Penguin. I’ve heard great things about them both and want to pass them on while they’re fairly recent. I just don’t have time to read them right now.

First, there’s EARTHBOUND. I really hope I find time to read this. I just added it to my library wish list. Here’s a blurb from Goodreads:

Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed her parents. When she starts to see strange visions of a boy she’s never spoken with in real life, she begins to suspect that there’s much about her past that she isn’t being told.

Tavia immediately searches for answers, desperate to determine why she feels so drawn to a boy she hardly knows. But when Tavia discovers that the aunt and uncle who took her in after her parents' death may have actually been responsible for the plane crash that killed them--and that she may have been the true intended victim--she flees for the safety of Camden, Maine, where the boy she sees in her visions instructs her to go.

Now, Tavia is on the run with no one to trust. No one, that is, except for her best friend and longtime crush, Benson.

Tavia feels torn between the boy who mysteriously comes to her at night and the boy who has been by her side every step of the way. But what Tavia doesn't know is that the world is literally falling apart and that to save it she will have to unite with the boy in her visions. Only problem? To do so would mean rejecting Benson's love. And that's the one thing Tavia Michaels swore she'd never do.

And I’ve added this to my list too. Here’s a blurb of UNTHINKABLE from Goodreads:

This much anticipated sequel to the New York Times Bestseller Impossible a fantasy full of suspense,

mystery, and romance will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures, Raven Boys, and Wicked Lovely.

Fenella was the first Scarborough girl to be cursed, hundreds of years ago, and she has been trapped in the faerie realm ever since, forced to watch generations of daughters try to break this same faerie curse that has enslaved them all. But now Fenella’s descendant, Lucy, has accomplished the impossible and broken the curse, so why is Fenella still trapped in Faerie?

In her desperation, Fenella makes a deal with the faerie queen: If she can accomplish three acts of destruction, she will be free, at last, to die. What she doesn't realize is that these acts must be aimed at her own family and if she fails, the consequences will be dire, for all of the Scarborough girls.

How can she possibly choose to hurt her own cherished family not to mention the new man whom she’s surprised to find herself falling in love with? But if she doesn’t go through with the tasks, how will she manage to save her dear ones?

Thanks to Penguin for ARCs of EARTHBOUND and UNTHINKABLE for my giveaways. To enter, all you need to do is be a follower (just click the follow button if you’re not a follower) and leave a comment telling me what book you’d like through November 23th. I’ll announce the winner on November 25th. If your e-mail is not on your Google Profile, please leave it in the comments.

If you mention this contest on Twitter, Facebook, or your blog, mention this in the comments and I'll give you an extra entry. You must be 13 or older to enter. This is for US/Canada residents only.

Here’s what’s coming up:

On Wednesday I have a big Indie giveaway. I'll have lots of great book choices by our followers. I'll also be announcing a new feature to help all of my followers on their writing journey and will be asking for some advice on promoting our Indie authors.

On Friday I'll be doing a Gratitude Giveaway Hop. I'll have lots of great choices of YA books I've either read or am dying to read.

Next Monday I’m interviewing debut author and follower Crystal Collier and giving away a copy of MOONLESS,, her fantasy she describes as “Jane Eyre meets supernatural.”

Then next Wednesday I’m interviewing Jean Alicia Elster and giving away a copy of THE COLORED CAR, a historical novel about an African American girl’s journey from the North to the South one summer in the Depression era. It sounds like a fantastic story.

And don't forget our Tuesday Tips and Casey's Thursday agent spotlights.

Hope to see you on Wednesday!