Book Review: The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting

Reading Level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (April 17, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062082191
ISBN-13: 978-0062082190

Series: The Body Finder #3

Source: ARC provided by publisher

Cover: As with all the others, I feel like this cover perfectly represents and echo. I love how it mimics the last two but that the color has something to do with the plot this time.

First sentence: Violet strained, searching for the sensation through the suffocating blackness.

Mini-Review: Once again, Derting weaves an intensely chilling thriller that is absolutely impossible to put down.

Summary:

In the end, all that's left is an echo... 

Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye...

Review:

Apparently someone is telling Kimberly Derting that she can't top the last two novels in this series and she took it as a challenge. It's rare to find books that continually get better. But Ms. Derting needs to stop since I already gave The Body Finder a 5 so I'm not really sure where I can go from there. But I guess if she's testing my rating system, it might as well be stuck on the top instead of the bottom. The Last Echo takes everything you love about this series and amplifies it.

I like Violet so much because she's just a regular girl. Sure, she can find bodies but she isn't a super hero. I thnik this novel, out of all of them, really shows this. Working with the team, Violet is stretching her time thin. The late nights, the stressful cases and new friendships on top of school, a boyfriend, older friends and parents is really wearing on Violet. Not to mention, poor Violet has two enemies to deal with this time and is tested in everyway. I liked that she didn't magically know how to defend herself. She definitely has some skills and uses those to the best of her advantage but she hasn't morphed into a black belt between books. For me, this really stressed her normalness despite her ability.

I thought I was going to really hate the love triangle that was being introduced in book 2. I've always thought that Jay and Violet are one of the best and most real YA couples I've seen so far. They fight in a healthy way, they make up, they respect each other and you can generally see how much they care for each other. So introducing someone else that is going to threaten this relationship just wasn't okay for me. But in The Last Echo, we got to know Rafe as Violet did. And this ended up being a good thing. As I've said before, good love triangles will represent two paths a character can take and apparently Ms. Derting knows this as well. Rafe understands her on an entirely different level, one that Jay will never be able to. But Jay has Violet's past and knows her in a way Rafe never will. I think getting to know Rafe and his story better really enriched my view and I really enjoyed this aspect which is a testament to his charcter considering I'm head over heels for Jay. I hope Rafe will find happiness...just not with Violet. And though I could tell that Derting tried to squeeze as much Jay time in there as she could, I wish Jay could have played as big a part as he usually does.

I read a few reviews of Desires of Dead that had a problem with the plot and the killer. If this is something holding back from The Last Echo, rest assured you have nothing to fear. Echo introduces one of the creepiest killers yet. I felt like Derting went to a really dark place to find this new killer and she understood him. The killer named The Girlfriend Collector had deeply rooted motivations for what he did and every time one of his chapters came up I was both terrified and excited. The first hundred pages were a little slow for me but once I hit a certain point, things start speeding along and I found I couldn't set this novel down.
As with all the books in this series, The Last Echo was addictive. Violet and Jay are unforgettable and the mystery will have you gripping your sheets until your knuckles turn white. It seems odd to write that once again Ms. Derting has outdone herself but seeing as it is once again the truth, I need to say it. The Last Echo is another step up for this series which has already become one of my favorites.

Rating:

Favorite lines:

Instead she fell asleep dreaming of secret notes and soft kisses.She fell asleep dreaming of Jay.

--Pg. 16 of an ARC of "The Last Echo" by Kimberly Derting

Except the moment she unlocked the passenger side door to let him in, the date had become unnecessary. She'd just agreed to take their relationship to a whole new level. She'd just agreed to become his. 

--Pg. 48 of an ARC of "The Last Echo" by Kimberly Derting

Violet wanted to shush Krystal, to tell her she was being entirely too loud--especially in light of the fact that they were talking about becoming felons and all.

--Pg. 64 of an ARC of "The Last Echo" by Kimberly Derting

His voice sent a spiderweb of fear shooting from Violet's core, radiating outward, firing tenuous threads that made her arms and legs quiver.

--Pg. 121 of an ARC of "The Last Echo" by Kimberly Derting

Rafe took a swing of his coffee, hiding the grin behind his cup. "I thought that's what girl's liked to hear...that they're right."

--Pg. 181 of an ARC of "The Last Echo" by Kimberly Derting

Interview & Giveaway! Carol McCormick ~ Author of The Missing Piece!!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Carol! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 

Thank you, it’s a pleasure to be here. My husband and I have two adult daughters, one son-in-law, and one grandson. I homeschooled my girls from kindergarten until their junior year of high school, while also working a few hours a week as a hairstylist. Besides writing, I work part-time in a busy salon and babysit my energetic grandson. I’m a certified personal trainer and a lifestyle and weight management coach, and I’m using this knowledge to write a book about health and wholeness, and how it applies to weight loss. I have also been a speaker for Christian Women’s Club (an affiliation of Stonecroft Ministries International) for over 15 years.

What is The Missing Piece about?

The Missing Piece is an inspirational love story of hope and redemption with a touch of spunk and a hint of humor. The novel is not only a love story about a man who loves a woman, but also a love story about God who loves mankind. After only a few months of marriage, Lorraine left Dylan on a wintry night after he'd spent one too many nights out with the guys. Unable to cope with the loss, Dylan escapes the painful feelings by drinking them away. This decision costs him a year-and-a-half of his life after he stops in a little mountain town and ends up in the local jail. When he's released, he returns home in search of a job to get his life—and his wife back.

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

When I was 18 years-old, I read an upbeat, fun book about how to improve relationships. At that time, it was different than anything I’d ever read before, and I remember thinking, I’d like to write a book like this someday. Years later, I read a ten-page story my grandmother wrote about growing up in the early 1900s. Her stories were so fascinating to me that I made up my mind right then and there, to write down my own stories for my children to read someday.

How many books have you written?

Other than The Missing Piece, I have written a non-fiction booklet called, Your Special Gift: A Preteen Primer to the Facts of Life. The eBook uses the analogy of a gift, a lock and a key to define terms and questions regarding sex. I also use scripture to define true love. I also wrote a short story for a children’s magazine that is used in the public school system as a teaching tool.

Which is your favorite?

I’d have to say The Missing Piece, because it’s a story of hope and overcoming obstacles. There are also quite a few humorous parts in the novel, especially when Lorraine and Dylan meet again, after having no contact for a year-and-a-half. There are also so many things that I love about Dylan, but to tell would spoil the story. I also believe that the people who relate to the characters will come away richer after reading.

Where do you get your information and/or ideas for your books? 

I have lived a very full life and I have a powerful testimony, so I remember and can relate to many things. But most of my ideas come from everyday life. I can hear a particular word or read an interesting quote and turn it into a paragraph or scene. I think that once you know the basics of what you want to write about, you begin to see and hear things everywhere that are applicable to the story. When that happens, I write everything down immediately. If I can’t write down the idea because I’m walking or driving, I record the thoughts on my cell phone video then transfer them to my laptop. (I have many videos of my steering wheel and the sidewalk.) I never lack for ideas this way. I am also very perceptive and sensitive to my surroundings, which I feel gives me insight as to what motivates people.


What would you say is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?

The best part is that you can make a difference in someone’s life. A man just emailed me today saying that the story had such a deep and moving impact on him that he had to put it down often to reflect and pray. Writing is also a form of immortality, because your words live on after you’re gone.  It’s also fun creating an alternate world where you can control the outcome.

The least fun part is the organization of all my notes. I can also spend so much time “in” my book scrutinizing a paragraph or chapter that I’m oblivious to my surroundings and then stay up way too late. It’s also very uncomfortable sitting so long.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I love to walk and bike. I also have a two-and-a-half year old grandson who is a riot! I also like to treasure hunt at household sales, and take day-trips in the autumn to see the beautiful fall colors.

What are three things you wouldn't want to do without (besides the Bible, food, and family)?

One would be my heath in every sense of the word: Spiritual, physical, mental, emotional, the whole shebang. The next would be my friends, because they add a whole different dimension to life than family does. And third would be my writing (flashdrives and hardcopies). My “life,” all my thoughts, lessons, history, mystery, and future books are on my flashdrives, in my notes, or in my journals.

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?

Heaven…seriously, but not quite yet. I love to read books about people who have died and gone to heaven and back. I love to study the teachings of Jesus about heaven and John’s account of the New Jerusalem in Revelation. I even wrote a scene in The Missing Piece that takes place in heaven. But on this plane, I would love to visit England and Scotland . I am a descendant of the Sinclair (St. Clair) family lineage, so I would love to visit both countries to see the beauty and history of the lands.

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 

My favorite song is “Amazing Grace,” because it sums up my life before I came to Christ. My favorite movie is Faith like Potatoes. It’s a true story about a Scottish farmer in South Africa whose amazing conversion and inspiring faith accomplished miracles in the lives and the lands that he touched.

Do you have any favorite authors? 

My favorite fiction writer is Leo Tolstoy (after he became a Christian). His work has so many great lessons that coincide with Biblical teaching. My favorite non-fiction writer is Hannah W. Smith. Besides the Bible, her books have helped me more than any other in my Christian walk.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

I have so many that I love, but the first verses I ever memorized were Proverbs 3:5-6 (about trusting the Lord with all your heart and he will guide your paths). But the one I find myself returning to over and over again is Mark 11:22-24, because I believe that nothing is impossible and that if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can move mountains.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you tell us a little about it? 

I have one 50 page rough draft of a novel that is set in the early 1900s, but it is on hold, because I’m working on a non-fiction book about overall health and wholeness and the underlying reasons why people struggle with weight issues. I also have about 200 pages of my autobiography in rough draft form, 175 pages of another self-help book, and ideas for more books that have to do with dating and relationships.

Thanks so much for being here! Where can we find you on the web?

There are a few places. One is on my website at www.carolmccormick.com. My author page on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/carolmccormick. And on my facebook page at
www.facebook.com/carolmccormick.themissingpiece

Thank you, Melanie. This was a lot of fun!

Book Giveaway!





Enter to win an eBook copy of The Missing Piece! Open Internationally!!


Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter below (here is a tutorial, if you aren't familiar with Rafflecopter). The mandatory entry is to leave a comment on this blog post - after you do that, the other entries will become available. :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cali Plans

I don't know if I mentioned this, but next week I'll be in California for my brother's wedding.

There will be some Disneyland action.

And the dashingly handsome sidekick gets to take the son to Lego Land.

But best of all, my family from Hong Kong will all be there-- mom, dad and sister.

Plus, we're staying in a section of Los Angeles that is in close proximity to Little Saigon and Korea Town. So yeah, the food should be amazing. 

On the blog that week I'll be participating in Kelley Lynn's bloghop:

... which should be a load of crazy fun. Have you signed up for this one? If not, check out Kelley's post about it >>here<<.

I never went to Prom or Homecoming in high school because we didn't have those things in Hong Kong. Kelley said I could post anyway, so I'm trying to decide between an elementary school dance, middle school dance party at my friend's house, and college Homecoming.

Any votes? Let me know in the comments. (Hint: the further back in time you go, the tackier the outfit.)

Have a wonderful Monday, everyone!

Shelfmates #3

Some covers just work together...and some, not so much. I've decided to start up a semi-regular feature called Shelfmates to showcase series covers. I love getting the sequel to a novel and putting it up next to the first book so I thought this might be a fun way to do that on my blog! So here are some series covers and my opinions on how they look as a couple (or series...)!

Halo series by Alexandra Adornetto

I think this series did a lot of things right. Together, the covers look spectacular. Halo and Heaven are by far the better of the two though. Hades doesn't really seem like it goes along with them. I didn't think they could top Halo for me but I think my favorite in the set is actually Heaven. Still, these look great together!

Nightshade series by Andrea Cremer

New Covers

Well, these covers have that color theme going on that I'm always raving about. I like the animalistic pose of the girl in Wolfsbane and together these do look great as a series. But ultimately, they don't hold a candle over the original covers for this series. Out of these three, I think my favorite is Nightshade.

Old Covers

Sorry to anyone who likes the new covers better but these are just so good. They are gorgeous and intriguing and made me want to pick up the books. I love everything about these covers and I really wish they'd have kept them. Heck, I'd be happy to have both sets of covers. I can't help but wonder what they would have done for Bloodrose.

Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

These covers fit the books so well. They have a lot of action and fighting in them and I feel like the covers represent this well. I'm mean, let's not lie, Ellie looks like she could kick some major ass in these covers and still look good while doing it. I think they go well together too with the echo of the mist at the bottom and the girl in strong poses. This is going to sound funny but I wish the clothing had been switched because the clothes on the model in Angelfire look a little more serious and I feel like Ellie will take her role more seriously as the series moves on.

Falling Under series by Gwen Hayes

I'm so in love with these covers. They capture the dreamy quality of the novel while still remaining a little dark. I think the first one, with the black roses in the background, really succeeds at that. I do like Dreaming Awake better over all as I think the girl's pose is prettier and I like the added touch of her holding a flower. Together though, this is one strong set of covers!

Revenants series by Amy Plum

Hello gorgeous covers! I was so jealous of the UK when they showed the Die for Me cover because it was just gorgeous. And then they changed that cover to the US covert too and I did a happy dance. I'm a sucker for long flowy dresses so this sates that in me but I also love that swirling stuff covering the title and dress. It reminds me of tribal tattoos. I'm really glad they carried it into the second book. I have to say that of the two, I'm more drawn to the first cover but I love these as a pair.

Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini

I have to say, I've always loved the understated beauty of the first cover and I think that Dreamless is able to capture that as well.Again, these are color books which I like and I love how both poses are so much like the classic damsel waiting for her man to return home on the sea. The scope of it just feels so epic. I like these separately and as a pair.

Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkin

I've already talked a lot about these. I love the first cover and wasn't as wild about the second until I really looked at it. Now I think they are perfect as a pair and work well individually. I think that for me, it was going to be hard to come close to the first cover because it is just do darned pretty. 

So there are my covers this week. What do you think about them? I'm actually digging them all accept the re-releases of the Nightshade because I like the originals better. Which are your favorite pairing or least favorite?

Monthly Reflections (#4)

<a href="http://christianbookshelfreviews.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa452/Love-Being-Vegan/MonthlyReflections.jpg" /></a> <br />

Monthly Reflections, where we take the time to reflect on the previous month.

My goals for April were...


Read 9 books including:
1-2 eBooks
A book from my TBR pile
A book starting with the letter "N" or "E" (I'm trying to get "Melanie" and I'm two "E's" and one "N" away!)

In April, I... 


Read 9 books!!
☑  1 eBook (Yours Truly)
☑  Read a book starting with the letter "N" (N.H.I. No Humans Involved)


Books read: 

Reviews:


Far From Here by Nicole Baart
Hearts That Survive: A Novel of the Titanic by Yvonne Lehman
Prowl by Amber Garza
Beckon by Tom Pawlik
N.H.I.: No Humans Involved by Ray Ellis
Yours Truly by Karen Cogan
The Strange Man by Greg Mitchell

Interviews:


Amber Garza
Ray Ellis
Randy Singer
Tricia Goyer
Greg Mitchell

I participated in a 24 Hour Read-a-thon (didn't do that well):

24 Hour Read-a-Thon
Update 1
Update 2
Update 3

April reading challenge:

A: Prowl by Amber Garza
P: Beckon by Tom Pawlik
R: The Last Plea Bargain by Randy Singer
I: 
L: Hearts That Survive A Novel of the Titanic by Yvonne Lehman

I didn't complete this challenge... all I needed was an "I". I'm currently reading "Illusion" by Frank Peretti, but I didn't finish it in time for this challenge (oh well).

Looking ahead:


Here is what I hope to accomplish in May...

Read 10 books
Read at least 1 eBook
Read two "Just for Fun" books (one being Nightmare by Robin Parrish)
Read a book starting with the letter "E"

May seems like it will be a busy month for this blog (I have a lot of things planned!) and I hope that I will find the time to read at least 10 books. :D


Now it's your turn! What did you accomplish in April, what do you hope to accomplish in May? 


If you want to do your own Monthly Reflections, feel free to grab the button and post about it on your blog, then leave a comment with the URL - otherwise, please share your thoughts in a comment!

FIRST Tour: To See the Sun by Peggy Blann Phifer

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Peggy Blann Phifer

and the book:

To See the Sun

CreateSpace (January 6, 2012)

***Special thanks to  Peggy Blann Phifer  for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

 Peggy Blann Phifer is an author and columnist, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader and loves to escape between the covers of a good book. A retired executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband Jim.


To See the Sun is Peg’s debut novel, released January 2012

Visit her blog, Whispers in Purple.


Visit the author's website.

SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . .

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband's gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help . . . and it just might be her undoing.

Product Details:
List Price: $12.99
Paperback: 356 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace (January 6, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1468121081
ISBN-13: 978-1468121087

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Friday, March 26, late afternoon

What a fantastic day. A bid won. A contract signed. The job of a lifetime that would put Stuart and Macintyre at the top of the construction heap, not just in Las Vegas, but all of southern Nevada.

Whistling, Justin Macintyre pressed the keyless remote of his Cadillac Escalade, tossed his briefcase across the console to the passenger seat and slid behind the wheel.

To top it all off, after seven long years, he and his wife, Erin, were going to have a baby. A baby! He laughed aloud at the overwhelming joy of it.

"Hey, world, I'm going to be a daddy!"

He shifted the SUV into gear and pulled out of the Mt. Charleston Lodge area onto Kyle Canyon Road and headed down the mountain to the Las Vegas Valley below. Despite the successful day, Justin couldn't banish his worry over a recent discovery of some irregularities in the company's finances. Nothing concrete, and his Uncle Sebastian, S&M's CFO, assured him everything was fine. Nevertheless, Justin's uneasiness had prompted him to send what little proof he had to his long-time friend, Clay Buchanan, a private investigator in Texas.

Preoccupied with his thoughts, he vaguely registered the yellow and black blind curve warning sign. Too late he saw the stalled car across the center line. No time to stop! He spun the  wheel to the right.

I'm going too fast! God, help me . . .!

###

Seconds passed and silence settled once more over the mountainside. A shadow emerged from behind a Joshua tree and stepped to the edge of the ravine. After a moment, the form walked to the car in the road and drove away.

###

Erin Macintyre stretched her arms along the balcony's balustrade of her twenty-seventh-floor condo above the streets of Las Vegas. Beyond that, the lower edge of the setting sun kissed the still snowy peaks of the Spring Mountain Range and Mt. Charleston.

Justin would be home soon.

"Erin, where's the zester?"

Erin returned to the kitchen. "In the utility drawer."

"Which is the utility drawer?" Magie Gifford, Erin's dearest friend, pulled out drawer after drawer.

Erin giggled and reached across Magie's arm and slid out the utility drawer.

"You changed it." Magie snatched the zester and bumped the drawer shut with her hip. "That's not where it was last time."

Erin wrapped her arms around her friend and hugged. "No, Mags, I didn't change anything." She waited a beat. "Can I interest you in a memory enhancement program?"

"Very funny." Magie pushed Erin aside and proceeded to rub a lemon across the gadget and then whisked the zest into a frothy mixture of olive oil, Italian herbs, and balsamic vinegar. "Okay, just drizzle this over the salad and stick it in the fridge."

That done, Erin checked on the lasagna in the oven. The garlic toast waited on the foil-lined cookie sheet ready to pop under the broiler. Everything was ready.

Erin glanced at the kitchen clock. "He's late."

"Posh. You should know by now how those meetings can drag on."

"Yeah, I know. It's just—"

"Get over here, Erin. He'll be here when he gets here."

Erin joined her friend in the breakfast nook off the kitchen and adjacent to the balcony. She scooped up a dozing Siamese cat from her chair and sat, settling him back on her lap.

"You spoil that critter." Magie brushed off the chair cushion before sitting.

"Yeah, I do. But you love him, too. I saw you sneaking him some treats earlier." Erin smiled. "Not to mention the romp you had with him in the living room when you got here."

"Busted. But he's so much fun, aren't you, Kazimir?"

At the sound of his name, the cat uncoiled, left Erin's lap and jumped onto Magie's. She snorted. "So much for protecting my black slacks."

"Thanks for coming over to help with this meal. I wanted it to be special and I never know when the nausea will hit." She raised an eyebrow. "But you will leave as soon as Justin gets here."

"You think he'll get that bid?"

Erin tapped her heart and nodded. "I know he will."

The first five descending notes of Welcome to My World sang out in the condo's foyer. Justin! No, he wouldn't ring the doorbell. Puzzled, she stepped across the tiled floor and rose on tiptoes to peer through the peephole. She gasped and jumped back.

The doorbell chimed again.

Fingers trembling, Erin released the security lock and opened the door to two uniformed police officers.

"Mrs. Macintyre?"

Erin nodded as Magie moved to her side.

"What is it, officers?"

"I'm afraid there's been an accident, Mrs. Macintyre. Your husband . . ."

Spring Into the Future Signing (and giveaway) with Tahereh Mafi and Veronica Rossi

This weekend, my hubby and I made the trek down to Miami because I read a bout a super cool tour going on called Spring Into the Future with two of my very favorite authors Tahereh Mafi and Veronica Rossi. I was so stinking stoked for this even because I love both of these books. To get ready, I made a Down the Rabbit Hole t-shirt and I also made bags as presents for the authors.

The bags I made

Me in my Down the Rabbit Hole shirt and my hubby

The events that I've attended at Books & Books in the past have normally been very structured but I liked the laid back atmosphere of this event. The aythors weren't formally introduced, they introduced themselves and they conducting the entire Q & A section.

These two were seriously funny. I'd seen Tahereh Mafi talking about how they were like a married couple on Twitter so it was funny to see them laugh and "argue" with each other about who was going to answer the questions first (Mafi almost always got Rossi to talk first).

So here are some of the cool things we found out during the Q & A from each author that you need to know.

Tahereh Mafi

This photo basically captures who Tahehreh Mafi is

• Warren is not Warren's first name but rather his last. We'll find out his first name in the next books. She chose it because it has the word "war" in it
• Mafi normally names her character with whatever pops into her head but for Shatter Me, she picked out specific names for Adam and Juliette.
• The original title of Shatter Me was Touching Juliette which she gets endless amusement out of (we all did as a matter of fact).
• When Mafi recieved the call that her book sold, she was at a day job and ran out. She says she literally fell over (in high heels) and then had to act like nothing happened. Her mother texted and called her a million times after her intial text that her book sold but she ignored them all because she had to work.
• Mafi had to wait 3 months before she could announce her book sold.
• Her character Adam has a tattoo on his back of a bird. Her brother does also. She said when her brother read the book, he felt scadalized and it's made Thanksgiving dinners awkward.
• A line of dialog that will appear in the book is (and I'm paraphrasing) "I like to hear myself talk. It's the best part." It was originally said by her brother and will be said by Kenji.
• This wasn't confirmed by her but I walked away with the feeling that Kenji might be her favorite character in the book, mostly because he's inapproriate and funny. We do know that there will be more of Kenji in the next two books. Also, Kenji is Japanese for those of you who don't know!
• Mafi's best advice to aspiring writers is to never give up, even when it feels like you are getting nowhere. At the moment when you feel you should just give up is the moment you push yourself and you will have a breakthrough.
• Mafi is a self-proclaimed fashion guru with a special love for shoes, bags, scarves and jackets.

Mafi's awesome bag and shoes

Veronica Rossi

• Under the Never Sky was always called Under The Never Sky. It was taken from a piece of dialog and everyone agreed that it fit. In fact, Rossi has names already picked out for all her novels.
• Rossi intended for Under the Never Sky to be four books but after talking with her agent and editor decided to make it a trilogy.
• Aria was pretty much always named Aria since she was genetically designed to be an opera singer. It was Perry's name that Rossi was unsure of. She wasn't sure if it fit him until she was reading up on the beach she imagined is where Perry's tribe stays and found out it is the nesting ground of the peregrine. It sealed his fate.
• Under the Never Sky was written quickly and needed very little revision. The second book, which Rossi is currently writing, is much more difficult. She said she's rewritten it about five times.
• Rossi's family was in the audience and so darned excited for her. When I was up getting my entire stack of books signed, Rossi's mother kept coming up to see why they were excited.
• Rossi doesn't really care who plays her characters in movies as long as they are able to capture their essence. She says it is particularly important for Perry as she considers him part creature.
• Rossi is a painter and now a writer. She says she often threatens her husband that she is going to start song writing next even though she is in no way musical.
• If Rossi has a super power it would either be the ability to double herself (so she could go on enternal vacation) or to fly.
• Rossi's best piece of advice to aspiring authors is to find some friends. They will pick you up, help you make your manuscript better and encourage you along the way.

The biggest thing I walked away from was how funny, witty, kind and generally thankful these two authors are. I really got the sense that they knew how rare it was for dreams to come true and that they are very lucky. I also thought it was interesting that my friend only bought Under the Never Sky at the beginning because it sounded really good but loved Mafi's personality so much that she purchased Shatter Me at the end. (On a side note, once she read the first page of Shatter Me, she said she was angry I didn't force her to buy both at the beginning)

When I put up my stack of books for them (5 for each) they squealed that I had so many but when I gave them their presents, Mafi said something to the affect of "screw work, we have presents". They both seemed to like their tote bags which is awesome since I spent a long time in the store trying to find the perfect things to attach to them. In fact, they seemed to like them so much that they filled my books with hearts on the inside!

As if I wasn't already the biggest nerd in the place, I also painted my fingernails to match the covers of both books. Check out my Under the Never Sky and Shatter Me inspired nails:



*Photos of the signatures coming soon*

Giveaway time!

I've got a signed copy of SHATTER ME and a signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY to giveaway to 2 lucky readers (1 will get SHATTER ME, the other will get UNDER THE NEVER SKY). So here are the rules:

• US only giveaway (sorry, international guys, I just can't pay for the shipping right now)
• May only enter once
• Must fill out form
• Must be 13 years or older
• Giveaway ends 5/13/12

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck!