Today, I've got the main character Quinlan Lacey on the blog from M Beth Bloom's Drain You to answer some this or that questions. Make sure to check them out and hang around for some info on the book and how you can get yours hands on a copy of it! 1) Vanilla, chocolate or strawberry? Chocolate is the best ever.
2) Cat or dog? Dog, obvie.
3) Recorded or live? Recorded. Don’t make me go to the show.
4) Black, white or grey? Black – for jeans, eye liner, Metallica records, sexy Lakers power forwards, and Tenacious D frontmen.
5) Pen or pencil? Pen. Unless it’s mechanical, those are sick.
6) Being stuck with someone you hate or being alone? Someone I hate. Then I can at least silently judge. Alone stinks.
7) Now or then? Now. If now’s 1994.
8) All or nothing? All. Give it to me.
9) Love, money or fame? Love. I’m a sucker.
10) Noise or silence? One after the other.
11) Fantasy or reality? Reality. It gets weird.
12) Rain or sunshine? Sunshine, all year long.
13) What is one secret you know about the other person that they don't think you know? I don’t know anyone’s secrets. No one trusts me.
14) What do you think the other’s biggest fear is and how would you tell them to overcome it? I assume everyone’s just afraid of not being liked. That’s easy to overcome – stop caring! Be awesome and smart and badass and proud, and if someone doesn’t like you then tuff stuff, their loss!
Check out the book that Quinlan comes from and see if Drain You be M Beth Bloom sounds like something you might like:
Summer. The 90s. The rich, sun-bleached neighborhoods of the Los Angeles canyons. Enter Quinlan Lacey, a cool, bored, sarcastic, sexy 17-year old with a dull part-time video store job and a mild case of teen ennui. That is, until she meets the alluring, River Phoenix-esque James, and realizes the hills are alive with the undead. Inspired more by the early, dry L.A. short stories of Bret Easton Ellis than the current crop of serialized vampire fiction, the supernatural grunge romance, Drain You, narrates the headaches and heartbreaks Quinn undergoes in her quest to stay sane and cool and in love and alive.
Sounds pretty dang awesome right? And this isn't your typical vampire book. Don't believe me?
Check out Publisher Weekly's review which says "Bloom debuts with a languid, stylish novel that reads like a love letter to cult vampire flicks like The Lost Boys, the work of Francesca Lia Block, and Southern California in the 1990s."
But if you want to try your lucky and possibly win one first, let's talk about how you can get your hands on a free copy of Drain You. Here are links to the giveaway launch at two blogs I often haunt Mundie Moms and Hobbitsies.
The Prizes: -5 Copies of 'Drain You' signed by the Author -$50 Credit at Wasteland (Quinn's favorite store) -Pages from Quinn's Notebook (pics attached) -10 'Drain You' Bookmarks handmade by Quinn -10 90's mixtapes curated and created by Quinn
The Rules (you gotta have them but they are simple!): -Tweet the giveaway -Like 'Drain You' on Facebook -Like 'M. Beth Bloom' on Facebook or Follow @QuinlanLacey
And before you click off, you really should read Ms. Bloom's bio. She's a pretty fascinating lady!
"Bloom's first short story “Love And Other Catastrophes: A Mix Tape” was featured in Story Quarterly and selected by Dave Eggers for inclusion in The Best American Nonrequired Reading: 2003 (Houghton-Mifflin), which he curates annually. Bloom is the founder of underground dance label 100% Silk (profiled here in LA Weekly) AND the producer/lead singer of the band LA Vampires (written up in The Guardian as well as Pitchfork and Fader). Her next book will be published through HarperTeen.
M. Beth lives on the east side of L.A. where she indulges in raw fooding, magazine subscribing, thrift shopping, Sunday matinee'ing, and ladies book clubbing."
Today I am super excited to interview Luca Forellia (my favorite character) from Lisa T. Bergren's River of Time series! If you haven't read the series yet, well, what are you waiting for? Because if you love YA I'm sure you'll enjoy this series!
Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Sir Luca Forelli! Will you tell us a little about yourself?
I am the captain of the Forelli guard, at Castello Forelli, Toscana, Italy. My cousin is more a brother to me, Lord Marcello Forelli, and I strive to be the same for him.
What is the most exciting part of your life right now?
The pursuit of Lady Evangelia Betarrini. *smiles impishly*
Are you happy to be on the cover of Mrs. Bergren’s new book, Tributary?
I am a bit taken aback. 'Tis quite the honor.
Are you open and friendly to newcomers?
In portion. 'Tis my responsibility to be wary, cautious, as well as welcoming. M'lord relies upon me to be so.
What is your overall goal in life?
To live fully, laugh every day, and love all those dear to me, with everything in me.
How are you and Lord Greco getting along now?
We have made our peace. He's always been a brother to me. He simply had some difficulties to overcome that made it a trial, for a time.
How are things between you and Lia? Do I hear wedding bells in the future? (LOL! Had to ask!)
If I have my way, there shall be. Lady Evangelia, however, is yet to be convinced.
Thank you very much, Sir Luca, for this honor! Where can we find you and Mrs. Bergren on the web?
Here is anotherchance to win your choice of one of the River of Time books - Waterfall (Print or eBook), Cascade (Print or eBook), Torrent (Print or eBook), Bourne (eBook only), or Tributary (eBook only).
Today I have the pleasure of having one of Ann Redisch Stampler's characters on the blog to answer some of my questions! Anita makes an appearance in Where It Began and is one of Gabby's best friends. You must check out this book! I've read it and it's wonderful.
Anita, welcome to the blog! Let's get started!
1) What do you think about Gabby and her accident?
My mother keeps telling me, you didn’t go to that party, you didn’t get drunk, you didn’t lie down with some terrible American boy. Stop beating yourself on the head with a mallet. This isn’t your fault.
But really, that first day Gabby couldn’t utter a single sentence without the word “Billy,” I wish I’d said something. There are so many times I could have said, “I don’t care if you don’t want to talk about it. Listen to me.”
Because maybe the accident was an avoidable nightmare. Just maybe.
2) Can you tell me a theme song to your life right now and why you chose that one?
“The Dog Days Are Over” by Florence and the Machine. I take is as meaning that you can leave the feeling of not being quite alive behind you, that the possibility of things being different and intense and happy is right there, even if the feeling of it is shocking to you. But you have to run with it.
3) What's your life motto? Dig your well before you’re thirsty.
It’s something my grandmother says. I’m a planner, there’s no getting around it. It’s supposed to be a good thing, but it isn’t always.
4) What was your last text message?
I’ll be back by 10. I’m with Lisa in the library.
(And I guess something has snapped, because that’s not where I was.)
5) If you could go back and change one day in your life up until now, what would be?
I would tell Alain, this French man I met in India in the summer, how I felt about him. I know that nothing could have come of it, but why didn’t I tell him? Why did I walk out of that restaurant and leave him sitting there watching me leave, and not turn around? Why did I have to be so careful and so practical and so ridiculously in control of myself?
Thanks so much for hanging out on the blog for a while and telling us a little bit about you. A big thanks to Ann Redisch Stampler as well! As I said before, Where It Began is definitely something you need to check out if you love a moving contemporary novel! It was hard to put down.
Today we're shifting (oh yeah, I went there) gears as I hand over the reigns of the blog to two of my favorite characters from 2011. If you haven't read Shifting by Bethany Wiggins, I promise (cross my heart and hope to die) that you are missing out. You can check out my review of this killer debut here. So stick around and read a little bit about how Bridger and Maggie Mae are fairing in a rousing game of This or That!
Just a quick explanation, I'm asking the question and one character is answering for the other. So Maggie Mae is guessing what she thinks Bridger would pick and vice a versa!
I'd like to think Maggie Mae and Bridger for taking the time to answer questions and a big thanks to Bethany Wiggins for being so awesome!
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1) Skittles or M&Ms?
Maggie: I don't think he cares as long as he doesn't have to cook it himself. If it comes ready-to-eat, Bridger eats it. You know, he ate rotting horse flesh that was crawling with maggots once (Yes, he was an eagle at the time) so I think he can eat pretty much anything palatable.
Bridger: She loves chocolate cake, so I'm guessing chocolate. Then again, I don't think there is a food that Maggie doesn't like! Have you seen her wolf down fish tacos? She can eat.
2) Now or then?
Maggie: I don't think it matters to Bridger because his life has been good, both now and then.
Bridger: Maggie likes now for *clears throat* obvious reasons. But seriously, she's been through a lot of crap. Now she's happy. So now.
3) Night or day?
Maggie: I'd have to say Bridger likes the night better because he can be himself, as in turn into an eagle whenever he wants and no one will see him. And he's almost always with me at night, like it's our time together.
Bridger: I like the day! I can see what's around during the day, which means I can keep Maggie safe (and it is whole lot easier to fly when I can see well). I worry about her when it's night--dark things come out when the sun's not shining. But I bet she prefers night because she's so used to hiding, and that's easier to do in the dark.
4) Books or movies?
Maggie: Bridger absolutely likes movies over books. Have you seen the huge flatscreen TV in his bedroom? And in their kitchen? Seriously, who would put a TV in the kitchen unless they're die-hard movie fans?
Bridger: Books--she likes books. The few times we've actually sat down to watch a movie, if we're not making out (did I seriously just write that?) she's falling asleep before it's half way over (so I help her stay awake). But she reads a lot.
5) Read minds or fly? *SPOILER ALERT- SKIP OVER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW*
Maggie: This question is totally and completely unfair, Amber! Bridger can do both, if you really think about it. SO not fair.
Bridger: I will say fly. Can you imagine? She'd be flying with me. I could show her my world, my second love in life. I think of her flying with me all of the time. Maybe one day it will happen. No, one day it will happen. Just wait and see.
6) Recorded or live?
Maggie: Um, recorded? He has tons of music and movies. Those aren't live.
Bridger: Wow. I just had a huge revelation. I don't think Maggie has ever been to anything live--sporting events, plays, symphonies, concerts. I think I'm going to surprise her and take her to a Phoenix Suns game. Or maybe the symphony. I bet once she experiences something like that live, she'll be hooked.
7) Pencil or pen?
Maggie: I like pencils because I can go back and fix my mistakes. Bridger would say pens because he's always so sure of himself, I don't think he makes mistakes. Or if he does, he just scribbles them out and has no problem with that.
Bridger: Maggie is totally a pen girl. She's smart, strong, stubborn, and tough. She knows what needs to be done and then goes for it. No wimpy pencils for her. Give her a pen, and she just might change the world with her words.
8) Being alone or being stuck with someone you hate?
Maggie: Hmmm, that would be like putting me on an island with Danni Williams (before she apologised). No thank you! I like being alone. So much more peaceful. I'd say Bridger would pick alone, too, but I've never seen him with someone he hates.
Bridger: She thinks I'd pick alone? Actually, I'd pick someone I hate. If we could stop hating each other, we could figure out why we were alone together and then fix the problem. Maggie would pick alone, though. She likes her space. She's never been afraid of solitude.
9) Black, white or gray?
Maggie: Bridger sees everything in black and white. There is no gray for him. I mean, he shot me! ME! Like, five minutes after speaking about his undying love for me--bam! Sure he had a really, REALLY good reason, but that's about as black and white as it comes. But he says when you're dealing with evil, there is no middle ground.
Bridger: Maggie sees most everything in gray. She's been through so much, she's had to find ways to justify things.
10) Love, money or fame?
Maggie: Bridger already has those three, so I don't know. I've been poor my whole life and it makes life difficult. Really difficult at times. So maybe he'd say money because he wouldn't know how to live without it.
Bridger: What the . . . I can't believe she said that about me! *gnashes teeth* Yeah, I've grown up with money, and yeah, I was popular in high school, if that is what she means by fame. So I know the true worth of both. Love is so much more important than either of those things. I would trade everything I own, everything my father owns, for the chance to be with Maggie forever--for the chance at love.
11) All or nothing?
Maggie: All. Bridger gives it all, everything he's got, for what he knows is right. It all goes back to that black and white question.
Bridger: Maggie is a nothing girl. She will risk her life even when she has nothing to gain. She will work her butt off for next-to-nothing. She has lived her entire life expecting nothing. Which is why I want to give her everything. I will give her everything I have--and I'm not talking about possessions. I'm talking about me, life, everything.
13) Answer or question?
Maggie: Bridger likes answers. He already knows the answers. He has an answer for everything!
Bridger: Maggie is a questioner. She questions everything. If you think about it, that would make her an answer girl, because the whole reason she has so many questions is because she wants to know all the answers. Everything. Now. And she's right about me. I have the answers.
14) Fact or fiction?
Maggie: Bridger is all about facts. Yes, the recurring black and white thing again!
Bridger: Isn't there fact in all fiction? Maggie is both fact and fiction. Because she's lived her entire life believing that what is really fact (Skinwalkers) to be fiction, the two are intertwined. She is a creature of fiction living in a world of fact.
15) What is the other's biggest fear?
Maggie: Bridger's biggest fear is so easy that I can't believe you're asking. Skinwalkers! He's grown up his entire life being taught that they're lurking in the shadows and shown how to fight them. Think of what that would do to a person.
Bridger: She's wrong again, at least in part. My biggest fear is not Skinwalkers. It is that the Skinwalkers will find Maggie again and I won't be there to protect her. What if she can't protect herself? Mental note to self: teach Maggie how to protect herself . . . and buy her a cell phone.
What is something you see in the other that they don't see in themselves? *HUGE SPOILER ALERT- DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW*
Maggie: Bridger is so spiritual. I have never met anyone as spiritual as Bridger O'Connell in my life. His total, yet simple belief in good being stronger than evil is changing the way I look at the world. He has faith, too. Faith in me. He mentioned earlier that he wants to see me fly. Because of him, I already do. He lifts me higher than anyone ever has in my life.
Bridger: Maggie is a rare, preiceless blend of selflessness and power. But, if you think about it, being selfless is possibly the most powerful thing a person can be beecause they never put themselves first. They do everything in their power to keep those who they love safe. That scares me. She's already risked her life for the people she loves, like Mrs. Carpenter. And me. *hangs head in shame* I mean, she let me . . . shoot her . . . instead of attacking me . . . *Bridger is unable to go on. He's wracked with guilt, anguish, and the realization that he's possibly the luckiest guy alive*
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Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid student. Seriously!!! She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn't until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction--not the Bible
Seven years ago, Bethany's sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read--but it taught her how to write. Since then she has completed six more novels, each one a little better than the one before.
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Giveaway Time!
I loved this novel so much that I want to share it with you guys. So one lucky winner is going to get their own copy of Shifting from The Book Depository!
Rules:
-International Giveaway (if The Book Depository ships to you, you are eligible) -Must be 13 years or older -Must fill out the form below -May only enter once -Giveaway ends 2/16
Today I've got Mia on the blog from The International Kissing Club by Ivy Adams and she's answering some of my burning questions. Check out what she has to say about her favorite kissing scenes and see a playlist that describes her trip to China.
Around the World in 80 Kisses Smooch Stop #30
Mei, thanks so much for stopping by on the blog today!
Thanks so much for having me today . I’m a big fan of your blog!
1) Is there a particular movie, book or comic kissing scene that is your favorite?
I’m a huge fan of movie kisses, so yes, there are a few. For movies, the good-bye kiss at the end of I am Number Four. For book kisses, I love both of the kisses between Cricket and Lola at the end of Lola and the Boy Next Door.
2) What does going to China mean for you? Is there one place you feel like you have to go and visit?
This visit to China means so much. I’m really nervous because I feel like I’m betraying my adoptive parents, but I just want to know where I came from. Who gave me up for adoption? Did they ever regret it? Is being born in China why I always feel like I don’t quite fit in? I want to go to the orphanage I was adopted from.
3) Looking at your suitcase, what are three things you can't live without?
My guitar, my Chinese-English dictionary, my laptop.
4) What is the least text message in your phone?
911! Emergency Meeting at Yogurt Worxx stat. (from Piper, of course).
5) Can you give me a playlist of about five songs that describe your trip to China?
Hungry Like the Wolf by Duran Duran (I starved for the first half of my trip. Literally, starved)
Voodoo Child by Jimi Hendrix (You have to read the story to figure this one out)
Skater Boy by Avril Lavigne (Ode to Guiran)
Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper (Self-explanatory, I think ;)
Learning To Fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (I think this fits my whole trip to China)
6) What's your motto to live by?
Study Hard, Play Harder.
Thanks so much for having me!
Pleasure was all mine! So I want to know from the readers, what are three things you must pack when going on a trip?
