This one's for an ARC of the middle grade novel The Dogs of Winter, which is out this month and already has a starred review from Kirkus. An excerpt: "[Pyron] presents Ivan’s story as a first-person narrative in beautifully composed writing enhanced by Ivan’s visual acuity and depth of emotion."
Ooh... good luck!
win-it wednesday
Win-It Wednesday: The Other Normals
I know I've been bad about Win-it Wednesdays, but I do have great books to offer, so here's a new one! This week, I'm giving away a copy of Ned Vizzini's brand new hardcover The Other Normals, out later this month. You know him from previous amazingness like It's Kind of a Funny Story, and his latest book sounds awesome. Read Readingjunky's review.
To enter, jump through one or both of the hoops I've set up below! I'll pick a random winner next week. Happy Wednesday!
Win-It Wednesday: Secret Letters
I love the legend of Sherlock Holmes (I was born in London near his, perhaps fictional, offices. Truly!). Leah Scheier's novel, Secret Letters, brings the detective's world to life as she tries to solve a mystery in Victorian London. I have to say, I'm a sucker for this setting, and--superficially--I love the cover. Ah, London!
There are a few ways to enter to win, below, so get to it.
Happy Wednesday!
Cover Stories + Win-It Wednesday: Populazzi + 4 Books
Elise Allen, who co-wrote Hilary Duff's books (did you know that?) is here for her GCC tour, and she's telling tales about her cover, naturally.
"I got very lucky. I loved my cover the first time I saw it.
"While I loved it at first sight, the more I looked at it, the more I had issues. My biggest issue was the model’s lips. In the first draft of the cover, her lips were ginormous. She looked like she had a fish allergy, and had just sucked on a carp. I mentioned that to Harcourt, and they agreed, so the lips were shrunk to normal human size.
"Flush with that tweaking success, I gave the cover to my husband, a trained artist who does graphic design for a living. I asked him to give notes as if it were one of his work projects, and he came up with twenty very specific changes: tweaks in font, in placement of the image… he even comped up a version of what the cover should be, and said he could send the file to Harcourt if that would help. I was elated, and passed all the information to my publisher… who was very kind as they patted me on the head and said (and I’m paraphrasing), 'Sweetie, we did the lip thing. That’s all you get. Settle down now, okay?'
"The cover was shot with a model, and they actually made the Populazzi necklace for the shoot. I’ve been trying to get my hands on it ever since, but alas, to no avail!"
Thanks, Elise! I actually know how you can DIY a necklace like that. Cool, huh?
Now here comes the Win-It Part: To thank everyone for their support with the paperback launch, Elise is doing a giveaway on her blog where commenters can win a pack of five books -- Populazzi plus books from the four authors who blurbed it. Go enter!
PS-Check out the trailer for Populazzi below:
Win-It Wednesday: Every Day by David Levithan
I am reading this book, which is one of the reasons why the rest of my life is getting chaotic. I cannot put it down! Every day, "A" jumps into another person's life, another person's body... and has to live in their world. But when he meets Rhiannon, he falls hard, and he has to see her again. And again. But each time as a new person.
It sounds kooky, but it's so well done and compelling! Yes, totally Quantum Leap-ish, but with more heart.
Also, I've been humming Buddy Holly and Fleetwood Mac songs all week. And I thought Unbreak My Heart gave me an earworm!
Enter with a comment, bonus for a tweet. Happy Wednesday!
Win-It Wednesday: My Life Next Door
I believe I have gushed about Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Door in various mediums, but here's the blog-gush: This book is so good! It's moving, it's heartfelt, it's family-filled, it's funny, it's sexy. I mean, it's sexy. And in a really sweet way that is so hard to do. Great characters, good pacing, believable situations and a cinematic summery layer, too. So well done!
So that's why you want to win it. It can be yours if you enter below. Yes, I'm using a widget. Cool? I would also love a comment if you have one. I'm still old-school like that.
PS-This contest for my book and a ton of little beauty goodies is still going on... (4 more days!).
PPS-I've also learned about this one, which involves a trip to the Austin Teen Book Festival (Dreamy! I love this festival!).
PPPS-I can read all of your answers, but if you want to share your response, comment below! It's fun to hear what everyone's reading! Bonus entry for doing that.
Win-It Wednesday: Beauty Prize Pack
The fabulous Cynthia Leitich Smith is hosting an Unbreak My Heart + beauty giveaway over at Cynsations, so head there to enter to win:
a signed copy of Unbreak My Heart; a copy of Raising Eyebrows by Cameron Tuttle (a guide to your perfect brow); Marie Natie natural lip gloss in Red; Marie Natie natural lip gloss sample in Cotton Candy; Bumble & Bumble Pin Tin (bobby pins); Mad Grab Lip Balms; and nail tattoos!
Yay! US only--sorry! This package gets big/pricey. Back to international soon, I promise!
Win-It We-Thursday: The Best Night of Your (Pathetic) Life
Tara Altebrando writes great books. This one? So excellent! I found myself folding pages down to remember certain passages (so, um, the copy you win may be a little dog-eared, as I'm giving away the one I read). But don't let that get you down. The book is so, so much fun. Filled with adventure and action and the kind of self-reflection that hits you smack in the face on those summer-after-senior-year days.
Incidentally, I'm reading with Tara (and David Levithan and Andrea Cremer and Anna Waggener!) on Sunday at McNally Jackson in NYC. So, come! Here's your invitation.
Now, to win a copy of Tara's excellent book, which features an all-night scavenger hunt, tell me this: What item from your hometown would you put on a Scavenger Hunt list? For me, I'd include a tablecloth from Allen & Son, my favorite barbecue joint in Chapel Hill--they're those perfect gingham picnic types (I'd totally return it the next day!).
Happy Thursday!
PS-The trailer:
Win-It Wednesday: iPod and Nook!
Last week's winner of The Secret Tree is... Lauren G! Send me your address, L. I have two giveaways to tell you about this week: 1. One for my book and an iPod nano (just share your broken-hearted playlist on Spotify)!
2. For Sarah Mlynowski's latest (so hilarious and heartwarming) and a Nook! List up to 10 things you did, and shouldn't have... (not here, on Facebook). here are my five:
1. Watched that scary movie. Can't sleep! 2. Facebook-stalked the guy who broke my heart, uh, 10 years ago 3. Stopped by the Marc Jacobs sample sale "just to look" 4. Started "Friday Night Lights." Now I'm SO SAD it's over! 5. Left before my manicure was dry. EVERY TIME!
Click below to enter. Happy Wednesday! (Yeah, I know it's Thursday, but we'll pretend, okay? I'm behind.)
Win-It Wednesday: The Secret Tree by Natalie Standiford
Thanks for weighing in on my glasses options! I'll show my pick soon. The randomly chosen winner of a signed copy of Unbreak My Heart is... Julie Fitch! Send me your address, JF.
This week, I have a signed ARC of Natalie Standiford's awesome The Secret Tree. It's a middle grade novel by the hilarious and fun author of How to Say Goodbye in Robot (a favorite of mine). I read it, I loved it. Such a sweet summer mystery filled with friendship!
I may try to write a middle grade story one day (those are the books for kids like 8-12ish, as I understand it?), so to win this book, tell me what your favorite middle grade novel is, or just one you've loved recently. I want a reading list. Go!
I'll choose a winning commenter at random next week.
Happy Wednesday!