I believe I have gushed about Huntley Fitzpatrick's My Life Next Doorin 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.
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!
Denise Jaden was here in 2010 to share the Cover Story for Losing Faith, and she's back on her GCC tour for Never Enough, which has a cover with amazing light! Here's Denise:
"I didn’t have much in mind for the cover of this book. I feel like there are lots of things I wanted it to encompass, and because I don’t have much of an artist brain, I didn’t know how to do that.
"With my first novel, I was told I would have time to make some suggestions, but then it never came up again. With this one, the cover was not mentioned until they had a final version to show me.
"I really love my cover, but to be perfectly honest, the girl on the cover doesn’t look like either of the main girls in my novel. I was a little bothered by this initially, but I must say, I think they’ve chosen a picture that covers a lot of the themes and fits the tone of the book. The image is a stock photo, which is fine with me. I hope that one day one of my novels will have a live model, but this photo works so well with the tone that I don’t think one was needed for this. I really think the people in the art department at Simon Pulse are masterful!
"I did mention my concerns over character congruity. We discussed it, and eventually both agreed that capturing the tone of the book is more important.
"The original version said 'Title Here,' because my book did not yet have a firm title, but otherwise it is exactly the same, with an added tagline.
"I’m thrilled with the cover overall. I think Simon Pulse does an amazing job with covers, and I really think mine is eye-catching in its final version."
Thanks, Denise! It bugs me when the cover model doesn't resemble a character, but I agree with you that the tone is most important. I have to say that I love the light play in this cover. The branches almost obscured by sunspots, the green tones with blue title font--lovely.
What do you guys think?
PS-Denise is holding a contest on her blog for four boxes of great books! If you comment here, you're automatically eligible to win. HOORAY.
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!).
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.)
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.
Yay for all the pics of Unbreak My Heart in the wild! Fave pics from Jenny, below, because she spotted it under a "Not Just for Teens" sign and in GREAT company! Yay! I've emailed everyone who won to ask for their choice of books. Thanks again!
This week, I need your help choosing a pair of glasses. Pick one and let me know what you like in the comments below. Warby Parker is fantastic, btw, and has a fun try-on plan (plus they donate a pair of glasses for every one sold!). I have a top 2, but I want to know what you think... So here are options (1-5):
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
Which ones!? I know they all look a bit similar, but that's because this is the kind I like! Super nerdy!
I'll choose one commenter at random to win a signed copy of Unbreak My Heart.
Ready? Five random people who email me photos of Unbreak My Heart in the wild (ie, on a bookshelf in your bookstore or library), will get a signed copy of one of my previous books (your pick!).
I hear there's been a slight shipping delay, so B&N will have the book on Friday (sorry!). If you spot it, send me a photo!
Here's my (very glarey, you-can-see-me-taking-it) shot. It's the window of The River's End bookstore in Oswego, NY! Fantastic spot. They have signed copies of the book, so call to order (Hello! Excellent birthday gifts, people.): 315-342-0077.
Happy Wednesday! I'll choose 5 winners a week from today!
Hey, guys! Last week's chosen-at-random winner of a brand spanking new hardcover of Unbreak My Heart is... Sophie! Send me your address, S.
This week, I have a giveaway for everyone. Email me with your address and I will send you one of my gorgeous new bookmarks (see so-pretty image at left, front and back). I may send you more than one if you make a case as to why you need them (to hand to friends, booksellers, librarians--these are good reasons). Yay!
And because bookmarks aren't books, I'm going to point you elsewhere for chances to win. Four spots in fact:
Last week's winner of the Unbreak My Heart ARC is... Susan Light! Send me your address, SL.
This week, I want to showcase other people's giveaways. So here's the deal: In the comments, leave a link to your own giveaway, or one that you know about... let's get a lot of link love going and go enter all the giveaways we can find!
Then I'll pick one commenter at random to win a finished Hard Copy of Unbreak My Heart... they're here! Remember that lovely full jacket? It can be yours (wrapped around the book!).
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.
Last week's winner of the