Authors from A to Z: W

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

W = Writing (Plot and Structure)

I write. Pretty obvious, yes? Well, when I started out, and by started out I mean got serious about finishing a novel and possibly doing something with it, I was pretty clueless. One of my biggest issues was structure. My story ideas usually start with a character or an image and rarely is there a plot of any kind to be found and I didn't have the faintest idea what story structure really meant. I would write pages and pages, a scene here, a character sketch there, but never get any closer to my goal.

Then my friend Meg lent me a book called Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. The book is part of the Write Great Fiction series and is all about exactly what the title says. Not only did this book help me figure out what I was lacking and what I needed to think about when crafting a novel, but it was also humorous and completely engaging, not dry or boring like I would expect a reference text to be. And if you want some added awesome, follow James Scott Bell on Twitter because he has lots of great insight to offer and does so often.

So if you are a writer and you struggle with plot or structure (or even if you don't), this is a great resource to pick up and learn from. And if something else is more worrisome for you, like dialogue or revision, there are more Write Great Fiction titles out there waiting to be help.

Authors form A to Z: V

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

V = Veronica Roth

I've admired Veronica Roth from the first time I read one of her inspiring blog posts. Then I read her debut novel, Divergent, and came to appreciate her even more. Roth has one of those rare gifts in both forms her her writing to get to the heart and truth of a topic in ways that are intelligent and relatable.

For instance, I'm currently reading the second book in the Divergent trilogy, Insurgent, and even though the story is a bit of a downer (because, you know, dystopian) I am continually amazed at how flawed and human Roth's characters are and how, despite those flaws, I can still relate to them and root for them. And while I am enjoying Roth's first series and am looking forward to finishing it, I am more excited to see what this talented author has in store for us in the future.

Authors from A to Z: U

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

*Note* - I had a tough week and completely spaced on posting the last bit of this challenge. To make up for it I am going to share my picks for U through Z today, so I apologize in advance for the flood of posts. I wish I had been able to keep with the schedule, but I am feeling better and I think my mini-break (which was mainly from the internet as a whole) helped. ^_^

U = Unspoken

Sarah Rees Brennan is one of my favorite authors to follow. She is hilarious on both Twitter and Tumblr and has some of the best TV show live tweets ever (her Vampire Diaries tweets are THE BEST). Unfortunately, when I tried to read her debut novel, The Demon's Lexicon, I found that it just wasn't for me, despite the excellent writing.

BUT, Brennan's new novel, Unspoken, a Gothic-tinged YA about a girl, a sleepy town, and an eerie family, sounds right up my alley. I love stories full of mystery and the possibility of the supernatural, then add in Brennan's writing style and humor, and I could not be more excited. And as if that wasn't enough, Brennan has another novel, Team Human, co-written with Justine Larbalestier, coming out next week.

Authors from A to Z: T

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

T = Tamora Pierce

Yes today is T and yes I may be going by her first name, but I can't do a list of my favorite authors without talking about Tamora Pierce. Of all the books I've read, I've read more books by Pierce than any other author (17, all set in the world of Tortall, in case you were wondering). If you haven't read any, you are missing out big time.

What I love about Pierce is, well, everything. I love her writing style, I love her characters, and I love her world-building. Her books, while not perfect, are the kind I can fully escape into. It wasn't until I started reading her novels that I realized just how much I loved fantasy, and whenever I forgot, all I had to do was pick up one of her books to find out again.

Because I've read so many of her novels, I want to share some of my favorite aspects. I have two favorite heroines, Beka Cooper of the Beka Cooper trilogy (my review of the first book, Terrier, here), and Aly, of the Daughter of the Lioness series. My favorite element of Pierce's books is the magic (the most of which can be found in the Immortals series). And last but not least, my favorite love interest is definitely George Cooper, who makes his first appearance in the Song of the Lioness quartet.

Authors from A to Z: S

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

S = Victoria Schwab

In trying to write this post, I am literally having to keep myself from bouncing like a kid about to open Christmas presents. Why? Because Victoria Schwab is that awesome. There are so many things to love about her. She was one of the organizers of Do the Write Thing for Nashville. She has a magical personality, lots of humor, and is just fun to be around. She also dressed up like cupcake to answer interview questions.

I gave her a sparkly pony once. Ponies are my favorite. That's how much I fangirl over Victoria.

And her books? Get outta here. AMAZING. I've only read one in completion, The Near Witch (my review here), but Victoria Schwab does not half-do things, y'all. The writing, the characters, just WOW. Her next couple of novels, the YA The Archived, and the non-YA Vicious, sound spectacular and unique. Alas, neither comes out until next year. If you haven't read The Near Witch (or it's companion story The Ash-Born Boy) you are so not with the program! Get with the program!
The sparkly ponies command it!

Authors from A to Z: R

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

R = C.J. Redwine

Today's author is one that doesn't have a novel out...yet. She does have a resource guide for writers called Query that I have already purchased and plan to read when I get a little closer to being done with my novel. If it seems like Redwine is a great person who likes to help others, you'd be right. I've actually had the pleasure of meeting her at a signing in Nashville (she was there supporting her friend and crit partner, Myra) and I can tell you that she is without a doubt one of the sweetest, most adorable human beings to walk the planet.

This is only part of the reason I am so excited to read her novel, Defiance. Y'all, this book sounds serious. Not like, serious as in issue novel serious, but serious, as in, something wicked is about to go down and we get to be along for the ride. And if I'm lucky, I may be able to be there at the launch party in August, when the book hits shelves, which will be a first for me. So if you get an early copy of this novel, count yourself lucky and be glad I don't know where you live. ^_^

Authors from A to Z: Q

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

Q = Quelf

I have to be honest: this post has very little to do with authors or books. But because Q is such a tough letter, I thought I would highlight something that, like books, has brought me great joy, and that is the game Quelf. If you are in any way a quirk, this is the game for you. Make sure you gather other quirks with you to play as the more the merrier is quite literal with this game.

I cannot begin to explain Quelf in any way that it deserves, but I will give you the basics. It is a board game. You have a little piece that moves around and you do things or answer questions that appear on cards. There are rules. Sometimes there are more rules and sometimes those rules change. Sometimes you have to do the most ridiculous things. Sometimes you get rewarded for reading. Sometimes you get punished. You will either love it and laugh and hurt because of too much laughing, or you will be slightly amused but decide the game is too random for you. Either way, you should give it a try if you like things like, I don't know, laughing and fun and watching other people do funny things. And if you don't like those things, well, too bad for you!

Authors from A to Z: P

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

P = Amy Plum

Amy Plum's debut novel, Die for Me, was one of those I was wary of reading. The reason? It was set in Paris, the city of love, and seemed to be one of those paranormal romances with most of the emphasis on the romance. Still, I read it anyway, and I am so glad I did!

Not only is Plum herself amazing and sweet (I got to meet her in Nashville recently), Die for Me was great. It did have romance, but a building, believable one. The characters were well-formed and the supernatural being featured in the book was different and interesting. It also had humor and action and some great character back-stories. And despite being wary of the Paris element, the city really came alive in the novel. If you haven't given this series a chance yet (the second book, Until I Die, came out last month), you should. ^_^

Authors from A to Z: O

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

O = Lauren Oliver

Lauren Oliver is one of those authors that I am fascinated by. I started following her almost two years ago because I loved her blog. It took me a while to read her books because while they sounded cool, they also seemed out of my reading comfort zone (yes, I'm super picky). I made myself read them anyway (eventually) and I became even more of a fan.

Delirium was the first of Oliver's books that I read (my review here). It surprised me because while the theme has a lot to do with love, there was so much more to the story than a romantic relationship. Next came Before I Fall, which is my favorite of Oliver's novels so far (see why here). Again, it was all about relationships as well as the consequences of our actions, complete with a twist that made things out of the norm, and I loved it. Both books were well-written and had a lot of heart. Oliver also writes flawed characters that change and grow and I love that and always wind up rooting for them. I will definitely be reading anything Oliver comes up with, and I can't wait to see what she gives us next.

Authors from A to Z: N

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

N = Patrick Ness

So this guy wrote this book that looked really interesting to me, but it didn't seem to be up my alley. Then I was persuaded by my friend Meg to read it. I couldn't read it fast enough. The funny thing is that this book has two more after it in the series, and I both want to read them and am afraid to, because I've heard this guy makes you cry.

If you don't already know, Patrick Ness is the author of the Chaos Walking trilogy. It's a sci-fi story told from the point of view of a boy that grew up in a town where there are no women on a planet colonized by former Earth folk. Not only is the story told in an odd way, but the first book, The Knife of Never Letting Go, is an adventure/journey story that has some creepy villains and lots of action (my review here). I was completely enthralled and I plan on reading the next two books, The Ask and the Answer and Monsters of Men, even if Patrick Ness is going to make me cry. I also may (if I can get over being afraid of shedding even more tears) read his other YA novel, A Monster Calls.

Authors from A to Z: M

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

M = Myra McEntire

Myra McEntire is one of the most amazing, awesome, and approachable authors I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Why do I believe that? She helped organize an auction to help Nashville after the flood in 2010. She had coffee with one of the Volturi vampires from the Twilight movies (one of the ones with an accent!). The stories she tells about herself and her family are humorous and relatable. She wears funky glasses and lives in Tennessee. She's is ridiculously hilarious (I shall not mention what she said to the BBC guy about what she wanted to do to some Doctor's face or that whole Acid Flashback thing). And she gives honest and practical advice about writing and being a human being (like DO THE WORK and DON'T BE A NUT BAG.)

So yeah, I majorly <3 Myra McEntire. I feel the same about her books. Her debut novel, Hourglass, was a refreshing story complete with mystery, time travel, a kick-butt heroine, and an electric (literally!) romance. I loved the sequel, Timepiece, even more because of the hot mess 
that is Kaleb Ballard and the quick wit that is Lily Garcia. Not to mention the steamy 
like-a-hot-cup-of-Murphy's-Law-coffee that is the two of them together.
(For more of my gushy thoughts, check out my reivews of each book here and here.)

Seriously, if you haven't started following Myra McEntire on Twitter or read her books, you should. You should, you should, you should. Both are out now, so no excuses people! And once you've read them, we can anticipate the release of the third book, Infinityglass, together. ^_^

Authors from A to Z: L

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

L = The Lying Game series

Most people, because of the books or the show, are familiar with the series Pretty Little Liars. When the buzz about the TV show started, I gave the first one a shot and it was okay. I liked the mystery part of it but the drama just wasn't for me. But then I saw that Sara Shepard, the author, also had another series called The Lying Game (which was also made into a TV show*). I read the synopsis and was hooked: murder, mystery, multiple births (aka twins). All things I love in books, and together? Yes, please.

So I have now read the three books that are out, The Lying Game, Never Have I Ever, and Two Truths and a Lie. While the books aren't perfect, they are fun. I love the main character, Emma Paxton, and it's a blast going along with her as she tries to figure out who killed her twin sister, Sutton Mercer, while at the same time pretending to be Sutton. As for Sutton, she is actually the narrator, somehow tied to her sister from the afterlife and realizing just how good she had it and how much she took her life for granted.

The books are exciting and tense with many twists and turns and I have about six guesses for whodunit. The clues work in so many ways that it could be nearly anyone, which I love, but it does make me anxious for the next book, Hide and Seek, which hits shelves next month. If you're a fan of Pretty Little Liars, or you enjoy mysteries and a tiny touch of the supernatural, you should definitely try this series.

*From what I've seen, The Lying Game books and The Lying Game TV show are pretty much nothing alike.

Authors from A to Z: K

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

K = Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa is one of the authors I followed on Twitter before I'd ever read her books. Her first series, The Iron Fey, was on my TBR, of course. Yet even without reading her books, I could tell that Kagawa was a cool lady so I have no regrets in stalking her tweets. And I have it on good authority (from someone named Myra. Anyone know her?) that Julie Kagawa is a BAMF. There was something about helping get a tour bus unstuck from the snow while barefoot? Awe. Some.

As for her books, The Iron King was the first faery book that I have ever loved (see why in my review here). I suggested it to my friends and they became rabid fans of hers as well, reading the entire series before I'd even realized they'd been bitten by the Kagawa bug. I also adored her latest fangtastic novel, The Immortal Rules (review here). And I absolutely CANNOT wait for her next book set in the Iron Fey world, The Lost Prince, which focuses on a minor character from the first series.

So not only is Kagawa an awesome person, but she is an awesome writer who writes awesome books and I just want to soak up all her awesomeness. So if you haven't read her books, I'm gonna wonder about you, and not in a good way. ^_^

Authors from A to Z: J

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

J = Maureen Johnson

Maureen Johnson. How does one begin to describe Maureen Johnson? I guess I'll start by saying that if you do not know who Maureen Johnson is, you should. You should also buy her books, stalk her Twitter, and read her rants. She's like a neon, magnet-creating, word-breathing dragon that drives a flying crazy train. Yes, she's that awesome.

Her books are awesome too. I enjoyed the first book in her Scarlett series and absolutely loved her supernatural novel The Name of the Star (my review here). I'm also looking forward to 13 Little Blue Envelopes, which is waiting to be read on my Kindle. She has something out there for everyone, including Devilish and The Bermudez Triangle. If you aren't devouring her words, both in and outside of her books, you are missing the boat being captained by a neon dragon. Do you really want to miss the boat captained by a neon dragon? I didn't think so.

Authors from A to Z: I

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

I = Ilsa J. Bick

Since I didn't have an author with a last name starting with "I," I chose one with a first name. I'm excited that I thought to do this because I really wanted to highlight Ilsa J. Bick for being one of the few authors to scare me silly. Scare is really a mild term; terrified is probably closer to how I felt after finishing her novel, Ashes. Terrified and elated (see exactly why in my review here).

Not only is Ashes a seriously intense story, it is also just the first book in Bick's Ashes trilogy. The next book, Shadows, comes out in September of this year and I cannot wait! The series is getting some new covers too, and while I think the original cover for Ashes fits the tone of the novel, I think the new covers are gorgeous! Bick also has more books out there, including Drowning Instinct and Draw the Dark, and they sound amazing as well. You can be sure that anything Bick comes up with YA-wise will be on my TBR list!

Giveaway Highlight: Lisa Burstein

Hello fellow quirks!

I wanted to let you guys know of a fantastic contest that's going on. 

Lisa Burstein, author of Pretty Amy, is giving away some awesome prizes to celebrate her novel being one month old. 

What's up for grabs?

Well, by using the simple Rafflecopter widget with numerous ways to enter, you can win one of two critiques of the first three chapters of your novel (one will be by Lisa, the other by her editor, Stacy Cantor Abrams!), a $25 gift card for Amazon or Barnes & Noble, and a talking parrot toy with a special message from Lisa!

If you want to enter, just go HERE.

And if you want to know more about Lisa's 
debut novel, Pretty Amy, just keep reading!

Amy is fine living in the shadows of beautiful Lila and uber-cool Cassie, because at least she’s somewhat beautiful and uber-cool by association. But when their dates stand them up for prom, and the girls take matters into their own hands—earning them a night in jail outfitted in satin, stilettos, and Spanx—Amy discovers even a prom spent in handcuffs might be better than the humiliating “rehabilitation techniques” now filling up her summer. Worse, with Lila and Cassie parentally banned, Amy feels like she has nothing—like she is nothing.

Navigating unlikely alliances with her new coworker, two very different boys, and possibly even her parents, Amy struggles to decide if it’s worth being a best friend when it makes you a public enemy. Bringing readers along on an often hilarious and heartwarming journey, Amy finds that maybe getting a life only happens once you think your life is over.

Authors from A to Z: H

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

H = Rachel Hawkins

Rachel Hawkins is one of those authors that can make anything funny. Her characters are awesome and I love the way she writes dialogue. It's amazing to think that Hex Hall was one of those books that I was reluctant to read (because I'm picky and wishy-washy) but I am so so so very glad that I did anyway. It had everything I wanted, and I was not disappointed with the rest of the series, Demonglass and Spell Bound, either. (My review of Hex Hall is here and Spell Bound is here. I somehow didn't review Demonglass. Don't ask me how because I can't for the life of me figure it out.)

And it was because of this amazing series that I traveled to one (two if you count SOKY Book Fest) of Hawkins' signings and got to meet her, take photos, and hear her speak. She is as funny in person as she is on Twitter and in her novels. And because she awesome at writing said novels, I can't wait for her next book, Rebel Belle, and the Hex Hall spin off series to hit shelves.

Authors from A to Z: G

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

G = Sonia Gensler

I had not heard of Sonia Gensler until I saw her last year speaking on a panel with Victoria Schwab. She was completely adorable and an absolute sweetheart. I loved learning about her and her book, The Revenant. So of course it went on my TBR list and guess what? It was amazing (read my review here).

It had absolutely everything I look for in a novel with the added touch of history that made it intensely interesting. It was also just a well-written, smart book. I seriously don't understand why every YA reader hasn't read it yet! So, as you can tell, I'm a fan. I can't wait to see what Gensler comes up with next. And if you haven't read The Revenant, what are you waiting for?!?!

Authors from A to Z: F

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

F = For Darkness Shows the Stars

Again today I have chosen an upcoming book I am really excited about. YA readers probably know Diana Peterfreund for being the author of the Killer Unicorn and Secret Society Girl series and from taking part in several anthologies (and when I say several, I mean SEVERAL. The lady works.). But the book of hers that I am anticipating like a kid on Christmas Eve is her latest, For Darkness Shows the Stars. It is a sci-fi retelling of my favorite Jane Austen novel, Persuasion. It will be in stores on June 12th, which is less than a week away!

Can you see me bouncing? No? Okay, imagine a bunny on a trampoline. That's how bouncy I am about this book. I'm also bouncy about the fact that if things work out while I'm there, I'll get to meet Peterfreund at Dragon*Con later this year. If you are also looking forward to this book, or even if you've not caught the fever, you can read the prequel to For Darkness Shows the Stars that was recently released, Among the Nameless Stars.

Authors from A to Z: E

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

E = The Evolution of Mara Dyer

For *E* I didn't have an author, so I picked a book I'm really looking forward to reading. Last year I read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the debut novel of author Michelle Hodkin, and loved it. It was a creepy, swoony story that was worth all the hype it got.

After the superb shocker ending of the first novel, the sequel looks to answer many questions, and probably leave readers asking many more. I know I want to find out what happens to Mara Dyer, who Mara Dyer really is, who is out to get her, and why. Plus, you know, more Noah Shaw. And for those of you who also are looking forward to reading it, it will be released this October.

Authors from A to Z: D

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

D = Bree Despain

This amazing lady is on my list of authors I would love to meet. I was wary of reading her debut novel The Dark Divine (my review here) because of some misconceptions I had and the fact that I knew it involved werewolves (a supernatural creature I wasn't too fond of at the time. I'm getting over that.). But I read it and was completely blown away.

The fact that Despain created such a unique story with some familiar elements as well as characters that were deep and real impressed me so much. Her book had me reading into the night and wanting to drop everything else just to finish it. I became an instant fan and hope that one day I can write stories that are that compelling.

Authors from A to Z: C

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

C = Ally Carter

Ally Carter has been and continues to be one of my favorite YA authors ever. Her books, which include the Gallagher Girl series and the Heist Society series, are clean, fun, and smart. I don't know how she comes up with the stories she does (it would hurt my head to figure that stuff out!) but I love them.
Right now I'm looking forward to the third Heist Society book, which will release in 2013, because I don't really want to think about the next Gallagher Girl book, as it will be the last (V_V).

Besides her amazing books (which are responsible for getting me back into reading YA), I love that Carter offers up so much help and information on her website for aspiring authors. If you're interested in becoming an author, especially if you write YA, I recommend the For Writers section of her blog.

Authors from A to Z: B

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

B = Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Many YA readers probably know Barnes from her popular Raised by Wolves series. Seeing that it took me a while to consider reading books involving werewolves, the book that put me on the Barnes bandwagon was Every Other Day (my review here). I absolutely loved the intense story and all the crazy goings-on and the insane cast of creatures that make life for the protagonist so dangerous.

Because of Every Other Day, I now have Raised by Wolves in my TBR pile. And while I admire Barnes for her books (and she has several published) I also admire her because she just finished getting her PhD and is officially Dr. Barnes. How cool is that?!

Authors from A to Z: A

Authors from A to Z is a posting challenge hosted by

Heather at Proud Book Nerd. The challenge is simple: each day for the month of June (except Sundays) share your favorite authors whose last name corresponds to the letter for that day.  
For more info, click the photo.

How I'm participating in the challenge:

This year I am going to try to highlight just one author each day that I am really taken with. If I can't come up with one, it may be a book, a song, or a surprise!

A = R.J. Anderson

Not only did R.J. Anderson write an amazing novel called Ultraviolet (my review here), but she is also super sweet. After reading Ultraviolet, which in a nutshell is a beautiful and thought-provoking story with a twist, I was so infused with awe that I wrote her an email.
It was the first time I'd ever done that. And she emailed me back.

It was amazing and made my day.

I am now eagerly awaiting the sequel to Ultraviolet, called Quicksilver, which isn't due out until 2013. If you haven't read anything by Anderson yet, I highly recommend Ultraviolet. If you are into things more faery, she also has a series called Faery Rebels (that begins with the novel Knife) and another series that begins with Swift.

Ink Anticipation [6]

Hey quirksters! I haven't done an Ink Anticipation post in a while but I'm planning on doing one sporadically from here on out.
And what better way to re-introduce the posts than to talk about the latest book from one of my favorite authors?

Title: The Archived (The Archived #1)

Author: Victoria Schwab

Release Date: January 2013

Publisher: Hyperion

From Goodreads:

Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often-violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn't just dangerous-it's a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da's death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

I am so beyond ready to read this book! If you're excited too, you can catch the first chapter of The Archived in the paperback edition of The Near Witch (which you can find here or here or here or here).

You can also head over to Victoria's blog (here) and enter in an A-MAZE-ING giveaway that is just the beginning of all the awesome to come from Victoria and The Archived.