Authors Are Rockstars!- Maria V. Snyder and 2 Giveaways!

Hey ya’ll Jaime here! Welcome to my stop on the Authors Are Rockstars tour! We’ve saved the best for last or at least in my opinion the best. My author is Maria V. Snyder and she is one of my all-time favorite authors and a really cool person as well! Oh yeah and there's two awesometastic giveaways as well so keep reading and fill out the rafflecopter forms below!!

So why do I think Maria deserves this rockstar status? Quite simply because she does! Maria’s books were introduced to my life when I was reading nothing but Paranormal and Urban Fantasy YA and adult both. When I first grabbed Poison Study I was worried I may not like it because I hadn’t read High Fantasy in a long time! Like since before high school long time. But I shouldn’t have been worried, her world building and beautiful writing grabbed me at page one! Yelena the heroine in the story was so different than any of the others I had read! She jumped off the page and slapped me, hard, and I immediately loved her for it. I also met my #1 book boyfriend of all time in this series Valek. 

My love for her books grew with each one I read. I finished the Study series quickly and jumped right into her Glass series. When those were finished I scavenged her website for her short stories of Sitia and Ixia. I couldn’t get enough of the world and the characters! These are the two series I re-read a lot!

Maria then wrote a sci-fi/dystopian for the YA crowd Inside Out and followed it with Outside In and I fell for those books too. In my opinion they ended way too early I could have read more of that world. I loved Trella and Riley.

Maria started a new High Fantasy series The Healer books and I devoured book 1, Touch of Power in one sitting and I am dying to get my hands on book 2, Scent of Magic which will be out in December! Oh and I’ve also read all of her short stories in any anthology she has been in!

Ok so enough about Maria’s books remember I said she was a cool person? Well while I was scouring her site I found ways to get signed bookplates by answering trivia. And oh boy I sent her email after email with my answers lol do you think she got annoyed? Nope she was awesome even gave me hints when I got a few answers wrong. Then she sent me all my bookplates at one time. We even chat on facebook sometimes even though she isn’t on there much. And oh boy do I wish she had twitter but then I’d probably never leave her alone lol. Oh and her covers are gorgeous right? Well you should check out the foreign versions! Her UK covers are some of my favorites! Check them out in her Cover Gallery!

But enough about why I love Maria. She has an awesome post for me to share with you check it out!!!!! This is Janco's advice for what you should do if you find yourself under a magical attack :)

Magic Sucks

by Janco, Second-in-Command of Ixia’s Security and all around fantastic guy.

So I’m writing this down because my boss, Valek ordered me to.  I don’t really want to, but hey, Valek’s the scariest dude in Ixia and you don’t say no to him.  Ever.  Anyway he seems to think it’s important that I explain to the new recruits how I know someone is using magic, but I’m not promising this will be well written or spelled correctly – if you can’t read my writing, well that’s too bad for you.

And I don’t know if anyone else can really feel magic, so, if after reading this you think I’m crazy, then you probably can’t feel magic.

So how do I do it? It’s complicated so pay attention, puppy dog! The lower half of my right ear had been cut off by a big brute intent on decapitating me. Nice guy, right?  Anywho, my scar starts to hurt when magic’s being used. It burns when it’s strong magic so I know I’m in big trouble when it feels like someone jammed a hot poker into my ear.

Now, I also get this creepy crawly sensation along my skin when there’s magic from different sources. I can’t stand being in the Magician’s Keep in Sitia.  Creepy Keepy is what I call it just for that reason.  It’s almost as if a million tiny bugs are skittering along my skin.  It’s nasty believe me.

And I should tell you that magic has a weight.  To me, the air around me feels…heavy at times and sometimes it lacks…substance as if the magician has changed the very air itself.

Now here’s a bit of advice on what to do if you’re under a magical attack. Most of the time you’re screwed, but there are a few tricks I’ve learned.  If you suspect a magician is reading your mind, jumble your thoughts!  Think of lots of random things, concentrate on useless trivia or go over training drills in your head.  It makes it harder for them to pick out the important stuff.

If your body is doing things you wouldn’t normally do, a magician probably has  control of your muscles. In that case, relax, puppy dog, you’re trapped. Nothing you can do.  However, if you’re having bad thoughts – ideas like strangle the good-looking Second-in-Command, you need to resist those inclinations.  Count numbers backward in your head.  It works, trust me.

Yes, magic sucks.  Magicians have an unfair advantage and are sneaky little devils. Well, except my good friend, Yelena.  She’s the Soulfinder, but she’s super cool.  She never used her magic on me unless she asked first.  Plus she’s one of the good guys. Ixia and Sitia would be majorly messed up without her. So not ALL magicians suck, just ninety-nine percent of them.

Okay – end of lesson, puppy dog.  If you suspect someone has magic, report it to me or Valek, pronto. Don’t try to be a hero.  Leave that to me.

OK Janco just rocks my world! Thanks so much Janco and Maria for stopping by. Oh and I’m lucky to have two awesome giveaways for you today! Harlequin Teen has donated one of Maria’s books to one lucky winner and Maria threw in a complete set of her Glass series with the UK covers that’s open Internationally!!!!!! Fill out the Rafflecopter Forms and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Evergreen Blog tour- Character Interview and a Giveaway!

Today we have the Evergreen Blog tour Stop! I love this book and not just because I got to beta read it but I’m a character in it as well! And because I’m a character I thought it would be cool if I (yeah both the real me and the me in the book lol) got to interview Brenda and Galadriel the obnoxious princess who ran away from Natatoria. Also make sure to comment on this post Brenda will pick one lucky winner from the comments to win an eBook of Evergreen! And make sure to go over to her website where she is giving away a $50.00 amazon Gift card, Signed set of Everblue & Evergreen and 3 vials of Essence Necklace!!!!

Jaime begins, “I’m here with Galadriel and Brenda to talk about the latest release of Evergreen. Welcome.”

“Thank you,” Brenda says. “It’s nice of you to have us on this lovely afternoon.”

Galadriel smiles coyly as she sips her tea. “About time I get some attention around here. It’s the whole Ash and Fin show every day—blah blah blah—such a bore.”

Brenda glares at Galadriel as she kicks her under the table.

“Ouch,” Galadriel exclaims.

Brenda interrupts, “Sorry, Jaime… she’s … well … forgotten her manners and apparently unfamiliar with the interview process.”

“Unfamiliar?” Galadriel pitches a brow. “I had a review just the other day with Ash and Julia. Don’t you remember? I know what I’m doing.”

Brenda smiles. “Yes … and after what happened, it should have been your last.”

Galadriel pinches her lips together. “What did I say?”

Brenda gives Galadriel a look.

Galadriel rolls her eyes and slumps her shoulders. “Fine.”

“Okay, then let’s get started.” Jaime rattles her paper with her questions to divert attention. “So, Galadriel, why don’t you tell us a little something about yourself.”

“Well,” she starts, “I’m King Phaleon’s eldest daughter—a princess—and I ran away.”

“Ran away? Why would you want to run away, being a princess and all?”

“Because, unlike how Brenda writes it, Natatoria sucks.”

“Oh … “ Jaime drinks some of her tea to hide her smile. “I did get an impression it’s quite different for mermen and mermaids in Natatoria.”

“Different is an understatement,” Galadriel grumbles under her breath. “It’s a prison.”

“So … um … if you could, would you like the gift of persuasion?”

Galadriel smiles evilly. “Wouldn’t that be dangerous?”

“In your hands, I’d think so,” Brenda interjects.

“Yeah, well … I make do. Boys are weak minded anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Jaime asks.

“I’d hoped maybe, from all the books that I’d read in my father’s library, the human boys were just like how I’d read. Unfortunately I’ve found life on land for the most part has been just as boring as home, and that authors are nothing but brutal liars. None of their human boys are real.”

Brenda chokes and almost spits her tea all over Jaime, launching her into a coughing fit. Jaime gently pats her back. “You okay?”

“Yeah.” Brenda gains composure. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries,” Jaime says with a knowing smile. “I actually couldn’t agree with you more, Galadriel.”

Brenda stares at a very smug Galadriel.

“But as I recall, you might already have someone you’re interested in, correct?” Jaime asks.

Galadriel sits up straight. “Whatever do you mean?”

“Well, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but, don’t you think the prospect of having someone could taint your search for that perfect guy?”

“No,” Galadriel curtly states.

“Okay, so moving along. How was life in the palace? What did you do all day?”

Galadriel yawns. “Mermaid school.”

“And what did they teach you?”

“How to be a slave.”

“A slave?”

Jaime looks to Brenda.

“Not entirely,” Brenda interjects. “There’s beauty classes, home care, weaving and jewelry making, cooking, and even crafts. All fun stuff I’d love to do and learn.”

“Oh, the joy.” Galadriel places her hands on the table firmly. “But for whom are we learning all this for? Ourselves? Tell the truth, Brenda. It’s so I can please some old merman my father expects me to be promised to—so I can kiss his scaly fin my entire life.”

“Well, unfortunately, yes, that was his plan for you … but you’ve escaped that fate, so—”

“But not my sisters, or the other women of Natatoria. They’re going to follow customs and be promised to whomever their parents see fit, whether they want to or not.”

“True,” Brenda says, “but if you feel this is an injustice, maybe you should return home, Galadriel, and change things.”

“What?” Galadriel’s nostrils flare. “As if. You have all the power, my dear. Use your mighty pen and change it.”

“I could, but then what’s the fun in that?”

“Fun? You call a life of servitude fun?” Galadriel snorts. “You try it then if it’s so fun.”

Brenda pulls her lips tight. “Believe me, if I could write myself a mermaid tail, I’d do so in a second. I’d fix a lot of things in this world, but you my dear are nothing but a fictio—“

“Now, now…” Jaime interrupts. “Let’s not say things we might regret.”

Brenda inhaled sharply. “True, Jaime. Thank you. That might be a good idea.”

Galadriel turns her head. “Well, whatever. Next time I want to be interviewed alone.”

“If there’s a next time,” Brenda adds. “Thank you, Jaime. We enjoyed our interview.”

“Thank you two for coming. It’s been quite interesting for me as well.”

Make sure to check out all the tour stops for more chances to win!

August:

20th- Author Brenda Pandos - Kicks-off Tour

21st- Hopelessly Devoted Bibliophile - review & giveaway

22nd- Katie's Book Blog - review

23rd- Shortie Says - Author interview

24th- Paper Cuts YA - Review

27th- Confession of a Bookaholic -review

28th- Word Spelunking - character interview - Ashlyn "Ash"

29th- Valia Lind Writes - review

30th- Proud Book Nerd - review

31st- Two Chicks On Books - feature

September:

3rd- Books Complete Me - review

4th- Nightly Reading - review

5th- The Bursting Bookshelf - character interview - Fin

6th- Bookish - review

7th- Once Upon a Twilight - Review + Twitter Party!!! (this is US!)

Dying to Read (3)- Gravity by Melissa West

Hey y’all ! My WoW this week is a book I’ve absolutely been dying to get my hands on! The kicker? I work for the publisher (Entangled Publishing) that it’s coming from! This one is under lock and key. Just ask Melissa’s publicist how much I’ve been bugging her for it lol. Oh want to know the book title??? It’s Gravity by Melissa West! Want to now more? Check out the synopsis below!

Gravity

Melissa West

Release Date: October 16, 2012

Paperback: 400 pages

Publisher: Entangled Teen

ISBN: 1620610914

In the future, only one rule will matter: Don’t. Ever. Peek. Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die. Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Add to Goodreads

Pre-order

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

So what book are you anxiously awaiting???

Cover Reveal: Naturals by Tiffany Truitt

Hello everyone! Today on the blog we have a great cover reveal from author Tiffany Truitt and Entangled Publishing. But first here's a bit about Tiffany:

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of  one McDonald's and Banana Rats (don't ask) she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman(5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered “low brow” or outside the “classics.”

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The Outsiders, Speak, Night, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger Games, The Giver, The Uglies, and Matched.

Tiffany can be found at:  Website │Twitter 

Add to your Goodreads Shelf

Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.

NATURALS is the second book in The Lost Souls trilogy, and follows the dystopian hit CHOSEN ONES.

Naturals is due out April of 2013 

A Q&A With Katie McGarry and a Giveaway

Today we have aQ&A with author Katie McGarry thanks to the peeps at Harlequin Teen andMedia Masters Publicity! There’s also a giveaway so fill out the rafflecopterafter the interview!

Pushingthe Limits 
Harlequin Teen
Pages: 416 pages
ISBN: 0373210493
In stores now!
Amazon/ Barnes & Noble/ Indie Bound

"My father is a control freak, I hate my stepmother, my brother is dead and my mother has...welll...issues. How do you think I am doing?" - opening line of Pushing the Limits No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. Echo and Noah couldn’t be more different, but they find themselves united by a common goal: to sneak into their court- ordered social worker’s case files in order to learn the truth about themselves and their families. What they didn’t count on is falling in love -- and now Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

About author KatieMcGarry:

            Katie McGarry was a teenager duringthe age of grunge and boy bands and she remembers those years as the best andworst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings and realitytelevision, and is a                  secretUniversity of Kentucky basketball fan.

            Writing has given Katie an excuse topursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazingopportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car atninety-six miles per hour         andexperience boxing and mixed martial arts. Katie loves to visit schools and talkto teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out ofreach.

Q: What was yourinspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

A: I had two maininspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story inwhich my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and createnew futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo andNoah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters whowere facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, foundhope at the end of their journey.

Q: How did youcome up with Echo’s name?

A: Echo wentthrough several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she hada very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echofrom her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother lovedGreek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- drenafter the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, Ifell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, shefinds it by the end.

Q: Which characteris the most “like” you?

A: All of them. Igave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me thanothers). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth.Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends andBeth encompasses my insecurities.

Q: Did youexperience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

A: Yes. And themore people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace hasstruck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seemsmost of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wantsto “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. Incase anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Q: Are there anyparts of the story you feel particularly close to?

A: Yes. Therelationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, mynearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became myfamily. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with ortalked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I sharedlife’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were peoplewho I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the samefor me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatoryhugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt myfeelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in myface if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Q: Did anythingthat happens to Echo happen to you?

A: Sort of. I wasbitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It feltvery strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. Itwas even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they camefrom. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. Irelived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to findmyself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, Istill don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind andthere is no blood in any of the memories.

Check out the Pushing the Limits Trailer!

 Fill out the Rafflecopter form and good luck!
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fractured Light Blog Tour and a Giveaway

Hey y’all today we’re stoked to be a part of the Fractured Light Blog Tour! We have an excerpt to share with you! Also fill out the rafflecopter below for your chance to win one of 3 Necklaces, 5 SIGNED Copies, 10 eBooks!

Llona Reese is used to living on the run. After the Vykens killed her parents, she knew they would eventually come for her too. But she never felt ready to face them---until now. Defying the Auran Council and everything she's been taught, Llona must learn to use her power over light as a weapon if she wants to survive.

Where you can find Rachel McClellan

Website/Twitter/Facebook

Add to Goodreads

Order your copy at Amazon/Barnes & Noble

And here's the excerpt!

“What happened in the woods, Llona?” He was moving forward but very slowly, probably hoping I wouldn’t notice.

“You should know. You were there.”

“It wasn’t me.”

“So you’re saying it wasn’t you calling my name and—hunting me?”

Christian froze. “Why did you use that word?”

“What word?”

“Hunted.”

“Because that’s what it felt like.”

He began moving quickly toward me. “We have to get out of here now. It’s not safe.” His rushed movements caught me off guard, and before I could stop to think, I made a mad leap from the bridge. I thought I’d cleared the wood railing until my hand caught on something. My body dangled in the darkness like a fish on a hook. I could see nothing but a bottomless black world. I looked up to see what had stopped me.

Christian was leaning over the ledge on his stomach, holding my hand. I couldn’t believe he had gotten to me so fast.

“Give me your other hand,” he grunted.

I felt my hand slipping but did nothing to stop it.

He stared directly into my eyes. “Trust me, Llona. Please.”

I couldn’t trust anyone but myself. Completely calm, I said, “I can’t.”

And then I let go.

Check out the tour page for all of the other sites for reviews, more excerpts,and other cool posts! 

http://atomrbookblogtours.com/2012/04/02/fractured-light/

Fill out the Rafflecopter form and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Onxy Blog Tour- Q&A With Jennifer L. Armentrout and a Giveaway

Hey y’all! We have the awesome Jennifer L. Armentrout here today for our stop on the Onxy Blog Tour! She was nice enough to answer some burning questions we had about her and her books. So check out her answers below. Also we’re giving away a copy of Obsidian to one lucky person so make sure to fill out the Rafflecopter form below!

Check out what Jennifer had to say!

Two Chicks- So you’re a busy lady with all your different books! How do you find the time to write them all (and take care of Loki) and be online tweeting and on facebook talking to your loyal readers?

Jennifer-  Ha. Sometimes I honestly don’t know. There are days when I need to                            disappear into the writing cave. I guess I just make time for all those things, and Loki sleeps most of the time.

Two Chicks- With such a big presence online. Do you have a favorite fan encounter?
Jennifer- I think the whole #daemoninvasion tour had some pretty epic fan moments. So did BEA. I got to meet a lot of readers that I’d spoken with online and watching the readers interact with Pepe and Sztella was a lot of fun.

Two Chicks- Onyx is really long coming in at over 400 pages (loved every bit of it btw) is it the longest book you’ve written?
Jennifer- I don’t think so. I’m pretty sure Pure may have been longer, but the book size is different so it doesn’t seem that long. If Pure wasn’t longer, it was pretty close. As was Deity and Apollyon.

Two Chicks- I know I can’t be too spoilery for the people who haven’t read Onyx but can you give us any hints about what’s coming in Opal? Because that ending?!?! Wow!!
Jennifer- I can tell you that the ending of Onyx isn’t really that big of deal. And Opal picks up about a week after Onyx ends.

Two Chicks- Tell us about some of the books you’ve read lately? What’s really caught your eye? Any recommendations?

Jennifer- I’ve been in a reading slump and been re-reading the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Before then, Sweet Evil and Of Poseidon were really great.

Two Chicks- The Daemon Invasion tour was a major success! What was your favorite part of the signing tour? How was it hanging out with Pepe and Sztella? Any craziness go down on the tour?
Jennifer- Hanging out with Pepe and Sztella were my favorite parts. The craziest thing was probably the mixed drinks my sister made while in Miami. And when a fan asked Pepe to say “Kitten”

Two Chicks- You drop several bombs in Onyx that leave us with our jaws on the floor and our heads spinning. Do you enjoy torturing us? No seriously though…do you outline your books and do you know how the Lux series in particular will end?
Jennifer- I do enjoy torturing readers. Ha. I don’t plot any of the books I write. Sometimes the twists even surprise me. It’s a real good feeling at the end of the book when it actually comes together, lol.

Two Chicks- Daemon is one of our very favorite characters ever but would you ever date a Daemon Black? 
Jennifer- I kind of dated a guy like him. Not the jerk side, but the real snarky and witty side. I think I’d kill Daemon if he was real and I had to deal with him.

Two Chicks- Even though Daemon comes off as a pretentious, self-absorbed jerk what would you say is his best quality?   
Jennifer- He’s actually very selfless. That’s his best quality.

Two Chicks- Hey we miss your Blog TV chats do you have anything planned anytime soon?
Jennifer- I NEED to do one soon! Ahhhhh!

Onvx
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Release Date August 14, 2012
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Entangled Teen
ISBN: 1620610116
Goodreads
Amazon/ Barnes & Noble

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks… Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarre connection. I’ve sworn him off even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But against all common sense, I’m falling for him. Hard. Our relationship issues aren’t out biggest problem… The Department of Defense is here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we’re linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And when a new boy shows up a school with a secret of his own, things get complicated fast. I need to choose between my own instincts and Daemon’s. But then everything changes… I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. Daemon’s never going to stop searching until gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me? No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies.

Check out the Onyx trailer!!!!

About the Author:

Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories....which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Make sure to check out all the other tour stops for awesome posts and chances to win Obsidian, Onyx, or both!

 Reading Angel- 8/08/12

The Bookish Babe- 8/09/12

Fiktshun- 8/10/12

Reading Lark- 8/11/12

Stuck in Books- 8/12/12

Confessions of a Vi3tBabe- 8/13/12

Mundie Moms- 8/14/12

Romancing the Book- 8/14/12

Good Choice Reading- 8/15/12

Fantasy Book Addict- 8/16/12

Xpresso Reads- 8/17/12

YA Sisterhood- 8/18/12

Books Complete Me- 8/19/12

K-Books- 8/20/12

Two Chicks on Books- 8/21/12

Once Upon a Twilight- 8/22/12             

Enter for a copy of Obsidian!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Authors ARE Rockstars- Lisa M. Stasse and a Giveaway

Hey ya’ll Jaime here! Lisa M. Stasse is my Rockstar author today at Two Chicks! Why is she my Rockstar you ask? Well quite simply she wrote an amazing book! I posted my review for The Forsaken and if you want to see how awesome it is check out my review here! Also Lisa is super nice when I asked her to be my rockstar she said yes without hesitation and, she sent me a signed copy of her book and bookmarks! She’s a night owl like me so if you check around on twitter around one a.m. she’ll probably be there. Oh and she can rock a book trailer like no other don’t believe me check it out below! And she graciously offered a copy of The Forsaken for a giveaway today so fill out the rafflecopter form!

About The Forsaken

A thought-provoking and exciting start to a riveting new dystopian trilogy for fans of The Hunger Games. As an obedient orphan of the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where all would-be criminals end up. The life expectancy of prisoners on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible, but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.

 Lisa M. Stasse was born in New York, and has since lived in Spain, Russia, Hawaii, and North Carolina. She graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Government and English lit, and is currently a digital librarian at UCLA.  Lisa loves watching science fiction movies, cooking Spanish food, and dancing around her house to 80′s music.  She lives in Santa Monica, California with her husband and their two-year-old daughter.  All three of them are learning how to surf.

 Where you can find Lisa.

Website/Twitter/Forsaken Facebook Page

Add The Forsaken to Goodreads

Here’s Lisa’s post:

"My 10 Favorite Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic Movies"

by Lisa M. Stasse, author of The Forsaken

So I've written and talked a lot about my 10 favorite dystopian novels, but I haven't said much about my favorite dystopian movies. Which is weird, because I'm obsessed with movies almost as much as books (especially if they are dystopian/sci fi!) So anyway, here's a list of my 10 favorite dystopian and post-apocalyptic movies, along with some thoughts about each one. I'm staring with #10 and moving up to my #1 favorite dystopian movie of all time. Here we go!

10. THE BOOK OF ELI. Okay, so this isn't the best post-apocalyptic movie of all time or anything, but I have to admit that I did NOT see the huge twist coming. Not at all! That's pretty rare for me. I was completely shocked. I thought this was a very moving, humanistic take on the post-apocalytic genre.

9. TIME OF THE WOLF. A highly disturbing European post-apocalyptic movie about a family in chaos when the apocalypse hits. It is very slow moving, but very powerful. The director, Michael Haneke, seems to specialize in dark and challenging movies (CACHE, his thriller about a family besieged by mysterious and ominous videotapes and drawings, is one of my all-time favorite movies).

8. THE ROAD. This one is so bleak! Talk about no hope. Probably the most downbeat of any post-apocalyptic movie I've ever seen. Viggo Mortenson should probably have got an Oscar nomination for his riveting performance. The movie is not quite as good as the book by Cormac McCarthy, but it's still fantastic.

7. BATTLE ROYALE. Thanks to The Hunger Games, I feel like everyone has heard about this Japenese movie now (due to some similarities in their plots). BATTLE ROYALE is great--super violent and intense. If you like The Hunger Games movie, you should probably watch this one!

6. MINORITY REPORT. This one was definitely an influence on my own novel, THE FORSAKEN, in terms of the whole "we can predict future crimes before they've even happened" element. I love this movie because of its great premise and great performances (yes, even from Tom Cruise!) It's a great mix of thoughtful dystopian stuff and edgy action sequences. Highly recommended.

5. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE. A really great movie. It has my favorite dystopian character (Alex) in it. I love most of Stanley Kubrick's movies (THE SHINING is amazing) and this one is no exception. It's super brutal, but paints a disturbingly convincing vision of the future.

4. 28 DAYS LATER. Yes! Gimme the zombie apocalypse! Everything about this movie is fantastic. I've seen it about ten times. Intense, creepy and perfect. (The sequel 28 WEEKS LATER is pretty good too). If zombies are in it, then I am watching it!

3. BLADE RUNNER. Made when Harrison Ford was at the height of his awesomeness, instead of being kind of old and grumpy-looking! ;) I just love this movie so much. I remember renting it in the 90's when I was in high school and loving it obsessively. The premise is awesome (I won't spoil anything for you) and so is the world of the movie. It's just an amazing film. Oh yeah, and Rutger Hauer is in it, in a really badass role, as a rogue "replicant." If you haven't seen it, you really need to!

2. DARK CITY. I saw it in the theater when it came out, and I don't think I fully appreciated its greatness then. My husband is obsessed with this one, so I've watched it a bunch of times with him, and it really grew on me. It's scary, funny, weird--and it has a great twist. Plus some seriously creepy villains, and a pre-24 Kiefer Sutherland. Definitely worth watching.

1. THE MATRIX. I still think is the best all around post-apocalyptic movie. Keanu Reeves is quite easy on the eyes, and it's by far his best role ever. This movie completely blew me away when I first saw it. I haven't watched it in a few years, but it remains incredibly vivid in my memory. I know everyone loves this one, so it's not really a surprising choice for a favorite post-apoc/sci fi movie. But still. It's great! And I'm really excited to see what the Wachowski's do next--have you seen the trailer for their new movie (an adaption of the novel CLOUD ATLAS)? Check it out here: 

So, that's my list! Thank you so much for having me on your blog! I really appreciate it. Come visit me anytime at all the usual places.

Awesome post right? I love all of those movies! Make sure you get a copy of The Forsaken  at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or The Book Depository!

Oh and fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win a copy!

a Rafflecopter giveaway