Dying to Read (34)-Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!

This week the book I’m dying to read is DEATH SWORN by Leah Cypess!!!!! I really like this cover and the synopsis has me very intrigued! Assassins and magic it’s going to be a great fantasy read!!!!

Death Sworn

Leah Cypess

Release Date: March 4, 2014

Hardcover: 352 pages

Publisher: Greenwillow Books (Harper)

ISBN: 978-0062221216

Goodreads

Amazon/The Book Depository

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Review- The Uprising by Lisa M. Stasse

The Uprising

Lisa M Stasse

Release Date: August 6, 2013

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

ISBN:  1442432683

Source: ARC from the publisher

Rating: Obsessed!!!!!!

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

From Goodreads.

In this dystopian sequel to The Forsaken, Alenna has survived the brutality of life on the wheel—and now she’s going back for more.   

Alenna escaped. It was expected that she would die on the wheel, the island where would-be criminals are sent as directed by the UNA—the totalitarian supercountry that was once the United States, Mexico, and Canada. But Alenna and her boyfriend, Liam, made it to safety. Except safety, they will soon learn, is relative.

In order to bring down the UNA, they must first gain control of the wheel. If the mission succeeds, the wheel will become a base of revolution. But between betrayals, a new Monk leading a more organized army of Drones, and the discovery of a previously unknown contingent, Alenna, Liam, and their allies might be in over their heads. One thing Alenna knows for sure: There will be a reckoning. And not everyone she loves will make it out alive.

 I loved The Forsaken so hard and I was really worried that Lisa would not be able to keep up the momentum in The Uprising. Holy crap was I wrong!!!!!! I loved this sequel so much! There was even more action in this one! More than in the first if that’s at all possible. And more Liam which made me a happy girl. Also there were some crazy WTF moments that had me scratching my head; like seriously scratching and, some betrayals that made my heart hurt! 

Ooh and we get to meet some new characters some who are pretty awesome and some who are seriously shady. I seriously can’t wait for the third book in this series because the ending was awesome! It wasn’t a cliffie but I need more!!!!!

I chose a scene between Alenna and Liam of course to share with you!

I adjust myself in the dress, trying to get comfortable. It feels too tight in the wrong places. “I look terrible,” I mutter. I push back my hair, trying to flatten it. Shampoo is limited here, like so many other things. “I’m a mess.”

Liam gently takes my elbow and steers me over to a small circular mirror hanging on one of the rock walls. “Look,” he says softly.

I gaze into the mirror and lower my hands.

The girl staring back at me doesn’t look like one I’ve known very much. Not in the UNA, and definitely not on the wheel. The girl in the mirror has surprisingly decent hair, and is wearing a knee-length, flowing blue dress with a beaded neckline. The girl almost looks glamorous. Almost.

“Okay, I’m officially embarrassed,” I mumble, glancing away.

Liam pulls me toward him. “Don’t be. You look fantastic.”

“You better not expect me to always look this good,” I tell him. “Iyt’s not like I’m Meira or something.” I can’t help but think of her right now. Meira was the only girl in our village on the wheel who always looked good—with spotless clothes, perfect skin, and sleek blonde hair.

“You’re way better looking than Meira.” Liam gazes into my eyes. “To me you always look great.”

Blog Tour- ASHES ON THE WAVES by Mary Lindsey and a Giveaway!!!

So today I’m excited to have my good friend Mary Lindsey here to talk about music and her book ASHES ON THE WAVES which was a fantastic book and I highly suggest you all read it when it comes out! And there’s also a giveaway so make sure to enter below!

Ok on to the post! 

While, I had a playlist for Shattered Souls, I don't have one for Ashes on the Waves. 

Because the book is steeped in the rhythm and feel of Edgar Allan Poe's works, I relied on the tempo and mood of his writing, rather than music. Each chapter is springboarded from one of his poems, letters, essays or stories. I didn't listen to music while writing. Instead, I would read the source piece out loud, whether it was The Fall of the House of Usher, "The Raven," or "Annabel Lee."

There were songs that influenced the process, however, even though Liam and Anna don't have a playlist. The intensity of the relationship really hit me when listening to the song, "Words," form the album, Water, by Fisher. It is an obscure song, so there is no video. 

Here's the first verse: 

We were one heart, separately beating in the time to one dream.

Born apart, we were twins cut from the very same skin.

Now I, miss you more than words

Life got in the way

Words got in the way

Now I, don't know what to say,

Words get in the way.

They get in the way. 

I listened to a lot of classical while plotting and brainstorming. Mozart's "Requiem in D Minor" got a lot of play, especially the Dies Irae and Rex Tremendae, Confutatis, and Lacrimosa sections. I can't wear earbuds, so this was blasting in the house a lot. My family is very tolerant, bless them. 

The song that nailed the back part of the book for me, though was "C'est La Mort," by the Civil Wars. Love it!

Thanks, Jaime for hosting me on your blog today! 

Thank you Mary love you!!!!

About the Book:

A sexy gothic romance based on Edgar Allan Poe's "Annabel Lee"

Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.

With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied, but the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.

Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem Annabel Lee, with references to many of his other works including The Raven, Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.

Perfect for fans of Lauren Kate's Fallen series, Kendra Blake's Anna Dressed in Blood, and Kelly Creagh's Nevermore.

 Praise for Ashes on the Waves 

“Achingly beautiful and darkly sensuous ... an extraordinary read that left me breathless at every turn!” –Sophie Jordan, New York Times bestselling author of Firelight

“Mary Lindsey, inspired by Edgar Allan Poe, has created a haunting, mystical world. I loved this tragic, romantic story.” –Cate Tiernan, author of Sweep and  Immortal Beloved

"A romantic potpourri of doomed amour, Celtic lore and mystery-laden suspense."--Kirkus Reviews

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Indie Bound/Penguin Publishing

Did I mention there's a trailer? And it's AWESOME!!!!!!

About Mary:

Mary Lindsey lives in Houston with her husband, three kids, two dogs, her daughter's pet rats, an Australian bearded dragon, and dozens of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches (The roaches are along story. Don't ask). 

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Make sure to go to Rockstar Book Tours to see the rest of the tour schedule. There are some awesome posts!

ASHES ON THE WAVES Giveaway Details:

5 Winners Total

2 winners will receive their choice of an ARC of ASHES ON THE WAVES or a paperback of SHATTERED SOULS, a necklace tile, magnet, and a signed bookmark.

1 winner will receive their choice of an ARC of ASHES ON THE WAVES or a paperback of SHATTERED SOULS (out of whatever is left from the first 2 winners), a necklace tile, and a signed bookmark.

2 winners will receive their choice of an ARC of ASHES ON THE WAVES or a paperback of SHATTERED SOULS(out of whatever is left from the first 3 winners),  and a signed bookmark.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dying to Read (33)- BLYTHEWOOD by Carol Goodman

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!

This week the book I’m dying to read is BLYTHEWOOD by Carol Goodman!!!!! I absolutely adore this cover and the synopsis has me very intrigued!

Blythewood 

Carol Goodman 

Release Date: October 8, 2013

Hardcover: 496 pages

Publisher: Viking Juvenile (Penguin)

ISBN: 978-0670784769

Goodreads

Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

Welcome to Blythewood.

At seventeen, Avaline Hall has already buried her mother, survived a horrific factory fire, and escaped from an insane asylum. Now she’s on her way to Blythewood Academy, the elite boarding school in New York’s mist-shrouded Hudson Valley that her mother attended—and was expelled from. Though she’s afraid her high society classmates won’t accept a factory girl in their midst, Ava is desperate to unravel her family’s murky past, discover the identity of the father she’s never known, and perhaps finally understand her mother’s abrupt suicide. She’s also on the hunt for the identity of the mysterious boy who rescued her from the fire. And she suspects the answers she seeks lie at Blythewood. 

But nothing could have prepared her for the dark secret of what Blythewood is, and what its students are being trained to do. Haunted by dreams of a winged boy and pursued by visions of a sinister man who breathes smoke, Ava isn’t sure if she’s losing her mind or getting closer to the truth. And the more rigorously Ava digs into the past, the more dangerous her present becomes. 

Vivid and atmospheric, full of mystery and magic, this romantic page-turner by bestselling author Carol Goodman tells the story of a world on the brink of change and the girl who is the catalyst for it all.

So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Blog Tour- TARNISH by Katherine Longshore and a Giveaway!

Today I have my friend and amazing author Katherine Longshore here to talk about why she writes Historical YA and also why even though Jon Rhys-Meyers and Henry Cavil are delicious; she couldn’t get into the Tudors TV series. Also make sure to enter the giveaway below for earrings inspired by Anne Boleyn if you look at the book cover they’re really similar! Ok on to the post!

Why write historical? If Tarnish was set in modern times do you think that Anne would a different person? Why or why not?

Because it has everything!  Love, loss, friendship, betrayal, growth, death, sex, violence—you name it.  I love the depth and breadth of history, the psychology of the characters, the ability to play around with inside jokes and foresight (which is really hindsight, I suppose).  It’s fun!  I’m not opposed to writing contemporary stories—and I have a few ideas for some—but for now, this is where I am.

And I think that no matter when her story was set, my version of Anne would be the same character.  Her voice came to me all in a rush, and wouldn’t let go.  I knew how she spoke, I knew what she thought, I knew how she interacted with people.  This character could exist in the 16^th century or the 21^st.  She might live in an alternate universe.  Like me, and what I write, she is who she is.  And a little detail like setting couldn’t change that.  Perhaps her story might be different, but the character would be the same.

I know you’re not a big fan of the show The Tudors can you tell us why?

Honestly, I can’t really make a judgment on the entire Tudors canon because I’ve only seen the first three episodes.  Those were lush, stylish, sexy and had immense visual appeal.  But I haven’t watched any more for three reasons.

1.The show is full of historical inaccuracies.  I had been reading the history and biographies of these people for years and the imprecision upset my delicate sensibilities.  In the very first episode—in the very first scene—Henry’s uncle is assassinated by the French.  I sat there, yelling at the screen, “Henry didn’t have an uncle! Who is this guy?”  In the next episode, Henry’s sister Margaret married the aging duke of Portugal and later murders him so she can marry (the really rather luscious) Charles Brandon instead.  In reality, Henry’s sister Margaret married James of Scotland and was an ancestor of the Stuart kings.  His sister Mary married the aging kind of France, who died rather abruptly and she married Brandon afterwards.  My husband refused to watch any more with me when I ranted for a full five minutes.

However, now that I have written my own historical fiction, I can see why the writers made these choices.  The murder of Henry’s uncle is a wonderful inciting incident and gives the audience the impression that Henry’s cause is just.  And I can see why they wanted to get Francis (the “new” King of France) into the series early—he’s a great foil for Henry (and the actor who plays him—Emmanuel LeConte is quite dashing).  But in order to do that, the writers had to dispense with the real marriage between Mary and Francis’ father-in-law, Louis.  The marriage between the beautiful princess and the elderly lech was too good to pass up, so they just invented one.   I understand, I can see the justification, but I still chafe at the disappearance of the real Margaret Tudor. 

2.Jonathan Rhys Meyers.  He’s hot.  He’s sexy.  He’s fiendishly good-looking.  He has an incredible array of devilish expressions.  But he looks nothing like my vision of Henry VIII.  Sorry, Jonathan.  I think you’ll make a fabulous Dracula!

3. Lastly, I started writing my own books about Henry’s court shortly after the first couple of series of The Tudors was aired.   I decided that I couldn’t see any movies/TV shows or read any fiction about him or his wives for fear someone else’s ideas about the characters should color mine.  So I have continued to avoid watching for that reason.  I think—when all this is over—I’ll go back and watch them all.  I’d love to see how they portray Thomas Wyatt, George Boleyn, Catherine Howard and Thomas Culpepper.  I’d love to see someone else’s vision of how story can meet history.  And I’d just like to immerse myself in the beauty of the costumes and pageantry.

Thanks for stopping by Katy!!!

About TARNISH!

Anne Boleyn is the odd girl out. Newly arrived to the court of King Henry VIII, everything about her seems wrong, from her clothes to her manners to her witty but sharp tongue. So when the dashing poet Thomas Wyatt offers to coach her on how to shine at court—and to convince the whole court they’re lovers—she accepts. Before long, Anne’s popularity has soared, and even the charismatic and irresistible king takes notice. More than popularity, Anne wants a voice—but she also wants love. What began as a game becomes high stakes as Anne finds herself forced to make an impossible choice between her heart's desire and the chance to make history.

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/The Book Depository

Check out the trailer!!!!









About Katherine:
Katherine Longshore grew up on the northern California coast. At university, she created her own major in Cross-Cultural Studies and Communications, planning to travel and write. Forever. Four years, six continents and countless pairs of shoes later, she went to England for two weeks, stayed five years and discovered history. She now lives in California with her husband, two children and a sun-worshiping dog.

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway:

1 winner will receive A pair of Anne Boleyn inspired earrings and a signed Hardcover of Tarnish

2 winners will receive signed copies of Tarnish 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the Tour Schedule for more awesome posts!!!

6/10/2013   Tales of a Ravenous Reader- Guest Post 

6/11/2013   Hobbisites- Interview 

6/12/2013   Mundie Moms- Guest Post    

6/13/2013   Literary Exploration- Review

6/14/2013   Confessions of a Book Addict- Review   

6/17/2013   Good Books and Good Wine- Guest Post  

6/18/2013   Two Chicks on Books- Guest Post  

6/19/2013   Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Guest Post       

6/20/2013  Taters's Tall Tails- Guest Post      

6/21/2013   Pageturners- Review    

Giveaway- Spreading the love The Bitter Kingdom by Rae Carson

Ok so today I had some awesomeness dropped into my mailbox! Only thing is I  already have a copy of this awesome book and I've already read it! THE BITTER KINGDOM is the perfect ending to Rae Carson’s The Girl of Fire and Thorns series! So I want to give this copy away to a fan of this series. 

And the coolest part? 

Rae has offered to sign it so I will be shipping this lovely off to her and she will send you your book! So fill out the Rafflecopter form the only requirement is that you have to have read the first 2 books and to prove it we’re asking a trivia question! The giveaway is US/Canada Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Swoon Thursday (9)- Descendant by Lesley Livingston

Ok so you said you’d like me to keep doing Swoon Thursdays and I am here to please! Thanks to the lovely ladies at YA Bound for this awesome meme! I love being able to a share swoon-worthy snippet with you!

So this week I’ve decided to share a swoon-worthy scene from the book I just finished a couple days ago! I freaking loved this book and I know you all will too!

DESCENDANT by Lesley Livingston

This book is awesome and the scene I’m going to share is sexy and sweet I adore Fenn so much I wish I could be Mason!

The way he kissed her back, she could feel that he was just as ravenous. As they pressed against each other, everything else fell away. All Mason could feel was Fenrys’s lips as they moved over hers, his hands—fingers strong and splayed wide, roaming over her back and shoulders as if he needed to touch as much of her as he could all at once—and the beating of his heart as they fell back into the bed of leaves beneath them. The broken walls that sheltered them loomed like the battlements of a medieval fortress, and overhead, Mason thought she saw stars peeking through. The lonely cry of a hunting owl echoed in the distance, the firelight cast Fenn’s profile in crimson and shadows, and Mason felt as though she had fallen into the pages of a fairy tale. Even prefaced by all the madness that had led to that moment, she could hardly find cause for complaint. She just gave herself over to passionately kissing her handsome prince.

So what did you think? Does this make you want to add it to you TBR? I’d love to hear what you think!

Blog Tour- Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood and a Giveaway!

Welcome to the STAR CURSED blog tour! I’m so excited to be a part of this tour! I love Jessica’s books I read STAR CURSED a few weeks back and it was even better than BORN WICKED!!!! So check out this cool tour Jessica has put together and enter the giveaway!

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate's friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn't want to be a weapon, and she doesn't want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood's schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she'll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to BORN WICKED, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess's quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

STAR CURSED releases on June 18. You can read the first chapter here. 

Pre-order links: Indiebound | Barnes & Noble | Amazon

As part of the blog tour, each day Jess is revealing an annotated snippet from STAR CURSED. 

If you add up the page number from each stop during the tour, you can enter to win a one-of-a-kind annotated ARC plus a star trio necklace! Find the other stops below, and on June 21, enter the Rafflecopter here:

Mon, 6/3:  Good Books & Good Wine

Tues, 6/4:  Ex Libris Kate 

Wed, 6/5:  Mundie Moms 

Thurs, 6/6:  Presenting Lenore

Fri, 6/7:  Hobbitsies

Mon, 6/10:  Green Bean Teen Queen 

Tues, 6/11:  I Read Banned Books

Wed, 6/12:  Two Chicks on Books

Thurs, 6/13:  Forever Young Adult

Fri, 6/14:  The Story Siren

Mon, 6/17:  YA Bibliophile

Tues, 6/18:  Marie Lu 

Wed, 6/19:  Beth Revis

Thurs, 6/20:  Veronica Rossi

Fri, 6/21:  Marissa Meyer

About Jessica:

I grew up in a tiny one-stoplight town in Pennsylvania, where I could be found swimming, playing clarinet, memorizing lines for the school play, or—most often—with my nose in a book. I've been writing since I was little but studied theatre in college and grad school. Now I live in Washington, DC with my brilliant playwright husband and a cuddly cat named Monkey.

Find Jess online:

Website | blog | Twitter | Facebook | Cahill Witch Inspiration pinboard

Dying to Read (32)- Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Hey y’all thanks for stopping by to see my Dying to Read post and of course as always I have to give credit to the lovely Jill over at Breaking the Spine for the Waiting on Wednesday Meme!

This week the book I’m dying to read is HER DARK CURIOSITY by Megan Shepherd!!!!! OMGOMGOMGOMG!!!! There’s a cover and it’s soooooo hauntingly gorgeous! I LOVED The Madman’s Daughter and I can’t wait to read more of Juliet’s story!!! And I’m hoping Edward will make an appearance too!

Her Dark Curiosity (The Madman’s Daughter #2)

Megan Shepherd

Release Date: January 28, 2014

Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Balzer + Bray (Harper)

ISBN: 978-0062128058

Goodreads

Amazon/Barnes & Noble

To defeat the darkness, she must first embrace it.

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.

As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.

As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.

With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

 So what do you think? Will you be adding this to your pile? What are you dying to read this week?

Blog Tour- Poison by Molly Cochran and a Giveaway

Today I have an author spotlight for the Poison Blog Tour! Make sure to check out the info and enter the giveaway!

POISON (Legacy, #2) By: Molly Cochran

Publisher: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books

Release Date: December 4^th, 2012

Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble/Indie Bound/The Book Depository

Arthurian legend mixes with modern-day witchcraft in this haunting sequel to Legacy, which Publishers Weekly said “should please the legions of paranormal fans looking for a sophisticated supernatural thriller.”

After the riveting—and romantic—events of Legacy, Katy has won Peter’s heart and is now claiming her place in the magical world. Though half the students at her boarding school come from witching lines, the use of magic is expressly forbidden at Ainsworth, so as to keep the witching world hidden from the blue-blooded preppies, aka Muffies, who also walk the halls.

    

But the Muffies have at least a notion of magic, because Katy catches them staging a made-up ritual—and to her astonishment, the girls collapse at Katy’s feet and fall into comas. When Katy is blamed, she becomes desperate to clear her name and finds herself battling all odds to harness her growing magical powers in order to save the Muffies and dispel the Darkness once more.

 About the author:

Molly Cochran, author of the teen paranormal romances LEGACY and POISON, has written 26 published novels and four nonfiction books under her own name and various pseudonyms. Her books include New York Times bestselling novels GRANDMASTER and THE FOREVER KING, coauthored with Warren Murphy, and the nonfiction DRESSING THIN, also a NY Times bestseller. She has won awards from the Mystery Writers of America (Best Novel of the Year), the Romance Writers of America (Best Thriller), and the New York Public Library (Outstanding Books for the Teen Age).

SEDUCTION, the third installment in the LEGACY series, is scheduled for release later this year through her publisher, Simon & Schuster.

Two eBooks, THE TEMPLE DOGS and THE FOREVER KING, are currently available through online retailers. A third, GRANDMASTER, will be available soon.

Molly has lectured extensively and has taught writing at the college level as well as at a women's prison (where she was NOT an inmate). She also writes a blog on writing technique which appears on her website, MollyCochran.com. She is also on Facebook at facebook.com/molly.cochran1 and Twitter at Twitter.com/mollycochranYA.

She lives in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

Author Links:

Website/Blog/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads

Giveaway info & Rafflecopter HTML/Form:

This is a TOUR WIDE giveaway.

There will be ONE winner – SIGNED copies of Legacy AND Poison, an ARC of Seduction + Outtakes from the photo shoot for Selection!

Giveaway is open: US Mailing Addresses only.

Ends: July 6^th, 2013 (12:00am EST)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Announcing The 2nd Annual Authors Are Rockstars Tour Author List and Sign-Ups!

We are so excited to be able to announce the details and begin the sign-ups for the 2nd Annual AUTHORS ARE ROCKSTARS Tour that we’re bringing back to you this August.

If you are unfamiliar with last year’s tour, check out the final tour schedule HERE.

Just like last year, our goal is to put as many of our favorite rockstar authors in the spotlight across the blogosphere as we can. So, for the month of August we’ll be matching up the rockstar authors who have agreed to go on tour with the bloggers who are their biggest fans.

Depending upon the number of authors who end up participating in the event, there could be as many as five or six authors being spotlighted around the blogosphere each day of the month.

And with 131 authors currently on board we’ve already surpassed last year’s totals.

Each stop on the tour will consist of an interview or guest post. Some stops may have a pre-written post or interview, but most stops will require the bloggers to come up with post topics and interview questions.

And some of the stops may have a giveaway provided by the author or publisher. As hosts of this event we do not ask for giveaway prizes, so not every stop will include a giveaway.

But every stop on the tour will be at a blog who thinks the author they’re hosting rocks!

And while we’d love to be able to include every single author we think is a rockstar and every blogger who signs up to participate, we are just three bloggers and we do have limits to the number of stops we can handle each day.

Last year’s event was amazing. And even though it was a lot of work to put it together, as event hosts we had a lot of fun. This year we hope to make it an even more exciting event. And this year we are super stoked to have Mindy of Magical Urban Fantasy Reads on board as a co-host.

All the information about the event and the link for bloggers to sign up is below. But first let us present to you the participating authors.

****The Authors****

Here are the authors (in alphabetical order by first name) currently on tour.

The list will be updated as new authors are added, so be sure to check back to see if your rockstar authors will be on tour this August!

** We are still accepting authors for the tour! New additions will be in blue**

A.G. Howard

Aimee Agresti

Aimee Carter

Alex Kahler

Alexander Gordon Smith

Alexandra Monir
Allison Van Diepen

Amanda Ashby

Amanda Hocking

Amanda Sun

Ammi-Joan Paquette

Amy Butler Greenfield

Amy Tintera

Andrea Cremer

Ann Aguirre

Ann Redisch Stampler

Anna Banks
April Lindner

Becca Fitzpatrick
Bethany Griffin

Brittany Geragotelis
CC Hunter
Cara Lynn Shultz

Cat Winters

Cecily White

Chelsea Pitcher

Chloe Jacobs

Chloe Neill

Christine Johnson

Cinda Williams Chima

C.J. Redwine

Clarie LaZebnik

Claudia Gray

Corrine Jackson

Cyn Balog

Cynthia Hand

Dan Krokos

Dan Wells

Danielle Ellison

Dawn Metcalf

Debra Driza

Elana Johnson

Elizabeth Miles

Elizabeth Norris

Elizabeth Richards

Elsie Chapman

Emmy Laybourne

Erin Bowman

Fiona Paul
Gabrielle Zevin

Gayle Forman

Gena Showalter

Gennifer Albin
Georgia McBride

Gina Damico

Gretchen McNeil

Hannah Moskowitz

Heather Anastasiu

Heather Brewer
Heidi Kling

J.A. Souders

J.K. Rock

Jackie Morse Kessler

Jennifer Archer

Jennifer Banash

Jennifer Bosworth

Jennifer Castle

Jennifer Echols

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Jennifer Rush

Jenny Han

Jeri Smith-Ready
Jessi Kirby

Jessica Brody

Jessica Spotswood

Jodi Meadows

Joelle Charbonneau

Jordan Dane

Josephine Angelini

Josin McQuein

Julia Karr
Julie Cross

Jus Accardo
Kami Garcia

Karen Ann Hopkins

Karri Thompson
Karsten Knight

Kasie West

Katherine Longshore

Kathleen Peacock
Katie McGarry

Katlyn Duncan

Kelly Keaton

Kiki Hamilton
Kim Harrington
Kimberly Sabatini

Kristen Simmons

Kristi Cook
Laura Toffler-Corrie

Lauren Miller

Lauren Oliver

Leah Clifford

Leigh Bardugo

Leigh Fallon

Lenore Appelhans

Lesley Livingston

Lisa Burstein
Lisa Desrochers

Lisa M. Stasse

Liz Coley

Louise Rozette

Mari Mancusi

Maria V. Snyder
Marni Bates

Mary Gray

Mary Lindsey

Megan Miranda

Megan Shepherd

Melissa de la Cruz

Melissa West

Michelle Gagnon

Michelle Rowen/Morgan Rhodes
Michelle Zink

Mike Mullin

Mindy McGinnis

Miranda Kenneally

Myra McEntire

Nova Ren Suma

Page Morgan

Rachel Caine

Rachel Harris

Rachel Vincent

Rae Carson

Renee Collins
Robin LaFevers
Robin Mellom
Sarah Beth Durst

Sarah Crossan

Sarah Guillory

Sarah J. Maas

Sarah Ockler

Sarwat Chadda

Scott Tracey

Shannon Messenger

Sherry Thomas

Simone Elkeles

Sophie Jordan

Stacey Kade

Susan Dennard

Suzanne Lazear

Suzanne Young

T. Michael Martin

T.M. Goeglein

Tahereh Mafi

Talia Vance

Tara Fuller

Tessa Gratton

Trisha Wolfe

Veronica Rossi

Victoria Schwab

Victoria Scott

Vivi Barnes

Wendy Higgins

Please note: Some authors have specific stop date requests, post types or have previously written posts prepared. Bloggers who are chosen to host an author will be notified about any special requirements.

*************************************

AUTHORS - We still have a few spots remaining for YA authors whose work we are familiar with! If you've received an email from us and would like to participate we'd love to have you on board. If you haven't, or don't think you have, and you would be interested in participating, please email us at FiktshunandTwoChicks@gmail.com.

BLOGGERS - You will be allowed only ONE chance to change your original picks. So if you don’t see your favorite authors listed, hold off on signing up, because they may be added to the list. Signing up early does not give you preferential treatment. If you want to make a change before sign-ups have closed please email us at the address above.

*****************************

The Authors Are Rockstars Tour

The tour will run from August 1st through August 31st. Each day of the month will have multiple tour stops.

The tour will begin at Fiktshun, Two Chicks on Books and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads and will end on all three of our blogs. There will be a kick-off post with a list of all the stops on the tour and there will be a giveaway. Each of us will also host one or two of our favorite authors. On the final day of the tour we’ll post a wrap-up of the event and will host the final three authors we’ll be spotlighting.

The rest of the month will be for you to share your love of the authors you call your rockstars.

*********************

Rules, Requirements and Other Details

RULES

You must complete the sign-up form in order to be considered.

Signing up in no way guarantees you will be chosen for a tour stop. (We’re so sorry, but judging by the number of sign-ups last year we won’t be able to include everyone.)

Being accepted as a tour stop does not guarantee you’ll get your first choice of author.

If you are chosen, you must respond with your acceptance and with your guest post topics, interview questions or other post ideas within four days after notification. If you do not respond we will be forced to choose someone else.

REQUIREMENTS

To be considered to host any author, other than a debut author, you must have reviewed their books. (See review requirements immediately below.) And if you have rated their books, ratings cannot be less than four stars, unless you provide a compelling reason why you should still be considered. The authors you choose should be ones you consider rockstars!

To host an author with three or more books published, you must have reviewed at least two of their books. (Review links will be required in the sign-up form.)

To host an author with one or two published books, you must have reviewed at least one of them.

To host an author whose books have yet to be published, you must be anxiously awaiting the book’s release and have posted about that book on your blog. (Links to WoW or Spotlight posts will be required in the sign-up form.)

OTHER DETAILS

Selections will be made based on a number of criteria including the best match-up between author and blogger, blogger’s overall reviews, and blogger’s reputation and trustworthiness.

Blog following, page views or Twitter following will not be a deciding factor in the selection process.

Blog longevity, number of reviews, types of reviews – (bash-free is a must) – will be considered when making our selections.

Blogger “friends” will not be given preference. It’s about making the best matches between authors and bloggers on the tour.

Writing in an author does not guarantee that author will be included on the tour. They may have already been contacted and either are unavailable or have yet to respond, or all tour stops may already have been filled.

Blogger’s will be notified by July 8th and will have four days to confirm their participation. Announcements will be made in a post on Fiktshun, Two Chicks on Books and Magical Urban Fantasy Reads on Monday, July 15th.

Giveaways: For tour stops that will be hosting an author or publisher donated giveaway prize, there can be no mandatory tasks aside from leaving a blog comment. And there can be up to two extra entry opportunities. As a thank you to the authors you are hosting you may want to make those extra entries about the authors but it is not mandatory.

There will be no requirements/restrictions for tour stops that choose to host their own giveaways.

***************************

Dates to Know

Tour dates: August 1st-31st

Sign-up ends: June 30th

Blogger notifications: on or before July 8th

Blogger acceptance and post requirements needed by: July 12th

Blogger announcements: July 15th

Thank you so much for your interest in being a part of this tour to share your love for these amazing rockstar authors and for helping to make this second year’s event rock even harder!

While we can’t include everyone who signs up, we are so honored that you want to join in and support this event. Just know that even if you aren’t selected, we think that you rock too!

*******************************

Sign up!

We are beginning the sign-ups today, although we are still awaiting responses from a few of the authors we’ve reached out to. The post will be updated each day until sign-ups close with any new authors that have joined the tour.

Signing up early does not give you preferential treatment. So if you want to wait and see if any new authors are added to the tour before you sign up, you will not be penalized for waiting.

The sign-ups will close at Midnight Eastern/9 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, June 30th.

If new authors are added to the tour after sign-ups have closed, like last year we will reach out to bloggers who have signed up and who have reviewed - and loved - their books.

We are all so very excited for August and for this tour to kick-off. And we are all so grateful, every day of the year, for these authors that we call rockstars who amaze us with their stories, who provide an escape that is filled with magic, who take us to worlds we could never dream up on our own and could never visit in reality, who delight, enchant, surprise, astonish us. Every. Single. Time.

**************SIGN UPS ARE CLOSED*************