Mundie Moms

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

TLA- April 12th-15th, 2011


I am so excited I finally get to attend TLA! If you'd like more information, be sure to go here to register. Believe me, you don't want to miss this. They have a great line up of authors coming this year! http://www.txla.org/annual-conference

BIR2010- Author Interview with Andrea Cremer & Nightshade Giveaway

Nightshade is one of my all time favorite 2010 reads and I've very excited that we not only have an interview with Andrea, but we have a SIGNED ARC of Nightshade to giveaway!!!

Nightshade
By Andrea Cremer
Published by Philomel/Penguin
Released on October 19th, 2010

Summary:
Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice? (quoted from goodreads)


Which one of your characters would you have wanted to grow up with and why?

I was lucky in that I sort of did grow up with one of my characters. Calla's younger brother, Ansel, is loosely based on my own little brother. We're very close and it's really fantastic to have a brother who is also your best friend.

If you and Calla were spending the day together, what would you do?

That's tough. Calla would like to spend the day as a wolf, but I wouldn't be able to keep up with her. I'd try to convince her to try something new - like horseback riding.

Which character did you enjoy getting to know the most?

Probably Mason - he's hilarious and very sweet.

If we were to ask Shay a Young Adult book recommendation, what would he recommend to us?

He'd recommend the Harry Potter series and also Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Leviathan.

If you could choose a paranormal power, what would it be?

Flight.

Thank you Andrea for being with us today!

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Fill out this form to enter to win a SIGNED ARC of Nightshade!!


Thank you to Penguin and Andrea for allowing us to host the giveaway.

BIR2010 Day #3-Author Interview & Prize Pack #1 (The Exiled Queen, Dust City, My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions, Rot & Ruin) Giveaway


It's now Day 3 of our BIR celebrations. If you're just joining our celebrations, here's a little history about it- we, along with 8 other bloggers have come together to collectively bring you our favorite reads for 2010. Each blog came up with a small list of their favorites and every blog will be featuring the list. We, along with the other bloggers will be featuring BIG giveaways, I'm talking more than 30 books, along with author interviews. This event will be running from now through December 14th, though on MM's our events will be running now through Friday. That means more giveaways each day! To follow all of our BIR2010 posts, just click on the BIR2010 button on the top right hand corner of our blog.

I have feel so bad that we haven't had any international giveaways like we always do, but today we have one. Next week when we post our MM favorite reads of 2010 we'll have more. Today we have two great author interviews, another favorite 2010 book of mine giveaway, Nightshade and some great giveaways.

All giveaways are open to residents of the US only, unless other wise noted. If you are an International follower and have someone in the US we can send your winnings to, please feel free to enter. All giveaways will end on December 15th. All winners will be announced on Monday December 20th. This is to ensure that we don't have winners winning the same books on the other participating blogs. **Publishers will be mailing out most of the winnings and with Christmas and the holiday rush, books may not be received until after the first of the year.

Thank you to all the wonderful publishers and authors who have allowed us to host such wonderful giveaways!
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The Exiled Queen
By Cinda Williams Chima
Published by Disney Hyperion
Cinda's website: http://www.cindachima.com/

Book Summary:
(from Goodreads - Warning contains spoilers if you haven't read the 1st book in the series)

You can't always run from danger...

Haunted by the loss of his mother and sister, Han Alister journeys south to begin his schooling at Mystwerk House in Oden’s Ford. But leaving the Fells doesn’t mean danger isn’t far behind. Han is hunted every step of the way by the Bayars, a powerful wizarding family set on reclaiming the amulet Han stole from them. And Mystwerk House has dangers of its own. There, Han meets Crow, a mysterious wizard who agrees to tutor Han in the darker parts of sorcery—but the bargain they make is one Han may regret.

Meanwhile, Princess Raisa ana’Marianna runs from a forced marriage in the Fells, accompanied by her friend Amon and his triple of cadets. Now, the safest place for Raisa is Wein House, the military academy at Oden's Ford. If Raisa can pass as a regular student, Wein House will offer both sanctuary and the education Raisa needs to succeed as the next Gray Wolf queen.

The Exiled Queen is an epic tale of uncertain friendships, cut-throat politics, and the irresistible power of attraction.

If not a writer, you would have been?


I have already been. I am a registered dietitian, and practiced nutrition for years. I've been a department head in a large healthcare system and run a diabetes education program. In my last nutrition job, I was a college professor, and I love teaching. But I left my day job 21/2 years ago, and am now a full time writer.


If you could re-write the ending to a book written by someone else, what would it be?

I wouldn't dare. I'm amazed that I can rewrite endings to my own books. I changed the ending of The Gray Wolf Throne three times (at the behest of my agent and two different editors.) That's one thing I've learned through the revision process. I used to think that a book or movie was a kind of organism, whole unto itself, and the notion of changing the ending was like hacking off a limb and sewing an artificial one in its place. Now I know that there is more than one successful way to end a book. And sometimes the first notion you have is not the best one.


What is your favorite book that has been made into a movie?

I loved what they did with the Lord of the Rings trilogy. I thought Peter Jackson translated that to the screen very skillfully.


What do you do when you are in-between books?


I am never in-between books.


Where is your favorite place to read/write?

I usually write in my den, though I wish it had a better view. There is a bird feeder outside, and I like to watch the bird/squirrel smackdowns. I have a laptop with a cinema display and ergonomic keyboard. If I'm working on a first draft, I often go to a cafe, so I can focus and not get on the Internet. I love the Internet, but it is something that makes you think you're doing work when you're not.

Thank you Cinda for being with us today and to Kathy with I Am A Reader, Not a Writer for the questions.

Cinda has graciously allowed us to host a giveaway for The Exiled Queen. This giveaway is open to residents of the US & Canada.
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Day 3- Prize Pack #1

Dust City
by: Robert Pual Weston
Published by: Razorbill
Book Summary:

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?
His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?
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My Ridiculous Romantic Obsessions
By: Becca Wilhite
Published by: Shadow Mountain

Book summary: Sarah Howard's first year at the university is everything and nothing she expected especially when a very cute boy named Ben in her Art History class starts to show interest in her.

Sarah feels like she's an average, normal, everyday girl. So, when Ben (to whom she secretly refers as Adonis because she thinks he could be a Greek god) begins to take interest in her, Sarah is in denial. For one thing, last year she was deeply crushed and humiliated by Jesse James a guy who she thought liked her.

She's determined not to get burned again. But in her heart of hearts, what she really wants is a Jane Austen kind of romance. Ridiculous, right? That kind of romance doesn t exist anymore . . . or does it? Sarah is smart and fun to be around and even pretty, despite her Medusa-like red curls. She even plays the guitar. (So does Ben!) Yes, Sarah is everything Ben has wanted. He's crazy for her, but Sarah is just not getting it. She's playing hard to get, and if she s not careful, she s going to lose a real hot gentleman -- her 21st-century Mr. Darcy.
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Rot & Ruin
By Jonathan Maberry
Published by Simon & Schuster
Released: October 5, 2010

In the zombie-infested, post-apocalyptic America where Benny Imura lives, every teenager must find a job by the time they turn fifteen or get their rations cut in half. Benny doesn't want to apprentice as a zombie hunter with his boring older brother Tom, but he has no choice. He expects a tedious job whacking zoms for cash, but what he gets is a vocation that will teach him what it means to be human.

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Today we are going to do things a little differently. We are going to pick 4 different winners! One winner per book. The 1st winner will receive The Exiled Queen, the 2nd Dust City, and so on. Just select which books you'd like to be enter to win when you fill out the form.



Thank you Cinda Williams Chima, Simon and Schuster, Razorbill and Shadow Mountain for these wonderful giveaways.

Book Review- Luck Of The Draw

By Rachel Renee Anderson
Published by Bonneville Books
Released on August 8th, 2010
Source- Rachel Renee Anderson
4 stars- It's A Fun Read

When Brighton's roommates bet him that he can't get three girls to go out with him at the same time, he has no doubt that he's up to the challenge. Besides, the prospect of an entire month of free laundry is just too enticing to resist. Of course, that's before he meets Dani--a girl who's never had a problem turning down a not-so-perfect guy. Soon Brighton realizes that winning the bet might mean losing what really matters most. This fast-paced modern romance is told with wit, sweetness, and a healthy dose of fun. It's a sure bet that Luck of the Draw will keep you laughing to the very last page (quoted from Goodreads).

Luck of The Draw is a fun, quick, clean romantic read that reminded me of college days and that fun stage in life when you're trying to discover what you want to do in life. The story begins when Brighton's college roommates make a bet- he has to date, or at least twice, 3 college roommates. Not one to turn down a challenge, especially if that means he doesn't have to do laundry for month, Brighton accepts.

What I enjoyed about this challenge, was getting to know Dani, the one girl that finally captures Brighton's heart and becomes his greatest challenge. Dani is a very independent women, who doesn't care much for dating, is studying to become a teacher, and teaches snowboarding lessons. Dani is the only child of well to do parents, and it's her often absent surgeon father and her vain mother, that turn Dani off from any further interest in Brighton, as he's studying to be a doctor. It's her parent's love of money and never being around that have made her dislike anyone who has a lot of money and will be in a profession that will make a lot of money, as she's seen what money can do to people. What I liked about Brighton's character is he doesn't take no for an answer. As stubborn as Dani is, she won't admit she likes him.

While I enjoyed Brighton and Dani's snark and sarcasm with each other, my favorite character in this clean, cut, cute romance is Dani's Grandmother Rose. She's the one person who has kept Dani grounded, giving her stability and the one who helped both Dani and Brighton get together. While some of the story is predictable, other parts of the story completely surprised me, like Rose playing a bigger part in Brighton and Dani's story towards the end. I'm keeping this spoiler free.

Brighton matures a lot through the story and I liked how never gives up on the girl he loves, despite making a stupid bet and possibly losing her forever. I liked Dani's roommates realistic reactions to finding out about the bet, as Brighton dated them all, but nothing serious like Dani's date. Dani is someone that I found really fun and someone I'd love to hang out with. I liked that in wanting to make a difference in someone else's life, she became a teacher. Her character growth came in the form of getting over her fears of love and realizing that love is about letting go, having a little faith, and enjoying the unpredictable ride.

You can find out more about Rachel's books by visiting her site here- http://rachaelreneeanderson.blogspot.com

Waiting On Wednesday- Wolfsbane

By Andrea Cremer
Published by Philomel/ Penguin
To Be Released on July 26th, 2011

Betrayal, loss, pain, fear. How many trials can love endure and still survive? (quoted from Andrea's site).

I am beyond anxious to read this sequel. Nightshade is one of my all time favorite reads from 2010 and waiting to find out what's in store for Calla, Ren and Shay is, can I be dramatic and say the wait is killing me. I can't wait to dive back into the fabulous world that Andrea has created.

You can find out more about Wolfsbane by visiting Andrea's site here http://blurredhistory.blogspot.com/

You can read more about Andrea's Nightshade series from Penguin's site here

Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, and allows us to spotlight a book that we are eagerly awaiting to be released.

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